These Are A Few of My Favorite Things
Some favorite things this week. 🙂 🙂
Loved::
This printed cone on Pinterest. These would be perfect for a bridal shower, Mother’s Day front door decor, etc…and bonus: They’re CHEAP because–>PAPER. Woohoo. 
And then I saw this GORGEOUS paper peonies tutorial from Twigg Studios and decided that this would be a match made in heaven. I can’t wait to try them with the girls.
Made::
Loved this fried rice recipe from Ruth. My kids loved it. Hope asked why I had never made this before, it was so delish. I explained that moms learn something new every day. It’s better than any fried rice I’ve gotten at any restaurant. Yum. I made my favorite ever cake into cupcakes for Easter. THEY are JUST too good to resist. {and so I didn’t.} 😉
Okay, I lied. I have two favorite cakes ever, but that’s beside the point. These both made delicious cupcakes, you just have to remember to reduce your baking time or you’ll end up with hockey pucks. 😉
Read::
I loved this article about kids leaving other kids out by promoting their “fun” lives (which are just a well crafted farce) on social media called Instagram and Gospel Inclusion. In my day, you didn’t talk about plans or parties in front of someone who wasn’t invited for fear you’d hurt someone’s feelings. I have belabored this point to my kids because it’s not taught anymore and it happens everywhere. And if adults do it, then of course their kids will.
True story: one day I was sitting in a pizza shop in Carver with my kids and some soap opera was playing on the TV. Naturally, I was glued. 😉 Anyway, it was portraying some totally over-groomed rich 10-year old boy in preppy duds getting ready to go sledding with some little girl who should have been at home playing with paper dolls, but instead is getting ready to go on a date. Yes, this is true to life stuff, folks. Anyways, she looks like she’s 16 and she’s apparently caught in some love triangle at age of about 10. Yes, awesome. SO, to taunt the other boy, said spoiled brat boy starts uploading photos to his social media account. I remember thinking, “If that kid was mine….” thoughts about how I’d flush that smartphone so fast it would make his coiffed hair flip. Anyhow, I think you should just read this article and we should remember to teach our kids that other people are precious. This story talks about one incident with Rebekah which was a teaching moment about the preciousness of others even when we don’t see their value.
Also, I loved this article about female submission and how we get it so wrong sometimes. ” I want my girls to be intimidating to the wrong kind of guy.” Yes and amen.
“So as we teach our daughters to “be submissive,” the ever-important question is “submissive to whom?” And the only no-fail answer to that question is “God.” We teach our daughters to be submissive to God – and that may mean being the extremely un-cool person who believes that wives should submit to their own husbands . . . and that also may mean being the wife who calls the cops on her husband, or the woman who calls the cops on her pastor, or the girl who calls the pastor on her dad. Submission certainly doesn’t always mean saying yes – sometimes submission means saying no, and that can take an awful lot of strength and bravery. Submission always has a backbone – and that backbone is the Word of God. Every human authority requiring our submission should be examined in the light of that.”
I’m currently reading Grace Is Free: One Woman’s Journey from Fundamentalism to Failure to Faith
the.world.must.know.every.gorey.detail.about.how.I.felt.
and.what.this.person.said.to.me.and.did.to.me. EXHAUSTING. I just don’t have the temperament or desire to read that kind of stuff. Not that I don’t try to empathize in real life if someone I know has had serious issues with their former church. I guess I’m old enough to realize that people are people everywhere in a fallen world. The church is made up of sick people. Your church and mine. And at some point you’ll realize that about your next church as well. Whatev. This book is really good. It’s about finally understanding the gospel after years of misunderstanding and wandering from the Lord.
Also reading Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms
Did I mention that my big girls are coming home May 10th for the summer!? 
What are you loving this week? Reading? Crafting? Planning? Share below in the comments. Feel free to post links to your own blog if you’re recapping your week so we can all enjoy! Have a great weekend!!