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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / for fun / {Scenes from my one wild + precious life, plus a recipe!}

{Scenes from my one wild + precious life, plus a recipe!}

July 10, 2012 · 10 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, recipe

I had read recently that Ann Voskamp reads three or four books at a time, and if the words still aren’t coming to her it’s a sign she’s not reading enough. Finally, an answer to why I liked to read so many books at once ;) I’ll have to share that with my dad… Growing up his head was always spinning at the notion that I was reading all of my Baby-sitter’s Club books at once. And I never really knew why I did that, just that it was more fun. But Ann’s words to make sense.

A couple days ago I started reading One Thousand Gifts for the second time. Then I added Bloom to the equation. Both are mixing beautifully and I sit here wondering, what else should I be reading? Leave your suggestions below?!

I’m never one to put a light sigh on the fact that I work from home. It’s pretty much one of the hardest things I’ve done. And keep doing, day after day. Knowing when I’ve worked enough, when I’ve gotten enough things done. Taken enough breaks. Challenged myself creatively, financially {oh, budgets + checkbooks!!}, social media-ly. There isn’t a perfect formula so every day is a fresh, new, {sometimes} hard day. Reading is a welcomed break. Yesterday Bauer and I plopped down on the couch to read a few pages of Bloom. I’ve been reading Kelle’s blog on + off for quite some time now. I check in every couple of weeks to catch up and goodness, Kelle is an artistic writer. And her photography ~ it is a perfect compliment to the words she types.

As I was reading her book, thinking about her life and her home and the things they do, the stories she shares, all learned from reading her blog, I had a realization. Kelle’s life is rich because of the way they choose to live life. Colorful moments, happiness, shared joy, celebrations, their eclectic home — all of these things are intentional. And all of these things are things we ALL can have, too. These things are choices. And just like Mary Oliver says, Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

That’s how we should all be living.

So after reading a few pages of Kelle’s book, I skipped over to the kitchen and started prepping one of my favorite meals, baked beef enchiladas. It’s a pretty easy recipe but I knew it would be something that would help me to be living a wild + precious life… in ways that are unique to me.

BAKED BEEF ENCHILADAS:

Ingredients: 1lb ground beef, 1 packet taco seasoning, 1.5 cups cooked white rice, water, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, jar of salsa (15.5 oz), jar of alfredo sauce (15 oz), can of green chilli’s (small), 10 soft taco shells. Optional: sour cream, guacamole, black olives.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Brown ground beef, drain grease + add taco seasoning, according to packet directions.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix alfredo sauce, 1 cup cheese, half a jar of salsa + half the green chilli’s (more or less, according to preference). Stir well.

In a larger bowl, add the ground beef, rice, and half of the sauce mixture. Stir well.

Spray a 9×13 glass dish with non-cook spray. Take the taco shells and fill with a 1/4 cup scooper of the beef filling. Roll the shell and place seam side down into the glass dish. Repeat with remaining shells. Spoon the remaining sauce mixture over the shells, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 35 minutes or until bubbly.

Top with additional garnishes {optional}: sour cream, guacamole or black olives, and enjoy!

Extra deliciousness can be added by scooping tortilla chips into the beefy, cheesy, gooey mess :)

 

Leave a comment and tell me, what kinds of things can you be doing to be living a wild and precious life?

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10 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, recipe

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Comments

  1. Gina_AcuteDesigns says

    July 10, 2012 at 10:59 am

    Such an inspiring quote. I love it. It is your life and you are the only one who has complete control over it. You can waste it or do something great….and everyone’s version of “great” will be completely unique.

    Reply
  2. Beth says

    July 10, 2012 at 11:20 am

    The enchaladas sound fantastic! And I frequently have more than one book going at a time too. Also – Baby Sitters Club, man that takes me back!

    My hubby and I try to do one “Fun” outing a month – not just going out to dinner, but trying something fun, and bonus points when it’s something we’ve never done before. Visiting a museum, checking out a new park, something like that. That helps me feel like I’m attempting a wild and precious life!

    Reply
  3. Hubbs says

    July 10, 2012 at 11:34 am

    I like this post, gurrrrl.

    Reply
  4. Amanda says

    July 10, 2012 at 11:35 am

    Oh, Maggie….I love this post! :) I have also been an avid reader since I learned as a tiny girl and normally have about 4-5 books on my night table at a time. Drives Chad crazy. ;) It helps you sort out thoughts and think deepyly about things and experience different emotions that you might not otherwise experience in your day to day life.

    As for our lives and trying to experience them to their fullest, Chad and are trying to make big changes in our lives right now. We are listing our home for sale today and trying to downsize. You might say “What? Downsize in your thirties with two kids?!” Well, yes. A house does not make a home. The family makes the home and we are tired of trying to keep up. We are going for simplicity and I could go on and on about this, but I’ll save that for another day. We are taking the leap to sell our home and bring our family back together without knowing what home might be our next. We are leaving it in God’s hands as to whether He sells it for us or not. But at least we know we are trying. :) Wish us luck and pray for our decisions. Thank you!

    Reply
  5. Emily says

    July 10, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    relaxing. i just got a wisdom tooth pulled about an hour ago, and the fact that i am laying here on my bed, my sheets freshly washed, sweet refreshing breezes blowing in the window, the cat purring…all at noon on a tuesday? getting to read my favorite blogs, and giving myself a small break from the orders that (still) need to be filled, while my mom feeds my girls lunch? this never, never, never happens. i am cherishing it.

    Reply
  6. Sarah says

    July 10, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    Yes, what do we plan to do with this life indeed? Right now my challenge is to shut up long enough to really listen to what His plan is for this life. Because my plan, it usually isn’t even close. Although they now include Mexican food.

    I’m currently reading Grace for the Good Girl, a Karen Kingsbury novel and Don’t Know Much About The Bible. It’s a good balance of introspection, fluff and learnin’. :)

    Reply
  7. Emily says

    July 10, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    That’s a wonderful quote by Mary Oliver. Definitely something to ponder. Today I’m rewarding myself for my productivity yesterday by experimenting with buttons and ribbon :)

    Reply
  8. Maggie says

    July 10, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    Give Shauna Niequist’s books……Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet a try. She loves life too and writes about everyday things in such an incredible way that you want to read her books over and over. I’m pretty sure you’ll love her!

    Reply
  9. Kate @ Songs Kate Sang says

    July 10, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    I was addicted to the BabySitters club! So, so good.

    Ok – now don’t laugh – but in my old age :) I was forgetting which books i had read and liked… so i made a list on skinny scoop… here it is! http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/songs_kate_sang/books-i-adore-historical-fiction-biographies I hope this helps!

    Reply
  10. Anya says

    July 12, 2012 at 3:06 pm

    (yes this post was important enough to go on my phone at work so I could leave a comment!!)
    Thank you so much for writing this! I have all of these books (plus The Happiness Project) on my Amazon wish list now :) I always read multiple books at one time too, and am always looking for ones about how to live a better life & grow in my relationship to God. And I checked out Ann Vaskamp’s blog because I didn’t know who she was… W.O.A.H.!!!! She is amazing and impressive and inspiring and tear-jerking! Thanks for sharing. And for sharing yourself on this blog too– of course ;)

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
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It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
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Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
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It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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