Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When is the last time you experienced nostalgia? 

When I smell  one bottle of dish soap I remember our trip to the beach and Titus washing dishes with his Mimi.  He LOVED spraying it and used most of her bottle I think!  She sent the rest of the bottle home with him.  We have bought a refill since then of the spray but it wasn't apple scented and I missed that smell!

Add caption

 2. September 29th is National Coffee Day. Do we need this? Ha! So are you a coffee drinker? If so how many cups per day, and tell us how you like it. Is there a recipe you enjoy that calls for coffee as one of the ingredients? 
I am not a coffee drinker and never have been.  I like how it smells but have never been one to drink it. My husband doesn't either.  My oldest has always liked to drink coffee with Pawpaw when he's at the deer lease and last year asked for a coffee maker for Christmas.  He doesn't use it often.  

 
I don't have any recipes that call for coffee as an ingredient, although I do see this sometimes when I'm looking for something new to make for the fair.  

 3. Do you find praise or criticism to be more motivating? Explain. 

Praise is probably more motivating for me.  I get down on myself when I think I'm being criticized (even if I'm really not).  Praise just feels good and makes me want to continue doing things successfully.

 4.  What's a television series you keep coming back to and re-watching? 

I don't watch much television.  I do like the old ones that the boys like to watch like Andy Griffith and Leave it to Beaver.   I always like I Love Lucy, Full House, and The Cosby Show.

 5. As the month of September draws to a close give us three words to describe your mood. 

encouraged (by the love of friends)

excited (with the progress in my first quilted project)
thankful (The boys have almost made in through the first six weeks of school in person...something we weren't sure would happen.)

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

Make sure you notice my previous post about the review and giveaway for the Spiritual Seeds Planner!  

Have you heard of Jack's Basket?  It is a non profit that celebrates babies with Down syndrome.  I am helping raise money for this organization to buy board books for the baskets to give to the babies born with Down syndrome.  Click here to donate if you are interested!    (I'm looking for $5-$10 donations!)

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Spiritual Seeds Planner + Giveaway!

I am excited to share with you the Spiritual Seeds Planner today!  Keep reading to find out more!

ABOUT:

Spiritual Seeds Planner is a planning tool designed to help Christians prioritize living a fruit filled life, guided by the Holy Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control. (Galatians 5:22-23) The planner uses a gardening theme concentrating on four garden plots – Friends/Family, Self, Community, Vocation/Work. Each month focuses on one Fruit, detailing actions to plant + cultivate + grow.  Actions are planned daily for highest yield. Cute garden themed stickers provide visuals for tracking growth. Unlike any other planner, Spiritual Seeds Planner prioritizes and plans Spiritual growth over daily “to do” lists and activities focusing on growth rather than achievement. 

 

What makes it different:

·       Puts God in charge
·       Inspired, led and powered by the Holy Spirit
·       Based on Scripture
·       Impacts all areas of life
·       Improves relationships
·       Fills life with an abundance of Spiritual Fruit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

Features:

·       Easy to follow instructions with visuals
·       Vision Board 
·       Monthly Fruit Focus & Planning Pages
·       Monthly Inspirational Prayers 
·       Weekly Planning
·       Beautiful faux leather cover
·       Fruit of the Spirit Bookmark with definitions and scriptures
·       Fun Garden Themed Stickers 
·       Back pocket 
·       Blank pages for notes
·       Brown Ribbon Bookmark
·       Monthly Tabs

My thoughts:  
I love planners!  I have tried different types for different purposes.  I was excited to be able to review the Spiritual Seeds Planner.  There are many things I really like about this planner.  Just look at this detailed cover.  I love that it has all the Fruit of the Spirit listed on the cover.  It also has a band that you can wrap around to keep the book closed when not in use.  

I like that the focus of the planner can help you grow in your spiritual walk all year long.  You can choose which color you like best in this planner too.  

When you open to a weekly spread, I like that there is a spot at the top of each week to record your "fruit of the month."  This will help you keep your focus that month as you see it often.  There is space as well to write ideas to "Plant + Cultivate + Grow."  

As far as the calendar part, the week shows Monday-Friday with plenty of space to write through the day.  It even has times over to the edge that are blocked off if you want to write appointments at a specific time on each day.  

The beginning of each month has a prayer to read with a focus on a specific fruit.  Then there is space for you to write your own prayer too and to make a plan for the month for how you will plant + Cultivate + Grow in four different areas.....family/friends, community, self, vocation/work.  

Click HERE to go to the site to be entered to win your own planner!

This website (https://spiritualseedsplanner.com/) has many wonderful items including stickers, note pads, and bags.  This would make a nice gift as well. 

You can use this code FRUITOFSPIRIT to get 20% off your order too.  Go to the WEBSITE to order!

I received this planner and accessories from FrontGate Media for my honest review.  Thank you.  

#spiritualseedsplanner #spreadtheseeds #weeklyplanner #faithplanner #ledbythespirit

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

I have had a busy day so I am late getting up my Thursday post today.  

Here is my thankful list for the week:

~ my husband helping to coordinate getting a rental car while my van is in the shop.  It feels so weird to drive a car after being used to my van and then the truck the past couple of weeks.  Funny thing is that he drove off and I called him and asked how to start it!  LOL  It didn't have a key, just a button.  

~ my big boy doing well in his classes so far and seeming to do well with balancing his school load, football, and steer.  He is busy!

~ my little guy doing well this week when he had a sub.  I wasn't sure how he'd do with the change but he was okay with it and had good days.  It didn't phase him.  :)

~ working on my quilting projects and enjoying it so much!  I feel like I am learning a lot and wasn't sure if I would enjoy it, but I do.  I ordered a pack of squares today to make some things!

~ the flowers in bloom make me smile!  My lantana bush is huge and my two new ones are growing.  It was exciting to see the blooms this week.  I bought a little mum too, and my boys put it in my front flower bed.

~ having friends care about me and pray for me this week.  I was struggling with anxiety and told a few people.  It uplifted me that they were understanding, encouraging and prayed for me.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

A to Z Bible Verse Challenge Week #3

This week for the Truth from A to Z challenge over at The Happy Wonderer we have letter C. 

For letter C I have chosen the word CREATE.

There are many verses in the Bible with this word.  
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."  Genesis 1:27

When I was reading a Bible story to Titus this week, it struck me (and him) that He made the first man with dust.  It was just something really neat to think about and consider from my son's perspective.

Another favorite verse is:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

I often sing the song of this verse.  

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. It's fall y'all. What's something you love about this season and also something you don't? 
I am always excited when fall arrives!  I love seeing the leaves change colors and the pumpkins.  I can't think of anything I don't like.  

2. When you think of the colors of fall, which one is your favorite? Is there somewhere you could easily day trip to see the leaves in all their glory? Will you? 

I like yellow and orange together for fall.  

I have noticed the leaves in the trees in our yard are just starting to change colors.  I would love to go to the east coast and see them....that's not a day trip from Texas though!  I hope to do that someday.  I do take notice when they change here though and appreciate that beauty when I see it.

3. What's one thing you've let 'fall' by the wayside during this season of staying home and staying away? 
I'd say it has been hard about being intentional about catching up with friends that I haven't seen as much during this time at home.  I guess I took for granted the times I would see them each week during our routine and how we'd chat and catch up.  That is something that hasn't been happening for me.  

4. If you're wearing a sweater is it most likely a cardigan, crew neck, v-neck, or zip up hoodie? 
It is usually a crew neck.  I've got several comfy favorite ones!

I have seen some really cute cardigans but want to try one on first (not buy online) to see how I like the fit. 

5. What's your secret to dealing with change? 
I don't really like change, I don't know many people that do.  As I've gotten older I guess I've learned it is part of life and is going to happen and I can't change that.  It's another reminder I am not in control, God is.  

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

The West Texas Fair is over.  We didn't even go to it this year like we normally do.  Earlier this week I picked up our entries in the creative arts division and our prize winnings.  You get a little cash for 1st-3rd places.  Titus won a little paintbrush and bottle of paint for his entry in the painted rock category which he was excited about!  

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Hope you are having a wonderful week.  We are past the middle of September already!

~ my husband turns the truck around each night for me to be ready to go each morning.  I miss my van!  It blesses me that he does this simple little thing for me and makes me smile when I go out and it is done without my mentioning it.

~  the funny jokes my big boy reads and shares with us.  I love it when he will read some random joke to us and make us laugh and to see him laugh about it again as he is trying to say it.  

~ my little guy's excitement to get to be a class helper this week.  He was so excited when it was his turn to be the line leader!

~ entering my breads and cakes at the West Texas Fair.  I tried some new recipes and it was fun.  I won a few ribbons as well.  I will go pick it all up next week.

~ having our ladies' Bible class.  We had our second week this week.  It is a study about Psalm 23 and I am going to enjoy it.

~ beautiful sunrises, seeing a squirrel through the window on our back porch, and my lantana beginning to bloom again.  And my eyes to see all these things. 

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

A to Z Bible Verse Challenge Week #2

This week for the Truth from A to Z challenge over at The Happy Wonderer we have letter B.  My word is "be."  

I've been thinking about verses that have "be" in them and I keep coming back to "be kind."  

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:24

Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:4, 5

Being kind is so important, especially in our world today.  A stranger may just need a kind "hello" or smile to brighten their day.  We never know what those around us are facing and our kindness can make a difference.

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany