simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY April 22,2013

Outside my window... I see robins, cedar waxwings and red winged blackbirds out and about.

I am thinking... about my beautiful daughter who turns six this weekend.

I am thankful... for the opportunity to stay at home with my children and the freedom to school them at home.

In the kitchen... homemade lotion.

I am wearing... a red t-shirt, black fleece jacket and black pants.

I am creating... gifts for five wonderful women.

I am going... to enjoy a specialty coffee this morning.

I am wondering... what pictures to use for a new home decor project I'm working on.

I am reading... Home Improvement: Eight Tools for Effective Parenting by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller

I am hoping... to see the sunshine more and more with each passing day.  So far the forecast is looking pretty gray.

I am looking forward to... summer vacation and relaxation!!

I am learning... new ways to parent effectively.

Around the house... a sleeping dog, children with full tummies, raindrops on windows and a mama on the computer.

I am pondering... as we celebrate Earth day, what did the earth look like after God first created it and how different the earth may be today.

A favorite quote for today... "... How can one know color in perpetual green, and what good is warmth without cold to give it sweetness?" ~John Steinbeck

One of my favorite things... an appointment free day.

A few plans for the rest of the week: finish lesson plans for the school year, continue the spring cleaning/cleanout that we began this weekend and enjoy fellowship with friends throughout the week.

A peek into my day...

At any given moment Mason can be counted upon to make a gun out of whatever he's holding. Here, it is a Nerf gun, but I've also seen him use a baseball bat, remote control, pencil/crayon/marker, squirt bottle, stick and even the broom as a gun. Today he told me he was shooting bananas at me!

Thanks for stopping by to read my daybook.  If you would like to read other daybook entries or join the fun with an entry of your own, please visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

more ice

Melting!

covered in ice

Went to bed last night with rain pelting the windows.  Woke up many times in the night to thunder and lightning crashing around me.  Woke up this morning to a world covered in ice.

 

As I was walking around taking pictures I could hear cracking ice all around me when the wind blew.

 

The trees were bowing under the weight of the ice.

 

This robin seemed to have to pry his feet from the icy branch when he flew away.

simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY March 25, 2013

Outside my window... the skies are cloudy all day.

I am thinking...of what it must have been like to anxiously wait for the Lord to pass over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt all those years ago.

I am thankful... for the cross and the Son of Man who took my sins.

In the kitchen... friendship bread starter and the ingredients for Koulourakia (greek cookies), to be made ahead of time for our greek feast after Easter.

I am wearing... green shirt, navy blue sweater and cozy pants.

I am creating... new decor from old things.

I am going...to re-evaluate my boys school curriculum.

I am wondering...why internet explorer suddenly stopped working on my pc?

I am reading... Sold by Patricia McCormick

I am hoping...to see warmer temperatures soon.  The calendar says it's spring but the view outside my window is yelling winter.

I am looking forward to...some time off during spring break!

I am learning... how to be thankful in all circumstances.

Around the house... paint and paint supplies.

I am pondering... what to have for lunch?

A favorite quote for today... "Wounded people, wound people." ~Heidi St. John (and her mom)

One of my favorite things... daisies.  They're such happy sunny flowers.

A few plans for the rest of the week: enjoy every moment.

A peek into my day...

Enjoying a winter walk.

 

If you would like to read other daybook entries or make one of your own, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.  Thanks for stopping by.

book humor

overheard

 

"Gumballs make me happy."

bring your swimsuit

My suitcase was zipped and staged by the back door.  I was mentally checking off items to bring in my purse.  Bible, pen/pencil, facial tissue, gum.... the essentials for my weekend away at retreat.  I was making one last trip around the house tidying up when I had the thought, 'bring your swimsuit'.

Hmm, I could.  However, I quickly dismissed the thought.  I wouldn't have time to relax in the hot tub or swim in the pool.  Again, 'bring your swimsuit' (louder this time).  Well, I'll grab it if I remember next time I'm upstairs.  I folded a bit of laundry, added those forgotten pajamas to the suitcase and made one last pit stop in the bathroom when the thought came again, 'bring your swimsuit'.  Fine!  Why is this still stuck in my head when half the time I can't remember things when I go from one room into another.  "Ok Lord, I'm bringing my swimsuit, I hope you allow me to use it."  I found my suit and jammed it in the last available space in the suitcase.

Retreat began Friday night and continued on until Sunday afternoon.  Saturday there is a session in the morning and one following dinner in the evening.  Between that time there are a group of optional breakout sessions to attend.  None of those really appealed to me so I stayed in my room with one of my roommates and talked.  The phone rang and it was an old friend of hers and she wanted to visit.  I wanted to give them time alone to chat and wondered what to do with myself.  The breakout sessions were already halfway into the alotted hour. 

This is where the swimsuit comes into play.  Even though the pool was miles (really not much exageration there) from our room, there was a hot tub just steps down the hall.  I would have enough time to enjoy a good long soak and then be able to take a leisurely shower before dinner.  I quickly changed into my suit and walked down the hall to enjoy the hot tub.

Relaxing in the hot tub with the bubbles swirling around me, I thanked God for urging me to bring my swimsuit and allowing me this time to sit and relax in the quiet.  Then it occurred to me that not only did God give me quiet time in water (one of my favorite things), but he also used that swimsuit to get me out of my room and give my roommate and her friend the uninterrupted time they needed to be together to nuture and encourage each other.

This morning I read this post over at Laced with Grace.  If you have a minute I encourage you to pop over and read it.  The post is what encouraged me to write this today.  Dana writes about the small details.  You can bring everything to God.  Everything!  He's detail oriented and he cares for you and he cares for me.  He could have just let it go and not urged me to bring my suit.  I could have just wandered the halls or tucked into one of the many sitting areas throughout the hotel.  I would have been content with that.  But God cares for me and knows what I need and he knows my favorite things.