![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/720b681b-61e9-4f8e-9205-9cb5b5c3bd96/WDI+mermaid+reading+blog+header+2024-02-24+web.jpg)
Winters’ Day In
Conversations on life, faith, stories, and creativity from author Talena Winters.
Pour a cuppa and stay awhile.
![Unexpected Blessings](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1432325911158-YY4VOVW3RX1477SYOCCZ/image-asset.jpeg)
Unexpected Blessings
At the beginning of the week, I had no idea all the ways that this week would not follow my nice, neat plan.
![Happy-r](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1431716396454-E64RH0W45CVVEW6GD56Y/image-asset.jpeg)
![Do I Care Too Much?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1429822622395-5XWLXSTFLQB85HQIJ1N8/image-asset.jpeg)
Do I Care Too Much?
How do you care without bleeding out? How do you protect yourself without becoming callous? How do you draw the line between "making a difference in the world" and "being healthy and whole for me and my family" when your heart breaks every time you hear about the damage done to one of the least of these?
![Hey, there, Beautiful](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1429080210181-C4BDDFKV3KQRU69VA453/image-asset.jpeg)
Hey, there, Beautiful
We all have days when we don't feel beautiful. On those days, we need to know that we ARE precious, we ARE amazing, and we ARE loved. We are the apple of our Father's eye.
![Up for the Challenge](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1427863608344-XUSS677IAQZKKRKBR6R4/image-asset.jpeg)
![Grow](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1427402250548-LVNBE1WECYPCGDWKFPSG/image-asset.jpeg)
![Hold On, Pain Ends](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1427214194412-BGGURTWGWNHNJ8WBYVTO/image-asset.jpeg)
Hold On, Pain Ends
Grief is a funny thing.
One day, you can be perfectly fine, feel like you have accepted your loss, and that life will once again be wonderful to live.
The next day, you can be on the verge (or beyond it) of tears at every waking moment.
![Something Beautiful](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1426481056867-IOCD8RHYI3IOJ6RLOVHT/image-asset.jpeg)
Something Beautiful
Crisis is hard. Grief hurts. But I would much rather be a strong, tall sunflower, or an intricate and complex bonsai, each a masterpiece of beauty, than a poor, coddled sprout that dies young in the luxury of inadversity.
![Learning all the Time](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1426180183720-35Q8VPPDF4X52ZCT8HF4/image-asset.jpeg)
![March Whirlwind](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1425960079358-C2P1P6D5RU4R24QH7JT3/image-asset.jpeg)
![We Interrupt This Craziness](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1422859238952-IQK7W9TSYMPLPFPU7BY1/image-asset.jpeg)
![Indecision Strikes](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1421120832423-16QLIHHMV5Z74JDL2J7L/image-asset.jpeg)
![Let the Holidays Begin! PLEASE!!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1418842166823-M6AB1QF8ZMK9MJO62KTJ/image-asset.jpeg)
![Reality Check](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1417664719025-R4I7GFBMXISCMEJW8GZ6/image-asset.jpeg)
![The Choice](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1414172698065-2ZBFD8K5QQRPL0WTKEVW/image-asset.jpeg)