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Apron Strings & Blessings Weekly Newsletter Vol. 30

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

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!

This week I am sharing several things that have brought me joy this week. What about you? What is bringing you joy?

Faith

Saturday Morning Devotional

Saturday’s Post – Life Lessons from Job:Chapter One

An open Bible, pen, coffee mug, and candles on a decorated table. Overlaid text reads: "Life Lessons from the Book of Job: Chapter One. www.homewithgraceandjoy.com".
read it here

February’s Scripture

Floral background with pink and white flowers. Centered text reads: "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19 (CSB), one of the inspiring Bible Verses about Love.

YouTube Scriptures

This is an older video, but I love the clouds! It is hard to believe that this is a real video with no filters or AI. 🙂

See the short video here.

Home & Family

Crispy Baked Chicken Chimichangas (Easy Weeknight Recipe)

This is an old recipe but a good one!

A crispy baked chicken chimichanga—perfect for 30 Minute Meals—topped with green salsa and sour cream sits on a white plate, placed on a wooden table with a decorative cream-colored placemat. Text reads "Crispy Baked Chicken Chimichangas.
read about it here

February’s Monthly Menu

Quick and Easy Meal Ideas for February

Ceramic plates with green leaf designs sit on a white surface. A striped cloth napkin and sprigs of greenery surround them. The top plate, proudly displaying the "Monthly Menu" for February, adds an elegant touch to this charming table setting.
click here to see the menu

This Week’s Menu

Coffee Finds and Fun

Where are my coffee lovers? I have been having lots of fun experimenting with different ways to make coffee. These are my regular methods/drinks:

  • Weekdays – Keurig pods
  • Weekends – Percolator
  • In town running errands – Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew from Starbucks

The Starbucks drink is the way I “treat myself” for having to go run errands! 🙂

I have not been able to find a substitution for that drink to make at home – until now! Have you been seeing all of the Moka Pots all over social media? It may just be my algorithm! Anyway, I thought I would try it. I liked it right away, but now I have perfected it into my favorite new “treat” drink.

A light green cup and saucer filled with coffee sits on a white tablecloth with a pattern of green leaves, evoking the cozy charm of Apron Strings.

This is more of an espresso drink, so if you don’t like strong coffee, this is not for you.

Moka Pots are relatively small since they are for espresso, so the process is much faster than it is with a percolator. They are also very inexpensive. In fact, the box said it was a poor man’s espresso machine. 🙂

If you want to try it out, this is the one I got:

A cardboard shipping box containing a MiXPRESSO 6 cup moka pot in its packaging, featuring an illustration of the moka pot and coffee beans on the front—perfect for coffee lovers tied to their apron strings.
A hand scoops ground coffee into the filter basket of a moka pot, which sits on a white cloth with a green leaf pattern. Nearby, apron strings peek into view, hinting at the warmth of a cozy morning ritual.
A hand, draped in apron strings, opens the lid of a moka pot brewing coffee on a glowing electric stove burner. Steam rises as a ceramic teapot rests nearby, with a decorative plaque partially visible in the background.
A spoon lifts thick, frothy whipped coffee from a white mug on a reddish-brown countertop, while apron strings hang nearby and kitchen items are visible in the background.


I even tried the Cuban version with the whipped sugar. It was good but a little too sweet for me. My new favorite is just a tad of sugar mixed with heavy cream and then the Moka Pot coffee on top of it.

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.

I would love to hear from you if you have had this or if you give it a try. Let me know what you think.

A Few More Things Bringing Me Joy This Week

1 – Fur Babies – This one is no surprise!

A brown and black dog with a scruffy coat lies on a patterned rug, looking up with a calm, slightly sad expression, as if waiting at apron strings. A red toy is partially visible near its back.

Gizmo

A light-colored dog with dark markings lies curled up on a brown couch, resting its head on a patterned pillow in a cozy living room, as afternoon sun filters through large windows and apron strings hang nearby.

Ally

2 – Lonesome Dove – After the sad news of Robert Duvall’s passing, we decided to watch Lonesome Dove. We have not seen it since it came out in 1989 as a mini-series.

An older man wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, bandana, and suspenders—his apron strings tied neatly—stands outdoors against a clear blue sky, dressed in traditional Western clothing.

3 – Homemade Air Freshener – This weekend the house was a little stale, but it was too cool to open the windows (although I tried). I made a little simmer pot, but instead of warming it on the stove, I used my candle warmer with slices of oranges, lemons, limes, a few cranberries, and a shot of vanilla). Next time I think I will also add a cinnamon stick.

A glass bowl filled with water, orange slices, cranberries, and a lime sits under a lamp with a ribbed glass shade, casting Apron Strings hues that create a colorful, illuminated centerpiece on a dark surface.

4 – Estate Sales – I only got to go to one, but it was a pretty good one. I actually made 2 trips, and I almost went back a 3rd time.

A red sign on a lawn reads "Catdaddy Diggin' Estate Sales," featuring a cartoon cat in apron strings and a hat, holding a shovel. Several vehicles are parked on the gravel driveway in the background.

5 – An 80’s Skating Party for Evelyn’s 8th birthday – Complete with crimped hair and all! 🙂

Two girls roller skating indoors; one in a shiny purple outfit holds hands with the other girl in jeans, a red hoodie, and apron strings. Colorful lights and music notes decorate the lively skating rink in the background.

Surprisingly enough, they played some of the skating rink songs from when I was her age (Knock Three Times, The Locomotion, and a few more). I was surprised that they didn’t do the Hokey Pokey though. 🙂

A group of five people, including a young girl in a shiny purple outfit, pose for a selfie at a lively indoor event with decorated tables and other attendees—capturing the joy woven through their apron strings of family and friendship.

I hope you found some joy this weekend too. In the words of Gus McCrae (from Lonesome Dove),

“The only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things – like a sip of good whiskey in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself.”
Augustus McCrae, Lonesome Dove

I hope you find joy in something everyday this week!

The Top Links People Ask For

I feel like I share these links all of the time. However, when people have asked me for them, I have had a hard time finding them in a post or newsletter.

A collage features a floral Eiffel Tower mug on a warmer, a woman in an olive green loungewear set holding coffee, and a beige devotional book with a rose gold notebook on the table. Text: "Most Asked for Links." Cozy moments tied together like apron strings.

Upcoming Posts and Events

Posts

  • A Plan to Read the Book of Proverbs in March
  • Legacy Tours
  • Making a Family Recipe Book
  • When the missionaries came for dinner (the funny story & the recipe)
  • Gizmo’s Story
  • Granny Grace’s Tortilla Stew (This is a new handwritten recipe from her that I just found!)

Events

So many people ask me about the Bibles I am making for my grandchildren for their graduation, so I thought I would pull together a little webinar to show how to do them. This would be a free online event, either by Zoom or social media.

An open Bible with handwritten notes on life applications in the margins sits on a wooden table, decorated with greenery, gold candlesticks, and a pink ornament labeled “Joy.”.

I would love to see how many people are interested in joining me for this. If you would be interested, please let me know either by commenting below or emailing me at susan@homewithgraceandjoy.com.

I hope you will grab a Bible and join me.

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. 31
Apron Strings & Blessings – Vol. 29
Apron Strings & Blessings – Vol. 28
Apron Strings & Blessings – Vol. 27

I have enjoyed sharing this week! Have a great one, and enjoy every minute of it!

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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