This is our first winter in our new home in the mountains, and we’ve moved far enough away from the ocean that it no longer softens the winter chill. Temperatures have regularly dropped below freezing, and watching what happens in the perennial garden has been fun!
Garden Surprises
A few weeks ago we enjoyed watching a flock of birds visit the black-eyed Susan seedheads for a snack. I’m glad I didn’t cut the plants completely down at the end of autumn, or we would have missed the show!
The temperatures had been below freezing for a full week before a slight thaw at the end of December when I found these water droplets on healthy, happy lamb’s ear leaves.
I didn’t know much about this plant when we moved in. I expected it to shrivel up and die off in frigid weather before growing again in the warmth of sunny spring. But look at it! It’s still enjoying life!
Life Surprises
Those are only two of the fun surprises I had last year as we left the familiar and comfortable to step out into the adventure God had called us to.
- We moved to a home on the Appalachian Trail to serve thru-hikers. We met many wonderful people on their own adventures and learned a ton through good conversation over meals at our table. Our back yard hosted many a tent over the summer!
- We discovered other people in our new community already serving thru-hikers, and enjoyed getting to know them and joining in a few local hiking adventures.
- We’ve learned a great deal through our Masters Program at Yellowstone Theological Institute Surprise: I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I’m still discovering so much!
- We traveled out west for a practicum in our YTI Adventure Studies Program, and hiked ten miles out into the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park (aw, shucks). The surprises of YNP were the beauty of the wilderness away from touristy crowds and my stamina. I was stronger than I thought I was!
Unknown Surprises
We are a few days into 2025, and a new semester begins in a few days. I hope to continue writing here once a week between reading, researching, and paper writing for school.
This year is already shaping up to bring surprises of its own, and I’m excited to see how it all plays out!
- My husband has been chosen as the Appalachian Trail Chaplain for 2025, and will be hiking from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. If you’d like to follow his journey, subscribe to his YouTube channel, Father Time Hikes!
- I will continue serving hikers as they come through town when I’m not driving down to visit Father Time somewhere along the trail.
- Schoolwork, managing hiker connections, playing in the garden, and holding this home together will keep me busy this year!
I may not know what all future tomorrows hold, but I know who holds each tomorrow of 2025.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalms 139:16 NLT
God knows my days first to last, and his Spirit will go with me through each one. I am not promised ease from pain and suffering, but I am promised that His presence will be with me always to guide and strengthen me for the journey.
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Jesus, in John 14:26-27
If you are a follower of Jesus, you can rest fully in trusting him with your life. There will be surprises along the way, and I pray that you find joy in the journey he has prepared for you!
Lauri Hawley 