Category: February 2025

Today, I was aware of the unexpected goodness in my day. None of it was formulated or expected, but somehow, as I realized where I was, my heart felt full…

My hands and arms were full when I went out the door this morning. Almost five months ago, my heart was again enlarged as I embraced my great niece, Umi Anaïca Borgdorff. I had what I needed for my busy Monday. I had Willa’s leash in hand, pulling me towards the car, as she loves to go to the office. Add in a few items Willa wanted to bring for the day, and Umi was hooked on my arm in her car seat. I also carried her sleeping cloud pillow, diaper bag, and bumbo seat. I smiled and thought how good it is to start a Monday with so much goodness!

I delved into my work, Umi chattered in an exceptionally cheerful voice. My dear friend and long-time co-worker had brought such a good breakfast to my desk. I thought a boiled egg and breakfast sausage had never tasted so good, but in the end, I realized that the kindness with which Heather prepares, shares, and engages is so heartwarming. Heather leaves for Mexico in the morning, and I will miss her, but she will return the day before her 50th birthday, and it will be so fun to celebrate her and hear how she spent the time renewing her mind, body, and soul. Another moment of appreciating a Monday filled with so much goodness!

I woke up at 4 a.m. and checked my phone to see how one of our clients was doing. Surprisingly, I learned that one of my nieces got engaged last evening! At that moment, Salida, CO, seemed so far away, but I knew that this would bring even more profound joy to Ellie’s heart. What fun news on an EARLY Monday morning! Welcome to the family Sev!

I ended my Monday in my small group. This group comprises women in recovery and women from my Church committed to journeying with our neighbors. It fills me with an invitation to grow, experience peace, and trust that God has met me today, right where I am. In today’s Monday Goodness, God met me and highlighted all the surprises of goodness when I opened my eyes to notice! I hope you can see the goodness in your life today!

Grace and Peace,

♥️ Trish

 

 

 

I came across this recently and paused. I have learned to pay attention to the pause. What resonated for me? The color is muted but still   vivid,  the person appears aging but youthful, peaceful but full of energy, alone but so content! The picture invited me to pause and breathe deeply.

And then the words. The words invited me to pause and breathe deeply as well. To take them in and absorb them. I am practicing living fully present in the moment. I must set aside my focus on performance, duties, and task completion! Isn’t it good to know and embrace that our lives are about o much more than production?

This is a reminder that you are not here just to do things, perform duties, and complete tasks.

You are here also to feel happy, content, inspired, and well within yourself.

You are here to have some fun, create meaningful moments and find the sparkle in your eyes again.

You are here to unravel the magic of being alive, the magic of being you. To heal, to feel whole again.

Do something today that lights you up. That activates your joy. That brings about a genuine smile from your heart.

I hope you will join me in committing to living this out daily. Some days, I feel myself come to life so beautifully; others, I can hardly find the spark to ignite my soul. Still, no matter what, if I am intentionally committed to living alive in my spirit, I am confident I can choose to activate joy and share genuinely from the depths of my heart!

We live in a complicated, intense, broken world. If you can live present to the moment and sprinkle some joy in the world through your actions or even with a bright, beautiful smile, you might invite someone else to live present, heal, or feel whole again! Even when times are hard, may we never lose our joy!

With gratitude for all that is good,

❤️ Trish

 

It has been a while, but I’m back again. I could provide many reasons for my absence from writing, but the persistent urge to blog never fades. Whenever I write, I feel like I’m engaging in something I love.

I want to thank my dear friend Betty Lee, who never pressures me to blog but always reminds me that she misses my posts. So, Betty, because of your gentle encouragement, I’m returning to writing tonight.

It doesn’t surprise any of you if you know me or maybe know me through reading my blog that I am a person of faith. I have attended my current Church since 2003. My Church is a place where I feel known and loved. I can walk in and celebrate the intergenerational relationships, some 20+ years old and others new, and it feels as if we are starting to learn about one another.

I appreciate many aspects of my faith community, but one element resonates deeply and brings peace to my soul. Our mission statement emphasizes “messy and holy work.” This phrase captures the essence of the challenging yet sacred journey of living out our faith and fulfilling the life that God calls us to!

As I return to writing, I want to express that this season of my life feels more messy than holy. However, I believe that God works amid the mess. Through our daily lives, the Spirit will bless our relationships, conversations, the work of our hands, our thoughts and prayers, our last-ditch efforts, pleas, and the cries of our hearts. He will transform our mess into something holy.

In this complicated and broken world, where division is rampant and tragedy often confronts us—where guns, violence, and war take innocent lives, and those who are hungry, homeless, and unemployed struggle to find hope—let us, who live both messy and holy lives, spread goodness wherever we go. We can share a smile, a hug, a greeting, an honest story, tears, or simply a moment of sacred silence.

So, go and live attentively in this moment, both in your own life story and in the stories of others!

Grace and Peace to you,

❤️ Trish

 our vision (eastern ave, grand rapids)