Author: RefreshHer

breakfast

An Ocean of Waffles

RefreshHer7 Comments

Waffles 2a

Breakfast cravings can be difficult to deliver.  It’s early, you’re busy.  Who has time to make waffles on a regular workday?  My solution to this is to find a day that’s not as busy and make up a whole recipe of waffles and freeze them for those busy days!  I know, I know, you’re saying, “You can buy these in the store already frozen!”  But it’s hard to beat a homemade waffle that has egg whites beaten into it that make them light and fluffy!

This recipe is one I’ve made for years; it’s our very favorite.  My husband will even eat them plain!  They’re that good!  This made up an ocean of waffles; about 20 individual squares.  They smell so good you might have a hard time saving some for the freezer, but try to resist!  

Everyday Waffles

  • 1 3⁄4cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 3⁄4cups milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1⁄2 cup cooking oil (I used 1/4)
  • 2 egg whites, beaten stiff

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.
  2. In another bowl, beat the egg yolks, slightly; stir in the milk, oil and the vanilla.
  3. Add the egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Stir until just moistened (the batter should still be slightly lumpy).
  4. Beat 2 egg whites until stiff.  Fold into batter, leaving some fluffs of egg.
  5. Pour 1 to 1 1/4 cups batter onto the grids of a preheated, lightly greased waffle iron . Close the lid quickly and do not open until done.
  6. When done lift the waffles of the iron with a fork.
  7. Repeat the procedure with the remaining batter.
waffles 1
A whole tray of Golden Waffles ready for the freezer!
strawberries
Fresh Strawberries came in the right time!
Waffles 2
This breakfast is possible even on a busy day!  Pop a prepared waffle into the toaster to warm it up and top it with fresh strawberries and a little syrup!  Yum!

Layer these in Freezer bags with waxed paper in-between.  You’ll be able to take out one or two at a time without them sticking together!

Refresh your breakfast with homemade waffles!

With love from my country kitchen,

accessories

Using Pinterest To Help Your Closet

RefreshHer2 Comments

I’ve mentioned this idea before but I wonder, how often do you feel frustrated about what to wear?  I’m right there with you.  I feel like I can get into a boring routine of wearing the same things together.  Whenever I feel that way, I open up my PInterest account and find just the help and inspiration I need!  Let me expand the idea I’ve shared a couple years ago.   Here’s what I do:

  • In the search engine, I type in the main component of the wardrobe I want to wear, such as blue seersucker skirt.
  • I also add whether I need a casual outfit or dressy and add that to my search.
  • I hit “enter” and then scroll through its findings:

Salmon Pink Top:

:

red pencil skirt outfits | pencil skirt, red cardigan, leopard print pumps and denim shirt outfit:

 

seersucker summer | styleatacertainage:

The pictures above are ones I would click on because they’re my style.  I pin it onto my wardrobe board, then though I don’t have the exact components for each of these outfits, I may find something that’s similar in my own closet.

The other things that helpful in these Pinterest pictures are the accessories that go well with the outfit.  It may give a different color or style of shoe that I’ve never thought of before!  It changes things up and makes getting dressed fun!

Keep your wardrobe refreshed by letting your Pinterest account come to your aid!  It’s like having a personal assistant for your closet!

Refresh your heart this weekend by attending all the services at your Bible believing church!

Stay refreshed,

Uncategorized

Today Is A New Day

RefreshHerLeave a comment

This morning when I looked down at my phone it said,

You have memories from April 26, want to see?

I clicked, “Yes” and it showed a photo gallery of photos that I had snapped while my husband and I rode bikes on Monday.  It was really neat.  It zoomed in on some pictures and let me remember the fun we’d had.

When you and I look back to our yesterday or the day before that,, or the weekend, we may smile and rejoice over wonderful things that took place.  Or our heart may swing to the other side of the pendulum and cause us to choke back grief over a memory that broke our hearts.  But no matter the memory, we all need to remember that

Today is a new day!

When you remember your yesterday, smile at the memory of victories won!  Wipe away the tears from its sorrows, then let’s grab God’s Word and arm ourselves for this day. Let’s walk with Him today.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  

Yep, not yesterday’s joys or pain, but today’s wonder!  Let’s ask, “What will God do today??”  Now we must look expectantly for His work and join Him today!

Lovingly,

Uncategorized

Unworthy Servants

RefreshHer6 Comments

I’m truly amazed at the opportunity God gives us to serve Him.  He doesn’t need people to accomplish His purposes, yet He gives us the privilege to be used of Him!  What a privilege and honor to do anything for the God who made me, saved me and keeps me secure!  I owe Him everything and am so thankful to have the chance to obey His call!

This past weekend that call led me to The Wilds in North Carolina to speak at the Ladies’ Retreat. So much prayer had gone into this weekend and  He answered so many of those requests.  Even now I’m continuing to see, hear and understand His hand and how He answered in every area.

  • We had prayed for 30 ladies from our church to go.  I believe the final count was 32!
  • The weather was supposed to be rainy for the entire weekend.  When we started out it was sprinkling.  By the time we made it to camp, I had to put on my sunglasses.  It was beautiful the rest of the weekend!
  • I’ve NEVER done a retreat without dealing with a migraine.  I did not have one at all while I was speaking!!
  • I had asked the Lord for recall of passages of Scripture.  He answered.
  • I prayed for remembrance of names.  He heard.
  • I desired to see decisions made for Christ.  I just learned yesterday afternoon about lives being surrendered while at camp!  To God be the glory!!

A retreat is such a blessing because it allows us to really focus on the Lord, His Word and what He wants to do to change us!  All the distractions are removed and we hear God’s voice clearer and stronger.  If you were at this retreat, or if you’ve attended a retreat recently, can I encourage you about how to maximize your time there?  I wrote this post last year about how to get the most out of your time away and make the most of those very fast 24 hours.

Thank you to all of you who prayed for me!  God heard those prayers and helped me in such special ways!  I doubt there’s ever been a speaker who had as much support present!  “My ladies” were so precious to encourage me in really, really special ways!  I love each of you dearly and thank the Lord for the ways you lifted my arms up as I served Him!

Here are some pictures of our time away:

160426_174503_collage-1.jpg

160426_175044_collage-1.jpg
Sweets, sisters, Spouse, support, sacrifice and surrender are the summary of these pictures!!!

Were you at The Wilds?  What is a memory you have of the weekend?

Lovingly,

 

 

Marriage

Monday Marriage Matters Recap

RefreshHerLeave a comment

As my husband and I approach our 35th anniversary, I’m realizing more and more how rare it is to have the word longevity attached to the word married.  The salon where I get a pedicure usually has young women working as the staff.  As I strike up conversation with them as they work, it seems that nearly every one of them has told me they came from a divorced home.  I realize that there are lots of reasons, and lots of stories, but it doesn’t change the fact that divorce is not God’s plan or idea for marriage.

Still, marriage is hard.  Marriage can have all kinds of difficult things to deal with, but marriage matters to God, and it must matter to those who believe and live out the Bible.  Someone has to make sure that communication happens.  It takes effort and intentional thought and planning to keep the marriage thriving!

It is for those reasons that I began the #Mondaymarriagematters photos on my Instagram.  I want to encourage women to post pictures of what they are doing to make the most of their marriage.  At the end of each month I do a recap of my pictures, and today it’s time for that review!

Here’s my month of pictures for Monday Marriage Matters:

160425_215521_collage-1.jpg

  • One Sunday evening after church, we took our meal outside to the back porch where I had turned on the white lights.  We sat on the swing and ate our simple lunch.  Afterwards we watched an episode of Andy Griffith together while cuddling on the swing.  It was romantic, simple and gave us time to unwind after a busy day of ministry.
  • We’re loving our new patio area and fire pit.  We had a fire for two one night!
  • Yesterday provided the perfect weather for a bike ride on a bike path near us.  We only rode about 5-6 miles, but we enjoyed sitting on a bench for a while.  It gave us uninterrupted time to talk and catch up after a busy weekend.  We also read Scripture together (on my husband’s phone) and then we had a time of prayer.  Sigh…what a sweet leader he is!
  • Dollywood is open for the season and we took one of our Monday’s off and spent a few hours walking through the park.  Season passes there give us a great place to get away together for the day to a place we both love.  We don’t really ride many rides when it’s just the two of us, but when you have eachother, it’s fun, no matter!

If you’re not joining us for the picture posts, I hope you’ll jump on board!  It really helps to have a little nudge to keep the romance flames burning!  Why?  Because Marriage matters!

You can follow me on Instagram at DeniseC_RefreshHer .

Lovingly,