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Camellias & Copper

A Southern Girl's Blog About Life

Let’s Talk About Food – Supper Edition

by Filed Under: Cooking Leave a Comment

Let’s talk about food, shall we? Why not? It’s been a while since I last wrote anything about food and with all this ‘Quarantine 15’ talk going around, it has me hungry!

Speaking of, did anyone gain the quarantine 15? Don’t tell if you don’t want to – I was just curious 🙂

Back to the food. Who discovered some really great supper recipes over the quarantine {side note, I almost typed the word “holiday” instead of quarantine! ha, what a gag!} Anyway, do share your faves please because I’m always looking for new ideas for this brood I have to feed every night!

Some of my favorite recipes come from two cookbooks: A Place at the Table – Kelly Minter {because I really love her as a human and she’s got great recipes} and Magnolia Table Vol. 1 – Joanna Gaines {because I’m just a really big fan of hers and her recipes are spot.on.} Another side note, sorry…, both of these cookbooks are meant for gatherings, isn’t that wonderful?

Before I get off track again, I keep a running list of supper ideas on my phone. Does anyone else do this too? I started keeping it on a piece of paper inside my pantry door, but then it ended up being behind all the aprons and I never saw it, and then forgot about it, and then got really frustrated about not having any ideas for supper, so I trashed the paper and moved the list to my phone.

So here are just a few of my go-to supper ideas:
Quesadillas – The chicken I use is the Mojo rotisserie chicken from Publix
Spaghetti – with regular flavored Jimmy Dean sausage instead of ground beef {YUM}
Shrimp w/ Tomato + Basil pasta – recipe from Kelly Minter’s book above, I just add shrimp because it’s a completely perfect inclusion
Salmon w/ Capers and lemons + risotto
Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin {you have to plan this one in advance because of the bacon-cooking situation}
Grilled Steak with Potatoes Bravas – I recently found this recipe at Publix and have added it to my mix of recipes because it’s amazing! Andrew loved the sauce so much, he wants to use it on other meats!

Are you hungry now? I hope you at least have an idea or two of supper recipes to add into your regimen. Comment below with your favorite/go-to recipes!

Until next time…

Current Goals

by Filed Under: Being a Mom, Life 2 Comments

Y’all. Do you ever get overwhelmed with all.the.things. on your plate? Yes. Right? If you’re anything like me, the response is more like, “ALL.THE.TIME.”

I attended IF:Lead 2020 earlier in August, and the ticket I purchased included a box of fabulous goodies, because if there’s an option to get a fun box of amazing things, you go all in, right? Yes.

So I went all in and got the box of goodies with my ticket and when I got to open my box, among many amazing things was a Goal Planner from Cultivate What Matters. First of all, if you’re already doing power sheets, you’re ahead of the game. If you’ve NEVER heard of these – like me before IF:Lead – you NEED to know about this planner. It’s incredible.

I was able to write down all the things that are taking up my time {hello, laundry!}, and then figure out the things I WANT to be doing with my waking hours. I mean, who actually WANTS to scroll social media platforms for an hour a day? No one over the age of 30. So why are we? hmmm. We need goals and things to DO, to keep our minds and our hands busy. But not just busy work, things that matter and bring joy to your life.

From start to finish, it took me just a little over a month to complete – mainly because I was not consistent in working through my planner {too much going on}. All that to say, I’ve got one week left to finish the goals I have for September.

Mind you, my goals are most likely VERY different from yours. Especially if you are a man. And especially if your day doesn’t look like mine 🙂 And most likely your life isn’t the same as mine. So…allow me grace. And allow yourself grace.

My current goals, to finish September, from big-picture-month-view are:
1. Have coffee/date time with two friends {because I have a great desire to nurture the friendships in my life, and this is a great way to do that}
2. Cannot purchase clothing or home items {because I went WAY overboard earlier in the month and well, we need to get back on track, ha}
3. Look at our next family vacation and take a step in planning – book hotel, purchase needed tickets, etc.
4. Look at next weekend getaway for Andrew & me and take a step in planning
5. Walk every day

These monthly goals are actually broken down by week and then day on my ‘Tending List’ – which is part of the planner and it sits on my desk so that I see it every day and can remind myself of the things I am supposed to be doing vs not doing.

I’m curious about what you have on your goal list currently…if it’s just a goal to finish the week, the month or even the year, please share!

Ps…want some encouragement on being a friend? Be Known Podcast has a great new episode <3

Until next time…

ALLL the Books!

by Filed Under: Faith, Life, Reading 2 Comments

I started thinking about writing this post and pondered, I wonder what I’ve written in the past about reading… So I went back and read a few posts from years gone by.
Four years ago {WOW!}, I wrote a post about Three Books and started off by saying basically, who has time to read?! and I’m not a reader!

Ha. Funny how things change in your life, right?

I am now a reader. Maybe not an avid reader like some…looking at you, Booba {my father-in-love}. Booba can sit down with a 10k page book and read it in two days. I’m not like him. But, I am a reader. Smiling as I say that because this is a major accomplishment for me over the past few years.

The other night, Andrew and I looked at each other, it was 8:45pm and we were both in bed, reading.
Are you laughing out loud at that like I am? I find it hilarious. My parents never did that. My parents, and Andrew’s for that matter, stayed up til who-knows-when, watching tv and falling asleep in their chairs. Anyone else have a snoring contest going on in their houses growing up like we did? 🙂
I digress… This particular night, like many others, there we were, kids were in bed and we were too. Reading.

Life is so different for us with three littles. We get up early, we go hard all day – just like many of you – and we crash at night. Reading has become a way for us to all ‘come down’ from the highs of the day. Work/school, play time/recreation/sports, legos and laundry…reading is the last thing we do at night before the lights go out.

Here are just a few of the books I have read this year – most recently the last 4-5 months – or am currently reading.

If you have any questions about any of them, leave me a comment and I’ll respond asap! I will tell you that I highly recommend them ALL. Each one, in their own way, has been a blessing in my life this year.

If you’ve got a book to share, that I could add to my reading list, please leave that in a comment too!
Until next time…

Monday Reflections of Cinderella

by Filed Under: Faith, Life 2 Comments

Last night we watched the enchanting live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, Cinderella. I said to Andrew at one point, ‘I’ve cried more watching this version than the original…it wasn’t this sad!’

I wondered, towards the end, how this was going to end – and lest I be a spoiler, please stop reading at this point if you’ve not seen the magical tale. It is certainly worth your time to sit and enjoy before I ruin it for you.

If you’ve seen it, please keep reading as I am sure you loved it as I did.

As Cinderella started singing that beautiful tune, Lavender’s Blue – which I will now make a part of my regular humming – my heart leapt at what was going to happen…the possibility of it all!

As she sang, gazing out the window…and then the KING {that handsome prince we all knew…}, revealed himself, I grabbed Andrew’s arm and squealed!

“If you love me, dilly dilly, I will love you…”

With that glorious exchange of words with that wretched Step-Mother, she ever so gracefully walked out of that horrid ‘attic’ and began the descent down the stairs. As the Fairy Godmother narrated, I anxiously awaited the scene that would forever change the life of Cinderella.

These words brought tears to my eyes, even before she saw her beloved Prince: “Would who she was, who she really was, be enough? There was no magic to help her this time. This is perhaps the greatest risk that any of us will take. To be seen as we truly are.”

She stopped to look at herself in the mirror, plain as the world would see her. No fancy jewels. No makeup to hide her true beauty, or perfectly styled hair… She wasn’t as someone thought she should be on her outward appearance, but she was loving even when the slugs around her were so cruel. She was kind when she certainly didn’t have to be.

As he turned around to see her as she walked into the room, and with joy upon his face because he knew he had found her…”Who are you?” he asked.

Vulnerable in a way she hadn’t been before, especially before this man whom she had come to love. Though she called herself ‘an honest country girl’, she was so much more than that. Her inner beauty and her loving soul were what had truly captured him, yet she was ravishing.

Humble together in their exchange of imperfections, they knew they had found one another again and this was just the beginning.

I honestly could watch this movie over and over. What kindness. What beauty. What joy and love.

To cap it all off for me, from a spiritual sense, was the scene as she walked out of her beloved home where she cherished the memories of her parents above all else, she looked back upon that sad woman who had tried to wreck her life and with a simple statement, “I forgive you”, she left to become Queen.

“Have courage and be kind” were the words her dying mother had spoken to her and they carried throughout the film. Even toward the end she had courage and was kind to say words that could have been very difficult to say, think or even feel, but she said them. Cinderella hadn’t allowed the evil from this woman to change who she was inside.

Though there be cruelty in the world and things don’t go our way, we can choose to be kind. We can choose to be love in the midst of hate. We can have courage to do the good and right thing. May we all choose wisely today.

Until next time…

The Cup

by Filed Under: Faith 2 Comments

I was reading through Mark 14 this morning during my quiet time…and as I read the section entitled, “The Prayer in the Garden” I was reminded of this truth: Jesus had to die.

Verse 35 starts: Then He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

Jesus called out to His Father. One whom He knew the absolute best. His creator, His friend, even Himself as part of the trinity.

Verse 36: And He said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Jesus, being fully God and fully man, knew God was capable of anything and everything. He, after-all, created everything. He told the waves when to cease and where the stars to hang in the sky. He took away diseases and brought man back to life – looking at you, Lazarus.

Like we often do, Jesus sought the Father to remove this sentence upon His life – He knew what was coming. He wasn’t a stranger to his ‘why’. Why He had been sent to earth in the first place.

Thankfully, Jesus also knew that it would have to be the Father’s will and not His own. And even more thankfully, the Father didn’t remove that “cup” from Jesus.

God knew, in order for mankind to be restored to Himself, there had to be an Ultimate Sacrifice and it had to come from Himself. It had to be Jesus, the Spotless Lamb. The one who never sinned – not even a little white lie.

To think that there have been times when we have sought the Lord ourselves and begged for something to be taken away from ourselves, or a beloved family member or friend, and the Lord seems to have turned a blind eye or a deaf ear…

Maybe it’s for a bigger purpose? Of course Jesus knew the bigger purpose for why He had to suffer and die… But we often do not. Can you and I trust the Father as Jesus did. Can we remember that though He was betrayed, beaten and hung on a cross, left there to die….He DID rise again three days later. And He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

Praise be to God that He can see the full picture, the full story. He knows the ending…and wow, it is glorious.

Dear reader, whatever you may be asking the Lord to take from you today, rest assured that He knows how it will go. He knows the pain, the tears, the fear…and He knows what will happen. Seek His face today and rest in His goodness and unfailing love.

More Than Just a Bathroom Remodel

by Filed Under: Being a Mom, Faith 2 Comments

Today is Friday. Already a busy morning: the dog is at the groomers, the kids are at Little Gym, I’ve walked, showered and gone to check on a master bathroom remodel we are doing.

There were times at the beginning of the quarantine where I was bored to tears. Unable to do anything, go anywhere, see anyone, etc. And all I could do was hang out with the kids all day. Now, we are somewhat back to normal with routines, and camps and projects and plans. A few days I find myself wishing for just a little bit of the quarantine life with all its boredom.

On the other hand, in the wonderfulness of the Lord and how He is orchestrating all the things, I have had the opportunity to talk with the lady of the house where we are doing the remodel. A lady I was familiar with as we go to the same church and I’ve had some interactions with her. But now, on a much closer level – I get to talk to her just about every single day.

(Maybe she won’t see this post…)

Some of my favorite days are when I go over to check on the project and then I end up sitting at her kitchen table with her, just talking. She tells me stories of when her kids were little and asks me about our kids. When I tell her about the things that drive me crazy or where I’m struggling as a mom, she offers shrewd advice and prayers. And I know she prays for me. Most days her Bible is still open on the table, papers strewn around it – all her notes of things and people she prays for…

She’s not that much older than me, but her kids are grown and moved away. And she has some of the sweetest things to say, and she pours into me, whether she realizes it or not. Though I’m sure on some level, she does know what she’s doing.

I cherish it.

My mother isn’t around for me to sit at a kitchen table with her. To talk about all the things of motherhood. And yet this woman, who doesn’t have a daughter or daughter-in-law, has acted in so many ways as a mother to me.

And here I was thinking I was just going to be helping her with a master bathroom remodel.

Yes, the Lord is sovereign and yes he is good. And he brings people into our lives right at the most opportune time. Who has he put in your life today? How will you be a blessing to him or to her? Will you allow the Lord to use you in such a way that they may go home and think about what a blessing you are to them?

Lord, may I be as much or more of a blessing to someone today as this woman is to me.

Have a great weekend y’all…until next time,

We Got to go to Church!

by Filed Under: Faith 1 Comment

Today was the first day our family got to go back to church. We were all so very excited to be back in our house of worship, because though we have been able to watch our services via all the ways technologically: tv/Facebook/the internet, it just doesn’t compare to being there.

Of course, remarkably enough, a familiar song started playing just a few blocks from our turning into the church parking lot:

Take me back
To the place that feels like home
To the people I can depend on
To the faith that’s in my bones
Take me back
To a preacher and a verse
Where they’ve seen me at my worst
To the love I had at first
Oh, I want to go to church

I turned the dial up and sang it out loud! We were getting to go to church!!! This called for windows down, head hanging out the window screaming at the top of my lungs {no, I didn’t…but I wanted to. I had, after-all, washed and straightened my hair AND put on makeup!}. How many weeks and days had passed when I had heard that song and lamented that we couldn’t go to church…and how great it would be to sing that song and be able to go back. Well, we sang and we went!

Thank you Lord.

For the place that feels like home

For seeing the beautiful faces of the people that we have come to depend on {for an encouraging word, a prayer, a laugh, all the things}

For our preacher, Wes, whom you have gifted to bring Your Word each and every Sunday

For the love I had at first – for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Oh, yes. Thank you so very much that we got to go to church today.

How was it? you may ask… It was everything wonderful and more. Two of my absolute favorite songs were sung – I could have cried if I hadn’t been so completely overjoyed. Pastor Wes even said that it sounded like our whole choir was there today, when it was only a fraction of the singers. I imagine Heaven sounds a lot like our church when we get our worship on 🙂

The kids were mostly well behaved – many thanks to crayons and coloring pages. Today was even Emory’s very first Sunday morning in ‘big church’ and he did quite well.

We did wear masks until we sat in our pew…everyone was socially distanced.

To say we’ve missed being in the building…the place where I know without a doubt the Holy Spirit shows up every Sunday is an understatement. To worship with other believers, the ones with hands and heads lifted high, praising the Lord with everything they have, it was glorious.

Many friends from church have been posting this verse and when I read it again today I couldn’t help but shake my head and smile, indeed.
Very much indeed, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.'”

God, may we not take for granted the fellowship we have with other believers, especially in Your house.

Though she looks grumpy in this photo, Eliza Jane was actually very glad to be back in church…she just wanted Skittles instead of M&Ms… Who can blame her, right?

If you haven’t been able to go back, I hope you get to go to your church, soon.
Until next time…

Monday Muse

by Filed Under: Faith Leave a Comment

Sometimes I wonder if my thoughts are worth sharing. Am I wise or thoughtful enough. Will I chose the right wording or possibly hurt or offend someone.

So then I say a prayer, and write what’s on my heart.

Yesterday we had the great privilege of attending a Solemn Assembly service at our church. However many weeks have passed since we last stepped into our great sanctuary, and yet, it seemed like yesterday that we were there.

The day had already been full of Father’s Day-type activities so there wasn’t much time to ‘prepare’ to be there, but the kids were dressed {Reynolds wore his suit!} and we were excited to be back in the place we’ve called our church “home”…where we’ve met with Jesus so many times.

Greeters in masks…pews marked off with ‘okay to sit here’ type flyers…
It was hard to tell who was who, but in the back, I saw a friendly face – Emily and her family. What joy. I wanted to run over and squeeze her neck, but I refrained and simply gave her the heart symbol with my hands and smiled, big.

We took a pew in the back, sort of away from everyone else {a 3.5 yr old in tow doesn’t make for a quiet row}. The praise team was singing a beautiful song, “Heal Us”. The words go like this

Heal us, Emmanuel, here we are

We long to feel Thy touch

Deep wounded souls to Thee we fly

O Savior hear our cry

After a few times singing the chorus, we had a beautiful time of prayer. Pastor Wes led our time of confessional praying, by following the 10 Commandments. He read the commandment and the idea was that if you had broken or offended that commandment, to confess it to the Lord.
And then the hope seemed to be that one would repent and turn back to God.

Which brings me to a thought I had while sitting on our pew, trying to keep our kids from being so loud, so often ‘Christians’ get caught up in the rights and wrongs, do’s and don’ts… Are we/you/I doing what we do or don’t do because of religion {in the name of…}, or because of a relationship with Jesus?

What’s your motivation? Or even lack-thereof? Is it just because of a book or list of rules you read somewhere or is it because you’ve met with the Savior of the world and accept the grace He has freely given to you?

I think there are days and moments where I do or think because “that’s what the Bible says”. But ultimately, it’s because of a man. A man who suffered temptations and yet, was able to stare the devil in the face and tell him to get lost. And because I am not able to do the same, He bore the weight of my sin on His back. He took the blows to His hands and feet so that I wouldn’t have to. Because of HIS sacrifice for me, I can call upon the Maker of the universe…whenever I want.

And because of His sacrifice, I want to be a better person. I want to love better, more sacrificially. I don’t want to be petty or jealous. I don’t want to be mean or hurtful. I don’t want to covet the life or things that others have.

{chuckling} – I am certainly not perfect in any of this. Most of my struggles are daily, but praise be to God that His mercies are new every morning, great is HIS faithfulness {to me}. When I am weak, I call out to Him. When I am failing as a friend, a wife, a mother, a-fill-in-the-blank, I call upon my Savior for help.
I even take my ridiculous thoughts to him. The ones where if I said them out loud, I would be scoffed or chastised…

Anyway, if you don’t know Jesus, and do things just because you “should”, there is a better way. An easier way. All you have to do is take a leap of faith and trust in Him to be your everything.

Big thanks to Emily for taking our family’s pic 😉

until next time…

Tuesday.March 17th, 2020

by Filed Under: Uncategorized Leave a Comment

It’s early. The kids are still sleeping. Andrew is in the office working (and has been since ~4am). I rose early to spend some time in prayer and my Bible study, that was just recently started with the sweet group of ladies I’ve been able to study along with on Thursday mornings. Things are different now. No more Bible Study with my ladies…..

As I sat at my little desk in our living room with hot latte in hand (homemade), I closed my eyes to pray. Lord, heal our land. Lord, heal the thousands of people who have contracted this virus. Lord, give strength to the medical professionals that are tirelessly working to help those who are sick. Lord, give YOUR wisdom to those who are desperately seeking a cure or vaccine for this disease that has our world turned upside down. Lord, humble Your people. YOU are the only one who can ultimately heal. YOU are the only one who can fix all that is wrong in this world. Lord, if this is what you are using to turn hearts to you, may your Spirit move quickly among those who know you, in order that others may come to know you in a deeper way.

There are thousands of things and people to be prayed for no doubt. Psalm 62:8 tells us to pour out our hearts to Him. What do you need? Grace to get through another homeschooling day when you never signed up to be a homeschooling momma? All joking aside…tell Him, ask Him to fill you up with what you lack. Pray Jeremiah 33:9…Lord, may your renown be known, may your joy, praise and honor flow from our lips and Lord will you provide abundantly for those who are lacking. Whatever it is…go to Him. He hears your cries for help…He is your Father and He knows your voice, He created you after all – He will come to your aide.💖
Romans 8:28

Standing Firm

by Filed Under: Faith, Life Leave a Comment

As 2019 came to a wrap I was reminded of my word for the year, Peace. You may recall I wrote a post in February {read it here!} about my word of the year – and how odd I found that my word was ‘Peace’. We don’t always know the answers going into something new, like a new year, but we remain steadfast and joyful, and jump in with both feet, hopeful and expectant.

Well, 2019 was full of trials and moments of distress among happy and joy-filled memories with family and friends. The peace that I wasn’t so sure I needed, or even wanted at the beginning of the year, was showing me how deeply I craved it.
The Lord knew, of course. John 14:27 sums it up pretty simply: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

The world and what she has to offer doesn’t lend the peace I desperately need, only Jesus can give it; it can only be found in Him.

Resting in His sometimes in-explainable peace, I move forward into 2020 with my new word for the year, based on DaySpring’s quiz…Stand.

Another seemingly odd word for me…I giggled a little when it showed up on my screen, wondering what in the world… What would this mean for 2020. I shrugged my shoulders and opened the email that I received to further encourage me with this new word. I found enclosed in the email several verses of scripture in the form of wallpaper for my phone and shareables to…well, share.

This is the one I made my home screen on my phone. It ‘spoke’ to me in several ways:
1. Be alert – 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He nearly got me in 2019.
2. Stand firm – not just stand, but stand FIRM. Know in whom you believe and don’t just stand, but stand firm, determined, steadfast in what He has done for you/me.
3. Do everything in love – read those words slowly. Do.everything.in.love.
Do everything, not just a few things, not just when I feel like it, but rather, do everything. In love. In serving. In being 51% of every relationship. Out-doing the other person in the relationship. Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” And not out-doing as in some sort of competition or for a reward, but out of love for the other person and of the Father.

While I am realistic in knowing there isn’t some magic potion to make all of this just happen – to change me to be the person I want to be, I know by God’s grace, His strength, His might, I can do all things in Him. It is my desire to be joyful and content in Him. To stand firm in my beliefs of who He is, who I am in Him and where He calls me.

I have no idea what 2020 holds for me, but I am expectant and joyful in knowing Who goes before me and prepares me for His good works, Ephesians 2:10.

My prayer for you in this new year is that you find whatever it is you need, in Him. He is better. <3

Happy New Year from us to you!

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