Happy Summer… And Let’s Tackle The Recession With A Strategy of Hope

Hello, Friend!

You are on my mind. I hope you’re enjoying this first week of summer!

I’m seeing a lot of talk on social media regarding the state of the world and the recession. I realize there is a bit of a debate about whether we’re already in a recession or heading toward one, but either way, we are seeing and hearing that word everywhere. Gas and grocery prices are the highest they’ve been in several years. Supply chain issues are still affecting the grocery shelves (and every other industry).

How are you feeling? Is the stress getting to you? Are you worried about your finances?

Today, I want to remind you to look to our Heavenly Father for hope and encouragement. He is good. Always good. And He is our Source of strength and hope and provision. He says He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He never goes back on His word.

Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! Romans 15:13 TPT

I have more to share on the goodness, provision, and abundance of God, but I want to go ahead and get to some practical ideas that I hope will help you today.

Here are some ideas about making your money go a little further right now.

Coupon Apps/Websites

If you’re not using coupon apps, you’re leaving money on the table. I’m listing my top choices below. I have used every one of ‌these websites and/or apps and have cashed in my points for gift cards. Hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards over the years!

Just keep in mind that they are supposed to be helping you make the most of your money. Your time is precious. Don’t allow them to become a time-suck!

Fetch Rewards: This is how I turn my receipts into FREE gift cards. Try it and get 2,000 points! All you do is snap a photo of your receipt. And it can be ANY receipt, not just ones from the grocery store. I’ve been using this one for the shortest amount of time, but it is my favorite. It’s the easiest one to use. Never glitches. And they occasionally offer additional perks, such as free magazine subscriptions (i.e. Better Homes & Gardens, Town & Country, Eating Well, Harper’s Bazaar, etc.).

Ibotta: This is another free app that gets you cash back on the stuff you buy every day. Just use my referral code: ktilyma and you’ll get a bonus!

My Points: This site gives you multiple options for earning points, which you can turn into gift cards! You can take surveys, shop, answer poll questions, find coupons, upload receipts, click for points, etc.

Swagbucks: This one is pretty much identical to My Points. Earn points when you shop online! I’ve been a member of this platform the longest and have purchased many birthday and Christmas gifts with the gift cards I earned.

Grocery Savings

Shop at Aldi! I have been shopping at Aldi for 10+ years and am super thankful to my friend, Clarissa, who told me about it back in the day. I had seen a few bloggers mention it but had never been myself, so when we moved back to the States, I found out there were two stores close to me. If you haven’t been to an Aldi yet, find one near you ASAP! I always feel so great about how much I get for my money when I shop there. What a great feeling!

Aldi has a wonderful selection of groceries (including organic items), and don’t miss the fun, middle aisle! You never know what you’ll find. It’s like a treasure hunt.

And if you’re going to Aldi for the very first time, take a quarter for your shopping cart. And take your own bags, unless you want to pay for new ones.

If you don’t have an Aldi near you, make sure you sign up for your local grocery store rewards card. This can save you hundreds of dollars each year and always gives you the best deals. With my local grocery rewards card, I can use my points for groceries or gas. Today I saved 40 cents per gallon, which felt pretty good!

If you have pets, shop online at Chewy.com! I have been buying our cat and dog food via Chewy for years. They are fast, reliable, and have the best customer service in the world!

A couple of years ago, our cat, Elliot, got sick and passed away suddenly. We had just received our Chewy order with a fresh bag of Elliot’s prescription cat food. I called them to see if I could return the unopened bag. They not only gave me a refund, but they also suggested I donate that bag to my local vet.

Then I came home from work a day or two later to this…

Chewy sent us flowers from a local florist and included a heartfelt message of sympathy. That’s what I call a five-star experience. During our sadness at losing our sweet pet, Chewy was the epitome of sensitivity and compassion. I’ve been a faithful customer ever since (We have two cats, two dogs-sometimes three when Austin’s dog is here-and a fish.).

Shop on Amazon.com! Are you a Prime member? Get ready because the Prime Day deals are already looking hot! Prime Day is actually two days – July 12 & 13. Mark your calendar! And if you’re not a member, why not?? There are so many benefits. Shopping, obviously, but also shipping/delivery benefits, streaming and digital benefits, reading benefits, and more!

One of the best ways to get deals on Amazon is to sign up for their Subscribe & Save program. It’s a subscription you set up for items you regularly use. I’ve ordered all kinds of things through Subscribe & Save over the years… from toilet paper to snacks to elderberry syrup and supplements to cleaning supplies.

Another favorite Amazon feature is their Audible membership! But since this is a post about saving money, go to your local library for your audiobooks. 🙂

What else do you hope to find a way to save money on right now?

Leave your thoughts in the comments. I’ll be back soon with more ideas.

Love & Blessings!

Scarlett xo

{This post contains my affiliate links, which simply means that when you purchase through my links, I make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you!}

Happy Mother’s Day to You

Hey Mom!

Are you looking forward to having the spotlight all on you this Sunday?

You are a rockstar!

Let your people love on and spoil you this weekend!

It’s time to honor you!

I know motherhood is hard. It’s endless hours of being available and “on.” It’s putting yourself last much of the time. I know it can be exhausting and thankless.

Hopefully, you have a supportive spouse or significant other or friends who cheer you on! (And don’t forget to teach those little ones to say “thank you”!)

But if not, I am in your corner, jumping up and down! Here I am shouting, “You are amazing!” “I celebrate you today!” “You’re doing an outstanding job!”

If you’re feeling a little worn down and weary…

If you’re wishing for a break…

If you’re not sure you’re cut out for this job…

Just remember, this is a marathon and a journey. It’s not a sprint.

And there is grace for every step.

Some seasons will certainly be busier and go by faster. But keep the long game in mind.

This is an adventure with the Lord and your kids.

Keep the relationships in the front of your mind. If your little one is only 2 years old, picture them in 10 years. And then in 20 years.

What do you want your relationship to look like at those intervals? In keeping the big picture vision in mind, you won’t get bogged down in the daily stuff as much.

Remember that God chose you to be the mama out of all the women in the world today. He picked you for your child and your child for you. He wove all that DNA together and tied an enormous bow on top. His gifts are good and perfect.

So I hope they greet you on Sunday morning with breakfast in bed or a pleasant lunch out or a fun picnic at your favorite park!

It’s your special day. Enjoy every moment.

Thinking of you,

Scarlett xo

P.S. Check out this touching, new song: Anne Wilson’s Mamas

Huge List of Christmas Favorites!

Hello and welcome to our Huge List of Christmas Favorites!

When my children were little, one of my favorite Christmas traditions was to take 25 Christmas books and wrap them in Christmas wrapping paper. I put them together in a big basket near the Christmas tree. Then each morning, starting December 1, the kids would take turns picking out a book and opening it. We would make hot chocolate or spiced tea and enjoy a cozy time of reading together. Such sweet memories!

In this list, we’re including both books and movies we have collected over the last 25 years.

Christmas Books:

Here are the advent books we’ve used and love:

Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide

Bartholomew’s Passage: A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide

Tabitha’s Travels: A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide

We read these top five over and over in our home:

One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Elmo’s Christmas Colors by Constance Allen

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston

The Mitten by Jan Brett

And here are a few more we’ve collected over the years or checked out from our local library:

If You’re Missing Baby Jesus: A True Story that Embraces the Spirit of Christmas by Jean Gietzen

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

Dream Snow by Eric Carle

A Christmas Carol: A Young Reader’s Edition of the Classic Holiday Tale by Charles Dickens

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola

The Night Before Christmas: The Anniversary Edition by Clement C. Moore

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

Christmas In The Country by Cynthia Rylant

The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale by Angela Elwell Hunt

Miracle in a Shoe Box: A Christmas Gift of Wonder by Franklin Graham

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

Madeline’s Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans

My Christmas Treasury by Gale Wiersum

The Christmas Donkey by T. William Taylor

Frosty The Snowman by Annie North Bedford

Just in Time for Christmas by Louise Borden

Angelina’s Christmas by Katharine Holabird

A Full House: An Austin Family Christmas by Madeleine L’Engle

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff

The Shoe Box by Francine Rivers

Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson

One Snowy Night by M. Christina Butler

Thomas’ Christmas Delivery (Thomas & Friends) by Tommy Stubbs

The Christmas Dolls: A Butterfield Square Story by Carol Beach York

Christmas Movies:

The Preacher’s Wife – This one is my very favorite – I mean, it’s Whitney!!!! I love watching it while we decorate our freshly cut Christmas tree.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

White Christmas

It’s A Wonderful Life

Elf

Come To The Stable

Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street (We enjoy both the older version and this newer one. The Santa in this one reminds me of my dad. xo)

Christmas with the Kranks (Here is a bonus DVD offer with The Holiday – another favorite of mine but definitely PG-13.)

The Bells of St. Mary’s

Christmas Carol: The Movie (with Kate Winslet)

Disney’s A Christmas Carol

The Bishop’s Wife

The Polar Express

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Rise of the Guardians

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Jingle Jangle – this one came out on Netflix last year!

We love the fun and endearing memories we’ve made over the years reading and watching these favorites together. Now that three of my children have moved out on their own, those memories are more cherished than ever.

Get your books ready to wrap! December 1st will be here soon.

I’d love to hear your favorites, too, so please share them in the comments!

{This post contains my affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This simply means that when you make a purchase through my links, I get paid a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!}

Our Favorite Pumpkin Bread

A Family Recipe

Hey Friend!

Are you a pumpkin spice fan?

Do you enjoy all the pumpkin-fall-related things? Lattes? Donuts? Muffins? Pies? Cocktails? Smoothies?

I will raise my hand and admit that I don’t get the whole PSL fandom. Eek. I know, I know. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have friends and family who love them. And I will happily buy one for you anytime we meet for a coffee date. But I will be the one abstaining from the PSL and cheerfully ordering anything caramel or mocha, instead! 😂

I love actual pumpkin, though!

When Bob, Emma, and I were living in Venezuela for a short time, we were there in November and decided we wanted to make a Thanksgiving dinner. There was no canned pumpkin, but I found a fresh pumpkin in my local mercado. So I made a pumpkin pie from scratch for the first time, which was a lot of work and a very special treat.

Every year when the air cools down and the leaves start their descent and the days get shorter, you can bet that the kids and I pull out our favorite pumpkin recipes and turn on the oven. Not so much for pumpkin pie from scratch (I do like the ease of canned pumpkin!) but for pumpkin muffins or bread and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin scones. Yum!

I want to share one of our very favorite recipes with you today. We’ve made this one for as long as I can remember. Everyone in the family raves about it and always wants to take extra to share at work or with friends.

It makes wonderful bread or perfect muffins!

Pumpkin Bread

2 cups canned pumpkin

3 cups sugar

1 cup water

1 cup vegetable or light olive oil

4 eggs

3 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, water, oil, and eggs. Beat until well mixed.

Combine all dry ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, beating until smooth.

Grease two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans and dust them with flour. Evenly divide the batter between the two pans. Bake for 60 – 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 – 15 minutes before serving.

Or if you prefer muffins… prepare your muffin tins. Evenly divide the batter between the sections of the muffin tins. This will make twenty-four muffins. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

These loaves (and muffins) freeze well, too.

Happy baking!

Welcome back, Autumn!

Hello Lovely,

I realize I’ve been quiet for a while now. Sorry to leave you hanging.

Honestly, 2021 has been as hard, if not harder, than 2020 was. It’s weird to put that in writing. There have definitely been some wonderful, beautiful, enjoyable aspects to this year. But man, there have also been some hard times and so much grief. We lost three very significant people in our lives in the first 6 months of this year. I’m not sure I’m ready to write about those losses yet. I am processing them and will share more at a later time.

I had planned to write so many things at the time of my last post, but life just kept happening, and I didn’t have it in me.

So… I’m starting today to pick up the pieces. I love being able to tell stories about my life and what I’m experiencing. And I hope to bring some encouragement to you as you mother your little one/s. It’s such an important job and the days are full. I want to cheer you on and support you as much as possible!

Today is the first day of autumn here in the US, and it is a day I look forward to every year.

I adore the four distinct seasons that we get to experience and enjoy on the East Coast. If I had to name a favorite, it would be spring. But all four of the seasons have such unique aspects to them. I look forward to the transition into each one.

Growing up in Texas, I didn’t see the distinction of fall as clearly as I experienced both in Canada and here in Virginia. The colors of the season are truly breathtaking. I cannot wait to take them in again this year.

We have the house decorated and plan to buy some mums for the front porch this week. The leaves are beginning to fall, and I know well see them changing color soon.

Do you love decorating for fall? What are your favorite decorations?

We are experiencing some cooler temps this week, so tonight’s dinner was turkey chili. It seemed fitting for marking the new season. I’ve been looking forward to pulling out the stock pot and cooking up some delicious, warm soups and chilis and stews for my family. I’ll share some recipes soon.

Happy Fall! 🌾 🍁 🍂

My Favorite Hymn When I Was a Little Girl and Happy Easter!

A cross with mountains in the background and a colorful sky.

Happy Good Friday!

I grew up in church and as a pastor’s kid (lovingly referred to as a PK). I’ve always loved music and singing. I distinctly remember being five years old and loving the hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” by George Bennard.

One week I even made a request to our worship minister to add it to our Sunday hymn list. And he did!

I’m not sure why that specific hymn stood out to me so much. Maybe it’s because it was that same year that I came to the understanding of my need for Christ and gave my life to Him – the single most important decision of my life.

The song is still meaningful and precious to me today, forty-six years later.

Here are the lyrics, in case you’re not familiar with it…

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

the emblem of suffering and shame;

and I love that old cross where the dearest and best

for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

and exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

has a wondrous attraction for me;

for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above

to bear it to dark Calvary. [Refrain]

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

a wondrous beauty I see,

for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

to pardon and sanctify me. [Refrain]

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,

its shame and reproach gladly bear;

then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,

where his glory forever I’ll share. [Refrain]

United Methodist Hymnal

Public Domain

Here is a version I love by Marvin Sapp.

How do you commemorate Good Friday and celebrate Resurrection Day?

We’ve done many Easter crafts and activities over the years. We’ve had so much fun dying eggs and hunting for them. We also had a set of Resurrection Eggs a long time ago. We had Easter DVDs that we all enjoyed, especially The Gospel of John.

Our longest-lasting tradition is to make Resurrection Rolls on Easter morning.

Have you heard of them?

I started this family activity when my kids were little, and we still make them every year. I imagine we’ll continue making them with the grandkids one of these days!

The idea is to provide a memorable and interactive visualization of what happened in the grave.

Not only did Jesus die a horrible death on the cross for us. Even more unbelievable and crucial to our salvation was that He also rose from the dead!

We can find the full story in Matthew 26-28 and John 18-21.

This visual lesson includes these Scriptures:

The marshmallow represents Jesus’ body – Matthew 27:45-55

The dough represents the tomb – Matthew 27:57-61 and John 19:38-42

The butter, sugar, and cinnamon represent the oils and spices Jesus’ friends put on His body – John 19:40

Here’s the recipe…

Resurrection Rolls

Ingredients:

1 10-ounce package refrigerated crescent rolls

8 large marshmallows

¼ cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper (you can lightly grease your baking sheet, but parchment paper is even better!).

Unroll crescent rolls and separate them into triangles.

In a small mixing bowl, stir together cinnamon and sugar.

Line all ingredients up in this order: marshmallows, melted butter, cinnamon-sugar mixture, and triangles of dough.

Dip one marshmallow into melted butter, then roll in sugar mixture. Place in the center of a crescent triangle. Roll up sides and pinch together carefully so the melted marshmallow can’t escape. Repeat.

Place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon and sugar.

Bake in a 400-degree oven for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.

While the children are waiting for the rolls to be ready, read Matthew 28:1-6 to them.

Let the rolls cool for a minute or two, then break one open to show the empty tomb! And joyfully exclaim: He isn’t here—he has risen victoriously, just as he said!

{BTW, we usually triple this recipe.}

Be Encouraged in Hope

I pray that no matter how you celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this weekend, you will be blessed with wonderful family time, encouraged in the hope of His Kingdom and that you make beautiful memories with your loved ones.

Jesus is risen!

Thinking of you,

Scarlett xo

{This post contains my affiliate links. This means that when you make a purchase through one of my links, I get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.}

The Hope of Springtime

What are you looking forward to in the next few months?

A photo I took of a flowering pear tree in our front yard.

Hey Friend,

How are you?! Happy March!

Are you excited that springtime is just around the corner?

Do you have exciting plans for this month? This season?

Facebook has been flooded with photos of kids going back to school this week. Did you hear the loud collective sigh from all the parents? Maybe you were one of those sighing! I hope everyone enjoys the new routine.

Yesterday at our house the temperature rose to a sunny 57 degrees F. and the birds have been singing. The girls and I enjoyed driving around with the windows down in the afternoon. The breeze felt amazing and has us dreaming of springtime!

There are adorable baby lambs at the farm where Ava works and tons of baby calves at the farm where Ben works. It’s such a season of life and hope!

The month of March is special to us because we have two birthdays to celebrate 🎉🎉 (soon to be three with a new baby cousin due later in the month), St. Patrick’s Day, the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, the first day of spring, a busier work season, Passover and Palm Sunday. All this plus the joy of watching the greys of winter slowly turn into the greens and the colors of spring. Oh, and starting a garden!

I love each season for its unique beauty, temperatures, and experiences, but I get especially giddy about springtime. The new life springing up every day is stunning, and I search for it as if I’m on a treasure hunt. The crocuses, grape hyacinths, and daffodils will poke their cheerful heads out of the ground soon.

Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

My godparents were from Ireland. Even though they passed on a long time ago, I still smile when I think of them. I always loved hearing the thick, beautiful Irish brogue when they spoke.

Over the years, we have enjoyed studying the life of the actual man behind the holiday. It is a fascinating and inspiring story of abduction, love, and sacrifice. If you have never heard the true story about the life of Saint Patrick, here are some great reads and ideas on how you can celebrate at your house.

Patrick: Servant of Jesus Christ by Sandra Pavloff Conner

Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola

Be sure to check your local library for other books and resources.

Some additional fun ideas to include in your St. Patrick’s Day celebration…

The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day by Mike Berenstain

How about some Irish tunes…

Riverdance performance for Queen Elizabeth – I’ve always enjoyed watching Irish dancers. Their energy is amazing, and they look like they’re having so much fun!

Vintage St. Patrick’s Day Music

We usually serve corned beef and cabbage or Beer Braised Irish Stew and Colcannon for our March 17th supper. Yum! I also make this Irish Tea Cake.

Here are some fun activities to do with your kids!

Fingerprint Rainbow Pot of Gold

St. Patrick’s Day Word Search

St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Pages

Check my Pinterest Board for some fun Treasure Hunt ideas! And make sure you have a Pot of Gold waiting at the end of the rainbow (filled with Hershey Gold Nuggets or Gold Coins)!

Read this Prayer Composed by St. Patrick

20 Irish Blessings

In our homeschool studies, one of our favorite things is to learn about other cultures. We have lived in two other countries and have had the honor to meet people from all over the world. So we have made it a priority to learn the history, customs, languages, cuisine, geography, and folklore of other incredible places.

I believe it makes our lives so much richer to learn about people and countries different from our own. The world is full of beautiful people! I have a long list of countries to visit.

Here is a great resource if you want to take the week to study Ireland and Irish Culture.

Celebrating You in 2020

Hey Mama,

We did it! Are you ready to celebrate? We made it to the end of one whacky, nutty, turbulent, hard year.

Can you believe it’s December 31?

Are you dancing for joy or just barely crawling toward midnight? Whichever one, I hope you can find time today to celebrate. You made it!

And tomorrow we get to start fresh.

I know it’s been challenging (are we over that word yet?). It’s been filled with the unexpected. And loss. It’s caused us to re-evaluate our lives like never before. What really and truly matters? What path was I even on? And why? Do I want to stay on that same path or forge a new one? What do I really want out of life? How do I create the life I want?

I have asked myself all of those questions (and more) this year.

I’ve seen lots of people cursing the year or making fun of those who started the year by saying it would be ‘2020: the year of perfect vision’.

But honestly, I have been calling this my year of clarity. Maybe it wasn’t the 20-20 vision I had planned or expected, but it has brought some crystal-clear vision for me, personally. I faced some hard decisions and walked through the muck of getting the answers. I know what I want and how to get there. I’m thankful, crazy thankful, that despite all the difficulties, I found truth and clarity.

What about you? Did this year bring up these questions for you? Have you been able to get clear on what matters to you? What you want in life? Where you want your family to go? What are the things you want to be and know and do and experience?

If not, I suggest you start by making a list of all the things you are thankful for. Go back to January and go week by week. There is something to be thankful for in each day, but if that seems too daunting, just look at the week or the month.

List anything and everything that comes to mind. This practice will help you see all that God has blessed you with and what you want more of.

Next, make two columns, one for the things you want to keep or welcome in your life, and the other for the things you’d like to say goodbye to.

This could be as simple as . . .

Column A – Keep or Welcome

Eat green veggies 3x/week

Start a new business by March 1

Start the day with Bible reading

Call one friend every Wednesday

Column B – Bye Felicia

Cut out sugar Mon-Fri

Quit job by July 1

Cut phone time to 2 hours/day or less

Assess apps to see if they are necessary

And so forth . . .

Next, write out your dreams.

List them out. No matter how small or how massive! Don’t let your logical thinking get in the way. Really go crazy with it!

Who are you? What do you feel you were created for? Where do you want to be one year from now? What steps do you need to take for those dreams to become a reality in your life?

My dream is for more freedom in my life. Thanks to good ole 2020, I now have that. Because of the lockdown and being furloughed back in March, I was able to reevaluate and decide what I want that freedom to look like and how to make that happen.

If you are floundering or feel crushed under the weight of this year, in addition to the exercises above, I recommend listening to messages and reading books that can help propel you forward. Being stuck is a sucky-duck place to be.

I want you to be brought out to a spacious, free-to-twirl-around place (see two of my favorite verses in Psalm 18:19 and Psalm 118:5). That’s God’s heart for us, as His daughters.

Here are some of my favorite messages, books and music that helped me grow, ministered to me, or brought me into worship this year . . .

Myles Munroe’s Overcoming Seasons of Crisis

James Clear’s Atomic Habits

Jeff Olson’s The Slight Edge

Dr. Cindy Trimm’s Commanding Your Morning

Bill Johnson’s Born for Significance

Hillsong’s King of Kings

Bethel’s Goodness of God

Elevation Church/Kari Jobe/Cody Carnes’ The Blessing

Another fantastic resource I want you to know about is the read through the Bible in a year plan I followed this year. It’s the Bible Recap on the You Version Bible App. This year I did something I’ve never done before. I listened to the entire Bible! I loved it and highly recommend it. There is also a daily podcast that goes along with the readings. And don’t miss the intro videos for each book. It’s a special resource, and I hope you check it out if you’re interested in reading (or listening!) through the Bible in 2021.

Well, my Friend, I want you to know that I’m proud of you. You accomplished a heck of a lot in 2020. I’m giving you a standing ovation!

I’d love to hear about your dreams and plans for the new year. Please drop them in the comments. I read every word.

Thinking of you,

Scarlett xo

{This post contains my affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I make a small commission. Many thanks!}

Making Christmas Memories

Hello, Lovely Mom!

How are you?

I hope you are healthy and enjoying the month of December. It’s hard to believe we are just a week away from Christmas!

Have you been able to celebrate this magical season? Even if it’s just at home with your family? I know this year is hard and different from previous years. It’s our job to make the most of it, though. We can do this!

What are your family traditions? I’d love to read about them in the comments. Please share!

It’s so special and important to keep traditions. Along with faith, I believe they are the backbone of our families. Bob and I have established many of our own traditions over the course of our marriage, having children, and living in three different countries.

One custom my family of origin had once I was a little older was having homemade tamales on Christmas Eve. The wonderful Spanish-speaking congregation that was part of my church would bring us delicious, handmade tamales every December 24th, and it became a super special memory for me. There is nothing like unwrapping that warm, golden cornhusk to find a mouth-watering tamale inside.

When Bob and I moved from Texas to Canada, we had to search for good Mexican food. We love our Tex-Mex, so it was important to us. Unfortunately, it was pretty scarce, so I learned how to make my own, and for many years now, that has been our traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

I make two or three kinds of enchiladas, homemade Spanish rice, black beans (which comes from our Venezuela days), chips, salsa, guacamole, and we serve Jarritos, Mexican or Texas-themed beer and/or margaritas, etc. And I still want to learn how to make my own tamales to add to our menu!

We have many other traditions, especially during the Christmas season. When the kids were younger, I would wrap 25 Christmas-themed picture books and put them in a basket near or under the Christmas tree. We would make hot cocoa and open one book every morning to read together on the couch. Such sweet memories!

Here are a few of our faves: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (and don’t miss the adorable movie version), The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story, One Wintry Night, and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.

We also had an advent calendar every year, everything from chocolates to Legos. We also had special advent-themed books that we would read in the evenings.

Then there are the foods that became part of our celebrations. When the older kids were younger, I started making fudge and giving it as gifts. I also made a Spiced Tea mix and gave that as gifts. And then we discovered Gingerbread (the cake, not the crunchy cookie man)! Oh, wow. How many pans of Gingerbread have we made over the years?

These are all still precious favorite traditions in our home. They bring back warm, cozy memories and help create that special, distinct holiday atmosphere that everyone longs for and feels at home in.

We take a family photo each year, usually on Thanksgiving Day. I order Christmas cards from Shutterfly to send to friends and family all over the country (and continent). I look so forward to getting cards from our family members and from the friends we have made over our lifetimes. We are crazy blessed with beautiful relationships.

Since living in Virginia, we started a new tradition of going to a Christmas tree farm to pick out and cut down our tree. We have been to several in our years here, but the last three out of four years, we’ve only had to go right down the road to a friend’s tree farm where we always find the perfect one, usually a gorgeous White Pine. Then we head home, put on some Christmas music or pop in a Christmas movie, and decorate to our heart’s content.

I love seeing the ornaments we have collected over the years. A new tradition I started the last couple of years is to buy each of the kids their own ornaments to take with them when they move out on their own.

This year as we decorated, we watched my favorite Christmas movie, The Preacher’s Wife, with Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington, and Courtney B. Vance. In case you’re not familiar with it, it’s a more modern version of the 1947 movie, The Bishop’s Wife, (which I also love) and which was based on a book by the same title.

We love making Christmas cookies, Rolo Pretzel Delights, and Ginger Cookies and keeping hot spiced apple cider warming in a crock pot on the kitchen counter the entire month of December.

On Christmas morning I make a big breakfast of Farmer’s Casserole, Christmas Coffee Cake, Pigs in a Blanket, a tray of fruit, along with hot Wassail, and plenty of coffee. Now that the kids are older, we taking our time to open gifts and spend time together around the Christmas tree. Instead of a large Christmas dinner, we make loads of appetizers and snacks to have the rest of the day.

In keeping with Bob’s family tradition, we often go to see a movie in the theater late Christmas afternoon. I’m not sure if that will be an option this year or not. (Has anyone been to a movie theater in the past eight months?!)

No matter if you can do the big, normal celebrations you have always experienced or if you have to scale down to a smaller version of Christmas this year, I pray you have a warm, wonderful time making treasured memories with your family.

Thinking of you,

Scarlett xo

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Happy Thanksgiving!

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you purchase through these links. Many thanks!)

Hello, Lovely!

How are you?

We’ve almost made it to Thanksgiving, American friends! Are you looking forward to it or dreading it?

What are your plans? Have they changed or stayed the same?

I’ve been a little sad we won’t be with our dear friends who always host a large group of us every year.

I’ve also been so incredibly grateful when I think about the memories we’ve made with them over the past seven years. We don’t have any extended family who live here, so they have become like treasured family to us. It’s such a special relationship. Bob and I have been talking about them this week and thanking God for them and their place in our lives.

We’ll miss their gracious and warm hospitality. We’ll miss the Popeyes Cajun Turkey that they finish cooking on the grill. We’ll miss the enormous spread of delicious food. We’ll miss singing the blessing together before we dig in. We’ll miss the conversations around the table and cheering for the Cowboys’ game in the background. We’ll miss taking our Christmas card photo at their house.

But we have hope that we’ll be together again next year.

And this week, our family of seven will all be together, which makes this mama’s heart overflow with happiness. It’s been a month since we’ve all been home together. There will be warm spiced cider, spirited conversations, loads of our own Thanksgiving eats (including a Popeyes Turkey!), relaxing and movies and desserts and long walks. It will be different, but still very special.

And we’ll be grateful for health, and time spent together, and fresh memories made.

Isn’t that what this year has been for all of us? Different, but still special. A time to lean in to what we’re grateful for and looking to the future with renewed hope.

If you’re looking for some fun ideas for Thanksgiving break, I have some ideas:

Thanksgiving Mad Libs

Fun Thanksgiving Riddles and Trick Questions for Kids and Family

My Thanksgiving Activity Book, Ages 4-8

Bear Says Thanks by Margaret K. McElderry

Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende & Harry Devlin (don’t miss the recipe in the back!)

Thanksgiving Tattoo Party Favors

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal (For big kids & adults to enjoy!)

I pray you experience rich and beautiful blessings this week!

Thinking of you,

Scarlett xo