Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

It's been quite a year. There have been so many ups and a few downs, but there has always been time to read a good book! I usually read two or three books a week, and that has been both exercise for my mind and good for my soul. It's so difficult for me to pick my favorite books of the year - that's like telling the dozens of others that they're not worthy. And I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. Instead, I chose seven books that were just what I needed when I needed it, and my favorite sentence or two from each one. Hoepfully they will encourage you to read even more in the coming year, like they did for me. Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose. "Inventing a workable code from scratch is a tall order. Today's cryptographers (who create codes, as opposed to cryptoanalysists, who break them) are fortunate enough to work for intelligence agencies able to draw on many decades of institutional experience. [Benjamin] Tallmage had no such luck. H

One of the best ways to spark conversation, get to know each other, reflect on the past and look forward to the future is by asking questions. And the end of the year is the perfect time to ask those questions. I made this stack for our youth group, so they can be a little introspective about the past year before we gear up for a new lesson series through Genesis. After coming up with about 50 questions, I created a single card in my design program and duplicated it to fill the page. Then I duplicated the page and changed the writing on each card. My questions are everything from the best lesson you learned this year to most embarrassing moment to what one creative thing do you want to do in the coming year. It's fun to think about the teens and what their answers might be, but it's also very serious when I think about them asking me the same questions. The pages are printed on card stock and cut out around the outside of the design box. My prayer is that we'll be able to u

I'm so excited to start my new 2023 planner! I started it - and finished it - several weeks ago, so it's been like money burning a hole in my pocket. Yep, I'm that kind of excited about planners, and my planner in particular. My 2022 planner was huge - just larger than 8.5x11 inches. It didn't fit in my purse well, and it added weight to my computer bag. I loved it, but it was a little unwieldy. The binder of my new one is 6x7.5 inches, so it will actually fit in my purse. A huge plus. I'm definitely ready to leave a little sparkle all over the new year! All the parts and pages come from Hobby Lobby's agenda52 line, so they all coordinate. I'm able to get the entire year in one book, which is also phenomenal. Each month starts with a page with notes, holidays, special occasions and birthdays. I can transfer our church birthday/anniversary calendars here so I'll be up to date. All I needed for embellishments were a few small January-themed stickers. The r

Grazing boards are all the rage at parties now, while some of us have been eating at parties this way for years. We were cool and trendy ... and didn't even know it. The idea is to fill a small plate with a few items from the board at a time. Then you can sample everything, mingle, talk and return for more. But you don't have to go anywhere to enjoy a great, healthy grazing board. With a little planning and preparation, you can fill your plate this New Year's Eve and not regret it on the first day of the new year.  Finger foods are a great place to start. Remember that you're eating a bit before going back, or eating straight off the board if you want, so the less messy the better! Here are 10 categories of healthy food to start with. 1. Fruit - grapes, berries, sliced kiwi 2. Veggies - grape tomatoes, green beans, carrots and cucumber 3. Cheese - low-sodium and high protein varieties like mozzarella, blue cheese and feta 4. Chips - sweet potato chips, organic and multi

I pray that your Christmas weekend was filled with celebration, time with loved ones and worship with your church family. This Advent and Christmas have been very different than any of the past few years, and it is my wish that you've created some new traditions and memories that you will remember forever. But now it's Monday. The day after Christmas. What are we supposed to do now? Do we go back to the way we were before? Is it just another work day? I hope not. It's easy to look back at the Christmas season, wistfully sigh that it's past and forge on to the end of the year. We pack up decorations, file away our Christmas cards and start planning our New Year's Eve party. All the hope, joy and peace of Advent can get wrapped in tissue paper and stored for several months, if we're not careful. This isn't how it's supposed to be. We're supposed to come out the other side of Christmas ... well, different. And there were in the same country shepherds ab

For just a few dollars and with a handful of ingredients, you can put together one of the most addictive cookie dips ever. Make sure no one goes at it with a spoon, although I wouldn't blame them for trying! A couple of hints before you get started: Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before you try to mix in the other ingredients. It won't be smooth if it's the least bit cold. Use a stand mixer for the entire process, as it will take a few minutes to get everything combined well. Refrigerate the dip and keep it cold until you're ready to eat it. Don't keep it for more than a couple of days or the ingredients will begin to separate. This probably won't be a problem, though, because it will be devoured - I promise. Ingredients: 1 box (5) Christmas Tree Cakes 8oz cream cheese, room temperature 1 tsp vanilla 16oz extra creamy Cool Whip 1/3 cup milk Christmas sprinkles! 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine cakes, cream cheese and vanilla until mixe

For some strange reason, it just doesn't feel like the Christmas season. Maybe it's because we haven't completely decorated at our house yet. Or because we just received our first Christmas card last night. Or because we've been so busy with life that December happened before we were really ready. Or there's no snow. What's Christmas without snow? You may be in the same heart condition I am. There are circumstances or people or stuff standing between you and the true joy of Christ's birth. You want to enjoy the season, but you just can't quite get there. The wonder and the excitement are under there somewhere, they're just buried under a whole lot of other stuff. If this sounds like you, fear not! There is so much to believe in right now, today, this minute, that can change your heart and help you press on with joy and hope. 1. Believe that the Lord loves you endlessly and perfectly. When we're overwhelmed and struggling, the last thing we want

One of the staples of any Christmas kitchen is fresh-baked cookies. There are so many great recipes to choose from, and you could probably make a different one every day and still want more! While you're in a cookie-baking and gifting mood, whip up some of this lovely eggnog dip to have alongside your favorite cookies. You can store it in an air-tight container for up to two weeks, so make enough to share! Ingredients: 8oz cream cheese, room temperature 1/2 cup eggnog, room temperature 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp rum extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 2 cups powdered sugar, packed 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese until soft and completely smooth. Don't let there be any clumps - beat it as long as you can or the finished texture will be lumpy. 2. Mix in the vanilla, rum extract, cinnamon and nutmeg until combined. 3. Beat in the eggnog until the texture is creamy and smooth. 4. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Be prepared to add more or less dependi

If I had to choose between sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, I'll pick sweet potatoes every time. They're more flavorful, have a better texture and can be used in many more tasty ways. Maybe this is why they're a staple at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  As you're preparing your holiday menu over the next few weeks, add in this amazing slow cooker recipe. And trust me, you'll want to try it (maybe more than once) between now and Christmas. I'm just saying. Ingredients: 6 large sweet potatoes 1/2 cup brown sugar 4 Tbsp butter 2 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice 1 Tbsp vanilla 2 Tbsp water 1 tsp salt 1/2 bag of mini marshmallows Pecan halves for garnish 1. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Place them in the slow cooker. 2. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl.  3. Add brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, water and salt. Mix well. 4. Pour mixture over potatoes in slow cooker and stir until completely coated. 5. Cook on high for 4-5 hours

I think I've said it every month in 2022, but I still don't know where the time is going. It seems like I just showed you my layout for November's planner, and now here I am creating December and Christmas designs.    As we enter the Advent season, it makes me happy to put together all the words, phrases and images that brighten this time of year. I was able to pull out all my Christmas sticker books and decorate all five weeks of planner pages in one sitting. That means holly, candy canes and ornaments everywhere! Even the trees and the hearts have special meanings this time of year. As the weeks of December pass, I'll share some of those symbolisms that I'm using on my layouts. For the first (partial) week of December, I couldn't resist these adorable ladies. They made me want to pull out my cold-weather clothes, which I hadn't done yet because it's been in the 50s and 60s for the past few weeks. So now I'm ready for my high boots, jackets and swea

Yes, there are many things you will never do alone when there are dogs around. #1. You will never be able to blow dry your hair by yourself. "There's a loud noise - you need saving!" #2. You will never be able to do anything on the floor by yourself. "You're down here to be with me, right?" #3. You will never be able to stand up without being questioned. "Whatcha doin'? Where're ya goin'?" #4. You will never be able to sit down anywhere by yourself without Velcro dogs. "Hi. We're just here for the ear scritches." #5. You will never be able to walk through the house with it being an obstacle course. "Hey, I was here first. Go around." Yes, there are many things you will never be able to do alone again when you have dogs, but it's totally worth it.

If I had to go out on a limb, I'd say I've done different arrangements in this two-tiered tray for probably seven years. It's held hearts in February, flags and patriotic garb in July and lots of red, white and green in December. I've probably only created one fall centerpiece with it, so it shall be done! Almost everything I found in the fall plastic tote was either from the dollar store or on steep clearance between holidays. After I made my fall wreath last week, I took all the leftover bits and combined them into the most beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece. I usually begin with some kind of garland draped across the tiers. Then it looks like the pieces are floating in midair, nestled in the garland. Magical, right? The largest anchors, in this case, the framed picture, pumpkin, wire cage and wood crate, alternate back and forth in an interesting layout for the eyes. Then the little bits get tucked in, and there you have it! I had enough bigger pieces that I set the

There are some pretty classic pairings in the kitchen: chicken and waffles, chili and cornbread, eggs and bacon, hot cocoa and marshmallows. But the greatest of all time is ... chocolate and peanut butter! Feel free to argue, but I refuse to budge on this one. So here's a great dessert to take to your upcoming holiday parties. You may actually want to make two, just in case. Just in case you dig in to the first one and it doesn't make it to the party. Just in case. Ingredients: 1 box French Vanilla instant pudding mix 1 package Nutter Butter cookies 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 small container of Cool Whip 30-ish mini Reese's Cups 1. Prepare the pudding according to the box instructions. 2. Line the bottom of an 8x8-inch baking dish with Nutter Butters. I fit 10 1/2 cookies in mine. I ate the other half. 3. Pour half the pudding on top of the cookies. 4. Heat the peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl until melted and smooth. Drizzle half the peanut butter on top of the pudding.

Do you run to your friends with good things, bad things, every little thing? Are you texting constantly, talking whenever possible, giving each other updates on all those things? It's a never-ending, long-standing talk that will go on endlessly if we let it, right? We all have those friends, and they're the kind we definitely need in our lives. But the Bible is very clear about who our strongest, most lasting conversations in life should be with. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19 Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making re

Oh my goodness, do I need this week's planner layout! My heart has been unsettled for a while, so seeing these important words of my faith every day is going to make a huge difference it my outlook on things. The words and images are all from an Illustrated Faith Print & Pray digital set, one that I haven't used for quite a while. Each one is printed in color, fussy-cut and attached with double stick tape. I'm not the best cutter in the world (I believe I flunked scissors in kindergarten), so preparing these embellishments helps me grow my patience. Thank you, Lord. Be still. Remember. Reflect. Written on my heart. Study. Fill me up. Contemplation. Ponder. Quiet time. Teach me & lead me. Yes! All of these words are my way of setting up my week for success. But they're all also things that happen when I'm alone with the Lord, so I'm encouraged to get that quiet time every chance I get. And I pray you'll each take that time every day, too.

Autumn has arrived and cold temperatures rule the day. In our teen Sunday school class, we're talking about change, as fall is the perfect backdrop for such a topic. As I walked the property yesterday, the verses from tomorrow's lesson took on new meaning. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8