Good-bye October ~ A Daybook entry

Outside my window... it is cloudy and chilly this morning.

I am hearing...  Andrew practice piano and Jonathan playing guitar.

I am thinking ...  about a quiet afternoon/evening of crocheting after my chiropractor appointment.

I am thankful for ...

• Our church family.  We've been worshipping at Cornerstone for 1 year now.
• visiting with friends last night
• a full 8 hours of sleep

In the kitchen... I haven't made this weeks menu yet but I am going to try doing more meals that will have leftovers to carry into the week.

I am wearing... a long jean skirt, a blue flannel shirt, blue knee highs and boots

I am creating... Slippers 

I am going... to the chiropractor for an adjustment.

I am praying for ... The up coming elections

I am reading... Loving God With All Your Mind by Elizabeth George. I did just get this book and can't wait to begin.  I already read chapter 1 and it was good. 

I am hoping... that our best friends can make it to Andrew's party.  It's a secret that they hoping to come.

I am looking forward to... Andrew's birthday on Thursday and his party on Saturday.

Around the house... Lots of cleaning going on in preparation for the party.

I am pondering...  things best kept in my heart for now.

A favorite quote for today...  "Never be afraid to be a broken thing."  Ann Voskamp

One of my favorite things...  being home with my kids, investing in their lives and learning alongside of them.  I am truly blessed!

A few plans for the rest of the week:   School, a game day on Andrew's birthday, homeschool gym co-op, party prep and the party!

A picture I'm sharing... 

 

My neice Brooklyn and I at her birthday party a couple of weeks ago!  Love her to the moon and back a gazillion times!!

Thoughtful Thursday

Grace. 

Always grace. 

It reaches places we could never even imagine and today I ponder this love grace for all and surrender those broken and shattered places that I cling to and lay them before the Redeemer.




"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Wordless Wednesday

Mexican Three Bean Salad

On Saturday evenings I've been preparing a few different raw salads to eat throughout the week.  This yummy Mexican Three Bean Salad was on the menu for this week and it is DELICIOUS! 

 

One nice thing about this salad is that it keeps all week in the fridge and makes quite a bit.  I eat it raw but my husband likes it heated and eaten over rice.  Some of the boys like it heated,mixed with rice, and topped with some cheese and sour cream and then rolled up in tortilla. 

 

If serving this dish make it the night before and let the flavors marinate overnight.

 

 

 

Mexican Three Bean Salad

 

Ingredients:

•  2-3 cans beans, your choice.  (I used black, dark red kidney and black eyed peas)
• 4 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, any color
• 2-3 plum tomatoes diced
• red onion chopped (I left this out as my husband doesn't like onions)
• fresh sweet corn or 1 bag of frozen sweet corn

 

Dressing:

•  1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp garlic
• 1 tsp. oregano

Enjoy!  If you try the recipe, let me know how you liked it.

 

 

 

 

 

Daybook

FOR TODAY

 

 

Outside my window... it is cloudy and chilly this morning. 

I am hearing...  an audio book of Across Five Aprils and the windchime outside.

I am thinking ...  that I am not ready to be cold all the time.  :) 

I am thankful for ...

• that the insomnia I had been experiencing over the last month is over and for almost a week of restful sleep.
• For our new piano.  Thank you, mom.
• A wonderful evening last Friday with friends at a ladies tea and gathering.
• How much my husband loves me.  
• Delicious smelling candles

In the kitchen... I made a delicious raw mexican 3 bean salad to eat throughout the week.  It can also be eaten heated and with rice.  Recipe coming tomorrow.  I am also going to pickle eggs.  I've never done this but Scott likes them so I thought I would give it a try.

I am wearing... a long jean skirt, a coral colored shirt and sweater, knee high socks and my crocks in the house.

I am creating... a list of deep cleaning chores to be done and breaking them up into weekly tasks. 

I am going... to enjoy the rest of my coffee and start spelling with Andrew

I am praying for ...   The up coming elections.

I am reading...  Loving God With All Your Mind by Elizabeth George.  It was the 2nd Christian book I bought after becoming a Christian.  I first read it in April of 1999. 

I am hoping... to get Andrew's birthday plans and menu planned by mid-week.  I'm thinking about a "game" theme.  Andrew's favorite game is Monopoly so I'd like to do something fun with that.

I am looking forward to... some time to crochet this afternoon.

I am learning... about Thomas Edison with the boys as we read aloud each day.  We've had some good discussions about character as we've read.

Around the house... Andrew is holding his cat and eating a snack, Christopher is reading the Bronze Bow on the couch and Jonathan is working on Science.

I am pondering...  Philippians 4:8 and learning to think of those things that are true (real).

A favorite quote for today...

 

“The all-victorious Christ is like a great rock in a weary land, to whose shelter we may flee in every time of sorrow or trial, finding quiet refuge and peace in him.”
―  J.R. Miller

 

One of my favorite things...  date nights with my sweetie.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  A trip to the vet's office, library and guitar lessons.  I also need to call and schedule to have our new piano tuned. 

A peek into my day...  Our new "baby"  * Chloe *

 

 

 

This post is linked at A Simple Woman's Daybook.

Thoughtful Thursday

 

"Be Still and know that I am God..." 

Psalm 46:10a

Recently the Lord has been speaking to me about Being Still - He has brought the verse from Psalm 46:10 to mind in many different ways over the last few weeks; in His Word, through a devotional book, 2 different songs, a friend sharing it with me and a sermon I listened to online.

There are so many things to be busy with aren't there?  Both physically and in mind.  Piano and guitar lessons, homeschool co-op gym time, hobbies, books to read, holidays to prepare for, chores, Bible study, etc.   A lot of those things can be good things but there can be other things that burden and worry us, thus keeping our mind busy.  The upcoming elections, maybe our finances, our children, extended family relationships, worries over health concerns, etc. 

Can you see why God would want us to "be still and know that He is God?"  He is God over all of those things!  Being still before Him in the midst of all these things is a surrender and trust.  Knowing who God is and what He is calling us to, will help us to be obedient to His word and His plan and purposes for us.

Over the last month I've been battling with anxiety and insomnia.  My health has been very fragile and I've been sick often.  Am I over committed?  Am I stretched beyond where He wants?  Am I being disobedient or neglectful of His leading, leaning more to what I want or desire to do?  These are some of the questions I've been asking myself along with asking for wisdom, guidance and strength to follow His leading. 

A former pastor's wife once shared some advice at our monthly ladies Bible study in regards to helping us examine our busyness.  Obviously there are daily things we must do which might not fit within these questions as well as many more questions we could ask, but it is a good place to start, especially when we are looking at participating in activities that take us out of the home.  I pray that they might be a help to you as well.

The Right Questions to Ask:

 

~ Will it strengthen my faith and help me love Jesus more?

~ Will it advance me in my warfare against sin?

~ Will it help me be fore resolved to pray?

~Will it embolden my witness?

 

Have a wonderful Thursday, friends.  I leave you with the following encouragement:

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Colossians 3:1-2

 

 

Remembering

 

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

 

Psalm 103:1-5

Re-design

Please excuse the look/mess around my blog.  I am working (slowly) on a new design and so things might look a little wonky until I am done.  :)

Daybook - EMS edition

Good monday morning!  Today I am feeling very fatigued.  I have been dealing with insomnia off and on for the last month and extreme fatigue.  Last night I got only 3 hours of sleep and I mentioned to my son, Jonathan that I am exhausted.  He said I have EMS, Exhausted Mom Syndrome.  *smile*  I think he is right and I would love to go back to bed but there is just too much to do today.  Of course, it doesn't help that it is cloudy today.  I was up early enough to see the sun rise a brilliant orange but where it went, I'm not sure. 

 

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...  it is cloudy and chilly - not very cheery looking.

I am thinking trying not to think...  about how warm and cozy my bed is and how much I would love to go back to bed.  Although I make my bed everyday, I am especially thankful I did so early this morning or I might just be tempted to crawl back in and catch up on some sleep.

I am thankful... for God's word which brought me peace last night when I couldn't sleep.

In the kitchen... homemade bread and hard boiled eggs, soon to be egg salad.

I am wearing... a long jean skirt, white anklets, a coaral colored shirt and sweater.

I am creating... slippers.  I started crocheting some slippers this week.

I am going... to the chiropractor and grocery shopping at some point today.

I am wondering... where our cat Lovus is.  He has been missing since last Wednesday and despite our calling and looking around the property for him we haven't been able to find him.

I am reading...  Hinds Feet on High Places

I am hoping... the sun will come out.

I am looking forward to... finishing up school early today.

I am learning... to be still.  Being still is harder than one would think.  Goodness my mind wanders and flits from thing to thing.

Around the house... It is quiet and everyone but Christopher is working on school work.  Christopher is not feeling well and asked if he could lay back down for a bit.

I am pondering...  "Be still and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10a

A favorite quote for today... Romans 12:1-2 from the Message Bible.  I don't normally read from this Bible but I love these two verses in this paraphrase.

 

 ^"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

One of my favorite things...  hot apple cider with a shot of carmel and topped with whipped cream.  Mmmm

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I am working through our bins of winter apparel and making lists of things we will need.  I am also gathering together items for a winter survival kit for our daughter to keep in her car while traveling to and from college this winter. 

A peek into my day...  Andrew working on his bird feeder for a science project.

 

 

This post is linked at the Simple Woman's Daybook.

Happy October, friends!  I love this month and although I start decorating for fall in September I think I enjoy this month the most.  I love the cool crisp evenings and the warm sun during the day, however today it is windy and overcast.  I can hear the wind chime on the deck and the leaves are swirling from the trees and blanketing the ground in color.

Outside my window...  It is overcast and windy.  There are some junco's feeding on some seed at the base of our big Evergreen tree in the front yard and I saw two squirrels gathering nuts earlier.  I enjoy watching them look for places to bury them.

I am listening to... an audio version of Across Five Aprils is playing in the background while Christopher listens and follows along in his book.

I am thinking... 

I am thankful... to be feeling better today. 

In the kitchen... pumpkin pie has been requested and will be attempted sometime this week.  Today we are having a light lunch and left overs for dinner.

I am wearing... Still in my comfy jammies.  :)

I am  are creating...  crocheted gifts.  When the weather turns cooler I love to crochet and knit.  Right now I am working on some crocheted gifts for friends.

I am going...  to the chiropractor today.  I've had a small relapse with my back and am temporarily back to twice weekly appointments.

I am wondering...

I am reading...  too many books at one time.  :) 

I am hoping...

I am looking forward to...  enjoying the Autumn season

From the Learning Room ...  Andrew and I are enjoying our Science study on birds.  We just watched this dvd and are making some birdfeeders to hang in different trees around the yard. 

 

Around the house...  A quiet Monday. 

A favorite Scripture for today...  "Be still and know that I am God..."  Psalm 46:10a

One of my favorite things...  Flannel sheets, hot creamy coffee and flickering harvest and or cider smelling candles.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Chiropractor appointments, guitar lessons and a trip to the library.  I am hoping to have earlier bedtimes for myself this week too.  I've been so fatigued and tired.  Obviously my body is needing more rest, so I am going to try to not over-do it during the day and help my body recover.

A picture I am sharing....  How to keep a boy busy.