The Housewife Journal ~ May ~

~ May ~

The hummingbirds are back, the garden is growing, and the sun is shining longer; Spring is here! We've been busy with all the life milestones of weddings, graduations, and baby showers! May is also the month of Mary, and this month I feel she is reaching out to me with an invitation to know her better. 

~ Out And About ~

 

Jonathan and I decided to take a little one night vacation in Charleston, SC since we would already be in the state for my niece's graduation. He gave me the task of planning the whole thing! So I came up with an itinerary for one night and one day. Because we had to go to Mass and drive back on Sunday, it was more like 3/4 of a day, but that's ok! It was still a fun adventure to a place neither of us had been before! The photo above is from Middleton Place Plantation which we saw on our trip!

~ In The Home ~

I hosted a baby sprinkle for my sister, since she's having a boy this go around! It was the first big party I've hosted in my home, complete with invitations and taking on the bulk of the planning. I thought it went well! Honestly, the home projects I decided to do before the party were way more work than the actual planning of the sprinkle was. I 1. cleared out a whole back bedroom (most of this was already done since we moved my husband's office out), organized the closet and our book collection, painted the walls and the trim, and hung valances. It is a project I am so happy to be finished with. Painting walls is not my favorite task. Thankfully my youngest sister helped me so it wasn't too bad!

2. Painted four rocking chairs for our front porch. That was a lot of work, more than I anticipated. Thankfully Jonathan helped me finish those two days before the sprinkle😬 I was also going to make cushions for the outdoor furniture but...I ran out of time. That will be my next sewing project for sure!

Here are some photos from the Blueberry Baby Sprinkle:

~ Kitchen Happenings ~

Strawberry season! I was able to go strawberry picking with my old nanny family which was so sweet. The strawberries weren't the best (as you can see...) I think it's because it's the last of the season

or maybe the field we went to was just over-picked. But it's all about the experience! I am happy to say I've found a recipe for strawberry lemonade, that tastes like the one Urban Cookhouse makes! I've linked it here! 

~ Things I'm Grateful For ~

I'm grateful for the cooler mornings and evenings we've had this month. They're pretty much gone at this point, (except today, June 3rd we had a beautiful cool morning) but in early-mid May, it has been lovely to leave the back door open for the cat or just air out the house with the AC turned off. So grateful for the transition seasons!

~ On The Bookshelf ~ 

I finished The Connected Child and moved on to True Devotion to Mary by Louis de Montfort. It's perfectly fitting for this month! Although I've done the Marian consecration before, I never truly understood with devotion to Mary looks like. This book is helping me! Divine Intimacy is also full of Marian themes this month which I've been loving!!

~ Other Random Things Worth Mentioning ~

We're about to complete our home study!😁 This journey so far has been so informative and eye opening. I wanted to reflect a little on just how much I've grown. Before the home study process began, I knew virtually nothing about adoption, domestic and international alike. We've learned all about the process, but also about the children who need homes. The tragedy of orphanages, the real world effects of a child not having consistent physical touch, eye contact, and care. We've been presented with real children to consider, way earlier than we expected. We've had to say no and it was really really hard. But through this process so far, my heart has grown. I've gone from only desiring a perfectly healthy infant to desiring to help a child who may need a little more attention. I've learned how selfish I am and how looks matter to me more than I'd like. I have a long way to go. But ultimately, I'm happy where God has placed me and I can't wait to see where else Jonathan and I will go!

Next time I write, I think it's safe to say it will be Summer! Talk to you in June! 

Gina💕