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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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Before the empty tomb, there was a basin. Before Before the empty tomb,
there was a basin.

Before glory,
there was grief.

The Jesus Way is not dominance.
It’s downward mobility.
It’s loving in the face of betrayal.
Serving in the face of misunderstanding.
Choosing humility when pride would be easier.

If loving like Jesus feels costly, you’re not doing it wrong.
It has always cost something.

🎧 Episode 017 | The Jesus Way is now streaming.

#OhGoodGriefPodcast #SimplyBloomCo #TheJesusWay
How's your internal monologue? Be brutally honest How's your internal monologue?
Be brutally honest here.

Are you actually kind to yourself?
Do you practice curiosity + compassion
when your emotions + responses catch you
off guard and feel oversized for the occasion?

Are you patient and gracious with your soul's
long + messy journey of growth and healing?

Are you gentle with your heart when you mess up?
Or, do you instantly shift to shaming + blaming?

Is self-loathing a constant (albeit unwanted)
companion who lingers in the corner just
waiting for an invitation to show up with
cruel words, gasoline and a match?

For many of us, if we talked to our dearest
friends the way we talk to ourselves...
well, we wouldn't have many.

Go ahead and read that again.
Let it sink in.

/ / /

Consider this a gentle reminder
to be tender with yourself.
Speak life to your own soul.
Always, always, always be kind.

We are never more like the enemy of our souls than
when we assume the role of accuser + condemner.

Catch every negative, shaming thought you have
and see if it aligns with how God sees you (and others).

If it isn't good, kind, hopeful, constructive, grace-laced and restorative, then it doesn't belong in your head + heart.

You are, after all, allowed to be both a mess and
a masterpiece...all at the very same time.

You are so loved.
Easter reminds us that the tomb is empty. But befo Easter reminds us that the tomb is empty.
But before the resurrection, there was a towel.

In John 13, just hours before the cross,
Jesus doesn’t assert power, He kneels.
He washes the feet of Peter.
He washes the feet of Judas.
He loves them to the end.

🎙️ Episode 017 | The Jesus Way is live.

What does it look like to choose love in the middle
of betrayal, grief, disagreement, and struggle?
The way of Jesus isn’t flashy.
 It’s faithful.

🎧 Listen wherever you stream podcasts.

#OhGoodGrief #TheJesusWay  #KnownByLove
Instagram post 17956039791092382 Instagram post 17956039791092382
So very thankful for the life that came from his d So very thankful for the life
that came from his death.

May you know how wildly, wholly
and wonderfully you are loved…

“This is how much God loved the world:
He gave his Son, his one and only Son.
And this is why: so that no one need be
destroyed; by believing in him, anyone
can have a whole and lasting life.
God didn’t go to all the trouble of
sending his Son merely to point an
accusing finger, telling the world
how bad it was. He came to help,
to put the world right again.”

John 3:16-17 | The Message

#GoodFriday #ItIsFinished

📷 Levi Lusko
Boundaries are not the opposite of love. They are Boundaries are not the opposite of love.
They are often the evidence of it.

Jesus touched lepers.
He wept with friends.
He restored the broken.

But He also corrected boldly.
He withdrew intentionally.
He did not entrust Himself to everyone.

You can forgive someone
without restoring immediate proximity.
You can love someone
without giving them full access to your life.

Episode 016 | Grace + Guardrails is available now.

#OhGoodGriefPodcast #BoundariesMatter
Instagram post 18396581398148716 Instagram post 18396581398148716
Love does not require unlimited access. In Episod Love does not require unlimited access.

In Episode 016 of Oh, Good Grief, we explore what Jesus
actually modeled when it comes to boundaries.

He loved everyone.
He did not entrust Himself to everyone.
He was full of grace and truth.
He welcomed the crowds, but confided in the few.

In a world that demands access to our time, energy, and heart, this episode unpacks what it looks like to forgive without naivety, love without losing discernment, and practice grace with guardrails.

🎧 Grace + Guardrails | How Jesus Modeled Boundaries in a World
  That Demands Access is live wherever you listen to podcasts

#OhGoodGrief #GraceAndTruth #BiblicalBoundaries #FaithInRealLife
Sometimes the most honest thing we can say is: thi Sometimes the most honest thing we can say is:
this is where I am today…
but it isn’t where my story ends.

#OhGoodGriefPodcast #GodIsFaithful
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