The Bright Eyed Brunette

There is a kind of ache that comes when God disciplines us; when He closes a door we were sure was meant for us, exposes something in us that needs fixing, or allows a hard season that humbles us. It's not easy. In fact, sometimes it feels unfair or confusing. If we take a closer look, we realize that His discipline is never just about punishment. It's about love. Hebrews 12:6 says, " For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child."   That verse hits hard, doesn't it? It reminds us that being corrected by God isn't rejection, it's confirmation that we belong to Him. A parent doesn't discipline a stranger's child; they correct their own because they care about their growth and well-being. I can think of times when God's discipline looked like delay. I was frustrated, praying for things that didn't happen, only to later realize He was protecting me from something I couldn't see. Other times, it l...

"Lord, fix me because sometimes I'm the problem".  There are moments in life when it's easier to point fingers than to look in the mirror. We notice what others did wrong, how they hurt us, or how they made life harder. But if I'm being honest, sometimes the biggest problem in my life...is me. I don't like admitting that. It's uncomfortable to say, "Lord, I've got attitudes, habits, and patterns that are standing in the way of peace and growth." But the truth is, I don't just need God to fix situations; I need Him to fix me. It's humbling to realize that I can be short-tempered, unforgiving, stubborn, or even blind to the ways I hurt others. Sometimes my words cut deeper than I intended. Sometimes I hold grudges a little too long. And sometimes, instead of praying for God to change me , I pray for Him to change everyone else . But the Holy Spirit reminds me that real transformation begins with me. Psalm 139:23-24 says, "Search me...

 There's something about sitting down to a meal that brings the whole household together. It doesn't have to be fancy--sometimes the simplest dishes become the most memorable. One of my favorite go-to family meals is Cheesy Baked Ziti. It's quick enough for a weeknight, comforting enough for Sunday dinner, and almost guaranteed to leave everyone asking for seconds. This can be a very customizable meal. Add meat, go vegetarian or sneak in extra veggies. It's kid-approved and makes for great leftovers. Ingredients 1 pound ziti or penne pasta 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (optional) 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning Salt and pepper to taste Instructions Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a skillet, brown the meat (if using) with garlic, seasoning, salt, and pepper. Drain excess...

I haven't done a post about the books I've read in a while. And while I haven't read as many as I should have at this point in the year, here are of few of my latest page turners. First up is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I know I am a little behind on the Kristin Hannah train, but finally, I have arrived! If you love historical fiction, this a great read.  With powerful insight, Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of War World II and highlights an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. This is the story of two sisters, separated by years of experience, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path towards survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France. It celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. An absolute must-read! Next up, Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney They don't call Alice Feeney the "Queen of Twists" for nothing. This is a thriller about marriage...an...

 Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. We were busy here on the homestead. Carlie and Caleb are finally in their new house! We are proud of them and for them. It's a beautiful house, and Wrenley and Macy (the dog) have a fenced-in backyard to play in now. I was busy watching Wrenley while they were moving with the help of Caleb's parents, my parents, and Trey.  My little passenger princess wanted to stop at the gas station and get a bug juice :) I love her little imagination. She loves to dress up her baby doll and take it for a ride in the Cozy Coup. On to other good news: Rice Harvest 2025 is DONE! Praise the Lord, they wrapped up on Saturday afternoon! Rice Harvest complete✅ On to bean harvest now! Carl and I managed to make a quick trip to the river to check on the houseboat.  We made it down to the boat and realized that we left the key in the truck. I guess that is better than last time when we left the key at the house! One day we will have it ...

 Scripture tells us that shepherds are entrusted with God's flock, no for selfish gain but "being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3). A pastor's calling is a holy one, rooted in humility, sacrifice, and love. But Jesus also warned that not every shepherd has pure intentions--some are "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15).  As believers, we must stay discerning. Here are some red flags to watch out for in pastors: 1.  Special Treatment for Certain Families  James warns against showing partiality (James 2:1-4), yet some pastors cater to certain families, wealthy donors, or influential members while neglecting the rest of the body. Christ doesn't play favorites--every soul in the church matters equally to Him. A true shepherd cares for the unnoticed as much as the well-known. 2. Neglecting the Brokenhearted  Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18), but a pastor who avoids the messy, hurting, or less "influential" people in th...

 I like to think of myself as a person who generally isn't easy to offend. Lately, though, I've found myself getting more and more offended than ever before! In the times we're living in, everyone is on edge. And if you're like me, maybe you've been getting more offended than ever before too. When I think about what's happening in the world, there's more division than ever! You can feel anger and animosity in the atmosphere. If there's anything the enemy would love right now is for believers to turn on one another because of hurt or offense. The enemy may be working hard to create division in our relationships, but if we can learn to overcome the spirit of offense, we can forge stronger, healthier relationships in all areas of our lives. So what exactly is offense? Offense is anger, resentment, irritation, exasperation, annoyance, animosity...Need I say more? A spirit of offense is feeling resentment because of an actual or perceived insult. Sometimes of...

 It's hard to believe that my baby is twenty! It seems like yesterday that I went to the hospital to have him. I was confident in my abilities; after all, I had already given birth to two perfect babies. They started me on Pitocin, I got my epidural, and I was comfortable. I knew my girls were being taken care of by my mother and grandmother, and I had Carl by my side, ready to see his son.  The nurses assured our families that they had time to go eat lunch. They had been gone about 15 minutes when I knew it was time to push. The nurses got everything ready and called the doctor. Three big pushes and our little boy was earthside. Then everything was quiet. No cries. I saw the nurses working on him, trying to get him to breathe. That was one of the scariest times of my life. He was completely blue, and it seemed like an eternity before he was finally able to take a breath. Finally, he started crying, and by that time, I was too! They handed him to me and remember Carl saying th...

 Happy Monday, friends! Hope you all had a great weekend. Things were pretty good here on the homestead!  Harvest on the Arkansas Grand Prairie Trey was being a good uncle, taking Wrenley for a Ranger ride. Silly girl at church :) Makena and I went to watch The Conjuring 4.  It was so good! Carl and I went to the new houseboat We have such big plans for this little space! He is my BFF! We were able to recharge and are ready for the week ahead! Much Love, Beth

 Life has a way of surprising us--sometimes with joy, other times with challenges we never saw coming. The truth is, none of us knows what tomorrow holds, and at times, that uncertainty can feel heavy. But in the middle of the unknown, there is one thing we can choose: hope. Hope isn't just wishful thinking. When the future feels shaky, hope can sound like a fragile word. But biblical hope is not about crossing our fingers and wishing for the best--it's about anchoring ourselves in the promises of God. Hebrews 6:19 calls hope "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure".  Even when life feels stormy, that anchor keeps us steady. Right now, many farmers are feeling the weight of uncertainty. Lack of profit, export difficulties, and rising costs, have left some wondering how they'll make it. For families who depend on the land, each day brings new worries--will there be enough money to keep going? While there is such concern, in the midst of the struggle, there are sto...

 Happy Hump Day, friends! I want to share one of my favorite recipes. If your family loves taco night, wait until you try this cozy twist--Taco Soup! It's everything you love about tacos (bold flavors, customizable toppings, and kid-approved goodness) but in a hearty, one pot meal that's ready in under 30 minutes. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, chilly evenings, or even when you're hosting friends and need something simple but crowd-pleasing. Bonus: it makes great leftovers, which means tomorrow's lunch is already taken care of! Ingredients 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey 1 small onion, diced 1 can corn, drained 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 can Rotel 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade) 1 packet ranch seasoning  2-3 cups chicken or beef broth (depending on how thick you like your soup) Instructions In a large pot, brown the ground beef/turkey with the diced onion. Drain any excess grease . Add in the corn,...

 Let's be honest: making friends as an adult can feel harder than parallel parking on a busy street. You're busy. They're busy. Everyone's juggling jobs, families, and about 47 different responsibilities. Suddenly, friendships feel less like "let's hang out" and more like scheduling a doctor's appointment three months in advance.  But here's the thing: God never meant for us to live isolated. He designed us for community. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Translation? We need people who encourage us, challenge us, and walk with us in faith. So why does it feel so awkward? Because friendship in adulthood doesn't just "happen" anymore. It takes intentionality. It means putting yourself out there, and when it feels uncomfortable. It means being brave enough to say, "Hey, want to grab coffee?"-even if it feels like you're asking someone out on a date :) H...

 Well, that's all, folks. That's the (unofficial) end of summer. I'm sure we still have plenty of 90-degree days ahead, but I am officially done with summer! We had a busy weekend here on the homestead. Carl was off a little early on Friday, so we went down to the river to look at a potential houseboat. It is small, but it definitely has potential. Here are a few pictures from that afternoon. We are definitely river people now! Carl had to work on Saturday. We had hoped it would rain enough to at least have Saturday off, but that didn't happen. He was able to make it to Wrenley's birthday party that afternoon though. We celebrated with a mermaid birthday party! She's my favorite little girl in the world. She is sweet and sassy! Someone got her this dress and shoes. She put them on without hesitation. Sunday was our 5th Sunday service at church. That essentially means we are there from 9:45 to 2. We ran a little behind that morning because we had to cook. We had ...

 There is something magical about getting up close to animals, especially when you don't have to travel around the world to do it. Recently, we took a little day trip to the Safari Wild Animal Park and Preserve in Como, Mississippi.  How Wrenley feels about long car rides! Me too, Wren. Me too! As soon as we drove through the gates ducks started coming right up to the car. I was a little concerned that Wrenley would be scared, but she absolutely loved them! She was ready to feed them and boss them around :) We walked through the petting zoo area first. The first animals we saw inside were the goats. Wrenley was a little afraid of the bigger goats because they acted like they were going to jump out of the fence, but she was smitten by the baby goats. She thought they were "so cute". She wasn't scared of feeding them at all. Alpaca My dad went right in and started feeding the birds. They are pretty, but they have unpredictable bowel movements! My mom was like a kid in a...