Monday’s Musings

The word muse is such a fun word, don’t you think?

Merriam Webster defines it as to become absorbed in thought, to think or say (something) in a thoughtful way and my personal favorite form, musing, is defined as thoughtfully abstracted.

I now present to you in no particular order, a list of things I have mused upon recently for your own personal amusement.

1.) In my scrolling I like to watch the reels of things being refurbished or repurposed. However, I have decided I am annoyed by using the word “styled” in reference to decorating our homes. When did that become a thing? For me it just doesn’t conjure up a woman delighting in making her home beautiful and welcoming for family and friends; it sounds like she is staging for the perfect reel or copycat pinterest vibe. Please know that I realize this is my own personal reaction to the usage of the word and not necessarily what is being meant by those who use it but I do think I will continue to decorate my home as opposed to styling it. (To even say that reminds me of going to the salon and having my hair done and then being dusted with a cloud of hairspray.) I can however totally get behind the reel I saw that was titled, “Making Thrift Store Finds Less Ugly.”

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3 & 4

2.) Lately, a topic I see popping up lately is engagement rings with words along the lines of, “Let’s normalize small and dainty engagement rings so that people aren’t spending so much money.” How shall I say this?

I think maybe we should normalize minding our own business. It is not my business how much a young man does or does not pay for an engagement ring. What if he has wise parents that have been teaching him since he was kneehigh to a grasshopper that he should work hard and save money and he has a sizeable nest egg for just such a purchase? What if it’s a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation? Do I think a young man should go into debt just to buy a big flashy ring? I do not. We didn’t raise our daughters to expect such a ring or to choose a man who would go into debt to give her one. Beyond that it is no concern of mine what other people do.

“…and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you...” I Thessalonians 4: 11

3.) If you know me at all then you are probably aware of my flower farming saga but for new friends in a nutshell I found out it was illegal to sell flowers in Louisiana if you did not have a florist license when I had 900 beautiful tulips and daffodils blooming. After I went through all of the hoops to get said license the law (which had been on the books for 85 years) was struck down but last year my flower farming got interrupted again just due to different circumstances and my garden went ferrell. Well, I just placed my order for this season’s flowers and now I am musing about bouquets and whether wrapped or in containers/vases is better and which will sell better and whether or not I am going to make a success out of even doing them.

“So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?” Ecclesiastes 3:22

4.) Today is my oldest sister’s birthday. It is strange to consider us the ages we are…I still remember when we would play school and she taught us how to make these heart shaped “people” with accordion style dangly arms & legs.

In some of the darkest moments of my life she has been there to reach out her hand and help me find my way out of through to the light again.

Her reaction to things is typically fierce and fast and usually loud and probably spot on about 98% of the time. I know there is not a situation I could find myself in that I couldn’t call her and she wouldn’t stop whatever she was doing and move heaven and earth to get to me or give me what I need. That’s what sisters do I guess because I have three and I know I can count on them for anything. But Sister sets the bar high for the rest of us and she is one of the strongest women I know.

My hope is that my girls know and experience that same kind of sisterhood. It is a gift.

That is probably one of my favorite pictures I have ever taken of my big sister. It was during my niece’s first labor and just seemed to personify who she is…bossy to be sure, but so full of love that she is quick to give away to those who need it.

“She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” Proverbs 31:17

There is other stuff rattling around in my brain but honestly, I started this post way earlier today and I am just now finishing it up because it has been a day and I am just tired. But if you see me staring off into space just remember that men might have a nothing box they can go hang out in but I don’t. Something is going on in here I promise ;-)

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.”
I Corinthians 3:18