The Bright Eyed Brunette

"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. " John 21:16  Have you ever felt like you failed so badly that God couldn't use you anymore? Peter probably felt that way. After all, he denied knowing Jesus three times in His darkest hour. Imagine the weight Peter carried as he returned to fishing, believing he was no longer worthy of following Jesus. But then, Jesus appeared-- cooking breakfast on the shore-- and called out to Peter, offering an invitation, not a judgment. How often do we disqualify ourselves from God's love because of guilt or shame? When Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" it's not to condemn him but to restore him. Peter's three affirmations of love mirror his three denials, showing that every failure can be redeemed. Jesus then gives Peter a new mission: "Feed My sheep." It's as if Jesus is saying,...

 This was a pretty laid-back weekend. Carl and Makena both worked, and Trey worked half a day on Saturday mowing, so it was just me and the dogs. Maggie always looks happy, and Boone always looks grumpy :) Carl could get to work in the fields earlier this week; this was his first Saturday to work this year. We both know there are many more to come.  I get lots of pictures that look similar to this during the day :) I have recently discovered that I really enjoy thrifting. There is a little thrift mall in a town close by and I found this beauty: I have been looking for one of these for a while. Perfect for my jellybeans! Earlier in the week (St. Patrick's Day) Carlie sent me of my sweet Wrenley: How cute is this little turkey?! And it doesn't matter where I go in my car, or in my life, I'm always riding with a little Jesus! The weather has been very spring-like. There are some downsides to the nice weather: GNATS and POLLEN! They have both been pretty bad. Bad enough to keep...

 On Saturday night we headed to the big city of Little Rock to watch the PBR. I just love a rodeo. I like to see the cowboys riding and the people watching. Trey bought tickets for himself and his girlfriend, Alana and we bought ours a little later. We were on opposite sides of the arena!  They sent me a selfie :) Trey won a coupon for 20% off Ariat boots. It was a fun night, but I really wish it hadn't fallen on the beginning of Daylight Savings time. I definitely felt that lost hour the next day! It was so odd because they had actual rodeo clowns the last time we were at a rodeo (probably 2 or 3 years ago).  This time they had this little guy: I mean, he was entertaining and funny but BRING BACK THE RODEO CLOWNS! It was a great night of family fun! Much Love, Beth

In the South, sweet tea isn’t just a beverage—it’s a way of life. Whether served at Sunday suppers, backyard barbecues, or just enjoyed on a front porch swing, sweet tea is a staple of Southern culture. But there’s more to it than just sugar and tea. Let’s explore the history, tradition, and the perfect way to make a glass of Southern sweet tea. A Brief History of Sweet Tea Sweet tea has been a Southern favorite for generations, but its roots go back to the 19th century. The earliest known recipe for iced tea appeared in cookbooks as early as the 1870s, but it was usually made with green tea. By the early 1900s, black tea became more common, and sweet tea as we know it today took off, especially in the Southeastern U.S. During Prohibition, sweet tea became even more popular as a refreshing, alcohol-free drink. Over time, it became a symbol of Southern hospitality—something always offered to guests, no matter the occasion. What Makes Southern Sweet Tea Special? Not all iced tea i...

 Happy Monday, friends!  Since Caleb is away at the Fire Academy, Carl and Caleb's Dad, Dean took Wrenley to the Daddy/Daughter dance at school. It was really sweet and Carl said that Wrenley had a lot of fun.  Pappy's little princess 💗💗 Off they go in Pappy's dirty truck 😌 Pappy and Papa with Wrenley Pappy and Princess, Wrenley and someone's butt, lol Fun with friends! Wrenley with her bestie, Lucy Wrenley has a strong village. It is such a privilege have a sweet granddaughter to love!  Much Love, Beth

 Whew, it didn't take long for me to get behind! Welcome to my first monthly recap of the year... and it's only February! One day I'll get it together (maybe). We started the month off strong, celebrating Carl's 45th birthday with a seafood boil! He is the best! Happy Birthday, Carl!! We also went for a little visit to Wynne with Carlie and Wrenley. Makena had to work, and Trey was squirrel hunting with my uncle for the Arkansas Game and Fish's Big Squirrel hunt. I didn't get many pictures.  Wrenley was weirded out by the American Girl dolls on Nana's bed. She wanted to cover their eyes with their hair! Up next was Valentine's Day! This is my least favorite "holiday". I think that if you love someone, you show it every day, not just on a holiday. Carl and I opted for a quiet night in this year.  Our surf and turf was amazing! Trey had his first date with his now girlfriend, Alana. She is super sweet and friendly. Valentine's Day is also Boo...

 Hello friends, it's time for another recipe from the homestead. This week we have another favorite recipe, Marry Me Chicken.  I think this recipe has dozens of variations, so here is ours! Ingredients: 4 bonesless, skinless chicken breasts 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 packet ranch seasoning mix 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup parmasan cheese 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes salt and pepper to taste Directions: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Transfer the chicken breasts to the crock pot. Whisk together ranch seasoning, heavy cream, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the chicken in the crock pot. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese over the top. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hour...

 Happy Monday, friends! I am glad to be back in the land of the living! Carl and I have been sick for over a week now. I thought I may have been feeling better on Wednesday, but it came back with a vengeance late in the day. Wednesday was Grandparent's Day at Wrenley's school. Since Carl was pretty sick, my mom (Nanny) went with me, and Caleb's mom (JoJo) came also.  This was the only picture that we got. You can definitely tell that I am sick. Wrenley with her BeBe and her JoJo We didn't get a picture with Nanny :( My mom helped us out by cooking for us. Chicken and noodles are the best, especially when you are sick! The cornbread and green beans made it even better. Then this happened Flu B it is! By Saturday I felt a little more like myself.  I worked on my planners for a little while but I couldn't concentrate long enough to get much done. Just a few Valentine stickers on my monthly spread. I snapped a picture of my three babies after church today. Trey must hav...

 Happy January 74th! Ok but really, why does January seem to go on FOREVER?! Today I am linking up with  Andrea  and  Erika  for Friday Favorites! This was definitely a favorite moment from this week!  Our 47th President, Donald J. Trump! Since Monday was also MLK day, I had the pleasure of watching sweet Wrenley.  Celebrating my niece, Ellie Kate's 15th birthday was definitely a favorite! I also watched Wrenley on Wednesday because she was a little under the weather. She had fun playing and getting lots of ice cream and popsicles! Wrenley will always be my favorite. On this day she wanted to "work" like BeBe. She's so precious, even with her little bedhead! Good Music is a favorite. Play some old-school country music and we are golden :) My favorite meal this week. It seems like forever since I made a home-cooked meal! Cajun baked chicken, corn (because Trey loves corn), broccoli, mashed potatoes with white gravy, and rolls were on the menu, and every...