Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

From my heart,

Diane

ELYSSA DONE 

I Live in:

Our new state…North Carolina! And loving it!!

I contribute to the blog by:

Helping to spread the word – to invite more people into this incredible community.

My favorite Portland spots are:

The multitude of incredible bakeries.

Forest Park.

Powell’s.

One of my life scriptures is:And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Ephesians 3:17-20

On a perfect day, I would:

Go exploring in a new city with my husband and daughter. There would be sunshine, coffee, a bakery, an old bookstore, walking, laughter and beauty.

When I was young, I wanted to grow up and be:

A pastor’s wife!

My husband, Dominic, was a missionary when we met – but he unexpectedly became the teaching pastor of our church in Maui just two years after we were married. We lived there for 8 years, then England for 2, then Portland for 1…and now we’re in North Carolina! Solid Rock recently sent us out with amazing support, to help plant a new church in the Raleigh/Durham/Triangle area. We started on September 8th with a fantastic team of people who moved all the way across the country to help serve. It has been such a fun adventure and so amazing to already be surrounded by such a fantastic community of Christ followers. We so appreciate your prayers for Emmaus – for wisdom about how to reach our city - that we would build authentic and deep relationships with our neighbors and co-workers - and for insight about how to best love and serve the people of North Carolina!

If I could spend a year anywhere in the world, I would go to:

England. We’ve lived there twice and my husband grew up there. It’s a beautiful country, full of quirky customs and fascinating history…and the accents…are epic.

The next big challenge I'm tackling is:

Finding my way around our new city.

The iPhone app I wouldn't want to live without is:

Google Maps…see previous question...

One of the people in the Bible I most admire/relate to is:

Sarah. Her faith was weak – she laughed at God’s promise of a son. Yet He was so gracious to her and gave her more than she deserved.

God is so incredibly gracious with me. I doubt often, but He continues to give me so much more than I could ask, think or imagine.

My mission is:

To deeply love and serve my family as well as the beautiful people we are surrounded by in North Carolina.

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

From my heart,

Diane

ELIZABETH MOSSER 

I live in: 

Bethany... a few miles from downtown and close enough to the country that I can buy produce right from the farms.

I contribute to the blog by:

Creative director/the Kitchen/advisor.

When the blog first began it was just my mom (Diane) and I behind the scenes. Mostly going on long walks and dreaming up ideas. As it's grown, we've had the privilege of adding a handful of delightful and talented women who all contribute their unique gifts and create beauty and add wisdom for all the readers to see. I help manage that team and manage what visually happens on the pages of the blog.

One of my life scriptures is:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

John 15: 1-4

A beautiful reminder that we can do nothing apart from the Father. We must remain connected to the source in order to grow and be filled with life.

One of my most unexpected hobbies/interests/habits is:

Running. My love of running started about 10 years ago and has only grown each year. I'm a true introvert at heart and going on a run early in the morning while my kids are still deep in their dreams, listening to music about Jesus and watching the world wake up is refreshing to my soul. I'm telling you... once you have the running bug you are infected for life!

The person who has had the biggest influence on me is:

My mom... and I'm not just saying that because this is her blog!

My mom has modeled for me what it tangibly looks like to serve Jesus all the days of her life. She has a intimacy with her Father that is unmatched and inspiring. My most vivid memory growing up is walking down the stairs every morning and seeing mom with her bible and journal on her lap, quietly waiting for Jesus to speak. Every single morning she found her source of strength in Jesus. That picture will forever be etched in my heart and mind.

She raised me with intentionality and let me go with intentionality when the time was right. Because of that, we have a true friendship. She is the source I go to when I need wisdom, she has helped shape how I parent my two little ones, and she is my favorite person to go shopping and get pedicures with. She loves my husband like he is her own son and pours all that she is into Duke and Scarlet. She is not perfect, but she walks closely with Jesus and the wisdom she pours out on this blog comes from His heart.

My favorite Portland spots are:

Forest Park... endless trails for running and hiking and strikingly beautiful!

Portobello... my favorite restaurant of all time. It's a vegan restaurant but I promise it will not disappoint!

Slappy Cakes... a super fun spot for a family brunch and they grow their own veggies for their dishes in their own backyard.

When I was young, I wanted to grow up and be:

A flight attendant and a police officer... but by about age 10 I decided I wanted to be a wife and a mom. I am thrilled to say that my little girl dreams came true and I get to be just that.

My favorite thing in my home is:

My vita-mix blender. I know, I know a blender. But it is pretty awesome.

One thing I want every women to know is:

Live today because today is where God is. If you're anything like me, you look past today and jump ahead to tomorrow. Before you know it you miss today and your mind fills with worries, to do lists, I should's and what ifs. What if we lived each moment, each hour, fully present and surrendered to Christ? Leaving yesterday behind, surrendering tomorrow and living today. I want to learn to live that way.

Where you can find me:

Instagram: emosser

Email: emosser@ajesuschurch.org

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

From my heart,

Diane

KRISTI 

I live in:

NW Portland – 5 blocks up from 23^rd St. with 3 beautiful single ladies, Cristiana, Natalie, & Jaci.

I contribute to the blog by:

Mainly by proof reading and approving comments + a bit of editing

This year, God is revealing Himself to me as:

Revealer of Mysteries. There have been many moments with God this year where He’s “taking me away” and has spoken to me sweet kind words, His will, correction, and even funny hidden secrets about Himself. So fun! – Jeremiah 33v2-3 says, “…He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it – the Lord is His name. Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Such sweet times with Him this year!

My favorite Portland spots are:

Pittock Mansion

Washington Park 

Thai Herb – in Multnomah Village

Piazza Italia – in the Pearl

Sister’s Coffee Company – in the Pearl

Por Que No? – the one on Hawthorne Blvd

One of my life Scriptures is:

Revelations 22v1-2 “The angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”

These verses bring me hope and peace. One day, all the nations will be provided with true holistic healing. One day, every creature will be freely given full refreshment. One day, death, pain, and suffering will be done away with – and we’ll enjoy uninterrupted peace, contentment, joy, and safety. Wanting to see glimpses of this in my life right now.

My DISC Test results and my top two love languages are:

I D – Inspirational

Acts of Service + Quality Time

The moment that God found me was: 

When I was living in Siena, Italy! I was raised in a Christian home and saved at a young age, but my walk didn’t fully become my own until I was 19 and living in Italy for the summer. God. Found. Me. In. Italy. It was there that I first experienced a true deep love for His Word and responded by eating as much of it as I could as if I was going to starve without it! It was the first time I was away from everything familiar. So I clung to the only thing I knew, the Scriptures, and they were opened up to me in a new way I had never seen before. I fell in love with Him there, and I’m forever grateful. God swept me off my feet in Italy! What a sweet God we serve.

Something that I love to do every year is: 

The Rodeo! Yee-haw!

One of my most unexpected hobbies/interests/habits is: 

VOLLEYBALL – (for those of you that don’t know me, I’m 4’11, hence the “unexpected” part. Hey! I was a good setter in high school!

What I really want every woman to know is:

Dearest, you’re fully and completely loved by your Father, Yaweh. It’s that mind of ours that daily needs to be diligently renewed by His truth, am I right ladies?

“… but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

From my heart,

Diane

JODI HUGHES  

I live in:

NW Portland…Bethany/Oak Hills

How I contribute to the blog by:

Watching over things, my official title is project manager. I get the delightful task of watching our gifted young women show off their amazing talents and skills.

My Myers-Briggs/DISC/love languages are:

I’m a diSC;  my love languages are Quality Time and Words of Affirmation;  My Myers-Briggs is INTJ, what does that mean…for some fun do a Google search and learn about the 10 Myths About Introverts and famous INTJ’s.

This year God is revealing himself to me as:

Faithful… I’ve known Jesus for 57 years and I’m still learning new ways to appreciate how His love and care and power is trustworthy and always good. I’m still learning that there will always be new things to trust him for; the most current new thing is growing old single. Gaining deeper trust is not always easy, but it’s very good for me.

The person who has had the biggest influence on me is:

My Dad. He’s with Jesus now. Our birthdays are one day apart so we would celebrate them together and we both loved it. My Dad’s love for me taught me about Jesus’ love for me. My Dad taught me to obey because it was right and good for me. And to put Jesus first because it was right and good for me. I was asked to give up cheerleading, friends, and many extracurricular activities because putting Jesus first was right and good for me. My Dad never made harsh demands (though I had no other options). He had a way of telling me that putting Jesus first is a privilege. My Dad, a preacher, lived what he believed and taught. I never ever saw him compromise his walk with Jesus. He never glossed over sin. My divorce broke his heart and he never condoned it, or any of my sins for that matter. He always stood his biblical ground and always forgave. My sins broke my Dad’s heart, just like my sin breaks my heavenly Father’s heart.  My Dad still loved me, forgave me, and never turned his back on me, just like Jesus. My Dad taught me about true repentance, He helped convince me of Jesus unfailing love and forgiveness.

Something I love to do every year:

To take my granddaughter, Olivia, to the beach. It’s just me and Olivia and we do lots of fun kid stuff together. We jump waves, build sand castles, collect sea shells, eat pronto pups, ride carousels, feed the seals and pet the sea urchins, check out cheesy glittery touristy stuff, eat ice cream, take walks, do puzzles, read stories, and stay up late! We just finished our third annual Grandma/Olivia Beach Trip.

Three of my favorite books are:

The Secret Garden… I read that as a little girl and still love it.

Knowing God by J.I. Packer: I knew a lot about God. I met Jesus when I six. I was raised in a Christian home, went to Prairie Bible College and BIOLA. Then, 37 years ago, life turned upside down and the quick easy cliché answers didn’t work. I needed to really get to know God because it’s really difficult to trust someone you don’t know really well. This book started me on a journey of getting to know God that I’m still on today.

Speaking of Jesus by Carl Medearis: Once I was asked to share Jesus and the Gospel with someone. I opened my mouth to say something and couldn’t get any words out. I realized all of my words sounded more like a systematic theology textbook than someone with good news about Jesus. This book turned my thinking around and got me started reading the Gospels daily. I am still getting to know Jesus better and it’s an awesome ongoing journey. It’s an easy fun read I try to read it once a year.

My favorite question to ask people is:

“Please tell me your Jesus Story.” This question-in-a-statement takes people by surprise at times. However, I’ve learned that when they understand that I just want to listen and that I’m not asking for “right answers” or a “testimony” they relax and really enjoy sharing. Don’t we love to tell our on-going Jesus story? We just never get asked often.

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

From my heart,

Diane

MICHELE FORDICE

I live in:

The suburbs of NW Portland. A quaint little neighborhood called Terra Linda. Our little tri-level house was built in the 60s. The stairs squeak. The vents allow for eavesdropping. And the bathrooms are the size of postage stamps.  I love every piece of it. As I sit in the living room—soaking up the morning sun and watching the neighbors wander by—I can’t help but imagine the lives that have passed through these doors. After pulling off three generations of contact paper from our linen closet, and reminding our boys that the laundry shoot is not meant for human transportation, I can tell these walls have many stories.

I contribute to the blog in:

An advisory role.

This year, God is revealing himself to me as:

The Living God. It has by no means been an easy year. I have had struggles. Frustrating days. Difficult weeks. I have cried out to know the Living God. Truly, deeply, genuinely cried out. I don’t want to just know about him, but know him as I know my husband. To walk with him as I am teaching my boys. To cry out to him when I am weary from saying, “Close the door behind you” or “Hands are not for hitting, but for loving.” To know him and his power as he transforms lives, including my own faithless heart at times. Let’s just say, I have much to learn.

One of my life scriptures:

Psalm 91: 1-2 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadows of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.

My love languages are: quality time and words of affirmation...ok, maybe I like gifts too.

On my perfect day:

I would wake up to peaceful brothers playing, read a good book, get a massage and spend the evening with my husband...and go to sleep early!

Books I am reading right now: 

Emerald Atlas (pre teener fiction), Love and Logic, Made to Crave and Beauty by the Book.  Can you see why I never finish books?

When I was young, I wanted to grow up and be:

A missionary.

Something that I love to do every year is:

Address our Christmas cards.  I have an ongoing list that I add to each year as the Lord brings new friends into our lives.  In the chaos of the holiday schedules, this is one tradition that causes me to slow down and marvel at how blessed we are by incredible family and friends.

My favorite thing in my home is:

The original laundry shoot.

If I could spend a year anywhere in the world:

I would go to Italy and Greece.  On our ‘SOME DAY LIST’, we’d love to home school our boys for a year, move to Italy, and travel all over the Mediterranean.  Lots of hiking, sailing and EATING the most amazing food on earth! (I’m 100% Italian.  Can you tell?)

The next big challenge I'm tackling is:

Making our new house our home.  From new carpet, to paint, to garage doors…the list continues to grow.  Pray for my dear husband!  I am one constant vision…and he implements that vision.

My lifestyle, in three words:

Raw, eclectic, chaotic order.

What I really want every woman to know is:

If we were all really honest about the thoughts and dreams and feelings we think each day, we’d be surprised at how similar we really are.  We all long to belong, to be valued and to be purposeful.  And the enemy wants nothing more than to cause division, isolation and fear.  When we recognize that those three things are not of God, we can fight back.

John 10v10 The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  (NIV)

I don’t know about you but I am settling for nothing less than, FULL.

Can I get an AMEN?

Where you can find me:

Email me:  bella.fordice@gmail.com

Follow me on instagram:  michele_fordice

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

From my heart,

Diane

HILLARY KUPISH

I live in:

SW portland, Multnomah Village.

I contribute to the blog by:

Illustrations.

This year, God is revealing himself to me as:

My Rock. That though the torrents of life may crash against me, I do not have to let myself be torn and swayed. It is one of the most magnificent and peaceful realizations to stand in.

One of my life scriptures is:

“Yahweh, Yahweh, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Exodus 34v6

It is the most compelling word of God I have ever read. I am finding that no matter the season of life, if I center myself of who God says He is, then it seems the rest of the world is put into perspective.

My Myers-Briggs is:

INTJ

Something that I love to do every year is:

Get out of the country. (Or at least to a culturally disparate part of the country).

I love the change of perspective, it refreshes my soul. I have a feeling my husband and I will be the friends that still don’t own a house at 40 because we invested our saved money into travels.

I am totally at peace with that idea.

*All investors / financial advisors - feel free to cringe here.

My lifestyle, in three words:

Moving, Creating, Savoring.

My favorite question to ask people is:

What are you scheming about?

I am a dreamer and a planner, and I LOVE to know what passions people are pushing forward.

The next big challenge I'm tackling is:

Moving towards working as a freelance artist & illustrator. God has totally blessed me in redirecting me vocationally to this path, and it is the most fulfilling, challenging, and terrifying process. I am absolutely smitten. It is amazing to me that God builds in passions and desires, hones skill sets, and then actually provides a place for them to be fully executed. This is a - ‘Duh’ - for a lot of people. For me, I spent my college years and first 4 years of work in areas that I thought were ‘realistic’ and lucrative. They were in many respects, and I was blessed by them relationally as well as in skill building. However, I have found when God puts a fire in you for something, it is just plain uncomfortable to let it sit inside you.

My mission is:

Bring the Kingdom via aesthetics.

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

From my heart,

Diane

BETHANY ALLEN

I live in:

Southeast Portland, in the Mount Tabor neighborhood

 I contribute to the blog by:

I (try) to contribute to the brainstorming and dreaming in our creative meetings and hope to provide support and input whenever and however I’m able.

This year, God is revealing Himself to me as:

Husband. As cliché as it sounds, this year God has been teaching me not only about His faithfulness as a husband who provides, protects and surprises, but also what it means for me to be wife (without actually being one).

Jesus is continually challenging me live (today) as though I am deeply loved, seen, and invited on an adventure. As I have learned to really believe these truths, the way I view myself and others has changed. There is a profound confidence and grace that comes from believing that you are loved perfectly.

My Meyers-Briggs is:

ENFJ (“The Giver”) and my top two love languages are physical touch and quality time.

My favorite spots in Portland are:

Breakfast: G R A V Y. Hands-down one of the best breakfast spots in town.

Lunch: Por Que No? I’m a huge fan of Mexican food…and it doesn’t hurt that Bryans Bowl is one of my all time favs.

Dinner: Screen Door. Best southern food in town. Always a win.

Dessert: YoCream. I’m a froyo kind of girl and they have the best in town.

When I was young I wanted to grow up to be:

An Animal Trainer at Sea World. I grew up in Florida and thought it would incredibly cool to swim with whales and dolphins all day.

(Plus I’d have access to the park all day, every day! I was a smart kid.)

The person who has had the biggest influence on me is:

My sister. She is the bravest and strongest woman I know. She has always lived a life of incredible faith and trust. My earliest memories of her always involve her doing something brave. She has an amazing ability to make others feel seen, heard and loved. Every person she meets is invited into a conversation that quickly moves beyond common politeness to sincere connection. I have learned more about Jesus from my sister’s life than I have anyone else.

Rebekah continually gives her life away in the name of Jesus and if I can grow up to be half the woman she is, I will have lived a worthy life.

One of my life scriptures is:

“The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

 Psalm 37:23-24

Psalm 37 was a passage of scripture I read over and over again during a hard season of my life. This verse still brings me crazy amounts of hope and assurance.

My favorite question to ask people is:

What’s your story? You can learn a lot about someone by his or her response to this question.

 What I really want for every woman to know is:

That you bear the image of God and that you have been invited into an incredible story that supersedes a specific role and is inherently linked to your God-given identity.

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

From my heart,

Diane

ALLISON DEPARTEE

I live in:

A townhouse community near Progress Ridge in Tigard.

I contribute to the blog by:

Helping brainstorm in our creative meetings, and will soon be heading up the social media team to help spread the word, and get more of you involved in the He Speaks community. We want this to be interactive and a place to cultivate real relationships.

This year, God is revealing Himself to me as:

My refuge. I’ve dealt with a decent amount of anxiety and depression the last few years, and have recently been learning that God has to be my FIRST refuge. I’m newly married and have had God remind me over and over that my husband is my helper and someone who points me to Jesus, but the ultimate peace and refuge I need comes from the SOURCE, Jesus. I’m slowly learning to run to Him before anyone or anything else to find my peace and security.

When I was young, I wanted to grow up and be:

Brace yourselves... my two career choices used to be either a librarian or a cheerleader. This pretty much sums up my personality and giftings, and I ironically did similar things in life as a grown up. A librarian gets to scan things, organize books, and wear glasses. I was all about office work and organization, and ironically ended up being an administrative assistant for Phil and Diane for 4 years! The cheerleader dream was because of my love for dancing, and the ability to be loud and encouraging. I like to believe God let me be a cheerleader by getting married. I am my husband’s biggest cheerleader and am always on the sidelines loudly cheering him on. Really though... I want to be a Mommy:)

One of my life scriptures is:

Matthew 5:16 which says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” I feel like this verse encapsulates the gospel and the great commission. My hope is that I would bring light everywhere I go. I’ve made it my goal to be light in dark places every opportunity I have. At cash registers, in restaurants, on my blog, and in my neighborhood. I want my face to shine like Moses’ did when he came down from the mountain! I even tattooed the word “light” on my foot as a reminder of my call.

My favorite Portland spots are:

Dinner: Our go to spot and FAVORITE restaurant is Dang’s Thai Kitchen in Lake Oswego just off 43. If you like Thai, this is seriously the best Thai we’ve ever had.

Lunch: Cha Cha Cha (usually the NW location) for a good selection of ala carte tacos. Also Lovejoy Bakers in the Pearl. Love the atmosphere and fresh & creative sandwiches.

Treats: Lately I’ve been into juice bars, and am desperately hoping for one to pop up in the burbs. So far I’ve tried Portland Juice Press, Greenleaf, Prasad, Kure and Local Choice Market. Our spontaneous dessert choice is usually a late night run for Burgerville shakes. Yum!

Where we go to dream: Schoolhouse Electric. We love to grab a warm drink at Ristretto and then dream up our perfect home as we walk through the staged living spaces.

Something I love to do every year is:

Go on tour with my husband. Nick plays guitar for the christian band Kutless, and so our lifestyle is anything but ordinary. Since we spend quite a bit of time apart, one of my favorite things is being able to go out on the bus with him. It’s such a privilege to be able to go to work with my husband, and travel all over the country. I love the adventure of waking up in a new place each morning, and discovering new towns and cultures. It is usually a refreshing time for me to get to see first hand what ministry I’m supporting when I say goodbye to my husband each week. I LOVE watching him play God inspired songs that he helped write, and seeing the way that people’s lives are impacted. It always helps fuel me for tour dates that I stay home.

What I really want every woman to know is:

“You are fearfully and wonderfully made...”  (Psalm 139:14). God made no mistake when forming you. The latter half of that verse says, “wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” Learn to know it very well. Believe His promises to you, and find your worth in Him. I also want to remind you all that you aren’t alone. I think we all try to play off this facade that we’re perfect. We’re not:) We’re all struggling for security and we need each other! Be real and honest, and lift each other up.

If I could spend a year anywhere in the world, I would go to:

I would LOVE to spend a year exploring Europe. I’ve never been, and would love to take trains and planes all over until I saw it all. I think I’d start with London, then to the English countryside, maybe a little Paris, Germany, Scotland, and of COURSE hop over to Italy and Greece. I’d probably spend most of my time eating, but would just love to learn new cultures and explore historic cities with my husband.

Where to find me:

Website: www.lifeofdepartee.com

Twitter: @allydepartee

Instagram: @allydepartee

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

ABI PORTER

I live in: off Alberta in NE Portland

I contribute to the blog by:

Photography and Kitchen posts here and there.

On my perfect day:

I would go on a brunch date with my husband, Josh, then go sit on the beach in Sauvies Island and read a good book.

Three of my favorite books/blogs are:

Books:

The glass castle

The night circus

A million little pieces

Blogs:

Oh happy day

Design sponge

Creature comforts

If I could spend a year anywhere in the world:

I would go to Paris. We’ve been there twice and I’m trying to convince him we need to live there for a year ;)

The next big challenge:

I'll be tackling is motherhood. Oy! So excited to have a little one this fall but already praying for wisdom daily!

The iPhone app I wouldn't want to live without is:

I’m a budgeting freak so definitely AceBudget

My favorite thing in my home: 

My vitamix. (or my cats!)

This year, God is revealing himself to me as:

Trustworthy. So often I forget to lean in and trust him through small trials and large yet he’s been so gracious even though I fail at this over and over.

One of my life scriptures is:

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Where you can find me:

Website: www.vanillaandlace.com

Instagram: @vanillaandlace

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

ALLIE RICE

I live in:

Northeast Portland, in the Irvington neighborhood.

I contribute to the blog by:

Creating and maintaining the space where all these words and pictures live. In partnership with the team, I designed the layout for the blog, and I keep the technical behind-the-scenes pieces working smoothly.

This year, God is revealing himself to me as:

Redeemer. That was the name of God that I received at the women’s night in prayer this year, and he is showing me his desire to redeem things — things in me, things in my life, things in others — that I thought would be forever broken. The specifics of how he will redeem are still unclear in places, and I don’t know what it will look like over the weeks, months, and years to come — but I’m awed by the relentless, extravagant grace of God and his heart for sanctifying us to holiness, reconciling us to faithfulness, and restoring us to wholeness. His story is always the same: He is in the business of taking broken people and giving them life. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you... For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:1-2, 19)

My favorite Portland spots are:

Too numerous to count! I’ll try to narrow it down to three in each category...

Breakfast: Petite Provence, Tin Shed, Waffle Window

Food carts: Grilled Cheese Grill, Native Bowl, Pyro Pizza

Coffee: Costello’s Travel Caffe, Barista, JoLa

Sweets: Salt and Straw, Swirl, dessert at Irving Street Kitchen

Happy hour: Casa del Matador, Meriwether’s, The Station

Gifts: Ink and Peat, Branch and Birdie, Canoe

Casual date night: Por Que No, Kennedy School, The Blue Olive

Moderate ($$) date night: Nuestra Cocina, Toro Bravo, Piazza Italia

Fancy ($$$) date night: Veritable Quandary, Park Kitchen, St. Jack

One of my life scriptures is:

Zephaniah 3:17. I know this is a favorite for many, and with good reason; it speaks powerfully into every season of life. “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

My Myers-Briggs/Enneagram/love languages are:

I’m Enneagram Type 2 (“The Helper”) with a 1-wing (“The Servant”). On Myers-Briggs, I’m an INFJ (“The Protector” or “The Foreseer Developer”) — with a maxed-out, yes-to-every-question J. My primary love language is Words of Affirmation.

When I was young, I wanted to grow up and be:

A veterinarian. When other kids were playing doctor on their dolls, I was playing vet on my stuffed animals, complete with Ace bandages and a stethoscope.

The person who has had the biggest influence on me is:

My mom. She is a woman truly after God’s own heart and has set an amazing example of godly motherhood and wifehood since I was a little girl. She gave me freedom to be my own person and security in who I am as a woman, a daughter, and a child of God. Her heart is filled with a joy that I will spend my entire life trying to emulate. I assign such high value to generosity, humility, family, beauty, and grace because of my mom and the way she holds these things as sacred. There is not one thing in my life that would be the same had she not prayed big, honest, faithful, life-giving prayers, day in and day out, for the last 28 years — and I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. Prayers that I don’t even know about, that she has already prayed, and that she continues to pray, will define my life every day of every week of every year for the rest of my life.

My lifestyle, in three words:

Thoughtful, graceful, grateful.

What I really want every woman to know is:

You are a dearly beloved child of the living God. That is your identity — not your sin, not your flesh, not your past. He made you, he knows you, he sees you — and he pursues you, not because of who you are or what you’ve done but because of who he is and what he has created you to be. Stop striving to live up to your identity; you’ve already received it. Instead, live in your identity in the Spirit. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Where you can find me:

Website: http://www.alliecreative.com

Twitter: @alliecreative

Instagram: @alliecreative

Today I want to begin to introduce you to the team of women who design, create, implement, administrate, manage, and advise this blog we call He Speaks In The Silence. These are women who pray, asking God for wisdom, then use their gifts to craft beauty for all of us. And I think you need to know them!

So… for the next many weeks we’ll be posting a fun profile of who they are, what they do, what they love, who they love, how they live and lots more delicious details.

If you want to take a peak at the list of questions we all got to choose from, here it is.

And since  every single woman on this team is reluctant to go first, they insisted I jump in ahead of them to make sure the water’s not too deep!

From my heart,

Diane

I live in:

Tigard, in a house in the suburbs that I keep trying to make into a cottage in the country…

I contribute to the blog by:

Dreaming, thinking, praying, pondering, creating the team, studying, loving… and writing the content.

This year, God is revealing himself to me as:

Lover. And I gulp a little as I say that. Years ago I read a biography of a Victorian-era single missionary woman who claimed the Song of Songs as her favorite book of the Bible. Although she read the words primarily as an allegory of her relationship with God, (most scholars believe it is first and foremost an intimate look at real love the way God designed it) I was intrigued by the audacity of seeing Him as my Lover. And now I’m beginning to get it. To understand that His love for me is jealous, all-consuming, pursuing, protective, intimate, knowing, tender, accepting, and, in a beautiful way, just a little blind. He loves me (and you!) for who I am. Amazing. Magnificent. Life changing.

My favorite Portland spots are:

For wandering: Forest Park, the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, Bishop’s Close.

For eating: I love to try new places… small places… Northwest cuisine is fresh and innovative and down-to-earth and just so good.

For a good cup of tea: Smith’s Tea is a quiet, peaceful place.

For shopping for my home: Sellwood’s many vintage shops, full of a fun mixture of junk and beauty.

For a fun day of shopping with a friend: NW 23^rd area, every shop is lovely and girly.

For a romantic dinner with Phil: Piazza Italia in the Pearl, so authentically Italian.

If I could spend a year anywhere in the world, I would go to:

For winter: I’d hole up in a cabin in Bear Valley, California. It stays snowed in all winter so I’d hibernate and write a book…

For spring: I’d choose someplace with wildflower strewn meadows and gentle sunshine, a farm maybe…where I could play around with writing another book…

For summer: I’d find a cozy cottage in the Lake District of Northern England. I’d wander the hills, read fairy tales, maybe even write a magical, mystical story for my grandkids…

For fall: I’d want a coastal hideaway on a wild and stormy beach. Maybe on the ocean side of Vancouver Island, or tucked into a cove near Carmel Highlands where I could take long walks on the beach and read great books and dream about writing one of my own…

One of my life scriptures is:

Psalm 40

I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; 
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.

The person who has had the biggest influence on me is:

No doubt about it, my husband. Phil has taught me and led me and loved me and shown me what it means to walk with God for more than three decades. He has allowed me to be myself even when the me-that-I-am-is sometimes peculiar and forgetful and introverted and intense.

The next big challenge I’m tackling is:

Slowing down to do just a few things well. Letting go of doing some of the things I love in order to keep my soul in a place of rest. Daring to trust God by creating space to listen to His words and to write what I hear.

On my perfect day I would:

Get up early…fix myself a pot of Marco Polo tea…read and listen, write and dream for a long while…putter around my home…take a long meandering walk with my dog, Jackson… go out to a late lunch at one of Portland’s food carts with Phil… walk around the city at night when the lights are just coming on… go home and go to bed early with a good book… and find time in there to write some thoughts about something…

Something I love to do every year is:

Go to my parent’s home high in the Sierra Nevadas. The view off the back deck is breathtaking! As we’re driving up highway 4 through the Gold Country on our way there, both of us start to relax, breathing in the fragrance of a place that has been a refuge for us. When we get there we love to hike and swim in the river and picnic by the stream that runs right through the town of Murphy’s. I read fun books, we take naps, watch movies, eat fresh foods, take long walks and dream big dreams. Some of our favorite memories as a family center around that little mountain town.

What I really want every woman to know is:

That real rest, real satisfaction, real hope and delight comes in that intimate closeness the Father longs to have with us. And that He speaks there- words that He wants us to hear- wisdom for life, for love, for happiness.

Where you can find me:

Website: www.hespeaksinthesilence.com

Twitter: @dianewcomer

Instagram: @dianecomer