JanineThrossel.com

This post is a little heavy today. In just over two years, Tom and I have suffered the losses of about 25 of our loved ones. That's not a typo. Twenty-five.  Today, that is weighing heavy on my heart. One week, we had to choose which funerals to attend...out of six. What do you do with that? Of course, some farewells were even harder than the others, Some losses have changed us for a lifetime. They weren't just pinpricks in the fabric of our routines and memories, but gaping wounds dug deep into who we are. It hurts. A few days ago, I woke up thinking of these losses....family members like Uncle Bill, Aunt Chris, Uncle Eddie, Uncle John, Kathy, Raven, Vanette, Richard....and friends like Sally, Julie, Bob, Phil, Beth, Peter F., Lois, India and so many more. My hearts hurts to even begin to name them. However, as I reflected on those who we lost, there was a remarkable, surprise feeling of gratitude for four things in particular. 1. I was so grateful to have know...

With my oldest child, in 1997 Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! I had the privilege of sharing something with my church this Mother's Day that I thought I'd share with you, too. Whether you are a mom or not, I hope this is meaningful to you. ------- I definitely remember my first Mother's Day celebration after my older son was born. Peter was seven months and acting more independent than usual, enjoying doing things for and by himself. It was bittersweet. Needing me a little less stung a bit, but I was so happy he was growing up strong. I felt so blessed with my little family--my husband Tom and my little boy. Easter 1997 About three years later, we were celebrating my first Mother's Day after the birth of our younger son. He was eight months old, born late in the year like his brother. It was a season of whirlwind days with two little children in our house! Tom bought me a big bouquet of flowers to grace our table that year, even though...

Our extended family is going through a horrible tragedy, the sudden loss of my cousin's granddaughter. The heartbreak is intense. As we have walked through the last few days, God continues to be faithful to us. In the midst of all of it, I keep hearing one thing in my heart: Believe God. Do you wonder if that beautiful little girl is really okay now? Is she really safe in the arms of Jesus? Believe God that she is. Do you wonder if your family will ever be happy again--have peace or joy again? Believe God that He can restore what the metaphorical locusts have eaten, that he can make all things new, that you can have a future and a hope. Do you wonder if He is really good and loving after all, that He has a plan and a purpose for each of us? Believe God that He is and He does. Like the truth in Psalm 40 and Psalm 69, the world may swirl around me with its muck and mire. I may not feel the ground beneath me, and the deep water may come to my neck. Like the prophet Jonah I m...

Some of you have read my post from last month about Julie Weller, a remarkable woman and a beautiful influence on my life. This is another piece of that story that I've been hoping to share for awhile. It's a bit of a love story, about how God takes care of His children even on the dark and ugly days. On Labor Day last year, my older son accompanied me to Los Angeles so I could tell Julie goodbye. We left by plane about 6 A.M. to return home about midnight that same night. On a previous visit, I had rented a car to travel between the airport and her house, but this time I didn't have it in me to drive. So, with some hesitation, I rented an Uber for the first time. That decision turned out to be so beyond my expectations. I had been up late the night before, packing and--let's be honest-- crying quite a bit . So, I was worn out before I even got up at 4:30 A.M. to head to the airport. I fully intended to sleep on the plane. However, as the sun slowly crept up in t...

Julie celebrates her first birthday in heaven this year. Here on earth, she would have turned 47 today, but as her friend Ellyn said, she gets to stop aging now. I know some of you never knew sweet Julie and she is worth remembering. So, I thought I'd take a moment to introduce her to you and tell you who she was to me.  ---- Jules and I were about thirteen years old when we met. She was new in town and her family began attending our church. My mom thought that I could help Julie to meet people, help her to fit into the group. I was a shy, bookish girl back then, dressed in skirts, sweaters, and big glasses. I took one look at Julie--in her stylish jacket and jeans, wearing a ribbon in her hair like a pop star--and I wondered how I could possibly help her to fit in. She already looked like she owned the room. What could a cool kid like her possibly need from me? It would be a while before I knew her well enough to know that sometimes she was the one quietly quaking in h...

It was so fun to get this review of our book by a Writer's Digest judge. I am continually awestruck and blessed when we get to hear encouraging things like this about the words God definitely put on our hearts to share.  Thank you to all of you who helped us along the way as well! Judge’s Commentary* : This couple’s story is a testament to trusting in God, no matter what. Their voices of faith are challenging and inspiring to people who long to follow God in all things. While the story has takeaways for people of faith, and the authors encourage others to learn from their story, the story itself rightly takes center stage. By focusing on the ups and downs of their lives, they convey and openness and humility that is inviting rather than seeming like towering people of faith who are lecturing those living more mundane lives. While their faith is unwavering, they don’t gloss over the fact that hardships are just that: hard. The alternating voices of husband and wife mesh toget...

Last year about this time, we were releasing Stacking Stones and I was looking ahead to a year of book signings. Things at work were going well and I was really happy. I didn't know what was coming.  As I shared recently in Planted Firm , the next months were full of the unexpected. My husband tore his meniscus and ACL, which led to surgery in another city. My younger son was in a car accident and incurred a serious concussion that affected his health and schooling for weeks. My grandmother, who lives with us, broke a vertebrae and had a series of suspected TIAs, leading to round-the-clock attention. In those first few weeks, she was in and out of consciousness and, with my aunt and sister, I helped care for her in my home. A cousin came to help with her longer-term recovery, enabling me to attend and celebrate the high school graduation of one of my sons and the college graduation of another. It also allowed me to spend a little more time with an uncle before he pass...