The Bright Eyed Brunette

 There's something humbling about changing your mind. When you're younger, you think changing your mind means you were wrong. Now I think it means you've grown. I used to believe strength looked like holding firm to every opinion, every plan, every expectation. But strength, I've learned, sometimes looks like loosening your grip. Here are a few things I changed my mind about: Being busy means being productive . I used to wear busy like a badge. Full calendar. Full schedule. Full exhaustion. Now I know busy and fruitful are not the same thing. Some of my most meaningful days look slow and simple. Saying yes make you kind. I thought the good women were the ones who always showed up, always volunteered, always helped. I've learned that saying no can be just as loving--especially when it protects your peace and your family. Rest is lazy . I don't believe that anymore. Rest is stewardship. Rest is wisdom. Sometimes rest is obedience. Everyone has to understand me. ...

 Homemade ranch dressing always tastes fresh, creamy, and easy to customize with your favorite herbs. This recipe proves that you can make restaurant-quality ranch at home. Always perfectly tangy. It is perfect for dipping, cooking, salad, and more! Just a few simple ingredients! It really is so super easy to put together. Ingredients  1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1 tsp. onion powder (NOT ONION SALT) 1/2 tsp. garlic powder (NOT GARLIC SALT) 1 tsp. parsley (dried) 1/2 tsp. basil (dried) 1/2 tsp. dill (dried) 3/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/4 cup milk (amount will vary depending on desired consistency) Instructions Whisk all ingredients together, except the milk. Pour in enough milk to make the dressing the consistency you like. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to your preference. This recipe can be used as a great base, and then you can add more seasonings as you want. But don't take my word for it. Try it out and let me know what you think! Hope you enjoy! Much Love, ...

 Happy Monday, friends! I'm finally back after taking a mental health week! Sometimes you just need a little refresher. And now I am back with fresh ideas and a better understanding of how to move forward. Last Wednesday night I received a phone call from my sweet granddaughter. "BeBe, my want you to pick me up in the morning." I told her that I would pick her up after school like I always do on Thursdays. "No, my want you to pick me up in the morning." I knew exactly what that meant. She didn't want to go to school! I talked with her mom, and she said she could come stay with me if I wanted to pick her up first thing. I mean, how in the world could anyone say no to that?! So I kept her and we had the best day. Hanging out and playing.  We started our morning off with McDonald's! We visited Nanny. This was her bossy face. I am against child labor, I promise. She asked to help wash dishes. She mostly just played in the water! I didn't get a picture, b...

 In every small church, especially those of us tucked between cornfields and county roads, youth ministry doesn't run on a big budget or flashy lights. It runs on faithful people. And if you've ever tried to recruit volunteers for youth ministry, you know-- it can feel harder than planning the lesson itself. But here is the truth: God has already placed the right people in your church. Sometimes they just need an invitation.. and reassurance. Start with the why . Before you ask someone to serve, remind them why it matters. Youth ministry isn't babysitting. It's discipleship. When adults consistently show up for youth (especially in the teenage age group), they are living out the call of Matthew 28:19-20-- to go and make disciples. They are becoming steady voices in a world that is loud and confusing. Youth don't need perfect leaders. They need present ones. Personally Invite-- Don't Publicly Beg.   General announcements from the pulpit rarely build a team. A pe...

 I love curling up with a good book that keeps me up far too late. The kind where you tell yourself, "Just one more chapter", and suddenly it's midnight and the house is quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator and your racing thoughts. These page turners could not have been more different in setting-- but they are strikingly similar in one powerful way: they both explore the fragile space between love and truth. The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave If you've read The Last Thing He Told Me , you already know Laura Dave has a gift for writing women who find themselves standing at emotional crossroads. In The First Time I Saw Him , she once again leans into layered relationships and quiet unraveling of what we thought we knew. This story feels intimate-- like you're sitting across from a friend who is finally telling you the whole truth about how it really happened. Dave writes about memory in such a subtle way. How we replay moments. How we romanticize first ...

 This year's Valentine's Day weekend wasn't flashy or extravagant--and honestly that made it even sweeter. On Friday night we had Wrenley for a little while, so we made homemade pizzas! She loves the whole process, but her favorite is putting a lot of pepperonis on her pizza! She was so proud. Excuse her hair, she loves to pull her ponytails out! After we ate our delicious pizzas, I gave her a bath and Makena took her home to have a girls night, as Carlie and Caleb went to the movies in Little Rock and were coming home late. Carl and Trey have been into trapping beavers at the farm lately. They usually go out sometime after dinner and come in around 8, depending on how it is going. Carl and I stayed up too late watching television and enjoying each other's company (uninterrupted). Saturday was Boone's birthday! He is our little lover💗 Happy Birthday Big Boy! Before lunch Carl and I made a trip to see my grandmother in the nursing home, and I brought her some flower...