The Bright Eyed Brunette

 Have you ever been so focused on what was bothering you that you completely missed what God was trying to show you? I have. And apparently Jonah did too. Most of us know Jonah as the man who ran from God, got swallowed by a great fish, finally obeyed, and went to Nineveh. But sometimes I think the most convicting part of Jonah's story comes after all of that. Because Jonah finally did what God told him to do-- and then got upset when God showed mercy. Nineveh repented. God spared the city. And instead of celebrating, Jonah was angry. Then God caused a plant to grow and give Jonah shade. Jonah was pretty happy about that plant. But the next day, God allowed a worm to destroy it. And Jonah was miserable. He was so upset over that plant that he said he would rather die than live without it.  That's when God asked him question that gets right to the heart of the matter. Jonah cared deeply about a plant he hadn't planted, grown, or really done anything for. Yet he was angry wit...

 This weekend definitely didn't go the way I would have liked. Instead of getting out and enjoying the first weekend in October, I spend most of the weekend feeling under the weather. It started on Wednesday with keeping my grandson because he wasn't feeling well. And, of course, when that sweet baby needs his grandma, I'm going to be there. There was plenty of holding and cuddling and trying to make a sick little one as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle of all those cuddles, he decided to share more than his sweetness with me. By the time Saturday rolled around I wasn't feeling so great myself. And honestly the weather couldn't have matched the mood any better. It was the kind of weather that makes you want to stay in your pajamas, curl up under a blanket, and forget there is an entire world outside your front door. So that's pretty much what we did. I guess if I'm going to be stuck inside feeling crummy, at least the sunshine ...

 Happy What's Up Wednesday! Today I am linking up with  Shay  and  Sheaffer  for another "What's Up Wednesday" Let's do this! What we're eating this week... So far this week we have made: Wings on the Pit Boss Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork Chops You can't get any easier than wings and chops! Especially when they are on the grill and slow cooker!! What I'm Reminiscing About... Septembers past: September is Trey's birth month. It is also the month that my grandpa died four years ago. This is the year that Papa gave Trey a gun for his birthday. He was so proud to give it to Trey and you can tell by the look on Trey's face how happy he was. Such a sweet moment to remember. Our county fair is also in September. My kids used to love it when they were younger. They still love rides, just not the traveling kind :) This was Wrenley's school picture last year. She has grown so much in one year :) What I'm Loving... Makena and my mom have started mak...

 Ella Langley's "Be Her" got me thinking about something I think a lot of women struggle with- the woman we think we should be.  You know her. She's more disciplined. More confident. More put together. She exercises, keeps the house clean, reads her Bible every morning, never loses her patience, and somehow always has good hair. We tell ourselves, If I could just be her..... And there's nothing wrong with wanting to grow. But what happens when the woman we want to become turns into an idol? Sometimes we become so focused on our ideal self that we forget to ask God who He wants us to become. There's a subtle difference between praying, "Lord, make me more like Christ," and saying, "Lord, help me to become the woman I've decided I need to be." One is surrender. The other can easily become control.  Philippians 1:6 reminds us that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. God isn't waiting fo...

 Happy Monday friends! I am a little late getting this up, but done is better than one time? That's not how that goes, but it for this blog post. On Friday I spent the day with sweet Wesley Dean. When I tell you he is the sweetest baby, I am not lying. He never cried the whole time I had him (maybe that is because I anticipated his every move because that's what BeBe's do!). We ate, played, changed his booty and slept..on repeat. I haven't kept him alone in a while. I soaked up every moment! After school Carlie and Wrenley picked us up and we went to the hospital where the ice cream truck was parked. Wrenley was super excited to get her ice cream. I shared mine with both Wrenley and Wesley :) All the heart eyes for this cutie BeBe and Wrenley, BFF! I didn't realize how tired I look :( Carlie was on-call all weekend and Caleb was at the fire station, so Makena stayed with them until Sunday morning. Trey also went and ate fish with my dad on Friday (which I thought wa...

 The calendar says fall is on its way, and the weather man says we are getting some cooler temperatures. There is no better time to share a few of my favorite soup recipes! Is there anything better than a pot of soup simmering on the stove, something warm baking in the oven to go with it, and everybody wandering through the kitchen asking, "When are we eating?" Bring on the comfort foods! BeBe's Creamy Potato Soup I found this recipe on TikTok several years ago and it is a family staple in the cooler months. Ingredients: 1 bag of Great Value Southern Potatoes 1 container of Great Value Chicken Broth 1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup 1 bag of Oscar Meyer Bacon Bits 1 block of Great Value Cream Cheese To cook, place your bag of potatoes, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup and 1/2 bag of bacon bits into a crock pot. add salt and pepper to taste. Top with your cream cheese. You can cut the cream cheese into chunks or place the whole block and then break apart as it melts. Cove...

 Happy Monday, friends! It's been a while since I have blogged. Last week just kind of got away from me and I guess I needed a break more than I realized!  We had Grandparent's Day last week at Wrenley's school. Nanny was sick and Pop was at a sales meeting out of state, but BeBe, Pappy, JoJo, and Papa were there! I know we are all proud to be the grandparents of Wrenley and Wesley (he is at the say school, just in daycare).  Wrenley was acting shy :) Earlier in the week, Carl, Trey and I went to the river to check on the houseboat. Trey took his boat and Carl and I took the jet boat. We have only had it out a handful of times over the summer. Pink Skies are beautiful Sittin' pretty We waited a little late to come in, because nobody wanted to leave! Loading a boat in the dark is not fun though. Even though it feels like July outside, my guys are getting buck fever! We have been feeding and watching them for weeks now! While Carl has been busy with bean harvest, Trey inv...