Jennie Stills 3/27/23 Jennie Stills 3/27/23

transitions

As I walked up to the front door, I saw a close friend coming right at me. I’m not sure she recognized me. We weren’t expected faces anymore. To see us at church was unusual now. But once she realized we were actually there, we hugged. And hugged. And hugged. The hug lasted way longer than normal and it was all I could do not to burst out in ugly tears before I even entered the doors of church. I was already coming completely unglued. After her, came more friends. These precious women, all of whom I have done life with for years and years, were hugging me together. I felt my whole body relax. Like I had been holding my breath for 200 days.

Jennie Stills 10/18/22 Jennie Stills 10/18/22

Chateau Diaries: prayer

It is easy to brush off the unanswered prayer of “Please help me have a good day today.” But what about the prayers prayed for a friend’s healing? The friend who got COVID, lived in the hospital for nearly 9 months and THEN died. Were there not enough people praying for him? Did we not pray the right prayers? Why the suffering? Was that really God’s will? Could we all have not ‘learned’ a lesson another way? Did the praying ever matter? What was it all for?

Jennie Stills 10/11/22 Jennie Stills 10/11/22

Chateau Diaries: barbecue

I know Southern Living has countless recipes to choose from, but maybe they don’t know about Southern Living here? Or maybe they’ve never been to the south. I think it’s worth it just for the sauce. Go get you some barbecue sauce, France!

Jennie Stills 9/1/22 Jennie Stills 9/1/22

hiding

So, I hide. Or at least that is what I have always done. I hide in the silence. I hide behind “no, nothing is wrong, I just need a minute.” If at all possible, I hide the emotion away-not to be dealt with later, but to go away. Or at least I wish it would. But here is what I have discovered so far… It doesn’t go away. There is no hiding. Not from Nick or the kids, and not from myself.

Jennie Stills 8/17/22 Jennie Stills 8/17/22

mouse

When the taxi dropped us off, we couldn’t believe we had gotten so lucky. It was everything I dreamed a street in Paris would be. And we got to stay there. For 12 nights! There was life everywhere. Beautiful people everywhere. Cafes, and stands with fruits and fish, sardine carts and ice cream carts, and a mixture of Parisians and tourists all dining on the street morning to night. Perfectly Paris. Cue the mouse.

Jennie Stills 8/1/22 Jennie Stills 8/1/22

capacity

There has to be a balance between growing and understanding I wasn’t always made for more. It’s not about staying comfortable and living the easy life. There are times for stretching. But is all of life supposed to be about more and next?

Jennie Stills 7/18/22 Jennie Stills 7/18/22

help

Nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and sometimes the best things to say are “I’m so sorry” and “I’ll be over in 10 minutes to just sit with you or do anything you need.”

Jennie Stills 5/25/22 Jennie Stills 5/25/22

tragedy

May we not hurt each other as we grieve. May we watch our tongue (or our fingers, rather). May we lead with love and questions. And may we realize, just like Smith, that we all need some extra care and attention. May we look for the hurting and look for the helpers. May we find and take action. May our love and respect bring change and peace.

Jennie Stills 5/4/22 Jennie Stills 5/4/22

celebrate

Celebrating - it is important. It shifts our perspective. It teaches us how to be grateful. To slow down and recognize how far we’ve come.

Jennie Stills 4/18/22 Jennie Stills 4/18/22

halftime

It’s time for us to slow down. To take it from full speed, to half. From hurry, to peace. Hurry to joy. From accomplishments to really seeing each other for who we are and what we need.