by Alaina | Mar 14, 2021 | Sunday Scripture
Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders.
Psalm 119:18 The Message
Moses parting the Red Sea has always been one of my favorite Bible stories. It is amazing. Can you even imagine what it must have been like??? The Israelites are finally allowed to leave the land in which they had been enslaved for years. I like to imagine the excitement bubbling in the air as they made their way out of Egypt. They had been told such a day would come and now finally it had! But, of course, it wouldn’t be that simple. Pharaoh changed his mind and the Egyptian army comes after them as they are camped on the edge of the Red Sea. They start to panic—knowing they will all be killed or taken captive once again. Then God works a miracle. Moses stretches his hand out over the water and the water parts—an enormous wall on either side and, miracle of miracles, dry land appears in the middle! The wagons will be able to come through!!! Everyone makes it to the other side and just as the Egyptians are trying the same trick, the water comes crashing down.
We all know this story; indeed, most people who are not even Christ followers know this passage. It is hard to miss. But there is another passage like it that we do miss. After making it out of Egypt, safely crossing the Red Sea, and after wandering for 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites are finally allowed to enter the promised land. For them to do so, God must part the water of the Jordan River for Joshua just like He did for Moses all those years ago. (Joshua 3) A second body of water was parted! We miss it though. We have heard about it being done before so we hardly take time to notice this second parting of a large body of water. We are numb to the miracle.
Why is this? Why is it so easy for us to overlook this miracle? And if we overlook this one, how many other hidden miracles do we miss? How many miracles happen in my life that I miss or take for granted? What day-to-day events do we dismiss as nothing when a miracle actually happened right before our eyes? The car that was speeding around the bend on the wrong side of the road that should have hit us. The medical scare that the doctors re-examine and are unable to find. All of these are miracles. But we dismiss them as nothing. We are skilled drivers and averted the accident. It was a misdiagnosis and that’s why the doctor couldn’t find anything. How many opportunities to honor and glorify God do we miss out on by discounting the miracles He puts in our path on a daily basis?
Yes, I know miracles are considered miracles because they aren’t supposed to happen all the time—or are they? The definition of the word miracle is: “a surprise and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.” (From Oxford Languages) What if instead of dismissing miracles as something God only does in the Bible, and maybe once per century now, what if we reveled in the event that turned out surprisingly good for no earthly reason we can credit. What if we looked at everything, not through the lens of what is comprehensible to our human brains, but rather through the lens of heaven, seeing all the times and chances that He protected us from threats we didn’t even know were there?
by Alaina | Mar 12, 2021 | Decorating, Homemaking
As I mentioned in my post, “How to Refresh Your Home for Spring,” I think spring and summer can be the most challenging seasons for which to decorate. Flowers are great, but when it’s March it can be difficult to feel like bringing a bunch of flowers into your house while there is still snow on the ground! This brings home the point of how important it is to have a strong base of staple decor. You may put your go-to’s away for a season or two, but you know they will be there when you need them! If you haven’t yet read my post, “Capsule Decor”, I suggest you read that post too as these two subjects go hand-in-hand!
Identify Your Style
First, you need to identify your personal decor style. What do you want your home to look and feel like? What do you already use and love using in your decor? These are the items that will be with you for the long haul. For example, I have a small dough bowl that my uncle made when he was young; it was my grandparents’ and was eventually passed down to me. I love it! Lately I have been really enjoying it on my entry table, but I could also use it on my kitchen counter or dining room table! I love this little bowl and I know I will use it regardless of what home I’m living in.
Your staple decor is not trendy. It will go where you go—in whatever home you live in! Your staple decor are the best friends out of your decor pieces—the ones that will be with you for the long haul! So you may be asking . . .
What Items Make Good Decor Staples?
Timeless Pieces
I think of staple pieces as the most timeless pieces you own. You don’t have these because they are trendy or because they are a specific style that you are trying to infuse into your home. Instead, these are pieces you love—that you will make sure if you move they will come too! It may be an antique mirror, a family heirloom, or a favorite piece of art. Regardless of what it is, it will be something you love!
Things Every Home Needs:
I want to be careful in saying what “every home needs,” because every home is different and styles differ from person-to-person, but on the whole these are the items that will help you add flair to your home. These items will help a collection of things to look styled rather than just bunched together and they may be items that you want just for practicality!
· Books: use as risers, as filler in vignettes, and on your coffee table.
· Plants: every house needs a little plant or two. Go faux if you really can’t keep plants alive.
· Trays: a good tray works magic! I’m always on the lookout for a good tray because it seems every time I turn around I’m wishing I had *just* one more.
· Candles: again, fill out vignettes, place on a book, or add a little glow to your kitchen.
· Candle sticks and pillars: these help add finishing touches to your home.
· A good piece of art or family picture: this is probably the easiest way to express your style in one fell swoop. Nothing says you like one statement piece of your choosing. While family pictures are a great way to add personality to a room, if not done well, it can feel a bit dated. If you want to go bold with a statement piece that isn’t a family picture, go for a painting, botanical prints, an old map, or a vintage poster.
· Pinecones, moss balls, or twine balls: these will help fill out a vignette or table center piece.
· A few different size cutting boards or charcuterie trays: use them behind your faucet as they are easier to wash than your backsplash. You can set your kitchen soaps on a small cutting board to make them look more like an intentional gathering. And, have a cutting board or two handy so when you get the whim to cut carrot sticks, you can act before the moment passes!
Where to Use Staple Items
Ok, you have the staple items but now what? Why do you have all these things??? You have them so you can use them of course! A tray, a few books, and a candle, picture frame, or plant make a lovely vignette for your end table. A tray can add some class to that mess of bottles on your bathroom counter. Having a variety of staple items in your home helps to give your decorating flexibility and not get stale. You can switch things up when you start to get bored, or you can keep things the same all year if you would rather not be bothered. Which leads to the next thing to consider when purchasing staple items . . .
A Few Rules for Staple Decor
Buy neutrals or only the colors that you absolutely, positively, know that you will love forever! Buying neutrals, or colors that you love and use all over your home allows you to be able to move items from room-to-room, and will still work as your style evolves. Check out my post, “How to Create a Cohesive Color Palette” here. If you are debating between a really modern, trendy piece and one that is clean-lined and classic, I would go with the classic one and save the trends for a piece you know you will tire of before too long.
Refreshing Staple Pieces
You may have pieces that you bought and loved but now the color or the finish isn’t to your taste—or perhaps you are just bored with it—don’t forget what simple things like a coat of paint, switching out hardware or knobs, or reupholstering or recovering can do!
I hope this helps you to think through your decor and overcome any decorating obstacles you may have been having. Remember, a good base is the foundation of great style. Happy decorating!
by Alaina | Mar 9, 2021 | Book Nook
I always hear about life changing books and maybe I’m just a skeptic but while I find many of these “life changing books” to be thought provoking and inspiring I very rarely find it to be life changing. But now I believe I have found a serious contender as far as life changing books go.
I came across the book Rest: why you get more done when you work less, and my interest was quickly piqued by the title, and man am I glad that I did. The book starts by discussing the great thinkers and change makers from the late 19th century and early 20th century and their work habits. The author discusses how many of these people approached work, the lines that they drew between work and their personal life. The author challenges that rather than working all the time in order to win a badge of honor as it were, these people separated work and their personal life in order that they feel truly rested when they returned to work, thereby increasing their longevity in their field.
The chapter I found most interesting was that many people who were most prolific and well-known in their respective fields. People like Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens were not people who worked 60-80 hours a week, but rather ones who focused on dedicated work for 20-30 hours a week. The most influential people of the 20th century rarely broke a 40 hour work week. They didn’t work long, but they did work hard. The author stresses the importance of habit on work productivity and truly focused work. Truly focused work can be draining, and therefore a lot of these people worked in 90 minute bursts with a short break in between, followed by another 90 minute session, then there was usually a large break in the day sometimes followed up with in the afternoon with one last work session. This to me was very helpful! Think about all the side hustles out there today. There is no limit to what one can do in this day and age. But when to do it? If the greatest minds of the last century, (and the author did give examples of non genius people who followed this work model), could do all that, what could we do with a small amount of truly focused work each day, day after day?
The other chapter that really stood out to me was about “deep play”. Deep play is something you do that you enjoy and that you lose yourself so entirely that you lose track of time. The benefit of deep play is that it gives your mind a chance to rest, to wander a bit as you tinker, and perhaps will help you solve a problem that you were previously stuck on.
Other chapters in the book dwelled on the importance of sleep, what walking can do for our creative problem solving skills, and how exercise can help improve longevity in careers. While none of these topics are new, I did appreciate the nuanced approach offered in the book and found it to be very thought provoking.
While some of the advice and models set forth in the book will not work for everyone- hourly workers do not have the luxury of working a 30 hour week- there are nonetheless, little nuggets to be gleaned from this book that I think just about all of us could benefit from. If you are struggling to start a side hustle, know that you don’t have to pour endless hours into it in order to make it successful. You can effect a big difference by truly dedicating a few intense hours to it each day. If you know you need to exercise but are afraid of the time it will take away from your job- read this book and see the evidence of how it could help improve your performance and expand your career life. Lastly, if you are needing permission or a gentle nudge to pick up that hobby, go for it- there will be more benefits from it than you realize.
I’m sure there are people who will not be impressed with this book; but if you are one of the many people who like it, I myself being one too, who feel the constant need and pressure to operate at full capacity and never take time for the things that matter to you, I urge you to give this book a go, and see what you think!
by Alaina | Mar 7, 2021 | Sunday Scripture
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, ”you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
Martha. I can’t help but feel bad for her. If you don’t know the story—Jesus had gone with His disciples to His friends Mary and Martha’s house who were also the sisters of Lazarus. While there, Martha was busy trying to make sure everything was ready for her guests: preparing a large meal for 13 men (not an easy feat in any day let alone in Bible times!) and generally running around keeping the house tidy and welcoming so that her guests would feel comfortable.
Mary, on the other hand, had plunked herself down right at the feet of Jesus and was hanging on His every word and not doing a thing to help Martha in the kitchen. If Martha was anything like me, I imagine her casting side long glances at Mary and grumbling to the servants saying, “We talked about this . . . Mary said she was going to be better at helping this time.” And then Mary wasn’t and Martha had had enough.
When there’s a break in the action, Martha goes to Jesus—she figures He would be sympathetic; Jesus has always been just and seems to favor the underdog. I can just imagine Martha saying, “Jesus, will you please ask Mary to help me? I have been so busy preparing a nice dinner for you, and Mary said she would help, but she hasn’t. She’ll listen to you if you tell her to help me. Please tell her!” But, much to Martha’s dismay, Jesus defends Mary! Oh the injustice of it! He does have a point though—the work will always be there. He would only be with them for a little bit. I imagine Martha sighing, putting the last few touches on the meal, and then coming to sit by Mary and having one of those visits where you totally relax and lose track of time, enjoying the company of friends and family.
I wonder how glad Martha was a few years later that she did that—when Jesus had been crucified and she knew their days of long chats were gone for good. She probably never obsessed over all the details when she had company over again, learning that time spent with company was what was important.
This story reminds me of an event in my life several years ago. It had been a crazy, busy season: work was crazy, there were extra events eating up my weekends, and I was frantically getting ready to leave on a mission trip in less than 2 weeks! It was Father’s Day weekend. I was so overwhelmed. I remember discussing with my parents the possibility of moving our Father’s Day get-together with them and my grandparents so that I could check a few more things off my to-do list. Ultimately I relaxed a little bit and we proceeded with our plans for the day. I spent several wonderful hours really relaxing with my parents and grandparents and we had a great visit. Then, less than 2 days later, my grandfather died. I was so grateful I had one last really good visit.
We never know when the last visit will be. We aren’t privy to how much time anyone gets on this earth. We look back and wonder how Martha could have ever chosen housework over sitting at the feet of Jesus, but Martha didn’t know the end of the story like we do. We can’t live our lives expecting the worst and in scarcity, grabbing at any opportunity to see loved ones out of fear that we may never see them again; but, we can live with eternity in mind—filtering our decisions for today through the lens of what will matter in eternity.
by Alaina | Mar 6, 2021 | Book Nook
I am always on the hunt for good historical fiction since that is my favorite genre, and though I know there is already more historical fiction written than I could ever read in a lifetime, I still always feel like there can never be enough! The new year has me reviewing my 2020 reading and thinking about what I would like to read more of this year—historical fiction has made the cut again! I made the conscious effort to branch out and be more intentional in my reading in 2020. I picked up several genres that I hadn’t touched in years, and while I enjoyed them, I still want my reading life to be filled with an abundance of historical fiction, not just any historical fiction, but page turning, captivating, historical fiction!
I love looking back over the titles I’ve read in the past year and there are always a few titles that jump out at me more than others. You know the ones—they are the books that pull you in so much that you find yourself thinking of the characters more as friends than just characters in a book. Or you’ll find yourself thinking of a scene like you would a t.v. scene and realize it was from a passage in a book, painted so realistically that you got sucked into it!
Below is a list of books that I read in 2020 that sucked me right in, some of them I have talked about before, and others I haven’t mentioned. Regardless, they are all ones that pulled me in, held my interest, and painted a vibrant world that I find my thoughts still drifting back to.
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
I listened to this as an audiobook and I couldn’t stop!! It is told from the rotating perspective of three women, the author, Pam Jenoff, does a great job of keeping you enthralled through the entire tale. This is a story about the women spies, stationed in France, who worked for the British intelligence during World War II. One wrong move could mean death, not just for one of the spies, but for all in their network. The women are working diligently and making progress when a few odd things start to occur and it seems they may also have a spy among them…
A decade later, young Grace Heasley discovers an unattended valise tucked under a Grand Central Station bench. Opening it, she finds 12 photographs of young women, around her own age. Grace impulsively tucks the photos into her purse and leaves. Overcome with guilt for stealing the photos Grace returns later that day hoping to replace the photos—but the valise is gone!
Grace now begins to feel a responsibility to the girls in the photos and pressure to seek the owner of the valise, a task that proves near impossible. Why were their pictures being carried about in a suitcase? Grace can’t stop her inquisitive nature and so begins her journey to get to the bottom of this mystery, a journey that ends up being much more much than Grace bargained for.
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
I did not know much about life in Cuba, either before Castro took over, while he was in power, or what life is starting to look like after his death. If you want a real life depiction of what totalitarian control looks like, this book will give it to you.
Not that this book is all doom and gloom—far from it! Marisol has lived her whole life in Florida, the granddaughter of a Cuban refugee who fled to America when Fidel took over. Now that both Fidel and her grandmother have passed on, Marisol is tasked with traveling back to Cuba to spread her grandmother’s ashes, per her grandmother’s last wishes. She travels to Cuba and stays with her grandmother’s dear friend and childhood neighbor, and her handsome grandson. Escorted about Cuba by the handsome grandson, Marisol slowly uncovers family secrets she never could have imagined she’d find.
Lovely War by Julie Berry
This book takes place during WW I and is narrated by the Greek Gods, which I thought was really fun! Aries tells the war scenes, Aphrodite tells the love story, and Hades tells the parts when someone dies. The story is about 4 young people who all find themselves on the war front in WW I. You will follow each one of these young people as their lives crisscross and intersect, and you will see how war will take its toll on each one of them. War takes a toll on everyone. (See my other post where I mention Lovely War Here) {5 books}
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
This book takes place right after WWII in a small village in England that has the fortune to have the home that was Jane Austen’s in the later part of her life. Throughout this book a group of people who, for their own reasons, have taken solace in Austen’s work, band together to try and save Austen’s house and her legacy.
The story was good, based on real events, the people are fictional although there were real people in the village who did what the characters in the book do, but what really pulled me into this book was the believability of the characters and the descriptions of the English village. This is one of those books that my mind wanders back to the characters, more so than to the story. Not to say that the story wasn’t compelling—it was! But if you enjoy really getting to know the characters of a book then you will be enthralled with this one.
As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner
I bought this one for my mom and my aunt for Christmas after reading it! I talked about it at length in my post, As Bright as Heaven, but let me just say again this is one of those books that will pull you in and keep you turning pages. This book kept my interest as the story is told from the alternating points of view of the main characters, and thus always has you on the edge of your seat eager to hear from all of the characters. You will discover what life was like from the point of view of an undertaker’s family during the Spanish flu pandemic in the early 1900s.
I hope this helps give you a few more titles to check out for your future reading. Don’t forget to connect with me on Instagram and tell me about the books you have been enjoying lately!
