I have such a hard time letting go of things, especially good things. I don’t ever want to throw things out, I save all the photos (and regularly run out of storage). And I have an especially hard time saying no to or leaving anything that is done in service to God. I know so many others also struggle with this.

But we CANNOT do it all. We SHOULD NOT do it all. That means when God calls us to something new, we will have to let others things go, even very good things.

Last month, I stepped down from my role at Million Praying Moms. 12 years ago, Brooke McGlothlin and I founded this ministry (The MOB Society at the time) to encourage and equip moms for raising godly sons. With 5 boys between our two families, this was our own area of need and we served moms out of that heart.

Over two years ago, MOB morphed into MPM as our mission became helping all moms make prayer their first and best response to the challenges of parenting.

I LOVE THIS MINISTRY. It has changed me as a Christian, a prayer warrior, a mom, a woman. There have been challenges, but it has been overwhelmingly GOOD in my life.

But still God calls. And He often calls us away from good things, even while they are still good, to lead us into something better for this season of life.

The Lord asked me to lay down my role in the ministry of Million Praying Moms to pursue such a new season. With our three sons getting older and busier all the time, I will be devoting more time to being present with them and my husband. I am also excited about the local service & ministry opportunities God has already placed in my path.

I am incredibly grateful for over a decade of serving and encouraging this community alongside Brooke. God knew exactly what He was doing in bringing us together as our personalities and giftings naturally complemented one another. I have learned and grown so much from my time with Brooke. She will continue to lead the ministry with the grace and truth that pours out in all she does. I will be following along and cheering her on all the way as she continues to seek God’s will for Million Praying Moms. I can’t wait to see where He leads – for all of us!

I might see you around here a little more, so stay tuned!

This is a sponsored post. While I received compensation for this post, all opinions are 100% my own.

I’ve been a Hy-Vee customer for as long as I can remember. It was an exciting day for me when I was finally considered old enough to ride my bike to our local Hy-Vee to pick up a few groceries! Shopping at Hy-Vee for me always involves nostalgia, great customer service, and so many of my favorite products – the best combination for a grocery store, in my opinion!

Hy-Vee is so much more than groceries, though. A few years ago, we decided to take our family to have the Easter brunch at Hy-Vee and my kids have not stopped talking about it since! It was pretty amazing and the Hy-Vee brunch bacon has become legendary at our house. I have to agree with the kids.

With all that in mind, you can imagine their excitement when I mentioned trying out ! Making its big debut this summer, the all new Hy-Vee dine-in breakfast includes updates to old favorites as well as brand new dishes – everything made-to-order and something for everyone!

It was a miracle to find a time this summer when all of us could share a breakfast meal out, so that was worth documenting! It is also a miracle when there are so many options on the menu that your kids would like that they have a hard time deciding. That’s a good problem to have!

I love taking our family to eat at Hy-Vee because I know we are eating fresh, high-quality ingredients. I also know we will have the best customer service and this visit was no exception! After placing our orders at the counter, filling up our drinks, and finding a place to sit, the helpful employees brought us over a sample of the new freshly-squeezed orange juice. It was delicious and refreshing! If you’re looking for a little something extra with your morning meal, the new breakfast menu also includes some cocktail upgrades!

We had a short wait time as our food was prepared and it was worth every minute! You could see the joy and anticipation on the boys’ faces as the food arrived – yep, they love food that much. And this food definitely brought the joy!

Here’s a little look at what we ordered:

Good Start Meal – Middle J chose the sourdough toast to go with this meal and absolutely loved all of it!

Double Play Meal – so much food for Double J (pancakes not pictured here), but he just saved some for lunch! He loved the eggs, the sausage, the bacon – all of it!

Hy-Vee’s Famous Pancakes – Big J got these two HUGE pancakes and added on a side of bacon. He couldn’t go without the bacon!

Fit Start Omelet – The Hubby went the healthy route with this egg white omelet and added ham to it. Love the variety of options!

Nutella Banana Waffle – The minute I saw this on the menu, I knew I had to try it and I enjoyed every single bite. The whipped cream on top just made it even more perfect.

Probably one of the best waffles I’ve ever had! And because I wanted to try them, I had to order a side of the delicious homestyle potatoes and – you guessed it – BACON! I know – I’m as bad as the boys. But it was an excellent decision.

We ate until we were all full – a miracle with these growing boys – and still had plenty of leftovers!

The gets two thumbs up from every member of our family and I know we will be back soon so I can try something else from the new menu! Maybe we’ll see you there!

Check out for yourself – what are you looking forward to trying?

A big thank you to Hy-Vee for this yummy meal and for always treating us so well! Customers for life!

2021: my year to GIVE…

• Give myself and others more grace
• Give more undivided attention to my loved ones
• Give more focus to projects
• Give thanks daily
• Give my time and gifts to serve in the community, schools, and church
• Give the resources we have to ministries and organizations we support
• Give myself the best chance to thrive
• Give glory to God in everything

In the stress of 2020, I watched myself become more inwardly focused, selfish, critical, stingy, stress-paralyzed…a whole mess of things because I thought so much about ME. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking care of and prioritizing yourself, but that wasn’t what I was doing. I was coping in a very unhealthy way that left me disconnected and discontent. Only when I started to talk about those feelings did I start to see the tension resolve and see the causes of the tension more clearly.

Jesus often went away to spend time alone with God, but He didn’t stay there. He used that time to recharge and refocus so that He could love and serve others well. He perfectly modeled a life of giving and generosity that also showed us how to be filled up in the midst of it all. That leads to my theme for the year, but I’ll save that another day…

2021: my year to give, recognize when I have nothing to give, and know where to go to be given fresh hope, life, peace, and grace.

Do you have a word for 2021?

I will always remember January 20, 2021 as the first presidential inauguration where all three of these guys understood what was happening, paid attention, asked questions, made thoughtful observations, and even opened my eyes to some new things.

When they were really young, it was hard for me to even know what was happening in politics and around the world because I was so tired and busy and just trying to keep them alive. It’s such a wonder to be where we are now, discussing government and history and character and ALL THE THINGS.

I know we as parents are growing and learning right alongside them because the growing and learning should NEVER stop. What a joy to be on this growing and learning journey together!

To quote Amanda Gorman, 2017 Nobel Youth Poet Laureate and my favorite voice of the day:

“And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.
We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another.
We seek harm to none and harmony for all.”

Let it be so, Lord. 🙏🏻

What were the most memorable moments of the inauguration for you?

This post contains affiliate links. When you shop through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! Thank you for your support!

I’ve gone through a few different summer phases: the year I wore dresses all the time, the year I wore skorts all the time, the year I wore athleisure all the time…just to name a few.

This summer, I’m sticking with the same classic I loved last year: denim shorts. And my favorite stores are making it so easy because they are KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK with the styles this year!

Now, I am a super picky shorts-shopper. 5″ is my ride-or-die favorite length. I will occasionally go to 4″ if the fit is right and I don’t mind a little bit longer every once in a while, but 4.5″ to 5″ is my sweet spot.

As far as rise goes, mid-rise is the best, but I know high rise is EVERYWHERE, so I’ll give into that when needed and not restrictive, if you know what I mean.

And then we have style – distressing, wash, zip or button or elastic…I’m equal opportunity, as you’ll see with my selections, but I really love a good distressed, but not obscene, denim anything.

Last but not least, sizing: for your reference, I am 5’6″ with shorter legs, weigh about 140lbs, and I’m pear-shaped with muscular thighs and hips that bore three strapping boys. My waist is 27-28′ depending on the day and how much stove-popped popcorn I ate the night before. I need shorts that work with me in that department or it is a deal-breaker.

Enough chit-chat. Let’s get to my favorites for this summer…

*You can shop each of these looks easily by clicking on the picture or just head over to my LiketoKnow.it profile and shop from there!

Mid-Rise Boyfriend Shorts (Universal Thread)

I’m listing these mid-rise boyfriend shorts as my favorite shorts of the year because I think they are the perfect shorts for ANYONE. A little distressing, but not too much, available in dark and light wash, raw hem, extremely comfortable, and the best length. Also, they’re only $19.99! I don’t like tight-fitting shorts, so I went with a size 6 in these.

90s Boyfriend Midi Denim Short (American Eagle)

I almost picked these 90s boyfriend shorts as my favorite of the summer, but I know not everyone loves this much distressing. I, however, do love everything about these shorts – again with the length (4″ this time), but also with the amazingly soft denim and two washes! These are a little more high-rise, so I went with a 6 in these, too, which is up a size from my normal AE denim size. Their regular price is $49.95, but AE continues to have huge sales on them, so keep an eye out for that! I try to share when they’re on sale over on Instagram, so give me a follow over there to stay up to date!

90s Boyfriend Long Denim Short (American Eagle)

This version of the 90s boyfriend short is for those who want a little extra length – 9 1/2″ inseam, to be exact! I like to have both options for different occasions and styles! These are also high-rise, so keep that in mind when choosing your size (I went with 6). American Eagle really is my overall favorite option for all things denim! These also retail for $49.95, but are almost always on sale.

High-Rise Distressed Jean Shorts (Universal Thread)

These shorts have been an hot item this summer and I can see why! At only $17.99, these high-rise distressed shorts are an awesome affordable option! The only thing that kept me from putting them high on the list was availability! Yes, they are sold out in most sizes, but I want to believe Target will restock them at some point this summer. Great material as is always the case with Universal Thread denim and great distressing details. I went with size 6 in these, as well, and they are a little shorter and run a little snugger than the AE distressed denim, but still super cute!

Mid-Rise Pull-On Shorts (Universal Thread)

Now for something completely different… pull-on shorts! Some days you just want easy, comfortable, and classy – these are those shorts! Now, the inseam is considerably shorter on these (3″) but it didn’t feel super short to me because of the way they fit. They also come in black and olive. I am wearing the size small. Such a great option at just $17.99!

Want an easy way to shop all the shorts in this post? Just scroll through to find your faves and click to buy!

Are you a denim shorts lover?

Which ones are your favorites?

Please share!

I was provided this bible to review and promote as a LEV3L Blogger. All opinions are my own.

It is no secret that I am a huge bible study nerd. I can spend hours reading through study bible notes, commentaries, and bible dictionaries. I guess it’s a combination of my love for God’s Word and my Learner strength (StrengthsFinder, anyone?!).

When I have a chance to check out a new study bible AND give one away to one of you, I will jump at it! So here we are…

This is the brand new CSB Life Essentials Interactive Study Bible from Lifeway and it takes bible study to a whole new level! In this time when we’re all stuck at home, this new concept bible offers 250 hours of free in-depth video teaching to accompany each of the 1500 life principles to live by throughout the Scriptures.

Other features of the Life Essentials Interactive Study Bible include commentary and application questions on the aforementioned 1,500 life principles from renowned Bible teacher, Dr. Gene Getz. I have really enjoyed reading these commentaries as they bring a new perspective to the Word of God for me and show many common threads throughout the Scripture! To make it easy to navigate these commentaries and applications, a topical index and handy cross-references are provided. It really is unlike any other study bible I have used and I think you’ll enjoy this fresh resource, as well!

I’d love to get this inTO your hands, so let’s do a giveaway!

TO ENTER: Just leave a comment here telling me your favorite bible study resources! It’s that easy!

OPTIONAL: If you’d like more entries, share this giveaway on social media and tell me where you shared it! Each extra share is another entry!

Giveaway closes Friday, May 8th at 2PM CST. One winner will be chosen at random and notified by email. US shipping addresses only. Thank you to LEV3L Bloggers and Lifeway for providing this giveaway!

This post contains affiliate links. When you shop through these links, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

I have a confession to make: I am a struggling non-fiction reader.

I start a LOT of non-fiction books because they sound fascinating or important to me, but I rarely finish one. Maybe this says something about me and my tendency to be distracted by something new and shiny, as well as my difficulty with finishing things. Maybe it says something about the state of non-fiction books and their tendency to get repetitive or boring after making the main point.

Whatever the reason, I finished 14 books in 2019. All of them were fiction.

Well, this non-fiction struggle bus is turning around in the early months in 2020! I have several non-fiction books on my to-be-read list this year. It’s only February, but three of them have already sucked me in from beginning to end and they are totally worth sharing with you!

When I first heard the subject of Jennie Allen’s newest book, I knew I had to get a copy as soon as possible. In recent years, I had let negative thoughts take over my life – everything from anxiety to pessimism to cynicism. Get Out of Your Head sounded like just the thing I needed…and it has been exactly that for me.

To give you an idea of how much this book has resonated with me, I’ve been reading it on Kindle and have highlighted 250 different passages. This book is real, honest, based on God’s Word, and super practical. I absolutely love the strategies Jennie gives us for choosing something other than spiraling out of control with toxic thoughts. I have found so much freedom and joy because of this book. Get Out of Your Head is my #1 must-read non-fiction book right now, possibly ever.

While we’re talking about changing your mind, I have to mention Atomic Habits. As someone who struggles with sticking to big goals, this book appealed to me because it tackles changes you want to make in a bite-sized way. I saw lots of people recommend it, but I wasn’t totally sold on the idea (or finishing the book) until I started reading it.

Within a few chapters, I was already adding some new habits to my day and seeing them stick for longer than a week! That is a BIG deal for me. Let’s talk highlights in Kindle again: I have 350+ passages marked and I’m not even done with it yet! Obviously, I’m benefitting from the tips James Clear shares, but I also love knowing WHY certain things work for establishing habits and others don’t. While we’re talking about Mr. Clear, I must mention that his 3-2-1 newsletter is the BEST e-mail newsletter I subscribe to – one I must read every single week. Between that newsletter and Atomic Habits, Clear is motivating me in new ways all the time!

As I’ve been working on a more positive mindset and establishing good habits, I’ve noticed a need to find more peace, rest, renewal. Rebekah Lyons’ newest book, Rhythms of Renewal, sounded like a breath of fresh air. And it really is.

Not only do I love her writing style – very relatable, honest, enouraging – but I also love the wide variety of topics covered in the book. We don’t all find renewal in the same way, so Rhythms of Renewal explores different stages of finding peace and purpose, as well as guiding the reader as she discovers the rhythms that best fit her life. I really connected with the create rhythm and realized how at peace I feel when I’m cooking, baking, hand lettering, etc. I need to make more time for those things! I have also been challenged to cut out distractions and limit technology use – still a work in progress there! Bonus: there is also a study workbook to go along with the book! I’m in the middle of another bible study right now, but plan to work through this next!

If you’re interested in more of what I’m reading – including fiction – check out the reading lists in my Amazon store! My 2020 Reading List includes books I’ve read AND books on my to-be-read list for this year! I also have a list for Books for the Whole Family!

How about you? Do you love or loathe non-fiction?

Any great non-fiction books I need to add to my to-be-read list?

I’m in the process of slowly moving over all the recipes I had posted at my ancient Blogger site dedicated just to food, so this is the latest installment!

Sloppy joes. Taverns. Loose meat sandwiches.

We’ve always called them BBQs.

Our whole family is SUPER picky about eating this type of sandwich. Ok, all of us will ONLY eat this version. Sorry, other versions.

Many years back, I took my mom’s classic BBQs recipe and updated it slightly – basically just increasing the amount of meat. That’s the recipe that has stuck in our household. It tastes equally good using ground turkey or ground beef, so use whatever you have on hand!

MOM’s BBQs

Makes a lot, but freezes well!

INGREDIENTS

3 pounds ground turkey or beef
1 can tomato soup
2 Tbsp dried onion flakes
4 Tbsp ketchup
2 Tbsp yellow mustard
2 Tbsp vinegar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Brown the meat. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom. Serve on hamburger buns – slider buns work particularly well!

What does your family call this kind of sandwich? Are you a fan?

How’s this winter going for you, friends?

Well, after some bitter cold temperatures, we found ourselves with a bunch of ice and snow, as well as an unexpected four-day weekend, mostly stuck inside. That led to a little too much unstructured time indoors and a grumpy mom.

Does this sound familiar to you at all?

In general, I actually LOVE snow days and other times the kids have a day off of school because we can do fun things like bake and watch movies. But I also have a job where I work from home and things to get done around the house, so I can’t spend the entire day entertaining them. And when my kids get bored, they usually end up fighting or begging for screen time.

This last snow day, I decided to try a pro-active approach to ward off the boredom-induced fighting and crabbiness. And I liked this idea enough that I used it again when they had another snow day…just a few days later!

On a snow day, or any other random day off of school, I expect the kids to make sure they get homework done, do their chores, and get some fresh air, if the weather allows.

Now, our “no school day plans” also include a checklist that offers some structure and includes things important to our family – faith, exercise, reading, and creativity! Here’s what our list looks like:

• Practice your instrument
• Read for at least 30 minutes
• Write down 3 things for which you’re thankful
• Read a devotion and talk to Mom about it
• Create something – draw, paint, bake, build, etc.
• Do something active for at least 30 minutes

I love this list, in addition to chores and homework, because the kids actually enjoy most of these things, but they don’t always choose to do them on their own. I also find that kids don’t always make the best decisions when they’re bored – both with emotions AND actions – so providing them some fun structure is setting them up for success!

The best part about this idea – you make it fit your family!

Think about your family’s priorities AND interests, then combine them to make a 6-8 item list to add some structure to your snow day WITHOUT making your kids feel like you’re telling what them to do every minute of the day.

It’s also a win for YOU, Mom, because they are not allowed to ask for screen time or say they’re bored until they’ve checked off every item on the list! Doesn’t that sound glorious?!

This isn’t some revolutionary idea, but when something works for us, I love to share in hopes it might help another mom just like me!

TELL ME: What would be on your snow day checklist for your kids?

I have no witty stories or beautiful pictures for you today – just a meal our family has loved for years that can be adapted for just about anybody’s tastes! 

{I told you the picture wouldn’t be pretty!}

We had our first version of chicken veggie pasta when good friends brought it to us as a meal after one of the kids was born. We’ve tweaked the ingredients a bit over the years, but the “formula” is basically the same and you’ll be able to use it to create your own family favorite chicken veggie pasta!

WARNING:  Just so I don’t disappoint anyone, I hesitate to even call this a recipe because it really is more of a formula: chicken + Italian dressing + veggies + pasta = yumminess. I kind of like it this way. More freedom and flexibility to do things the way YOU like them. Doesn’t that sound nice? I thought so. Enjoy!

CHICKEN VEGGIE PASTA

Serves 5-6

INGREDIENTS

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 bottle of your favorite Italian dressing (3/4 for marinade, 1/4 for finishing “sauce”)

1 package of your favorite spaghetti

3-4 cups chopped fresh vegetables – carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, mushrooms, onion, whatever you like!

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

**Optional toppings – parmesan, black olives, slivered almonds – use your imagination!

DIRECTIONS

Place the chicken breasts in a sealable plastic bag. Pour 3/4 of the Italian dressing over the chicken and seal the bag.  Let the chicken marinate at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. Grill or roast chicken in the oven until cooked through (meat thermometer should read 165º).

While the chicken is cooking, chop your chosen vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add vegetables, garlic powder, and pepper. Sauté until vegetables are tender. Leave vegetables in the pan, but remove from heat and set aside.

Cook your spaghetti according to the package. I have no further directions here.

When the chicken is fully cooked, cut it into strips or bite-sized pieces. Add the cut-up chicken to the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Pour the rest of the Italian dressing over the mixture. Toss together and heat until warm.

Serve chicken and vegetables over the spaghetti, along with any other desired toppings.

When you give this “formula” a try, let me know what vegetable and topping combinations your family enjoyed! I’m always looking for new ideas!