Our ten-day forecast is cold and rain, rain, maybe some snow, and more rain. Though the farmers are doing a victory dance, it can still be hard on the rest of us, especially you moms who have to call off the springtime walks for the week. But even if it’s a downpour outside, that’s no reason to let it start raining inside too. So here are a few ideas to keep the rainy day out in the yard where it belongs.
1. Pick up the house. A tidy house is lots more fun to be in than a big mess. Plump up the pillows and shine up the coffee table. Put fresh sheets on the beds. And don’t forget to make sure you are looking cheery. Fix your hair and put on some earrings and a cute bright sweater. Now we’re talking.
2. Bring in some flowers. The grocery stores have plenty of selections. Get a bright colored flowering plant or a bunch of tulips (or daffodils) and put them on the table. Of course an Easter lily is the perfect choice right now.
3. And speaking of the table, put on a cheery runner or tablecloth. Look around in your linen closet and pull out something fresh, preferably bright yellow!
4. Fill the house with some cheery music.
5. Turn on the lights! No reason to fumble around in the dark. Change all the burnt-out light bulbs and surprise yourself with how bright your house can be!
6. Fill the house with some yummy smells. Make some bread or cinnamon rolls.
7. Put some bright throw pillows on the sofa and ditch those dingy tan colored things.
8. Make some play dough with the kids and get them busy with their hands. Easter is coming, so color some eggs!
9. Write some thank-you notes, call your mom to say hi, wrap a birthday gift.
10. Invite some friends over for soup. Shine the silver for the big Easter dinner.
Okay, so that’s probably more than ten. But you get the idea. Most importantly, in all these things, overflow in gratitude to God. Count your blessings. Rejoice!
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I love, love, love this post. Good routine for every day, with or without rain. Thanks for the reminder to make the house cheery! It makes such a big difference.
And don’t forget the COFFEE! 🙂
Thanks so much for this! My kids have been sick for almost a month now, and our outside time has already been limited quite a bit. I just may go ahead and make a batch of cinnamon rolls for them to enjoy after nap!
What an encouraging post! Thanks!
I needed an outline like nobody’s business. I’ve been “putting up” with a messy house for several days now. Thanks for kick starting my motivation!
Nancy, I really love this! My mom was a big fan of rainy days and so we just grew up with ‘cozy’ when the clouds came. I’m listening to the thunder right now and loving every minute! Good post!
While we’re on the subject of “things to do”…
Do you have any ideas/suggestions for family Easter traditions. I always wanted to make more of a celebration of Easter in our home so that it rose in the kids’ minds to the level of anticipation Christmas brings, but we never really got there. This year we have two grandbabies and I’m thinking on new traditions to begin with the next generation. Any thoughts on how to drag Easter out of bunny-land and into the light of transformational family traditions? Thanks!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for this post! When the weather is gloomy it can be tricky to find inspiration. But when Momma’s happy, everyone is happy. Those ideas gave me just the kick I needed. 🙂
#1 (on my list) Thank God for Nancy Wilson! She is springtime personified.
Nancy, this made me laugh because I had just walked in from Safeway with a bundle of daffodils and some brown sugar for coffee cake–necessities to make it through a rainy PacNW spring! Live and learn! 🙂
There are all sorts of “rainy days” like the kind when it’s not evening raining outside. That list of your is very good for those too. Love it! 😉
This really helped my day go much better than it might have otherwise. 🙂
It’s wonderful to get a good boost when things are feeling dreary. Thanks!
🙂 also, light a candle or two. One by the kitchen sink really brightens up my rainy days!
And bake cookies, coffee bread or cinnamon rolls, double the recipe and freeze the extra so you pull out something when a friend stops by.
I just love lists of FUN things to do. This is great 🙂
I love rainy days, but a whole week of them would be daunting. One thing we like to do is round up the neighborhood kids and take a “Puddle Walk” in our boots and raincoats. Dry clothes and warm blankets await our return.
I think I’ll take #7 to heart the next time we get a storm. Better get some fabric in the house to jazz up the “varying shades of tan stripes” throw pillows :).
For us today it was sidewalk chalk on the front porch and me revamping our grapevine wreaths with fresh spring colored ribbon and accents.
Hi,
I just wanted to share the name of a book by Noel Piper that has been an encouragement to me as our family has tried to find and create traditions that reflect our faith. It is “Treasuring God in Our Traditions”. Not only does it have lovely ideas but also a fantastically simple recipe called Breakfast Cake that has become a family favorite.
Happy Resurrection Day, everyone; He is risen indeed!