This week has been a hard week. I feel deeply grieved by the lost of black lives this week, and it's a grief that I know so many others feel even more deeply than I do. I don't want to offer thoughts right now, but the first of the five from this week is a post I made on Instagram, where I committed myself to fighting for racial justice and to work towards an anti-racist future. Below you'll find some other finds from this week as well. 1. My Prayer for My DaughterI hope and pray that my daughter grows up in a more just world, one where systemic racism is a thing of the past. 2. Amy's BBQ MeatballsI shared about these meatballs a few weeks okay, but this week I finally was able to make them, and they did not disappoint! Wow! They are so tasty, and the liquid smoke really does enhance the flavor of the BBQ sauce. It was easy to make and even easier to eat. 3. The Stories That Bind UsResearchers are finding that families that have a strong family narrative tend to be the most emotionally healthy and led to more emotionally healthy children. I found this one very interesting. 4. We Need to Be Uncomfortable"We all should be uncomfortable about the injustice in our country. For many Christians, facing the reality that America still has a race problem is uncomfortable. Until we’re able to listen to the cries of black advocates, sympathize with black mothers, and express righteous anger over dead black bodies, we might remain comfortable—but it’s a poor substitute for the love to which we’ve been called." 5. Will You Be My Titus 2 WomanAfter reading this article, I fully plan to look into getting Melissa Kruger's new book: Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests. I'm always looking for great resources about mentoring, and this seems like a good one. (P.S. Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and purchase a product, this blog will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for helping to support She Laughs Without Fear!)
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Whelp. I'm sharing my Friday five on Saturday, but I had a lot of fun and formative things that I wanted to share with you all, just not a lot of time on Friday to write and share. So here are this week's five. As always, I would love to hear about some of your finds as well. 1. Fight Hustle, End Hurry PodcastAhh hurry and hustle. Two things that that I'm familiar with, but also seeking to fight and end in my life. Jefferson Bethke and John Mark Comer wrote books about both of these topics and they released around the same time. So, these authors thought it would be fun to team up and record a podcast discussing these topics even more. If you're tired of the hurry and hustle in your life, and looking to live a life at a different pace, these guys offer some encouragement. 2. "I Am With You" | At Home With OlafIf you've been following along with the past few weeks of Friday Fives, you know that I've enjoyed the At Home With Olaf series that Disney Animation Studios has been sharing on Youtube. I believe the series is coming to an end, but this video/song is a very fitting finale. I almost cried. 3. Why A Great Question Is Sometimes Better Than a Right AnswerWhat a helpful and deep nugget of wisdom. From my perspective, Jesus was a master at this, and it helped the people that he interacted with understand their hearts better than just giving them the right answer. And bruh... if anyone had all the right answers it was Jesus, but he still primarily answered questions with questions. 4. StroopiesIf you like stroopwafels (the Dutch cookie) and supporting local businesses, you should check out Stroopies. They are a local business from Lancaster, PA that makes DELICIOUS stroopwafels, but they also want to support refugees that are starting over in Lancaster by offering them meaningful employment. What a great business to support! 5. Social Media, Vanity, and Abundant LifeA friend recently re-shared this article that I wrote a few years ago, and it impacted me even three years after writing it. I always need to be reminded of where abundant life is found.
This week's list is a little different. This week I wanted to share five things that I'm thankful for in the midst of this Pandemic. I've been recently reminded of how our thankfulness or lack thereof really says a lot about our relationship with God. The times when I am the most thankful are also the times when I feel the closest to the Lord. I've been thinking about that fact a lot this week and seeking to offer thanksgiving to God. So here are a few things I'm thankful for this Friday. 1. My FamilyEveryday I grow more and more thankful for my husband, Thea, and the families that God has given us. Especially as I enjoy more time at home with Brandon and Thea, I'm just so thankful for the gift that they both are to me. 2. Sower's Harvest BurgersThere is a little cafe in our town called Sower’s Harvest that serves the best burgers I have ever had the pleasure to eat. I ate my first "Sower's Burger" the first week of the stay at home order in Pennsylvania. And every week since my husband and I have ordered burgers and a pretzel for take out on #sowersburgerthursday. It has become a little ritual in our week, and something we look forward to every Thursday. Today, I'm really thankful for the little things like a Sower‘a burger that feeds my belly, encourages my soul, and supports a local business that we love. 3. Completed House ProjectsHave you ever had a thing on your to do list for a long time and when you finally completed it, you just felt this thrill of excitement? That's how I felt completing a few projects around our house this week. For one, I finally recovered the yellow laminate countertop on our built-in with granite looking con-tac paper. It turned out so well and looks amazing. I can't stop looking at it and it makes me so thankful that it is finally complete and that I can enjoy it. 4. Pack and PlaysThis might sound weird but I am so thankful for baby playards aka pack and plays. Thea has become VERY mobile and loves to touch and explore and experience everything. Which is fun... sometimes and terrifying other times. But I'm thankful for pack and plays that allow Thea to play with toys in a safe space while Mommy goes to the bathroom or makes breakfast or just keeps her contained at times. Whoever invented pack and plays, I'm so thankful for you too! 5. God's WordIt may be the last on the list, but certainly not the least. Rather it's the most important so I wanted to save it for last. But lately I have felt so thankful for the the promises that we have in the Bible. As so many around me are living in uncertainty and there is much that I could worry or fear about, I've felt a calming peace through this whole Pandemic, and it's mainly from remembering the truths from the Bible. I'm so thankful that God offers us peace and hope and that the Bible documents those promises for us to hold onto in good times and in hard times.
What are some things that you're thankful for this week? This week flew by for me, yet there were so many good things from this week that it was hard to nail down even my favorite finds to five things. A big theme from this week was finding recipes and the Sticky Honey Chicken below was a big hit! So without further ado, here are my five favorite finds from this week with a mixture of fun and formative. Let me know if you have any good finds from this week. 1. Spoken Gospel's The Bible Explained: ProverbsI've shared before that Brandon and I are huge fans and supporters of Spoken Gospel. They do an incredible job using spoken word and performance art to explain the central themes of books of the Bible and how each book connects to Jesus. This Proverbs video is their newest creation, and it visually explains the main themes of the book. Spoken Gospel's videos just get better and better. You don't want to miss this one. 2. Sticky Honey ChickenI made the sauce from this recipe twice this week to go with ground pork and green beans. It's that delicious! (and quite simple). If you're looking for an easy Asian inspired dish, this one is a winner. 3. Disney's Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le CellierI'm loving #DisneyMagicMoments. Disney keeps releasing recipes from their parks, crafts related to their films, and cute video clips of Olaf, and I'm here for it! Especially the recipes and clips of Olaf. This recipe is from the Canadian themed restaurant Le Cellier Steakhouse in Epcot. I fully plan on making this when I can get the ingredients from the store next. 4. I'm DyingI really appreciated this post from Lore Wilbert on her blog sayable.net this past week. I've been thinking very similar thoughts during this pandemic. 5. From the Archives: Seeking the KingdomOnce upon a time, I participated in a writing challenge called Write 31 Days, in which every October a group of bloggers would commit to writing on a topic every day for (you got it) 31 days. This 31 day series, Seeking the Kingdom, was one of my favorites to write, and I kept thinking about it this week. I've thought about expanding upon it, but we'll see.
Woohoo! It's Friday, and the first day of May! It's the little things that I'm celebrating in this season we find ourselves in. There is much in this season to mourn and grieve, but there are also things worth enjoying and celebrating. As always, here are some fun and formative finds for your Friday. 1. She Laughs Without Fear's New InstagramYou heard that right! This blog now has its own Instagram account! I'm excited to have a social media space as an extension of this blog. So feel free to go follow that account. It will be a great way to receive updates about new posts. 2. The ChosenI've been talking about this new tv series all week with friends! It's a television series that is focused on the life of Jesus through the lens of those that come in contact with him. It is a different way of retelling the stories of Jesus' interactions, miracles, and relationships, but I'm here for it! While some dialogue and scenes have been added, it seeks to stick very closely to the Scriptures while also giving a full picture of the impact Jesus had on people relationally. I cannot recommend this tv series more highly! 3. Easy Eats by AmyA woman that I follow on Instagram just started a food blog, and I can't tell you how excited I am to try some of her recipes - particularly her BBQ meatball recipe. Her meatball recipe will likely be one or two of our dinners this week! 4. Disney's "Magic Happens" ParadeDisney will likely be closed for several months or more, but that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy their parades! I'm really enjoying these fun videos that Disney has been sharing lately and it's something fun in the midst of this pandemic. 5. Habakkuk 3:17-19These verses have been giving my heart comfort this week as we face yet another week of isolation. While I'm hopeful PA will start to move into a "yellow" phase in two weeks, there is no guarantee. I'm sure Habakkuk felt the similar uncertainty of things as he was watching the loss of so much around him. I hope these verses comfort you as well. You can even read them in the quote below and feel free to save the image for your own keeping.
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