Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

Yes, you read that right. You can make homemade butter in less than 10 minutes. You may have already known that, but I learned something new. And I'm pretty proud of the tasty results. I was researching Wild West hands-on activities for our Summer Celebration at youth group, and a post popped up about how butter was churned back in the day. Then it showed how to simulate that process in a plastic container. I was pretty skeptical, especially when teenagers and their attention spans would be involved. But I was willing to test it out and see if they could handle it. Boy, was I surprised at how easy and fun this is! So here is all you do: pour about 8 ounces of heavy whipping cream into a plastic container with a tight lid on it. Make sure the container is big enough so there's plenty of room to shake, shake, shake. If there's not, it won't thicken right. Add a pinch of salt - I used Danny's fancy flake salt because I can. Then put the lid on as tightly as humanly pos...

I almost walked right past it. The tiny orange butterfly was barely bigger than the tip of my thumb. I only saw it on the side of the garage because I saw it folding and unfolding its wings. Without that motion, I would have missed it completely. In that small, quiet moment, I couldn't help but think about how easy it is to miss the little things God puts in our path. We're going so fast and so furiously that we're too distracted to notice the important things, no matter what size they are. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 All things ... not just the big, showy, off-the-wall miracles that catch us by surprise. All things ... the small things that make us take a second look. All things ... the gentle and the unexpected as well as the bright and beautiful. Those are the things to give thanks for, too. A tiny butterfly that caught my attention. A particularly pretty sunset. A smile from a friend wh...

We're going on vacation soon, and I'm literally counting down the hours! This week's planner layout is designed to keep me focused on the task at hand instead of daydreaming. If you're having similar challenges right now, this spread is for you. The Daily Focus: and Reminder journal blocks alternate through the entire week, not only balancing the page's layout, but also giving me something different and interesting to look at each day. For more symmetry, opposite those blocks is a layered accent of page tab and tiny image. They're absolutely adorable and work-themed, so I'm inspired already. Layering embellishments always makes me feel like the page is more finished, more complete. It's not just a sticker on a piece of paper. The journal block at the bottom of the second page is another great example - the washi tape on the corner coordinates with the border at the top, and the light bulb matches the others. The combination of coordinating colors and pat...

It's been a beautiful week on the property - cooler temperatures, a little bit of rain here and there, and lots of gorgeous sunshine. We had family visiting for a couple of days, and it was the perfect opportunity to go fishing. You can see exactly how much of a drought we're in by how low the ponds are and that lovely shade of brown around the edges. But that doesn't affect the grand sunsets in any way, shape or form. I haven't been night fishing in a while, but it sure was hard to head back up when the view is this pretty. And now we know that the headlights on the side-by-side work! We are in one of just two small areas of Iowa that are in moderate drought, while the rest of the state is doing quite well. We've been joking that the Des Moines River may be full and rushing, but it's not overflowing into our ponds... I'd actually forgotten how much I love fishing and how peaceful this part of the property is. Now I'm energized and motivated to get out t...

When I think about my attitude in both the little trials and the big traumas of life, I wonder if I could have been like Paul and Silas in prison. I don't know if I could have prayed and sung praises while sitting in shackles. The two men hadn't done anything wrong. All they had done was cast out a spirit from a possessed girl when they saw that it was evil and not of God. The trouble came when the girl's handlers realized they could no longer profit from her soothsaying services. They rounded up a posse and had Paul and Silas thrown in prison for stirring up trouble. So there they sat in shackles and chains, surrounded by other prisoners, some of whom may have been there on false charges, too. They'd not been given a fair trial, they were locked deep inside the jail, and they were suffering for something good done in the name of Jesus Christ. Do you ever feel like that? Like unfair things are happening all around you, you're suffering from some strange reason, and ...

Having senior dogs is a challenge in any weather, but it's compounded in the summer. Molly is almost 12 now and Parker is 13, and we're definitely taking special precautions with them in July in Iowa. They also each have their own health problems, so we have to make a lot of adaptations to their lives and our schedules to make them as comfortable and happy as possible.  Molly is the four-legged love of my life. It's hard to watch her joints and body deteriorate, especially being a big dog (she's 125 pounds of Great Dane and German Shepherd). We're taking walks that are long enough to keep her stretched out and limber, since movement is so good for her, but not long enough that she overexerts. She lets us know when she's walked her fill, going where she goes and heading back in when she's done. Keeping them both cool is so important when the humidity level in Iowa in July is close to 452%. They love just laying on the kitchen floor and looking out the window,...

I can't begin to tell you how much I need Scripture this week. There's so much to do and so many people to help, so each day of my planner has a verse or a phrase to focus on. God's word is how I'm going to have a productive and successful week in His eyes. If you're in a high-pressure job, having Bible verses around you where you can't miss them is the key to everything. This Monday, I'm remembering that each person I interact with deserves love and respect, in the same way I am loved by my Lord. On Tuesday, I have confidence that God's timing is perfect and He is making all things beautiful regardless of my circumstances. And for Wednesday, there's a simple message of how important faith in God is, especially by the middle of the week! All week long, there's a note at the top of the page to keep seeking the Lord no matter what. On Thursday, enjoying the process and not looking at the difficulties is important, as is staying in prayer. Wrapping ...

One of my favorite ways to spoil my husband is to meal prep on the weekends and fill the refrigerator with healthy meals to last for days. For this stir fry, which is both delicious and nutritious, the only ingredient we didn't already have in the kitchen was an onion, so I consider that a win, too. You could also get creative and switch out ingredients to personalize this dish to your tastes. Add in your favorite ingredients, take out anything you don't like, and play around with spices and seasonings until you have a go-to skillet meal that becomes a staple of your weekly menu. Ingredients: 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup honey 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar 1 Tbsp ginger, ground Red pepper flakes 2 Tbsp olive oil 1lb ground beef 1 bag frozen broccoli 1 small onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, vinegar, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Set aside. 2. In a cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and onion and st...

Think about your thoughts. What a great way to start the week. Thinking about thinking. But seriously, think about your thoughts already today. Are they God-honoring thoughts? Are they kind of neutral, just basic thoughts? Are they negative or destructive thoughts? Maybe they're a combination of all three? Different types of thoughts hit different areas of our lives, either helping or hurting our spiritual growth. Think of it like a traffic light: Red: thoughts that tear you down from the inside out Yellow: thoughts that are just thoughts, not good or bad, just there Green: thoughts that build you up and encourage you Your thoughts determine your direction, your actions, your attitude, your mood. What kinds of thoughts are in your center? Which ones are taking up the most space? How do those thoughts affect  how you live? Deep questions for the first day of the week, right? But God cares about what's going on in your mind, just like He cares about all of you and your life. That...

As much as I love sticker and embellishment sets that are pre-mixed and match for me, there's something about experimenting with the way multiple collections work together that makes my heart happy. This week's planner layout combines at least three different sets to create a lovely, relaxing spread to get me through the week with a smile. The border stickers and the natural/botanical images are all from one set, and they feel so earthy and boho chic. The flower, camera and Beautiful Day stickers are from two different sets, but they all worked so well together that they look coordinated on purpose. The phrases are scattered throughout the week so there's something new to focus on every day. Just like the dreamcatcher on the first page, I hung the botanical print from the top line so the clips look like they're actually working. Little details like that, and layering stickers instead of just plopping one onto a piece of white paper, gives the page a more finished look. ...

I read more books in June than any other month in at least a year and a half. After my mom died my mind was elsewhere, so reading wasn't a priority. I feel like I'm finally getting into a new normal mentally and emotionally, and the first thing to come back has been the desire to read. Our second God's Outlaws Wild West VBS lesson was on Ruth, and I found this small book called A New Time & Place: Preparing Yourself to Receive God's Best about Ruth Journey of Faith. I loved this look at how Ruth left the "old" everything behind when she made the decision to join Naomi in Israel and picked up the "new" everything instead. Her switch is compared to ours when we're saved - we leave the old ways, old motives, old thoughts behind when we choose to follow Christ. Such a good book with lots of new insights to share with the teens. For my history book, I found Confronting the Presidents at HalfPrice Books. Score! Bill O'Reilly adds some lesser-kn...