Notes from my first horse shopping experience More than a year ago, at the urging of my loving, supportive hubby, I started taking riding lessons in Western horsemanship at a local barn recommended by a church friend. The goal: deciding if my life-long dream of owning a horse was still something I could realistically pursue….
Horse Shopping Day 1
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The Life-Giving Power of Doing Hard Things (even if you fail)
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When was the last time you attempted something hard? How have you gotten out of your comfort zone lately? Are you trying new things and challenging the status quo in your life? Now I’m not talking about moving to Tibet and becoming a monk or selling everything you own and living in a camper van…
Easy gluten-free casseroles to help you solve the ‘what’s for dinner’ dilemma
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While I often look for easy casserole recipes during the coldest parts of the year, I also search them out during other busy times. The only exception is the heat of summer. Then I avoid heating my oven like the plague. But spring just started as I write this, and we still have some cold,…
Drawing closer to God so we overflow with hope
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Are you discouraged by all the difficulties around you and in our world today? Are you dealing with deep disappointments or heartbreaking loss? Do you feel like hope is in short supply? I know I feel it. The older I get, the more I see how this world is broken. If you’re going through a…
How to make decluttering fun (or at least less overwhelming)
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I have way too much stuff, and I can imagine ways to use almost any of it. My closet, drawers, pantry, bookshelves, vanity, attic, (any other area you can name) are filled to overflowing. And yet I’ve gotten stuck. I don’t know where to begin because it’s all kind of overwhelming. What do I do…
10 battle tested tips for coping with stress and anxiety
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Let’s talk about stress and anxiety. If you’re like me, you might be rolling your eyes right now and thinking, “No, let’s not.” That’s an okay approach from time to time, especially when you’re busy just doing ALL THE THINGS. Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life. They help our bodies and minds…
How to make your first RV road trip an excellent adventure
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Well, we did it! We took Xena, our new 29-foot Forest River X-Lite 24RLXL travel trailer, almost 2,700 miles and camped nine nights in six different places on our great Montana adventure. Shawn drove more than 400 additional miles in our 2015 Ram 1500 to see the sights. The grand total of miles Shawn drove…
Instant Pot Garlic Shrimp Quinoa
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Do you like variety in your diet or do you want the same meals over and over again? I think there’s a continuum between an extra adventurous foodie and a super picky eater. On one end you have folks like my brother who loves spicy and exotic foods. He’s even eaten balut, the Filipino treat…
Escaping the trap of materialism
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“And He said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’” – Luke 12:15 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21 Everything we own requires a piece of our time and attention….
Texturing walls with a roller
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Texturing walls with a roller is a DIY project that anyone can do, with a little patience and practice. Why would you want to texture your walls? For me, it was prompted by wallpaper removal. My master bathroom was covered in wallpaper, courtesy of the builder. Fast forward 25 years and the wallpaper was dated…