Twelve Questions...Part 2

 

I had so much fun with the Q&A last week that I decided to do a few more posts like that. Hope you enjoy, as you start this Monday morning!

What’s most important to you: work life or personal life? Yes! 😊 I think one of the best lessons I learned during the half-year that I worked for Run Hard Rest Well was the importance of work-life balance, and honestly, far too few people do that well. My work life is more than just a job to me, and it also bleeds beyond “office hours.” I’m always in a ministry mindset, and I can’t change that. It’s very important to me, because it’s what God has called me to do for this next season of my life. But I also really love and am committed to my personal life here at home with Ryan and Lexi. It matters to me to have quality time with them, to rest, to tend to our home, and to spend time with the Lord. So yes. They are equally important to me!

What was your favorite TV show growing up? I wasn’t allowed to watch much TV growing up, but I did dearly love Little House on the Prairie. Still do, actually! Recently, one of my friends watched the entire series for the first time, and I absolutely ADORED hearing his take on every episode and chatting about my favorite (and least favorite) things.

Have you ever had a life-changing moment? What was it? Oh, yes, I’ve had several! Saying yes to Ryan’s marriage proposal changed my life in the best possible way. Marrying him solidified those beautiful changes. I am so profoundly grateful for those days. But I’ve also had life-changing moments that have been really hard. Some of you remember the desert days of my life (prior to Ryan). They nearly destroyed me, but they also changed me for life in ways I needed and couldn’t even see at the time.

What do you pretend to like but actually don’t like? Ooh…this is a hard one. I wouldn’t say I pretend to like it, but the healthy food we eat wouldn’t be my first choice. I do like it. It tastes good and makes me feel better than the greasy, fatty food I ate for so many years. But I don’t know that my heart has permanently transformed from its natural bent to fast food and ice cream. If you walked up to me tomorrow and told me I could return to Coke and pizza and fries and remain at a goal weight and perfectly healthy, I’d do it. So I choose to like food that is better for me, but I would prefer the things I don’t have regularly.

What three words describe what you’re most grateful for? This (again) feels like trying to choose a favorite child, because I’m actually grateful for far more than just three things. Can we establish that Jesus and Ryan are given “most grateful” responses? Of course they are!! Behind them, I’d say…our home on the lake. I love this place, I love this view, I love the coziness, I love the hard work we have put into making it home. I love all these things. Then I’d say my job. After so many years of feeling like a misfit at every single workplace, this feels like home, and I love it. And then I’d say I’m grateful my parents are at Swiss Village. We’ve talked so much lately about how we have no idea what we would do if we both had full time (sometimes overtime) jobs and still had to travel back and forth to their original home to help with care. Plus, we know they HAVE care even when we’re not in the building, and we love that.

What has been your favorite travel memory so far? I can’t possibly pick a travel destination as a favorite, because I’ve loved too many. But I think my favorite travel memory was the trip we took in Abby the RV. It was as wonderful as we thought RV travel would be and solidified for us that we would love to do this in our retirement! We loved having our home with us on the road, a private bathroom at every moment, and cooking over campfires. The best.

Do you think you’re too critical of yourself? Oh absolutely! This is something I am actively working to eradicate from my life and have been learning much about in my sanctification class. I am easily my worst critic. EASILY. And when someone else criticizes me, it stays with me for years. (Some of those criticisms are here for life, I’m sure.) I have made great strides in trusting God to heal my heart, but I have a long way to go.

What movie absolutely scarred you? Thief in the Night! It was a 70s movie about end times, and I watched it at church when I was far far far too young to comprehend what I was seeing. I still have crippling panic attacks about it. No joke.

What’s something that always makes you smile? My Ryan. He’s not a thing, but he’s the one who always makes me smile. Just seeing him makes me smile, but also, he can bring the good into a hard day faster than anybody else. I’m smiling just writing about him!

What’s your proudest moment? This feels like a tricky question because I do my best to avoid proud moments. Feels like a slippery slope when living for the Lord, but if I look at it from a standpoint of a meaningful achievement, I would say….publishing my Advent book. It had been a dream to publish a book, and I never thought it would happen. It had been such a hard and draining year, and that was just such a sweet gift from God. I had worked hard, and holding the first copy in my hands was sweet.

What lie do you tell yourself most often? This, too, is something I am learning about in my sanctification class! I think the biggest lie I tell myself is that I don’t belong. It was a fact in many areas for many years, and I believed it so thoroughly that I still believe it now and regularly tell myself that I don’t belong in this place or that. This is hard to overcome, and I am guessing I’m not alone in this one.

What parts of your life are perfect the way they are right now? Well, I don’t think anything about life on earth is ever perfect, but I have great contentment in my marriage, my home, and my work. I feel I’m right where the Lord has led me, and I am not striving. I love the joy and contentment I feel!

Sunday Snapshots: Memorable Moments from the Week

 

Good morning, friends! Happy Sunday to you. I am grateful for the promise of a new week, aren’t you?

Here are some glimpses into the week we just enjoyed!

Last Sunday after church, I went to a baby shower for one of the young ladies in the Bible study I’ve helped lead until recently. She and her husband are expecting their first baby, and I’m so excited for them. They’re going to be fantastic parents. Also, I won a round of Bingo at the shower, and I never win games, so that was worth noting! 😊

Last weekend was so insanely busy with no down time, so I elected to work from home on Monday. I had a lot to accomplish, and it was a productive day, but after a Sabbath-less weekend, I just needed the solitude and quiet of a day at home. I am so very thankful for the flexibility to do that upon occasion!

Our summerish fall has continued with ZERO complaints from us. Evening walks in shorts and t-shirts in MID-OCTOBER??? Yes, please!! Also, can I pause to say how much I dearly and genuinely love my daily walks with Ryan? We have talked through a million things this week, and I am so thankful for his listening heart!

I am also profoundly grateful for my weekly meetings with Jonathan. I am not only learning so much about ministry and how to effectively do my job, but he’s helping me wrestle through some hard things I’m learning and wrestling through in school. (To be clear, these things are really good and I want to wrestle through them as completely as I can, but they are also tough!!!)

By the end of the week, all the bit life things got the best of me, and Ryan snapped this picture of Lexi and me. We both conked right out!!! I feel like this is the most accurate picture of the entire week.

I did try a new nail color this week and LOVE IT. I can’t wait to tell you about the nail polish I’m using now. That’ll be a blog post soon. But I felt this was a proper fall color.

Another thing I will be telling you about along the way is our participation in the Adams County Coffee Experience. We had our first stop this week – at Sorinna’s Bakery. It was our first time to visit there in person, because it’s never open in the evenings, and that’s generally when we have time for coffee shop visits. It was SO GOOD and we had fun!

Saturday Suggestions: Inspirations for Your Weekend

 

Happy Saturday, my friends! This week has been full and productive, and I welcome a Sabbath rest today. Ryan and I got Subway (to go) for dinner last night and enjoyed a night at home. (Are we old now because that feels appealing?) I had a lot of fun with this week’s list, and I hope you find a thing or two you like as well!

I want to put the disclaimer at the start of this offering that I’m not endorsing any of the books on this list, as I haven’t read most of them. But I think it’s really cool that this guy kept a list of every single book he read…for decades! Within the article is a link to view his actual list as he kept it, and then there are other (searchable) versions too. Do you keep track of every book you read?

I love unique decorations so much. I actually prefer to fill my home with unique items that hold a story…rather than all the trendy stuff. These are probably too pink for Ryan (ha!) but they are super cute. A little gingerbread village – all handmade! (BONUS: This year I’ll have to decorate my office at the church, too, so no time like the present to rustle up some inspiration!)

We haven’t given up the dream of traveling in an RV when retirement comes. Even though we have owned and traveled in one before, traveling more extensively is a different animal. There are some GREAT full-timing tips in this post! (BONUS: And when the time comes, here’s a guide for an RV friendly capsule wardrobe!)

I told you yesterday I watched a fun Q&A on YouTube, and I wanted to share it with you! This vlogger is a performer on a cruise ship and answered a bunch of questions about life on board. It was fascinating to hear the answers! If you like cruising (or have a fascination with full-time on a cruise ship) you might find this fun to watch!

One of the items on my 50 Before 50 list is to read all of Barbara Bull’s novels. (She’s an author I met in Michigan when we went to that fish boil a few summers ago!) Another series I’ve never read, and I’m not sure why, is Jan Karon’s Mitford series. I know they have been out for years, and I might be the last person on earth who hasn’t read them, but I would love to someday when I have the luxury of free time again! I just learned this week that there is Mitford MUSEUM in Jan Karon’s hometown, and even though I haven’t read the books yet, the writer in me is totally intrigued by this. It’s located in Hudson, North Carolina. I’m not sure when we’ll be back over that way, but when we go…

Have you seen this news from Aldi? They are offering a list of Thanksgiving-y foods that will allow you to prepare a meal for 10 people for $40 total, including the turkey. I’m not a huge fan of traditional Thanksgiving fare, but I do love this idea!!

Twelve Questions

 

This season of my life is presenting some significant blogging challenges. The month of October has been filled with many things that are not easy to write about in a public forum (for a variety of reasons) and I sit down each day wondering what I can bring to you that is either entertaining or meaningful.

Yesterday I watched a fun Q&A video (which I’m linking tomorrow on the Saturday Suggestions) and I thought it would be fun to answer questions here for a few posts, too! I found a list of questions that intrigued me, so today I bring you the first set of questions and answers.

What is the worst haircut you’ve had? I always had to have long hair growing up, and while I liked that for most of my childhood, by the time I hit high school, I was over it. My hair is so thick and unruly, and I wearied of trying to manage it. So right after I graduated from college, I took a picture of Lisa Rinna into the salon and asked for that cut. I most certainly did NOT look like Lisa Rinna, which wasn't the fault of the stylist. It was all me...and my lack of daily styling skills. I looked like this.

What are you self-conscious about? My feet! Allow me to say that I am profoundly grateful to have feet that work and do not hurt. My complaint is not about that at all. But several years ago, I had issues with the nail on my big toe on each foot, and despite going to a podiatrist for an extended period of time, neither of them ever recovered to a normal appearance. This is why I no longer wear open-toe shoes or ever go barefoot – even at home.

What did you think adulthood was like when you were in your teens? Well, in my teens, I had every intention of marrying a pastor (straight out of college) so I presumed my life would be all about inviting church ladies over to my home for cookies and tea in the afternoon, teaching children’s Sunday School, and serving pot roast to parishioners for Sunday lunch. I was very wrong about what adulthood was going to be like! (But bless my heart.)

What is your favorite food? Well, I love food, so it feels impossible to pick a favorite. That would be like picking a favorite child. Of the foods I no longer eat regularly, my three favorites are cheeseburgers, pizza, and milkshakes. If I could eat those every day for the rest of my life without ramifications, I absolutely would. Of the foods that I do eat regularly, I think my favorites are Greek yogurt with homemade granola and berries, protein balls, and our homemade bread.

Where do you like to go shopping? I’m really not a diehard shopper (online or in stores) like some, but if I do shop, thrifting is my favorite. I love the mystery of a grand find. I always have a general running wish list that I look to fill when I’m thrifting, but the best buys are those unexpected treasures that present themselves.

How do you prefer to be comforted when you’re upset? It somewhat depends on what has upset me. If it’s a deep, hurtful wound, I prefer to be left alone. Bring me a coffee, leave me alone, and let me cry and journal. If it’s something a little less life-altering, I’m usually up for a distraction of some kind: take me out for ice cream, go for a walk with me, watch a sappy TV movie with me. Don’t try to fix it.

What really frustrates you? Uncontained dogs. This one is born out of my dog bite a few years ago and also the dogs that have rushed/attacked Lexi and me while we have been out on walks. Most people are great about having invisible fences/real fences or leashing their dogs when they’re outside. But when we get rushed by dogs, it’s really terrifying. The owners always say they’re friendly, but I was bitten by a “friendly” dog, so I no longer believe that.

What’s your favorite TV show now? We are still making our way through the seasons of NCIS. I think we’re on season 13 now. But I’m also super excited that Christmas movie season is BACK!!!! I’ve already started (re)watching them!

Would you ever move out of state? Ryan and I have every intention of parking right where we live for the long haul. We love our spot on the lake and our little home that we have worked so hard to transform. We love our friends here and our church. But you know, Indiana is cold in the winter, and I’ve learned to never say never! So as a rule, WOULD I move out of state? Yes – but I would only be interested in trading for a warmer locale. Do we plan to ever move out of state? No.

If you had to change your name, what would your new one be? Well, I surely do love my name, but here’s a true story for you. When I worked at WBCL, we used our real names on the air (first and last). But some of the guys told me that at other stations, they’d had to create on-air names, because the stations didn’t have them use their real (full) names on air. If I’d had to create an on-air name, I would have been Bekah Deen.

What embarrassing thing did you do regularly when you were a kid? I tucked in my sweatshirts and wore a belt over them. It was such a supremely terrible look, and Ryan still laughs about it. (He doesn’t remember me doing this, but he thinks it’s really, really funny.)

(THANKFULLY photos of this do not exist.)

Do you prefer savory or sweet? I have a sweet tooth that WILL NOT QUIT. It has gotten me in so much trouble over the years, because I could absolutely skip every single regular piece of food and eat only dessert at all times. Left to my own devices, I would devour all the cookies, ice cream, cakes, milkshakes, brownies, and probably just sit down with a bowl of sugar and a spoon.

This was fun! Ryan tried to guess my answers, so that was a fun. (He got several of them right.) How about you…any answers to share?

Oh How Life Changes

I enjoy scrolling through my Facebook memories from years gone by. It’s fun to see what I was thinking/saying/doing on any given year!

But yesterday’s collection of memories felt poignant to me in a different way. It turns out that October 15^th has held several significant moments for me, and I could only imagine what it would have been like to go back and whisper to my younger self… “You have no idea how this is going to change your life!

Fifteen years ago, I wrote: “Sat through two hours of training today - over sixty slides on the rules of financial aid. My position remains...HOW did God manage to condense everything into ten commandments and everything else requires binders and binders of rules???”

You have no idea, Bekah, that you won’t be in Financial Aid the rest of your life. Right now you think you will, but you won’t. But you will still have this same question in fifteen years.

Fifteen years ago, God went on to give me a little hint, though I had no idea it was a hint. “Pretty excited! Was invited to do a radio interview about my book! This will be a first for me - and Heaven help us all if I pull a Bekah and say something ridiculously embarrassing. I have a feeling rehearsal is in order!”

You have no idea, Bekah, that not only will you move on from Financial Aid, but you will actually get a job in radio! That interview you were just invited to do will lead to beautiful friendships, open doors, and so much more.

Fourteen years ago, I was coming home from a weekend women’s conference, where I thoroughly enjoyed the teaching and music.

You have no idea, Bekah, that one of these days, you’ll speak at conferences. (That thought would terrify you right now.) Sure, they’ll be smaller-scale than the one you just attended, but you’ll meet so many incredible women and learn so much as you prepare! You also have no idea what you’ll be doing on this day in ONE YEAR!

(Drumroll, please!)

Thirteen years ago, I bought my wedding dress!

You have no idea, Bekah, how much fun you will have planning your wedding and being married. It absolutely is everything you’ve ever hoped.

Twelve years ago, I said, “Day 2 of Ryan's workout plan for us at the gym. He bench pressed 225 {which I'm told is low for what he can do}. As for me? Well, I ALMOST lifted the bar by itself. And I tripped over the bench. He may be rethinking this working-out-together thing.”

You have no idea, Bekah, that you still won’t love working out, even in a dozen years, but you’ll get better and stronger, and you’ll eventually lift more than just the bar.

Nine years ago, I was at one of those women’s conferences, serving as the speaker.

You have no idea, Bekah, how much you will love THIS retreat. You’ll love the ladies you serve, the topic you share, and the cinnamon roll you have for breakfast will still be regularly spoken of in another nine years!

Isn’t God just so good???

I Sing the Mighty Power of God

 

Some days I spend a lot of time in the car, and when I do, I spend extra time praying. It’s a good space for me to do that, because I can pray right out loud, and no one hears.

                Yesterday I had an extra long and extra intense time of prayer while on the road, and honestly, for part of it, I simply repeated the same phrases and even repeated the same verses as prayers. The words may not have been creative, but they were honest.

                Toward the end of the prayer time, I tried to change the attitude of my heart away from heaviness and toward praise. It felt important to honor God with words of praise, but I couldn’t quite find the words to start.

                Suddenly, I thought of a hymn I haven’t heard or thought of in years: I Sing the Mighty Power of God.

                I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
                That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
                I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day:
                The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

                I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
                Who formed the creatures with His Word and then pronounced them good.
                Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
                If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

                There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
                And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
                While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
                And everywhere that man can be, Thou God art present there.

                I had no idea why that song landed in my mind during that little time of prayer, but I said aloud every lyric I could call to remembrance as I drove. As I looked at the words later that night, the last line leapt out at me. No matter where I am, including driving down the road in my little car, He’s there. He’s there, powerful and good, even if the day doesn’t feel good. My heart needed that reminder.

                Maybe your heart needs that too, so I offer it to you today! 

The Essential Oils Capsule: Cardamom

 

One of my “50 Before 50” list items is to create (and use!) my essential oils capsule. I’m sorry…what? Essential oils capsule? What is that?

                Allow me to explain.

                It’s been a decade since Ryan and I first learned about and began using essential oils in our home. Though they were far from new when we discovered them, that felt like the time in life when e.v.e.r.y.one started using and selling them. Honestly I don’t feel like I hear about them now with nearly the intensity I did then, but they’re still around – in the world and in our home.

                I confess when I first learned about them, I felt this unspoken pressure to own a bottle of every possible oil. The full collection. It’s neither possible (at least on a budget) nor really all that practical. Nevertheless, I started buying them and tried to learn more about what each one was for, but the bigger my collection grew, the harder it was to keep it all straight.

                Along the way, largely because of cost, we moved from using Young Living oils to Selah essential oils. I’ve really loved this company – both for their affordability and their commitment to the Lord – and I also loved their idea of an oils capsule.

                The oils capsule is a collection of what they feel are the most commonly used and needed oils. If you can only afford a handful, choose these, and you’ll probably have something that fits just about any need you have. Certainly you can buy and use other scents if you like them, but these are the main ones you’d need for daily living.

                I was so happy to see that on their list, I owned most already, but I certainly didn’t know what they were all for or how to use them. So I’m trying to learn.

                And today, I want to show you the first of those oils in my capsule and what I’m learning.

                The first oil, alphabetically speaking, is cardamom. I recognized it as spice in a spice rack, but it isn’t one I often use in cooking, and I wasn’t confident I’d recognize its scent. It’s sort of a fallish scent, and if you look up diffuser blends containing cardamom, you’ll find it paired with things like cinnamon, clove, and ginger. (More on that later.)

*That is vanilla essential oil on the label. It looks questionable. Rest assured the vanilla just leaked onto it.*

                From my research, it seems this oil is commonly called upon for lower GI woes, pain, and respiratory struggles. (That gives some good clues as to why it landed in the capsule!) It also seems to help with focus, calmness, and mood, so it’s a great one for the diffuser! (This post is well-written and shares more about what I just said.)

                I’ve decided to highlight cardamom in our diffuser this week just so we can become more accustomed to its scent. (Yes, I’ve owned it for a while, but I haven’t used it a ton.) Here are some of the blends I’m trying!

Confidence
3 Drops Cardamom
2 Drops Lime
2 Drops Bergamot

Wake Up
1 Drop Cardamom
3 Drops Peppermint
2 Drops Orange

New Beginning
3 Drops Bergamot
2 Drops Cardamom
2 Drops Clove

Fall Mornings
3 Drops Orange
2 Drops Cinnamon
1 Drop Cardamom

Chai Latte
2 Drops Ginger
3 Drops Cardamom
2 Drops Cinnamon
1 Drop Clove

Calm
2 Drops Cardamom
3 Drops Frankincense
2 Drops Lavender
1 Drop Cinnamon

Sniffles
3 Drops Peppermint
2 Drops Cardamom
2 Drops Lemon

                So that’s what I’m learning about essential oils this week – specifically, cardamom! (Note: In the world of oils, this one is pretty affordable. From Selah oils, the 5 mL bottle is $19.00 and the 15 mL bottle is $32.00.

Traveling in the Fall

 

Ten years ago, right around this very time, Ryan and I set out on a long, soul-filling vacation to the eastern part of the country. It was just a few months after I left WBCL, and I’d spent those first few months of stay-at-home-wife-life finally sorting through our overcrowded house. I consolidated and downsized the many things we had in duplicate since combining our households, and we held a massive yard sale to help it all find new homes. We took the money from our sale and headed out on a trip. I’ve loved every trip we’ve taken, but this was extra special because it was so sweet for our hearts.

                We’ve taken a handful of other trips in the fall: long weekends, day trips, and a couple of proper vacations. I really do love fall travel, because it offers such pretty views. In honor of those trips, I thought today I’d share some of our favorite things to take along in fall travel.

                Layers of clothes. I love crafting outfits for fall travel, because the weather is a mix of warm and chilly, so it’s all about layering! Jackets, leggings, light sweatshirts, cute hats…so many fun things go in the suitcase for fall travel!

                Real coffee mugs. Ryan and I usually pack reusable travel mugs for the car when we’re on a trip. They keep our coffee warmer than a paper cup at a coffee chop, and if we’re planning to be in the car all day, we can make our own coffee directly in those that morning. But we have also started taking ceramic coffee mugs with us to enjoy while at the hotel. (Short term rental houses usually have them in the kitchen, but hotels don’t.) We just enjoy drinking out of them more than the hotel cups, so it’s worth it to us to take real mugs. If you’re worried about breaking a favorite mug, you can always thrift a few that are fun but not sentimental, and if you have a mishap…it’s okay! This feels extra important in the fall travel months because there are so many fun fall coffee drinks!

                Atlas. This is a good idea any time of year, if you’re traveling in the car. We always stick an atlas in the back seat, just in case something goes crazy with GPS. It hasn’t happened yet, but you never know when a weird outage might kick in!

                Travel tripod. Also good to take along any time of year, but when you have pretty colors to capture, it’s so much fun to have options beyond selfies!! We love our little collapsible tripod, and we use the Bluetooth timer to take the picture. It easily fits in our backpacks and works really well for getting great pictures!

                Hats/gloves/ice scrapers. Ryan forgot to take a sock hat on this last fall trip we took, and because we had one really early morning outside adventure, he had to go buy one locally. We tend to take our ice scraper out of the car in the summer, and sometimes on fall trips, we’ve been surprised by frosts. It’s good to have these as a backup, just in case!

                Umbrella. Ryan and I love our umbrellas that his grandma gifted us several years ago. They are like these – and open backwards so you can open them easily from the car! Handy to have when you’re in unpredictable fall rains!

                All this has made me ready to plan a fall trip again, but alas, I think we’re out of vacation time for this fall. Maybe next year!