Pumpkin Spice… everything! ??

?? Come October 1st, it is officially what my sisters and I call “Pumpkin season”! We make ourselves wait until October 1st to pull out all the festive pumpkin recipes and stock up on canned pumpkin puree. But when October 1st hits, well y’all… it’s the most delicious season of pumpkin spice everything! ? SO today, I would love to hear what YOUR favorite pumpkin recipe is!! Pumpkin Muffins? Pumpkin Soufflé? Pumpkin Cookies or perhaps cake?? ??‍♀️Leave a comment below↓↓ letting me know and have a fabulous day!

Pumpkin Crumb Muffins with Maple Glaze recipe found on my cooking blog, GranolaGirlbakes.com

 

 

“The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
Psalm 145:15-17

 

He that believeth shall not flee! || Random Rainy Day Musing…

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a FOUNDATION a STONE, a tried STONE, a precious CORNER STONE, a sure FOUNDATION: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
Isaiah 28:16

I read something a few years ago that stuck with me and the Lord  used to encourage me forward when there were challenges to be faced! Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The German pastor and early, outspoken critic of Hitler, escaped Germany right before the outbreak of World War II, taking refuge in New York City just as other dissident clergy were being rounded up and imprisoned. Bonhoeffer knew a return to Germany under Hitler’s rule would ultimately lead to his death, however, when in New York he happened upon a passage from Isaiah that read “He who believes does not flee.” From that verse he knew he had to go home and continue the battle against the Reich!  The verse he found came from Isaiah 28:16 where it says, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a FOUNDATION a STONE, a tried STONE, a precious CORNER STONE, a sure FOUNDATION: he that believeth shall not make haste.”  When looking up the term “make haste” it’s definition is to flee in hasty alarm. How often do we want to flee in hasty alarm ? from challenges that arise? Difficult people in our lives? Challenging school days? Hard work circumstances? Situations like Bonhoeffer where you are called to stand for and declare truth in the face of evil? Or [if you are like me] it’s often the feeling of wanting to give up and “flee” when I have failed or fallen short. When I’ve lost my temper or not shown patience or kindness! ?  You see, in our own strength, we would probably do best to flee as we will fail battles we face apart from Christ’s strength and grace. BUT I love how Isaiah 28:16 gives us the reason why we can hold our ground and should not flee the battle but rather fight the good fight[1 Tim612].  In Isaiah 28:16  The Lord God reveals that He is our SURE foundation, a precious and proven Corner Stone and because He is this “tried Stone”[tested and proven true and faithtul→Heb 10:23] we who believe can have faith for the battle ahead. Whether it’s one’s own internal battle against the flesh[Gal 5:16-25] or external spiritual battles we face,  we can confidently stand our ground for the fight because Christ Jesus is our Firm Foundation! I love how 2 Timothy 2:1 commands us to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” For whatever battle there is to be fought or mountain there is to climb today, may you find your strength in Christ and rest in the sufficiency of His grace! “He that believeth shall not flee.” ♥ 

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:10-12

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1

The day this gal turns 17!!! ???

*Happy sigh* You know those people who make your day a little brighter? ? Or life just a whole lot sweeter? ??‍♀️Well, today I’m getting to celebrated 17 years of brighter, sweeter life because one of those kinda people is turning 17 today!! ?? You guessed it, it’s Ruth’s BIRTHDAY!! ?? * INITIATE VIRTUAL CONFETTI and pull out the party hats *. Ruth, also known as Ruth-Anna-Banana [soooory Ruth, had to get at least 1 embarrassing fact thrown in there! ?], is a hard-working, fearless, and faithful sister. Ruth’s Down-to-Earth  attitude and level headedness have been a couple of traits she’s possessed since birth and have been invaluable to our family! Believe me, this girl isn’t just beauty, she’s got some brains behind her too. ? This lovely lady is not afraid to get her hands dirty, do the jobs nobody else will, learn something new, or clean up something really old??[inside family joke, sorry]! Whether it’s practicing her artistic skills with watercolor or taking care of some pretty crazy little sisters or diligently practicing the piano[y’all, she’s self-taught!!] or whipping up another batch of Kombucha, Ruth puts her full being into the task at hand. She’s a one of a kind gem and I am soooooo THANKFUL to have her as my sister! So, how does one spell Ruth? Let’s see ? :

R– ready to serve, radiant, and extremely reliable!
U– unselfish, understanding, and unwavering!
T– thoughtful, tough, and trustworthy!
H -hardworking, helpful, and usually always happy[unless her batch of Kombucha fails!? ]

Happy Birthday RUTH!! You have blessed me in so many ways and I’m praying this year is filled to overflowing with immense blessings as you seek and serve the Lord. ???‍♀️ May your 17th birthday be filled with fun memories to last a lifetime!! Y’all, don’t leave without giving Ruth a little birthday love in the comment section. Make her day by wishing her a happy birthday!???

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers”
Ephesians 1:16

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.”
Psalm 84:11-12

?? The day this girl turns SEVEN!!!??

Today is a SUPER special day for all us here at my house! TODAY this super sweet toothless lady has a birthday… today Emmi TURNS 7 years old!! ??? This sweet and overly adorable gal has added so much joy to my life and I am so thankful we get to spend the entire day celebrating the life the Lord has given her.? ?Emmi is known for her love for all things horses, cute kittens, and outdoor adventures! She’s been blessed with an energetic spirit, artistic abilities[y’all, she makes the cutest pictures], quick wit, and very down to earth honesty[y’all, if you want an honest opinion, ask Emmi ;]! From the moment she wakes up in the morning until she goes to bed at night, this birthday girl is moving non-stop.?  She loves to serve others by refilling their coffee, giving rather large hugs, or offering her service for a great massages! ? She’s one of a kind!! Now is the time I get to let y’all know a little more about Emmi in a fun way:

E- Energetic, Enthusiastic, and Encouraging!!
M-Mature[sometimes more than I am?] and very Matter-of-fact
M-occasionally Mischievous?
I- Inelegant and Irresistibly-adorable??

Happy 7th birthday EMMI!! ?? So thankful to the Lord to be YOUR sister. I am praying the Lord gives you many more years of life in service to Him! ??  May your day be filled with fabulous memories, great cake, and lots of fun shopping!! ??‍♀️ Today would y’all join in the birthday celebration?? Leave a little birthday blessing in the comment section and make her day! ?

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

 

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33

 

Where does one begin?!

I have been missing in action for some time now here on the blog…. Yes, I have been what many would classify a grade A flake in the blogging realm. ? My high hopes of blogging twice a week  were  superseded by the Lord’s perfect will! So, where does one begin when she’s been gone so long? ? Does she back-track or start fresh? Does she re-introduce herself to the world or does she act like she hasn’t even been a blogging flake these past months? “Ahem, Hello, my name is Rachel! [taps on the blog microphone and waves frantically] Anyone still out there?”?  To everything there is a season and sometimes the Lord will have blogging-silence as a season for me. But here I am today, by God’s grace, to let y’all know I am alive,  healthy[contrary to popular belief my siblings haven’t tied me up and stuffed me in the closet?], and happy to be blogging! If I can leave this blog post with any bit of encouragement or a word that I hope resounds in your heart and mind it would be The Lord God is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and ABUNDENT in goodness and truth”[Exodus 34:6].← It is true! ? I am praying and hoping blogging will be more consistent around here but I will leave the blogging schedule up to the Lord and His will! I have committed this blog to Him and I know He will direct my steps. His promise to those who trust the future[whether it be blogging or bigger things] to Him? “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And HE shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” [Ps 37:5-6] That is a command with a pretty terrific promise! With that being said, today I blog and what may be tomorrow I leave in the Lord’s hands. He truly is gracious and abundant in goodness! So, if you take a moment and leave me a comment letting me know YOU are still there and enjoying the autumn weather, that would make my day!!? Aaaand if you are a new blog reader, I would love to “meet you”!  Please leave a comment and say “hello”. Your comments brighten up this blog space in a very wonderful way! Happy Tuesday to you all!?

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.”
Psalm 63:3-4

Well, hello Autumn! ?

“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”
Psalm 31:19

It’s officially official!! As of 8:54pm Autumn officially made it’s entrance here in east Texas! May your Fall be filled with crisp air, crunchy leaves, and lots of pumpkin spice lattes. ? Happy Fall y’all! ??

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”
Ecc 3:1

Pretty cute but somethings missing…

FINALLY this little lady is all smiles over her missing top tooth! After many days of wiggling and wondering if it would EVER come out, a gentle flick from a well-seasoned-tooth-flicking-father it was out. Little miss Emmi, pretty cute and it’s obvious with that big grin that there is indeed something missing! Happy Sunday to you all. ♥?

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14

out of the single digits!! || It’s BIRTHDAY TIME

Y’all, there’s a birthday girl in the house and she’s officially out of the single digits!! It’s TRUE… Rebekah turns 10 years OLD today. ??? Known for her fabulous cake decorating, gorgeous calligraphy,  home decorator aspirations, and mad mule riding skills?, Rebekah has added a golden sparkle to my life and I really don’t know what I would do without her . She is officially the best conversationalist in the family, always there to give you a “good night” hug, and can do a pretty great pedicure upon request! This beauty has been a best friend, fantastic sister, and sweet encourager for 10 entire years and I am so thankful to be celebrating HER!?  So, how does one describe Rebekah??…. without further ado:

R- Reliable, Radiant, Responsible
E- Encouraging, Enthusiastic, and slightly Extrinsic[joking?]
B- Bold, [always]Busy with something, and pretty Brilliant when it comes to school[she’s usually the one winning the monthly excellent student award???]!
E. Energetic! This girl can jog y’all. She put me to shame when she was my running buddy this spring…..
K. Kind-hearted and Knowledgeable[y’all, she can tell you a lot about birds and gold fish? and a few other things you never knew]
A. ADORABLE!!, Adventurous, and ambitious
H. Happy, very Honest[this runs in the family ?], and hard-working

Happy 10th birthday to YOU, Rebekah!?? I am praying it is the BEST YET!!  So thankful to have you as a sweet sister and friend. I can’t wait to what the Lord has in store for you in the days ahead!!!?? Y’all, leave Rebekah a little birthday love in the comment box!!

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 16:3

 

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

full of light…

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

 

Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.  If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.”
Luke 11:33-35

Oh those Shirts! || SPRING100

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.”
Isaiah 63:7

Well now, this post is way past due as time has completely gotten away with me! This is officially dubbed THE BUSIEST SUMMER EVER for me and my family ? BUUUUT before we get into another season I had to show off the Spring100 appreciation photos I received from a few of the 2018 participants. Each photo was such a blessing to see! Thank you!! What a fun pleasure to host the 2nd Spring100.? So, how about seeing a few photos from Spring100ers? ?

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:21-23

Well now, she’s 24!!??? || HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Yes, you read that right! There’s a birthday girl in the house and I can’t wait to blog about her!??? Y’all, put your hands together for a birthday applause because Grace turns 24 terrific years old today. ???? Known for her gorgeous smile, love for shopping, fashionable taste in clothing, business savvy, and outrageously delicious Layered white cake, Grace’s bubbly vibrant personality, optimistic spirit, and eagerness to take on any task thrown her way makes her truly one of a kind! And according to my mom, she learned to read before the age of 4 which makes her a genius in my book. ? Though she will not quickly admit it, Grace gifts far exceed the business realm and she’s is a pro in the kitchen [Slider sandwiches, Italian feasts, and cakes that take the prize]. She always wows us with her unexpected quick-fix-gourmet-finger-licking-good creations! Today I am so super excited to CELEBRATE GRACE ?? and the blessing she is to us. One of the best way to do that? Sharing some pretty gorgeous photos of the Birthday Girl ?and  giving y’all a better idea of who Grace is. So without further ado:

G. Generous, Gracious, extremely Gifted
R. Radiant, Reliable[y’all, when she says she’s got your back, she’s really got it!], Ready to serve
A. Amiable, Active, pretty Adorable
C. Caring, Cheerful, and super Confident [< love that about her!!]
E. Encouraging, Enthusiastic, and Extra-honest ?

Happy Birthday Grace!!? Truly blessed to be YOUR sister and thankful for the life the Lord has given you! I hope and pray 24 is the best year yet as you diligently seek + serve the Lord. ENJOY YOUR DAY!!! ?? Y’all, help make Grace’s Birthday beautiful. DON’T LEAVE until you’ve left Grace a birthday comment!! ??

“The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”
Psalm 147:11

“May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your purposes”
Psalm 20:4

Meet Mercy || Farm Life Update

Y’all, let me just say… Farm Life is REAL LIFE! Yep, it’s just about time for a Farm Life update. I have come to the realization there is truly no such thing as “hobby farming”. Farming is a lot of  hard work that can’t be categorized as a hobby!? For those of us who weren’t born and raised farmer, there is trail and error that occurs at the beginning of farm life. Sheep escaping and finding their way to the neighbor’s green bushes?, livestock sinus infections, and a dog very slowly learning that the chickens are friends not food are a few of the farm life trials that have happened! But in the midst of the challenges and farming trials, the Lord showed His mercy.? Early one morning in the midst of farm drama and loss, little Mercy was unexpectedly birthed and appeared next to his mother! New life, God’s new mercies, and a new fresh start for our farm life adventures came with this little lamb! Just like in farm life, there are seasons of trial and loss in regular everyday life too but, praise the Lord, He shows His mercy toward us. His mercies are truly new every single morning! So, after a good long week of fence work from my dad, brothers, and grandpa and my mom’s exceptional organizational skills put into place at the chicken coop, farm life seems to be settling down a bit! The sheep are happily grazing in their own pasture and staying away from the neighbor’s landscaping, our dog is [slowly] learning to not use the chickens as chew toys, and little Mercy is strong and growing bigger every day. So, farm life has been a hard life but with the Lord and His mercies on our side, it’s a good life!  That’s my #FarmLyfe update. ??

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
Lamentations 3:21-24

Curious lady! ;)

“For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.”
Psalm 100:5

?? Happiest of Birthdays….

? Y’all, it’s a VERY special day here at my house and I’m just a littleLOT excited to let you know why!??? Today we get to celebrate the life the Lord has given my DAD!! That’s right, today is his birthday and I am soooo thrilled to be able celebrate. My Dad’s lively sense of humor, perceptive discernment, and enthusiastic energy fill my family’s days with lots of laughs and great guidance as our we puts our hands to the tasks before us.? Dad is always willing to offer a helping hand, listening ear, and readily jumps into any job the Lord puts before him with unmeasured vigor. I am truly thankful for the years of life, leadership, wisdom, & vision the Lord has given my Dad and tremendously blessed by his daily sacrificial service to his family! So, without further ado, a few characteristics that accurately describe my DAD! ;)

D. Diligent, Discerning, Disciplined
A. Athletic[y’all, he’s up before dawn jogging the morning away!], Ambitious, Adventurous, Always-ready, and Attentive!
D. Dependable, down-to-earth, dedicated!

Happy birthday, DAD!! ? I am so thankful for your faithful service to the Lord and our family. Couldn’t ask for a better father! ?  May the days to come be even sweeter than those which have passed and may you get better looking as the years go on!! ??

“With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.”
Psalm 91:16

“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.”
Psalm 128:1-4b

Happy HAPPY happy HAPPY ??

Psssstttt…. Y’all, I need your attention. ?? RIGHT NOW! We have a pretty fabulous reason to be super happy today! Today, one of the best guys in the ENTIRE WORLD is having a birthday!! You guessed it, today Joel turns 19!! ? It’s time to CELEBRATE!!!? Joel is a “one in a million” kinda guy packed full of sensitivity, kindness, business sense, and extremely witty humor. He will have you laughing non-stop! His ambition, vision, and determination are just a few things that sets him apart. Joel is devoted to the work the Lord puts before him whether it’s reed wacking[long story?] or sign selling or order packing! Seeing his eager determination is exciting…. And he’s pretty handsome too if I may say so!? So, y’all can guess I am just a little LOT excited to be celebrating his birthday! To carry on the 2018 birthday blog post tradition, a few characteristics that accurately describe JOEL:

J- Jolly, joyful, Just one of the best guy EVER! ?
O-Observant[when it comes to sensing the needs of others especially when it comes to sensing me needing chocolate?, Joel is super observant!],  and [super]Optimistic!!
E- Excellent in all he does, easygoing, encouraging, energetic, and excessive when it comes to pampering others!?
L- Loving, longsuffering, and definitely not lazy ?

Happy 19th birthday Joel!!?? May your day be filled with great iced caramel lattes and fabulous memories!! I hope and pray this next year is the BEST YET as you diligently seek and serve the Lord wherever He takes you. I am supremely blessed to be your sister!!?  Y’all, help this guy celebrate by leaving him a birthday comment below!!?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
Ephesians 6:10

“The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
Psalm 121:5-8

THE BEST YET ? || Thank you!!

“Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.”
Psalm 36:5

Wow, it’s been a BIG week. New product launches and business travel and[yes] a fabulous birthday to celebrate but I didn’t want this week to pass without saying “THANK YOU!” ? Between sweet birthday blog comments, text/email messages, cards and surprise packages that sailed through the USPS, and an outrageously fabulous birthday celebration with/from my family, my 29th birthday was THE BEST YET! ?   With each new year I am humbled and amazed by God’s mercies. His blessings and benefits are so extremely present in each and every day but there is something about turning a new age that gets you really meditating on all His goodness toward you! He is faithFUL and I am truly blessed. Y’all are one of the many blessings He has so generously placed in my life! Your friendship is a gift. So, welcome 29! 28, you were great. ? Yes, there were challenges and trails faced but they were overcome by God’s grace. Yep, 29 along with it’s joys will also have it’s own challenges & hardship but “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” So, who wants to join me for the adventures that may be had in the days ahead? I am supremely excited to see where the Lord directs my steps as I continue to set my heart and hope on Him! ???

“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.”

Y’all, my family is so fun when it comes to planning my birthday! The girls came up with a super creative game and I had to share photos. ?? Swan races! I had such a fun time and laughed so hard! A few pictures to prove it. ?

Grace giving the rules!

time to draw names for team mates!

A few team mates eagerly awaiting the game!

Nathanael chose my name!! :) :)

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12