I've loved to create as long as I can remember. From the time I was a little girl creativity has encompassed everything from collage art kits to paints, food, home decor, and even words. I love to express creativity in a million different ways and have always appreciated that about others too. But in a season when I first had children, that bone in my body seemed to grow … [Read more...]
Old Timey Apple Cake
I was in Colorado this past week. It was a complete delight speaking at a retreat in the mountains and meeting with my publisher in Colorado Springs about my second book (which I will begin writing this winter.) I stayed in a tiny houseIt was glorious there. I got to wear some jackets and boots and jeans which means that all is well in my world. Fall is my favorite anyhow … [Read more...]
What I Learned at a Mexican Birthday Party
I knew that the moment we walked out the door to leave at the end of the party they would all start talking about us. When you're an outsider, you know it'll happen. Most of the time we avoid even putting ourselves in those kinds of positions because, let's face it, no one wants to be the outsider. No one wants to be the one who doesn't fit, or doesn't understand, or has no … [Read more...]
Learn to Make Real Spanish Sangrîa
Buenos dias amigos y amigas! You may not realize this about me since I write books in English and all, but once upon a time some years ago, I got my Bachelor of Art degree in Spanish. Sî... hablo Español. The fall of my junior year in college I was in Spain studying for a semester, and even after I graduated, I spent four months there with Campus Crusade for Christ. … [Read more...]
Best Ever Tomato Pie
When I was a little girl, I didn’t like raw tomatoes. I think probably because my first exposure to them was to unripened and tasteless ones from the grocery store. There are very few things I don’t like to eat, so I assume my experiences early on must have been bad ones. But then I grew up and graduated college (I managed to maintain my distaste consistently for most of my … [Read more...]
Fumbling Towards Reconciliation
I began today by weeping again. This week has been full of violence. From the brutal killing of Alton Sterling in Louisiana, the unwarranted shooting of Philando Castile in Minnesota, and this morning I woke to news of sniper shootings on police officers at a protest in Dallas. My heart groans and my prayers offer much of the same...all saturated in a deep ache I can't … [Read more...]
Curious Living Summit
With summer upon us and kids back home, there’s no better time than now to take the extra hours in the day to explore what it means to live fully! I believe that part of learning how to experience life to the fullest is embracing curiosity to explore possibility in different areas of our lives. From becoming more curious in the kitchen to developing relationships with people … [Read more...]
Blue Ridge Black Bean Salad
Summer is upon us. It's long daylight hours that bleed into later nights in our house. Summer also means that I might be scrambling last minute for dinner ideas on the way home from the pool or park or whatever random thing we might do to enjoy the free time. My mom makes this black bean salad all the time once it's warm out. We kinda kick-off the summer with my family for … [Read more...]
To My Children’s Teachers
There are times in life when the words "thank you" fall woefully short. Because really, how do I begin to thank the people who have poured out their lives for a year for my family? How do I end a year with women who have not only taught letters and numbers and cursive and history to my children, but who have become friends to me? How do I say goodbye to the frequency and the … [Read more...]
Surrendering the Heavy Things
Surrendering the Heavy Things We circled the wooden sleigh bed as my friend, Melissa, sat propped up against quilted pillows. An army of dear friends gathered to do battle in the heavenlies. We held hands and spoke words uttered from the depths of souls weary from a long fight. The room filled with tongues of men and of angels. Nine of us stood around Melissa that day … [Read more...]
Gluten Free Coconut Cornbread Strawberry Shortcake
One of my favorite things about spring is strawberries. And since I was a college freshman, I have gone to pick them at a nearby farm at least once a year. It's among my happiest things to do, and sharing the tradition with my kids has been something we all look forward to doing annually. So this weekend, since it was Mother's Day and all, it's one of the things I wanted to … [Read more...]
For All The Single Ladies…on Mother’s Day
I remember the year that 30 babies were dedicated at our church on Mother's Day and I had just lost my fourth pregnancy well into the second trimester. I was still wearing maternity clothes at that service even though my womb was empty, and I cried through nearly the whole thing. I was a mom of one little, but my heart ached to mother another. It hadn't been long before … [Read more...]
Finding Joy When the Mirror Whispers “Not Good Enough”
I shouldn't care this much. I know it should be small potatoes in the grand scheme of life. Because in my heart of hearts I know I'm much more valuable than a few measly hairs and some extra pounds. But still...these days, when I look in the mirror I have to fight feeling sad. Sitting on the sofa and running my fingers through my ever thinning locks, I feel spots at the … [Read more...]
Proverbs 31 Guest Post: Where you sit is how you stand
“I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10a (NIV) The words that reduced me to tears came from a Dove Soap video produced in France: “You have a big chest and short legs. Some women can make that work. But you … you’ve got no charm. You’re … [Read more...]
Regarding The Rude Note In My Mailbox
We came home from China last week to this little note in our mail. I'm convinced that the stamp cost more money than the sliver of paper the anonymous someone printed this note on to send us. At first I was kinda rattled. Because um...."Move your picnic table" and "Clean up yard" and "IT COULD BE VERY PRETTY." I guess there was a storm while we were gone, … [Read more...]
Madras Grilled Venison with Dried Cherry-Butter Reduction
Oh my words, was this recipe amazing! We have some venison in the freezer that my husband shot awhile back and I'm still learning how to cook with it. Recently I was thumbing through a cookbook from an AMAZING restaurant we went to in Denver a few years ago called the Vesta Dipping Grill, and I came across this recipe that uses venison tenderloin. It wasn't a complicated … [Read more...]
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