daybook 11/27/2013 <3

 

For today, Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Outside my window... sunshine and blue skies, but the bank’s time/temp says 12 degrees F. at 9:30am, headed for a high in the 20’s.   Baby, it’s cold outside!

Hearing... Mr. Howe teaching science class {the Popper’s}.

Pondering... what to do, where to go, when?  I do know who to go with!  <3

Praying... for Tim’s 18yo niece Kim who is still in ICU and not showing much progress this week.  Which the doctors say is to be expected, but still… :-(

…and for our own college kids.  The girls finish their 9-week block next Tuesday, so it’s time for them  to finish projects and prepare for final tests. 

Thankful... for our Soup, Pie & Praise evening at church last night ~ good food and good fellowship and great testimonies of God’s goodness.

…and for opportunities for our college kids to be with new friends or extended family tomorrow.  The girls are staying at Grandma’s house along with several cousins this week.  Daniel’s church in NC is hosting a dinner tomorrow ~ and one of the ladies there emailed to ask for a favorite recipe to make for Daniel.  They are blessed.

Creating... I’m ignoring the pillow project for now.  And other projects are still secrets.  Today a friend has agreed to help me with a different project…

turning this paper

into something like this

{photo sources:  sistersnest on etsy & pottery barn kids}

Actual inspiration for the project came last Christmas from a friend on facebook who had a photo of their Christmas tree with a garland hanging across a window nearby.  So I bought the paper last winter on sale at Hobby Lobby and tada!  Jill and her Cricut are going to help me make it happen! 

Now where to hang it?

Going... to Thanksgiving dinner at the home of friends tomorrow.

Reading... 1 John; Basher Five-Two

Looking forward to... good news about Kim, Christmas, a new year {yep, same list!}

In the kitchen...  tomorrow we will whip up some applesauce, green bean casserole, rolls, honey butter, and an apple pie {which is conveniently in the freezer already}.

We had our first Thanksgiving {& Christmas} dinner at my brother’s on Sunday; Monday – Madison County Chicken; Tuesday – I made a creamy chicken & wild rice soup {yay! for leftovers!}; tonight – pepper steak hopefully {didn’t take meat out of the freezer until this morning}

In the learning rooms... Everyone likes to watch class with Mr. Howe!

Around the house... an artificial tree in need of ballast before it makes its home outside on the front porch.

The Mother Load... errands in town, laundry, schoolwork, accounting, seasonal projects, cleaning, ironing, more laundry, deeper cleaning, blah blah blah

Noticing that... One should not attempt to pour soup where one does not want to clean up a mess.  Not like I did that yesterday or anything.

Something fun to share... Picaboo has a 50% off sale through Sunday.  Happy Black Friday!

A favorite convicting quote for today...

“An idol is anything that you think will save you from what would be your ‘functional hell’.”

We all have our idols. Yours might be different from mine, but we all have something that we look to that we think will satisfy us when this God who made us is where we will find fullness of joy.

~Paula Hendricks  via Revive Our Hearts 10/17/2013

One of my favorite things... this collection of photos now hanging on the wall!

A few plans for the rest of the week... projects, Giving Thanks and having fun with friends, shopping for flannel on Black Friday {and groceries!}, celebrating our anniversary, watching Daniel’s concert via live streaming

A peek into my world...

       

 

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

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

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good!

 

 

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
For he satisfieth the longing soul,
and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Psalm 107:8-9

 

14.  N – Neighbors.  Like Mr. Jensen who recently brought us more firewood.  Cut and split.

15.  O – Opportunities.  To speak truth.  To show love.  To forgive.  To be forgiven.  To learn.  To pray.

16.  P – Patience & Promises of a good and faithful God.  Perspective.  Provision.  Peppermint tea.  Piano music!

 

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 

I John 4:10-11

 

17.  Q – Quiet times.  When I remember that God has it all under control.  or just when all the kids are outside working or playing.

18.  R – the Rettigs.  And other missionaries we count as friends, who will probably spend the holiday season overseas apart from extended family.  Reunions.  Rest.  Reading.  Recipes.  Romaine lettuce.  Really.

19.  S – Snow.  But hopefully it will come after we’re home from running errands.  Smoothies.

20.  T – Tim.  <3

21.  U – U… why can I think of nothing but that?  You know, long johns.  :-)

Oh yes!  UNlimited texts via USCellular! 

 

What are YOU thankful for that begins with a U?

 

[source]

daybook 11/20/2013

 

For today, Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Outside my window... it is overcast and breezy with a few sprinkles of rain.  Potential snow tomorrow night.

Hearing... the Popper practicing memory verses.

Pondering... how quickly a life can change.

Praying... for Tim’s 18yo niece Kim who was in a major car accident yesterday afternoon – hit broadside by a semi.  She is stable in ICU and the doctors are hopeful, but she has a long, long road to recovery. 

Thankful... for the life-saving protection of an old Buick.

Creating... ? I bought this Christmas placemat thingy at $General to maybe put on a pillow cover, but the center will need additional embellishment.  Or removal.  Methinks this is not the quick project like the leaf pillows others have made.

Going... to celebrate Thanksgiving & Christmas with my extended family this Sunday!

Reading... 1 Peter; One Candle to Burn

Looking forward to... good news about Kim, Christmas, a new year

 

In the kitchen... still apples to deal with, but I think I will wait until Saturday to bake pies for Sunday.  {procrastination?}

I did bake about 128 butterhorns last Friday – and put them in the freezer.  Also mixed up some extra cinnamony honey butter ~ with portions set aside to ship to my college kiddos along with a bag of frozen butterhorn rolls.  {Their care packages should arrive today, the Lord & the USPS willing.}

    

Menu ~  we’ve had ham/potato casserole, baked taquitos, and broccoli cheese soup.  Tonight ~ BBQ biscuits.  Tomorrow ~ leftover beef roast?  Friday ~ calzones?

In the learning rooms... I’ve requested the movie Cromwell through inter-library loan since we are up to the Puritan Revolution {English Civil War} in history.

Around the house... the usual dust bunnies ~ and several packages ready for Sunday!  :-)

{Yes, I indulged my want for baker’s twine ~ 40% off at Hobby Lobby, thank you very much!}

The Mother Load... banking, accounting, check schoolwork, make pies and cranberry sauce for Sunday.  And of course, there’s laundry, ironing, and cleaning et al

Noticing that... how the mighty are fallen.  Because they are but sinful men.  And there, but for the grace of God, go I.  Take heed.

Something fun to share...

My daughters want something like this to hang in our basement library/family room.

 

$42 on etsy

or $12 unpainted on e-bay in a different font ~ What would you choose?

 

 

A favorite quote passage for today... from Leonard Wibberley’s The Mouse that Roared:

‘I hope,' said Gloriana warily, 'that you are not going to suggest that I marry the American minister because I won't do it. I've been reading about the Americans in a women's magazine and they're all cruel to their wives,'

'Cruel to their wives?' echoed the count.

'Precisely. They treat them as equals. They refuse to make any decisions without consulting them. They load them up with worries they should keep to themselves. And when there isn't enough money, they send them out to work instead of earning more by their own efforts. Some of them even make their wives work so they can go to college. They are not men at all. They are men-women. And their wives are women-men. If I am to marry, I want a husband who will be a man and let me be a woman. I'll be able to handle him better that way.'

One of my favorite things... a squash worth cooking

A few plans for the rest of the week... Piano lessons and too many errands, clean the office, make/bake for Thanksgiving meals, and shop-shop-shop for Christmas gifts

A peek into my world...

The cows begin to beller when we open the garage door ~ and gather quickly at the fence.  They like the apples our friends have shared with them!

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

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

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

in every thing give thanks

 

 

7.  G- game night with some friends at church Saturday evening was a noisy, fun time.   {Pit, Telestrations, and Dutch Blitz}

 

8.  H- hours… Tim has been working long days most days.  We miss seeing him, but I am thankful for the provision that will come home in his next paycheck.

 

9.  I- ideas… for gifts to give to family and friends this year.  shhhhh.

 

10.  J- the book of James, which I began reading this morning. 

“count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”

 

11. K- kids.  Some of my favorites have the initials of K>A>D>E>T>M>

        

 

12. L- leaves.  I love the colors of fall.  {because it is fall, not spring or summer or winter… I do like them all really!}

 

13. M- marriage.  My parents are celebrating their 60th anniversary this week! 

11>12>13> {daybook}

 

11-12-13

Who can resist posting a daybook on this sort of fun date?! :-)

Not sure what else we could or should do… We already got married.

 

 

For today, Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Outside my window... sunshine and a dusting of snow from yesterday – It is cold!

Hearing... the Cattleman being a goofball.  And Mr. Howe teaching the Popper’s math class.

Pondering... It’s the craziest thing.  We’ve noticed lately that our garage door opener in the Suburban doesn’t work well outside the garage after dark.  The other night Tim shut off the outdoor lights on the garage… When we came home later, VOILA!  it worked again!  Something about the LED bulbs in those lights disrupts the signal from the opener.  Rather sad actually b/c Tim loves the new LED bulbs.  Now what?

Praying... the A Family in China needs a new job so that they can stay in the country ~ their visas expire in a couple months. 

Thankful... the P Family in Israel did receive new visas last month.

Creating... Well, I made this bag the other week with the plan to use it for gifts we shipped to the Lockwoods.  Turned out rather {too} large and heavy.  Tim thinks I should sell it on ebay, so I did some shopping on etsy.  Wide range of prices in similar items – less than $10 to over $70!  :o  Crazy.  It needs some embellishment I think, but I’m not sure who to give or sell it to yet. 

{fyi ~ it is 17 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 4 inches!}

 

Going... to a political debate Friday night with my hubby perhaps.  We live on the wild side here.

Reading... The Mouse that Roared by Wibberley.  {in effort to judge whether to purchase his Treegate series of books}  Are any of you familiar?

Looking forward to... Christmas at home with our kiddos. 

In the kitchen... I made two batches of soup on Saturday: veg-barley-beef soup and taco soup.  Yum.  And we are still enjoying leftovers.  Yesterday was a baking day – bread for my brother; bread, muffins, and cookies for us.  More menu options: cheddar chicken, chicken packets, BBQ biscuits, broccoli cheese soup, and PIZza-PIZza-PIZza!

In the learning rooms... the Popper has been busy taking notes for a research paper on the Boston Tea Party and working with percentages; the Cattleman and I were just discussing the difference between rational and irrational numbers; the Cowgirl has this interesting summarizing sentence on a recent assignment:

One of the keys to accomplishing goals is not caring if there is work involved. 

Around the house... pictures and such to hang on the walls soon.  Floors that need mopping.

The Mother Load... Find/purchase an “F” for a collage wall; return a set of DVDs to ABeka Academy; bake for Thanksgiving dinners and college student care packages; prepare for the annual budget meeting; call for appointments with orthodontist and chiropractor for Christmas break; buy a turkey…

Noticing that... minimal planning and preparation can still produce a fun evening with friends :-)  Have you ever played a game called Telestrations?  Go ahead, google it.

Something fun to share... I want to buy and use striped baker’s twine for something… but what will it be?

    

[Pinterest sources:  muffins, packages, dispenser]

A favorite quote for today...

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 

Hebrews 13:15-16

One of my favorite things... brown paper packages {or boxes} tied up with strings.  Or even a box lunch!

{Garnish}

I think this must be what started my latest penchant for baker’s twine… The Nester had a huge  give-away earlier this month that included gifts from Garnish. {sigh} I am somewhat inspired, but still inconclusive what gifts to concoct in my kitchen or how to contain them…

Although, what I really wanted to win from the Nester were the Christmas wreaths.

But they would have been for me.  ahem.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Today ~ clean the office, make phone calls/appointments

Thursday ~ piano, groceries, more errands and shopping

Friday ~ another dental visit for the Cowgirl, with ice cream and movies and Tylenol to follow.  Senator debate with Tim?

Sunday ~ Budget Committee meeting

A peek into my world...

Yesterday’s snow.  Today’s cuppa tea.

   

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

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

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

thankful thoughts

 

1. apples in abundance {and good help with processing them!}

 

2. bargains on frames at Hobby Lobby and prints at shutterfly

 

3.  colorful, cheerful gerberas

 

4.  our dependable Suburban {since I sort of have an alphabet thing going here… What I want to call this is “high mileage odometers” ~ both on our Suburban and my treadmill ~ which says 672 miles today :-)}

{With gas prices so high back in December 2008, God provided a Suburban to replace the mini-van I totaled – for the price of the insurance claim.  What a way to move up in vehicles.  Not recommended, but God is good even to the ditzy drivers like me.}

And that boy is now was almost as tall as his dad! when we last saw him in August.  The girl might be taller than her mom.  ahem.

 

5.  e-e-e-e…. Evidence?  The girls’ happy goldfish in their clean tank.  Some of these fish have been living outdoors in a tub since early last spring.  They became much more red in color – why?

 

6. Finally… today’s f…phone call from Tim’s brother who is managing their mom’s move into a different house this week.  All is going well.  Thank You, dear Lord.

Lotsa memories of gatherings in this house…

please help the Lockwoods minister this Christmas ~

It's time to gather some treasures that might delight a child in Mexico...

You can read details at the Lockwoods' blog.  
They have an American address for shipping this year!

~ Feliz Navidad ~