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Vanessa Foster-Whiddon

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How I See Me

September 23, 2023 By Vanessa Foster-Whiddon

To the Other Side

September 7, 2023 By Vanessa Foster-Whiddon

Grief in Yarn

August 24, 2023 By Vanessa Foster-Whiddon

Refuge

May 17, 2023 By Vanessa Foster-Whiddon

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Dr. Foster-Whiddon is looking mighty fine! #phd #

Dr. Foster-Whiddon is looking mighty fine!
#phd #standrewsuniversity #gospelofjohn #proundwife

He said, “O man, highly regarded and greatly bel

He said, “O man, highly regarded and greatly beloved, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be strong.” Now when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” Daniel 10:19

It only took three different countries to get you through high school but you made it. Thank you for being a team player on this journey. As with life there were bumps along the way but you made it through. We love you and are very proud to be your parents.
#seniorpictures #scotland #standrews #proudmom #collegebound

Turkey, sweet Turkey. We loved you but you did con

Turkey, sweet Turkey. We loved you but you did confuse us a bit. We love a good language barrier and cats joining us at lunch. Your water was amazing and coffee top notch. 7/10

My outward expression of change is to write. It’

My outward expression of change is to write. It’s funny how some of us openly share parts of our lives here (odd, right?) and others never say a word, but we know you are there. I am the odd one.😉
This is (especially) for a niche group of people in my life, my yoga and stretching buddies.You know who you are! With all my love.💕
For the last two months I have told myself how good it would feel if I just made time to stretch, breathe, and sit. I am a master at avoiding the very things that have helped me for years. I just stopped. I am not sure why, but I did. For the past two days, I have been stretching, breathing, moving to the music, and praying. (Hold your applause… we will see what happens tomorrow.) Tonight, as I laid on my back and stretched my legs long, I thought of you. If you have ever been in one of my classes, retreats, or one-on-one sessions, I am talking to you. I want you to know those were some very special and sacred times for me. I have not taught in four years, and I am not sure if I will get to again. Season change. As I am moving forward into yet another new season, I am asking the Lord to help me process. I am asking Him to show me all His goodness along the way. My yoga season was a very,very good one. When I think back on that time, I don’t think so much about the posture I could hold, but I think about the faces looking back at me. I think about all the little studios I had, and no matter where we went, we made it work.(keep reading in comments.

In the cool of the morning, my feet find the way d

In the cool of the morning, my feet find the way down my driveway. The April blooms fill the air on my walk up Lade Braes. The morning is slow. I walk across the street without pressing the traffic light. There are a few sleepy students walking in the cafe as I order my coffee. 0.75 miles is the walking distance from my home to my caffeine fix. I could walk it blindfolded now, but don’t test me. I was a stranger in this town only three short years ago. One of the first times I walked into town, I stopped at the very first cafe I came to. (I will not name names.) I felt like I had walked forever, and it was the best choice. I had only walked 0.25 miles, and even though it is closer to my house I have not been back to that cafe since. Coffee is one of my love languages, if you do not already know that about me. I have no time for bad coffee. After 3 years of living here, I no longer have to think about how to walk to my favorite cafe, the health food store, or the sea. My feet have found their path, and my heart has found a home. Today, I walked by the river. I saw a baby duck come running out from under her mother. There were maybe five others under her. This brave little girl was running as fast as she could till her little feet, only a few days old, hit the water. She stopped hard and went running back. Momma Duck lifted up on her legs to let the baby girl back in, then she sat down and spread her feathers. I paused and said, “Oh God, that’s me.” A new season is coming. I want to be brave, but honestly, I don’t know if I am ready to be the new girl again. 4,220 miles from me sits a quaint little cafe in the center of Hillsboro, Kansas. (Keep reading in comments)

She is 19 today and we miss her so much! We are so

She is 19 today and we miss her so much! We are so proud of you! You are a treasure to your family! See you soon Ferb💕 @zfosterw #19th #birthday #farfromhome #seeyousoon

The boys had Turkish street food from a man who co

The boys had Turkish street food from a man who correctly interpreted our gestures. We are learning that not many places open before 11:30. He was kind enough to serve us as we figured out their cultural norms. A cat stopped by in need of some company. We had a wee coffee before we caught the tram to the beach. We were anticipating clear blue water and we were not disappointed. Also, I was prepared for a sandy beach but, instead, our feet found rocks. The rocks slid in between my foot and sandals, making walking uncomfortable. To get into the water we had to walk down a slanted dip that was covered in smaller rocks, so naturally getting out of the water we had to walk back up it. It was comical watching me trying to walk up the slippery, painful rock. I succumbed to crawling. It was not a good look, but I made it up. The water, the view, the time with my kids, it was worth it all.

Riding back on the trolley after a few hours on the rocking beach, I started thinking about the last few years abroad, how when we moved we expected one thing but found something different. We have had many uncomfortable, painful, and slippery moments on this journey. On many occasions I have resorted to crawling my way through my own personal darkness. I have yet to go on a journey where some pain was not felt before the beauty was found. The beauty we have seen over the past four years goes way deeper than what we can see with our eyes. It’s a mix of hard and good that is lodged in our soul and for that, we will never be the same. To God be the glory. (Eric is here to research at the archaeological sites of Ephesus, Aphrodisias, and Miletus. These ancient cities are important to the stories that he is comparing in his doctoral research. He will also finish edits of the thesis for final submission.) #phdstudent #phdfamily #phdjourney #turkey #culture #faith #eveninthehard

This is what I call productive procrastination. I

This is what I call productive procrastination. I started working on a blanket for my son, but I keep getting distracted by easier projects. I call them my “fun side projects.” With the blanket I am making, I have to count stitches and add a color change. It is not mindless work. Mostly, I think the work reminds me of another change coming. Although it is months before he prepares to leave, it still feels too hard to think about. So I keep choosing easy side projects to keep things light and breezy in my heart. I am loving this sweet little vest on Lexie.
#crochet #crochetlover #waiting #meditation #change

Hi! Let me introduce myself to my new friends. I a

Hi! Let me introduce myself to my new friends. I am glad you are here! I hope you find it a cozy place to return to. The things I am most proud of are my husband (Eric) and my four children. They are 26, 18, 17, and 15 years old and they are the world to me. We are Americans, living in the UK since September 2020. I spend my time doing many things that I enjoy, including writing; that’s what you’ll see the most from me here. I do not claim to be an amazing writer but it does feel like a sense of calling. I write about a variety of things but mainly on ideas around faith, hardship, and the beauty of it all. As I share my stories with you I hope that you would find encouragement to keep pressing on. When life feels too much you can come here and know that you are not alone. We all struggle and we all want to make it through as best we can. You are not alone. Struggle well.
#momof4 #livinglife #faith #pushingon #strugglewell #writinglife

Hi January don’t forget about December. It was p

Hi January don’t forget about December. It was pretty great!

The rain stopped and life feels sweet right now💕
#coffeewithfriends #seasidewalks #everyonehome #schoolbreak #adventseason

My baby boy is 17 today and yesterday he got an ac

My baby boy is 17 today and yesterday he got an acceptance letter to Wheaton College! We have so much to celebrate! I love you Holton Daniel! #17 #onlyboy #allsister #wheatoncollege

She is done and we love her so much! Project #2 is

She is done and we love her so much! Project #2 is complete minus blocking. I learned a lot and look forward to growing my skill. Most of all I love the girl in it. I have enjoyed making something out of nothing which I believe God does for me daily! I enjoy doing something that makes me slow down, put my phone away, and just think. Worship comes in all shapes. #crochet #learning #worship #noscrolling #somethingoutofnothing #grannysquare #frostywinterphotos

“I am a forest, and a night of dark trees; but H

“I am a forest, and a night of dark trees; but He who is not afraid of my darkness will find banks full of roses under my cypresses”
~Friedrich Nietzsche
October: Travel/ Ko birthday/new job/ a new rumbling in my heart ❤️/ walking in the unknown to find the next beautiful thing.
#october #mylove #wheaton #scotlandexplore #chicago #autumn #friedrichnietzsche #faith #thehermitage

14 to 15! Happy birthday @karisoliviafw You are gr

14 to 15! Happy birthday @karisoliviafw You are growing up beautifully. Your heart and mind are a treasure. I have loved you every moment💕#babygirl #turns15
#brightminded #kindhearted #beautiful

I had some good quality time with Holton. I met a

I had some good quality time with Holton. I met a few of Zoe’s sweet friends. I had lots of coffee and chats with Zoe Kate. It was a hard trip in a few ways but we had some really sweet moments. 💕 #collegekid #momsheart

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