A Quiet Simple Life | Sallie Borrink

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

A Quiet Simple Life

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Sallie Borrink

Letting Go When It’s Time | Cozy Life Reset – Day 15


Part of living a cozy life is knowing when to accept that something no longer brings joy or meets a need. This was the case for me this week with my little library.

If you’ve been a reader for some time, you might remember I received a little library for Christmas in 2014. My father-in-law made it so David and Caroline could give it to me. I wrote about it (with lots of photos) in My Little Red Schoolhouse (Almost) Little Free Library.

That little library gradually wore out and it was replaced with a second of almost identical design.

The second one had deteriorated to the point it needed to be replaced. I made the decision that rather than replacing it again, it was time to end our time offering a little library.

I’ve found joy over the years seeing people stop and look at books. But after these many years I no longer felt the same amount of joy. Instead the library had become one more thing to deal with on our property. It was time to take that little bit of mental and physical energy in another direction. So last night David took it all down.

Now when I look in the spot in our yard, I see a nice clear area without a deteriorating object. That clean spot brings me joy and peace in a new way.

Is there something in your life you once enjoyed, but is no longer necessary?

Photo credit

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Pansy Puzzles for Pansy Lovers


A jigsaw puzzle featuring beautiful pansies is just the thing for the pansy lover. In addition to the beauty of the artwork, research has confirmed that jigsaw puzzles are great for keeping us mentally sharp at every stage of life.

So let’s take a look at some colorful pansy-themed puzzles that would be great Christmas, Mother’s Day, birthday, or I’m Thinking of You gifts.

(The puzzles featured below may change due to availability.)

This pretty Trefl 1000 Piece Puzzle – Blue Bouquet puzzle is a premium quality product. The lovely vignette features dishes, fruit, and a collection of blue and purple pansies in varying shades. This puzzle from Poland has completed dimensions of 26.89 x 18.9 x 0.08 inches.

Trefl Blue Bouquet 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle Red 27Trefl Blue Bouquet 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle Trefl Blue Bouquet 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle Red 27

The unique I Am Violet Jigsaw Puzzle features lots of pansies, heartsease, and johnny jump-ups. It includes a unique floral-shaped border and is comprised of 350 pieces. When completed, it measures 19 x 22 x 0.25 inches.

Madd Capp: I Am Violet - 350 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - 8006 – Ages 10+, Unique Floral-Shaped Border, Challenging Random Cut, Includes Educational Madd Capp Fun FactsMadd Capp: I Am Violet – 350 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleMadd Capp: I Am Violet - 350 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - 8006 – Ages 10+, Unique Floral-Shaped Border, Challenging Random Cut, Includes Educational Madd Capp Fun Facts

If you prefer something with 500 pieces featuring watercolor artwork, this Summer Pansy Flowers Jigsaw Puzzle is very pretty.

Pansy Flowers 500 Piece Jigsaw PuzzlePansy Flowers 500 Piece Jigsaw PuzzlePansy Flowers 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Here are three more puzzles featuring gorgeous pansies in vibrant colors.

Beautiful Pansy 1000 Pieces PuzzleBeautiful Pansy 1000 Pieces PuzzleBeautiful Pansy 1000 Pieces PuzzlePansy 1000 Piece Wooden Jigsaw PuzzlePansy 1000 Piece Wooden Jigsaw PuzzlePansy 1000 Piece Wooden Jigsaw PuzzlePansy 1000 Pieces Jigsaw PuzzlePansy 1000 Pieces Jigsaw PuzzlePansy 1000 Pieces Jigsaw Puzzle

Have fun with your favorite pansy puzzle!

If you or someone you know loves pansies, be sure to stop by my collection of pansy items on Amazon. ♥ Visit my For the Love of Pansies Shop on Amazon ♥

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Free Gardening Word Search Printable


Gardening is a fun learning theme to do with your children. Use this free printable gardening word search as part of your homeschool garden unit study or just for fun.

The word search worksheet features twelve words for your children to practice.

  • fence
  • fertilizer
  • garden
  • gloves
  • grow
  • hoe
  • hose
  • pests
  • seedling
  • seeds
  • soil
  • wheelbarrow 

See more learning ideas here: Flowers, Plants, and Gardens

Download the Free Gardening Word Search

By downloading this free printable, you are agreeing to my Digital Products Terms of Use. Thank you for respecting my work! 

Click here: Free Gardening Word Search 

If your child enjoys word searches, you can find the full collection here: Free Printable Word Searches for Kids.

You may also enjoy browsing my other free homeschool printables for more simple learning activities for your home.

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Silencing Women at Midweek Prayer Meetings in Reformed Patriarchy


This thread popped up in my Twitter/X feed. It’s a lengthy thread about a pastor facing discipline in the Presbyterian church. Michael Hunter described it this way:

On Saturday, Grace Presbytery (ARPC) decided to take up charges against me based on the investigator’s report. I do not intend to participate in any ecclesiastical trial since the presbytery has demonstrated that they are exercising illegitimate authority, which I will address below. So here I will defend my name by going through the report in detail.

As I was skimming the charges, this particular part about no longer allowing women to pray in the midweek prayer service stood out to me.

The report provides specific examples of the ways in which I allegedly wronged these women. First, the report refers to the church’s policy of “no longer allowing women to pray in the midweek prayer gatherings,” a policy supported by B.B. Warfield and many 19th- and 20th-century Presbyterians. But, note, this policy was not my policy; it was the decision of the session as a whole. The report acknowledges that “any decisions made concerning the role of women in the life of the church were made by the Session and therefore are not specific to Mr. Hunter.” How then can those decisions provide the basis for specific charges against me? Second, the report alleges that my Reformed and Presbyterian teaching contributed to the problem because “what Mr. Hunter taught in Sunday School and from the pulpit touched on areas where differing views have been debated and held, specifically the interpretation of 1 Corinthians chapter 11.” Again, you read that correctly. I am guilty of teaching biblical texts, including 1 Corinthians 11, that have been interpreted in different ways; in other words, I am guilty of teaching the Bible.

Here is the screenshot.

So, yes, among the group who would gladly take the label of Reformed Patriarchy are pastors who are now silencing women during the midweek prayer gathering due to 1 Corinthians 11. They are obsessed with putting limits on women. They openly use the terms superior and inferior when discussing men and women. The overcompensation by the angry Christian men will devastate so many families and individual lives.

His appeal to history is interesting given the views of other Christian men throughout history.

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