The winter season has flown by, and I can hardly believe in just a few weeks spring will be here. When thinking about the past three months, it didn’t feel too busy, but when I looked back at my calendar, I realized it was full of activity. In December, my husband and I got away for a mini vacation up to Northern California. We celebrated my husband’s birthday, Christmas, and New Year’s, and took our younger daughter to San Francisco for a few days. In January, our older daughter came home for a week-long visit, we celebrated her birthday, attended a wedding, and my husband and I spent four nights at a darling cottage in Santa Barbara. In February, I went away for two nights on a retreat, and we celebrated Valentine’s Day. As I age, I find myself thinking more about which areas I see ... View Post
How to Warm Your Weary Soul
One way to warm your weary soul is to go on a solo retreat. A solo retreat is about stepping away from your regular life and daily routines in order to reconnect with God on a deeper level. Yes, Please! Not only was I craving that renewal, but also seeking rest, quiet, and time alone. With solo retreats, there are no outside influences or structured activities and schedules, and there is the opportunity to allow ourselves to make decisions based on what we feel in the moment. How freeing is that? Our lives are so full of strict schedules, expectations, responsibilities, and such that having time away without much structure seems foreign. * “Without solitude, it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life…We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside ... View Post
Who Else Wants to Get More Reading in this Year?
Looking for a good read? Is one of your goals to read more in 2018? Mine is, and I set a goal to read over 50 books. It’s been a slow start, but I plan to fit more reading time into my schedule. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, and if I had my way, I would read all day! I have always been a book lover and when I was young, the best part of each week was the trip to the library. Nowadays, I don’t get to the library often, so most of my reading is done on my Kindle, but not all. I love swapping great books with friends, too. If an author I love has written a book, I typically buy the hardback or paperback so I can keep it and lend. I am sharing what I read in 2017. Some of the books were fantastic, and some, not so much. Disclosure: Some of the links below are ... View Post
Love Songs and Things That Make Your Heart Flutter
Just as I sat down in a cozy booth at the coffee shop, the song began playing overhead. Although the version playing was a cover, it still brought flutters to my heart. I smiled remembering my first year of marriage. My husband loved (and still does!) the band, so we used to listen to this song all the time. I can picture him singing it to me as it blasted on the radio in our tiny Honda Civic, and us dancing together to it in the kitchen of our first home. This is one of our love songs. It is safe to guess that every couple has at least one song that is especially meaningful to them; one that brings you right back to the days you fell in love. Sometimes of them are cheesy, or one-hit wonders, or maybe a classic love song, but none of that matters because it is your song. In the ... View Post
My All-Time Favorite Trader Joe’s Products
I admit it- I am a huge Trader Joe’s fan. If you know me well, then you know that I shop there every Monday. The obsession is real. I love almost all their products and find just about everything I need for my weekly groceries. The store is great for stocking up on basics like cereal and bread, but you can also find so many treasures there! ***** Here are some of my latest Trader Joe's favorites: Flowers. I buy a bouquet just about every week! This Southwestern Chopped Salad is sooo delicious and makes an excellent lunch for two! If I need a quick side for dinner, I will pick up this spinach salad mix that’s a combination of sweet and tangy. Speaking of salads, my family enjoys both the white meat chicken salad for sandwiches and the ready-made salads for ... View Post
How to Be a Quality Guest
I remember years ago hosting a potluck brunch in my home. One guest brought me a jar of homemade jam as a gift, and I was so touched. The general rule of thumb when one accepts an invitation for a meal at someone’s home is not to show up empty-handed. This friend had made cinnamon rolls to share, so the jam was an extra thoughtful gesture. Often, I think people can get worried about when to bring something and what to give. Should I bring the hostess a gift? What should I bring? Here are some tips on how to be a quality guest~ When we should: If you are visiting someone’s house for the first time: giving a small gift would be a kind gesture. Dinner party: guests usually bring a hostess gift. A small gift is a sweet way to thank the host for her hospitality and for opening ... View Post
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