Hung Up

Lately I have been hung up ( I hope in a good way ) on making this life matter.

On not loosing focus of the significant things that matter in the end.

As I age, have become an "empty nester",

and try to squeeze in as many special moments as I can with my dear hubby...

life has become a great longing to not wait, to live now.

Because 100 years from now,

I want the blood , sweat , and tears that I shed,

NOT to be for the things that I thought "SHOULD be" important,

or important because they are important to someone else...

but because they are important, and things that truly mattered to me.

*loving...

re-connecting with dear friends

having loved ones close

planning little adventures

simplifying

new dreams

XOXO

Love

My theme this week has been about LOVE.

LOVE that is overflowing in grace,

and abundant in mercy.

I used to feel that I could LOVE someone enough.

I have come to realize, that we can never LOVE each other enough-

we can always LOVE more.

A wise women wrote this :

Love is healing.

Love gives us self worth.

Love enables us to be kind.

Love gives us a forgiving heart.

Love helps us feel joy.

Love lets us love outside of our self.

But love can't be with out the love of God,

in our heart or relationship.

I love every one, even if or when,

 I don't like their irregularities.

Life is about happiness with life, all alone,

or with someones presence.

                                                             ~ My Mom ~

*loving...

doodled notes by my mom

being encouraged

choosing love over anything else

hugs

XOXO

Important

And every day, the world will drag you by the hand,

yelling, " This is important ! And this is important ! You need

to worry about this ! And this ! " 

And each day, it's up to you to yank your hand back,

put it on your heart and say...

" No. This is what's important. "

~ lain Thomas ~

*loving...
being silly with my mom
Arkansas
being surrounded by mountains
morning coffee and heart to heart chats 
new friends
letting things go

XOXO

Soup

Sometimes I like rainy, do-nothing days.

Today I stayed in my comfy sweats,

 turned on some music, and made

Potato Soup.

3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes

1/3 cup diced celery

1/3 cup chopped onion

3/4 cup diced cooked ham (or bacon) *optional

3 1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper (ground black)

5 tablespoons butter

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups milk

Combine: potatoes,celery, onion, ham, and water in pot.

Bring to boil. 

Reduce to medium and cook till taters are tender :)  (about 10-15 min.)

Stir in bouillon, salt & pepper

In a separate pan: melt butter over med./low heat.

whisk in flour

stir until thick

slowly add milk, stirring till thick.
Mix both pots together, and you have soup ! 

It's easy and SUPER yummy !!! 

It's one of our favorites ! :)

*loving...

a rainy day

cozy sweats

smell of homemade soup

XOXO

Weekend

From beginning to end,

this weekend was well lived.

feeding fish

Time seems to whiz by with the blink of an eye.

If we didn't slow down  once in a while 

to recognize how truly amazing the moments are...

we may just miss them.

*loving...

living near the lake

going out to breakfast afterchurch

feeding the fish off the dock

our animals

country roads

Jungle Book at the old Opera House Theater

moments spent with family

XOXO

Do

Do something cool.

Eat ice-cream.

High five people that are doing good things.

Take a walk. :)

loving...

walking in the woods

Oliver's happy little jumps

Scotty being a good "big brother"

peaceful days

XOXO

Tulip Time

Ever since our first visit to Pella Iowa, 

I have hoped to one day visit while they 

celebrated Tulip Time.

This weekend we were smack dab in the middle of it all !  

sweeping the streets before the parade

sleepy

nodding off

chimney sweep

I think Pella is an adorable little village any way...

with it's European flair...

but at Tulip Time...it comes alive !!

Folks dressed up in their Dutch attire, there was authentic food, Dutch dancing

and a parade !

 The vendors were wonderful.  My body is paying for all the food I ate, 

but it sure was worth it, when I was piling it in ! :)

I do want to note, that we didn't get to stop by the Dutch Market to 

purchase donut holes....like we have in the past.

I'm pretty sure the weekend was a little incomplete with out them.

*loving...

places that satisfy my wanderlust

visiting family

gorging on sweets

little kids dressed in Dutch *adorable

tradition

wooden shoes

tulips

Pella Iowa

XOXO