•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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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The idolatry of comfort & looking forward to grace in the future
This is a bona fide (but hopeful) post.
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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...
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Our move and Austin so far
We're in Austin! Thankfully, the move-in process continues to be less and less stressful the more we organize and put items in their place. While we've haven't had too much time to explore since we've been settling in, today and this saturday...
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Moving week!
We've been counting down the days until we move in various ways—three more days of work, or one more grocery store trip (might be the weirdest for me). Our free time is a mix of packing/organizing/sorting/boxing and setting aside time to spend with...
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A moving update and much-needed weekending
On my way to work the other day I drove through this beautiful, thick fog. I've always loved stormy, foggy, or rainy days, especially in the summer, and we've had a lot of them the last few weeks.
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On our table lately
Figuring out the balance of our kitchen has taken time. From our first week together as newlyweds until now, we've tweaked and adjusted and budgeted, all in hopes of making the kitchen a place where I can make enjoyable and nutritious food for us....
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We're moving!
I've mentioned more than once that we're approaching a transition, but the big news officially?
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Preparations
We celebrated the wedding of two wonderful friends, Connor and Jessica, this weekend. The morning of the wedding, I went for a walk around the neighborhood with another one of the bridesmaids. It was a crisp, sunny morning, and early enough that the...
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On patience
The Lord has been pressing patience into my heart lately. We're looking forward to a big (and good) transition in the next few months. I'll write more about it soon, but for now, we're preparing our hearts and praying lots about the puzzle pieces...
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Full and wonderful days
Happy Memorial day!
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These weekends
We just went to our first wedding of the season (congratulations, Bryson and Rachel!), and the next few weeks will be filled with many more of the best kinds of celebrations—weddings, birthdays, and get-togethers.
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Spring thoughts
Everything around us is waking up, and I'm loving it. We fit in a little coffee and farmer's market date last Saturday morning (psst—see the shorts and sandals?! Truth be told it was a bit cold for how we were dressed, but we decided it was worth it...
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The process of making
Family visits to a steam engine show in northern Minnesota were some of the most memorable parts of my childhood. The day involved looking at the blue Ball jars, buying those little "popper" fireworks, and my dad showing us the intricacies of...
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Why I care so much about food
When I spend time with a friend, we usually meet around food—lunch, or more often than not, coffee or tea. Early on in my friendship with my husband, Nicholas, I spent some of my favorite time together over the daily crossword and a shared crepe....
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The beginning
I have a loosely woven idea of what this space may become—mostly encouragements I'd like to share and my thoughts. These things are more than just ideas, but rather, the grout holding together the more concrete pieces of our lives. I aim to give...
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