The Bright Eyed Brunette

Every February, love gets wrapped up in pink paper, heart-shaped boxes, and expectations that can feel heavy instead of hopeful. Valentine's Day tells us love should be grand, romantic, and always feel good. But the Bible paints a very different picture of love- one that lasts long after the roses wilt and the chocolate is gone. Scripture doesn't describe love as something we fall  into and out of without control. Biblical love is intentional.      "Love is patient, love is kind..." (1Corinthians 13:4) Patience and kindness don't just show up when emotions are high. They show up in the ordinary- when you're tired, misunderstood, or stretched thin. Love is choosing gentleness when snapping would be easier. It's choosing grace when feelings are complicated. Real love is often quiet. The Bible never promises that love will always feel easy. In fact, some of the strongest examples of love in Scripture happen in suffering.      "Greater love has no one tha...

 Ah February, the month of love. I love a good theme month, and I also love loving on my people! I know that most of the time the way to their heart it through their stomach💗 Today I want to share my recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Cups.  Ingredients Strawberry Filling 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice Shortcake Cups 2 cups prepared pound cake or vanilla cake, cubed Whipped Cream 1 cup heavy whipping Cream 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Instructions In a bowl, toss sliced strawberries with sugar and lemon juice. Let sit for 15-20 minutes until juicy. In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. To assemble, layer cake cubes in the bottom of small cups or jars. Spoon strawberries and juices over the cake. Add a layer of whipped cream. Repeat layers once more, finishing with whipped cream and strawberries on top. Chill for 10-15 minutes or serve immediately....

 Happy Monday, friends. It has been a pretty long week. I tested positive for flu A on Tuesday, and let me tell you, I think its mission was to take me out! Then Makena got it on Thursday. She and I are both a lot better today.  Carl was trying to clear the end of our driveway so that we could get in and out. The snowplows and road graters did great but they threw the excess in the driveways. After almost a week of not seeing Wrenley, I was finally feeling better and the roads were clear enough for me to go pick her up! She came with us to my niece, Ellie Kate's birthday party.  All smiles for fun with BeBe and nuggets! Happy Sweet 16 to my favorite niece! Wrenley was living her best life: eating birthday cake and playing with Play Doh. Between the big freeze and getting sick, I found an excellent book to read. A few months ago, I discovered that I enjoy Meagan Church books! I would 100% recommend this book. I think I finished it in a day :) That pretty much sums up my we...

Happy frozen Monday, friends! We have been doing our best to stay warm inside! Carl and I ventured out on Saturday, but on Sunday I started getting sick.  Here are some snow pictures I took on our venture out and about. I love seeing our church all covered with snow. The old windmill And our favorite place, the river! We had to cancel church this morning, so Carl and I watched church on TV.  It was a great sermon on the Sovereignty of God. I didn't even get out of the house today. Like I said my throat and head started hurting pretty bad, so I took medicine and slept a lot.  Carlie sent me pictures of Wrenley and Macy today. Maggie and Trey came to eat dinner with us tonight. We had breakfast food for dinner tonight. Last night Carl fixed chili.  That about wraps up our very slow-paced weekend. It's supposed to be another super cold day. Schools and businesses will be closed. We are just going to hang out around here until the roads are in better shape. Boredom is se...

 Happy Friday, friends! Hope this Friday finds you all somewhere warm! This week I am again linking up with  Andrea  and  Erika  for another Friday Favorites. Slow Mornings (Even if they're short)                                                                                        This week reminded me that a slow moment matters just as much a slow morning. Five quiet minutes before the house wakes up. One uninterrupted cup of coffee. A deep breath before the day begins. Slowness doesn't have to be long-it just has to be intentional.       2. Comfort Food That Feels Like Home   There's nothing fancy about comfort food, and that's the beauty of it. Warm meals, familiar flavors,       and recipes you don't ...

  There’s a quiet pressure most of us live under, even if we don’t talk about it much. It’s the pressure to look like we have things together. Not perfect —just together enough that no one worries about us. We tidy up before people come over, even if we’re exhausted. We answer “good” when someone asks how we’re doing, because explaining the truth feels like too much work. We make sure our lives look orderly on the outside, even when they feel a little shaky on the inside. And it’s not just social media. That pressure existed long before filtered photos and highlight reels. Social media just gave it better lighting. Keeping up appearances can look like a clean house when your heart feels cluttered. It can look like saying yes when you should say no. It can look like staying quiet about the hard stuff because you don’t want to be “that person.” The one who brings the mood down. The one who needs something. What makes it exhausting is that the pressure is mostly internal. No one is...