2025 has absolutely been a brutal year. Lots of questions and people with stances when I thought we’d be on the same page is very a lot.
I love your pictures of the snow, I always felt it was a bit of a new beginning in its way. Heralding spring yes, but just snow in itself. Hiding new things and familiar. I don’t get snow anymore where I live now but maybe I’ll visit snow someday.
I am so so pleased for you and your family regarding your second footnote!! How wonderful!! What a joy for 12 year old you, too.
Breanne, hoping you can find a way to better health. I've been re-reading the LOTR trilogy again and I'm fascinated with the way Tolkein can describe things relating to Christianity that I've struggled to communicate since becoming a Christian. I loved his books as a teenager for the adventure and fantasy, I love them now for the quality of writing and his insight into challenging things to grasp in the realm of the supernatural. Your post regarding being a tell-er reminded me of something that has caught my attention recently just noticing the sky and clouds recently. It's one of those things that simply brings my eyes, my vision up and past the things of this world that are right at eye level and immediate. It causes me think upon better things and I couldn't help but share a description of my thoughts and the sight that initiated it with those I love. What was interesting was the range of reactions. From ridicule because of my choice of words to affirmation from very unexpected places. Anyway, keep up the good "telling" I appreciate it.
Beautiful words. The snow has been falling here in Michigan, too; today it's quiet and the sun is shining. Thanks for your encouragement to notice and sit with what's in front of us.
Writing is the best and the worst profession, sometimes it pays, most of the time it doesn’t. Either way, it doesn’t matter because writers write because it’s who they are, it’s what they do. Just so you know, I will read anything you write, wherever you choose to publish, whatever you choose to write about. For the new year I hope you get some answers to your medical challenges…and you find a way to mend your broken house, or find one more suitable for your family and situation. All of us who read you regularly have your back, no matter what you choose to do.
I may not be in your physical vicinity, but your section about picking out shards of faith resonates so deeply with this almost 40-year old deconstructing Christian. This year has put me and my family through a faith blender as well for various reasons and let me just tell you, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Thank you for being vulnerable and bringing that pain into the light even just a little for now. Sending you love and light and wishes for a more peaceful new year.
There's a lot going on in the (barely) subtext. It sounds like you're in quite a hard place to be at the moment - personally, family, nationally. I'm pretty sure that pressures can affect our health, as well as challenging our faith. There are many people in the world looking on pretty aghast at what's going on in public life (and who don't believe a word of the muskrat's exposition of Tolkien) - you are not as isolated in that regard as you may feel, though I'm sure Ahab and Jezebel would love you to think you are. 1Ki19:10.
It sounds like you're doing the good things - enjoying the beauty of the snow, treasuring and caring for the little ones. Don't be afraid to talk about it - you are the stories you tell; the stories you tell are you - these things don't have a separate existence (think Aragorn's songs...). Also, if "he" is there, he's big enough to absorb your pain and doubts and anger (see Job).
I hope this is taken in the spirit it is intended. I came to find you on here (and looked for you elsewhere) having appreciated your videos. The world needs tellers (and writers), even if they don't realise it - perhaps most when they don't realise it. People will be ready to listen when you are ready to speak.
I'm too nervous to talk about it much because SO much still needs to happen for us to actually improve our living situation. But the fact that its even a consideration now is such a gift 😭
This is lovely, Breanne - and I can relate. The telling v writing... The subtle difference in that art. And the need to always structure a narrative around every life event.. and resisting that. Not going anywhere for the tough questions/discussions on faith/life -- love your work, whenever, however, you want to share it!
2025 has absolutely been a brutal year. Lots of questions and people with stances when I thought we’d be on the same page is very a lot.
I love your pictures of the snow, I always felt it was a bit of a new beginning in its way. Heralding spring yes, but just snow in itself. Hiding new things and familiar. I don’t get snow anymore where I live now but maybe I’ll visit snow someday.
I am so so pleased for you and your family regarding your second footnote!! How wonderful!! What a joy for 12 year old you, too.
Breanne, hoping you can find a way to better health. I've been re-reading the LOTR trilogy again and I'm fascinated with the way Tolkein can describe things relating to Christianity that I've struggled to communicate since becoming a Christian. I loved his books as a teenager for the adventure and fantasy, I love them now for the quality of writing and his insight into challenging things to grasp in the realm of the supernatural. Your post regarding being a tell-er reminded me of something that has caught my attention recently just noticing the sky and clouds recently. It's one of those things that simply brings my eyes, my vision up and past the things of this world that are right at eye level and immediate. It causes me think upon better things and I couldn't help but share a description of my thoughts and the sight that initiated it with those I love. What was interesting was the range of reactions. From ridicule because of my choice of words to affirmation from very unexpected places. Anyway, keep up the good "telling" I appreciate it.
Beautiful words. The snow has been falling here in Michigan, too; today it's quiet and the sun is shining. Thanks for your encouragement to notice and sit with what's in front of us.
Writing is the best and the worst profession, sometimes it pays, most of the time it doesn’t. Either way, it doesn’t matter because writers write because it’s who they are, it’s what they do. Just so you know, I will read anything you write, wherever you choose to publish, whatever you choose to write about. For the new year I hope you get some answers to your medical challenges…and you find a way to mend your broken house, or find one more suitable for your family and situation. All of us who read you regularly have your back, no matter what you choose to do.
I may not be in your physical vicinity, but your section about picking out shards of faith resonates so deeply with this almost 40-year old deconstructing Christian. This year has put me and my family through a faith blender as well for various reasons and let me just tell you, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Thank you for being vulnerable and bringing that pain into the light even just a little for now. Sending you love and light and wishes for a more peaceful new year.
For the record, I subscribed because you don’t post too much and what you do post is beautiful and interesting. That, I think, makes you a writer.
There's a lot going on in the (barely) subtext. It sounds like you're in quite a hard place to be at the moment - personally, family, nationally. I'm pretty sure that pressures can affect our health, as well as challenging our faith. There are many people in the world looking on pretty aghast at what's going on in public life (and who don't believe a word of the muskrat's exposition of Tolkien) - you are not as isolated in that regard as you may feel, though I'm sure Ahab and Jezebel would love you to think you are. 1Ki19:10.
It sounds like you're doing the good things - enjoying the beauty of the snow, treasuring and caring for the little ones. Don't be afraid to talk about it - you are the stories you tell; the stories you tell are you - these things don't have a separate existence (think Aragorn's songs...). Also, if "he" is there, he's big enough to absorb your pain and doubts and anger (see Job).
I hope this is taken in the spirit it is intended. I came to find you on here (and looked for you elsewhere) having appreciated your videos. The world needs tellers (and writers), even if they don't realise it - perhaps most when they don't realise it. People will be ready to listen when you are ready to speak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXFARrCS8xg - my favourite snow song.
Beautiful…I don’t live in a place where it snows, so I appreciate your vivid descriptions of the beauty!
I love love love your second footnote! As someone who has followed you for the past few years, I know how big that is.
I'm too nervous to talk about it much because SO much still needs to happen for us to actually improve our living situation. But the fact that its even a consideration now is such a gift 😭
Oh, yes, indeed: I see it, too…the snow, the quiet beauty, the light falling and cradling the ground. Thank you.
And thank you for seeing it with me. ❄️
This is lovely, Breanne - and I can relate. The telling v writing... The subtle difference in that art. And the need to always structure a narrative around every life event.. and resisting that. Not going anywhere for the tough questions/discussions on faith/life -- love your work, whenever, however, you want to share it!
Thank you for this kind comment. It was very encouraging ❤️