In 2024 the theme of my blog will be “finding joy in the ordinary”.
As
a homemaker, it is quite easy to allow the everyday matters of life to become
so routine that they lose a bit of sparkle. Delight in having a floor to mop, a
meal to prepare or a bed to make, dulls with each passing year. In its place
the tasks become hum-drum, boring, endless, unimaginative, and may even provoke
an attitude of bitterness or agitation.
For
many years I’ve been writing here about the love I have for my privileged role
as a homemaker, and how that came about
through the example of my Nana, who lived a very simple ordinary life with many
hardships along the way - yet she always
found a reason to smile by looking for the joys around her, and that attitude created
an atmosphere of love and gratitude which permeated every nook and cranny of our
very tiny home. She made it known that Pop and I were her favourite joys, and therefore
everything she did was done out of love for us. She had a deep respect for Pop,
and taught me at a very young age to honour his position in our home. He in
return adored her, and by extension heaped so much love on me that even today I
shed tears thinking of how much I loved that dear little old man.
Nana’s
example taught me to honour my own husband one day - to ‘do him good and not
harm all the days of her life’ (Proverbs 31:12), a lesson which resonated with
me later in life. The more I glance back into my memories of her life, the more
nuggets of wisdom rise to the surface, and now I clearly see the many lessons
she had taught, not in words, in fact rarely in words, but just by being
herself and living an ordinary life in a very simple home with the people she
loved.
To
kick off 2024 I have a brand new, free, block of the month, “Joy in the Ordinary”, which over the course of a year will become a small wall quilt to
hang in your home. Each monthly block has a little stitchery encased in a log
cabin style border.
Today
you can download Block 1 and each of the remaining blocks will be shared on the
1st of the month throughout 2024.
DOWNLOAD Block 1 of Joy in the Ordinary BOM
Now,
what about my annual January Tea Towel post and pattern?! Did you think I’d forgotten?
Not at all.
As
you know, the past few months my fingers had moved from stitching to crochet
edging on a number of table runners, small doilies, and a pile of new tea
towels to carry me through 2024. Oh, how I LOVE replacing all my tea towels in
January! The old ones then become cleaning rags – those in good condition are
for use around our home, and those that are stained are given to hubby to use
in his shed.
Perhaps
you will crochet an edge on your towel as well? Or you might like to sew some decorative
crochet cotton lace along the edge instead?
I
am always asked if I fuse any backing to the tea towel before I embroider, so I
shall answer up front – no. I just weave the thread ends into the stitches
already made and they have never come away in the wash (yet).
DOWNLOAD the Joy in the Ordinary Tea Towel pattern
Family
Update:
Thank
you for all the emails which arrived asking if we were okay, as I had not
posted on the blog in a while.
As
you know, Blossom and the children had Influenza A…but then they got Covid over
Christmas so we were all isolated and had to resort to a Facetime call to watch
them open presents. It was sad not to be together and have our plans come to nought,
but how grateful we are for the technology on hand to still ‘see’ each other
and be entertained by the children!
Just
when they came out of isolation, darling Bloss was diagnosed with pneumonia,
and if you’re a long-time reader here you may remember that she gets it almost every
year. 2023 was particularly difficult health-wise for my girl, and
having Influenza, then covid, then pneumonia back-to-back without a break has
created havoc with her immune system. Please pray for her, that the Lord would
heal her and bless her with a healthy and strong 2024. (thank you xxx)
At
our home, I was health compromised too, but it was over quickly and I recovered
well. On Christmas Day hubby battled with our four pumps to keep water out of
the house as we were hit with a tremendous storm (we got 7 inches of rain that day), which continued off and on
for days. Two of the four pumps broke on Christmas Day, as well as the
dishwasher, and the cold water tap in the kitchen, and the internet. Honestly,
all we can do is laugh now…even though we’re still waiting for things to be
fixed. But praise God we’re all fine here and nothing major happened that cannot
be fixed. In the big scheme of life, these were minor annoyances and nothing
more. I have to say that after only having a dishwasher for five years, it was
a delight to revert back to hand washing again. Standing at the kitchen sink
looking out the window was always very meditative for me, and with soapy rubber
gloves and dishwashing cloth in hand, I had many of my aha moments with God. I
always believed He chose then to speak into my thoughts because I wasn’t
distracted by other things, but present in the very lovely task of washing
dishes. Just as Nana did. Now I am wondering if I really want that dishwasher repaired after all.
The future...
A new year is upon us, dear friends, and I am hopeful that the Lord will allow me to blog regularly, to inspire and encourage your homemaker heart, and to live an ordinary life with JOY for my grandchildren to see and remember when I am gone. If this becomes my last year blogging (we never know what is ahead) then I’d love for it be a good year. And I shall be praying for you too.
God bless you all, and may 2024 be a new season of life which we each approach with HOPE, leaving the past struggles and disruptions behind because we cannot change them. Shake off those feelings which darken your thoughts, and seek out all that is good, and lovely, and pure and hope-filled. Seek the Lord daily, and if you still find it hard to be cheerful, ask Him to gently sweep away emotions that are unproductive (or even harmful). You may still have to work through grief, illness, separations, financial strains (as we are) and other life challenges, but don't allow the weight of these trials to block out the light, darling girl. It is there. His Light is always there to shine a path forward, even if its only one step at a time.
May the Lord bless our year ahead as we seek out simple joys in the everyday, very ordinary, matters of life.
Hugs
52 comments:
Thank you for the early post as it was so timely in my life, as it often is. Blessings and prayers offered for you and yours for 2024, especially Blossom.
This post really resonated with me because I had chosen Joy to be my word for 2024. I need and want more Joy in my life, part of that is being aware of and looking for joy. I may even start a gratitude journal again because it means that you actively focus each day on the good, no matter how small. Thank you for your blog, it makes me think and brings me joy.
Love and prayers for Blossom too. X
May Peace be your blessing all through the New Year!
God bless!
Thank you Jennifer - I am in on this one! xx
Lovely post and I am in for this years stitching! I love your theme and the beautiful tulip cover. We grow them here in the USA, and they are one of my favorite Spring flowers! Prayers for you and your family. Wishing you the happiest of New Years!
Grateful the Lord guided you to continue blogging…so enjoy and need your encouragement. Praying for you all.
What a wonderful post despite the health and home issues. Thank you so much for the new block of the month. I have already downloaded it. Wishing you a happy and healthy new year.
Thank you for your words in this post. Your words and life experiences are relatable although the details and exact circumstances may differ. It is an encouraging reminder that we travel this life's path along with fellow believers and the constant presence of our Lord. Heaven is ahead where there will be no sickness, no separation, no sorrow. I will walk with joy with you this coming year!
Thank you Jennifer for the lovely Stitcheries and your wonderful words of wisdom and Faith. I'll pray for healing for Blossom - she has such a lovely little family - and I love reading your updates and seeing the lovely pictures of the children. It was funny for me to see the times on the other posts - evening on the 31st because being in the US, it's morning here - 7:30 am as I'm writing this on the 31st. Have a Wonderful New Year! I look forward to your posts and really want to try to do the stitcheries this year. Thank you for all that you do!
In Christ's love,
Diane
Thank God everyone is alright and I'll be praying Blossom continues to heal. Thank you for the stitches! I was hit with excitement when I saw the theme for your block of the month. My ladies Bible study group is studying Paul and learning to look for the joy in every situation. I'll be looking forward to each block. Thank you and happy new year.
Thank you for such a lovely post. I too have selected Joy as my word of the year. I heard a pastor speak on it and it sunk deeply inside of me. He said Joy stands for Jesus, others and you and that's the order we should place them in. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Thanks so much for your positive look on life. It helps me so much. Hugs!! Mary
I will pray for continued healing of your beloved daughter and for health for all of you for the upcoming year. I am glad you will continue blogging as I feel that God is using you as a witness for Him through your writing. I thank you.
The theme you have chosen for the New Year is perfect. I am sorry you can't grow tulips; they are beautiful, peaceful flowers.
God bless you and your family and all your blog readers.
Your post was very inspirational and a reminder to me to just let things go. Move on. Head up. Facing Jesus.
Thank you. I haven't done a BOM in years; this is a perfect place to begin.
Such a beautiful and eloquently written blog post. Thank you so much.
Dear one,it is because you had an open heart that you absorbed those unspoken messages from your grandmother. Also;I will pray for you and your family "s health as my sister (an antivacciner) has heart and lung damage after having covid 4 times.xo
Thank you so much for this post, which reached my heart just as I was in the process of overcoming some negative thoughts that have been hounding me these last few days. I will continue holding you and your family in my prayers. I love your designs and am looking forward to this coming year of JOY!
Karin
Phi. 4:13
I am so happy you have committed to blogging another year. Your posts are always filled with encouragement even through the tough times. It was just what I needed today. I have just prayed for Blossom, and hope to hear of improvements in her health soon.
Thank you for sharing your heart with us, and encouraging us to follow God in our everyday life.
I was feeling quite low when I logged on to the internet today and yours was the first blog I chose to read. How glad I am that I did! Thank you for your wise words and may 2024 be a good year for you and all your family.
Thank you very much for the progress of the new project for 2024.
Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year full of health and shared with family.
Kisses,
Pilarín
Oh dear Jennifer, I do hope you continue to blog even if occasionally. I always find your words heartfelt and comforting. Sorry for the family ills. .... and your household catastrophes! Let's wish for a good 2024 for all of us.
Thank you for your New Years post, and the stitcheries. Blessings come in all forms. And I consider you as a blessing. May you and your family find comfort in the little things. Happy New Year. Take Care, Teresa.
Well first of all, I LOVE the new BOM and I adore those vintage buttons! I've completely lost my love of stitching but can still appreciate good design! What a delight to be reminded to be aware of the simple joys of the everyday. Not having a dishwasher I think forces you to slow down, enjoy the process, it's a dreamy state of mind, doing something simple with your hands especially in water. Although after 7 inches of rain I would think you're quite over water.
Praying for you all, always, and thanking the Lord for the joy you spread to every heart around you. Love you!!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer, thank you so much for this lovely post. Your block of the month projects are the only ones I ever seem to keep up with and finish. They are all so pretty and your new BOM is going to be fun to stitch. Thank you! I don’t know how to crochet, but your tea towels are also pretty. I wish you and your family many blessings in 2024 along with good health and lots of fun times together.
Jennifer, thank you so much for another heartfelt Godly message.
I prayed for Blossom and your family. We love our children and families so deeply. I can only imagine God's love for us. Our son and sweet DIL flew from New Hampshire to California to celebrate Christmas with us. Within 3 days, our DIL tested positive for covid. She spent her time here recovering. God blesses beyond belief. None of us got sick....including her husband...our son. When thinking about our Lord's mercy and grace on us in small and large ways, I cry. Things we didn't even think to ask for...He blesses us.
Love your tea towel saying 'Joy in the ordinary'. The first Friday in March, I am hosting 5 of my closest friends for a sewing retreat. I'm going to sew and crochet the edge like the one you showed.
Thank you for your encouragement in the Lord.
My name is Patty McDonald. I didn't mean to comment as anonymous. I have the lovely kids in New Hampshire.
I am thankful this year that I have been receiving your emails. You encouraged me when things took a turn in June and my husband became disabled. Listening to your gentle reminders that God is in control (I know it is true!) helped me so much. I feel like I could walk up to your door and be welcomed and feel at home.
I will be praying for your family, in particular Blossom; it is do hard to be a young mom and get ill. She is lucky to have you close by.
God bless you, Jennifer!
Dear Jennifer,
How lovely it is to read another post from you! They are always timely and offer encouragement and wisdom for my soul and life. You have become a dear dear friend even though we have never met in person. My prayers are with Blossom and her health for this year as well as for you and the entire family. I will so enjoy stitching the "Joy in the Ordinary' stitcheries this year as this is also my focus at this time. So often, we go through the days focused on the negativity, problems, etc and we misplace our joy found in Christ in the moment. May we all cling to His joy.
Hugs and love,
Roxanne
Merry Christmas and happy new year dear Jennifer! Praying for your daughters health, she has had a bad run with it all.
I found this year I got in a bit of a rut, for a number of reasons really. Progress on the farm was slow, I turned 40 and took some time to reflect upon that, the rate of inflation is challenging of course and a few other things. But towards the end of the year I felt that rut lifting which has indeed been a blessing.
I look forward to another year of reading your encouraging posts and seeing your beautiful stitcheries! Blessings to you and yours. Much love, Emma xx
I appreciate this encouraging message. I hope your daughter is feeling much better and that you are all doing well! I am so sorry to hear of all the difficulties you have been through recently. You have a wonderful outlook and I am sure it is because you know that the Lord is with you every step of the way! God bless!
Thank you so much. I cherish your news letters. They are always so encouraging and uplifting. 2023 was a challenging year for us. Sickness, broken bones and surgeries. Just to name part of it. The toughest part is my inner unease, always waiting for the next disaster to strike. But then comes along your newsletter and things feel a little better. Thank you for that. Happy New Year
Oh what a blessing you are to all of us dear Jennifer. Thank you for these wonderful free patterns, both of which I shall download. I was just sitting having a cuppa this morning, looking up at my "vintage kitchen wallhanging" ... one of your older designs & thinking how faded it was looking - so now I can work on a replacement.
Prayers for dear Blossom - that she heals quickly & that all these "hiccups" in your household rectify themselves. Happy New Year my dear friend xx 💙
Dear Jennifer, thank you so much for the new stitcheries. I need to focus more on the Joy instead of on my troubles. Your encouraging words help so much. I will be praying for health, happiness, and a wealth of Joy for you and your family, especially Blossom. May God send you many blessings. Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Prayers for Blossom and once again, thank you for your grace-filled words. Blessings on your new year!
Glad to hear things are on the improve - I was praying when I heard about the storms in Townsville knowing what that involves at your place ..... even more so, when Pete had to hook up the submersible pump here in our backyard on Christmas Day with the storms we were having!! Last year health (both mine and Petes & looking after Dad) did not allow for all I had planned and blogging and sewing fell to the side ...... just today I have pulled out the Daisy a Day patterns that I had started and hope to work on this year! I'm badly in need of new teatowels and thought I'd bought some that I could use and also embroider, but I started using one late last year and its a terrible tea towel so I won't be bothering to embroider those .... any suggestions for where to find decent tea towels?? I'd like to work on embroidering some during the year to start fresh next year! Big hugs to you my friend xo
A lovely post, Jennifer, full of hope and encouragement and gentle humour in facing floods and illness. I will pray for Blossom to heal fully and become strong. Blessings on you as 2024 begins.
"Delight in having a floor to mop, a meal to prepare or a bed to make, dulls with each passing year." Or one day you wake up and can't do those things any more, for whatever reason, and your life changes ... and you gain new appreciation. I only wish my dishwasher worked, since I can't stand at the sink for more than 1 minute at a time. =)
All of your family is in my prayers, all the time. At this time, I will focus on Blossom, but all of you are there, too.
I love the new plans. I know, I'm not supposed to "love" these things, but I do anyway. =)
Wishing you the best, and hoping I can do the stitcheries, because I can do log cabin in my sleep and it's a favorite. Happy New Year, Jennifer. May all your hopes in stitching and in Christ be fulfilled this year. I know at least one of those will. =)
Blessed New Year! And thanks so much for your blog, your kindness, the effort you put into each blogpost, and for so much more. Thank you, Jennifer! God bless you and yours. xEsther
Thank you so much for this post. What a sweet reminder ~ finding joy in the ordinary. Being a homemaker is such a blessing, and your encouragement helps me so very much. All that you do is so lovely, and the tulips are beautiful. I am praying for Blossom, believing for a healthy and blessed life for her. Also, praying for you, your husband, and Blossom’s family. Thank you for all that you write about. You are such a blessing. God bless you and keep you!
Dearest Jennifer What a lovely BOM you have for 2024 And new years kitchen towel design as well. I am so sorry to hear of Blossom's and the children's illness's. As well as yours's Dear friend. I will be praying for her to make a full recovery. It is very cold here this morning at 42 degrees F. Today our New Year begins. We are cooking a late lunch for my daughter and her fiancé when she gets home from work today Husband loves to do this. Praying she has a safe day with all the craziness in this world anymore. Jennifer I can't wait to see all your beautiful designs come together in your new BOM. And thank you for the beautiful designs you share freely with us all. looking forward to 2024
Happy New Year, Jennifer! (it is noon on Jan 1,2023 here where I live) Many prayers sent for your family. Prayers for work and for quick healing. No one likes to be sick. I love this new look for 2024. Although I discovered you some years back, one of my goals this year to read your FULL blog! Wish me luck! Your blog always brings me such joy and I love the way you write!
Kindly regards, Kat in Indiana
Praying for everyone, but especially Blossom. Being sick and still having responsibilities is very difficult mentally and physically. I always look forward to your posts. I would like to ask you to pray for my sister--her breast cancer has metastasized in her spine and will be undergoing radiation treatments this week.
Sorry I haven't caught up with all your blog posts yet. I wish a speedy recovery with better health for dear Blossom this year. A beautiful post with another sweet design to make us smile.
Prayers for you and your family and good health for the new year.
Happy Blest new year to you All in your lovely family. Thank you as always. I will be praying for Blossom, I really feel for her. That's really tough! I Love Tulips I even managed to buy some for Christmas! I also grow them! I love your designs. And photos of them, you are a great encourager! Much love 😊💕
Praying that God’s blessings abound in your family’s lives this year and forever. You are always an inspiration and a blessing in my life with very timely insights into God’s word. All the best to Blossom for her healing. Prayers.
Thank you for the early post! It truly was a God send to read the words and thoughts on homemakers. Indeed, there is no greater calling to care lovingly for your home and and all who dwell with in. Your new banner with tulips! So lovely! May God bless your family with strong hearts and healthy bodies!
Feliz 2024!! Que Deus abençoe você e sua família!!!
As always…a blessing and encouragement.
Thank you - your words of encouragement for the new year were much needed and appreciated!
I am so sorry hearing Blossom had pneumonia! Especially on top of everything else! Our brains are wired the same Jennifer... my theme, after much thought, has been "back to basics." I think the world has gone mad and basic principals, commonsense, economy, organisation, meals... you name it... we need to get back to basics and enjoy as you say the beauty in the ordinary! I am on crochet edges too and I love the T towel embroidery thank you! xxx
A Happy Newyear for you and your familie and friends!
Thank you for the lovely stitchery.
I'am in for this year, i love the stitcheries and make a new quilt!
Jennifer, it has been a while since I last read and watched all your beautiful needlework patterns. I always enjoy your newsy letters. When I read about your family's health problems, I was drawn to Blossoms particular problem of getting pneumonia, right after Covid.
My sweet husband and I have so far avoided any contact with that horrible disease. However, i did come down with a very nasty case of bronchitis and it stayed on this time far too long. It turns out my pharmacy couldn't fill a prescription that I needed because the doctor had sent in one for a child instead of an 81-year-old woman. Once we got that fixed and I was put on a very strong antibiotic, I soon gained my strength and health back.
We moved to the Raleigh, North Carolina, area May, 2015 from Charleston, West Virginia. That first winter I developed my first case of bronchitis that I hadn't had in a long time. And I continued to get it every year from then on. Sometime it got so bad that they wanted to put me in the hospital but I preferred to stay at home with my husband's care. And I got over it each time. But one winter about 5 years ago my pulmonologist's assistant came to my aid. She talked with us about my problem and told us of a new trial that was going on and she would like to try it on me. I was to collect as much sputum as possible and have the sample taken to her at the hospital. She tested it and found out what was needed in my particular case to get rid of it. And from then on I was given Azithromycin on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from the beginning of cold weather until the spring when warm weather began to arrive. That prescription has kept me healthy for 4 winters until my husband got a cold in late fall and then I got it from him. Except mine got much worse and ended up with bronchitis. But I'm over it now and continuing taking it until warm weather arrives.
I wanted to let you know about this and maybe Blossom's doctor could check it out and see if perhaps something like this should be given to her. I start taking the pill in mid-October and stop taking them in April or early May. It's very cold and damp at this time of year here where we are but I guess it's nice and warm there where you are. So she still has time for her or you to contact her doctor and perhaps recommend something like this. I know she has 2 really sweet young ladies at home and needs her strength and health every day to keep up with them.
I will include her and your family in my evening prayers.
I have loved your site for many, many years and grown to know how close you and your family are.
With love,
Linda Sapp
linda.r.sapp@gmail.com
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