What Margin Does...

Happy Good Friday everyone 💛

I hope you've had a good week and are preparing for a special weekend with family or friends. 

I've had a great week hanging out with the family and have thoroughly enjoyed having some down time to get things done around the house. 

I finally cleaned out my closet. I took every piece of clothing out and laid it on the bed. Then I weeded out things I don't like or can't wear anymore and put the rest back in, nice and neat. This is always such a satisfying feeling, when you can see what you have and realize that you have plenty. 

I've cooked a few family favorites this week - Millie's One Pot Pasta on Tuesday and Taco Soup last night.  Both are so easy and only take a few ingredients that you probably already have on hand. (I'll put the recipes below).

I've started a new puzzle and work on it at night. I've also started a new book I've had hanging around...Theo of Golden. It came highly recommended. Have you read it? So far, I'm enjoying it. 

This week has been one that reminds me of how much we can do when we stay home. We can cook and clean and read and watch tv and get projects completed and feel totally satisfied in our work. I love and prefer those weeks, as opposed to the ones where life feels rushed and chaotic. I've never thrived in a rushed and chaotic lifestyle. Instead, I thrive when I have lots of margin in my days and can think clearly about what I want to spend my time on. Isn't it funny how we're all different and some do thrive on chaos and rushing here and there?

This week I've talked to my mom twice on the phone. I've texted with my baby sister. I've seen the whole family one night, the girls the next day and exchanged a few videos with Asa. This is another thing that margin allows...time to communicate. I've prayed for friends, prayed for family, talked with one of my boys when he called to tell me good news. I've exchanged Wordle stats with the other son and tried to explain to David what in the world Wordle was 😅

 And most of all...I've talked to the Lord throughout the days and read his word daily. I've prayed for clarity on some things and gotten peace about other things. I've played this song on repeat and enjoyed singing it while cooking, cleaning and going about my day. 

I didn't set out to write about "margin" today, but as I was walking through the week in my mind, I realized that margin was the star of the show this week. Having time to live life in meaningful ways. Not being dragged from task to task or obligation to obligation, but having time to choose with intention. 

This is how I want to live. This is the life I want to look back on - one filled with time to do all the important things that have meaning. 

And on that note, it's time for breakfast and another cup of coffee and catching up on all of your blogs, which I love to do.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday and take time to think about what today stands for. Jesus died on the cross and became the sacrifice you and I could never give. Today is significant and has meaning. Don't let that pass you by 💚

So...Until Next Time...

Blessings to you as you live today. What a gift you've been given. 

Here are the recipes I promised:

Millie's One Pot Pasta

1lb breakfast sausage (browned with chopped onion in olive oil)

1/2 box spaghetti noodles, broken in half

16 oz vegetable broth

1 can Rotel tomatoes

Onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste

Sautee 1/2 cup chopped onion in 1 tbsp olive oil

Add sausage and cook until done.

Add pasta, broth and Rotel and make sure there is enough broth

to cover pasta.

Bring to a boil, then simmer until pasta is tender.

(I used the "hot" sausage and it was so good in this dish!)

Taco Soup

1 can of each:

Diced tomatoes

Corn

Black beans

Pinto beans (or Ranch style)

1 lb ground beef (cooked)

1 pk taco seasoning

16 oz vegetable broth

salt and pepper

Add all ingredients into a soup pot, bring to a boil, simmer until hot and bubbly.