After a long break, over 3,000 miles of driving and seven states in about 10 days, we are back! Going home never disappoints, but the adjustment back to some sense of normal and routine is a bit rough. Those 10 days were packed with lots of visiting, lots of food, and plenty of celebration! I don’t even know where to begin other than to just say thank you to all of our friends and family who took the time to make our trip so special and memorable. I love you all and miss you already.
Part of the adjustment is going to be a bit of a change here as well. Every year, to bring in the new year, our church does 21 days of Prayer and Fasting, and this year we are doing it again. The only difference is that I am going to write about it here. Just a short note and prayer on how I am doing to hopefully encourage you to get into your Bibles also. This year, I am intermittent fasting, one meal per day, no drinking, and no social media/news after 6:00 p.m. I think that last one is going to be the hardest. To be honest, with all the travel and the business of the season, I have felt a bit disconnected from the church and scripture, so I think this is going to be really good! At a minimum, you will help hold me accountable. If you want to follow along, you can go here, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, for the guide. I might end up splitting this out as a separate post, but I’m not sure. Part of me thinks it belongs here.
21 Days of Prayer and Fasting – Day 2
I get to start this off with a bit of a confession: I didn’t fast yesterday, as I am a bit late to this challenge. Also, we could actually be on day 3 (I will clarify tomorrow), but I wanted to stick to the Guide as intended.
Matthew 13:3-9
Note: (These notes are a combination of the notes from my Bible, the study guide, and my thoughts. Mostly, though, they are the work of others, just rearranged.) Jesus’ parables compel the listener to discover truth. Don’t be discouraged if you do not always see results as you faithfully read the word. Belief cannot be forced; rather, it is a miracle of God’s Holy Spirit. By diving into the Word and removing distraction, we tend the soil of our hearts. How is the soil of your heart?
Fasting: I didn’t really think this through and didn’t decide to do this until late last night. Today, we are going to test the carrying capacity of homemade chicken noodle soup. I was already hungry last night when I was trying to fall asleep.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for my many blessings, for I have more than I deserve. Help me remove the distractions of this world and make space for You. Guide my thoughts and actions, and give me the discipline to tend to my soil to prepare it for an abundant harvest.
As a reminder, Lunch Box Quotes are notes I include in the kids’ lunches every day. Number 1 gets a text, but 2-4 get a handwritten napkin. Today, I got so wrapped up in putting this together, 2 and 3 didn’t get a note. Grumble.
Visual credits to: Featured image – Adam Oehlers @TitiansRealm @ProfCarlSagan @fraveris @jmasseypoet
Quotes:
1. “Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny.” – C.S. Lewis
2. “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
3. “He who is intelligent does not seek to impress, but to understand.” – Marcus Aurelius
4. “I go my own way—not because I think it is the only way, or even the right way, but because it is my way.” – Attributed below to Walt Whitman, but I am not sure about that; Google says Nietzsche.
Sources:
“Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny.”
– C.S. Lewis🎨 Adam Oehlers pic.twitter.com/4xgfYWf6zl
— Titania (@TitaniasRealm) January 2, 2026
“The best way out is always through.”
— Robert Frost pic.twitter.com/ZeFtW0Zxts
— Francisco Ribeiro (@fraveris) January 2, 2026
He who is intelligent does not seek to impress, but to understand.
– Marcus Aurelius pic.twitter.com/5fKQb8JLMK
— Prof. Carl Sagan (@ProfCarlSagan) January 2, 2026
The epitome of rugged American individualism: Walt Whitman.
“I go my own way—not because I think it the only way, or even the right way, but because it is my way.” pic.twitter.com/QyKnRK6DS7
— Joseph Massey (@jmasseypoet) January 3, 2026