Fill up on Heaven!

Welcome back to Bread and Honey.
You know that feeling when you haven’t seen a dear friend for such a long time and you try to catch them up on everything in the first long-winded breath? Since we last spoke, I turned 50 and celebrated 25 years of marriage. I visited the holy site of Lourdes in France and prayed for many of you. I have jugs of holy water if you or someone you love needs some. I criss-crossed the U.S. looking at college campuses with my daughter Elise and tried my best to help with college applications galore! I went to my last Parent’s Weekend in New Hampshire for my son Charlie who graduates from college in June. I flew to England and fulfilled a dream of visiting C.S. Lewis’s house and then crossed the English Channel into France to interview the granddaughter of a female Resistance Fighter in WWII who was awarded the Medallion of Freedom from the U.S. government (our country’s most prestigious honor of courage). I had more biopsies and scans which thankfully came back clear. My daughter Belle’s college campus at Pepperdine caught on fire, and as I write this, LA continues to be on fire, with so many that I love losing everything. I performed the funeral for my friend’s husband who should still be here. And, we got a puppy, who my family of 8 still cannot agree on a name, but I want to call him “Joy!” In these chaotic times, I want to hear the word JOY on repeat in my house.! Whew! I know there is probably much more to share. It has been a season where I have been needed to be fully present and not tucked away on my computer!
This past week, I was in Debordieu, SC visiting my family. As my Uber driver reminded me, “this place I call home is crawlin’ with alligators, but you won’t believe the birds and sunsets.” On my first morning jog, I came upon a very large alligator on the marsh bank. Did you know that an alligator can move at 35 mph? I will leave you to google what an alligator does to its prey. Sitting right next to the alligator was the most elegant, peaceful white crane. In many cultures, the crane is the symbol of new beginnings and hope. I took it as a sign. I don’t want to live in trepidation of what could go wrong this year, but rather live with anticipation of what could go right!
I am currently reading John Mark Comer’s, “Practicing the Way,” and his words have become my inspiration for the year ahead!
“Salvation is less about getting you into heaven and more about getting heaven into you.”
Join me, arms and hearts open, looking for cranes. Let this be the year we filled up on heaven!
Grateful to be back with you,
Farrell
P.S. In the spirit of filling up on heaven, enjoy my very favorite contemporary composer, Andrea Vanzo. His music is the soundtrack of my life! I was blessed to see him live in concert this Fall.
Mary Glynn Williamson
January 13, 2025 at 6:25 amWelcome back Farrell 💕 Here’s to a plethora of crane/bird sightings and a multitude of joy filled moments in the coming year.
Daphne Butler
January 13, 2025 at 6:43 amBeautiful inspiration for 2025, Farrell! Thank you! Andrea Vanzo is lovely, like you! Praying for Belle and everyone in LA and for cranes for all of us this year…❤️❤️❤️
Carrie McCormick
January 13, 2025 at 7:03 amHearing from you fills me with joy! I’m so sorry for all of your health concerns and the loss in your life. Joy the puppy is sure to bring a “right here, right now” perspective to a caregiver’s day – I assume you are primary caregiver. If you haven’t read “Joy” by Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, you might want to track down a copy. Peace be with you.
Farrell Mason
January 13, 2025 at 10:40 amI love that book so much!!!!
Sallye Galloway
January 13, 2025 at 7:25 amSo happy to see this in my email box. I have missed Bread and Honey. I will be filled with JOY and HOPE (my word) whenever you can do your blog. Sallye 🙏❤️
Francis McMeekin
January 13, 2025 at 7:28 amAs always, you are a JOY spreader. JOY to the world, the Lord comes every day. Grateful you are back.🥰
Cecile Gideon
January 13, 2025 at 7:41 amLOVE the update and accept your challenge to look for the cranes and ask the Lord’s help to avoid the gators!
Polly
January 13, 2025 at 8:06 amOh Farrell, I plan to find the JOY through my tears. We’ve missed you.
Claudia York
January 13, 2025 at 8:32 amThoughtful
Debbie
January 13, 2025 at 12:07 pmI was gifted your book last year and read throughout 2024. Just finished and found it to be one of my favorites. I hope you will do another one. Sounds like you have been a busy lady but glad you are back.
Farrell Mason
January 13, 2025 at 8:39 pmDebbie,
Looking forward to writing in 2025!! So glad you appreciated Soulfull!
Faye Snodgrass Tevebaugh
January 13, 2025 at 4:29 pmFarrell, Your puppy looks like my female Maltese named Ruby Joy!!! I have loved her name and everyone seems to remember it. I hope your family enjoys him as much as I have my baby girl. She is now 13 years old, but very healthy still. May he have a long happy life with your family!
I was just in California visiting family and I saw cranes. I hope as we read your Bread and Honey we can all report that whether we actually saw a crane or not , that 2025 will be a blessed year for everyone. I know we are all blessed, I guess we just have to look for those blessings when we don’t slow down enough to readily see them.
Love you, Faye
Farrell Mason
January 13, 2025 at 8:40 pmI remember your Ruby Joy!!
Lori in Missouri
January 14, 2025 at 8:09 amFarrell, I am just reading your book that was a gift to me at Christmas. I’m loving it.
I am looking forward to reading your blog posts. You are an inspiration to me. Thank you for your ministry!
Farrell Mason
January 14, 2025 at 10:39 amLori,
You have made my day! Thank you for the encouragement!!
Janice Parker
January 14, 2025 at 6:25 pmFarrell,
…like others, I have missed Bread and Honey!
Welcome back! Your puppy is adorable!
I still enjoy reading SOULFULL!
Love,
Janice
Kara Miller
January 16, 2025 at 5:43 amSo happy to hear from you here, Farrell! I have listened to all your podcasts and you are such a light. Thank you for sharing your heart and the music…can’t wait to become more familiar with his work. 🤍 Kara
Lauren Lucas
January 17, 2025 at 3:50 pm“Salvation is less about getting you into heaven and more about getting heaven into you.” I LOVE that. It’s so nice to read your update. I’ve got your book, Soulful, right beside me and I’m reading your Love Muffin recipe as I type this. My little guy has requested we make muffins “so that we can have both our love in them.” So I thought, well… duh. Time to make Farrell’s Love Muffins! ❤️
Laura
January 22, 2025 at 4:45 pmFarrell,
Grace is my cat’s name which has given me much love and joy over the years!
Try that name for your bundle of joy!
Peace, Laura