Pie is Good for the Soul

It’s the little things that make me giggle. Like how, 2 years ago today, I introduced buttermilk pie to Kansas:

Caption for the photo: “What you can’t see is me trying to manage the camera with a pie in the other hand. Apparently, my buttermilk pie has a new name… That I’ll have to tell you in person (not PG friendly).”

Who’s up for some pie this weekend?

Pie is good for soul, no matter how full your belly is. – Red

A Grateful Heart

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie; Author
Have a great day y’all! XXOO

Free Resources

Hello! I am so glad you stopped by. I am working to curate content links that are being offered free during this time. They are in no way meant to replace educational resources and activities provided by schools and colleges. But there are so many resources available and individuals who do not have social media – I felt that a page with the links might be useful. 

If you come across a resource that is not listed here, please email or message me. I will add new links everyday. Take this time to learn something new! By all means, this is not a comprehensive list, but resources that have been shared with me or that I have found online.

Happy Learning!

RED

5K Virtual Races

Agriculture

Art & Theater & Classical Music

Cooking / Baking

Faith

Family

Fitness

Higher Education

K-12

Military

  • Charlie Mike Theater: Weekly Virtual VFW – Saturdays,  7 p.m. CST
  • Military One Source: CoronaVirus Resources for our Military Community
  • Warrior Cry Music Project: Virtual Music Series (coming soon)

Music

  • Music Lessons (coming soon)
  • Warrior Cry Music Project: Virtual Music Series (coming soon)

Online Learning: Faculty

  • Albert: 121 Tools for Distance Learning & Strategies for Student Engagement

Online Learning: Tips

Reading

Science

Special Needs

Teachers

Travel

Writing

  • Coming soon

2020: Let Your Light Shine

Shine. That’s the word of the year. I always doubt when God presents the word or phrase of the year, especially since I haven’t felt much like shining. I’ve felt rather dull, actually. Could be the weather, or just the lack of fire in my soul right now, but I don’t feel very shiny.

2019 was supposed to be bold and unapologetic (you can read about it HERE). Boy, did God and I have different ideas of what that would like like.  I thought I would set the world on fire with my writing, photography, wild rags. Instead, for a lack of better words, the world kicked my ass. Every time I turned around, the enemy was attacking me or my loved ones. 

I looked up the definitions of both words and this is what I found: 

Bold: 

  • (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.
  • having a strong or vivid appearance.

Unapologetic: 

  • not acknowledging or expressing regret.

I definitely did not feel bold in 2019. I felt defeated. Tired. At a loss. I felt like I was scrambling most of the time – the whole, ‘fake it until you make it’ summed up my year. However, God showed me a few things and in retrospect:

  • I was bold. Bold in believing that no matter what, He would take care of me (no weapon formed against me).
  • I was unapologetic in taking time for myself. If you know me, you know how epic this is. 
  • I was bold in letting go of who I thought everyone needed me to be. 
  • I was unapologetic in not only letting people help me, but asking for help.  I have spent my whole life taking care of others, giving them what they need, that when I needed help, and felt at the end of my rope, letting go of pride and letting people do for me was the most humbling experience.
  • I was bold (scared and saddened) to let go of the one person (other than my daughter) who holds the biggest piece of real estate in my heart. However, I stand unapologetic in the love and admiration I have for that person. 
  • I was unapologetic in seeking out second and third opinions. Tenacity is definitely a trait you need when your health is in question.
  • I was bold in finally standing up for myself in ways that 25 years ago, I never would have thought of doing.

So, when the term “shine” kept crossing my path for 2020, I really had stop and reflect. I don’t want to shine. Heck, some days, I don’t even want to interact with other humans. And I thought, what does that really mean? Yep, you guessed it.  According to the dictionary, shine means: 

  • be very talented or perform very well.
  • a quality of brightness, especially from reflected light.
  • (of the sun or another source of light) give out a bright light.

And I was reminded (thank you God) that shining has nothing to do with me. It has to do with using AND sharing the talents, skills, and passions he has anointed me with; it has do with sharing what he has done in my life with others, without fear; and more importantly, letting his love radiate from my heart, soul, and mouth like a west Texas sunrise. 

So this year, I am letting go of all expectations. False hopes. Broken pieces. Unattainable standards. I am going to let my gifts shine and quit worrying so much when I’m stuck “in the dark.” This year is definitely going to be an interesting one. 

This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine…

Love big, 
RED

 

 

“Just” Another Year

I read the MOST amazing prayer for 2020. I am sharing it HERE.

I share these thoughts this morning: Here’s to “just” another year. A year that will be filled with peaks and valleys, joy and sorrow. New and old friendships. Adventures an d laughter. Hard work, sleepless nights, lazy Sunday afternoons (we wish). Family, friends, and most importantly, faith. Faith in Him to always provide, to care for us, to be that most abundant, unconditionally loving, grace filled Father. I pray that we allow Him to work miraculously in our lives and that we live boldly and authentically in our faith.

May you find the joy that has been waiting for you all along. Happy New Year from our family to yours.

Big love,
Red