Sunday Inspiration: Simplify Your Approach

A Spirit of Gratitude: April 2017

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I looked at the calendar and suddenly realized that next week is May.  April completely got away from me.  I went to visit my sister's family in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, then it was Easter and I kept thinking there was another week or two in April.  But... no.  I need to slow down a bit and take some time to appreciate May!

I Am Thankful For:

My beautiful new pen made by the Man of the House

Road trip with my dad

Visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards

Celebrating my sister's birthday with her for the first time in years

Botanical gardens

The Male Offspring calling me almost every day while I was away
Coming home
A husband who makes me laugh
A quiet Easter Sunday
Rainy days full of crochet

Plenty of coffee
The grandkid registering for kindergarten

Sunday Inspiration: Good and Helpful

Sunday Inspiration: Easter

"It is finished." - John 29:30

The Pen is Mighter Than...

Hey y'all... can I be honest about something.  I have a pen problem.  I love pens.  Seriously... adore them.  I have more pens than any reasonable person should probably own. 

But I may be putting all those other pens aside and forgetting them in favor of just one pen.

This one...

The Man of the House made it for me.  Yes, you read that correct - he made it for me! 

He received a lathe for Christmas and now has a new hobby. He has also turned some pretty rosewood pen and pencil sets.  And he recently took a class on one Saturday where he learned how to turn bowls.  He hasn't made another one yet, but the one he did that day is beautiful!

But.  This.  Pen.

Y'all, how pretty is this??

I loved my pen so much, I asked him to make one for my sister's birthday.  (Which I can now show you since her birthday is has passed...)

Another gorgeous creation by my gorgeous, talented husband. 

Sunday Inspiration: Lacking Nothing

Revising the To Do List

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  ~Luke 10: 38 - 42

Am I a Martha, or a Mary?  Am I so focused on marking off the daily things on the to-do list that I miss what's really important?

I would like to think I'm flexible enough to step away from the list and make time for other things.  Things that matter more than what chores I can accomplish each day.  But maybe it's not true... or at least not as true as I would like it to be. 

Currently... April 2017

April has arrived.  Winter is officially over.  It's the month of bunnies, spring flowers, warm breezes, and baseball opening day.  We start looking forward to summer.   We put away the winter clothes and get out our shorts and sun dresses (usually to regret it a week later when we have a cold snap). 

Reading:  Suddenly every hold I had at the library has become available!  Seems like that's always how it works out.  I wait forever and then - BAM! I have a ton of books to read in a few short weeks.  I need to finish Ross Poldark, then I have The Chemist, Three Sisters, Three Queens, and A Man Called Ove.

Eating:  Less. I have been trying to keep up with tracking my calorie intake vs what I'm burning each day.  It's paying off.  I lost 7 pounds last month!

Working On:  Some sewing for myself.  I've been wanting some relaxed, comfy, wide legged palazzo pants and decided I would just make some.

Enjoying:  Having the windows open on these mild Spring days.  Before it gets too hot and they have to be closed again to run the air conditioner.

Anticipating:  A trip to Texas to visit with my baby sister!

Feeling:   A little freaked out that a quarter of this year is already behind us!  2017 needs to just slow it down a little bit.  Am I right, or am I right? 

What are you up to as April begins?

Sunday Inspiration: Each Morning