Barbara Wilder

▶

▶ 70 ❤ 0 💬 0

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th of July! ❤️ Wishing you all great memories, good times, and an amazing summer ahead. #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #Happy4th #SummerVibes #Celebrate

▶

▶ 67 ❤ 0 💬 0

Life is odd. You make plans. You think you know where you’re going. You picture your future a certain way… and then somehow life takes a turn you never expected. There have been so many moments where I’ve looked back and thought, “How did I even get here?” One verse that has been on my mind is: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Because sometimes our own understanding is so limited. We only see one chapter, but God sees the whole story. I think back to 2019 sometimes. Remember that time? Life felt different. No AI everywhere, less division, less of that constant feeling that we had to urgently pick a side, fight a battle, or fix the world. In some ways, we were just living in a simpler kind of ignorance. Then 2020 happened… and it’s been a wild ride ever since. No matter what your opinions, beliefs, or political views are , I think most people can agree that the world shifted. Something changed. The way we communicate, the way we see each other, the things we worry about. And the question is… was it for worse or for better? Maybe both. Because sometimes things have to get shaken before they can be rebuilt. Sometimes the hardest seasons produce the biggest growth. I’ve seen that in my own life over and over again. Some things I once thought were the worst things that could happen ended up leading me somewhere I never would have found otherwise. That’s why I hold onto the truth that God can take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. (Genesis 50:20) Life is odd. Some days you feel on top of the world. Other days you feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water. But James reminds us: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” James 1:2 Not because the trials themselves are easy. Not because pain is enjoyable. But because we can trust that God is working even in the chaos. Gratitude changes everything. You can feel anxiety, or you can practice gratitude but they cannot fully occupy the same space at the same time. Gratitude pulls us back into the present. It reminds us that even in uncertain times, there is still beauty. So today, I’m grateful. For quiet places.
For the lake.
For stillness.
For watching ducks peacefully float by.
For those little moments that remind me that God’s creation is still beautiful. Speaking of ducks… does anyone want to adopt a duck? 😂 Because apparently someone decided a domesticated duck belonged at my favorite park. This little guy is out there trying to survive the wild life, but he clearly did not get the “how to be a wild duck” instruction manual. He needs a home, a pond, and probably someone who knows what they’re doing. 🦆 Life is strange. Life is unpredictable. But maybe that’s the point. We don’t have to understand every twist and turn. We just have to trust the One who does. #TrustGod #CountItAllJoy #GratitudeOverAnxiety #FaithOverFear #GodIsGood

▶

▶ 106 ❤ 0 💬 0

Arizona adventures and memories I’ll treasure forever. 🌵☀️🐾❤️ It was such a joy and truly an honor to accompany Pam, Josh, Ian, and Lorelei on this exciting new chapter as they begin their new home and life in Arizona. From the laughs and adventures to all the little moments in between, this trip was one for the books. So grateful for the memories we made together, and I know there are many more to come! Here’s to new beginnings and all the adventures ahead. 🥂🌵🐾 #ArizonaAdventures #NewBeginnings #MakingMemories #GoodFriends #LifeWithPets