My real,ordinary, blessed life...

If you've followed my blog for any length of time you may have noticed that I have a normal rhythm to my posts.

Sunday evening I post my Monday gratitude post and list.

Tuesdays I usually post a home decor or project, thrifting, antiquing or cooking related post.

Wednesdays I post some type of writing, prose or poetry, most often about faith or family.

 On Thursdays I post another home decor or project, thrifting, antiquing or cooking type post.

Over the weekend I post a photo with a scripture and an encouraging word or two.

(Occasionally I'll throw in a photo editing post on Texture Tuesdays.)

Bloggers are supposed to have a niche for their blogs.

Faith, Family, Decor, Cooking, Writing, and Photography are all things I regularly post about.

Clearly, I have not chosen a niche,

which is, they say, important to a successful, growing blog.

But, from the beginning I had a method to my madness.

I wanted you, whoever you are, to see the normal, real life of a Jesus follower.

I wanted you to experience with me the things about this life that I love.

I wanted you to see how following Jesus  makes my life better.

Not better, as in I think I'm better than you.

Not better, as in I have more stuff, live in a fancier house, or am richer than you.

(We live in a small, simple home and are definitely not rich.)

But, He makes my ordinary life more contented, as He's taught me to notice and count my blessings.

He makes my real life more beautiful, as He's taught me to notice the beauty all around me,

as well as blessed me with the desire and ability to create beauty in my surroundings.

Following Jesus does not make my life problem or trouble free,

but He does make the problems and troubles more bearable.

I've tried to be honest and transparent about those types of things, too.

All that to say this, today, I have no new home decor or project, nothing I've recently scored at the Goodwill or my favorite antique store, not even a new recipe to share.

Today, I went out to lunch with a friend I haven't sat down and talked to in way too long.

I left our time together strengthened and encouraged.

I don't think I had even realized how much I needed this.

After that I went and picked up our oldest granddaughter and she came over 

while I baked her birthday cake for tomorrow.

She's going to be ten.

TEN!

The years are zooming by way too fast.

And so, I had neither the time, the inclination, nor even the extra money to dazzle you with something new today.

What I do have, is some photos of my wee, little kitchen, which all you followers have seen before.

And an almost ten year old granddaughter who is very excited about the sparkling juice, 

( made in France...ooo la la), 

that Nana bought, (on clearance at Ross),  to go with her birthday dinner.

What I do have is a real, ordinary, blessed life 

and

I'm happy you stop in here to share it with me.

still following,