A Morning of Letting Go
The last month, I’ve sat at the feet of Jesus. But then the waves of life wash over me and pull me farther out into the deep. I feel myself fading, slipping away from the anchor I’ve been clinging to. And then I heard Him say,
“Tara, come back.”
I’ve never heard Him say my name like that before.
He is with me in the storm. ❤️
As I walked into the kitchen to make breakfast and pack lunches, I locked eyes with my oldest.
He opened his arms without a word.
The moment he wrapped me up, the tears poured out—
a release I didn’t even know I’d been holding.
As the sobs grew louder, he pulled me in tighter,
steady and strong—
as if Jesus Himself was holding me up through my child.
He said goodbye and headed to school.
Then the phone rang. I saw her name, and I felt seen again.
“Why are you calling me? To make me cry harder?” I asked, half-laughing, half-broken.
“That’s right, sissy ❤️,” she said. “Because I love you. And I know you haven’t taken the time to cry.”
When we hung up, I wiped my face, added extra concealer, and put on mascara—
hoping I had patched myself together enough to make it through the morning.
I walked into work and thanked my team—
really thanked them—
for showing up, linking arms, carrying what I couldn’t carry today.
One of them paused, tears in her eyes.
“Today’s my mom’s birthday,” she said, pulling me in for a hug.
And I understood. Next week will be my mom’s birthday too.
Two women, two daughters, quietly patting their eyes and steadying their hearts
before heading out to serve others.
It wasn’t even 10 a.m.,
and I had already been washed, emptied, and strangely… cleansed.
Scripture & Devotional Closing
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”
— Isaiah 43:2
Some mornings feel like waves we never saw coming—washing over us before we’ve even had time to breathe. But the promise of Jesus is not that the waters will never rise…
it’s that we never walk through them alone.
He calls us by name.
He anchors us when we drift.
He meets us in the kitchen, in our tears, and even in the arms of our children.
He shows up in phone calls, in unexpected hugs, in the small mercies woven into ordinary days.
And when the storm feels too heavy, He doesn’t tell us to be stronger—
He simply whispers,
“Come back.”
If today feels like deep waters, may you remember this:
You are held.
You are seen.
You are carried.
And Jesus—your anchor, your steadiness, your peace—
is right there in the storm with you.
Hold fast to Him.
Lift your eyes.
Let the tears come.
Let the cleansing begin.
He is your ⚓️ anchor
and He will not let you go.
My Mom’s Pumpkin Pie
I am not a girl that gravitates to a pumpkin pie, except my mama’s. It has just the right spice and doesn’t taste like it came out of a baby food jar, haha!! I love it warmed and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Why don’t we have pumpkin pie around all year? Let’s start a new trend, pumpkin pie 24/7!
Prep time: 15 mins.
Bake time: 55 mins.
1-1 lb. Royers dough ball or 1-9” unbaked pie shell
¾ cup sugar
1 15-oz can pumpkin pie filling mix
½ cup milk
½ can evaporated milk
2 eggs, beaten
2 T. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground cloves
½ tsp. salt
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Roll out the dough ball until it is ¼-inch thickness and lay in the 9-inch pie pan. Press dough into the base of the pie pan and crimp edges with your two fore fingers. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, pumpkin puree, milk, evaporate milk, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, clove, and salt. Pour into pie crust. Bake for 45-55 minutes until the pie is set in the middle. Let cool before serving.
Yields: 1-9” pie
His Harvest
November 5th, 2025
Not sure why it takes me 6 months to get over here and write, but if being honest, this has been a season of less art and writing and more experiencing God’s goodness through a book tour. Two 1/2 weeks ago my world came crashing down. Life has been whole & hard, abundant & empty, good & exhausting. There have been mountain tops, deep dark valleys, but HE IS STILL GOOD. Recently, at a book signing, I was sharing my testimony and one of the questions was, “You are talking about all the good things & I see the joy & you giving Him the glory. But, what about in the suffering?” I told him I was walking through one of the hardest things I've ever experienced, right now. He is still good, faithful, and steadfast. Man!!! He is so good. I'm in awe of His kindness to me ❤️❤️❤️❤️.
I was writing down scriptures and re-read this one, and the words, “HIS HARVEST,” hit me like a ton of bricks. Sure, I know my heart, and I try to discern the right things, but I'm human. So, I will not always make the best decisions, but He can turn it for good, and He gets the glory. He sees our hearts and knows our thoughts better than we do. He knows if I'm trying, but just not there yet, because it wasn't time for him to reveal such things to me yet. But, God. I'm seeing the patchwork quilt he’s been weaving for about 14 months come together, and it's absolutely radiant! Because when we sow into HIS harvest, HE BRINGS THE PEOPLE. Man, HE’s so dang good to me!! To you!!!
Goodnessssss!!!!, I just went to @youversion to grab this scripture, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 was the scripture of the day. ONLY JESUS!!
Y’all HE is real and HE is good ❤️
📢🥧🎉📚🍴Here we go, "Keep Your Fork, There's Pie" book party and tour!!! Grab your friends and let's celebrate!!!
SEPTEMBER 2025-
Friday, September 19th, 2025
10:00am.
Rockwall County Master Gardener Club
General Admission $35.00
VIP - $50.00
tickets 👉https://bit.ly/rockwallgardenclub
Come for The Bulb Hunter and learn more about planting perennial bullos, naturalizing them, all native to Texas or adaptive. This is a great addition to your cottage cut flower garden. AND, stay for lunch and a piece of PIE and I'll have copies of my new book, "Keep Your Fork, There's Pie"
Sunday, September 21st, 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Pie, Praise and Paint - In The Commons
Brenham's First Baptist Church Worship Center
2715 South Market Street
Brenham, TX 77833
tickets 👉- https://bit.ly/piepraisepaint
Thursday, September 25th, 2025
Tres Chic Boutique Hometown Book Signing
Brenham, Tx
11:30am to 1pm
Join us for shopping, savory and sweet pies for sale, and I'll be there signing copies of my new book, “Keep Your Fork, There’s Pie"
OCTOBER 2025-
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
11am to 1pm
Junk Gypsy Company in Round Top, Tx
Pumpkins and Pie! Frey Farms is bringing the pumpkins and we are bringing the pies, and copies of “Keep Your Fork, There’s PIE”! Bring on the FALL, junkin’ and pie!
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
4pm
Blue Willow Bookshop
14532 Memorial Drive
Houston, Tx
Be sure to RSVP below! Of course, there will be pie to buy!!
https://bluewillowbookshop.com/event/royer-steele-2025
Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 (RELEASE DAY, too!!)
6pm
Kim Hoegger Home Farmhouse Dinner
Join us for a beautiful evening of shopping at Kim’s barn, dinner catered by Bake Shop at All Things Acres. That’s me. Of course, we will have pie & copies of my new book, “Keep Your Fork, There’s Pie” for sale and I'd love to sign for you! There will be live music and a Q & A with Krissa Rosebund of Traditional Home.
Tickets-https://bit.ly/kimhoegger
Friday, October 10th, 2025
4pm
🥧🎉LAUNCH PARTY at Royers Pie Haven!
Round Top, Tx
It’s time to celebrate🎉!! At 4pm we will have a good ‘ole ribbon cutting for the book with Washington County Chamber of Commerce--Brenham, Texas, i mean, why not?! Live music with Jack Carr, pies, treats, special gifts, and a wonderful time celebrating, “Keep Your Fork, There’s Pie”
Tickets-https://www.allthingsacres.com/events-and-camps/book-launch-pie-party
Sunday, October 12th, 2025
2pm to 5pm
The Arbors at Round Top
Happppie Hour at the Arbors, pies, shopping and book signings!
Friday, October 17th, 2025
5pm to 7pm
Blackberry & Honeysuckle
110 West Washington Ave
Navasota, Tx
Come join us in our Honeysuckle Loft and enjoy a cozy evening of fellowship and laughter! We're so excited to welcome Tara back! She will be serving up the most delicious pies & talk about her new book, "Keep Your Fork, There's Pie!" This gathering will be so much fun! Wine + Charcuterie Style Bites
All guests will go home with a copy of Tara's book (signed the event!), a B&H Gift Box with curated goodies & 10% off your purchase in our shop.
https://blackberryandhoneysuckle.com/attend-our-events/
Saturday, October 18th, 2025
10am to 5pm
Market at the Mill & Clifton Fall Festival
I'll be bringing pies and books!!
Saturday, October 25th, 2025
11am to 2pm
Rhinestone Angel
Flatonia, Tx
Czhilispiel, pies and books, OH MY!!! Of course, there will be pie to buy!!
Tuesday, October 28th, 2025
7pm
Fabled Bookshop & Cafe
Waco, Tx
So excited to be at Fabled!!! Join me as we gather, fellowship, share pie and sign books! Yes, there will be pie for you to buy!!
NOVEMBER 2025
Thursday, November 6th
6pm-9pm
Cinco Ranch Ace Hardware Ladies Night
720 S Mason Rd, Katy
#IYKYK. Ladies nights at Ace Hardware is the place to be!! Shopping, pie and books!
Saturday, November 8th, 2025
12pm-2pm
Especially For You Tea Room
Kaufman, Tx
We are going to have one heck of a street party!! Coffee bar, pie, fun and celebrating, “Keep Your Fork, There’s Pie!!” You can take pies home and freeze them for the holidays!
Saturday, November 15th, 2025
12pm to 4pm
Tammie's Touch
Lake Jackson, Tx
Book signing and pies for Thanksgiving!!
PHEW!!! There are a few more to sprinkle in, but for now, mark your calendars, grab your friends and let's celebrate!!!
love came down...
i doodled this earlier in the week and wasn't sure what i was going to write about, until last night. last night, love came down from heaven in the form of snow. it stopped the whole state of texas. something so small as snow, but so BIG from our GOD. he rescued our tired and weary souls. kids screamed with excitement as most had never seen snow. a first for so many. kisses from loved ones above. parents stopped and were still & filled with joy. thank you Lord for reminding us that you have washed us white as snow and we are always yours. you are always with us. even in the snow.
i doodled this earlier in the week and wasn't sure what i was going to write about, until last night. last night, love came down from heaven in the form of snow. it stopped the whole state of texas. something so small as snow, but so BIG from our GOD. he rescued our tired and weary souls. kids screamed with excitement as most had never seen snow. a first for so many. kisses from loved ones above. parents stopped and were still & filled with joy.
the definition of joy...last night
a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
"tears of joy"
synonyms:delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, rapture;
thank you Lord for reminding us that you have washed us white as snow and we are always yours. you are always with us. even in the snow.
all the things...
all the things...
hey y'all!! i'm beyond excited to launch this new website...it will host all the things that we do, yes we!! i could never do all the things without an amazing tribe of people who rally, love, encourage, support and work so hard!!
here we will talk recipes, books, podcasts, cooking classes, brave gatherings, the gathering at round top, catering, coffee & illustrated doodles of life & whatever God lays on our hearts. all the things that we do. so, excited. in the next week we will have a place to sign up for newsletters too. can't wait to share here.
pie, blessings and lots of bravery,
tara