From My Life and Journal: The First Week of March

 

A highlight from this past week was starting the book Loved to Life: "A 40-Day Pilgrimage with Love Himself that Will Change Your Life" - by Ann Voskamp. 

Maybe you are reading another of the many devotionals that are available to read leading up to Easter, but if you don't have one, maybe there's still time to purchase this one? I highly recommend it. I also love the extra (free) print-outs and images that are available. The image to the left was from the Day 4 reading. Each year, no matter how long we may live, we can be filled to overflowing with His Love. Though we are but dust, He came to us, died for us, so we can live in this love, day-by-day, moment-by-moment.

Another highlight from this past week ...

When the calendar page turns to "March", it is time for me to begin packing up the winter decor items in our home, and pulling out some of our spring decor items. Though spring has not officially arrived yet, in my heart and mind, it begins March 1st! I love multiple things about each of the four seasons, but my favorites are SPRING and AUTUMN. I like to keep our decor simple each season, just adding a bit here and there, to accentuate the views of God's seasonal handiwork that we see out our big windows in our living room, and other rooms on the main level in our home. So much beauty every season!

My weekly rhythm of sourdough baking ...

This is something I look forward to each week as it is relaxing for me to do, and also provides us with such healthy, delicious bread. I have no desire to purchase bread in the stores, and haven't needed to do so for quite awhile.

This week I made two different types of loaves ... the Basic Artisan Sourdough Bread (on the left), recipe from Second Rise Sourdough, and the Classic Sourdough  Bread (on the right), recipe from @everything,sourdough, both on Instagram.

Recently I purchased a new "bread lame", used to make the artistic design on the artisan-style loaves. I am still learning, but was pleased with my first try with the new bread lame. Another reason I love sourdough baking, is that it gives opportunity to be creative in making beautiful bread, in addition to having the more nutritious bread that sourdough provides.

And from my Devo Journal ...

Do you love to journal, as I do? (Made even more fun when used alongside a cute coffee mug, this one from one of our granddaughters!) There are many types of journaling, and the same type is not the best choice for everyone. For me, my journal is written as a daily prayer, or even at times, a moment-by-moment prayer. A collection of my gratitude to God for His daily care and His many blessings, and a place where I call out to Him for help. It's also a place where I write out word-for-word from His Word - writing the promises and the words of truth that impact my heart deeply day-by-day. It's how I let these truths settle deep into my heart. 

Here are a few of those words of truth in my journal this past week:

Be gracious to me, Lord,

for I call to You all day long.

Bring joy to Your servant's life,

because I appeal to You, Lord.

For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,

abounding in faithful love

 to all who call on You.

(Psalm 86:3-6 CSB)

It is really so simple, but we often make it so difficult.  For it is true that at any time during our day, especially when we are feeling in need, or feeling weak or discouraged, that all we need do is turn our gaze from our problem, to the One who is abounding in faithful love. It takes a turning of where we look. Wherever we are, at home, at our job, or in the midst of a great trial, it takes a turning of our gaze. A lifting of our eyes and our hearts to God.

When we can't lift the weight of our broken hearts, the weight of our burdens, the weight of being us, all there is to do is lift our eyes ... to the Lamb of God. Focusing the eyes is always a matter of how we focus the heart. Where the eyes are fixed, so the heart is. Where you look is where you love. (Quote from Loved to Life by Ann Voskamp)

 

A February Collection: Extreme Cold Weather, Sourdough Baking, and Good Books

We're finishing up an extremely cold week, filled with minus zero temps, and down to minus thirty with the windchill. The photo above was taken yesterday morning, as we were coming off the warnings and advisories. The view is out my kitchen window of the icicles, capturing the beauty before it has started to melt today. 

I'm definitely a "homebody" by nature, loving the quiet days at home. Both my dear hubby and I never tire of these quiet days, and have unending projects and things that we love to do at home. So these "snow days" and warnings to stay out of the extreme cold weather did not bother us at all. One of the blessings of retirement!

I love that sourdough baking has become to feel more like a hobby, than a task. We never need to buy bread from the stores anymore, for this weekly routine brings so much joy. The whole process of baking with sourdough - the feeding of the starter, mixing of the dough, the bulk rising, the shaping, the second rising, and then the actual baking of the bread - has all become a natural routine for me each week. And I am also loving using my Bakehouse Doughmat (12" by 18" size) that was a fun birthday gift last fall. It sure helps with the rising of dough these cold winter months!

Though I've been sourdough baking since the fall of 2023, I've been focusing on learning even more these first two months of 2025. There is so much to learn! Part of my learning recently has been to use different ratios of starter, flour, and water, depending on the temperature of my kitchen, and making it work better with my daily routine. I've also been finding some new-to-me sourdough bakers on Instagram, and getting tips from them. One of my new favorites is Second Rise Sourdough on Instagram, which is where I found the recipe for the Basic Artisan Sourdough Bread, pictured above.

One of the great benefits of needing to just stay home this past week, is that I ended up having time each day to work for hours with Estate work for my brother who passed away in December. As he was cared for nearby for the last two years of his life, I've recently been appointed as the Personal Representative for his Estate. It was a blessing to have this week to make a lot of progress. I am grateful for God's care and wisdom as we continue on caring for Loren's affairs. Our dining room table has been literally covered with papers this past week, with Estate work, plus prep for our tax appt this next week. And mixing in the delicious and comforting aroma of sourdough bread makes it go even better!

Good books are such a rich source of joy and learning. I just finished this book earlier today ... Now and Not Yet by Ruth Chou Simons. Her books are always encouraging and motivating, and this newest one did not disappoint. I'm thankful for her reminders and encouragement to embrace our present, our current circumstances, to actively settle in, abiding deeply, and thriving in whatever situation we find ourselves in. And also to embrace even the hard seasons, for God is using them to refine and mature us. 

One of the two historical fiction books I read this month was The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz, one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Set in the time of the Jacobite Rebellion in England, it gave a captivating and insightful look into that time period. I love how she uses rich fictional characters to immerse us into the historical setting. 

Starting Out the Year with Good Books

It has been extra quiet here on my blog for a few months, but with much going on in real life. We had a wonderful visit from my older siblings (who live a distance away) in the fall, followed by the passing away of our youngest brother the first week of December. Loren suffered from Parkinson's for many years, and we were privileged to have him being cared for nearby in Omaha for the last two years of his life. Close by, where we could have weekly input into his life and care.

Christmas season was a mix of the joy of being with our three daughters and their families who live here in Nebraska (missing others who live a distance away), and also the grieving of our loss. 

The first half of January 2025 has started out with both my husband and I fighting off some bad colds and coughs. Maybe made worse by our exhaustion emotionally and physically. So this New Year has started out extra slow for us.

I love how God cares for us (and for you) in the midst of real life - in the midst of joy and also when in the midst of grieving. 

One of the evidences of His comfort and care comes through filling our minds with His Truth, and also in giving us good books to relax with.

Starting Out the Year with Good Books

On my pile at the start of January:

My (in)Courage Devotional Bible 

I love this CSB Bible - the design, the translation, and the space for a bit of journaling. Though I am reading chronologically through the Bible using the sequence from the Chronological Life Application Study Bible, I often read the passages directly from my Devotional Bible, as well. As of January 1st, reading chronologically, I was up to the Acts 15 reading. 

My husband and I love to have a devotional that we read together in the evenings. Last year we read through New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp - so very good! And this year, we are reading through Grace & Glory by Louis Giglio, also so very good.

For relaxation, I usually have a historical fiction book on my reading pile. My first book of the year, which I completed a few days ago, is A Bound Heart, by Laura Frantz, at the top of my growing list of favorite authors! Set in the mid-1700's, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

And last but not least, is my current inspirational/learning book ... Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton. Such an encouraging, insightful book on prayer. A good focus to start the New Year out with. 

I just love this quote from the first chapter of the book. We often try to make prayer so complicated, and something that we need "to do". And this may be the faulty thinking that keeps us from what prayer really is meant to be. I love how the author explains so clearly what prayer is at its core. The reason why Jesus Himself pulled away to just "be with the Father". And the reason why we are drawn to the same. Such a priceless joy and privilege!

What is on your book pile at the beginning of 2025? I love to get ideas from others on "Good Reads", as well, especially from some of our daughters who also love to read. Last year I read a total of 29 books, and have set my goal a bit higher this coming year! So much learning and joy from good books!

 

A November Collection: Our Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, A Good Book, and a Blessed Thanksgiving Day

Closing out the month of November with a little collection of memories from this beautiful time of year ...

This is the weekend where the fall decor will change to winter/Christmas decor. But some things do not need to change. I love these words (from Ann Voskamp) that I read this Thanksgiving week:

“Our Thanksgiving could be more than a holiday, but a lifestyle for all our days - our thanksgiving could become thanksliving - all our honest sacrifices of thanks to God moving our hearts closer to God, who is our very greatest good.

You get to just keep coming with your sacrifice of thanksgiving which gives you more of God.”

“We can be at rest right where we are because our ability to ‘be still and know that He is God’ (Psalm 46:10) is not dependent on whether our circumstances feel restful or light. It’s wholly dependent on where we turn for true rest. God made us to need Him, to turn to Him for the rest we seek … We are made by God, for God, and to be satisfied in God.” (Ruth Chou Simons)

These words have been so very good for me to read this month; it has been a month filled with many things. And I am learning and relearning to turn my heart and eyes to the source of true rest. It is so easy to look for rest in other places. But there is only one place to find real rest. And I am grateful.

We were blessed to have nine precious family members around our table for Thanksgiving Day! Whether it's our whole family home, or those who live close nearby, it is always such a treat, and a gift. We are so very thankful ...

An October Collection: Our New Deck, and a Few Autumn Recipes

Wow, time goes by so fast! Here we are almost at the end of October! The past two months were very quiet months here on my blog, but ... it was quite an eventful two months here at our home! Our days were filled up with several very amazing things. The first is that a dream of ours came to reality ... a brand new deck right out our patio doors by our kitchen and dining room!! It literally feels like a gift from God, made possible by a generous gift from our family during our 75/80 birthday year, and then followed by the most thoughtful and generous offer of dear friends in our CityGroup (small group from Citylight Midtown) to build a beautiful, amazing deck for us. We just love it, and are so very, very thankful!

The deck was completed the end of September, just in time to plant some beautiful autumn mums in the built-in planter boxes. The weather has been unusually warm through the middle of October, perfect to enjoy the fall beauty, and also to host some very special days with my siblings visiting from Oregon and New York. Treasured memories together on our new deck! We also hosted a "thank you meal" out on our deck for our friends who built the deck for us. The weather that day was absolutely gorgeous, complete with the beautiful fall leaves falling as we ate together, thanking God for His goodness to us.

And as is true for so many of us, it has also been a joy to do some autumn baking! Pictured above is one of my favorite desserts for this time of year. In fact, I baked up this apple cream cheese cake for my siblings when they were here, and then again for our celebration meal for deck-building friends! You can find this recipe by clicking on this link: Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese Filling.

I have also loved taking time for some sourdough baking again. My favorite thing to bake recently (besides my favorite artisan bread that I make each month of the year), was a Sourdough Apple Pie Focaccia! This was great to use for breakfasts when my siblings were here, but also could be used as a snack, or a dessert. Click for the recipe: Sourdough Apple Pie Focaccia. I don't have a photo of it at this time, but will add one here when I do have one. 

Another recipe that I have loved recently is a delicious pulled pork recipe from one of my favorite online food bloggers. Click for the link: Pulled Pork. I don't have a close-up photo of the dish, but here is one from a recent meal that I served it at ... on our new deck on a beautiful autumn day!

There is so much to be thankful for this beautiful autumn season!

My August Reading Pile

A glimpse of my reading pile during the month of August …

New Morning Mercies - an insightful devotional book, one reading for each day of the year. My husband are reading this together most evenings, all the year through. Morning, or evening, we are thoroughly enjoying the deep truths Paul David Tripp shares applying the Gospel to our everyday lives.

Soul Keeping - filled with insight into “Caring For the Most Important Part of You” (the subtitle of the book). I’m about halfway through this book, and am being encouraged much in this most important focus of our lives. This book is adding emphasis to our current intentional focus on taking a day of the week to pause from our tasks and responsibilities, caring for the most important part of ourselves.

Of Love and Treason - this historical fiction book by Jamie Ogle captures life in Rome around 270 AD, and specifically the life of St. Valentine, who stood up during tumultuous times, strong in faith, living out a life of love amidst the adversity of the persecution of Christians in Rome. An enlightening, heart-breaking, and encouraging read. (I completed this book mid-month, and now, am almost finished with another historical fiction book, The Paris Dressmaker, set during World War II.)

These books all wait in line after my primary reading of my (in)Courage Devotional Bible. My current rhythm is to read chronologically, using the sequence found in the Chronological Life Application Study Bible. I am absolutely loving reading chronologically, sometimes reading the chronological passage in my Devotional Bible, sometimes reading it in the Study Bible itself.  Currently I'm reading in Acts, and am deeply connecting with the narrative.

Reading books is such fun and so very relaxing, which is why I always have a historical fiction book or biography on my pile. Historical fiction is also a great source of learning from the past and other cultures. I also always have an inspirational or educational book on my pile. What is on your book pile?  I love to get ideas from other people, also from Good Reads where I get ideas from family, and from others.

Silence: The Condition for True Listening

Maybe some may think that silence is easier to attain during our retirement years. But yet, I am continually learning in deeper ways that real silence needs to be cultivated for it to happen in the heart no matter our season of life, no matter our circumstances. And I am being reminded even now in our retirement years of the importance of cultivating a quiet heart. To make it an intentional focus to carve out not only specific times each week for Sabbath Rest, but to also cultivate a Sabbath Heart in the midst of regular life. A life and world which seems to accelerate with noise and concerns with each passing day and year.

Quieting my heart for intentional extended times, and also for moments of time throughout a day to listen deeply to God first of all, and also to our precious kids and grandkids, and to all whom God brings our way.

“Our speaking comes out of our listening. 

What we say comes out of what we hear.” 

(Mark Buchanan)

We need to be people who listen, day and night, most of all, to God, quieting our hearts so we can really hear.

Be still, and know that I am God.

(Psalm 46:10 ESV)