My daybook entry for the week

For Today...

Outside my Window...
freshly mowed grass and brown bunnies nibbling

I am thinking...
how much I love being a mom

and sharing my life with others

I am thankful for...
my hardworking and handsome husband;-)

From the kitchen...
homemade chocolate-chip oatmeal cookies

and they are calling my name!

I am wearing...
a comfortable housedress

I am reading...
lots and lots of English writing projects for work

I am hoping...
to have a week full of teachable moments

and fun memories

I am creating...
chore charts and updated routine lists

I am hearing...
Veggie Tales

Around the house...
children doing homework

One of my favorite things...
holding my children and just "being" with them

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
more unpacking

and going to the doctor in a few days

for a followup visit.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

I pray that our home is a lighthouse for the LORD!

I feel like taking a challenge!

The text below is taken from the website of the challenge:

I have decided to do a one year Bible reading. I am posting about it because I want everyone to join me. I am planning on reading 3 chapters a day.

Here is what you have to do -

Read the three chapters a day - after reading them, pray for at least 15 minutes, for anyone who needs prayers and for your heart to be opened, and whatever else you need. (You can also leave a comment here, if you want me to pray for you or someone you know needs prayer. I would be happy to pray for you or anyone else that needs it. :)

Post about what you read on your blog when you read your Bible, giving the Scripture you read and what it meant to you.

Make a category for this on your blog to post your posts in.

Announce the Challenge on your blog, using the icon and banner I made.

Sign the Mr. Linky, which will be on every one of *my* Bible reading posts, with the link to *your post*. (So I can check it out!)

My Work

I have the greatest work in the world;
The job of rocking a baby to sleep,
That of guiding his tottering feet,
A baby's clothes to launder and fold,
A precious life to shape and mold,
A drink to give from a little cup,
At night his toys to gather up,
Hurts to heal and fears to quell,
A baby to keep clean and well,
A stack of diapers to put away,
Oh, what a happy worthwhile day!
I am a "Mother."

I have the greatest work in the world;
A husband to encourage when things go wrong,
When he comes from work to greet with a song,
Denims and shirts to wash and mend,
A helping hand, when needed, to lend,
Three times a day his meals to cook,
To strive to be my best to look,
His back to rub at the close of the day,
For his faithfulness to God I pray,
When hubby's in the field I take lemonade,
for all these tasks his love has Paid.
I am a " Wife."




I have the greatest work in the world;
A home to keep happy, clean and bright,
Make things go smooth and strive for the right,
Jams to cook and jellies to make,
Cookies and pies and bread to bake,
Washing, ironing, and sewing to do,
So many tasks, will I ever get though?
Lettuce to wash and peas to pick,
floors to scrub, lost items to seek,
Dishes to wash and windows to shine,
These and many more tasks are mine.
I am a "Homemaker."

Help me, Father, to faithfully work,
Forgive if I unconsciously shirk,
give me the patience and love I pray,
To keep myself in duties way;
With all the hustle that each day brings
May I not neglect the needing things;
Each day to spend time alone with Thee
That Jesus Christ be seen in me.
Thank you for husband, our home, our girls and boys;
Thank you for love which brings me much joy.
Thank you , Lord.

----Mary Lou Burkholder

Following other blogs:-)

I am trying to compile a list of blogs that I read

or link to others who read my blog. . . .

OH MY!

I don't want to leave anyone out and would love to hear from all of you!

So if you read my blog(s), could you please leave a comment for me here

so that I don't forget to include you?

A picture thought and a great verse for today!

A weekly journal entry

For Today...

Outside my Window...

pretty sunshine and a welcomed cooler breeze!

I am thinking...

how much I dislike being sick with this cold!

I am thankful for...

the little things we so often overlook.

From the kitchen...

God's provision in our pantry and fridge.

I am wearing...

all pink today!

I am reading...

"Beautiful Girlhood"

I am hoping...

for a nap today to beat this cold.

I am creating...

some edits on photos from a photoshoot for a client.

I am hearing...

a CD with Steven Cutis Chapman's music;-)

Around the house...

sounds of living and sights of God's love for me.

One of my favorite things...

is hearing the laughter of my children.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...

at this moment I am on survial mode and just want to get better!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

click on it to see it larger (hopefully!)

~~~~Psalm 113:9~~~~

A Prayer for Womanhood

God, give each true good woman
Her own small house to keep,
No heart should ache with longing,
No hurt should go too deep.....
Grant her age-old desire:
A house to love and sweep.
Give her a man beside her,
A kind man, and a true,
And let them work together
And love, a lifetime through,
And let her mother children
As gentle women do.
Give her a shelf for dishes,
And a shining box for bread,
A white cloth for her table,
And a white spread for her bed,
A shaded lamp at nightfall,
And a row of books much read.
God, let her work with laughter,
And let her rest with sleep.
No life can truly offer
A peace more sure and deep....
God, give each true woman
Her own small house to keep

~Grace Noll Crowell~
~~~~~~1934~~~~~~

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Ponder this quote. . . .

Took some pictures outside this evening

We are surrounded by beauty; We just need to slow down enough and make ourselves notice it! I am thankful for the little things today.

Do you like my new look?

Leave a comment if you like how I spruced up the blog!

Quick update

We are still trying to find our way in the midst of boxes, unpacking, and details, along with getting the last few things from the other house and getting it cleaned up.

I am a sunset person and I must have 100's of pics showcasing jaw-dropping displays of God's sky paintings. I thought that I'd share a few here.

The first one is from my former house, my childhood home, and I am mesmerized by the sight of the clouds awash with vibrant colors every time.

The second one is from the balcony of my new home - Notice the rainbow and the bird in the tree. What a picture of perfect peace!

Like that bird, I am holding onto the promises of God in the middle of this trial. Praising Him draws my heart out of fear and back into perfect trust and peace.

Knock! Knock!

Last night we were greeted by neighbors carrying a tray of goodies and a homemade card which read, "Welcome to the neighborhood!"

I am basking in the support and encouragement of others, knowing that we are surrounded by such caring and friendly people.

Who cares enough to go and meet your new strangers, i.e. neighbors, living next door anymore?

We are blessed to have been led here and now welcomed officially to the neighborhood!

Still packing, still moving - but starting to get settled in slowly but surely!

Sore legs and exhaustion have been permeating my life the last few days, but we have been very blessed to have people come around us to help us move. We still have so much to do and not enough time it seems to get it all done, but thank the Lord for his precious promises.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases! They are new every morning!

Amen!

1 Corinthians 13 for Mothers

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,
but have not love,
I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,
but have not love,
my children learn cleanliness, not godliness.

If I scream at my children for every infraction,
and fault them for every mess they make,
but have not love,
my children become people-pleasers, not obedient children.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present "mommy,"
the taxi-driver to every childhood event,
the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child,
then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.
Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.

All the projections I had for my house and my children
have faded away into insignificance,
And what remain are the memories of my kids.

Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture,
dishes with missing place settings,
and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings,
But the greatest of all is the Love
that permeates my relationships with my children.

-Adapted by Jim Fowler

Working, packing, moving - with help from God!

This has been a busy, busy week, with too much to do and not enough time! Add in three kids to the mixture of work with my teaching job, and all of the packing and moving, and you have a whirlwind of activity from sun-up until the wee hours of the morning when I have been collapsing into bed!

We have been so blessed, however, as God has sent people to come to our assistance in so many ways by getting boxes, taking the girls for a while, and sending encouragement our way! God has also seen to it that Randy was able to take off this week and next week and has been able to be there for me in more ways than one! I am so thankful for my husband!

We are moving closer to move-in day and it still feels like a dream in so many ways. We are so completely blessed by the hand of God working all things out for our good by His hand. . . .

Praise the Lord for His provision, protection, and peace!

The keys. . . .

We are set to pick up our keys tonight! I am starting to feel somewhat nervous and anxious as I try to juggle working full time, packing, and moving this week! How am I ever going to get this all done?

In HIM we live, and MOVE, and have our being! Amen!

Gentle reminders. . . .

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food -
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children -
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep -
Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive -
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another -
Remember that not one of us is without error and we all answer to the Divine.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down
Put a smile on your face and Thank GOD you're alive and still around!

We take so much for granted.

Last post for today - this blog has a theme song!

(Conservative version performed by the artist)

Praising God for the resources!

Well, I thought that I was done posting for today, but I was reminded in prayer that I was remiss in forgetting to praise God for providing the resources to move. Not only has He provided the finances to move, but He has also orchestrated people to work on our behalf.

He has made everything beautiful in His time!

Three things I asked of the Lord!

• That the home we move into will still have a view of the mountains that mean so much to me.

- The back porch upstairs looks out to an unobstructed view of "my" mountains!

• That my husband would be in agreement about this move because God was working in his heart also.

- My husband was in total agreement and had been feeling that this was something that God was leading us to do. I was confirmation for HIM!

• That God would provide a newer couch for us!

- This was a silly wish of mine, but would you know, God even cares about our desires that seem silly. We have a "newer" couch waiting for us now in our "new" home left behind by our landlord!

Our God is a good God and always blesses us

with more than we can ask or imagine!

Yes, it's a rental home,

but it is a blessing none-the-less,

and for that we are grateful!

Preparing to minster through opening our home to others

We are called to minister to all that we meet, and we believe that God is opening doors to minister in our new hometown. This post on a beautiful blog really spoke to me: Hospitality

So often we make excuses for not reaching out -but in reality, if we don't who will?

I want to be able to have anyone drop in and not have a heart attack or be ashamed of the condition of my home and/or my children's behavior.

I have my work cut out for me:-)