Flower Power

 

Hello lovely Friends!

Are flowers a love language for you? 🌸

They sure are for me - in any form. 😍

Giving bouquets, receiving bouquets, picking wildflowers, digging in the dirt and planting pots, using flower paper ephemera in scrapbooking & projects, and having things decorated with flowers ...ie:  iphone case, antique pottery in my home, blankets - well you get the idea. 

So today I thought I'd share some recent flower moments in my northwoods world :) 

But first I need to share this adorable moment from an absolute joy in my life: my baby Girl turned 19. And she chose DQ ice cream cake this year. And it was so good. 😋

Now back to flowers. I weeded out all my lilies the other day. Always a taxing project. I get down on all 4's with a kneeler pad and pull out all the old growth from last year. You can see the brown straw-like pile in the background. It's such satisfying work when it's all done! 

Also, our rhubarb we planted last year is coming up. And the peonies too (but I forgot to grab a pic of that)

I've very slowly begun to accumulate flowers - but haven't gotten out my pots yet. Matt was so sweet to get me my hanging baskets for the front and back. (the front of the house ones I put in big pots by the door) 

It's supposed to be colder and rain in the days ahead. So I think I'll wait to grab more plants - but I did acquire a strawberry plant, some lemon balm, lemon thyme, and oregano. Plus, sweet Jill got me a pansy for Mother's Day. Next up will be getting the pots out of the garage and shed and plan out what kinds of flowers I'll want to get this year, and where I'd like to plant them. That's a big part of Spring fun along with actually digging in the dirt! Also, the daffodils finally bloomed so I made a sweet bouquet of them along with the lemon balm. 

Some of our solar lanterns are out now and I recently grabbed this sweet sunflower one. And the dear fairy folk have started to show up now that it's back to gardening season...so we'll have to wait and see where they end up. 

One of the gifts from my son this year was this sweet shortbread mold and I just LOVE it!! I can't wait to bake with it. 

And for my Mom and her "basket of sunshine" Mother's Day gift I put together - I had made this little framed decoration with an antique flower pin. I used a scrapbook paper background, some felt, hot glue and a pretty frame. She LOVED it which is more of that love language stuff I was talking about. 💛

Do you garden? Love flowers? What's blooming around you right now? 

🌱💚🌸

Wordfull Wednesday: So Many Memories

 

So many memories. Sitting on shelves in various ways. Albums, loose photos, camcorder video CD's... 

There was so much pain when I split up from my ex 6 years ago. We had tried to work on things. Both of us didn't want to give up. But we eventually knew it was never going to work again. Too much damage had been done from his affair. He had lost respect in himself and I had lost respect in him. Even if I could forgive, how do you trust someone and be in love with them when you don't respect them anymore? And what about respecting myself and our daughter watching and having her know her own self worth and what she deserves in a relationship one day? It's, sadly, a common tale that I have had too many women reach out to me and share their stories through the years. Some even blogging friends. And two more instagram friends just shared recently too. When they reach out and ask me about things - I try to talk about grace, forgiveness, empowerment and self-love. And especially about how it all gets better over time. 

So, as you can understand, lots of pain and tainting of all of our old family memories had me stashing them away in cabinets and on shelves. But I've been pulling them out recently. I have my own office/craft space now. And I've been working on lots of Annie's senior class projects and things. However, pulling out some of these old family pictures/albums the other day had me realizing how far behind I was in our old family and trip albums (for obvious reasons). As I sat there looking at them, I realized how far I have come and how much life has changed. How much I've healed. How happy and secure I am in myself and my love and future marriage to Matt. And how well my kids are doing now. They both have a good relationship with their dad. They were on a recent trip with him and shared about the things that are better now, and some things they still tolerate in his life(can even poke fun at now) but overall, are in a really good place with him. They are happy well-adjusted young adults and I'm so very grateful for that. 🙏🏻💕

And the pain I used to feel when I would look at those old photos or home movies, isn't there anymore. I feel fondness towards the memories of what used to be and the almost 30 years that were truly wonderful and special. We were best friends and close from the time we were 15 years old, then started dating at 16. Married at 24 and didn't start having kids until we were 29. Had these amazing kiddos and such fun as a family. Then we almost made it to a 25th wedding anniversary and over 30 years together. That is worth something in my mind and heart now. Especially when I know it was all worth something to our children. And so for them I want to finish those albums. Let them have the gift one day of looking back and treasuring the memories of their youth and where they came from. 

And in my own way, to honor those young kids who grew up together and shared so much love and friendship once. They are a part of me forever. Just like the 2 best gifts we created in this life are a part of us both, always.

xoxo

Word-Full Wednesday (Healthy Soul Time)

 

Today I wanted to share some things on my heart. Maybe it's a way to help another that may be carrying pain. Or in some ways this blog has been like chapters in my life that I sometimes like to look back on for sweet memories...but also, hopefully, to learn and grow.

I know I have shared a lot of my journey on here. I have gone through some of the darkest and most difficult days of my life while I've been blogging. Dealing with my former MIL's growing Alzheimer's, care giving for her, then her eventual long term care facility admittance...and  ultimately her death. 

And also during that time I went through many things: trying to help my ex through some of his darkest days, dealing with another person actively destroying the life I knew, and the toll all of it took on my marriage...and eventually led to our divorce. 

Through all of that I know I have, at times, channeled my pain, bitterness, hurt, and even fears in various posts on here. I know I'm human. I know God gives me His grace and forgiveness - and so, as His daughter, I have given myself a lot too. 

I am the happiest I have ever been. I give all praise and glory to the Lord for the many many gifts in my life. I wake up and pray and do devotional time and then go live my days trying to be the best servant I can to Him. Being the best mother I can be. The best fiancee. The best family member and friend. And the best hospice worker I'm capable of being - always asking Him to use me in His name. 

And I always say the same prayer within that devotional time: asking Jesus to be ever on my mind, my lips, and my heart....so when others see and hear me, they really see and hear Him. And I know there are far too many times I fail. But I know there are so many times I succeed in His name and help others. Reach others. Forgive others. Love, share, volunteer, give in the ways I know He wants of me. 

My point here is this. There are many kinds of "health". In this year of such happiness and big events (my daughter graduating and the last to the leave the nest...and the wedding of Matthew & I) I am working hard to feel the best physically that I'm able. Working out. Healthier eating habits. And emotionally too by sharing with Matt, my mom or friends when I struggle. 

By praying. Going for walks. Journaling etc. 

But the biggest and most important part is I am working to be healthy spiritually. 

I go to church. I read His word daily. I go to Him as a best friend in prayer, talking, sharing, asking forgiveness EVERY SINGLE DAY, and just loving Him with all of my heart. And I didn't used to be such a devoted follower - but that is what truly changed everything in my life. And has continued to help me be the healthiest I can hope to be. And it's still something I actively work at every single day. To improve upon. And I'm so grateful for a partner in Matt who understands and shares so much of that part of the journey with me too. ❤️

I hope that those I may have ever affected in my words or deeds will have compassion for my pain. That they will know I ask forgiveness of them as much as of my Lord. And I hope that anyone who lives in a place of anger, bitterness, sadness, pain, hopelessness will find their way to Him. And answers to heal, change, grow and become healthy too. 

The moment I truly stopped trying to control everything in my life. Stopped trying to hold on to the anger and pain so tightly.... and instead truly started to let it go and believed in His plans for me, even in the depths of pain. Well that's when everything changed. It didn't feel so overwhelming and difficult anymore. I could feel the healing in my heart. And that's when Matt came into my life too. Because God's timing is amazing and He knew my heart could be open and could trust someone again.  And where I live the most in my relationship with the Lord, besides my love, is complete and utter gratitude. I am so grateful for His gifts and tell Him that daily. 

Thanks for letting me share so much with you in this lengthy post. I wanted to leave you with one of my favorite passages in the bible that I hold on to every day...especially the darkest ones. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. "

Proverbs 3:5-6

Blessings always. xoxo

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

We've come to that cozy time of year. When all the leaves are on the ground. There's frost (or sometimes snow) in the mornings. The world already feels still and slower - hibernation time. The neighbor's wood stove is going all the time now and always smells heavenly on the crisp air. Matt and I love to do late day walks and when we work our way home the sun is setting or already down and the lights are on in neighbors' windows. Some already have Christmas trees twinkling in the windows, and at our house candles already glowing from all the front windows. We come home and snuggle under a big soft blanket to watch shows. Sometimes I sip hot tea if I'm still cold. Yep, awfully cozy these days. 

The past couple of days there's been the smell of pies baking, cranberries popping and roasting turkey thighs in the oven. It's still my favorite tip to pick up and put butter and herbs on and roast some kind of turkey parts (thighs, wings) in the oven til done.  Then put them in a slow cooker with water, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, poultry seasoning and sage filled to the brim with water. Then let cook on low overnight or all day. When done strain everything out and you're left with 12 cups of liquid gold (turkey bone broth) that you can use in all of your Thanksgiving dishes (dressing, make ahead homemade gravy etc) And what's leftover goes into turkey noodle soup for leftovers. 

On the list today pumpkin pie, make ahead mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. I think Thanksgiving must be some of the best smells there are in this world! I'm writing up some fun trivia, jokes and quotes to be read by my loved ones tomorrow and spark fun conversations. Parade watching in the morning will lead to setting the table and getting ready for us all to gather. The best! (and football thrown in of course - Go Pack Go!) It will all lead to good napping that Ruby and Bubbs are demonstrating for you. 😉 

I hope however you celebrate that you have a very safe, blessed, happy and yummy Thanksgiving. Know I am thankful for YOU!! 

🙏 🦃 🧡

Word-FULL Wednesday

 

Instead of WordLESS Wednesday....I feel the need to be WordFULL this week. ☀️ 🌾🍄🍁🧡

SO LONG TO SUMMER 

I love how this time of year tickles my soul in so many ways. This late summer/pre-Fall gem of time that brings shorter days that are still filled with warm sunshine and sparkles that ripple on the bay. When leaves are still on branches rustling overhead, while I sit and journal or read outside. And some are just starting to put on their new colorful party  dresses for the season ahead. There is the slow change to craving a warm sip of coffee in the morning, instead of iced. I sit down at night to snuggle  and I want Ruby to come lay on my lap...while I cheer on football games...because she isn't making me hot and sticky anymore. I especially love the loud swish of a flock of geese when they fly right over my deck. 

We have definitely hit the fork in the road up here in the Northwoods. Leaving Summer Lane and turning onto Autumn Blvd - where soon all the food will be filled with comfort ingredients and all the pumpkins on porches will glow. 🎃 

Yep, I think I'm just about ready for my first taste of pumpkin spice. 

Are you??