on my heart [bryan]

friends, thank you for your grace.

and your patience we me.  I’ve so missed this space.  and you.

I really would love to know who all is out there reading?  

what stage of life are you in?  what season?  what is your biggest obstacle?  what’s your greatest dream?

what do you come to this space to find? //  encouragement? stories? new places to shop? to know you aren’t alone in adoption or infertility?

I want this space to be a place where you are filled up and I also want it to be a place that gives me LIFE.  and writing does just that.  but before we go on….what would you like to hear about?

this place will still remain a place for me to share my thoughts, my heart, my fears and desires.  a place to record the highs and lows of life.  and the pieces that I share my heart have become my most favorite posts to go back to.  so I’m about to get real.

but please, comment [through wordpress or Facebook!] and tell me who you are and what brings you here.  I really do want to know you!

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the first few weeks here have been hard.  really hard.  like my sweet son Camp, I too apparently really struggle with transitions.  I don’t know if I just was so much of a dreamer that I assumed everything would play out perfectly here.  maybe i have really high expectations.  well, I know I have high expectations.  i look back to our move from austin to midland that was completely different.  then we were just married, no kids, and knew hardly anyone.  that was such a time to find my own identity.

I learned so much those first few years who I was apart from my family and those who knew and loved me.  it was painful, but it was worth it.  we formed amazing relationships in midland, and built an amazing community.  we were serving in local ministries and the church and by the time we left, were pretty connected.  i guess i just assumed in my head that that same thing would happen here overnight.  while last time we didn’t know anyone -this time we’ve been majorly connected to a community.

the people at our church have totally taken us in and for that, we are forever grateful.  we are forming these friendships on a rock.  it might take a while to build the history, but are headed in that direction.

i feel like i haven’t really gotten into any sort of rhythm.  i have no routine.  i want to get back into work, but it seems like i have no motivation.  have all these great ideas and goals but something is holding me back from really going for them.  is it time? am i too tired?  fear? my kids really are taking every ounce of me.  and it’s overwhelming.  but i know that god will give me only what i can handle and there is grace enough for THAT DAY!  

as I’m “wandering in the desert” I can trust that God is with me, He will never leave me and He will give me enough manna for each day.  he’s asking me to TRUST him, and trust him I will.

“you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” Isaiah 26:3

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Hey, I'm Wynne!

Hi, friend! First, I truly am so giddy that you are here. I want you to know I believe in you and all the ways you are growing towards living a more intentional life.  I genuinely hope you are encouraged from our time together here.

A little about me, I’m a type 7 on the enneagram, a total extrovert + people lover, entrepreneur, connector, storyteller, people gatherer, and passionate wife, mama + friend. I feel most alive when I’m exploring new places and surrounded by people I love. Give me a day in the outdoors disconnected from wifi, and I am a happy girl. I run on oat milk lattes, Jesus, gratitude journaling and kitchen dance parties with my four kids.
Welcome, come on in!

let'e be friends

  1. jen says:

    hi there,

    i so get this. we moved from austin to florida in september and it still feels hard some days. i have no doubt this was the right move for us and i like our new home/city (having the beach down the road doesn’t hurt!) but i miss our friends/family and that familiar “home” feeling SO much. (also, mexican food. i miss mexican food) we have found a church and i am slowly making connections with friends but it just takes time. i am so wanting to have that instant community that we left in austin but i have to keep remembering that it took years to build that community. i really been asking God to keep my patient and waiting on Him to put people in my path and then give me the boldness to love them well and intentionally as i pursue a new community here. it’s hard sometimes but i feel like on those days when i am especially discouraged, God shows me something encouraging in a new relationship. i will be praying for you as i pray for my own situation too 🙂

  2. Suzanne says:

    I read along! Would love to hear more about adoption because we are halfway through our home study and/or about infertility because we have been trying {again} for two years and 13 months of fertility treatments + surgery = still so tough! We also move cities about every two years so I resonate with that aspect of your blog too (and also the aspect of seeing the body of Christ totally embrace you and love you immediately!!)
    Bottom line: keep doing what you’re doing! You are an encouragement in my faith journey!

  3. Jessica says:

    ive been reading along for awhile. I too have two little ones from Ethiopia, both toddlers. I would love to hear more about how you are handling these toddler years. what’s working and what’s not. I have no close friends or family who have adopted, so those around me don’t quite get it. They don’t seem to understand that my kids come from hard places, and may not always react as people feel they should. So I like to hear how others are handling things!

  4. Tracey says:

    I have been following your blog for about 6 months, & I can’t remember how I first found it! But I do remember why I came back: your honesty & your cute kids. I have had a heart for adoption since I was 7 years old & I attended a “Gotcha Day” party for twins adopted from Eastern Europe celebrating their first year in their forever family! I’m single & I pray the Lord will bring me a husband with a heart for adoption as well.

    My season of life right now? I’m 23 years old & I live in Southeast Asia (but I’m American, from Georgia) where I’m learning language & culture. I’m just following the Lord wherever He sets my steps… which happens to be on the other side of the world! Read more about the day-to-day on my blog, http://traceyeliz.blogspot.com

    & by the way, I love your ombre-blue hair!

  5. Caroline says:

    I am so sorry it’s been a hard transition, but I love that you were so obedient to the Lord’s calling! I’m so glad you have felt so welcomed!

  6. Elizabeth says:

    I am a long time reader! Currentely a month or two out from a move to Texas actually! My husband and I work at the same company and both of our jobs are relocating. We are also in the midst of a private newborn adoption. We would be further along, but the agency asked us to go on hold until we get settled in our new home. We have no kiddos now, just pups. So much change and transition coming for us soon! I enjoy reading your posts and have been praying for you guys!

  7. Tiffany says:

    Oh, change is so hard! I always admire your transparency and bravery. We are preparing to move to Austin from Memphis for no other reason than God leading us there. I’m thankful others (like you) can relate to this life of crazy faith that we are ALL called to live. It gives me courage when I feel afraid. Also, your honesty re: infertility has made me braver as I share my story with others. The truth drives away the shame! Thankful for you!

  8. Dakota Hurley says:

    My heart aches for you. I too, feel the same “uneasy” since my youngest was born 6 months ago. I still have no routine or motivation and this makes me feel lost most of the time. Thanks for sharing your heart so I’m not feeling alone. Xoxo. Blessings, Dakota

  9. Krista Box says:

    My sweet friend. Oh how I love to know what is on your heart. Transition is hard, but transition into something BIG God is calling you into is covered in spiritual warfare… which makes is much harder. I love you and this season you are in right now… it’s not forever and it’s not without purpose. That verse that you quoted is the exact verse God gave me to wrestle with last year. His word is so good. I love that you got some space to write, I know that is therapeutic. : ) Praying for rich time with the Lord and sweet time with your family. To answer your question, I come to this space to read more about what God is doing in and through you. It gives me something to relate to. One day at a time my friend!

  10. Chelsea says:

    Hi,
    Thank you so much for your refreshing honesty and sweet words on your blog. I stumbled onto your blog not long ago and am in the middle of a hard season of waiting. My husband and I are currently on the infant domestic adoption waiting list in the state of Michigan and man, it is difficult to simply “wait around” for an e-mail or phone call that could change your life. Through prayer and blogs like yours though, I am still encouraged and hopeful. Please keep writing and sharing your heart!
    ~ Chelsea

  11. Sarah Goldstein Roney says:

    Transitions test and try us like nothing else. Especially transitions with children. I will be praying for you through this time and believing that the goodness of the Lord with bring you peace as you walk the journey ahead. One day you are going to wake up and see the beauty in this new place…. it will feel like home.

  12. Jamie Dayton says:

    I could have written this myself two years ago or even last year, maybe even today. I moved two year ago back to the U.S after living in Kuwait for over 6 years. The Transition was so much harder then I expected because like you I thought it would just happen, I mean, I knew God was leading us back here and I knew we were following Him, but the transition is still in motion two and few months later. I guess because things just don’t look like I expected nor how they did there. I will pray for you through this, it is hard, but it gets easier and PRAISE JESUS you have a good community all ready there welcoming you in. Give yourself time to grieve the loss of your friendships as they change to being long distant and the loss of your lifestyle and just take things one day at a time. Your NEW life is waiting ahead of you, and God has plans that you can’t even imagine.

  13. Suzi E says:

    Hi sweet one,
    I found your blog through follow Fridays on Instagram I think. It clicked with me as one of my daughters, so dear to my heart, lives in College Station! She has so struggled to find a church, community and fellowship. Struggling with infertility has isolated her in most fellowship activities which are focuses for those her age. Unfortunately it seems infertility is a silent struggle especially in many church situations. Anyway they are attending #declarationbcs and are liking it so far …
    Prayers for you as you settle in – Suzi

  14. paige says:

    always love to see how you pen your heart here in this space…
    you are loved dearly
    i know there are highs & lows right now. you guys have had ALOT on your plate over the last couple years. a LOT. give yourself some grace my friend. this years its so easy to feel like you want to do so much….and YOU do…i encourage you to also enjoy the time that you are taking roots and digging deep…give yourself grace to not do all & be all right now. you are a giver and an encourager…i pray you enjoy being given to & filled up by your new family there!
    see YOU SOON!!!!

  15. Shannon says:

    i’ve followed your blog and IG for about 6 months, I think? Adoptive mama here, with one of my girls from Ethiopia. We moved from TX to NC almost 2 years ago, and I can relate to so much of what you are posting these days. It took awhile for us to find a rhythm as well. It will come, and I’m glad you can see the beginnings of deep friendships forming now. Our church community was a rock for us. I appreciate your honesty and willingness to say that it’s hard. Keep being vulnerable and reaching out. Your people are there and you will find them.

  16. Shelby Meyer says:

    (FINALLY getting around to comment. I’ve been reading this post repeatedly for the last few days with every intention to respond. I feel a little goofy doing it now with your recent post, but I’m doing it anyway!) I totally feel you on the transitions. Every move we’ve made took a solid six months to feel like home. My hubby is in school right now, so each semester brings it’s own transitions of schedules and expectations. I’m so ready to see consistency in my life. I’m glad to hear you have a good community to walk through the time with. That is something precious 🙂 I’m here for encouragement – I’m a year and half into my own secondary infertility journey, and looking for a community of women (especially moms going through it) who can speak God’s sovereignty and love to me when I have trouble believing in it myself. Thanks for sharing your journey so openly. It’s blessed this stranger’s life.

  17. Joanne LaBuda says:

    I read your blog because I love your sweet heart and am inspired by how you walk out your faith. I am a single mom of three who raised my kids in one town. My two oldest kids went to the same state university, but the LORD led my youngest daughter and I to a new state and a new life when it was time for her to go to college. I found a great church and joined a small group that would later become so incredibly precious to me. Four months after we moved here, the LORD brought my oldest daughter home. During those early months of grief, I sensed that He had brought me here, so that He could heal me in the way He intended, because I didn’t know that many people and family and old friends were far away. It was there that I met Him in a BIG way that has changed everything for me. Ever since I “met” you through your blog, I began praying daily for the LORD’s will for you to become pregnant. I also pray every day for your husband. You love BIG and brave and you inspire me to live and love that way, too. Am believing that the LORD has you right where He wants you and that He is doing things during this time that you will look back on and be, oh, so grateful for!!

  18. Jessica Gunn says:

    Hi Wynne! 🙂

    I have been a “secret reader” of your blog for a couple years now. Okay typing that is embarrassing. 🙂 I never comment on blogs but felt compelled to stop in and drop you a line! I just want to thank you so much for your blog. I come here often to find encouragement, inspiration, and to learn about awesome fair trade and give back companies! I can absolutely relate about the transitioning season! My husband and I (married 4 years, no kiddos yet) just returned home from a year long backpacking trip around the world, serving in missions and outreaches in every country we traveled to. All glory to God and HIS amazing grace and provision, we traveled to 25 countries serving Him last year. It was the best year of my life, without a doubt. I was excited to come home and see my family and friends who I missed so much but I will be honest and say: IT HAS BEEN HARD. So hard to come home from an epic (understatement) year like that. So hard to dive back into a “normal” life and routine. I’ve realized I am scared of routine in a lot of ways. I have always felt called to BIG things and the Nations, yet we feel like we are supposed to have a home base here (we live in Sarasota, FL). Anyways, I could write a book about my transition season but I just wanted to share my heart for a minute and say that I.get.it. You are not alone!! I also want you to know that you have given me great inspiration because I see you as someone who is living out both sides of my calling and life. I deeply admire how you live intentionally with passion in your hometown, yet travel across the world to serve in places like Africa. You have shown me a beautiful of example of how I CAN do both things I feel in my heart that God is calling me to do. Anyways, I will let you go because this comment is getting embarrassingly long, hah! I hope we can be friends! 🙂 I think you are incredible and you have impacted my life more than you will ever know! Be Blessed, girl! 🙂

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