The Mothership

Struggles are real around here people. Struggles to make it through the days. Battles fought in the mind of identity, comparisons, and self worth. And this has been a struggle since I was little. However, my story never ends in defeat. The story always ends in victory. I know for some of us the battle is long, hard, and never seems to leave and for you...I am wholeheartedly praying. Praying for peace to break in and take hold. Because every time it does the battle has less casualties. I have come a long way, and ground is being taken and restored, but it has been a journey. I wanted to write about this to encourage anyone struggling with reading, writing, and comprehending. As a child, I was a struggling reader. I could read and decode the words on the page, but by the time I did, I had no idea what I had actually read. I would read, and reread, but not understand anything a text was saying. All the more, I hated writing and thought very little of anything I could produce. I hated re

I feel like we all have varying degrees of where we are in our walk with the Lord. Some of us have been following Him for years. some have been questioning Him for years. Some are boldly living a life committed to loving others well. Some are pressing into new giftings that he's so richly blessed us with. Some of us love to be good people. Some of us are looking for any opportunity to bring God's Kingdom. And some of us haven't taken the unknown step of having Him in your life. And some of us just don't even want to bother. But guess what...God still loves us.  No matter where we are in our walk, God still loves us. He is about connection and relationship. He is a Father with wide open arms no matter the cost or the energy or the effort. God loves the prodigal son/daughter feeling rejected by all the things they've "done wrong." God loves all those beaten down and told so many lies of their self-worth. God loves the child seeking and que

If you are looking for a crowd pleaser for your next get together or sporting event, this is sure to be it...you know, if you aim for that kind of thing. 😉 Recipe: 1 can of refried beans (I used vegetarian) 1/2 cup mayo (I used vegetarian) 1/2 cup sour cream (or yogurt) 1tsp paprika 1tsp chili powder 1tsp cumin 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 1tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 stalk/head of romaine lettuce, shredded/chopped  Shredded cheese 1/2 onion, Chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 large tomato, chopped Salt Pepper  1/2 a lime, juiced *optional guacamole layer Mix together mayo, sour cream and powder spices. Set aside.  Later refried beans, mayo mixture, lettuce, optional guacamole, shredded cheese, onion, garlic cloves, then lastly the tomato. Squeeze/sprinkle lime juice over top. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Refrigerate for at least a half hour. Serve with chips. 

My heart hurts. It hurts for those who have to feel the loss of a loved one. For those who deal with pain, physically and mentally, on a daily basis. It hurts for those that don’t feel loved. And it hurts for those that feel they have to hurt others. I have been trying to formulate words about the violence in our world. I feel with every fiber of my heart what I’m sure is only a spec of the pain that God feels when we hurt. During worship one evening I feel like he encouraged me with this. I hope this encourages you. A girl runs effortlessly through a field in the midst of a valley. She runs with abandoned insecurities. She twirls as if there is nothing to loose. Some days she runs and some days she walks through the valley taking in all the details. It’s a familiar place. And all she can see is beauty before her. Joy spread across her cheeks. Joyful because she knows the love and the protection that lies within. She KNOWS his voice. It is written on her heart, in her mind, and s

It's all different...all of it. Every part of my life is different since children. I wouldn't say it's ALL for the worse or for the better, but it has all changed. Hiking...oh my goodness is my pack heavy...and we don't just have ONE pack but two now.  And we need to have enough granola bars just to make it a mile to the treeline. Also, all the edges are now cliffs. Packing...my packing list used to be 3 pages typed in columns (I love lists) and now, I need to make sure there is enough paper before printing. I also have to begin packing all the things a few days prior because my brain cannot remember all the things. The dinning room table is now packing central...there shall be no meals at the table. Vacationing...I give MAJOR kudos to those who can drive at night or longer than 9 hours with children in ONE day. "You have all the strengths". Brushing my teeth...this will never be the same. Until my children move out I'm sure I will be talking through

So - every now and then I find a picture of something on social media and forget where I found it. But I try to recreate it. I believe this recipe was inspired by a picture from Instagram on Meal Mentor. Their food always looks amazing - and their pictures too. So, tonight we have lentil tacos. Anytime there is something to be boiled I use a broth. Hands down instead of water because it gives better flavor. However, obviously you could use just water. But IMO broth is better. Also - I enjoy making dinner in multiple steps I can do throughout the day.  This way I can do a little, and play a little, do a little, play a little. In this case I made the lentils ahead of assembly.  And added seasonings in a crockpot instead of a stove.  Either way will be fine and tasty. Recipe: 3 cups of water or vegetable broth 1 cup of uncooked green lentils 1 garlic clove chopped 1/8 tsp salt 1/2 cup vegetable broth (extra) 1 tablespoon of chili powder 1 tsp of paprika 1 tsp of ground

The amount of things I have unfinished at the moment is unreal. I don't usually let things get this out of hand (or what I think is out of hand) ...but April/May happened and I haven't been able to catch up. Or is that my reality?!?! Am I really as organized as I'd like to think?!?! My desk would say otherwise. Sometimes, as I walk through my house, all I can see are the reminders of all the unfinished projects and loose ends.  Does your mind ever wander into mindless banter? And then as you begin to start your day accomplishing Mount "whatever" you trail from project to project and child's need back to project, accomplishing maybe only one thing?!?! I mean as I sit here trying to type out my thoughts I am couponing, reading a devotional, looking at my calendar because I never got back to that person about that date, birthday shopping, making breakfast, and my to-do list for today. I am distracted... I walk from room to room and these are just some of th

This bread is NOT sugar free. And it is not Paleo. But made from things in my house. And it has a TON less sugar than my other Banana Bread recipe (which I use when I make for other people or for a big occasion - which was courteously given to me by my friend Sara 😉). So for our family we will be having it every so often instead of me feeling guilty with how much sugar I’m giving them. Tim honestly said it tasted “awesome” and a child, not my own, also gobbled it down. I wanted to make something for my kids to eat after they get home. They are famished from the day at school and need all the carbs for more energy. In this there are healthy carbs, fiber, and bits of protein. It also didn’t take me a bazillion dishes to wash or hours to bake. And all the ingredients were as “whole” or organic as I could get from my cabinet. Either way - it’s less sugar than the 3 plus cups of sugar for my other batch Recipe : 2 tablespoons of sugar 1 tablespoon of cinnamon 3 ripe bananas, mashe

I really enjoy easy and healthy.  By the time I fix the foods for the three monkeys...I just want to eat quickly...so the faster and healthier the better. Since Easter just happened, we have an insane amount of hard boiled eggs in the house, all brightly colored.  And while I love a good hard boiled egg, I needed to make something to help get rid of more than one at a time.  I eat it on top of spinach and arugula, topped with some tomatoes.  Would also be good on wheat toast or on boats of romaine.  My mom ate it inside a slice of turkey today. I made a big batch so that I have plenty for the week:) Egg Salad: 6 hard boiled eggs, sliced or chopped 2 avocado, sliced into chunks 2 Tablespoons of soy yogurt (or regular, but plain flavor) 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or juice from 1/4 of a lemon 1 tbsp. onion 1 Tbsp. dijon mustard (optional) 1 Tablespoon of banana peppers (optional) 1 tsp. relish Salt Pepper Mix it all together.  If you need salt, add it, but t

I’m sure this is super basic for a lot of you. But this was one of the first meals I perfected as a newlywed...so many moons ago. It’s super easy, no chopping besides garlic (or not if you decide to do powder). I prepared the fish in about 5 minutes, took a shower while it baked, and then sautéed the spinach in 5. This is perfect for a quick to the table dinner. Ingredients : 1&1/2 lbs. of Salmon (or steelhead trout, tilapia, or halibut) Avocado oil (or whatever oil you cook with) Lemon pepper 2 garlic cloves Salt 1 container of fresh spinach (about 6oz) 1/2 lemon Red pepper flakes Sea Salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place fish in a oven safe dish. Spread oil (about a tablespoon) over the top of the fish.  Sprinkle 1 minced clove, lemon pepper, and salt over the top of the fish.  Bake for 12 minutes (or until fish flakes). Let sit for one minute.  Last 5 minutes of fish cooking, heat up 1 tablespoon of oil over medium- low heat.  Add the spinach and 1

1/4 cup of granulated sugar 1 Tbsp. Of ground cinnamon 6 smashed bananas 16 Oz. Of sour cream or Greek yogurt 3/4 cup of softened butter 3 cups of white sugar 3 eggs 2tsp. Vanilla extract 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt 3 teaspoons baking soda 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup chopped walnuts ***For optional crumb topping: 1/3 cup of packed brown sugar 2 Tablespoons of all purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 Tablespoon of butter Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9x5 loaf pans and 2 mini loaf pans.  In a small bowl mix 1/4 cup of white sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon mixture.  In a large bowl cream the butter and 3 cups of sugar. Mix in eggs, bananas, yogurt (or sour cream), vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in nuts. Divide into prepared pans.  ****if adding optional crumb topping: mix all ingredients for it in a small bowl by cutting in the butter until it resembles coarse cornmeal. Sp

Words are my nectar... they give me life in so many ways. People, I need words and I know I'm not alone. I need words...positive words...encouraging words..check yourself words...words that give me life...words to help me process all the words. And I need these words more than I need another taco (and who can't use another taco)! Today was a major case of the Mondays.  The weight of Monday felt like it was already next Monday and I'd accomplished zilch...it was only 10:30.  But I can't stay there...I can't stay in my case of the Mondays because apparently someone made me an adult. Which means I need to help feed, clothe, facilitate focus, create a sense of responsibility (which means I need to be responsible), and all the other tasks that are expected of me on a daily basis. The druthers of all the adult things...can give anyone a case of the Mondays.  I needed extra words today. When life just seems unbearable and I'm unable to make in

It's how it all starts... A conversation...with the eyes. Someone walks past me and I smile, and most of the time I look them straight in the eye.  Other times, I smile and look alllllll the other ways. Eye contact is an art of timing and longevity...too short and people think you are too busy, or snobby...too long and people get the impression you are a creeper. Most that know me now would say that I'm fairly outgoing, talkative, and friendly. However, as a child I was not.  I was friendly and talkative ONCE you got to know me and even then I probably needed someone secure around. I would want to talk to people and have loads to say, but not the conviction or the confidence to do so. Even now as adults, when my husband and I enter new rooms of people we don't know, I am the shy one. Which is so puzzling to people. My desire to talk to people completely depends on the day. Some days I feel filled with the Lord's confidence and speak to almost every stranger at th