Is this you? It’s me! But it’s NOT God. It’s the enemy. It’s not you. It’s NOT your God.
The chorus of this song:
Hello, my name is child of the one true king I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free Amazing grace is the song I sing Hello, my name is child of the one true king
This song is all of us. We all have regrets. We all have felt defeated.
Instead, claim what is yours! I am a child of the one true king!
I love Christian music and this song is a top favorite. What are yours?
If you’re reading this, I just want to pray to you.
Dear God,
Thank You for taking all the hurt, regrets, and defeats from us. All we have to do is give them to You. Thank You for always reminding us of who we are in You and that’s all that matters. We are so lucky to have such amazing and moving music around us. Thanks for always “speaking” whether we are listening or not. Thank You for the grace You give us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
It was at a wine tasting when Nick and I started talking about my pear cake. It’s an almond flour-based cake full of fresh, ripe pears, and it’s one of our favorites. The thing is, I don’t have an oven right now.
So I decided to make these pear (pan)cakes and they were a delicious substitute. The fresh pear shined through the dish and it was warm and cake-like.
Pear (Pan)cakes
2 pears, cored and smashed
3 eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 cup almond meal/flour
avocado oil
1 pear for topping
cinnamon
honey
Mix the two pears with the eggs, cinnamon, salt, and almond flour. Add the oil to a skillet pan on medium heat and cook your pancakes. (I like them extra crispy on the edges.
Top with sliced pears, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Yup, we’re back in Florida! This time, it’s only for the short term. And we’re only in Cocoa Beach for the week, very short term. Then Delray Beach FL for a month. But where have we been? East Coast baby!
Last time I wrote, we were in the mountains of North Carolina. I love the mountains and we have never actually stayed in the mountains, so it was truly amazing. We hiked a lot and drove the almost two hours to Asheville for one day. We visited Otter Falls and Lineville Falls, worked a lot, I cooked a lot, and it was really a great time. I want to go back!
Since then, we have been in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, and Bermuda. Here’s what we’ve been up to.
Myrtle Beach was a preplanned family vaca with my in-laws in lieu of Christmas presents last year. We stayed in a condo, on the beach, and had a bright and expansive ocean view. It was beautiful. The temps were hot, so we all pulled out our shorts, sunglasses, and light-er clothes. We took a helicopter ride over the city, went to dinner and a pirate show, and got ice cream in the bustling and touristy downtown. It was a really fun time and I hope we do it again somewhere fun next year.
After that, we went to Charleston SC instead of Murrels Inlet SC for the next week. Originally, we were going to be in Murrels Inlet for a conference Nick had. The conference got cancelled when they thought the hurricane may or may not make it there. We went south to Charleston, where we were flying out of a week anyhow. In the end, Myrtle Beach, Murrels Inlet, Charleston and anything south of North Carolina were unscathed. And besides, Charleston was meant to be.
We stayed at an AirBnb with hosts that were so similar to us, it was as if we were life-long friends coming for a visit. Nick and I took a walking tour downtown and after, Nick took himself golfing. We also worked a lot (like always LOL) and went to a wing bar to watch the Brewers game. RIP Brewers season, you will be missed! From there (Charleston) we flew to Bermuda and back, another conference for Nick. But our hosts from the AirBnb were so great and gracious that we left our car there for the time we were in Bermuda. Thanks again Kara and Ben, we cannott wait for our paths to cross again!
And Bermuda, oh Bermuda! The weather was great, the views were better, and the people there were the nicest. Nick only had two “work days” out of the four-ish that we were there so we even got to explore a little bit. We walked to the local grocery store which was only about a mile away. The prices there are really high but most of what we did at the hotel was covered and we were able to enjoy our time without really spending a lot of extra dollars. Win-win. Among the fun stuff was the beach, a pink sand beach, the exploration to the store, and oh, did I mention the view? Ocean front view again! And those colors and that water, there’s nothing like it. Truth be told, I’m not really a beach girl, but the once or twice a year I do make it to the beach, I really enjoy it. And Bermuda was definitely no exception. Plus, with a cool right off the ocean breeze and 70s temps, the beach may have been “cold” to others but to me it was perfection!
Bermuda
And now we’re back in the states and in Florida and Cocoa Beach is on the menu for the week. We have work planned, I’m going to get into the kitchen again, and workouts, too. Once we leave here, we will be back in Delray Beach, the city we lived in for three years in Florida. We look forward to seeing our friends and, well, our friends! Haha. Nick will go into the office for a bit but the weather is going to be death, still in the 90s and high humidity, the costs of everything will still be high, and the traffic (at the start of snow bird season) will be horrendous. All in all we’re excited for our Florida friends, and because it will be short-term stay. Thanks for reading!
I cannot say how many times (ok, prob only a few, usually I know what I want to say) I’ve sat down to write this segment and not knew what I wanted to write about. But then, just a short while later, and I found myself finished with the post I didn’t even know how to start.
This is because these posts are only coming through me as a vehicle because really, they are coming from Him. And literally, thank God for that! After all, He is our strength, our protector, and our Heavenly Father, why shouldn’t our words come from Him?
So today, I give you this, let Him give you the words. Follow His plan and if you need to, ask questions! I am always asking Him everything, all day long. From small to tall, I talk to Him about everything. And I encourage you to as well.
If you’re reading this, I just want to pray for you.
Dear God, Thank you for always giving us the words. Thank you for guiding us to Your will and always protecting us and advising us in this life. We are so blessed to have you to come to for questions, advice, and strength. Like it says in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whether it’s getting the words on the page, taking time to keep and maintain health in our lives, or by sharing You with the world, we are so blessed to have You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I can’t cook for just two people, like I literally CAN’T. I love to cook. I like to cook huge meals with lots of leftovers. And when I try to cook for just two, I always have enough for at least four.
But since going on the road, I needed to figure it out. And in a short amount of time, I’ve really gotten better! I’m buying less but prepping more and thinking about ingredient specific meals before even going to the store. #learning
My Gluten-Free Cinnamon French Toast was a great recipe to do for just two people and not make extras. (But truth be told, if we were going to be in this AirBnb longer than 2 more days, I would have batch cooked these, too, and had several breakfasts for the week.)
Gluten-Free Cinnamon French Toast
2 eggs, scrambled
3-4 shakes cinnamon
2 tablespoons vanilla almond milk
butter and maple syrup
Scramble the eggs in a shallow dish. Add the cinnamon and Almond milk and stir until incorporated. Heat a skillet to low-medium heat and add 2 tablespoons butter. When the butter is melted, submerge the bread into the egg mixture and add the bread slices to the pan. Cook on each side until they begin to brown or to preference.
Top with butter and maple syrup and enjoy. Mmm.
I’m typically not a fan of sweet breakfast but when I do have sweeter things in the AM, they are always simple and delicious like this. I hope you love these as much as me!
Tip: If you like crispier french toast, quickly dip the bread into the egg mixture. For a “wetter” and less crunchy piece, submerge and let sit in the egg mixture for 15 seconds.
I realized lately that there are things happened, that seemingly keep happening and I wonder, “Why does this keep happening and what does it mean?” Instead of just wondering, I pray about it. Because really, who is going to give you a better explanation for His plan than God?
Some questions are silly like, “Why has there been so much elephant decor at the AirBnb’s we’ve been staying at?”
Some are more serious like, “Why are we following the hurricanes?” (Seriously, a month before we went on a preplanned trip to Myrtle Beach, hurricane, and now, about a month before we stay in the Florida panhandle, hurricane.)
There are so many things that happen in this life that I don’t understand. There are so many things in this life that I question. I try not to to obsess or let it be my every thought, but I do pray about it. I ask Him why, and I ask Him to show me, to tell me, and to explain to me what’s happening.
And sometimes I think, “God, hello! Why aren’t you answering me?!” But then I remind myself of John 13:7
So that’s that.
You have to have faith, be patient, and sometimes, you even have to wait.
If you’re reading this, I just want to pray for you.
Dear God, Thank You for Your plan. Thank You answering us in the perfect timing. Thank You for all that you do for us. We are so lucky to have You on our side. You just want us to be happy, enjoy life, and come to You with everything. How awesome is that?! Thank you for reminding us to have faith and be patient. You are an awesome God! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I love the Fall and I am experiencing it right now! From a girl who spent the last 3+ years in south Florida, this cool weather is the best!
Outside it’s foggy, chilly, and we just got back from a hike. And inside, I have a fan in the window, blowing in the fresh air and I just put a new fall blend into my diffuser. It. smells. great. Here’e my recipe!
Fall Hike Blend
8 drops Orange
3 drops Clove
3 drops Cinnamon Bark
Drop these oils to a diffuser, add water, and start it! This is such a perf blend for the Fall and I cannot wait to enjoy this scent again and again=)
What are your favorite scents of the Fall? Let me know what you think of this one!
Disclaimer: I use Young Living Essential Oils and based on my research, I believe these are the best, safest, and most pure oils on the market. PLEASE do your own research and determine which oils are best for you and your family.
And this isn’t me feeling bad about it, guilty, or beating myself up, it’s just an observation. But I want to be praying more. So I write it down with the rest of my to-do’s, and I write it first. Every time I realize I am not praying as much as I want to be, I make it a priority.
Sometimes, I fall off the pray train. But I always get back on. And I guess it isn’t even praying that I am slacking at, there are always prayers throughout each day. But what I need is to get into the Word more, to read my daily devotionals, and to set apart a large chunk of time to pray and get into it, not just to pray out the door, as I call it.
Praying out the door refers to those quick prayers, the ‘Thank you God for waking me up,’ or the ‘Please protect my friends and family throughout this day.’ It’s for any small prayers you make during the day, and those are all great, and He wants us to talk to Him each day. And to pray to Him each day. But He also wants us to get deeper into our faith.
He wants to hear from us but He also wants us to give time and silence, and to meditate on the Word so that we can hear from Him.
Since traveling, my hubby and I took next to no time at all in figuring it out. We’ve easily streamlined workdays, outings, packing the car, and the organization of it all. But for me, I need to up my prayer game.
Do you pray on a “schedule?” What works best for you?
If you’re reading this, I just want to pray for you.
Dear God, Thank you for reminding us to keep praying and to keep talking to You. We are forgiven, whether we pray or not and whether we remember to talk to You and read the Word or not. You are such an amazing God. We are so lucky and blessed to have You! Please, talk to us so loudly we know it’s You and we cannot NOT hear You. Never stop reminding us to pray everyday, be thankful and grateful, and love on others as Jesus would. Some of us need these reminders more than others. **Haha** In Jesus’ name, Amen.
We just got here and I’m so excited. The weather is perfect, the sites are beautiful, and we will be here for a whole week. Eeeeeek!
But let me back up. Where have we been? Everywhere! In Wisconsin, that is. We spent the last two months visiting friends and family, and it was the best.
After leaving Nick’s BFF and fam in De Pere, WI, we went to
My dinner helper Ava, and a fellow lover of eating frozen, frozen corn=)
Sheboygan and enjoyed a night of dinner and dancing. A wedding, we went to a wedding. It was so fun and pretty with shimmery rose gold and navy blue. Congrats to the Riste’s!
Go Brewers!
Next it was off to the Brewer’s game with some of my favorite fans. These girls and I have been causing mischief for almost 20 years together and we always will. Cheers to the next 20 and Go Brewers!
Next was a whirlwind week in the Milwaukee area. There was trivia, lots of trips to the library for work, more work for my mystery shops, Nick had lunch with an old work buddy, and then golfing and lunch with another, and I even helped someone move! Well not move, but I did organize a closet.
After that we spent a weekend with my nanny family, the Bowes, in Hartland. We went to see Jameson, the oldest child and the one I used to nanny for, play flag football.
They even won! Then it was off to apple picking and spending the rest of the night together. The next day the Bowes hosted a Packer party so we got some good eats, drinks, and fun with the other Packer lovers.
Then it was a day in Lake Geneva for another (work) library and some more shops. I went hiking and loved it. Lake Geneva has a public path around the whole lake. If you’ve never been and you love hiking, you must go. We spent a couple last days in Beloit, a dinner out with friends and then a dinner in with friends and we were out! (of Wisconsin that is.)
For the last two nights we were in Cinncinati, living it up! )In reality, we went to the gym and worked a lot.) But we also did our monthly wine tasting and I cooked in the hotel. One hand-sized skillet and a hot plate is all you need to make a meal from scratch. Ha. It’s true and it totally worked, but I had to do everything in about 5-6 different batches when I normally would have done it all in one. It was fun thought and tbh, I impressed myself.
Well that’s about it for now. We’re officially back on the east coast time and still sleeping until 8 AM. Sometimes you just need more sleep! I for one cannot wait to hike, cook, nap, explore, and have some full work days this week.
I think the only other time I spent in the mountains was in Panama and I loved it. I cannot wait to see what this week brings, yay! Thanks for reading, you’ll hear from me again soon. Have a great week!
Nick. But our hosts from the AirBnb were so great and gracious that we left our car there for the time we were in Bermuda. Thanks again Kara and Ben, we cannott wait for our paths to cross again!
and worked a lot.) But we also did our monthly wine tasting and I cooked in the hotel. One hand-sized skillet and a hot plate is all you need to make a meal from scratch. Ha. It’s true and it totally worked, but I had to do everything in about 5-6 different batches when I normally would have done it all in one. It was fun thought and tbh, I impressed myself.
Led to Share 