Friday Favorites ~ May 8, 2020

Today I am linking up with Friday Favorites sharing some favorites and activities from the week.

Lawn Mower

First, we got a new lawn mower, and yes, this is a favorite.  Ours broke year before last and we just had an old push mower, so to get a new self-propelled mower was a favorite.  I usually mow the grass at our home to give me some exercise and now that I am not working at the moment, I have the time as well.

Before...

and after

Blogilates

I have been looking for a online home workout series that isn't too intense.  I really like this series so far and it helps considering I am on day 100 of desserts I think :).

Planner

I picked this up at Walmart a few weeks ago for $2!  I know it seems silly probably to have a planner considering the present times, but I have loved using it.  Now that I am unemployed, it has helped to write down projects and goals for each day, which helps give me a feeling of purpose and productivity, even if it is all the little things.

Measuring spoons

I had some old measuring spoons I had for years and it was time for some new ones, especially with all the baking and cooking these days!  I ordered this set from Target and they match my Pioneer Woman cookware too.  They are the perfect set for under $5!

I love how all my small measuring spoons hang on these handy hooks ordered last year from Amazon.  These are inside a cabinet door and have held up great. 

When Calls the Heart

I am a fan of this show and loved the ending of the season episode a few weeks ago.  I know this wasn't from this week, but that doesn't mean I haven't watched this ending once again several times this week. #teamnathan

Puzzles

I have always been a fan of puzzles and this is puzzle number 3 for me during stay-at-home time.  However, this puzzle was 1000 pieces in comparison to the other 500 piece puzzles, so it took me a little longer to complete.

New Morning Mercies

This is the devotion book I read and earlier this week, I shared some highlights from some favorite devotions recently that have really encouraged me during this time.  Hopefully, it will encourage some of you as well.

https://memphisbridges.blogspot.com/2020/05/encouraging-devotions.html

It's been a good week of relaxing, taking walks with my daughter and I also took a walk with a friend this week in her neighborhood. That was so fun just to be in another neighborhood and talk with a friend!  I also finished my 2019 scrapbook that I mentioned I hadn't even started last week, so that was good.

Hope all the moms out there have a Happy Mother's Day and that we all celebrate those women in our lives who have been special to us.

Encouraging Devotions

Hi.  I hope everyone had a good weekend.  Even though I think most of us are still taking it slow and not going out too much, it is nice to hear of places gradually opening.  I know the struggles are there and recovery will be long, but am hoping those whose health is not compromised will be able to get out a little more slowly and safely with masks and of course, washing our hands.  

In the midst of the uncertainties and waves of emotions we have felt from minute to minute and day to day during life and especially the past 7 weeks, I wanted to share some highlights from devotions which have encouraged me.

All of these quotes come from the devotional book New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp.

"The same God who planned that the worst thing would be the best thing is your Father.  He rules over every moment in your life and in powerful grace He is able to do for you just what He did in redemptive history.  He takes the disasters in your life and makes them tools of redemption. He takes your failure and employs it as a tool of grace.  He uses the "death" of the fallen world to motivate you to reach out for life.  The hardest things in your life become the sweetest tools of grace in his wise and loving hands.  So be careful how you make sense of your life.  What looks like a disaster may in fact be grace.  What looks like the end may be the beginning.  What looks hopeless may be God's instrument to give you real and lasting hope.  Your father is committed to taking what seems so bad and turning it into something that is very, very good."

"God's care comes in a variety of packages.  His care is not always a cool drink and a soft pillow. God's care is not always relief from circumstances, release from trouble.  There are many moments in our lives when the very thing that causes us to wonder about God's care is his care.  He knows that trouble will reveal our hearts or display his glory.  Often trouble is a tool of care in the hands of the One who knows best what we need.  He cares, therefore, make sure your definition of his care is not too narrow."

"You and I don't have a clue what is around the next corner, let alone where we will be and what we will be doing a decade from now.  But even though we know for sure about our lives and we experience constant surprises along the way, we need not give way to panic. Yes, our lives are out of control, but that doesn't mean they are out of control.   Since God is the Author of every detail of your story, since he writes into your situation, location, and relationship, then he knows exactly what you're facing and precisely what grace you need to face it in the way he has planned.  His sovereign control is the guarantee that you will have everything that he has promised you.  His sovereign control means he knows what you need because he has planned for you everything that you're now facing. His sovereignty is your surety because he can guarantee the deliver of his promises only in the location where he rules.  Because he rules over all things at all times, he can guarantee that you and I will have what he has promised us in the places and at the times they are needed. "

"Yes, the Father will ask you to do hard things and he will bring difficult things your way, but he is worthy of your trust and he loves you dearly.  Today your heavenly Father reaches down to you and says:  I know you don't understand all that you face, but remember, I love you.  Trust me and you will find peace that can be found no other way".

There is hope my friends!!  I hope this brings hope and encouragement to you and will share more of this in another post.  These are some good quotes to reflect on this week.  Have a great day.

What's Up Wednesday ~ April 2020

Congratulations!  We almost made it through the end of April. May is coming....we can do this....we can do this!

What we're eating this week........

Monday...Grilled chicken strips served over salad with tomato and avocado, roasted carrots with red onion, homemade biscuits

Tuesday....Breakfast night!  We had scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, bacon and orange slices.

Wednesday.....Mexican take out

Thursday.....shrimp, rice, green beans, frozen veggies, cheese sticks

Friday......Pizza!

What I'm reminiscing about........

This month, even though we weren't too surprised, many things have been cancelled for our upcoming plans.  It makes me miss when things were going on, even if I wasn't a part of those events (camps, sporting events, concerts,etc).   Our favorite yearly summer camp we love has been cancelled and part of summer camp where my daughter was going to work has also been cancelled.  We have a concert to attend the end of July and hoping it happens, but I am a little doubtful at this point to attend a sold out concert in July.

Camp 2019

Harry Styles 2018

 What I'm loving..........

I am loving being a little lazy quite honestly.  I am in week 7 of stay at home, but week 5 of unemployment.  Don't get me wrong, I have had ups and downs emotionally and mentally during this time, but I have enjoyed my free time to just decompress my brain from work and be lazy.  I do wish I could do a few other things during this time off work, but I am not going crazy being at home.

What we've been up to...........

The month of April has been pretty low key like everyone else's.  I have started brushing up on my Spanish skills by doing Rosetta Stone every day.  I am trying to walk most days and I cook dinner 6 of 7 nights a week.  The other night we will do take-out from a local restaurant.  I spend one morning a week going to a grocery store.  Twice, I have done a social distance friend visit where I have sat on the back porch and just visited, which has been so refreshing.

What I'm dreading................

I am dreading even the possibility that schools could be online this fall.  Please say it isn't so.  And as a former homeschool mom of 12 years, this is not because I don't want to spend time with my children at home!  There are times I really miss my homeschool days.  I currently have one in college and one attending public high school.

What I'm working on..............

I am working on updating my resume and am also working on my 2019 scrapbook.  I do my yearly scrapbooks digitally these days and it is a quick way to complete them.

What I'm excited about.............

I am excited about a little more time off work. I am excited about how God is using this time to challenge us all in new ways.  I am excited to see where God has me in 6 months and a year from now.

What I'm watching/reading...........

I feel like these answers are the same as last month for me!  I am sad that last Sunday was When Calls the Heart finale, but I have enjoyed that during this season.  I will catch a weekly Hallmark movie, Pioneer Woman, episodes of the office, and Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.  We are cheering on Kim on Survivor.  Just a few more weeks of the season, so it is fun to watch.  Catch it tonight on CBS!

What I'm listening to..............

I am listening to some podcasts.....Office Ladies, Proverbs 31, Whoa That's Good, The Big Boo. It was recommended for me to listen to Girl Mom Podcast, so that is on my list.

What I'm wearing...........

I actually got dressed and put on makeup 6 out of 7 days last week! I will wear leggings or jeans most days.  Thankfully, I have pretty comfortable jeans and it is good to know they still fit.  With our weather in between temperatures, I feel like I am in between short sleeve shirts/cardigans/long sleeve shirts.  I haven't quite made the winter to summer wardrobe change yet, but I feel like it's coming in the next week or so.

What I'm doing this weekend...........

No plans :)

What I'm looking forward to next month.............

May is my anniversary month, so we will wait and see if we are able to do anything or not outside the home.  Maybe we will get take out and sit outside somewhere to eat. I am not sure how Mother's Day will look this year.  I am guessing it will be a simple day :).  

Here are my girls last May, the day before Mother's Day at Isabella's high school graduation.

What else is new.............

I just want to share encouragement to be thankful.  I know we all have so many disappointments.  We do in our home too.  School has been cancelled, fun summer events have been cancelled, church is through zoom/online, I have been laid off from work, and so many unknowns.  However, there is so much to be thankful for as well.  I realize we all have grief to acknowledge, but we are so privileged to live in the USA.  Just read about how other countries are during this time.  They are so much more restrictive.  The fact that we can go for a walk in our neighborhoods, take a drive (even if we don't stop anywhere), do drive by parades, order online, get take out from restaurants, and so many other things (stimulus checks, unemployment systems) are a privilege.  I just want to remind you that in the midst of the disappointments, be thankful.  I have some devotions I am going to share in an upcoming post that have meant a lot to me recently.

On that note, have a thankful day and keep keeping on and we will adjust to our new normals as they come.  We are resilient.  Keep hope.  Wear that mask and wash your hands!! :)

Friday Favorites ~ Week 6

Happy Friday!  Today is Friday, April 24, 2020.  6 years ago today, this happened.

It is hard to tell, but our family is in that picture above taken at the airport in Bogota, Colombia.  We had just arrived with 32 bags to live there for 3 years. 

This was day 1.  Those are days we will never forget.  I am so thankful we did that, even though there were some hard days, it was one of the best things I have ever done.

Picking up with some highlights of the last 7 days....

Either 1, 2, 3 or 4 of us are taking a walk every day.  This day, we all walked to our lake and pretended to do exercises on the pier.

Saturday, we did a drive by parade for my nephew and his fiancee.

I did my weekly shopping and this week I went to Walmart.  I have been alternating Walmart, Aldi and Kroger for my weekly shopping trip.

I know it seems like the craziest purchase of the year, but I picked up this 2020 planner for $2 on clearance.  Clearly, planners are super cheap these days!  I bought with hopes I can put a few things in this or at least use it as a daily to-do list.

This was a rare sight....both girls on our window seat doodling and being creative. 

I haven't made homemade bread in years, but I made some homemade artisan bread this week.  This is the only picture I took, but it turned out so good!  I will make it again and post more pictures and the recipe. I also made Joanna Gaines chocolate chip cookies this week.  I had heard so much about them and they did not disappoint either.

The rest of the week was spent babysitting 3 mornings, doing Rosetta Stone Spanish (trying to refresh my skills), zoom calls, watching a little tv and some housekeeping.

Hope something about the weekend seems relaxing for everyone and we all continue to soak in this downtime.

Easter 2020

Hi. Today I am sharing our Easter re-cap.  It was quite the stormy, rainy morning here.  On Saturday night, a neighbor dropped off a roll of toilet paper and a package of cinnamon rolls.  We had those Sunday morning and I got ready to do some meal prep.

I made some deviled eggs, which seemed so classic. 

We did our Sunday School class via zoom then watched church online.  We did a combination of 2 different churches. Later, I listened to 2 other sermons in the day because there were so many I wanted to hear. 

I have my simple Happy Easter towel on our oven. 

I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (from a mix) and added pastel M&M's.  

Brook made her famous mac-n-cheese.

I also made ham in the slow cooker, and we had salad and rolls too.  I made the little burlap bunnies you see on the table out of toilet paper rolls.  I hot glued burlap on it and also added ears and nose.

I served the ham on this platter my grandmother had marked for me years ago. 

This is one of my favorite hymns and the words keep me going all the time.  

Have a great day!

Quarantine Update....in basically memes

I hope you all had a Happy Easter celebrating the hope of our risen Savior.  We all have so much to be thankful for in our lives!  I will share some Easter photos later this week.

We are entering week 5 of quarantine.......that is crazy to write, because a few weeks ago, I would have never thought 5 weeks.  However, now, this seems somewhat normal and not alarming to think we have at least a few more weeks of this. 

A few life updates.....  

• I was furloughed from my job as a travel agent a few weeks ago.  Clearly, travel is not really going on these days and may be the last thing to come back to normal life.  So after a few ups and downs of processing this, I am enjoying my down time of unemployment.

• My college girl spends most of her days doing online assignments.  Just a few more weeks and she will be done with her freshman year!

• My high school student doesn't have any graded assignments, but she works on a huge art project every day.
• 

• Each day looks a little different, yet very similar.  We take walks (most days) outside and I have cooked almost every night.  We have done take out pizza twice and Chick-Fil-A once.

• I honestly haven't watched as much tv as I thought I would, but still watch pretty much my normal amount, with the exception of one or two extra Hallmark movies a week :).  I have always been a Jimmy Fallon fan and have got back into routine watching his monologue from home every night.

• I have been able to spend more time in scripture, which clearly has been the best thing for me.  It has been good to read through devotions and really let it apply to where I am in life that day and write out some prayers to make the verses very  personal to me.

• We have all done Zoom calls with church family with Sunday School lessons and bible study devotions.  I had a girls night Zoom and we had some family nights over the weekend for our Easter virtual celebration.  We played around with some Zoom backgrounds.

Here we are with the Royal family and the International Space Station and below we still have the Royal family and Huey Lewis:).

• We have enjoyed eating outside as a family on the back porch most nights. We have laughed together and played a 3 night series of Mexican train dominoes.  

Since we have so much free time these days, I took down our calendar because we have no upcoming plans.

And now for some memes....which you may have seen, but these have been so funny these past few weeks.

Sending virtual hugs and continuing to be thankful for all the things each day.  

Let's Look ~ Easter 2020

Good morning!  It is Wednesday, April 8, 2020.  I think we all need reminders on what day it is :).

Today I am linking up with Let's Look At...Easter at your house.

I have a few pictures of some Easter decorations with some thoughts on this holiday this year.

This is a plate my mom gave me a few years ago I have on display in our entryway.

This is the centerpiece to our dining room table.  It is quite simple, just the way I like it.  I did get this new table runner back in February on a clearance sale from Hobby Lobby.  We will eat in here for Easter Sunday.  I let my daughters help with our Easter menu, which is also pretty simple.  They are picky eaters, so we aren't having lots of  what I would call traditional, with the exception of ham.   Below is an Easter egg garland above our breakfast area. 

I keep lights up above our mantle year round now, which I love.  We added a Happy Spring banner for the month of March and a few Easter/spring touches to the hearth.  On the floor sits my childhood Easter basket. 

Hanging by our tv are my girls Easter bags.  My mother-in-law made these years ago and they are so cute.  This is what I use for any Easter treats for our girls.  My girls are 19 and 15, so we don't do toys and treats this year are pretty slim anyway.  We have been doing our Sunday School class via Zoom these past 2 weeks.  We will do that this week and afterwards, we will watch a service.  Last week, I watched our church from Bogota, Colombia.  It has been neat to be able to see how the Lord is drawing people to online services that would not otherwise gone to a church service in a building.  There are so many great churches online, so I recommend finding one and tuning in this Easter Sunday.

We want to make our day special as we celebrate the hope of our Savior and that He lives.  That is what keeps me going day to day....because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know He holds my future and life is worth the living just because He lives.