Why I Love This Sourdough Bread

One of the things I appreciate most about this sourdough bread is its consistency. There is nothing more discouraging than spending hours working on a loaf only to wonder whether it will turn out. With this recipe, I’ve had excellent results every time I’ve made it.

The finished loaf is soft enough for sandwiches, sturdy enough for toast, and simple enough to fit into everyday life. As a homemaker, I appreciate recipes that remove some of the guesswork and help me put good food on the table for my family.

My Fresh Milled Flour Sourdough Journey

If you’ve followed my fresh milled flour journey for very long, you know I’m still learning. Some recipes have been instant successes, while others have required a little more patience and practice.

One thing that may surprise some readers is that I currently use my traditional sourdough starter for this recipe rather than my fresh milled flour starter. I’ve experimented with both, and while my fresh milled flour starter continues to improve, my original starter still gives me the most reliable results.

That’s one lesson I’ve learned throughout this journey: it’s okay to use what works while you’re learning. Sometimes we put pressure on ourselves to do everything perfectly from the beginning. The truth is that baking with fresh milled flour comes with a learning curve, and every loaf teaches us something new.

New to fresh milled flour? Start here.

Ingredients That Help This Sourdough Bread Succeed

When you visit Lovely Bell Bakes’ recipe, you’ll notice two ingredients that some home bakers may not be familiar with: sunflower lecithin and vital wheat gluten.

What Is Sunflower Lecithin?

Sunflower lecithin helps improve the texture and softness of bread. It acts as a natural emulsifier, helping ingredients blend together more effectively throughout the dough.

In practical terms, many bakers find that it contributes to a softer loaf and can help bread stay fresh longer. Since one of my goals for sandwich bread is softness, I don’t mind adding it.

What Is Vital Wheat Gluten?

Fresh milled flour contains the entire wheat berry, including the bran and germ. While that’s one of the reasons many of us choose to mill our own flour, it can sometimes make bread heavier than loaves made with conventional flour.

Vital wheat gluten helps strengthen the dough structure and improve rise. Many fresh milled flour bakers use it to create lighter sandwich bread while they continue learning how different grains behave.

While some bakers prefer not to use it, I personally don’t mind adding it when the result is a loaf my family enjoys eating.

A Few Notes About Mixing Dough in a Bosch

Lovely Bell Bakes provides excellent instructions in her recipe, so I highly recommend following her directions carefully. She measures in grams, which helps create consistent results and removes much of the guesswork from bread baking.

The only adjustment I typically make is with my Bosch Universal Plus Mixer. Because every mixer handles dough differently, I pay close attention to how the dough looks and feels rather than focusing strictly on timing.

Over time, I’ve learned how my Bosch behaves, and that experience has helped me produce more consistent loaves. If you’re using a different mixer or kneading by hand, simply follow the instructions provided in the original recipe.

Kitchen Note: I use a Bosch Universal Plus Mixer for most of my bread baking, and it has become one of my favorite kitchen tools. If you’re interested in learning more about Bosch mixers or other NutriMill products, you can use my affiliate code MAKINMACON and save $20 on select products. Thank you for supporting Makin’ Macon!

Why This Sourdough Recipe Has Earned a Place in My Kitchen

There are plenty of sourdough recipes available online, but not all of them become regulars in our home. This one has.

It produces the kind of bread my family reaches for throughout the week. Whether we’re making sandwiches for lunch, serving toast with breakfast, or enjoying a warm slice with butter, this loaf always seems to disappear faster than I expect.

That is usually the sign of a recipe worth keeping.

Ready to Try This Sourdough Bread?

If you’ve been searching for a dependable fresh milled flour sourdough sandwich bread, I highly recommend giving the recipe from Lovely Bell Bakes a try.

Get the full recipe from Lovely Bell Bakes here.

You’ll find the complete recipe and detailed instructions on her site, along with everything you need to make your own loaf.

This post isn’t about claiming someone else’s recipe. It’s simply about sharing a sourdough bread recipe that has worked well in my kitchen and may help someone else who is still learning, just like I am.

If you’re looking for more sourdough recipes, fresh milled flour experiments, and real-life kitchen encouragement, be sure to browse the recipe collection here on the blog and join my Rooted Table email community. I’d love to have you around the table.

Because sometimes the best recipes aren’t the ones we create ourselves. Sometimes they’re the ones we test, trust, and happily recommend to others.

And as always remember, I’m praying for you, even if I don’t know you are.

When Life Gets Busy, It Can Be Hard to Keep God First

When my children were little, I found it incredibly difficult to find time to study God’s Word or have the kind of deep prayer life I longed for. At the time, I worked a full-time job while trying to juggle the responsibilities of being a wife, a mom, and serving in ministry. Thankfully, the Lord saw fit to place seven years between my children, but even with that blessing, those years were full.

No one really warned me about that season.

No one told me there would be days when I would feel needed from every direction at once. No one mentioned that there would be times when I would struggle to find a quiet moment to sit in God’s presence because there was always another meal to cook, another load of laundry to fold, another child to comfort, or another place I had to be.

So many mornings I found myself rushing out the door, trying to make sure everyone had what they needed and arrived where they were supposed to be on time. More often than not, my prayer time happened in the car while my kids slept in the backseat. I would drive to work with tears streaming down my face, talking to the Lord about whatever burden I was carrying that day. There were days when worship music filled my car because it was the only quiet place I could find to be alone with Him.

And if I’m honest, I felt guilty.

I knew the importance of taking time alone with God. I knew what I wanted my devotional life to look like, but my reality looked very different. By the time the day ended, I often felt like I was giving God the last little bit of energy I had left. Many nights, I would fall into bed completely exhausted and whisper a prayer under my breath, asking the Lord to forgive me because I felt like I hadn’t given Him enough.

Oh, how I desired to be in His presence. I wanted those quiet moments with my Bible open and my heart still before the Lord. I wanted to linger in prayer without watching the clock or listening for a child to wake up. Even going to church could feel overwhelming during those years. Instead of soaking in the message, I was making sure someone had a snack, keeping a little one occupied, or quietly trying to prevent a meltdown in the middle of service. I would leave some Sundays wondering why I had even gone because I couldn’t remember half of what had been preached.

But I kept going.

I kept praying.

I kept showing up.

What It Really Means to Keep God First

Looking back now, I realize I had a picture in my mind of what spending time with God was supposed to look like.

I imagined long, uninterrupted devotion times, a quiet house, and a peaceful place where I could sit with my Bible open and hear from the Lord. There is absolutely nothing wrong with those moments. In fact, I still treasure them. Even now, I love waking up before the rest of the house begins to stir just so I can sit quietly in His presence.

But during those busy years, God was teaching me something I couldn’t yet see.

Keeping God first wasn’t always going to look perfect.

Sometimes it looked like worship music playing while I stirred supper on the stove. Sometimes it looked like praising God while I folded another basket of laundry. Sometimes it was tears falling while I drove to work or a quiet conversation with the Lord while the kids slept in the backseat. Sometimes it was simply choosing to turn my thoughts toward Him in the middle of an ordinary Tuesday.

I wasn’t trying to fit God into my schedule.

I was trying to build my schedule around a relationship that mattered more than anything else.

That doesn’t mean I stopped longing for deeper moments with Him. In fact, there were many mornings when I intentionally woke up an hour before everyone else because I craved that time with the Lord. I wasn’t looking for perfection; I was looking for His presence. I’ve learned that there are seasons when uninterrupted time comes more easily than others, but the answer isn’t to wait until life slows down. The answer is to intentionally make room for God right where you are.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

He didn’t say to seek Him first only when the children are older, when work settles down, or when life finally becomes manageable. He simply said to seek Him first.

The Enemy Loves to Whisper Guilt

I think one of the greatest struggles during busy seasons isn’t the schedule itself. It’s the guilt that often comes with it.

The enemy has a way of convincing us that if our quiet time doesn’t look exactly the way we imagined it should, then it doesn’t count. He tells us that because our prayers are whispered while we’re washing dishes or driving down the road, they somehow matter less. He whispers that if we miss a day or two because life happened, then we’ve somehow failed.

But I’ve come to believe that God sees those moments very differently.

He saw me crying and praying in the car.

He saw me standing in the kitchen worshipping while supper cooked on the stove.

He heard the exhausted prayers I whispered before I drifted off to sleep.

He knew about the mornings I dragged myself out of bed early because I simply wanted to spend a little time with Him before the house woke up. He saw the desire that was hidden beneath the exhaustion. He knew my heart, even when I felt like I was falling short.

Psalm 46:10 says,

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

For years, I thought being still meant everything around me had to be quiet. But sometimes being still simply means quieting our hearts in the middle of the noise. Sometimes it means shutting off the distractions for a few moments and remembering that God is near, even if the laundry still needs folding and supper still needs to be made.

Your Children Are Watching How You Keep God First

One of the sweetest lessons God has taught me is that those imperfect moments were never wasted.

When my children were little, I often felt like I wasn’t giving them enough either. I worried that they weren’t seeing the kind of spiritual life I wanted to model because everything felt rushed and interrupted. I wondered if they would remember anything besides a tired mom trying to keep all the pieces together.

But children have a way of seeing what we don’t realize they’re seeing.

They watched me pray.

They came with me to the altar.

They listened while worship music filled our home.

They saw tears fall while I talked to Jesus.

They watched me choose Him over and over again, even when I felt like I was failing.

I can remember leading worship at our home missions church when my daughter was little. Her dad would be out praying with people while I sat at the piano, and she would be right there beside me because I didn’t have anyone else to watch her. At first, she simply sat and observed. As she got older, she began singing at the top of her lungs right there beside me.

Today, she helps lead worship in our church.

She loves to sing. She loves to worship. And I can’t help but think back to those little moments when I wondered if any of it mattered.

Recently, my son surprised me too. I was getting ready for worship practice and sat down to play through a song before everyone arrived. He asked if he could get on the drums. I smiled and told him that was fine, just don’t beat on them too hard. I fully expected him to make up his own little rhythm while I practiced.

Instead, he quietly started playing along with me.

And now, when the Spirit of God begins to move in service, I watch him. He’s still learning. He’s still growing. But I can see him responding. I can see a hunger beginning to stir in his heart, and it reminds me that those little moments mattered more than I ever realized.

In those moments, I realize something that I couldn’t see years ago.

While I thought I was failing because life was loud and messy, God was quietly planting seeds.

How to Keep God First When Life Gets Busy

I don’t want to minimize the importance of making intentional time for the Lord because I believe it matters deeply. In fact, I think one of the greatest acts of faith during a busy season is choosing to make room for Him anyway.

Sometimes that means waking up before the rest of the house.

Sometimes it means leaving the dishes in the sink for a little while longer.

Sometimes it means shutting off the noise, putting down the phone, or choosing worship music over another distraction.

And sometimes it means recognizing that today’s devotion time may happen while you’re folding clothes, rocking a baby, or driving to work.

The point isn’t perfection.

The point is pursuit.

God honors a heart that seeks Him. He honors the mom who gets up a little earlier because she wants to spend time with Him. He honors the whispered prayer in the middle of a chaotic afternoon. He honors the worship that rises from a kitchen where dinner is still cooking.

The beautiful thing about God is that He is willing to meet us right where we are.

Keep Seeking Him First

If you’re in one of those busy seasons right now, I want to encourage you not to believe the lie that you’re failing because your quiet time doesn’t look like someone else’s.

Don’t wait for the perfect schedule.

Don’t wait for life to slow down.

And don’t wait for the children to get older before you make room for God.

Bring them with you. Let them see you pray. Let them hear you sing. Let them watch you worship while you’re making dinner or folding laundry. Let them stand beside you at the altar. Let them see a mom who loves Jesus enough to intentionally make time for Him, even when life feels overwhelming.

They may not understand everything that’s happening in those moments, but little by little they are learning what it looks like to build a life centered around Christ. Long before they understand every Bible story or every sermon, they are watching your example. They are learning that when life gets hard, we pray. When our hearts are full, we worship. When we don’t have all the answers, we keep seeking God anyway.

One day, you’ll look back and realize that God was meeting you in the kitchen, in the car, at the altar, and in those whispered prayers before sleep. And you may discover, just like I did, that the little eyes watching you all those years were learning far more than you ever imagined.

Looking back now, I don’t see a season where I failed to spend enough time with God.

I see a faithful God who met me in the middle of a busy season and taught me what it really means to keep God first.

Keep Exploring Makin’ Macon

If this post encouraged you, I’d love for you to take a look around. Here at Makin’ Macon, you’ll find faith-filled encouragement, practical homemaking inspiration, recipes, podcast episodes, and simple reminders that God is with us even in the middle of life’s busiest seasons.

If you’d like a little extra encouragement throughout the week, I’d also love for you to join my Stay Rooted email community. Every Wednesday, I send a note filled with biblical encouragement, honest reflections from everyday life, and reminders to keep our hearts anchored in Christ no matter what season we’re walking through.

You may also enjoy:

• How to Be a Mary in a Martha World: Find Peace Over Perfection
• Stop, Rest, and Eat
• The Crossroads of Faith in God’s Waiting Room

And remember, I’m always praying for you—even if I don’t know who you are.

Why I Tried Sourdough First with Fresh Milled Flour

If you’ve followed this fresh milled flour series from the beginning, you already know how much I enjoy sourdough. I love the flavor, I love the process, and I love finding ways to incorporate it into our meals.

Naturally, when I started milling my own flour, I assumed I would simply keep doing what I had always done. What I failed to consider was that fresh milled flour behaves differently than commercial flour. It absorbs water differently, often requires recipe adjustments, and sometimes responds differently during fermentation.

Instead of learning one new skill, I was trying to learn two.

I was learning fresh milled flour while also trying to learn how fresh milled flour would affect my sourdough process. Looking back, it’s no wonder I felt frustrated at times. Every time something didn’t turn out as expected, I had to wonder whether the issue was the flour, the hydration, the fermentation, or something else entirely.

There’s a reason so many experienced bakers encourage people to learn one skill at a time. While I don’t regret jumping in, I do think I would have saved myself some frustration if I had slowed down and focused on understanding the flour first.

How Yeast Helped Me Learn Fresh Milled Flour

One of the biggest advantages of using yeast while learning fresh milled flour was consistency.

When a loaf didn’t turn out the way I expected, I could usually narrow down the problem fairly quickly. Was I using the wrong wheat berry? Did I need more water? Did I measure something incorrectly? Because yeast is predictable, it removed one layer of uncertainty from the process.

That gave me room to learn.

As I worked through different recipes, I began noticing how dough felt, how quickly it absorbed water, and how different wheat berries behaved. I learned that hard white wheat became my go-to for breads and rolls. I learned that soft white wheat worked beautifully for things like waffles and other softer baked goods. Most importantly, I learned that fresh milled flour wasn’t nearly as intimidating as it first seemed.

Yeast gave me confidence while fresh milled flour was still teaching me.

Every successful loaf reinforced what I was learning and encouraged me to keep going. Instead of wondering if everything would fail, I started seeing progress. Those small successes helped me build a foundation that I can continue building on as I learn more.

What Fresh Milled Flour Is Teaching Me About Learning

One of the unexpected lessons in this journey has very little to do with flour.

It’s about how I learn.

Years ago, I probably would have thrown myself into this full speed ahead. I would have spent hours researching, testing, and trying to master everything as quickly as possible. While enthusiasm isn’t a bad thing, experience has taught me that rushing doesn’t always lead to lasting results.

I’ve learned that I retain information better when I give myself time to absorb it. I learn better when I focus on one skill before piling another one on top. Most importantly, I enjoy the process more when I remove some of the pressure.

Between homeschooling, ministry responsibilities, family life, and everything else that comes with running a household, I’ve learned that it’s okay to move at a slower pace. Fresh milled flour has reminded me that growth doesn’t have to be rushed to be meaningful.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is take the next step instead of trying to sprint to the finish line. The lessons tend to stick a lot better when we give ourselves time to learn them.

Why I Still Love Sourdough

Even though yeast has been my teacher during this season, sourdough still has my heart.

There’s just something about the flavor that I love. Whether it’s a loaf of bread, a batch of cookies, or another discard recipe, I find myself gravitating toward that familiar sourdough taste. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t given up on learning fresh milled flour sourdough.

For now, though, I’ve simplified things.

At the moment, I’m still using my regular sourdough starter that is fed with unbleached all-purpose flour. That approach works well for our family and removes a lot of stress from the process. Could I focus entirely on fresh milled flour sourdough right now? Probably. But I know myself well enough to recognize that pushing too hard would likely lead to frustration and burnout.

This season is about learning, not proving anything. I’d rather move slowly, continue gaining confidence, and enjoy the journey than rush ahead and lose the joy that made me start in the first place.

My Advice for Beginners Learning Fresh Milled Flour

If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice when I started this journey, it would be this: don’t be afraid to start simple.

When I began working with fresh milled flour, I immediately tried to combine it with sourdough because that’s what I already enjoyed. Looking back, I can see that I was adding a lot of extra variables before I truly understood how the flour itself behaved.

Fresh milled flour already has a learning curve. You’re learning different wheat berries, hydration levels, recipe adjustments, and how dough feels compared to what you may be used to. Adding sourdough on top of all that meant I was trying to learn multiple things at the same time.

For me, yeast created a simpler path.

It allowed me to focus on the flour itself without constantly wondering whether my starter, fermentation times, or another sourdough variable was affecting the outcome. When something didn’t turn out right, it was easier to identify the problem and make adjustments.

That doesn’t mean sourdough isn’t worth learning. In fact, sourdough is still where I hope to go with fresh milled flour. I love the flavor, and I enjoy the process. But I’ve learned that there is value in building confidence first.

If you’re just getting started, don’t feel pressured to do everything at once. Learn a few recipes. Bake a few loaves. Get comfortable with how fresh milled flour behaves in your kitchen and with the foods your family already enjoys.

Once you’ve built that foundation, you can begin experimenting with more advanced techniques if that’s something you want to pursue. The goal isn’t to get there quickly. The goal is to build confidence, enjoy the process, and create habits that you can sustain long term.

Where I Am Right Now

Right now, yeast gives me consistency and sourdough gives me flavor.

My goal is still to become more confident with fresh milled flour sourdough, but I’m no longer in a hurry to get there. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through this entire journey is that sustainable growth usually happens slowly.

Every loaf teaches me something. Every mistake teaches me something. Every success teaches me something.

For now, I’m content to keep learning one loaf at a time. The more I learn about fresh milled flour, the more I realize that this isn’t a destination. It’s a skill that grows over time, and that’s part of what makes the journey so rewarding.

Watch My Fresh Milled Flour Journey on YouTube

If you’d like to follow along with this journey beyond the blog, be sure to check out my YouTube videos where I share the successes, failures, and lessons I’m learning with fresh milled flour along the way.

New to fresh milled flour? Start here.

If you’re just joining this journey, I encourage you to explore some of the other posts in this series:

• Fresh Milled Flour for Beginners: A Simple Year-Long Family Journey
• Fresh Milled Flour Storage: Simple Rhythms That Actually Work
• Hard White Wheat: My Go-To Flour for Fresh Milled Bread
• What 6 Months of Fresh Milled Flour Has Taught Me
• Fresh Milled Flour Conversion Tips for Everyday Baking

You’ll also find a few simple fresh milled flour recipes I’ve tested and enjoyed along the way. My goal isn’t to overwhelm you with information but to help make this journey feel approachable for everyday families.

From My Kitchen to Yours

Over the past year, I’ve had the chance to use several NutriMill products in my own kitchen, and they’ve truly become part of our everyday rhythm.

The NutriMill Classic Grain Mill has been the biggest game changer for us. Being able to mill fresh flour at home has not only improved the quality of our baking, but it’s also helped me feel more confident about what I’m feeding my family.

I’ve also started using a few of their newer products, like the dough mats (which I didn’t realize I needed until I used one!) and the Bosch Universal Plus Mixer, which has been a huge help as I’ve grown more serious about baking.

What I appreciate most is that these are tools built to last. From my experience, NutriMill stands behind their products, and that matters when you’re investing in your kitchen.

If you’ve been considering a grain mill or upgrading your baking tools, I’d simply encourage you to keep an eye on their sales. You can use my code MAKINMACON for savings on select products (like mixers and accessories), though it doesn’t currently apply to the grain mill.

If you do choose to shop through my link or use my code, it’s a simple way to support our family and the work we’re doing here at Makin’ Macon—and I’m truly grateful.

I’ll always share honestly what’s working in my kitchen—and this is one of those things I’d choose again without hesitation.

Join the Rooted Table!

Get fresh recipes, freezer tips, and encouragement for home cooks delivered straight to your inbox. When you subscribe, you’ll also receive my 15 Frugal Family Meals plan as a free gift.

I’m so glad you’re here.

And remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are.

Natural Bug Repellent Spray Recipe

For a 4 oz spray bottle:

• 8 drops geranium
• 10 drops lavender
• 3 drops patchouli
• 8 drops lemongrass
• 8 drops citronella
• 1 oz witch hazel
• distilled water to fill

Add the witch hazel and essential oils to the bottle first, then fill the remainder with distilled water. Shake well before each use.

Why These Oils Work Well Together

Lavender helps soften the blend and is often appreciated for its calming and skin-friendly properties.

Geranium is commonly used in outdoor blends and helps support the overall bug-repelling properties of this spray.

Lemongrass adds a fresh outdoor scent while helping strengthen the spray’s ability to discourage mosquitoes.

Patchouli helps ground the scent and helps the spray linger a little longer outdoors.

Citronella is one of the most recognized essential oils for outdoor sprays and is commonly used to help naturally discourage mosquitoes.

Ways We Use Natural Bug Repellent Spray During Summer

One of the things I appreciate most about this blend is how easy it is to keep nearby during outdoor activities.

We personally use it during:

• porch evenings
• cookouts and outdoor meals
• backyard playtime
• church gatherings outside
• sitting around the fire pit
• evening walks around the yard

I think it would be great to lightly spray patio furniture cushions and outdoor pillows before everyone gathers outside for the evening.

Again, this is not about perfection or promising that bugs will completely disappear. It is simply one small way we help make outdoor summer moments feel a little more comfortable.

A Gentle Reminder About Summer Rhythms

The older I get, the more I realize that some of the sweetest family memories are often tied to ordinary evenings.

Not expensive vacations. Not elaborate plans. Just simple moments together.

A porch swing moving slowly. Children laughing outside. A popsicle melting faster than it can be eaten. The sound of crickets beginning to chirp as the sun starts to go down.

Those little moments matter more than we sometimes realize.

“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” – Proverbs 17:1

I love the reminder in that verse that peace inside the home matters deeply, even in the middle of busy seasons.

Safety Notes

• Avoid spraying near the eyes, face, or sensitive skin.
• Patch test first before wider use.
• Always supervise use with children.
• Use extra caution with young children and sensitive skin.
• Reapply as needed during outdoor activities.
• Use essential oils responsibly and in moderation.

Where to Buy High-Quality Essential Oils

Not all essential oils are created equal! To ensure you’re getting the best quality, here are my trusted recommendations:

Simply Earth – Exciting news for all my essential oil lovers! I’m thrilled to share that I’ve partnered with Simply Earth, a brand that’s not only committed to providing pure, affordable oils but also donates 13% of their profits to ending human trafficking. As a Simply Earth subscriber, you’ll receive monthly Recipe Boxes that come with everything you need to create your own blends, along with free access to their Essential Oil Hero Course! Plus, if you’re a new subscriber, use my code MAKINMACONFREE at checkout to receive a $45 gift card after your first box purchase. It’s the perfect way to get started with essential oils while supporting a great cause! Head over to Simply Earth to sign up today!

Guru Nanda – A budget-friendly option available at Walmart and Amazon, making it easy to find quality oils at a great price. Shop Guru Nanda on Amazon.

Want to Learn More About Essential Oils?

If you are new to blending or want to better understand how to safely mix oils for sprays and rollers, I highly recommend starting with my essential oil dilution guide here on the blog. It walks through simple dilution guidelines for everyday use around the home.

You can also explore more blends in the Essential Oils section of the blog, including Wellness Blends, Seasonal Blends, and Home & Cleaning Blends.

If you would like more simple blends like this, along with encouragement sent straight to your inbox, be sure to join my Fragrant Faith email group where I share exclusive blends, practical tips, and monthly encouragement.

As always, remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are.

Why You’ll Love This Crack Chicken

There are plenty of reasons this crack chicken recipe has become a regular in our home.

• Minimal prep work
• Made entirely in the crockpot
• Family-friendly
• Great for busy weeknights
• Easy to make ahead
• Delicious leftovers
• Can be served several different ways

I also appreciate that most of the ingredients are things I usually keep on hand, making it an easy recipe to throw together without much planning.

What Makes This Crack Chicken Recipe Different

There are plenty of crack chicken recipes online, but this version includes diced tomatoes and fire-roasted green chilies. Those simple additions bring extra flavor without adding extra work.

You can absolutely substitute a can of Rotel for the diced tomatoes and green chilies. I’ve made it both ways over the years. However, my family prefers using the diced tomatoes and green chilies separately because we feel it gives the finished dish a better flavor.

Once the chicken has finished cooking and been shredded, I stir in shredded cheddar cheese and real bacon bits. After a few minutes on warm, everything melts together into a creamy, flavorful mixture that is hard to resist.

Ways to Serve Crack Chicken

One of my favorite things about this recipe is how flexible it is.

We often enjoy it:

• Wrapped in homemade sourdough tortillas
• Served on sandwich buns
• Over baked potatoes
• Over rice
• In lettuce wraps
• Stuffed into baked sweet potatoes
• Served as a dip with tortilla chips

If you are looking for a homemade wrap option, be sure to check out my Sourdough Tortillas recipe. They pair perfectly with this crack chicken and are one of our favorite ways to enjoy it.

Tips for the Best Crack Chicken

Let It Cook Low and Slow

Cooking the chicken on low for the full eight hours allows it to become tender and easy to shred. The longer cooking time also helps all of the flavors blend together.

Add the Cheese and Bacon Last

Wait until the chicken has finished cooking before shredding it. Once shredded, stir in the cheddar cheese (or you can use Colby Jack) and bacon bits and allow everything to sit on warm for a few minutes so the cheese can melt completely.

Make Extra for Leftovers

This recipe reheats beautifully and makes excellent leftovers. In fact, I often think it tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had additional time to mingle.

Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list, measurements, and printable instructions.

A Meal Worth Keeping on Repeat

This crack chicken has become one of those dependable recipes I can count on when life gets busy. The ingredients are simple, the crockpot does most of the work, and everyone leaves the table happy.

Those are the recipes that tend to stick around in our house. Not because they’re complicated, but because they help me feed my family well without spending all afternoon in the kitchen.

If you’re looking for more family-friendly meals, be sure to explore the recipe collection here on the blog. And if you enjoy simple recipes, freezer-friendly ideas, and encouragement for real-life home cooks, you’ll feel right at home in Rooted Table, my once-a-month recipe email filled with recipes, kitchen tips, and practical inspiration.

Sometimes the best recipes aren’t the most complicated. They’re the ones that help us gather around the table together.

Remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are.

The Crossroads in God’s Waiting Room

At first, most waiting seasons begin with hope.

We pray with expectation. We believe God is working. We trust that the answer is coming. Then time begins to pass, and with every passing day the gap between what God has promised and what we can physically see seems to grow wider.

That’s often when the questions begin.

Did I hear God correctly?

Is He still working?

Does He still remember me?

Should I keep believing?

Those questions don’t necessarily come because we lack faith. Sometimes they come simply because we’re human. We live in a world where we can see our circumstances, but we cannot always see what God is doing behind the scenes.

David understood that struggle. In Psalm 27:13-14 he wrote:

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

I love the honesty in those verses. David didn’t pretend waiting was easy. He admitted there were moments when he felt like he might faint beneath the weight of it all. Yet he also understood that courage isn’t found in having all the answers. Courage is choosing to believe God is still good even when we don’t understand what He’s doing.

That is the crossroads every believer eventually faces. Will we continue trusting God when we cannot see the outcome? Will we continue believing His Word when our circumstances seem to tell a different story? Will we allow disappointment to take root, or will we allow our faith to grow deeper?

The waiting room has a way of forcing us to answer those questions.

What God’s Waiting Room Taught Me

I know what it’s like to sit at that crossroads because I’ve been there myself.

My husband and I waited ten years for the promise of a child. Looking back now, I can say those words in a single sentence, but living through those years felt very different. At first, I was confident. I believed God would answer. I never imagined how long the journey would actually be.

As the years passed, however, I found myself facing questions I never expected. We talked about adoption. I wondered whether I had misunderstood what God had placed in my heart. I watched time continue moving forward while the answer I was praying for seemed to remain just out of reach.

The hardest part wasn’t the waiting itself. The hardest part was learning how to trust God when I couldn’t see what He was doing.

That is where the real battle often takes place. It isn’t always a battle against our circumstances. More often it’s a battle over what we’re going to believe while we’re still waiting.

I could have allowed disappointment to take root. I could have stopped believing. I could have convinced myself that God had forgotten me. Instead, I made a choice to keep showing up at His feet. Some days that faith felt strong. Other days it felt fragile. But regardless of how I felt, I kept bringing my prayers back to Him.

Eventually, God answered that prayer. Yet even then, the waiting room wasn’t over.

Before my daughter was born, I developed preeclampsia. There were moments when both of our lives were in danger. After her birth, I watched her spend time in the NICU and wondered what would happen next. Later came another season of heartbreak when we lost our son. Then, when I became pregnant again, fear and doubt tried to creep back in. Bed rest, extra doctor visits, and countless prayers became part of that journey as well.

Looking back now, I realize something I couldn’t fully see in those moments. Every one of those seasons brought me back to the same question: Will I trust God even when I don’t understand?

One of my favorite verses became an anchor for me during those years:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6

Trusting God is relatively easy when everything makes sense. Trusting Him when we don’t understand requires something much deeper. It requires us to believe that God’s character is trustworthy even when His plan is unclear.

The Danger of Letting Go Too Soon

One of the greatest dangers in God’s waiting room is becoming weary.

Not weary of God.

Not weary of prayer.

Just weary of waiting.

Hebrews 10:35-36 speaks directly to those moments:

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

What a powerful reminder!

After you’ve prayed.

After you’ve trusted.

After you’ve obeyed.

After you’ve done everything you know to do.

Don’t cast away your confidence.

Sometimes we assume that if we haven’t seen the answer yet, nothing is happening. Yet Scripture repeatedly shows us that God is often working in places we cannot see. While we focus on the delay, He is often preparing people, circumstances, timing, and even our own hearts for what lies ahead.

The waiting room can be frustrating because we naturally want movement. We want progress. We want evidence that something is happening. Yet faith has never been about trusting what we can see. Faith has always been about trusting the One who sees what we cannot.

What if God is working behind the scenes in ways we don’t yet understand? What if the answer is closer than we realize? What if the waiting room is accomplishing something far greater than we can currently imagine?

Digging Your Heels In

Over the years, I’ve learned that the answer isn’t found in giving up. The answer is found in digging your heels in and staying at the feet of Jesus.

The waiting room has a way of exposing what we’re truly leaning on. When everything is moving according to our plans, it’s easy to feel confident. But when the answer tarries, we quickly discover whether our confidence is in God or in our ability to understand what He is doing.

That’s why prayer became so important to me during those seasons.

Not because prayer was a formula.

Not because I believed I could somehow force God’s hand.

Prayer became important because it continually brought me back to the feet of Jesus. There were days when I didn’t have answers. Days when I didn’t understand. Days when fear tried to convince me that God had forgotten me. Prayer became the place where I laid those fears down and exchanged my questions for trust. It became the place where God reminded me of who He is when I couldn’t understand what He was doing.

Many times my prayer wasn’t, “God, get me out of this waiting room.”

Instead, it was, “God, help me stay at Your feet while I’m here.”

Over time, I discovered that prayer wasn’t simply changing my circumstances. Prayer was changing me. It was strengthening my faith, deepening my dependence upon God, and teaching me to pray His Word instead of my emotions. It was teaching me to look back at His faithfulness whenever doubt tried to creep in.

Paul provides a powerful example of this in regards to Abraham in Romans 4:20-21:

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Abraham wasn’t focused on what he could see. He was focused on the God who made the promise. That doesn’t mean he never had questions. It means he chose not to let those questions become greater than his confidence in God’s ability to fulfill what He had spoken.

Prayer Changes Things in God’s Waiting Room

When most people hear the phrase “prayer changes things,” they immediately think about circumstances changing. Sometimes that’s exactly what happens. God opens a door. He provides a miracle. He answers in a way that leaves no doubt that His hand was involved.

But I’ve learned that prayer often changes us before it changes our circumstances.

One of my favorite verses hangs on the wall in my kitchen where I see it every day:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1

I’ve looked at those words countless times over the years, especially during seasons when I couldn’t see what God was doing. Faith isn’t believing after the answer arrives. Faith is choosing to trust God before the answer comes. It’s believing that God is working even when we cannot see the evidence with our natural eyes.

As much as I wanted answers during those waiting room seasons, what I needed most was a deeper relationship with the One who held the answers. Looking back now, I can see that while I was praying for God to change my circumstances, He was also using those circumstances to strengthen my faith.

The waiting room wasn’t wasted.

The tears weren’t wasted.

The prayers weren’t wasted.

And if you’re sitting in God’s waiting room today, yours isn’t wasted either.

A Resource for God’s Waiting Room

One book that has encouraged me in this area is God Has a Waiting Room by Kim Haney. While the stories and lessons in this post come from my own experiences and what God has taught me through Scripture, her book offers additional encouragement for anyone walking through a season of waiting and learning to trust God’s timing.

Want to Read the Full Story?

The experiences I briefly shared here only scratch the surface of what God taught me during those waiting room seasons. If you’d like to read the full stories behind those miracles, you can find them here:

A Tangible Miracle

The Pain of Unanswered Prayers

A Tangible Miracle 2

Looking back now, I can see God’s hand woven throughout the stories, even in the moments when I couldn’t understand what He was doing.

Conclusion

If you find yourself sitting in God’s waiting room today, I want to encourage you not to make a permanent decision based on a temporary season. Don’t allow what you can’t see to convince you that God isn’t working. Don’t allow the silence to convince you that He isn’t listening, and don’t allow the length of the journey to cause you to forget the faithfulness He has already shown.

When doubt comes—and it will—look back. Remember the prayers He has answered. Remember the doors He has opened. Remember the times He carried you when you couldn’t carry yourself. Then dig your heels in a little deeper and stay at His feet a little longer. Pray His Word. Trust His heart. Keep walking forward one step at a time, even when you can’t see where the path is leading.

The waiting room is not proof that God has forgotten you. Sometimes it’s simply the place where He is growing a faith strong enough to carry the promise when it finally arrives.

Keep Exploring Makin’ Macon

If this post encouraged you, I’d love for you to take a look around. Here at Makin’ Macon you’ll find faith-filled encouragement, podcast episodes, homemaking inspiration, essential oil recipes, and practical resources designed to help you find encouragement in the middle of life’s chaos.

Be sure to explore the blog, listen to past podcast episodes, and join the Stay Rooted email community for weekly encouragement delivered straight to your inbox.

Remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are.

Looking Back at Small Beginnings

One important verse during this season is Zechariah 4:10:

“For who hath despised the day of small things?”

I think most of us appreciate that verse in theory, but living it out can be much harder.

We live in a world that celebrates big numbers, rapid growth, and visible success. It’s easy to look at what someone else is doing and wonder if our own efforts matter. It’s easy to become discouraged when growth feels slow or when the work we’re doing seems unnoticed.

What I’ve learned over the last three years is that God often works differently than we expect.

Most of the time, obedience doesn’t feel dramatic. It doesn’t look like standing on a stage or making a major announcement. More often, it looks like taking the next step God has placed in front of us and trusting Him with the results.

For me, that looked like writing one blog post at a time. It looked like pressing publish when nobody was waiting for it. It looked like creating content that encouraged others while trusting God to place it in front of the people who needed it most. Later, it looked like starting a podcast even when I wasn’t sure what I was doing.

Over time, God has taught me something incredibly freeing: He rarely asks us to carry the entire ministry. He simply asks us to carry today’s assignment.

When I remember that, the pressure lifts. I don’t have to know the outcome. I don’t have to see the full plan. I simply have to be faithful with what He’s placed in my hands today.

Encouragement in Chaos Became More Than a Slogan

When I first chose the phrase Encouragement in Chaos, I knew it described what I wanted to share with others. What I didn’t realize was how often I would need that reminder myself.

Life doesn’t stop being messy simply because we’re trying to serve God.

There are still seasons of uncertainty. There are still busy days, unexpected changes, and moments when we wonder what God is doing. There are still times when the to-do list feels overwhelming and the path ahead seems unclear.

Yet through all of those seasons, God has remained faithful.

Somewhere along the way, I realized that Encouragement in Chaos wasn’t just something I was writing about. It became something I was living. God wasn’t asking me to encourage people from a place of having everything figured out. He was teaching me to encourage others while trusting Him in my own imperfect journey.

God isn’t waiting for our lives to become perfectly organized before He shows up. He meets us in the middle of the mess. He walks with us through the uncertainty. He remains faithful even when we can’t see what He’s doing behind the scenes.

That’s a lesson I continue to learn over and over again.

The People Behind the Screen Matter

One of the greatest blessings of this journey has been realizing there are real people on the other side of the screen.

When I first started writing, I didn’t know who would read the posts. I didn’t know who might stumble across an encouragement article, a podcast episode, or a social media post. I certainly didn’t know how many friendships and connections would be formed along the way.

Over the years, I’ve received comments, emails, messages, and conversations that reminded me God was using this ministry in ways I couldn’t see.

Every time someone takes a moment to leave a comment, send an email, or share that something encouraged them, it does something to my heart.

It’s hard to explain.

There is a warmth that comes from knowing God used something you shared to encourage another person. Not because it makes you feel successful or accomplished, but because it reminds you that you’re exactly where God wants you to be.

There have been moments when I questioned whether what I was doing mattered. There have been seasons when I wondered if anyone was reading, listening, or being encouraged at all. Then a message would arrive at exactly the right moment.

Sometimes it was a comment.

Sometimes it was an email.

Sometimes it was a simple note saying, “I needed this today.”

Those moments reminded me that obedience is never wasted. They reminded me that there are real people carrying real burdens, and that God often uses simple words of encouragement to help lighten the load.

What God Has Taught Me About Faithfulness

As I reflect on these past three years, there are a few lessons that stand out above the rest.

God often asks us to take the next step before revealing the entire path. If I had waited until I understood everything, I never would have started. If I had waited until I felt fully prepared, I would probably still be waiting today.

I’ve also learned that ministry happens in ordinary places. It isn’t confined to a church building or a platform. Some of the most meaningful opportunities to encourage others happen in everyday conversations, ordinary moments, and seasons that seem unremarkable at the time.

Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that God can use willing people who are still growing.

I certainly haven’t arrived. I’m still learning. I’m still growing. I’m still trusting God one step at a time. The beautiful thing is that God doesn’t require perfection before He can use us. He simply asks for obedience.

Looking back, I can also see how God has often used the very things I was tempted to quit.

There were moments when I questioned whether continuing was worth the effort. Moments when I felt discouraged or wondered if I was making any difference at all. Yet time and time again, God would send encouragement at exactly the right moment. He would use a message, a conversation, or a simple reminder to reassure me that faithfulness matters even when we can’t see the results.

Those experiences have taught me that God is always working, even when His work isn’t immediately visible.

Prefer to Listen?

Listen to the full podcast episode here:

Season 2, Episode 13: One Year Later—What God Has Taught Me Through Makin’ Macon

Looking Ahead

As I look toward another year of blogging, podcasting, and encouraging others, my prayer remains the same prayer it was when Makin’ Macon began:

“Lord, let this reach the person who needs it.”

Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or you’ve just recently joined this community, thank you for being part of the journey. Thank you for reading, listening, commenting, and allowing me to encourage you along the way.

Most of all, thank you for reminding me that there are real people behind every view, every download, every message, and every interaction. Your encouragement has often encouraged me right back.

No matter what season you’re walking through today, I hope you’re reminded of this truth:

God has not left you.

He’s still working.

He’s still faithful.

And He’s still right there in the middle of the mess.

Keep Exploring Makin’ Macon

If you’re new here, I invite you to take a look around. Whether you’re looking for faith-filled encouragement, homemaking inspiration, essential oil blends, family-focused content, or simple recipes to share around the table, you’ll find a little bit of everything here at Makin’ Macon.

My heart has always been to offer encouragement in the middle of real life, and I pray something you find here points you closer to Jesus and reminds you that you’re not walking through life’s chaos alone.

Be sure to explore the blog, listen to past podcast episodes, and join the Stay Rooted email community for weekly encouragement delivered straight to your inbox.

Why These Are the Best Essential Oils for Homemakers

The oils on this list are not necessarily the trendiest oils or the most expensive oils. They are simply the ones that have earned a permanent place in my cabinet because they get used regularly.

As a homemaker, I want products that can serve multiple purposes. If an oil can be used in cleaning blends, diffuser recipes, room sprays, and everyday routines, it is much more likely to become a staple in my home. These oils have proven themselves useful time and time again, which is why they made this list.

The Best Essential Oils for Homemakers and Everyday Life

Lavender

If I could only keep one essential oil in my cabinet, lavender would be difficult to give up. It is easily one of the most versatile oils I own.

Lavender appears in many of my most-used blends because it works well for creating a peaceful atmosphere, supporting bedtime routines, and softening stronger oils in diffuser recipes. It is a key ingredient in blends like Peace Be Still, Held Together, Nighttime Allergy Relief, and several others throughout the blog.

One of the things I appreciate most about lavender is how adaptable it is. It pairs beautifully with citrus oils, woodsy oils, floral oils, and wellness-focused blends. Whether I am diffusing it in the evening or adding it to a room spray, it is an oil I reach for consistently.

Lemon

Lemon is one of those oils that makes a home feel fresh almost instantly.

I use lemon in several cleaning blends because it helps create that bright, clean atmosphere many of us love. It shows up in my floor cleaner, natural cleaning recipes, allergy blends, and freshening sprays because it works well in so many situations.

Beyond cleaning, lemon helps balance heavier oils and brings brightness to diffuser blends. If your goal is to make your home feel refreshed without using overpowering scents, lemon is an excellent oil to keep on hand.

Peppermint

Peppermint is probably one of the hardest-working oils in my cabinet.

It appears in several wellness blends on the blog, including headache blends, energy blends, allergy blends, and seasonal support recipes. Its crisp scent helps make a room feel refreshed while also adding a cooling element to diffuser recipes.

Because peppermint is so strong, a little goes a long way. A few drops can completely change the character of a blend, which makes it one of the most practical oils for everyday use.

Cedarwood

Cedarwood has become one of my favorite oils for creating atmosphere.

There is something warm, comforting, and grounding about cedarwood that makes a house feel more like home. It appears in several calming blends, room sprays, and diffuser recipes because it brings depth without becoming overpowering.

Recently, I used Atlas Cedarwood in my Fresh Linen & Cedar Room Spray, and it reminded me of opening my grandparents’ cedar closet filled with quilts and linens. That sense of comfort and familiarity is exactly why cedarwood has earned a permanent place in my collection.

Frankincense

Frankincense is often considered one of the more luxurious oils, but I think it deserves a place in a practical homemaker’s collection as well.

I frequently use frankincense in calming blends, prayer-time blends, and diffuser recipes designed to encourage quiet reflection. It blends beautifully with lavender, cedarwood, orange, and many other oils already on this list.

What I appreciate most about frankincense is its ability to bring balance to a blend. It adds a richness that helps diffuser recipes feel more complete without overwhelming the other oils.

Tea Tree

Tea tree is one of my go-to oils when creating cleaning and wellness blends.

Its fresh scent works well in natural cleaning recipes, and it frequently appears in several of my seasonal support blends. While it is not necessarily the prettiest-smelling oil on its own, it becomes incredibly useful when combined with oils like lemon, lavender, and eucalyptus.

Because of its versatility, tea tree remains one of the oils I always make sure to keep stocked.

Orange

Orange is one of the happiest oils in my collection.

It appears in many seasonal blends because it brings warmth, brightness, and an uplifting atmosphere to the home. Whether it is a cozy fall blend, a Christmas diffuser recipe, or a simple everyday blend, orange often helps tie everything together.

I especially enjoy using orange during seasons when the days feel a little heavier or darker. It has a way of making a room feel cheerful without becoming overwhelming.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is another oil that consistently earns its place in my cabinet.

Its clean, fresh scent works beautifully in both wellness-focused blends and home freshening recipes. It appears throughout many of my allergy blends, respiratory support blends, and cleaning recipes because it helps create an atmosphere that feels crisp and refreshed.

While eucalyptus can be strong, it pairs exceptionally well with lemon, lavender, peppermint, and tea tree, making it a valuable oil for many different blend combinations.

Building a Simple Essential Oil Cabinet for Everyday Life

One of the biggest mistakes new essential oil users make is thinking they need dozens of oils before they can start blending.

The truth is that a small collection of versatile oils can take you surprisingly far. Lavender, lemon, peppermint, cedarwood, frankincense, tea tree, orange, and eucalyptus can be combined in countless ways to support your homemaking routines.

Rather than buying everything at once, I encourage new users to start small. Learn how a few oils work, discover the combinations you enjoy most, and build your collection gradually. You will likely find that certain oils become favorites while others stay tucked away on the shelf.

Safety Notes

• Always dilute essential oils appropriately before applying them to the skin.
• Follow recommended dilution guidelines for children and sensitive individuals.
• Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas.
• Patch test new blends before wider use.
• Use essential oils responsibly and in moderation.
• Consult a qualified healthcare professional if you have concers about using essential oils for your specific situation.

Where to Buy High-Quality Essential Oils

Not all essential oils are created equal! To ensure you’re getting the best quality, here are my trusted recommendations:

Simply Earth – Exciting news for all my essential oil lovers! I’m thrilled to share that I’ve partnered with Simply Earth, a brand that’s not only committed to providing pure, affordable oils but also donates 13% of their profits to ending human trafficking. As a Simply Earth subscriber, you’ll receive monthly Recipe Boxes that come with everything you need to create your own blends, along with free access to their Essential Oil Hero Course! Plus, if you’re a new subscriber, use my code MAKINMACONFREE at checkout to receive a $45 gift card after your first box purchase. It’s the perfect way to get started with essential oils while supporting a great cause! Head over to Simply Earth to sign up today!

Guru Nanda – A budget-friendly option available at Walmart and Amazon, making it easy to find quality oils at a great price. Shop Guru Nanda on Amazon.

Want to Learn More About Essential Oils?

If you are new to blending or want to better understand how to safely mix oils for sprays, rollers, and diffuser recipes, I highly recommend starting with my essential oil dilution guide here on the blog. It walks through simple dilution guidelines that can help you blend confidently and safely for everyday use.

If you enjoy simple blends, practical essential oil tips, and encouragement rooted in Scripture, I’d love for you to join my Fragrant Faith email group. Each month, I share an exclusive blend, seasonal inspiration, and faith-filled encouragement designed to help you create a peaceful atmosphere in both your home and your heart.

You can also explore more blends in the Essential Oils section of the blog, including Wellness Blends, Seasonal Blends, and Home & Cleaning Blends.

Whether you are just getting started or have been using essential oils for years, I hope this list encourages you to keep things simple. The best essential oils for homemakers are often the ones that become trusted companions in everyday life, helping create a home that feels welcoming, peaceful, and well cared for.

And as always remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are.

**Disclaimer:** I am not a medical professional. The information shared in this post is based on personal experience and research. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using essential oils, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or using them with children. Use essential oils as directed and dilute them properly.

What 6 Months of Fresh Milled Flour Taught Me About Time and Systems

If there is one lesson that stands above all the others, it’s this: fresh milled flour takes time.

When I first started, I assumed most of my learning would happen in the first few weeks. I thought I would figure out which wheat berries I liked, learn a few recipes, and settle into a routine. Instead, I discovered that fresh milled flour has a learning curve of its own.

There are different wheat berries to learn, recipe conversions to understand, hydration levels to adjust, and baking techniques that don’t always behave the way they do with commercial flour. Then there’s the simple reality of figuring out what your family will actually eat.

What surprised me most wasn’t the flour itself. It was realizing how important systems are.

Early on, I thought I needed to mill flour every time I baked. That sounds wonderful in theory, but our home doesn’t operate in theory. We homeschool, we’re involved in ministry, people sleep at different times, and life stays busy. My NutriMill Classic lives in the laundry room, and I know myself well enough to admit that if I have to drag it out every single time I need flour, I’m probably going to reach for the unbleached all-purpose flour instead.

That’s when I realized I didn’t need perfection. I needed a rhythm.

Now, when I know I’m going to be baking that week, I mill ahead and store my flour properly. Is it exactly the same as using it immediately after milling? No. But it means I actually use it, and that’s what matters.

One of the biggest lessons from 6 months of fresh milled flour is that success comes from creating systems you can maintain. The more I think about it, the more I realize fresh milled flour is a lot like cooking from scratch in general. It feels overwhelming at first, but once you build a routine, it becomes part of everyday life.

What 6 Months of Fresh Milled Flour Taught Me About Real-Life Eating

One thing I didn’t expect was how much my family would notice the difference in the way we eat.

Before our recent vacation, I made a loaf of bread so we’d have sandwiches and toast while we were away. That may sound silly to some people, but my crew genuinely prefers homemade bread now. Having that loaf with us helped us stay somewhat on track while we were gone.

Of course, vacations have a way of changing routines. We still ate foods that we don’t normally eat at home, and by the end of the trip, everyone was ready to get back to our regular meals.

What surprised me most was hearing both my son and daughter talk about it. They were genuinely glad to be home and eating the foods they were accustomed to again.

Now, I’m not making medical claims, and I’m certainly not saying fresh milled flour is a miracle food. What I am saying is that we’ve noticed a difference. When we’ve spent months eating mostly homemade foods and then suddenly switch back to highly processed foods, our bodies seem to notice the change.

One thing I’ve learned over the last six months is that healthier habits aren’t always noticed while you’re doing them. Sometimes they’re noticed when you stop doing them for a little while.

I’ve also learned that fresh milled flour doesn’t magically make everything healthy. While I absolutely believe it’s a better option than highly processed flour, it’s still flour. It’s still a carbohydrate. It’s still something we should approach with balance and wisdom.

Over the last several months, I’ve personally become more intentional about what I eat. While my family still enjoys plenty of bread, I’ve focused more on protein and balance because of my own health goals. Learning moderation has been just as important as learning how to bake.

What 6 Months of Fresh Milled Flour Taught Me About Learning

If you’ve followed this series from the beginning, you’ve probably heard me talk about mistakes. Trust me, there have been plenty.

I’ve grabbed the wrong wheat berry. I’ve measured yeast incorrectly. I’ve made loaves that were too dense and rolls that didn’t rise the way I expected. At the time, those moments felt frustrating. Looking back, they were some of my greatest teachers.

One of the best examples was when I accidentally used soft white wheat in a recipe that needed hard white wheat. I couldn’t understand why the dough kept tearing apart until I realized what I had done. Then there was the time I couldn’t figure out why my rolls weren’t rising properly, only to discover that I had written down the yeast amount incorrectly.

Those moments aren’t fun when they happen, but they remind me that learning is rarely a straight line.

Then there’s sourdough.

I already loved sourdough before I started milling my own flour. I had finally reached a place where I felt comfortable with it. Then I introduced fresh milled flour into the equation and suddenly felt like a beginner all over again.

Fresh milled flour sourdough is a whole other beast.

Some days it works beautifully. Other days I find myself staring at a loaf wondering what happened. At this point, I’ve decided to give myself permission to learn slowly. I’d rather understand it well than rush ahead and pretend I know more than I do.

Honestly, you’ll probably hear much more from me about fresh milled flour sourdough next year than you will this year. For now, my regular sourdough starter is working just fine, and I’m continuing to learn one loaf at a time.

One thing 6 months of fresh milled flour has taught me is that mistakes don’t mean you’re failing. Most of the time, they simply mean you’re learning.

Starting Small Is Still Progress

Recently, someone asked me how to get started milling flour. As we talked, I learned she was raising two small children, working a full-time job, and just beginning to learn how to cook and bake from scratch.

My advice surprised her because I didn’t tell her to run out and buy a grain mill immediately. Instead, I encouraged her to learn how to bake with unbleached all-purpose flour first.

Not because I didn’t think she could learn fresh milled flour. I absolutely think she could. But I also wanted her to succeed.

When we’re trying to change everything at once, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Cooking from scratch has a learning curve. Bread baking has a learning curve. Fresh milled flour has a learning curve. Trying to tackle all three at the same time can feel like a lot.

I’ve heard of people slowly transitioning by replacing part of the flour in a recipe with fresh milled flour and gradually increasing the amount over time. For many families, that’s a realistic and sustainable approach.

Sometimes we get excited about making healthier changes and want to do everything at once. The problem is that when we become overwhelmed, we’re more likely to quit.

There’s no prize for getting there the fastest.

Learn to bake a loaf of bread. Learn a few family recipes. Get comfortable in the kitchen. Then, when you’re ready, add fresh milled flour into the mix.

Small steps are still progress.

What I’m Looking Forward to Over the Next Six Months

If the first six months have been about learning the basics, I think the next six months will be about strengthening those foundations.

Right now, I don’t feel the need to rush into every new grain, recipe, or technique. There is still plenty for me to learn with the wheat berries already sitting in my pantry. I want to continue improving my breads, refining the systems that work for our family, and becoming more confident with sourdough over time.

One thing 6 months of fresh milled flour has taught me is that growth doesn’t always come from adding something new. Sometimes growth comes from doing the same thing over and over until it becomes second nature.

And honestly, I think that’s where I am right now.

I’m no longer trying to figure out if fresh milled flour can fit into our lifestyle. Instead, I’m learning how to make it a consistent part of our everyday rhythm. That’s a very different place to be than where I started six months ago, and I’m grateful for the progress we’ve made along the way.

Watch My 6-Month Fresh Milled Flour Update

If you’d like to hear more about where I am in this journey, I’ve shared a video update on YouTube that goes along with this post. This isn’t a tutorial or a step-by-step guide. It’s simply an honest conversation about what’s working, what’s challenging, and what I’m learning along the way.

New to fresh milled flour? Start here.

If you’re just joining this journey, be sure to visit the Fresh Milled Flour section of the blog. You’ll find everything from getting started, to storage, to recipe conversions, along with a few simple recipes I’ve tried and enjoyed along the way.

From My Kitchen to Yours

Over the past year, I’ve had the chance to use several NutriMill products in my own kitchen, and they’ve truly become part of our everyday rhythm.

The NutriMill Classic Grain Mill has been the biggest game changer for us. Being able to mill fresh flour at home has not only improved the quality of our baking, but it’s also helped me feel more confident about what I’m feeding my family.

I’ve also started using a few of their newer products, like the dough mats (which I didn’t realize I needed until I used one!) and the Bosch Universal Plus Mixer, which has been a huge help as I’ve grown more serious about baking.

What I appreciate most is that these are tools built to last. From my experience, NutriMill stands behind their products, and that matters when you’re investing in your kitchen.

If you’ve been considering a grain mill or upgrading your baking tools, I’d simply encourage you to keep an eye on their sales. You can use my code MAKINMACON for $20 savings on select products. Watch for the sales and save even more!!!

If you do choose to shop through my link or use my code, it’s a simple way to support our family and the work we’re doing here at Makin’ Macon, and I’m truly grateful.

I’ll always share honestly what’s working in my kitchen, and this is one of those things I’d choose again without hesitation.

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I’m so glad you’re here.

And remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are.