by Stacy Turley | May 22, 2022 | Favorite Things Archive, Online Inspirations |
The Currently Reading Podcast – AUGUST 2023
I love to read and this is a great podcast to get ideas. The hosts Meredith and Kaytee share the books they have read or are currently reading. They provide non-spoiler details and their opinions. I have read some good ones due to their advice. And they make me laugh! Check them out on Podcast Addict HERE.
That’s Clever Crafting Ideas – AUGUST 2023
I am a Pinterest addict with many, many, many boards. My personal “handle” is @slt46074. Here is the link to my That’s Clever board for inspiration and ideas! Click HERE for immediate access.
MeetUp App & Website – AUGUST 2023
Are you wanting to get connected to other people with your common interests in your area? I was recently introduced to this fantastic app from my dear friend Terri D. I love this app! I have started two groups on this app. The first group is Graceful Hands Sip N Stitch for fellow fiber artists to get together and sip coffee while working on our projects. The second group is Rare Disease & Autoimmune Support Group. Our first meeting in later in August. I am hoping this will be a safe environment for supporting and encouraging each other as we work to Choose Joy in our circumstances. Click HERE to learn more about MeetUp and join in to share the fun!
Positive.News – Early 2023
Positive News Magazine provides rigorous journalism on what’s going right in the world. For a brighter outlook on our news and world events, check out their website at positive.news HERE.
Craft Project Ideas – Early 2023
I am a Pinterest addict with many, many, many boards. My personal “handle” is @slt46074. Here is the link to my Craft Projects board for inspiration and ideas! Click HERE for immediate access.
Let’s Read the Gospels Podcast – Early 2023
by Annie F. Downs. This podcast is all about reading all four gospels every month for the entire year. She changes the order and the Bible translation each month. Click HERE to learn more about the podcast and the supplemental study guides.
That Sounds Fun – April 2022
A podcast by Annie F. Downs.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) – April 2022
A podcast with Fr. Mike Schmidtz. This podcast is for all who want to hear the Bible read by an energetic narrator. He also provides comments on the passages at the end of each reading. This is for all denominations.
She Reads Truth – April 2022
Daily devotionals for kids, women, and men at shereadstruth.com.
Reading – April 2022
For book lovers, modernmrsdarcy.com. Anne Bogel offers podcasts, reading lists, blog posts, and a readers’ membership community
TL Yarn Crafts – Tunisian Crochet tutorials – May/June 2022
Want to learn something new Check out Toni Lipsey and her YouTube channel for how-to’s and patterns on Tunisian crochet! But be careful!! You may become addicted like me!! Here is the link to her channel.
Melanie Ham – YouTube video creator for Crochet, sewing and other DIY Stuff – May/June 2022
I have subscribed to Melanie Ham’s channel for years! She is so sweet. She is clear with her instructions and is always full of bright ideas and inspirations. Check out her channell for more DIY projects or gift giving ideas that you can make! Click HERE for the link.
LECTIO365 App
I heard about this app from one of my podcasts. It is a FREE daily devotional resource to keep you in the Word of God and focused on prayer every day. It has an AM and PM devotional. You may read along or allow the narrators to read to you while you rest in God’s Word. Here is the link to the App information and to download for iPhone and Android.
First5 App
I have a subscriber to the First5 App for many years now. I use it in my (mostly) daily quiet time. It is a FREE daily devotional for the first 5 minutes of your day. A study guide is also available for purchase to accompany the App devotionals if you want to dig deeper in the Word each day. This App is through Proverbs31 Minitries with Lisa Terkheurst. Click HERE for the link.
by Stacy Turley | May 22, 2022 | Favorite Things Archive, Music |
Whole Heart: Hold Me Now – AUGUST 2023
by Hillsong United. View on YouTube HERE.
The Goodness of God – AUGUST 2023
by CeCe Winans. View on YouTube HERE.
Best Christian Workout 2023 – AUGUST 2023
Public Playlist on Spotify created by jimmydooley81. 130 songs. Link is HERE.
Grace Got You – Early 2023
by MercyMe. View on YouTube HERE.
Blessings – Early 2023
by Laura Story. View on YouTube HERE.
Ain’t No Grave – April 2022
by Bethel Music and Molly Skaggs. View on YouTube here.
Canvas and Clay – April 2022
by Pat Barrett ft. Ben Smith. View on YouTube here.
Her Little Man – April 2022
by Jami Grooms. This was the song my son Mitch and I danced to at his wedding to my beautiful daughter-in-law Shannon. It brought tears to many. View on YouTube here.
Try – May/June 2022
by Colby Caillet. View on YouTube here.
Worn
by Tenth Avenue North. View on YouTube here.
Reckless Love
by Cory Asbury. View on YouTube here.
Brave
by Sara Bareilles. View on YouTube here.
by Stacy Turley | May 22, 2022 | Favorite Things Archive, Recipes |
Parmesan Roasted Chickpeas – AUGUST 2023
Love these! Great snack and good for you! HERE is the recipe on Pinterest.
Cranberry Orange Pecan Gluten Free Muffins – AUGUST 2023
My friend Paula M. sent me this link! This is on my To Be Made list. Hope to make them next week while visting my son and other family in Massachusetts. HERE is the recipe on Pinterest.
Chia Pudding with Greek Yogurt – Early 2023
I was skeptical as I have never had Chia Seeds. But OH was I surprised!!! So GOOD!!
Chia Yogurt Base Mix
- 1/3 cup chia seeds
- 1/2 cup boiled hot water
- 3 tablespoons honey (maple, coconut sugar)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups greek yogurt (or vegan yogurt)
- 1 1/2 cups nut milk ( almond, hemp, oat, soy, etc.)
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a bowl or quart jar, mix chia seeds and hot water. Let sit about 5 minutes. This starts hydrating the chia seed more quickly.
- Stir in vanilla, honey (or maple) and pinch of salt.
- Add greek yogurt and nut milk. Whisk to combine thoroughly. (At this point you could divide into 4 smaller jars.)
- At this stage it will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
- Add preferred flavor and fruits to serve. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.
NOTES
If pre-making with fruit added: refrigerate and serve within 2-3 days.
NUTRITION
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 258
- Sugar: 22.2 g
- Sodium: 80.3 mg
- Fat: 9.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28.1 g
- Fiber: 4.9 g
- Protein: 15.1 g
- Cholesterol: 15.7 mg
Go to this link HERE for complete recipe with three additional variations.
Best Dill Dip Ever – April 2022 Post
Family recipe from my Great Grandma Hoover. Enjoy!Ingredients:
- 1 pint mayo
- 1 pint sour cream or plain yogurt
- 2 t. seasoned salt
- 2 t. dill weed
- 2 T. parsley flakes
- 3-4 T. onion flakes
Directions: Mix and chill 1 hour before serving.
NO BAKE ENERGY BITES – May/June 2022 Post
by Gimmesomeoven.com
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
- Stir everything together. Stir all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Chill. Cover the mixing bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, or until the mixture is chilled. (This will help the mixture stick together more easily.)
- Roll into balls. Roll into mixture into 1-inch balls.
- Serve. Then enjoy immediately! Or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Black Bean Avocado Salsa
Go to allrecipes.com for more recipes from this provider.
Ingredients:
- 1 – 15 oz can black beans, rinsed & drained
- 1 – 11 oz can whole kernel sweet corn, drained
- 4 roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1 small red pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
- 1/3 C. chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 C. diced red onion
- 1/4 C. fresh lime juice
- 2 T. red wine vinegar
- 1 t. sea salt
- 1/2 t. ground black pepper
- 2 avocados, diced
Directions: Mix all ingredients EXCEPT avocados together in large bowl. Gently fold avocados into the mixture. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, putting wrap right on top of salsa. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Great cool snack with chips or pita bread or on a salad! Enjoy!!
by Stacy Turley | May 22, 2022 | Books, Favorite Things Archive |
Crucial Conversations, Third Edition – CURRENT READ – August 2023
by Joseph Genny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Emily Gregory. I am currenlty reading this book on “Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High”. Our four-week sermon series at my church – Grace Church – is covering crucial conversations as they impact us spiritually, emotionally and sometimes physically! One word…Amazing! To read more, click HERE to get the book on Amazon.
Hotel Nantucket (Fiction) – JUST FINISHED – August 2023
by Elin Hilderbrand. I would call this a light summer read. Each character is experience their own trials while coming together to make the Hotel Nantucket a success. This book has the slightest touch of the supernatural, but it is definitely NOT the focus of the book. One of my favorite quotes from the book is “The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Find this book and more HERE.
Mother Teresa: A Simple Path – TBR – August 2023
by Mother Teresa. From the book excert: “Known around the globe for her indefatigable work on behalf of the poor, the sick, and the dying, Mother Teresa has devoted her life to giving hope to the hopeless in more than one hundred and twenty countries. She inspires us all to find a way to translate our spiritual beliefs into action in the world. How has one woman accomplished so much? And what are the guiding principles that have enabled this humble nun to so profoundly effect the lives of millions?” I am seeking additional opportunities to volunteer and get involved in my community. I look forward to learning more about the dedication and compassion of Mother Teresa in her love-in-action approach to her life of service for the poorest of the poor. Find this book and more HERE.
The Practice of the Presence of God – Early 2023
by Brother Lawrence / Alan Vermilye. I am reading this 40 day devotional now. One word…Amazing! To read more, click HERE to get the book on Amazon.
Write the Word: Prayer – Early 2023
by CultivateWhatMatters.com. If you enjoy scripture journaling and you want to zero in on increasing your prayer focus…this is for you. Find this book and more HERE.
My Journaling Bible – April 2022
from Paul’s Leather Company. Oh my word…it is beautiful and the craftmanship is the best I have seen. It is by far my favorite Bible and I have many!! Visit paulsleatherco.com to find your favorite.
Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence – April 2022
by Ruth Haley Barton. If you have ever considered a silent retreat, then my comment is DO IT!! I went on a silent retreat in January 2022, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I used this book as a guide for my retreat. It was wonderful. Find the book here.
Who Calls Me Beautiful? Finding Our True Image in the Mirror of God – May/June 2022 Post
by Regina Franklin. I am reading this book for a second time in May 2022. For those of us who struggle with body image issues, this is the perfect book to remind us of our true value and worth. Here is a quote from the book:
“When we are preoccupied with physical attractiveness, we assert that the world’s standards of beauty matter more than God’s, and we begin to reflect the values of the world that Jesus said we are not a part of even though we remain in it.”
To read more, click HERE to get the book on Amazon.
Finding Your Yes: Living a Life That’s Open to God’s Invitations – May/June 2022 Post
by Christine Wagoner. A powerful book by my friend and author Christine Wagoner. (Check out In The Word #6 blog post!) This book will help guide you to tune into God’s nudges in your life and to find the courage to say YES! Find the book here on Amazon.
A Why to Live For – May/June 2022 Post
by Dave Rodriguez. As mentioned in my blog post Behind the Scenes #1, this book changed my life. Dave identifies the six broken places of this world that need to be healed and the callings that help bring restoration. God calls us to join the fight. Don’t know your calling? The Calling Quilt exercise in this book will help you identify your calling, just like it helped me find mine. Find the book here on Amazon.
Lemons on Friday: Trusting God Through My Greatest Heartbreak
by Mattie Jackson Selecman. I read this book in the Winter of 2022. I had two dear friends who lost their spouses. Both losses were due to cancer. My heart ached for them, and I hoped this book would provide perspective and healing words for them and me as we jouneyed theses losses together. To read more, click HERE to get the book on Amazon.
Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It
by Bob Goff. My Life Group at church read this together along with the video series. It was encouraging, challenging, and clarifying all at once about our individual dreams…not only defining them, but also overcoming obstacles so we can achieve them! Find the book here on Amazon.
by Stacy Turley | May 3, 2022 | Behind the Scenes, Uncategorized |
In summary, the message I was hearing from God, “YES! But, WAIT!!” My response, “I hate waiting!” The truth is that God’s message for me to WAIT has been a saving grace. Over the next two years from Spring 2020 to Spring 2022, my life changed in many ways including times of high stress, moves, COVID pandemic, a wedding, multiple illnesses, and more. (More details on this in a future blog post in Life’s Journey. Blog post number to be updated soon.) The WAITing was a blessing! Thank you, Jesus, for your perfect timing.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. ~ Psalm 27:14
Below is a summary of the steps… forward and back… over the last two years. More details will be provided in a future blog post in Life’s Journey.
Two Steps Forward: I completed my Calling Workshop with Dave Rodriguez in the spring of 2020 (Behind the Scenes #1). I received several affirmations of my calling from multiple other sources over the summer and fall of 2020 (Behind the Scenes #2). I was ready to GO!!
One Step Back: August 2020, our daughter was moving from Plymouth, IN, to Corvallis, OR, to go to Oregon State University for Veterinary Medicine. The same weekend our daughter was driving to Oregon with my husband, our son requested help moving from one house to another house in West Lafayette, IN. I was packing, boxing, painting, organizing, cleaning and moving both of our kids within one month. WAITing for more time and less stress.
Another Step Back: By December 2020, I tested positive for COVID. Within two days, my husband tested positive for COVID. WAITing to feel better.
Two Steps Forward: I had a clear vision of the website flow, the tabs, the content ideas and the look & feel. It seemed easy enough. I will create my own website using YouTube videos. How bad can this be? Thank you, Jesus, for clarifying the purpose, flow for this website, and the online tutorial videos.
One Step Back: In the months of attempting to complete the website on my own, the instructions in the video no longer followed the reality of what I was experiencing online. WAITing for help.
Two Steps Forward: I set a budget and plan to find a website designer. No problem! I was introduced to a web designer by a group of men I bumped into at a coffee shop. Yay!! Jesus take the wheel! What a blessing!
One Step Back: I did contact the web designer who was recommended, but his offer and my needs did not align. WAITing again for new opportunity and a new contact. Ok, God. What now?
Two Steps Forward: In late Spring 2021, I was recommended two more website designer ideas through the church as well as through a friend of mine who had just published a book and started a website. (My Favorite Things – Book is called Finding Your Yes by Christine Wagoner) Fantastic! I love referrals. I interviewed the website designer from my friend Christine and we were a match! She loved the website idea and my story. And I loved her quote for her services and her excitement. We were moving forward.
“When God closes a door, He opens a window.” ~ Malachi 3:10
One Step Back: In the summer of 2021, I was experiencing multiple health issues: insomnia, headaches, muscle fatigue, trouble speaking complete sentences, exhaustion, brain fog, anemia, mouth blisters. I made a request to my website designer that we put a hold on our meetings until Fall 2021 with the hopes that I would feel better by then.
Another Step Back: In October 2021, I contacted my website designer to let her know I was ready to resume working on the design at a slow pace. I had upcoming treatment and tests to complete for my health. She offered her apologies as she had taken a new corporate job and would no longer be able to work on the website with me. WAITing for the next window!
Another Step Back: In November 2021, I had three weeks of IV iron infusions for the anemia. In December 2021, I had two biopsies in my mouth and tested positive for a rare autoimmune disease called Cicatricial Pemphigoid. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. WAITing for better health.
Two Steps Forward: I have a team of doctors now working with me to manage my autoimmune disease. Thank you, Lord, for your strength when I feel weak. Thank you for your support and encouragement through my friends and the doctors. I also bumped into another website designer in a coffee shop. Her name is Amy Durbin. (My Favorite Things – Other Stuff). She created this site and she ROCKS!!
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11
WHAT DID I LEARN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS?
- God asked me to WAIT. He was RIGHT! I learned to be patient through this process through the help of prayer, the support of my husband, family & friends, and the strength of the Holy Spirit. “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” ~ Lamentations 3:25-26
- Satan wants to slow me down. God has a better plan. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:37-39
- My timing is not so important. God’s timing is perfect and he has a reason for everything. “ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” ~ Proverbs 16:9
- Just because we have trials does not mean that God is saying, “STOP.” He may be saying, “WAIT! I am still refining you.” He uses our trials to build perseverance, character, and hope. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:3-5
- God will use all of our story for His greater purpose. We must NOT give up. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 1:6 AND “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
My stretch goal for turning on this website was March 18th. My no-later-than goal was my birthday at April 10th, 2022.
We went LIVE on Good Friday, April 15th, 2022!!
I am grateful for ALL who helped me and prayed for me over the last two years. Thank you all for your encouragement, your kind words, your pushes when I felt like giving up, and your love through it all!
And most importantly, thank you, Jesus, for counseling, guiding, strengthening, and fulfilling your plan for me.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
- Where is God showing up in your life?
- In your trials, where do you see His helping hand and encouragement?
- In your celebrations, how is He celebrating with you? Are you giving Him the credit? Are you praising Him with gratitude?
- Do you feel like giving up? What is the NEXT small step you can take to move forward?
- If you are not seeing him in your daily life, take a moment to pray and invite Him in. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you in the small things. Ask Him to help you recognize Him in the daily moments. Then praise and thank Him!
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for showing me your plan for me. You promised you would never leave us. You promised you had a plan for each of us. Help us all to see our next step in your plan and help us to have the courage to obey and take the next step. We are called to have no fear when we follow you, Lord. You have overcome death and evil. You will WIN always. May we trust you and allow our faith and hope to grown more and more each day as we let you lead in our lives. Amen.
Hugs & blessings, Sweet Circle,
Stacy
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