Blog

Nov 10, 2014•3 min read

{Articles Club} To Love Your Neighbor, You Must Know Your Neighbor - Ben Stevens

Welcome to Articles Club, an online reading community focused on unearthing the art of eating and creating a home. It’s hosted by Andrea DeVries and Abigail Murrish who take turns sharing pertinent articles on their blogs every Monday and asking...

Nov 5, 2014•1 min read

{Articles Club} In Defense of Food: and all who bring it to our tables - Ann Voskamp

Welcome to Articles Club, an online reading community focused on unearthing the art of eating and creating a home. It’s hosted by Andrea DeVries and Abigail Murrish who take turns sharing pertinent articles on their blogs every Monday and asking...

Nov 3, 2014•3 min read

A heart check & choosing to praise

I have known for a long time that the most effective way to retain phrases, verses, truths, or promises in my mind is to write them out. I usually don't understand something until I take the time to sit down, pen in hand, and write it word by word...

Oct 27, 2014•2 min read

{Articles Club} The Beauty of Living...Slowly: Tsh Oxenreider

Welcome to Articles Club, an online reading community focused on unearthing the art of eating and creating a home. It’s hosted by Andrea DeVries and Abigail Murrish who take turns sharing pertinent articles on their blogs every Monday and asking...

Oct 21, 2014•3 min read

A life update

Hello! I'm right in the middle of acclimating to my new job, and tonight starts another three shifts in a row. I actually like when the shifts are grouped together, but I'm still working out how to do life in-between. I just wanted to check in and...

Oct 13, 2014•3 min read

{Articles Club} Embracing Our Inner Imperfect Hostess - Ashlee Gadd

Welcome to Articles Club, an online reading community focused on unearthing the art of eating and creating a home. It’s hosted by Andrea DeVries and Abigail Murrish who take turns sharing pertinent articles on their blogs every Monday and asking...

Oct 11, 2014•3 min read

Befriending faithfulness

I worked my first three 12-hour shifts this week, and now I have five days off! I'm definitely adjusting to a new schedule. Amongst our early mornings and early bedtimes, meals around here are a bit skewed. I'm still working on a list of meals to...

Oct 7, 2014•0 min read

{Articles Club} Rules to Eat By - Michael Pollan

This week is the first installment of Articles Club! If you have a chance, take a look at Abigail's discussion she posted regarding Michael Pollan's article, "Rules to Eat By." Great potential for further conversation! :)

Oct 5, 2014•3 min read

A collaboration with Abigail Murrish!

Today, I wanted to announce that beginning tomorrow, I'm partaking in a new series in collaboration with my friend Abigail. We attended Purdue University together, worked at a coffee shop together, and caught up over coffee amidst our busy...

Oct 3, 2014•3 min read

Twenty-four

We celebrated my twenty-fourth birthday on Tuesday this week. The last few years, I've had a difficult time remembering how old I am (twenty-two? twenty-three?) I'm embarrassed to admit that sometimes I need to count the years since my birthdate in...

Sep 28, 2014•2 min read

A weekend away & a reminder to myself

We're home from another weekend camping trip—this one just a bit longer and in the company of our good friends. This park was significantly smaller than Inks Lake, but it was still enjoyable to be outside and do some hiking. We played euchre (for...

Sep 22, 2014•3 min read

Transitioning

Whether I realized it or not, the past week consisted of one beginning after another. I started my new job today (an RN position at a hospital).* On Sunday, I went to a meeting about serving at our church (super excited about that!) and I attended a...

Sep 15, 2014•3 min read

Camping at Inks Lake

We enjoyed a brief but lovely camping trip at Inks Lake State Park this past weekend. We thought of it as a belated anniversary getaway, of sorts. Despite our mutual love for camping and countless camping trips over the years, this was our first...

Sep 12, 2014•1 min read

The here and now (on a Friday)

On this Friday, I am...

Sep 10, 2014•1 min read

Dark Chocolate GF Brownies

These brownies. Oh, my. Since we've mostly cut back our consumption of refined sugars, we've found our tastes changed. We both still love our dessert, but when we're in the mood for chocolate, we now reach for dark chocolate. There are countless...

Sep 8, 2014•3 min read

Our city

It's taken us awhile to feel some sense of ownership in the city of Austin. Preoccupation with our feelings of "newness" can do that—make us perpetually feel like outsiders. But we're taking more steps toward thinking of Austin as "our city." We...

Sep 2, 2014•2 min read

We know where to find comfort

I've written about the idolatry of comfort before, but that danger mostly threatens when we feel entitled to comfort in our every pursuit. This is not the same as needing it when our hearts are troubled. My husband's sweet, wonderful Grandma DeVries...

Aug 25, 2014•2 min read

On life lately & making our space a home

This weekend, Nicholas and I focused on a few projects around our home. The homemaking process has been rather gradual, but we're getting there. This weekend brought a few additions: a pair of handsome lamps, plus, I sewed new toss pillow covers for...

Aug 18, 2014•2 min read

Our first year

Yesterday marked one year of marriage for Nicholas and I. We've learned what it means cherish one another, and we've made sacrifices for one another. And it's been so refining, challenging, and joyful. When I look back on our first year of marriage,...

Aug 11, 2014•3 min read

The idolatry of comfort & looking forward to grace in the future

This is a bona fide (but hopeful) post.

Aug 7, 2014•3 min read

Quinoa breakfast bowls & life this week

I'm sitting inside, at our kitchen table right now, drinking a mug of hot coffee, wearing long sleeves, and pretending it's not 99(!) degrees out right now. The heat really isn't so bad, but it's kind of fun to be in denial about it occasionally.

Aug 4, 2014•1 min read

Fridays & friends

Friday night, we went downtown with Fleetwood and Molly to the area surrounding Nicholas' workplace. He's quickly becoming our resident "downtown expert." It was fun to take a little tour. My, does Austin have hills! My Minnesota roots want to...

Aug 1, 2014•1 min read

Thoughts on a Friday

I don't desire to be perpetually in the mindset of "living for the weekend," however we do love our Fridays around here. I've been completing lots of little tasks around the house in preparation for the weekend. Laundry, running the dishwasher, a...

Jul 29, 2014•3 min read

Projects and pastimes (as of late)

I've trying my best to do more of the things I need (time in the Bible, sleep, exercise, etc.) and the things I love.

Jul 22, 2014•3 min read

Our new normal

This move brought lots of change. Beyond the natural geographic change with a move, I left my nursing job and Nicholas started a new job. When I didn't find a job before moving, at first it made me anxious, but especially now, I'm so thankful for...