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Apron Strings & Blessings Weekly Newsletter Vol. 13

Thanks for joining me for this week’s, “Apron Strings & Blessings.” Let’s take a look at all things faith, family, and home!

A banner featuring "Apron Strings & Blessings - Tying Faith, Family, and Home Together One Blessing at a Time" with a circular "Home with Grace and Joy" logo. Celebrate the strength of apron strings at www.homewithgraceandjoy.com.

Happy Monday!

What a beautiful weekend we had here! It rained a little, it was overcast one day, and it was sunny but pleasant – all in one weekend!

Because the weather was so nice, Jay and I cleared out the jungle – flowerbed in the front of the house. It was terrible, but I couldn’t bring myself to work outside in the scorching Texas heat of the summer.

A small sapling grows among red wood chips and low green plants in a mulched garden bed, near the base of a larger bush and a brick wall, sunlight casting shadows like gentle apron strings across the ground.
A small tree with green leaves grows in a mulched garden bed next to a brick house, its base encircled like apron strings by various plants and bordered by a sidewalk.
Branches and yard debris are scattered on a sidewalk next to a grassy lawn. An old ladder, draped with apron strings, stands in the yard near a tree, with a house visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Many of those “weeds” were actually trees! It was completely out of control!

It looks so much better now, but I can barely move! 🙂

Jay was able to dig one of the trees out by the roots, so we replanted it in the backyard. A couple of years ago, a storm tore down two of our trees that blocked the sun from the back of the house. I am hoping this one will help soon.

A young tree with a wire support cage is planted in the middle of a grassy backyard. There is a brick house on the left, a wooden fence behind, and string lights draped like apron strings on poles to the right.

What was your weekend like: productive, relaxing, or a combination of the two?

Faith

Saturday’s Post – Nuggets of Grace: Leaving a Spiritual Legacy

Collage with the title “Leaving a Spiritual Legacy,” showing an older man with grandchildren, smiling with friends in a car, and a group family photo—celebrating the impact of a spiritual legacy. Website: www.homewithgraceandjoy.com.
Click here to read the post

This Month’s Scripture

A wheat field with "Harvest Time," a Bible verse from John 4:35 urging us to look at the fields ready for harvest, and a touch of Apron Strings charm. Website: www.homewithgraceandjoy.com at the bottom.

“Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest?’ Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest.” John 4:35

A Message from My Quiet Time

I finished the book of Numbers, and I am now in Deuteronomy. I only have a few books left in the Old Testament to finish Evelyn’s Bible.

This stuck out to me in Deuteronomy chapter 1:

A beige background with a Bible quote in brown text: “‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough... Resume your journey… I have set the land before you…’ Deuteronomy 1:6-8.” Apron Strings featured below, with website link at the bottom.

My Takeaways:

  • What mountain have I been circling?
  • Is He telling me it has been long enough? If so, I need to go take possession of it.
  • Leave the wilderness wandering and go take possession of what the Lord is giving!

What about you? Have you been circling a mountain? Be ready when He tells you to go take possession.

Home & Family

New Recipe

Wednesday’s Post – Beef Tips and Noodles in the Crock Pot

A bowl of tender Beef Tips and noodles in savory sauce sits on a table. Text reads: “Beef Tips and Noodles in the Crock Pot.” Website link at the bottom: www.homewithgraceandjoy.com.
click here to read the post

Thanksgiving Menu and Ideas

Just doing a little planning!

Gather around the table, breathe deep, and relax—this traditional menu is meant for celebration, not overwhelm.

A group of people gathered around a festive table set with Thanksgiving dishes, candles, and autumn decorations. Text above reads, "Traditional Thanksgiving Menu Ideas." Website link at bottom: homewithgraceandjoy.com.
See it here

October’s Monthly Menu

Quick and Easy Meal Ideas for October

Having a plan for meals is the first step in staying on track. You can use whatever works best for you, but here is a guide if you want some additional ideas.

A collage from Apron Strings shows an "Easy Monthly Menu for October" featuring spaghetti with shrimp, roasted chicken, a stew over rice, vibrant vegetables with yellow rice, and a simmering pot of soup on the stove.
click here to see the menu

This Week’s Menu

  • Monday – Baked Salmon
  • Tuesday – Pork Roast
  • Wednesday – Salmon Bowl
  • Thursday – Pulled Pork
  • Friday – Fall Festivals or Hot Dogs

Meal Planning Tools

I have been working on a few things to make meal planning easier. Here are a few simple meal planning charts. I added a variety, because I know not everyone likes the same format.

I am also working on a list of 120 meal ideas to make deciding on meals a little easier also. That should be coming soon.

Favorite Deals of the Week

Click the highlighted links below to see the deals.

A square image with text disclosing affiliate links—clicking may earn a small commission at no extra charge. Only favorite new finds for busy seasons of life or personally used products are ever recommended.

Amazon

A round silver baking pan with six detailed, miniature house molds arranged in a circle, perfect for crafting a festive Gingerbread Cake Village complete with unique rooftops and doors.
A person uses a black meat chopper to cook browned ground meat in a white skillet on a stovetop. In the background, there's a white container with a blue design and a pot with green contents. Steam rises from the skillet as they prepare their monthly menu.

Walmart

A potted artificial Christmas tree with sparse green branches is decorated with small white string lights and a touch of Apron Strings charm, set in a black container against a plain white background.
A new black cast-iron skillet with a label inside sits on a wooden table next to a cream fringed cloth, reminiscent of Apron Strings, and a gold vase with green leaves.

Candy Recipe for the Month – Easy Chocolate Peanut Clusters

These are so super easy! Thank you Rhonda for sharing this with me so many years ago.

A plate of chocolate peanut clusters sits on a white surface. Beside it, an Apron Strings recipe card details ingredients and directions for making the clusters, featuring chocolate chips and peanuts.

You can also find the recipe along with two others that were passed down to me at the link here.

Upcoming Posts and Events

Posts

  • Legacy Tours
  • A Cornbread Gift Idea
  • How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet
  • How to Get Skunk Spray off of your Dog (Lots of experience here!)

Christmas Planner

A glittery gold star ornament hangs on a garland of pine branches with white lights. Text below reads, "The Home with Grace and Joy Christmas Planner" by Susan Sikes at Apron Strings, with a website link.

I have been working on a Christmas planner to help with the overwhelm and chaos. I never want another Christmas planned out like 2023! That was the year of DISorganization and chaos!

I hope to be able to share it next week.

Social Media

If you follow me on social media, be watching for some upcoming Christmas recipe videos. All of these will be quick and easy recipes.

If I can ever get it pulled together, I will also be doing some Bible applications as well.

I am also starting to post a few video clips onto YouTube. You can follow me here. Feel free to send me ideas!!!

If we are not connected on social media, I would love it if you would find me on one of the ones below.

Let’s Connect

I would love to stay connected. Subscribe below to receive posts and updates sent directly to your inbox.

We can also connect on social media. Click the icons below to connect with me. You will find pictures and ideas along with scriptures on these platforms each day.

I am planning to start a video Bible Study series that will be on these social media channels. I would love it if you would follow along. Just click on the icon for the social media platform you like best and follow.

Related Posts

Apron Strings & Blessings – Vol. 12
Apron Strings & Blessings – Volume 11
Apron Strings & Blessings – Volume 10

I have enjoyed sharing this week. Stay connected and have a blessed week!

A delicate circular floral wreath encircles the message "have a grace & joy-filled day—controlling the tongue!" with the name "susan" below, all depicted in soft brown and green
disclosure

disclosure: Amazon affiliate advertising program and other affiliate links may be used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure and privacy policy on the website. 

“How sweet Your Word is to my taste – sweeter than honey in my mouth.”
Psalm 119:103

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2 Comments

  1. Excited about your new Bible study series, Susan! Your flower beds look so good too. We recently had a big work day at the pecan grove and mowed almost 15 acres and I could not believe how quickly everything had grown up. I could barely get out of the car when we got home but I’m thankful to have it done and I’m sure you feel the same way. It was so much work but totally worth the effort! Hugs, CoCo

    Reply

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