…all week long – hands down!!! LOL🤣 Look at this absolutely glorious apple crisp, smell the cinnamon wafting through the air, taste that brown sugar…yes, Fall is officially HERE!🍁🍂
Granted, I’ll admit this is a deconstruction of my sugar-free oatmeal breakfast earlier this week, but I figured that this Thursday night deserved a treat like apple crisp, so I went for it! Sooo glad I did…dessert perfection!😋 #NoRegrets #UNapologetic #JudgmentFreeZone #BakedInJoy #AppleEqualsFruit 🍎
Hubby & I polished off 1/3 of this while still hot outta the oven😋…2 years till empty nest…but who’s counting?😯🤔😏 Ha ha ha!
Happy Fri-YAY, y’all!!!😊🥳
“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.”
So I’ve been feelin’ pretty crafty lately…and my newest fascination is vinyl wall transfers (better late to the party than never, right?!) LOL
The Frugal Frannie in me couldn’t pass up the “bless our home” sign sporting the big red markdown sticker – OVER 50% off…SCORE! Imagine my horrific chagrin when I discovered – after watching a YouTube tutorial on proper application techniques, following the directions, and being ready to create my amateur masterpiece – the sign in the container did NOT match the package. It said, “less our home.”
In this harvest season, I am focused on setting an atmosphere of abundance and gratitude, so this incomplete sale item posed a philosophical quandary. Determined to make it work, I took the flourish that was to go at the bottom of the phrase, turned it sideways, and posited, “If I can make that curlicue look like the letter B and place it properly, I may be able to pull this off without a comprehension faux pas.”
So whaddya think – did I succeed in making lemonade from the lemons I was handed in that tightly sealed and unpreviewable container?
I think my improvisation is another lovely (& budget-friendly) addition to my Laundry Room spruce-up…works for me!😉👍🏼
What little things are bringing you joy this week? I’d love for you to drop me a comment to share…
“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
This is what my healthy breakfast looks like at 10pm the prior night. When I DON’T plan ahead, I may fall into the trap of convenience (that looks a lot like leftover from lunch tater tots and ketchup, or whatever I can grab quickly between meetings). Then I’m grouchy and hangry because I unwisely picked something that neither satisfied nor adequately nourished me. Can you relate?😏
Advance preparation helps set us up for success. What are some healthy habits YOU can’t afford to skip? Drop me a comment! #BetterEveryDay #WorkInProgress #SuccessIsMyChoice
“Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.”
(Exodus 23:20)
“So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.”
Am I the only one who knew this amount of peanut butter was MORE than sufficient for (at LEAST) another sandwich?!?🤣 I CAN’T be the only one! LOL
Seriously, in 20 years of marriage, some of my biggest gasps (& protests!) have come from my wonderful hubby throwing out something I still deemed as having potential use. Obviously, I’m the only resident who sees the value (necessity) in scraping the bottom (& sides!) of the peanut butter jar…or has the patience to do so.😜
Too many times in the past, I’ve talked myself outta stuff that I KNOW would add joy & delight because I thought:
🚫 I don’t really NEED it (but it’s reasonable, I work hard to handle my bizness, & it’s a nice treat/reward)
🚫 I can come back & get it later (later never comes)
🚫 I’m being frugal & responsible (TRUTH? I was being CHEAP and dealing with ⚠️TOXIC☢ money mindset emotional baggage & fear of lack)
🔆 Today, I choose JOY! Life, peace, delight, and abundance…YES to ALL of that – and then some! GOD is my Provider; He owns the cattle on 1,000 hills – & that’s a LOTTA beef!🐄🐂🐃🤣
Being frugal with wisdom and good stewardship is a positive quality. But when it becomes restrictive to the point of near-debilitation and you’re not enjoying life, it’s time for some reflection and self-evaluation.🤔 IJS…I know from experience!😯 I’m praying for you to embrace and walk in the abundant life Christ died for us to have.😇 Blessings, Kayren
“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”
I miss my walks as I recover from last week’s ingrown toenail removal. I used to grumble about walking for exercise. Then my mindset changed, and I began to enjoy it as “me time” while fellowshipping with God and taking in His magnificent creation. Check out today’s podcast as I share my shift from “Ugh, I’ve gotta…” to “Wow, I get the opportunity to…”
Drop me a comment if it speaks to you! Blessings, Kayren
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
What are you thankful for today – even in the midst of challenge? Share a message in the comments! Stay encouraged, Kayren
“1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.”
As I sat on the porch waiting for my lunch to finish cooking, I marvelled in the beauty of this splendiferous sunny Spring afternoon. I soaked up the rays amidst the natural wonder of warbling birds, flitting butterflies, and a mischievous chameleon stealthily navigating the shrubs. Out of nowhere, the garbage collector noisily rumbled down the street…and then went away as the sound faded in the distance. As quickly as the truck appeared, it dumped the container’s contents into its massive jaws and vanished down the street. Then it ambled around another corner to collect from the other side of the street. I waved to the driver in appreciation for the consistent service of keeping our community clean and safe. Yet, I was struck by the fact that I saw no one running down the street behind the garbage truck saying, “Hey, I put my old rubbish and refuse in there for you to haul it away, but I’ve had a change of heart…stop and gimme back my stuff!” If that’s the case in the natural, why don’t we let the garbage collector haul away our old thoughts, habits, emotions, hurt feelings, and inaccurate beliefs that no longer serve us in our current space & place? Why do we insist upon tightly clutching what can only be accurately labeled as TRASH?! Prayerfully consider what “Spring Cleaning of the Soul” would be to your benefit this week – and then, release the garbage. You’ll find yourself in a better position to allow God to fill that new space with HIS goodness…
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)
“4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:4-5)
My wonderful hubby is a consummate coffee drinker – with one caveat: he must have his sugar-free creamer. I found a hazelnut-flavored one that he likes; since he was down to his last drop, I decided to swing by the store after my nail appointment and grab some more creamer for him. Yes, even in the rain and separate from my regular weekend grocery run – because that’s what love does, right? 🙂
I also grabbed some of his favorite cinnamon-raisin mini-bagels and sugar-free seltzers. As I got into the check-out line, who did I see rolling up behind me? None other than my handsome, freshly clean-shaven husband – armed with those same items I had in my hands (plus a few extra snacks) – who had decided to stop by the SAME STORE after his haircut. It was SO funny! After 20 years of marriage, we are (finally) thinking alike! I am grateful for God’s mercy as He continues the process of making us one IN HIM…
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2 KJV)
“Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ].” (Philippians 2:2 AMP)
Kayren Cathcart's Blog 