Soup, Sweaters + Something Special for You
A gentle reminder that God’s goodness shows up in every season — even in soup and small gifts.
Enjoying Beauty Again
In the fall of 2013, I wanted nothing to do with fall. I had lost my husband to cancer on September 7th, and when the leaves started to change and a twinge of joy wanted to release, I immediately suppressed it.
The grief had such a tight hold on me that I couldn’t even fathom feeling joy amidst my sorrow. I felt guilty for any feeling of happiness or recognizing any sort of beauty.
Now, here I am 12 years later, staring out my window at a bright, yellow tree and I am able to fully enjoy the beauty. The healing that God has brought is miraculous.
I have learned that I can hold joy AND sorrow in the same space.
Now, when I drive down the street and take in the stunning colors, enjoy a hot bowl of soup or put on a bulky sweater, it is a beautiful reminder of the healing that God has brought into my life on so many levels.
Here are a few of my favorite
fall things!
Creamy-Chunky Wild Rice Vegetable Soup
Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1/2 onion, chopped (optional but recommended)
• 2–3 carrots, sliced
• 2–3 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 head cauliflower, chopped into small florets
• 1 cup asparagus, chopped into 1-inch pieces
• 3/4 cup wild rice, rinsed
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning or half of a fresh fennel
• Salt & pepper to taste
To Make It Creamy:
• 1 cup soup (with cauliflower, broth, carrots, etc.)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened plant milk or 1/2 cup cream/half-and-half
⸻
Instructions:
1. Sauté base veggies:
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until starting to soften.
2. Add mushrooms, cauliflower, garlic, and herbs:
Stir in and cook another 4–5 minutes.
3. Add broth and rice:
Pour in broth and wild rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 40–45 minutes until rice is tender. Stir occasionally.
4. Add asparagus (last 10 min):
Stir in asparagus during the final 10 minutes so it stays bright and crisp-tender.
5. Make it creamy – but keep it chunky:
• Use a ladle to scoop out about 1 to 1.5 cups of soup, making sure to get plenty of cauliflower and broth.
• Blend until smooth with:
• 1/2 cup cream or plant milk (like oat or almond).
• Return the creamy mixture to the pot and stir well.
6. Final touch:
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a squeeze of lemon juice if you’d like a fresh lift. Optional: garnish with parsley or a swirl of cream.
I found this cute cardigan at Costco today
and I can’t wait to wear it all season!
I tried to find a link but you know Costco…you’ll just have to go find it for yourself!
-AND NOW-
I have something SUPER fun for you all!
I’ve teamed up with some amazing friends who want to bless other women in this season:
We’re giving away three incredible prizes to three lucky ladies.
Grand Prize: A $160 Amazon Gift Card
Hope Bundle: $100+ value
Joy Bundle: $100+ value
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE: https://kingsumo.com/g/3l556p1/2025-fall-giveaway
WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES?
You can earn additional entries! Here’s how:
Enter daily 10/6 - 10/10 for more entries
Follow, like and subscribe to our resources for more entries
Please share with your friends who need to know about this amazing giveaway!
Thank you so much for entering! We can’t wait to announce the winners.
---------------------------------------
IMPORTANT DETAILS/OFFICIAL RULES:
The Fall Giveaway runs October 6th through October 10th at midnight Pacific Time. By entering the giveaway, you consent to receive emails from each giveaway contributor as part of her email list.
PLEASE DON’T MARK THESE EMAILS AS SPAM: It truly does negatively affect each ministry to have their emails marked as spam--instead, please simply and kindly unsubscribe!
You can unsubscribe at any time. Winners will be randomly selected through KingSumo on October 11th and will be notified within 48 hours.
You must be 18 or older to participate. The giveaway is open to United States residents only. No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited.
This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Meta, Facebook or Instagram. Participants release Meta, Facebook and Instagram of administration of the giveaway.
You can read my entire story in my book:
A Hard Journey to the Good
