Today I am linking up with The Simple Woman’s Daybook, hosted by Peggy Hostetler. She has provided the format which you can find HERE if you’d like to join in, too.
For Today
March 12, 2019
Looking out my window
I see the old oak tree with bare limbs stretching out in many directions. A few brown leaves hang on, but soon new leaves will sprout. Though it is cloudy, there are beautiful yellow daffodils smiling up at me with their cheerful faces.
I am thinking
How nice my house will look and feel once all the clutter is gone! Maybe if I keep thinking about the result I will have more inspiration to work hard now.
I am thankful…
[bctt tweet=”I am thankful for God’s presence in my life no matter where I go.” username=”GaylWright”]
I’m also filled with gratitude for my beautiful family, loving friends and my new church. For the ability to write, cook and make art. I’m also thankful for all the years I had my mom with me. Today would have been her 96th birthday. In the picture below we are celebrating her 93rd. She crossed the threshold from this life to the next less than a month after this was taken.
One of my favorite things
Sitting outside on the porch listening to the stream across the street and the myriad of bird songs. So many birds I can’t identify, but I know I heard doves and cardinals. Soon, I plan to look at my book and listen to the CD of birds in my area, so I can name them.
I am creating
One thing I recently finished is a collage bookmark. One side has the Bible verse: Psalm 33:22 (CSB) – “May your faithful love rest on us, LORD, for we put our hope in you.” The opposite side has my haiku paraphrase of the verse. I’ve also made collages in my art journal, the latest of which is below.
I am wearing…
A heather-gray top with ¾ sleeves ending in a bell shape. I also have on jeans with some flower embroidery. My feet are bare.
I am reading
Presently I’m in the middle of reading some of these books, have finished one and just beginning another:
I am hoping…
To make more bookmarks and note cards and do other projects. Maybe later this year I will open an Etsy shop.
I am learning…
To recognize God’s presence with me all the time. Psalm 139 shows us how there is no place we can escape from His presence.
[bctt tweet=”I used to think in fear that I had better be good, because God is always watching. But now I know I need not fear.” username=”GaylWright”]
God loves me, protects me, guides me and forgives me when I sin. His grace and mercy follow me everywhere I go, not just for today, but forever. Because He loves, we can love.
1 John 4:16-19 (NASB)
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
In my kitchen
I’ve had some kitchen adventures this month. My grandson wanted a tiger cake for his birthday. I had recently sketched a tiger following a YouTube video by Mark Crilley. So I used it as a guide for the cake. The problem is that I didn’t have the bags to squeeze the icing through the tips so I had to improvise.
Shared Quote
Once we understand, accept, and embrace with our whole hearts and minds that we are beloved, period, everything else either falls away or falls into place.
~Michelle DeRusha in TRUE YOU ~ Letting go of your false self to uncover the person God created.
A moment from my day
Post Script
[bctt tweet=”Because I want to be intentional in recognizing God’s presence in my life, I look for ways to help me do that.” username=”GaylWright”]
I’ve been listening to this song by Toby Mac. It illustrates how we can realize God’s presence moment by moment. I believe it also reminds us that every human being is created in the image of God.
Closing Notes
It has been fun looking back over my days this month. I am blessed to be able to share with you a glimpse into my life. Sometimes life is hard and I feel like I’m going in many directions.
[bctt tweet=”But when I slow down and savor the moments and memories, I realize that I am grateful for the life I have.” username=”GaylWright”]
What are your days like? I would love to have a glimpse into your life, too. Feel free to share a moment from your day in the comments.
If you are so inclined, we’d love to have you join us at The Simple Woman’s Daybook with Peggy Hostetler.
I’m also linking up with: #LMMLinkup, #TeaAndWord, #InspireMeMonday, #HeartEncouragement, #TuneInThursday
It’s a privilege to be given a glimpse of your life, Gayle. I love the song. I want to see God in everything, too! Your creative art work is beautiful, including your tiger cake! I’m sure your grandson loved it. I’m so sorry you lost your mom. That’s tough. I’m glad you got that picture before she passed. Love and blessings to you!
Dear Trudy, thank you so much! Your comments are very encouraging to me. I’m glad you like the song. It just speaks so well of how we can see God throughout the day if we will just be aware. Yes, it’s hard not to be able to just call my mom any time, but I know she is not in any pain now and I will see her again one day. Blessings and love to you, too! xo
I love all the photos and the little glimpses into what you’ve been doing this month. Well done with the tiger cake – it looks amazing! I read True You earlier this year and loved it too!
Thanks, Lesley! I’m glad you enjoyed these glimpses. I did have fun with the tiger cake. 🙂 I’m partway through the book True You and it’s really good. Blessings to you!
Dear Gayl,
I loved seeing glimpses into your days there! And what a precious photo of your Mom, to remember her for her Birthday. I am sorry for your loss, but I treasure those thoughts just as you do, that our Moms are rejoicing with Jesus now. Thank you for sharing your heart and your home with all of us here. Blessings, love, and hugs to you Dear Sister!
Dear Bettie, thanks so much for visiting. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Yes, who knows, maybe our moms will meet each other. 🙂 Isn’t that a pleasant thought? Blessings and love to you with hugs, dear sister/poet/friend! xoxo
Oh wow! I feel like I just got caught up over a cup of coffee with you, friend! Loved this post and all the fun and creative projects you are working on! (And I love that video! Thanks so much for sharing it!)
Karrilee, it would be such fun if we could sit together over a cup of coffee! Who knows, maybe one day it can happen. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the post. Yes, I love that video, too! I hope to visit your blog soon! Blessings to you!
I’ve always been intrigued by the daybook concept. Good post – but they always are!
Thanks so much, Susan. Blessings to you! xo
I love that you make bookmarks, I was always buying them and then made some from old calendars with verses. Four generations, what a great picture. And I was hearing birds sing late at night, not sure spring has sprung though, we may have another cold snap. Today, I am sharing blog posts, doing link ups and laundry, having an easy dinner of hot dogs, fries and onion rings. Need to finish reading John.
Making bookmarks from old calendars sounds like a great idea! I’m glad we got that picture, Rebecca. It means a lot to have it.
That’s cool you heard the birds late at night. I think we are going to get another cold snap before spring actually arrives. Tonight we were getting thunderstorms. It sounds like you had a good day today. 🙂 I love doing easy dinners when I have a busy day. Thank you for sharing your day! I really enjoyed reading about it. Blessings to you! Have a wonderful weekend, Rebecca! xo
I loved seeing the picture of your family. Your dear mom looks so happy in this picture! I have to admit to just a twinge of jealousy when I saw your daffodils. Mine are still in the bud stage. Blessings to you, Gayl.
Thank you, Laurie! My mom was happy in that picture. She enjoyed having some of us come to celebrate her birthday. I love the daffodils. Mine will probably be all gone when your come along, then I’ll have to be jealous. LOL Blessings to you! Have a wonderful weekend, Laurie!
Thank you for all you shared here. I love this daybook idea. Great post!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it, Cheryl. Thanks for stopping by. Blessings to you!
I love the photo of the daffodils, especially since we still have snow everywhere here. It is a reminder spring is coming 🙂 The book, The Language of Flowers, caught my eye. It sounds interesting. Have a great week!
Glad you enjoyed the daffodils, Alana! I love their bright yellow blooms. Spring surely is coming, though we are getting some cooler weather again this week. I think that book will be interesting. She does share about flowers and their meanings, but she uses it in a story. I have not read it yet, but she is a foster mother who realized there was not much written about fostering and the children involved. So she wrote a fiction book that incorporates a lot of what she has learned. I’m looking forward to reading it. My daughter’s friend gave it to her to read, but she didn’t have time yet, so she loaned it to me. 🙂 Blessings to you, Alana! Have a wonderful week!