Sunday Snapshots: Memorable Moments from the Week

 

I’m looking back over the week we just completed, and my heart is full. I’ve enjoyed blessings. I’ve learned from hard moments. I’ve savored. I’ve worked really, really hard. And here’s a quick glimpse into some of my favorite moments.

Last Sunday I had the privilege of giving the message at church. I’ve known for weeks what I should share and was confident in what God put on my heart. But my GOODNESS did I ever undergo a ton of spiritual warfare in the 24 hours leading up to it. I was thankful that God gave me just enough last minute strength to stand tall and share with confidence…and a free afternoon to sleep for about three hours!

I had some extra long work days this week, but I was also so happy to see projects come to completion! I enjoyed meetings and trainings and marking many things off my to-do list. I realize this probably doesn’t zing everyone the same way it does me, but…

Learning how to dovetail classes into my days is going to be an ongoing learning curve. This week it felt messy. I don’t think it will be that way every week, but it was this week! Even in the messy and unwieldy, I learned and kept notes of things I don’t want to forget. I hope that never changes.

By mid-week, I worked multiple extra-long days, and I was worn out. Ryan was sweet to spend time with me one evening. Just like Lynne Ford promised me all those years ago, long (and/or hard) days won’t seem so overwhelming when you get to come home to a person who loves you!

Ryan and I took Lexi for a walk, and while we were out, it started looking so dark and stormy! We were not really close to home when it looked the worst, so we just hurried and hoped for the best. I was so grateful we didn’t get caught out in a storm! Whatever was going over us was not on the radar!

Friday morning we got up and had a TERRIBLE workout. When it was over, I curled up on the couch and went back to sleep! Ryan took a most unflattering (yet very funny!) photo of me, but I will spare you that memory. Instead, look at this cute picture of Lexi, chilling on the back of the couch while I knocked out some work.

Yesterday I had the best day with Ryan! A whole day together was just what we needed, and my heart is full today!

Saturday Suggestions: Inspirations for Your Weekend

 

Good morning, friends! I hope this month has brought good moments for you. Maybe some of them were wrapped in some hard circumstances, but even if that’s been true for you, I hope you’ve seen the goodness of God in some way!

                We have had a full, full month, and September promises to be more of the same. We are looking forward to it! To round out the month, here are some fun finds for you.

September is ALMOST here, so if you’re looking for some purpose and intention to fill your month, here’s a whole list of it, right here. Our September calendar is fairly full already, and our days are filled with much purpose, but I have often loved looking at lists just like this one to help me find some purposeful direction for a stretch of time. From things to do around the house to days to celebrate, there’s inspiration for everyone! (BONUS: Here’s a fall “slow-living” list if you need to catch your breath…)

You know of my undying love for pictures and memories, so I loved this idea from the “Date Your Spouse” website – formerly known as the Dating Divas. Inspired by the back-to-school season, this project is an ABC themed scrapbook of memories from your life together. Date nights, special events, etc. Not gonna lie…despite the million things I’m supposed to be doing right now, I’m intrigued to think my way through this!! There’s a free download on the post if you want to make a paper version of this book, but you could also make it digitally!

I am a huge advocate of rest. I’m sure it probably doesn’t seem like it when you read our adventures. Aren’t we on the go all the time? Indeed, we are not, and I am more adamant now than ever about protecting our time. Rest matters. And if you need a guilt-free reminder of why that is true, read these words.

This “Lost in Textlation” piece intrigued me! Aside from LOL, which I use frequently, I am wildly resistant to abbreviations/acronyms. It’s probably the writer in me. WRITE THE WHOLE WORD. Back in the day, when instant messages were all the interoffice rage, I remember getting so offended by coworkers who thanked me for my help with tx or ty. But I confess, in this article, I didn’t know what most of them meant. Guess if you’re not planning to use them, you don’t have to know them. (Sometime Ryan and I say “ILYSM” to each other just because we both know it gets on my nerves. It’s I love you so much if you didn’t know that one. And to clarify, I DO love him so much. But I prefer to tell him in whole words.) Anyway. How many did you know?

It’s been waaaaaay too hot here to even think about fires and s’mores – at least for me. But the cooler temps this week have put me in the mood for a good fire pit and s’more night. We haven’t yet found a fire pit, though, so that puts a damper on things. Meanwhile, I can try this version of a s’more!! (BONUS: Also…how many versions of s’mores are there, actually? Dip, pops, bark, granola, oatmeal, puppy chow…I think you get the idea.)

I’m not ready to decorate for fall just yet…maybe in another week or so. But I am ready to start being inspired for fall décor! And this post with blue and white tables for fall was perfect for me. Our dining room is blue and white, through and through, and I’m always looking for ways to make the season fit with that blue and white feel. If I can’t find an idea here, I might be in trouble!

Updates on Dreams and Goals from August

 

Wow, friends. August flew by at a ridiculously high rate of speed! I switched the perpetual calendar block in our kitchen yesterday and shook my head as I did so. How are we almost to September already?

                I confess this month went so quickly, I’m not even sure I remember each of my goals for the month. We will find out together how I did with them!

Start/finish our dining room project. YES! Oh, I cannot wait to tell you about this one. I know that each time we do a project, I say it’s my favorite, and this is no exception. The vision in my head showed up in reality, and I am so pleased with how it turned out. I promise to tell you all about it very soon.

Finish scrapbooking our Hocking Hills vacation. I did this! I was determined to finish that album before school started, and I did. (I also stayed up to date on my regular albums, which made me quite happy.)

Choose a location for our anniversary trip. I think we have done this???? (Don’t I sound convinced?) We talked about it quite a bit, and I think I know where we’re landing. Perhaps I shall verify.

Put the rest of our house back together. This was one of my favorite parts of August. We devoted so much time to really sorting through all the nooks and crannies of our house, cleaning out closets, cabinets, drawers, and shelves, and assembling everything in a way that made sense. We tossed and donated things that needed tossed and donated. We organized files. The house feels lovely now, and it is such a blessing.

Look for a wood fire pit. We did look. We did not make a purchase yet. Haven’t found one that is the price we like. We’ll keep hunting!

                I feel good about all we accomplished in August! Here’s to September!

Bekah's Bookshelf: My 2025 Reads So Far

 

                In May/June/July, I read twenty books for work. That is a lot of books (for me) in a short amount of time, especially when you consider all of them were for the purpose of learning and studying. I am so grateful that I chose to do this. I’ve employed many of the things I learned into my work already, and I know it began to prepare my mind for school and learning.

                In August, I “only” read two books…and here are my thoughts on those.

                 

                The first book I have to share with you today was actually my final read from July, but I read it after I posted that month! Jonathan gave me Philip Gulley’s book, For Everything a Season: Simple Musings on Living Well, and told me he thought I’d really like it. He was not wrong!

                Philip Gulley is a former Quaker pastor, and here’s a fun fact for you: before Ryan and I were married, I went with Jonathan and Julie to hear him speak one night! I LOVE his writing style. He says meaningful things, but he also weaves in great storytelling and humor. In fact, in the preface, he says, “I was once asked by a man if I wrote stories they way they happened or the way they should have happened. Both, I told him. While all of these stories have their origins in fact,  have been known to add a little window dressing. There was never a story anywhere that couldn’t be made a little better with embellishment, so I don’t apologize for that.” As a writer, I appreciate and love this.

                This book is based on the passage in Ecclesiastes that talks about a time and season for everything. Philip writes a chapter about each of the pieces of that passage. A time to be born…a time to die…a time to plant…a time to pluck up what is planted…on and on it went.

                The stories are so funny, and yet I underlined some really great nuggets. (Also fun? I recognized a couple of names he hadn’t changed. The Indiana Quaker world really is small!) One important note: I love his writing and storytelling, but I am fairly certain I don’t see eye to eye with him theologically. That doesn’t matter in a book like this one, but since he has written some books that lean into theology more, I felt it was important to make that distinction!

** I apparently failed to take a picture of this book! **

                My second book this month was John Mark Comer’s book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. I first heard of this book a couple of years ago from one of the guys in our small group. I put it on my wish list but never found a copy at a thrift store until very recently. Meanwhile, last year, I read his book Practicing the Way and really enjoyed that one.

                I figured starting school soon was a good motivator to read on the topic of eliminating hurry. Marriage…puppy parenting…full time work…school…not sure why I think hurry is coming for me! 😉

                In short, I loved this book. John Mark Comer doesn’t mince words about how we, as a society are just too hurried, but he also finds a kindness of tone that pushes you to want to slow down, not to feel bullied into it. He pulls examples from Jesus’ teaching (and lifestyle) and the slow changes of history that show just how far we’ve strayed from how we should and could live in a much healthier way if we’d just slow down.

                We have to choose it. We have to implement it. We have to be wildly intentional about it. We have to realize we’re going to mess it up, but we have to give ourselves permission to get back on track.

                As a person who no longer finds joy in a rat race, I loved the permission, the instruction, and the urge to simplify – and to do so to the glory of God. I think the hardest thing about eliminating hurry is the fact that the world doesn’t subscribe to this theory. To eliminate hurry and live simply in calendar and possessions means living in the minority.

                And that actually sounds really, really inviting.

                My last book this month was Faithprints by Rebekah Binkley Montgomery. I shared with you about one of her other books a few months ago. Rebekah and I attend the same church and when I met with her in her home earlier this year, she gifted me some copies of her books, and this was one of them. I have heard some of the women in our church talk about how much they love this one, so I was excited to read it.

                Faithprints is a unique book, because it teaches very practical ways to impact the world for the Lord, but it is a very easy and story-filled book. If you don’t love reading, you might still love this one, because it’s quick and easy to maneuver.

                Rebekah opens the book by talking about a dream she had where she focused on Jesus’ scarred hands, and He asked her (in her dream) if He could use her hands to accomplish his work on this earth. In the season of her life that followed, she began to learn how to crawl into the messy worlds of those around her to leave faithprints on their lives.

                She spends the book explaining different methods of leaving a faithprint and teaches her readers to learn which ones might be good fits for them. (We aren’t all created or gifted in the same ways, so we won’t all find ourselves equipped to serve in the same ways.)

                Some of the methods she explores include:

Giving

Visiting

Prayer

Gathering

Mobilizing

Fasting

                This book is written in a very practical way and would make a great individual or group study. If you’re looking to serve (or help those in your church serve) this is a fantastic resource!

Favorite Recipes from August

 

                It has been a good month of recipes here in Shafferland! Here are some of our favorites from August.

The Juiciest Marinated Steak and Steamed Green Beans – I knew we had a keeper when Ryan mentioned (twice) how much he liked the seasoning on these steaks! I purchased thin steaks from Aldi and mixed up the rub recipe earlier in the day. I left it for Ryan to apply before grilling, since I had church meetings that evening and got home late.) It was SO tasty. Not too salty, lots of flavor…keeper! We ate the steaks with steamed green beans fresh from our garden!

Summer Stuffed Zucchini Boats – This one was extra fun to make, because I used zucchini from our garden! I could have used cherry tomatoes from our garden, too, if they had been ripe, but they weren’t…sadness. The flavors in this were SO GOOD. I boiled the chicken and usually would shred it in the mixer, but I just chopped it in chunks this time. It was really good!

Grilled Pork Chops – I failed to let the meat sit in the brine as long as I should have, but the outcome was still really, really good. (I worked at the church the day we had these, so I didn’t get home until about a half hour before we started grilling.) We enjoyed the seasoning on this! We had steamed green beans from the garden with these, too!

Honey Chipotle BBQ Chicken with Chipotle Parmesan Corn on the Cob – I was skeptical about this one, but it was really good! The homemade BBQ sauce really isn’t hard or time-consuming to make, and these were perfection on the grill. (Thanks, Ryan!) I used my new Pampered Chef grill basket (that I got brand new, in the box, for one dollar at the thrift store) to grill the corn on the cob! Tasty!

Blueberry Crumble – I made this in part to represent my Alaska dish for my 50 Before 50 list, but I also wanted to find a healthier version. This was SO GOOD. Ryan was impressed, and that is always my marker. If I can impress him with a lightened up dessert, it’s a keeper. I actually loved it so much I made it again for company a couple of days later.

Shaved Zucchini Salad – I found this one on a blog, and it intrigued me. Since we planted zucchini in our garden, I wanted to have new options for ways to prepare it. This one was super tangy and got us right in the jaw when we ate it, but I thought it had good flavor and was unique. I used Feta instead of goat cheese, because that’s what we had. I’d make it again!

Grilled Chicken Cobb Pasta Salad – This was easy to make and really good! I used turkey bacon instead of regular, chickpea pasta, and I did not add the avocado. We love avocado, but Ryan doesn’t like it leftover, and I didn’t want it to go bad, so I just skipped it.

Grilled Chicken Thighs – This was a recipe I shared on the blog last year, and it’s become a staple in our home. It’s easy to prep ahead (it’s a marinade) and so tasty. We had company and served it to them – and they loved it!

Coleslaw – Along with the grilled chicken thighs, we served coleslaw, which was another great-find recipe from last year. It’s easy to make a day ahead and really flavorful.

Quick Cinnamon Rolls – This is a golden oldie from the blog, and the recipe came to me from my Mom. It’s not a healthy recipe, but it is a good one! It comes together SO FAST, and it’s always a hit. I made it this month for a meeting at church, and Ryan said he just hoped there would be leftover. (There were!)

Roasted Summer Vegetables – This recipe has been a favorite of mine for a while now – with just one modification. I never add the tomatoes. Ryan likes tomatoes, but he likes them fresh, not cooked. So I try (most of the time) to leave them out of dishes I roast. This one is great for us since we have summer squash and zucchini in our garden. I make it when we need a veggie side dish and have extra of either/both of those on hand! This time we had them with some Tilapia we cooked on the grill!

Guacamole Turkey Burgers – This one surprised and impressed me. I sometimes find turkey burgers dry. But these were flavorful, even with one modification. We moved the cilantro from the burger to the guacamole. We did add a slice of cheese to the burgers too. (I used leftover guacamole for avocado toast the next morning.)

Quick Garlic Lime Marinated Pork Chops – This was yummy! I marinated the chops and then cooked them in the air fryer! While they cooked, I made rice for Ryan and steamed some frozen green beans and frozen mushrooms. It was a fast, easy, tasty dinner.

Grilled Asian Chicken – I struggle sometimes with Asian food because I don’t like all the spices. I like some, but not all. Apparently in this one, I liked them all. SO impressed. I ended up cooking the chicken in the air fryer because it was SO hot, so we didn’t feel like firing up the grill and standing out in the heat to cook. No complaints, though, on the taste! I roasted some Asian vegetable blends to go with it!

Ham and Cheese Sliders – I’ve made these a handful of times and have never bothered to save the recipe. Now that I’m building the official Shafferland recipe box, I will save this for our archives. These are so easy to make for a crowd, so I made them for small group! I did use about half the amount of butter it called for – and honestly should cut it down some more! It’s SO buttery in this recipe! Also – for fun – we purchased a variety pack of cheese, so we used pepperjack, colby jack, cheddar, and Swiss!

Dirt Pudding – Ryan made this for our small group as well. It’s always a hit! He just did half a recipe this time because we had a small gathering (is that a small small group?) but it was so good.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos – I love slow cooker recipes on the super busy days, and this one was a winner. (Ryan went back for seconds!) I threw everything into the slow cooker in the morning, and the house smelled so good when I arrived home from work! Ryan ate his over chips and I had mine on salad greens, and they were YUMMY.

Big Mac Salad – I’ve been making this for a few years and really love it. The sauce/dressing is made from hummus, and I use red pepper hummus to make it. It’s a tasty alternative to the sandwich!

Summer Vegetables with Sausage and Potatoes Skillet – I made this on a lovely Saturday night at home. I used peppers and zucchini from our own garden and added rosemary and thyme from our little kitchen herb garden! I used baby potatoes and cut them small so they’d cook faster. Flavorful and filling!

50 Before 50 Chek-In List

 

Last month I told you about my 50 Before 50 List and at the end of the month, I told you my starting accomplishments. I actually marked off a few more things this month! I thought I’d give you an update here at the end of August.

Thrift 50 things from my wish list. My goal with this one is both to save money and skip buying new, when possible. I already had three things (books) and this month I added 7 more items. 😊 They were: biscuit cutters (found three in a grab bag at a thrift store), throw pillows for our bed (found two at a consignment store), a salt lamp (found one at the Goodwill!) and a glass measuring cup (we did buy this new, but it was on clearance)!

Make a signature dish from all 50 states. This month I made a blueberry crumble – which I found on an Alaska list! I had no idea it was such a blueberry state!

Learn to drive the pontoon. I didn’t fully complete this one this month, but I did start it! I drove the pontoon for the first time.

                Get rid of 50 things that do not fit our life here. I marked this one off the list entirely! We worked SO HARD on the house this month, cleaning out every drawer, closet, cabinet, and storage tub. I got rid of sooooooooooooo many things, including: hats, gloves, scarves, pillows, blankets, cat hair remover brush, pencil holder, dead pens, decorative pitcher, jewelry, sunglasses, candles, towels, cookie cutters, bookmarks, ornaments, books, picture frames, clothes, shoes, food storage containers, leashes, lamps, and more.  

                Organize home storage spaces. I think I cany say this is also done! We cleaned out and organized: 4 dresser drawers, 8 storage cubes, 1 headboard cabinet, 3 table drawers, 3 desk drawers, every cabinet in our kitchen and island, the pantry/storage closet, the office closet, and the closet under the stairs. SO happy to have it all put together!

                Create annual recipe binder.  I started on this last month, but this month I actually started making the pages for it. They’re so cute!

                I feel very pleased with how much I crossed off this list this month! 😉 See you again next month if I have more to report.

Fun Finds for August

We are rolling around to the end of a month, which means it’s time to share some of the fun things I ran across throughout this month. Are you ready?

                I found this leather journal in a local store, but I did find this link to it on Amazon. It’s a fancy pants journal…leather cover, thick pages, and ripped edges with all kinds of character. I started writing in it when I started seminary, and my goal is to use it to keep track of things I learn along the way. Lessons of the heart, if you will. I really enjoy writing in it. The paper is fun!

                I can’t remember now which blog I read that talked about this solar street lamp, but OH is it ever cute!?!? It’s a splurge item for sure, but I think it’s adorable, and I love that it doesn’t require wiring since it’s solar powered. You know that ambient lighting is one of my love languages. My goal is to fill our home, inside and out, with character-laden pretty lights, so I am just hanging onto this link for someday. 😊 It’s so Narnia.

                Remember my cute mobile office? It’s still going strong. I love it so much. I always make sure to keep some pre-packaged snacks in there in case I find myself out and about when mealtime (or snack time!) comes. I’d been buying some online, but then I ran across these RX Mini Nut Butter and Oat bars, in Walmart, and I love them. They don’t taste like weird healthy food, they’re only about 100 calories per bar, and they don’t have chocolate in them, so it’s okay if my bag is in a warm spot for a bit. These are my new winner!

                Speaking of Walmart, I found a new purse there this month! I haven’t had a new purse in about three years, and the one I’d been carrying was falling part. I wandered through the purse aisle and found a purse on clearance. It’s a Pioneer Woman bag. Did not even know she had a line of purses! I can’t find the link for it anymore, but here’s a link for a similar Pioneer Woman purse on clearance.

                The day before we brought Lexi home, Ryan was in the ER with a kidney stone. It was his first, and it was awful. He’s had one since then…and this month he was pretty sure he had another one. I looked up kidney stones in our handy-dandy essential oils handbook to see if I could find some oils that would help. I found that, but I also found a suggestion for a little “kidney stone cocktail” that was supposed to help it pass. It sounded awful, but he gave it a try, and it actually seemed to help. Every half hour for six hours, he drank the juice of half a lemon combined with 4 ounces of distilled water. And after the last one, he drank the juice of a whole lemon with two Tablespoons of olive oil. Like I said…sounds awful. But he did it, and it seemed to work!

                I haven’t yet shown you our dining room project, but we did finish it this month, and I can’t wait to show you before and after pictures. I can tell you it involved this peel-and-stick wallpaper!

                One of our church friends so graciously shared some tomatoes/cherry tomatoes with us because she heard me say ours never ripened. I love tomatoes in things, but I don’t generally like just eating tomatoes. But, oh my goodness. These cherry tomatoes! I’ve heard people say before that cherry tomatoes taste like candy, and I’ve always rolled my eyes at that. No they don’t. Chocolate bars taste like candy. Cherry tomatoes taste like salsa.  EXCEPT THESE! They were so good. I had to ask her what they were! She said they’re called Sweet Million.

                Those were my fun finds this month! 😊

Sunday Snapshots: Memorable Moments from the Week

 

                This week has been sweet. I have tucked away so many memories from the last seven days and feel like I have increased my quiet appreciation for the ordinary days we’re enjoying right now. Here are just some of the things that have filled my soul from this week.

Last Sunday, as I shared a couple of days ago, was such a special day in my heart. I was invited to participate in one of the seven baptisms at our church. It was pure joy to be part of that moment! Also, can we pause to appreciate Ryan’s unending support as a ministry husband? He shows up (even though it’s not his job) to do literal heavy lifting, to celebrate with and listen to people, and to support in any way he can. I am so proud of him!

Ryan and I finally got around to having a painting party! We had a handful of things in the house that needed a paint touch-up. It took less than an evening to do it all, but we just never got around to it…until this week. We loved how everything looked – and having a fun night working together. I know house projects aren’t a win for every couple, but we really love tackling these sorts of things together.

I told you about my fun night out at The Flower Patch, but it was one of my favorite memories from this week! Everything about the night and experience was picturesque, and I’m still enjoying my pretty flowers! I parked them right in the living room where I can see them all the time.

Coffee shop meetings are a great part of every week, and this one was no exception! I am always extra creative when boosted by an Americano! 

We did another night of house projects, and I can’t wait to show you the outcome of this one, but until I can tell you the whole story, I’ll just tell you that we had fun working together.

 I told you about my first day of school, but I didn’t get to show you my official first day picture! I had a great day in class, and Ryan took me on a special date that night to celebrate going back to school!

We ended the week with a blissful day at home. We slept in (really late!) and finished the last of the knock-out-before-school-starts projects. (So close.) We took walks and had fun with Lexi and went for a boat ride. I treasured this day for us.