Reemergence

WHERE HAS PARA BEEN?

October, November and December were intense months that left me depleted. 

Between creating new designs, mishaps with printing, packaging and prepping new cards, Black Friday + Christmas selling, an in-person market, and more ON TOP OF my full-time job as a stay-at-home mom... I felt like I was limping and low in January and February. 

This happened last year too (note to self: be more deliberate with 2025 planning), so I wasn't too worried. I knew I'd come out of the slump eventually. 

So as the winter went on, I hunkered down in hibernation mode and kept my focus small and local to be present with my family (so much puzzling) and connect with our community and church. 

And as for Para, I just let it kind of be on the side: 

• I slowly counted inventory to prep for taxes and little by little organized the administrative things I neglected throughout the year.
• I took a break from social media, which has been refreshing and helpful.
• I shifted rooms and spaces at home, so the office space for Para got a little revamp. 

In the slowness of winter, even with feeling down, I was asking God to move and work and reveal things.

And then in March, God broke through in some crazy and beautiful ways. I can't wait to share more about what He's been doing. 

WHAT'S COMING IN 2025:

At the beginning of the year, I had the impression that my word for 2025 (shout out to my fellow Cultivate What Matters fans) was going to be "SERVE" especially with Para. 

These are the types of questions I'm trying to use as a lens for navigating what to do or not do this year:

• "What do people really need?"
• "How can I actually provide valuable encouragement, guidance, and reminders to Para people's everyday lives?"
• "What will equip and inspire people to turn to Jesus and to get in the game of what God's up to?"

The heart of Para has always been to be a resource for you to engage in what God's doing around you. To point you to the Lord and remind you that He is using you in the everyday little moments to love the people he's put in your spheres of influence and speak His truth, grace, love, hope, affirmation, identity, and life into their lives. 

So how's that going to play out? Here's where I've landed on the first steps...  

1. Getting consistent about the monthly Para Newsletter 💪
2. Launching The Para Podcast 🎉

Eeeee! I'm so excited! 

I can't wait to share conversations with friends about how God is at work, reminding all of us how we can engage in what God's doing right now in any circumstance we're in, and find joy and purpose as we trust Him and see Him lead us to love others.

The hope is to cut the fluffy churchy talk (or at least try and then dive into what those churchy phrases mean), and get practical of how we can confidently live out our purposes given by God alongside one another.

After all, this company's name, Para, comes from the greek word meaning beside or near -- just like the Holy Spirit constantly is and we are called to be.

Some topics on deck:

• Courage speak affirmation to others (even if you don't have a close relationship).
• Living missionally - does it happen in the church or out of the church?
• Intergenerational relationships and life and how that balances with community within your same life-stage.
• Sunday mornings aren't just for you
• Using the gifts God has given you
• Owner vs. attender mentality 
• Different types of prayer
  
• Detangling what "hearing from God" means
• Being near God and living out our identity

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN! 

• What do you want to hear discussions about?
• Where do you need encouragement in your life/ministry/walk with Jesus? 
• What is or isn't working in your life as you try to connect with God and live out his calling for you?
• Are you confident in the calling and purpose that He has for you? 
  

SHARE YOUR INPUT + IDEAS HERE

I'd LOVE to hear from you. Let me know what you want to hear about and what would actually be helpful in your everyday, real life as you live out loving others. 

SO, WHAT ABOUT THE CARDS?

With that in mind, as of right now, the plan is not to create any new cards this year (hold me too this - I can get distracted easily with new creations). 

The shop will still be open so you can stock up on cards to use them as tools as the Holy Spirit puts people on your mind to affirm, encourage, and pray over. But we'll be sticking with what we've got thus far (don't worry, it still includes A LOT of variety! Trust me. I just counted every single option in the shop :)  )

MY CURRENT FAVORITES: 
Since I literally just had my hands on every single card in the shop, I got very well acquainted with the cards again after the few months off (inventory counting for the win). It reminded me again of some of my favs...  

 

And of course, all the cards that made me smile as I remembered the stories behind why they were created ...

 

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If there are ways that Para could better serve you in your walk with the Lord and alongside others, please let me know! And if you have any topics you want addressed or talked about or suggestions on who you'd love to hear from, I'm all ears!