Monday Musings

Out in my yard today... mostly sunny and 75 degrees, but the forecast calls for scattered showers later today.  We have had an incredibly wet spring this year, so I'm feeling a little grumpy about the prospect of even more rain. 

Baxter relaxed with me on the patio while I had my coffee this morning.

All of that relaxing really wears a dog out!

The snowball bush produced more flowers this year than we've seen since we moved in seven years ago.

Little baby peaches- the tree is covered with them!  Maybe we'll actually have a worthwhile harvest this year.

The irises are beautiful this year! 

I'm grateful for... a successful end to this school year!  Hope and Brianna both worked very hard this year and earned exceptional grades.  The girls helped Dave get his classroom organized and put away for summer in record time.  Hallelujah!

One of my favorite things...

is this cute little solar-powered froggy light that my hubby gave me.  When it gets dark, the frog's body gives off a cool blue glow.  So cute!

This week I'm reading... several books at once! So what else is new?  



I'm finishing Fortytude- Making the Next Decades the Best Years of Your Life- through the 40s, 50s, and Beyond by Sarah Brokaw.  The daughter of news anchor Tom Brokaw, she is a licensed therapist.  The book is based on experiences in her private practice, as well as her own life. 

I'm also working my way through Debbie Macomber's One Simple Act  Discovering the Power of Generosity.  Debbie has been one of my favorite fiction authors for quite some time, but she has also written some good non-fiction books in recent years.  I picked up this one because I am really trying to work on being a more generous person.

On the top of my pile this week is Max Lucado's Outlive Your Life You Were Made to Make a Difference.  I'm reading this book in preparation for a summer ladies Bible study group that I am helping with at church.  Max Lucado is one of my most favorite Christian authors of all time.  His writing is absolutely saturated with the love of God.

 I'm looking forward to... finishing the house painting project that we started this last weekend.  I don't think that the weather is going to be too cooperative for the next couple of days, so it might take a while to get done.  I'm also excited to celebrate our wedding anniversary on Friday.  Twenty-two years of wedded bliss!

Simple life tip for the week... "I felt it shelter to speak to you." ~Emily Dickinson  Communication is vital to any relationship.  Are you a safe haven for those in your life?  Are you careful to withhold judgement and criticism?  Are you an attentive listener?  Seek to focus this week on being "shelter" to those you encounter. You just might be surprised at the results!