Hello and Happy Monday! ☀️
Can you believe it's almost August? The summer is flying by...
Did you have a lovely weekend? It was such a wonderful one here! Beautiful weather and the best time with my sweet Matt and his folks. Goodness, do I love them all. 💗
We went to this amazing place for dinner on Saturday night. We went there last summer too (it's been tradition in his family for years). It's kind of like a fancy supper club lodge kind of place in the area where his lake property is. It has such incredible food!! And a beautiful atmosphere. So that was wonderful. And then we stayed up late playing cards and chatting.
The next day was the most perfect summer day! The weather was mid 70's. Clear as a bell sky - no fire haze. And we had a sleep in lounging kind of morning with blueberry cinnamon rolls and coffee. We helped his folks with some projects around the cottage. We went on an almost 3 hour pontoon ride. Matt, and his Mom and I then went swimming. That evening we fried up some of the fish Matt and his Dad had caught in Canada (it was the BEST fish I've ever had!). And then Matt and I had fun gabbing away about our future and belting out songs on the ride home. Just one of those perfect summer weekends. 😊
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:
coffee and cream flavored greek yogurt with some granola, iced coffee with amaretto creamer
ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:
groceries and errands on Matt's day off, some yard work, home projects, hospice work, our meeting with the travel agent, help my Mom as needed (she's having back pain), meet up with a gf, hang out with Aaron 💕
THINKING ABOUT:
How I've been sharing with some fellow women recently. Some friends that reached out in the recent past due to similar circumstances... and also one, who was an acquaintance that recently has become more of a friend , all sharing similar circumstances of dealing with a husband's affair. I do my best to listen, empathize and share in their pain. I also share the spiritual, hopeful and now joyful parts of my story with them in ways I hope bring some empowerment, peace and hope for their future.
But I find a similarity in the stories in that the affair often happened with a much younger woman who they say is often, ironically and hypocritically, spouting empowerment and all about women's rights etc. They feel empowered to women's rights and yet they tear down and hurt a woman in the worst way they ever could. And in the cases of all of these women who have shared with me - their spouse wouldn't take accountability and just left them to pick up the pieces. I am very grateful that in my case my ex took full ownership for himself and that young girl (he once called her a toxic cancer). He told me it was all him and that I was nothing but a wonderful wife and mother. So I guess I didn't have to carry as much "why wasn't I enough?" thinking in the painful parts of my journey. I feel so much for the pain my friends are continuing to go through related to that. I'm also grateful that for the most part my ex was here helping me when I needed and providing for me and the kids (still is). So I have thanked God for all of that many times.
But the Lord has put it on my heart to pray for all of these lost young gals. That maybe weren't raised with spirituality, guidance as to what is right and wrong, the empowerment they needed, mental illness, or just got lost in many other ways. I just believe something must have happened that they could demean themselves in that way and to be capable of tearing down another woman so badly and destroy a family. I want to believe they didn't want to hurt another woman, and especially the children involved, in these ways. I'm so grateful and proud my kiddos are doing so well in our situation. But I know some of my gf's kiddos are having a very difficult time. I pray for healing for all families that have gone through this....it is awful.
But today I feel compelled to pray for these young misguided girls - I pray for them to open the blinders on their eyes and hearts. To see they deserve real and true love and to have healthy families of their own. I pray they find their way to God's forgiveness, healing and His desire to help them make better and healthier choices in their lives. 🙏
AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
It's been gray & hazy but starting to clear a bit and sun is trying to come out. I have a few more things to put away from the trip this past weekend. My devotional and bible are next to me (including an old devotional of Matt's Grandma's that his Mom gave me this weekend) Ruby is laying in the chair by me snoozing away. ;)
CURRENTLY READING
Colleen Hoover novel It Ends With Us
ON THE TV TODAY:
Outlander, HGTV and food network shows taped, AGT, Sweet Magnolias, And Just Like That, Grantchester, When Calls The Heart, Big Brother starts this week I think
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY - BLT's, baked onion rings, lemony green beans
TUESDAY - Matt wants to grill steaks for us, corn on the cob, salad, melon
WEDNESDAY - pesto with whole grain pasta, meatballs, garlic bread, salad
THURSDAY - maybe salmon? (see what we pick up getting groceries) roasted asparagus with cheese sauce
FRIDAY - chicken tikka masala with peppers, jasmine rice
TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:
read, take a walk
TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:
Use baby powder after the beach, to prevent sand getting into the car
Use lime studded with clove to keep mosquitos away from your picnic
FROM THE CAMERA:
I don't think I show the front of our home as much - because in my opinion the back is where it's at! Lol The back is where we have the big deck, pretty hill (we're on an end point) and stairs that go down to the bay and is so pretty. In the front we have a big round driveway and a road that leads up to the main road where our mailbox is. That stone sign that matches our house (in left of bottom pic) has our address on the side that faces the road. Spot Ruby in the bottom pic too! 😉
I made blueberry hand pies with a lemon glaze to bring up for the weekend.
The fish fry was SO GOOD! We ate walleye and northern and they were the best fish I've ever tasted. Matt's Mom made their old family recipe of creamed new potatoes and peas. Also so good! And we had coleslaw and cukes from my garden. ;)
Lilies:
The lily game in our backyard is still going strong! The peach ones finally bloomed and they're my fave so i just needed to share them. 💗
PRAYER LIST:
For an end to the conflict in the Ukraine and other areas of the world living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence. For anyone sick, suffering, in pain or fear... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the dark everywhere.
For all those suffering from weather events and turmoil in our world. For a couple of girlfriends going through some hard times right now. For the young gals that may need prayers to change their choices and thinking right now so no further families are hurt. For my Mom dealing with back pain. 🙏