Refresh | May Edition

On gardens and growing things

May is such a beautiful month! The vibrant green of new leaves and fresh grass chase away winter's dull brown, and perky blossoms sprinkle lovely colors everywhere. For those who garden, the warming earth and longer days fill us with eagerness to get into our plots, work the dormant soil, and begin planting row upon row of seeds and tiny transplants.

It's been said that "to plant a seed is a hopeful deed," and I know that to be true. Many things could go wrong between now and harvest, but we plant in faith because shrinking back in fear and not planting at all will guarantee no harvest. We learn and grow in skill and try to outsmart the critters, weather, and missing nutrients that could cost us our harvest. We can control many factors, but some things are beyond our power. Yet, we plant in hope, do our part, and trust God for the harvest. It's a little like life, isn't it?

These are my favorite tulips in the garden.

I hope you enjoy this special edition of the Refresh Newsletter. Pour yourself a cup of tea, pull up a chair, and let’s chat.

Nourishing Recipes

Rhubarb is one of those delightful, early plants that boldly declares, “Spring has come!” I've already done the first picking, and while that bunch was destined for rhubarb sauce to top ice cream, the next batch will probably go into the Anything Goes Muffins. If you're blessed with rhubarb in your garden or from a friend's supply, try these muffins – they are so delicious! 😊

The first rhubarb of the season!

Simplified Homemaking

Here's a little cleaning hack that works amazingly well for getting stains out of carpet or upholstery. You may need this trick up your sleeve this spring, especially if one of your children is growing some seeds indoors on his windowsill and his curious toddler brother comes along and dumps the contents of the container on your light-colored carpet, leaving behind a stubborn dirt stain. 😊 The trick? Barbasol Shaving Cream (other brands probably work just as well).

Just pump out a handful of shaving cream (one $1.97 can will last for a LONG time), rub it into the stain, wait a little while, then wash it away with a damp rag, rinsing the rag in warm water a few times. Usually, one application does the trick, but you can do a second round if needed. I have successfully removed many difficult stains through the years with this simple hack, and I hope you find it equally helpful!

These are pictures I took of some springtime blossoms and budding trees.

Biblical Encouragement

"As Christian homemakers, our highest goal is to glorify Christ in everything we do and say (1 Corinthians 10:31). Beyond that, we do what we do, all the caring and cleaning and cooking – all the stuff -  because of the people we love and have been called to nurture.

But as busy women with long lists of things that must be done, how often do we slip into thinking of the people we are making a home for as bothersome distractions from the important work? Amid all our responsibilities in creating a home, tending to relationships can feel like another task, easily sliding to the bottom of the list and too often getting bumped into the "maybe tomorrow" category.

Yet, a wise homemaker learns to prioritize people over performance because she understands that homemaking is not about creating a perfectly curated home that looks stunning in little Instagram squares.

Homemaking at its heart is about people, whether our family, friends or even strangers (1 Timothy 5:10; Hebrews 13:2). A biblical homemaker understands that building and nurturing relationships is the best and most valuable work of all.” Excerpted from The Homemaker's Heart: 5 Secrets for Building Thriving Relationships from the Virtuous Woman

Gratitude Prompt:

What are you most thankful for about spring? Why?

Quote of the Month:

"Wisdom is knowing what to do next. Skill is knowing how to do it. Virtue is doing it."

Thomas Jefferson

Small Business Shout Out

My sister-in-law, Kimberly, has some beautiful hymn printables for sale in her Etsy shop. This is a simple and lovely way to infuse hope and joy into your home by often reminding yourself of God's goodness, as expressed in song. Use the code CARA10 at checkout to take 10% off your order.

What I’m Reading this Month:

For most of my life, I didn't even really like gardening, let alone feel skilled at it, but that's been changing over the past few years. I've been reading through the book Joy of Gardening this spring and am implementing much of what I'm learning as I plant this year's garden. The author has many ideas that should make gardening less of a chore and more of a delight this year, and I recommend the book to all gardeners, especially if they are new to it.

This Month’s Conversation Spark: (a fun idea for what to talk about other than the weather!)

If you were to plant a garden this summer and could only grow one vegetable for the entire season, what would it be? (To read my answer, click through this email to Substack and find it in the comment section. I'm curious about your answer, so feel free to comment as well!).

Have a lovely day,

The inspiring Scripture Writing Plan, 31 Scriptures for Springtime, is available for my paid subscribers. It’s a lovely collection of passages that will draw your heart closer to Christ as you reflect on the promise of spring and eternal truths revealed through God’s creation. If you aren’t currently a paid subscriber, consider joining us today! It’s a way you can support my work as a writer, and there are fun bonuses like early access to each new Scripture Writing plan that I create.