Family – Cozy Intrigue ~ Janet Campbell

Get Up, Girl!

The Stories of Our Lives (Part Four)

This is part four in an ongoing series.
Part One: As The Story Turns
Part Two: I Don’t Have A Hallelujah
Part Three: Can You Hear What I Hear?

“Now get up and stand on your feet.”
~ Acts 26:16 (NIV)

The word “surrender” can come with a negative connotation. To surrender evokes visions of fighting to hold on to something we don’t want to release. It means we must “hand over” possession of our “stuff” to someone else.

Usually, this “handing over” is under duress. To surrender means to relent … whether we like it or not.

As The Story Turns …

The Stories of Our Lives (Part One)

This is part one in an ongoing series.

Picture it … Somewhere in the mountains of East Tennessee, January, 2026.

Those living in the South (and I’m talking about the United States, of course) may remember the unusual weather we had early that year. My story takes place a few weeks before ice and snow basically shut down the South.

Bear in mind that we of the South are never truly prepared for major winter weather. We hang on to the hope of our normal mild winters, refusing to accept even the hint of snow, or more accurately, ice. Okay, yeah, there’s always those few prepared for whatever. It is the South after all, and we have our share of preppers.

Anyway, back to the story …

This particular morning was COLD. Twelve degrees cold. My mom and I were heading back to the great Peach State of Georgia from the great Volunteer State of Tennessee. I’m a Tennessee girl to my bones, but I’ve learned to love Georgia after living here almost thirty years.

Love With A Capital V

Ahhh … love sweet love.

What the world needs now.

I want to know what love is.

Can’t help falling in love.

What’s love got to do with it?

Love hurts.

The dichotomy between the bliss and despair of love has persevered since the dawn of time. Love songs have surely been around that long as well. I imagine Adam might have felt like singing when God created Eve.

“Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib,
and He brought her to the man.
‘At last!’ the man exclaimed.”

-Genesis 2:22,23 (NLT)

“At last, my love has come along”.
I think it’s safe to say Adam was pleased.

You may look at my title and assume at this time of year, that the capital “V” is for Valentine’s Day. But, if you did, you would be wrong. My “V” is for “Vulnerable”.

Cozy Musings From A True Southerner On A Winter’s Day

At the moment of this writing, much of the south is still recovering from ice and snow dumped across several states in January 2026. Actually, we’re quite upset about the whole thing. All these high-pressures and low-pressures should know that this kind of weather belongs up north. Way up north. We of the south want our normal winter temperatures back!

Make no mistake, I’m not afraid of a bit of winter weather. I lived in Colorado for a few years and trust me, snow was not scarce. Neither was extreme cold. But that’s what you expect in Colorado. Georgia, not so much.

However, cozying up with a mug of hot chocolate and a piece of peppermint bark , I found myself musing about snow (or ice) days and how joyful they are.

Forward!

Hey 2025 …

I’m saddling up, climbing on, and riding into your sunset. Forward into 2026 and whatever God has for me.

Selecting a word for the coming new year is a thing, right? Well, my word for 2026 is “Forward”.

“moving toward a place, a point or a time”
“advancing”
“relating to the future”

After my 2025, “Forward” is definitely appropriate for me. Maybe for you as well.

Forward denotes advancement—moving in a direction away from whatever it is you want to leave behind. Maybe you want to leave behind the pain of loss and its grief, financial woes, bad relationships, or stress from a home renovation that is taking waaaaaaaay too long!

ThanksLIVING

Thankfulness means ThanksLIVING. It’s a choice we make day by day. Sometimes moment by moment.

ThanksLIVING: A Cost

When facing punishment for his sin, King David turned back to God and His great mercy. The prophet Gad, sent by God, told David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, as the Lord had commanded. When King David told Araunah he had come to buy his threshing floor, Araunah told the king to take it and use it as he wished. But King David knew he could not give thanks on an altar that cost him nothing.

Falling in Love and the Chevy Van

If you are anywhere near my age, though I’m not mentioning a number, you may remember a song called Chevy Van by Sammy Johns. Customized vans impacted the 1970s culture, and this song contributed to the reputation of Chevy vans at the time and beyond.

Why am I talking about Chevy vans, you might ask yourself? Well, I’m going to tell you a story about my husband, our first date, and how my dad knew right away that Chris was my one.

I Married Superman

He’s not a bird. He’s not a plane. He doesn’t leap tall buildings in a single bound. He’s not the popular comic book superhero.

But he most certainly is a “Super-Man” … and my hero.

Where do I begin …

Time For A Little Joy …

Sometimes I struggle to smile and find the joy in life. I mean, we are living in a crazy time, aren’t we.

Is it just me or do you feel the same?

This past weekend, my family got a little lesson in joy.

It’s No Mystery…

What do you see in your mind’s eye when you think of Easter?

Spring
Flowers
Newness
Frilly dresses
Colored Eggs
Baskets of goodies
Chocolate Bunnies (I’m an ears first kinda girl)

Many memories from my childhood fall into that list. I mean, who doesn’t love a cute little bunny bringing chocolate eggs?

These are fun things we enjoy at Easter but, is that what it’s all about? The true meaning may seem like a mystery, but it’s not!

	Step Into The Water… on Get Up, Girl!
	Step Into The Water… on Can You Hear What I Hear?
	Step Into The Water… on I Don’t Have A Hall…
	Step Into The Water… on As The Story Turns …
	Get Up, Girl!… on Can You Hear What I Hear?