Imparting Grace: May 2023

Thursday, May 25

Grace at Home No. 507

"Whew!"

That's the remark I hear most often this time of year. May is a whirlwind month, isn't it? Somehow I thought that after my kids were out of school this time of year would no longer be so busy. Wrong!

But lots of May activities are fun ones, like graduations. . . or weddings. And I had the privilege of attending the most beautiful one this past weekend.

My darling niece graduated from college a couple of weeks ago, and this past Saturday she got married. Isn't she lovely? And just look at that ring bearer!

It took a lot of doing to get our whole family to the wedding, but what a joy it was to be together.

And now I need a very long nap.

Meanwhile, y'all have been busy making your homes places of grace and beauty, and I'm so glad to provide a place for you to share the ways you're doing that. Here are some highlights from last week's Grace at Home party.

Need some easy-access storage for your family room but don't have much money to spend? Maybe you'd like to make a cushioned ottoman. Beth from Creatively Beth shows you how.

Would you like to create real beauty in your outdoor spaces? CoCo from The Crowned Goat has lots of ideas that can be completed in one weekend.

Want to create some decor for the patriotic holidays this summer? Carol from Bluesky at Home gives you step-by-step instructions for making these throw pillows.

Or maybe you'd like a super-simple project for updating your summer decor. Debra from Common Ground will show you how to make this garland from seed packets.

Have you seen beautiful pots containing a variety of plants and wondered how to achieve that look? Ann from Ann's Entitled Life will take you step-by-step through the process of creating your own.

If you have little kids visiting you this summer and want to plan some fun activities without breaking the bank, L & L from Our Grand Lives will show you all kinds of things to do with popsicle sticks. (You'll especially love their blog if you have grandkids!)

Here's a pic of just one of their clever ideas:

One of the most insightful bloggers I know is Lisa, and I love this story about mind-reading. . . and why we shouldn't assume we know what someone is thinking.

While this time of year can be filled with joy, it's also a time of grief for many people. Patty from InstaEncouragements reminds us of five ways to pray in the valley of despair.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week's party!

Here are the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your life with truth, goodness, and beauty. For instance, I invite you to link posts about

DIY projects
decorating
recipes
hospitality
homemaking tips
parenting
marriage
faith
self-care
soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not to your site's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. If you link a post here, you re giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And please visit one or more of the other participants—that's what really makes it a party!

Thursday, May 18

Grace at Home No. 506

Hi, friends! Welcome to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty.

This is a special week for me. First, my oldest son turned 32 yesterday. I'm amazed to think that he used to be this little fellow in rain boots. . .

and now has his own little fellow!

And this weekend will be extra-special, because my beautiful niece is getting married. I know I might sound like a broken record sometimes, but it bears repeating:

The days are long, but the years are short.

Now, here are some highlights from our last party that I think you'll enjoy.

Need a small graduation gift? Beth from Creatively Beth has created a free printable of Mother Teresa's "Do It Anyway" statement that would look great in a frame.

Do you enjoy seeing a big remodeling project as it unfolds? MaryJo from MasterPieces of My Life is right in the middle of a bathroom remodel, and she invites us into the process.

Are you working on getting your house decluttered this year? I am! So I was glad to see this post from Alison at Organized Motherhood.

Have you ever bought a bag of lemons and then wondered how you would use them all? Wendy from WM Design House offers 29 different ways to use lemons—brilliant!

And if you need another lemon idea, check out this lemon muffin recipe from Elizabeth at The Savory Cipolla.

Need some non-fiction titles for your summer reading bookshelf? Linda Stoll offers her answers to the question "What books would you take to a deserted island?"

Do you ever struggle with knowing that someone you love is making poor choices? That's particularly hard for a parent or grandparent, isn't it? Michele Morin from Living Our Days has some great wisdom to share.

Thank you to everyone who joined the last party!

DIY projects
decorating
recipes
hospitality
homemaking tips
parenting
marriage
faith
self-care
soul care

Thursday, May 4

Grace at Home No. 505

Hello, friends! I'm grateful to be here this morning. The past two weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind in my life, with a long business trip to Colorado and then significant medical appointments for my husband and my son when I returned. Thankfully, I have no bad news to report. . . for awhile, every week seemed to bring bad news, but for now things are stable. I continue to be so very grateful for your prayers for our family.

Meanwhile, I know you've been busy! Here are a few highlights from our last Grace at Home party that caught my eye.

Do you have a porch that needs to be spruced up for spring and summer? Wendy from WM Design House shares lots of great ideas for decorating your outdoor space.

Or do you have just a tiny bit of outdoor space you'd like to freshen up. Julie from My Wee Abode shares some wonderful ideas for adding plants to even the smallest space.

Need an inexpensive project idea for creating a Mother's Day keepsake for someone? Your kids (or you!) could color these printable cards from Creatively Beth.

Are you ready to give your house a good Spring cleaning? I am! But I have to remember to declutter and organize first, or things won't stay clean and fresh. Julie from Filling the Jars offers a bunch of quick organizing tips for every room in your home.

Spring and summer are peak travel times. When I traveled to Colorado last week, I was seated directly behind a mom with a crying baby. I felt so bad for her and the little one. If you have a trip with a little one coming up, you'll be glad to get these tips from Jamie at Photo Jeepers.