Dutch Apple Pie {Recipe}

Dutch Apple Pie is my love language. Sorry coffee. You are my first love, but Dutch Apple Pie comes in second for sure. Now I’m not just talking about your every day apple pie. I am talking about the sweet and delicious, crispy, crumbly topping making it thee best dessert ever! If you know me, then you know that every year on my birthday {October 27th} I say, no thank you to birthday cake and yes please to Dutch Apple Pie and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

I have a super simple pie recipe for anyone who is in the mood to start their Autumn baking off on a high note. Pie can seem intimidating, but don’t let it be. Start out simple with an already made pie crust if you’ve never made a crust from scratch before and then work your way up to making your own. You’ll be a professional before you know it. ;)   Read More

Choosing Faith over Fear

On the other side of fear is FREEDOM. I have been telling myself this saying a lot lately. If you’ve followed along with me for awhile, you may have noticed I talk often about anxiety and fear. The reason I do is to bring it to light so that someone else that may be struggling with these things knows that they are not alone. I know that when I am knee deep in fear, it is easy to feel like you are drowning and there is no lifeguard on duty. BUT that is exactly where the enemy wants you to be. So don’t let that happen. Take control of your thoughts and surrender them all to Christ. He is our lifeguard when the waves come crashing in on us.         Read More

Comfort in the Storm

“Sometimes God calms the storms and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child….” Life has thrown me a curveball the last few years regarding my health. Up until about five years ago I was living with very minimal pain. I got the occasional migraine which would knock me down shortly, but I was able to go the majority of the month pain free. Most days lately however, I find it hard to keep my head above water. To say I get overwhelmed with the constant pain would be quite the understatement. There are days where I am completely taken over with anxiety and depression from my daily pain. The past several months have been a whirlwind of different physical health issues ranging from migraines that last days at a time, to my back going out and not being able to walk. Even though I spend most days in very heart felt prayer, I have not been really working on strengthening my relationship with the Lord. Most days if I am being honest, my prayers are very specific to my pain and sometimes, all I ask for a healing from it.    Read More

Anxiety//The Raw Truth

 
 
Anxiety is one of those topics that we try to avoid talking about out of fear of what others might think of us. But did you know that 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders? I have personally dealt with my fair share of anxiety issues and know that when you are knee deep in a season of anxiety, it can sometimes seem like you are the only one. I really feel like that is the enemy trying to make us feel this way because he wants to keep us from going to God, the only one who can truly heal us from this. So please know that you are not alone in your struggle. Today I have a guest blogger, Brianna Lynne who has dealt with anxiety as well, and has some great advice on how to go about dealing with it. Brianna and I both agree that going to God is the first and most important thing to do when anxiety rears it’s ugly head. Click to read more and hear as Brianna opens up about her struggle with anxiety.
 

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Simplify Sundays {Meal Planning}

Simplifying is not always my strong suit. I am not by nature someone who is a “minimalist.” If we’re being honest, I have found myself to be someone who says,” If I like it; I should buy it in every color.” I am learning that simplifying certain things in your life truly is rewarding and brings you so much peace of mind. When you get into your new intentional habits you will quickly find joy in the simple things. Read More

His Plans are Perfect

Happily Ever After….The best ending to a book or movie in my opinion but is Happily Ever After really how they portray it?….Imagine for a minute that everything in your life was “perfect.” What are you imagining? Money? New car? More toned body? Baby that sleeps through the night? Were you thinking about any of these? Maybe all of them? Now let me ask you this; when I asked you to imagine a “perfect life” did you imagine having a stronger, more meaningful relationship with God? Truth be told, most of us probably don’t think of that at first when we stomp our feet and whine about our daily struggles and how life isn’t “fair.” We sit and think about how our life isn’t the way we had always dreamed of and imagined but perhaps, this is the moment for which you were created. {Esther 4:14} Perhaps this very life you are living is exactly what God wants for you.       Read More

Live Your BEST Year

Another year has come and gone. I am so thankful for each day that God blessed me with as Alexander’s mom and Adam’s wife. But if we are being honest I cant say that I am sad to see 2016 go. It was a hard year to say the least. Starting out the year with emergency gallbladder surgery was rough, but God walked me through it and brought me to the other side of a long struggle with worry and anxiety. Though every day was not always sunshine and rainbows, life is a beautiful gift that we get to unwrap each and every day!       Read More

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

gingerbread-men

Gingerbread cookies are definitely one of my family’s favorite Christmas cookies! Not only are they delicious, but the smell of all the spices just warms up the house and makes it feel so Christmas-y! I like to add a little extra kick with candied ginger, but you can omit this ingredient if you’re making these for little kids who might not like the extra spice. Alexander’s favorite part is decorating them, so don’t forget to whip up a batch of Royal Icing to decorate these. Get creative and have fun! They don’t have to just be “gingerbread men.” I like to switch it up with gingerbread angels along with the typical gingerbread men.

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2016 Holiday Gift Guide

gift-guide

Can you believe it’s the end of November already? Maybe you’re on top of things and have already bought and wrapped your presents this year. {overachiever. haha just kidding!} BUT, maybe you are like me, and are way behind on Christmas shopping. Ok, Ok….I’ll level with you. I haven’t even started! But in my defense, I do my best work under pressure. hehe ;) So for all of you who haven’t finished (or started) here are a few things I think would make a perfect gift for any women in your life. Your friends, your sister, your hair stylist,  your mom or hey….maybe your favorite blogger ;) wink-wink. I am especially loving my JORD watch this season! See that mint beauty, smack dab in the middle. It is totally adding a pop of color and fun to my holiday outfits! Want to win one? Of course you do!

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Advent Season 2016

advent

I mentioned in an Instagram post recently that I would be doing an Advent series and then started praying about it and waiting for the Lord to lead me on what to do next. I knew I wanted to talk about keeping CHRIST in Christmas but it wasn’t until the words hit me this morning that I really realized what Advent season is all about. Preparing our hearts. I think it is so much easier to prepare our hearts during the month(s) leading up to Easter, as it is when we celebrate Jesus dying on the cross and the resurrection. But do you stop and prepare your heart during the month(s) leading up until Christmas? Because without Christmas and Christ’s birth there would be no Easter. No Joy…No Hope…No Grace.   Read More