Hope Springs Eternal

As Easter, springtime and warm weather draw ever closer, I find myself seeking a renewed sense of hope in the day-to-day routines. This is the time of year when the chill gray of winter really begins to drain my spirit and the seemingly never-ending cycle of snow and ice becomes almost unbearable. Even after 10+ years in the Midwest (what?!? hard to believe it's been that long), this is a unique sensation for one who is accustomed to seeing the tender shoots of spring by mid-March, if not late February. Even Georgia has had its share of winter this year, but spring will still visit there first!

Nonetheless, March is here and with it comes the assurance of new life. It is not without reason that Easter falls in the calendar year alongside the seasonal shift that brings new life to the landscape. These thoughts of renewal and anticipation accompany my calendar design for the month of March. It can be easy to lose sight of our eternal Hope when the world around us seems dark and buried in sin. But what an assurance to know that we can trust, without doubt, the unfailing love of our Lord as displayed in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, that we might have new life. Though the seasons may become wearisome from one year to the next, they remind us that "hope springs eternal"*, that life has come from death and, someday, death will be no more.

So, as you go through the next few weeks, let this calendar encourage and inspire you to live in that hope!

March Desktop Calendar

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"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

*Alexandar Pope, An Essay on Man

Coffee Rituals

Yesterday, I read Kathleen Norris's essay The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy, and Women's Work. I had no idea when I started reading how apt it would be for my mood these days. It was actually a gift for someone else (someone who I think may not mind that I read it first), but as it has been on my list for a while I couldn't help starting in on it as soon as it arrived. It's a short work (approx. 100 pages) and a fast read. And just what I needed to hear.

As a homemaker, there are things about life that tend to repeat themselves day after day: dirty laundry, dirty floors, dirty dishes. This is a dirty world we live in. The day in and day out drudgery of repetitive housework can become quite a downer, if you let it. Norris, in her poetic and timely words, expresses the alternative to the spiritual ennui that may attend these quotidian duties. Allowing these rituals to be sanctified and sanctifying is God's intent for our days. Getting up every morning to change diapers, prepare breakfast, feed the dog, take out the trash -- these tasks are, at their root, God's work. Just as much as the priestly ritual of serving communion. The mystery is that He is using these daily rituals to transform not only us, but this entire world. Not to go too Postmillenial on you, but I firmly believe that my next load of laundry brings us one step closer to the new heavens and the new earth. Makes quite a different picture of the day when you think of it that way.

And yet, it is still so easy to forget. In the midst of the bedmaking and dishwashing, it is easy to go numb, let your mind go blank -- or worse, consider the endless to-do list yet to be accomplished. Norris, and indeed Christ, invites us to commune with God during these times. To let the task become a meditation on His faithfulness: that even as the snow and ice covered world outside my kitchen window appears to be hopelessly lost to cold weather, there is yet a springtime revival in sight. Hope is not lost, if only the dishes might be clean once more and returned to their cupboard for the next day's cleaning. And we are reminded that in His kingdom we shall be clean, once for all -- because Christ's sacrifice was once for all.

So, as I drink my first cup of coffee this morning (a daily ritual since college), I am encouraged to begin anew, just as He has chosen to give us a new day to begin. And I can say with Jeremiah:

"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

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In providential correlation with reading The Quotidian Mysteries, I have also happened upon this blog series regarding the importance of the Levitical woman: http://www.winceandsing.com/blog/2015/02/17/just-like-a-woman-but-what-is-a-woman/. A very interesting read and so relevant to the conversation that Norris has begun in my head!

Pantone Color of the Year: Marsala

I don't generally think of myself as a pink-wearing kinda lady (just never thought it worked with my skin-tone), but this is a color I can hop on board with. It has just enough browny-red to compensate for the lighter value and, although this makes it somewhat tricky to duplicate, I could definitely see how it could work well with my wardrobe in the coming months. What I really like is the colors it pairs well with, as shown below: a pale, robin's egg blue, bright "celery" green, and a peachy nude. Although the color may seem like it would be best suited for fall or winter, adding these light hues brightens it up and brings it into spring.

So, without further ado, here are some Marsala-themed mood boards to inspire you to incorporate Pantone's pick into your life! 

Marsala for the Home

Colored glass lamp base / Jaipur Rugs rug / Surya red throw blanket / Round beveled mirror / Home decor / Red wall art / Red home accessory / Houndstooth throw pillow / Upholstered furniture / Storage table

Although this is not a sponsored post, I noticed that all of these items are available for purchase from LampsPlus.com. Maybe I need to consider shopping there for future home decor purchases!

Up next, Marsala fashion picks... the color is a little harder to identify with so many variants in the shade, so terms like "rose", "mauve" and "maroon" came into play with this search. The color looks fantastic with gold, nude tones and pale blue-greens, so I added a coordinating items in there to showcase that.

Wearing Marsala

Burgundy dress / Toast linen top, $89 / George J. Love leather pumps / Suzanne Kalan yellow gold pave ring / Kendra Scott bib statement necklace / Swarovski green jewelry / Uzerai Edits blue topaz jewelry / Ted Baker hinged bracelet, $44 / Motif 56 elastic leather belt / Front Row Society multi colored scarve / GlassesUSA rectangular sunglasses / Jamberry Nail Wraps

Here's the one "marsala"-esque piece I've added to my wardrobe thus far. Thanks for catching on to the trend, Walmart! ;)

Walmart - In Stores Only