Home - Dandelion Sisters

Hope Born in Darkness Clouds sweep softly across the brilliant blue sky as if they were brush-stroked that morning. The sun shines high in the sky, giving the fresh new green grass a golden glow as the branches on the trees seem to stretch toward the rays and the buds swell ready to burst

Recent Posts

Our Story: Finding Purpose In Life’s Imperfections - The greatest gift our parents gave us was each other. Childhood Growing up, we are six girls scurrying around in second hand clothes riding bikes through potholes like we are one of the motorcycle cops on the TV program, Chips. We race through fields of dandelions—or maybe just our backyard full

Most Popular Posts

Our Instagram

dandelionsisters4

We love Spring, don’t you? After a long, cold, d

We love Spring, don’t you? After a long, cold, desolate Winter, Spring abounds with hope, renewal, and new life.

Although we all experience hard seasons in life, Hope is present within each season even when we can’t see the fruit of it. How do we discover that hope?

Next week Maureen shares ways to refill your hope tank when feeling depleted.

Dandelions, Potholes, & Wrinkles exists to help women find purpose in life’s imperfections so that, together, we can boldly live out our stories.

Don’t miss a thing by subscribing! @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio)

The seasons remind us that everything has its time

The seasons remind us that everything has its time and its place. The bulbs we bury in the dirt in the fall grow in the dark and reveal their beauty in the spring and the tiny seeds that seem like nothing quickly grow into large tomato plants that produce rich fruit.

These are the reminders we need to remember we are no different. We have our resting and nurturing time, the time where we seem to be laying dormant, and the time of renewal and new life. The cycle of life is beautiful if we can accept all stages of it because they are all necessary.

Where have you seen new life come from a place of darkness? Have you been down in the dirt and felt like you would not come out? Do you feel like you’re lying dormant with no movement in your life? Or are you experiencing a time of renewal and refreshment right now?

Wherever you are, you can rest assured that God is ever-present in the details of your life and He is waiting for the perfect time to reveal His perfect plan. Let this springtime season remind us of the hope we all need to hold onto when times are dark and difficult. A new day and new life is coming!
.
Need encouragement for a new day? Read Jeannette’s fulll article here ➡️ @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio).

Have you thought about the fact that all new life

Have you thought about the fact that all new life begins in darkness? Even hope is born in darkness. We can’t see how things will be and we must trust the process. There are things that are out of my control.

Creation tells us this. The Bible says the earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. God said, “let there be light.” And there was light. And so it goes with all new life that we wait for; we know it comes in its time and always from the darkness.

I find that interesting. New life begin’s in darkness. We don’t see the new life growing in its mother’s womb for nine months, but we can be sure that given the time to fully develop, unseen in the darkness, that new life will be born and a name will be given to that life!
.
Continue a reading Jeannette’s full post here: @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio).

It took many years of heartache to understand that

It took many years of heartache to understand that God wasn’t keeping His goodness from me and that He had a plan to come forth in His perfect timing. The Bible says a day is like a thousand years to God. He is the creator of time and my thoughts are not His thoughts and my ways are not His ways.

Life comes forth when the conditions are as they should be and in the timing that God has in mind. That is hard for me to accept at times!

I remember the joy of finally becoming a mother after many years of waiting and heartache. The moment my daughter was placed in my arms, time stood still. We had smiles that wouldn’t go away. We were so prepared for this day and beyond excited that we couldn’t figure out how to buckle her car seat in! My husband and I knew that this child placed in our arms was the fulfillment of everything we had been hoping for.
.
This is an excerpt of Jeannette’s blog post on hope born in darkness. Continue reading here ➡️ @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio).

Clouds sweep softly across the brilliant blue sky

Clouds sweep softly across the brilliant blue sky as if they were brush-stroked that morning. The sun shines high in the sky, giving the fresh new green grass a golden glow as the branches on the trees seem to stretch toward the rays and the buds swell ready to burst forth. All creation seems joyful this time of year as newness abounds.

It’s hard to keep in mind the beauty we will see when the long winter hangs on, yet we know from past experience that this too shall pass and we will see a brighter day.

I remember a dark time in my life when the tears welled up when I would see a mother holding her child, or the desire I would feel when I saw a woman pregnant with a child, or the longing that would arise seeing a little family. The barrenness of my body and my husband and my empty arms was a constant reminder of what we didn’t have.

If God is the giver of life why would he keep this from me?
.
Continue reading to learn Jeannette’s insightful thoughts on hope born in dark places. Read the full article here: @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio).

Each season has its purpose. A shoot does not brea

Each season has its purpose. A shoot does not break through the ground nor does the bud bloom without that dormant period where we see no movement or growth.

In life, these times can feel most discouraging when we place demands on our desires. Yet when we remember there is a time for everything under the sun, we have hope to pull us through the darkest seasons.

This week Jeannette reminds us of these truths, as she speaks from her own dark season and insights on new life and hope.

Don’t miss Jeannette on the blog tomorrow!

Thank you, Jana Fraley, for kicking off our series

Thank you, Jana Fraley, for kicking off our series on Renewed Hope!

In her blog post, Jana points out in scripture how Paul viewed hope like an anchor, keeping us safe and secure through the storms of life. What a great visual!

Be sure to gain more encouragement from Jana Fraley by following her @rusticandredeemed!

Next week Jeannette shares on the blog!

Dandelion, Potholes, & Wrinkles exists to help women find purpose in life’s imperfections so that, together, we can boldly live out our stories.

Don’t miss a thing by subscribing!

Go to @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio).

I’m so grateful for God’s Word and how it’s

I’m so grateful for God’s Word and how it’s shown me the way to grab hold of hope when I’m in those hard and hurting places; how I can find the strength to endure and remain steadfast. Even when I can’t visibly see what I’ve placed my hope in; just like how an anchor only works when it’s unseen and deep beneath the surface of the sea, hope is doing its job in those unseen and deep places.

Later in Hebrews 11:1, we’re told, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” Our very faith is built on a confident and sure hope, not what is a vague and hopeful optimism. It’s grounded on the assurance and settled confidence that what God has promised will come to pass. Our hope is based on God’s character, His promises, His Word, and the fact that we can trust Him to do what He says He will do.

This is the best kind of hope to take hold of when we find ourselves in those hard places.

What hope in Jesus has taught me is that He can take a life. . . a life with odds much worse than 80-1, a life that is discouraged and hopeless because of sin and shame, a life that seems dried up and dead at times, and because of what He accomplished on the cross He renews us, bringing that life up from a last-place position to run a race that culminates in the greatest winner’s circle there ever was. Home with Him for eternity.

That’s the greatest underdog story ever written!

“Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:24-25 (HCSB)
.
This is the final excerpt of Jana’s blog post. Read the full article @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio).

Be sure to follow Jana @rusticandredeemed for more encouragement!

Paul, who knew well what life on a stormy sea was

Paul, who knew well what life on a stormy sea was all about, used an anchor as his metaphor for hope. He wrote in Hebrews 6:18-19 (HCSB), “We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure.”

Paul knew that his greatest hope was like an anchor and was found in Jesus and His saving work on the cross, no matter what hard circumstances he was facing.

When you think about it, an anchor isn’t needed on calm water, it’s needed to hold a boat steady in a storm. When a person’s life is calm and peaceful there’s not really a need for an anchor. Only when our lives are like a stormy sea, when things are uncertain, unsteady, and insurmountable, do we find ourselves in need of what will hold us steady.
.
Read Jana’s full article on finding hope in hard places here: @dandelionsisters4
You can find Jana on her page @rusticandredeemed!

I wonder if you ever feel stuck in your own hard p

I wonder if you ever feel stuck in your own hard place, where hope seems elusive, and discouragement is high. Facing times of hopelessness where you feel as much of a longshot as Rich Strike. . . unlikely, unknown, inconsequential?

If so, I think we can learn something from this incredible story because it’s a beautiful picture of renewed hope even when everything seems impossible.

However, as Christians, we realize these truths about biblical hope:

👉Our circumstances are not what give us hope.

👉Luck or chance is not the foundation of our hope.

👉The condition of our heart does not increase the hope we have.

👉How gifted or skilled we are in life is not “the reason for the hope we have within us.” (1 Peter 3:15)

All these elements can certainly create hope when things are going well and working in our favor. But life tends to bring circumstances that shift and change and troublesome events that zap our strength and test our faith.

If I were to build a foundation of hope on my circumstances, then tomorrow if sickness suddenly hits, a child is in crisis, my marriage is strained, or I receive news of the death of a loved one, hope will likely vanish. Or if I view hope as nothing more than “wishful thinking” and something that happens by chance, then when those wishes aren’t realized my hope will be disappointed. And if hope is formed from my best efforts and intentions, I know it will be lacking the moment I fail or give in to my flesh and live according to my own wants and desires.

No, for those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ, our hope is built on something more sure and steadfast: the promises of God, the good news of the gospel, and the truth found in His Word.
.
Read the full article on finding hope in hard places by our guest, Jana Fraley @rusticandredeemed here: @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio).

Springtime is such a beautiful example of how God

Springtime is such a beautiful example of how God reveals hope to a discouraged heart – especially for a ranch wife in Wyoming! The hope of spring can sure seem elusive when either snow still covers the ground or everything looks brown and dead. But slowly, over a matter of days, the grass becomes greener, the meadowlarks begin singing, baby calves start making an appearance, the days become longer, and spring finally arrives. I can tangibly feel hope renewed as new life springs up all around me.

Another illustration of hope happened on Saturday, May 7th, as the nation watched one of the best underdog stories unfold at the Kentucky Derby. In a race comprised of circumstance, chance, a strong heart, a determined horse, and a good rider, what happened that day at Churchhill downs was history-making.

Three-year-old thoroughbred, Rich Strike, fondly called “Richie” by his trainer, was entered into the race only 30 seconds before the deadline, after a last-minute scratch the day before. Rich Strike’s owner, Rick Dawson, considered this a last attempt in the discouraging world of horse racing. Trainer, Eric Reed, was still trying to regroup after facing several challenging circumstances over the previous seven years, including a tragic barn fire that resulted in the death of 23 of the stable’s horses. And jockey, Sonny Leon, had never ridden in a large stakes horse race. With historic odds set at 80-1 (the second largest in Kentucky Derby history), there was zero expectation that Rich Strike would walk to the winner’s circle at the end of the day.

The terms “longshot”, “unlikely”, “unknown”, and “inconsequential” are what defined this horse and his team of men. But, after starting the race in the last position, then breaking away and coming up 17 lengths to make a stunning move at the rail, weaving through a congestion of horses and riders, and finally overtaking the two leaders, the least likely horse was the winner of the 148th Kentucky Derby.

What now defines Rich Strike and his team is “renewed hope.”
.
This is an excerpt from guest, Jana Fraley, with @rusticandredeemed. Read the full article here: @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio).

*GUEST POST* Do you feel stuck in a hard place?

*GUEST POST*

Do you feel stuck in a hard place?

Sometimes life’s circumstances feel hard, and hope hard to grasp onto. Discouragement weighs heavily and the idea of hope winning out feels like a long shot.

This week guest, Jana Fraley, with @rusticandredeemed relays an insightful comparison of renewed hope to an exciting event that just went down in history this month. Furthermore, she reminds us of what it really means to hope as a Christ follower.

Jana writes from her ranch table just down the road from us. In her post, she paints a beautiful picture of hope where we all sometimes feel stuck. You don’t want to miss our friend, author, and blogger, Jana FraLey, with @rusticandredeemed!

Don’t miss Jana Fraley on the blog this week!

“God’s greatest work isn’t creation. It’s

“God’s greatest work isn’t creation. It’s redemption.” (Unknown)

When it comes to forgiveness, we hope you’ll remember one thing. In Christ, God no longer tallies up our sin.

If God counted our wrongs, we would all be counted guilty—every last one of us.

Yet He has shown us mercy and forgiveness!

This is our hope for a future. Hope that outshines the darkness. Hope of redemption for those who turn their hearts toward Him in repentance and belief.

Here we have a choice.

Like the man on the cross next to Jesus who, in belief, asked Jesus to remember Him.

Or the man on the other side who, in unbelief, joined in the mockery of Jesus.

Our guilt is not in question. We’re all guilty. What matters is our redemption. Which man on either side of Jesus will we be in the end, the believing or unbelieving?

It’s your choice.

Do you need encouragement? Let the Song of Ascent from Psalm 130 (posted in comments) be your cry for mercy, forgiveness, and redemption today.

Reach out to us if you are struggling with forgiveness. We’d love to pray for you!

Dandelions, Potholes, & Wrinkles exists to help women find purpose in life’s imperfections so that, together, we can boldly live out our stories.

Don’t miss a thing by subscribing!

@dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio)

I’m Sarah! I’m sharing a few thoughts on my st

I’m Sarah! I’m sharing a few thoughts on my story and my blog post for this week. I’d love to hear your story of forgiveness and redemption!🤍

When I relinquished my story to God, including my

When I relinquished my story to God, including my grief and bitterness over broken dreams that culminated in pain, I began to visualize a future. I knew God forgave me for my cynical unbelief. In addition, I knew forgiving God and myself wasn’t a one-time event. Yet over time I recognized the signs of wholeness. I no longer clutched bitterness over “what should have been.” Rather, I began visualizing the life-dreams God was rewriting on my heart. My hardships gave me strength to pursue big, bold, and beautiful dreams. I wasn’t doomed to failure. I released victimhood, which allowed me to live into my true identity, the daughter of a King— princess! Forgiving God and myself grounded me in new hope.

C.S. Lewis states it best. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

There on the beach, I contemplate how my life didn’t turn-out as I expected. My original dreams did not come true. Hardship was the detriment to belief in my young, vulnerable heart. Thankfully, through forgiveness, God revealed dreams He had for my life, far wider and deeper than I could have imagined.

My feet sink into the sand as I walk along the shore, breathing in the salt water air—breathing in life; breathing in new hope.

Are you hurting, stuck, or tired? Do you feel you’ve been wronged? I’ve been there, too. Have you had to do hard things, such as forgive God, yourself, or others? I’d love to know how God has turned your pain into purpose.
.
This is the last installment of Sarah’s blog post on breathing in new hope through forgiveness. Read the full article here: @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio)

Understandably, when life doesn’t go as planned,

Understandably, when life doesn’t go as planned, we forget who we are and the possibility that those dreams were meant for us. We become “realistic” about reality. A thriving healthy family or “castle in the air” dreams are made for books. Not real life. I presumed that belief until God opened my eyes.

When God picked up the pieces of my heart and slowly knitted them back together with a different dream, I began to heal. It took time to realize I needed to forgive myself as well as God. I needed to forgive myself because I shut the door on belief. God never wronged me. Yet, for much of my younger years, I felt He abandoned me.

Additionally, I needed to forgive God in order to allow Him to create within me new dreams for my life. He reminds me in Psalm 86:5 of His endless love: “For you, Oh Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in mercy to all who call on you.”
.
This is an excerpt of Sarah’s blog post. Read the full article here: @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio)

As I grew, I believed I could be something or some

As I grew, I believed I could be something or someone someday. Yet, the act of doing something or finding a profession is never our first dream. Don’t our first dreams begin with the desire to be seen, wanted, and chosen (like the princess above)? What about the dream of a whole, healthy, unbroken family? Maybe we don’t even know these are dreams. I believe God ingrains those dreams in us the moment of our conception.

I once read that a child often becomes cynical and relinquishes belief around the age of ten. Unless, of course, the child is in an environment where faith, belief, and dreams are cultivated. Are those childhood dreams far-fetched? Or are they our truest reality? The young Sarah (which literally means princess) truly is my reality, but regaining belief, hope, and trust has been a process.
.
This is an excerpt of Sarah’s blog post on forgiving ourselves and God. Read the full article here➡️ @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio)

“What you are is God’s gift to you, what you b

“What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”

Hans Urs Von Balthasar

Standing on the beach, sea breeze in my face, arms outstretched, I take it all in. The possibilities are endless. At this moment I realize I have a second chance. As I relinquish my story to God, I am a young adult with a new perspective on life. God is clearing away a layer of muck from my eyes.

I remember the little girl with “castle in the air” dreams. What child doesn’t have those dreams? The girl who dreams of being a princess. The valiant boy who is a knight in shining armor. I remember playing dress-up, store, performer—fearlessly standing on a stage. But that isn’t my story. My dreams crumbled into a million pieces after my parent’s divorce. Could I forgive God for this unfair life he handed me?
.
This is the first installment of Sarah’s blog post on the importance of forgiving God and ourselves. Continue reading to discover how she found new hope. @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio)

When life does not go as planned, we tend to blame

When life does not go as planned, we tend to blame God. We blame Him for allowing broken hearts and dreams in our life when the reality is, He holds secure our truest and deepest dreams.

When we realize this and turn to Him with the crumbled pieces of our hearts, He reshapes our dreams greater than we could have imagined for ourselves.

Pain and brokenness is a reality, but God has etched on our hearts an even truer reality. This week, Sarah shares about the importance of forgiveness toward God and ourselves in order for this reshaping to take place.

Don’t miss Sarah on the blog tomorrow!

Forgiveness is a choice. When we choose to forgive

Forgiveness is a choice. When we choose to forgive, it doesn’t make our pain vanish, but God is faithful to walk us through our pain to that next step forward toward complete freedom. We hope you have connected with this truth over the past few weeks of sharing on this theme. What ever side of forgiveness you are on today, God is not finished with you!

Next week, Sarah caps off our series on Forgiveness with the importance of forgiving ourselves. You don’t want to miss this last segment on Forgiveness!

Dandelions, Potholes, & Wrinkles exists to help women find purpose in life’s imperfections so that, together, we can boldly live out our stories.

Don’t miss a thing by subscribing!

Subscribe here: @dandelionsisters4 (Link in Bio)

Load More... Follow on Instagram