A Rustic Stitch

09/09/2025

This weekend was a reminder of how hard it can be to live with fatigue and pain. My hubby was off work on Sunday for the first time in 2 weeks, and I really wanted to spend time outside helping with the projects he was doing. It was a beautiful fall day, and my heart longed to be a part of it. But while my mind and heart were willing, my body was not.

It left me sad—sometimes it feels like I’m only living half a life, and I catch myself wondering, is this all that’s left for me?

Even in those moments, when my faith is stretched thin, I know the Lord is holding me. He gently reminds me to accept the season I’m in and to trust that He is working, even on the hard days.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
— Psalms 27:13-14

So today, I choose to wait, to trust, and to hold on to hope. 🌿

09/09/2025

I’m loving how my fall mums are looking at the porch! And I picked up these adorable metal signs at the Dollar General to add in. I think I have more fall decor in storage. If I can find the energy, I want to add more fall decorations to the porch.

09/09/2025

Some days my body feels too weak to keep up, and the weight of pain and fatigue is overwhelming. But God’s promise reminds me that even when I can’t run, even when walking feels like too much, He is the One who renews my strength. 🕊️

I don’t have to rely on my own strength—He carries me, He restores me, and He lifts me higher than my struggles.

✨ Hold on to hope. Renewal is coming.

✨ Isaiah 40:31
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”

📸 Backroading with Brandy
Bald Eagle
8/29/24

08/27/2025

There was a long season of my life when peace felt out of reach. Trauma has a way of stealing not just moments, but whole stretches of time—days, weeks, even months—where my body felt stuck in survival mode and my mind couldn’t find rest.

Back then, I couldn’t imagine a moment where my heart would be still again. Where I could simply breathe deep, feel the ground beneath me, and be present without fear pressing in.

Today, I had one of those moments with the horses. Just standing there, petting them, breathing slowly, and feeling the softness of their presence reminded me how far I’ve come. These aren’t just ordinary moments—they’re sacred. They are proof that healing is possible, even if it takes time.

I am thankful for every gentle breath and every still heartbeat. Thankful that my surroundings can feel safe again. Thankful that I get to experience peace, not just as a distant hope, but as something real and tangible in my everyday life.

🐴✨ One grounding moment at a time, I’m learning to live again.

The Quiet Porch with Brandy

08/26/2025

Even when life feels empty or uncertain, we can still rejoice—because our hope is not found in circumstances, but in Christ. He steadies our steps, strengthens us for today, and gives us the promise of eternity. 🦌✨

Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

The Quiet Porch with Brandy

📸 Backroading with Brandy

08/25/2025

🌿 When we release our worries into God’s hands, peace begins to bloom in our hearts. Trust that He is already at work, and let His presence calm your soul today. 💛✨

Follow me here 👉🏻 The Quiet Porch with Brandy for faith-based encouragement!

08/25/2025

Follow me The Quiet Porch with Brandy for faith based encouragement!

Life gives us plenty of reasons to worry. We carry burdens, try to solve every problem ourselves, and sometimes feel overwhelmed by what’s broken or uncertain. But Philippians 4 reminds us of a different way—one that brings true peace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God… and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (vv. 6–7)

When we hand our worries to God—fully, not halfway—something beautiful happens. We release the illusion of control and trust that He alone is able to work all things for good. Instead of dwelling on what we can’t fix, we can rest in knowing that God is in control.

And as we wait for Him to move, verse 8 gives us the key:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable… think about such things.”

Shifting our focus from fear to faith, from problems to praise, transforms our hearts. Worries lose their grip, and God’s peace—the kind the world can’t explain—settles over us like a protective guard for our hearts and minds.

So today, let go. Hand it all over to Him. Choose to think on the good, the pure, the lovely. Trust that God is already at work, and allow His peace to fill every corner of your soul. 🌿💛

08/03/2025

Folow my new page 🕊️ If you’d like to see content about faith, encouragement, peaceful reflections, and finding beauty in quiet moments, I’d love to invite you to follow my new page:

🌿 The Quiet Porch with Brandy 🌿

It’s a gentle space where I share reminders of God’s love, Scripture-based encouragement, and real-life reflections on things like trauma recovery, chronic illness, and the faith to get through it all.

If your heart is longing for a slower pace, a little hope, and a reminder that you’re not alone—come join me on the porch. 💛
👉 https://www.facebook.com/thequietporchwithbrandy

07/26/2025

Sometimes it’s as quiet and certain as the sun rising again…

God doesn’t always come rushing in like a mighty force—sometimes His rescue is gentle, quiet, and steady, like the soft light of the sunrise breaking through the dark.

🕊️His presence whispers peace to our hearts and reminds us that He is near, even when the world feels silent.

07/17/2025

If your soul has been craving stillness…
If your heart feels weary from the noise of the world…

🌿 You’re Invited to The Quiet Porch with Brandy 🌿

If you’ve been longing for gentle reminders of God’s presence,
and simple beauty in everyday moments—

Then come sit with me awhile.

On The Quiet Porch, you’ll find:
☕ Peaceful mornings and porch views
🌼 Wildflowers and honest reflections
📖 Scripture for the soul
💭 Thoughts on healing, hope, and choosing life
🙏 And gentle prayers to carry you through your week

It’s also a space where I share my journey of healing—from trauma, chronic illness, and the kind of soul-tired that only God’s gentleness can restore.

This little space is my offering—rooted in faith, rest, and real life.
Let’s slow down together, breathe deeper, and hold fast to what is good. 💛

Join me on the Porch! Help me get my little page started so I can reach others who need this message of hope 🙏🏻✝️🕊️

07/17/2025

A little bit of life and a whole lot of faith over at The Quiet Porch with Brandy. I’d love to have you join me!

The Porch light stays on 🕯️

☀️Good morning from the Porch 🐾

Lou is one of my best porch companions. She will sit with me and watch for hours.

I’m not feeling my best today. My head feels flared up and I’m very fatigued. Maybe I over did it yesterday with the plants…

But that’s okay. I’ll rest on the porch today with my furry friends and enjoy my pretty little garden, the birds chirping, and the gentle cool breeze coming off the lake nearby.

Hallelujah Anyways!! 🙏🏻🕊️