The Bright Eyed Brunette

 Welcome back to my Wednesday Kids Ministry series. This week I want to talk give some good ideas for object lessons. I have been part of many object lessons over the years. Some of them were totally awesome, others were not so awesome (always practice before hand!). Here are a few of the ones that really seem to drive the point of the lesson home.  The Apple (The Trinity) Objects: One apple Point: One apple, three distinct parts. How to teach it: Hold up an apple and say: “This is one apple. But it has three distinct parts.” Cut it open and show: Skin Flesh Core/seeds Explain: The apple is one apple The parts are distinct All parts are fully part of the apple The apple is not complete without all three Trinity connection: One God Three distinct Persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit Each fully God Not three gods, not one person pretending Why it works: It avoids the “switching forms” problem and shows unity + distinction.  ...

 As I'm inching along in my fitness journey, eating cleaner each day becomes a little more challenging, but extremely necessary. My hardest meal to fix for myself is lunch. Carl is here occasionally and Trey is here almost every day at lunch. They don't care to eat things they are good for them, they just usually need a quick meal. I came across this Egg Salad recipe and decided to make it for me and Carl for lunch one day. We both loved it! Ingredients 6 large eggs boiled and peeled 3 oz. grape tomatoes, about 3/4 cup chopped 6 medium pitted green olives, chopped 2 tbsp. red onion, chopped 2 tbsp. basil, fresh, chopped 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar 1/4 tsp. salt 8 medium bibb lettuce leaves Directions Peel and chop the eggs and place in a medium bowl. Add the chopped tomatoes, olives, red onion, and basil. In a cup, stir the olive oil, vinegar and salt and pour over the egg mixture. Stir to mix. Scoop into lettuce leaves by rounded 1/4 cup servings. Roll to clos...

  The truth about Mondays is this: most of us don’t wake up refreshed, focused, and ready to conquer the week. We wake up a little behind. A little tired. Still carrying the weight of last week and the leftovers from the weekend—physically, emotionally, and sometimes spiritually. Mondays don’t usually start with clarity; they start with coffee and a quiet negotiation with ourselves to just get moving. What nobody posts online is the pause before the productivity. The deep breath before the to-do list. The moment of doubt that wonders if we’re already starting behind. Mondays are rarely as polished as they appear on screens. They’re ordinary. Sometimes messy. Often slower than we planned. And that doesn’t mean we’re doing it wrong—it means we’re human. The truth is, Monday isn’t a test you pass or fail. It isn’t proof of how disciplined, motivated, or put-together you are. It’s simply a doorway. One step into a new stretch of ordinary days where real life happens. And real li...

 Woo Hoo, it's Friday! Just last week I was talking about how this month is flying by, but this week has moved at a snail's pace! Today, I am linking up with  Andrea  and  Erika  for Friday Favorites. I have been working on my fitness for about a year now, more seriously in the past 6 months. One thing I've worked on is getting my daily protein in. I tried the built puff protein bars a while ago and they are wonderful, but earlier this week I found the sour puffs, and wow, those things are surprisingly amazing!! I've also taken the new year to do a little more for myself. I started ordering from Nuuly (a monthly clothing subscription). I have found serveral brands that I have wanted to try. There is no pressure to buy anything. You just simply pick 6 items, wear them for the month and send it back and then pick 6 more items (of course, you can purchase if you like). This is a new favorite of mine. At the end of November I bought tickets to the Jason Aldean conce...

 There are people out there doing 75 Hard-- waking up at 4:30 a.m., taking ice baths on purpose, and drinking enough water to raise the water table. And then there are the rest of us. The ones that say, "I'll improve my life but I'm not military."              Enter 75 Medium--for the people who have goals, responsibilities, and a strong attachment to dessert. 75 Medium is the idea that you can change your habits without pretending that you are training for the Olympics. It's the middle lane between "do nothing" and "turn your life upside down on Monday. It usually looks something like: moving your body every day drinking water, but not enough to require you to have a map of all the public restrooms eating mostly real food that didn't come from a gas station reading or doing something that is good for your brain taking progress photos is you remember, and if you don't--oh well! In other words, progress without misery. I chose 75 Medium over ...

 Well, as promised I am coming back to you with another Kids/Youth Ministry post. This week we are going to talk about some games that all ages of youth can enjoy. Let The Fun Begin! Shake It Off: Each player gets 20 sticky notes (each player has their own color). Instruct the students to place the sticky notes all over their clothes, then let them all start shaking. The first player to get all of their sticky notes off, wins. Pool Noodle Battle: Each player holds two pool noodles (1 noodle cut in half). One is designated as your "sword" and the other must be used as your "torch". Your torch has a "flame" (red solo cup) that the player must protect from extinguishing (falling to the ground off of the torch) Once the torch is extinguished, the player is eliminated.  The players sword (the noodle without the cup) must be used to attack the other players in attempt to extinguish their torches or to be used to block incoming attacks from other player (also cal...

 Welcome to my DITL post-- otherwise known as "watch me attempt to be productive." I didn't wake up glowing, I didn't float into the kitchen, and my hair didn't cooperate. But I did find these super cute moisturizing eye patches Please ignore my dirty mirror.  Another "Wren was here" moment. She loves brushing her teeth! And I made myself a yummy weight loss drink.  And then I got started my Bible Study/Memory work. I really enjoy soaking it all in. Then it was time for me to warm the car up and head to Trey's house to check on Maggie. I was really dreading this because as you can see it was 37 degrees and she always runs off to places she doesn't belong.  Heater all the way up! Steering wheel heat on as well as the seats! I hate the winter! As soon as I got back home and warmed up, it was on to laundry! We were busy catching up from the weekend! After a couple of loads, I headed to my bedroom to put away some of that laundry! It didn't take ...

  Happy Monday, friends! It is hard to believe that we are halfway through January. The weeks are just flying by! It was a pretty lazy weekend here on the homestead. I watched Wrenley on Friday. Carlie had to take Caleb to get his wisdom teeth removed, and I just hated to see her go to school when I didn't have anything going on.  The only caption for this picture is: WREN WAS HERE Friday afternoon until Saturday at noon, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission held the Big Squirrel Challenge. My uncle and Trey have been competing in it for about 3 years now and always come back with at least one medal. This year was no different. They got first place in the fox squirrel category. Good jobs guys!! While Trey was out hunting and Makena was at work, Carl and I cleaned out the pantry. It has been a huge mess since Christmas, and I just couldn't stand to look at it anymore! I didn't take any pictures because honestly, I would be embarrassed to show anybody those before pictures. ...

 Happy Friday, friends! Today I am linking up with  Andrea  and  Erika  for another Friday Favorites. This is going to be a rapid-fire Friday favorites because it is getting late and I have to wake up extra early to pick up a special little girl :) The said little girl! Nobody ever told me how much you love your grandbabies! Spending time with Wrenley is always one of my favorites💗 Another one of my favorite things is watching Makena present. This time she was on her "home turf". She did a presentation on The Stuttgart Army Airfield for a historical group at our community center. They had their biggest turnout for a meeting because Makena has so many people who support her and love her. We are thankful for everyone who came. Of course she did a great job. I'm always proud of her. It is always a favorite any time I get a video or picture of my grandson, Wesley. I can't wait until June! My gentle giant, Boone, wanting to do his favorite thing: GO OUTSIDE! Makena ...

 Hey friends! It's time for another easy, family friendly recipe: Taco Cups! Busy schedules, age differences, and picky eaters can sometimes make mealtimes challenging. Here is a quick and easy recipe that is a favorite around our house! Easy Homemade Taco Cups  Ingredients: 1 lb. ground beef or turkey 1 packet taco seasoning 1 can of crescent rolls or refrigerated biscuit dough 1 cup of shredded cheese (we like the fiesta blend) Optional toppings: lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 F Brown the meat in a skillet. Drain excess grease. Add taco seasoning according to packet directions. Set aside. Prepare the dough. Cut dough from biscuit/crescent roll in half and press into greased muffin tin to form cups. Fill the cups with taco meat and put cheese on the top Bake 12-15 minutes until dough is golden and cheese is melted Cool slightly then add favorite toppings Make It Your Own Add beans instead of meat to make a vegetarian option Use chicken ...

 Welcome to my Kids Ministry Series! I began watching a lot of videos on kid ministry and reading up on the topic towards the end of last year and I realized that although I have a lot to learn, I also have a lot of experience and a little knowledge myself. I want to take this opportunity to share some of that knowledge with my readers. So here we are, Kids Ministry 101. Kids don't learn best by being still--they learn best when they are engaged. Fun and learning aren't opposites in kids ministry. Fun is often the doorway to learning. Some of the best learning happens through: Games that reinforce the lesson Object lessons they can touch and see Acting out Bible stories Music with motions Simple crafts that connect to the theme When kids experience the story, it moves from their head to their heart. Instead of asking, "How much can I teach?" Ask, "What do I want them to remember?" One truth. One verse. One takeaway. Repetition + creativity = retention. Kids ...

  I used to think that menopause would arrive politely. You know maybe a quiet heads-up like, " Hey girl, we're wrapping things up." Instead, menopause kicked down the door, flipped the thermostat to surface of the sun , and whispered, "Good luck figuring out what's normal now." Hot flashes are not just "feeling warm." They are internal combustion events. HELLO HOT FLASH OLYMPICS!!  I could be sitting perfectly still, minding my business, when BAM! my body decides I'm being chased by a lion. Meanwhile everyone else is fine. "Are you hot?" someone asks. No. I am melting. And sleep; Never heard of her! Menopause sleep is a special kind of betrayal. I would fall asleep just fine- confident, hopeful, smug even. Then 3:07 a.m. hits. My eyes snap open like I've been summoned. My brain immediately began reviewing   every awkward thing I've ever said since 1996. I wasn't tired. I wasn't sleepy. I was just awake. For no reason....

 Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had the best weekend. We were busy getting the house back in order and preparing for "normal" (as if that is a real thing, ha!).  Makena and Carl decided to do a little target shooting. I know that some won't agree, but we have always taught our kids to be comfortable and responsible around firearms. Knowledge is power. We are a hunting family, and we definitely believe in our 2nd Amendment rights.  Carl did a little grilling. I'm not sure if he has spent too much time on TikTok or what, but he has been influenced to get the perfect rub for chicken wings. He has big plans for Super Bowl Sunday (hope everyone likes wings!). All joking aside, they were very flavorful and cooked to perfection. He also threw some cheddar jalapeno brats on.  I spent Saturday morning cleaning out my office. During Christmas break, everything was just crammed in there and we closed the door. It had gotten so bad, that I could barely walk in there and I...