I hope you can pour a cup of ice tea
and join me for a stroll through this lovely garden,
it's filled with picnics, lattes, thoughts and reflections
written to encourage YOU!
"For they refreshed my spirit and yours also..."
I Corinthians 16:18 NIV
Photo Credit: fishtailcottage.blogspot.com
M - Meaningful, Memorable
A - Appreciate, Affirm
Y - Yearn, Yes, YOU!
I thought we would take ALL of May to celebrate women
who have been a great influence or encourager in our lives,
those who have offered a word of hope when we've needed it
and walked with us in difficult times.
Can you think of a mentor, teacher, friend, pastor's wife, sister,
neighbor, a worship leader, caregiver...
that you can acknowledge in some way this month?
How about these cute bouquets that are easy
to make and easy to hang on a door or a co-workers chair:
Picture credit: umla.tumbler.com
Photo credit: theprincessandthefrog.blogspot.com
As a Mother my two favorite expressions of love
from my grown kids and their spouses
are a visit or to skype
but sometimes that's not possible.
I wanted to share an idea
that won't be new to you it's from DaySpring,
(a Christian card company.)
"Sending a card is a simple, inexpensive,
and very meaningful way to love like Jesus.
While there are no rules to being kind,
here are a few things
(commandments, if you will)
to keep in mind about the value and purpose
for looking up a street address and licking that stamp."
Picture credit: Pinterest
1. Encourage one another.
It doesn't take long to find someone
going through a difficult challenge these days.
Be extravagant with your words.
"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another..."
I Thessalonians 5:11
2. Don't underestimate the power of thanking someone.
"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."
Proverbs 16:24
3. Honor one another. Honor is to see the value in a person.
"Honor Christ and put others first." Ephesians 5:21
4. There's a time to cry and a time for celebration.
Sometimes a note says,
"I know I can't fix this-but I'm with you. You're not alone."
"Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep."
Romans 12:15
5. Build one another up.
Words can heal, strengthen, grow, encourage and help.
"But you, dear friends, must build each other up..." Jude 1:20-21
6. Pray for one another.
When I send a note to someone, I pray for them as I drop it in the mailbox.
"If two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it,
it will be done for you by My Father in heaven."
Matthew 18:19
Hoping these tips will encourage you
to get in touch with someone soon.
Photo by: Pinterest
There are many ways to acknowledge someone special in your life. In a December posting I listed some great and personal ways to bless others, gifts that take little to no money just love and lots of hugs! They can be hand written and put in an envelope with a little direction. They were as follows:
The Gift of Time,
The Gift of Prayer,
The Gift of Encouragement,
The Gift of Care,
A Secret Gift,
A Gift of Teaching.
photo by: galmeetsglam.com
I will touch on the last one and give you some examples
of teaching classes or workshops for learning a new skill as a gift:
painting
quilting, sewing, crafting
singing lesson
writing
photography
gardening
new computer technology
cycling class
cooking
hiking
horseback riding
It would even be best if you could join the class as well then go for a picnic!
Photo by: ameblo.jp
Need a last minute gift
or a surprise for someone?
Maybe for a housewarming, graduation,
end-of-year teacher gift, retirement,
birthday, shower, wedding?
(Remember we have all of MAY to do it)
_________________________________________
MAGNOLIA MARKET - SUSAN BRANCH - THYME - PIONEER WOMAN
__________________________________________
I thought I'd recommend places to get gift cards
that can be emailed (day of!) automatically,
easy peasy!!
First
MAGNOLIA MARKET AT THE SILOS
you will find thoughtful gifts galore.
We went a year ago last March and had a great time!
Enjoyed some of the food trucks.
And coffee!
My husband loved it too!
How about a gift card for a subscription
to Joanna's
MAGNOLIA JOURNAL?
It " contains inspiration for life and home.
Useful as a resource and a guide to living well."
Grab some girlfriends and start making PLANS,
a trip to TEXAS would be a GREAT girlfriends trip!!!
magnoliamarket.com
__________________________________________
Susan Branch
___________________________________
"... the self-taught artist and author.
From her studio overlooking her picket-fence garden
in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts,
Susan writes and paints about the "home arts" of cooking,
gardening, sewing, family, best friends,
entertaining and the little things that make life sweet. "
Her website is a place to be inspired and where teas, mugs, books,
jewelry, artwork and stationary can be found!
Susan and I at her book signing last year at Vromen's Bookstore in Pasadena!
Great GIFT cards from Susan's online store!
susanbranch.com
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Thymes
______________________________________
You will love their products! Bath and body gift sets, candles and gifts for the home. One of my favorite buys is their Sample Beauty Bag. It contains samples of their collections' most popular items: body lotions. Samples come in a cute, reusable cosmetic bag!
If you purchase a gift card an elegant e-gift message will be emailed to your happy recipient. You can add a personal note to the E-mail, so your friends and family know how much you care.
thymes.com
_______________________________________
Ree Drummond - The Pioneer Woman
_______________________________________
Y'all don't want to miss this!
The Pioneer Woman has lassoed our attention as usual!
Her Mercantile has opened and by getting a Merc gift card
that is delivered by email you will avoid any kind of stampede!
Lastly no conniption necessary since you heard it here first.
Ree is coming out with her own magazine!
The first issue is due to come out very soon in early June available at Walmart!
P.S. Who's up for a road trip, or by train???
thepioneerwoman.com
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Linda's Mixing Bowl
__________________________________________
Instead of a recipe from my kitchen
this time I am borrowing one from Joanna Gaines,
Enjoy!
LEMON PIE RECIPe
"I love dessert and that’s no secret. But even more than I love eating it, I love having something sweet ready for after dinner. It’s a little extra work on the front end, but it’s worth it to see how excited Chip and the kids get when they smell cookies baking or see me whipping up a fresh homemade pie.
I’m a chocolate lover, so nothing is “too rich” or “too chocolatey” for me, and nothing makes me happier than a fresh chocolate cupcake. But every now and then I get in the mood for something a little lighter and a little more tart. That’s where this lemon pie comes in.
This pie is as tasty as it is simple. I love the happy color and how pretty it looks in a classic white pie dish. It’s one of those desserts that only takes a few minutes to put together so it’s a quick after dinner treat."
by Joanna Gaines
Pie Filling Ingredients: 3 cups Eagle Brand “sweetened condensed” Milk, 3 egg yolks, ⅔ cup lemon juice, 1 dash salt
Crust Ingredients: 1 ½ cups crushed graham crackers, 6 tbs butter, ⅓ cup sugar
Whipped Cream Ingredients:1 small carton of heavy whipping cream, 2 tbsp sugar,
1 tsp vanilla extract
For Crust:
- Combine crushed graham cracker, softened butter, and sugar. Mix well and press into greased (I use Baker’s Joy non-stick spray) pie dish. Bake for 8 minutes at 350.
For Pie Filling:
- Mix Eagle Brand Milk, egg yolks, lemon juice and salt in a mixer. Mix well- I typically beat with my mixer for 4-5 minutes on medium speed. Pour into pie crust and bake for 10 minutes at 350.
- Place pie in the refrigerator for at least an hour so it will set.
For Whipped Cream:
- Mix whipped cream, sugar, and vanilla. Whip until fluffy, and add to cooled lemon pie.
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When Mother's Day Isn't Easy
________________________________________
Sometimes a celebration like Mother's Day can trigger discouragement and despair
for some women due to many things: a death, divorce, infertility, singleness,
illness, a wayward child, or - being a stepmom.
Here is a list of suggestions on how to lift the spirits of a hurting woman
on the day we celebrate mothers.
1. Pray for God to reveal a woman in need of encouragement.
2. Pray for that woman.
3. Send a card.
4. If you wish to do more I suggest a call, meal, a flower,
anything that says, "I see your pain today."
5. Make time for hurting women.
For entire article by Laura Petherbridge go to Barbara Rainey's:
everthinehome.com
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength."
Isaiah 40:28-29
Photo by: indulgy.com
And a little something for those of you with children:
poem by: happyhomefairy.com
Picture: Oregonian Live
