Author: smilebecause

Raise a Standard or be Amused?

As a Christian in my “toddler” stage, I am at a point where I know what I need to do, but I have a hard time keeping on task. REALLY "walking the walk" takes focus and commitment, and there are a LOT of distractions. Now more than ever, I KNOW that I need to put […]

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Reflect it Forward

About a month ago I quit drinking alcohol. This pronouncement came after months of trying to brute-force-will-power-justify my way there with no success. (Here is the story if you’re interested… Spoiler Alert: It was the HOLY SPIRIT!) With the new found freedom of the alcohol monkey off my back, I have felt empowered and inspired […]

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Books I Heart

Shelly's bookshelf: growth-stuff Educated by Tara Westover tagged: growth-stuff Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear tagged: growth-stuff Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World by Pema Chödrön tagged: growth-stuff and spiritual-path Clarity & Connection by Yung Pueblo tagged: growth-stuff The Wisdom […]

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No PHO Hot Cocoa Mix

Kevin likes to use hot cocoa mix to make his mochas in the morning, because he likes the creamier texture, but I hate all the chemicals and partially hydrogenated oils that most mixes contain… SO, made one up: 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder 1.5 cups sugar 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder MIX. That's it. […]

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Yummy Meatloaf

Adapted from Joy of Cooking Classic Meat Loaf Preheat oven to 350ºF, lightly grease 9" x 5" (8 cup) loaf pan (1 – 1 1/4 hours) OR 12-cup muffin tin (25-30 minutes) Combine in large bowl: 24 ounces ground beef (I usually use lean (93/7) or very lean (94/6 ground beef) 1 packet of Lipton […]

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Sweet & Spicy Teriyaki Beef Jerky that Jaeger LOVES

(This recipe was adapted from this one on Food.com based on how much meat I had and the ingredients I didn't have and the addition of the coca cola that I saw on a different recipe in a magazine, and my small oven.): http://www.food.com/recipe/the-best-teriyaki-beef-jerky-387062 Ingredients 3 lbs London Broil (or Top Round/Bottom Round – London […]

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The Battle

It’s been a tough year. That’s an understatement. Relationship. Finances. Depression. IMMENSE stress. Ugh. Without going into a lot of details, we have been on a rollercoaster. Fighting a battle. Coming closer together. Expectations, disappointments, sometimes two steps forward and one step back, sometimes one step forward, TWO steps back. Exhausting. A good night’s sleep […]

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Lemonade Dessert Salad

Delicious Lemonade Dessert Salad a la Karen P. 1 can frozen lemonade 2 packets unflavored gelatin (knox) 1 large pkg vanilla pudding (not instant) 1 c slivered almonds (optional) 1 c mini marshmallows 1/2 c maraschino cherries (cut in half) 2 cans mandarin oranges *** (minimum – you can add more) 1 can crushed pineapple […]

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When you build it HE will come

I like my house. I like where I live. I like my neighbors. But our house needs a lot of work. It’s mostly cosmetic and minor flaws, but things that remind us daily that we have work to do. Bathroom floors, hardwoods under old carpet, a few holes in the wall, an old deck … […]

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Learning to Fall

Becoming a Christian later in life is kind of like learning a new sport as an adult. I skied for the first time in my early 30s. I had never been super athletic. I liked to bike ride, could swim, and didn’t mind taking a walk or hiking on a trail, but that’s about it. […]

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This Lollypop Tastes Like Love

Our neighbors across the street have two little girls who we've known their entire lives. Big sister posted this on Facebook yesterday, and it makes me smile every time I read it: "Quote of the night from C (my 6 year old sister) – 'This lollypop tastes like love!'"

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A Lover of our Country: Maya Zollman

……. Maya wrote this recently for a "futuristic article" assignment. Maya S. Zollman was born on November 19, 1999, the second child but first daughter of Kevin and Shelly Zollman, and was raised in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. She graduated from the  Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy in 2018 and from the United States Military Academy (West […]

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Hope = Patient Endurance

Hope Floats. Hope Springs Eternal. Hope Chest. I hope I get that new job I applied for. I hope my car starts tomorrow. I hope… When hope is used as a verb for most people, it is a wish. Something wanted, but not certain. Otherwise, wouldn’t we say, "I EXPECT that I will get that […]

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