peonies | Beauty Observed

Mornings can be hectic.

Everyone’s trying to wake up. Breakfast needs to be eaten. Some of the family might be trying to make their way out the door. Even those who are staying at home likely have a to-do list a mile long.

Let’s talk about the beauty in this photo.

The morning sun shining through those petals?

The tiny bit of blue vase exploding with light?

Who wouldn’t want to be greeted by these beauties on their morning breakfast table?

Imagine:

Beautiful flowers.

Soft music.

Family prayer.

This is what graced our dining room last week.

Here are some tips to add more beauty to your mornings:

1) Set the tone by playing classical music or calm praise and worship music. I have a Pandora station of Gungor music that I like to play to gently wake us up.

2) Add some fresh flowers to the table. I generally do this the day before. Truthfully, who has time to run out in their pajamas and cut fresh flowers? Even dandelions picked by small hands will add beauty.

3) Take a few moments to notice: the beautiful faces that have gathered around your table or in your kitchen. The sun streaming through your windows or the raindrops gathering on the windowpane. The peace in the routine.

4) If you are a praying family, gather for a quick prayer before everyone scatters for the day.

These suggestions are not made to cause guilt. Most only take a few moments of intention to implement, even with a baby on the hip. I hope they cause you to think about your mornings.

Leave me a comment and let me know how you add beauty to your mornings.

Thank you for visiting! I hope you have a beautiful day!

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Shared at: Fridays Unfolded * A Return to Loveliness *

I’ve been reading a lot of books lately that all have the same theme: dreaming big. Some of the books are about dreaming big for God. Others are about just dreaming big, setting goals, and conquering things with shear willpower. I’ve also been reading blog posts and online articles about vocation that touch me deeply.

Pink peony with ant

When I was a child, my dreams were very simple. I wanted to be married and have a family. I wanted to live in a big old house with an attic. It wasn’t that I wanted a big=expensive house. I wanted big=old house. I wanted my house to be filled with love, laughter, books, and music. I wanted to adopt children. I loved Jesus and I wanted my future family to go to church together on Sunday mornings and evenings.

peony

As I entered junior high and then high school, being a stay at home mother no longer seemed acceptable and so I traded that dream in for the dream of become a teacher, a CPA, or English major. I was accepted to college and signed up to be an English major with a minor in education. However, at the last minute, I gave up all of the scholarships and decided to marry Ed. After all, this was my original dream!

peony

Achievement seems to be the end goal of dreaming. What can you achieve for God? How high can you climb the ladder of success in your job? I often feel small when I’m reading these books. But then I hear God’s voice in my ear or read something that reminds me…I am living my dream. I live in an old house with an attic. Our house is filled with love, laughter, stacks and stacks of books, and beautiful music. There is a flower garden outside. We attend church together on Sunday. And best of all, three children that I am so blessed to love, care for, and educate. We’ve adopted. Our home is a place of safety and healing. I am living my vocation, my calling. I am doing exactly what God created me to do in this season. I am content.

Be encouraged. No dream is too small. Living out the life God called you to is a beautiful thing!