Well, we’ve finally come to the conclusion of our first blogiversary series here on CWC. We’ve really done a lot of unpacking over the last few weeks, haven’t we?

We dug deeper into the inspiration behind CWC to find a whole lot of casseroles. Yeah, you’ll have to go back to Part 1 to see for yourself.

We detailed the not-so-scripted launch of this country blog into the world in Part 2.

We explored other bloggers that influenced CWC and lessons learned over the past year in Part 3.

And we recapped favorite posts from year one here on Country Wife Chronicles in Part 4.

There have been so many discoveries made over the past year, I’m not sure I really even got them all in this series. In taking a moment to take stock of where this blog has come from I’m reminded of the growth I’ve personally experienced over the last few years.

Just some random examples…

• Recently, I’ve discovered that I love the idea of homesteading. Like for real, wanna-be homesteader right here. And the more I learn about real food and natural living the more I want to just grow and raise it all myself! Oh, and keep blogging in the meantime…
• And change. It is for real. Did you know that a year ago I would be sitting here writing a blog post with my cup of cream and sugar and a dash of coffee? Today, I’m sipping on coffee spiked with my own French vanilla almond milk creamer and maple syrup. And that is just one small example of shifts I’ve made over the past year.
• When I started this blog I thought I had whipped anxiety’s butt y’all. But I totally didn’t. And there were moments, right here on CWC where that is blatantly obvious. Turns out, being still ain’t so easy after all.
• In just the past few months I’ve been able to rekindle the joy and companionship a dog can bring to daily life. While Lune may cause her own fair share of stress in my life, she is also a major stress reliever at the end of the day. 🙂 

The Country Wife, she is constantly evolving y’all. And so, I suppose the same is true for her words on these pages.

You know what has probably been the grandest discovery of all this past year?

I’ve been reminded that the devil, he is alive and well.

I mean that. As I’ve grown closer to God over the last year in sharing my stories here on County Wife Chronicles, I’ve also felt the very real attacks of the enemy. Like never before.

I love me some stillness. But you know that, this whole blog is anchored on Psalm 46:10.

I have found that in sharing my successful journey to stillness, I’ve been challenged the most in this area. This last year has been a rough one. And it seemed like every time I wrote something on the blog, whatever the topic was, I found myself struggling to live that truth out in real life.

It was crazy. Like, I was fine until I wrote about it. Then all of a sudden it didn’t work for me. I felt like a fraud in real life.

I write about intentional marriage and, for some reason, the day the post goes up Wildland Man is on edge. He is a struggle to love.

I write the Wife on Fire Challenge and my days are so busy I’m sharing advice on what to do for your spouse but I’m finding it difficult to make time for mine.

I write about getting outside and enjoying nature, yet I find myself holed up inside on the computer for the entire week.

I write about slowing down and drawing nearer to God in the stillness and I’m going on my third (or fourth, or fifth) day of missed devotion time.

I share a recipe all about trying some healthier swaps and I’m noshing on a gluten-full sandwich while eating Doritos.

This irony is a cruel truth, I know. But it’s real.

And all I can figure is I’m doing my darndest to do God’s work here at CWC, or at least a part of it.

And the devil, he seeks to destroy. For this battle, I was not well prepared.

The second my blog went public, areas of my life that had been easy for me—between God and Wildland Man and me—became difficult. Almost a burden.

Not because I wanted them to. But because life interfered. The blog interfered. The devil interfered.

I earnestly pray 2018 will be very, very different. Because this time around, I’m arming myself with the Word. I’m doing battle for God through my story, for His glory.

So, hand me my belt of truth, and the body armor of righteousness. Strap on my shoes of peace, raise up my shield of faith, and place the helmet of salvation upon my head. May the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, be swift and present on these pages in the coming year!

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Ephesians 6:10-18

This Story for His Glory

My faith foundation was really laid in my youth. And I credit a large part of that foundation being built to a dear friend, mentor, and Christian inspiration, Graci Gillming.

Graci’s story and her battle with ovarian cancer, was a source of inspiration for me in creating CWC. Her strength, bravery and faith spurred in me the courage I needed to share my story.

These are the words of my dedication for the blog:

Country Wife Chronicles is dedicated to Gracia Gillming, a loving mentor and friend who showed me what it looked like to live for the glory of God. Graci was a prayer warrior, a constant source of encouragement, and a bold example of faith to many. She never ceased to inspire and the light of the Lord’s love was ever-present in her, shining forth like a beacon of hope. It was Graci’s battle with ovarian cancer that instilled the courage I needed to seek out a platform to share my story for His glory. I pray that Country Wife Chronicles will serve as that platform, allowing God to move through these pages in memory of Graci.

“See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”   Isaiah 43:19

While Graci is in Heaven today, lavishing her love upon her Father and singing praises with every heavenly being, her story transcends her earthly life and still moves and inspires many to this day.

Graci lived out her life for God’s glory. She taught me what that could look like. And she showed me that it could be in whatever form I used my God-given talents.

This blog. Country Wife Chronicles. It is my story, for His Glory.

The song, “Write Your Story” by Francesca Battistelli was popular right around the time I began this County Wife Chronicles journey. I feel like her lyrics spoke right in to my heart, reminding me who is really the Author of my story.

So while I may be the author behind the blog posts here on Country Wife Chronicles, let me be very clear: God is the Author of all. He is behind these words. He leads the direction this blog heads. He is writing my story and it is playing out before you on these very pages.

What’s the Future Hold?

God is good. He makes our plans for the future and they are all for good. Plans to prosper and not to harm. Plans to be hopeful for our future.

I am resting in that hope.

But, lately, it’s been hard to hang on to that hope. It’s like when the clouds descend into a dense fog and you can’t see through to what is ahead. The fear creeps in. The doubt. The discouragement.

This is where I am. Each day is a battle to peer through those clouds. I know God is present here with me in this battle. He doesn’t leave me to figure it out all on my own, even though I try.

But, man, He’s working on me. He’s got me pulling from the deepest chambers of my heart; He’s leading me to share more of my story for His glory.

And if I’m being honest…well, I’d really rather keep these topics shelved until a little later on.

But when I’m searching for His answers and asking for His leading, God is really anything but subtle.

So, while I’m going to wait until next week to truly reveal exactly where God is leading, I can tell you He is asking me to walk on waves with Him.

He’s leading me into deeper waters that can be pretty scary and tumultuous at times.

But I put my trust in Him. I trust that He will bring me out the other side of this. And I know He’ll use me in the process. God is good. I trust Him.

And in my pursuit of Him, I can trust that the desires of my heart will be rewarded.

Would you be willing to offer me your support in this new journey for Country Wife Chronicles?

Not to worry, we’ll still cover the same basics that define CWC: country simplicities, new recipes, and of course the fire life and intentional marriage.

But we’re going to go a bit deeper over the next few weeks as I prepare to bare a bit of my soul to you, and the world at large.

I’m not going to lie; the fear is creeping in as I type this. Because now, this road I’m walking, it’s feeling pretty real.

I would absolutely covet your prayers during this time of fearful anticipation in sharing my words with the world. Please consider praying over Country Wife Chronicles…that God may write this story, that He may lead it in the direction that He wants it to go.

Thanks for being here, my dear, dear readers. Let’s head out into the deep waters together…

Be Still & Know…