The Bright Eyed Brunette

 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...

 Happy Monday, friends! Life has been pretty interesting here on the homestead. About 2 weeks ago I noticed that I just felt off. It started with fatigue and a headache that wouldn't go away, then nausea. I thought it may have been a migraine, so I took a Nurtec (which always helps). It didn't this time. I remember making the comment to Carl that it felt like I did when I was pregnant. Smells made me nauseous and that usually only happens when I'm pregnant. Carlie was here getting Wrenley and handed me the test and said, "Go take it". I told her I didn't want to waste her test, but she insisted. Long story short, I took it, and then we forgot about it. I saw it sitting on the counter after Carlie left.  It was as positive as positive could be. Of course, when I told Carl, he thought I was playing a trick on him. We drove 20 minutes into town at 9 p.m. to get another one (3). All three were positive. We went to bed in shock that night, not really thinking this ...

There's something about the weekends that feel like a breath of fresh air--two short days that somehow manage to hold a whole collection of memories. It was a great weekend here on the homestead, but to be honest, I could have used another day! On Friday, we were supposed to be moving Carlie and Caleb into their new house, but there is no new house now. It turned out (during the final walk-through) that the foundation wasn't in good shape. I don't know why the inspector didn't notice that two weeks ago. I can only explain it as being of God. He was taking care of them, and that was just not the house for them!  But their house is sold. Thankfully, Caleb's parents have offered to have them stay there until they find something, and they know that they can always stay here if they need to. We are continuing to pray that God sends them the right house. Carl and I helped move a few big things on Saturday,  and Carl will help Caleb move the last bit today at lunch. It was...

Happy Friday, friends! We made it through another week here on the homestead. Today, I am linking up with  Andrea  and  Erika  for another Friday Favorites :) This week has flown by! On Monday, Wrenley started her new "school year" at daycare. Even though she is in the same school with a lot of the same kids, she moved up and is now officially in PreK! She has had to adjust to new teachers, but seems to like it so far :) She is BeBe's big girl! 💓💓💓 At the beginning of the week, Carl asked if Makena and I wanted to go with him and Trey put some corn and salt blocks out for the deer. Say less, sir! Of course, our answer was yes :) Our chariot and driver Trey and Maggie Hopefully, our hard work pays off! Also came across this guy. He was around 5 ft. long and had 14 rattlers. Don't ask how I know that 😟 We always have a good time when we hang out with our guys, and that is most certainly a favorite! Watching my girl do her thing at work will always be my favorite!...

 It seems that every year, when the new church year rolls around, I am looking for fresh activities for my kids to do. I have most of the same church kids on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings (small rural church problems), and although the lessons aren't the same, I feel the need to make them two very different experiences.  Sunday mornings are a little more structured, while Wednesday nights are more fun and laid-back. If you find yourself a similar situation, I'm going to share a couple of ideas that I absolutely love and plan to try in my class this year. If you try them, let me know what you like and works for you! I really love this first idea for my Wednesday night class do before we start our lesson.  Sometimes we have new kids, but even if we don't, I still think it would be a fun way for the kids to get to know a little more about each other (and help me get to know them better). I will change some of the prompts, but you can find this particular one on E...

 It can start with something as simple as a glance down the pew. You notice her perfectly styled hair, her kids sitting quietly, her beautifully color-coordinated Bible journal- and suddenly, without even realizing it, your thoughts spiral: She's more put together than I am. She's probably more spiritual. Why can't I get it right like her? Comparison is as quiet as a thief. It slips into our hearts, even in sacred spaces like the church, and it robs us of joy, peace, and connection. This seems to be even more true among women. Whether is spiritual maturity, parenting style, leadership roles, or even who's serving the best Bible study appetizers. The temptation is real. At its root, comparison often stems from insecurity and a misplaced sense of identity. When we forget that our worth comes from Christ (not our performance or appearance), we begin looking sideways for affirmation instead of looking up. Of course, social media doesn't help. It magnifies curated moment...

I have read/listened to a surprising number of books this summer. I'm warning you that my list of books are all over the place :) Here are the most recent ones: The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea This is a suspenseful book with many twists and turns. It is about two abducted girls- one who returns and one who doesn't. Ya'll, I never guessed the ending of this book! It is a must-read!  The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible by Mary DeMuth Many of us believe we are unseen. Memories of being on the outside still haunt us today. We somehow believe that we are unique in being overlooked. And yet, the Bible is full of women just like us, women who felt on the outside of life, unseen and voiceless.  This book will help you find your place in this world, rest in being seen, and empower you to find your unique voice. There Is a River by Patricia Sweet This is a wonderful Christian Fiction book. It is set against the backdrop of a small church community in upstate New York. It ...

Happy Monday, friends! We had a fun and productive weekend here on the homestead. It has been so hot here for around 2 weeks now. I'm talking 100 degrees with a heat index of 113. I don't think any of my plants are thriving. In fact, they are barely surviving! Thankfully we got a break this weekend! Eighty-four degrees is much better than 100! Carl helped me give our plants a little TLC and they are looking so much better. I have also vowed to do better about keeping them trimmed up and watered (fingers crossed!)! Last week was a busy week. We celebrated the 150th Anniversary of our church on Homecoming Sunday, then had Revival on Monday through Wednesday. It was a lot of celebrating, cooking, eating, and preaching!  A beacon of light in our community for 150 years Noah and Trey This is my face after wrestling a wild two-year-old for over an hour! During Revival we also celebrated Grammy's 90th Birthday! She is a wild one, but I sure do love her! Nanny, Carlie, Wrenley, and...