You win this round, Amazon

I suffer from a strange phenomenon known as FOMO (fear of missing out). I hear it's fairly common, so maybe you suffer from it too.

My latest flare-up happened two days ago when all of the people on Planet Earth started ordering Instant Pot pressure cookers on Amazon Prime Day. If everyone else needed one, then surely I'd be needing one too. And besides, at just $89 for the 8-quart model, it was a bargain. Look at all of the money I saved by buying it!

If you know me in real life, you know the irony of this purchase and are probably laughing hysterically by now. If you don't know me in real life, then I should probably tell you something about myself before we go any further:

I don't cook. Ever. In our house, my better half is the resident chef so that I can go to the gym after work. I mean, I have some pretty good baking skills, but I haven't even used those or my poor Kitchen Aid stand mixer since probably Christmas. If my husband isn't cooking our dinner, a restaurant is. That's about the only perk of city(ish) living.

I digress, but as you can see, I clearly needed another kitchen gadget.

Looking on the bright side, I don't much care for boil-in-bag rice and the Instant Pot has a rice button.

All of Jenn's friends are getting an Instant Pot. ✔

The Instant Pot has a rice button. ✔

Jenn buys an Instant Pot. ✔

My logic abilities are sometimes astounding -- and not necessarily in a good way. But, wait. They actually managed to get worse here.

As wisdom would have it, I decided it would be best to have the Instant Pot shipped to the Amazon store on the campus where I work so that I could hike over to pick it up and hike back carrying it, then hike it to my car at the end of the day -- rather than allowing Amazon to conveniently deliver it to my house.

Were you aware that the Instant Pot comes in an awkwardly sized cubic package that weighs exactly 22 lbs.?

Guess it's a good thing I gave up cooking to spend my evenings at the gym.

You win this round, Amazon.

Just 22 lbs. of awkward hiking cargo.

Humor me here, friends: What kinds of deals and steals did you rock on Prime Day?

Fight Song Friday: Hard Love - NEEDTOBREATHE

Music is my go-to for all sorts of emotions (and probably yours too) -- when I need a pick-me-up, when I want to celebrate, when I need motivation, when I'm lacking inspiration. I can't sing worth a lick, so I try to make sure I only belt out songs at the top of my lungs when I'm alone and the risk of damaging others' hearing is fairly low. This song, Hard Love by NEEDTOBREATHE, is one I've been rocking out to lately when I just need something to remind me that the fire is refining me and I won't be consumed.

NEEDTOBREATHE's Josh Lovelace had this to say about the meaning in these lyrics:

"It's a fight song for the long journey between trials and redemption. It's about appreciating the wisdom and maturity that comes from hardship. Sometimes our ideas for what we think we need and what God knows we really need don't line up. We've been through situations we didn't think we'd make it out of, and this song is an encouraging message about what's ahead for us."


So give it a listen. Maybe it'll pump you up and be your Friday Fight Song today too.

Trading punches with the heart of darkness
Going to blows with your fear incarnate
Never gone until it's stripped away
A part of you has gotta die today
In the morning you gon' need an answer
Ain't nobody gonna change the standard
It's not enough to just feel the flame
You've gotta burn your old self away
Hold on tight a little longer
What don't kill ya, makes ya stronger
Get back up, 'cause it's a hard love
You can't change without a fallout
It's gon' hurt, but don't you slow down
Get back up, 'cause it's a hard love
You know the situation can't be right
And all you ever do is fight
But there's a reason that the road is long
It takes some time to make your courage strong
Hold on tight a little longer
What don't kill ya, makes ya stronger
Get back up, 'cause it's a hard love
You can't change without a fallout
It's gon' hurt, but don't you slow down
Get back up, 'cause it's a hard love
When the wolves come and hunt me down
I will face them all and stand my ground
'Cause there's a fire burnin' in me
They will see my strength in this love I found
Hold on tight a little longer
What don't kill ya, makes ya stronger
Get back up, 'cause it's a hard love
You can't change without a fallout
It's gon' hurt, but don't you slow down
Get back up, 'cause it's a hard love
It's a hard love, it's a hard love, it's a hard love, it's a hard love
Hold on tight a little longer
What don't kill ya, makes ya stronger
Get back up, 'cause it's a hard love
You can't change without a fallout
It's gon' hurt, but don't you slow down
Get back up, 'cause it's a hard love
'Cause it's a hard love

Songwriters: Nathaniel Rinehart / William Rinehart
Hard Love lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

I'm afraid.

I'm afraid.

At times the fear paralyzes my heart. I feel my chest tightening and that knot in my stomach forms.
Flashbacks flood in so vividly that I can almost feel the physical pain all over again. My mind races and takes me to a dark place of faithlessness. A place where I forget to trust my unknown future to an all-knowing God. A place so deep in the caverns that I can no longer see the light.

"What if this round of treatments doesn't work?"

"What if we lose another baby?"

"What if I have to make that hysterical phone call to Mom all over again?"

"What if I can't bear the grief a second time?"

My heart is racing, my stomach feels sick and tears are forming just typing those questions. It's a heavy burden. I can't let myself dwell in the darkness of fear for long because, if I do, I'll never have the courage to walk back through the doors of that fertility clinic.

Honestly, I don't have the courage on my own anyway. The closer we get to resuming treatments, the harder fear pounds on the door of my heart and mind.

I know I'm not the only person struggling with fear. It's not limited to my situation. The unknown health issues, that scary diagnosis, the uncertainties of the future, that first ultrasound after treatments, that next deployment, the ailing parents, that singleness is forever, the financial burdens, that the depression will never subside, that the abuser will come back -- the list could go on forever.

Friend, I want to share with you some truth and encouragement that has been a sweet salve for my soul as I've been wrestling with this unrelenting anxiety. God doesn't want us to live in fear. How do I know? Because He says so.



God doesn't say, "I'm with you sometimes," or "I'm with you when you're on good behavior." No. He says, "...for I am with you ..." "...wherever you go." Wherever you go. 

He is with us in that fertility clinic.

He is with us in that oncologist's office.

He is with us now and in the future.

He is with us during that ultrasound.

He is with us on the front lines of battle.

He is with us as we care for sick loved ones.

He is with us in the season of singleness.

He is with us when the financial burden is debilitating.

He is with us in the depths of our darkest depression.

He is with us when we break free.

He is with us.

When the fear grips my throat and threatens to steal my breath, my joy, my hope, I have to decide to fight back. To pray. To give my fears to God. As of now, that hasn't been a one-time release for me. Maybe it will be for you. For me, I have to decide every single moment to be intentional about giving my fears to Him -- especially in this particular season of life.

Right now, friend, can you and I decide to fight back? Together, can we pray and seek His face? Can we give our fears to Him? Can we moment-by-moment focus on truth? Can we spend more time reflecting on who He is and how He cares for us?

Yes. We can and we must, lest we allow the darkness of fear to gobble us up. Cling to Him, cling to hope, cling to joy in all circumstances. Trust Him to lead us, comfort us, and make beauty from our ashes.


We killed the buggy in paradise

We killed a car in Florida. My aunt, uncle and grandma's shared Florida car, that is. Nothing like having to get a hold of your uncle and say, "Thanks for letting us use your car and condo! By the way, you're going to need a tow truck." 

Apparently the drive from Fort Myers to Key West and back was just a little too much for the throttle positioning sensor on the buggy (as it is affectionately known) and it went kaput. If you're not familiar with that particular sensor, when it goes bad, the ABS and traction control flip out and there's zero throttle. It goes into limp mode.

Here's the beautiful and God part of this story: We had zero car problems on the entire road trip. We made it back to the condo safe and sound, went inside for a few hours to rest, then came back out to go to dinner. Dead ride. Yes, the very next time we started the car after returning from a 600-mile road trip, it wouldn't run. Did I mention that a large chunk of that road trip was along a highway called Alligator Alley through the Everglades? Have you ever been to the Everglades? Cool as heck, but there aren't too many places to stop along the way.

Thank the Good Lord in Heaven that sensor held on until Fort Myers!

Fast forward a day and lightning hit the airplane we were supposed to take home, grounding the aircraft and delaying us by 3.5 hours.

Moral of this story: Don't let us near any vehicles you want to work.

But in all seriousness, we had such an amazing trip and wonderful time of much-needed rest! Plus, we were able to check off a bucket-list item of driving the keys. I'll let some photos do the talking. After the photos are some reviews of places we stayed and restaurants where we ate.

To get to the Keys from Fort Myers, you have to drive through the Everglades along Alligator Alley. There are a few lookout points and rest stops with neat views!
A recreation stop in the Everglades where you can put your boat in the water.
Robbie's on Islamorada is a kitschy little tourist trap where you can pay to feed these giant fish (aka Tarpon). They leap out of the water and take the bait from your hand and, yes, they have teeth. This was a fun little stop along the way.

There are 42 bridges between the tip of mainland Florida and Key West. This is the famed 7-mile bridge.

The original Seven-Mile Bridge was railroad. It has now been turned into pedestrian bridges on both ends.

View from the southern end of the Seven-Mile Bridge.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

I don't actually know what exactly this is, but you can see it from the Southernmost Point on Key West.
After a nice bike ride to the Southernmost Point.

Sunset on Long Key. It was the most glorious sunset of all time.


Cantina Laredo
Fort Myers

Cantina Laredo is a chain, but one we don't have in Indiana. It's one of our favorites in South Fort Myers and we hit it every time we're there. It's a higher-end Tex-Mex restaurant so the prices are about $15-$20 a plate. The warm salsa is my favorite, but beware: It's spicy!

Sun Harvest Citrus
Fort Myers

This is a favorite stop for us in Fort Myers as well. They make their own fresh fruit juices in-house and if you go during the day, there's an observation window where you can watch them make juice. They also have tasty ice cream. My personal favorite is the orange/vanilla twist, while my husband goes for the key lime/chocolate swirl.

Sunburst Cafe

This was our first stop at Sunburst Cafe and I hope it wasn't our last! This small, family-owned restaurant is a gem with an impressive and delicious coffee menu and fantastic breakfast. The prices are extremely reasonable. Definitely worth a stop!

Sunset Pier
Key West

Sunset Pier is a happening little outdoor restaurant next to the cruise ship port and, as the name suggests, is a great place to catch the sunset. They have live music in the evenings and a tasty Cuban sandwich. The prices here (much like all of Key West) are insanely high and if you go too early, you will bake in the sun.

Key Lime Pie Co.
Key West

Delicious key lime pie and if you go earlier in the day, they have an observation window where you can watch them make pie.

Old Town Bakery
Key West

This is a must do! Old Town Bakery has the most delicious baked goods. My personal favorite is the peach cobbler danish, but the croissants are amazing too. The bakery is tiny, so there's no indoor seating, but don't let that stop you. Stop in, grab a cup of coffee and a pastry, and find a spot outside to enjoy!

The Florida Boy
Long Key

The Florida Boy is a brand new restaurant and is one of the only options on Long Key. That's okay, though, because the food is delicious! We had both lunch and dinner here. The fish tacos and the chicken wings and fries got our stamp of approval, as did the pizza we ordered for dinner. This restaurant has a menu that ranges from casual bar fare to higher-end dinner entrees.

Fairfield Inn and Suites
Key West

Our preference in Key West is the Island City House near Old Town, but because we planned our trip so last-minute, the Fairfield Inn on Roosevelt was a more affordable option. The Fairfield is comfortable and clean and has an excellent tiki bar/restaurant and resort-style pool. The location is pretty far from Mallory Square (close to 3 miles) and many of the other happening spots on the island. Fortunately, there's a bike rental shop on-site where you can rent a nice cruising bicycle for $15 for 24 hours. A taxi to Mallory Square runs about $15 each way. Hotel staff are friendly and attentive and this is a great place to stay if you don't mind biking or driving around the island.

Lime Tree Bay Resort
Long Key

The location of this resort is pretty fantastic. The water in the bay is calm and you can see to the bottom. Guests can check out paddle boards and kayaks for free and the resort is right next to The Florida Boy restaurant. The sunsets here are phenomenal and breathtaking. Unfortunately, the rooms are very small and have a slight musty smell to them. Long Key doesn't offer much to do other than the ocean, which is great if that's what you're after. If you prefer to be more active on vacation, it would be easy to get bored pretty quickly here. Also, the pool at this resort was hot -- as in, hotter than a bath. At 90+ degrees, the air temperature was cooler than the pool water, which was at least 100º. Not awesome. The resort does offer lots of hammocks, a giant chess game and a nice pier to walk out to swim. It was a good place to stay for a night, but we agreed we wouldn't plan an entire vacation here.


Thank You

Huge heartfelt thanks are in order for all of the people who made this vacation possible for us. Fertility treatments have a way of straining the budget, so the generosity and kindness of family members made this trip a reality.

Aunt L., Uncle D., and Grandma - Thank you for letting us use the car, the condo and offering us the house so that we didn't have to rent a car or pay for lodging in Fort Myers.

Mom B. - Thank you for watching the fur kids so that we didn't have to pay to board them and for giving us the peace of mind of knowing they were in good hands.

Mom S. and Brother M. - Thank you for the airport rides so that we didn't have to pay for parking.

Y'all are amazing and awesome and we love and appreciate you so much!

P.S. Thanks also to Southwest Airlines for the free flights (their credit card is awesome if you have the self control to use it and immediately pay it off) and the $100 travel vouchers per person for the Saturday night flight delay!

Prayer's Precious Power






Those prayers changed everything.





