The Princess’ first grade teacher has told us this experience will probably bend us so it does not break us. I’m really trying to keep this in mind as I am bent in ways I never imagined. I never imagined spring time without community egg hunts, large glorious Easter services, shopping for new springtime outfits and lovely visits with friends and family. None of these things are happening. But there is opportunity to shop online…or not at all, who’s going to see me?, to enter the new world of ZOOM meetings and worshiping from the comforts of my couch. Disappointing, yes…ideal, no…bending, probably but breaking, definitely not. How are you bending this week?
Antique chocolate molds and hand painted eggs.Cute white bunnies on the counterChicks, sheep and bunnies dressed up for spring.Sweet feedback bunny waiting for the egg huntOh and a little Princess has a birthday this weekend. 7! Can you believe it?
There is a quiet beauty to one who has contentment. I don’t think I fully realized that before. As much as I love my home and family, I always felt I needed to add to or embellish the simple to make “unique”, “special” and “memorable”. Is it wrong to take pride in work, friendships, social media presence or perfect house decor? Not entirely, but the last few weeks, and I’m sure the weeks to come, are proving to be challenging as much of my “unique” is stripped to the “simple”…and it is not a completely bad thing. Finding contentment is my goal this week. Enjoy some simple spring touches…the season of change and rebirth.
Spring!
“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.” Tony Gaskins
“A contented heart is a calm sea in the midst of all storms.” Anonymous
Lightening up the couch
“A harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment.” Proverb
Lovely Spring mantel
“Contentment makes poor men rich, discontent makes rich men poor.” Benjamin Franklin
Celebrating our first week of virtual school with orange juice
“Contentment always eludes those who don’t count themselves blessed for what they already have.” Anonymous
I have to admit, I didn’t feel a lot of gratitude this week. What I did feel was a lot of anxiety, frustration, grief, helplessness and impatience. The situation is hard, the Princess wanted to see her friends, I longed for our sweet family vacation time and my hero still had to go out into the world and help others. A glance at Facebook inspired new fears of the unknown and sorrow for the future of so many people. It’s a lot, and Spring decor just didn’t seem to inspire me like it usually does. But, our neighborhood is alive with color, the air filled with the sound of birds and the vegetable garden in progress. We have food in our pantry, internet for school needs and a stack of new library books I picked up the day before life changed! This week I’m practicing gratitude…I found some quotes to help bring us some balance and some pictures of a few spring touches. I hope both bring you joy.
This Grandmother’s Garden pattern quilt makes me smile
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust
Ironstone with beautiful silk flowers
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” — Cynthia Ozick
Waiting for real peonies…these are lovely in the meantime.
There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.” — Ralph H. Blum
Spring is in the air
The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” — Richard Bach
A Day of Small Things... 
