May Musings: Share Four Somethings

Waving farewell to another month, I rejoice in a glance back at my May Musings joining Jennifer Goodwin as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month.

Many readers notice I choose a theme for each month, which often reflects lessons or themes from my personal life.

This month’s theme is “musings”, which speaks to my more inward stance this month of contemplation, as I slowed down to actually muse on aspects of my life rather than speeding past them.

Each month the four categories remain the same: Something I’m loving, reading, learning, and eating! Jennifer delights me by listing these categories in the present participle form of the verbs rather than the past tense of completion.

something i’m loving

Kicking off my May Musings: Share Four Somethings in the something I’m loving category, also delights me beyond measure. Watching my precious very soon to be four-year-old granddaughter, Grace shine her own unique personality.

Receiving a special invitation from Grace’s pre-school to join her for a morning muffin and sharing of something special to her was the highlight of my week recently.

Thrilled with Pops and Gigi coming to her school, she politely introduced us to her friends! She helped us to blueberry muffins and used her best manners at the table. She then showed us her classroom, colored a special picture for us and shared her favorite toys.

She was so excited for us to take photos to share with Mom but was upset her recent “boo boo” showed in the pictures. I get it, I don’t like my boo boos showing either Grace.

something i’m reading

This month I have the Joy of not only reading, but helping to promote a recent study guide on prayer written by my dear friend and sweet brother in the Lord, Horace Williams Jr..

Horace blogs at Pleasing to the Potter, and is the award winning author of Unleash the Power of Prayer in Your Life, which was released on May 23rd in a brand new study guide resource, and The Furnace of Affliction: How God Uses Our Pain and Suffering for His Purpose.

Horace’s new study guide takes the reader beyond learning about how to unleash the power of prayer to actually living it through thought provoking questions, journal prompts, and focused prayers.

Though only about halfway through, the impact of Horace’s easy writing style invites the reader in through personal testimony, encouraging scriptures, and prayer prompts which move you beyond stagnating prayer habits.

Unleash the Power of Prayer Study Guide is the perfect addition to daily devotions for both new and seasoned Christians alike!

something i’m learning

Something I’m learning is where the idea of May Musings originates. Because to “muse”, you must slow down. Through my spiritual mentor, God has been inviting me to a place of peace and stillness through a more unhurried way of navigating my days.

With “there is no hurry” as my new mantra, I remind myself to pause, breathe, and seek the Father’s Presence instead of rushing from one thing to another.

A relentless push to the finish line to obtain my coveted “peace”, characterized my days, resulting in impatience with others, overwhelm, and frustration. Not to mention, no real peace.

Releasing my expectation of completing every task before I could experience peace, I find grace for myself and others. God pours peace into each moment, even the ones where He leads along an alternate path.

something i’m eating

This month I share with ease something I’m eating: everything strawberries!! Our modest strawberry patch is yielding a plethora of the sweetest berries this year! My amazing husband picks fresh berries for us each morning and evening.

Of course, he would be happy with my signature gluten free pound cake with fresh strawberries and dairy free whipped cream, but why stop at boring?

I recently concocted a strawberry reduction sauce tinged with organic maple syrup to accompany the grilled salmon, strawberry endive and microgreens salad and strawberry muffins.

As the patch usually continues blessing us until mid-June, I have plenty of time for even more new recipes!