Happy New Year from our home to yours!  I have to admit, 2017 treated us well.  I don't know if I could say the same thing about 2016... 2015... so yeah, it was nice to catch a break!

We've never really "celebrated" New Year's Eve as a family, usually because Jacob was working the late shift at the PD.  (Let me give yet another shout-out to our men and women in blue and their families!  They sacrifice so much.)  Miraculously, Jacob was able to spend NYE at home this year.  So maybe it was the off-shift, maybe it was the three-year-old, maybe it was the extra-great year, but we decided to throw a little party for just the 3 of us.  Four, I mean.  Sorry, Ollie.

Our party was pretty low-key, but it was PERFECT.  Five bucks bought streamers, hats, horns, and confetti poppers for each of us.  Another 10 bucks bought sparkling grape juice and ingredients for our favorite fried ravioli recipe by Giada De Laurentiis.  We jammed to our new favorite Louis Armstrong album while frying up these delicious little guys in Jacob's new fryer, an amazing gift from his incredible, thoughtful, and beautiful wife, who obviously was not thinking how such a gift might impact her hips and thighs.

We basically can't keep Reed out of the kitchen now (still closely monitored, of course).  He helped us with this simple recipe: cheese ravioli, buttermilk, Italian breadcrumbs, and vegetable or olive oil.

Dip the ravioli in the buttermilk, then coat with the breadcrumbs.  Set aside a batch and fry 'em up!

Sprinkle with some parm and serve right away with warmed marinara.  Delish!

Jacob ate like 20 more than what is healthy, recommended, or humanly possible, and found himself in a food coma.  This always makes me feel good.  Ha.  He finished the Bengals game while Reed and I prepared with great anticipation for the "countdown".  

Let me take a moment and just say... THANK YOU, NETFLIX!  We use their "anytime" countdown each year so Reed still gets the NYE experience without missing bedtime.  King Julien led us to the New Year around 6:00, and we welcomed it with as much noise as possible!  It was a blast!  Best of all, Reed didn't miss any sleep, and I was still in bed at 8:30, asleep by 9.  Yep, that's right. 
​Party.  Animal.

2017 deserved a celebration this year.  Good health, positive relationships, spiritual growth, the launch of my blog, traveling, new nephews, love abounding.  It was incredible.  But really, every year deserves a thankful celebration, no matter how we feel as we reflect.  As I move into 2018, I pray for God's blessing upon my family, friends, and all of you.  May we start this year emptied of bitterness, and full of love, forgiveness, passion, and joyful expectation.

Best wishes to you and yours.  Happy New Year!

This past weekend included something extra-special. Baby Boaz was dedicated on Sunday!  It has been a while since I updated y'all on my newest nephew, Mr. Samuel Boaz, so prepare yourself for a whole lotta cuteness!

Boaz has been keeping quite busy lately, let me tell ya.  In short, he has been doing the "normal" baby stuff: growing, learning to eat cereal, rolling over, and talking.  In his spare time, he hangs with the ladies, sings Mary Poppins songs, and trains to be an Olympic swimmer. And models for the blog.

Bo was obviously a pretty popular fellow on dedication day.  Nobody in the entire family wanted to miss it!  On Sunday we all drove to Bo's church and watched as his mommy and daddy dedicated him to God.  The family and church body vowed to do its part in raising and supporting Bo, too.  It was a beautiful ceremony.

Boaz is a miracle baby in so many ways.  Aunt B and Uncle Sam prayed and prayed for him, and boy, did God bring them the perfect miracle.  The ceremony was a glorious reminder of the faithfulness and goodness of God in Brook and Sam's life.  In all of our lives, really.

The Little Outdoorsman was there to support his cousin, of course.  Going up on a stage can be tough, although Boaz handled it like a pro.  But it is what cousins do, right?  Reed and Boaz are already BFFs.  They have inside jokes and secrets and stuff.

After the dedication, we went to a nearby park where Brook, Sam, and their friends grilled out for everyone.  They made THE BEST hotdogs I have ever had in my life.  Seriously.  They grilled each hot dog, put a slice of pepper jack cheese between the bottom of the hot dog and the bun, and wrapped the whole thing in foil.  I plan to never eat a hot dog without pepper jack again.

Bellies full of hotdogs, Cha-Cha's famous pasta salad, and CAKE (woo-hoo!), everybody relaxed in the sunshine while the kids played on the playground.  

I was able to steal away the man of honor for a few moments of cuddles.  He is the sweetest guy.  Never a peep or cry.  Whenever he is with me, he falls asleep almost immediately.  No joke!  I'm either really peaceful or really boring.  Let's go with peaceful... AKA comfortable... AKA cushion-y.  We all know what that means.  All those months of not working out have finally paid off!  Yippee!

After a couple of hours at the park, everybody was tuckered out and ready for a nap.  Boaz sneaked in a snooze or two before we left.  It's hard being the cool kid.

Eleven years ago, give or take a few days, a handsome country boy with a cute smile left his drumset, crossed the floor of our church, and told me about every animal he had ever hunted while the choir practiced without him.  Within minutes, hunting animals became my new favorite topic in the world.  Ah, love!

​Sweet talker, that guy!

Hey, at least I knew what I was getting into.  And it must've worked, because two years later, in the same church, we said our vows and committed to forever.

Today, nine years later, I find myself looking across a carryout chicken dinner at the same country boy, now a man in a police uniform. He still sports that same cute smile, and today I have one to match it.  I have a toddler on my lap and a weenie dog waiting for me at home along with a pile of laundry and a stack of ungraded papers.  Our life is beautiful, messy, and exactly, perfectly right.  Right where God wants us.  At dinner tonight, I couldn't help but reflect on the story of the past years- how I got to this place with this man.

​9 years- just like that.  All I did was blink.

Right?  That's what people say, anyway.  That it all goes by in a flash.  But I don't think that's true, really.  Because, although 9 years isn't 25, or 40, or 50, it's still 9, and it didn't happen in a blink.


It was 9 years of committed faithfulness- in mind, body, and soul.

It was Survivor reruns until 3 AM.  (Can you believe that Russell??)

It was freezing my tail off in a hunting blind winter after winter.

It was him talking me through the same worries again... and again... and again.

It was walking through greater joys and deeper sorrows than we could've ever imagined.

It was learning to make chicken pot pie just almost like his momma does.

It was arriving home each day, taking off my shoes, and trying his on for size.

It was a thousand head rubs and "what do you need today?"

It was holding hands at the hospital through more deaths than births.

It was mountain-top vacations and the ordinary everyday.

It was asking God to write our story and not complaining when He does.

It was hard work that really wasn't that hard at all- because spending life with your best friend makes it a whole lot easier.

It was all of these and more, with mountains of grace.  But it most certainly was not a blink.

I started praying for my husband in junior high.  God answered my prayer, as He always does, and sent me the most patient, loving, wise, and kind man he had.  He sure knows what He is doing.  I am so thankful for the past 9 years, the experiences and memories to come, and the greatest gift God has given me.

Love you, buddy!

I know it has been two weeks since I last blogged- I know, I know, I know.  I will do better.  
I pinky-promise.

The first two weeks back at work have been amazing.  My students are fantastic, as always, and my lessons and strategies are much improved after spending my summer at Miami University.  What remains the same is that stack of essays.  I just can't seem to make it disappear!  But I am going to set it aside for a minute to give you an update.  You should feel very special.

Jacob-
Jacob's gearing up for hunting season.  To translate- I pretty much won't see him until Christmas.  He goes crazy this time of year and hunts every chance he gets- land near our house, nearby states, across the country.  The good news is he is staying in the country this year.  Hooray!  I miss him a lot, but I love seeing him so happy!  I won't complain about all of the yummy meat he brings home, either.

The Little Outdoorsman-
To be honest, Reed has had a tiring couple of weeks.  Transitioning from being home with me full time to his school-year schedule has been tough for the little guy, plus he's fighting through his second cold in two weeks.  Everybody around here has been sick, plus I know I bring germs home with me from work.  He's a trooper, though.  We've invested in a few wooden puzzles, floor puzzles, and a Play-doh start up kit to help keep him occupied while he is sick.  But believe it or not, he misses being outside all day.  We are looking forward to plenty of farm visits, harvest festivals, and pumpkin-pickin' with the little guy in the fall.

When I'm not at work, I've tried to squeeze in as much quality time as possible with Jacob and Reed.  Any "alone time" is an epic battle-showdown between sleep and Iron Chef America.  And books.  And puzzles.  
​Sigh.

My sister and I have been trying out some new recipes for the blog.  I have my salmon burger recipe just about perfect.  I'm also working on a perfect grilled cheese recipe- almost there- and tonight we are going to try out chicken alfredo roll-ups.  I am so excited to share these yummy recipes with you soon.  But I want them to be PERFECT!

So that's us right now.  I know this time of year is a transition time for many people, but I finally feel like things are settling down.  I find my peace and strength still, as always, in God and knowing that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  I am so excited to see what September holds for us!

Now back to that stack of essays...

It's the dog days of summer in Ohio, but we have been busy today even in the heat. Why? It's the day before Independence Day- a day we spend mostly cooking and prepping for my husband's absolute-favorite holiday.

Our responsibility for the big day includes a pork loin and a strawberry poke cake.  Jacob's going to smoke the pork in the electric smoker, and, of course, I'm in charge of the cake.  Strawberry poke cake is a dessert that brings back a ton of memories for me!  I'll have the recipe up on the blog after the holiday.

My sister and I took the boys to a park this morning, I knocked out a bunch of homework during Reed's nap, and Jacob and I decided to clean out the fire pit and spend the afternoon at home cooking grouse over a campfire, soaking in the sun, getting the pork loin ready for tomorrow, riding bikes, and watching The Andy Griffith Show.  I am totally hooked on Andy Griffith right now.  What a great show!  You'd never guess I'm in my 20's, would ya?

 Now I realize many of you didn't get past the whole "cooking grouse over a campfire" detail.  This, lovelies, is my husband and two grouse.  He killed them in Canada on a hunting trip and brought them home to the freezer.  They are pretty neat animals, actually.  YouTube one sometime- it is well worth it.  They make the most interesting sounds!

So in preparation for this wild west trip, we decided to try cooking over a campfire.  We made corn on the cob and grouse, carrots, and onions on the campfire- like pioneers!

We had to cook it for a while and the smell was amazing!  We managed to call in Bo-Bo, our neighbors' little dog and Oliver's BFF.  He just dropped by to sniff around and beg shamelessly, even though his mom assured me that he had just eaten!  No wonder he and Oli get along so well!

While Jacob cooked and defended our dinner against Bo-Bo and Oliver's coordinated attacks, Reed and I played hard.  I think this pic wraps up just about everything that was going on.  Swim trunks, bicycle helmet, broken tractor, dirt on the belly.  The life!

Dinner was worth the wait!  Yummy grouse, buttery carrots, and corn on the cob!

Yum-O!  I just can't figure out where wild game gets the bad rep.  Clean eating, right there (unlike the cake I will be making tomorrow).  Happy Independence Day Eve, friends!  Stay safe and have fun!

 Being a mom is my favorite job in the world.  But it isn't at all what I thought it would be.  It is more heartbreaking and bittersweet than I ever expected, but also filled with incredulous, wonderful, side-splitting laughter.  Yesterday in my writing class, a colleague told the hilarious story of her daughter's embarrassing moment in public, and how she has said things as a mom that she never expected.  That got me thinking.  I mean, Reed is only two, but I could easily (maybe too easily) compile a list of things I never thought I would say, at least before I became a mom.  Please share in the comments some of the things you've said to your kids that you couldn't believe came out of your mouth.  It will be so fun!

1. "Get your head out of the toilet."
Ewww... I thought I'd gross you out right away.

2. "Please don't lick the dog."
You'll notice a common theme, here.

3. "You want honey mustard with your fish?"
I keep telling myself this "dip" thing is just a stage.
​
4. "Don't tell Daddy about the brownies."
Or the cookies.  Or the cake.  That we made at nine AM just because.  Didn't I promise myself we weren't going to eat junk food today?

​5. "Please don't lick me."
Seriously?!

6.  "If you are good, I'll give you a sucker."
I swore I would never bribe.  That was cute.

7.  "Get out of the fish tank... and please put Nemo back."
*Trying to look mad and keep a straight face.*

8.  "I can't keep my eyes open."  (It was 7 pm)
That's just embarrassing.

9.  "I have a booger on my shirt?  Oh, that's ok.  I'll wash it out later."
Actually around 12:30 today, my friend told me my shirt was inside out.  I'd been in class for 4 hours, and I gave a short presentation in that time.  Fantastic!

10.  "Please don't lick the floor."
Yes, again.

I can't even imagine the directions in which this list will go in the coming years.  It is exciting and really terrifying!  Please share your memorable moments, too!

Its day 4 at the beach, so I've been away from home for a total of 6 days. It is an awkward time for me because Reed and I are having a ton of fun, we are finally in a routine, and I am starting to get homesick! I miss Jacob, Oliver, Cha-Cha and Poppy, and even the fish! Can anyone else relate to this?

Reed and I spend our mornings in the sand and at the pool with my family.  I frantically chase him around with a bottle of sunscreen periodically.  We've managed to avoid sunburn for the entire trip thus far.  Gold star for Mommy!  Just a personal, non-sponsored recommendation: Banana Boat for kids is seriously the bomb.  That stuff stays on all day, is super water-resistant, and doesn't burn or sting.  You're welcome.

Reed's favorite beach activity is for someone (me) to dig him a big hole either close enough to the ocean to automatically fill with water or for Uncle Brandon to haul in water in buckets.  Reed sits in it for about an hour, digging, splashing in the water, or playing with various cups, shovels, sifters, and buckets.  He gets in a little zone.  It is so fun to watch!  After playing for a few hours, we come inside and he eats a PB&J and takes a nap while I do some chores around the condo and nap or read.  In the afternoon we go out to eat and poke around some tourist-y shops for a little.  It's quite the life!

There are a few parts of the trip I want to remember forever!

1) The balcony.  Our room is 17 floors up and looks over a busy beach.  I get up as early as I can and watch the sun rise in the morning, I'm back on the balcony for Reed's nap, and I try to sneak in a few minutes here and there throughout the day.  It is definitely my favorite place to be.  I read my Bible, people-watch, hold Reed (who is now calling me "mom" instead of "mommy" half of the time, sniffle), read, write, think, and nap.  Now if I could just get Jacob to build me one of these...

2) The people.  No offense to my fellow Ohioans, but the Carolinas have you beat in the hospitality/friendliness arena.  Most people here are really welcoming, and the further we get out of the city, the nicer they are!  I am always inspired by the easygoing kindness I find when I travel to the Carolinas.  I want to bring some of that home with me.  One of our favorite families in the whole world lives in the mountains of North Carolina.  Their kindness molded our family's philosophy on hospitality in many ways.  I'll have to write about them sometime.  Kindness is a world changer, man!  

​Yesterday, Reed and I spied a young guy playing a guitar under the pier.  Let me explain.  He wasn't under the pier in a creepy, loner way, just in a "hey, this is a nice, shady place to play a guitar" way.  And we weren't spying on him, we were just on the beach and Reed saw a guitar and flipped out.  ANYWAY... we walked over to him and he saw Reed looking at him in awe and he played us a song!  After that he got down on Reed's level to talk to him and showed him how he was playing with a shell as a pick.  And he took a picture with him.  Reed was totally excited and talked about it for the rest of the day.  So yeah, the people here are really awesome!

3) Little joys.  I had the opportunity to dolphin-watch (from the balcony, of course).  Its a magical place!  I pulled Reed on a really long wagon ride down the beach.  I watched Chopped, my favorite show on the Food Network, with my sister.  We don't have cable at home, and Netflix doesn't have Chopped anymore- boo!  I stayed up until 10:00 last night watching it (like a rebel- normal bedtime is 9:00).  I love listening to the ocean, the sounds of people playing on the beach, and spending 6 days of invaluable, uninterrupted time with my little guy.  I don't think I could ever get tired of that!

Tomorrow is my birthday.  Twenty eight!  It will be neat being here on vacation, but difficult spending it away from Jacob.  No parties or big night out planned- not my style!  Maybe I will live dangerously and get an extra scoop of ice cream.  Stay relaxed, friends!

Goodness.  I did it!  I survived May.

I apologize for dropping off the face of the Earth for the past four weeks.  Teaching high school in May is no joke, peeps.  Survival of the fittest is still very, very real.  But school is out now, I was able to give my students the end of the year they deserved, and I'm looking forward to a summer of rest, travel, continuing education, and planning.

I spent most of my spare time in May making little memories and cramming in as much soul food time as possible to counter the stress of the season.  We spent hours and hours outside, riding bikes, playing on the swingset, watching airplanes zoom through the clouds, and tracing leaves.  You know, the important stuff.

This kid...

Reed is doing great with his new bicycle.  He wants to ride it every day.  We've started taking it to parks and bike trails.  People are INTENSE out there, though!  I feel like I'm constantly keeping him from getting creamed by older kids and adults on bikes.  His bike has a little bell on it, too, and he is learning to ring it at people and greet them as they mostly swerve to miss him.  Geez, I still sound a little bitter about it!

We spent some great time with friends, too.  The Little Outdoorsman is rolling with one of his best buddies, Hunter, here.  Don't be fooled by those sweet faces... I solemnly swear they are up to no good!

It was all hands on deck at home this past month.  Jacob and Reed stepped up, helping out more around the house.  They are probably so relieved that summer break is here- bless them both!  Day after day after day I came home to a clean home, the essential oil diffuser diffusing "Tranquil" or "Relax" by Plant Therapy.  Its pretty funny, considering Jacob is such a "manly" guy.  Essential oils aren't really his thing- he makes this very clear.  But when it comes to keeping me sane... I would say he knows how to work that diffuser better than I do!  Hilarious!

 On another note, Reed started his first chore chart and has become more and more aware about what he can do to "help" out around the house.  His chores are very small and simple, but he really enjoys the sense of responsibility.  He gives us a big smile when he finishes his two-item list and volunteers to help out now, emptying the dishwasher utensils, picking up after himself, helping Jacob with different projects, and getting out things I need like the vacuum or Swiffer when he hears me talk about it.  It is pretty cool to watch!  I wonder how long it will last?

It's so wonderful to be back at the keyboard at last.  Thank you to everyone who reached out to say you missed me!  I missed sharing with you, too!  The long summer months promise plenty of soul food time.  I'm off to the beach in a few days and really looking forward to some time to write, read, eat, reflect, and love the family who will be with me!  I'll keep you in the loop!

xoxo- Rebekah

Life was sweet today.

Like every other human on the planet, I experience highs and lows in life.  Some days are bitter, some days are sweet, and most fall somewhere in the middle.  Today was one of those simple, precious, fleeting days- the ones that seem to last forever but go all too quickly at the same time.

I had a few reasons behind the idea of creating Soul Food Time.  I wanted a place to share my favorite recipes, hobbies, and experiences while connecting with new people.  I hoped to reach hearts through posts about my faith.  But one of my biggest motivations was quite selfish- I desperately wished for a way to capture the little moments of this season of my life, the tiny snapshots along the way that I never, ever want to forget.

Today was nothing special, really, at first.  We didn't take any big trips, make plans, or spend a bunch of money.  Today was scheduled for simplicity, for nothing.  This scheduled nothing comes at a cost sometimes, and it can be misunderstood.  However, this intentional white space gives me time to connect with God and family, helps me stay balanced and at peace, and provides healing and perspective.  In the nothingness of the white space of today, I tidied my home.  I prayed.  I sat and played with my dachshund's ears and talked to him, watching his bright eyes reflect his joy at the extra attention.  I laughed with my husband as we watched Reed dance, rock, and trill "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" to Mr. Potato Head. I listened to the content sounds of my 3 week old nephew drinking the last few ounces of his bottle, stroking his soft, thin hair.  I worshiped while listening to my favorite songs in my car, feeling the eyes of my two-year-old in the backseat observing my raised hands and out-of-tune notes.  I felt soft dirt on my fingertips while positioning a new tomato plant.  I took a nap.  I walked with my in-laws to a local ice cream shop, jogging every once in a while to keep up with Reed on his little blue balance bike.  We stopped suddenly as he braked, reversed, and stroked the sides of a bush gently, feeling each little leaf, and I thought, in each of these moments.... this is priceless.  This is important.  These are the snapshots that I never want to forget.  Maybe I didn't do anything "great" or "exciting", or super-productive today.  Maybe I was lazy and selfish.  Maybe I wasn't perfect in any sense of the word, but I loved the people in my day completely and was fully present in most of the moments.  Maybe I have nothing to post on Instagram, no new followers on social media, and I didn't volunteer, spend, network, or create. And that's okay.  My soul is brimming tonight, full of memories, gratitude, and love. Yes, I know life can be bitter, sweet, or maybe just in between.  But no matter what kind of day it is, seek to find joy by being present in each moment.  Thoroughly experience the little snapshots in your day.  Find beauty in simplicity, in rest, and in love.

We LOVE The Sound of Music around here.  Singing, dancing, beautiful scenery, adorable love story, courage, history, family- it is everything I love!  In this particular scene, Maria dances around her bedroom with the Von Trapp children, teaching them to think of their favorite things whenever something is going on that they don't particularly enjoy (in this case, a thunderstorm).
Little problems = life lessons.

Inspired by Maria, I thought it would be fun to list my new favorite things every once in a while.  April, after all, is a month known for its thunderstorms.  You probably won't gain any life lessons from my lists, but you never know!  This post is going to be random, fun, and a little weird.  Just like me!  Make sure you read to the end to hear some fun news coming up, and I would love to hear some of your April favorites in the comments!

I picked this up at Sephora the last time I was out and about on the town (Mamas know that's pretty rare) and I fell in love!  I am a big rose fan- anything rose- and the mint leaves your lips feeling a little tingly.  The tin container feels vintage too, which goes with the whole rose thing.  It is a little expensive for lip balm, but a fun investment for yourself or a great gift idea.  I take it with me everywhere.

Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United, Hillsong Live, I love it all!  I have been a fan for years, so of course I really enjoyed seeing this movie.  We just rented the DVD and watched it here at home.  It tells the story of Hillsong Church and Hillsong United, but also features some of their most popular songs in concert.  
There's one part of the movie that chokes me up every time.  It shows people all over the world singing "Mighty to Save" in different languages and environments.  Some of the people singing are funny, like a guy in a yellow suit who sings, "He is mighty to save" while doing some strange dance.  Every time he sings, Reed laughs and says, "What's he doing?" and I usually laugh at Reed.  A few seconds later, a woman in a third-world country sings while washing clothes by hand.  Her voice is the most beautiful of all, and her son is watching her and playing the guitar in the background.  It is a breathtaking moment in the show, and I tear up literally every single time I watch it.  The movie is not sad, I'm just a crybaby!  It truly conveys the message that God is changing lives everywhere, and it is a beautiful thought that someone across the world could be singing the same song I am because of God's work through Hillsong.

Yes, I just transitioned from crying over the Hillsong movie to coffee creamer.  I told you this would be random!  This is my new favorite coffee creamer.  I mean, it has a picture of Cold Stone ice cream on the front.  What could go wrong?  I seriously haven't bought another type of coffee creamer since the beginning of April.  It is sweet, subtly flavored, and simple.  It isn't too rich or too flavorful.  Just perfect!  I'll have to try it for the icing on my cinnamon rolls sometime.  Hmmmm...

I know that Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products have been around for a while, but I just recently picked them up and tried them out.  And.... I'm not going back.  I am a Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day convert.
I have always been skeptical of natural cleaning products.  I'm afraid that they aren't really doing their job.  No more- these are an exception.  Made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils, these clean really well AND smell amazing!  Plus, they are cruelty-free, something that I am just now becoming more aware of.  They are now a staple in my home and have also become my go-to gift idea for friends and family.

My favorites list would be a fraud without a book.  I have devoured Karen Ehman's 40-day devotional on the lips in fewer than 40 days.  It shouldn't be a surprise confession that I have a little problem using my words wisely, considering that no one can tame the tongue (James 3:8).  I recently felt a little nudge from the Holy Spirit to pursue some study in this area.  This book not only challenged me to keep my mouth shut most of the time, but it also evaluated when it is necessary to speak up, and how to speak in certain situations.  It is funny, simple, short, and very powerful.  This is the first book I have ever read by Karen Ehman, a popular author and speaker with Proverbs 31 ministries.  I was so impressed with Zip It! that I've already ordered her newest book, Listen, Love, Repeat.  I promise I'll share my thoughts on that one, too.  I certainly still have a LONG way to go with this mouth of mine, but I'll take "imperfect progress".