Personal – Laurel Luehmann

Reflections on a year of Beauty Even Here

August 26, 2026by Laurel LuehmannLeave a Comment

One year later, I sit here in the hour before dawn, as the sky colors lavender and pink in anticipation of the sun’s arrival, and the poetry of being able to soak in the beauty and symbolism of this hour is not lost on me.

I have spent much of my (short, I know) life waiting for the dawn…for the light of literal morning, for clarity in the light of God’s Word, for the moment when light will break over the darkest of circumstances and we will see that, truly, hope was not lost.

I have learned that the sweetest way to spend this darkest hour is to find my favorite constellation, brew a mug of coffee, and settle in with my Bible, journal, and a stack of books.

Seek the pinpricks of light afforded. Make and savor something beautiful. Fill my mind with truth, and preach it again to myself.

This, I realize today, is the essence of Beauty Even Here.

It’s a compilation of poetry that I wrote while feeling lost, directionless, confused, and disappointed by God’s timing. It’s in the spirit of Habakkuk, or Martha running to meet Jesus after her brother had been dead three days.

It’s full of poems that ask why, God?, but also of poems that cry show me, God…help me, God…heal me, God…turn my eyes to Yours.

One of my favorite lines from Beauty Even Here is nothing and everything has changed, and I feel that deeply – in a different way than I meant in that poem – a year or two later. A good deal has changed in my circumstances, but so little has changed in the tendencies of my heart: to seek the dawn of an answered prayer rather than the face of the One who is answering.

That, also, is the heart of Beauty Even Here, because I am stubborn, stuck in my ways, and so desperately need to be reminded and to remind myself to turn my eyes to Jesus in the midst of painful or unwanted circumstances, rather than just seeking relief and escape.

Spoiler alert if you haven’t read the book: He is the beauty even here.

So may we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and learn to seek His face before we seek His hand.

He is our light, our joy, our ultimate satisfaction and beauty in both our darkest and most ordinary days.

What a gift He is!! How kind He is! We could not trust our lives to anyone better or more capable and worthy.

May He in truth be the most beautiful One to us in all our days.

Stay the course,

<3 Laurel

A small P.S. For nearly a month I’ve been wanting to get back into the habit of writing down three beautiful things that have happened/I’ve seen each day…as I’ve been writing this, I’ve been convinced that I do indeed need to get back into this habit. If you’d like to join me in doing this for just a month (hopefully you’ll get hooked on it and end up doing it for longer, hehe!), consider this your nudge and your invitation. 🙂

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

April memories – 2026

May 4, 2026by Laurel LuehmannLeave a Comment

Hello, friends!

These blog posts are some of my favorites to write, and I’ve heard they’re favorites with some of you, as well. That makes me so happy…thank you for reading!!

That being said, after this post I am going to switch things up on you guys and turn the monthly memories posts into a monthly email sent to my newsletter subscribers. So! If you love these posts and don’t want to stop ~~being nosy~~ reading them, here’s the link to subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss the next one.

(And if you’re concerned about email spam, don’t be. Sending a bi-weekly newsletter is my hope, but that goal is rarely reached these days.XD)

We make our lives insupportably complex by disobeying Jesus’ command to take no thought for tomorrow. Planning for tomorrow, when planning is necessary and possible, belongs properly to today. Worrying about tomorrow belongs nowhere. The Lord gives us daily, not weekly, bread. He gives strength according to our days, not our years.
Elisabeth elliot In A Path through suffering

Things worth remembering…

my family’s annual Christian Seder meal
watching God answer a huge prayer within days
writing more poetry than I have in a long time
getting to see A Great Awakening in the theater (so good!!)
evening writing sessions with a mug of tea
walks and phone calls
a sibling nacho night
the everlasting game of cornhole
Bible studies
mastering iced coffee and learning not to freeze things in pickle jars
late night ice cream to celebrate a sister
coffee with my mom
violets in the lawn
watching the trees green up
so many trees bursting into bloom
rediscovering the journal I kept at age 8🫠🫠🫠
the first lawn mowing of the year
riding in the tractor with my brother

One learns, as one goes, not to fear the detours by which God leads on.
Lilias trotter

What I’ve been reading…

The Atlas of Untold Stories – Sara Brunsvold

If Jesus had been driven to the Gateway Arch and told by his intrepid redhead that they would hover 630 feet above ground in a claustrophobic viewing chamber, what would he do? Chances seemed solid that he too would regret not putting more caveats on his promise to do anything not involving a river.

I love Sara Brunsvold’s work. This one doesn’t feel as homey or as much of a comfort read as her previous books (it does revolve around a road trip, after all!), but instead it’s rich with complicated mother-daughter and sister relationships and deep dives into their personalities and heart struggles. I’m so glad I read it, and definitely recommend if you’re a contemporary fiction fan.

A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter – Miriam Huffman Rockness

“You are right to be glad in His April days while He gives them. Every stage of heavenly growth in us is lovely to Him; He is the God of the daisies and the lambs and the merry child hearts!”

I’m still in the early chapters of this book, but it’s been so good already. (And it’s 50% off right now on Amazon!!)

Winnie-the-Pooh – A.A. Milne

When you put it like this, you saw how it was, and you aimed very carefully at the balloon, and fired.

“Ow!“ said Pooh.

“Did I miss?” you asked.

“You didn’t exactly miss,” said Pooh, “but you missed the balloon.”

Sometimes you just need to read about Winnie-the-Pooh. I figured that it being 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh this year was as good an excuse as any!

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness – Andrew Peterson

That evil was a nameless evil, an evil whose name was Gnag the Nameless.

This book has been wildly popular with my sister and her peers, and one Sunday afternoon I finally cracked and decided I must know what the hype is all about. I am thoroughly enjoying myself.

In This Mountain – Jan Karon

Mule sank back in the booth, looking depressed. “I’ll have what I been havin’ before th’ new menu, a grilled pimiento cheese on white bread, hold the mayo.”

“Do you see anything on this menu sayin’ pimiento cheese? On this menu, we don’t have pimiento cheese, we ain’t goin’ to get pimiento cheese, and that’s th’ end of it.” The proprietor stomped away, looking disgusted.

“You made him mad,” said J.C., wiping his face with his handkerchief.

“How can a man make a livin’ without pimiento cheese on his menu?” Mule asked.

I’m trying to stay ahead of another sister in the Mitford series, and this book, as expected, has been equal parts humorous and heartwarming.

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the LORD.
Psalm 104:33-34

From the journal…

When I know God, what grieves His heart will grieve mine…it will become personal.

Let Your will be done, and help me to love Your will.

You know my frame, O Father…provide for me as You see I need provision! Satisfy me with Your mercy as only You can. Keep my heart and mind pure and close to You, free from all traces of selfishness and bitterness.

The itch to know and to have and to be anything other than what God intends me to know, to have, and to be must go.
Elisabeth Elliot

What made your April memorable? What beauty have you been seeing these days?

<3 Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you. We all win.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

March memories – 2026

March 30, 2026May 1, 2026by Laurel Luehmann2 Comments

Hello, friends!

I’m noticing as I look back on this month that it held a good amount of firsts…what a sanctifying adventure it was!!

Lord Crucified, O mark Thy holy Cross
On motive, preference, all fond desires,
On that which self in any form inspires,
Set Thou that sign of loss.

And when the touch of death is here and there
Laid on a thing most precious in our eyes,
Let us not wonder, let us recognize
The answer to this prayer.
Amy Carmichael

Things worth remembering…

worshipping with my aunt and uncle’s church family in CA at long last
just sitting and watching the waves roll in from the Pacific for the first time
clam chowder
hiking in the California hills
precious time with family I hadn’t seen in years
getting the giggles with my sister/travel buddy multiple times
my local library’s winter reading challenge
reading in the sunshine
coffee dates with friends
shocking myself by thoroughly enjoying several rounds of hide and seek
watching green grass begin to come through the lawn
a spontaneous ice cream run
getting to lead worship with a drum set for the first time
the blizzard happening on a day I didn’t have to work (three cheers for my brother who braved the snow)
hitting my mostly-annual spring high and writing my mostly-annual spring poem
indulging in fresh flowers and lemons
my sister’s birthday ice cream bar (ice cream is always a delight, but for some reason it was just insanely good that evening)
unexpected happy mail from friends

In a sense, our minds and our hearts will spend our whole lives catching up with the reality of the love of Christ.
Alistair Begg in Pray Big

What I’ve been reading…

A New Song – Jan Karon

“‘May our sleep be deep and soft,’” he whispered, “’so our work be fresh and hard.'”

A gem of a book. I gasped audibly near the end…I think out of all the Mitford books thus far, I found this one the most moving.

Beauty Even Here – Laurel Luehmann

this, says Your whisper, is the test of my love, begging it to become a love that is not contingent on bloated expectations, but a love that trusts even when blood runs into the eyes and pain carves canyons in the heart.

Yes, I read my own books sometimes. XD

A Path Through Suffering – Elisabeth Elliot

The whole Christian life is a process of bringing the self-life down to death in order that the life of Jesus may be manifest in us.

I had meant to begin this book earlier, but as the Lord so often orchestrates things, I ended up reading it at a very meaningful time. I hadn’t read Elisabeth Elliot in a long time, and it was a joy to come back to her work. This is well worth the read.

A Common Life: The Wedding Story – Jan Karon

“Father—continue to open me and lay me bare, for I have been selfish and closed, always keeping something back, even from You. Forgive me. . .”

My goodness. I savored every moment of this book. I absolutely loved how the author gave so many of the townspeople a POV in this book, and told us so many of the characters’ love stories firsthand! It was absolutely adorable and the humor was impeccable, too…I was laughing out loud. If you love Mitford already, please please read this book.

The Lies We Live – Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht

As he tread past her to approach the sofa opposite her, she stuck her foot out, tripping him…she met his gaze with mock sincerity. “Oh, my apologies, I didn’t realise you were aware of my presence.”

It’s taking me a bit longer to get into this book, but it involves espionage, hidden backstories, and a WWI setting in England…I’m enjoying the vibes and look forward to getting swept up in the plot as it continues!

Measure thy life by loss and not by gain; not by the wine drunk but by the wine poured forth, for love’s strength standeth in love’s sacrifice, and he that suffereth most hath most to give.
Ugo Bassi

From the journal…

Flow through me, Father. Keep me emptied of my own selfish ambitions and desires, and satisfy me fully in Your love.

…forgive me for the times I have angrily or impatiently questioned You, despising Your simple, gracious provision. Open my eyes and hands to the riches You shower upon me!

There will never be a plot twist that reveals Your love to be less or absent – only ever greater and more lavish than I could have dreamed. Thank You for this grace.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.
There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel – that will stand.
Proverbs 19:20-21

What made your March memorable? What beauty have you been seeing these days?

<3 Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you. We all win.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

February memories – 2026

March 9, 2026March 8, 2026by Laurel LuehmannLeave a Comment

Hello, friends!

February was a stretching month…one of learning (mostly the hard way) to rest my restless soul and mind in Christ and trust that He is the all-sufficient Savior He truly is, even when life is wild and a bit intimidating and I find myself to be so insufficient. What a gift it is to be able to rest in Him! <3

There were also so many lovely things that filled this February. Here’s a sampler…

BUT FIRST!!!

I wanted to share a reminder that I’m running a Winter’s End giveaway, and it ends this Friday. If you haven’t entered yet and would enjoy a lovely new book to add to your collection (there are two up for grabs!!), please do head over to the giveaway post to enter.

Alright.

Back to the regular post…

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Psalm 107:8-9

Things worth remembering…

ice skating with a brother
running into a dear friend at the grocery store on a hard day
listening to a song from a friend at just the right moment
cooking with my sisters
a bookish Galentines get-together
the long way home and healing conversation + prayer
flowers from a friend
Valentine’s Day nachos and cheesecake and movie with siblings
reading on the porch with sunlight and a sleepy dog
a delightfully quiet and yet social afternoon of crocheting with other ladies
getting a friend’s beautiful new children’s book in the mail (!!!)
three harrowing visits to the DMV
a lovely Lenten event
lotsss of worship music and guitar practice
a timely Bible passage from a friend
wig-wearing, house cleaning, and packing with a sister
several firsts on the last day of the month: seeing snow-capped mountains, setting foot in both Colorado and California, renting a car, piloting aforementioned car through six-lane traffic. ‘Twas a day to remember.

We all long for Eden and are constantly glimpsing it: our whole nature is soaked with a sense of exile.
J.R.R. TOlkien

What I’ve been reading…

A New Song – Jan Karon

He had a great idea. “I could bring you some pot holders to finish up for the Fall Fair.” There! Just the ticket to keep her mind occupied.

“Pot holders?”

She looked at him as if he were something that had crawled through the pipes and into the kitchen sink.

Still reading this one. I still love it dearly.

Pray Big – Alistair Begg

The story of the Bible is the story of a God who seeks out people who are hiding from him.

This one was so good!!

The Curious Inheritance of Blakeley House – Joanna Davidson Politano

“A man’s legacy is the flavor he leaves behind in the mouths of those close enough to taste his character.”

I very much enjoyed this book!!!

Calvary Chapel Distinctives – Chuck Smith

I believe God is sovereign, and I also believe I’m responsible and God holds me responsible for the choices that I make. I simply trust God that both assertions of Scripture are true.

I didn’t adore this book as a whole, but it was an informative read!

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Greatest treasure of my longing soul
My God, like You there is no other
True delight is found in You alone
From “O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer” by Nathan Stiff (A Favorite song of mine these days!!)

From the journal…

I’m struck by God’s attention to beauty and the smallest details in His instructions for the building of the tabernacle. Father, give me the patience and reverence for You that I need to care so deeply about the small things I often allow to slip through the cracks. Truly let all I do be done for the love of You.

Help me to live surrendered, Father, serving fully and faithfully in the corners of life to which You call me. I feel so small sometimes…so insignificant in the face of a world full of hurt. May I know that I am small and fit well in Your Almighty hand.

The most transformational thing you can do today is to look clearly at Christ with the eyes of your heart.
Alistair Begg

What made your February memorable? What beauty have you been seeing these days?

<3 Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you. We all win.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

January memories – 2026

February 2, 2026by Laurel Luehmann4 Comments

Ahh, it’s the first post of the new year!!

If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood, and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Things worth remembering…

a New Year’s Day feast and stories swapped over coffee
baking bread
coffee and book talk with a kindred spirit
lotsss of reading
cooking up bacon and onions and potatoes all at once and feeling like a hobbit
finding new artwork for the living room
a new book study
God moving in ways I never saw coming
surviving fierce winds and severe cold on the farm
listening to a stellar podcast series on the English translation of the Bible
sister movie nights
nachos and the Nerf Gun Battle
third-wheeling a coffee date with two of my favorites
a quiet retreat with some ladies I love
following a stubborn deer down the road and racing a raccoon all in one night

How does your spirit develop in intimacy with Him [Christ]?
Nothing else is right if that goes not well.
Oswald chambers

What I’ve been reading…

A New Song – Jan Karon

“I fell head over heels in love when I was forty-seven, and truth be told, have never gotten over it. They say you came late to love, yourself.“

“Late, yes,” he said, smiling. “But not too late.”

Ah, Mitford. One of the best bedtime reads out there.

Pray Big – Alistair Begg

Our conversation with others declares what is on our minds. But our conversation with God in private reveals what is in our hearts. Listen to someone pray – or listen to yourself pray – and you gain a window into the very center of the being.

I’m going through this book with a group of other women this winter. It’s so good.

Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God – David McCasland

They encouraged each other by walking individually with God and finding His grace sufficient to meet their needs. Together, their lives intertwined into a cord of shared ministry that was stronger than either could have woven alone.

Finally finished this one. It’s an absolute gem, and I highly recommend it.

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë

Why was I always suffering, always browbeaten, always accused, for ever condemned? Why could I never please? Why was it useless to try to win any one’s favour? …I dared commit no fault: I strove to fulfill every duty; and I was termed naughty and tiresome, sullen and sneaking, from morning to noon, and from noon to night.

I’ve been wanting to reread this book for a long time and finally picked it up alongside my mom. Ugh, it’s so rich, and I despise John Reed!!

The Curious Inheritance of Blakeley House – Joanna Davidson Politano

“A man’s legacy is the flavor he leaves behind in the mouths of those close enough to taste his character.”

It took me a little while to get into this one, but I’m over a hundred pages in and thoroughly enjoying it…I hope that continues!

Indeed, these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
Job 26:14a

From the journal…

Strengthen my hands to lay all my hopes and fears to rest on Your chest, and fix my eyes in sheer adoration on You.

Let me trust the entirety of Your grace, the all-consuming power of Your sacrifice. Let me see how small I am in the shadow of Your Cross.

Be patient and so utterly confident in God that you never question His ways or your waiting time.
Oswald Chambers

What made your January memorable?

Stay the course, friends! May this month bring us ever closer to Christ’s heart.

<3 Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

December memories – 2025

January 5, 2026January 5, 2026by Laurel Luehmann2 Comments

2025 is a wrap! And what a glorious year it was to watch God move, drawing people to Himself and bringing His name glory.✨

Peace is looking into the face of my Jesus and needing to see nothing else.
Hannah hodgson (@resurrectionpoetry)

Things worth remembering…

a Christmas parade
decorating for Christmas
winter walks in the dark
a friend who tethered me to truth and light when I couldn’t bring myself to do it
hot cocoa, a slow afternoon with siblings, and The Appendix Scare
celebratory dinners for the first responder siblings
cookie and gift exchange chaos with friends
grapefruit!!
drinking hot chocolate and wrapping gifts while listening to Christmas music
putting a difficult month of winter on the farm in the books
making shortbread for Christmas with the pro (my youngest sister)
so much reading after Christmas
accidental mac and cheese soup
receiving hugs, hot cocoa, and stories from my grandma on a hard day
an evening errand run with the brothers
The Whipped Cream Game
my brother’s eggnog

Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
Joseph H. Gilmore

What I’ve been reading…

Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Treasury – Louisa May Alcott

Before another word could be said, a little old lady appeared in the hall, trying to look stern and failing entirely, because she was the picture of a dear, fat, cozy grandma.

I read this with friends for a book club! It wasn’t my absolute favorite read from Alcott (it began to feel repetitive after awhile), but there were some sweet, thought-provoking stories with Louisa May Alcott’s inevitable dash of humor. Her characters are so endearing!

Where Secrets Lie – Colleen Coble, Rick Acker

I almost didn’t listen to this audiobook because I didn’t love the first book in the series, but I’m glad my restless mind got the better of me; I enjoyed this one so much more the one that preceded it! It ended on a horrible cliffhanger, though, and the third book doesn’t come out till March. Boo!!

Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God – David McCasland

“We are not called to be successful in accordance with ordinary standards, but in accordance with a corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying, becoming in that way what it never could be if it were to abide alone.”

Still reading through this one!

Terms and Traditions – Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht

You know I’m not the biggest fan of the romance genre, but this Christmas rom-com has delighted me with how much I’ve been able to enjoy it! I love the depth of the characters and the author’s sense of humor. If you’re a rom-com fan, you should definitely check this book out.

The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm 145:17-18

From the journal…

Strengthen my hands to lay all my hopes and fears to rest on Your chest, and fix my eyes in sheer adoration on You.

Live slowly enough to be able to think deeply about God.
J.I. Packer

What made your December memorable?

<3 Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

November memories – 2025

December 1, 2025by Laurel Luehmann2 Comments

November was a gift. <3

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him.”
Lamentations 3:24

Things worth remembering…

the maples in my backyard turning golden
wondering why Marketplace thinks I need to buy an antique coffin
playing with toddler friends
crochet project adventures
washing windows with a vengeance
getting to watch TWO stage productions with my grandma
making shortbread cookies
prayer and worship with fellow believers
God answering a question with a sermon on the radio hours later
a dear friend taking me on my first Trader Joe’s excursion
a coffeeshop writing/reading/schoolwork date with sisters
wandering Fleet Farm like a lost soul looking for bolts in all the wrong places
making a list of delightful blessings God gave this year
time with extended family and all of the laughter that ensued
getting to enjoy a glorious snowfall without having to work through it
decorating my “most tragic” little Christmas tree for the first time

Turn your eyes upon Jesus;
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Fanny Crosby

What I’ve been reading…

Delighting in the Trinity – Michael Reeves

Indeed, in the triune God is the love behind all love, the life behind all life, the music behind all music, the beauty behind all beauty and the joy behind all joy.

My favorite non-fiction read of 2025, hands down. Read it!!

The Coronation – Olivia Lynn Jarmusch

“What. Is. That?” Millie asked, drawing out each word for dramatic effect.

“It’s called quiche,” Jillian stated simply.

“I’ve never heard of it.” Millie wrinkled her nose, “I don’t think I like it.”

This has been a cute book thus far! It’s perfect for a light evening read.

Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God – David McCasland

I found this book deeply impactful in high school and have been enjoying a reread.

And I will wait on the LORD,
Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;
And I will hope in Him.
Isaiah 8:17

From the journal…

May every fiber of my being magnify and rejoice in You!

Lord, let me be obedient to the point of the death of my dreams.

I am satisfied because of Who God is. Please be the first thing I seek, the One I long for in the driest of seasons. Help me to see Your lovingkindness as truly better than life.

To pray, “Thy will be done,” I must be willing, if the answer requires it, that my will be undone.
Elisabeth Elliot

What made your November memorable?

<3 Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Personal, Poetry

Rich because…

November 24, 2025by Laurel Luehmann2 Comments

Look at me, jumping on a trend for once. But I felt like waxing poetic, and this prompt was just the thing. I would be so glad if you’d use it as a springboard/inspiration to make your own list! <3

I am rich…

because the November sun makes the edge of gray skies glow pink and lavender as it comes and goes // because I drink root beer and read poetry with my grandma // because mochas are a thing // because all the music I could dream of is at my fingertips // because my parents and siblings are so close, to my home and to my heart // because I have room for an ever-swelling book collection // because I can sing myself hoarse in corporate worship without fear // because my tomorrows are held firmly in the hands of a loving, sovereign God // because long-distance friendships work // because hours fly by with the dearest of friends // because candles and twinkle lights and fireplaces exist // because my aging car has stellar speakers // because there are “good morning” and “drive safe” texts // because brokenness is not the end of the story // because God said “no” and “not yet” more times than I can count // because He is writing a story much longer and deeper and more glorious than what I can see // because I have so many memories behind and an eternity with Christ before me //

…thank You, Jesus.

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading, writing updates

October memories – 2025

November 10, 2025November 9, 2025by Laurel Luehmann1 Comment

Hello, friends!✨

October was so full of good things…

The measure of our love is the measure of our willingness to be inconvenienced.
Elisabeth elliot

Things worth remembering…

watching God open unforeseen doors
going to a new coffeeshop with a friend
finding another four-leaf clover
walks/bike rides with the youngest sister
dear cousins in town…
therefore walks, Dutch Blitz, talks, and a shopping trip
so much music
trying a new soup recipe (it was delish)
taking senior pictures for my sister
watching sessions from Revive Our Hearts’ True Woman Conference with some dear ladies
Farm and Fleet and burgers with a brother
a helpful webinar from Glory Writers
checking trail cams and climbing round bales

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart…
Ephesians 6:6-7

What I’ve been reading…

Delighting in the Trinity – Michael Reeves

And that is the God revealed by Jesus Christ. Before He ever created, before He ever ruled the world, before anything else, this God was a Father loving His Son.

AHHHHH!!! Read this book!!! I’ve known the Lord since childhood, but this book digs so deeply into the triune nature of God and what it says about Him (and consequently about our relationship with Him), I feel like I’m meeting and falling in love with Him for the first time all over again.✨

Jo’s Boys – Louisa May Alcott

Prosperity suits some people, and they blossom best in a glow of sunshine; others need the shade, and are the sweeter for a touch of frost.

This one was so good, even though my favorite boy didn’t get his happy ending…

Now and Not Yet – Ruth Chou Simons

Gardening is one part labor of our hands and one part God’s sovereign care through creation. It’s a reminder to us that God often chooses to provide at the intersection of our just get started and His watch me do this.

Hands down one of the very best books I’ve read this year. I came to it expecting a recipe for surviving unwanted circumstances and came away challenged to thrive in the pieces and seasons of life I wouldn’t have chosen. It was also an encouragement to me to stop moping at the doors God’s closed to me and instead start asking Him to show me the doors He’s opening and give me the courage to walk through them. If you’re struggling with discontentment or restlessness, read this book if you can.

Before I Called You Mine – Nicole Deese

“The way to shape a child’s heart is through love. And the way to shape a child’s mind is through literature. When you read to a child, you accomplish both.”

Romance still isn’t my genre, hehe, but I so enjoy Nicole Deese’s writing style and endearing characters. I listened to the audiobook after my sister read the book, and it was so much fun to discuss it with her. I’d recommend this book if you enjoy the clean contemporary romance genre, fun-loving male MCs (think a hilarious dinosaur obsession), parts of the story told through text threads, and some adorable kids.

Loving Your Husband Before You Even Have One – Kim Vollendorf

Character is shaped by the level of God’s control in our lives.

This one popped up as a recommended audiobook on Spotify, and, to be honest, I was skeptical but in possession of lots of audiobook hours to use before the end of the month, so…I started it. I haven’t listened to much of it, but I’ve been so pleasantly surprised. Thus far it’s been a convicting and encouraging listen.

A New Song – Jan Karon

“‘Snickers has ear mites, I hope Barnabas is doin’ fine in all those sandspurs, I hope to th’ Lord you’ll check his paws on a regular basis.’ Emma was running her straw around the bottom of the cup and sucking with great expectation, but not finding much. He turned the volume down on the answering machine.”

Continuing the Mitford series…as always, it’s a lighthearted yet touching read.

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.
Psalm 119:37

From the journal…

Help me to treasure and see as weighty the gaze of Your eyes alone.

I laugh in wonderstruck delight

at the order You have settled in the heavens:

the way You set Earth in its orbit

just close enough to smile at the rays of the sun.

and yet I worry that I – a trillionth of a speck

on the face of North America –

missed something that You wanted me to find,

and now it can never be recovered.

Your sovereignty, O Lord,

has taken into consideration my clumsiness…

Ever heighten my sensitivity to sin in my own life and root it out, but ever deepen my comprehension of the depth of Your grace. Don’t let Satan wield my awareness of sin (confessed and repented-of sin) to drive me deep into despair and a sense of worthlessness…show me Your glory and Your mercy!

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
titus 2:11-14

What made your October memorable?

<3 Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading, writing updates

September memories – 2025

October 6, 2025by Laurel LuehmannLeave a Comment

Hello, friends!✨

September was a gem…

They’ll tell you that arts and humanities aren’t practical and then read poetry at funerals and weddings, cry over films and search for meaning in ancient philosophy. Surviving is one type of practicality, knowing why we bother is another.
– on the importance of the arts and humanities

Things worth remembering…

playing music with my youngest sisters
fixing a dresser drawer (#powerful)
a cute pumpkin and flower farm
enjoying chai again
catching up with an old friend
getting my braces off (!!!)
biting into an apple for the first time in YEARS
gorgeous sunrises and sunsets
chats about surrender
the gospel preached many times over at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service
the sobering reminder to not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ✨
riding with siblings in farm equipment
the Great Eggy Microwave Explosion
surviving way too many stairs
the overwhelming gentleness of God

Apart from sin, we have nothing of which to be ashamed. Only an evil desire to shine makes us want to appear other than we are.
A.W. Tozer

What I’ve been reading…

Little Men – Louisa May Alcott

The small hopes and plans and pleasures of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never rudely thwarted or ridiculed.

I finished reading this book this September…it got five stars from me.✨

Jo’s Boys – Louisa May Alcott

“You’ve put your foot in it now, old boy!…” And Dolly laughed so heartily that a spoonful of ice flew upon the head of a lady sitting below him, and got him into a scrape also.

Ahh, I’m so enjoying this one. I don’t know that I’ll like it quite as much as Little Men, but getting to see the children from that book grow up and find their way in the world has been so much fun.

Now and Not Yet – Ruth Chou Simons

It’s the boring, everyday fruitfulness that makes a life.

This book has been on my TBR ever since it came out, and I’m finally getting to it. God’s timing is impeccable…this is a very applicable (and convicting) read right now, and it will definitely make my list of favorites. I highly recommend it.

Choose prayer. Choose courage. Choose beauty. Choose adventure. Choose family. Choose a life of faith. Most importantly, choose Christ.
Erika kirk

From the journal…

Lord Jesus, You are my portion…may I ever see the richness of that!

Be most beautiful to me, Jesus.

This is enough…to be seen and chosen and cherished by the One Who handcrafted me for His glory and pleasure, for such a time as this. Help me to trust Your heart when I cannot see the significance of these days and circumstances. Keep me so very close to You. Don’t let me poke artificial fruit onto my branches, but abide, deeply delighting in You, day after day after day. Give me the discipline and desire to abide in You when the siren calls are loud. Glorify Your name in me.

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit. Constant companionship, comfort, intercession when I don’t have the strength or the words…what a gift it is.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

<3 Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)