Hello, Reader.

Our corner of the world is showing signs of spring. The redbuds and tulip trees have already bloomed, and the azaleas and dogwoods are heavy laden with blossoms as well. My daffodils are looking cheery, the irises are making good progress, as well, and taking my walk around the neighborhood rewards me with bigger and brighter blooms every day in many of yards and gardens I pass along my one-mile loop.

Did you know tomorrow is "National Plant a Flower Day?" It is! That's why the theme of this week's link list is all things floral!

Free resources for you this week:

• ​Flower Bouquet Scherenschnitte - a super-easy cut paper pattern for you to try
• ​Pretty Floral Book Marks - features watercolor blossoms & several favorite Bible verses
• ​Polka Dot Flower Pots - a tutorial for painting these bright, cheerful containers for houseplants
• ​Wild Flower Coloring Page - Jesus tells us to consider the lilies of the field in Luke 12:27
• ​Paper Flower Bouquet Craft - my daughter Abby shows us how to make tiny paper sunflowers
• ​How to Harvest Zinnia Seeds - another step-by-step tutorial from Abby of the Green Thumb!
• ​Fading Flowers Coloring Page - a beautiful reminder of the permanence of God's Word

What I'm reading this week:

My youngest daughter & I finished To Kill a Mockingbird yesterday -- an assignment for our co-op's literature class. We read through it together, discussing it as we went. I love the rich character development throughout, but am especially fond of Atticus, the narrator's father. Patient, humble, and determined to do the right thing even in the face of great opposition, he provides a shining example of quiet integrity. The book contains mature themes, as well as some unsavory language, which explains why it's banned in some school districts. But when it comes to depicting the vile injustice of racial prejudice, I can think of few authors who do a better job than Harper Lee.

This week's reader request:

My family loves taking factory tours, so when a reader recently sent me a link to factory tour guide with a request that I include it in my favorite travel websites post, I naturally decided to check it out.

I normally do not respond to such link requests, as very few of them are aligned with my personal interests and beliefs, but this one is absolutely FANTASTIC.

It's completely ad-free, updated weekly, and beautifully organized (though to fully appreciate all the search features, you may want to access the site in a browser other than Chrome so the interactive map will load properly).

On the podcast this week:

Loving Life at Home: Episode 109 ​DOES YOUR MARRIAGE NEED A MIRACLE?​ My topic this week is something that is absolutely essential to building a strong and happy marriage. In fact, I have never seen a marriage truly thrive without this thing, but I’ve seen many a marriage crumble in its absence. Tune in to learn more about how this important ingredient can transform a not-so-happily-ever-after marriage into little slice of heaven on earth. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

I only completed half the items on last week's to-do list. Namely, I :✅ cleaned out the cabinets in our butler's pantry, ✅ attended my precinct convention, and ✅ hosted our monthly Grace Girls meeting.

But I did not ❌ paint any posies on our backyard wall (rain derailed those plans), ❌ record a single video lesson for my new homeschooling workshop (the day I had set aside for that task was spent babysitting grandkids), or ❌ pare down my inbox to 50 or fewer emails (but ✅ I did reduce it to just 75 messages awaiting action 😊).

Personal goals for this week:

• clear off my closet desk
• catch up on grading math homework
• visit with son's family who'll be driving in from San Antonio
• attend grandson's 4th birthday party
• host Leprechaun Lunch for kids &grands
• reduce emails to < 60
• refine workshop modules & start recording
• finish 4 more pages in my Easter journal
• await arrival of grandbaby #25 (due on Sunday!)

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Thanks so much for all your help! I'll be back next week with more links, reviews, and resources. If you have any special requests, please let me know. 😊