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Home Life & Encouragement

I am a Christian wife of 29 years, a mom of 25 years, and a daughter. It is my desire to encourage and inspire you as I share my life journey, struggles, hardships, pain, and joys. I want you to know you are not alone in life and if I am able to share some encouragement with you then my heart will be at peace.

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    • Recipes
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
        • Pumpkin Spice French Toast
      • Breads
        • Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread
        • Cinnamon Raisin Bread
        • French Bread Pizza
        • Garlic Bread Balls
        • Liza’s Banana Bread
        • Pizza Pull Apart Bread
        • Pumpkin Whole Wheat Bread
      • Cakes
        • Frosting To Create Your Masterpiece
        • Fun -n- Easy Chocolate Cake
      • Cookies
        • Cake Box Cookies
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        • Chocolate Trifle
      • Fudge & Candy
        • Chocolate Fudge
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      • Healthy Recipes
        • Avocado Egg Salad Spinach Wrap with a Caesar Salad
        • Chicken and Mixed Vegetables Stir Fry
        • Healthy Chicken Cauliflower
        • Healthy Chicken Avocado Spinach Wrap
        • Healthy Chicken, Quinoa, and Zucchini Recipe
        • Oven Baked Chicken with Garlic Mushroom Quinoa and Broccoli
      • Holiday Recipes
        • Gingerbread House
        • Apple Cinnamon Rolls
        • Christmas Monkey Bread
        • Ginger Snap Dip
        • Simple Pumpkin Pie Bars
      • Lunch
        • Tuna and Crackers
      • Meals
        • Homemade Chili
        • Mushroom Alfredo with Broccoli
        • Homemade Macaroni and Cheese 
        • Shepard’s Pie
      • Soups
        • Potato Soup For The Soul
        • Beef Stew
      • Seafood Recipes
      • 25 Days To Christmas Desserts
        • Christmas Mints
        • Chocolate Covered Ritz Crackers
        • Chocolate Coconut Balls
        • Chocolate Covered pretzels
        • Hay Stacks
        • Homemade Hot Cocoa
        • Mini Apple Pie Bites
        • Gingerbread Men
        • Peanut Butter Thumb Prints
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        • Rest, Relax and Answers Will Come
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        • Rest and Rejuvenate Weekend
        • Relax and Rest in The Peace of Choosing Kindness
        • Rest Your Mind and Body
        • Rest Is Necessary
        • Slow Down, Breathe, and Find Rest
        • Stop…Rest…Breathe…and Repeat
        • Take The Time To… Rest
        • Take Time To Rest Your Mind And Your Body
        • True Silence Is Rest To The Mind
        • Walking Toward Peace and Rest
    • Random Thoughts
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    • Strength
      • Be Strong and Courageous
      • It is Never To Late To reset
      • Be Strong and Courageous
      • Be Strong and Courageous
      • Courage Conquers Fear
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      • Courage Conquers Fear
      • Christmas, A Time of Reflection and Many Emotions
      • Darkness Turns to Sunshine
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      • Courage Is A Prevention To Fear
      • Faith Believes in The Impossible
      • Courage Pushes Through Defeat
      • Friday Night Comfort Food
      • Difficult Weeks Mean Extra Special Encouragement
      • Discouraged Today, Find Your Peace
      • God Always Comforts Those Who Isolate and To Those Who Help
      • Encouragement For The Frazzled Mom
      • Inspiring Your Heart to Shine Brightly
      • Let’s Get Moving
      • The Battle of Courage
      • Opinion Vs. Reality
      • Your Battle Will Be Won With Strength and Courage
      • Pain: WHERE DO I BEGIN?
      • Procrastination Leads to Difficult Days
      • Sharing Fall Vibes
      • The Battle of Courage
      • You Are Never In Total Darkness
      • Wishing You A Merry Christmas Eve
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      • It is Never To Late To reset
      • Beauty Surrounds Us
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      • God Gave You Strength For Today
      • Grasping The Strength of A New Day
      • Hope Gives You Strength When You Can Not See It
      • Hope Provides Strength
      • Love, Strength, and Sunsets
      • New Days Brings New Strength
      • Rejuvenate Your Strength in Hope
      • Strength Overtakes Failure
      • Strength Has Power Over Shaken
      • Strength Through Tears
      • Your Battle Will Be Won With Strength and Courage
      • Your Strength Is Your Beauty
      • Welcoming Tuesday With Strength
      • Whether You Are Weak or Strong Strength Comes From Above
  • Life
    • Decorating Tips
      • Fall and Christmas Tiers
      • Decorating A Winter Three Tier Platter
      • Small Kitchen Decorating Ideas
    • Organization Tips
    • Life Hacks
    • Organizing Christmas Chaos
    • Life Management

Tag: Recipe

Comfort, Comfort Food, Discouraged, Easy Recipe, Home, Meal, Recipes, Soup, Supper Ideas

Potato Soup For The Soul

Are you looking for a supper idea? Are you in need of some comfort food on a cold winters night? Try this wonderful soup. It is a recipe I received from my sweet German friend when we lived in Germany for three years. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture when I made it yesterday, … Continue reading Potato Soup For The Soul

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December 20, 2017Comfort Food, Easy Recipes, Home, Potato Soup, Recipe, Soup
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Comfort, Easy Recipe, Fudge and Candy, Organization

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

25 Day Christmas Countdown Day 18 Here is a super easy but yummy idea to make for a platter or give away desserts. Chocolate Covered pretzels Ingredients 1 bag do any shaped pretzels Dark Chocolate Bark White Chocolate Bark Directions Melt your dark chocolate, melt half of the white chocolate in a microwave oven, then … Continue reading Chocolate Covered Pretzels

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December 19, 201725 Day Christmas Day Count Down, ChocolateCovered Pretzels, Christmas, Holiday, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Journey, Recipes

Cake Box Cookies

25 Day Christmas Count Down Day 15 December 15, 2017 Ingredients1 box cake mix of your choice 2 eggs 1/4 c water 1/3 c oil DirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients together. Place scoops on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 mins. Cool on a cooling wire rack.

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December 15, 201725 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipe, Recipes
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Easy Recipe, Fudge and Candy, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Dark Chocolate Fudge

25 Day of Christmas Countdown Day 12 This is a recipe I use every time I need fudge. I mostly make it at Christmas, but if I was to need a fudge recipe at some point during the year, this is the one I use. Avoid making this recipe on a wet and humid day. … Continue reading Dark Chocolate Fudge

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December 12, 2017December 12, 201725 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Easy, Fudge, Holiday, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Easy Recipe, Fudge and Candy, Holiday, Recipes

Christmas Mints

25 Days of Christmas Countdown Day 10 December 10, 2017 This is a recipe my mom used when I was growing up. She loved it for its simplicity. I hope you enjoy it as well. This makes 3 dozen 1-inch mints Ingredients 1 (3oz) package softened cream cheese 1/2 tsp peppermint extract 3 c sifted … Continue reading Christmas Mints

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December 10, 2017December 9, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Candy, Christmas, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Simple Pumpkin Pie Bars

25 Christmas Countdown Recipes Day 7 December 7, 2017 Are looking for a holiday dessert to share with your family?  This is a wonderful and light dessert to serve after a supper. Ingredients Crust Ingredients 1 1/3 c unbleached white flour 1/2 c brown sugar 8 tbsp butter (softened) 3/4 c chopped pecans (optional) Filling … Continue reading Simple Pumpkin Pie Bars

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December 7, 2017December 7, 201725 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Home, Pumpkin, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Decorating, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Recipes, Trials

Frosting To Create Your Masterpiece

Mom’s Frosting Day 6 December 6, 2017 Are you looking for a frosting that will bring your gingerbread men alive or make your sugar cookies works of arts? How about those Christmas cupcakes or that gingerbread house, this frosting will bring all of these creative pieces together. This is a recipe you can make in … Continue reading Frosting To Create Your Masterpiece

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December 6, 2017December 7, 201725 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Holiday, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Holiday, Home, Recipes

25 Days of Christmas Desserts

Gingerbread Men December 5, 2017 I used this recipe yesterday to make my little guys. This recipe is passed the taste test of my family and my husband's coworkers. They are soft and absolutely flavorful. Here is the link to the online recipe I used,  Eileens Spicy Gingerbread Men Happy Baking! Ingredients 1/2 c margarine … Continue reading 25 Days of Christmas Desserts

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December 5, 2017December 7, 201725 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Christmas, Cookies, Holiday, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Holiday, Home, Recipes

25 Days of Christmas Desserts

Mini Apple Pie Bites December 4, 2015 Ingredients 1 can crescent rolls 1 apple of your choice 1/2 c white sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1 egg yolk (egg wash)   Directions Preheat oven to 375* degrees. Mix sugar and cinnamon together. Peel, core, and slice apple into tiny slices On a lightly floured surface roll … Continue reading 25 Days of Christmas Desserts

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December 4, 2017December 7, 201725 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Christmas, Holiday, Home, Recipe
Cooking, Home, Meal, Recipes, Supper Ideas

Pull Apart Pizza Bread

Do You Need Sunday Lunch or Supper Idea Try Pull Apart Pizza Bread Make Pizza Dough 1 1/2 c warm water 1/8 c olive oil 1/2 Tbsp honey 1/2 tsp salt 1 Tbsp yeast   While you wait for dough to rise, prepare your toppings. Toppings I used... diced green peppers diced Roma tomorrows diced … Continue reading Pull Apart Pizza Bread

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December 3, 2017December 3, 2017Cooking, Easy Recipe, Meal, Pizza, Recipe, Supper

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About Me

Heidi Benson

Heidi Benson

I am a wife, mom, and daughter. I served in the United States Army, went to college, received a Batchelor's Degree in Criminology, homeschooled my daughter every year from start to finish, started working at a Christian school after being out of work for 20 plus years while I raised my daughter and now I am currently a volunteer assistant to the director at our local hospital. I married my husband when he was in the United States Army so I have the unique knowledge of what it is like to be on both sides of a Military uniform. While we were stationed in Germany, my daughter, who is 27 years old now, was born and I made the difficult decision to put my career on hold to be her mom. The past 25 years have been wrought with many struggles, but as a result of those struggles, this blog was created. As the years passed and the struggle kept coming, I would say, "I'm not sure why we have to go through all of this, but if we have to then it is my desire to allow my story to serve as a means of encouragement to others so all this pain isn't for nothing." The years passed and the struggles did not. However, I feel now is the time God wants me to share these stories of hardships with the hopes they provide encouragement to you if you are struggling in the same way. It is my prayer they will serve as a healing opportunity for you. I want you to know you are not alone. There are others who know where you are and what you are feeling. Cling to the hope this won't last forever and that God is standing beside you while He holds you up and dries your tears. He is showing you the way, you just need to follow Him. Big Hugs, Heidi

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You are…”enough.” Ps 139:14 NKJV

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Are you looking for and encouraging and inspirational online church service?

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Heidi :) @homelifeandencouragement.com

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