About the Author

Jen encourages women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives at BeautyandBedlam.com. A popular speaker, worship leader, and author of Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, Jen lives in North Carolina with her husband, five children, and a sofa for anyone...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Beautiful words, Jennifer. I guarantee you though, one ride down a hill on a sled and you’ll get that sense of wonder and delight back. Put the laundry aside today, grab one, and get out there. You’ll become 12 again.

    Enjoy your day!

  2. Your words reminded me exactly of my Wisconsin snow days as a child. I have the joy of having a sledding hill in my back yard and even though my kids rarely use it (their college and high school age now), I always invite all of the neighborhood children to. My boys will be home for a weekend – and some girlfriends who we adore – at the end of Jan. and I think it’s time for all of us to get back out there!!! Joy!!

  3. Jennifer,
    We can have a tendency to get so uptight as we get older! I want to make sure I don’t lose that sense of wonder, that I enjoy the beautiful gifts God brings!
    I love to watch my younger grandchildren enjoying and discovering things for the first time! I was too busy to enjoy that so much when MY kids were little, but with grandkids, it’s perfect!
    Bernice
    Assess your life for stress

  4. I have an penchant towards “acting my age” & always being serious. Your words reminded me to get back my sense of wonder, awe & fun. We all need to get out there and “have a little childish fun” to get back our awe & sense of delight.

    I wonder, too, though have we lost our sense of awe, & wonder at other things, too? Take Christmas with all its hustle & bustle, parties and such. Have we forgotten what it’s about and the sheer wow we should be feeling?

  5. Girlfriend, I hear you! I’m not usually a snow person. And after last year’s 44 inches I thought one more flake might just send me over the edge. But yesterday I was walking through the snowfall and found myself all giddy inside. I don’t know where that came from, but I’m going to have to give credit to God.

    And maybe a bit of credit to the new tires on my car that make me feel dangerously safe.
    : )

  6. Thank you so much Jennifer. You took the words right out of my mind and placed them in front of my eyes! I often wonder why I find it so difficult to enjoy the moments as they come – I am trying to work on that. Children are with us for such a short time and we can’t afford to waste it being “out of sorts”. Every season has it’s joys and it’s challenges. I agree with you – sometimes it takes a child to remind you that you are in the middle of a moment that you will someday look back on with fondness.

  7. Always the awe of the new vanishes with time. The first snowflakes we gaze at in wonderment and a sigh. But then enchantment gives way to indifference that ushers in concern. And I wonder too, just as you said so well, “Where has my delight gone? When did it leave me?”

    But then if you didn’t concern yourself with the “dogs’ play area” who would, and if didn’t concern yourself with the making of the hot chocolate dolloped with cream, that joy would be lacking in your home. Because you allow concern to be ushered in, delight finds a home in your children.

    Thank you for this.

    And today, I pray that God shines his love on you and yours.

  8. Just stumbled across your blog from the Blog Frog InCourage Community and I LOVE it. It’s beautiful over here, and I love this post. Looking forward to a return visit. Be Blessed today 🙂
    Debbie

  9. Yes, Jen, savor the next snowfall! I had the opposite reaction to our southern SnowFest last week– I was charmed, delighted to have an unexpected day (or 5) off, and enjoyed snapping pics and entertaining endless troops of tweens and teens with snowy boots, gloves, and hats. Put your boots on next time and go make a snow angel– I promise it’ll come back to you. 🙂

  10. I know….I can be such a drag! I appreciate the reminder to HAVE MORE FUN!!
    Today we’re totally snowed in. I spent it in pj’s with my teen girls watching Netflix LOST episodes.
    Yea, we partied (lazy girl style)!! haha

  11. Being encouraged despite imperfections is what true living is all about . And fighting the perfectionistic tendencies I harbor, so that I may enjoy His creation is a daily struggle. Thank you for being part of my encouragement today! I appreciate you!

  12. I was just wondering this same thing during our last snowfall. I use to LOVE it when it snowed, one reason is because we get snow so rarely here in NC (or it used to be that way). Now I see snow as just something that gets in the way. We live on a farm now with horses and the cold weather just makes everything so much harder. I know that I need to look at the snow through my children’s eyes and enjoy it more!

  13. i think the difference for me is the responsibility that comes with snow. when i was a kid, i didn’t wash the extra laundry, worry about the driveway, make the hot cocoa, find the lost gloves, mop up the muddy floor….

  14. Luv the thoughts and reminder! Just finished skiing with my boys … Creating memories. They were amazed how mom can out ski them!