Memories of Easter Week

March 30th Daybook

For today, Tuesday, March 30, 2010~

Outside my window~cloudy, 46 degrees

I am hearing~the coffee maker brewing my coffee :)

I am thinking~about my husband's Aunt Gracie (Happy Birthday!)

I am thankful~for a reliable vehicle

I am wearing~comfy clothes and warm socks

I am remembering~what a fun time I had with my family over the last week

I am reading~my Bible and I am still working on Going Rogue

I am hoping~that the weathermen are correct~they are saying that it will be in the 70's by Thursday and the 80's by Sunday!!!

On my mind~my mom recently had carpal tunnel surgery (she gets the bandages off today) but she also has an ulcer in her stomach that really is painful

From the learning rooms~Oldest Daughter is "plugging away" and has only 38 school days left! Yippee!

Son is working hard on his reading and writing. He loves numbers and would prefer to work on that all day.

Youngest Daughter is keeping us busy...she loves to play with the large Lego blocks, and loves to carry a little purse on her arm.

Noticing that~I have my dining room table back. All those bags of eggs are done and the children got to take a bag home with them on Sunday after church. I'm praying that they use the Easter invitations to get other folks out on Sunday.

I am creating~my to do list today (I just love lists, it keeps me organized and even better, I love crossing things off my list!)

From the kitchen~bacon cheeseburgers tonight, spaghetti on Wednesday, chicken on Thursday, and probably out to eat on Friday

Around the house~are the eggs and baskets that the kids were playing "grocery store" with yesterday

One of my favorite things~is talking to my Hubbie

A few plans for the rest of the week~include a ladies meeting tonight, church Wednesday, Easter preparations (physical and spiritual), and then the Easter Cantata on Sunday morning

I don't have a picture to share with you today, but come back tomorrow for a few...

Hope you have a great day today. Thanks for stopping by. If you'd like to read more daybooks, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Underneath

I don't know about you, but sometimes I forget to look underneath things...then the dust bunnies pile up, or the dirt gets thick, etc. Ever do that?

Recently, I found a nice bag of navel oranges at the grocery store. They smelled and looked so delicious... So, I purchased them, brought them home and put them in my pretty iron bowl. And promptly forgot about eating them! Shame on me for wasting money like that! (Sorry, Hubbie!)

There they were, sitting so pretty on the counter, but I kept thinking, "I'll eat an orange tomorrow" or "I'll make sure the kids share an orange at lunch". However, none of those things ever happened. The oranges still looked good, though.

But yesterday morning, they started to look old and yucky, so I thought I should check them out. Sure enough, they were soft and in a word~gross! When I picked up one of them, my fingers touched~




MOLD!




Oh, I was disgusted! Now I had that nasty green junk all over my fingers...

As I was washing my hands, I started thinking. How many things are underneath (in my spirit) that people can't see, but God can?

• What about those feelings of jealousy, pride, envy, doubt? Ouch!
• What about those thoughts of "If only..."? Ouch!
• What about those thoughts I had about another person? Ouch!
• "But God, that person did......to me!" Ouch!

God doesn't just want me to look good on the outside. He wants a clean vessel on the inside, too! I'm so thankful HE brought those moldy oranges to my attention, because He also brought some things to mind that needed some serious spiritual attention. Things that needed to be confessed...that needed to be forgiven...I must say that this Christian walk is sometimes hard, sometimes victorious, and sometimes challenging~but always worth the effort!

My verse for today is Ephesians 6:6 (emphasis mine)

"Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;"

I hope you have a great day! And watch out for those oranges!    ;)

Impromptu~

Cutie pies

+

=

an impromptu picnic on a nice spring day...

Have a great Wednesday!

Success~

Good morning! Thank you for your prayers yesterday for Mom's surgery. Although the surgeon was two hours late in performing her surgery, Mom came through it just fine. She told me that she really didn't know the surgeon was finished until he was wrapping up her hand.

My biggest concern with the surgeon being two hours late was this~Mom is an insulin-dependent diabetic, hadn't eaten since before midnight on Sunday night, and didn't have the surgery until 1:30 yesterday afternoon. I am so thankful that she did just fine...her blood sugar numbers were good, and she ate well at dinner.

Speaking of dinner, the casserole turned out good, and I was able to make two pans of it...one for last night, and one for Mom and Dad tonight.  :) Poppy seed chicken casserole has to be one of the easiest, yummiest recipes in my file...I'm hungry now!

She goes back next Tuesday and the doctor will take the bandages off. Then the following Tuesday, he will remove the stitches. Then, about three or four weeks from now, she will have the same surgery done on  her right wrist. Thank you again for praying for her. I hope you have a great day!

Spring is Here!

For today, Monday, March 22, 2010~

Outside my window~raining, and 63 wonderful degrees!

I am hearing~little voices and math class

I am thinking~about my mom who has carpal tunnel surgery this morning

I am thankful~for a country where I can worship God

I am wearing~short sleeve blue shirt, tan skirt, no socks

I am remembering~when Oldest Daughter wore the clothes that Little Daughter has on today

I am reading~my Bible, and nothing else right now~this is probably not a good thing...

I am hoping/praying~that Mom's hand surgery goes well today

On my mind~is my congressman who just voted last night...

From the learning rooms~Oldest Daughter is doing bar graphs today in Arithmetic, starts a new reader, and is close to being finished with Science, and had her first crocheting lesson yesterday

Son is reading well

Little Daughter is walking really good, and molars are coming in :{

Noticing that~spring has finally sprung around my "neck of the woods"~Thank you, Lord!

I am creating~filled Easter eggs for this coming Sunday

Pondering these words~"We read our Bibles in black and white, but once you visit the Holy Land, you read your Bible in color." This was from the tour guide of one of our church members who just returned from Israel...

From the kitchen~grilled cheeseburgers for lunch, poppy seed chicken casserole, green beans, rolls, and some dessert for dinner (we'll be taking dinner to my parents)

Around the house~are library books holding up some train track (Hmmm...), and over 1,000 Easter eggs...I have three more colors of eggs to fill (about 400)

One of my favorite things~is how considerate my Hubbie is and how completely he loves me! I love you, sweet Hubbie!

A few plans for the rest of the week~to my parents house today, church on Wednesday (youngest kids choir sings), helping my sister celebrate her birthday later this week, finish getting the Easter eggs filled and bagged...

From my picture journal~

What a difference a month can make!

I'll be linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook tomorrow, where Peggy hosts this meme and where you can read lots of other Daybooks!

Have a wonderful day!

Getting Close...

Good morning! Great guesses yesterday, but no one guessed correctly... I did receive a blessing (one of my reasons for blogging is to count my blessings) from the purchase!

And just so you know, my post today is all over the place.

• I can't believe it! This is post number 74! I never thought I would have so much fun or meet so many wonderful ladies (YOU!) when I first started blogging, back in October. This has been a great way for me to be more faithful with journaling...

• I think when I reach 100, I'll have to do a little giveaway.  :)   There have been so many giveaways this week all over blogland. Did you enter any? I entered several, but I did not win anything. I will certainly try again!

• Just this morning, I found a brand new blog called Finding Heaven. If you visit, Jen would certainly enjoy hearing from you. You can visit her here.

• I'm going to be busy the next few days filling over 1,000 Easter eggs with candy! Our church hands out treat bags filled with eggs. We usually do this on Easter Sunday, but this year, we'll do it Palm Sunday, and included in the treat bag will be some invitations for the children to pass out to friends, neighbors, etc. We'll have a special treat for the visitors that come on Easter Sunday. Does your church do anything special for the young ones?

I hope you have a great day and a good start to your weekend!

The Daybook for March 16, 2010

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend, and a good start to your week! I haven't been on the computer much since Thursday, so it's good to be back. ;)

I just tried to upload the picture of The Simple Woman's Daybook, but no success. For some reason, I have been having a few issues with the computer...I guess my sweet Hubbie will have to work on that when he gets home today. He's so much better than I with the computer.

I really enjoy posting a daybook each week. If you'd like to read other women's entries, please visit Peggy, the host of the Daybook.

For today, Tuesday, March 16, 2010~

Outside my window~the clouds are thick, but a little bit of sunshine is starting to break through, and it is 46 degrees

I am hearing~the birds sing somewhere near our deck

I am thinking~about a couple of projects that I'm working on~some for Sunday School and one for the Mother/Daughter Tea

I am thankful~for undeserved forgiveness

I am wearing~my PJ's, of course (no one else is up yet~except Hubbie who has already gone to work)

I am remembering~the time I got badly sunburned when I was a freshman in college~

a fair skinned gal + hot Florida sun + baby oil (duh!) = one burnt, sore gal who learned her lesson (we would get 25 demerits for each class we missed if we were in the Health Center because of a sunburn!)

I am reading~my Bible, Lowe's decorating magazine

I am praying~that the Easter Cantata at church goes well and is a blessing to folks

On my mind~is an unspoken prayer request

From the learning rooms~Oldest Daughter has a math test and history quiz today,

Son is doing well with reading and counting

Youngest Daughter is walking quite well now

Noticing that~the more organized the house is, the less stress I feel

From the kitchen~??? Therefore...

I am creating~my menu for the week and the grocery list ;)

Around the house~the spring and Easter decorations are in place, and the kitchen table is decorated for St. Patrick's Day (Hubbie and I are both of Irish descent)

One of my favorite things~snuggling with my Hubbie

A few plans for the rest of the week~include church on Wednesday, a little friend coming over for some play time on Thursday, last day of basketball league and the awards ceremony on Saturday

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Schedule-less

Thankful Thursday~

Today I am thankful for a time to put aside our regular schedule and spend the day with this very special lady...

I love you!

What are you thankful for today?

Truly Scrumptious

Good morning! I know the title for this post may start you thinking about Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang. We recently watched that movie, except the part of the child catcher. I do not like that man! He's spooky, scary, bad, etc.!!!

Anyway, I got to thinking about something we did last weekend, and it really was truly scrumptious! Enjoy the pictures! I hope you have a great day!

A lovely evening out to the mall and here...Did you know that their menu is about 25 pages?!?!

Hubbie's dinner~Cajun Chicken Littles with mashed potatoes and succotash

My dinner~Orange chicken with white rice and broccoli (delicious!!!)


Kid's corn dogs with fries

Of course, we did have a piece of cheesecake (Low Carb with strawberries). What's a trip to this restaurant without a piece of delicious cheesecake? They have over twenty different varieties on the menu! Now I'm hungry... :) Have a great Wednesday!

Good, Yummy, Tasty, Delicious

So, yesterday we had this yummy recipe for dinner. A friend shared it on her blog a while back, and I also found the recipe in my slow-cooker cookbook. In Fix-It-and-Forget-It, the recipe is called Chicken Parmesan, but the results are the same. It is delicious!


Mozzarella Chicken

1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
2-4 Tablespoons butter
14 ounce jar pizza sauce
6 slices mozzarella cheese (I just use the shredded cheese, since we don't normally use sliced mozzarella)
grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Beat egg, salt, and pepper together. Dip chicken into egg and then coat with bread crumbs. Saute chicken in butter in a skillet.
2. Pour a small amount of pizza sauce in the bottom of your slow cooker. Place chicken in sauce, and then pour remaining sauce on top of chicken.
3. Cover. Cook on Low for 6-8 hours.
4. 15 minutes before serving, layer mozzarella cheese on the top and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Cook an additional 15 minutes.

I almost always pre-cook my chicken and freeze it, but I can still use that chicken in this recipe. I just thaw the chicken and cook it for about three hours.

We love this recipe with noodles (butter and parmesan cheese added) and an extra jar of pizza sauce! It's yummy! Let me know if you try it!

Have a great Tuesday!

Daybook

For today, Monday, March 8, 2010

Outside my window~it is 28 degrees (two hours ago, but now it is 48 degrees) and bright and sunny

I am thinking~about the sermon yesterday morning~"God knows where He got me from, where I am right now, and where He's taking me!"

I am thankful~for a new day and a new week

I am wearing~comfy clothes and warm socks

I am remembering~the family trip we took "out West" when I was about eight years old...what a fun time we had (Grand Canyon, Pike's Peak, and some huge sand dunes, but I cannot remember the name of them)

I am reading~Going Rogue by Sarah Palin (yes, still reading that one)

my Bible, and always reading a cookbook or cooking magazine

I am praying~for my Uncle David~the doctor was unable to do a biopsy last week. It turns out that the spot is not on his lung, but on his spine, next to his heart. Surgery is required in order for a biopsy to be done. Please pray for him.

I am hoping~that the daffodils will continue to pop up next to the mailbox. The tulips are coming up in several flower beds :)

On my mind~are several church members who are going to Israel today, for a two week tour (what a blessing that will be!)

From the learning rooms~Oldest Daughter is working on her State Notebook, learning about adverbs in Language, and getting better at cross-multiplication in Arithmetic

Son is reading short vowel words, and can read one of his books (he is thrilled!)

Youngest Daughter is taking four or five steps independently, before she crawls

Noticing that~over-indulgence in cashews does not make one's stomach feel well ;)

Pondering these words~from Psalm 121~v.1~I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. v.2~My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

From the kitchen~for supper tonight, we are having Mozzarella Chicken (slow-cooker recipe!)

Around the house~is some clutter in the dining room, but that will get taken care of today

One of my favorite things~when Sweet Hubbie runs out to the store for some milk, and returns with the milk and some sunflowers for me! I love you!

A few plans for the rest of the week~library run on Tuesday, church on Wednesday, homeschool group on Friday, basketball on Saturday, and church on Sunday

From my picture journal~

A few years ago, Hubbie received his Master's Degree...

Proud papa and daughter...

Trying on Daddy's cap to see if it fit...

Sunflowers

Today, for Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for beautiful sunflowers. I love how they look in my kitchen, but, even more, I love the lessons they teach me!

Just as a sunflower points its face to the sun, so I must purposely, intentionally, keep my face (and heart) toward THE SON!

When the growing season is over, the sunflower has many seeds that others can glean from (birds and people enjoy them), so...

My "seeds" are like my thoughts, actions, and words...and I must make sure they are pleasing to Christ.

I am sure there are many more lessons to be learned from this flower, but these are some things that I am working on and thinking about today. I hope that you have a great Thursday.

What A Friend~

We have in Jesus! And what a great privilege we really do have as Christians to talk to Jesus and "cast our cares upon Him, for he careth for us." I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

~by Joseph M. Scriven

a poem written to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland, while he was in Canada

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged~

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge~

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Best Ever Chocolate Cake

Good morning! I hope you enjoy the following recipe. I received an invitation from Better Homes & Gardens to purchase their new cookbook. In the envelope, there were three free recipes. One of them was for this cake.

Last Thursday evening, my Ladies group had a meeting, and I baked this cake to take with me. Not much was eaten by the ladies (why are we so shy about eating in front of other women?), so I brought the remainder home and it is now GONE! The recipe does make three layers, but in the pictures that follow, you'll only see two of them. The third layer was saved for my family. Some of that is still in the fridge.

Best Ever Chocolate Cake

3/4 cup butter

3 eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups milk

1. Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Lightly grease the bottoms of three 8 x 1 1/2 inch round cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with waxed paper. Grease and lightly flour waxed paper and sides of pans. Set pans aside. (I simply sprayed cooking spray on the inside of the cake pans, and it worked just fine.)
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes or until well mixed. Scrape side of bowl; continue beating on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition (about 1 minute total). Beat in vanilla.
4. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beating on low speed just until combined, after each additioin. Beat on medium to high speed for 20 seconds more. Spread evenly into prepared pans.
5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake layers in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Peel off waxed paper (if used). Cool completely on wire racks.
6. Prepare chocolate frosting; fill and frost cake layers. If desired, top with chocolate curls and candied nuts. Store cake in the refrigerator. Makes 12 to 16 servings. (sure it does!!)

Chocolate Frosting

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup butter

8 ounces sour cream

4 1/2 cups powder sugar (about 1 pound)

1. In a large saucepan, combine the chocolate chips and butter; heat on low until melted, stirring often. Cool for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the sour cream.
3. Gradually add 4 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, beating on medium speed until mixture is smooth.
4. Grab a tall glass of milk or a cup of coffee, cut yourself a nice big slice, and enjoy!

Silly boy!

Hey, brother, are you going to save any for me?!?!

Have a great Tuesday!

Daybook

For today, Monday, March 1, 2010

Outside my window~the sun is shining and it is almost 50 degrees! WooHoo!

I am thinking~about the sermons from church yesterday and making sure I am training my children in the ways of the Lord

I am thankful~for my sweet Hubbie who loves me unconditionally

I am hearing~the washing machine

From the learning rooms~Oldest Daughter is finished with her school day, but a Language test tomorrow and a Science test on Wednesday; Son "learned" the letter Z today...but he informed me that "I already know what that letter says. Let me show you, Mom." And, yes, he did it just fine! Youngest Daughter took three steps this morning (she is 15 months old)

From the kitchen~Amish Friendship Bread. Although not even remotely close to being on the South Beach Diet, my neighbor brought over a starter last week, and today was my day to bake. It is delicious! ;)

I am creating~nothing right now. I need to make some more cards to have on the shelf.

I am praying~for my Uncle David that I mentioned last week. His biopsy is today.

I am going~to the grocery store tonight (probably--it is much easier with Hubbie)

I am remembering~the time we had with Hubbie's stepmother this past weekend...what a special lady she is! We love you, Shelia!

I am hoping~that the weather continues to warm up.

One of my favorite things~is warm Amish Friendship Bread :)

Around the house~the spring/Easter decorations are slowly making their way to their proper places!

A few plans for the rest of the week~church on Wednesday, basketball on Saturday, other than that, not a whole lot going on

I am pondering these words~"O, Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made..."

A picture for thought~the chocolate cake I mentioned on Friday (recipe to follow later this week)

Have a wonderful Monday!