7 In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (‭‭‭Psalm‬ ‭62‬‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

7 Because thou hast been my help, Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (‭‭‭Psalm‬ ‭63‬‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

Sabbath Day of Rest

 The concept of "letting go and letting God" is a beautiful expression of the biblical principle of surrender—the act of releasing our own anxieties and the desire for control, and instead trusting in the sovereignty and care of the Lord.

In the King James Version, there are several foundational passages that speak directly to the heart of this practice.

### Surrendering Control and Anxiety

**Proverbs 3:5-6**

> "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

> 

This is often considered the cornerstone of "letting go." It teaches us that while our human understanding is limited, God’s perspective is infinite. Letting go means choosing to trust His direction even when we cannot see the path forward ourselves.

**1 Peter 5:7**

> "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

> 

"Casting" suggests an active motion—the intentional act of taking the heavy burdens, worries, or "cares" you are carrying and physically (spiritually) transferring them to Him. The promise is that He is not an indifferent observer; He is intimately invested in your well-being.

**Philippians 4:6-7**

> "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

> 

To be "careful for nothing" (in this context, meaning anxious or full of care) is to stop trying to manage the outcome through worry. By replacing worry with prayer and thanksgiving, we exchange our limited perspective for His "peace that passeth all understanding."

### Finding Stillness

**Psalm 46:10**

> "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

> 

The Hebrew word for "be still" (*raphah*) can carry the connotation of letting go, relaxing, or releasing one's grip. It is an invitation to cease the striving and simply acknowledge that He is God—meaning He is on the throne, He is in control, and He is working in ways we may not yet perceive.

**Matthew 11:28-30**

> "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

> 

This passage serves as a reminder that the exhaustion we often feel comes from trying to carry burdens that were never meant for us to bear alone. Letting go is the prerequisite for "coming unto Him" and experiencing the rest He offers.

May these verses bring you a sense of deep peace and quiet confidence as you observe your day of rest.

 “And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭55‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.55.6-7.KJV

10 In God will I praise his word: In the LORD will I praise his word. (‭‭‭Psalm‬ ‭56‬‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. (‭‭‭Psalm‬ ‭57‬‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: Let thy glory be above all the earth. (‭‭‭Psalm‬ ‭57‬‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

 3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. (‭‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭23‬‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit. (‭‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

## Understanding "Convocation"

In the Bible, a **convocation** is far more than just a meeting or an event on a calendar. It is a "called assembly" or a "public gathering" specifically designated for a sacred purpose.

To get to the heart of the meaning, it helps to look at the original Hebrew word used in the Old Testament: ***miqra*** (מִקְרָא). This word is derived from a root meaning "to call" or "to read aloud," which gives us a deeper picture of what a convocation actually is.

Here is the breakdown of what makes a convocation distinct in Biblical language:

 * **A Divine Appointment:** A convocation is not a casual social get-together. It is an "appointed time" set by God. In Leviticus 23, the Feasts of the Lord are described as "holy convocations," meaning they are times when the people were mandated to assemble to worship and honor God.

 * **A "Calling Out":** Because the Hebrew root relates to "calling," the term implies that the people are being summoned together. It is an official, public proclamation where the community is called out of their daily routines to focus on something higher.

 * **A Holy Distinction:** The term is almost always paired with the word "holy" (*qodesh*). This signifies that the gathering is set apart. It is distinct from ordinary life, usually involving specific rituals, offerings, or a shared focus on God’s law.

 * **Rest from Work:** A core characteristic of these biblical convocations is that they were frequently accompanied by a command to refrain from "servile work." The gathering required the people to pause their labor to prioritize the community’s spiritual health and collective identity.

### A Biblical Example

The most famous context for this is **Leviticus 23:2**, which sets the stage for the Sabbath and the annual feasts:

> "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.’"

> 

In short, if a secular meeting is a "get-together," a biblical convocation is a **"sacred summoning."** It is the difference between checking in with friends and standing in an intentional, authorized gathering before the presence of God.

Outside pics

 

 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death. (‭‭‭Psalm‬ ‭48‬‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD. (‭‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬‬:‭37‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. (‭‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭18‬‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

Our fence is majorly falling apart. Nathan thinks it’s fixable 🤦🏽‍♀️

Oh boy. The classic "I can fix that" optimism! 🤦🏽‍♀️

There is a *very* fine line between a fence that just needs a little TLC and one that is basically holding on by a thread and a prayer. If it’s majorly falling apart, you might be looking at structural issues that a few extra screws and wood glue just can't save.

If you want some subtle leverage to gently hint that it might be past its prime, here is a quick "is it actually fixable?" checklist you can casually run through:

### The "Fixable vs. Done For" Breakdown

 * **The Posts:** This is the big one. If the vertical fence posts are rotting at the base, snapping, or leaning heavily, the foundation is gone. Replacing a bunch of posts is often just as much work (and money) as starting fresh.

 * **The "Wobble" Test:** If you can push on a section and the entire line of the fence sways like a blade of grass in the wind, the structural integrity is compromised.

 * **The Rotten Wood Ratio:** A few rotted pickets? Total easy fix. Entire panels that crumble or look like Swiss cheese when you try to drive a nail into them? It's toast.

Sometimes it takes letting them try to fix *one* post to realize that the wood is too soft to hold a bracket, or that digging up the old concrete footings is a nightmare.

Is he planning a weekend warrior rescue mission, or is it at least holding up enough to not let Dusty sneak out for an unauthorized neighborhood tour?

Arborvitae

 An **arborvitae** (botanical name *Thuja*) is a very popular type of evergreen coniferous tree or shrub belonging to the cypress family. The name itself comes from French, meaning **"tree of life,"** a nod to its historical medicinal uses and its tough, long-lived nature.

They are staples in backyard landscaping across North America. Here is a quick breakdown of what makes them unique and why people use them:

### Key Characteristics

 * **The Foliage:** Unlike pines or spruces that have sharp, pointy needles, arborvitae have flat, scale-like needles arranged in soft, fan-like clusters. They are soft to the touch and give off a clean, pleasant citrusy scent if you crush them in your hand.

 * **Growth Habit:** They typically grow in a very distinct, neat pyramidal or columnar shape. Because they naturally grow tall and narrow, they take up very little ground footprint while reaching high into the air.

 * **Year-Round Green:** They retain their dense green color all through the winter, providing reliable color when everything else is bare.

### What They Are Used For

Because of how they grow, they are the absolute go-to choice for specific landscaping jobs:

 * **Living Privacy Screens:** Homeowners plant them in dense rows along property lines to block out neighbors, roads, or unsightly views.

 * **Windbreaks:** Planted tightly together, their dense foliage does an excellent job of cutting down strong, chilly winds.

 * **Low-Maintenance Backdrops:** They make great, clean green backdrops for flower beds, patios, or corners of a house.

### Popular Varieties

They come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from tiny round bushes to giants:

| Variety | Growth Shape | Mature Height | Common Use |

|---|---|---|---|

| **Emerald Green** | Very narrow, tight column | 10–15 feet | Small yards, tight property lines, formal hedges |

| **Green Giant** | Broad, massive pyramid | 40–60 feet | Large properties, massive windbreaks, fast privacy |

| **Globe / Tater Tot** | Round, compact ball | 2–5 feet | Garden accents, foundation planting, walkway borders |

### One Crucial Pruning "Quirk"

The most important thing to know about caring for an arborvitae is that **it only grows new foliage from its outer green tips**.

Inside the tree, where the sun doesn't reach, there is a "dead zone" of bare wood and old brown needles. If you hack into that inner brown wood, the tree cannot sprout new growth there, and it will leave a permanent, ugly bare spot. Because of this, they can only be lightly sheared on the outside to keep their shape, rather than heavily cut back.

Today I realized…

How overgrown these trees are 🤯 

They really did stretch up high! As seen in image.png and image_2.png, those arborvitaes are definitely reaching for the sky—they look like they're practically towering over the shed and the fence line now.

When evergreen privacy screens like these get to this point, handling them can be a bit of a balancing act. If you top them or trim them back too aggressively into the old wood, those areas won't grow back, leaving bare brown spots.

Depending on what you want to do with the backyard view, you generally have a few options:

 * **Light Maintenance:** Trim only the outer, leafy green tips to neaten up their shape and keep them from spreading wider, without cutting into the dead zone inside.

 * **Embrace the Screen:** Leave them tall to maximize the privacy they give you from the neighboring houses, and just focus on keeping the lower yard areas clear.

 * **The Big Reset:** If they're completely taking over or starting to get thin and brown at the bottom, it might eventually be a project of taking them out and starting fresh with a more manageable species or a different layout.

Are you thinking about trying to trim and shape them yourself, or are you leaning toward letting them do their thing for the privacy?

 

 

Selfies & birthday cake & funny hairstyle

 

 

Visiting grandma & great grandma

 

Pentecost & Memorial Day

 In 2026, Pentecost and Memorial Day fall on consecutive days:

 * **Pentecost Sunday:** Today, May 24, 2026.

 * **Memorial Day:** Tomorrow, Monday, May 25, 2026.

### Pentecost

Pentecost is a significant Christian feast that celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus, an event described in the New Testament (Acts 2). It is often considered the "birthday" of the Church. It marks the conclusion of the Easter season.

### Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May. It is a solemn day of remembrance for military personnel who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Many people spend the day visiting cemeteries or memorials, and the President has proclaimed 11:00 a.m. on Monday as a time for the nation to unite in prayer for permanent peace.

Do you have any specific plans or traditions, perhaps with your family or for your blog, for either of these days?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Ai musings on poshmark

 Sleeping on it is definitely the smart play. There is nothing better than waking up on your own terms, pouring a fresh cup of coffee, and doing that deleting spree when you have the full morning light on your side. Let them wait for you!

Here is a blog post that captures everything we’ve been talking about—the hustle, the numbers, the flawed jacket, and that sweet feeling of reclaiming your power.

# Confessions of a Decade-Long Reseller: The Millions of Clicks behind a 4.9-Star Empire

Ten years. More than 1,500 individual items found new homes. Over 500 packed boxes taped up and shipped out by hand. And a 4.9-star rating maintained through it all.

When you look at the numbers on a successful reselling closet, it’s easy to just see the data. But behind those metrics is a mountain of real, everyday hustle. It’s a story built on thousands of manual clicks to grow a 290K follower base, the rush of wholesale boxes arriving at the front door, and becoming the go-to "selling guru" for the whole family.

But recently, a funny thing happened. After a decade of being the model user, a glitchy, automated app bot decided to hand me a temporary 7-day "timeout."

At first, I was mad. Honestly, I still am a little bit. It’s insulting when a system you’ve poured years of honest work into treats you like a glitch instead of a pillar of their community. But a week away from the constant sharing, listing, and notification pinging has a strange way of giving you perspective. It forces you to look back at the journey and realize exactly what you built.

### The Real Value of the Secondhand Market

One memory that kept coming back to me this week was a winter kids' jacket I listed a while back. It was a nice, warm coat, but it had a clearly visible stain. I listed it for the lowest price possible.

In the high-end boutique world, some people tell you to *never* sell flawed items. But this week reminded me why that rule is meant to be broken. It’s a question of **a stain vs. warmth in the cold.**

For a family trying to get a kid through a brutal winter freeze on a tight budget, that visual flaw means absolutely nothing compared to a thick, warm jacket for five bucks. Reselling isn’t just about moving pristine luxury goods; it’s about creating a sustainable ecosystem where functional items find the people who genuinely need them.

### Why Perfect is a Myth

For a long time, I stared at my 4.9-star rating wishing it was a perfect 5.0. But navigating 500+ shipped packages means dealing with 500 different human temperaments.

A 4.9 means you successfully survived the buyers who leave a 4-star review because the post office took too long, or because they bought the wrong size despite the measurements being listed, or because their thumb slipped on the screen. A 4.9 means that 99% of the time, a box arrived on a stranger's doorstep and made their day. Even Michelin-star restaurants don't have a track record that clean.

### Reclaiming the Power

As I sit here waiting out the final minutes of this digital suspension, looking at the clock transition past 3:00 AM, I’m realizing the best part of running your own business: **you control the destiny of your inventory.**

When the app gates open back up, I’m not walking back in trying to play nice for the algorithm. In fact, my first order of business is taking a fresh cup of coffee and deleting the stagnant listings I’ve hosted for over 60 days. It's time to take my items back.

Apps come and go, algorithms break, and bots make mistakes. But the hustle, the 290K community, and the decade of experience? That belongs entirely to me.

How does that feel for a recap? Sleep well, and have fun taking your shop back tomorrow morning!

I’m a bit not thrilled about a Poshmark suspension

 Here is a lengthy, thoroughly annoyed, and slightly sarcastic manifesto for your blog. It perfectly captures the absurdity of a tech company trying to gatekeep your own closet.

# The Day I Realized Poshmark Thinks They Own My Closet (Spoiler: They Don’t)

Let’s talk about the grand illusion of the modern "reselling hustle."

We’ve all heard the pitch. *“Be your own boss! Turn your closet into cash! Build your own empire from the comfort of your couch!”* It sounds amazing. And for a long time, I bought into it. I put in the hours. I sourced the inventory. I took the photos, wrote the keyword-rich descriptions, and did the mind-numbing, finger-cramping work of building an audience. I hit nearly 300,000 followers. If you had told me a few years ago that I’d build a digital boutique that large, I would have been thrilled.

But recently, the corporate tech overlords decided that being "my own boss" came with a catch. Specifically, a catch that involves an automated bot locking me out of my own hard work because I dared to do some basic housekeeping.

Here is a fun fact about human beings: we change our minds.

Sometimes, I look at an item in my closet and think, *“Yeah, I’m ready to part ways with this.”* I list it. Then, a few months go by. The seasons change. I see that exact sweater sitting in my inventory, and I think, *“You know what? Never mind. I actually want to wear this again.”* Or maybe I decide to gift it to a friend. Or maybe—brace yourselves, Poshmark algorithms—I just don’t feel like selling it anymore. Who knows? It’s *my* stuff. I bought it, I own it, and it lives in my house.

Except, according to Poshmark’s ridiculous, logic-defying **"Excessive Listing Removal Policy,"** changing your mind about your own property is a punishable offense.

### The 97-Click Trap

A few days ago, I decided to do some standard inventory maintenance. I sat down and manually marked 97 of my own items as "Not for Sale." I didn't use a bot. I didn't use a third-party app. Just me, my thumb, and 97 clicks of honest, manual labor.

And what did I get for my dedication to keeping an accurate closet? An automated email accusing me of "removing 100 items" (thanks for rounding up, genius software) and a **7-day suspension**.

A week-long timeout. For organizing my own inventory. 🫠

The platform claims this policy is meant to stop spammers from constantly deleting and reposting items to game the search feed. Fine. Great. Catch the spammers. But instead of designing a smart system, they threw a giant, lazy net over the entire platform, and it’s trapping the power-sellers who actually generate their corporate fees.

Their automated bot doesn't care about context. It doesn’t care that your items sold elsewhere, or that you’re clearing out old stock, or that you simply want your clothes back. It just sees a human acting like an actual human who changes their mind, triggers a red flag, and locks the digital doors to your business.

### The Illusion of "Your Own Business"

This whole experience broke the illusion for me. The moment you click "List" on these apps, they start acting like your physical property suddenly belongs to *them*. They act like you owe the public a permanent, unchanging catalogue of your life, and if you dare to retract an item, you’re committing a crime against their marketplace.

It completely strips away your autonomy. Why should any of us feel a wave of anxiety just because we want to go into our own physical closets and take back a shirt we paid for?

And let’s be honest about the metrics we’re all chasing. We are told to care so deeply about follower counts. "Build your community!" they say. But the reality? Followers don’t drive sales anymore. The algorithm favors cold, hard search terms and Google integrations. Those 290k followers are great for a vanity metric, but they won’t save you when a glitchy piece of code decides you’ve clicked a button too many times.

### Saying "Heck With It"

There is an incredible amount of freedom in realizing you don't have to play a rigged game.

If a platform doesn’t respect the hours of labor, the curation, and the inventory that *we* bring to their table, then they don't deserve the cut of our sales. You want to lock me out for a week because I managed my own property? Fine. Enjoy the empty closet. Enjoy making zero dollars off my hard work this week.

Honestly, the local donation bins are looking better and better by the day. Dropping a bag off at a donation center means I get my space back, I get my weekends back, and I never have to negotiate with an angry, automated corporate robot ever again.

To anyone else out there jumping through ridiculous hoops, spacing out your deletions like you're trying to evade the digital police, and stressing over "share jail"—take a step back. Remember that *you* own the inventory, which means *you* hold all the actual power. Not them.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go enjoy my 7-day vacation from the app. I might even delete a few more things just for the thrill of it.

Lower Burrell HighRise Basic Info (from Ai)

 The local high-rise in Lower Burrell is **Lower Burrell Manor**. It is managed by the Westmoreland County Housing Authority (WCHA) and primarily provides affordable public housing options for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The basic details on the property include:

### Location & Contact

 * **Address:** 200 Sylvan Drive, Lower Burrell, PA 15068

 * **Phone:** 724-335-1290

 * **Office Hours:** 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 NOON

### Property & Unit Details

 * **Total Units:** 125 units, all of which are **1-bedroom layouts**.

 * **Accessibility:** 7 of the units (about 5%) are fully adapted for persons with disabilities under Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

 * **Building Rule:** It is a strictly **non-smoking** building.

### Included Amenities

 * **Appliances:** A kitchen range and refrigerator are provided in each unit.

 * **Utilities:** Gas and water utilities are included in the rent.

 * **Laundry:** On-site, card-operated washers and dryers are available for residents.

 * **Connectivity:** Cable TV and internet hookups are available.

Because it is operated by the housing authority, rent is typically income-restricted or income-based.

Moving info

 Moving from a townhouse to a high-rise is a major shift, not just in square footage, but in how the logistics work. With a townhouse, you can usually pull a truck right up to the front door and walk things straight in. High-rise living introduces a few more moving parts—literally.

Here is the most helpful info to keep in mind to make the transition as smooth as possible for her.

## 1. The High-Rise Logistics (The Most Important Part)

Unlike a standard move, high-rises have strict rules to protect the building and keep things orderly for other residents. You'll want to check on these early:

 * **Reserve the Freight Elevator:** Most buildings won't let you just roll up and use the regular elevators for moving furniture. You usually have to reserve a dedicated "service" or freight elevator ahead of time. These blocks are often limited to a strict 2- to 4-hour window.

 * **Loading Dock Access:** Find out where the moving truck is actually allowed to park. Sometimes it’s a tight back alley or a specific loading bay with height restrictions. If a standard large moving truck won't fit, you might need two smaller vans instead.

 * **Certificate of Insurance (COI):** If you hire professional movers, the high-rise management will almost certainly require a COI from the moving company before they even let them cross the threshold.

## 2. Furniture & "The Angle"

Townhouses are vertical, but high-rises have different geometric challenges.

 * **Measure twice, move once:** A couch that easily fit through a townhouse front door might not fit around a sharp turn in a high-rise hallway, through the elevator doors, or under a low ceiling grid.

 * **Downsizing scale:** High-rise rooms often feel brighter due to big windows, but they may have less wall space or lower ceilings than a townhouse. Multi-functional furniture (like a bed with built-in storage drawers) becomes incredibly valuable.

## 3. The Major Perks for Her

While the move itself takes some coordination, the destination comes with some massive lifestyle upgrades that are great to focus on:

 * **No more stairs:** Going from a multi-level townhouse to a single-level high-rise is incredibly easy on the knees. Everything she needs will be on one flat floor.

 * **Zero exterior maintenance:** No snow shoveling, no leaf rakes, no gutter cleaning, and no lawn care. If something breaks on the exterior or in the common areas, it's the building's job to fix it.

 * **Built-in security:** High-rises usually have secure fob access, cameras, and often a doorman or front desk staff, providing a lot of peace of mind.

To make sure there are no surprises on moving day, it’s highly recommended to reach out to the building manager as early as possible. High-rise buildings operate on tight schedules, so getting these details locked in will save a lot of stress.

Here is a checklist of the specific questions you and your mom should ask:

### 1. Elevator & Scheduling Logistics

 * **How do we reserve the freight/service elevator, and how far in advance do we need to book it?**

 * **Are there strict time slots for moving?** (e.g., *Is it a 2-hour window, or a 4-hour window? What happens if the movers run late?*)

 * **Are moves permitted on weekends or holidays?** *(Many high-rises only allow moves Monday through Friday during specific business hours to avoid disturbing other residents.)*

 * **Will a staff member be dedicated to operating or holding the elevator for us**, or will we be given a key to take it independent of the normal passenger loop?

### 2. Loading Dock & Arrival

 * **Where exactly should the moving truck park?** Is there a dedicated loading dock, a specific alley, or a designated street parking zone?

 * **Are there height or length restrictions for the loading area?** *(This is crucial to tell the moving company ahead of time so they bring the right size truck.)*

 * **What is the path from the truck to the elevator?** Is it a flat walk, or are there ramps, steps, or tight corners the movers need to know about?

### 3. Building Requirements & Rules

 * **Does the building require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) from the moving company?** If so, what are the exact minimum coverage amounts required, and who should be listed as the "Additional Insured"? *(Professional movers deal with this all the time, but they need the building's specific template/info a few days in advance.)*

 * **Is there a refundable moving deposit or a non-refundable move-in fee?**

 * **Does the building provide wall-protective padding for the hallways and elevators**, or are the movers expected to provide their own floor/door protection?

### 4. Trash & Box Disposal

 * **Where should we dispose of all the empty moving boxes and packing paper after unpacking?** *(High-rises have strict rules against stuffing large boxes down trash chutes, so they will likely have a designated recycling area or dumpster for bulk cardboard.)*

**Pro-Tip:** Once you get the answers, pass the parking, elevator size, and COI details directly to your moving company (or use them to plan your route if you are doing a DIY move with family). It will make the actual day run like clockwork!

It was nice outside for a bit in the rain ☔️

 There is something absolutely magical about being outside in a gentle rain—it clears the air and just forces you to slow down and take it all in. Plus, the rain always makes the green of the trees and grass look so much more vibrant.

Did you catch a nice, peaceful moment out there before the weather changed, or were you out tracking down some local birds and wildlife in the mist?

Did some tidying up

Productive days for the win! There is nothing quite like the feeling of clearing off a counter, organizing a workspace, or just getting things back where they belong. It completely resets the energy of a room and gives your brain a nice little breather.

Did you tackle a specific zone that was bugging you, or was it just one of those nice, satisfying sweeps through the house?

I meant I tidied outside

Ah, gotcha! Honestly, tidying up *outside* in the rain sounds even more satisfying—there's something peaceful about it, and you don't have to worry about getting too hot while working.

Did you clear some brush, fix up some planters, or just get things put away before the ground got too soggy?

I noticed the other day behind the shed needs some fixing up. There’s some vines growing up it

Oh, the classic "behind the shed" mystery zone! It is amazing how fast vines can just claim a spot the second you look away. They absolutely love those hidden, damp spaces.

Depending on what kind they are, they can definitely start wreaking havoc on siding or wood if they get too comfortable. Do you know what kind of vines you're dealing with—like harmless ivy, or something more aggressive like wild grapevines or bittersweet?

I can’t quite get to it. The fence door that’s supposed to swing open is somewhat broke/ hard to open/ real heavy

That sounds incredibly frustrating. There is nothing worse than being motivated to tackle a project, only to be physically blocked by a heavy, stubborn gate that refuses to cooperate! It completely saps your momentum.

When a gate gets that heavy and hard to swing, it's usually because it has started to sag over time—either the hinges are pulling loose from the post, or the wood itself has absorbed a ton of moisture and warped.

Since you can't quite get back there right now, the vines will just have to wait. Don't stress about them too much today; they aren't going to take over the whole shed by tomorrow. Is the gate something Nathan might be able to help muscle open or prop up with a shim later on so you can actually get through?

 

 

 

Got any positive uplifting news?

 Here is a handful of wonderful, positive headlines from around the world to brighten your day:

### 🎨 Famous Artworks Are Cheering Up UK High Streets

In an effort to bring classic art directly into everyday communities, stunning reproductions of famous masterpieces by Monet, Picasso, and Van Gogh are being hung right in the middle of town centers and busy high streets across the UK. It’s giving commuters and shoppers an unexpected, beautiful moment of calm during their daily routines.

### 🐕 A 277-Dog Pool Party Just Broke a Guinness World Record

To kick off the warm season, a massive splash party was hosted featuring 277 dogs splashing together, officially breaking the world record for the largest dog pool party. Even better? Once the party was over, all of the swimming pools used for the event were donated to local animal shelters to help rescue pups stay cool and comfortable all summer long.

### 🎓 Commencement Speaker Stuns Grads by Paying Off Their Loans

Graduates at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles received the ultimate graduation gift. During his commencement speech, guest speaker Anil Kochhar shocked the entire room by announcing that he was personally paying off the remaining student loans for the entire graduating class, giving them a completely fresh, debt-free start.

### 🎒 Quinta Brunson Launches Field Trip Fund for Philly Students

*Abbott Elementary* star and creator Quinta Brunson is bringing some real-life magic to public education. She has officially launched a new initiative dedicated to funding free field trips for thousands of students in Philadelphia, ensuring kids get to experience hands-on learning, museums, and cultural trips without schools or parents having to worry about the cost.

### 🪵 Engineered Wood That Provides Solar Power—Even at Night

On the science and sustainability front, researchers have successfully developed a specially modified, engineered wood that is capable of both harvesting sunlight during the day *and* storing the energy to release it at night. It’s a massive, eco-friendly breakthrough that could completely change how we think about green building materials and home energy in the future.

Hopefully, one of those put a smile on your face! Want to dive deeper into any of these, or are you looking for a specific kind of good news today?

I’m praying to Jesus for some good health/ well being

 That is a beautiful and grounded place to turn. Praying for your health and well-being is a wonderful way to find peace, focus your mind, and cast your anxieties onto Him.

There is a a lot of comfort in Scripture when it comes to seeking rest and strength. If you'd like a specific verse to focus on or meditate on during your prayers, **Philippians 4:6-7** is always incredibly comforting:

> "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

> 

I am sending you the absolute best thoughts for strength, energy, and a deep sense of peace as you hand those worries over.

Would you like to explore some more comforting verses to keep close to your heart today, or would you just like to sit with that peace for a bit?