A Place of Joy and Inspiration
Hello! If this is your first time here, scroll down to read day one. Otherwise, here are the current links to the rest of the series:: 31 Extraordinary Days…. {Day 2} 20 Extraordinary Little Things...I Love About Fall! {Day 3} October Dining...Outdoors! {Day 4} Autumn Inside Outside {Day 5} Just a little kindness... {Day 6} Autumn....where every leaf is a flower {Day 7} Joy … [Read more...]
I am so very excited to join in the FUN tonight at MONDAY FUNDAY! For six weeks I'll be tagging along with the extraordinary ladies that regularly host this inspiring link party. Because I know that some of my readers are not bloggers and may not be familiar with blog or link parties, I just want to give you a brief intro into what my excitement is all about. Several times a week … [Read more...]
This week I've been thinking about how God told the apostle Paul, "My power is made perfect in weakness." Lately it seems that whatever I attempt to do in my own strength isn't successful. But, when I quit the striving, He moves. I'm not saying that God has been answering my prayers the way I would like. No. I'm just saying that I'm learning to get over the idea that it's me that … [Read more...]
Lovely Lunaria as a Cut Flower A corner of our backyard has the popular dried flower, Honesty. Sometimes it is also referred to as the Money Plant. It often has a weedy appearance in the garden. But, this year the color was especially stunning. You might describe it as a deep magenta purple. On a whim I decided to cut two stems and bring them inside. A small … [Read more...]
Hope is the word which God has written on the brow of every man. Victor Hugo I am so grateful that these words are true. Despite my circumstances...I have hope. And more importantly, I know the HOPE giver. Victor Hugo had a way with words. His hope quote was a gentle reminder for me today. And hopefully for you too! ~ ~ ~ … [Read more...]
It's been really windy around here lately. I even have to wear a cute ball cap so that I don't end up eating my hair while I take my daily constitutional. Doesn't that sound so important....daily constitutional? The wind was so strong that it kept blowing my cap off my head. My ponytail fed through the expansion hole in the back didn't even help to keep it on. My dad used … [Read more...]
...and in all of our troubles I have great joy. 2 Corinthians 7:4b New Century Version When I read this the other day I was again struck with the realization that the Apostle Paul's troubles were many. Yet, because he trusted God and because the church there cared about him and encouraged him, he was able to choose joy. And not a little. Great joy. Wouldn't you … [Read more...]
Back in my old stomping grounds, it's tulip time. It's a fabulous celebration of tulips and things Dutch. The funny thing is, usually before or after the big shin dig I'd drive over to see the tulip displays and fields of tulips. But, I never attended the parade or any of the festivities. I have a slight regret. When you live in an area most of your adult life, you think … [Read more...]
The party is finally over. We managed to enjoy this blogiversary celebration for nearly two whole weeks!! I am still in amazement at how much fun it was and how wonderfully gracious and generous my bloggy friends have been. This week, for me, has been an extraordinary wrap-up to the celebration. If you are a regular reader of Joy Day! posts each Sunday, … [Read more...]
Mother's Day Weekend is just ahead. Most of you are thinking about Mom and what to do for her. Me? I think about hitting the greenhouses and garden centers for the most beautiful plants I can find. I make it into a challenge to get the good stuff before anyone else. I'm a competitor and my intent is to win. [laughing] Have you always wanted to create an … [Read more...]
Would you like to know how to receive God's blessing? In my recent reading I made a discovery! Each morning I walk out to our great room and look out the windows. Though we live "in" town we have a great view. The hill where we live quickly drops, it's like living on a second floor, looking above our neighbors' rooftops. A small mountain lies just beyond. … [Read more...]
Our first Blogiversary Celebration! Whew!! What a week! Happy Blogiversary An Extraordinary Day! All week long we've been partying to the hilt. And boy, has it been fun! Just to add to the fun and my appreciation of you. I'm finishing the week with this lovely photo of apple blossoms. And... The fun part is that you can click here for an 8x10 to … [Read more...]
Welcome to the final day of our fabulous celebration! All week we've been talking about friendship in some form or another. We even broke bread together the other day. And everyone wanted the recipe, so I provided the Best Banana Bread Recipe, ever. To wrap up our Five Days of Giveaways I wanted to give you something, too. Something I created special for you...and I'm … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day four of celebrating my Yesterday I teased you with tea and banana bread. Oh my! It is The BEST banana bread. Maybe the yummiest ever!! You couldn't believe that I would withhold the recipe until today. I hope we're still friends! [grin] Just look at it sitting on the plate with that creamy pat of butter. Mouth-watering. … [Read more...]
Thanks for coming by today to help me celebrate this momentous occasion! I hope you were blessed yesterday by our special guest, Melissa from The Inspired Room. What a treat! We've been talking about extraordinary friendship and friends the past few days... One of my favorite things to do is to gather my friends, set a pretty table, and enjoy light refreshments and good conversation. So … [Read more...]
Our celebration continues today! Special greetings to Extraordinary YOU from an Extraordinary blogging friend and an Extraordinary giveaway! I'm so honored to have been invited by the lovely Diane, to share a little bit here today for her blog anniversary week! A little backstory, I first "met" Diane over three years ago when she reached out to me via email, … [Read more...]
