Captured by Sarah Photography ~ August 29, 2012

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

in every thing give thanks

 

 D Saylor goody bag

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>

December 2001 001   wax lips 2004 001   May 2006 001   _09

 

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!}

1107131337

 

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

mom & dad November 1953 001

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

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.

 

1107131337

 

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!}

DSC00115  DSC00125


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?

I love the candy cane twine. #2berrycreative #bakerstwine www.2berrycreative.com     Baker's twine all wrapped the same with DIY custom gift tags!Baker's twine storage

[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!

http://www.thinkgarnish.com/store/images/thumbnails/0/450/300/ideas_boxlunch_lg.jpg

{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…

garnish_620x413_WM_peppermint-spoons

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.

DSC00129  DSC00131DSC00132 

~.~.~.~.~

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:

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

~.~.~.~.~

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

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

thankful thoughts

 

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

DSC00093 - CopyDSC00095 - CopyDSC00097 - CopyDSC00099 - CopyDSC00100 - CopyDSC00102 - CopyDSC00103 - CopyDSC00117

 

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

DSC00114

 

3.  colorful, cheerful gerberas

DSC00116

 

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 :-)}

DSC00118DSC00119

Dec 2008 Suburban 001

{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?

DSC00120DSC00123

 

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…

041

Friday, October 25, 2013

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 ~




Monday, October 21, 2013

daybook 10/21/2013

 

DSC04584

For today, Monday, October 21, 2013



Outside my window...  it’s been a sunny but chilly day!


Hearing... the Cattleman informed me that Charlie is out again {a calf with a reputation}


Pondering... why I blog.  Among other things.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 1 Timothy 5:10

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19


Praying... 

  • for friends and family with health needs, especially young Callan & Denise.
  • for the P Family awaiting news of visa approval.
  • for the Rettigs in Prague ~ an Evening of the Bible planned for Wednesday in Kladno.
  • for our college kiddos.


Thankful... 

  • for answered prayers.
  • that Callan’s parents were pleased with doctors they met last week.
  • that ‘no news is good news’ about Jon’s survival through the Crucible.
  • for the end of the corn harvest ~ soybeans are almost done too.


Creating... an early birthday gift/care package for Abby :-)  She broke her purse last month, so when the Cowgirl & I found this one on sale at Kohl’s last week…

DSC00024

Going... to serve leftovers for supper tonight :D


Reading...  Psalms, 1&2 Timothy


Looking forward to... another book from the Sister Circle series by V.Bright & N.Moser.


In the kitchen... Hoping my attempt at transplanting some aloe ‘pups’ is successful. {I googled ‘aloe propagation’ after I’d already moved them…}

DSC00040

Menu options:  leftover taco meat, chick/veg soup, lasagna; pepper steak; Cajun chicken pasta

And the kids add, “Pizza!  Pizza!  Pizza!” with Italian gusto.


In the learning rooms... the Cowgirl finished with Physical Science!  woot woot!  and will be moving on to Chemistry 101


Around the house...  Ten Seven buckets of apples waiting in the garage.  Gerberas moved back into the house.

DSC00037   DSC00041


The Mother Load...

DSC00050


Noticing that... the “red” trees are coming on strong with their annual color change ~ sorry, no lovely pics available on my camera


Something fun to share... {balloons are always fun!}

christmas balloons

[source ~ The Christian Homekeeper]


A favorite quote for today...

[source ~ Gary Morland via his daughter, the Nester]

 

One of my favorite things... my mom’s quilts!

DSC00026  DSC00028


 

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

Wednesday & Thursday ~ the usual.

Saturday ~ Outdoor Extravaganza at Jack’s.



A peek into my world...

DSC00033  DSC00036

DSC00046    DSC00045

DSC00044  DSC00048

 

~.~.~.~.~

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:

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

~.~.~.~.~

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

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17