IN MY WORDS – DevotedD and LovelyC ran away together this week for a day spent with friends on this beautiful cove on Sacandaga Lake.

The weather was perfect. Picnic lunch by the water. My writerly friend and I spent the afternoon talking about writing, and…writing, and then a bit more about writing : ) Sharing the ups and downs and laughing over rejections while encouraging one another.

The guys swam a bit and relaxed in the sun. They gave us more material for stories when they came back and grabbed a large shovel and rake. And proceeded to start digging by the beach. Hmm…sand castle time or was there a dead body somewhere? What if? Nothing so dramatic, they were trying to locate a part of the beach umbrella that had disappeared. The hours went by so quickly and we couldn’t believe it was 6 pm already.

Back on the road home with a stop at Happy Daze.

Enjoyed our summer fast food on the picnic tables listening to 60’s and 70’s music played through their speaker system and people watching as so many stopped by for a quick dinner. And then a photo with…

Finished off the day with vanilla raspberry frozen yogurt loaded with chocolate chips.

Yes, a lovely summer day! Wonderful weather, beautiful lake, great friends and conversation, a nostalgic musical trip and good food.

What does your lovely summer day look like?

THE WORD – We were traveling last weekend and went by a nondescript house that advertised lavender.

We had gone by it before on the way to Orient Point ferry but never had time to stop. “Let’s stop this time,” I said. Of course, we had already passed it and had to turn around on the highway but how hard could it be? A quick break at this sweet little house to perhaps pick up some lavender plants and gifts to bring home.

We turned around and pulled into the driveway. Wait, there was a guy directing traffic? We followed his advice and turned left along another looooonnnng driveway. With cars parked everywhere in neat orderly rows. We kept driving with no available space to park and turned down yet another lonnnnnnggg dirt road. With more parked cars. Eventually coming to the lovely lavender fields. By then we were much too far from the original house. Took some pics and drove back out. I guess this was a popular place (on a weekday no less!) and filled with people wandering the fields and stopping at the little house/shop out front.  Yes, appearances can be deceiving. Who knew the riches hidden back behind this house? Rows upon rows of sweet, fragrant, royal purple plants…

It did make me think of the hidden riches God has for us.

From the busy road we’re on or our current viewpoint we don’t see the whole picture.

Once we turn into His will, a whole new world opens up that we didn’t see or understand before.

Sweet, fragrant, royal blessings of God!

Ephesians 3:20, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

I’m believing God for great things this summer and for hidden riches to be revealed.

What are you believing God for? Can you imagine the riches He has in store for you?

Living Lovely – There is a plethora of advice available of how to live successful lives. The more I muse upon this thought, the more I veer towards simplicity. Success can be defined in many ways, but each one must determine what is most important. To me, my heart longs to simplify. And it starts at home.

There is too much “stuff” in my household. I have been working at it bit by bit. Are you also surrounded by “stuff?” Is your life filled with “things?” We plan to move to another house eventually and I refuse to drag everything along and fill up another place. The tricky part is deciding what goes and what stays. I will still hold to things if they are heirlooms or have too much sentimental value. Up to a point. : ) For example there is an old cookie jar boxed in my garage. It was always on my mother’s table in our kitchen and holds too many memories. I got as far as boxing it and putting it in the garage to go but still haven’t gotten rid of it. It’s not always easy…

Join me on this adventure of de-cluttering and together we’ll celebrate how freeing it can be. Don’t get overwhelmed. Step by step, week by week.

What is your worst area of clutter?

I think mine at the moment is paperwork and books. Let’s learn how to live lovely and invite a new measure of success to our lives!