Archives for April 2021

Becoming a Woman of Faith: The Best Tools to Deepen your Relationship with Jesus

April 11, 2021 Leave a Comment

If you are reading this post, you are probably feeling the pull to grow deeper in your walk with God. Maybe life circumstances are weighing you down, maybe you are a new believer, or maybe you are just checking in to see what this Jesus stuff is all about. I know, it can be super daunting knowing where to begin. Sometimes opening the Bible can be overwhelming, so you just set it back on the shelf and wish you knew how to read and understand it.

Don’t worry! God isn’t looking for Bible scholars. He is looking for women with willing and open hearts who want to seek Him. He will meet you where you are at! In an effort to make it a little easier for you, I am listing a few different tools and studies that have really helped me personally, and I know will help you, too! Click the images or the pink links to check each out. Read on for some of the best tools to deepen your relationship with Jesus!

It should probably go without saying, but the first step to studying the Bible is having one that you can understand and actually want to read. I personally love the ESV and think it is very easy to read. The NIV is also a great translation for a beginner.

It may seem like a little thing, but I also found that having a beautiful Bible just made it more fun to dig into. I really enjoy my single column journaling Bible, because as a creative it helps me to reflect, penning out verses that stand out to me or thoughts that God gives me as I study. There are some beautiful ones HERE and HERE! A Bible highlighting guide can also really be helpful as you break in your new Bible!

This Bible Handbook by the Daily Grace Co. is a fantastic resource, no matter where you are at in your journey! I use mine all the time to help me gain a deeper understanding of what I am reading. Straight from their site: “The Bible Handbook is a reference book to help you approach the Bible. This resource includes background and contextual information for every book of the Bible, including literary genre, historical context, purpose, themes, and more. The handbook is complete with summaries of every book of the Bible, maps, and other beautiful graphics and illustrations to enhance your understanding of Scripture.”

If you know me, you know I love me some Lysa T! Everything that God gives her just speaks right to my heart. This Embraced Devotional is one of my all-time favorites! Easy to read, so relatable and encouraging. I 10 out of 10 recommend this and gift it often!

Speaking of Lysa, she just released a brand new devotional: Seeing Beautiful Again. I have ordered my copy and am waiting with great anticipation, because as I said I love everything the Lord gives her to share. It is all about finding redemption in the hard parts of your story, and I know we can all relate!

If you are just wanting to jump into the Word by itself (which is the best thing you can do!), this Seasons in the Word collection of Bible reading plans is an amazing resource! It will help you work your way through scripture in ways that are relatable to where you are at in your life right now. I would recommend this to anyone, but especially if you are new to reading the Bible as it will guide you and give you a place to start!

Scripture memory can be so hard, but it is so important to saturating your mind in the truth of the Word. These journals are an amazing help to doing just that!

Above all else, a healthy prayer life is the most important aspect of growing in your faith and walk with Jesus. Sometimes though, it can be hard to know what to pray. Prayer is a conversation with God and should be easy, but I totally understand that it takes some practice if it isn’t something you are used to. I really love guided prayer journals like this 31 Days of Prayer Journal to help develop the discipline of prayer!

Keeping a Prayer Journal is a great way to guide your mind as you talk to God. It also gives you a tool to look back on and see His faithfulness over time, as you see your story unfold and prayers be answered (be it yes, no or wait). Daily Grace has some great ones! The Prayerful Planner prayer journal (pictured below) is perfect for guided daily prayer. This one on Amazon is also really great! Point being, there are so many out there. These are a few of my favorites. They will help make praying easier, even if you start with just a few mins at a time. Prayer is an important part of your growth. I use my prayer journal every morning before my kids are up to set the tone and connect with my Creator.

Meditations of the Heart is the perfect resource for focusing your mind on what matters!

Praying Scripture for your marriage is so important to marital health. This is also really powerful if you have a marriage that needs rescue and healing. Go on this journey with your spouse or by yourself and watch Jesus touch and transform you! Grab this journal HERE.

Mommin’ ain’t easy, and don’t I know it! But it is the most important job we have, mamas! You will never have a bigger kingdom impact (at least for most of us) than you do within the walls of your home. This journal is a beautiful way to prioritize and focus your heart to raise children that see Jesus in you and love Jesus themselves.

This study is great for strengthening a mamas heart as well!

If you battle anxiety, go order this collection right now! Those cards are so helpful, and have aided me in working through many panic attacks over the years. And the It is Well study is spot on. So healing!

This Preaching the Gospel to Yourself Bible study is one of my all-time favorites! It is really powerful, no matter where you are in your journey with God.

Honestly, I really love all of the Daily Grace Bible studies!

I have done quite a few and literally never had one I didn’t love. You can even buy a bundle with all of their studies if you want to stock up!

Here are a few I have done and loved!

Amen | From Eden to Eternity

More Than Anything Study

Even If | Habakkuk Study

Faithful | From Eden to Eternity

I hope this helps you out! No matter where you are or what your hold up is, my encouragement to you is just to get started! Starting the habits of prayer and daily reading will take some effort on your part, but I can assure you that as you prioritize what you can, God will meet you there. Allow Him to draw you deeper!

Grab More Encouragement Here!

The Blessing of Letting Go of Perfection

April 10, 2021 Leave a Comment

Would it be faster to do it myself? Sure! Would it be done better? Absolutely. But what I would be doing is robbing my sweet baby of the blessing of serving and the joy that it brings her.
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My prayer as her mama is that I would always put her spiritual development over my own convenience. That I would let go of my pace and perfection and give her the space to learn. Kids will become what we foster in them! Teach them Responsibly. Teach them life skills. Teach them to serve, not because they are less than but because that is what we are called to do. Teach them Jesus 🤍

You Can’t Throw Stones While You Are Washing Feet

April 9, 2021 Leave a Comment

That will preach all day long. It’s so easy to get caught up in “throwing stones.” Justifying our sins and short-comings with the “at least I’m not as bad as she is” mindset. Comparing ourselves to others. Allowing jealousy and discontentment to settle into the achy places of our heart. Gossiping. And yes, even the things we think in the quiet places and may never say out loud.
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The Bible calls us to put our eyes on Jesus and Jesus only. Our main purpose for relationally interacting with others should be to love and serve so that they might meet Jesus through knowing us. When Jesus knew His crucifixion was coming, He wasn’t worried about enjoying the final moments. He chose to wash feet, one of the most basic and honestly nasty ways to serve others. A beautiful act of humility.
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I admit this is an area that I am working on in my own life, and Jesus is taking me on a journey with it. My prayer is that I would look at people and see the need for their feet to be washed. To seek practical ways to love and serve. Because if I am focusing on serving, I’m not focusing on judging.
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Tell me, is this an area of struggle for you too? I’d love to pray for you and your journey!
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“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”- Mark 10:45

Delicious and Easy Honey Mustard Broccoli Salad

April 8, 2021 Leave a Comment

I posted the recipe for a delicious honey mustard broccoli salad on social media, and it blew up! So I am here to share it with you guys, as well! It makes the perfect last minute side dish, and is my new go-to picnic contribution! This is also a great recipe if you are following Keto or 2B Mindset!

It is seriously so easy. You just mix all of the solid ingredients together in a large bowl. Sprinkle salad dressing over it and toss to coat! Chill in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it and serve cold. So. Dang. Good!

Easy and Delicious Honey Mustard Broccoli Salad

The perfect side dish that comes together in minutes! This is a crowd-pleaser!

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Servings:

Ingredients

1 12 oz Package of broccoli florets (about 2 large heads, cut up)
1/2 cup real crumbled bacon You can use bacon bits, but the real stuff tastes so much better!
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup raisins
3/4 cup your favorite honey mustard dressing

Instructions

Cook bacon to desired crispness and crumble.
Cut broccoli into florets, if you purchased heads of broccoli.
Add all ingredients to a large bowl and toss!
Chil in the refridgerator until it is time to serve!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Why Your Dog Needs a Kong Box: A full review of the Kong dog subscription box.

April 7, 2021 Leave a Comment

I’ll be honest. As a practical, frugal mom, new toys for the dog have never been super high on my list. Our lab mix, Lexi, is a very aggressive chewer and pretty much destroys anything we get her within a matter of hours, so I stopped buying her things. Total waste of money, right? Her one toy that has lasted her for years was her Kong.

That thing has gotten so nasty that we actually had been keeping it put up so that the kids didn’t play with it, which left poor Lexi without much to do. I’ve looked into some of the other pet subscription boxes, but for the reasons mentioned above decided not to purchase them.

My friends at Kong Box reached out and asked if they could send Lex a box to check out and review, and of course I said yes! I knew we loved the brand, so I was curious what their version of a box looked like. I was super surprised when they asked questions about her habits and needs so that they could customize her box to fit her. Definitely not a “one size fits all” approach!

We have been having recurrent issues with her boredom chewing on things when we were not home (including my husband’s super important flash drive recently), so I was more than happy to tell them that was an issue! About a week later, our first box came in the mail. Check out our happy unboxing and a full Kong Box review below!

First off, I was super surprised at the sizeof the box, and how nicely packaged it was. Honestly, I am not sure what I was expecting. Maybe a Kong toy or two and a couple of treats to go with it.

The Kong Box was packaged every bit as nicely as any cute boutique order I have ever gotten. As a marketing and paper snob, this totally spoke to me.

Right inside the box, they include a cute little recipe card for a yum treat for your pup! A fun touch for sure.

If you have ever had a dog that owned a Kong, you know how nasty the inside of them gets when you fill them. I didn’t even know a Kong brush was a thing, but I was so excited to see that they included one! Now I can easily clean her toys and don’t have to feel as bad if the kids get ahold of one.

The first thing in the box was a brand new Kong Classic, and a tube of Kong Stuff’n! Then a cute little rope squeaky bear, a couple of different types of treats, and a bone.

7 full-sized products in total, and each one was specific to my dog’s size and habits.

After I took my pictures, I let that sweet girl up from the den and she sat so patiently waiting.

And then snuck around the front to beg. So funny how dogs just know things!

I mean. That face….

Once I gave her the “all clear,” she was so excited to check out her new Kongs!

I never buy her “stuffed” toys because literally, she always destroys them. This little guy has rope knots inside and is super durable. It’s so awesome how they picked toys based on my answers to her personality!

The Kong Stuff’n was a hit, too! Peanut butter is her absolute favorite (I didn’t even tell them that. Mind readers, I swear!)

When we are home, she is an angel. But even at 8 years old, if she knows we are gone, she gets anxious and goes into destruction mode. We are hoping that we can give her a stuffed Kong and it will keep her busy for a while! Thanks for the great idea, Kong Box!

It’s so cool how they packaged the products and the treats to go with them together! The bone by itself is super fun, but the little goodies to stick inside?! Major win.

She was so excited for her new stuff that she couldn’t decide which to play with.

Kong box was a huge hit, even with the kids! We had so much fun spoiling our Lexi girl and would 10 out of 10 recommend it to anyone! A brand you can trust, an awesome selection that is personalized to your pet, and a great price for a subscription box of this size!

Check out the full unboxing video below, and while you’re at it, follow me on YouTube! There you have it, a full review of the Kong Box dog subscription box!

KONG toys & treats you love, delivered monthly

Have a little pup lover?? Check out Addilyn’s 3rd Birthday Paw-ty!

Meal Plan Monday: April 5-11th!

April 6, 2021 Leave a Comment

Better late than never, right? I am suffering from Easter baking hangover this week, so you get Meal Plan Monday on a Tuesday! Super excited for these, and especially love that I can do an entire week of meal planning in about 5 minutes! (Read this post to change your life!). Ya’ll ready? Click the pink links for the recipe! Make sure you Pin this week’s meal plan, too, to share the love!

Monday: Chipotle Chicken and Rice Soup with Black Bean-Cilantro Rice and Tortilla Chips

I maybe get a little carried away with foods that have a Mexican flare. But you know? You like what you like, and I know what I like! This soup looked so delicious that I couldn’t pass it up!

Tuesday: Barbecue Cornbread Bake with Sweet Green Beans

I’m a sucker for cornbread, it’s true. Top it with Barbecue and cheese? SOLD!

Wednesday: Beef Nachos with Queso Sauce

Told you. Mexican food addict over here. Nachos and queso are life, and I am totally digging this one as a mid-week splurge!

Thursday: Steak Strips with Pepper-Jack Potatoes and Broccoli

Cleaning it up a little bit for Thursday. Those Pepper-Jack potatoes look so good!

Friday: Easy Stuffed Shells with a Quick Caesar Salad

Stuffed shells are a classic. I have been avoiding pasta dishes like this because I am a recovering spaghetti-every-week mom. But it’s time to do a little Italian and I know my fam will love this one!

Saturday: Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Chicken with Lemon-Butter Green Beans

Pimento cheese is my husband’s literal favorite. So naturally when I was scrolling the low-carb meal plan this week for something healthy and saw this, it was a quick add! Better for us, and something that I know he will love!

Sunday: Slow-Cooker Grillades with Cheddar Cauli-Grits

Another low-carb option for me! I may make some actual grits to use for the others, or I may not! What’s a mom to do? Usually my kids will eat what I put in front of them. Either way, this sounds so yum!

Sorry that was a quick, and late, meal plan this week! Like I said, crazy busy and I am still trying to get life back on track! And hey, if you haven’t tried eMeals yet, be sure and do the free trial! Totally worth it to see if this could work for your family, and make your life a little easier!