Wrapping Up Advent & Stepping Gently into Christmas As Advent comes to a close and Christmas draws near, this episode is an invitation to slow down and rest in the truth that God’s timing is never rushed—and never wasted. In today’s conversation, I reflect on Psalm 145 and the quiet miracle of the Incarnation: that God chose to come near in the fullness of time, not according to urgency, but according to love. Through winter garden rhythms—rebuilding a fire pit, reshaping garden borders, and composting zinnias that bloomed too soon—we explore what it means to trust God’s seasons, even when our own timing feels off. If you’re carrying weariness, longing, or quiet hope into Christmas, this episode offers a gentle place to pause, breathe, and remember: waiting is not failure, and nothing surrendered to God is ever wasted. 🌿 In This Episode, We Talk About: Why praise is still possible—even when life feels unfinished Psalm 145 as a song of gratitude and trust Advent as holy waiting, not spiritual delay God’s perfect timing in the birth of Jesus (Galatians 4:4) Garden lessons from frost-touched zinnias and winter compost Fire, light, and warmth as reminders of Emmanuel—God with us Simple, gentle practices for Christmas week 📖 Scripture Featured: Psalm 145:1–3 Galatians 4:4 🌱 Gentle Practices for Christmas Week: A Practice of Praise Whisper Psalm 145:1 each morning as a simple act of gratitude. A Practice of Trusting God’s Timing Ask: What is mine to tend today—and what can wait? A Practice of Light Light a candle, sit by a fire, or step outside at dusk and let light meet the darkness. 🕯️ A Final Word Christmas is not about rushing toward joy—it’s about receiving a God who came near, right on time. May this episode help you enter Christmas rooted, unhurried, and held in grace. Merry Christmas, friend. Until next time… stay rooted in grace.

In this episode of Rooted in Grace, we step gently into winter’s stillness and explore the kind of quiet that doesn’t demand answers, productivity, or strength — the quiet where God is already at work beneath the surface. Using the winter garden as our guide, this episode invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and notice what is quietly growing in you, even when nothing looks active on the outside. This is a reflective, grounding episode — one meant to be listened to slowly, perhaps on a walk, during a quiet morning, or at the end of a long day. 🌱 What We Explore in This Episode Why quiet often feels uncomfortable — and why that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong The deep reassurance found in Isaiah 30:15:“In quietness and in trust shall be your strength” A winter walk through the garden — cilantro, peas, radishes, and empty beds — as metaphors for different inner seasons Why waiting is not empty, but readiness in disguise The difference between surface silence and “the quiet beneath the quiet” — where God tends hidden roots A guided contemplative practice called The Garden Gate, designed to help you enter stillness without pressure 🌿 Rooted Moment: The Quiet Beneath the Quiet This episode includes an extended Rooted Moment — a slow, shepherded prayer experience that invites you to: Settle your nervous system through breath Reflect on where you are in your own inner garden Release striving and spiritual pressure Listen gently for God’s presence rather than forcing clarity This is not a moment to do — it’s a moment to be met. 🤍 A Gentle Invitation If you’re in a season where: You feel spiritually thin You’re tired of trying to be strong You’re unsure what’s next You sense that something is growing, but can’t yet name it This episode is for you. You don’t need to rush.You don’t need to bloom early.God is not finished with you. 📖 Resources & Next Steps 🌿 Rooted in Grace eBookA gentle, faith-centered guide to intuitive gardening, spiritual rhythms, and growing with God through every season. 🌱 The Intuitive Gardening CalendarDaily garden tasks paired with reflective prompts to help you notice God’s work in both soil and soul.→ Perfect for grounding your days, even in winter, available soon! 📩 Join the Email ListReceive quiet reflections, seasonal practices, and encouragement delivered gently to your inbox. Get this month's intuitive gardening calendar for free! 🌿 Closing Blessing May your winter be gentle.May your heart not feel pressured to bloom.And may you remember that the quietest place inside youis often where God is closest. Until next time —stay rooted,and grow with grace. 🌿

December can feel loud on the outside and thin on the inside. In this episode, I invite you into the quiet winter garden—a place many of us are tempted to rush past or label as “unproductive.” Together, we sit with Scripture, Advent waiting, and the slow wisdom of the soil to remember this truth: stillness is not stagnation, and winter is not failure. When the garden grows quiet, God is often doing His deepest, most foundational work. If your soul feels bare, hesitant, or simply tired right now, this episode is an invitation to listen—without striving—and to trust that courage, clarity, and fearless faith are already being planted beneath the surface 🌱 In this episode, we explore: Why winter quiet is essential for spiritual formation What Scripture teaches us about stillness, trust, and courage How Advent waiting shapes a fearless faith A gentle guided practice for listening to God in this season 🤍 Continue Growing with Me If this episode met you in a quiet or weary place, I’d love to stay connected with you. ✨ Join my email list for seasonal encouragement, garden reflections, and faith-filled rhythms delivered gently to your inbox.✨ Get my e-book, Rooted in Grace—a companion for growing faith slowly and faithfully, season by season, through Scripture, story, and garden wisdom.

A Quiet Kind of Room-Making Second Week of Advent In this tender Rooted Moment, we step into the heart of Advent hospitality—the quiet, humble practice of making room for Christ right where we are. Anchored in Luke 2:7, we meditate on the simple yet profound truth that “there was no room” in the expected places for Jesus—yet God came anyway.He came into the space that was available.He came into the ordinary, the imperfect, the makeshift.And He still does. This episode is an invitation to prepare inner room rather than perfect moments, to welcome Jesus into the small, hidden, everyday spaces of your actual life. 🌟 In This Episode, You’ll Experience: 🌿 A Deep, Gentle Reflection on Luke 2:7 “…because there was no room available for them.”How Christ chooses simple spaces. How Advent invites us to offer what we truly have, not what we wish we could give. 🌱 The Winter Garden as Teacher You’ll hear how winter’s stillness, dormancy, and quiet preparation mirror the work God is doing beneath the surface of your soul.The reminder:Room-making often looks like rest. Stillness is hospitality. ✨ Hidden Hospitality The small, unnoticed, ordinary kindnesses you offer—to your home, to others, to your own heart—are sacred places where Jesus delights to dwell. 🌾 Reimagining Your Manger Your “manger” this year might look like: a single breath before responding a sprig of greenery a cleared corner a moment of stillness in the kitchen a whispered invitation: “You are welcome here.” 🌱 One Gentle Practice for the Week A simple act of room-making—small, doable, rooted in love.Light a candle.Step outside for one breath of cold air.Place your hand on your heart.Inhale: Prepare Him…Exhale: …room. 🙏 Closing Prayer + Benediction A tender blessing to carry into your week:May your pauses become places of presence.May your waiting become worship.May your winter garden become wisdom. ✨ Listen to This Episode If… December feels crowded and your soul feels tired You long for quiet, sacred moments with God You want to prepare room for Christ in simple, doable ways You’re craving calm in the midst of Advent You love connecting gardening rhythms with spiritual formation

In this second week of Advent, we explore what it truly means to prepare Him room—not in ideal conditions or perfectly curated moments, but in the real, busy, often overwhelming rhythms of hospitality, service, and winter stillness. This episode weaves together the sacred work of preparing a meal for many, the quiet anchoring presence of the winter garden, and the spiritual practice of creating space for Christ in ordinary life. As we serve, as we feed, as we tend, and even as we rest, we are participating in Advent’s holy invitation:Christ has come. Christ is here. Christ will come again. Prepare Him room. This episode sits under the “R – Rooted in Truth” pillar of the GRACE Framework. 🌱 Key Themes ✨ Advent as Preparation in Real Life – God meets us in the wilderness seasons– Room for Christ is made in ordinary, imperfect spaces– Hospitality is a spiritual discipline ✨ The Sacred Work of Serving – Coordinating and preparing a communal meal– Sarmale, vegan sarmale, mămăligă, sourdough bread offered in love– Many hands, many gifts, one table– Simple beauty created by gentle, faithful hands ✨ The Garden as Anchor in Winter – Even untouched, the garden holds steady– Winter teaches slow growth, patience, and unseen preparation– Sourcing soil as an act of Advent hope– Dormant beds mirroring the waiting heart ✨ Rooted in Truth (GRACE Framework) – God comes to ordinary places– Service is a form of worship– Communal preparation is holy– Winter is not emptiness, but preparation– Simple beauty prepares room for peace 🌿 Scriptures Mentioned Isaiah 40:3–5 — “Prepare the way of the Lord…” Luke 2:7 — “There was no room available for them.” 🌿 Doable Practices from this Episode 1. Heart Practice A simple breath prayer throughout the day:Inhale: “Prepare Him…”Exhale: “…room.” 2. Garden Practice Choose one small winter action:– Order compost– Add mulch– Clean a pot– Notice dormancy– Whisper gratitude over the soil 3. Home Practice Bring one natural element indoors:– Cedar– Pine– Rosemary– Dried citrus– Pinecones Let gentle beauty preach peace. 🤍 A Word for Your Week As you serve others this Advent—whether in the kitchen, in a classroom, in your home, or in your community—may your serving be worship, your waiting be rooted, and your heart be spacious with hope. Christ is coming, dear friend.Prepare Him room.

Preparing Room, One Breath at a Time A soft follow-up to Episode 45: Attentive to His Presence—Preparing Room in a Noisy Season ✨ Episode Summary In this Rooted Moment, Sanda offers a simple, spacious pause in the middle of a noisy season.Through Psalm 46:10 and the quiet humility of Luke 2:6–7, she invites you to breathe deeply, loosen your shoulders, and make a little room—just one breath at a time. This short reflection includes a guided practice called “The One-Minute Room,” helping you re-center and return to God’s presence no matter how full your life feels. If Episode 45 encouraged you to prepare room, Episode 46 gently helps you hold that sacred space. 📖 Scriptures in This Episode Psalm 46:10 — “Be still, and know that I am God.” Luke 2:6–7 — “…she laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” 🌱 What You’ll Hear A tender reminder that God meets us in imperfect, unfinished places A slowing, grounding breath practice A simple way to open space for Jesus in the middle of a noisy week A short, peace-giving prayer to settle you back into God’s presence 🌿 Today’s Practice: “The One-Minute Room” Just one minute of stillness.One inhale: “Here I am, Lord.”One exhale: “Make room in me.” This gentle return becomes your personal manger—an open place where Christ is welcome. Optional second practice: clear one small thing in your home or garden and whisper,“This is room for You, Lord.” ✏️ Reflection Questions Where do you feel crowded or noisy inside right now? What tiny moment of stillness could become your “manger space” today? What small action helps your heart slow down and open to God? 🎄 Advent in the Garden — A Special Invitation If this episode stirred a longing for quiet, for presence, or for a slower way of moving through the season… 🌿 Advent in the Garden is now open.It’s a four-week journey to help you: prepare Him room, cultivate holy stillness, notice God’s presence in the ordinary, and anchor your heart in hope, light, and gentle rhythms. Each week includes:✨ Scripture meditations✨ Garden-inspired reflections✨ Simple practices to restore your soul✨ A short guided prayer or breath moment If your spirit is weary—or simply hungry for a quieter Advent—this is for you.Learn more and join us at: rootedingrace.me/advent 🌿 If This Episode Encouraged You… Share it with a friend who’s longing for peace this season.Your invitation may be the moment of quiet she’s been praying for.

Attentive to His Presence: Preparing Room in a Noisy Season In this gentle beginning-of-Advent episode, we step from the fullness of Thanksgiving into the quiet invitation of Christmas. Episode 45 centers on the A in the GRACE framework—Attentive to His Presence—and offers a peaceful, grounded pause in the midst of holiday busyness. I share a tender garden story from this week, filling my new raised beds with cardboard, branches, and garden debris—an unexpected picture of Advent preparation and the hidden work God does beneath the surface of our lives. We explore how December often pulls women in many directions, and how Advent invites us to slow, soften, and notice the God who is already with us. This episode is a sanctuary for overwhelmed hearts, offering Scripture, reflection, and simple practices to help you enter Advent with intention and peace. 🌱 In This Episode: The shift from Thanksgiving into Advent What it means to be Attentive to His Presence A garden story about layering soil + spiritual preparation Why December feels heavy for so many women Three simple Advent practices for the week A gentle invitation to Advent in the Garden (started December 1, you can still join through December 6) A preview of the new Intro to Intuitive Gardening / Gardening with God course (Jan. 15) 🌿 Scripture in This Episode: Mark 1:3Psalm 46:10Matthew 1:23John 1:14Isaiah 40:11 ✨ Advent in the Garden Begins December 1 If your heart longs for a gentle, Christ-centered December, join our 25-day devotional journey with Scripture, garden-inspired practices, and quiet reflection.Pay what you can, starting at $5.👉 rootedingrace.me/advent 🌿 Join the Rooted Jesus Girls Community A warm, encouraging space for women seeking Jesus in everyday rhythms.👉 facebook.com/groups/rootedjesusgirls 💛 Final Thought Advent isn’t about doing more—it’s about making room.May this season draw you closer to the God who is already near.

In this day-after-Thanksgiving Rooted Moment, we pause between gratitude and Advent to remember the God who stands with us in every season. Today’s reflection weaves together Daniel 3, the quiet beauty of a garden settling into winter, and the hope rising as Advent begins in just three days. We remember:✨ The God who walked in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego✨ The God who descends into ordinary places—into mangers, into gardens, into our hearts✨ The gratitude that prepares our soil for Advent✨ The small, tender signs of God’s presence in both fire and soil You’ll also hear a few simple practices to carry into this transition weekend: 🌱 Garden practice for noticing quiet growth🙏 Spiritual practice for naming where Jesus is with you✨ Advent preparation practice to make room for His coming 🌿 Scripture Meditations in This Episode • Daniel 3:25• Lamentations 3:22–23• John 1:14• Isaiah 9:2• Psalm 46:1• Luke 1:38• John 1:5 🌾 Advent in the Garden Begins December 1 If your heart is craving a slower, gentler, Christ-centered December, join us for✨ Advent in the Garden — a 25-day journey of Scripture, reflection, and simple garden practices to help you prepare Him room. Pay what you can, starting at $5.👉 rootedingrace.me/advent 🌿 Join the Rooted Jesus Girls Community A warm, encouraging space for women pursuing Jesus through everyday rhythms of home, garden, and Scripture.👉 facebook.com/groups/rootedjesusgirls ✨ Final Thought The fire did not burn you.The soil is ready.And the Savior is near.Prepare Him room.

A Thanksgiving Table of Grace: Gratitude That Gathers, Heals, and Prepares Us This Thanksgiving week, we slow down and gather around a different kind of table — a spiritual table of grace, memory, and gratitude. In Episode 43, we explore how God meets us in the quiet, unfinished places of our gardens, our homes, and our hearts. From assembling new raised beds to watching pansies settle into place, from baking apple–cinnamon sourdough with my girls to pickling cabbage for Romanian holiday traditions, this episode is rooted in the small, holy details of the season. Anchored in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 103, and 1 Peter 2:24, this episode reflects on the deeper heart of Thanksgiving:gratitude that heals, gathers, and prepares us for the coming of Advent. 🌾 What You’ll Hear: • A Thanksgiving reflection rooted in Scripture• Stories from the garden: new beds, pansies, alyssum, and snapdragons• Sourdough mornings + baking with my girls• Romanian cabbage-pickling traditions• How gratitude becomes worship• A gentle turn toward Advent 🌿 Scripture References: 1 Thessalonians 5:18Psalm 103:1–51 Peter 2:24 🌾 A Soft Invitation: Advent in the Garden If your heart longs for a peaceful, Christ-centered December, join me for Advent in the Garden — a 25-day devotional journey of Scripture, journaling, and simple garden-inspired practices.✨ Pay what you can, starting at $5.👉 rootedingrace.me/advent 🌿 Join the Rooted Jesus Girls Community A warm, encouraging space for women growing in faith and garden-inspired rhythms.👉 facebook.com/groups/rootedjesusgirls ✨ Closing Thought Thanksgiving isn’t about perfection —it’s about gathering the faithfulness of Godand preparing room for the One who is coming. Stay Rooted in Grace. 🌿

This Rooted Moment offers a gentle pause between Thanksgiving and Advent — an invitation to rest, breathe, and recognize God’s presence in the unfinished places of your life. Flowing out of this week’s main episode on learning contentment in every season, today’s reflection centers on gratitude as the soil where peace, patience, and Advent readiness naturally grow. 🌾 What You’ll Hear: A simple garden moment that reveals the beauty of “not yet ready” How gratitude anchors us in contentment A short guided reflection to settle your spirit Gentle practices to help you enter Thanksgiving week intentionally A soft invitation to prepare your heart for Advent 🌿 Scripture Anchor: Philippians 4:11–12 — “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…” 🌾 Today’s Practices: Garden Practice: Notice one thing still “in progress” outdoors and thank God for what’s becoming.Spiritual Practice: Write a simple gratitude litany to guide your Thanksgiving week. 🌿 Advent in the Garden Invitation: If your heart longs for a calm, Christ-centered Advent, join me for Advent in the Garden — a 25-day devotional journey of Scripture, gentle reflection, and simple, garden-inspired practices.✨ Pay what you can, starting at $5.Join here: rootedingrace.me/advent 🌾 Join the Rooted Jesus Girls Community: For encouragement and spiritual friendship throughout the season:👉 Rooted Jesus Girls Facebook Group ✨ Closing Thought: Contentment blooms right in the middle — long before anything feels finished.May this short pause steady your heart as Thanksgiving approaches and Advent begins.

As Thanksgiving approaches and Advent draws near, today’s episode invites you into the soft, sacred work of gratitude, contentment, and holy expectancy. We walk gently through the G.R.A.C.E. framework—Grounded in Gratitude, Recognizing God’s Provision, Abiding in the In-Between, Cultivating Contentment, and Expectancy Rooted in Christ—anchored in Philippians 4:11–12 and woven with comforting Scriptures that guide us into deeper peace. In this episode, I share the joyful chaos of this week’s gardening adventures—assembling new raised beds, discovering a new nursery, and planting 18 tiny pots of flowers before the garden was even ready. But even more, I share what God is doing beneath the surface:how He heals us through gratitude, steadies us in unfinished seasons, and forms contentment in the quiet soil of our everyday lives. This episode is a warm invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and prepare room for Jesus in this beautiful hinge between Thanksgiving and Advent. 🌿 Scriptures in Today’s Episode: Philippians 4:11–12 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Colossians 3:15 Psalm 100:4 James 1:17 Psalm 23:1 John 15:4–5 Isaiah 30:15 Lamentations 3:24–26 Hebrews 13:5 Psalm 131:1–2 Isaiah 9:2 Luke 1:38 Romans 8:25 🌟 Join Us for Advent in the Garden If your heart is craving a slow, gentle, Christ-centered Advent season, I created something just for you. ✨ Advent in the Garden is a 25-day devotional journey rooted in Scripture, quiet reflection, and simple garden-inspired practices that help you slow down and savor the presence of Jesus. You’ll receive:• 25 daily devotionals + videos• A beautiful printable journal• Gentle reflections for slowing down• A Christ-centered, peaceful rhythm for your season Name your price starting at $5.I wanted to make this accessible to every woman who needs it this year. 👉 Join us at: rootedingrace.me/advent 🌿 Come Be Part of Rooted Jesus Girls If today’s episode spoke to your heart, you will love the Rooted Jesus Girls community — a warm, safe space for women who want to grow in faith, deepen their walk with Jesus, and find spiritual encouragement rooted in Scripture, gardening rhythms, peace, and grace. 🌾 Let’s Stay Connected Instagram: @southernsoilsPinterest: Southern Soil SunshineWebsite + devotionals: rootedingrace.meMain blog: southernsoilsunshine.com If you loved this episode, please take a moment to leave a review. Your words truly help this ministry reach more women who need gentle encouragement, spiritual grounding, and Christ-centered hope. ✨ Closing Thought Gratitude roots us.Expectancy opens us.Contentment steadies us.Christ holds us. Wherever you are today — in the middle, the waiting, the flourishing, or the weary — He is near. Stay grounded. Stay grateful. Stay expectant.And always stay Rooted in Grace. 🌿

Rooted Moment: Grace in Progress 🌾 Episode Summary In this short, tender Rooted Moment devotional, Sanda invites you to pause and breathe deeply in the “in-between” spaces of your life — the places where hope has been planted but the harvest hasn’t arrived yet. Through Scripture, reflection, and a fresh story from her garden, she explores what it means to live Grounded in Gratitude while everything is still in progress.From clearing a small tree to make way for her new pottager garden, to tending ministry soil all weekend long, this episode reminds us of a healing truth: God is present not just at the finish line, but in every unfinished moment.He delights in our participation, not our perfection. This episode is a soft landing, a gentle whisper, and a holy pause for your soul. 🌸 What You’ll Hear A moving reflection on the spiritual meaning of “clearing space” Why progress — not completion — is often where grace does its best work A guided visualization for recognizing God’s presence in your unfinished places Simple garden + soul practices for the week A grounding, hope-filled prayer A warm invitation into the Advent in the Garden devotional journey 🌿 Key Scriptures Ecclesiastes 3:1 — “There is a time for everything.” Philippians 1:6 — “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” 🌾 Garden & Soul Practice Garden: Visit a space you recently cleared and thank God for what’s beginning there.Soul: Write a short gratitude litany: “Thank You for what is planted.Thank You for what is growing.Thank You for what is still becoming.” ✨ Rooted Moment Challenge 1️⃣ Capture a photo of something “in progress” this week2️⃣ Add 1–2 lines to your gratitude list3️⃣ Light a candle and pray for peace in your unfinished places 🌟 Advent Invitation — A Gift from My Garden to Yours If your heart is longing for quiet, connection, and meaning this season, I’d love to invite you to join me for Advent in the Garden — a 25-day devotional of hope, peace, joy, and love. You’ll receive:🌿 Short daily videos🌿 A printable Advent journal🌿 Garden-inspired practices🌿 Saturday live gatherings This year, it’s my gift to you:✨ Just $5 — or whatever you can give. We begin December 1.Come plant hope with me.👉 rootedingrace.me/advent 🌾 Key Quote from This Episode “Grace is not waiting at the finish line — it’s living in the middle, shaping us in every unfinished place.”

As autumn fades and Advent approaches, Sanda invites you into a conversation about progress, purpose, and planting hope in the middle of change. From chopping down an old tree to make space for a new pottager garden to building four raised beds with a circular one at the center, she shares how clearing, planning, and preparing the soil mirror the spiritual work of faith and surrender. This episode launches the new G.R.A.C.E. Framework—a five-part rhythm for spiritual and practical growth—and begins with the first step: G = Grounded in Gratitude.Through stories from her garden and her ministry, Sanda reminds us that hope isn’t found in perfection but in progress, and that God redeems time “in the minutes we have, not in the hours we don’t.” 🌸 What You’ll Learn How to stay grounded in gratitude when everything is “in progress.” Why clearing space (in soil or soul) is often the first act of hope. The power of recognizing God’s hand in unfinished places. Simple garden + spiritual practices to anchor your week: planting herbs, leaving one task unfinished, lighting a candle of expectancy. How gratitude becomes grace when it moves outward in generosity. 🌿 Key Scriptures Psalm 65:9-11 (NIV) — “You crown the year with Your bounty.” Romans 15:13 (NIV) — “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” 🌾 Rooted Practice Challenge 1️⃣ Plant something small—indoors or out—as a symbol of hope.2️⃣ Name three areas of your life that are still “in progress,” and thank God for each one.3️⃣ Leave one thing unfinished this week on purpose; let grace fill the middle.4️⃣ Light a candle each night and pray, “Redeem my minutes, Lord.”5️⃣ Share one word of encouragement with someone waiting for their own harvest. ✨ Invitation — Advent in the Garden ($5 / Pay What You Can) If your soul is craving stillness and beauty this season, join Sanda for Advent in the Garden—a 25-day devotional journey through Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. You’ll receive:🌿 Daily short videos + reflections🌿 A printable Advent journal🌿 Saturday live gatherings to reflect and pray It’s Sanda’s Advent gift to you—offered for only $5 or whatever you can give.Come plant hope with her this December and discover how tending your soil can help you tend your soul. 👉 Sign-up link coming soon! 🌾 Key Quote “I’m learning that time is redeemed in the minutes I have, not the hours I don’t. Progress is holy ground.”

In this Rooted Moment, Sanda slows us down for a simple yet sacred truth: rest itself can become prayer. Drawing from Psalm 65:9–11 and Psalm 119:169–170, she invites you to see your quiet garden—and your quiet soul—as places where the Gardener is still at work. Beneath South Texas soil, peas climb, collards stretch, onions strengthen, and God listens to every unspoken cry of the heart. Through three gentle movements—Soften the Furrows, Feed the Roots, and Lift the Leaves—you’ll learn how rest, prayer, and growth intertwine as Advent approaches. This short devotional companion to Episode 37 (The November Garden Examen) will help you breathe, listen, and let the soil of your spirit stay soft before the coming Light. 🌸 Key Takeaways & Highlights Psalm 65 reminds us: God still waters and blesses even resting soil. Psalm 119 shows us: prayer is often a cry for understanding, not perfection. How “holy hush” and gentle work coexist in the late-fall garden. Three Rooted Movements:1️⃣ Soften the Furrows – let prayer loosen hard ground.2️⃣ Feed the Roots – nourish hidden strength with Scripture.3️⃣ Lift the Leaves – turn toward Light and promise. Practical garden + soul practices you can try this week. 🌿 Rooted Challenge 1️⃣ Read Psalm 119:169–170 each morning or night.2️⃣ Spend 10 quiet minutes outdoors—listen, don’t plan.3️⃣ Journal two lines: “Lord, this is my cry…” and “This is Your promise.” 🌟 Invitation to Advent in the Garden Advent is almost here — and so is our 25-day journey of hope, peace, joy, and love.🌿 Join Sanda for daily videos, reflections, and simple garden practices that will help you root deeply in God’s presence this season. 👉Advent in the Garden Devotional - link coming soon!  ✨ Key Quote for Show Notes “Rest isn’t silence; it’s conversation—the soil breathing prayers you can’t yet put into words.”

🌿 Summary / Episode Description In this gentle transition between seasons, Sanda invites you into a November Garden Examen — a quiet, 5-pillar reflection for your soil and your soul. While the garden rests (at least in theory), there’s still life stirring under the South Texas sky — peas and collards stretching, onions thickening, sage standing strong. Beneath it all, the Gardener is preparing the way for new birth. Through the five pillars — Remember, Release, Restore, Root, and Rejoice — Sanda helps you look back with gratitude, let go with grace, and lean forward with vision. This episode is both a sacred pause and a soft preparation for what’s coming next: Advent in the Garden, a 25-day devotional experience of hope, peace, joy, and love. Come walk the garden paths of reflection, rest, and renewal. The year may be closing, but God’s work in you is just beginning. 🪴 Episode Highlights Psalm 65:9–11 — “You crown the year with Your bounty.” The quiet tension between rest and readiness What the South Texas garden teaches about faith that keeps working underground How to practice a personal “Garden Examen” before Advent begins Why work can be a form of holy rest when done with vision and grace Five Pillars for your November Reset:🌾 Remember | Look back with gratitude🌾 Release | Let go of what’s done🌾 Restore | Let God refresh the ground🌾 Root | Reconnect with the Source🌾 Rejoice | Celebrate the faithfulness 🌸 Rooted Practice Challenge 1️⃣ Remember — Write one gratitude line for every month of this year.2️⃣ Release — Compost one plant, one worry, or one perfectionist thought.3️⃣ Restore — Take one true Sabbath hour outdoors.4️⃣ Root — Write your 2026 “Vision & Values” page in your journal.5️⃣ Rejoice — Light a garden candle and thank God aloud for sustaining you. 🌟 Coming Soon: Advent in the Garden Beginning December 1, join Sanda for a 25-day devotional experience that weaves daily videos, Scripture reflections, and simple garden-inspired practices around the four themes of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each day will help you slow down, notice beauty, and rediscover God’s gentle presence in your own backyard. 🌿 Sign up to the email list to be the first one to get the regisration link! Subscribers get a FREE Yearly Garden Calendar! 🎁 Includes a free “Day One” sample download when you join! 🌾 Key Quote from the Episode “Even rest, for a gardener, is never idle; it’s intention in disguise. Work is an essential part of rest when the heart stays in rhythm with the Creator.” 🙏 Closing Prayer “Lord of the Harvest, teach us to remember Your mercy,release what’s finished without fear,and let every plan we draw and every bed we widenbe an act of worship — a vision written plainly in faith.”

📖 Scripture Anchor “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” — Habakkuk 3:17–19 🌿 Episode Summary The harvest is over, the beds are quiet, and the air has turned cool—but God’s work in the soil (and in our souls) never stops. 🌾 In this tender Rooted Moment, Sanda invites you to pause between seasons, breathe deeply, and rediscover the quiet joy that grows in waiting. Rooted in Habakkuk 3:17–19, this guided reflection and prayer will help you find peace in the “in-between” and recognize that even when the garden looks bare, God’s grace is still alive beneath the surface. You’ll hear stories of peas, violas, and herbs pushing through cool soil in South Texas, and receive gentle encouragement for your own winter garden—inside and out. 🌾 In This Episode, You’ll Discover: 🌿 The spiritual meaning of “Even here, I will rejoice” from Habakkuk’s prayer 💧 How to find God’s presence in seasons of rest and waiting 🌸 Practical late-fall and winter gardening tips for hope-filled hands 🪴 A breath prayer and journaling reflection to nurture inner peace ✨ How hidden roots and quiet faith sustain new growth in your life 📖 Supporting Scriptures Habakkuk 3:17–19 — Joy that defies circumstance Psalm 126:5 — “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” Isaiah 30:15 — “In quietness and trust is your strength.” Matthew 6:28–29 — “Consider the lilies…” 💛 Continue Growing 🌱 Visit the garden online: southernsoilsunshine.com — explore devotionals, garden guides, and printable reflections for your season of growth. 💬 Join the community: Share your faith and gardening journey with kindred spirits inside the Rooted Jesus Girls Facebook group.👉 Join here 🌾 Favorite Quote from the Episode “The fig tree may not bud, but faith still blooms. God’s grace is alive beneath the surface—quietly, faithfully, beautifully.”

When the harvest looks smaller than you hoped and your heart feels tired, God still invites you to rejoice.In this deeply reflective episode, Sanda closes the Fall Growth Arch with the H-step — Harvest & Heal. Standing in her South Texas garden after long rains, she watches new seedlings of peas, parsley, dill, violas, sage, and collards push through the soil and remembers: the cycle of grace never ends. From pickled green tomatoes saved from a garden long left behind to compost that feeds unseen life, every story in this episode mirrors the truth of Habakkuk 3 — even when nothing seems to bloom, the Gardener is still good. You’ll learn to gather joy and healing through five spiritual pillars: Gratitude, Growth, Grace, Generosity, and Glory.Each one weaves practical gardening wisdom with soul-restoring truth so you can celebrate the fruit you see and trust God for the work still hidden underground. 🌾 In This Episode You’ll Discover 🌿 Why gratitude is the first harvest of a healed heart 💧 How unseen growth—like composting soil—mirrors God’s quiet renewal ✨ The peace of grace: releasing control and trusting divine timing 🪴 How generosity multiplies both joy and healing 🌸 How to turn every season—barren or blooming—into glory and worship 🌱 Rooted Practice for the Week Create your Harvest & Heal Inventory: 1️⃣ Column one – Harvest: What blessings or breakthroughs grew this season?2️⃣ Column two – Heal: What still needs God’s restoration? Draw arrows between them — notice how your harvest and healing often grow from the same soil.Close with a simple prayer: “Lord, thank You for the fruit I can see and the grace still unfolding beneath the surface.” 📖 Supporting Scriptures Habakkuk 3:17-19 — Joy in barren seasons 1 Corinthians 3:7 — God makes things grow 2 Corinthians 12:9 — His grace is sufficient Matthew 11:28 — Rest for the weary Luke 6:38 — Giving that overflows 💛 Continue Growing 🌱 Visit the garden online: southernsoilsunshine.com — find devotionals, garden guides, and printable reflections for every season.💬 Join the community: Share your own harvest stories inside the Rooted Jesus Girls Facebook group 🌾 Favorite Quote from the Episode “The garden and the soul share one truth: when something dies down, something else rises up. God’s grace never stops growing.”

🎧 Listen Now “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.” — Psalm 119:58 When the season feels dry and your spirit feels weary, this Rooted Moment offers a quiet invitation to rest, breathe, and receive grace. In this guided reflection, Sanda leads you through a meditative pause inspired by Psalm 119:58 — helping you release striving and rediscover the slow, healing rhythm of tending grace. You’ll walk through a spiritual visualization rooted in the five pillars of tending: Presence, Protection, Pruning, Repurposing, and Perseverance.Each one becomes a prayer, a breath, and a small act of surrender — reminding you that God’s grace is already at work beneath the surface. 🌾 In This Episode, You’ll Experience: 🌿 A peaceful guided meditation anchored in Psalm 119:58 💧 How to find stillness and spiritual renewal when life feels dry 🪴 A reflective practice to align your heart with God’s presence and promises ☀️ Encouragement for weary gardeners and women of faith learning to rest in grace 🌱 Rooted Practice for the Week Set aside 10 quiet minutes in your day.Breathe deeply, and pray: “Lord, teach me to tend with grace, not striving.To water slowly. To trust deeply. To rest in Your promise.” Then, write this question in your journal: “Where in my life am I seeking God’s face — and where am I resisting His grace?” Let your honest answer become your prayer this week. 🌿 📖 Scripture Anchors Psalm 119:58 — “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”Psalm 63:1 — “I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land.”Psalm 121:5 — “The Lord watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.” 💛 Continue Growing 🌱 Visit the garden online: southernsoilsunshine.com — explore devotionals, garden guides, and printable reflections for your faith journey. 💬 Join the community: Come connect with other women cultivating faith and peace in every season inside the Rooted in Grace Facebook group.👉 Join here 🌾 Favorite Quote from the Episode “You don’t have to be perfect to tend well. You just have to stay soft enough for grace to reach your roots.”

🎧 Listen Now “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.” — Psalm 119:58 When the season feels too hot, too dry, or too demanding, how do you keep tending what God has entrusted to you? In this powerful new episode of the Rooted in Grace Podcast, Sanda invites you into a conversation about tending — the sacred middle ground between neglect and burnout. Through Scripture, story, and soul-deep reflection, she shares how to keep seeking God’s grace even when the ground feels cracked and your energy is running low. From a dry Texas October to the lessons hidden in basil seeds and tomato vines, this episode will remind you that tending isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence, protection, pruning, repurposing, and perseverance. 🌾 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: 🌿 The heart behind Psalm 119:58 and what it means to seek God’s face in weary seasons 💧 How tending begins with presence — showing up and slowing down ☀️ Why protection (boundaries and rest) is a spiritual discipline, not a luxury ✂️ How pruning frees us to bear more fruit, both in our gardens and our hearts 🪴 The power of repurposing — reimagining what God can do with old spaces and dreams 🌾 How perseverance transforms exhaustion into trust 🌿 Rooted Practice for the Week Create your Tending Inventory — a journal page divided into five small “garden beds”:Presence • Protection • Pruning • Repurposing • Perseverance In each one, ask: What’s thriving here? What’s thirsty or neglected? What needs pruning or rest? Spend a few minutes in prayer, asking God to water the areas that need grace the most. 📖 Scripture Anchors Psalm 119:58 — “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”John 15:2 — “Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”Galatians 6:9 — “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 💛 Continue Growing 🌱 Visit the garden online: southernsoilsunshine.com — explore devotionals, garden guides, and faith-based reflections. 💬 Join the community: Connect with other women learning to cultivate peace and purpose in every season inside the Rooted in Grace Facebook group.👉 Join here 🌾 Favorite Quote from the Episode “Tending isn’t about fixing everything — it’s about loving what’s already in your care.” ✨ Listen & Share If this episode spoke to your heart, share it with a friend who’s feeling weary in her season of tending.And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a moment of grace. 🌿 #RootedInGrace #FaithAndGardening #ChristianGardening #GrowInGrace #TendYourGarden #PeaceInTheProcess #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianWomen

🎧 Listen Now Peace isn’t waiting at the end of the road — it’s being planted under your feet right now. In this week’s Rooted Moment, you are invited to pause, breathe, and plant peace in the soil you already have — your home, your relationships, and your daily rhythms. 🌾 Episode Overview This gentle reflection pairs with Episode 31: Work What You’ve Got in the Fall Growth Arch. It’s a guided moment to slow down and recognize that the soil you have today is holy ground — the place where God’s peace is already growing. 🌱 You’ll Experience A meditation on Jeremiah 29:5–7 A reminder to plant peace and speak life where you are One simple journaling prompt to cultivate gratitude and calm A closing prayer for rooted peace 📖 Scripture “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Seek the peace of the place where I have carried you…”— Jeremiah 29:5–7 (NIV) 💛 Rooted Practice Take 10 quiet minutes outside or by a window.Notice something alive — a leaf, a breeze, a bird — and whisper: “Lord, this is the soil You’ve given me. Teach me to plant peace here.” 🌿 Favorite Line “Peace is not waiting for you at the end of the road — it’s being planted under your feet right now.” ✨ Inspired by Rooted in Grace: A Christian Guide to Intuitive Gardening.Keep tending the soil beneath your feet and the soul within your heart —and stay rooted in grace. 🌱 🌾 Continue Growing 🌱 Visit the garden online: rootedingrace.me — explore devotionals, garden guides, and free resources that nurture both faith and soil. 💛 Join the community: Come connect with other women walking this same journey in the Rooted Jesus Girls Facebook group — a quiet corner for encouragement, prayer, and soulful gardening.👉 Join here