daybook 4/18/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Monday, April 18, 2011

 

Outside my window...

It’s a chilly 46F according to the weather toolbar ~ and overcast.  The pasture and hayfields are looking greener every day!  I went last Thursday and dug up unwanted strawberry plants from a friend’s garden (in the cold rain) ~ I’m hoping Tim will be able to get them in the ground tonight, although it looks like it will be a muddy business.

 

I am thinking...

about how BUSY we are with this earthly life – Simple Woman’s Daybook?  not.

 

I am thankful …

for yesterday’s cool but not raining weather that enabled us to spend two hours (!) taking pictures of Kate (and her sisters) – um, well, it was Sarah who was taking the photos.  I’m also thankful Sarah was able to do it!  (along with her 37.5 week baby belly!)  We made use of lots of different locations… I’m eager to see what Sarah captured for us!

 

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ Ivana, Eva, Masha & Dimitri ~ they are having a baptism in a couple weeks  :-)

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad

… Grant S.

… people who live and work in Japan

… Cinnamon ~ her Army hubby is in Afghanistan, her Marine son is in Japan

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

… Angela & Jared and their newborn twins~ one of the twins is back in the hospital with RSV!

… Sarita & Jeff need visas for their return to Israel

… my dad, recovering from shoulder surgery

… our group going to Brazil - in just 2 months - also need visas – and lots of requirements to fulfill yet!

… my cousin’s little guy, 9mo Callan ~ trying to figure out his health issues and preparing to move across the country in a few months

 

From the learning rooms...

 There’s been a lot of talk about monetary policy amongst the older kids and Tim.  So thankful this world is not my home…

 

From the kitchen...

Tonight will be leftovers  :-)  Lasagna, whole wheat Italian bread – I should wash more lettuce.

I set butter out for mixing/baking more buns.  I also have more beef roasts and a turkey breast thawing – tomorrow is looking like Kitchen Day.

Other menu ideas:  beef roast, turkey packets, spaghetti, turkey enchiladas, pizza, grilled burgers, gyros

 

I am creating...

Well, I started to clean off this computer desk this morning!  After I order vitamins, I can put another file folder away…  Maybe if/when I dust the thing, I’ll take a picture?

 

I am going...

to work on photos for Kate’s display.  Yes, I am.  Really.  Soon.

 

I am reading...

Miss Artist’s book ~ Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose

 

and another from Gina’s booklist  :-)

The Johnstown Flood by David G. McCullough

 

I am hoping...

to find some clever and fun ideas for VBS crafts ~ I’ll take suggestions!  NASCAR sort of theme ~ edible or not  :-)

                       

Click here to learn more about Rev It Up! Full Throttle for God at RBP

(Yes, this looks familiar from last week.  I’m still waiting for y’all to send me some great ideas…ahem.  What’s your favorite VBS craft?  It doesn’t have to be NASCAR related.)

 

I am hearing...

Miss Music Box has been pounding the piano for more than an hour.  Wish you were here? The washer and dryer are also rattling away… 

 

Around the house...

Our collection of china has a new home!  :-)

             

 

 

One of my favorite things...

fun flannel blankets

 

        

 

  

 

Pondering these words...

"If man, for any reason, drastically alters the natural order, setting in motion whole series of chain reactions, then he better know what he is doing."

~ David McCullough, The Johnstown Flood

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Wednesday – appointments with the chiropractor ~ woot, woot!

Thursday – violin lesson for Miss MB

Friday – piano lessons for Miss MB and Miss A while I buy groceries

Saturday – canvassing for the choir’s Easter cantata

Resurrection Sunday!

 

Here is a picture  for thought...

Saturday’s beautiful blue sky ~ photo by the Cowgirl

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

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 ~

(belated) daybook 4/14/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Thursday, April 14, 2011

 

Outside my window...

Breezy, cloudy and cool (53F or 12C) ~ Showers possible today and rain likely tomorrow.  We postponed Kate’s photo shoot until Sunday… or later next week?

Most of the calves again escaped to join the cows …where the grass is quite lush with new growth.  Tim will have to put up an extra wire when he gets them separated again.  Thankfully, Spee-Dee Delivery brought his order of more fencing supplies from Premier1 this morning!

 

I am thinking...

about Brent Maher, one of Iowa’s soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Monday; and a young realtor murdered in Des Moines ~ both were just doing their jobs. 

Lord, teach us to number our days…  (Psalm 90:12)

 

I am thankful …

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ Ivana, Eva, Masha & Dimitri

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad

… Grant S.

… people who live and work in Japan ~ It’s Hiromi’s birthday today!

… Cinnamon ~ her Army hubby is in Afghanistan (Brent Maher was in his company), her Marine son is in Japan

… the family and loved ones of Brent Maher; others also injured

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

… Angela & Jared and their newborn twins~ older children are sick, and they are moving into a new house this week

… Sarita & Jeff need visas for their return to Israel

… my dad, recovering from shoulder surgery

… our group going to Brazil - in just 2 months - also need visas

 

From the learning rooms...

all but the Popper have been/are writing essays or research papers; there has been much laughter heard when the speech class dvd plays ~ students are telling stories :-)

I am almost ready to order the rest of the books needed for next year, but we must still finish this year, I suppose.

Today the Cattleman and the Cowgirl are learning how to plant strawberries... by the 1000s? …at the Berry Patch with Tim.

 

From the kitchen...

Monday:  8 loaves bread, 64 buns for open house, oatmeal tea cake, and Cookie Mama cookies.  And Julie’s baked turkey taquitos! 

 

(photos by Miss Artist ~ Lots of sour cream to go with the fresh hot salsa!)

Tuesday:  2 beef roasts cooked and shredded ~ what we didn’t eat for supper is in the freezer for the open house.

Wednesday’s supper:  taco soup.  And hoping there’s enough leftovers for tonight  :-)

 

I am creating...

three visa applications for Brazil, another larger pile of papers to send to the IRS to “prove” we built and live in a new house, first quarter treasurer’s reports, and flannel blankets.  Can you guess which is most fun??

  

(Mom, this one was for Maggie & Rhys  :-))

 

I am going...

to pick up more items for Kate’s open house, stop at Sam’s, and pick up my Azure Standard order later today…  Oh yes, and mail more tax returns.

 

I am  just finished reading...

Tomorrow You Die by Reona Peterson Joly from YWAM Publishing

 

I am hoping...

to find some clever and fun ideas for VBS crafts ~ I’ll take suggestions!  NASCAR sort of theme ~ edible or not  :-)

                       

Click here to learn more about Rev It Up! Full Throttle for God at RBP

 

I am hearing...

the wind ~ the laundry room window must not be quite closed, and the stove vent rattles once in a while

espanol

 

Around the house...

If we had NO books in the house, it might look more tidy ~ but that would be unthinkable.

 

One of my favorite things...

seeing this pop up on my screen

 

Pondering these words...

My times are in thy hand   ~ Psalm 31:15a

Reona Peterson Joly thought on this verse in the hours and days after she was told, “You are a traitor to the glorious People’s Republic of Albania, and traitors are shot.  We will come for you at nine tomorrow morning.”

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Well, this week is just about gone!  Tomorrow I need to go to Ames again, and Saturday is another family baby shower.

 

Here is a picture (or three) for thought...

        

This is a house in town that Kate is especially fond of ~ She hopes to use it for background in some of her senior photos  :-)

 

(I guess it’s quite a bit different from yours, Julie G ~ still a similar feel if or when our sky is just as blue as yours was here.  And I’m afraid yours is just too far to bring you a plate of cookies…)

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

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 ~

happy birthday to my Dad ♥

... and that's all I will take time to say...

daybook 4/4/2011

 

 

FOR TODAY  

Monday, April 4, 2011

Outside my window...

“Tut, tut, it looks like rain.”  (or snow?) 

Blustery, cloudy and cold (40F) ~ Big change after yesterday’s windy, sunny and hot (85F).  But the green grass grew yesterday!

Edit:  Now that it’s 4pm, the temp says 50F (10C) and the sun is trying to shine in the now  cloudy but blue sky ~ still windy… of course.

 

I am thinking...

The Popper’s 9th birthday leads me to think about next week’s birthdays ~ my dad will be 79 and my mom-in-law 89  (Lord willing, next year we will be celebrating decade mile markers with them all!)

 

I am thankful …

…our order of apples from Azure Standard has lasted almost 3 weeks

…for good health (must be all those apples!)

…for another healthy heifer calf we’ve named Truffle (her mama is Mocha)

… amazon gift cards via swagbucks and my new OXO salad spinner that has my kids fighting for the privilege of washing and drying lettuce

 

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ Ivana, Eva, Masha & Dimitri

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad

… Diane and family

… Grant S.

… the broken marriages of J & S and R & K

… the W family

… Cinnamon ~ her Army hubby is in Afghanistan, her Marine son in Japan

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

… Angela & Jared and their newborn twins

… Sarita & Jeff need a replacement van and visas

… my dad, scheduled for shoulder surgery April 5 ~tomorrow

 

From the learning rooms...

It’s the ACT for the three Big Kids this Saturday ~ I need to find another good calculator for one of them.  Yikes ~ we will have to be out the door by 7:30am!  The public library is having their spring book sale this weekend… Can you guess where I will be waiting for my test-takers?  ;-)

I need to order Basic Skills tests for the Youngers ~ When do I want to schedule that?  Maybe it would be better before they actually finish with the regular school work?  Do you love it when I think out loud via my fingers??

The younger kids have only 6 weeks of their Bible geography left ~ and they are finishing the last unit of elementary human anatomy!  woot woot!  They have also been earning prizes from their dad when thy finish their weekly school assignments on time  :-) 

 

From the kitchen...

Since the leaders served Chinese food at Kids 4 Truth last week, and the rest of us got to sample the leftovers, I had to put my version of “authentic” eggrolls on our menu.  They won’t taste the same without the pot of hot oil to deep fry them, but I’ll do my best with what I’ve got.  Which would mean I should finish this up and get at it!

Other options:  taco salad, turkey taquitos, goulash, something with yesterday’s  leftover beef roast (soup?)

 

I am creating...

I need to get back to the flannel blankets and photo books (!) ~ after I finish some more quarterly treasurer duties ~ Yee ha!

 

I am going...

to have a clean desk again…someday.  Just not today.

I am reading...

a book loaned to me by Christine ~ Thank you!

Thanks to My Mother by Schoschana Rabinovici

(translated by James Skofield)

Rabinovici recounts in exacting detail how the Holocaust decimated her large, extended Lithuanian family. She was only eight years old when Hitler's army invaded Vilnius, a once-vibrant center of Jewish learning and culture. Staying one step ahead of the Nazis and their Lithuanian and Polish sympathizers, her family migrated from one house to another until they were caught and herded with 10,000 other Jews into a barbed-wire ghetto where they endured starvation, sickness, torture, and bitter cold. From the ghetto prison, the surviving members of her family were transported to a labor camp after narrowly avoiding being sent to a concentration camp and certain, immediate murder. Only three family members survived the ordeal. One was her mother, who through cunning, courage, and will saved the author from death countless times. Although the narrative is written in a controlled, even tone, the harrowing experiences described here are hard to forget.

(from the School Library Journal via Amazon)

 

I am hoping...

we make a close-enough guess on numbers for our first graduation open house  :o   I did find some cute paper plates etc last week  :-)

 

I am hearing...

one of Tim’s favorite CDs via Rhapsody ~

 

The dryer has buzzed to say it’s done

The Popper talking/singing around her runny/stuffed up nose  :-\  (allergies?)

 

Around the house...

I did actually do some dusting last week, Felicity  :-)  And cleaned the floors and our master bath.  But you know how it is…

 

One of my favorite things...

my new OXO salad spinner  :-)

 

Pondering these words...

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4b

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

It’s time for another Azure Standard order!  Photo books, flannel…

 

Here is a picture for thought...

 

The Popper would like to play the violin too  :-)

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

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 ~

 

10:30pm Edit: 

Just had to come back and give myself an “Atta Girl” or two  :-)

I have ordered the ITBS from BJU and another supply of apples etc from Azure Standard. 

And, best of all, my hubby declared my egg rolls ***BETTER*** than the yummy ones we had last week at church.  Life is good.  Good night!

soft molasses cookies

from Country Woman magazine, July-August 1989 ~ recipe submitted by LaVonne Hegland ~ first tasted in Grandma F’s kitchen  :-)

(photos & baking by Miss Artist)

SOFT MOLASSES COOKIES



1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening (aka Crisco, which I don’t buy; so we use more butter!)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup molasses

2 eggs, lightly beaten

4 cups flour (I would use at least half fresh whole wheat flour ~ I’m not sure what Miss Artist does)

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/4 tsp baking soda

2 1/4 tsp ginger

1 1/2 tsp ground cloves

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon



Cream butter and sugar. Add molasses and eggs, and mix well.

In another bowl combine remaining dry ingredients and mix with whisk. Gradually add to creamed mixture.



Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, then roll (or dip tops) in granulated sugar. Place 2 1/2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets.

Bake at 350F for ~11 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool on wire rack.



Store tightly covered to maintain softness (add a slice of raw apple for additional moisture).

Yield: 3 dozen

Make sure you have a full gallon of milk on hand before you bake these!

try, try again :-)

 

But this time I’ll add picture.

At the big farm, they are remodeling on a LARGE scale…

You just pick up the dryer bin and move it over there, thank you.

 

 

 

A Cry from the Streets

A Cry from the Streets: Rescuing Brazil's Forgotten Children

In the dark world of the Brazilian streets, children, toddlers and teenagers search trash cans for food, steal knives to protect themselves at night, and live in fear of being beaten or even killed by the police. For these desperately needy children, nothing was free - until they encountered the love of Jesus through the compassion of Jeannette and Johan Lukasse.

 

When this young Dutch couple asked God if He could use them to do something about the immense suffering they saw in the world, He led them on a winding path from their home in the Netherlands to the coast of Greece and eventually to the streets of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Their calling was clear: millions of orphaned and abandoned children were living and dying on the streets, caught in the deadly grip of drugs, violence, prostitution, and abuse.

 

What followed the Lukasses' step of faith is a stunning example of how God miraculously uses the surrendered lives of believers to transform the lives of others with His hope and healing.

 

 

The book is available from YWAM Publishing. 

(And the blurb is copied from their website)