April’s Anticipation

Posted on April 3, 2026July 11, 2026 by K.L. Hale — 76 Comments

What do you anticipate for April? My March was a whirlwind of hallways, ‘non-existent’ airport gates, and a ‘March Madness’ that had nothing to do with basketball. April’s Anticipation isn’t just about waiting for the next scan, season, or stage of life—it’s about expecting God to show up in the middle of it all!

D.C., Bethesda, & the NCI/NIH

Our hats were off to the professional NONPAID/OVERWORKED TSA workers. Everything went smoothly in Springfield. Kindness and respect were sprinkled all around too! The weather, and even hailing a taxi at Reagan, proved to be without issues! The history hovering the Potomac hit me differently this time. The blooms of the cherry blossoms, sweet driver, and little construction made for a pleasant drive to Bethesda, MD.

Our stay at the hotel is a story on its own. With its loose and aging wallpaper, a broken elevator that added an adventure (we were on the 5th floor), and quirky lamps that had their own character, the experience was quite memorable! We joked that Gremlins had come to play tricks on us before our arrival. The front desk attendant later brought us a TV remote, proudly announcing, “It doesn’t have a back on it, but it has new batteries!” Even though we didn’t plan to watch it, it brought a smile to our faces! Later, I found it amusing when the shower handle was loose and spun around as I searched for the perfect setting to enjoy hot water. I thought of the young man who sweetly said, “On behalf of BLANK, I’d like to apologize for everything.”

After a day of scans and blood draws at the Institute, we learned that storms in the Midwest would delay our connecting flight. A missed flight was anticipated! After a LONG call with United, our flight was rerouted. One more sleep and we would head home!

March Madness

Our departure day was filled with big-hearted goodbyes and blessings to the AMAZING people at the hotel and NIH. Even the shuttle ride to the airport was light-hearted. My body was tired, but my spirits were high when I saw the security line moving quickly. We didn’t even have to show our boarding pass (this is an essential part of the story). With TIME TO SPARE we decided to find our gate first and then enjoy a lunch. FINDING the gate was a problem. MANY steps (with another worker helping us) proved wasted when we realized that there was NO GATE C-19! Did you know two airports serve D.C.?

There was NO TIME to spare as I anticipated missing our next flight. The 40-minute taxi ride to Dulles airport proved to be a MIRACLE! More lessons learned, as I have come to expect!

Although we anticipated long lines, we were pleasantly surprised by short and swift-moving lines at the correct airport. We made it to our gate on time for loading!

The plane landed in Dallas several hours later. With anticipated time on our hands, it was suggested by a kind worker to take the monorail to terminal D. There would more choices for food! By the time we finished our meal, notifications from United Airlines were “dinging”. Our NEXT flight was delayed and we would miss our connecting flight by 20 minutes. What would YOU anticipate at this time?

After a ride back to the terminal, and miles of steps, we met an angel by the name of Shennel. Our flights were changed again–but in a miraculous and amazing way (tears and hugs for Shennel included!)!

It wasn’t anticipated, but our DIRECT flight home was with a different airline. We landed an hour earlier than our original flight. Totally unexpected!

A City’s Anticipation

The anticipation of an overthrown government provided the energy the people needed! “Hosanna!” (“Save Us!” in Hebrew) The crowd in Jerusalem might have expected a king on a warhorse. Jesus entered on a donkey–a King of peace. He didn’t revolt. From the tears in the Garden, betrayel, to the brutal beating and the cross, he offered Himself as a sacrifice.

It’s a reminder that my own expectations of how a season ‘should’ go often pale in comparison to how God chooses to work miracles in the middle of a mess! As I anticipate the celebration of the cross and Jesus’ ascension, I’m reminded that even when the plan seems to fall apart, the Resurrection proves that God is the Master of the unexpecting ending. Simply, He is Risen, He is reigning, and He is right in the middle of it ALL.

The Latest Reroute

Althought the trip had many unanticipated situations (including a change from the ORIGINAL trip dates), things happened that I did anticipate–meeting amazing people and experiencing miraculous moments! Thank you, dear friend/sister Barbara, for accompanying me on the adventerous trip! I’m anticipating a wonderful April!

The recovery from the trip and skin cancer excision surgery has taken longer than expected. Several follow-up appointments have resulted in a change of ~~flight schedules~~ treatment plans. On Monday, I’ll visit the surgical oncologist to begin scheduling internal radiation. That late afternoon I’ll begin monthly injections.

I’m SO thankful the liver is stable. However, the bone and lymph node progression must be treated. The bone mets impact my quality of life in tremendous ways. I anticipate future new treatments and options. The doctors on my team are fabulous and caring!

My journey with this chronic cancer often feels like that long walk to find a non-existent gate C-19–tiring, confusing, and filled with wasted steps. EVERY DETOUR led me EXACTLY where I needed to be. When asked how I stay positive or joyful, you can anticipate this consistent answer–“I’ll never base my outlook on circumstances–it will be based on the power of Christ IN ME.” I’m not JUST anticipating that things will be better LATER… in Heaven. I’m living with the joy and power of TODAY. It doesn’t mean that I won’t feel sad or experience heartbreak, confusion, or other emotions. It’s the anticipation of going to the Garden and meeting a Savior who understands it ALL.

We are ALL battling chronic… LIFE. Do you anticipate a feeling of hope and faith? Do you live with a sense of renewal and the promise of a God who is by your side through it all? May you anticipate and experience an April filled with good health, peace, and hope!

Friends, you are SO LOVED. ❣️ Happy Resurrection Weekend!

K.L. Hale

Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air

Flannel with Faith

New in the Finley River Collection–“Dwell on Hope” Life Journal

Dwell on Hope Ruled Line Spiral Notebook

$14.00

Add to cart

Friends, thank you for checking out the NEW Finley River Collection!

“Count it All Joy” Trucker Hat

$22.00
“Count it All Joy” Women’s heavyweight boxy tee

Price range: $24.00 through $25.00
“Faith Can Move Mountains” Insulated tumbler with a straw

$26.00
“From Every Mountainside” Unisex t-shirt

Price range: $22.00 through $24.00
“God Shed His Grace On Thee” Hooded long-sleeve tee

Price range: $28.00 through $30.00
“Just Grow with the Flow” Daily Journal

$20.00

©2019-2026 Flannel with Faith. All rights reserved.

Resurrection Morn

Posted on April 20, 2025 by K.L. Hale — 90 Comments

Because he lives, I can face…every day.

You are loved, my friends, no matter what.❤️

Resurrection Morn~cover by KL Hale

Find the faith. 💚

Signs of the Times

Posted on April 8, 2025 by K.L. Hale — 79 Comments

I know it’s hard to keep the faith at times, but don’t lose hope, my friends. You are loved. 💛

Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air

K.L. Hale

©2020-2025 Flannel with Faith. All rights reserved.

Side Effects

Posted on March 26, 2024May 30, 2024 by K.L. Hale — 98 Comments

After working for several hours on part II of “My Missouri” series, I felt a tug by the Spirit to write the words that were brimming over my soul. I’ll return to My Missouri series after Easter. Thank you for stopping by to support me!

Health challenges, uncertainties, and changes have brewed like an enormous mug of strong coffee for 9 years. I’m savoring the sweetness and adjusting to the bitter and strong tastes of this cup. It’s been almost 2 years since the diagnosis. It’s been many months of treatments, appointments, miraculous surgery, and side effects. Some are tough. Other side effects, like gratitude, greater empathy, and Godly grit, are positive! Are you experiencing side effects? Do they linger due to loss of health, family, career, or purpose? Perhaps you have positive side effects due to a life-serving choice! How do you cope with side effects?

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

This week is spiritually significant to me. Holy Week moves me. The Savior I serve walked the Earth, fully man, fully God. Showing love, compassion, kindness, and an opportunity to accept the source of complete life and peace, he surprised folks with his “upside down” ways. Turn the other cheek? Forgive those who hate you? Love your enemies? Give to the poor and the widows? Show humility and meekness? A love-giving, sin-forgiving, hope-providing, disease-healing, outcast-gathering, lowly-lifting, disciple-teaching, grace-abiding, donkey-riding KING… took MY PLACE, YOUR PLACE as an atonement for our alienation. “Shattering the shame and dying for the doubters, Jesus was brutally crucified. “It is Finished.”

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30

There were side effects.

A soldier surrendered his skepticism. A mother wept and mourned, then rejoiced. A doubter became a believer. Disciples’ determination drove them to dream, deliver, debate, and defend to their death! For ALL OF US, if we believe, there is hope harnessed to a promise.

We all suffer. We will all experience side effects—good and bad. Have life events produced a side effect of shame? Has life handed you a dose of doubt? Do you feel hopeless? We can try and tuck these side effects tight in a tomb, sealed by a stone. The stone CAN roll. Your tomb can be emptied.

“Arriving at the tomb they discovered that the huge stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside so they went in to look. But the tomb was empty The body of Jesus was gone! Luke 24: 2-3

Yesterday…

The post office was packed. Most people in line looked down at their phones. Two kind ladies acknowledged me with a smile. An older gentleman at the counter told a funny story (I giggled). Unsure of the box size I needed, I stepped to the counter with my items ready to mail. The pleasant worker provided the right size box and a mailer sticker. “Fill this out at the counter and come back to me for checkout.” One woman was very upset. “It’s not fair that she gets to return because she’s unprepared. There should be a line for those of us who are prepared.” That’s a great idea, I thought to myself. It would be helpful.

Popular prescriptions might produce side effects of cynicism, criticism, jealousy, greed, hate, or comparison.

She continued talking about my unpreparedness and added, “I’m in a hurry because I work with cancer patients.” Loud enough for a few to hear I said, “I’m so thankful for God’s grace,” (and that I wasn’t burning up by that fiery stare–although tears were forming to douse it). One of the kind ladies said, “Isn’t God’s grace wonderful?” Another kind gal gave me a heart symbol with her hands. My heart melted! Smiling, with tears, I thought about humanity, how judgy we can be, and what a gosh darn hurry we’re in all the time. We are not patient creatures. The sweet lady who gave me her “heart” said, “I have lupus. I’m 51. I don’t look sick and it’s a struggle.” Wow. Was she reading my mind? The other lady shared about a friend who has cancer. “I understand,” I shared. “I’m living with it.” The 3 of us formed a circle of compassion. I begged them to give me their two cards to mail so they could leave. They refused! I left there feeling hopeful. But also, a good lesson that I need to be more prepared–I grabbed flat rate boxes on my way out! My heart went out to the lady who had a crusty shell. I’ve been there. She was experiencing side effects.

There are times when we’re not prepared. The unexpected happens. Everybody’s going through something. The loss of a child, sickness, job, or home. Or even happy and joyful times. We all suffer–side effects will surface.

As I strive to manage symptoms and thrive with side effects, I’m reminded that God speaks to us in diverse ways. At times it’s direct and clear (like with Abraham, “Yes, God, I’m here”). Other times he guides us quickly. Sometimes, he grows us silently (Joseph was 17 when he had his first dream—by 30, he went from the pit to the palace, was an interpreter, and showed amazing grace to his brothers).

So many years ago, as he hosted his Last Supper, Jesus KNEW the suffering he’d endure. The horrific side effects of betrayal and a bloody beating led to an excruciating death. The “side effects” of this humanity wouldn’t be worth it to me…but for my Savior. I can’t help but share the side effects of salvation—love, compassion, grace, and hope.

In the 35,000 decisions you might make in a day, which ones will produce positive side effects? For those suffering, I’m so sorry. My prayer is your side effects are eternity-fulfilling, hope-granting, love-giving, soul-soothing, and grace-accepting. You are loved.