About the Author

Dorina is an author, speaker, teacher, foodie, and trail runner. She helps people chase God's glory down unexpected trails and flourish in their callings. Her most recent books are Breathing Through Grief and Chasing God's Glory. Dorina and her hubby Shawn are raising three courageous daughters in Central California.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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    • Thank you for this beautiful story & insights. I recently spent 3 days in Sequoia NP. My soul & spirit too were nourished by precious moments among the noble, ancient trees… reminding me to slow down & feel the grace around me every day.

      • I live about an hour from Sequoia! So beautiful! I see God’s handiwork in all of the trees! I love the network of roots evident in them.

  1. Beautifully done Dorina
    Thank you for the reminder & encouragement
    Blessings

  2. Yes, yes, YES! Thanks for not only sharing your story, but also encouraging us to allow ourselves time to heal. We all have much to grieve from these past two years, but our family was forever affected and changed as we lost both of our moms, mine across the US-Canada border, so we were unable to be with her. It has been so hard on my father, and both family dynamics have changed greatly. My last “home” (where I grew up) in Canada has also been sold, and I feel like I’ve lost so much in this time. God is still faithful and has been showing us his care, and I will hold on to the picture of the chrysalis, trusting that we will all emerge stronger and more beautiful than before. God help us to hold on and to keep reaching out to those around us with his love while we wait.

    • I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. It’s hard to grieve when there is distance and lack of closure like that. My prayers are with you in the chrysalis.

  3. While I sit here with the Word opened before me. I’m struggling with God asking and begging for an answer as to why I’m not out there doing His will yet. So I pick up my phone and go to my email to see if the new incourage email has come through yet. Hoping for an answer or something!!!
    Then I start to read and realize that He answered my prayer and heard my cries for guidance.
    This spoke to me in so many ways. This is and was answered prayers. I couldn’t help but cry and the proceed to thank Him and Praise Him.
    I get these in my emails daily and they are a continued blessing upon blessing.
    Thank you so much for being an obedient follower and encourager.

    • You’re making me cry! I love to hear the ways God meets us do personally when we cry out to Him. Thank you for sharing!

  4. I have heard this middle stage called “caterpillar soup.” I think I am in the soup! Thank you for this lovely encouragement.

  5. Dorina thank you for what you shared. It really speaks to me. I come from Enniskillen in County Fermanagh Northern Ireland. Most things are up and running again like they were before the Covid pandemic started in the first place. Were you had to wear masks and self isolate and not be in anyone home until you got the go ahead but them it was limited to a certain amount of people only allowed in your home. If they didn’t have Covid or think they had it. But now everyone seems to think some of them it ok to still do things you were not allowed to do over the Covid pandemic. They said the people in charge of the rules you don’t have to wear a mask if you don’t want to in shop or restaurants etc. But you do still have to wear on if going to the Hospital. Covid is on the rise over here again. So you have to be careful still. There are people going to beaches on a nice day they be packed. People over here going on Holiday because they have not they say to them go a Holiday for such a long time since the Covid pandemic. With the Covid pandemic rising again. You over here so many people have it again. Because there are those who think the rules have lifted I got my jabs I be ok. Then they are some of the ones that catch it. So I believe Jesus saying if pron to catching a cold easily or the flue. Before all this Covid came about. To use especially alot of wisdom. If not sure be like Solomon in the Bible and ask God to give us wisdom by praying to him for it To do the right thing especially if pron to catching the cold or flue. Especially if even though Covid on the rise and things lifted and people going and doing things as it was not here and had never been. If invited somewhere with a big crowd or going to beaches with alot of people you know going to to be there. As God to help you do the right thing. Go or not go and ask God if says go to project you. If God say stay at home even though you think you are loose out and want to go. It better not to go and have that wisdom and listen to God. Not do what you like to do. Then end up with Covid. I have heard of people who have done that went without seeming wisdom in God. Especially if saved and went because they didn’t want to miss out. They ended up with Covid. This were if big crowds. No matter what is I seek God in it. If I forgot to if I knew big crowds going to be there. I just be sensible and stay at home and not go so as not to catch Covid. I know people who are saved that went and ended up catching it. To something they would enjoy. They are saved. So we have to go gently and if have to say no not be afraid to say no. Especially if pron to catching something easily. That the time if we were not sensible and went even if wore a mask. We still catch Covid. We don’t want that to happen. As I know family of mine who had it. It not nice to see them with it. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little in my prayers. Xx

  6. Beautiful Dorina! I used to be in your group on Facebook, and it was always so encouraging! I left FB and was thrilled to see your post here. As a woman who lives with Chronic pain, for the past 30 years I so understand “No Shame in Going Gently”. I used to work long hours, volunteer and take care of my son and home before I got sick. It was HARD being stopped in my tracks what seemed like overnight. I had to learn, it was okay to say No to exhausting things even if they were good (had to step down from our church choir) it was just too much for me. I am grateful, though, that the men in the choir would carry a stool out for me to sit until I could no longer do that. It took me some time to adjust to my new normal, live within my limitations while being careful not to make myself ‘older before my time’ and to gently push past those limitations to create a new normal for myself. I so love what you shared about the butterfly. Thank you. God bless!

    • Carla! Wonderful to hear from you. I love the sweet example of the men in the choir carrying your stool so you can participate in something life giving while remaining within your limitations! Blessings to you!

  7. Dorina,

    Just love your writing. The pandemic has hit hospital workers the hardest. My unit was shut down Mid November last year. I was moved to a Covid ICU Unit as a clerical. It was scary at first. It got hard seeing patients die every day. It took its toll on some of the RNs. That plus having to isolate from friends , family & churches. So many didn’t have any one to talk to about it. I knew God would see us through this some how. He has in the past & He doesn’t change. Add to that I’ve witnessed God get me through other hard trials. My metamorphosis happened back in 2016-2017.

    We need to slow down, savor life & be gentle on ourselves. We’ve all been through a lot over the past two years. Take time for ourselves & for God.

    Blessings:)