The Roller Coaster of Motherhood

January 16, 2019January 15, 2019 RefreshHerLeave a comment

If you’ve been a mom for more than a day you know it’s exhilarating and exhausting, fun and frustrating, joyful and jolting, breathtaking and back breaking – sometimes all in the span of 24 hours!

On my frustrating mommy days, it was helpful for me to get my focus. Why was I doing this? What is my goal? Where am I headed? What am I supposed to do each day? It’s all in God’s Word and I found Proverbs 10:4 convicting and Deuteronomy 6:4-8 especially helpful.

This video will tell you what I gleaned from these passages about how to survive the roller coaster of motherhood!

When are you most likely to want to turn in your “Mommy Badge?”

Refresh your role by reminding yourself of God’s plan for this season,

denise a

My Five Best Tips For Hosting a Dinner Party

January 14, 2019January 20, 2019 RefreshHer4 Comments

Hosting a group of people for dinner is something I love to do!

Laughter,

Good food,

Fellowship

are all enjoyed as we gather around the table.

We hosted a party of ten at our home this past weekend and it was such a blessing! Here was my menu:

Beef Enchiladas
Chicken Enchiladas
Sweet Corn Cakes
Black Beans
Upside down German Chocolate cake
Lemon Pound Cake with Cherry Compote

Cares are lifted as we talk, share and pray. The burdens that were brought in are eased by the joy of coming together for a few hours, and it all happens around good food. Hmmm, I think that is often the part that makes people afraid to host others – all the work and prep of the food. Am I right?

I want to help with that and share with you my Five Best Tips for hosting a dinner party so you can enjoy your gathering as much as your guests!

Prepare ahead as much as possible. In the menu I served this weekend, everything but the corn cakes were made ahead of time!
1. Find a dessert you can make and freeze – Cake layers, cookies, brownies, pie crusts, biscotti – all freeze well and you’ll have one whole course of the meal done a week or more before the party!
  Desserts made ahead of time are such a help! This Upside-Down German Chocolate Cake is n’t pretty until you flip each piece over as you serve it, but it’s soooo good!
2. I made Beef and Chicken Enchiladas at my recent party. I roasted the chicken and browned the hamburger several days beforehand and froze it in freezer bags. I made the Enchilada sauce the day before. The day of the party, all I had to do was layer the tortilla shells, meat sauce and cheese.
3. Set the table the day before or early in the day.
4. Get the coffee maker ready to perk. The smell of coffee brewing as guests arrive is so welcoming.
Keep it simpler by serving the food buffet style. I let my guests choose where they would sit. Their napkins and glass were at the table, but their silverware was at the end of the buffet line, ready to pick up.
Let guests bring an item for the meal, if they offer. At my recent party, I made the main dish, a couple sides and the dessert. My guests brought a salad, chips and salsa, ice and beverages and ice cream. That was a great help!
Make your home cozy with candlelight. Don’t burn the overhead lights – use lamps, high and low, strands of twinkly lights, and add jar candles around the rooms.
Don’t strive for a perfect home in which to entertain, just make sure it’s straightened up and the bathrooms are clean. Having guests over is a good motivator to clear away clutter. If need be, get a friend to come over and help you put things away.

Good food, a casual setting, and some good fun are all ingredients for a great time! When you prepare these things early, you’ll enjoy the time with your guests, and that alone will make them feel truly welcome and glad you invited them over!

What keeps you from hosting friends for dinner?

Why not refresh yourself and others by putting a dinner party on your upcoming calendar?

denise a

Marriage · Refreshment in marriage · Wife's Role

Positive Thoughts About Your Spouse

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 RefreshHer4 Comments

Roses brought home to me for no reason – these are the things I need to think about!

I’m totally not a believer in the Positive thinking mentality of “Just think beautiful thoughts and beautiful things will happen to you.” Living in a fallen, sinful world means we will deal with fallen people and sinful situations – no matter how positively we think!

However, there is an area of marriage in which positive thinking will indeed bring about change.

Thinking on positive attributes about your spouse can change your heart about them, which then has the potential to improve your marriage!

When we rehearse the negative characteristics about our mate all day long, in our own mind and in the ears of others, we are only magnifying those issues. If a wife stews for hours about how she disdains that her husband dresses sloppily, when she sees him at the end of the day in his comfy clothes, those mental magnifiers will jump to attention! It won’t be easier to deal with – it will be more difficult because she’ll feel justified as she finger points in his “messy” direction.

Think how much sweeter it would be to think of ONE POSITIVE THING for which we could thank the Lord all day long. Perhaps it would be ~

his thoughtfulness
his work ethic
his provision for your family
his attention to detail
his love for God
his skills
his calm nature

Write it down.
Thank the Lord for that in your prayer time.
Write him a note telling him that you’re thankful for that area of his life.
Tell others both when he is present and when he is absent.

When we make a habit of rehearsing negative issues we’ll only feel overwhelmed and in despair. But when we trade those thoughts for the positive traits in our spouse, we can’t help but grow to love him more.

Let me set the example – I have a husband who is a romantic at heart. He is so great about doing the things to touch my heart. He brings flowers. He remembers our engagement anniversary. He is loves to surprise me with gestures like bringing me breakfast while I’m having my quiet time. He is such a special blessing in my life!

What one thing could you say today about your spouse? Why not start by sharing it in the comments?

Refresh your marriage with positive thoughts!

denise a

Uncategorized

A Surprising Discovery

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 RefreshHer7 Comments

Have you ever discovered something that was in a totally unexpected place? I know the (embarrassed) feeling! A discovery was made years ago and I’ve never forgotten it. You can hear my story in the video below.

Keeping my kitchen drawers cleaned out is a regular chore for me now, but I pray that the spiritual lesson it taught me will be even more ingrained in my life so that nothing will get “swept into” my heart that will break my fellowship with God.

Do your spiritual life a favor and check your heart.

Did you check your silverware drawer? How was it?

Do you daily set a pretty table for supper?

Refresh your heart by guarding it carefully,

denise a

Main entree · salad · Side dish

Refreshing the Tossed Salad

January 7, 2019January 5, 2019 RefreshHer12 Comments

Tossed salads are good on occasion, but I love a salad that’s full of good things – not just greens, but fruit, nuts, cheeses, and maybe some protein!

At Christmas I made up a salad for a side dish to go with our Christmas dinner. I wanted a green salad with great flavor and some Christmas color. I served the salad before the rest of the meal was set out. My family raved about it. They also said it would make a great entree’. So, last week I decided to repeat that salad and add some roasted chicken to make it a meal. Wow. It was so good!

Here’s how I made it:

Christmas Salad

Spring mix
Pomegranate seeds (Here’s how to seed a pomegranate)
Gala Apples – diced
Sugared Walnuts
Honey Goat Cheese
Diced roasted chicken

Place ingredients in large bowl. Drizzle with dressing just before serving.

Maple Dijon Dressing

1 Tablespoon (heaping) Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup (more To Taste)
1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar (more To Taste)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
Salt And Pepper, to taste

In a small jar, mix Dijon, maple syrup, vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Put the lid on the jar and shake well to mix.

If you want to make this as a side salad, simply omit the chicken. I found the Honey Goat Cheese at Aldi. If you can’t find it, you could use regular goat cheese or Feta.

I whipped up a batch of Pumpkin Muffins to go with this supper and it made a great winter dinner!

Whether you make it as a side or an entree’, I’ll bet you’ll be like me and will fix it for more than just Christmas!

Refresh the tossed salad!

denise a