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Writing. Real. Encouragement.
On Slow-Cooker Chicken (or turkey) Taco Stew
This was delicious, and I think would taste fabulous using leftover Thanksgiving Day turkey. With a nice side of cornbread... yum. If you make it with leftover turkey, just stir the diced, cooked meat into the stew about ten minutes before serving. And if you haven't...
On Ferguson and the Thing that Has to Be Enough
My son attends two separate day programs, both at churches. One Lutheran, one Baptist. My son and daughter are in a MOPS program at another Lutheran church. The three of us attend in a community ed. Early Childhood class at a local school. Our family belongs to a...
On Warm Memories & Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Growing up, on special days my mom would pull a tube of refrigerated cinnamon rolls from the fridge and bake them, filling the house with the scent of sweet cinnamon and dough. She made them on every first day of school, Easter and Christmas mornings. That smell...
On Practicing True Hospitality
A couple weeks ago at a conference, one of the keynote speakers was addressing true hospitality when she said something that literally took my breath away. "True hospitality," she said, "is when your guests leave your home feeling better about themselves, not feeling...
On Embracing Light
Last week I attended the Allume Conference. I hugged friends, went shopping, drank a lot of coffee, laughed until I cried (more than once!), and stayed up talking into the wee hours with dear hearts. I attended workshops and wept my way through keynotes, including the...
For all the Moms: A prayer of Thanksgiving (the end of 31 Days of Mom Prayers)
Dear Lord, Thank you for making me a mom. Thank you for allowing me to be in the company of such incredible women. Thank you for what these mothers do, in a day, in a week, in their life of everyday enormity. They are the best women I know, these moms that I get to do...
On a $20, 20-Minute Olaf Costume (a tutorial!)
I've known for months that Sam would be Olaf from Frozen for Halloween. He just adores that little snowman, and I thought I could find an Anna or Elsa dress for my Josie girl (which I did. And oh my. I can't wait to show you trick-or-treating photos!) While I have...
On the Reveal of a 58-Page Secret
I've been keeping a secret. For months now, I've been stealing scraps of time for my own self to write something that I just plain wanted to write. It's a God-sized dream coming true, a little piece of my heart come alive. And soon you'll be able to read it - all 58...
On Heaven Breaking Through (an (in)courage post)
“…the Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.” John 1:4 (NLT) My two year old loves his Jesus Storybook Bible, with its sweet illustrations and Scripture woven as story. He began requesting ‘the John one’ a couple weeks...
On Knowing What The Leaves Know
I've been thinking a lot, lately, doing some leaves-are-turning, temps-are-falling, daytime-is-shortening introspective thinking. The fresh start-ness of this time of year has me wanting to purge my whole life, getting rid of clothes and toys, decor and kitchen...
On 5 Things to Love About Fall (that have nothing to do with pumpkin spice)
While you know I love me some good pumpkin everything (seriously. everything.), there are other things I deeply adore about autumn that have nothing to do with them. Or boots, or sweaters, or even the crisp air. For real. 1. Fall TV premieres! I do much of my...
On the Season I’m In
Our seasons, they are changing, with the dredging out of the slow-cooker and sweaters and temperatures predicted to dip their toes into the 30's next week. Autumn is barreling down on us, yet I - the girl who abhors heat and humidity and welcomes the frigid winter -...