Remove the Shame, Replace with a Name   “I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it…known only to the one who receives it.” – Revelation 2:17b   DISCLAIMER:  I originally wrote this back in 2022.  God’s used these last four years of continued healing and growth to…

Is making sugar cookies with the family, caroling at church or binge watching all the Hallmark movies your favorite Christmas tradition?  Or maybe it’s decorating the tree and wearing matching jammies! Wait wait wait, you can’t forget watching Elf and Miracle on 34th Street….awww there are so many! Christmas has become a season of traditions….

Rather LISTEN than read? Now you can – Click Below! Don’t miss the song at the end of the blog text below. Rut is a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change. Have you been there?  Or maybe currently there right now?  Me too. I’ve personally…

Baptism is an outward proclamation of an inward promise to make Jesus Christ your Lord AND Savior.

Do you feel stuck where God has you right now? As if you’re waiting for the next thing because you’re not moving forward?  What if…God has you RIGHT where you are for a reason.  Even in the midst of pain and suffering or simply at a standstill, there is a very specific purpose for where…

1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to…

LISTEN to Podcast here “…Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace…” Proverbs 3:17 Peace and Quiet. Awww…the dynamic duo every Mom dreams of! As I write these words, my three wildly creative kiddos are building a fort together. Most days, this attempt creates more chaos than concord, but today, I’m…

A question that I’ve been challenged by as we wrap up this year has been, ‘What is my new word for the upcoming year?’  For instance, what is word would I choose for myself to focus and strive for?  Some examples may be, focus, discipline, surrender, etc. As I began praying over the right word to…

That tattered old cardboard box, you know the one. Heaped with random treasures gathering dust on the top shelf in the back closet. On rare occasions curious eyes would see the scribbles ‘Lost & Found’ followed by inquiring hands that would peruse through the loot. Almost never being chosen for a new home, each item…

The ovens preheated timer chimes almost in unison with the coffee pots ‘last call for hot coffee’ beep. Meanwhile my toddler hollers for help building yet another castle, the 3rd of the day and it is only 9:24.   As I scramble from kitchen to toy room I’m reminded of the heaping pile of laundry earnestly…

One windy afternoon my kids asked to fly kites. I’ve only flown a kite ONCE in my entire life.  What could go wrong?  When I found the kites used the previous year, I wanted to toss them in the trash and start new.  The string was knotted on all three kites!  What started as a small…

It’s too Tough. Was my  thought as I approached my nemesis: the gate. It may seem silly or possibly sad that I have such a strong dislike for gates.But here is why. I am not farm strong. Simple tasks farmers do every day with ease I am beyond challenged by. Even attempting to tackle this awkwardly…

Anyone up for a change today? If so, Grab your Bibles or read here: Joshua 1 After Moses’ death, God called Joshua to lead the Israelite’s into the land God promised them. Let’s take a minute to process this. Moses. Kind of a big deal, right? He dies. What do you imagine is happening throughout the…

These three. Like a bunch of pigs just rolling around in the mud! So many giggles. So much mud!  Now, you may look at this picture and laugh. Possibly even wonder why I wasn’t joining in the fun! But there’s more to the story than meets the eye! And here is why. I battle anxiety….

We recently inherited a beautiful new member to our family. Maggie, an eight-year-old silver lab, also expecting puppies! We (the kids and myself) were overjoyed for this wonderful addition. My husband, however, knew there would be plenty of added work, but bless his heart, he gave us his blessing. The very first night, she wandered…

My mind goes what feels like a million miles a minute with little to no rest. It’s exhausting. I’m depleted. It’s overwhelming. I’m discouraged. And thus begins my day. I used to avoid acknowledging this was how my mind worked because it made me feel weak and worthless (and albeit a little crazy). So I…

When you go shopping for something new, you look for the most scratches, stains and blemishes, right?  No!  You try to find the newest, most appealing, and of course, best deal!  No one ever wants to buy something that is already broken.  Confession:  I am broken.  I’ve been broken for a long time. I avoided…

Listen to Podcast Here Everyone loves vacation! Visiting a new place, making lasting memories and experiencing unique opportunities – who wouldn’t love that? But I tell you what, getting to your destination can be one of the biggest hurdles. Especially when you know where you’re going and the anticipation is killing you! However, the moment…

Do you ever you find yourself eager to succeed but the ingenuity is missing? My youngest is 4 years younger than my oldest, but she still desires to do whatever he does! Her confidence is commendable but her ability is lacking. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve aspired to do more than I’m…

Are you getting bored with your normal cardio routines of running, jogging or walking? Do you enjoy dancing? Is music a crucial part of your fitness experience? Are you ready to turn up the heat? If so, I have just the thing for you! Zumba = Best Cardio Ever. Okay so that is my opinion!…

Many think you need to physically enter a gym to get a good workout – false! Exercise can be done anywhere and anytime! Sometimes it is fun to spice it up a bit! Along with fun new ways to spice up your physical fitness, it’s a smart idea to incorporate healthy new tricks too! It’s…

If I could have a soundtrack to reflect my moods, complement my seasons of life and reveal a deeper sense of who I am – whoa! Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing ever? Music has always been very important to me. Like it was rooted in my soul, running deep through my veins. But I…

Wind is howling, waves are crashing as the water begins to rise. Fiercely rocking you back and forth, back and forth. At any given moment, you could stumble overboard, enveloped by the raging storm. Hope seems lost. In my blog, “Peace, Be Still” we learned to be still and have peace in the midst of…

Let’s get thrifty today, shall we? Get pumped to find the best deals and to support your LOCAL neighbors/businesses! Who’s with me? Here are THREE THRIFTY TRICKS I’ve inherited from my Mom in order to reduce spending on upcoming events, holidays, parties, etc. Get excited! 1) Second-hand Sales! One mans junk is another mans treasure,…

Ding-dong! The door bell rang followed by the sound of giggles and the fast pattering of footsteps. As I made it to the door, I saw a basket. Overflowing with delicious goodies! My friend, already at the car, caught a glimpse of my overly excited response to this wonderful gift! May Day. The fabulous baskets…

I remember the jitters at Jr High track meets as you’d pace out your breathing walking to your mark, alongside your competitors. Over the loud speaker, you’d hear, “Runners to your marks. Get set.” BOOM! Then you’re off! Or you should be! Anyone left standing in the blocks with a dumbfounded look on their face?…

When I was a young child, I was scared spit-less of storms. When a dark cloud would roll over, I began to panic. Then the rain would fall, the wind began to howl and fear set in. I was defeated before the storm even hit. Life produces storms. And the fear of anticipation can paralyze…

Mommas, how many times have you found yourself, down on our knees, eye-level with your littles, reassuring them it’s going to be okay? Confidently saying, in a gentle tone, ‘Trust Mommy, I’ve got this!’ How did that make you feel? Being the one in charge, to those precious, helpless babes? And yet, they doubted or…

Anyone else love food? Like so much it would be your #1 love language if it were an option? No judgement here if you say yes! Because that’s been me! For as long as I can remember! And then I went and married a Food-Lover so we base pretty much everything we do around food….

Wednesdays are known as ‘Hump Day’ – celebrating your hurdle over the first part of the week – yay! But what about when all the days just blur together? It’s one big giant Clump Day! A friend shared with me the other day that her husband confessed that he felt he was living out the…

It never ceases to amaze me the timeliness of God! I was perusing through what my friend calls ‘my personal library’ and I came across my dusted up copy of ‘Voices of the Faithful‘ by Beth Moore and Kim P. Davis. (Sorry its dusted up Beth – please forgive me!) This amazing daily devotional is…

I’ve come to understand that life can be viewed through different lenses. Depends on your personality, gender, experiences, upbringing and so on. I’ve recently been seeing life through a whole new lens – farm life! Growing up, I lived in a small town, like under 600 people. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful…

Anyone else encompassed with a strong and barely controllable emotion, known as passion? My hand is waving frantically in the air. My Dad always told me I was very passionate. Gently, he advised me to be careful because what may be my greatest strong suit could also, become my biggest weakness. Whether you have a…

Relaxed in my usual upright position, hands clenching the wheel and the soft melody of uplifting music plays. As I glance in the rear view mirror at my three babes safely fastened in their seats, singing along. I can’t help but smile and appreciate these moments in, our happy place. Last week, we loaded up…

My inspiration for this topic comes straight from my Mom! She is the Master of Money Saving! I remember going shopping with her as a young child. I hated it! She was like an energy bunny on steroids. And her one goal was to hit every yellow “Clearance” sign in all the stores! We could…

Many times you hear the word ‘fitness‘ and avoid any further thought on the matter. But what if I told you fitness isn’t just about physically pushing yourself; like sweating until you’re light headed and ready to throw up? Would you be intrigued then? Fitness is described as, ‘the quality of being suitable to fulfill…

“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…” 1 Corinthians 12:26a Right now, our nation, our world is suffering. We need healing, we need reaching, we need teaching. Ultimately, we need to find a Way. Last night I went to bed praying for ways to be used specifically during this pandemic, during this time…

“He is not here; He is risen, just as He said.” – Matthew 28:6 This verse is very common when we think of Easter. But what do those words truly mean to YOU? Is it another memorable day spent with family, eating delicious food, showering your kids with goodies and egg-citing festivities? Or does it…

Hey! Me again! Before we dig into what’s next, I thought it best to tell you a little about myself! My name is Candace Alford! It is very nice to meet you! I am married to the most ruggedly handsome farmer/rancher /seed salesman for sure in the Midwest, but probably everywhere! We’ve been married for…

Welcome to Come Alive with Candace! My name is Candace, and I am beyond tickled to have you join me along this new journey of blogging! As Casting Crowns so beautifully put it, ‘I am just a nobody trying to tell every body, all about somebody Who saved my soul!’ Casting Crowns That’s exactly why…