I sweet-talked my husband into a mini tree for our family room this year. In additional to a tree in our formal area, where we’ve always displayed our tree, my spoiled-self wanted a little tree where we hang out the most.

I wanted to decorate it simply, with burlap and rustic ornaments. But after I got the burlap ribbon home, I quickly discovered there wasn’t enough for my little tree. I happened to also buy burlap fabric for another project, so I made my own burlap ribbon.

I cut the fabric and tore the side strings off. Viola! The fabric ribbon looked exactly like the spool of burlap ribbon I spent three times as much on.

I made enough for a tree topper as well, with the strings I pulled off the fabric.

Our tiny, sweet nativity where the donkey is missing his ears, and we’ve had since the boys were little, fit right under our special mini tree. A match made in heaven.

My men humored me while they helped decorate the larger tree. They don’t like their pictures taken any longer, so they do things like make walrus tusks with icicles, and use footballs for faces

When all is decorated, I enjoy our trees which remind us to focus on the real reason for the season.

 

 

We taught him to walk and he took off running. We taught him to ride a bike, and he took off riding. We’re teaching him to drive and soon, he will take off driving!

Life has a lot of firsts. Each time it gets easier for our boys, it gets harder for us (and potentially more expensive!)

Proverbs 13:1 “A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”

Lord Jesus, I pray our sons would listen to our instruction, thus ultimately, yours, so they don’t learn the hard way. Help us not to provoke our boys to anger (Ephesians 6:4), but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Amen

 

 

 

I love to display God’s whimsical glories whether in a vase or through a camera lense.

There is something healing and redemptive about gazing on God’s beautiful creation.

 

 

 

 

During the month of April (only a few days left!), DaySpring is offering 20% off select Redeemed items. I especially love this Redeemed – Beautiful in Its Time – Vintage Glass Vase with “REDEEMED” etched down the side.

I could use this to display more of God’s redemptive beauties!

Click here for other 20% off select Redeemed Items!

What mom (including me!) wouldn’t love this necklace for Mother’s Day as a reminder that she is Redeemed and loved by God–a beautiful, whimsical creation.

God’s Heart for You Necklace is 50% off–both the Sterling Silver and Rhodium Plated. This is DaySpring’s bestselling jewelry item!

And to display more of God’s redemptive beauties at the Mother’s Day dining table, this Inspirational Glass Dome is the perfect center piece!

See more of DaySpring’s Mother’s Day Specials – 30% off Select Items–Coupon Code: MD30off. This code cannot be combined with any other coupon codes. This special sale lasts through Monday, May 14th.

Remember to stop and observe God’s redemptive, whimsical beauties.

P.S. All Graduation and Mother’s Day Cards are Buy 2 Get 1 Free. Just click on the Mother’s Day icon in the margin.

This post contains DaySpring affiliate links.

This Whimsical Wednesday I needed a creative break, especially with the beautiful weather! I’ve been working in a database at work. As I’m learning the technical ins and outs, my brain has felt overloaded by the end of each day.

I bought some plants over the weekend and decided I needed to get outside and dig in the dirt. I can’t wait to cook with the newly potted cilantro to brighten up salads and Mexican food. My favorite fruit is strawberries, but my dog likes them too, (as well as carrots, but that’s another story). After potting these anticipated berries, I decided they need to stay on the patio table, away from Sadie Mae, as last spring she ate them all.

And basil is a must in my patio garden, for salads, pizza, juicing, sauces, iced water, and grilled mozzarella cheese sandwiches (yum!) I look forward to this one growing like a weed! I already have a tomato cage around it ready to prop it as it grows, as last year’s basil.

And the piece de resistance on the patio is the Elm Bonsai tree I bought for my husband a while back. It just sprouted its spring leaves, and it needed some trimming. Therapeutic, to say the least.

Eclectic gardening did my brain some good truly making this a Whimsical Wednesday!

The Kindergartners celebrated 100 days (87 days left!) at school today. They wore their 100 day hats as they paraded with their 100 Day projects through the school.  We all cheered them on and I passed out reward bucks as they paraded by.

I got nostalgic thinking about my sons’ elementary school years and found my youngest son’s 100 Day Kinder pictures from seven years ago. Wasn’t he a cutie?!

Now he’s 13 and in 7th grade pictured here with older brother and a brother-friend. Some things haven’t changed.

 

I’m notorious for getting bleach stains on a good shirt? I don’t know why I don’t just throw an apron on when I clean the kitchen or make a frantic cleaning run through of my boys’ bathroom. I always think it won’t happen this time and nine times out of ten, it happens. Oops! I did it again!

Well, the dreaded bleach splatter happened a few days ago. But this time I remembered seeing a recent solution on the Frugal Life Project blog, so I gave it a whirl (pun intended). It’s not perfect but I can at least wear the shirt to workout in.

Just take a bleach pen (and some wax paper for in between the shirt) and pen your design! Wash and wear. I may try this on some old shirts just for fun! And at least I have a solution for my oops! I did it again bleach splatter!

I recently heard the DJs on our local Christian radio station KSBJ talking about how the concept of the “Tip Jar” has gotten a little out of hand. For example, at the local pizza joint, where you drive to pick up your own pizza and other drive-thru establishments.  I’m sure we all could name a few places that have taken the “Tip Jar” a little too far.

In that same radio segment, a mom called in and said she could think of many places where a “Tip Jar” should be but is not. For example, in mom’s kitchen, in her car, next to the washer and dryer…

That lead me to action. After driving the kids to and fro, dropping off items they’ve forgotten, washing those specific items of clothing, and making sure the fam has proper nutrition throughout the week… I decided to implement the “Tip Jar.”

They haven’t seen it yet. I just put it out today. I’ve placed a dollar in it just to see if it starts a progression or if it disappears.  I can’t decide whether to make it’s home on the kitchen table or on the counter top. Maybe I’ll move it around until I see some action.

My husband is certainly a good provider and I lack for nothing. (Well maybe for a few more pairs of shoes). And I know scripture says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward…” Colossians 3:23, 24.  But I just couldn’t resist that mom’s call-in suggestion, if nothing more than to see my family’s response and to maybe buy another pair of shoes.

I’ll keep you posted!

By the way, I found the little jar tags at Walmart in the kitchen/canning section. They also have matching canning jar lids. I enjoy using them for foodie gifts.

My family, outstanding in a field (pun intended).

Among my extended family the unspoken “M” word is “Memories.” We’ve stopped saying, “We’re going to make memories” when we go on an outing because something notoriously happens, like a severe thunderstorm while we’re cutting down Christmas trees, or a child throws up in the car, or we get drenched at the zoo in another storm. The list goes on!

We’re not superstitious but we’ve just chosen to say, “We’re going to do the “M” word.” Potential disaster still doesn’t stop us or the lack of our Texas state flower blooms this year.

I couldn’t even get a decent picture of the maybe 20 Bluebonnets we could find.

This is current condition of our state–Drought.

But that didn’t stop us from enjoying a picnic and hike at Washington on the Brazos, making you know what! The “M” word, with no disasters to boot!

As an aside, I think we should make a Bounty Paper Towels commercial with our nifty way to use paper towels outdoors. Just saying’!

The guys playing with a rugby ball.

Kicking-back on a blanket enjoying God’s creation.

Hiking down some trails.

And taking snap shots of those we love.

My guys.

My man nephew. One day he was a kid. Now he’s a man!

An oops on the over exposure but I played with the post processing and discovered a cool photo of my nephew.

My sweet niece on nature’s swing. It held steady with no teenage girls harmed in the process. Our “memories” in tack on this outing. It’s safe to say now. The outing is over.