May Musings

Let’s chat about beauty and gratitude and all the places and books where we’re finding hope and encouragement and anticipation these days of May! I’ll go first. 🙂

1. ANTICIPATE

At this very moment, as write these words, I’m anticipating my parents coming to visit and a graduation celebration for Tucker.

We’re in the throes of preparing our backyard to some semblance of presentation while simultaneously praying for an evening of beautiful Kansas weather. My husband gave me two white, square picnic tables as an anniversary gift and I’m delighted!

I’m thinking things like “How many tortilla chips for the nacho bar?” and “I need to bag enough ice for drinks and for making homemade ice cream for the sundae dessert bar.” and “Will the electricity go out like it did at Renae’s graduation?”

2. BEAUTY

Beauty abounds in the spring!

I adore watching plants and flowers quietly spring forth and begin growing.
Hostas, irises, roses, lavender, hydrangeas, peonies….
My peony bush has one bud edging oh-so-close to bursting open and I’m eagerly anticipating it as well. I’m taking a peek at it every day and sharing it in my IG stories occasionally.

I’ve added some beautiful pieces from Mercy House Global to my home recently and I’m grateful for the loveliness they add. Baskets and wooden candleholders and a gorgeous mandala cookbook holder. It makes me so happy to also know as I look at these items that the purchase helps others in two ways. #1. The profit from the sale supports the beautiful young women and babies at Mercy House in Kenya and #2. It also supports many artisans around the world and in the U.S. and gives them the opportunity to make a fair wage and create a life.

I’m using some of the baskets and wooden pieces to create my food table for Tuc’s graduation.

3. CREATE

“For what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.” ~ C.S. Lewis

What creates our likes and dislikes? What are some of your favorite things and what, at the end of the day, for better or worse, you really just don’t like?!

I love flowers. Always. And forever.

Bookshelves brimming with bright spines of books and authors I love make me smile.

Home is my happy place.

I am a work in progress. Always. And until Jesus hugs me home.

Pens and pencils and markers make me unspeakably happy.

I am not, nor will I ever be, a fan of cold shoulder shirts. {but to anyone who is, wear them with enjoyment!}

I will cough all night before I will take cough syrup.{ask my husband. he knows.} {It makes me gag… and shudder…and all manner of evils}

Heights make me shaky and cause my stomach to plummet.

Swallowing pills still does not come easily to me.

Cucumbers are pretty, but they taste very “meh” to me. However, if you invite me to a tea party and serve cucumber sandwiches, I will manage to eat them.

Our world brims with so much to delight in… from the everyday warmth and comfort of a morning cup of coffee to the next adventure or challenge you find fascinating.

4. DELIGHT

1997 ~ 2021
T W E N T Y – F O U R Y E A R S
🎉🎉🎉
congrats to us FROM US as teenagers

Both of us have days when we’re super nice people.

Both of us have days when we’re not very fun to be around.

But in ALL THE DAYS we both have commitment + love + choosing each other + plenty of practice as a good forgiver.

And in all the days my husband is my favorite. Even when one of us is having a “not very fun to be around” moment. Because in the super nice we choose to forgive the not-so-nice. Doing this doesn’t happen without a heap of compassion and commitment.

As a total aside, I still adore my wedding cake, still totally frustrated I couldn’t have a wedding bouquet because of “church rules” at the time, and we both now drink coffee All the Days as well. Never in our wildest imagination, twenty -four years ago.

AND
“There STILL ain’t no place that I’d rather be,
Next to you, S I T T I N ‘, Next to me.
If the good Lord’s willing when we’re old and gray,
Kids are grown up and moved away,
We’ll be rockin’ here side by side,
Barbecued chicken and the TV Guide.” ~ Shenandoah

The gray is coming for us.

Kids are grown.

Still keeping them here for awhile.

Rockin’ side by side.

Popcorn more often than barbecued chicken.

|The Good Lord in Every Good Day He Gives Us.

5. ENCOURAGE

Reading is learning….and learning is growing….and growing is life-giving….

People I like to follow and read: they offer insight, they ask good questions, they ponder, they encourage critical thinking. I share these in part because I love to read lists like this and I’ve found many fantastic authors and books through recommendations.

On Instagram I find myself looking forward to and browsing these stories:

Ann Voskamp…beauty and encouragement in the hard + her little shepherdess with the almond eyes and red coat steals my heart every time.
Rachel Eldrege….she makes me laugh. Her sense of humor syncs well with mine.
Sharon McMahon…she’s funny, she’s smart, and she has such a helpful + hopeful community.
Christie Purifoy…she brings beauty + placemaking every single time.
Jennifer Fulwiler…she’s a comedian. Nuff said.
two of my close friends…I love seeing what’s happening in the daily of their lives.

6. FAITH

“The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon.” ~ Dallas Willard

Indeed. Pondering the power of what we spend our time on. Reflecting on thoughts and words pointing to this.

We become consumed by what we consume.

“We become what we behold.” ~ @ruthchousimons

Whatever has been laid as our foundation will indicate where our hope lies. When foundations shake, we’re offered insight into who our faith depends on.

Philippians 4:8 ~ “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

Psalm 1:1 ~ “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.”

Colossians 3:1-2 ~ “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

I don’t believe it means we won’t ever question, or have doubts and fears. The words of Jesus are really good at presenting paradoxes. He tells us we will have trouble. And then He tells us essentially, “I am here. I love you so much. I am with you. Always. In your tears. In the mundane. In the glorious moments of celebration. Center on me. I see you.”

What words, books, quotes, and verses are your favorites for dwelling upon?

7. GRATITUDE

“I’ve kind of contracted a habit of enjoying things,” he remarked once, when Anne had commented on his invariable cheerfulness. “It’s got so chronic that I believe I even enjoy the disagreeable things.”
~ Captain Jim, Anne’s House of Dreams * L.M. Montgomery

Thank you, Captain Jim. I need a bit of your chronic-ness to rub off because I’m afraid I still frown at dirty dishes and lament how quickly “clean” evaporates back into “dirty.” In summary, while I enjoy things, I have not reached the level of enjoying the disagreeable.

I adore Captain Jim. He and Matthew Cuthbert both carry charm and kindness and compassion in their way of living. Characters you wish would step from the page into real life.

Two questions today, ADG comrade friends ~

1. A favorite character or three from the Anne of Green Gables series?

2. Something you’ve contracted a habit of enjoying?

Miss Cornelia is another favorite character for me, and I’ve always had a soft spot for Walter.

Beauty and fresh flowers and books… I’ve totally contracted the habit of enjoyment in these.

{P.S. my girlie in this photo carries a good combination of characters from L.M. Montgomery in her and it makes me delightfully happy. Pat of Silverbush and Jane of Lantern Hill and Anne.}

Currently Reading…

Funny How Life Works by Michael Jr.
Effortless by Greg McKeown
The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
The Magnolia Journal Issue 19

Working on….

Now That Faith Has Come: A Study of Galatians

Review for Empty Nest, Full Life by Jill Savage

When I had an email in my inbox offering me a copy of this book to read and review, I was quite happy. I’m not quite to empty nest yet, but it does hover near. On page 63, Jill Savage talks about the power of affirmation and I loved it. She reminds us we never outgrow our need for affirmation from our parents. She says:

“You and I can be too negative. We can be too critical. But we can rarely be too positive. We can rarely provide more affirmation than what our loved ones need.”

The book is divided into two parts. The first part is titled Let Go! and all 6 chapters are Letting Go.
For example: Chapter 1 is Letting Go of Expectations.
Chapter 3 is Letting Go of Opinions
Chapter 5 is Let Go of Your Child’s Problems

The second part is titled Hold On!
Chapter 8 is Grab Hold of New Passions
Chapter 10 is Grab Hold of Your Marriage
Chapter 11 is Grab Hold of God’s Hand

These sentences were powerful to me too.

“You’ve spent twenty years being the authority in your child’s life and that’s why you’re so accustomed to offering your thoughts, direction, and opinions. Once your kids are on their own, however, you’ve now passed the baton of authority.”

Each chapter ends with a Bible verse in Truth for Today, a Take the Next Step action or suggestion, and a prayer in Talk With God.

If you’re in the empty nest stage or nearing it, this book is a good read. Jill Savage shares practical wisdom, good suggestions to springboard your own evaluation and ideas for your life, and the ups and downs and learned experiences in her own life.

KID PICK

When you know your favorites, proclaim them!
My nephew loves the Coach Tony and Coach Lauren books. Every time he comes over, these are the books he wants to read. I love it! It’s so fun and delightful to watch small people form their likes and see what they’re drawn to. These books teach worthy lessons + integrity in an engaging and fun way. Thank you Tony and Lauren!

A quick shout-out for writerly people……..hope*writers is opening their doors NEXT WEEK. Hop over here for more detail s and to sign up for a notification if you’re interested.

I’d love to hear your lists, comrade friends! What you’re creating….where you see beauty…what has made you laugh with delight…books you’re reading…songs bringing you hope + joy…..
Have a delightful day!