Finding joy in the everyday

If you had one extra hour in your day how would you use it? This question was asked in the Huffington Post the other day and I thought it was interesting. Here are the of the responses from a US survey: Relax (36%) Sleep (27%) Time with friends and family (27%) Exercise (24%) Housework (20%) Watch TV (19%) Sex (15%) Cook (12%) Play music (10%) Study (9%) Home repairs (9%) Office work (5%) Something else (13%) Not sure (11%) What would I do - sleep, read, hobbies, go for a walk but it wouldn't include housework!! More time with my husband and children. I could sure do far more praying and bible reading.  And you? Perhaps the question should be - do I use the 24 hours I already have wisely? I am sure there is a reason why God gave us 24 hours in a day and not 25 or 26 hours. 

I love it when my favourite fabric store "Spotlight" has it's Christmas sale and kindly reduces fabric by 40%. Off I raced to replenish my fabric supply. I didn't go quite as wild as I did last year, however I picked up 9 pieces of fabric (2 metres each) that I am looking forward to turning into "wonderful creative masterpieces" (I just fell off my chair laughing - a girl can dream!). Great for a little girl perhaps.  These three have a linen texture (an organic feel to them) but I believe they are 100% cotton. The top one is slightly more yellow, rather than mustard as you can see here. No hurry to make these up yet. The spotty fabric is a linen/cotton mix and has been turned into a very nice knee length summer skirt (it does crease a little too much though, but what do you except with linen!). The pale blue was going to be used for a top, have other ideas for it now. One skirt knee length skirt. However after completing the skirt ...

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1 One winter night composer Johann Sebastian Bach was scheduled to debut a new composition. He arrived at the church expecting it to be full. Instead, he learned that no one had come. Without missing a beat, Bach told his musicians that they would still perform as planned. They took their places, Bach raised his baton, and soon the empty church was filled with magnificent music. This story made me do some soul-searching. Would I write if God were my only audience? How would my writing be different? New writers are often advised to visualize one person they are writing to as a way of staying focused. I do this when I write devotionals; I try to keep readers in mind because I want to say something they will want to read and that will help them on their spiritual journey. I doubt that the “devotional writer” David, whose ps...

Washing day Wash on Monday, Iron of Tuesday, Mend of Wednesday, Churn on Thursday, Clean on Friday, Bake on Saturday, Rest on Sunday. Sometimes the ordinary and mundane have a quiet beauty we haven't really taken much notice of. Today's art is all about the washing on the line and some of these paintings are quite striking. All quotes used today are by Laura Ingalls Wilder Enjoy. " I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet,  simple things of life which are the real ones after all. " " Home is the nicest word there is " "The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies" This is my favourite, not sure why.  And what happens after the washing is dry . . . the ironing! ***

Book: I am Malala - the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban Authors: Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday 9 October 2012, she almost paid the ultimate price. Shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, she wasn't expected to survive.  I am not sure about you, but I tend to avoid "popular/best selling" books in fear that they will be a disappointment and poorly written (many are), however I saw this one at my local library and thought I would give it a go. I am so glad I did.  It was a very enjoyable read, but more importantly, a very interesting read.  Only a small section of the book is dedicated to the shooting and her recovery in Britain, the majority of the book is about Malala and her family living in Swat Valley in Pakistan and what...

Packed and ready to post (sent and received since I wrote this!). I thought I would surprise two small children with homemade library bags. Both will be homeschooled and the eldest (Miss Three) is very excited about "school".  Perhaps a little young to commence full time schooling, there is still plenty of ways of "informal" learning that Miss Three can enjoy including a trip to the library.  My own boys (now all grown up) loved visiting the library once a week and always came home with a pile of books to read.  My eldest loved his history books whilst my youngest loved nature.  I still visit the library to collect books that I have reserved and just before Christmas I borrowed a large pile to read during my holiday break (plus some DVDs to watch). Perhaps I should make myself a library bag too - but I already have one that I bought a few years ago, its covered in cats! I think you can guess which bag is for Miss Three and which one is for Master Two....

A mothers love knows no bounds  (Two ragdoll cats) ( Source ) Outside my window A warm sunny day outside. We have been blessed thus far with a very mild summer, cool nights and lovely warm (but not hot) days. We have even had some rain that has been very welcome I am thankful for Having God by my side 24/7. The cooler summer temperatures have meant the house hasn't got as hot as it usually does at this time of year and  I am getting a good nights rest. That my mother did not break any bones when she fell over on Christmas Eve, however her road to recovery will be painful nevertheless.  I am wearing A favourite blue and white cotton stripped skirt and a white t-shirt. Bare feet as it is summer. From the kitchen Why hide away all the dry foods in the pantry when it can be on display and add character to a kitchen.  Here is my collection of "French roosters" as my husband likes to call them. They look quite smart all in a row ho...