days of thanks week 2

 

For inspiration I decided to review my Days of Thanks posts from 2010.  Possibly I should read this post on a daily basis.  Oh my.  So much to be thankful for in just one month’s thoughts.  What would a review of this year reveal?

• Babies, babies, babies.  Born, home from NICU, or home to heaven.  What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?
• Fellowship ~ What a blessing to spend time with Christian friends and family.
• Life and Life Eternal.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  Psalm 139

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2

• Food for body and soul.  Such as Azure Standard organic apples and good preaching.  : )
• Missionaries of the Gospel who are also counted as friends.
• Music.  I love to hear our children at the piano or singing their hearts out!
• God’s provision.
• The privilege of prayer.
• Mayo West.  My parents’ home away from home  ;-)
• Kayleb and Jeremy’s help with house construction ~ and just the fun of having them here!
• Photo books.
• Swagbucks.  Especially the day we ‘earned’ 3600 swagbucks for signing up for a Discover Card.  {that converted to $40 in Amazon gift cards}
• Kate’s photo shoot with Sarah.
• Real stair steps!  {replacing the construction treads}
• {Those scrappy 2x4s are going into the construction of Luci’s doghouse now}
• Help from true friends.  First with butchering, then with grinding the meat.  {Thank you, Dave & Deanna!}
• Kate’s graduation party.  More help from friends ~ Jill & Theresa ran the kitchen, Aunt Karen ran the carousel ~ So nice!  {and my hubby insisted we rent the shelter house at the park!  smart.}
• Food in the freezer that left time for balloons.
• Again and again I will say how thankful I am for God’s grace in our marriage.
• K-A-D’s trip to Brazil with the youth group ~ service, safety, and overwhelming sunburns.
• Productive garden. 
• Meeting the Rettigs in person while they were here in Iowa.
• Driver’s education for K&A.  Safety with student drivers.  And an excellent {patient} instructor! 
• Berries from The Berry Patch.  Yum.
• Homemade hummus.
• Tractors to borrow.
• Air conditioning to endure this summer’s heat.
• Meeting Conny & her family in person in Missouri!  and the fast-paced family vacation that allowed that meeting.  Mini-golf, Civil War re-enactment, fresh peaches, Sonic.
• More than one crop of beautiful hay.  Help from friends to put it away and store it!
• Luci Lou ~ finally we found a dog!
• Water in the creek.
• Christ lives in me!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

• No fear.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  Isaiah 41:10

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

 

 

What’s on your list?  Link up with Conny here!

fb funnies

 

A friend {Jessica} posted both of these on facebook this morning ~

I’m thinking about getting a tee for Tim like this:

 

And I should probably check snopes on this one…  It’s almost sad if true ~ even if the ham came from Iowa.  Please tell me that you get the irony of this:

daybook 11/8/2011

 

 

FOR TODAY  

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

 

 

Outside my window...

a light, chilly rain

 

I am thinking…

I know that when I find 200+ pictures on my memory stick, someone has been borrowing my camera… Can you identify what’s in this photo?

 

I am thankful to God …

for full freezers. 

for water in the creek.  And rain!

 

I am praying for...

… Hiromi in Japan (near the Fukushima nuclear plant) 

... the Rettigs & the church in Prague ~ Praising the Lord for a new building!

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Cinnamon ~ her Marine son is HOME from Afghanistan ~ Praise the Lord!

… Amy W., a young wife/mom with cancer

… Sarita & Jeff &family

… the A Family, on furlough from their field of ministry ~ We’re looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with them here!

… Lea’s dad ~ in the midst of a serious health crisis

… H & A

… for direction for our church, for our family

… Laura

… and especially marriages ~ meant to last a lifetime

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

 

From the learning rooms...

Talk about the Big Two Beliefs demonstrated during the Middle Ages when a lord could do as he pleased with the life of his servant.

{{ Who is God?  Who, then, is mankind? }}

 

From the kitchen...

A menu plan for the month is still on now checked OFF of my To Do List… {yay me!}  While I was at it, I made a plan for December too!

This week: taco rice casserole, something with chicken – maybe pot pie?, Italian pasta dish from the freezer, pizza, steak on the grill, lasagna, BBQ ribs

{Currently the ground beef is thawing, basmati rice is coming to a boil, butter is melted for my ‘gravy’ replacement of Campbell’s cream/shroom soup}

 

And, did you realize that Thanksgiving Day is less than three weeks away?!  I have a small turkey in the freezer {yay for the 49 cents/pound coupon}, cranberries in the fridge to cook into sauce, sweet potatoes and rolls in the freezer.  I guess I’m doing all right, but it’s time to put a list on paper with a timeline to get it all done {ahead as much as possible} so I can also enjoy the day of feasting with friends!

It might even be time to start on the Christmas goodies {since we will celebrate our first Christmas get-together yet this month!}

I have been focusing on trying to create a little wiggle room in the freezers for all the baking I’d like to do for the holidays.

This last weekend Kate tried her hand at cooking a pumpkin whole ~ as suggested by Laura.  And her sister thought to record the event… in one hundred photos or less  ;-)

     

          

  

{Really!  That’s how she took the picture!  ;D}

Kate also roasted the seeds later.  But they are difficult to eat ~ and a potential hazard to one’s colon  :-\ 

 

I had made a couple pies earlier, so I declined the pumpkin party  : )

Oh, speaking of pie ~ Kate also made a peanut butter pie last week ~ The pictures are fuzzy but it was tasty!

 

I am creating...

This was fun!  I decided bags would be the better option than boxes for the Christmas gifts to send to Mexico with the Lockwoods…

              

      

Miss Artist graciously donated the felt flowers she had previously made.  The rest I put together from my collection of scraps.  The bag with the red star was the most fun ~ It’s made from an old pair of Tim’s jeans I saved for making patches, just the legs below the knees that wasn’t worn out.  The hems became the handles ~ hee hee!   Rather rustic, but very fun.  Note to self… Machine stitching applique on stretchy denim is not so fun.

     

  

Unfortunately, when I brought the box home from the PO, all the bags wouldn’t fit!  So we only sent the three smaller ones.  And next year we will plan ahead a bit better {right!}  Putting it on the calendar for September now  ;D

While I was improving my back pain {seriously! go figure.}  I finished up the blanket for Noah, who is one week old today!  I guess moving around in the sewing room was better than just sitting at the computer.  ahem.

 

I am going...

to switch the laundry ~ brb  : )

 

I am reading...

Jeremiah & Hebrews

Aloud with the kids:

 

I am hoping...

to learn the art of brevity in my daybook posts.  Someday.

 

I am hearing...

the dryer rumbling, the Computer Geek clicking his keyboard, the Popper answering flashcards for Miss Dabbelt {a beka dvd}

 

Around the house...

Tim has been busy with landscaping… especially the retaining walls.

 

One {two} of my favorite things...

the smell of basmati rice cooking

this sort of post by Mrs. Santos

 

Pondering these words...

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.            1 Peter 3:9

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Later today ~ another visit to the chiropractor for all of us

Wednesday eve ~ church

? ~ grocery shopping ~ not sure which day since we don’t have piano lessons this week

 

Here is a are more pictures for thought...

The continuing saga of Luci’s dog house one-room mansion ~ They used the hayfork/tractor to help move it outside on Saturday.

       

  

           

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

days of thanks ~ week 1

 

• “But God…” are some of my favorite words in Scripture.  I am so very thankful for God’s work in my life to bring me to salvation in Christ.

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)   Ephesians 2:3-5

• My parents.  I remember a bridal shower where we were asked to say one thing about our parents that we were thankful for ~ I am still thankful for their commitment to love one another always.  I had no fears as a child that they might get a divorce.  The idea still surprises me when I think about it.  They were quick to give advice to Tim & me… “It’s not a 50-50 thing; you each have to give 100%”  That attitude helps a marriage last.  They will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary this month!

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh… Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.  Ephesians 5:31, 33

• My husband.  When we were courting, Tim heard someone say that only one in ten marriages are truly good ones.  And that’s what he wanted.  Well, in spite of our sinfulness and the resulting rough moments, we are committed to love and cherish each other for the rest of our lives.  I know that he loves me even more than he did in those delightful days of courtship when I lived on Cloud Nine ~ Isn’t that just amazing?!

 

 

Head on over to The Life of an Ordinary Hausfrau to link up with Conny and read more thankful posts!

daybook 11/02/2011

 

 

FOR TODAY  

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

  

 

Outside my window...

Sunshine and 70F yesterday has become cold RAIN/snow ~ I am thankful for the moisture, but also glad I am inside!

 

I am thinking…

Whether a child is five or fifteen, it seems they need their mother just as soon as she’s in the bathroom!  Murphy’s Law?

 

I am thankful to God …

Good friends Jeff & Sarita and their family are safely back in Israel!

 

A new location for the church in Prague!

They’re moving in!!!  And the Rettigs will soon have a new apartment nearby.

More pics here.

 

 

I am praying for...

… Hiromi in Japan (near the Fukushima nuclear plant) 

... the Rettigs & the church in Prague ~ Praising the Lord for a new building!

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Cinnamon ~ her Marine son is HOME from Afghanistan ~ Praise the Lord!

… Amy W., a young wife/mom with cancer

… Sarita & Jeff &family

… the A Family, on furlough from their field of ministry ~ We’re looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with them here!

… Lea’s dad ~ in the midst of a serious health crisis

… H & A

… for direction for our church, for our family

… Laura

… and especially marriages ~ meant to last a lifetime

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

 

From the learning rooms...

A frequent sight as the Cattleman shares a humorous Mr. Howe with his siblings ~ I think it was a story about confusing a recipe that called for 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup sugar… You can just imagine what happened with that one.

  

This book is on Kate’s required reading list… {and others are peeking at it too}

 

From the kitchen...

the Cowgirl made crepes Sunday eve, complete with a large quantity of real whipped cream ~ yum.

           

   

Monday night Miss MusicBox {Kate} tried her hand at fried green tomatoes {with help from the Popper} ~ to go with Julie’s baked taquitos

  

Tonight will be BBQ beef ~ the roast has been stewing for about 24 hours now.  I still need to plan the month’s menu ~ tomorrow remains a mystery!

 

I am creating...

several blog entries?

{should be in the basement sewing the blanket for baby Noah born yesterday!}

 

I am going...

to look through my gift box and school supply ‘pantry’ hoping to find several items for the Christmas ‘boxes’ for the Lockwoods to take to Mexico ~ See this post please!  :D

 

I am reading...

Jeremiah & Hebrews

Aloud with the kids:

 

I am hoping...

the beef prices will still be good when Tim takes cattle to market ~ top price was $1.27 yesterday!

 

I am hearing...

Handel’s Messiah ~ ahhhhh  :D

 

Around the house...

it occurs to me that I/we haven’t vacuumed for a while  :p

 

One of my favorite things...

a cup of peppermint tea

 

Pondering these words...

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?  Hebrews 1:5

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing… Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever…. Amen.  Revelation 5:12-14

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Wednesday eve ~ church

Thursday ~ UNFI delivery

Friday ~ piano lessons (grocery shopping for me)

Saturday ~ a free Shutterfly photo book party at Amber’s!

? Missions conference at our friends’ church ?  {or stay home and finish Luci’s house?}

End of the month duties {done!}

 

Here is a are more pictures for thought...

 

                     

{two of my goofy guys!}

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

 

One last reminder as this post displaces an earlier one~    Please read this too!  Thanks!

Christmas boxes for Mexico

It's pouring rain here today {yay!} so I'm not going shopping immediately.  BUT, since I missed out on this last year, I have been promising myself we'd jump in this year.  Tomorrow I will be out {and the rain/snow will likely be done} so I will see what I can find.

The catch is to do it NOW.  In just a couple weeks, the Lockwoods will return to Mexico, so the gifts need to arrive in California soon!  Before November 14.

Maybe you are familiar with Operation Christmas Child?  We enjoyed that for several years, but then it became difficult to find a local drop-off for the boxes.

But with Lockwoods doing a similar ministry with families in Mexico, it seemed like a great opportunity to help the kids and give the Lockwoods an open door to reach them with the gospel.

You can read Jaynee's post here.  And please do!  : )

eleven eleven

This is a fun month if you like numbers.  I must, because I’m getting a kick out of several dates this month…

11/1/11

11/02/2011

11/11/11

and ~
11/20/2011 ~ when you say it, “Eleven, Twenty, Twenty, Eleven.”



Eleventh month of the eleventh year ~ Cool.  Yes, I’m easily entertained. Obviously.  8-)
You can even get a free desktop wallpaper with a November calendar ~ Click here and Enjoy!


PS ~ Seems like I should share the blurb about this wallpaper photo... 
"This big oak tree is standing in the middle of a big corn field, near the trail where I jog every other day. I always wanted to include into on of my creations, and finally, with Smashing Magazine’s wallpaper contest, it finally found its place in my November’s wallpaper. This year, autumn was very warm, and I hope this photo taken on a warm october day, will keep you warm through a cool and cold november that is coming up…" Designed by Uros Opaka from Slovenia.