Happy Father’s Day Exclusive Recipe!

Hello friends!

Today we celebrate the men in our lives; our own fathers, our husband’s, uncles, anyone who stood in as the father figure.

I like to recall the great times I was blessed to have with my father, my Uncle Jim, celebrating my hubby with my kids. Now, two of my sons are fathers, and it’s an honor to see them grow into their roles and raising my amazing grandies.

My hubby is a wonderful father, my best friend and we’ve been blessed with 41-derful years.

He’s not much for sweets, usually. I decided to snazzy up a favorite, and I’m happy to share the recipe with you!

Coconut and Chocolate Chip Rice Krispie Treats

1 stick butter

1 bag mini marshmallows

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup coconut flakes

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 box of Rice Krispies, less 2 cups

Melt the butter, then add marshmallows, stirring till almost liquid. Remove from heat and add vanilla, mixing in well. Add coconut, mix in, then add the cereal. Stir, stir, stir till combined, them add the chocolate chips. Mix well. Pour into a 9 in x 13 in baking dish lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Using another piece of wax/parchment paper, press it down and even out. Place in fridge at least an hour before serving. Cut into squares or rectangles. Enjoy!!

Most of my family, 2024; my Dad and I, circa 1963

I know these man made holidays can be painful. Many did not have a father they could rely on, for many reasons. There has been a lot of trauma in my life as well. But, as the Bible says, I try to keep my focus on whatever is true, lovely, noble, honorable. I hope you know that your Heavenly Father will never let you down. He is always watching, always listening, always merciful when we come humbly before Him.

Have a wonderful day, whomever you are celebrating 🧡

Till next time, God Bless

In the Word Wednesday #15: How Are You Doing?

I’m not sure how to start this off. It can be a touchy topic.

Recently I’ve been a little “not myself,” and in talking about it with my small group, one of them said to me, “It’s really okay not to be okay. You know that, right?”

I know that friends have said that to me numerous times since my daughter went to heaven in 2018, but I think that’s the first time I HEARD it. I shared in a post here about all of the happenings since then. In another, similar conversation with a few other wonderful women in my circle, one of them mentioned that it sounded like I was dealing with some mild depression.

Um. YA THINK? *imagine me slapping my forehead*

It’s really amazing when you can see something for the first time and say, “Wow, yeah. That is the issue.” It’s not a first for me, either. I had very bad Post Partum Depression after one of my kids. This is different, though. Lingering, stealing my energy, like a malaise over everything. In all of this new enlightenment I was having, a few questions came to mind.

“Why have I, and I think many Godly, believing, Jesus-loving women, reject and fight the possibility that depression will touch me? My world has been severely rocked since October of 2018. Why wouldn’t I be depressed, and why is it not okay to see and admit it?”

Our mental and emotional health is as vital as our spiritual and physical health. As always, I look to the Bible to get answers, and here are a few verses about the heart and mind:

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life, Proverbs 4:23 (Here’s a geeky fact about this verse: it’s written on the sundial in the garden at Ashley Wilke’s plantation in the movie Gone With The Wind.)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your heart and mind… Romans 12:2a

Cast your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

We need to keep our hearts focused on God, His good works in our lives and the hope of heaven. This is a terribly fallen world, and it’s hard sometimes to manage it, even with faith. Having good friends and a solid church should help with that. However, there is a stigma that goes along with saying, “Hey, I’m felling depressed.” Even as those verses, and many others, are familiar, when you’re in a state of emotional fatigue, they can feel foreign.

So, we pray. Even when we don’t feel like it.

We talk to others, even if it’s uncomfortable.

We seek professional help. Pastoral counsel, physicians, etc.

This article on gotquestions is a good source. I have also begun to read this book, Breath as Prayer, and it has been very good. You can get it free on Kindle Unlimited. (I am not an affiliate)

Friends, I pray that this touches someone today. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out. Even if you have before, do so again. It may be the time that they really hear it.

God Bless

Barbara

Wednesday Update

Hello, hello crafting friends!

I know I’ve been absent the last few weeks, I’m so sorry! We’ve had quite the month of April starting with a 5 day power outage! Let’s just say it’s sort of been chaotic, and leave it there. I’ve missed blogging, especially since my website went live!

I would like to do a series for Wednesdays in the Word (In the Word Wednesday? I forgot what I call it!). I’m not sure what, so I’ll be praying about that.

What I will leave you with on this beautiful Wednesday evening is this:

Psalm 23:4, ESV Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

It’s so very familiar. The 23rd Psalm, spoken at so many important occasions in life. Something I have come to realize recently is this; the “valley of the shadow of death” is not an occasional period of life. It IS life. We walk constantly in the shadow of sin and death. As the psalmist, King David, notes, there is nothing to fear, for GOD is with us, certainly, if we have a relationship with Him. The very fact that He walks with me, and that He corrects and guides me is comforting. Yes, sometimes correction hurts. But, aren’t we better off for it?

This realization and a few other things in the last week or so have given me fresh perspective. Much needed fresh eyes and new inspiration. I can do better. Yes, I stumble, I fall, I sometimes do not want to get up…But God! He lifts me, He sets me on the paths of His righteousness. Not mine! and it’s for His Name. Not mine.

I hope this touches your heart today.

Thank you for coming by. See you again next week!
In HIS Name, blessings,

Barbara