Today Anything is Possible!

Published on March 20, 2018April 27, 2019 by Gerri7 Comments

Let your joy burst forth like flowers in Spring!

Spring is a time of new beginnings! The earth is bursting with colorful flowers and the trees are budding out, showing off their new green color. The birds are singing their most glorious song and the sky is as blue as the sparkling color of the ocean seas.

It seems that nature is celebrating the return of warmer days with it’s burst of glorious beauty!

He has made everything beautiful in it’s time.

– Ecclesiates 3:11

Spring makes me feel like anything is possible. The increased light and the warmer air encourages me to get outside more, work in my garden, go for long walks, and just take in the glories of nature. It’s finally time to shake off those winter blues and feel the joy that arrives with spring.

Spring is a time of celebration! It’s the time to kick off your shoes and run barefoot through the dew sparkled grass. It’s a time to gather with friends and family for picnics in the garden and cooking on the grill. It’s a time for planting and starting with new beginnings.

For nothing will be impossible with God. -Luke 1.37

My hope for you for today is that you will relish in the glories of spring and lift your eyes in thanks for the beauty of this day.

Wishing you blessings today and everyday. – Gerri

One Word – Simplify

Published on February 11, 2018April 27, 2019 by Gerri11 Comments

Simplify ……this has been my goal in life for oh, so many years. I crave simplicity …. in my home, in my mind, in all that I do.

I have an inherent belief that if I can simplify all aspects of my life. I’m not sure that this is truly possible as we live in an extremely complex world. However, it has been my goal for quite awhile now, so I will continue to strive for this. I believe that if I can truly simplify my life then I will find the peace and serenity that I truly desire. I believe that I’m not alone in this pursuit.

With my goal being to create a simple life, each day I begin with a vision of what this simple life will look like. For me, the first step is to start with my home. I want my home to be as clean, simple and clutter free as possible. I am currently going through every nook and cranny to eliminate any items that I no longer need or desire. I don’t want possessions to create complexity in my life. Clutter makes me anxious. So, I am striving to eliminate anything that restricts my idea of freedom and joy.

Another step in the process is how I spend my time. It’s important to me that my time is spent doing what brings me joy and satisfaction. As I go through this process, I have found that I am now eliminating activities that are not as meaningful to insure I have time for the activities that I most enjoy. Life is full of choices. It’s important to me to choose activities that bring joy. Sometimes, I have to really stop and consider my goals and what brings me the most joy in making decisions. I am not as quick or impulsive in agreeing to do some things as I once was. Often times, I prefer staying home to read a good book or spend time in a creative pursuit rather than filling my time with an activity that has less meaning for me. The added bonus is that I’m not spending money on something I don’t really want or need. This allows me to save for those things or activities that are most important!

Several years ago, I heard of the concept of choosing a “word of the year.” The idea is to choose one word that will guide your life choices for the year. It’s similar to making a new year’s resolution, but more……simplified! At the time I thought it was a great idea, but there wasn’t one word that seemed significant to me. This past year, I ran across the idea in several blogs that I follow. Again, the idea really appealed to me, but what word to choose!

Well, I suppose this idea has been rolling around in my head for a while now, but I have finally decided to choose simplify as my word for the year. I know that it is already February and that I am behind in this process, but I am not one to make a commitment lightly, even if it just involves choosing a word.

Our life is frittered away by detail…simplify, simplify.

– Henry David Thoreau

I am looking forward to my year of simplicity and eager to learn of the influence it may have on my lifestyle. I will definitely be sharing along the way.

If you have a “word of the year,” I would love to hear your word and your thoughts on how your word is effecting your life.

Sending you blessings for a simplified day! – Gerri

Magnolia Market at the Silos

Published on January 3, 2018April 27, 2019 by Gerri16 Comments

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If you are a fan of HGTV’s Fixer Upper, chances are you’re already familiar with the Magnolia Market at the Silos. It seems that everything that Chip and Joanna Gaines touch turns to gold, and the market is no exception. If you happen to be traveling anywhere near central Texas, and you are a fan of shiplap and farmhouse style, the Magnolia Market is quickly becoming a definite must-see in the heart of Texas.

For our visit, we arrived around 11:00am on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and there were already crowds buzzing around the grounds. However, there is so much more to see than just the market, the crowds really didn’t bother us.

The first place we headed was the large grassy field with artificial turf that is perfect for tossing a soccer or football, ( which are provided with a few other games.) Since, we were traveling with a two year old, it was a great place to allow her to run a little energy off! It’s also the perfect spot to drop off Dad or Granddad with the kids while Mom shops at the market.

Surrounding the play area are plenty of food trucks providing everything from crepes to pizza and hot dogs. There are plenty of picnic tables, lounge chairs and over-sized swings for a picnic lunch or just relaxing while the kids play. Of course, the decor is in Joanna’s sweet style filled with hanging baskets of flowers and plenty of reclaimed wood.

The market itself is a shoppers paradise filled with everything farmhouse that you could possibly want for your own home. There are lots of Joanna style vignettes displaying the goods which makes the store itself a bit unique. Although the store was extremely crowded, the line to purchase moved very quickly which was a present surprise.

I have to admit, my favorite part of the Silo’s was the Magnolia Feed and Supply filled with live plants, seed packets, garden style decor and even a section for your own personal fairy garden! The garden area is truly an inspiration even to the most novice of gardeners. The raised bed are filled with Snapdragons and Sweet Alyssum. The gardens were so sweet and charming that I was eager to get home and add some more flowers to our own garden!

Most importantly, Magnolia Market is more than just a place to shop. With the large grounds, seed shop and bakery, it truly is meant to be a fun stop for the whole family!

If You Go …..

Waco, Texas is located in Central Texas about a 90 minute drive from either Dallas or Austin. About twice that if you’re coming from Houston. It’s best to get there early when they open or after 3:00. The lines for the bakery were quite long the day that we visited. We opted not to wait. There is free parking in the back by the food trucks. You will see signs to pay for parking, but check the back first. There are usually spots available. Check the Magnolia Market website for store hours for they may vary seasonally. They are always closed on Sundays. There are lots of cute vignettes for photo ops so make sure your phone is charged!

Hope you enjoy your visit! xxoo Gerri