Homemade Chicken and Rice Soup in 10 Minutes

October 19, 2026October 18, 2026 RefreshHerLeave a comment

We returned home from California yesterday morning where I spoke at Camp Ironwood’s fall ladies’ retreat. It was a wonderful time together. I watched the Lord answer prayers I had prayed, give strength, opportunities to pour into those precious women, and gain many new sweet sisters in Christ. It was a very full four days in every way.

When I got home Sunday morning after flying the red-eye flight from Las Vegas to Charlotte,then Charlotte to Tri-Cities, we walked into the house weary, and also needing a little sustanance. Hmmm, did we need breakfast or lunch? My stomach was hungry, and my whole body was confused! As I considered what I could fix quickly, homemade soup came to mind. I remembered my favorite Chicken and Rice Soup that is the fastest homemade soup ever, yet with flavors that are so comforting. I’ve shared this in the past, but I want to tell you about another shortcut in making this that I just learned about!

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Knowledge Will Lead To Trust

October 16, 2026 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Recently as my husband and I were traversing the desert area of Camp Ironwood where I’m speaking this weekend, we were riding in a golf cart loaned to us by the camp. He had gotten a tour from the camp director when we were here the last time, and even though it was three years ago, I knew that he knew exactly where we were going as we climbed sandy hillsides and crossed back roads. I wasn’t afraid we’d lose our way because I know what a navigator he is! He rarely ever doesn’t know exactly where we are!

After 45 years of marriage, my knowledge of my husband does several things.

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baking

Pumpkin Muffins Made Easy! A Simple Kitchen Tip for Fall Baking

October 12, 2026October 11, 2026 RefreshHer2 Comments

Have you ever had a muffin or cupcake stick inside the cupcake baking cups? It can be frustrating. Even spraying the tins with cooking spray and baking them without paper doesn’t always insure a clean realease.

Y’all, where have I been when everyone else was probably already using silicone baking cups? I recently had a large container of applesauce that I knew would go bad while we were gone on our trip to New England, so I decided to freeze small portions to use in baking. I found some silicone tart pans in my cupboard and it dawned on me that the applesauce would release easily from that material. I was right! After freezing them for a few hours, I was able to pop the applesauce right out and then put it into a freezer bag to store for later use. Then I found another use…

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Marriage · Traveling

Meanderings in New England

October 9, 2026October 9, 2026 RefreshHerLeave a comment

When the Lord led my husband and me to begin D and D Ministries and we began to travel, we knew it would be crucial to:

Take opportunities to rest when we could
Take time to occasionally travel the scenic route
Pour into our own marriage.

So on this last ministry trip that lasted twelve days, we did all of the above. On the day that we traveled to King Arthur Flour Baking Company, we purchased a sandwich, along with a delicious chocolate croissant and tucked it into the cooler. We decided we’d stop along the way and enjoy it for lunch a little later. I prayed that the Lord would lead us to a special spot to do just that. Wow, did He ever guide us!

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dessert · Dinner · Traveling

New England Travels and Treats

October 5, 2026October 5, 2026 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Our fall ministry has recently taken us to New England. As you can imagine, the fall colors have been absolutely beautiful. Our journeys have take us to Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massechusetts. We’ve been quite busy with both ministry and a few days of exploring. I thought I’d share one picture from each day, and also the best thing we ate in New England.

The first day took us through Virginia – what a beautiful state, but no real color to speak of.

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