Tuesday, May 23, 2023

4 Quirky Somethings + Bonus Read

Hey, all you May lovers!

I don't know about you, but more often than not, life ends up feeling oh so random and weirdly unplanned.  Wonky and unpredictable and a whole lot of quirky.  Kinda like this month's 4 Somethings.  No rhyme, no reason, no hidden theme, no carefully crafted summary of a lovely, sunshiny month. 

But we do have sneakers and lace.  Boundaries.  A to-do list that's breathtakingly simple.  A whole lot of lemons.  And a bonus read.  

Just because we can.

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something loved 

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something read
'If we don't know who we are, we will constantly be manipulated into who others want us to be or become enmeshed in the needs of other people.  

When we know who we are, we are whole and available to love, serve, and give to others from that fullness. 

 If we don't know who we are, then we will love, serve, and give, hoping people will fill our empty places and make us feel whole.  

And in doing so, we will always be defined by how well or how poorly someone else makes us feel.'
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes:
Loving Others Without
Losing the Best of Who You Are

Lysa Terkeurst

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something learned 

create your very own
ENOUGH LIST

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something eaten


squeezed or zested
lovely tart lemons give 
every dish a very unique zing
*
cinnamon coffee cake
roasted veggies
lemon pasta
scones
barbeque sauce
muffins
anything fish-y
lemon bars
iced juices, tea, soda
lemonade (of course)

🍋

BONUS READ: When Life Hands You Lemons
Linda

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*  Birdhouses by Kamen Atanassov on Unsplash

36 comments:

  1. Love the picture of Katie looking lovely with the pink sneakers!! I enjoyed the article on the Enough List. Nice to have it be something you know you can accomplish in a day!

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    1. Who needs a list that runs on and on forever. Just thinking about it makes me tired. Let me know how it works for you, ok?
      📌

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  2. Thanks for all the recommendations, Linda, and for the playful photos, too.
    Blessings!

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    1. 'playful.' That's a cute word, Martha!
      ðŸ“ļ

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  3. I love lemons and love to squeeze and zest the same one so as not to waste!😊 They are so, so healthy, too!

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    1. Yes, I'm trying to remember to zest oranges and lemons before they get tossed in the compost. They freeze beautifully!
      🍊

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  4. Always good to know what’s going on in your world!

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    1. Not a whole lot right now which is a very good thing. June comes in like a tsunami ...
      ðŸ’Ŧ

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  5. Love that flowery dress with the Converse tennis shoes! And look at that--the color matches the flowers perfectly! Also love the idea of an enough list. Will be revisiting Melissa Wilkins post in order to absorb more thoroughly what she's shared there. Thank you, Linda!

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    1. Funny thing is that I was sporting those same converse sneakers at that age, but mine were simply black. I'd like to think I'd have chosen her color!
      ðŸĨ°

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  6. Things are far past my command
    and I'm in an awful jam,
    no longer fit to understand
    just exactly who I am.
    I'd thought perhaps I was defined
    by smiling strength and faith in God,
    but that picture's been refined
    by the knowing that I'm deeply flawed,
    a slave of subterranean rage
    against the cancer killing me,
    and that has turned a thoughtful sage
    into Poster Boy of Villainy,
    with a stunning aching fall
    to where bad manners stand on call.

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    1. But you're still writing, pal ... and it's a strong legacy you're building. I'm waiting to hear that you're rolling all this poetry into a book for others with cancer.
      💊

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  7. She is adorable, Linda! Perfect combo with dress and sneakers!

    Thanks for all the uplifting words!

    * subscriber email response

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    1. Oh yeah, she is adorable. Beautiful and creative and I'm so grateful to be her grandma.
      🎈

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  8. I love the photo of Katie…adorable! I also love lemons, lemon anything suits me!

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    1. I wish I had had her flair for style when I was that age. Wow!
      🛍️

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  9. I've been wondering about Lysa's new book. Maybe it could be one for your readers book club? :)

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  10. I love the word quirky. what a fun word, even fun to say! The article on enough list was great. Have a super weekend!

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    1. You, too, Jean! It couldn't be more gorgeous out and oh how His creation renews our spirits.
      🌞

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  11. "When we know who we are, we are whole and available to love, serve, and give to others from that fullness. " There really is a fullness/wholeness in know ourselves well. We know our boundaries, capacity, and motivations and therefore, we are fully participating in life. I never really thought about it like that before. Thanks.

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    1. We tend to think that boundaries make us kill-joys going around with long faces and stern looks. But they bring clarity and freedom to fully live the life God's created us to live. Therein is our relief and joy.
      😇

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  12. I like the Lysa Terkeurst quote and the enough list sounds like a good idea too.

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    1. I know, I know! 3 tasks are doable for just about all of us. Dozens are a complete, unmotivating drag.

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  13. This is so true, Linda, "Life ends up feeling oh so random and weirdly unplanned. No rhyme, no reason, no hidden theme, no carefully crafted summary of a lovely, sunshiny month." Yet, we smile. Thankful for the gift of life, for the gift of family, and the gift of friends.

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    1. Yep, you're right. We do smile. 'Cause there's so very much to be grateful for ... like this weekend.
      🏞️

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  14. I think I will create my own enough list. Interesting. Yes, I agree life seems so random sometimes. Sometimes I plan other times I just fly by the seat of my pants. I'm okay with random, sometimes I myself am random. Lol.
    Visiting today from Share Four Somethings #13

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    1. Sometimes random is our best solution. Agreed.
      ðŸĪŠ

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  15. I'm so glad you linked up with us today!

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    1. Me, too, Jennifer. It was fun to blog hop through the links tonight!
      🐰

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  16. I too am living in Converse with dresses (in summer). Very comfy. I really like this idea of an enough list...I might work on that. #ShareFourSomethings

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  17. She looks just like her beautiful mama! ❤️
    So funny that everyone seems to be wearing sneakers with their prom dresses…fads!!!…they come and go!!! 😀

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  18. Oh, I love lemons! As a kid when we had to do that annoying thing of introducing ourselves with a favorite food (starting with the initial of our first name), that's what I'd choose. You remind me that we can share very simple things for the "eat" part of Share Four Somethings.

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    1. I forgot about those playful introductions, Lory. And I have no idea what food I defined myself by!
      ðŸĪ·‍♀️

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