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Showing posts from March, 2021

Words For Wednesday

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What Distractions Are Keeping You From God’s Plan?

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One of my favorite high school memories is driver’s ed, which just happened to be in the middle of the floods of 1993, a memorable time itself. Before we were allowed out in the driver’s ed cars, we had to sit in driving simulators and drive along with a video. The simulators would transmit our actions to the instructor, who could see if our reaction times were good enough to move on. Just like it was yesterday, I remember complaining because the video seemed unrealistic - it showed a little girl running into the street, someone opening their car door into traffic, a dog crossing the street, car horns in the background, a driver running a stop sign ... on and one for several minutes. How could I concentrate on driving when they were throwing all these other people and situations into the mix? Low and behold, on the way home from one of those driver’s ed classes, my very own street turned into one of those videos. There were kids playing on the sidewalk, people getting in and out of the

No, Your Planner Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect

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It would be so wonderful to find a planner that fills all my needs, every day, no matter what’s happening this week. But there’s not. Even the planner pages I design and create myself aren’t perfect. There are some days that I don’t get them all filled out, sometimes I need another section, or a different section or way more space to write in. And all of that is ok. The pages that work for me today may not work for you, and they may not even work for me tomorrow. That’s the reality of daily life and the not-so-important stuff we tend to focus on. On Tuesday this week, for example, I needed a few more lists and planning spaces than normal. That meant covering up some of those sections I would normally use. And that’s ok. Just because I spent time and effort creating “the perfect page” for myself, it doesn’t mean that I have to use it exactly the same way every day. Most of the time this page fits my needs, but every day is different. I’m not going to beat myself up because I need a bigg

Diesel: Therapy Dog Extraordinaire

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When we adopted Parker, we knew that he had thunderstorm anxiety. He had some medicine to take the edge off, but it wasn’t really helping the situation. Plan B was just cuddling and loving and turning on some music to drown out the rumbles. Earlier this week, though, Diesel took it upon himself to help Parker feel better during a pretty intense storm. Parker was by himself on the couch, panting, and Diesel jumped up and sat next to him. This was unusual in itself, as Diesel normally doesn’t get worked up over what’s going on around him. After a few minutes, he moved around to Parker’s side and just kept him company. He didn’t seem to mind that Parker’s panting was shaking the entire couch. He just sat there, touching Parker’s side with his leg. Eventually, when Diesel saw that Parker was calming down, he laid with his head on Parker’s back. Even when a flash of lightning would make Parker shake and pant again, Diesel would just shift a little and calm him back down. It was very possibl

Everything You Need For Spring Planner Pages

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Yesterday was the first day of spring, so now it’s official - winter is over! To celebrate warmer, more beautiful days, I turned my Saturday planner pages into a breath of fresh, spring air! You can do the same with just a few spring-themed supplies. * Washi tape in spring florals and bright colors. * Journal block stickers can be backgrounds for quotes and phrases. * Die cuts of the leaves and flowers we can’t wait to see again outside! * Acrylic dots and other flat embellishments. When I shopped in my own craft room, I found so many spring-themed supplies that I forgot I even had. When I pulled them all out, there will be enough to make cards and journals for days, as well as several planner spreads in the spring days to come. At least you know where I’ll be.

Turning A Vintage Find Into Much-Needed Craft Storage

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One of my goals for 2020 has been to exercise some self control and not buy absolutely everything I think I need. The best example of this is shopping out of my own craft room instead of buying new supplies. So when I saw a video of a woman organizing her washi tape in a clear box with little dividers and tabs, I said to myself, Self, you can find something even better in your own stash.  This stacking basket was a vintage find at The Shop Iowa City , a fun store just an hour and a half from us. I fell in love with its uniqueness, but I never had a use for it ... until now! My washi tapes fit perfectly inside, standing on their edge so I can see the patterns and then layered on top. All three baskets are fairly deep, so I was able to fit almost my entire collection of washi tapes in here. It’s as though they were made for it! When I’m not using them, the lids go on and they get stacked back up on the open end of the handles. Two little wicker rings lock the top basket in place. And now

Words For Wednesday

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A Twist On Toast

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There’s nothing better first thing in the morning than the smell of coffee brewing and bread toasting. That combination has been starting days for countless generations! But what if there’s more than just plain old buttered toast? If there are so many combinations that you could have a different kind of toast every morning for weeks? It’s true, I tell you, it’s true! So pull out that toaster and let’s get to work. Try these combinations on your favorite bread and find something new: * avocado and sliced hard-boiled egg * peanut butter and blueberries * hazelnut spread and mandarin oranges * hummus and turkey * peanut butter, banana with a drizzle of honey * cream cheese and peaches with a drizzle of honey * cottage cheese and strawberries * avocado and salsa * tomatoes and bacon * cheese and shaved ham What’s your go-to combination for outstanding toast?

Are You A Sunrise Or Sunset Kind Of Person?

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Sunrise and sunset look completely different in the country than they do in the city. Those beautiful morning colors creep over the hill and through the trees to usher in a new day. And in the evening they turn into flames as they find their way behind the trees to the west. The question is: Which do you prefer, sunrise or sunset? As we read through the Bible this year, we’re already seeing how God works in the morning ... and in the night ... to touch the hearts and minds of His people. Some of the best interaction with God in the Bible happened early in the morning. Abraham rose early to stand before the Lord. Jacob rose early to build an altar to the Lord. Moses rose early to receive the 10 commandments from the Lord. Joshua rose early every day for a week to circle Jericho as the Lord instructed. Gideon rose early to talk with the Lord about His battle plans. David rose early time and time again to pray and share his feelings with the Lord. Jesus Christ often rose early and went to

Words For Wednesday

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Using My Planner To Keep My Spiritual Life Intentional This Week

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On Sundays, when I put my planner together for the coming week, I always try to make Monday’s layout inspirational and motivational. If I can get started with God’s word and His truth, the week always has the right perspective. I’ve been Bible journaling and making cards for friends with these beautiful embellishments from Illustrated Faith, so it was just natural to carry the theme over to my planner. These words - intentionality and taking every thought captive - have been on my heart for days now. I don’t want to just go through the motions of my faith life ... ever. And especially not when there is so much going on that being rooted and grounded in God’s word means everything. By the end of the day, these pages will be full of notes, dates, lists and moments that I want to remember in the days and week to come. Every day I keep track of those nuggets from my Bible study time that touch my heart, and tomorrow’s page will remind me that no matter what happens, I am captured, seen and

Gone Fishin’ ... There’s A Sign Up On Your Door

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While I was sitting in the truck at the local convenience store, I did a double take at this sign. The small print says “Our worms catch fish or die trying.” I laughed out loud at the worm carrying a fish, then at the pun because that’s pretty good. I’m always up for a good pun, the punnier the better. The double take was when the spiritual connotation hit me. Whenever I think about fishing, which we can do in our ponds soon, my mind goes to Jesus making His followers fishers of men. Then for the rest of their lives, they would be fishermen of an eternal sort.  Many, many of Jesus’ followers fished for men until their very last breaths. Many of them died in terrible, horrible ways, but they chose to be faithful to Christ until the end. They died trying to bring in their net for Him, no matter what the consequences. As long as we’re alive, let’s put the sign out on our door that we’ve gone fishin’. Fishin’ to the very end.

Questions To Ask As You Spring Clean Your Closet

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If you had to guess, what percentage of the clothes in your closet do you actually wear? I discovered this week that I like to look at my clothes, but I’m not really wearing them - like a weird clothing museum taking up space in my house. Believe it or not, it took me less than an hour to go through everything in my closet. This box was the result. And to be honest, I’m not overly emotional about it. I kept the pieces that I absolutely love and make me feel good when I’m wearing them. That’s what’s most important, not how much clothing I have or where they came from. With the warm temperatures and bright sunshine this week, it didn’t take long for me to think about having a yard sale. With this box of clothes as the first addition to a potential sale, it’s motivation to keep going, sort some things out and have a little extra money because of it. So how do you make decisions about what clothes to keep and which ones to pass on? Ask yourself these questions: 1. When was the last time yo

Refreshing My Soul With A New Bible Journaling Kit

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As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve been spiritually dry lately. I’ve not taken as much time in prayer and Bible study, spending more time doing the things that drain me physically, mentally and spiritually. That’s when Illustrated Faith’s March Bible journaling kit showed up in my Instagram feed. This month’s theme is Captured - finding thoughts that hold you captive, being captivated by God, capturing our time back and capturing the negative behaviors that keep us from being everything God wants. I am in no way associated with IF, but I had to share this kit with you. Nothing makes me happier than coordinating craft kits, and because I’m using this one for my Bible, journaling and a few cards for friends, it’s absolutely what I need right now. It includes a devotional, notepad, sticker, highlighters, die cuts, washi tape and stamps in this adorable Captivated theme.  For the cover of my devotional, I used the washi tape on two sides for borders and layered on die cuts, words and acry

Words For Wednesday

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Blackened Tilapia Fish Tacos

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Fresh like a spring day and yummy for several different reasons, blackened fish of any kind is the perfect main course any day of the week. It only takes a few minutes to prepare and is a great way to change up your taco night menu. Blackening seasoning is usually a mixture of chili powders with other spices and herbs. It falls somewhere between Cajun (spicy) and Creole (more mild) on the hot-scale. The crust it creates when fried is black, hence the name, and makes the fish super crispy. Find an authentic blend at your supermarket and give your fish some zing! Ingredients:  Olive oil 4 tilapia filets Blackening seasoning Salsa Spinach 1. Heat 3 Tbsp olive oil in a large cast iron skillet.  2. Coat one side of each filet with blackening seasoning and place seasoning side down in the hot oil. Sprinkle seasoning on other side of filets. 3. When the fish is cooked about halfway through, flip with a wide spatula. Watch for the fish to change colors from the bottom up as it cooks. 4. While

Standing On Holy Ground

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In our convention center lobby, there is a large, handcrafted medallion. In the middle is an eagle landing on a rock, a tribute to the eagles who come to our stretch of the Des Moines River every winter.  The picture doesn’t do it justice, but each section is patterned marble in beautiful, deep colors. And right after it’s been shined and buffed, it glistens in the light from the floor-to-ceiling windows behind it. For many reasons, guests are encouraged to walk around the medallion instead of across it. Much time and effort has been put into preserving it, and scuff marks and damage will eventually deteriorate the marble. We want to keep it beautiful for generations to come, so treating it well and walking around the edges are the best ways to preserve it. If we are this conscientious about a piece of art, imagine how much more so God was about the places He allowed His presence to be. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly told the people to be holy because He is holy. Sometimes that w