Cherished Family Moments & Home Progress

April kicked off with the heartwarming celebration of Easter! We were delighted to have our wonderful neighbor join us for church, making the holiday feel even more special and community-focused. These shared moments with loved ones are truly the highlights that punctuate our busy lives and remind us of the simple joys.

Beyond the festive gatherings, our home has been buzzing with activity. We’ve made significant strides on our shiplap fireplace wall project, reaching the exciting stage of painting! After much deliberation, I decided to go with “Alabaster” by Sherwin-Williams. This particular shade offers a warm, soft white that perfectly complements the rustic charm of the shiplap, promising to transform our living space into a cozy and inviting haven. The anticipation of seeing the finished wall has been immense, and we’re thrilled with the progress.

Navigating Challenges: Flu & Furry Friends

While the first part of April brought joy, it also threw us a curveball. We took on the rewarding task of dog-sitting for a few days, but this coincided with an unusually extreme cold spell here in Michigan. To add to the challenge, Ryan and I both succumbed to the flu. Ryan was about two days ahead of me, which meant I had a small window to make a frantic grocery run for all the flu essentials before I was completely incapacitated. Those were five grueling days. We were entirely holed up in the house, battling aches, fever, and that pervasive flu fatigue. It truly felt like an eternity, marking a long, drawn-out start to what we hoped would be a vibrant spring.

Toward the tail end of our flu recovery, when boredom and cabin fever were at an all-time high, we received a delightful surprise – a family of deer wandered into our backyard! This was, without a doubt, the most exciting event we witnessed in five days of isolation. We lovingly call them “The Deer Family,” as they frequently roam our neighborhood, offering glimpses of nature’s beauty right outside our window. Seeing them up close always brings a sense of wonder and calm. The second photo captures Salsa, our beloved feline companion, in his favorite spot, perched and perpetually ready to “scream” away any birds that dare to land on the wreath. His quirky antics always provide endless entertainment.

Hobbies, Baking & Creative Pursuits

Speaking of Salsa, he constantly finds the most peculiar places to sit, and his charming personality makes him an endless source of joy and content for the blog! The second photo offers a peek behind the scenes from a recent recipe photoshoot – this particular treat was a delicious no-bake M&M pie, a simple yet satisfying dessert that quickly became a family favorite. It’s always fun to share a glimpse of the creation process before the final recipe reveal.

Our curious cat has an uncanny ability to be uninterested in us until we’re deeply engrossed in an activity he’s not supposed to interfere with. Lately, that activity has been jigsaw puzzles, a new hobby Ryan and I have enthusiastically picked up. Salsa constantly tried to sit on the puzzle pieces, or in the puzzle box, even attempting to bite the individual parts! His “help” definitely added an extra layer of challenge, but also a lot of laughter, to our puzzling sessions.

On the culinary front, I whipped up the most delectable baked vanilla donuts you can imagine (the recipe for these will be gracing the blog next week, so stay tuned!). This particular baking session led to an incredibly successful photoshoot. Not every shoot goes smoothly, so it was wonderfully inspiring to feel truly “in the groove,” capturing beautiful images that perfectly showcased these delightful treats. It’s moments like these that reignite the passion for food photography, even when other aspects of blogging feel challenging.

Ta-da! We finally finished our very first puzzle! This particular one, featuring a dense forest with countless trees, proved to be quite a formidable challenge. It took us several weeks of dedicated effort, but the satisfaction of clicking in that last piece was immeasurable. What made the accomplishment even sweeter was the realization that, despite having bought this puzzle about seven years ago and moving multiple times since, every single piece was accounted for. There’s nothing quite as frustrating as getting to the end of a complex puzzle only to find a piece missing, so we were incredibly thankful for a complete set. This new hobby has quickly become a cherished way for Ryan and I to unwind and connect.

Style, Home Decor & Everyday Discoveries

Fashion has a funny way of recycling itself, and I couldn’t be happier that overalls are officially back in style! I absolutely adored wearing overalls when I was in grade school, so seeing some of my favorite Instagrammers rocking them inspired me to be brave and purchase a pair for myself. They’ve proven to be incredibly comfortable and stylish, making me wonder if I might need to invest in some short overalls for the warmer summer months ahead! And speaking of denim, it seems the classic denim-on-denim trend is also making a strong comeback, proving that some styles truly stand the test of time.

Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Here’s a first look at our finished shiplap fireplace wall! It’s incredible to see this project come to life. I’m still enjoying the process of playing around with various decorations, trying to find the perfect arrangement, and I plan to hang a few more cherished items on the wall eventually. I’m also toying with a slightly bolder idea: painting the fireplace tile. I envision it transforming the look even further, adding another layer of personality and elegance to the space. It could be truly beautiful and unique!

The second photo captures me in action, doing what I do best – or rather, trying my best! Photographing cookies continues to be one of the most challenging foods for me to capture perfectly. Their texture, shape, and tendency to crumble can make them surprisingly difficult subjects. Despite the photographic hurdles, I can assure you these particular cookies tasted absolutely divine, making all the effort worthwhile. It’s a reminder that sometimes the effort behind the scenes is as important as the final outcome.

Our recent weekend was packed with fun! We had an awesome time garage sale-ing, uncovering some unique treasures, and then catching the latest Thor movie with a fantastic group of friends. There’s nothing quite like surrounding yourself with good friends who fill your life with laughter and joy. These moments of connection and shared experiences are truly priceless. And on a more delicious note, we finally made a monumental discovery: a place in our town that serves genuinely delicious gluten-free french fries! As a devoted potato enthusiast, this was cause for great celebration. The photo captures one very happy lady, and I often say that potatoes are, without a doubt, one of my primary love languages!

From the Heart: Navigating Blogging, Identity, and Faith

Wow, April truly flew by, yet at the same time, it felt strangely prolonged, particularly due to the unseasonably cold weather we experienced here in Michigan. It often felt more like an extension of winter rather than the vibrant beginning of spring. I’ve just pulled out my flip-flops, and my toes are eagerly awaiting the warm embrace of the sun.

As I mentioned earlier, Ryan and I both battled the flu, which meant being confined to the house for five days straight. It’s funny how before you get sick, you might dream of a day off to binge-watch TV, but once the flu hits, you watch so much television that you vow never to watch it again! That was certainly our experience, highlighting the stark difference between desired rest and forced inactivity.

Beyond the physical challenges, April brought a significant personal struggle. I’ve found myself in a strange blogging funk, a feeling that has, unfortunately, begun to seep into various other areas of my life. There’s been a persistent sense of directionlessness, and I’ve noticed my passion for food blogging waning. A significant part of these feelings, I believe, stems from a really slow month, or perhaps even a complete lack of growth, in terms of blog performance and audience engagement.

It’s alarming how easily I get caught up in wrapping my identity in the perceived success of my blog. Ryan, ever observant, has noted that if the blog is doing well, I’m doing well, and if the blog isn’t flourishing, neither am I. This truth has hit me hard, revealing a deeper issue I truly need to seek the Lord about. I need to internalize the profound truth that these numbers, analytics, and external validations do not define me. My worth and identity are solely defined by what He says about me, not by fluctuating metrics or societal expectations.

Deep down, I know my soul is in desperate need of refreshment. I can feel its yearning. In an attempt to find joy and fulfillment, I’ve been looking to worldly things – external achievements, fleeting pleasures, and social validation. However, each pursuit has only left me feeling more critical of myself, more hyper-aware of my perceived “flaws,” and ultimately, more burnt out and empty. It’s a cyclical pattern that offers no lasting peace.

I’ve been walking with the Lord for a significant period, yet I frequently find myself getting stuck in the deceptive idea that I can fix myself. The thought process often goes: “If I just find the right strategy,” or “If I simply will myself to change my attitude, everything will improve.” It literally just hit me, as I was writing these very words, that I can, and should, ask Jesus to release me from these burdensome feelings and self-imposed pressures. He desires so much more for me than this cycle of striving and disappointment. He wants me to live with His unshakeable joy, a joy that is not contingent on circumstances or blog statistics.

The key, I realize, is not just to go to Him, but to truly believe that He will answer. This doesn’t always mean I’ll receive exactly what I’m asking for in the way I expect, but it means trusting implicitly that His plans for me are infinitely better than any plans I could concoct for myself. This truth is something I feel like I need to say on repeat all day long: “His plans are better than my plans, His plans are better than my plans.” It’s a foundational truth I’m striving to embed in my heart and mind.

Lastly, you might begin to see some subtle, and perhaps not so subtle, changes around the blog in the coming months. I’ve been feeling a strong, renewed passion to include other topics into this little space of mine – this platform that the Lord has graciously given me to nurture and care for. While there’s certainly some fear and anxiety (an exciting kind of anxiety, if that makes sense!) about branching into other areas and topics, it stems from feeling somewhat “stuck” within the food blogging niche. However, my heart genuinely longs to talk about real life, beyond just recipes. To share more about our family, home, personal reflections, and faith journey feels incredibly authentic and necessary right now.

Friend, I would be so incredibly grateful if you could keep me in your prayers. Pray that I wouldn’t get bogged down or stuck in my fears and anxieties, but that I would find the courage and bravery to step out in faith, following where I feel called.

My prayer, which I want to share with you, is this: Lord, help me to release all these overwhelming feelings to You. You alone have the power to transform my mind, my thoughts, and my emotions. Plant Your truth firmly in my mind, so that I would be able to quickly recall who I truly am in You, apart from any worldly measure. Spread Your divine protection over me, over my thoughts and feelings, that I may be filled with Your abundant joy. Renew my spirit and rekindle my passion, reminding me of the fundamental reasons You have grown this blog into what it is today. Help me to constantly keep at the forefront of my mind that my truest desire and ultimate purpose is to bring You glory in all that I do.

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Curious about our previous adventures? See all our past “Out of the Kitchen” posts for more behind-the-scenes glimpses into our lives.