PORCH
A CHRIST-CENTERED
WEEKEND NEWSLETTER

💌
gentle conversation
calming snapshots
uplifting linkage
occasional surprises

I’m gone again.

But what else is new?!

We’re spending the week doing life with that adorable 15 month old great-grandson, his delightful parents, and the doting grandparents.

Need I say more?!

Before setting off for our next grand adventure, I gathered these eight online reads specifically with our little community in mind. If you’re needing something thoughtful, fun, soul stirring, or somewhere in there, I’ve got your number.

Enjoy. And I’d love to hear which ones grabbed and held your attention.

💙

OK, It’s Time to Make a “Death Binder”
Shira Gill
’The concept is simple: create one centralized place for account info, important documents, and whatever else someone would need to know if something happened to you …’

Anything smaller than a cantaloupe is clutter
The Tidy Home & Chantel Louise
’The cantaloupe rule tells you what not to bring home, and I wanted to see if it could tell us what to remove from shelves instead …’

The Quiet Theology of All Creatures Great & Small
Beth Ferguson
’Why does this show make me feel calmer? Why does it linger after the credits roll? My friend said it felt like a warm cup of tea while visiting her grandparents …’

How to pray for a loved one’s doctor appointments
Lois Flowers
’This guy was the absolute worst. He took a quick look at my eye, said he saw tears and informed me that nothing was wrong. Even as I tried to explain more, he was heading for the door with his phone in his hand ...’

What It’s Like to Marry Off Your Daughter
Tsh Oxenreider
’It was like my body had been holding on to so much emotion, administrative mental load, and spiritual recognition that what our family was embarking this spring was a Very Very Big Deal, that once the big event finally happened …’

The Dangerous Days Past Middle Age
Michele Morin
’We’ve likely accumulated a fair number of reasons to succumb to cynicism: the disappointment of prodigal or estranged adult children, the challenges of the sandwich generation, the heartache of difficult diagnoses, or even the death of a spouse …’

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Karen Swallow Prior
’I have loved and lost many dogs over the course of my life. Every dog is different. Every grief at losing them is different, too …’

First Day of School PSA: College Version
Jen Hatmaker
’The college campus is positively jammed with Moms in Charge™?. They are carting thousands of Walmart and Home Goods bags, maybe millions. The dads have tools and instructions and many competing ideas on parking and unloading …’

💙

BTW, I know this is old news, but you really do energize me whenever you tap that little 🤍. The higher the number of taps on each post, the greater my motivation to keep on dreaming up more helpful, hopeful posts … and the more the Substack algorithms kick into gear.

This makes Grace & Space more visible to potential readers who need to experience the emotional healing, spiritual growth, and peaceful living that only Jesus can bring.

As we enter our 4th year here on Substack (and am somewhere in my 18th year of online writing), please know how grateful I am for the ongoing conversations we have.

The best part of what we do around here are not the words you find in your inbox, but in the dialogue that develops in the comment section afterward.

Hundreds and hundreds of you haven’t taken that step so please consider this my personal invitation to join us. You’d bring a distinct, valuable perspective to the table. God has shaped and gifted you uniquely! No one has the life experience, hard earned wisdom, and faith journey that defines who you are.

As long as He leads, my goal will be to provide a warm and safe place for you to catch your breath and be renewed in all the ways that matter most. If you’d share what’s happening here with your friends, fans, and family, I’d be so honored to welcome them aboard.

And if there’s something that’s been weighing on your mind or lingering in your heart and you want us to go there in the months ahead, I’m all ears. Please let me know, ok?

In His lovingkindness,
Linda

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💙

‘Waking or sleeping,

Thy presence my light.

Heart of my own heart,

whatever befall;

Still be my vision,

O Ruler of all.’

*
Be Thou My Vision
Irish Hymn & Folk Tune

*

Well hello again.

Turns out that jet lag is a very real thing. And getting back to almost semi-normal does take one day for every time zone you’ve made your way through. The good news is that I was kind of aware that this would be my reality, yet have to admit that I still ended up amazed at the exhausting, out of body experience that came my way since our return home.

I didn’t try to fight my way through it. I just let it be.

More good news is that it shouldn’t surprise us that children and grandchildren are more than capable of taking care of business when they come to visit. They don’t need us to plan itineraries and plot out every available minute. They are quite competent to get their own towels from the linen closet and design their own schedule of activities.

Alas! They are able to open the freezer, grab a couple bags of chicken soup, and throw them in a pot. And they aren’t offended that they need to paw through the fridge and forage in cabinets to find something to eat.

And are amazingly forgiving when ol’ grandma needs another nap or heads off to bed early yet again.

We are who we are. Things just organically unfolded. And no one appeared worse for wear when they left.

*

Before I board yet another plane this week (I know right?!), I want to share the collages I pulled together while we made our way through the British Isles. If you followed me on Notes, these are old news.

But that’s ok.

I’m not here to make your eyes glaze over with endless shots and boring details so I’ll meet you in the comment section and be more than happy to chat back and forth with you there.

As always.

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That’s it for today. Next time I’ll be sharing what impacted me most. Situations that brought awe ... and others that made tears fall so suddenly that it took my breath away.

Plus, the travel necessities that we’ll never do without again.

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Happy weekend, friends.

Sending love.
Linda

If you’ve gotta run (or liked this little missive), please take a half second to say hi by clicking that little 🤍. I’d love to know you dropped in.

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Me.
While everyone manages to get their own supper.

Dear friends!

This fine piece of furniture looks like it was crafted for a dining room, doesn’t it. But actually, this family size table resides in a waiting room outside the best bakery ever in the airport in Bergen, Norway.

The scent of ginormous freshly baked buns and rolls tried her hardest to lull me asleep for a nap, but my body was already on high alert.

Truth is, I hadn’t fully comprehended that by the time we reached home sweet home half way around the world it would be 5 am in the morning (body time) and I would have lost a full night of sleep in the process.

The jam-packed airline seats with little to no leg room. The long hikes from one end of a terminal to the far end of the other. Questionable food. Going through security. Going through customs. Trying to decipher unknown languages. Repeatedly pulling out tickets, cards, and passports. Tucking them back inside a secure yet easy to access place once again.

More long lines.

And where’s the bathroom?

We’ve slept a whole lot since we arrived back. My thoughtful sister dropped off a few groceries and our sweet neighbor brought over some freshly picked tomatos but I think we need to head off to the store this morning and get some food back in the house.

Two weeks is a long time for this ol’ homebody to be on the road. I’m feeling a bit disoriented but deeply peaceful. When all is said and done, there truly is no place like home.

I’ll be sharing some fun snapshots, a few stories, and a list of travel must-haves in the days ahead.

‘Til then, there’s one more load of laundry to be done and some odds and ends that still need to figure out where they belong. There’s errands to run and my empty Little Library is begging to be restocked.

Catching up with those I’ve missed here on Cape Cod. And looking forward to time with the family in the weeks ahead.

Thanks to those who’ve stopped by my NOTES page and kept me company along the journey! If you haven’t seen the collages and snapshots I posted, please head right on over, scroll down, and enjoy.

I’m giving myself plenty of grace to rest, to process all that’s come my way, and to shift gears.

I’m not willing to simply hustle off to the next thing. I’m appreciating this liminal space where I find myself half here and half back in Ullapool, scooping up the sea glass on the rocky shores. Or in the Shetland Islands, leading a little pony through the fields and down to the shoreline.

Showing up here on Substack again is a much needed step in getting back into real life. It’s so good to be back with you. Thanks for sitting with me and my random musings. Feel free to click on that little 🤍 below or stay a bit and chat. I’d love to know you’re alive and well.

Sending Love,
Linda

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PORCH
A CHRIST-CENTERED
WEEKEND NEWSLETTER

💌
gentle conversation
calming snapshots
uplifting linkage
occasional surprises

My dearest friends ~

We’re heading off on a pilgrimage to the motherland.

No one would classify this long-awaited vacation as a sacred journey, but this upcoming adventure holds deepest significance for us. And any and all substantial life experiences surely weave themselves into the very essence of our souls, don’t they.

My father was born in Scotland and out of his great love for his birthplace, all things Scottish have become a significant piece of our ongoing family legacy. Stories abound, somehow taking on new life (and embellished details) with each re-telling.

We won’t be walking down the actual streets of his hometown like some family members have already done. But we’ll be visiting many of the places that were prized by him. London and Edinburgh. The Shetland Islands. Ancient castles and rugged hillsides, sparsely populated islands and bustling museums, rocky shorelines and the lush patchwork of pasturelands, their stone walls maintaining centuries old boundaries.

We’re packing light and checking our lists more than once. We’re praying for energy and good health and a break from the oft’ gray, misty weather.

This will be my 4th trip across the ocean. I haven’t been back since I was 14. And I know for sure that in the coming weeks, every time I hear the bagpipes drone, I will weep for the joy those treasured old melodies repeatedly gave my father.

🏰

I’ll be sharing pictures and updates on my SUBSTACK NOTES page, so be sure to bookmark and visit when/if I cross your mind. You can comment, like, and share … all the things we normally do around here. I’d love to connect with you in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, I’m happily sharing links to kind words, meaningful thoughts, and insightful observations below.

Because if we ever needed kindness and discernment in action, it’d be right about now.

#478 How I Handle My Kids & Phones
Kendra Adachi
If you’ve got kids or know people with kids, you’re going to want to be in on this non-judgemental, thought-provoking yet light-hearted conversation.

Why physical books still matter
Molly Ella
’No matter where I’ve lived, you’ve been there. In my childhood bedrooms, where you were displayed proudly on bowing shelves, with the inevitable overflow packed into a wooden trunk my parents picked up in an antique shop …’

Three Little Words
Debby Hudson
’At your age …’

On Beauty & Wellness
Shauna Niequist
’I can always tell when I’ve been spending too much time on the internet, because it makes me cranky. First, I get cranky about the sameness of everything—same clothes, same interiors, same faces, same water bottles …’

the serenity of home
Barbara@one hopeful year
’There’s bread baking in the oven, laundry spinning in the washer, and dishes drying in the rack …’

The Unclaimed Hour
The Lady’s Writing Desk
’The letter-writing process begins long before choosing stationery or picking up a pen. It begins in the preparation: quieting the mind, praying, reflecting, and allowing ourselves to slow down enough to appreciate the beauty of the act itself …’

Moral Excellence: A Quiet Turning of the Heart
Lisa Blair
’Our minds are being shaped by what we repeatedly look at, think about, and meditate on. It takes courage to believe that goodness and beauty are still available and then intentionally take the time to look for them …’

The Relationship Skill That Changes Everything
Rachel Haack, LMFT
’I see it in marriages that become stronger after disagreement instead of weaker. I see it in friendships that survive enormous differences. I see it between parents and adult children. I see it in politics, in churches, in workplaces, and in the strange ways we’ve all learned to argue with strangers online …’

Feeling Sad or Anxious?
Joshua Coleman, Ph.D.
Seven grounding practices to calm your overwrought nervous system.

#1 is my go-to of choice, using Scripture. I often post these breath prayers in my SUBSTACK NOTES.

INHALE: The Lord your God

EXHALE: Is with you

INHALE: He is mighty

EXHALE: To save

INHALE: He will take

EXHALE: Great delight in you

INHALE: He will quiet you

EXHALE: With His love

INHALE: He will rejoice over you

EXHALE: With singing.

- Zephaniah 3:17 🎶

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Let’s chat! I’d love to hear about your travel escapades, mishaps, and advice.

And yes, tapping on that little 🤍 below is like saying BON VOYAGE! I would love it!

If you haven’t subscribed, now’s the perfect time. You’ll be one of the first to know when I return sometime late August.

Miss you already.
Linda 🙋‍♀️

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Hey guys! I’m here to tell you that yes, summer is half over!

I’m nestled into a fabulously comfy wicker chair on my daughter’s cozy back porch. I have no idea where she found it, but I love it.

Somehow the morning air is cool even though the weatherman has been wringing his hands, sounding quite ominous. I’ve got the Merlin bird app going, happily identifying new feathered friends even as I sit here tapping away.

A blue-ish feathered friend swoops in and out of an old birdhouse nearby. The chickens are in their run, squawking and waiting for me to wander over to the coop, yet again, to check and see if there’s any more of those warm, freshly laid eggs.

Last week I counted and to my surprise, we will be away from home a grand total of 40 days in these three months. That’s unheard of for us. All our travels are bringing us joy but I’m conscious of purposefully pacing myself, even on the still, solitary days.

*

NINE SUMMERTIME LIFESAVERS!

🐔 ROTISSERIE CHICKEN
We’re tossing a chicken into our shopping cart every few weeks. She’s already cooked and ready to roll into chef salads, sandwiches, quick grab and go lunches, and yes, even soup on those rare cool-ish days.

✒️ WRITING SABBATICAL
This is the first summer ever that I made the choice to abandon my faithful writing rhythms. Some weeks I miss the routine of getting PORCH out to you early Thursday mornings. But at this point, I’m happy writing when I can’t not write. Writing when I have something to say. Writing when the Spirit moves.

Tossing my schedule to the winds has been rather freeing, although some weeks I’ve felt a bit unmoored. And yes, PORCH will be returning in September.

🍋 SWEET SUN TEA
I’ve always got a half gallon of tea brewing out on the table on the kitchen patio. Eight bags, half are decaf. Add 2/3 cup of sugar and a half a lemon after bringing inside. Pop into the fridge. And enjoy.

⚽ WORLD CUP SOCCER
I never watched soccer in my life ‘til a week or so ago. Really. I kept hearing all the chatter about the games and we finally flipped on the TV one evening. And much to my husband’s astonishment, I was hooked within the first 15 minutes.

Better late than never, right?

👣 SKECHERS
I bought these slate-colored babies a year and a half ago and wear them all. the. time. I just grabbed a pair of identical black ones. I’m a huge fan.

🌞 SUNSCREEN BODY CREAM
At high risk for skin cancer, I smooth this Eucerin SPF 30 Daily Hydration Cream on each day. If my dermatologist is happy, I’m happy. I stay out of the sun as much as possible and using sunscreen faithfully gives me peace of mind. When all is said and done, I know I’ve done what I could.

🎨 WATERCOLOR NOTECARDS
After celebrating our 50th with the family, I spent three days creating 14 thank you notes. Each one was different than the next and the process reminded me again how much I love the magic of paint + water, brushes + heavyweight cotton paper. So calming. Best therapy ever.

📖 THE OLD TESTAMENT
’Every woman deserves to hear God’s Word in a voice that reveals His love.’ That’s the her.Bible app’s mission. And I’m making my way through the Old Testament with greater faithfulness than any time in my life. No exaggeration. Listening to God’s Word as I slowly ready myself most mornings has worked well for me.

🎈 THE GREAT-GRANDBOY
We’re grabbing every chance we get to spend a few days with our little guy. I’ve almost stopped calling him ‘THE BABY’ because he’s become a full-on powerhouse of enthusiastic energy and a boundless source of entertainment. Every moment together brings us the deepest happiness and way too much laughter.

These are the good old days.

What’s saving your summertime life, friend? Discoveries, brainstorms, delights? I’m here for it all.

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And if you don’t have time to put your feet up and chat, please tap on that little 🤍 below to say ‘hi.’ The Substack algorithms get all happy when you do this. Me, too!

‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.’
(Philemon 1:25)

Linda

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Thanks for using these Amazon links. Shop ‘til you drop! I’m an Amazon Associate and it’s a win/win for both of us. I appreciate your faithful support.

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Hello again, dear reading buddies!

I hope this delectable season is treating you well and that you have access to a great big fan blowing cool breezes your way. And more than enough ice cream to keep you happy and satisfied.

Speaking of ice cream -

Four generations of my family have been huge fans of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s fictional Amish work. These days, my granddaughter has her sweet great-grandma’s copies on her own bookshelf which makes me smile every time I see them standing quietly in a row.

And now this beloved author has written a trio of delightfully light-hearted stories, The Cape Cod Creamery Series - The Sweet Life. The Secret to Happiness. Love on a Whim.

What’s not to love?!

In this refreshingly new genre, you’ll meet Dawn and Marnie, Callie and Brynn (and the unique men that come into their lives, of course). The saga kicks off with a mother/daughter team refurbishing a charmingly decrepit shop in downtown Chatham.

Right on my very own Cape Cod turf, there’s plenty of relationship drama with assorted family and friends, love lost and found, business dilemmas that need creative answers, and yummy goodies on every page.

I’ve happily devoured these books and I’m here to tell you this is the perfect trio to toss into your beach bag or load right onto your Kindle. A true summertime feast for all your lady friends, young and old.

The Cape Cod Creamery Series

🍨

THE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐KINDLE DEALS
(Grab ‘em quick, they don’t last long!)
Restless: Because You Were Made for More
Jennie Allen $1.99

Redeeming Heartache: How Past Suffering Reveals Our True Calling
Dan Allender $2.99

The Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod
Henry Beston $2.99

Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married
Gary Chapman $2.99

12 ‘Christian’ Beliefs That Can Drive You Crazy
Henry Cloud & John Townsend $1.99

Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children
Henry Cloud & John Townsend $1.99

Making Small Groups Work: What Every Small Group Leader Needs to Know
Henry Cloud & John Townsend $1.99

Connecting: Healing for Ourselves & Our Relationships
Larry Crabb $2.99

Suffering Is Never for Nothing
Elisabeth Elliot $4.99

The Magnolia Story
Chip & Joanna Gaines $1.99

God Does His Best Work with Empty
Nancy Guthrie $2.99

The Love Dare Day by Day: A Year of Devotions for Couples
Stephen Kendrick $4.99

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, & a Mother’s Will to Survive
Stephanie Land $2.99

The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis $2.99

The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can’t
Erin Loechner $1.99

Praying God’s Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds
Beth Moore $4.99

Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope in Hard Times
Henri Nouwen $1.99

Awaken: 90 Days with the God Who Speaks
Priscilla Shirer $4.99

Come Close to Jesus: What to Pray When You Need the Lord to Still Your Thoughts, Calm Your Heart, & Guide Your Way
Lysa TerKeurst $1.99

One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces
Ann Voskamp $1.99

The Sea Glass Sisters
Lisa Wingate $2.99

The Sea Keeper’s Daughters
Lisa Wingate $2.99

Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids
Sarah Young $2.99

🍨

WOW!
30 SUMMERTIME BOOKMARKS + 30 TAGS

30 Different Bookmarks
&
30 Pink Ribbon Tags
$4.99

Well that’s it, gang.

I’d love to hear what books are keeping you company this month, what volumes are patiently awaiting your attention, and any finds here today that you’re putting in your Amazon cart. And yes, I’m an Amazon Affiliate. Your purchases are a win/win for both of us!

And be sure to always tap that little 🤍 below if you liked this or you want to send a quick hug or don’t have time to chat. It means the world to know that you’re here!

Linda

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Hello again! I’ve been missing you all. And yet it’s been really good to continue this summertime on again off again writing rhythm.

Late Saturday afternoon, we hauled ourselves out of the car and dragged all the accumulated gear back into the house after a truly wonderful week away at Camp up in the Adirondacks with the family. We threw open the windows wide and began sorting through the bags and piles, randomly stacking stuff on counters, table, and staircase, the menagerie of objects patiently waiting their turn to be toted to their rightful places.

Even as I got the washer spinning, I realized I was singing (most likely off key), ‘Hey, it’s good to be back home again. Sometimes this old house feels like a long lost friend. Hey, it’s good to be back home again.’

On repeat.

After awhile, I checked out the lyrics from John Denver’s 1974 multi-platinum album, Back Home Again. And found out it’s not ‘this old house’, it’s ‘this old farm’.

But the truth remains.

A huge sigh of relief comes unbidden when we turn the key in the kitchen door’s lock and return to our little home tucked between the ever-changing bay and the deep blue sea. This is the space God uses to anchor, to give us a sense of place, an offering of restorative rest and reset.

As we’ve settled in again, we’ve been comparing notes, too many to count, newly minted memories, that are now finding a cherished place to lodge somewhere deep inside. Like this one here, a grandfather who shall remain nameless doing handsprings and flips on the sandy beach that he had no business doing, refusing to say no to a granddaughter’s dare.

But the real gems are those unplanned 1-1 moments, the unexpected walks and unpredictable talks. The kind that continue to build layer upon layer of trust with our children’s children as they shift slowly but surely into adulthood.

These cherished encounters invite us to listen well. To avoid pat answers. To keep on learning. And at this juncture of life? I see these as sacred opportunities to simply spend time in each other’s company. Sheer gift because who knows when we’ll be together again?

God knows our reality in this season of life. And it’s a hard, yet necessary place to be. We gift our next generation wings to fly, don’t we. We keep on releasing them, over and over again, into His kind yet powerful keeping.

Meanwhile, we’ll be here catching our breath for a few weeks before we pack up and head out for another jaunt. And we’ll repeat these come-and-go rhythms well into September, God willing.

So right now, I’m relishing the peace and quiet stillness that defines our life in this place. For this is where we refill and refuel. This is where we process life and love and loss and hope.

I know what I need to do to re-emerge into the present and to do it well. This practice of routinely embracing solitude and silence in order to process life’s intracacies is one that will forever be my heartbeat.

Proverbs 14:1 reminds us that ‘The wise woman builds her house.’ And through all those decades of marriage and mothering, the homekeeping and friendship nurturing, the ministry leadership and counseling and caring for my mom and all the things, it’s in this home space, whatever four walls we are living in, that God renews my strength - physically, emotionally, spiritually.

The work God does in this place restores our souls as the Psalmist wrote in the 23rd chapter. Not so we can be happy or content, but so we can find the deepest rest that equips us to head out the door to wherever He’s called us to next, to do what He has for us to do.

With a focused energy and purpose.

Deepest gratitude.

And a steady joy that sometimes makes absolutely no sense at all.

So yes, it’s so very good to be home again. It’s His grace, His kindness that leads us back to these four walls.
Linda

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MORE ON HOME . . .

*

*

*

‘Instead, she paused.

She waited.

She savored.

And in the savoring, her spirit was satisfied.’
Hannah Brencher, Advent 2025

Hello again, dear ones.

It’s been a few moments since we connected. I truly am happy to visit with you again. Some days it feels like a substantial piece is missing from the puzzle, that long established rhythm of life, this online work I’ve embraced for decades.

Writing demands a quiet arena, an exacting urgency, a thoughtful presence. Stepping away has fed my soul. Increased my bandwidth. And enabled me to be fully present to all that has swirled and twirled around me.

It’s always a good thing to step away from what you love creating in order to take a breath and pour yourself into connecting deeply with the real life people right in front of you.

Whoever they may be.

I didn’t realize how much I was craving this unfettered freedom ‘til I totally immersed myself in our family celebration weekend and never even thought of picking up my phone to play the self-appointed family photographer during any of the three parties - the graduation, the birthday, or the anniversary.

A first, for sure.

And no regrets. To be fully in the moment, soaking in all the joy, completely captivated by the people I love most - their presence, their conversation, their antics.

There’s a kind of sheer glory, this realization yet again, that these are the good old days. And the stark reality that family gatherings just might become fewer as those I love move ahead into their adult lives. Education. Relationships. Escapades. Callings.

Still very much a vibrant part of this growing extended family, yet figuring out who they are becoming, creating their own unique pathways, hopefully following God’s lead to places yet unknown.

There’s a very peaceful offering in holding the next generations loosely yet loving them lavishly, banging on heaven’s door for their unique needs, releasing them over and over again into God’s care. Sitting back and watching expectantly sure beats painfully clutching with desperate, fearful hands. Trying to control, manipulate. Rescue, fix, or save.

Fully believing that God is perfectly willing and able to do ‘more than we can ask or imagine’ in their lives (Ephesians 3:20), and in our lives too, as we continue the joyful task of releasing, cheering them on, and sharing our well-worn opinions only upon request.

I can’t think of a place I’d rather be than in the center of His call to love well. And to leave the results in His all wise yet tender keeping.

Linda

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Hey guys!

When I flip the calendar over to June, summer magically appears.

You, too?

Quiet porch life. Warm sunshine. Grilled hamburgers and sweet corn on the cob. The tried and true flip flops. The beach. Long awaited visits with the great-grandboy (and the rest of the family, of course!) Home brewed sun tea. Gardening in the rain. The quiet whirrr of the fan. The heft of a great big book. Evening excursions to the Ice Cream Cafe.

Yet hard things happen too, and right now my thoughts and feelings are here, there, and everywhere. A few days back, my favorite podcaster gathered all the things up into three (oops, four) descriptive sentences.

I felt seen and heard.

‘When you haven't quite left something but haven't quite entered the next thing, it's viscerally obvious, at least for me.

I feel extra tired, more sensitive to headaches, and prone to melancholy.

I'm also more at ease, more lenient, and laughing a lot.

I don't get it either.’
- Kendra Adachi, Latest Lazy Listens

👒
Recently, a few friends told me how much they love Thursday morning’s 6 a.m. arrival of PORCH in their inbox. It made my eyes pool just a bit, hearing how each of them were encouraged and strengthened by what they read at o’dark thirty, even though their seasons of life are as different as can be.

Years back, this would have fed my endlessly needy ego. These days, kind and generous words bring me a deep, wordless joy. And a warm affirmation that yes, this is the work the Lord has given me to cultivate and nurture in this season.

Please know that I am grateful to come alongside you, to be a faithful companion in this online world we live in.

Playing to an audience of One instead of trying to people please has made a huge difference in how I approach writing. Those ‘yes, I’d love to’ and those ‘no, I’m sorry, I won’t be able to’ opportunities. And how I pretty much do life in general.

2 Corinthians 5:9 says it all - ‘So we make it our goal to please Him.’ There’s so much freedom in Paul’s words as well as an invitation to a life of ongoing, steady discernment, a careful listening and ready obedience to the voice of the Spirit who whispers, ‘this is the way, walk ye in it’ (Isaiah 30:21).

👒

I’ll be in and out, here and there this summer. Nothing will arrive in your inbox like clockwork. There’ll be no traditional schedule, just a friendly drop in as the Spirit moves.

But I am leaving you with 2 things 👇

• Catch me on my SUBSTACK NOTES PAGE. Short and sweet super-mini-posts! The best of what I’m reading, a gathering of random snapshots I’m taking, an intro to other like-minded writers. You can like, comment, and share just like you do here all the time. Bookmark and come surprise me, ok?!

• And since summer was tailor-made for reading, here’s a whole slew of my top favorite titles from recent years. You’re sure to find something with your name on it. (I’d love to hear what you’re choosing!)

A Ginormous Book Bonanza 🎅 Porch #202

Porch #162 📚 My 4 favorite books in 2024

My 4 Favorite Books 📚 (Porch #122 & The December Bookbag)

This weekend?

Celebrating a brilliant and beautiful granddaughter’s high school graduation. Our little guy’s 1st birthday. And our 50th anniversary (somehow unintentionally yet serendipitously scheduled on the date of my parents’ wedding 74 years ago!)

Let’s talk summer routines and rhythms and surprises! And thanks for tapping the little heart below. It means the world to see your name pop up on my Substack screen.

Love you all & missing you already,
Linda 👒

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Oh friends, we do like quick answers to prayer. Kind of like zipping through a trouble free, fast food drive-through.

We crisply place our order.

Hold this.

Extra that, please.

Proceed steadily forward.

Swipe the card.

Grab the goodies.

And away we go.

As we wait for God to answer our prayers, it’s not all that unusual for us humans to develop a rather demanding spirit, stamping our impatient little feet like a tantruming two year old, trying to finagle outcomes to our requests.

Laser focused on hearing a resounding YES for very specific items or clear cut agendas we’ve spelled out to Him, we easily forget to pray and truly mean, ‘THY will be done.’

What if doors never seem to swing open wide or we’re becoming more frantically disappointed as we wearily rattle the reluctant doorknob or continually kick at the splintered wood?

What if it feels like the heavens are closed to the cries of our frustrated, saddened, or anxious hearts?

What if we’re not even sure anymore that God cares?

What if He’s got something up His celestial sleeve far worse than we ever imagined?

This may sound odd, but I’ve learned to pray for the closed door.

A closed door that doesn’t budge no matter what I do.

This is supremely helpful for me. And I think He understands.

Our faith in Christ morphs and stretches as we slowly learn to fully trust Him with whatever He has for us. Especially if it’s news we’ve got no interest in hearing.

As we indulge in less hand wringing, throw all our preconceived agendas to the wind, faithfully pray for His will to be done, and become truly willing to listen up, the Sacred Doorkeeper stills our agitated exhaustion.

He gently offers hopeful direction to our newly eager-to-discern hearts, inviting us to a deeper, more substantial level of faith, even as we continue to bide our time in His sacred waiting room.

The Holy Spirit whispers, ‘No, this door is not going to open for you. But keep on moving forward, my dear child, because I’ve got one down the hallway with your name on it. Accept and embrace My peace. I know the plans I have for you and all will be well.’

May we become quicker to unclutch our grasping hands and let our wearying strivings cease, choosing instead to focus on discerning His lovingkindness and direction in the waiting room. And may His best and brightest will become crystal clear to us, in His time.
Linda

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We’re back together again, friends.

And maybe you’re coming to the table, well, kind of off kilter.

Hungry.

Thirsty.

Edgy.

Soul weary.

Often we know we’re famished. Parched in spirit. Other times we don’t fully comprehend the impact of the yawning depths of the emptiness within.

Spiritual hunger unquenched often comes disguised as physical or emotional exhaustion.

And our quest for relief becomes relentlessly misguided as we head down yet another wrong path, looking for some thing, some feeling, some person that will satisfy. We crave a quick fix, an easy solution, a rush of dopamine, a sugar high.

The applause of the crowd.

But only God.

He quenches the thirst and fills the aching void. He Himself is our ultimate satisfaction, our living water, our spiritual manna, the source of life itself.

Holy Spirit, please do what You do best - comfort, refresh, convict, prompt, guide, protect, calm, and strengthen. Delight us with an abundance of Your refreshing presence. We hunger and thirst for more of You.

Fill us to overflowing with great big helpings of the fruit of Your Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
(Galatians 5)

Mold us and re-make us to look more like Jesus. For His name’s sake. And for our spiritual growth, emotional sanity, and physical well being.

Amen and amen.
Linda

Soul weary friends, the table is set for your arrival. Let’s talk and pray together.

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PORCH
A CHRIST-CENTERED
WEEKEND NEWSLETTER
gentle conversation & calming snapshots
uplifting linkage & occasional surprises
for those who delight in doing life
in the company of kindred spirits

📚

It wasn’t long after we moved here that I stopped in the library one day and handed my card to the librarian with a cheerful 'Good Morning!' and a bit of a smile.

'Oh, so you're Linda Stoll!'

'Uh, yeah,' I replied, a bit surprised as I wondered what she was getting at.

'I see your name here all the time to pick up reserved books,' she chirped.

I smiled.

'Yep, I love reading.'

Welcome to this month’s Literary Chatter! The library's long been a welcoming haven, a site tinged with pleasant anticipation, a bit of a treasure trove as far back as I can remember.

The scent of many books gathered under one roof is like no other. It’s been described as, 'a combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness.'

And in a test of unlabeled and concealed smells, a vast majority of 79 participants identified old books as smelling kind of like chocolate. And coffee.

No wonder embracing an armload of books is sheer delight!

If the library’s long been your best, safest friend ... if you crave the scent, the touch, the heft of a much-borrowed book in your hands, these award winning historical fiction masterpieces have your name written all over them.

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The War Librarian: A Novel
Addison Armstrong
Deftly weaving together stories from 1918 and 1976, this is a ’captivating historical novel about the sacrifice and courage necessary to live a life of honor, inspired by the first female volunteer librarians during World War I and the first women accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy.’

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The Personal Librarian
Maria Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
’A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, a Black American woman … famous for her intellect, style, and wit … and the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.’

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The Paris Library: A Novel
Janet Skeslien Charles
Paris, 1939 meets Montana, 1983 in this award winning novel, intertwining the friendship of women as ‘courageous librarians resist Nazis through books during WWII, while decades later, a teen unravels her neighbor's dark secret connected to that era.’

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The Library Book
Susan Orlean
From the author's own personal investigation of the disastrous 1986 L.A. Public Library fire, to the joys of books, the life of librarians, and the quirkiness of those who hang out in these beloved public buildings, this is a unique behind the scenes view of the magical world of books and the places that house them.

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The Underground Library: A Novel
Jennifer Ryan
When the London blitz of the early ‘40s destroys the public library, three women, each with their own unique stories, roll up their sleeves and relocate the community’s hub down into the underground rail station where the neighborhood finds nightly safe shelter.

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VINTAGE LIBRARY SCENTED CANDLE

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‘Libraries aren’t only about books; they’re about people. They’re about human life, how books can mend hearts, comfort wounds, and inspire us. But most of all, books can bring people together. Their ideas and thoughts make us realize that we are not alone, that we are all connected.’
- Jennifer Ryan

📚

I’d love to hear your library memories, your historical fiction picks, or a bit about your favorite read so far this spring!

Here’s to the books we cherish & the friends we share them with.
Linda

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PORCH
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🛒 I appreciate all of you who are supporting my work when you click on any Amazon link here & then shop ‘til you drop. A few cents go into my pocket at no extra cost to you ever. You’re happy, I’m happy, and it’s a win-win.

Dear Mom,

It’s a windy Cape Cod afternoon and Tim and I are snuggled up on the porch together. I remember how ecstactic you were the first time you made your way to what was then our brand new room. You were lovingly surrounded by the kiddos, on their absolute best behavior because their Great Ma was making an appearance and she was ready to hear their stories but the adults didn’t want her overwhelmed or jostled in the process.

Fast forward a whole bunch of years. I couldn’t quite figure out what I was going to write for Mother’s Day, but a few days ago this letter, straight from my heart to yours, began taking shape in my mind.

I thought that maybe sharing it would somehow bring you the honor you always deserved, but also encourage others who’ve lost their moms. To let them know that they’re not alone in their sadness and their yearning and the three steps forward two steps back dance of grieving well.

And to remind us all again that seeing our often jumbled thoughts in black and white can be another step forward in each of our unique healing journeys.

I think you’d say this is ok even though you were a very private person and nobody needed to know your business.

You were always focused on encouraging others. You did it with all those beautiful hand-written cards and those meticulously type-written notes and poems that still hang on people’s refrigerators or can be found folded and tucked in the pages of Bibles. Cherished remembrances of a dear friend who invested her life in faithfully loving others well.

And the quietly whispered phone calls behind closed doors as you listened to the hard stories of those God sent your way, dispensing wise advice when needed. Always in strict confidence.

💌

It’s almost 4 years since Jesus took you Home. I held you and kissed you and wept over you after you passed into His awaiting arms. You had suffered for so long and I couldn’t help but be thankful that those endless years filled with struggle and pain were over.

But oh, the finality of the loss of you and the lament that followed was almost too much to bear.

Forgive us for not being able to somehow get that pain relief you so desperately needed along the way. God knows how hard we tried. Forgive us for seldom being able to show our familiar faces, the ever present masks keeping our lips from kissing your smooth cheek, the cloth layers hiding smiles and obnoxiously muffling our voices. Forgive us for not being able to discern what you were trying so insistently to tell us in those final weeks.

It was an awful season. The endless quarantine. The q-tips up our noses every day we went to see you. The isolation. The exhaustion and the fear and the anticipatory grief. The hypervigilance of loving someone going on and off and on hospice yet again, slowly making her way Home.

It almost did me in.

💌

I think of you each day. I know others do, too. The impact of your loving kindness has radiated near and far. Your lasting legacy is every single one of the fruit of the Spirit spelled out in Galatians 5 - ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.’

Every. Single. Attribute.

That was who you were through and through.

💌

A few months after you left, your oldest grandson reminded me that I was now the family matriarch. It was not a mantle I was ready for. But I feel your presence with me day in and day out. When I reach for your biscuit recipe or cut brownies with your pie server or hand Marilyn your favorite mug for her mid-morning tea break.

I find myself singing my way through the days just like you did, all the old hymns, every verse.

Your family continues to grow and flourish. Since you left, another great-grandson and a great-great grandson have joined the happy throng! The videos of their antics bring us such joy. I know that you and Dad would go bananas over these little guys. Oh how I wish you could see them learning to walk and talk and play - like ‘real boys,’ you’d say.

Maybe you do catch glimpses. I don’t know.

Can you believe that more than half of your great-grandchildren are young adults now? They are spread up and down the east coast, a delightful bunch - each one uniquely themselves. Witty, zany, sparkling conversationalists. I never laugh more than when we’re together even though it’s only a few times a year.

And they love Cape Cod and Camp just as much as you did.

So many milestones and escapades, missions trips and adventures you would have enthusiastically leaned forward to hear about. Dad would be digging out his huge atlas and you would have tracked their worldwide journeys with steady prayer and the greatest of curiosity and interest.

The great-granddaughters are wearing your jewelry for special occasions. The 1950’s rhinestone necklaces, the strand of pearls. My heart absolutely melts when I see their eyes sparkle because they too know you would absolutely be thrilled.

💌

And yes, there’s been more challenges than we might like to admit. But I don’t think you’d be alarmed or thrown by anything that’s come our way. You always listened attentively. You lived a prayerful and non-judgmental life. You loved lavishly and always found the good in every one of your people.

God knows you and Dad certainly cared deeply and prayed faithfully for all of us along the way. If you’re interceding in heaven, please don’t stop, ok?

💌

I’ve always said I wanted to be like you when I grow up. You left big shoes to fill and I freely admit I still have a long ways to go. There’s stories and family history I want to hear yet again. And there’s so much I want to tell you.

The ache of missing you comes at the oddest of times. An unearthed memory from another time, another place. A beautiful sunset over Cape Cod Bay. An old tune from a nameless hymn. Wheeling past the shelf of Belvitas at the grocery store. A deeply embellished memory. The delicious aroma from Marilyn’s kitchen.

Yearning for one of your kindest words of affirmation that always made me feel valued and seen.

My eyes are starting to brim over which is certainly not a rare occurance in this season. So I’ll close by saying how much I love you. Forever and always. I am still beyond grateful that you’re with Jesus, freed from your earthly prison of pain, singing God’s praises with Daddy and all those we love, especially the precious ones we lost far too soon.

Oh and one more thing. Please forgive me for insisting that the funeral home move your casket right before the service so it would be centered under the cross. You would have been horrified but it was off-center and it was making me crazy.

Always His, always yours,
Linda xo

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💌 Sending a Letter on Wings to My Dad

PORCH
Your go-to weekend companion.
Discover a fresh perspective
Energize your mind
Scoop up some spiritual sustenance
Get unstuck
Share your story

🤍 = a much needed Mother’s Day hug

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.
- Hosea 6:3

Spring has sprung and I am loving it.

Raw, rainy weather can't keep us New Englanders down. Listen to me talking like I've lived here forever when it’s only been a bit past a decade. Truth is that I’m a washashore, aka ‘someone who was not born and raised on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket.’

And even though multi-hued daffodils and purple azaleas have slowly but surely burst into vibrant bloom, the ocean's frigid temperatures have kept us reaching for our sweatshirts, cradling hot mugs of tea laced with honey, and enfolding ourselves in flannel sheets at night.

A fine mist seems to have permanently draped itself like a fragile veil, not only over the ferns settled atop the big metal milk cans outside the kitchen door, but also the stubborn buds emerging from the dark, dormant earth.

And then wonder of wonders, the heavy low clouds scoot off to sea, the sun pops out of nowhere, and brilliant blue paints the skies.

Throwing open our windows wide, we’re outside in a flash, welcoming the long yearned for warmth and beauty that’s nonchalantly meandered our way. Our lungs breathe in the salty, fresh air and we sigh deeply with relief as we feel ourselves relax into this long awaited season.

The forsythia blooms like crazy.

Combining packets of wildflower and sunflower seeds, I randomly sow them around and about our little library out by the road, crossing my fingers that it won’t be long ‘til they put down roots that’ll deliver the goods.

I grab the rusty trowel and work in a bit of bone meal around the sprouting daffodils even though it’s probably the wrong time of year to do so.

And then I head to my compost pile.

Turning it. Sifting through it. Tossing sticks and leaves that have no interest in being there. Digging out the black gold that’s miraculously morphed from all manner of rotting kitchen debris, vacuum contents, disintegrated garden castoffs, and plenty of salvaged coffee grounds.

Working this potential soil enhancer is one of my therapies of choice.

I get Mr. Handyman to drag the vintage concrete urn out from its cobwebby hiding place in the garage while I decide to put his father’s ancient metal toy rowboat to good use. Both get filled with hand-dug soil and smiling purple and yellow pansies.

He creates a nesting box for owls out of re-claimed wood scraps and climbs 20 feet or so, far too high for my liking, to attach it to the awaiting tree trunk.

And then there’s walking. Always with my Merlin bird app at the ready.

On the waters edge, eyes wide open for the illusive seaglass, unusual shells, and pieces of driftwood, bossy seagulls screeching their hellos again.

Doing the labyrinth a couple towns over, quietly praying Scripture keeps cadence with the rhythm of my slow but steadily moving feet.

And then there’s the winding Red Maple Swamp trail near Fort Hill with old friends. And downtown Chatham’s quirky shops with the energetic 15 year old granddaughter. The neighborhood’s side roads that lead to the bike trail where we could walk forever if we had the energy.

I couldn’t be more grateful.

Absorbing and appreciating God’s grand creation is breathing fresh life into my soul this spring. What are the saving graces in your life these days?

Linda

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A decade ago, Mom arranged the pansies just so. These days, my sister wears one of those golden rings and I wear the other.

🌻

thanks for tapping that little heart below

i do believe that’s my love language!

🌻

My Substack tagline or byline or whatever you want to call it?

One of my favorite roles in nurturing your own unique walk through life’s seasons is sharing resources I’ve gathered along the way in my roles as pastoral counselor, mental health coach, and ministry leader.

You’ll always find the most current Wellness Resources link at the top of my Grace & Space home page, aka LindaStoll.substack.com.

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Please note that Linda Stoll is not in private practice & is not a licensed mental health practitioner. These well-being resources are offered as information only & were accurate at the time of posting. Please contact your physician for all your mental health questions and needs.

Share

📌 IN CRISIS?
CALL 911 - tell operator that it is a mental health emergency & you need a CCIT or CIT trained officer (US & Canada)
or
988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline
CALL or TEXT 988 (US & Canada)
or
go immediately to your local hospital emergency room
or
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800.799.7233 (US & Canada)

📌 NEED SERVICES & ASSISTANCE?
Food, Health, Housing. Caregiver, Disaster Relief
CALL 211 (US & Canada)

Find Your Local Food Bank (US only)

📌 SELF-EVALUATIONS
Adult Mental Health

BLESS Needs Self-Assessment

Compassion Satisfaction Quiz

Pediatric Symptom Check List

📌 FIND A COUNSELOR
Christian Counselors Network

Christian Care Connect

Psychology Today

📌 ON CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS
Cape Cod Christian Counseling
774.722.5919

Cape & Islands Hunger Network

Food Access & Resources for Barnstable County

Harbor Christian Counseling
617.299.6516

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Resources for Barnstable County, MA

Vicky Soponski, MSW
508.441.4941

📌 SUPPORT GROUPS
Celebrate Recovery

Divorce Care

GriefShare

Alcoholics Anonymous

📌 SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL WORKERS
Careport Counseling
help when you’re far from home

Global Counseling Network
clinical . faithful . human

Thrive Ministry
replenishing women ministering overseas

Valeo
clinical care for global workers

📌 STRONGER: 10 DAYS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Free Video Series with Dr. Zach Clinton

📌 MARRIAGE
Leslie Vernick & Co.
biblically-based resources & virtual coaching for women in unhealthy & destructive marriages

Prepare/Enrich
the #1 premarital & marriage assessment for over 45 years

Weekend to Remember
one weekend . 75 locations . 100% satisfaction guarantee

📌 FAMILY
Be ScreenStrong

The Center for Faith, Sexuality, & Gender

Disability Parenting

Estrangement with Adult Children

Family Activity Kit for Fortitude & Resilience

Helping Children Cope with Traumatic Events

Neurodivergent Families

📌 WORKBOOKS

The Freedom from Depression Workbook
Carter & Minirth

The Anger Workbook: An Interactive Guide to Anger Management
Carter & Minirth

The Anger Workbook for Christian Parents
Carter & Minirth

The Worry Workbook: 12 Steps to Anxiety-Free Living
Carter & Minirth

The Choosing to Forgive Workbook: Discover Contentment & Peace By Letting Go of Harmful Anger
Carter & Minirth

The Try Softer Guided Journey: A Soulful Companion to Healing
Aundi Kolber

📌 MEDITATION
Soulspace Online 5 Minute Christian Meditation


📌 KATE BOWLER CARE PACKAGES
Caregiving Happens

Church-Hurt Happens

Empathy Happens

Grief Happens

Illness Happens

Ministry Happens


📌 MINISTRY TRAINING
American Association of Christian Counselors
faith-based care & counsel tools & certifications

Christian Trauma Healing Network
training, collaboration & resource-sharing for mental health professionals, pastors, agencies & lay ministers

Spiritual First Aid Academy
all-inclusive online learning platform transforming how everyday Christian helpers, churches, organizations, & networks care for mental health

Stephen Ministries
equipping congregations to provide one-to-one care for people experiencing life difficulties

📋

I hope these resources give you some hands-on, hopeful direction. Please bookmark and share with your friends and family, pastors and ministry leaders.

Let’s chat about these recommendations and your own wellness info in the comment section. See a broken link or needed correction? Please let me know!

And as always, may Jesus Christ, our Wounded Healer, be praised.
Linda

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Please note that Linda Stoll is not in private practice & is not a licensed mental health practitioner. These well-being resources are offered as information only & were accurate at the time of posting. Please contact your physician for all your mental health questions and needs.

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📚

📚

If it’s the middle of the month, it’s time for Literary Chatter!

I’m no genius, but I can pretty much tell if a book I’m reading now will make it to my personal Best Of list at the end of the year. As of mid-April, these books are on that list:

Theo of Golden: A Novel
Allen Levi

When I’m reading a book that’s captivated me, I don’t put it down. I just keep on barreling through it like I’m in a race to the finish line.

Not Theo.

I simply couldn’t.

After each chapter or two, I had to put this volume down. There’s so much to consider, to muse over. Gentle nuances that deserve reflection. Small graces written in simple sentences. Little details with profound messages that come back and lodge in my awaiting heart. Kindness, generosity, joy, and sorrow all mingling together make this book a real life forever classic.

That’s Theo.

*

66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God that Invites You into His Story
Dr. Larry Crabb
If you’re like me and you struggle making your way through the Old Testament, Larry Crabb’s your guide. He’ll help you put all those pieces of the puzzle together so that eager readers end up captivated by God’s great love story written for us all.

In this Bible reading companion written by one of the leaders of the Christian counseling movement, each book of the Bible gets its own one or two sentence overview. ‘What does God want me to hear from this love letter?’ Dr. Crabb unpacks this overview in a compelling conversational, first person dialogue that will help bring clarification to those hardest books to understand, as well as a renewed joy in the New Testament books that we love and the Jesus we’re yearning for.

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The Sensible Shoes Series: Sensible Shoes / Two Steps Forward / Barefoot / The Extra Mile
Sharon Garlough Brown
’Four Strangers, One Retreat Center, A Story of Transformation’

The exhausted pastor. The driven college student. The lonely widow. The abused wife. This fictional genre-crossing series weaves tender stories of four very different women together with the life saving spiritual formation practices they’ve learned during hard times.

Surprisingly, as their stories unfold, you’ll probably glimpse yourself in each of the characters.

As their little foursome learned about breath prayer, it rekindled my own practice of deep breathing God’s Word into my anxious, overwrought soul.

Like this:

INHALE: Taste and see

EXHALE: That the Lord is good

INHALE: Blessed is the one

EXHALE: Who takes refuge in Him
- Psalm 34:8

I’m a huge fan of this fictional account of significant spiritual journeys, best read with other kindred spirits. Be sure you gather a few friends around you and get ready to dive deep into powerful conversation. It’ll make the series’ impact stronger as your sisters share what God is doing in their own hungry, expectant hearts.

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Braving the Truth: Essential Essays For Reckoning With & Reimagining Faith
Rachel Held Evans, edited by Sarah Bessey
’For a generation finding their footing in life after evangelicalism, Rachel Held Evans was one of the most trusted and beloved voices of our time. Stubborn in her hope, courageous in her questions, and devoted to inclusivity, her online writing was a sanctuary to the millions who read her words daily. Her death to a sudden illness in 2019 invoked a global outpouring of stories of her legacy and influence.’

These selected essays on evolving faith, navigating doubt, the patriarchy, religious nationalism, and gender issues will remind the reader why Rachel was known as the voice of progressive Christianity. A profound journey of faith, lovingly documented in one simple volume.

*

And how ‘bout this cute springtime cap!

Yes, it comes in gray, burgundy, and khaki, too. A perfect gift for your favorite bookish people. Think graduation, birthdays, and yes, Christmas!

📚

So . . . what’s your favorite read so far this year? And titles that might make your own Best Of list?
Linda

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Hello friends. It’s been a week.

Maundy Thursday supper and communion with dear brothers and sisters in Christ. A bouquet of perky yellow tulips from a friend. Reopening my Little Library after she was snowbound for months. Quietly enjoying our 50th anniversary. Some sad news. Happily receiving the gift of scrumptious sourdough bread from a friend. Celebrating Easterversary with my sister’s jolly family. Preparing for an upcoming Grief Workshop. Lots of outdoor spring clean-up. With great relief, sorting through and donating clothes that have long outlived their usefulness. THE video of our great-grandson’s first steps! A soothing massage. Lining up appointments to counsel women in overseas ministry. Cooking a turkey breast in a crockpot (yes you can it’s so easy).

And starting a series of unexpected, unpleasant dental appointments that has sapped any creative energy I might have had left.

So I’m needing to shift gears and take a breather. And with delight, sharing the work of others that I’ve found deeply compelling, enlightening, and yes, soul-tugging.

All that good stuff.

The Art of Turndown Service: My Nightly Ritual For More Peace + Coziness
Hannah Brencher
’After a day spent lounging by the pool, you could text the concierge to request turndown service. They’d send someone to reset the room—dim the lights, arrange the bed, and even draw a bubble bath on the patio if I wanted. Honestly, I still dream about that nightly ritual …’

Take the First Steps Toward Deep Friendship
Michele Morin
’Loneliness is the fruit of lives that are scheduled to the point of strangulation. Add to that the effects of social media, tricking us into believing we’re connecting with “our people” when we affirm their vacation photos with a click and comment on the video of their new puppy …’

Weddings Are a Crucible in Family Life
Rachel Haack, LMFT
’There are particular moments in the life of a family that seem to function as accelerants—moments when relationships that had previously felt stable or manageable suddenly become strained, exposed, or uncertain. Again and again, when people tell the story of how things began to change, the timeline circles back to one of these events …’

The Strong One: When Caregiving Reorganizes Your Soul
Christine Vaughan Davies & Kimberly Knowle-Zeller
’I asked Jules how she was holding up. She dodged my questions about herself and would turn the conversation back to her mom’s situation. Try as I might to inquire about her own care and coping, her refrain was, “My stuff doesn’t matter, I’m here to focus on her” …’

*

*
A BREATH PRAYER
INHALE: Peace I leave you

EXHALE: My peace I give you

INHALE: I do not give

EXHALE: As the world gives

INHALE: Do not let your heart be troubled

EXHALE: And do not be afraid
- John 14:27 🕊️

*

May this weekend find you surrounded by grace, energized by hope, and calmed by His peace.
Linda

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Love one another deeply,
from the heart.

1 Peter 1:22

It’s Easter week and I’m here to tell you that yes, everyone is broken some way, some how.

This plays out differently for each of us. There’s no one size fits all.

We have no idea what has occurred in the messy weaving of another soul’s storyline. We can’t fully appreciate another’s unique brokenness and if we try we’ll come far short of grasping the immensity of its impact on the way they live their lives.

We don’t have a clue about another’s gene pool, upbringing, trauma, losses, catastrophes, betrayals, or other unspeakable circumstances they’ve had to make their way through.

As my brother-in-law says, ‘you didn’t grow up at their kitchen table.’

*

Some of us hide our pain quite well under a mask of fake-happy or phony spiritual piety or maybe self-isolation. And then there’s the commonly accepted addictions to food, shopping, work, relationships. Certainly our ever present screens. We gossip and slander in weird subconscious attempts to puff ourselves up, hoping that we’ll somehow be seen as doing just fine even as our emotional and spiritual pain churns deep within.

Others are not able to hide their pain and it emerges in addiction to dangerous substances. Catastrophic choices, abusive behavior, broken sexuality. Violence, serious mental illness, and other tragic scenarios often fueled by intense fear or sorrow, and the belief that no one really cares.

Jesus weeps.

*

Misery and suffering come with living in a broken world. So let’s not dare to be judge and jury, try to manipulate or fix, wield a Bible like a sledgehammer, or come up with simplistic 1 - 2 - 3 solutions to life-shattering heartbreak.

Instead, let’s look to Jesus where we will find rest and strength for our own weary souls. And in doing so, we are enabled to join Him in His healing work.

To be a safe harbor as we listen well.

To discern what’s being whispered behind all the smoke and mirrors. To offer mercy and kindness. To be light bearers, lending wisdom, offering hope, elevating hard conversations to new heights. Living out true peace and lavish grace.

Cultivating the compassion of the risen Christ.

Loving deeply from the heart.

*

May this sacred week be a cause for hope, gratitude, and joy. May you find yourself leaning into wisdom, listening well to the quiet ones, and offering genuine kindness.

And always, always, may you hear the Spirit gently, steadily whisper, 'this is the way, walk ye in it.'

Because He is risen indeed. Just as He said He would.

And His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.

Isaiah 30:21
Matthew 28:6
2 Peter 1:3

⛵

Linda

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Hi, it’s me.

I hauled the chippy white flea market coffee table from the living room out onto the porch. Which I did after I moved the ancient night table from the guest bedroom onto the porch to use as a little coffee bar. And dragged one of the white wicker end tables from the porch into the bedroom to take its place.

That morning, my husband said, ‘So, you want the brown trunk from up in the nest brought upstairs into the loft.’

(the nest is the room above the garage that used to be my counseling office, the loft is the little TV room outside our bedroom)

‘Yes,’ I replied, ‘and the table in the loft brought down to the living room, right in front of the sofa.’

He took care of business quickly and then happily settled into his recliner, Sudoku and pen in hand. Five minutes later, my sister waltzed through the door and enthusiastically eyed the newly moved table. ‘Oh, hi Tim, that’s new. Has this table been here before? I like it, it’s higher than the other one.’

‘I have no idea,’ he mumbled, just slightly irritated at her impromptu arrival, already deeply absorbed in his puzzle.

I read her the first few lines of what I already wrote. ‘I didn’t waltz,’ she pointed out, a bit miffed that she might be making an unannounced appearance on her sister’s Substack. And without missing a beat, the two of us broke into a rousing rendition of Waltzing Matilda, annoying my husband yet once again, not a rare occurance when the two of us are together.

He quietly grabbed his sweatshirt and headed out to re-organize the already organized garage. And soon after, my sister made her departure and I closeted myself up in the bedroom to continue writing this piece on springtime nesting.

I’m a homebody through and through.

I don’t know about you, but I love caring for my home. Notice I didn’t say I love cleaning my house, but rather I enjoy the process of re-imagining and sprucing up our living spaces. It’s fun looking at the tried and true with fresh eyes, wondering if what’s served us well could be taken up a notch or two … or perhaps switched around or reconfigured, making a room come to life in ways that end up surprising even us.

I’m big on re-configuring spaces that have slowly but surely gone astray. Re-arranging treasured accumulations helps me see those possessions in a new light and I end up gaining a fresh appreciation for their useful or lovely presence.

And that is what these early spring days are all about. And for me, the kickoff is readying the porch for the next three seasons.

From late-March ‘til fall’s chilliest days, the big ol’ table Tim crafted from Canadian barn wood will be my go-to spot for early morning writing, savoring mugs of tea, dabbling with watercolors, bird watching, and sunset suppers.

You may find me on the sofa napping, studying, texting, planning, reading, or praying. There’s plenty of room for family and friends and the little twinkle lights that drape around the ceiling’s edges give it a magical sparkle at the end of the day.

Once this room morphs from its role as a catch-all for wintertime boots and gear, I know without a doubt that spring has arrived in all her glory, even though we still expect a month or two of gray, wet weather with occasional glimpses of glorious blue skies. On the sunny days, the room quickly warms up. If the temps dip below 32 degrees or (gasp) an odd snow storm decides to sweep in off the ocean? No problem. I plug in the heater and go about my day.

Because once springtime makes her appearance, there’s no looking back. Summer beckons from way far down the road. And I’ll still be hanging out in this room ‘til fall gasps her last breath. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

🏡 4 QUESTIONS

• When I look around a room does it make me smile, bring a sigh of relief, or as Marie Kondo would say, spark joy?

• Is there something I can do to make this space work better for this season of our lives … or for this year?

• Is there stuff that’s serving no purpose or has long outworn its welcome?

• Can I shuffle some small pieces of furniture around or unearth something from the basement to breathe new life into this space?

🏡 BONUS LINK

Listen in to this week’s episode of Kendra Adachi’s The Lazy Genius Podcast. I can almost guarantee that #461 The Overlooked Secret to Loving Your Home will nudge you forward in ways that will be surprisingly creative … and yes, FUN!

Linda

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House Rules:
How to Decorate for Every
Home, Style, & Budget
Myquillyn Smith
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a charming, practical
homekeeping guide

🏡 P.S.

If this all sounds vaguely familiar, it’s a re-visit from last spring. And that’s because this piece remains one of my favorites! If you enjoyed it, please tap the little 🤍 below and then share this edition of PORCH with your favorite homebodies.

I’d love that.

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PORCH
A CHRIST-CENTERED
WEEKEND NEWSLETTER
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Hey you guys.

One of the things I love about the online writing life is that it’s not all that difficult to wander back into your very own dusty archives, ferret out something that’s still quite applicable today, tweak it here and there, for the here and now.

Like this prayer from eleven years ago.

I think know our families need our prayers.

Not our tiresome advice, worn-out opinions, or useless hand-wringing. Just our faithful connection with the Lover of their souls on their behalf.

Let us pray.

Thank You, Lord, for the movement of the seasons.

Always going forward.

I can’t wait to see what You’re going to do.

I sit back with eyes wide open, faith like a child’s, sometimes tinged with fear.

Yet still filled with joy and confidence in who You are.

For You are good, You answer prayer.

You care about those I love and our endless neediness.

So I give You these early days of springtime, the unfolding future.

I release my concerns and my dreams and all those I love into Your keeping.

For I know You love them even more than I do, and You have all power to affect change in their lives.

To give wisdom and courage and direction.

To bring healing in all the ways that matter most.

For salvation of wandering souls who need to release their lives to Jesus.

“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”
- John 6:68

Amen.

☀️

May these early springtime days fill you with a sweet kind of anticipation. May you know boundless peace in uncertainty, a higher love without limits, and more sunny, hopeful vistas than you ever dreamed possible.

How can we pray for your family? Or for you?

Please feel free to share your requests (no names, please) in the comment section. I’ll be praying with you there. Other readers will, too.

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As always, click that little 🤍 below if these words have resonated with your own soul. Those 🤍s somehow add up and get my Substack algorithms spinning ‘round.

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PORCH
A CHRIST-CENTERED
WEEKEND NEWSLETTER
*
gentle conversation & calming snapshots
uplifting linkage & occasional surprises
for those who delight in doing life
in the company of kindred spirits