How I Have Been Journaling

I picked up a 5-section notebook and decided to give “travel logging” a try. It’s simple: each day I jot down what I’ve done, who I’ve seen, and any little notes or observations I want to remember. I think I like it—there’s something grounding about capturing the everyday. It turns ordinary days into something a bit more intentional, and flipping back through even a week shows how much life quietly unfolds.

Where I Am in My Studies

Right now, I’m studying through the book of Acts and sharing my reflections over on my Substack. It’s been a powerful experience tracing the early church’s journey and seeing how much faith, courage, and community mattered in those early days. If you’re curious, I’d love for you to read along:
👉 starlalala77.substack.com

What I have been up too

Lately, I’ve been deep cleaning the house and picking raspberries. Summer brings the raspberry bushes into full fruiting, and I’ve become the main picker. I enjoy the slow, steady movement of gathering berries in the evening while my husband is mowing the lawn or watering the garden. He especially loves black raspberries—he even made a pie recently, and it was absolutely delicious.

There’s something about these simple, seasonal rhythms that reminds me how God often meets us in the ordinary. If your days feel quiet or repetitive, don’t underestimate how much beauty and purpose can be hidden in them.

Summer also brings the annual father-son trip. This year, they’re headed to Leech Lake in Minnesota. While they’re away, I deep clean—it’s something I genuinely enjoy. There’s something deeply satisfying about putting things back in order, top to bottom. If you’re in a season of tending the home or working behind the scenes, be encouraged: it matters more than you know.

Prayer Focus

This season, my prayer focus has been on my husband and my son. I’m in the final week of a 30-day prayer challenge—not just one I picked up randomly, but one I felt the Lord specifically leading me to. Each morning, I pray the day’s prayer and read a portion of Scripture, intentionally speaking those truths over their lives.

It’s a quiet, steady act—but I believe these prayers are planting seeds that will grow in God’s timing. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to pray more intentionally for your family, I want to encourage you: start small. God honors even the simplest of prayers spoken with faith. I’ve seen hardness fall away, smiles more, and correction come easier.

If you’re looking for spiritually rich challenges like this, I highly recommend Revive Our Hearts with Nancy DeMoss. They offer a variety of helpful tools to grow your prayer life and walk with God: https://www.reviveourhearts.com/challenges/

Thanks for Listening,

Starla