Helllloooo February 2026

As I am updating my blog (behind the scenes) I decided not to wait any longer to post.

We have had a long cold snowy winter here in our state. Thank goodness the snow has decided to stop for a while, but still lots of large piles snow everywhere as the snowplow drivers had to push it up over and over into area, as it was snowing continuously. In our subdivision, with it being plowed daily for some weeks, it became necessary to find a place to start pushing all the snow to an open space.. well, they came up with the big open place at our neighborhood playground! The pile is huge; the kids love sliding down it..what fun!!

A combination of Scriptures and quotes that helped me in what I have written below: 

1. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1
2. "It is better to have a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil." - Ecclesiastes 4:6
3. "Sometimes stepping off the treadmill of life and too many obligations brings simplicity"
4. "We want to be busy, but our soul needs simplicity"

After Christmas (well actually before) we had a lot going on and busy days. Even after the holidays, the days and hours were flying by with the busyness. I should have realized this winter I shouldn't have added on some weekly obligations.  Then my hubby came down with a bad case of bronchitis/sinus infection which included a trip to Urgent Care, and back home on 3 meds! He was sick for 2 weeks, thank goodness that is now behind us. BUT in the process, I could feel stress coming on, with a variety of things. With all the busyness and obligations, I did a self-reflection and during my devotions, I started thinking how to resolve what I was feeling and the stress that was building.  After reading some wise postings, I realized, sometimes things need to be eliminated from life or your weekly schedule. It may just be for just a season. They can be good things, like REALLY GOOD things, but still something you added to your schedule, and it was “another thing to do” on the list. I could feel the exhaustion. We both get up at 4 am in the morning (AND to add to that, I’m not sleeping well this past year) so by dinner time, I’m tired, this especially is hitting me this winter, So I made the decision to cut out a few things. I could feel my stress lower immediately, so I made the RIGHT decision. Though it was difficult to do, it helped me! BUT the one thing that WILL NOT be eliminated from our weekly schedule is church on Sunday morning, THAT is a wonderful start to our week! That surely helps in beginning and living throughout the week!  In the future I will do a more in-depth post on the church we are now attending! 

WELL, it seems EVERYONE who lives in our state is counting down the days until spring. I am so looking forward to “playing” in the dirt, planting my flowers, some veggies and we are updating our front landscaping!! I can’t wait for green, green grass, colorful flowers blooming and leaves on our trees. I miss sitting on our deck and sipping iced tea!!

 

Next week will be adding more recipes, book reviews and movies will be coming!!

Blog updating....a process!

I have moved most of my blog to a new platform. But it's still a process...in process!!

My Recipe Blog link is still at the top cross-column under the header. Because of the change of my hosting platform, my blog will have to be totally moved, and in some areas re-created and many more recipes added. Actually, I am creating a new recipe blog. I'll update when that is done. 

I thought too I should add...why did I name my blog "The Irish Laurel"? Well, I have a lot of Irish Heritage in me, and I love my Irish heritage. I also love the Mountain Laurel flower. So, I combined a "few of my favorite things" and that became the name of my blog!!!  The photo below is of the Mountain Laurel. It's such a delicate, beautiful flower!

I will continue to blog of my life, my adventures and the little memory making things that happen. But I'm also adding a bit more depth to my blog. More to come on that!

I had mentioned we are attending a new church, amazing church. It's amazing because God is the center of the church. So evident in the love of the people, the warmth and caring that happens every Sunday. The pastor has had such amazing sermons; we have grown so much from his sharing. And so...I'll be sharing each week what made me "think", what made me "search my soul" and "what is helping me change for the better". In this process I want it to be a continual season of spiritual growth...more of Jesus!!

A brief review of our December Disney World Trip

If any of you have known us for a while, you know that we LOVE Disney World! The "we" is me (of course) my hubby and youngest daughter. Well ....the December trip, which was only 3 days thank goodness, and it ws NOT a wonderful time. They were originally calling temps in the 70's and THAT did not happen. Also, no sun, cloudy and cold and breezy. We about froze. Everywhere we went was air-conditioned which did not help. We only had hoodies to wear; some people were wearing coats and gloves...those were the smart ones! Because it turned dark at 5, the temps dropped more. So, we spent the evenings in our room with the heat turned up. We normally are in the parks and shopping at Disney Springs in the evenings, nope...we stayed in our warm room!  Our highlights of the trip were our dining experiences...those never disappoint. Always great food and wonderful servers! 

So, when we arrived home, we sat down and looked at our calendar for 2026 and I found such deals, that we have a trip booked to Disney in August this year, celebrating our youngest daughter's birthday along with my husbands. And YES, we have been there in August, fully aware of the heat. We can deal with it, since all places are air-conditioned. 

Welcome 2026!

What will 2026 bring?

A New Year and a new blog direction. I will still list my "life memories and experiences" but adding onto that will be part of my spiritual walk. More to come.
2026!! Well as the usual...maybe expected "to do" for the new year is a list of resolutions. I would rather call them .. Expectations of memories or maybe crossing off "to do lists"!

My first is what so many say and do....I WILL exercise more.
Maybe I should say my first thing would be more in depth Bible reading and study. And by study I mean a fun and life changing and challenging studies. There are a few women out there that have wonderful studies that I will be using.
The one study I'm going to start is with the author/speaker Lisa Harper. I just recently began following her and love her sharing and her life story.  She is amazing and so down to earth, but a true lover of God!!
Here is the link to her website    Lisa Harper
Also, I hope to join a women's bible study at our church. A few were mentioned and I hope to begin attending one. 

I truly love the old Hymns. I feel that we have lost something by not singing them during worship services. They have such deep spiritual depth.

This song, this old hymn still is one of my favorites, speaks so clearly and strongly today. Just posting a few of the verses that especially speak to me.

How Great Thou Art:

Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the world Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Chorus: Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home what joy shall feel my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim
My God, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
How great Thou art