daybook

#12 for 2010
hosted by Peggy @ The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ... the sun is shining and it promises to be another beautiful day.

I am wearing ... black pants with a black shirt and a black and purple jacket ... all part of an outfit my mom gave me a couple of Christmases ago.

I am hearing ... the TV on up front and birds singing in the back yard.

I am going ... to the dentist this morning to see what the damage is to a tooth I broke last week, and what the damage will be to my wallet to fix it!

I am thinking ... that I really don't have time to post this morning ...

I am hoping ... that the dentist appointment will be quick since Ronnie is having to take off work to keep the kids.

I am reading ... just finished What She Left for Me by Tracie Peterson.  A departure from normal for me, but still a pretty good book.

I am creating ... LB and I have been playing around with quilling since our Keepers meeting last Wednesday ... it is a lot of fun.

I am remembering ... the fun I had with my cousins at my grandparents' houses as a kid and how much I love seeing my kids enjoy the places where Ronnie and I grew up.

On my mind ... our choir musical this Sunday ... the musical has been powerful for me just rehearsing and I am praying that it will have a strong impact on those who hear it and that we will present it as an offering to our Savior and not a performance for the crowd.

Words that I am pondering ... I absolutely love the song that our choir sang last Sunday morning ... these words never fail to make me stop and think about the wonder of my salvation.

"Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea, a great High Priest whose name is Love who ever lives and pleads for me.  My name is graven on His hands.  My name is written on His heart.  I know that while in heav'n He stands no tongue can bid me thence depart."

From the learning rooms ... we will soon need to begin a seven day science experiment the kids brought home from co-op last week.  I haven't read it yet, but they are excited about getting it started.  I also need to write the syllabus for the co-op class I am teaching next year ... we will have sign up next Monday.

From the kitchen ... chicken strips with mac-n-cheese and green beans tonight ... that is as far as I have gotten in my planning, so I suppose we'll just wing it the rest of the week.

Around the house ... I am trying to get ready for our new living room furniture!

A few plans for the rest of the week ... not much out of the ordinary ... I have a missions meeting on Thursday night and we may have a family gathering at my brother's house on Saturday.

One of my favorite things ... being in the van alone and singing along to my favorite music.

A picture to share with you ... Daddy and the kids getting the tomatoes started last year ... they  have already been at it this year and I can't wait to get out there and help get things going.  This year Daddy bought a tiller and he is going to teach me how to use it!  This should be interesting.

Thanks for visiting!

I hope you have a wonderful week!

daybook

#11 for 2010

Outside my window ... it is gorgeous! The sky is a beautiful blue and the temps are supposed to be back in the 70's today ... can you tell I am ready for spring to come and stay?


I am hearing ... nothing, but the sound of my typing ... the kids really need to be up and going, but, for the moment, I am enjoying the quiet.

I am wearing ... jeans and a CHEB t-shirt. I am barefoot now since I think today will be a flip-flop day!  Did I mention how ready I am for spring?

I am going ... to take JW to speech, LB to dance and then JW to ball practice tonight.  I am hoping to squeeze in a trip to the library sometime today.


I am noticing that ... I am really starting to get excited about new curriculum for next year.


I am thinking ... about balance and wondering about the possibility taking on a new role next year.


I am hoping ... that the kids can get back into the routine of school without too much complaining.


I am reading ... Sadly, nothing ... which is why I am planning a trip to the library today.


I am creating ... now that the weather is improving and the kids can play outside at my parents' house, I am going to get back to sewing.  I have a pattern for a cute skirt for LB that I want to make next, I think.


I am remembering ... the pictures we saw last night of the children in Ecuador receiving shoeboxes and the pictures we saw of the places that those kids call "home."


On my mind ... Mama getting chemo as I type this ... hopefully this time won't be as bad as last time.
Words that I am pondering ... "the enemy of kindness is busyness."


Counting my blessings ... SPRING! (I know, I seem to have a one-track mind today ;-) ~ I just can't help it!), ministry opportunities, seeing God working in my life and in the lives of those around me, reconnecting with old friends and family~even though the circumstances weren't ideal, seeing the impact a life lived for Christ can make on others.

From the learning rooms ... back to reality! 


From the kitchen ... Chicken noodle soup for tonight. I had planned to have this last Tuesday, but my plans had to be changed, so I am trying again tonight.  I am also going to make bread and roasted tomato salsa today.


Around the house ... uggh.  Really, there are no real words for this today!


One of my favorite things ... hearing D say "Mommy, I want to hug you" and knowing that there are two translations to that statement ... 1. "Mommy, please pick me up" and 2. "Mommy, please don't be mad about whatever I did that I know I shouldn't have done!"

A picture to share with you ... I'm not sure what they were looking at, but they sure were intent on whatever it was.

Thanks for visiting ...

I hope you have a great week!

 Hosted by: The Simple Woman's Daybook

it is starting early this year

If you have been reading my blog for very long, you may already know of one ministry that I am passionate about.  If not, you can read a little of the story here and a little more of the story here or here.  Some of you probably already know what I am talking about and if so, you know that I am getting started early this year ... at least, I am talking about it earlier than usual, anyway.

The ministry is, of course, Operation Christmas Child.

Tonight, our area team had our first meeting of 2010 and let me just tell you that I am pumped and ready to go.  The regional director was here from Atlanta and he shared pictures from a recent distribution in Ecuador.  The pictures were amazing ... and not just because of the joy of seeing a child open his or her gift ... and knowing that it is possibly the first gift they have ever been given.

I was struck convicted, as I always am when I see these kinds of pictures, by my own lack of gratitude for the life that I lead.  Just today, I was complaining about ....  Well, let's be honest, it doesn't really matter what I chose to gripe about, what matters is that I had the nerve to complain about anything.

I would like to tell you that I won't need this reminder again, but you wouldn't believe me anymore than I would believe myself.

Instead, I plan to begin now praying in earnest for this ministry.  There are still distributions taking place, even as the teams are gearing up for 2010.   These teams need God's leadership and direction as they work.


I remember one of the points from the Experiencing God study I did many years ago talked about being aware of the places where God is already working and joining Him there. 

I believe with all my heart that God is working through Operation Christmas Child and I don't want to sit on the sidelines and miss an opportunity to join Him.  I want God to lead me in how He wants me to serve.

Because I know that some of you are also passionate about this ministry, I am going to ask you to pray.  Maybe God is leading you to get more involved.  Maybe He wants you to lead your church in getting started (or more involved) with the ministry.  Maybe He wants you to volunteer year-round.  Maybe He wants you to ...?

I can't even begin to imagine all the possibilites of how God can use you, but I would love to hear from you about how He leads.  I'd also love to help you get any information you might need to get started.  Even if you don't live near me, I still may be able to point you in the right direction.

God has given us an amazing opportunity to participate in His mission of taking the Gospel to a lost and dying world ... and it begins with a simple shoebox.

beach souvenirs

Here is just a little bit of what we did on the coast this weekend ...

At the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies

LB and her friends touching one of the animals ...

I think this may have been the horse shoe crab.

The boys getting an up-close look at a starfish,

 umm, I mean a sea star.

On the beach

Sea gull tracks ... pretty cool, huh?

The pictures are my souvenirs,

but the kids got some of their own, too ...

Anybody got any ideas for a good use of broken shells

and a bunch of sand?

daybook

#10 for 2010

Outside my window ... it is cloudy and cool.  Signs of spring are everywhere.

I am hearing ... Here I Am to Worship by Phillips, Craig and Dean.  The kids are still asleep, so the house is quiet.

I am wearing ... my jammies!

I am going ... to try and figure out a plan to get everyone where they need to be tonight.

I am noticing that ... my coffee doesn't taste as good when I can't smell it!

I am thinking ... that I really should go put on a batch of bread.

I am hoping ... that this allergy mess doesn't last too long.

I am reading ... ???.

I am creating ... not much.

I am remembering ... that 2 years ago during spring break, I was in the hospital recovering from surgery and how thankful I am that it is over.

On my mind ... the difficult weeks ahead for my aunt.

Words that I am pondering ... I'll just keep last week's words ... they bear repeating, I think.
"Does my life exhibit enough hope for someone to ask the reason for it? Maybe worse than not having a good answer is the possibility that no one even notices enough difference in my life to ask me about it." (See 1 Peter 3:15)

Counting my blessings ... a wonderful weekend away, seeing Ronnie with the kids during their field trip and on the beach, a fairly easy fix for our van and that it didn't break down between here and the coast, coming home.

From the learning rooms ... it will be a light week ... mostly cleaning and decluttering.  We will try to get some work done though.

From the kitchen ... Chicken noodle soup for tonight.  I am proud of myself for getting a menu done for this week ... now I just need to go buy the groceries I need for what I planned.

Around the house ... I am STILL trying to tackle the clutter that is overtaking the house.

One of my favorite things ... watching Ronnie play with the kids.

A picture to share with you ... on the beach looking for shells ... which they found in abundance!

Thanks for visiting ...

I hope you have a great week!

Hosted by: The Simple Woman's Daybook

field trip

I'm so excited!  Today is an unusual day for our family.  We are going on a field trip with our homeschool group and we have the rare treat of having Ronnie go with us.  Not surprisingly, he is usually working when we go on field trips and so I am usually the one that takes the kids.  I am not complaining, but I would be lying if I said that there aren't times when it would be easier to have him with us when I am trying to keep up with three kids.

Today, we are going to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies with the kids' Zoology co-op class.  This year their class is Apologia Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day.  I absolutely love Apologia science.  The textbook is written directly to the students, which seems to hold their interest better than some other textbooks we have used.  I am pretty sure that this tour today will be a great way to connect what they have learned to the real world.

The other advantage to this field trip today ... and the reason that Ronnie is with us ... is that the place we will be touring is in his home town, which is about 3 hours away from home.  The kids were so excited yesterday that we could barely contain them.  They love to come and spend time with Granny, so this is a double treat for them.

Hopefully, following this tour today, I will have some great pictures to show you of the kids and the animals they will get to see today.

daybook

#9 for 2010

Outside my window ... it is raining, again.  But the temps are warmer and we have had several days of sun, so I won't complain ... too much.

I am hearing ... the rain falling, D snoring softly in my bed, and the music from my playlist.

I am wearing ... jeans and a gray, long-sleeved "fighting okra" t-shirt from my college days.

I am going ... to take JW to speech this morning - which is why I am actually dressed this early in the day ;-) - and LB to dance this afternoon.  Tonight, I am going to a teachers' meeting for next year's co-op with our homeschool group.  I am really looking forward to teaching again next year.

I am noticing that ... the tree out front is putting out tiny buds ... spring is definitely on the way.

I am thinking ... that Thursday afternoon can't get here soon enough.  I am so looking forward to getting out of town for the weekend.

I am hoping ... for pretty weather on the coast this weekend.

I am reading ... still working my way back through Bible translations research.

I am creating ... decoupaged clipboards for the boys.  They wanted to have the clipboards like their sister got to make.  I actually offered to let JW work on his own, but he declared that it was a "girl thing," so I did it myself.

I am remembering ... the many things on my to-do list for today.

On my mind ... some words that I wish I hadn't spoken ... and what to do about it, if anything.

Words that I am pondering ... "Does my life exhibit enough hope for someone to ask the reason for it?  Maybe worse than not having a good answer is the possibility that no one even notices enough difference in my life to ask me about it."  (See 1 Peter 3:15)

Counting my blessings ... several days of sunshine, the cough medicine working and LB getting a good night's sleep last night, the boys feeling better from their colds, something to look forward to this weekend.

From the learning rooms ... we need to catch up this week after the crazy week we had last week.  Part of our trip to the coast this weekend will be a field trip to a marine life research center.  I think the kids will really enjoy getting to see some marine life up close and personal.

From the kitchen ... Ronnie requested meatloaf, so that is the plan for supper.  I think we'll have oven-baked rice and purple-hull peas to go with it.  If the day goes well, I may even make some fresh bread.

Around the house ... I am again trying to tackle the clutter that is overtaking the house.

One of my favorite things ... hot coffee and oatmeal cookies.

A picture to share with you ... LB used the new craft she learned to make a gift for a friend's birthday.  This is a little wooden shopping bag that she decoupaged and filled with little notepads and pens/pencils, and a little candy lip gloss (she is such a "girlie" girl).   I did help her get the paper cut out to the correct size and placed neatly, but she did most of it herself.

Verse for the week ... goes with the week of prayer for North American missions ...

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

 for it is the power of God unto salvation to

every one that believeth; to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.  Romans 1:16

Thanks for visiting ...

I hope you have a great week!

Please visit Peggy, who graciously hosts these daybooks each week.

when it rains, it pours

I opened my eyes about 2:30 this morning to a very strange sight.  From my bed, I can see straight into the boys' bedroom and after a few seconds of trying to focus, I realized that JW was standing up on the top bunk.  If that weren't strange enough, he was undressing himself while standing on the top bunk.

It only took me a couple of seconds to get into his room and realize that he had gotten sick and his bed was covered, as were his clothes, which explains why he was stripping at 2:30 in the morning.

I called Ronnie for some back up and began to try and help JW get his clothes off and then get the sheets off the bed.  Of course, all of the commotion woke up D, who had been sleeping on the bottom bunk.  About the time he started stripping his own clothes off, I realized that he had wet his bed.  Lovely.

Just for the record, I am not the best thinker at 2:30 in the morning, especially with two messes to deal with, but we did eventually work out a plan.  D got in our bed, where he is still asleep.  JW ended up sleeping on the couch, where he got sick again about 5:30 ... thankfully, we haven't gotten our new couch yet!  He is still asleep and I am really hoping that he only got sick because of the major sinus drainage he's dealing with.  But we shall see.

For now, I am off to tackle this:

daybook

#8 for 2010

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Outside my window ~

it is dreary and cold.

I am wearing ~

blue jeans and my Operation Christmas Child t-shirt.

I am hearing ~

The kids watching Gilligan's Island, their new favorite show.

You should hear them sing the theme song .... so cute!

I am going ~

to try and get things back to normal around here.

I am noticing that ~

I am way behind in everything these days.

I am thinking ~

about how thankful I am for our family and friends.

I am hoping ~

that D gets back to normal soon after his dental surgery yesterday.

He's not feeling too spiffy today, and his cold isn't helping.

I am reading ~

re-reading a lot of research on Bible translations.

I am creating ~

the boys have asked for clipboards like the ones LB and I made last week.

I am debating about letting them actually make their own, or doing them myself and

eliminating some of the mess.

I am remembering and praying for~

my aunt and uncle and their family ...

they are walking through some very difficult days right now.

Counting my blessings ~

D's successful surgery, great doctors and nurses yesterday,

our wonderful friends and family,

the tangible evidence of God's leading in this situation.

On my mind ~

how blessed my family is.

(I used this last week, too ... but I can't get away from the truth of it)

Words that I am pondering ~

Put on the whole armor of God,

that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Ephesians 6:11

From the learning rooms ~

Book-It reports and co-op work

From the kitchen ~

lots of soft, bland foods since that is all D can eat for a couple more days.

Around the house ~

just the usual messes ...

I am battling a serious lack of motivation to tackle what must be done.

A few plans for the rest of the week ~

dance this afternoon, Book-It tomorrow, musical practice on Thursday and co-op on Friday,

and that is just during the day ... I also have to cook for a meeting on Thursday night

 and find some time to actually do some school work.

One of my favorite things ~

an uninterrupted school day ... which we haven't had in some time now.

A picture to share with you ~

one of my favorite pictures of D - taken when he was about 2.

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Thanks for visiting!

I hope you have a great week