Friday Ideas {So A lot to Say}

A Friday Ideas submit prepared for you in…3…2…1! Let’s go! It’s a enjoyable one. 🙂

{Listed here are some previous Friday Thoughts posts if you’re inquisitive about what this collection is all about.}

Fast Summer season Updates

• We took off for a household tenting journey the week after college set free (I had a highschool graduate this yr 👏🏼 however he didn’t wish to stroll within the official commencement ceremony, so the top of the college yr was type of quiet for us!). We headed as much as Silver Creek Plunge campground for the primary time and LOVED it. Keep tuned – I’ll be sharing our favourite Dutch oven lasagna recipe subsequent week. It’s a tenting staple!

• My oldest son, Jackson (20), resides at residence whereas he works full-time. He’s additionally within the technique of enlisting within the Air Drive. We’re very happy with him and studying lots as he works towards this aim!
• The opposite three boys (18, 16, 15) are working collectively at a bounce home firm (and Cade, my 16-year previous is also working three days per week mowing lawns and landscaping). Walker, my 18-year previous begins his missionary service to the Philippines in two weeks, so there’s lots happening and we’re rushing towards some big adventures and milestones. The boys spend nearly all their free time fishing or bowling.

• I did a bit presentation for our church women’ camp this week (it’s Cam’s first yr going!). My presentation was principally about “On days whenever you don’t really feel like you might be sufficient, keep in mind that God thinks in any other case.” 💗 Once I was up there, I spied this “hug hut” that was in the course of camp. It was so enjoyable and welcoming! What an ideal thought (the women have been lined up!).

• Our little city just lately obtained a Dairy Queen (folks right here both like it or hate it 🥴). And we’ve discovered the key to having fun with DQ nights (ahem, extra typically than I ought to admit) is to order numerous mini-size blizzards to strive all.the.flavors. I’m actually loving the seasonal peach one proper now, however the brownie batter with cookie dough might be my all-time favourite.

• Summer season is…fascinating…in the case of cooking (particularly dinner!). We’re consuming quite a lot of fast, easy meals. I attempt to add to my What’s 4 Dinner at Mel’s series on Instagram (saved in Instagram highlights if the hyperlink doesn’t work) to share concepts. Cam is baking bread once more this summer time to promote to associates/neighbors, and he or she fairly often jumps in for Sunday dinner dessert obligation. She rocked the cinnamon scones!

Cookbook Occasion

Final week was my cookbook launch/signing celebration, and I hardly have phrases to explain the magic of the occasion.

Not solely was the venue amazingly stunning (and the climate completely good), however I used to be fully blown away and humbled by how many individuals got here.

I met over 400 of you! A lot of you stood in line and waited for hours to get a guide signed and/or chat for a minute. I might have talked to you (and laughed…and cried) for hours and hours past the time out there to us that night time.

As a lot of a homebody as I’m, assembly you one-on-one like that crammed my soul in numerous methods. A number of of you got here in from states all throughout the nation. Others shared your favourite issues (playing cards and sourdough starter and MORE) with me! And lots of of you made me cry together with your sincerity and experiences and sacrifices to be there.

It took me years to lastly write a cookbook. Your response (whether or not you have been on the occasion or not!) has been completely greater than I might have ever requested for. I’ve lengthy felt that this, no matter “this” is, is a lot greater than “simply recipes.”

Thanks, thanks, thanks.

I posted a fast Instagram reel of the occasion right here (due to Sara from Our Best Bites for placing this collectively for me!). The meals by Whitney Fredin Events was so yummy…persons are nonetheless asking me about these flavored butters! I’ll attempt to get recipes quickly!

I couldn’t have made the occasion occur with out the assistance of so, so many family and friends (together with Emma, who stepped in as an occasion planner and actually saved my sanity – in case you’re taken with her wonderful providers, message her on Instagram).

Additionally, all of the merch out there on the occasion, like homebody and different hoodies, aprons and menu planning pads, will likely be up on the shop site quickly!

What I’m Studying

• Emma M. Lion books (I’m nearly completed with guide 7) – witty, heartwarming, enjoyable, charming. Considered one of you even introduced me an Emma M. Lion shirt and I’m carrying it nonstop #iykyk
• Sacred Struggle – unimaginable guide 💗
• The Choice – an absolute must-read memoir from a Holocaust survivor

Issues I’m Loving

• These flipflops
• The permanent jewelry Cam and I obtained (LOVE, love my anklet)
• This air fryer – I feel it’s out there at Costco though I purchased it on Amazon (I’ve a protracted sordid historical past with hating my massive, cumbersome air fryer and have even completed an Instagram collection on how a lot I hate it…however this larger, toaster-oven-style one has been a recreation changer for us)
• This chapstick (really, I’m loving this on behalf of my two youngsters on Accutane – it’s the solely chapstick saving their extraordinarily dry lips)
• This Relyte electrolyte mix (most days I mix a scoop of this + a scoop of fresh easy eats collagen into 12-16 ounces water and drink it noon) – my youngsters combine it in water after an intense exercise
• These habanero BBQ almonds. Opposite to their identify, they really aren’t very spicy in any respect, however WOW, the flavour is so good. We all the time have them within the pantry.

Podcast + Well being

Content material warning: I’m about to say the phrase menopause. Most likely greater than as soon as. You’ve been warned.

I just lately listened to this podcast and this podcast (each from Huberman Labs) and may I simply say: 🤯 🤯 🤯 (additionally studying The Hormone Cure – not throughout it but).

It has prompted me to dive headfirst into the pool of ladies’s well being, significantly with reference to hormones and peri/menopause. I’m embarrassed at how little I knew with reference to all of this; I positively have some points to deal with, however I’m type of weirdly excited to continue to learn, hunt down some assist, and make some modifications. 💪🏼

Trying by way of all of the notes I’ve jotted down, under are 4 issues that stand out as enhancements I could make now (clearly, there are MANY, many extra than simply these ones – gotta begin someplace!):

1. Enhance protein
2. Eat numerous colours
3. Extra fiber
4. Carry weights/construct muscle

I’d love your ideas on this…can all of us keep open-minded and sort? 😘

A Few Final Issues

Hmmph, that is fairly the rambly submit. However let’s proceed with that theme!

Sure, our animals are nonetheless round! Plenty of scratches, brushes, and contemporary water to beat the warmth throughout the summer time. (We obtained 20 child chicks within the spring and they are going to be laying eggs in only a few months, and we simply had a child calf born to considered one of our again pasture heifers!)

Temperature blanket remains to be coming alongside. Slowly however certainly. My methodology is to get about 25 rows behind after which spend a number of days catching up. 😬

We relocated our backyard to our entrance pasture (needed after it was demolished from the latest rework). I’ve 9 4X8-foot backyard packing containers packed to the gills with…tomatoes. Okay, additionally jalapenos, peppers and some different issues, too, however there are A LOT OF TOMATOES, as a result of I actually solely plant a backyard for this salsa.

And on a ultimate, extra somber observe, I simply wish to put a placeholder right here to recollect my candy good friend, Liz, who handed away from most cancers final week. She was a powerhouse of religion, love, friendship, and goodness. She had an intensive community of actually shut associates who supported her and her household by way of her most cancers battle, and though I wasn’t considered one of Liz’s closest associates, I did have the privilege of bringing dinner sometimes and speaking to Liz about every thing from pigs (she and her husband, Adam, purchased kunekune piglets from us years in the past) to her favourite scripture verses to if it’s okay to eat dessert earlier than dinner. As I’ve felt the loss this final week, I’ve additionally felt type of responsible for being unhappy. Like, that ought to be reserved to those that have been the very closest to Liz, proper?? However I’ve taken it as a reminder to readjust priorities in my very own life in order that I’m focusing extra on what actually issues. Life is so quick; none of us are assured a tomorrow, however I can take advantage of immediately. And really, I’m so grateful for the sunshine and affect Liz was to me. She all the time handled me like I used to be essential and valued, and her instance of residing as a disciple of Christ with absolute religion will all the time, all the time stick with me. 💗

I hope summer time goes properly for all of you! Would love to listen to your ideas about any of the above…and I all the time wish to know what’s happening in our world.