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Instant Pot Beef Roast
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Instant Pot Beef Roast

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Maple Pecan Squares
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Maple Pecan Squares

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Practicing Christian Hospitality Amidst a Busy Home Life
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Practicing Christian Hospitality Amidst a Busy Home Life

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Restful Hosting | Sabbath
Christian Life

Restful Hosting | Sabbath

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We’re Moving! | Leaving England
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We’re Moving! | Leaving England

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Nursing Wardrobe
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Nursing Wardrobe

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Nurturing the Soul: Starting Your Day with the Bible as a Mom
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Nurturing the Soul: Starting Your Day with the Bible as a Mom

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Home Education Curriculum | Autumn 2023
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Home Education Curriculum | Autumn 2023

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3 Things I’ve Stopped Doing
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3 Things I’ve Stopped Doing

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South Indian Chicken Biryani | Aromatic Rice with Chicken
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Welcome! I’m Deborah. So glad you’re here!

Here you’ll find encouraging, Scripture-filled posts and Bible study tips. Because theology is for every mom! Get to know me here.

Here’s what I’ve written lately…

  • Instant Pot Beef Roast
  • Maple Pecan Squares
  • Practicing Christian Hospitality Amidst a Busy Home Life
  • Restful Hosting | Sabbath
  • We’re Moving! | Leaving England

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    Deborah Gandi
    As the months change, we keep coming to "the last" As the months change, we keep coming to "the last" this and that... The last November, the last walk to our allotment, the last autumn leaves falling, the last time to go along the river. Just some bitter parts of a bittersweet move. ❤️🧡❤️🧡❤️
    No jeans November is in full swing for me! I've ch No jeans November is in full swing for me! I've challenged myself not to wear jeans at all this month just for fun ☺️ instead, I'm enjoying all my dresses and leggings. Not that I have anything against wearing jeans or trousers as a woman, but I do think that dresses are more feminine, so that's what I'm going for. Which do you prefer??? I've also picked up a few more nursing dresses from Vinted and they are great! I definitely prefer navy blue over any other colors though, perhaps my next capsule wardrobe will be only navy! 😆 I've got instructions for how to make your own capsule wardrobe on my blog, link in bio. This outfit is actually a nursing dress under my sweatshirt, cotton leggings, and, of course, my rain jacket and wellies because you need those most days in England! 🧥👢☔
    The past week has been full of decisions. And the The past week has been full of decisions. And the maker of those decisions has been me. Not the big life-changing decisions that affect the trajectory of our family (those are for my husband!). But lots and lots and lots of little decisions about our home and our things because I am the homemaker. In the midst of making all these decisions I have had to take breaks and nurse my 5-month-old son. (That is God's grace right there!). As I nurse him and get him off to sleep, I very often sing a lullaby called, "Whisper a Prayer." Maybe you know it, but maybe you don't so I'll share the lyrics here: ​ "Whisper a prayer in the morning, Whisper a prayer at noon, Whisper a prayer in the evening, to keep your heart in tune. ​ God answers prayer in the morning, God answers prayer at noon, God answers prayer in the evening, to keep your heart in tune." ​ I have known this song since I can remember and, no, it's not the most theologically rich hymn to sing to yourself or your children. But it is sound. In all the decisions I have to make as I go through our things, I tend to get a bit flustered and overwhelmed with all I have to do. But when I remember to stop and pray a little prayer asking for help from God, I'm instantly calmed and able to move forward. As I hum the tune in my head even now, I'm reminded that God hears and answers our prayers and He is helping us in whatever struggles we may have. So sing those little children's songs to your children and let them mold your heart and "keep it in tune" with what God has before you today. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
    If we were to sit down in my living room with a cu If we were to sit down in my living room with a cup of coffee (or maybe tea), I'd probably tell you a lot of things about my life. How I was a missionary kid, became a wife/homemaker almost 9 years ago, and how I'm now a mom to 2 children and still figuring everything out. But most of all I'd tell you that what I've needed the most as a mom is to know and love God's Word. There's no substitute for learning and loving the Bible. In it, God has written everything we need for life and godliness including encouragement and guidance for our day-to-day mom life. I'm sure you need God's Word too as a mom and that's why I write what I write here and on my blog. I'm glad you're here so that we can learn together. 🤗 I have a weekly email with encouragement theology, and a Sunday lunch meal plan to help you celebrate the Sabbath. Sign up for my blog posts at my bio link so that you don't miss a thing! Alt caption: this photo needed a place on my feed because it's my favorite building in Oxford and I will miss seeing it! ❤️😭 . . . #ChristianMotherhood #HomemakingJoy #FaithfulMothering #BiblicalHomemaking #MomsOfFaith #HeartsAtHome #Proverbs31Woman #GraceFilledHome #MomLifeBlessings #ChristianHome #MomentsOfGrace #GodlyMotherhood #HomeAndFaith #ChristianMom #HomemakerLife #MotherhoodJourney #FaithfulHome #PrayerfulMoments #FamilyFaith #JoyfulHomemaking #GodlyParenting #LovingHomelife #ChristCenteredHome #BlessedMoments
    Watching a good show/movie while I work! I've nev Watching a good show/movie while I work! I've never been a night owl and, as a mom, that means that I usually crawl into bed shortly after my children are tucked away. And, yes, I do leave the washing up and tidying for the next morning... I just have to sleep! 😴 But lately I have needed to stay up at least one night a week to catch up on the kitchen chores or laundry. So, how do I do it? I switch on a good show or movie and let it play while I work. It helps the most when I play it on an iPad so that it can be close by while I'm working. Here's what I have watched lately and would recommend: A White Christmas (a classic!) The Great Escape (long and dramatic, it lasted me two nights of working!) The Riot and the Dance (a Christian nature documentary) Pride and Prejudice (the 2005 version, of course) I Love Lucy (full of laughs ☺️) The British Bake Off (this inspires most of my desserts!) This is what's working for me right now, what is working for you when it comes to balancing mothering and homemaking? #ChristianMotherhood #HomemakingJoy #FaithfulMothering #BiblicalHomemaking #MomsOfFaith #HeartsAtHome #Proverbs31Woman #GraceFilledHome #MomLifeBlessings #ChristianHome #MomentsOfGrace #GodlyMotherhood #HomeAndFaith #ChristianMom #HomemakerLife #MotherhoodJourney #FaithfulHome #PrayerfulMoments #FamilyFaith #JoyfulHomemaking #GodlyParenting #LovingHomelife #ChristCenteredHome #BlessedMoments
    When we first moved to England in January of 2021, When we first moved to England in January of 2021, the cold, dark winter made life really difficult for me. I was used to the long warm days of Southern California. But since then I've learned that the best way to deal with it is to make a nice cup of tea. In the morning before the radiators have flicked on, in the afternoon after a windy walk, and, yes, in the evening before winding down for the night. ☕ How do you deal with the change of seasons? Do you drink tea?
    There are some times during the day where you shou There are some times during the day where you should just be quiet. We are so used to bustling around, getting things done, talking to our kids, and pushing, pushing, pushing. But we need to also just be quiet some too. Thinking through what you are learning is a valuable use of your time. And praying through it in silence will only solidify what the Lord is teaching you through His Word. Be sure to take some time to savor the silence in your day. Maybe it’s right before bed as you are picking up or in the morning when no one else is awake, or even in the kitchen by yourself while the kids play outside. Turn off the music, turn off your phone, turn off the noise. And use those quiet moments to be quiet yourself and think about the Lord and pray to Him. It's so hard to do, but so helpful once you do. We are constantly told to fill up every little space in our day with something new or something to learn. But we have to also leave room to think for ourselves and to pray. Having a time where you can just be quiet and enjoy the quiet is a helpful way to meditate in the margins of mothering because it allows you to think. All the studying and learning you do in the other times, or even in your Bible reading time, can be wasted if you are not actually taking it in and thinking about it. So use some margin of your day to just be still and know that God is God and to think about Him. Psalm 42:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God." #MeditateOnScripture #ChristianMoms #BibleStudy #FaithInMotherhood #PrayerfulParenting #ScriptureReflection #MomLifeFaith #BibleMeditation #QuietTime #SpiritualMotherhood #BibleVerseOfTheDay #GodsWord #FaithfulMoms #ChristianParenting #ScriptureInspiration
    I bet there is at least one thing that your husban I bet there is at least one thing that your husband doesn't do that you wish he would. Maybe it's picking up his dirty clothes from the floor, bringing his dishes into the sink to be washed, or even the age-old putting the toilet seat down 🙈 Instead of asking, "Why can't he just do this or that?" I started asking myself, "Why can't I just do it?" Of course, I'm not against husbands helping around the house, sometimes that is needed. But getting frustrated or angry at your husband because he doesn't do simple things you expect is not right. Just take on the role of servant and do the simple tasks without complaint. Change your expectation of yourself by going above and beyond to serve him. Marriage is for the rest of your lives and holding onto bitterness over little things is not worth it. Let your love cover a multitude of "sins" and do the thing anyway. I think you'll find much more joy in your day when putting others first and not getting hung up on the little things that bother you. 1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love one another deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins." #GrowingTogetherInFaith #MarriageGrowth #BuildingFaithfulMarriage #SpiritualJourneyTogether #CouplesInChrist #MarriageEnrichment #GodlyMarriageGrowth #FaithFilledMarriage #LoveInHisName #NurturingOurMarriage #ChristianMarriageGoals #StrengtheningOurBond #MarriageMaturity #WalkingInFaithTogether #ChristianMarriageJourneyi
    In my years as a homemaker (almost 9!), I have fou In my years as a homemaker (almost 9!), I have found that it is, indeed, a lot of work to host people! But the best way I’ve found to rest IS to host people. The most restful and refreshing Sunday afternoons I’ve ever had have been the ones where we are hosting over 10 people, many of whom were children. With the right preparation, hosting people on Sunday afternoon can change from a chore to a cherished time of restful fellowship. But that is the key I’ve found, you have to make it part of your rhythm as a homemaker. Yes, there are shortcuts you can make to get it all done on the day before, but living your week with the Sabbath in mind will make it so much easier to host friends for the meal. Find my specific tips for this on my blog today, linked in bio. 🍽️ #ChristianHomemaking #BiblicalHome #HomeWithFaith #ChristianWife #FamilyBlessings #ScriptureAtHome #ChristianHousehold #HomeWithLoveAndPrayer #LivingByFaith #GodlyMarriage #ChristianParenting #BibleInHome #HomeFilledWithGrace #ChristianHospitality #HospitalityWithLove #FaithfulHosts #BiblicalWelcome #OpenYourHome #LoveAndServe #HospitalityMinistry #ChristlikeHospitality #WelcomingWithGrace #HospitableHearts #InvitingInJesusName #FaithfulHostess #BlessedGuests #InHisService #HospitalityMatters #SharingGodsLove #GraceAtTheTable
    I have been thinking a lot about what it means to I have been thinking a lot about what it means to dress in a feminine way. While I don’t think that trousers or jeans are immodest (I still have a pair of jeans!), I would say they are less feminine than dresses or skirts. We have lost what a sense of feminine dressing is in our culture today. Most women are feminists and that changes how they think about what they wear. In my own life over the last few years, I have seen the detrimental effects of feminism and it has turned me off to the movement as a whole. But that’s another story for another time. As it pertains to how I dress, I have moved away from the jeans and T-shirt look to more dresses in an effort to be more feminine looking each day. Wearing dresses used to be reserved for Sundays, I had a few that I’d wear during the week, but they would be short and I would wear them over leggings. That is not the case now! I wear a long dress most every day and I love it. The dress I put on this morning is not only feminine looking, it’s comfortable! I’ve taken time to find dresses that are made of either cotton, linen, or viscose, making them just as comfortable as a t-shirt. Believe it or not, you can do everything in a dress that you need to do as a mom and homemaker. I even wear mine out to work on my garden at the allotment! Don’t let the fear of ruining a dress reserve it for only Sundays at church. Most stains can be washed out. So just wear the dress, no matter what your project is for the day. It will be okay and you’ll look cuter and more feminine while doing it! 💃 What do you think about only wearing dresses for your work as a mom/homemaker??? #ChristianWoman #DaughterOfTheKing #GodlyFemininity #Proverbs31Woman #FaithfulFemininity #VirtuousWoman #BiblicalWomanhood #GracefulServant #GodsDesignForWomen #ChosenDaughter #FaithFilledFemininity #SisterInChrist #ModestyMatters #PurityInHeart #GodsCreation #WalkingInFaith
    It got down in the 30s last night so this video is It got down in the 30s last night so this video is due 😍 I love transitioning my summer dresses to fall this way and then I can wear them all year long. 💃
    We. Are. Moving! My husband’s program here at Ox We. Are. Moving! My husband’s program here at Oxford University is supposed to last for three years and, though he has not finished his course, he has reached a point where he can finish it from a distance and not be on campus any longer. He received a job offer back at our old church in California that we couldn’t refuse. So we are heading back to the Los Angeles area in January 2024 for him to begin that role. Ah! First, I am very thankful; lots of PhD graduates don’t have any jobs or any offers when they reach this point of study. God has truly provided for our family in this job and I am grateful. It’s super exciting to think of going back to an area we know and a church we love. Unlike our move to England, much of this move will not actually be “new.” But I am also quite sad to leave England! I have really grown to love this country over our time here and I think I’ve become rather accustomed to a more European lifestyle what with walking everywhere and having an allotment. But I knew when we moved here that it would only be a chapter in our lives and I’m so glad that I’ve enjoyed it. As the chapter is ending and I look to move my family around the world (again) in the next few months, I have found a lot of comfort in this Bible verse: Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” God is immutable; He does not change. Now that means a lot of things. In fact, it’s what makes Him God and not human. But in my life right now, it’s His immutability that I can rely on. I feel that all these changes in my life are from one good thing to another, but even if that were not the case, God never changes. Our lives twist and turn, rise and fall, and He is steady. He will always be God. What comfort for us when we feel the weight of change in our lives! ❤️ so here's to enjoying our last couple of months in England before we're back in sunny California 😍
    And you know he fell asleep moments after this sho And you know he fell asleep moments after this shot. ☺️ Did you babywear with your little one(s)?
    My day was full of nursing, diapering, scrubbing, My day was full of nursing, diapering, scrubbing, vacuuming, mopping, and home-schooling. Just as I was beginning to feel weary of all I had to do, I took a minute to cut some daisies from my garden and bring them inside. That small touch of beauty brought me joy. When we create beauty we reflect our Creator. And doing that today really turned my disposition around. ❤️ So next time you feel harried from your responsibilities as a mom, take a moment to make something beautiful. Maybe it will make you feel better too. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."
    It's an ongoing project. 😅 But that's why Jesu It's an ongoing project. 😅 But that's why Jesus said, "Come to me, you who are weary." We don't have to fix our lives or ourselves before coming to God. He's ready to clean us up for Himself and His glory. 💕
    God's promise to help me. ❤️ Hebrews 13:5 says God's promise to help me. ❤️ Hebrews 13:5 says that God is our helper. He knows what I'm dealing with each and every moment and He's there for me in each one. A few minutes after this moment of tension, the baby quieted down and went to sleep. Then we passed by honeysuckle that Aletheia pointed out and we got to breathe in the sweet smell. What a change in just a few short moments. 💕
    Our bassinet stroller has made this holiday so eas Our bassinet stroller has made this holiday so easy! We have the Baby Jogger City Mini GT with the detachable bassinet. It clips into place and I can push him anywhere. If he's asleep when we get back? No problem, I just detach it and set it close by. When it's time for bed I lay him inside and then carry it upstairs to my room when I'm ready to sleep. I have changed out the mat a few times when it gets covered in drool so that it's nice and dry for him to sleep in. I was a bit intimidated to travel with a baby so small, but so far it has been a dream. 😍 What's your #1 tip for traveling with a baby???
    Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible at 1 Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible at 176 verses! It is full of acrostic sections, one for each letter of the Hebrew aleph bet. 😉 The Psalmist goes on verse-by-verse about how much He loves God's laws. And you'd think after writing about how much God's Word has helped him and how he cherishes it for 175 verses that he's got his life figured out; he knows how to be a Christian. Well, here's what the final verse says, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments." What?! He is still lost and needs God's help. And, friend, that is also our story. No matter how much Bible study we do, we will always need more. How gracious of God to continue sanctifying us through His Word each and every day. ❤️📖 #PsalmsOfPraise #FaithfulInPsalms #MomLifeReflections #InspiredByPsalms #PrayingPsalms #PsalmistMom #BibleVerseInspo #MomentsWithPsalms #WordOfGod #HeartfeltWorship #FaithfulMother #MomsWhoStudy #BibleStudyMom #MomFaith #ScriptureStudy #GodlyMotherhood #MomsInPrayer #WordOfGodStudy #MotherhoodFaith #BibleAndMotherhood
    I spent a lot of my life on tropical islands so I I spent a lot of my life on tropical islands so I am a summer girl through and through. Starbucks can keep their pumpkin spice latte for all I care (there's too much sugar in it for me anyway! 🤣). But deeper than my own preference of the season, I am learning to lay my preferences aside and try to enjoy and grow in each season I am in. Whether it's the spring, summer, autumn, or winter ... Whether it's hard seasons of motherhood like toddler tantrums, difficulty with mom friends, or disagreements with hubby on how to parent... God mercifully uses all those changes and seasons to mold and shape me to be more like Christ. He's masterfully directing my little life to bring Him glory and most of the time I feel like I'm just along for the ride! What are you learning in this season of your life? And, are you a pumpkin spice latte person or no? 😉 Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season." Romans 8:28 "God works all things together for good to those who love Him." #SummerBlessings #JoyfulSummerDays #FaithInSummer #GodsCreation #FamilyFunInTheSun #SunshineAndSoulshine #SummerLoveAndFaith #HeavenlyAdventures #SummerGrace #MakingMemoriesForJesus
    This video sums up my life lately. And the caption This video sums up my life lately. And the caption sums up my feelings about it. ❤️ soak up those precious moments with your kids, mamas! They go by quickly.
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