The June Digest

Welcome to the monthly round-up at The Open Door. Here I share fun things, recommendations and helpful links.

Dear Sisters,

I hope this newsletter finds you…
on vacation,
sporting fresh freckles,
tired from an “all-in” morning with your kids (and without your phone),
sipping on homemade iced tea,
eager to get back to a page-turner,
showered with your feet up after a day of camp-counsellor mom-mode,
rubbing your husband’s neck while you sit close,
praying over your kids once you close the computer,
trusting in Jesus,
remembering the Gospel anew,
hungry for the Word,
and loving your local church.

May this month’s newsletter bring you joy. Be encouraged to glean what’s helpful and then spurred on to live ordinarily, faithfully and unglamorously for the Lord.

Ever Warmly,
Olivia

• I made this pasta salad yesterday and will 100% make it again.

• Friends recommend good podcasts to friends: start here or here.

• The Journeywomen podcast is my go-to recommendation for new or mature believers.

• As a reminder: wear your sunscreen every day, sisters. Drugstore quality is my go-to! I’m using Olay because my sister gave it to me.

• Here are thoughts on why some women always look good. Justine is just so classy. I love getting fashion advice from her.

• A very random but fun quiz for book lovers. Jordan and I did it together. I won.

• I thought I was of the mind that you shouldn’t buy bags for shopping, but I can’t live with these collapsible bags for day-to-day runs and, of course.

• Boat-and-totes are my ride or die for everything else. Kate Strickler has an awesome tutorial on deciding which size, handle size and brand to get here.

• Speaking of…Kate gave a great tip to wear your weighted vest for normal exercises like planks, lunges, squats as added weight. Done.

A man without self control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25:28

Here I’ve curated a short list of resources for Christian mom’s struggling with anger, overwhelm and more.

• My former destructive anger-coach, Natalie. Registration closes and the program launches July 13 (there are a few spots left!). If you are at a total loss as to how to overcome the destructive anger in your life, I cannot recommend her program for Christian moms enough. By God’s grace, it changed my life.

  I recently ran into a friend who said she took Natalie’s course and would recommend it to anyone, even moms who don’t struggle with anger. She walked away having gained lifelong tools to pursue a godly life in marriage, motherhood and with her extended family. I couldn’t agree more!

• This podcast is new to me and comes by recommendation of a trusted friend. I loved this episode on being constantly triggered and how to respond without overreacting or shutting down. As always, take the meat and leave the bones.

• Looking for a short devotional on the topics of humility, gentleness or anger? Here are three: From Pride to Humility, Untriggered (I haven’t read this but saw it at the TGCW conference—Moody is a trusted publisher and Amber Lia has great resources for moms), and Everyday Prayers for Gentleness.

• I thoroughly enjoyed these audiobooks—recommendations I got from trusted friends. Warning: they can be heavy at times. If you’re working through family-of-origin patterns and forgiveness, these two are very impactful. Listen with discernment; everyone’s story will differ and sometimes we need that reminder.

  • Here Be Dragons by Melanie Shankle

  • All My Knotted Up Life by Beth Moore (this book will stay with me forever. Sweet, Beth)

• Minimalism is one of my top “low hanging fruit” to minimize overwhelm and chaos in the home. Simply put, so far as you are able, live with less. Here are a few of my go-to tips:

  • Choose your sentimental categories of what you want to hold on to. For example I’m sentimental about art, books and a select few baby clothes and toys. I can easily donate or purge the other categories because I’m not hanging on to them as much as I would if they were sentimental.

  • Come up with arbitrary boundaries that work for your home. For example, in our home we only keep as much candy as fits in a small container. If it overflows, I pitch it. Same with herbal tea: if it doesn’t fit in the designated tea box, we have more than we need. This is a great minimalist hack for categories that can easily get out of hand like make-up, medicine, tea, toys, craft supplies, etc.

  • Be careful, but ruthless. I can only remember one item I regret donating. ONE! It was a cookbook I actually love and used. Silly me! I must have been in one of those alternate reality declutter modes.

It would be through Instacart. Even with service fees and a small tip, is dynamite for the season of life. The amount I save in time and impulse purchases is worth the investment.

I would get the large bottle of Caesar dressing for dip, salad dressing and the easiest dinner:

Cover chicken breasts with Caesar dressing and bake until cooked through (about 30 minutes at 400 and just watch it). Top with top with bacon or ham and cheese to melt five minutes before taking out of the oven.

I would get one or two easy freezer go-to’s like wontons, Pinty’s breaded chicken, pierogis, or frozen pizza.

Edamame would be our frozen vegetable of choice. Prepared this way.

Pork Tenderloin for an easy weeknight meal using this recipe:

Professional Counselling & Coaching

• If you are already seeking counsel from family and church family and still regularly asking the question “Do I need professional counselling…?, it may be time to look in to getting the help you need. I’m a huge advocate for Biblical, Christian counselling and just love the work of Anchored Virtual—a biblically based, clinically informed Christian counselling practice. Use code ANCHOREDMOM20 for 20% off.

• If you are feeling tapped in chronic sinful anger, here is one more plug to prayerfully consider joining Natalie in her summer Motherhood Restored program starting July 13. Personally, I would invest the time and finances into this program fives times over for what I gained through it.

Parenting

• Three cheers for the Raising Capable Kids Guide and Toolkit. If it’s like pulling teeth to get kids to help with chores—or you just need some help in this area—this resource is for you, friend. Susan’s experienced and user-friendly approach shines throughout this resource. Grab yours here. A wise investment for a proactive summer!

• As of July 1st, the Confident Mom Planner will be 50%! A great chance to try it out or delegate tasks amongst family members for the summer and beyond. Grab yours here!

Literacy

• Sherwood Audio will be our audiobook soundtrack for every summer road trip. The Campground Kids series is an absolute favourite in our home —worth the annual subscription alone, IMO. Use code Olivia10 for 10% off!

  

Disclosure: some links and codes are affiliate.