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A Whole Lot of Nothing Much

We’ve been busy around here:

I have, for the second time in my short life {okay fine…for the 2nd time in 3 short months}, deleted everything on our DVR.  Every.single.thing.gone.  Just because I was trying to delete a single episode of Dinner: Impossible.  It’s a good thing my husband really loves me {and forgives quickly}.

But seeing this is a wildly practical and very mature blog {ahem}, here’s the good stuff…

We just installed a wood stove…tiles, rock wall and all.  We’re toasty warm, haven’t turned the heat on for over a week…and are in love!  Bug was a great help…

Christmas time 007Christmas time 008Christmas time 010 Christmas time 004Christmas time 045 Christmas time 051Random January 019 Bug in Nutella 017  

We’re planning, talking and dreaming about our family vacation to Florida next month {read: day trip to Disney World…”where there are lots of princesses, mommy!”}.  We are delirious with excitement!

I just bought my first thing of laundry soap since we moved into our house last May.  I forgot how much I love the smell of heavily perfumed detergent {don’t judge}.  As soon as I find another bar of Fels Naptha, I’ll make some more cheap goop.

Bug’s hair is finally growing out after I butchered it, leaving him with 2 almost-bald spots in the back.  Forgive me, son.

We’re working on letter recognition and…hmm, let’s call if “freedom of expression”, shall we…

Bug in Nutella 003 Bug in Nutella 006

I wrapped up the sadly-controversial-in-Christian-circles book, The Shack {for the 3rd time…it never fails to strip bare, rebuild and energize my relationship with God and break the bone of religiosity that so easily sets into the way I function}…and am starting a “steamy” new one called: Red Hot Monogamy.  Want to add a little more sizzle to your marriage {or completely re-ignite it, if need be}?  Click here to join us and read along with me and the Bloom crew?

I’m glad to report that the bible-left-open-on-my-dining-table trick is working well!

I’m enjoying my new pasta/fruit/anything bowl that a precious friend re-gifted to me {“I found this wedding present we never used and thought…that’s SO Joy.  I would never use it!”}.  And she was right…thanks sweet thing, I love it!

Random January 083 Random January 082

We’re starting our next marriage series at church next week; Sacred Marriage.  We so look forward to digging into this tremendous material.  Have I mentioned lately how much my hubby and I love marriage {ministry}?

I received a letter in the mail that set my heart a-flutter…but it was a false alarm.  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was simply reminding me that I’ll need to bring ID to my interview in Detroit.  Whenever that may be.  They couldn’t tell me.  Citizenship awaits.  I remain an unlicensed alien.

Bug is still doing great.  No signs of SVT, thank you, Jesus!  He did, however, grab a tube of glue off my desk {he’s a climber} and, thinking it was chapstick, applied it lavishly to his little lips.  Yikes.

The worship team did ‘Trading My Sorrows’ for the first time on Sunday – a special request by Cricket.  She belted out every word.  So proud. 

And speaking of musical talent…ever since I stumbled upon this video, I cannot get the stinking thing out of my head and have inadvertently started practicing my cups routine.

We painted.  Played with play dough.  And Cricket’s extensive collection of froo-froo things…

  Random January 086Random January 084

Cricket and I made hair clips and rings…

Random January 041Random January 038Random January 080Random January 048

We ate more Nutella.  With a spoon.

I am being more intentional…about just being with the kids, soaking up this wild and hairy sweet time with them, rather than always ‘escaping’ to chip away at my to-do list.  Living life a little more…rather than just writing about it {ouch}.  Intentional about reading.  Intentional about playing/practicing keyboard.  Intentional about eating more of the right stuff, rather than just avoiding the wrong stuff.  Intentional about being encouraging, gracious and servant-hearted to my hubby.  About consulting the Lord before I speak…

“A closed mouth gathers no foot”

I dusted off the bread machine and put it to delicious use {recipes to come}…

Random January 059

Found my baggie of sprouts and started growing some…

Random January 088

In an attempt to boost my domestic prowess and creativity, and essentially bust out of my “boring food” routine, I tried a couple of amazing new recipes that will be up on here soon {along with a very popular South African dish, yum, yum!}…

Random January 055

Speaking of food, I’ve got a friend working on some meal planning info for us…SUPER EXCITED!  This is definitely a brilliant concept that I’m needing to work on.  I’m sure her wisdom and insight on this topic will rock your world too.

And last, but not least…we’re breaking out the ingredients to make homemade granola tonight {to go with the yummy never-ending yogurt supply we have in this house}.

Now…off to work I go!  When the kids sleepeth, I designeth!  And bloggeth.  {I’m designing invitations for a Mother’s Day Tea…aren’t they sweet?}

What to Wear 3 What to Wear

Oh, and I’ve also been frantically searching for Man vs. Wild episodes to record for my hubby to replenish the ones his wife so recklessly obliterated.  Peace offering, you know.

{over and out}

Related posts:

  1. The Battle Plan
  2. Through Thick and Thin, in Sickness and in Health…
  3. Just Look At These Faces…
  4. Life over Cheerios
«
»

Complete nonsense, Daily Life

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Simply Bloom exists to empower women to embrace their stories, live out their passion with purpose, and leave a legacy of love.
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Hello there! I'm Joy. Speaker, designer, author & coach, and creator of the #weROARproject. Welcome to Simply Bloom Co., where passion & purpose collide.

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Praise isn’t pretending everything is fine, it’s r Praise isn’t pretending everything is fine,
it’s remembering who God is, even when it isn’t.
It rarely changes our circumstances,
but it always changes our perspective.

What could shift in you
if you praised God for even one thing
you’ve been tempted to complain about?

#OhGoodGriefPodcast #WonderOfWorship
Sometimes praise is the most rebellious act of hop Sometimes praise is the most rebellious act of hope we have left.

🎙️ Episode 3 of Oh, Good Grief | The Podcast is live.

In this week’s episode, The Sound of Surrender, we’re talking about what happens when we worship through the wilderness, and the way gratitude reshapes our view of God, of ourselves, and of the desert we’re walking through.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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God is never careless with the pruning knife. If H God is never careless with the pruning knife.
If He allows something to fall away, we can trust His heart,
that it is ultimately for our good,
and for His glory.

#AllisGrace #OhGoodGriefPodcast
Sometimes God prunes what is still alive. Not beca Sometimes God prunes what is still alive.
Not because He is cruel, but because He is kind.

It’s unbelievably hard to walk away from something that was once deeply fruitful. But when a season ends and God lifts His grace from that role, relationship, or project, lingering often hurts far more than leaving.

Trust His heart for you in the pruning. 🌱
He cuts with purpose, and always with love.

#OhGoodGriefPodcast #SimplyBloomCo
I stumbled across the word I chose and lettered fo I stumbled across the word I chose and lettered for 2023. Held. I thought it might reopen old ache. Instead, it reminded me of the deeper song beneath our hardest seasons: even in the unraveling, we were held.

And as a new year unfolds, that truth feels like a steadying hand.

Here’s to beginnings that hum with mercy...
sunrises, blankets of white snow,
seasons turning quietly toward hope. 

Dream bravely.
Plan loosely.
Take the next small step.
Try again.

Be tender with yourself.
Honor the slow work of becoming.
And step into this year knowing—
you are held.
As we stand on the edge of a new year, remember th As we stand on the edge of a new year, remember this:
God doesn’t prune to prove a point;
He prunes to produce fruit.

Trust the precision and the heart
of the Master Gardener.

What felt like loss this past year
may have been His clearing away of the old
to make room for the new.

#OhGoodGriefPodcast #SimplyBloomCo
For the person who doesn’t love journaling but doe For the person who doesn’t love journaling but does love growth…the R•EVOLVE Journal was created to make the practice simple, sustainable, and meaningful.

Five lines a day - small enough to fit into real life, yet rich enough to capture the joys, struggles, prayers, answered prayers, and all the quiet in-between spaces.

Some seasons change us so subtly we miss the beauty of what’s unfolding. This little rhythm helps you notice it, and hold it.

All seven cover designs are available on Amazon or in the Simply Bloom Co. shop
📚 simplybloomshop.org/product-page/r-evolve-journals

If you live in Central Michigan, I'm happy to connect with you and get one into your hands so you can start journaling sooner.
Sometimes God prunes what’s still alive. Not becau Sometimes God prunes what’s still alive.
Not because He’s cruel — because He’s kind.

🍃 Episode 003 of OGG is live: Making the Cut | When Love Looks Like Loss.

We’re talking about the difference between punishment and pruning, and how the wilderness can be proof of love.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#OhGoodGriefPodcast #SimplyBloomCo
When we fail, when we flounder, when our fragile f When we fail,
when we flounder,
when our fragile faith starts to tremble…
we can trust His heart for us.

His love remains unchanging,
and His purposes remain unshakable.
Follow @SimplyBloomJoy

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