Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

We've had some pretty wild winds in Southeast Iowa in 2025, and this tree was one of the casualties. It was so cool to see the root system, still with a tap root, and what was happening under the soil all those years. There were a lot of small roots, but they didn't go out very far or very deep. It's no surprise that it keeled over. There are a couple of passages of Scripture that always come to mind when I see exposed roots like this.  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 We can't be built up in Christ until we've firmly and completely rooted ourselves in Him. That means making a habit of studying His word, spending time in prayer communicating with Him, and placing His glory first and foremost in everything we do. Then comes the building up, the benefits and blessings that come when we have relat...

Over the years I have always been drawn to acrylic dots as my go-to paper craft embellishment. I love the having multiple sizes, color options, and super-shiny-ness all on one card. Here are just a handful of creative ways you can use dots on your next project. If your layout leaves you with some extra space, fill it with dots. You can leave them in the corners like I did here, you can make a line of several dots, or you can create patterns in rainbows of colors. Color is so important in crafts, especially when they're going to be given to someone going through difficult times, like this sympathy card. The green dots in the corner coordinate with the leaves, but contrast really well with the red background. Using acrylic dots as flower centers is a no-brainer. If I hadn't used them on the flowers for this particular card, I would have added them on the butterflies' wings for some dimension. Once you've found some techniques you like, you can combine dots for a one-of-a-...

With part of a bag of salmon filets and ingredients we already had in the freezer and pantry, we were able to whip up a beautiful, yummy sheet pan dinner.  Mix and match vegetables for a super healthy meal, perfect for a busy night. And the kitchen will smell amazing after roasting this combination of seasonings and melted butter! Two bonuses: it only took about 25 minutes from start to finish, and we'll be able to pack them up for meal prep this week.  Ingredients: 4 salmon filets 4 cups broccoli 4 cloves garlic, minced 6 Tbsp butter, melted 2 Tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp rosemary 1 tsp thyme salt and pepper to taste 1 lemon 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. 2. Arrange salmon in the center of the baking sheet and rub with garlic. Fill in the sheet with broccoli. 3. Melt butter in a bowl and whisk in brown sugar and seasonings. Pour over salmon and broccoli. 4. Cut lemon in half and squeeze one half over entire baking...

I don't believe in luck, and I don't believe in coincidence. Too much has happened in my life that has clearly been the hand of God. I'm sure if you look back at the situations and circumstances of your own life, you'll see God moving and working in everything you've been through, too. So it may sound cliche, but we're blessed by God, not left up to whatever luck might come along. Whatever happens today, good or bad that you receive, is a blessing from God.  The best definition of a blessing I've ever seen is that we receive God's favor, grace, and presence in our lives, leading us to His peace and well-being. We may not be blessed with a million dollars or fancy house and car, but what God does give us is His favor and grace - which are priceless - and His presence - which is perpetual. Beyond that, what more do we need? Here are some of my favorite Scripture about the blessings of God. I pray they'll bless you today while everyone else is scramblin...

  I've loved many dogs over the years, but Diesel Mac is my spirit animal.  He thinks with his tummy. Whatever food he's eating at the moment is the best food he's ever tasted. Sunshine is the best, and Vitamin D is a must for a beautiful afternoon. There's nothing better than a good cuddle. Diesel wants to be smack-dab in the middle of the pack at any given moment. And so friendly, a good listener, and loyal to a fault. Best boys get the best treats, for sure. Then it's time to curl up on the fluffy bed for the next nap. Don't ask me how he gets it folded up - I've never actually seen him do it. But it's super comfy and completely adorable. Makes me want to join my spirit animal for a long winter's nap!

Southeast Iowa finally got a winter storm this last week, and it's made everything beautiful! Here are some backyard snow photos for your Sunday enjoyment - whether you have snow of your own or not!

This second church bulletin board of the new year is heart-warming, right? Yeah, that's the best I'm doing with jokes today. It's been that kind of week. But what is amazing about this Valentine's Day board is how many Scriptures about love I got on it! I had eight solid hearts, so each one has a Scripture for our folks to look up. Then there's one more in the middle of the heart - that's a lovely amount of God's word, I'd say. Let all your things be done with charity.  1 Corinthians 16:14 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalm 5:11 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved...

Honestly, it's been a while since I felt like creating anything. 2024 was a rough year for me, so much so that I put away my craft supplies downstairs and worked on some other projects. But a friend recently asked for an order of 34 handmade cards, and it literally triggered something in my heart. I was actually excited just to pull out a pack of card stock and set up my handmade card assembly line. And it's been fun ever since - I'm smiling even as I type that. When I cut cards, I cut some extra bits along with it. The card itself is 6.25x9 inches, so I cut off the long strip first and then the short piece that will become a bookmark. The long strip is cut down to two 2.25x4.5-inch gift cards and a tiny gift tag. This is what piles of 34 sets looks like. With each card I make, I'll use the scraps to make the other bits, too. Next comes all the supplies to make the cards. I had to move my Bible study spot at the dining room table for a bit so I can spread out and having...

When we found some teriyaki pineapple chicken meatballs at Costco, I couldn't resist. The very first recipe I thought of was my favorite pasta bake.  I've made this dish with every kind of meat and pasta combination out there, and this is one is right up there on my list now. With these pre-seasoned meatballs, the whole recipe gets turned up a notch. P.S. I love this thrifted baking dish. It has two smaller yellow ones that fit inside it. LOVE! Ingredients: 1 box whole wheat rotini pasta Pinch of salt 23oz (about 30) chicken meatballs 2 jars chunky garden pasta sauce 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese 1 bag shredded Mozzarella cheese   1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 2. Fill a large pot with water and heat to boiling. Add salt and pasta, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes less than the recommended time on the box. Drain. 4. After draining the pasta, stir in meatballs, pasta sauce, and the Parmesan cheese. 5. Pour pasta into 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with Mozzarella. 6. Bake at 375 deg...

In keeping with my Latin lesson theme, which I didn't know I was doing until today. I saw this grandfather clock at one of our local nursing homes over the weekend, and the Latin phrase at the top not only flashed me back to my childhood, it reminded me of how quickly I'm aging. I just turned 47 1/2, and that's the truth. pbth... The globe over the clock face says Tempus fugit. Translated from Latin it reads "time flies" or "time flees." Both words resonate right now - thinking about time flying and fleeing much more quickly than I ever would have expected. And it seems more than poignant in a senior citizen center. This phrase has meant a lot all my life. My mama would always tell me Tempus has fugited, meaning I was running behind and we were out of time. I will always love that phrase and the way she would say it. Moses spoke of it, too. He is quoted by the psalmist in Psalm 90:12 - So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wis...

I can't tell you how much I prayed over our new office building when we were in the process of buying it. It was such a good experience because of that prayer, I know. And one of the things that God and I talked about during those prayers was upkeep and maintenance. It was so important to me that I never take the building for granted since it was a blessing from God. Now, every morning when I get to work, I sweep the building inside and out. I've done it since day one, and I will do it every day I'm there. It may not seem like a huge deal, but it is for me.  Why is sweeping so serious? I'm so glad you asked. 1. It gives me a few minutes at the start of the day to focus and think without interruption. There are no people, no dogs, no phones, no nothin'. I'm physically in the building, I can see what needs to be done, and I can process my thoughts in the quiet. My brain needs that, craves that. 2. It's creating a habit. Sweeping is just what I do now, first th...

My reading in January was pretty eclectic - starting the new year off right! I averaged a book a week while juggling all the post-holiday busyness that I'm sure you experienced, too. After putting books on the back burner for much of last year, unfortunately, I feel like my heart is in the right place again. Here's what I read and what I loved: Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker. The first book I chose for my Breathe study this year was amazing. Jennifer Tucker guides the reader through breathing Scripture, teaching how balancing the two nervous systems through breathwork, making God's word the focus instead of anxiety, calms and restores peace. After an amazing introduction to breathing, the lungs, and anxiety, there are 84 devotions with prayers and breathwork to study through. Love, love, love. The Watchmaker's Daughter by Larry Loftis. I knew the story of Corrie ten Boom and she and her family in Holland hid Jews and Resistance workers during WWII, eventually bein...

I didn't think I would ever enjoy reading about history. It was a mental block from not enjoying history classes in school because I couldn't relate to any of those long-dead people. They seemed so far removed from anything I was experiencing, and I wasn't able to get past that. That's changed over the past few years as I've dug into biographies of influential  people throughout history. I'm in my Revolutionary War phase right now, surrounding myself with books about generals and the Founding  Women, and patriots who just wanted to see a better life for their families. Add in some books recently about Amelia Earhart, Corrie ten Boom, Western Expansion, and the Pinkerton Agency, and suddenly I'm immersed in fascinating people. And it's amazing that all my recent studies brought me to one  conclusion: those who were willing to make a difference in the lives of other people were the ones ready to make the ultimate sacrifice. Sacrifice conjures up pictures o...