3 October 2014

Hello, again. I’m so glad you’re here! Summer was a wonderful season filled with living and growing and learning and loving… as well as a break from blogging. (You might’ve noticed that I’ve still been around a bit on Instagram and Pinterest.) But Autumn is here, and while these days don’t look like they’ll slow down anytime soon, I’m looking forward to carving out time to post here again.

Life is full of seasons with love, mercy, faithfulness, pain, forgiveness, beauty, hope, and much, much more – all because of the greatness and goodness of God.

“For everything there is a season, and
a time for every matter under heaven.”
—Ecclesiastes 3:1

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”
—Lamentations 3:22-24

As always, things are cooking in the studio, but the latest one just released on October 1st! There will be more about that next week…

[3] Comments » | Categories: Encouragement, God's Creation, Life

10 May 2014

A glimpse of last evening’s breathtaking storm clouds as they fulfilled the decree of the Lord. I was again left in amazement at the greatness of our God, who ordained every cloud and every gust of wind that declared His glory as the storm passed over us.

“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling His word!”
—Psalm 148:7-8

[17] Comments » | Categories: God's Creation, Life

21 March 2014

With yesterday being the first day of the beautiful spring season, I went on a search for something green that would reveal new life after a long winter.

I was happy to find the tips of daffodils peeking between last autumn’s leaves, tulips pushing their way up where just a few weeks ago stood a snowdrift reaching over six feet tall, and, of course, the ever-faithful moss that pops up here and there.

While there are still many patches of green that have yet to show their fresh beauty, I know they’ll appear soon. Spring has just begun and it will keep on coming.

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
—Genesis 8:22

“For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.”
—Psalm 33:4-5

P.S. To celebrate spring, we’re offering 20% off all of our embroidery patterns and kits at Clementine Pattern Co. through March 25th – just use coupon code SPRING14 at checkout!

[8] Comments » | Categories: God's Creation, Life

18 March 2014

This crisp is our all-time-favorite berry dessert. It’s simple to make, quick to assemble, and ready to eat as soon as it’s golden and crispy. Actually, we find this dish so immensely delicious that we jokingly say a large pan makes just four servings. (At least I thought we were joking…)

It’s perfect for breakfast and dessert and can be tossed together for spur-of-the-moment guests or even just as a sweet treat after a busy day.

The original recipe base was Sheri Graham’s “Berry Coconut Crisp,” but with a few tweaks and some multiplication, we customized the recipe for our family… and now for you all, too! The recipe below fits perfectly into the Trim Healthy Mama plan as an S treat.

Baked Berry Crisp (S)
Gluten-Free | Grain-Free | Dairy-Free | THM: S | Serves: 8-10

6-8 cups raspberries and/or strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup blanched almond flour
1 cup golden flax meal
2 tablespoons coconut flour (optional, helps thicken the batter in case of extra juicy berries)
¼ cup homemade Truvia*
4 tablespoons gelatin powder
4 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¾ cup coconut oil, melted
¼-½ teaspoon stevia (to taste)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread berries in a 9″ x 13″ baking pan and evenly sprinkle stevia on berries. In a medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients and crumble the mixture on top of the berries. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

*Homemade Truvia can be made by combining ¾ cup erythritol and ½ teaspoon stevia.

**Non-THM cooks can substitute homemade Truvia with honey or coconut sugar.

[32] Comments » | Categories: Food, Gluten-Free

14 March 2014

This embroidery features a flourishing homestead full of life, centered around Proverbs 24:3-4:

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

This pattern was delightful to embroider and is a beautiful reminder of the joy of living in the way of the Lord. The stitches used include straight, back, stem, seed, lazy-daisy, and French knot. The finished work fits perfectly in an 11″ x 14″ frame. (Makes for a wonderful addition to the home or a wedding or housewarming gift!)

Now available at Clementine Pattern Co., this embroidery kit comes in color and redwork!

[8] Comments » | Categories: Encouragement, Handmade, Inspirations, The Home

6 March 2014

When I picked up a little book titled “Free Grace and Dying Love,” I couldn’t help but begin pouring over its pages. The first part is a collection of devotions by Susannah Spurgeon and the second part is a biography on her life.

Charles and Susannah Spurgeon’s story is a beautiful and inspiring one. They came together as one and faithfully served and sacrificed much to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and seek first His kingdom and righteousness. (She’s actually featured in one of our paper doll collections.)

Susannah’s writings in the collection of devotions is beautiful evidence of her great love of and submission to her Savior. While her life was far from trial-free, Susannah saw the goodness of the Lord through the afflictions and trusted in His good pleasure – the One “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” and “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

A couple of my favorite quotes from this volume:

“Lord, You have told me who You are, You have in mercy revealed Yourself to me, I know You to be that blessed ‘gift of God’ which alone can save and satisfy my soul. The depth and compass of heavenly love are manifested in You, and You have shown me, not my need only, but the sufficiency of Your grace and power to meet it. I am an empty sinner, You are a full Christ!”

“The soul that has learned the blessed secret of seeing God’s hand in all that concerns it, cannot be a prey to fear, it looks beyond all second causes, straight into the heart and will of God, and rests content, because He rules.”

—Susannah Spurgeon

I need Christ in all things and I know that He is sufficient. He rules and reigns and I can rest content in Him. How thankful I am that, by the grace of God, I serve a full Christ!

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
—Ephesians 3:20-21

[8] Comments » | Categories: Encouragement, Life, Noble Rose Press, Paper Dolls

4 March 2014

It is a glorious sight when everything is covered in snow as far as the eye can see.

So fresh, pure, and beautiful.

“Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For He commanded and they were created.
And He established them forever and ever;
He gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling His word!”

—Psalm 148:5-8

And to think, not a single snowflake falls apart from the decree of the Lord. Wondrous.

To top it all off, back in January we had the opportunity to experience -12°F with a wind chill of -40°F.

We’re thankful for our warm and cozy home!

[16] Comments » | Categories: God's Creation, Life

4 February 2014

There was a birthday at our home last week, which was an occasion that called for, as all birthdays do: cake. And we sure did find a winner of a recipe! A cake unlike any other that is rich, lightly moist, full of body, and full of chocolate.

Enter “Special Occasion Chocolate Cake” from page 384 of Trim Healthy Mama, topped with the fluffy and rich “Chocolate Frosting” from Paleo Indulgences (ignore the worldview behind the title, please). A recipe combo that I think would also be perfect for creme-filled cupcakes.

• If you have food sensitivities, you’ll be glad to know that these recipes are gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free, making for a happy tummy.
• If you’re a Trim Healthy Mama, this cake is an S.

The simple decorating is spread icing with cocoa powder sprinkled on top. Whenever I add icing to a cake, I’m reminded of the day years ago when we decided we wouldn’t be doing fancy cake decorating in our kitchen again… that was quite the adventure.

And the candle holes are for extra beauty, attesting to the joyful celebration of Breezy’s birthday.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints,
for those who fear Him have no lack!”
—Psalm 34:8-9

[8] Comments » | Categories: Food, Gluten-Free

2 December 2013

Our Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sales are here!
Shop now through Monday, December 2nd and Save:

>> Clementine Pattern Co. <<
Use coupon code GIVETHANKS at checkout for
20% off your entire order through December 2nd!
–

>> The Breezy Tulip Studio <<
Use coupon code GIVETHANKS at checkout for
20% off your entire order through December 2nd!
–

>> Noble Rose Press <<
Save up to 35% percent on all our products through December 2nd!
–

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession,
and 
through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.”
—II Corinthians 2:14

No Comments » | Categories: Handmade, Noble Rose Press, Paper Dolls