The Bright Eyed Brunette

 Let's just say it: church would be perfect...if it weren't for people. Kidding. (Mostly). The truth is, church is a beautiful, messy gathering of imperfect humans trying to follow a perfect Savior. Which means at some point, you will encounter that person. You know the one. The human equivalent of a squeaky pew. The one who corrects your grammar in prayer request, critiques the potluck macaroni, and somehow has "just a thought" after every business meeting.  So how do we deal with difficult people in church without losing our sanity? Well, this one my kind of hurt, but remember you might be that person  to someone else. Before you get too comfortable pointing fingers, let's pause. Somewhere, someone has probably sighed deeply after talking to us. Humbling? Yes. Necessary? Also, yes. Grace goes both ways. If we want it, we have to give it! Another thing to remember is that church is not heaven. You may just need to readjust your expectations. There are people of a...

 Every year on March 17, the world turns green. There are parades, shamrocks, Irish music, and an endless supply of green shirts. But behind the festivities of St. Patrick's Day is a story that is deeply rooted in Christian faith.  Many people celebrate the day without ever thinking about the man it's really named after--St. Patrick. His story isn't really about luck or leprechauns. It's about redemption, forgiveness, and the quiet power of sharing the gospel.  My leprechaun, Trey Patrick wasn't born in Ireland. In fact, he was born in Roman Britain in the late 300's. As a teenager, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland where he was forced to work as a shepherd. Those lonely years in the fields changed him. Patrick later wrote that during that time he began praying constantly and turning toward God in a way he never had before. His faith deepened in the middle of hardship. Eventually he escaped and made his way home. Most people would have close...

 Happy Monday, good friends! I hope you all had the best weekend. It was pretty low-key around here. On Friday, I watched Wrenley all day. I hadn't seen her in a whole week, so I was really needing my girl!  She was watching my uncle's new dog, Skipper in our yard. We ate McDonald's for breakfast. She wanted a McGriddle and a hashbrown. We went to Nanny and Pop's house and played all morning. Then Carl came home around 12 for the day. We "rested" for about an hour and then it was back to playing! We had a tea party.  She mostly just like drinking her tea from a spoon and making a mess. Then we took a ride on the Ranger She laughed and squealed because Boone came with us and ran in a big puddle of water. Carlie and Caleb came and brought some take-out plates from a fish fry at the Christian school my kids attended when they were younger. Then she went outside and looked at where we are going to plant the garden. Somehow, she slid down and got mud all over her w...

Yesterday I made a classic mistake. I said the words every small-town person eventually regrets: “I’m just running to town real quick.” Now if you live in a big city, a quick trip to town probably means you go to the store, get what you need, and come home. But in a small town, that’s not how it works. A trip to town is not an errand. It is an event. It started out simple enough. I needed one thing. Just one. I told myself I’d be in and out in fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes later I was still in the parking lot. Because the first thing that happened was I saw someone I knew. Now in a small town you don’t just wave and keep walking. That would be rude. So we stopped and talked for a minute, which naturally turned into ten minutes. We covered everyone’s health, the weather, someone’s garden, and whether the rain last week was good for the hay. Then I finally made it inside the store. That’s when I ran into someone else I knew. This conversation began with, “How have you been?” and someh...

 Some weeks call for a long list of things to do. Other weeks feel like they need something different-- something a little softer than a schedule full of tasks and expectations. This week, instead of focusing on everything that has  to get done, I'm keeping a simple wish list. Not goals. Not deadlines. Just a few small things I'm hoping to make space for in the days ahead. A Quiet Morning. I'm hoping for at least one morning this week that isn't rushed. The kind of morning where the house is still, and the day hasn't started pulling in a dozen different directions yet. Just a few quiet minutes to think, pray, and ease into the day. Time Outside.  Even if it's just a short walk or a few minutes standing in the yard, I'd like to spend a little time outside this week. Fresh air has a way of clearing your mind and reminding you that the world is bigger than whatever is crowding your thoughts. A Good Conversation. Life moves quickly, and sometimes conversations g...

Happy Monday again, friends! It seems like Monday comes around too quickly. We tried to not let the rain bring our weekend down.  Sweet Wrenley was named star student in her class and was recognized in front of the school at chapel. Such a sweetheart She is growing up so much. It makes me both happy and sad. Look at sweet baby Wesley! He is growing too!! Wrenley said he was sticking his tongue out at her :) I was finally able to get my hands on the lime slush Alani Nu. I've heard several people talk about how disappointed they were in the taste (they say it isn't sour enough). It tastes just like Lucky Charm marshmallows! I think it is delicious. We were also able to celebrate my nephew, Noah's birthday with him (a little late) My Dad ran another race. In the rain. It was a 5k Pound the Pavement for cancer. He is a cancer survivor. We are so thankful that God has given us more time with him. And his running time wasn't bad either: 29:58...in the rain. I couldn't eve...

 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...

 On Tuesday Makena and I picked Wrenley up and took her to the Little Rock Zoo. She was a little skeptical about going because her only memory of being with big animals was the drive through safari (and parts of that scared her to death). Best Buds! She loves a photo opportunity! There was a pregnant pigmy goat and she said, "that goat has a baby in it's belly like my mommy!" It was a fun day! Wrenley loved the animals and the playgrounds, but she was not happy at all that the train wasn't running. It had rained earlier that morning and there was a chance later in the day. It is always a blessing to spend time with both Wrenley and Makena. On the drive home, the chatter faded into quiet. Someone dozed off watching Ariel again. Makena listened to her music on her phone, and I just soaked it in .  "This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 Much Love, Beth

 We don't talk about it much. We expect middle school girls to whisper, exclude, and form cliques. We expect teenagers to weaponize friendships. But grown women? Church women? Moms? Professionals? Surely we've outgrown that. And yet...we haven't always. Relational aggression doesn't usually look loud or dramatic in adulthood. It rarely shows up as shouting matches or obvious cruelty. Instead, it slips in quietly: The lunch you weren't invited to . The group chat you slowly realize exists without you. The polite smile paired with subtle exclusion. The prayer request that feels a little too detailed. The "I'm just concerned" conversation that somehow damages your reputation. It's not fists: It's frost. What Is Relational Aggression? It is behavior meant to harm someone through relationships, reputation, or social standing rather than direct confrontation. In adult women, it often looks like: Social exclusion Withholding communication Backhanded ...