Rebecca LeVake 7/9/21 Rebecca LeVake 7/9/21

Me? An Artist?

I have defined myself in many ways over the years, including by what I was not. One of the things at the top of the “not” list?

I was not an artist.

Art was for confident people. For the creative, talented, and bold. Art was for those willing to take risks. I was not one of those people.

Or was I?…

Rebecca LeVake 6/28/21 Rebecca LeVake 6/28/21

Kale & Quinoa Salad

I usually consider cooking to be an art form, but the creation of this particular salad recipe was pure science! A big bowl of it makes a perfect summer lunch, or serve it as a delicious and nutritious side dish to something coming off the grill…

Rebecca LeVake 6/18/21 Rebecca LeVake 6/18/21

“The Raft” and the Wonder of Drawing Close

“When you draw something, you get closer to it and know it better.” - Jim LaMarche

Even before I put my colored pencils to paper, this statement, tucked in the foreword of The Raft by Jim LaMarche, resonated with me. It just made sense. It made so much sense in fact that I found myself buying notebooks and colored pencils and telling the kids we were going to “go outside and draw stuff.” As we thus stumbled into the world of nature journaling, I quickly realized that we had come upon a powerful study method that would indeed draw us closer to the wonders of God’s creation…

Rebecca LeVake 6/9/21 Rebecca LeVake 6/9/21

My Tree and My Kids: Journaling to Capture the Wonder and Growth of Both

This spring, I came across the “My Tree” nature journaling idea, and I jumped at the opportunity for us to celebrate the trees that withstood the winds of the derecho. Little did I know that a monthly check in with a tree would also serve as a reminder for me to stay on top of “My Kid” journaling efforts as well…

Rebecca LeVake 6/1/21 Rebecca LeVake 6/1/21

Wishtree: An Encouraging Story About a Tree (which those of us in Cedar Rapids could really use)

A skunk named Hotbutteredpopcorn, a opossum named Flashlight, a girl named Samar…these are just a few of the characters that surround Red, the strong old oak at the center of this story that had us laughing and “rooting” for friendship and kindness to win the day. After another season of derecho cleanup, we were more than ready for an encouraging story about a tree…

Rebecca LeVake 5/12/21 Rebecca LeVake 5/12/21

Fruit Pizza

I clearly remember the first time I experienced “potluck angst.” Andrew and I were newlyweds living in Boise, Idaho and I was asked to bring something to share at a baby shower brunch. This seemingly simple request weighed heavy on me as I faced one stressful decision after another…

Rebecca LeVake 4/6/21 Rebecca LeVake 4/6/21

Crispy Peanut Butter Bars

Things to love about these bars:

Easy to make and no bake. That means you can go from “let’s make these” to eating in no time flat.
If you eat them right away they can be gooey and gooey can be fun….

Rebecca LeVake 4/5/21 Rebecca LeVake 4/5/21

Why I Gave Something Up for Lent

Why did I give something up for lent? The answer is easy. Because I didn’t want to.

Rebecca LeVake 3/22/21 Rebecca LeVake 3/22/21

Chocolate Covered Grace

Picture this precious scene from five years ago; toddler-sized Bridger and Landon were sitting at the counter enjoying a warm, gooey treat. Each face was plastered with a big smile and a smear of chocolate.

When they were almost done, Landon looked at Bridger and said, very matter-of factly, “I have a messy face.”