• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Lauren Gaskill

Encouraging women to live in faith and joy

  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Book
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Speaking
    • Events

Food

Thoughts on Fairness {+ Lemon Bars}

August 15, 2016 • 24 Comments

Truth: Fair is an illusion and life is weird.

its-not-fair-book3

I wish I could take credit for coming up with that eloquent and clever sentence, but the credit goes to my friend, Melanie Dale, who is one day away from releasing her second book It’s Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn’t Choose.

If you tune in to the Finding Joy podcast you may have already heard about the book from my episode with Melanie. If not, that’s OK! Because today we’re going to talk all about it (and paleo lemon bars, of course).

Truth: Fair is an illusion and life is weird.

Click To Tweet

Paleo Lemon Bars

Melanie’s book couldn’t have arrived at a better point in my life. We all have moments where we feel like life’s not fair, and two weeks after the book launch package arrived at my front door, I entered my own it’s-not-fair season (INFS). This is not the first INFS I’ve ever had — just the most recent. But the fact that I’ve gone through several messy life experiences doesn’t make this one any easier.

Last week I found out that the digestive problems I’ve been dealing with since January could have been diagnosed back in April when I had a SIBO test done … but someone read the report wrong. You’ve got to be kidding me. I thought to myself as I sat on the phone with my gastroenterologist’s nurse. The saddest thing about all of this? Had I not called the office to have someone go through every page of my file (it was that or wait two months for another appointment) I may have never discovered this and continued to feel like a blimp for the rest of my life.Read More

Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Pudding Brownie Bites

April 4, 2016 • 17 Comments

Calling all chocolate lovers! These Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Pudding Brownie Bites come together in less than 10 minutes — so what are you waiting for? Treat yo self.

Avocado Peanut Butter Chocolate Pudding Brownie Bites

Aloha from the crystal blue waters of Exuma, Bahamas! Mr. Making Life Sweet and I are currently on a week-long vacation with his mom, brother, sister and gramma, so if you notice I’m not as active on social media or other blogs this week, that’s why. With this being our first vacation in a year-and-a-half, it’s definitely time for this lady to take a break, dig her toes in the sand and float in the ocean while sipping a piña colada.

There’s a part of me that longs to just pack my bags and move to tropical waters. I have and always will be a water and a beach girl. Where there is water and sand, I thrive. I think that’s one of the reasons why I loved our first home in Minnesota so much, because there is water everywhere in that state. You can’t go for a drive without running into a creek, stream, river, waterfall, pond or lake.

Avocado Peanut Butter Chocolate Pudding Brownie Bites

Mr. Making Life Sweet and I joke about moving to an island all the time. “I could write for the tourism magazines and open up a bakery and you could sell boat rentals,” I say to him. Though he agrees this plan is not a half-bad idea, I don’t think that will be happening for a long time — if we’re lucky, maybe when we are old and grey.

Before hopping on a plane to get to the Caribbean I was testing out recipes for these pudding brownie bites that are here on the blog today. You might think putting pudding (see what I did there? :P) on top of a brownie might be weird, but think again — it’s actually quite delicious and even more decadent than frosting in my opinion!

pudding-brownie-bites-4

I was inspired to mix pudding with brownie bites after stumbling across this Chocolate Avocado Peanut Butter Pudding recipe from the Realistic Nutritionist. In her recipe for the pudding, she crumbles brownie on top, and it got me thinking: What if it were the other way around? What if you wrapped chocolatey brownie goodness around pudding?

I was hesitant to share this recipe with all of you because I know it might seem a little different, but I hope you’ll expand your horizons and give them a taste. The best part about this recipe — other than the fact that it comes together in less than 10 minutes — is that in the end you have leftover pudding! Did I mention the pudding is ultra good for you, too? I believe dessert is all about balance, and to me pairing soft brownies with a healthy, chunky pudding just feels right. Don’t you think?

pudding-brownie-bites-5Read More

Raspberry Ice Cream Cake with Brownie Crust {Gluten Free}

February 4, 2016 • 43 Comments

This Raspberry Ice Cream Cake with Brownie Crust is dairy-free and made with full-fat coconut milk and raspberries. It’s truly the ultimate, good-for-you dessert and perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Raspberry Ice Cream Cake with Brownie Crust {gluten free}

What makes your heart beat a little faster? Is it a kiss from your sweetie? A night all to yourself? A vacation sunrise? A warm bubble bath? The sound of dinner cooking on the stove? The promise of dessert after a not-so-sweet day? If you’re like me, all of the above makes your heart race with happiness. Particularly when it comes to the last one — dessert.

If you know me well you know I have an insatiable sweet tooth. I’ve tamed it to a point where I stick to mostly naturally sweetened desserts and dark chocolate, but Lord knows I can’t go a day without either.

Raspberry Ice Cream Cake with Brownie Crust {gluten free}

I have a saying, “life’s too short to be rude,” and I also believe life’s too short not to enjoy dessert, especially if it’s made with wholesome ingredients, like this Raspberry Ice Cream Cake. I’m not going to lie … I was a little nervous about how this was going to turn out. I’ve never made an ice cream cake before, let alone a dairy-free ice cream cake. But I challenged myself to make this along with Monday’s Beet Pesto Heart Pizza for Valentine’s Day this year, and I’m so glad I did.

My favorite part about this cake is by far the brownie crust. As if you needed another reason to enjoy brownies … imagine enjoying them with a pile of coconut raspberry goodness sitting on top. I know, I’m drooling too. 🙂Read More

Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

November 2, 2015 • 56 Comments

You only need four ingredients to make these naturally-sweetened, homemade Reese’s peanut butter cups! Dark chocolate + coconut oil + peanut butter + honey = pure deliciousness.

Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

When you think about the things that make your life sweeter — the things that make life even more worth living — what comes to mind? If you’re a believer, I’m sure one of the first things that popped into your mind was having a personal relationship with Jesus. Having someone who loves you enough to leave his throne, die for you and rescue you — It just doesn’t get any sweeter than that does it?

My faith is the sweetest aspect of my life. It’s the reason why I get up in the morning. It’s the reason why I do what I do. It’s the reason I am able to say “It is well with my soul,” even though I am battling chronic pain and illness. Second to faith is my relationship with my husband, family and friends, and now this little guy …

Reese Gaskill - Our Peanut Butter Cup

reeses-8-for-web

Ladies and gentlemen meet the newest member of the Gaskill family — Reese, our little peanut butter cup! We adopted this beautiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel this weekend and he has already been making our lives sweeter and lighting the days and nights up with joy.

Sure he is only halfway potty trained and has had his share of accidents this past weekend, but we’re learning, loving, playing and laughing together. It has been a beautiful adventure.

reese1

IMG_1334

reeses-10-for-webRead More

Pumpkin Dirt Pudding Cups

October 19, 2015 • 31 Comments

When given the choice between trick or treat, there is always a clear winner.

Pumpkin Dirt Pudding | MakingLifeSweet.com

Show me the treats and no one gets hurt. Chocolate, cake, pudding, ice cream, brownies — I don’t care what the treat is, as long as it’s sweet. And when it comes to Halloween it better be spooky, too!

Growing up my family didn’t celebrate Halloween, but now that I am married, the Mr. and I go all out for this spooktacular holiday. We still haven’t decided what costumes we will wear to hand out candy (suggestions anyone?), but we’ve already tested out tons of Halloween treats, including these Pumpkin Dirt Pudding Cups.

Pumpkin Dirt Pudding | MakingLifeSweet.com

What I love most about these dirt pudding cups is how natural and wholesome they are without sacrificing on taste. They are made using a homemade pumpkin pudding recipe that consists of five simple ingredients: pumpkin, coconut milk, coconut sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. That’s it! Read More

Paleo Blackberry Bars

August 24, 2015 • 24 Comments

A few years ago I spent a summer living on Bainbridge Island, Wash., where I was the editorial intern for YES! Magazine.

paleo blackberry bars

Many days were full of the stereotypical rain that you would expect out of living so close to Seattle. But as the locals say “when it’s sunny, it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth.” And I couldn’t agree more. Aside from the rain there was nothing not to like about Bainbridge. Chain businesses were restricted on the island and as a result a local community had flourished, giving the island a certain charm not afforded to most cities these days.

During my short three months on the island, I even became friends with one of the local shop owners, Lisa of Bon Bon Candies. Lisa inspired me because she had opened up her own fudge shop, against all odds. I cannot wait to return to Bainbridge someday so I can see her now upgraded storefront (congrats m’dear!).Read More

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Hi, dear friend! I'm so glad you're here. And though I wish we could be meeting face-to-face over coffee, I'm grateful for the chance to know you here. The community here inspires me, and I hope you feel like you belong while you're here. If you'd like to connect with me, please follow me on social media. I want to hear from you, so please reach out! And don't forget to sign up for my newsletter — you'll get access to special content and freebies.

Connect With Me

Subscribe for Weekly Inspirational Updates!

Into the Deep Book

Order Today!

Categories


Freezing some of these beauties @salesforce and @a Freezing some of these beauties @salesforce and @appexchange were so kind to give us so we can continue to enjoy them even after Baby G has arrived. I don’t talk about it much on here, but when God told me that @shefoundjoy would not be touring for awhile, I knew I’d need to find something more than the part-time work I’d previously been doing in addition to ministry.

That’s when a dear friend from college reached out to see if I’d be interested in something with Salesforce. My husband and I prayed about it and felt like God gave us the green light. So I went for it, and God provided big time. Initially, it was just supposed to be a part-time thing, but after a month, I was offered to come on as a full-time contractor. I can honestly say I never saw this job coming ... I never saw myself enjoying a role I never knew existed let alone enjoying work outside of ministry. But nearly one year into working with my team, my heart is full of gratitude that God led me in this direction for this season He has us in. I know I’ll be doing traveling ministry again someday, but in the meantime, I’m content with where God has me. And that’s a beautiful thing.

I share all of this to say, don’t turn down a potential opportunity from the Lord just because it doesn’t line up with what you thought it would look like. Provision and blessing often come in unexpected ways. God might ask you to take a job you think is completely unrelated to what you feel like He has called you to do. Don’t try to analyze it. Just listen for His voice, follow His leading, and obey what He tells you to do. You never know what He has in store ...
I have tried to be cognizant of how many pregnancy I have tried to be cognizant of how many pregnancy pictures I’ve posted during this season of our lives, as I know that it can be a sensitive subject for so many. Sometimes, I think it’s easy for us to look at someone’s seemingly perfect Instagram feed and feel like we’ve missed the boat or aren’t as blessed as they are. 

What I want to say about this is that we all need to start considering the bigger story of each one of our lives. We need to remember that no one’s life is 100 percent perfect all of the time. Trials are real. Warfare is real. Heartache is real. But so is hope. So is healing and restoration. And so is the testimony of Jesus. 

I remember when I was really sick, I didn’t want to hear testimonies of how people had been healed. It hurt my heart too much, because part of me believed I had somehow missed the boat. But then God woke me up and changed my heart. Even when things didn’t change in the natural, I started to celebrate breakthrough in other people’s lives and expect it for my own life. Because if God could do it for someone else, certainly He could and would do it for me. 

I share all of this to say, when we read about someone’s testimony or good news, we need to consider what might have led up to that good news being able to be shared. Consider that they, too, just like you, most likely have been through the fire a time or two. Consider all of the tears, prayers, or sleepless nights that may have preceded the testimony they are now able to share. And then celebrate. Celebrate the God who broke through for them and will break through for you. 

Rejoice, beloved. No matter what you’ve been through, there is wonderful joy ahead.
A few weeks ago, I felt the Lord nudging me to rec A few weeks ago, I felt the Lord nudging me to record a variety of journal entries, Bible verses, and prophetic words to play in my ear during labor (and the weeks leading up to it). As I listened to the recording this morning, two phrases stuck out to me the most: “determine to trust in His faithfulness,” and, “let go, surrender, and trust.”

I don’t know about you, but speaking those two phrases out loud just brings such faith, hope, and peace to my heart. 

Reminder: Even when man is faithless, God remains faithful. Determine to trust in His faithfulness today. You are not forgotten. You are seen and loved. And there is not a moment that He leaves your side. 

Let go, surrender, and trust that He will do exactly what the Promise Keeper has said He would do in your life. (Photo: @midwest_jess_)
Savoring all of the snuggles with this one before Savoring all of the snuggles with this one before his brother arrives. Reese has been our one and only fur baby for the past five-and-a-half years and while I know a significant chapter is closing, I am more excited for the one that is about to unfold. Love is about to be multiplied exponentially in our home and in our hearts. And I’m making room. 💜💛❤️💙🧡
In this season, God has been teaching me so much a In this season, God has been teaching me so much about the inheritance we have in Christ.

Do you know what is included in your inheritance in Christ? A shortlist from my time with the Lord pulled these keys words out: wholeness of body, soul, and spirit, healing, grace upon grace, redemption and forgiveness of sins, peace, love, joy, good gifts, freedom, righteousness, the Holy Spirit, a heavenly reward, blessings that overtake us, protection, deliverance, power and authority.

And on and on and on. But how do we receive and love in the reality of this inheritance? Read my latest blog for a few thoughts by clicking on the link in my profile. 🥰
A few months ago, I dreamed that the Father gave m A few months ago, I dreamed that the Father gave me a bracelet. 

As He held it out in front of me, I took a moment to behold the beauty of this priceless gift. And that’s when I noticed: This was no ordinary bracelet. Not only did one of the chains feature a glistening diamond, but both of the bracelet’s bands were interlocked by a golden connector that said “WORTHY” on it. And so, though the bands were two separate entities, the two became one because of this little connector.

The Father placed the bracelet in my hands and said, “my beloved, it’s yours.” And then I woke up. 

{Read the rest of my newest post: “God Has Made You Worthy to Receive a Glorious Inheritance” by clicking on the link in my profile, then “My Blog.”}
If creation sings Your praises so will I ... As I If creation sings Your praises so will I ... As I took a minute to sing to the Lord this morning, I thought about this picture my sister shared last month from @north. These polar stratospheric clouds in Iceland declare the faithfulness and promises of God unlike any painted sky I’ve ever seen.

If creation speaks of His goodness and greatness, how much more should we? Oh Father, may we be overcome with a desire to sing praise to Your Name for all You are, all You’ve done, and all You will do.
As Baby G’s due date draws near, this is how I w As Baby G’s due date draws near, this is how I want to remember this pregnancy and season of life. I want to remember that no matter the challenges I faced, I was embraced and cherished by the man and the God I love. I want to remember the countless ways God showed Himself faithful and reminded us of the promises He had made to us with a radical display of our own “rainbow signs.” I want to remember the way I surrendered to His perfect love and trusted in Him like never before.

Through faith and patience, we inherit His promises. This is what I know to be true and what I know I will continue to experience to be true. In every season, He is faithful. He is unchanging. In every season, He longs for us to encounter His loving embrace. This is what I want to remember most. Not just for this season but every season moving forward. Because His love is better than life. 

A lot has happened in the past year, and the new year is still unfolding, but my prayer for all of us here is more than the chaos, we would remember the Love that surrounds, steadies, strengthens and fills us. With His power, Word and love, we overcome. 💜🌈🥰
BACK TO TOP HomeContactSubscribeEvents
© Lauren Gaskill
Designed by Cocoa Creative
Developed by Earl Grey Creative