Natalie Barnett- My Mountain Wild

I have been reading this book Life Is Hard, God is Good, Let’s Dance by Brant Hansen. It’s been a nice light-hearted and funny read after I recently read a more serious and “heavy” book. His writing style is my favorite kind - like someone is sitting down with you and telling their story over a cup of coffee. His life has been incredibly interesting and I was surprised that he is also from a tiny town in rural Illinois! And in this modern world where we only show the best sides of ourselves, this is a breath of fresh air - authentic and real and imperfect. There was plenty of times I laughed out loud reading this book and a lot of nodding my head in agreement and understanding. There is something for everyone in this one that you can find relatable. I love to hear how God is working in people’s lives, and Mr. Hansen has some real good stories. He shares how we can all live a life full of joy, even in this crazy world. Regardless of circumstances, we can all experience that true joy through Jesus- what a beautiful reminder! If you like funny uplifting books, head to this link to grab your copy: https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/god-is-good-book/?utm_source=frontgate&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=life_is_hard_god_is_good_lets_dance&fbclid=PAAaZXWS8fxDDbCqmIvqYqgCOa3N98uj5NxsOdz5FCQnlZtM6AXS-etduXR5o_aem_AW4IywPkf5_fIo6ubLsfG92FTNcvgScAqlO9UbJZ6InkhzqSuNBX2vsIT0wRVxctQB4

I'm about half way through the book I Don't Know Who I Am Anymore - Restoring Your Identity Shattered By Grief and Loss by @caroleholiday I wasn't too sure what kind of book this was or that I really needed it. From a quick glance from the outside in, I don't know if one would really say I have lost much. I am beyond blessed and know that. I don't talk about a lot of the loss I have experienced over the past few years because I use my page to inspire and share little snippets of beauty in my family's life. I don't often get too heavy and messy here.But I have loss and heartache like anyone else. As I continue to learn what it means to be a Christian, I am learning so much about myself. Something I finally started working through lately is the loss of a baby that we were supposed to adopt from a family member. When I was pregnant with Theodore, I was preparing my home and heart for two babies. And when it fell through and was handled so carelessly and hurtfully, my heart hardened. I struggled with feeling thankful and happy with my new baby while also grieving the loss of the other. It was a very messy time. I was expected to act like everything was fine and move on like everyone else did. Because of this loss, I think a lot about our baby we lost 5 years ago, stirring up more pain. We've had so much unexpected change and drama and hurt over the past few years, and now I've been dealing with postpartum issues that make me feel like I am just lost. I wouldn't have picked this book up for myself because I wouldn't think I "needed it", but as I read, I think about this and that in my own life, and realize I did need to read this right now. So much of this book is overlapping and connecting with what I am learning in a church study group I just joined some things I just heard in a podcast the other day. If that's not a "God nudge", I don't know what is. I have so many pages dog eared in this book already. Carole Holiday writes like someone sharing their journal entries with you. It's real and raw and beautiful and from the heart. It's one of those you just don't want to put down. Her story makes me feel not alone and a wonderful reminder that during those difficult times of life, God is working. We often can't see the work that is being done while it's happening. We see the beginning and then the final result. I hear from so many believers that they look back at certain things and have an "aha" moment of why something happened the way it did. God doesn't do things the way we would do them. And that's kind of the point, isn't it ? I also love that she points out the fact we can be sad about something while still trusting in Him. I can feel hurt and sad and angry and still know that I am in His hands and know that it's all part of His plan. If you or someone you know are dealing with any kind of loss at all in your own life - a job, a person, a relationship, a house, even loss over a season of your life, etc... pick up a copy of this book. And then DM me so we can talk about it because I would love to hear your thoughts! 🤍 Thank you @frontgate for sending me a copy of this book. #IDKWIAA #neverthoughts #spirtiualhealing #healingyourself #grief

This was one of my favorite Easter baskets I put together. There are some really great finds here from small shops ! Check out this blog post from a couple years ago if you're looking for Easter basket filler ideas! 🐰

Irish soda bread was the very first kind of bread I ever made back when I was a teenager. I remember being thrilled that it turned out and that I didn't need yeast. It comes together so quickly and always tastes deliciously moist in the inside with a thick crumbly crust on the outside. I make this for my family once in a while, especially around St. Patrick's Day. It's delicious slathered in a good irish butter, or using it to sop up a hearty irish stew. It's even good for breakfast with jam. Make it • 4 cups flour • 2 tsp kosher salt • 1 Tbs raw sugar • 1 tsp baking soda • 1 egg • 1¾ C buttermilk • 2 Tbs melted butter Preheat oven to 400ºF. Whisk together flour, salt, sugar,& baking soda in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, beat the egg, buttermilk, & melted butter. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. I use my hands to really mix it up well and knead it a bit. Grease a cast iron skillet with butter. Lightly flour your hands, form the dough into a ball, and transfer to prepared skillet. Use a sharp knife to make an X across the top of the dough ball. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from oven, transfer to cooling rack, and let cool for 15 minutes before slicing. I have also added herbs and cheese to soda bread, and it is sooo so good. What was the first kind of bread you ever made ? Any yummy Irish dishes planned for this week ? I have corned beef & cabbage planned for Friday ! 😋

Easter is quickly approaching! If you are looking for a sweet & simple Non-candy Baby's First Easter Basket, Check out Theodore's basket from last year !

Jesus is the reason for the season yall! If you're looking for a beautiful and meaningful gift idea for kiddos ages 6-12, I found THE BEST children's bible ! The CBS Explorer Bible for Kids is interactive, colorful, easy to navigate and to read. There is so much detail in this Bible to help kids know and understand God's word. I wish I had this as a child ! But I'm learning from this Bible, right alongside my almost 10 year old. To see all the amazing features of this Bible and read my full review, head to my blog (and grab a 50% off coupon code !) #csbbible #kidsbible #explorerebible #christmaswishlist #kidsgift #childrensbible

🌻New blog post !🌻 After months of not having time to write, I finally have a new blog post up. I'm sharing a "day in the life" Fall homeschool edition! I sometimes get asked what curriculum we use and how we structure our days so I thought I'd share what a "regular" day at home looks like for our homeschool. Head to the blog to see how we're doing morning time these days, what curriculum we are using for the 4th grade, how we are trying to work around my one year old's naps, and finding a new rythm to our days and weeks in a new home and a new state. I get pretty real and transparent at the end sharing our stuggles too! So make sure you read through the whole article if you're interested. https://mysimplewild.com/2022/09/22/a-day-in-the-life-fall-homeschool-edition/