Winter in THE121…how cold is too cold???

I love all questions tiny house living. I love that people are genuinely inquisitive. I think it’s natural human tendency to ask questions about things we don’t understand or know.

One question I get, particularly this time of the year, is “how do you heat your tiny house” and “do you ever get too cold in there?”

Both are great questions!

So first…I heat my house with propane! The first year I would haul 40lb propane tanks to and from work, stop at the gas place, haul the tanks off the back of my truck, have the nice man fill them, reverse process, travel home, unload and hook back up… I’m tired even now just thinking about it!

Second year…I got smarter! Isn’t that the phrase after all…work smarter not harder….

Second year, I had a bigger tank dropped off and now I am never without heat! Plus I save my back, which my body thanks me for.

I also insulate around and under the skirt which also helps on these super windy cold days here in the wooded mountains.

Another way I stay warm at night…I have a heated mattress pad on my bed and a heated blanket thanks to a SUPER thoughtful friend! About 30 minutes before I get in bed, I turn on the heat and when I get into my bed it’s like a warm hug envelops me.

So…do I stay warm? Yes!

Plus, if you’ve been hanging around long enough…you may know and remember, I LOVE winter!

I’d honestly rather be cold any day before I’d be dripping in sweat. I’m a big fan of blankets, hoodies and super thick socks. And good news…so is my sweet girl.

So happy winter my friends.

We are tucked in tight and staying warm here at teabereyacres in THE121.

January 9, 2025 1

It’s never what you expect.

I groggily awoke this morning in my cozy tiny house and slithered out of bed anticipating a quiet and slow morning here at THE121. I climbed the stairs to wake up Maggie Marie and wished her a Merry Christmas Eve! I checked her bed carefully as last night she had been vomiting. All ok.

She ate her breakfast while I prepared myself my 43 year old Christmas Eve traditional cinnamon toast breakfast. The house filled with the aroma of cinnamon and coffee brewing while Christmas songs played.

I sat down to spend time with the Lord, coffee and cinnamon toast in hand, when my phone began exploding with text messages and a phone call.

The Christmas box never arrived.

Yes the one with my presents from Ohio. I shrugged it off expecting it would arrive later in the week, it’s not what Christmas is about to me anyways.

Except they said it was delivered.

The UPS driver lies, I told myself.

Phone calls to corporate, no responsibility taken, I surrendered that it was probably stolen at the bottom of my long drive. We’ll file a claim later.

Back to my coffee and Bible.

Then I sat in the quiet of THE121 crocheting and enjoying the snow, when I felt a whisper from the Holy Spirit check the bag you threw in your truck last week.

Last week as I was pulling up my long drive, I saw a random garbage bag thrown into the woods on the side of my drive. I saw a target box in the bag and knew that must be the present from my sister. I threw it in the back seat of my truck as, well, a tiny house doesn’t have a lot of space to keep large boxes and went about life.

But as the Spirit whispered, I listened and opened the garbage bag. There was the box from Ohio!

I phoned Ohio and exclaimed the Christmas miracle!

The package wasn’t where I expected it to be. It wasn’t in the wrapping I expected it to be in, and so in my mind it must have gotten lost or stolen.

My mind immediately went back to the least unexpected package this season celebrates.

Jesus wasn’t delivered by an expected person. He wasn’t delivered in an expected way. He wasn’t even wrapped in an expected package. The shepherds were guided by a star to find Jesus. I expect they wouldn’t have found him any other way as he was delivered in a very unexpected place.

So I wonder. What are we missing because we expect them or it to be a certain way?

May our eyes be opened this Christmas season to see the unexpected.

Enjoy the staged photo of my Christmas Eve tradition!

December 24, 2024 0

The Quiet of the Night

I just tucked Maggie Marie into bed (yes she has her own bed and yes I tuck her in and yes you may judge me now). I turned off the Christmas tree lights and blew out my pine scent candle. I lay down on my couch, turn on my outside lights and look out my bay window upwards towards the towering pins that line my driveway. As I look up, snowflakes the size of dimes and pennies fall from the night sky. With each snow flake that falls the ground becomes a vibrant glittering white.

I haven’t gone out much nowadays and so it’s as if the earth that the snow falls on is untouched and the snow pure. The only sound is my generator running, pouring juice into my house to get me through the night but even that purring is a comforting sound to me now.

There’s something about snow that stills us, at least for me. It causes me to stop and the wonder of watching it, has yet to get old. Snow constantly reminds me of Psalm 51:7

“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
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So maybe I’m still in awe because the snow reminds me of what Christ did for me on the cross. He purified me and washed me whiter than snow. If you live anywhere where it snows, you know what that whiteness looks like.

And so I sit and I watch tonight. I watch each flake fall on teaberry acres with an awe and wonder that Jesus Christ, the King of Kings has washed me whiter than the snow.

December 15, 2024 0

Truth over lies

As the rain hits the metal roof of THE121 this morning, the Christmas tree lights twinkle against the backdrop of the woods and my pine candle burns reminding me it’s Christmas time, I am tempted to despair. You may be reading this and thinking that sounds dreamy and you’d be right. There have been many a day I have dreamed for this. Maggie Marie cuddles up next to me, my crochet hook waiting to work, and yet…

I am tempted to despair. I am tempted to believe the lie. The deceiver would tell me you’re never going to get better. The deceiver would tell me God is never going to use you again. The deceiver lies.

I was so privileged (yes I intentionally used that word because so many aren’t) to attend church yesterday morning. Our pastors have been preaching on Spiritual Warfare because well…the battle is real.

This quote from John Mark Comer hit me:

So today I believe the truth. My story isn’t over. So if I continue to struggle physically and if I don’t return to work and if the pain never ceases, God IS still good. God IS who He says He is. God CAN and WILL use me for HIS glory and HIS story.

The deceiver won’t win. This side of heaven we all have our struggles and our thorns in our flesh. But oh what a glorious day that will be when we see our Savior face to face.

It’s also a glorious day when we chose to believe the truth over the lies. So today that’s my stance, fix my focus in the hard and chose to believe the truth, He is for me, This is for my good.

If you’d like to listen to the gathering you can find it Here.

If you’re wondering about this Jesus I talk about and how to know him, click Here

The flesh is weak. The battle is real. God is greater and He can be trusted.

Got questions? Reach out, I would to have a conversation.

I’ve got loads of time nowadays. Time to pray and time to listen. Maggie Marie and I are on the couch, choosing to believe the truth over the lies. Well I’m choosing, she’s waiting for her next treat time…

December 9, 2024 0

Christmas in a tiny house…

One of the first (and most) questions I get living in a tiny house is “How do you have a Christmas tree in a tiny house??” or “can you do Christmas in a tiny house??”

I love that the answer is a big YES!!!

Christmas in THE121 is one of my favorite times of the year, when the tree twinkles from my bay windows against the dark backdrop of the forest and the world seems to stand still.

Each year, I feel that Christmas always looks a little different here. Last year I wasn’t home as I was in and out of the hospital recovering from kidney surgery while this year I’m home 24/7 recovering from colorectal surgery. (I can only pray 2025 is surgery free!!)

So this year as I pulled my decorations from the shed and pulled open the boxes, I kind of laughed as it was a culmination of how the year has gone…

I had cleaned my shed out earlier in the summer due to a complete mess the mice had made. Turns out I missed a section!!

As I fluffed out the branches (after a good shake outside) this nest appeared. Atleast they were warm!

And there you have it. The home of the mice. They are evicted now that Christmas has come to THE121. What a laugh and picture of this past year. Pulling out all the things where unwanted residents live, giving them a good shake down (or clean out) and putting them back together again.

So can I have a tree? 100% and I may be biased but I think she’s beautiful.

A few years ago my aunt made me this beautiful lace nativity set and it’s my favorite part of my tree for all it represents.

So while Christmas looks different this year, I’m sitting in the different and sitting with Jesus, adjusting my focus and waiting for Him.

December 2, 2024 0

He was expected yet unexpecting

For hundreds of years authors had been writing about him.

He is coming.

He would not be what you think, yet He will be what you need.

He is coming.

Some thought He had arrived when He really hadn’t. So they knew. Well they knew that

He is coming.

And then he came.

Did they know?

Did they walk past the messenger?

Did they scurry past the shepherds? They were probably sleeping. (It was late after all)

Did they walk past him as he sat at his dad’s carpenter bench?

Did they journey with him to Passover when He was 12?

What did they say when they finally Knew?

I have so many questions.

Would I have been like the Pharisees or the disciples?

I would like to think I know the answer, but I don’t because this side of heaven I have been both.

Right now, I am learning to be His apprentice.

May this advent season our heart posture be that of having eyes open to see, hands to receive and a heart to believe.

Because while yes we anticipate his arrival in remembrance, the fact is, Jesus has already come. God sent His Son Jesus because there was no greater sacrifice. Jesus came to be the sacrifice for me and for you. The sacrifice that opens the way for a relationship with the Father.

There is no greater gift.

So while we wait in expectation May we not want and wish Him to come like we think he should but know that He came, just as he was suppose to come.

December 1, 2024 0

With Gratitude

Why is Thanksgiving just so enjoyable?

If we take away the food, the family, football and my personal favorite, the dog show, I would argue if our hearts are full of gratitude the peace will still be there.

As a therapist I know that the antidote to anxiety is gratitude. I didn’t learn this lesson as a therapist, I practice this discipline myself and have long before I became a therapist.

I keep a gratitude journal on my headboard and each night I write down gratitudes.

As a therapist I have witnessed time after time mental shifts when people turn from worry and fear towards gratitude.

And so, while I LOVE Christmas, a part of me is a bit sad today. Why? Because I know Christmas brings a lot of stress and anxiety to people’s lives.

So what if…this Christmas season we keep with the practice of Gratitude?

It is with great Gratitude that I was able to have not one, but two Thanksgivings (and a 3rd tomorrow!). Spiritual family is the very best kind. My heart is full and I pray it will continue to be as I keep my heart and mind focused on The Father who gives good gifts even when life is hard and even when sometimes it may be hard to see.

He is always working, even in the hard.

So with Gratitude…

Fun fact, this was my first Thanksgiving meal in Lord knows how long, I ate and did not get sick! Thank you Lord!!!

At each house I asked for alll the desserts!!!

Thank you to the Werzinski’s and Elliot’s for your amazing hospitality!!!

November 30, 2024 0

Dancing in the rain!

The rain drops on my window and the pitter patter on my metal roof are the most welcoming sights and sounds of this November!

In my mind I’m out dancing in this rain as David danced before the Lord! But let’s be honest we all know I’m recovery from surgery so in reality I’m tucked under my blanket and praising the Lord in my heart!

You might remember that THE121 is completely off grid, which means that I rely solely on rain for showering and laundry. AND if you live anywhere in the Northeast, you also know we’ve been in a MAJOR drought. So…the DELIGHTFUL sounds and sight of rain fill my tank (both literally and figuratively).

I must say in the two yeas THE121 has been at TeaberryAcres even amongst droughts, surgeries, storms and unknowns, God has ALWAYS provided!

And that is just how our God is, He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.

November 21, 2024 0

If I could…

If I could, I would. That’s what I found myself saying to a friend.

“If I could learn any other way…”

It has been in the moments of pain that God draws me closer to Himself. I truly believe this is the route He has for me because His purpose is my sanctification.

About 6 weeks ago while doing laundry, I had pain in my side that stopped me in my tracts. The surgeon said “give it time.”

Twice, she has said that.

And now it’s been six weeks.

So here we are.

So once again I drove to Danville today holding my side and asking God to help me make it safely. I met with my surgeons team who scheduled another CT scan.

What happened? Only God knows at this point.

Is it hard? 100%

Do I believe that I should be able to do anything and everything at this point? 100%

But if I could learn any other way but through pain than I believe I would.

As I drove home, I continued to listen to an audiobook title Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman. The premise? Am I fan of Jesus or a follower?

I knew God was prompting my heart to surrender. To follow, at all cost. Yes even in pain.

So here I lay, flat on my back (with some good pain meds on board), surrendered (and will probably need to surrender again because you know…that thing called will…).

I wait and I listen.

I lean in and I ask for Him to teach me in the pain.

I would also covet your prayers as I have a couple appointments this week to meet with my PCP and also back to Danville for a CT scan (to hopefully rule things out).

Thanks for journeying with me…

November 19, 2024 0

We are home!!!

After six weeks, I am home!

Technically, I made it home last week, but coming home has wore me out!

There’s not been an update for awhile because I went off grid for a little bit to allow my body and soul time rest and heal.

So how am I doing?

Overall…very well! My main obstacle right now is just feeling very tired. So I require a lot of rest. Can’t complain, the Lord has been and continues to outpour His love through people, through the space to rest and the quiet that Teaberry Acres affords me. I am grateful.

Maggie Marie and I are back together again!

I’ve been reading and resting and will update on the books that the Lord has used to challenge my heart and prompt me to make some changes going forward.

So for now just enjoy some pics of my girl and I adjusting to being back at home..