Tag: ENNEAGRAM

Soul Food, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday

November 21, 2019 /

Most Fridays I try to post some images, resources, and thoughts around a relevant topic. I call it “Soul food”, but it may include things that feed our heart, mind, and body, as well as soul. Whatever is beautiful, funny, true, helpful…I try to make it all things life-giving.

This week in the U.S. we’re looking forward to Thanksgiving, and either looking forward to, or dreading Black Friday, so here are a few resources.

via GIPHY

Even the healthiest families can encounter challenges when everyone is thrown together. If you want a little help, check out this post on 5 Questions to Save Your Holidays from Family Drama

I saw this idea at a Starbucks in California, and had been meaning to copy it. Then Tsh Oxenreider posted it beautifully on Instagram!

She bought an extra pumpkin for November and every day her family tries to write something they’re thankful for on it. Fun Thanksgiving centerpiece too!

There are some great suggestions here for winning at Thanksgiving (except the suggestion to rent stuff – I can’t see doing that, but maybe it’s just me).

In past years I’ve made the commitment to not go into malls after Thanksgiving, but these days that’s not a challenge. Online shopping makes for a kinder, gentler holiday season and God bless us, everyone. Still, there is the random Target and grocery run, so I thought some of the following might help us to laugh at ourselves a little.

Can you find yourself? (I’m a 7)
This is just so true I can’t even stand it!

via GIPHY

I’m grateful for each of you! Happy Thanksgiving!

Your turn! What are some fun Thanksgiving hacks, meaningful practices, or soulful insights you can share with us in the comments?

If you receive this in an email, just click on the title and then scroll down on the post to leave a comment. If it’s your first time, it will not appear right away, but don’t worry! It will soon!

As always, I’d love to have you join me over on Instagram! It’s my favorite place for small doses of joy and inspiration!

Soul Food for Many Occasions

July 18, 2019 /

My goal is always to help women connect to Jesus and each other! We may bond over laughter or around dining room tables, or playing with our kids, or as we share new insights from God’s Word. On Fridays I try to provide a cornucopia of resources. So…here you go!

For a laugh:

For a gasp:

For a new recipe to try:

Quinoa Salad (6-8 side servings)

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa (1 box – I used garlic flavored)
  • 4 ears fresh corn cut off cob
  • 1/2 red onion finely diced
  • 1 green pepper finely diced
  • 2 tomatoes, diced
  • 1 15 oz. can black beans
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro and chives, chopped


Dressing (mix and pour over salad, toss):

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 ts. salt
  • 1/2 ts. pepper
  • 1/2 ts. garlic powder
  • 1/2 ts. ground coriander
  • 1/2 ts. ground cumin1 ts. honey

“Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.”

JOrdan peterson

For biblical insights on how to say “no” to emotions that compete for control of you:

If you’ve been reading this blog for very long, you know my favorite place for encouragement is Instagram.

My passion is to connect us to Jesus and each other.

My goal on Instagram is to always post what is authentic, joyful, inspiring, funny, helpful, or beautiful.

I’d love for you to join me there, BUT if there is any account (including mine) that makes you compare and feel less-than, or discouraged, or resentful, UNFOLLOW/UNSUBSCRIBE!

I’m jealous of my friends who do “Camp Cousins” or “Grammie Camp” for their grandkids! For a link to fun summer ideas for preschool kids or grandkids:

My Favorite Summer Activities For Preschoolers

Knowing Ourselves and Knowing When to Say Yes

March 25, 2017 /

When I was in high school and college I worked as a waitress most summers at country clubs. It took me awhile to get the hang of everything I needed to balance both physically (as in plates) and mentally (as in orders). One time early in my “career” I remember a bin of dirty dishes slipping out of my hands and crashing to the floor. In the silence that followed, every eye turned to see who had  messed up.

That would be me, blushing bright red and wanting to crawl into a hole.

This is a little how I’ve felt recently. I LOVE variety and doing ALL OF THE THINGS!

I want to talk to ALL OF THE PEOPLE AND GO ALL OF THE PLACES AND NOT MISS ANYTHING! (For those of you familiar with the Enneagram, I’m a 7…ahem. Yeah… “No” is not a familiar word in my vocabulary.)

I like being the Queen of Multitasking, but that’s not always a good thing. It may mean that I prioritize activity over substance, or I choose the easy wins over investing in hard work for the long haul.

Some of you have been kind to check in with me as I haven’t posted in awhile…wanting to make sure I haven’t died under a pile of crashed dishes. No, I’m fine and I want to give you a little update.

I’ve been thinking about Jesus. He was busy, but not rushed. He did a lot, but was always present to those around Him. He knew His job.

I’ve been considering the many good things Jesus had to say “no” to in order to say “yes” to the best.  Looking at the “I did not come to’s…” and the “I came to’s…”

Jesus didn’t heal everyone. He didn’t talk to everyone. He didn’t go everywhere.

It’s important to know ourselves – our temptations, our calling, our season of life – in order to know what to say yes and no to.

I recognize the tendency in myself to shy away from the hard, long haul work that feels risky and sometimes monotonous. I’ve got some projects that I’m working on that require some extra time so I’ve given myself permission to back off posting consistently on the blog for a bit.

In addition to focusing more on preparing for speaking opportunities, friends and I have been working on a devotional with a twist that I’m super excited to make available to you soon!

Also, the hardest, scariest thing I’m working on is a manuscript (it’s taken me a long time to be able to actually have the courage to call it that!) I’m not ready to say more, but if you are a pray-er I’d appreciate prayers for the right words!

All that said, I may be a little hit or miss on posting regularly. I also want to give Facebook Live a shot. I’ll let you know when that is coming.

What about you? What are you most tempted to say “yes” to that isn’t important or bearing fruit? What’s one thing you need to say “no” to this week?

If you struggle with wanting to do ALL OF THE THINGS like I do, you might take a look at this book, Essentialism, by Greg McKeown.

Some posts on this blog contain Amazon affiliate links – I receive a (very) small commission on any purchases but I’m not paid to recommend any particular item and I’d never link to something I don’t own and/or feel strongly about.

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