A lie cannot live.

“Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.” Unknown

To all of those who have wondered at our silence; to those who have talked in whispers among each other, hiding your furtive glances at our social media pages and shaken your head at our decisions in life; 

This is Us. 

Despite what you might hear, despite what you might read or think or understand, we are here, together. 

4 years ago we were going through a very rough time in our lives. There are scars to show for it. 

But here, several years later, we are still together. We are growing together, learning, giving. 

We believe in love, we believe in redemption, we believe in each other; and because of that we know we’re in excellent hands. 

We are here raising our beautiful, talented, strong children: both of whom finished out their 2018-2019 school year in the Honor Roll, while Cherish was in the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir

 and Micah was in baseball tournaments and leagues. 

Micah's All Star Broadway team is getting ready to play Regionals this weekend!

We are a close little family, traveling miles and hours together for baseball tournaments, choirs, beach trips...

 coffee business and just because.


Speaking of coffee...

... and here...

These are coffee shops that we both partner in.

They are thriving, growing stores that are well known, highly rated and loved by the valley. We love our businesses, we love where we are at and we have plans to open more in the future.

We are not perfect people.

But we are here. The road we have traveled has been full of obstacles, potholes and ditches; but we are present.
Committed. Fixed. Steady. Determined.

We know there's talk.

We let them talk. We let them speculate. Connive. Assume.

"They say we're not as good as them; I say they're not as good as Him."
KB

God is at the forefront of our venture. Our aim, our goal is to stay humble, stay strong and keep our eyes focused on Him and the goals we have set in front of us.


Other people have things to say; but our story is our own. They are the author of their article; we're committing our writings to the penmanship of Him who has led us this far and has the final say in it all.

To those of you who have supported us on our journey to this day, we acknowledge you and thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. We see and talk to you almost every day, every week or month. Thank you for checking in on us, for praying and caring, and reaching out on a consistent basis.

Keep watching. Our story isn't done yet.

Best,
CC and Jenna, Micah and Cherish Matthews

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr. 


Citations:

https://pin.it/huf2oay4a34nif sayingspoint.com


https://youtu.be/g_nj3Q2JPVc  Musixmatch 2017


martin-luther-king-jr-quotes Hannah Hutyra 2011

Not Fearless.

Second guessing.

One of the banes of my life, seriously. All day, 'ery day. And since I'm such an analytical person, I will have argued my way around, over and under everything, at least five times before I finally make a decision to move forward. Or not, as the case may be.

Way back in the day, when I was an awkward, shy and incredibly quiet teen living in Loveland Colorado it was a little bit of a different story because that person left all the decision-making up to the people she admired; the confident, outgoing kids, because there was no way she was going to show how painfully scared she was.
Haha.. if I introduced you to the family I stayed with, they'd tell you that I'd look at the ceiling or the walls, before making eye contact with anyone for months. I'd learned to have a half-smile on my face so that people wouldn't think that I was unhappy, or figure out how much I silently begged everyone to let me stay away so that I wouldn't have to talk.
It took me around 2 hours to talk thru going to a volleyball game at a park because I couldn't make the decision to go. The day was gorgeous outside, with the Rocky Mountains towering in the background of the valley and white clouds floating lazily in a crystal blue sky on a breeze that had scented hints of crisp fall weather and red fir trees.

So no.. it wasn't that I didn't want to go. And I sat and had around 6 reasons that I could stay if I was needed at home, like dishes or laundry or walking the dog.
Long story short, I ended up going.
I had the time of my life. Who coulda guessed that one? But for me, it was a huge step for me, and a wordless agreement with God who probably laughed His head off at my shivering, scared self that I would start living with less fear every day.

I write #strongertogether on a lot of my posts, and there's a lot of history behind that tag. The story above is part of it.
There's a lot of truth behind the saying, 'Everyone has a story'. And you know, I find it so crazy that I'm out almost every day, talking to people who I've never met before, making friends, creating an atmosphere of welcome and comfort, finding out how their family vacation was, asking about their day, listening to a sad story of loss, and all this over a simple cup of coffee when several years ago, I couldn't look people in the face. It's like a wait; what?? moment for me.

Interesting fact, that glimpse into my life is one of the reasons I love coffee shops. I wanted to create a place that, no matter who you are, what you do, where you've been, you are always welcome and I will always have a moment to say hi, ask how you are, give you a smile, and do my best to make you feel welcome because I know what it's like to feel like a stranger for a long time. There's a few things that unite almost all walks of people; its usually food, and coffee. (or tea, and I actually really like a good green tea!)
Looking at where I was then, and where I'm at now sometimes I blink and am like.. say what?
But it's part of my learning to live with less fear every day.
Less fear of second guessing.
Less fear of people.

Less fear of tomorrow.

Not completely fearless;

Just less fear than yesterday.

Feeding the fish

You know.. feeding a fish shouldn't be so interesting.
The lazy, red and blue betta fish that my little girl insisted on naming Vanilla just sits in her over-sized vase of tap water and flits here and there, glaring thru the glass if you don't feed her at least several times a day.
(don't worry, she gets fed twice a day.)
For the most part, she's lazy and won't move much unless disturbed, like when little people come over and wanna click on the glass to see if she's still alive, or to watch her swim around in annoyance.

But once you drop that awesome-smelling fish food in there, 😖 she's a soldier at attention; whirls around and goes right for the food, not even caring that there's at least 1 set of eager eyes watching her come to the surface to eat. Weird thing is.. she's not picky about the food. She sits on the table where we all eat, surely she can see that there's other food in this world. (not.) 😆

But you know, it's interesting. God's got food for us, we just aren't as interested as we probably should be. We want the Gluten Free version.
Or better yet, the Atkins Diet, or the Paleo food. We obviously just can't handle the whole food yet, so we figure that the food we're given must be the wrong stuff. We want the Skim Milk please, and the Sugar Free Caramel with half the flavor!
But honestly, I can't talk. There's a lot of times where I'm in the situation where a lot of old memory verses are running thru my head and I still choose to act a fool.
Like no, I really don't have to have the last word, and I'm pretty sure it's not imperative that I'm heard on this subject, no matter how much I think about it. Sometimes I think that God puts us in situations to see how well we handled a lesson.
 (Cue the Verizon commercial dude: "Is this a test?")

It's only been in the most recent months that God's encouragement to me is; You are stronger than you think.
And you know, He's probably right.. there's been times where I am positive I can't put one foot in front of the other one for the rest of the day, and I'm just gonna sit here in the middle of the work space until closing time. But it's at those moments where I hear the line, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lam 3:22-23

Other times it feels a bit more down to earth. Move, or I'll make you wish you had. 
(once again, JK)
So I pull myself together one more time, find the strength to get up and go once more because He handed me some food;
... and I took it, to live to fight another day.

Writing my way into the Dawn of Spring

Thinking back on my time at a writer's conference that I went to this year has been so good for me. I had no idea that there were so many ways of writing, of comprehending what you write, or even that there are different genres of writing. I'm sure that you smart and talented people knew this, but it was all new to me. 

I'm one of those writers who have moments of inspiration, where I suddenly have a lightbulb go off in my head and I sit down and scribble out my thoughts and it just all comes together in one brilliant post; and I feel so accomplished and happy. I hit send, and away it goes on my Facebook, racking up views and likes (or not) and my feeling of accomplishment is euphoric. 

Then there's the spaces (and they are the huge spaces in time, up to a year or more) where I don't get inspiration at all. I see the sun in the blue sky and feel it on my skin and the breeze blowing on my face, and it does nothing for my heart. It's kind of like dusk on a grey winter evening. 

There's no emotions. No joy. No tears, either. 

It's just, empty. Or more like; 

Blank. 

Writer's block? I was told that there is no such thing. Writers block does not exist. It's either a lack of sleep, low blood sugar, hunger, or a need for fresh air. There is always something to write about, even if it's crazy things like an ant crawling across your floor, or the dogwood petal stuck on your windshield, or sticky fingerprints on your computer screen. There is always something to write, they told me emphatically. 

But what if my heart is empty? My thoughts are numbingly lifeless? Or what if one single thought is clamoring piercingly through the cold night air of my consciousness, and it's too difficult, too painful to begin to articulate on paper or the keyboard? Could I write then? 

Maybe not. 

But I could mutter. I might even be able to stutter. 

And would you know, God loves those kinds of prayers? You might not even think of them as prayers. Or even sentences. But the halting words, the frequent pauses are more precious than gold to Him because they are from His child. Everything I feel and think is important to Him.

I didn't used to believe that. But I sure do today. 

I communicate so much more, and better now, both in prayer and with my precious family. I feel more and hear more, too. 

I love hearing my little girl chattering to me from her place on the living room floor, surrounded by her mess of sticker dolls. My tall 9 year old son as he crashes through the front door with the ruddy glow of the outdoors scented with the blooming daffodils and freshly cut grass. My strong, loving husband as he opens the leather bible at the dinner table, reading the words of Jesus to his little family. 

There are words all around me. Both good and not so good. But I'm learning to adjust my listening ear to the good, and filter out the negative. 

To see the beauty in the rays of the sun, the happiness in the smell of cut grass, joy in the laugh of my beautiful children, security and love in the embrace of my husband. To learn to know without a doubt, that God is good. All the time. 

Suddenly I look up, and I know: 

It's spring.

The Split Seconds

I come to the door of my room, and survey the house. 

The kids fall silent in the midst of their play as they realize that because of them, mom is probably not happy with what she sees. 

There's chips on the floor. Sticky juice puddles on the counter. Puzzle pieces, angry birds toys and stuffed animals lay strewn in the front room and the den. 

It's only Monday. I should be full of spiritual health and vibrancy from yesterday, listening to a morning full of messages about God and His love for us, how to apply basic truths to our everyday life and being around picturesque families who have neatly dressed children with clean hands and faces. 

Growing up, I heard time and time again how important it is to have that QUIET time in the early morning, without the noise and disturbances of usual life. "Put away life for one moment. Shut the door and close your ears against the demands of your home and listen for the voice of God. He can't speak into your heart if it is too busy trying to filter out His voice from your everyday life noise." 

But as I stand at the door of my room, I know that I can't just close my bedroom door against my two beautiful children for myself, or to read my bible completely undisturbed without my little early bird girl waking up and wanting to crawl into our bed and chatter. Or that I need to minister and serve my husband breakfast and coffee before he leaves for a long day at work. 

So what then? How does God walk with me and minister to my heart when I can't stop and have 5 minutes of quiet with my Bible? How does He help me grow in the ant-attracting puddles of juice and the stale chips on the floor? 

It was in that moment that I felt like God spoke to my heart and said: 

"It's here. It is right here, in these split seconds where you grow. How you respond to the situation I have placed before you is your chance to make a difference in the little lives that watch you, that learn from you, that love and adore you. How will you talk to them? How will you treat them when you clean up their little spills, their few chips that they dropped? Will you take this as a learning curve from Me? Will you love them like I love you?" 

I breathe in and realize that my kids are still staring at me, waiting for my reaction. My son looks up at me and I hear him say hesitatingly: "Mom? Are you okay?"

I smile, reach out my hand and say "Come, my loves. Help mommy clean up the house."

And all is well, in my heart, in their eyes and in our little world where we learn and grow together. 

In those split seconds. 

Gentleness. 

What is gentleness? 

We think of it when we carefully hold a newborn, or when we give instructions to the movers as they unpack your grandmother's fragile china. We use it in directions to our children as we unravel brother's hair from sister's sticky fingers, and when we comfort a friend grieving the loss of a loved one gone on before. 

But do we really know what gentleness is? Focus On The Family Gary Thomas writes: 

"Gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch. It is a tender, compassionate approach to towards others weaknesses and limitations. A gentle person still speaks truth, sometimes even painful truth, but in doing so guards his tone so that the truth can be well received."

Gentleness takes on many outfits in the daily life of a woman. It's worn in your smile as you patiently work with intense and highly energetic children in your ministry. Its worn in your touch as you shake the hand of a stranger, making him or her feel welcome in your home or church. Its worn in your attitude as you listen to your husband talk about his day, instead of unloading on him about your own.

Gentleness isn't just a cute little kids song we sing, or a word we notice in the Bible every once in a while. Paul said he was gentle to the Thessalonians as he shared the Gospel with them because "you are dear to us." 1 Thess 2:7-8 

He told Timothy that a "servant of the Lord must not strive (struggle or or fight vigorously) but be gentle to ALL men..."

And the wisdom that God gives us "is first pure, then peaceable, GENTLE...." 

Gentleness is not necessarily a gift, as much as it it a choice. Max Lucado writes:

"I choose gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself." 

Gentleness does not mean that you will become less. It means the very opposite. It's not me who says so; its God. 

Psalm 18:35 - "Your gentleness has made me great."

Jen Matthews

I haven't blogged in a while, but I have been reading other people's blogs; and I was so encouraged by this one I just had to share it with you guys.
Enjoy!

It was one of those days. I was driving to the airport in the pouring rain. The skies were grey. The day felt a bit gloomy. And honestly, so did I.

There were just a lot of little things swarming my thoughts. Feelings of inadequacy stinging. “There are so many things I’m responsible for and never enough hours in the day. I do enough to keep things from sinking. But I just wonder if I’m doing anything well. I don’t think I am – doing anything well.”

The more I focused on these thoughts, the more overpowered I became. The more overpowered I became, the more withdrawn I felt.

I pulled into the parking space and started the fight with my luggage. My suitcase has two wheels missing. And of course I keep intending to do something about this. But I don’t have time. So I make do with a crazy suitcase and a crazy life and a crazy sense I should just pack my family up and move out west somewhere. Live on a ranch where we grow our own food and I cook beans in a black pot over an open flame.

Surely that would fix everything.

Except that I know it wouldn’t.

Because the chaos isn’t from my circumstances. It’s inside me.

I boarded the plane. I stared out the window. I watched the grey clouds envelop us.

And then the grey broke.

Suddenly, we rose above the clouds and the sun was shining crazy bright and far wide and fabulously clear.

The clouds were just a temporary covering. They didn’t stop the sun from shining. They just prevented my eyes from seeing the sun. And it wasn’t just the sky that appeared a little brighter. My mood did as well.

I started to shift from feeling overpowered to empowered as I realized three things:

Just because I feel it doesn’t make it real.

Just like I felt the sun was gone but it was very much still there, I might feel like I’m not doing anything well, but it doesn’t make it true. The fact that I have weaknesses doesn’t make everything about me weak. I have plenty of strengths.

All I have to do is ask a couple of my friends or my family members to help me see what I do well. I can celebrate those, and then get a plan for bettering things that need improvement. I can start by identifying one thing to improve on this month. And do a little toward making that one thing better.

There are a lot of people who would trade their best day for my worst day.

Yes, I have a lot to manage. And yes, sometimes things get a little foggy. But that doesn’t mean I have to stay swallowed up in the grey. That means I need to get my head above the clouds and see all the many places where the sun is shining brightly in my life. So, I can start making a list of things for which I need to be thankful.

My mind needs some space to think.

If I always run at a breakneck pace, I’m eventually going to break. My mind is a powerful tool, capable of seeing things that can be done more efficiently and effectively if I give myself time to think. When is the last time I just sat quietly with a pen and paper and asked the Lord to help me think?

As 2 Corinthians 12:9 teaches, God’s power is made perfect in weakness. When I’m sinking in thoughts of inadequacy and plans to relocate out west, I remember that my ability is not based on what I can do. My ability and strength come from the One who can do all things. With the Lord working in me and through my weaknesses, I can feel the transformation from being overpowered to empowered taking place.

If the clouds have been looming close lately, maybe it’s time to stop. Pause. Lift your eyes to an altitude that can rearrange your attitude.

By Lysa TerKeurst