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Apron Strings & Blessings Weekly Newsletter Vol. 40

Thanks for joining me for this week’s, “Apron Strings & Blessings.” Let’s take a look at a few 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!

It was another great weekend! We got to go to Waco to watch Caddie compete in the triple jump for track & field regionals. Although she did not advance to state, she set a new school record!

A young runner in a black athletic outfit stands outdoors, smiling at the camera after a race. Wearing bib 1124 and holding a white bag from Apron Strings, she is surrounded by other people and a building in the background.

We are really proud of this sweet young girl!

I hope this week is filled with many blessings for you. Be sure to let me know if you have specific prayer needs.

Faith

Mindset Reminders

I wanted to share a word and thought that keeps coming up in study and vocabulary – Mindset!

A red bulletin board bordered with zebra and leopard print highlights the Power of Yet, featuring motivational quotes on colorful backgrounds arranged in a scattered, overlapping pattern.
My School Office Bulletin Board

I was always big on mindset as a school counselor and shared the importance of it with my students on a regular basis. I even wrote a blogpost about it. If you have an interest in reading more about mindset, you can read about it here.

This weekend, I saw different ways to look at mindset.

  • In Sunday School, we were talking about noticing people and their needs when we are out and about. In my mind, I am usually focused on the task at hand. When that is my mindset, that is what I see. I do not even see the opportunities right in front of me. (This very thing really spoke to me when I read Titus.)
  • Jay is preaching through the book of Philippians, and we looked at Philippians 1:12-14 this week. Paul was writing from prison, and instead of being upset with his circumstances, he had a totally different mindset.
    • Paul had no privacy because he had guards around him 24/7 – he was even chained to them. Instead of seeing this as a burden, he saw it as having a full time audience!
    • Jay’s words, “One of the most important missionaries of the Church had been removed from the mission field but placed in another one.”
    • Because of this new mission, Paul reached many people for Christ, even many of the guards and beyond. The Lord had not removed Paul from the ministry. He simply had a new direction for him.
A top view of a cozy scene with a laptop for life applications, a cup of coffee, and a beige blanket. A Bible verse from Romans 8:28 is overlaid, reading: "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.

I am going to do better in keeping my mindset focused on the things of the Lord. Who is with me?

Latest Saturday Morning Devotional

Saturday’s Post – Mother’s Day through the Lens of Proverbs 31

Three smiling women, two younger and one older, pose closely for a selfie. Celebrating “Mothers Through the Lens of Proverbs 31.” Learn more at www.homewithgraceandjoy.com.
read it here

May’s Scripture

I chose this Scripture for May long before “Mindset” kept coming up. I guess that is confirmation.

A quote from Colossians 3:2 is displayed in white text on a beige background adorned with delicate flowers. It reads, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Subtle, abstract shapes enhance the background. A nod to Philippians 4 and the URL "www.homewithgraceandjoy.com" are at the bottom.

YouTube Scriptures

Several ants gather around and climb on a piece of bread lying on the ground, surrounded by dry twigs and brown forest debris, as if drawn together by invisible apron strings connecting them to nature’s offerings.

See the clip here

Home & Family

A New Recipe to Share – Chicken in its Own Gravy

There is a story that goes along with this one – The Day the Missionaries Came to Visit!

A bowl of chicken covered in creamy gravy sits on rice atop a checked cloth. Text reads “Chicken in its Own Gravy,” highlighting the latest recipe post from www.homewithgraceandjoy.com, on a split green and beige background.
get the recipe here

4 Ingredient Iced Coffee

I found a way to save money and still enjoy really great tasting iced coffee. I saw this on the “That 40 Year Old Guy” page and gave it a try. Delicious!!!

A hand holding a mason jar filled with a light brown drink in a cozy living room—carpeted floor, brick fireplace, shelves, TV, and hints of warmth that invite you to relax and unwind in the comfort of Apron Strings.

If you like iced coffee, you will love this. Add:

  • 2 T. Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 3 t. Instant Espresso Coffee (I love Cafe Bustelo!)
  • 2 oz. Room Temperature Water

Froth it all together. I can’t find the frother that I have, but this one is similar. If you are getting one, take note of the difference in battery operated ones and rechargeable ones. I have had a battery operated one for a while, but every time I try to use it, the batteries have run down on it. I finally got a rechargeable one and love it!

  • Next, add ice to your cup.
  • Fill the rest of the cup with half and half or milk.
  • Stir well.
A hand holds a white ice cube tray filled with dark liquid cubes next to a vintage white and blue CorningWare percolator on a green potholder, capturing the cozy, nostalgic feel of life lived close to the Apron Strings.

Enjoy!

TIP: I have been freezing leftover coffee in ice trays. That is what I use for my ice. Now when it melts, it doesn’t get watery!

May’s Monthly Menu

Quick and Easy Meal Ideas for May

A collage with “Quick and Easy Menu Ideas for May” shows plates of food: tacos with rice and chips, shrimp pasta, and steak topped with mushrooms—perfect inspiration if you loved our Quick and Easy Monthly Menu for March. Website: homewithgraceandjoy.com.
click here to see the menu

This Week’s Menu

Favorite Walmart Items This Week

The Top Amazon Links

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 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.
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.

You can see my favorite items that are on sale, with a few others at my Amazon storefront. See the link below to check them out.

Amazon storefront

This is interesting – my Amazon storefront shows in real time the trending picks from all of you! The outfit is one of them, but I am surprised by the last one.

Upcoming Posts

  • A Fun Healthy Meal with Foil Packets
  • Legacy Tours
  • Gizmo’s Story
  • Stacked Enchiladas Recipe

I am also working on a devotional/recipe book. It is coming together nicely. The ebook will include dessert recipes with a devotional to go with each one. I will keep you posted.

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. 41
Apron Strings & Blessings – Vol. 39
Apron Strings & Blessings – Vol. 37
Apron Strings & Blessings – Vol. 36

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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