Have you ever wondered... If God is perfect and complete in every way....why do we praise God? Why does he need, even require, us to do that? I struggled with that concept for a long time. Because I love God and want to obey him, I praised him, but it always seemed strange to me. I didn't get it. What I did 'get' was that when I did, my outlook changed and I had a better view of life, living, and those around me. Knowing that praising produced positive things in me helped me to continue the practice. And then... I had an Ah Ha! moment. Recently in my reading I came across the wise words of two … [Read more...]
Are you feeling fall-ish yet? Have you started putting a fall frock on your home? Why not start, by dressing up your front door for fall? It's the perfect place for adding seasonal decor and making your home feel warm and welcoming for family and visitors. Get inspired by these 7 Lovely Fall Wreaths from this week's Project Inspire{d} Link Party! Please... Pin and share this image on Facebook or Instagram. Candy Corn Pom Pom Wreaths by Little Miss Celebration Fall Burlap Wreath by Anything and Everything Green Beaded Wreath by Delineate Your Dwelling Mesh Burlap Fall Wreath by Our … [Read more...]
It's the little things that take life from ordinary to extraordinary. Don't miss my simple, low cost tips, ideas, and inspiration for extraordinary living. Do you recognize that statement? It's found in the green box on the sidebar over on the right. It's my teaser to get you to sign up to receive An Extraordinary Day by email. The little things. Have you ever noticed a young girl playing with miniatures for hours, happy as a clam? Kids love their little treasures. They collect tiny things by the pocketful. But, as we get older, we set our sights on larger … [Read more...]
What's better than getting together with a long-time friend and catching up? Have you noticed that you can be so in the moment that time totally stands still? That's the way brunch was with my good friend when I visited her. We've been neighbors...bicycling partners...walking partners...decorating partners...and she even reminded me of our brief stint as catering partners. We even dreamed of being partners in a B&B. On this particular morning, after spending so many years and miles and miles apart, time seemed to stand still while we enjoyed this delicious brunch she prepared. Oh … [Read more...]
I'm back with the Project Inspire{d} team! A big thanks to my fellow hostesses... Mary Beth, Malia, and Stephanie for letting me take a brief, yet much-needed, hiatus. You gals are THE best!!! I am so excited for this week's party! My fellow blogging friends...I cannot wait to see what you have up your sleeve. As always, I know you will have tons of Great Ideas! And to my extraordinary readers and non-blogging friends I am always thrilled to have you join in the fun here. Please click on any picture in the link-up at the end of the post and it will take you straight to the blog of the talented … [Read more...]
During my reading time this week, I came across a quote from a renowned preacher of the late 19th century, Charles Spurgeon. I struggled with sharing it with you for the Joy Day! post. The quote doesn't feel very joyful. It's even a bit stern. But, I couldn't shake myself from it. With that in mind...let's imagine that we are sitting at a lovely table drinking our favorite fancy coffee or tea and enjoying a tasty treat. After the usual pleasantries, indulging in the delicacies from the table, and conversational catching up, I look you in the eye and say, "I think it's time we … [Read more...]
Raise your hand if you love the colors of fall. As much as I appreciate and enjoy a neutral palette with just a punch of color, the jewel tones of fall make my heart sing. When used beautifully in a room, those jewel tones of fall create a warmth and coziness that make me feel safe. Color is like that. If I were to tell you my favorite colors I'd tell you I love red, blue, green, and yellow. Not usually all at the same time. Except in the fall. Then, I want them all! For the most part of the last nineteen years I have … [Read more...]
How are you today? Really....how are YOU? Most of us trudge, or breeze, through the day. The trudging or breezing has to do with the load we carry. If we have a ton of worries and responsibilities weighing us down....trudging might be a generous term. On the other hand, when we're working within our giftedness, living with hearts filled with joy and gratitude, and spending our hours with others who build up rather than discourage....we breeze through our day and the minutes seems to fly away as easily, too. If you are one who flits through the day … [Read more...]
When I was growing up I spent a lot of time looking in the mirror. You too? Each time I glanced at my reflection I hoped that my appearance would improve. Maybe it was because we had some pretty big mirrors in our house, or maybe it was because as a tween, my parents sent me to charm school at the local department store, but between there and home, I got the message that my physical appearance as well as the way I carried myself were important. At charm school, we learned how to sit and stand and even model pretty outfits for the store's style show. We learned about fashion, the best name brands, how to … [Read more...]
How to win the mind battle. Once and for all. Today I'm sharing a simple, doable exercise to help you win that battle going on in your mind. "Once and for all?" you ask. I know...is that really possible? And then I wonder, "Who am I to suggest that this battle can be conquered once and for all?" After all, I just spent the better part of a week on the roller coaster of positive/negative thoughts. Speaking of roller coasters... I'm sure there are a number of reasons that people get on roller coasters. Many ride because it's fun. They love the exhilaration of … [Read more...]
It's been nearly a year since I've had the pleasure of hosting overnight guests. My friend and her daughter were driving between Chicago and New York State when they took a detour to visit us. We aren't sure, but it seems like it's been close to two years since we've been able to get together. When you do life with someone on a nearly daily basis...through the thick and thin, but mostly thin....it's a joy to finally be able to spend time together. We've burned many minutes chatting on the phone, but that isn't quite the same, is it? I love serving a nice … [Read more...]
Thanks for stopping by to join this summer's extraordinary behind the scenes blogland tour. It's been fun to jump on the tour 'bus' throughout the summer and get a behind the scenes view of all the wonderful home and DIY blogs on the tour. My friend Mary Beth from Cupcakes and Crinoline invited me to join in this extraordinary Blogland Tour. Earlier in the summer I had other invites, but I just wasn't able to join in the fun. Her invite came at the perfect moment and I'm so glad to be joining the tour. Thanks Mary Beth! One of the things that we may or may not grasp when we read a blog is … [Read more...]
For most of my life I would wake up in the middle of the night, briefly think about the future, and the thought of an endless forever would send me into a panic attack. It was awful. My mind just could not wrap itself around the concept of forever. Though, for the most part, I didn't have a fear of tomorrow, or next week, or even next year, that fear of the great unknown future would freak me out. Our minds are a battleground. How we direct and control our thoughts is critical. This week I read a few experts from C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters (affiliate link). There the demon Screwtape points out … [Read more...]
At our house, we LOVE blueberries. We could eat blueberries every day of the week...for supper and lunch and breakfast. And often we do. My hands-down favorite blueberry recipe...is Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake. I could eat it every day for breakfast. Probably not a good idea, though. [wink] A few years ago, we spent the day at Niagara Falls and enjoyed lunch on the veranda of a restaurant overlooking the park and falls on the Canadian side. That day, salmon was the special and so I ordered it. When it was set before me, I was surprised to see it … [Read more...]
Have you ever been sitting absolutely still but found your body trembling? Were you trembling from excitement? Anticipation? Anxiety? Or maybe fear? Lately that is a state in which I often find myself. Some days it's much better than others. This week has been a mixture of joy and sadness. Over three days I was blessed to have out-of-town guests. My friend and her daughter came for a brief overnight visit, and another friend and her husband came to spend the day with us. I can't tell you what bright spots those days were in my summer. It was so good to see far-away … [Read more...]
Spam. Nobody likes it. With the latest changes in email filters, we all are experiencing much less spam. Or are we? If you're a blogger, you are undoubtedly feeling overwhelmed by the amount of spam hitting your comment box. Wouldn't you like to know how to fix comment spam? It's really very simple. Turn off comments. What? Turn off comments? Am I crazy? Don't click away....stay with me to see where I take this. When I set up my blog originally, I installed a WordPress plugin called Akismet. It is supposed to be the premier plugin to prevent comment and trackback spam. Yet, when I … [Read more...]
When was the last time you said to God, "I can't get enough of you!" For most of us the thought never crosses our minds. We may wake up and thank God that we're alive, but do we bless him every time we take a breath? Probably not. Those of you who follow An Extraordinary Day on Facebook are familiar with my nightly sweet dreams post where I share a gorgeous bedroom photo and some inspirational words. I'm amazed at how many people will mention they look forward to it each night. I have to confess, putting up the lovely sleeping room photos is easy. Daily having something of … [Read more...]
