The At What Cost Blog: Christian Family Minimalism

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween!

12/10/2024

If you’d like some updates on our family and my trip to Nashville before the storm and a recap of our Hurricane Helene experience, how minimalism played a role, and some lessons we learned I’d love for you to check out the latest video!

Skye Peterson: https://youtube.com/?si=B6WnC9Nx0uQmLHXCA Few Writer Friends:Bethany Broderick: https://www.bethanybroderick.com/bookMichelle...

11/10/2024

Were we “stronger than the storm?” Head over to the YouTube channel and check out the update on how we survived Hurricane Helene as minimalist. And this shirt from .in.faith was a great reminder that our God has a plan and that He is the source of our strength!

05/10/2024

I have attempted to post an update here, but it’s apparently too long. Please head to the community tab on my YouTube channel for a full update on Day 8 after Hurricane Helene.

As we are getting more and more news about the other areas affected by this I am so saddened to hear of the devastation in the South East this has caused. May God comfort those who are suffering and mourning. He is the only comfort in life or death.

03/10/2024

Day Six: We are safe, we have food to eat, we see God moving in our community, and He is so so good. Today was a discouraging day. Our power restoration was moved from 10/5 to 10/7, (I initially thought 10/9 but double checked) and that’s hard. And don’t get me wrong, now that we have had some access to the outside world we are seeing that many more are in far worse shape then we are. I think the Central East side of Georgia got all the wind and NC got all the water. It’s devastating. I can not imagine the fear and sorrow so many are feeling and the loss they are experiencing. My intention is not to be insensitive so please hear my heart in this: the circumstances of others no matter how much better or worse than our own, doesn’t make our current circumstances any less discouraging. It’s frustrating to hang your children’s underwear on a line in the backyard or only have cell service two hours a day. It’s devastating to lose your entire home and loved ones in the blink of an eye. They are both hard and it’s okay for both circumstances to be hard.

I actually think recognizing our discouragement, regardless of the level of “hard” is an important part of turning to the Lord. Stuffing feelings of discouragement because some else has it worse may just be another form of self-reliance. Confess your discouragement to the Lord, ask for His peace, and go forth in faith knowing that you walk in God’s strength and not your own. Love your neighbor, share the gospel (use words if you have to,) and know that no matter how hard things are God is not only still on His throne, but He is in fact good. I’ve almost reached my cell service limit for the night, hope to chat with you again soon.

28/09/2024

No we do not live on a dirt road, this is a yard we had to pass through because the road to the left is completely impassable…Helene came through our town and although our home was spared, most of the neighborhoods around us were heavily damaged. No power, cell service is spotty, school canceled until at least Thursday, it’s going to be a long week, but God is so good!

23/09/2024

I have had a time of restoration and renewal in Nashville this weekend and I can’t wait to tell you more about it!

It ended with one of the best and most unexpected moments, listening to sing a song our group had sung for morning worship hours before we knew she would be singing the same song live in our temporary living room. And another I had listened to last night as I was decompressing and wrestling with longing for bigger things.

Only God can make moments like that happen and I am so grateful for them. A writer should be able to say this more eloquently, but I’m exhausted in the best way, so we’ll have to catch up in more detail soon.

18/09/2024

I’ll give you 3 guesses who is ready for sweatshirt season? Even if it’s only for like an hour in the early morning here in Georgia! 😆 .in.faith has become my go-to for faith based clothing and as a you’ll receive 10% off when you use the code MARYBETHM10. Link is in the bio!

09/09/2024

Two years ago gathered up a group of us for the Writing With Grace Mastermind and for a whole year a group of writers (some of us didn’t know if we actually were yet 😆) wrote, laughed, cried, and forged a friendship, dare I say sisterhood.

After the mastermind was over we decided to keep meeting and it has been an absolute blessing to me!

Over the past two years I’ve written articles for our churches Women’s Ministry, had a couple of articles published on the PCA Women’s Ministry Blog, I’ve ghost written, edited and published a short devotional, and I’m about 3/4 of the way through a book proposal. (Can I finish it this year? 🧐)

When little things like these show up, it is always at exactly the right time! It has been a challenging summer (one that started almost 3 years ago 😉) and today I needed the encouragement to keep writing and sharing the gospel in whatever platform God chooses to use.

09/09/2024

Do I know anyone who has used this Bible for their kiddos with dyslexia? If so, other than print size and the translation, what’s different and what are your thoughts?

30/08/2024

I was recently accused of using language that was too dramatic for Christians, specifically the phrase "dark night of the soul."

And although we don't get too many negative comments, from time to time someone is highly offended by what I've said, at least enough to leave a comment. And every now and then I get my feathers ruffled enough to give an official response, sparking the series "I Can Explain" where I attempt to well, explain.

So, on this episode of I Can Explain, can Christians experience a "dark night of the soul" and talk about it with others? Join me over on YouTube and let's chat about it.

Link is in the first comment!

30/08/2024

It’s happening friends! I’ve got another episode of “I Can Explain” coming later this afternoon…Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise. We’ve had a high creek kind of week, but I think we’ve at least got our paddle back. 😉 See ya soon over on the YouTubes!

24/08/2024

It’s below 70* here in Georgia in the morning and I can finally wear my Stronger than the Storm sweatshirt from .in.faith (even if it’s okay for an hour🤪) And of course, it’s time for dirty chai season! Little bit of a hot take…but I’m just not a fan of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but we can still be friends.

Love In Faith has become my go-to for faith based clothing and as a LiFPartner you’ll receive 10% off when you use the code MARYBETHM10. Link is in the bio!

21/08/2024

Trying to get a head start on teacher gifts this year. I’m usually a last minute kind of mom, but .in.faith has the cutest teacher shirts and I had to scoop one up while I was thinking about it! I paired it with this fun tumbler from a craft store and boom! Instant teacher gift! Love In Faith has become my go-to for faith based clothing and as a # you’ll receive 10% off when you use the code MARYBETHM10. Link is in the bio!

17/08/2024

I’ve been making some updates to my wardrobe through and it’s been great. Usually I want to show Brian all the fun pieces I’ve gotten, but today it was his turn. He got a few new shirts from Re*****on and so I’ve affectionately called it his “hickfix.” 😂

04/08/2024

17 years! Happy Anniversary to us!

02/08/2024