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The Healer of a Crippled Heart
Merriam-Webster defines a cripple as “being lame, flawed, or imperfect.” I don’t know about you, but I can definitely identify with that. I have battled things in my heart that have left me feeling hurt, hopeless, overwhelmed, defeated… crippled. I have often longed to accept this defeat because each time I try to stand on my own, I fall flat on my face. But the Bible tells us that “it was faith in Jesus that made this crippled man well… He was made completely well because of trust in Jesus.” (Acts 3:16) We talk a lot about the healing of the blind, the deaf, and the lame, but Jesus didn’t…
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Art Journaling In The Space Between Feeling & Reacting
I remember reading a line in one of Lysa Terkeurst’s books that really spoke to me… “I’ve gotten so much better about sitting in the space between the feeling and the reaction.” She went on to say, “I sit with the feeling and take time to sort it out.” I remember thinking, wow… I want to be able to do that. It sat with me for a long, long time. As strange as it sounds, I feel like God took me on a refurbishing journey this last year. Some people say they reinvent themselves at some point in life, but I didn’t reinvent myself. I was refurbished. I liken it…
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DIY: Old Books Repurposed into Art and Prayer Journals
I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am about this blog post! It combines so many of my favorite things: Books, repurposing, journaling, art journaling, prayer journaling, crafting, and even thrifting! What a fun and unique project!! I think these adorable and one-of-a-kind creations make great gifts too!! The customization options are truly endless!! I really hope you enjoy this DIY project as much as I did! And I hope it brings you even more blessings as you use it!! This tutorial will primarily be a visual tutorial with instructions below each photo. Again, the customization options are endless, so think of this as more of a…
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Recipe: Ground Turkey Enchiladas
This is a favorite in our house and I’ve even made it for family members that don’t share my undying love of Mexican food (it’s truly hard to imagine that we are related) and they loved it too! Suffice it to say, when your three-year-old loves it, and your in-laws love it, it’s a keeper! So, here’s our favorite recipe for ground turkey enchiladas! Hope you enjoy! Tip: Don’t forget to pair it with Nana’s Simple Homemade Tortilla Chips and Papa’s Guacamole recipe, found directly below the enchilada recipe on this page! Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 4 oz can diced green chilies (mild) 10.5 oz…
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Recipe: Grandma Millie’s Bao (Chinese Steamed Meat Buns)
I share this recipe in loving memory of a beautiful woman who selflessly cared for and nurtured all those around her. Her bao recipe, or Chinese steamed meat buns, was special to all of her boys, but especially my husband. Anytime she asked what he would like for his birthday, the answer was always the same… bao. And she would laugh, roll her eyes, and mumble about how long it takes to make. But she would glow too. I can see her face now, as I share this. You see, Millie spoke love through her cooking and her boys lived for her meals. Their bond was so much deeper than…
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Paint Colorful Animal Art With This Easy-to-Follow Tutorial! (For Kids Too!)
When I was in high school, my art teacher gave me a “B” every single year. She always said that although my art was good, I failed to create something original. You see, I had become pretty decent at duplicating art that I saw in magazines or books, but no matter how hard I tried, my mind just didn’t create something out of nothing. Someone probably should have told her that a few years later a company would make billions… yes, billions… helping people do just what I did in her class every day… (Hello, Pinterest!) … or maybe someone should have told me so that I could invest in…
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DIY Family Pictures: The Secret to Snapping Pics You’ll Love!
From the time my little man was born, he has struggled to not shy away from new faces. His naturally timid nature made taking professional family pictures near impossible. Having not only a new face, but a new face with a camera… it just didn’t work for him. So, mama to the rescue! Time to learn a new trick – DIY family photography. So, here we are, five years later, and our DIY family picture adventures are still going strong! I’ll never compare my results with that of the beautiful pieces of artwork that my professional photographer friends produce, but whether you’re on a budget or have a camera-shy member…
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Book Review: Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa Terkeurst
Can I recommend a beautiful book that I recently finished reading? “Forgiving What You Can’t Forget” by Lysa Terkeurst. I stumbled upon her book while visiting another blog and was immediately intrigued. When I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I cried my way through page after page. Lysa so beautifully walks the reader through the healing and forgiveness experience as God intended for us. She is so raw, vulnerable, and real in her writings that you immediately connect with her while you “sit at her table.” This book is beautifully written and I wish I could buy it for everyone that I know and love. “No human…
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Let’s Make Pebble Art!
I’m always on the hunt for art projects that are easy on the wallet, but pack in lots of imagination, fun, laughter, and excitement! Even better, I love art projects that result in something unique that we can hang on our art wall as a great conversation piece and a reminder of our time spent together as a family! As homeschoolers, we practice a lot of art in our curriculum because it encourages not only creativity, but also critical thinking and problem solving. Further, on the elementary school level, it also helps develop fine motor skills! What I personally love about our art projects is that they build confidence in…
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DIY: Beautiful Handmade Crosses in Six Steps or Less!
I am so excited to share these beautiful handmade crosses with you today! Inspired by my hubby’s unique, intricate, and stunning “Flawless” series (see the last photos in this blog post), I set out to create a cross that was DIY friendly for the blog. The crosses pictured can be achieved in six steps or less! They do require a bit more equipment than some of our other DIY projects, but they are very beginner-friendly! And the best part? You can customize, embellish, and decorate them any way that you like! I hope you enjoy this DIY project as much as I did! No more stalling…let’s jump right in! The…
