Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

If someone came into your town and asked you the best place to eat, to shop, and to do something they can't do anywhere else, what would you tell them? If you answered that question without sarcasm or making a joke about how there's nothing to do here, you'd make the perfect hometown ambassador. If not, let's check your heart condition! When we're immersed in our own community day in and day out - eating in the same restaurants, shopping at the same stores, hearing the same stories - we completely lose sight of what's new and interesting to visitors. Trust me, I'm a prime example and it's my job. Do you get your coffee in the same place every morning, or do know if your town's convention and visitors bureau has a coffee trail on their website (we do!) where you can explore some different places? When we travel, we don't want to eat at a restaurant we have at home. We want something new and interesting and different - a one-of-a-kind gastronomical...

Danny and I have always said that we study the Bible for ourselves, then teach our youth group what we've learned. That sentiment could not have been more true for me as I prepared for our February series on love. Our theme for the month is Love, Actually: The Kinds No One Tells You About. This week's focus is that love is more than a feeling. It's not all hearts and flowers and candy. It's not even necessarily romantic. The very best example I could think of was Jonathan. He was a crown prince, the future king, Israel's top warrior. Everyone expected him to win all the time. But then here comes David, the new guy. He's talented and rising fast. King Saul has gone insane with jealousy and is incredibly unstable. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.  And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's hous...

I've been avid reader since I was 3 years old. It's my go-to for relaxation, entertainment, and as much knowledge as I can possibly glean. So when I found this beginner chapter book at the book sale last fall, with the title that obviously grabbed my attention, I thought this would either be a fun read or educational. I got both. Tess' mom tells her that her aunt and cousin are coming to visit and it's time to hurry and get the house cleaned up. They remember how neat and tidy everything during their last visit to their aunt's house, so they want theirs to be just as nice. But they've not cleaned for a while, so it's going to be a huge undertaking. I know that feeling... They empty, sort, donate, and clean everything in sight. They get absolutely not help from their pets, who think this is a great new game and try to play along, making a mess along the way. One project turns into three more. Been there, done that... By the time their family arrives, Tess and...

Oh my goodness, there is no better time to try a sweet fudge recipe than February. Like you really need an excuse, but this white chocolate cranberry recipe is absolutely decadent and completely perfect. Nothing says love like fudge. And this lovely, unique combination isn't something I would have thought meshed well, but once you taste it, it makes perfect sense. It's creamy, chewy, and a little crunchy from the sparkling sugar. You can thank me later ... love you! Ingredients:  1 24oz bag white chocolate chips (vanilla) 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk 1 Tsp vanilla 1 6oz bag dried cranberries, chopped Pinch of salt Sparkling sugar sprinkles 1. Line a 9 inch-by-9 inch baking dish with parchment paper. 2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the mixture is completely smooth and combined. 3. Stir in the vanilla, cranberries, and salt. 4. Pour fudge into the lined dis...

So do you have any New Year's resolutions that you've already not met? I really wanted to read 10 books a month in 2026 for a total of 120 this year. Of course, I shouldn't be too down since we're only four weeks in, but I came a little short of my goal. I know I don't have to justify myself, but I do have three more books that I started in January, I just haven't finished them yet. That means February might be a pretty good month for reading! The books that I read in January were all amazing, for sure. Here's what went from my TBR pile to my R pile... An Amish Proposal for Christmas by Vannetta Chapman. This was my New Year's Day afternoon book, a quick read as close to Christmas as I could get. It's the first of her Indiana Amish Market series, which I didn't know until I got into it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Then I realized that the Amish book my dachshund puppy ate in December was also part of the series, and it was great, too. Now I'll ...

I'm not a huge "schmoopy-schmoopy" love person, but my planner spreads for February have bent a little in that direction. I found several Valentines sets of stickers and die cuts in my collection, so they're getting used to their fullest over the next few weeks! My monthly planner pages are where I keep track of my blog posts, so the random-stamp style of design for these spreads is always my go-to. Most themed sticker collections have small designs and images mixed in, so I use these up here. It's like throwing them up in the air and sticking them down wherever they land. Within reason, that is... It's nice to have one place - like your planner - to keep track of major things. Whether it's blog post ideas, notes for work, shopping lists, or just some brainstorming for the future, having your thoughts and plans in one place means you never have to try to remember where they are. Added bonus, for sure! Kelly Bangs' Print and Pray set for Illustrated Fai...

For anyone not familiar with the tourism industry, people of all kinds weigh in on the community where you live. Some have lived here all their lives, some have moved here, some visit regularly, some have been here once, and some have never been here before - but they all have an opinion about who you are and what you're doing. Last week I posted this on LinkedIn, a social media platform for leaders in business and industry:  "I reached a “what’s the point?” moment this morning. Someone I’ve never seen before posted two walk-through videos of our town mall, mocking and insulting every business, restaurant, and closed storefront along the way. It was painful to watch, knowing that man didn’t have a clue. * He saw a bakery with no one at the counter. I know they’re in the back, working feverishly on dozens of special occasion cakes every week so they can keep their local business afloat. They have a camera to see when people walk up and a bell so they can hear when they’re ready...

Never, ever have boring "just add water" hot cocoa. Life's too short for that kind of mediocrity.  As temperatures continue to hang out around in the single digits here in southeast Iowa, it's the perfect time to experiment with cocoa - flavors, textures, mix-ins, and all the other good stuff. I tried adding chai powder to mine, and I loved it. Take a look at the ingredient suggestions below, mix and match to your heart's content, and let me know which ones you love the most. Creamy Bases Replace water with: * Whole milk * Oat milk * Sweetened condensed milk + water * Coconut milk * Half & half Extracts and Syrups *  Coconut extract * Hazelnut syrup * Orange extract * Maple syrup Blend-ins * Nut butters  (peanut, almond, hazelnut) * Marshmallow fluff + torch  (s’mores vibe) * Chocolate chips  melted in * Ice cream scoop  for instant “hot chocolate affogato” Candy Mix-ins Throw in pieces to melt slowly: * Andes mints * Toffee bits * Root beer barrel cand...

If you do a search online for how to sleep better at night, you'll get a ton of mediocre responses. Go to bed earlier, at the same time, in a cold room, with lots of blankets, after a cup of hot tea, and after an all-natural supplement. Turn off your screens 60 minutes before bed, read a good book, and don't start any new projects. Sound familiar? Is it working? Maybe? Kinda? Sorta? When I went to the Bible instead of Google, my sleep research came out a little differently. Here are two positive suggestions and two warnings that Scripture says are important when it comes to sleep and rest. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 One of my favorite verses about getting a good night's sleep comes from a psalm that starts with distress. David was begging God for mercy in a difficult situation, and he lays awake all night thinking and praying through things. By the end of the psalm, David's peace and calm have b...

Sometimes you know you're going to have one of those weeks. I wish you could seen my planner layout After The Pen already - it's full of meetings, Boards, youth group, after-hours work stuff, and lots of little bits and pieces. I knew exactly what this week was going to need. It needs lots and lots and lots of Scripture. You know those weeks, the ones where if you're not prayed up and read up and wisdom-ed up that you're not going to make it through. Well, I tackled that problem right from the get-go by choosing many of my favorite Scriptures and filling my planner pages with them. They will not go unnoticed, standing out among all the to-do lists and appointments. Whether you already know it's going to be a busy week or not, this is the time to pull out your sword - the Word of the Lord - and get down to business. Fill your planner and your heart with all the Scripture possible so you're ready for whatever the week brings. My prayer is that we'll be so fill...

Once again, I'm working on a handmade greeting card order that I wish I wasn't. Yes, I enjoy having business, but I don't like having to make sympathy cards. Yes, I'm blessed that someone who is hurting will receive  a beautiful, original card, but I'm sad that they have to go through a heartbreaking season to see it. Sharing God's love and truth is the best way I know to shine a light in the darkness of this world. And if putting His word on a piece of paper in an envelope, then I am blessed beyond measure to serve Him this way. If you find yourself sending a multitude of cards to uplift and encourage right now, it can be difficult to come up with words and Scriptures after a while. Here are some of my favorite phrases and passages to include in my sympathy cards, designed to shine the love of God where it is needed most. May the tender love of God bring  peace and comfort to your heart. Praying the Lord will touch your  heart in a special way today. May the ho...

There's nothing better than a rich, classic chocolate lava cake. Unless it's two. I was going to save this for Valentine's Day prep, but why? You can make two tiny, luxurious cakes any time you want. That's the joy of being an adult and having your very own oven. This recipe is sized perfectly for two 5–6 oz ramekins (3.5x1.5 inches). As long as you keep the baking time close to the shorter end - please don't overcook this! - you'll have a nice, gooey center for the perfect lava cake. I didn't try it, but I've read you can add a small chocolate bar to the middle of the batter before you bake it for some extra lava. Now I want to try this again! Ingredients 2oz dark chocolate (60–70%), chopped 2 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 large egg 2 Tbsp granulated sugar ¼ tsp vanilla extract 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour Pinch of salt 1 Tbsp butter and a sprinkling of  cocoa powder to prep the ramekins 1. Prep the ramekins by generously buttering the insides and dusting with ...

One of my desires for 2026 is to study through Matthew Henry's commentary on the book of Matthew. I have it on my iPad, so I read, highlight, and scroll, then fill the notes section of my journaling Bible with the best parts. There are a lot of best parts. Some things I learned: * The Old Testament begins with the book of the generation of the world. The New Testament begins with the book of the generation of Him who made the world. * The Gentiles (the magi) knew the time of Christ's birth by a star. The Jews knew the place of His birth by Scripture. They were capable of informing each other, yet only one goes on to find Him. * Herod's raging rage and jealousy toward his family led to many of their deaths. Caesar Augustus said it was better to be one of Herod's swine than one of his sons. * John the Baptist was considered great, followed by multitudes, but he thought himself in the perfect place, to be attending to Christ. * From childhood to His baptism, Jesus is almos...

For the first time in quite a while, I'm excited about Bible study, the creative side of my work, my blog, and our home. It all ties back to delighting in the Lord again and looking for Him in all parts of my life. So this week's planner layout is a tribute to that delight and the resulting joy that comes from Him. I used the Illustrated Faith Print and Pray set Sweet Jesus by Shawna Clingerman. I printed it on white card stock and fussy cut it with just a thin border. I really like this spring-like color combination, particularly when it's 11 degrees outside this morning. And each day of the week has its own image, heart lollipop, and a ribbon banner with something special about the Lord to remember for that day. Where you're spinning so many different plates and trying to wear numerous hats at once, it can be daunting to open your planner in the morning. In those moments, I would encourage you to add something delightful to the pages - Scripture stickers, a beautiful ...