Month: May 2018

The Gift

/ The WheatandTares

You came in without warning. You stole my heart and promised we’d be forever. Our days together were sweet, thrilling and unforgettable. We learned to love, to endure and to persevere with one heartbeat.

We didn’t just survive the storms. We learned to thrive and to conquer. They shouted, “Dreamers!” They mocked, “Too good for truth!” We grasped hands and promised to squelch their sneers and scoffing.

The years came like a blur. Children, diplomas, anniversaries and goodbyes. It was a fairy tale others dreamt to have. We were fighting the odds and winning with a high score.

The squall rolled in without alarm. We trusted what had been would always be. We held our hearts in our hands and exchanged the promise once more. For we knew this is not the end.

What will be will always be.

Penned – MG – 5/31/18

*I did not make, nor do I possess any rights to this video. Simply shared from YouTube.

Tuesday’s Treats #122

/ The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

Culinary Studio Kryva Lypa

Location: Lviv, Ukraine

This place is absolutely the coolest, and the food is amazing! If you are in Lviv, you’ve got to find it, and to find it, you might have to search just a little bit. It’s “hidden away” in one of their many courtyards off from the Main Street, and you have to walk through a little “tunnel,” of sorts to get there. However, it’s not crazy difficult. I just put the address in my gps, and paid attention to my surroundings and found it easy enough. When you go through the “tunnel,” there will be a lounge that looks to be underground (I’m sorry. I do not remember the name, but it’s cool looking with it’s lights and entrance.), and there’s an ice cream shop on the right before you walk out of the tunnel. Then, it opens up to the great big courtyard with lots of restaurants, one of which is Lviv Croissants. That’s supposed to be crazy good and popular; so, maybe these directions will help you find your way. It’s well worth the search!

The atmosphere is amazing, and the staff is gracious, even to Americans who don’t speak a lick of Ukrainian! It’s not a very big place, but there’s plenty of room for moderate size parties, and it’s got so much character packed into such a smaller venue.

The food was absolutely amazing. We started with the cheese plate. It had 3 different types of cheese, grapes, and we had them bring us a basket of bread with it. Yum!

For our meal, we ordered the salmon filet, beef filet and homestyle fried potatoes. Both of these are in pictures on the menu, which they do have in English, if you need it. I was a little hesitant of the blueberry sauce they use on the beef, but no worries needed; it was absolutely delicious and so tender! I’m not sure exactly what the starch was on the side, maybe quinoa, but it wasn’t as grainy. It tasted pretty good with the blueberry sauce. My husband said the salmon was some of the best he’s ever had, and those potatoes were to die for!! We got cappuccinos at the end, and that was scrumptious as well. This will definitely be on our repeat list for our return visits to Lviv!

Here’s their website for menu and location information. At the top, you can choose several different languages for translations. 😉

Be the Storm

/ The WheatandTares

Reposting for a friend today. Stand tall. Fight the good fight. Win. 💗

the grizzle grist mill

Sometimes, when you’ve done all to stand, you’ve just got to retain your ground and fight once more. Dig in and pay the retribution upon the enemy’s head. Don’t give up now. Don’t give in. You’ve come too far to quit!

Turn the tables on him. Be the whirlwind. Become the storm he thinks he has brought into your life. Bow up and don’t turn back until he is defeated!

Trust me. He won’t give up till he thinks he has won…or knows you have instead. So, pick up that sword of the Spirit and that shield of Faith one more time. Square your shoulders and hold your head up high. Fight like there’s no tomorrow.

You can do this thing! Now, WIN!


“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

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Dream BIG!

/ The WheatandTares

Dream. Dream Big. Dream endlessly. Dream for your family. Dream for your children. Dream for you!

the grizzle grist mill

If you’re going to dream, by all means, dream BIG! Go for broke! Don’t settle for second best, for what is just simply good and practical. Dream the big stuff! Dream the impossible! Dream the unfathomable!

Now, does that mean all those dreams will come true? Does this mean you must hold out for that dream until the day you die? Does it mean everything you dream must come to pass in order for you to have a happy, fulfilled life? Can I answer honestly here? NO, NO, and NO! Just because you dream big doesn’t mean each and every one has to become reality, and just because it’s a great big dream that doesn’t come to pass doesn’t mean it’s the end of your happy and meaningful life.

Sometimes, we can get so fixated on a dream that we miss the real stuff that is right before us. I’ve seen parents…

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Your Wake of Tears

/ The WheatandTares

Truth will set you free. Hope you will learn to walk in freedom today.

the grizzle grist mill

Your words constantly tumble out, as if no one truly understands.

Your mouth moves methodically,never caring where the next victim lands.

Your phrases spin detailed webs to catch your prey and bleed.

It is like a blood-letting, all believe the lies you cast are exactly what they need.
When will you see the tragic damage your envy has brought?

What destruction has your venomous language been wrought?

Why do you persuade and manipulate, claiming all the time it’s not yours still?

Who will be the next one on the list as you close in for the kill?

For an endless time, my eyes have witnessed this harm, the anger your ambition brings.

I can no longer remain within the vicinity of your grasp and strings.

I am leaving your wake of tears for I have shed too many to regain.

It is in wisdom and grace and love and peace…

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Tuesday’s Treats #121

/ The WheatandTares / 3 Comments

Lviv Handmade Chocolate

Location: various locations Ukraine

The above pics are from the location in Rivne. It is a pretty small cafe, and there’s not as many “shelf” selections as others I have been in, but it’s very cute, and the menu items are more than some of the other locations.

The cafe in Lviv is the absolute coolest place!! When we walked in, it appeared to be a tiny cafe, but we went up the stairs and kept going, and kept going, and kept going! We went up five stories! We ended up in, what I would describe as the attic. It was amazing!!

They even have a Kids Center on the fourth floor where your kids can play while you drink your coffee, and the restrooms with a changing table are right there, too.

Don’t try to go out the Exit! It will beep at you!! …at least, that’s what a friend of mine said. Lol! 😂

Ok, now that I’ve given you a ton of pictures and described to you the amazing place, let me tell you about the amazing drinks and chocolates you can get.

My personal favorite is the white chocolate latte. It is so delicious! A friend of mine got the milk chocolate latte, and several friends have gotten the melted chocolate cup with fruit (See the picture above with bananas in chocolate). This seems to be a real popular choice among Ukrainians. Another drink that I’ve tasted, but have yet to order for myself (because I’m always getting coffee!), is the ginger tea (See pic). This drink is made with ginger, cinnamon, orange slices, lemon slices, and mint, and it’s served with a little bowl of honey. This drink is amazing. It has an actual healing quality to it, which makes perfect sense if you were to read any article on natural healing remedies. They always include cinnamon, lemon, honey and orange.

They have a plethora of other drink options, and that doesn’t even begin to skim the surface of the chocolate varieties. There’s decorative chocolatier items like lollipops and teddy bears, solid blocks of chocolate, truffles, chocolate with marzipan, nuts, fruits, and all kinds from which to choose. Some of our favorites are the white chocolate coconut, the dark chocolate solids, the white chocolate with pistachio nuts, the chocolate square with a coffee bean on top (tastes like hazelnut chocolate inside), and the white veil, which is chocolate dipped in white chocolate.

They also have different Lviv coffees for sale, as well as, a ton of gifts and novelties. The assortment can almost be mind-boggling but all together wonderful to behold! If you find one of these cafes, be sure to drop by and have a cup of “kaba,” and if you’ve already been to one, don’t think you can just skip another. Each one is unique with it’s own character and design. Each one is worth the time to stop.

Here is their website to find all the locations and various items.

No More

/ The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

You always come when I’m feeling fine

You come haunting, taunting, pushing the line

You always come when I’m feeling down

You come accusing, assaulting, screaming until I’m bound

I’ve listened to your guile, your awful protests misaligned

I’ve received your vicious hatred and allowed it to confine

I’ve been consumed by this overwhelming, nagging fear

I’ve stood paralyzed and dejected, feeling you ever near

Yet, today, I’ve had enough. I am done.

No more will you ridicule, insult and spew lies like a gun

No more will you have control of my feelings, emotions and thoughts

I am vanquishing you for my price has already been bought.

You have no more authority. I suggest you now leave.

If you try to remain, your dignity will be relieved

I am free from your bondage. Looking back will not be my game.

I am released from my captivity. Going forward, I have a new name.

Penned – MG – 5/19/18

You. Are. Enough.

/ The WheatandTares

You. Are. Enough. … reposting in hopes that it brings encouragement to someone today. 💗

This Wifestyle

pexels-photo-247314.jpeg

It was past midnight and the orange hue of the campus street lights were glaring through the rain on the car windows. My boyfriend and I were parked outside my dorm and tears were running down my face as I wrestled with a feeling that was as familiar as on old friend.

Anxiety.

It had ruined our evening, so Tyler decided to take me on a drive so I could sort through my thoughts.

I was stressed.

Worried that I was going to fail.

Worried that I was going to let people down. 

Worried that I wasn’t good enough. 

Smart enough.

Capable enough. 

Usually I was always able to work through it. Push through it. But that day it had wrecked me. Tyler was listening to me, offering advice for ways I could cope with the stressful tasks ahead of me. Although it was sweet and helpful, it didn’t resonate…

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Say it with me… “NO.”

/ The WheatandTares / 8 Comments

Boundaries are made to keep you healthy. Boundaries are given to keep toxicity out. Boundaries are taken from those who never set them. Boundaries are best when set, supported and reinforced.

Sometimes, we are living a life that is tiresome, weary and chaotic, because we continue to allow others to ignore the boundaries we’d like to have but never really put into place. Sometimes, our hearts are in utter turmoil, because we continue to complain about our conditions of relationship but never take steps to change them.

Boundaries are needed for peace to be found. Boundaries are necessary for joy to be restored. Boundaries are essential for sanity to be maintained.

How strong are your boundaries?

Best View

/ The WheatandTares

Are you struggling to climb today? Don’t stop. You can do this hard thing! The view is amazing! 😉

Romans 5:3-5, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”