Trust the Steps

Picture by Brigette Billups Outfit Details: a TAD More Faith

You always want your kids to advance on to the next skill. When they are teeny tiny you want them to roll over. Next you need them to hold up their own head. Then you want them sitting up. Then crawling. And then of course walking. Putting one foot in front of the other. 

Lampley has started taking some steps in the recent weeks. Because she rolled over at 3 weeks and is already climbing on furniture, (something her older sister never did at this age) I kind of assumed that walking would come easy to her once she decided to give it a try.

But she’s been more timid about committing to walking than anything else she does. The girl will climb a whole flight of stairs with ease but will crumble to the ground after taking a couple of steps. When I get her back up to try again, she just stands there, strong and screaming because she does not want to walk. 

As a second time mom, I’m in no rush for her to walk. But as her mom I don’t want her to be scared to try. Especially when it is something I know she will be good at doing. 

The other day I tried to hold her hand to walk outside and she wouldn’t have it. She wouldn’t hold it. Wouldn’t try. Instead just pulled away and crawled off. I was offering her a trusting hand, a guide, a way to let her know she didn’t have to go at it alone and even still she didn’t want to try. And it got me thinking. 

I wonder how many times God has tried to do that with me. 

I can see all that Lampley will be able to do once she starts walking. I know she will no longer get frustrated because it takes her twice as long to crawl with a toy in her hand then it would to walk. But Lampley doesn’t know that yet. She will, at some point, but not right now. 

God can see all that will happen if I just trust Him with the next step. But I can’t. I can’t right now. One day I will, at some point, but not right now. 

Taking the next step, in your career, your mental health, your relationships, your job, your dream - it doesn’t always feel like you are taking a step on sturdy ground. In fact it feels more like stepping on a wobbly rock at the top of a mountain you’re not totally sure how you climbed up in the first place. But that wobbly rock doesn’t feel as shaky underneath as long as you are holding tightly to something else. 

And what’s that something else going to be. Your fear? Or your Faith. 

In this next year, I want to, I need to, get better at grabbing the hand of God instead of the hand of “what if”. Because no matter what step I take, He’s holding my hand. Even if I head in the wrong direction, He’s still there holding my hand and pulling me back towards Him. God knows our steps. He want us to trust Him. He wants to be apart of them. 

So I pray that whatever next step you are taking as this year starts off that you grab His hand as you begin along. And I pray that He provides you with the security to know which steps are the right ones to take. Trust the steps He leads you on. 

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” - Proverbs 16:9

Back To School Books

It’s that time of year. School is gearing to start up and another year of learning is about to begin. When I used to teach elementary school Adam always knew that come August anything not related to school would be put on hold until Labor Day weekend. The house was a disaster, meals were hardly cooked, laundry was never folded. I was focused 100% on my new group of upcoming students and nothing else.

One of the best parts of the first day was sitting that new group of kids on the rug and reading them a story for the first time. Something about reading to my kids - it just held a since of comfort for me. A chance to connect with the kids through a simple story. I started almost every school year with the story Splat the Cat. It isn’t a book with some profound message to set the class off on the right foot for the school year. It is just a funny, simple book that my students enjoyed. I would finish the day reading Rhyming Dust Bunnies (using some serious voice effects) and that always had the kids laughing. Rhyming Dust Bunnies has absolutely nothing to do with the first day of school - but it was always a hit.

I share all of this because I know school is going to look different for everyone this year. Some might be going to school, others learning online, some doing homeschool. The first day of school might come from a computer screen or equipped with a mask. It breaks my heart how the comfort of going to school has to be so different this year. So I thought I would compile a list of Back to School books for you to read with your child at home when it’s time for school to start back.

A lot about this upcoming school year is hard. It is all new and you don’t need me to tell you that it’s never been done before. But can I let you in on a little secret. Every school year is hard. No matter what the circumstances. The trick is allowing the good to outweigh the parts that don’t make sense. Finding those small moments in each day and allowing them to speak louder than the parts that make you want to hide under your desk until Christmas break.

Here is to a new school year. One like never before. One that I pray brings a new way of teaching, learning, and giving grace.

Oh Baby!

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Oh BABY! I am so excited to finally tell you the biggest secret we’ve kept locked away since Christmas. Adam and I are expecting our first child in August! We are beyond thrilled and thankful for this amazing gift! It is a long awaited answer to our prayers from the good Lord above. We are counting down the days until we meet Baby Dietrich. Until then, we have been catching up on lots of reading to learn all we can about this little one. 

I have experienced a great deal of emotion during the first trimester. Some of it is definitely due to hormones (hello!), but much of it has to do with the growth of my relationship with Jesus. I can’t begin to express the feelings that consume you when you find out that you are going to be parents. I’m already beginning to see why my mom always said, “You’ll understand one day when you’re a mom.”
 
I have had so many moments of joy and excitement. I have also had moments of worry and concern. Shocking, I know. But in those tough moments, I have recognized that I am going to worry about this child for the rest of my life. In a good way. I am learning that the only way to deal with that kind of emotion is by putting my trust in Him. My full trust. Even though I have tried to do that so many times in the past, I feel like it’s more important than ever to fully give up control. I feel Him working through my heart because I finally know He has to be in control. Of course, I can do my part, such as eat right (and by eating right, I mean eating lots of ice cream), get plenty of sleep, and exercise. But ultimately, this is all in His capable hands, and He has a plan for my child. I am just thankful to be a part of it.
 
I am so excited to not only share this adventure with you, but to also learn from you. I am even more thankful to have your support on this incredible journey. We are so blessed to be trusted with this gift and can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for our little family.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." - James 1:17

“God is good. God is good to me. God is good at being God.” – Lysa TerKeurst