Hello friends, and welcome to the blog! I hope you are doing well.

What a crazy week it has been. We returned home from our vacation a few days ago, and the ride home was definitely one to remember. Our trusty old van which has over 250,000 miles decided to begin misfiring one of its cylinders over four hours from home in Augusta, Georgia when we were heading to South Carolina. We promptly rented a minivan for the rest of our journey. But rather than have our vehicle towed back home, we left it in Augusta for the week, and then picked it up as we were passing back through.

We had my oldest son on standby to pick us up if we had any trouble. Thankfully we didn’t, although my husband had to baby it and we avoided the interstate.

Guys, I was so thankful for how smoothly the journey went! It was a huge grace that we made it home safely and easily.

Since then, I’ve enjoyed being home, and started to get back into the swing of things. I’m so thankful for my home, and for the life we’ve created here.

Staying at a beach rental encouraged me to take better care of my home since we’ve returned. It felt so nice being in a home that was perfectly clean all week.

It can feel overwhelming at times to keep our home clean, especially since so many people live here. Not to mention, I’ve been very busy with my books and Joyfully Made.

But now, I have a renewed vision. While the economy is very tough and there is nothing wrong with me trying to bring in a small income for my family, I need to make sure that I remain content with what we have in the meantime. Plus, I should always make time to take care of my home if I can.

I’ve been sweeping my room each morning, and I cleaned out our closet. Ah, it feels so nice.

I’ve been soaking up each moment with my family, and have been taking notice of all the special things in my gardens.

I truly couldn’t ask for more.

I’d love to encourage you to count your blessings if you are struggling with contentment. This always helps me. Also, you can’t buy the most important things in life. Cultivating a calm and peaceful inner life and good relationships with those around you will repay dividends that money never could.

“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

-Lao Tzu

Thank you so much for stopping by today, friends. If you’d like to check out my books, please click here.