Happy February, blue fam! If we’re being honest, this month (especially the past week) has felt anything but happy. The war on cops is running rampant and we continue to see more and more of our blue family attacked, gunned down, and killed. It’s heartbreaking, infuriating, and so, so scary.
If you’re having a hard time right now, please know that you’re not alone. Two of my “most liked” posts this month (below) have to do with the gut wrenching insanity we’ve been seeing lately, and my comments and DMs have been full of fellow LEOWs grappling with our current reality. We’re all angered and saddened with what’s happening to our first responder family, and the lack of response from the mainstream media and politians.
We went through something similar last election year (ugh, 2020) and it was so hard. AND (not but) we can do hard things. Our first responders are some of the bravest and toughest people I know, and their spouses are no different. You can do this, friend. Lean on the Lord and lean into your marriage.
I posted a prayer to speak over our LEO’s uniform this week (in this reel) and if you don’t already, I would encourage you to lay hands on your hero’s gear and pray over it. If you need some more prayer ideas, my ebook The Praying Police Wife has dozens of prayers specific to police wife life. You can find it here and use code BLUEFAM to make it just $5 and download it immediately.
PHEW! It’s been a heavy season, but gosh am I so grateful that I get to go through it with all of you!
Scroll down for the rest of this month’s newsletter, and if you’re not already subscribed and want these posts to come directly to your inbox, you can do so here.
Here’s the top three things y’all loved this past month:
ammo+grace: the devotional. This is the second month in a row the most purchased item I shared was my devotional! Holy moly! I’m honored and humbled that thousands of you have let my little devotional into your homes and hearts.
Toaster Waffle Maker. Every few weeks I make a huge stash of freezer waffles for quick and easy breakfasts with this little waffle maker! If you want to know more about this simple breakfast hack, I blogged about it here.
Police Kiddo Book. Last month I shared this sweet children’s book by fellow LEOWs Kristen and Michelle. It’s a cute read for any first responder family!
Here’s the top 3 posts y’all engaged with the most this past month! For the first time there’s not a single reel on here. If I can be honest, I kind of miss the “old” instagram that was just full of single images 🙊
If you’re not already following along on Instagram, make sure to hop on board! My username is @ammoandgrace.
A long time ammo+grace community member and fellow LEOW just started her very own blue small shop! Blue Line Babe is full of cute, modern thin blue line gear for both adults and kiddos. My favorite design is the “in my blue line era” sweatshirt! Check out her Instagram here, and use code “Ammoandgrace15” to save! And psst, if you’re wondering-this isn’t sponsored, I just love highlighting small shops that support our military and first responders, especially when they come from those who are part of the a+g fam!
This month’s “shortcut supper” is sliiightly more involved than past newsletter recipes, but it’s still so simple and delicious that I wanted to share it here! Earlier this week I needed to grocery shop and just couldn’t figure out what sounded good to eat. I considered heating up a frozen pizza, getting take out, throwing cereal on the table and calling it good…but then found a can of coconut milk in my pantry and knew this is what I needed to make!
Peanut bowls are simple and yummy and can be customized to your liking. Sometimes I serve it with noodles instead of rice, or with wontons or potstickers on the side. The peanut sauce saves well in the fridge, and can be added over all kinds of things!
Here’s what you need:
1 can coconut milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
Minced garlic (to taste)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar sugar
1 teaspoon lime juice
Sriracha to taste
Rice (any kind)
Broccoli (frozen or fresh-you’re just going to steam it)
Chicken (I use frozen rotisserie chicken-you could really use any meat that sounds good, or omit it completely!)
Toppings (crushed peanuts, cilantro, sriracha)
Cook some rice (instant or traditional!) and steam some broccoli (I use frozen broccoli and steam it in the microwave). Add all of your peanut sauce ingredients together in a pot and whisk until smooth. Heat until warmed and thickened to your liking. Assemble bowls, topping with whatever sounds good! You could also sub cooked carrots, add wontons, put a freezer egg roll on the side-anything goes! This is a super simple recipe that feels fancy and hits the major food groups. That’s a win in my book! I haven’t tried this recipe with any alternative nut butters-if you do, will you let me know how it turns out?
This month I’m featuring one of the OGs in law enforcement literature-Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Families by Dr. Kevin Gilmartin. My LEO received this book while in the academy and in my opinion it’s a great read for both officers and their families. If you want to know more, I reviewed this book on the blog years ago here.
This month’s “devotional” is a longer version of the uniform prayer I referenced at the beginning of this post:
Dear Lord, please be with my LEO and their brothers and sisters in blue today and everyday. Be a hedge of protection, a source of comfort, and our safe place in every storm. Wrap Your arms around blue families everywhere, God, and make Your mighty presence be known. Remind us to turn to You in these hard times when we feel worried and scared and alone. Intercede, Lord, in the warfare around us. You are our everlasting comfort and strength today and tomorrow and forever, and even in these difficult days, we find rest and assurance in You. Surround my LEO just as this uniform does and go before, beside, and behind them. Let no evil touch them and no harm penetrate Your mighty shield. Be a tangible presence beside them and let Your mighty angel army march directly by their side. I ask these things in Your powerful name, believing that You are sovereign and good and powerful and kind. Thank You for loving me, Lord, and caring so much about me and my every thought and worry.
