Starting my List

For some time now, I've been wanting to join with other bloggers to count the gifts God has given me. I'm going to start my list today...and I'm linking to A Holy Experience.  I am really looking forward to seeing how God is going to use this in my life!

#1-20

1. my salvation
2. a loving and God-fearing husband
3. being able to check on my mom this morning
4. my own copy of the Bible
5. a pastor who loves God
6. hugs from my husband
7. winter is almost over
8. beautiful, godly music
9. three beautiful children
10. a washer and dryer
11. good food to eat
12. clean water to bathe with
13. freedom to home educate my children
14. a working computer
15. knowing that God knows and cares about each situation on my prayer list
16. knowing that God will answer each request in His time
17. a sweet group of children for my Sunday School class--we had 27 kids yesterday!
18. Ladies Bible Study at my church
19. good friends
20. reliable transportation, that even at 99,000 miles, still runs really well 

Just having fun~

With a cowgirl and a soldier, I am well-protected here at home!  ;)

Happy Thursday!

Around the Corner

Spring really is around the corner...even though the temperatures might not reflect that this morning! In my area, it is supposed to be in the 60's by Friday!  WooHoo! Here are a few pictures that remind me of spring...Enjoy!

~the best part about spring--short sleeves and no coats!~

A New Daybook

For Tuesday, February 22, 2011~

Outside my window~

the sun is trying to shine and there is a layer of ice and snow

I am hearing~

the dishwasher

I am thinking~

about all the unrest in our world

I am thankful~

that God knows (and cares) about all that is going on

I am remembering~

the time I got to spend alone with my Hubbie last week  :)

I am reading~

Psalms

I am hoping~

that our bedroom will get finished this week

I am praying~

for my family and for a sweet friend of mine

On my mind~

is my brother and his family

From the learning rooms~

the one vowel rule for "D"

time management for "R"

Noticing that~

Hubbie did a wonderful job on our chair rail

in the master bedroom

I am creating~

some clean clothes

I'll also be sewing a skirt for "R" soon

From the kitchen~

scrambled eggs, ham, and toast for breakfast

BBQ pork and coleslaw for supper

Around the house~

the Valentine's decorations are put away

and the green items are slowly making their appearance

A few plans for the rest of the week~

cleaning today

church on Wednesday

basketball league on Saturday

From my picture journal~

turtle cheesecake  :)

I'm linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook today.

Have a wonderful day!

In sync

On Valentine's Day, Hubbie and I had the privilege to spend some time together...just the two of us. We drove to a nearby harbor. It was a very pretty area and is still under a lot of construction. After we finished there, we drove through the city to a nearby Cheesecake Factory. After our yummy meal, we strolled through The Container Store. (Have you ever been in one of those?!?!) We didn't purchase one item, but had lots of fun talking to each other and looking at all the gadgets for organization.

On our way back to the parking garage, we were holding hands, just walking along, but I felt out of sync. And that felt odd! I looked down and realized that my feet were travelling at a different pace than Hubbie's. Upon this realization, I quickly changed my pace, my left foot moved when his did, and my right foot moved forward when his did. Oh~so much better!

Then, you know the Lord brought to my mind the fact that so often, I'm travelling through this life and I know He is right beside me. But how many times do I feel "out of sync" or unbalanced? It's not because Jesus has gotten "out of sync" with me, but it is me who is letting the cares of this world distract me.

I'm memorizing this verse today to help me remember to keep my focus on Him!

I Corinthians 15:58~Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the word of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Valentine's Day and a few other days

Happy Wednesday to you! I cannot believe it has been two weeks since I last blogged! Life is certainly busy enough, but I need to do better at recording my family's memories every day! Here's a quick recap so I don't forget...

On Friday, 2/4, we met my parents at a fun country market and did some shopping, and then went out to dinner together.

Saturday, 2/5, we had several activities at church so we stayed busy. We had our visitation program and basketball league for "R".

On Monday, 2/7, I spent getting our house ready for guests the next day. That evening, I attended my Ladies' Group meeting...and had Mexican food...we all brought something to the meal to share. We had chicken enchiladas and beef enchiladas, spanish rice, a delicious soup, 7 layer dip, and Pioneer Woman's tres leches cake.

Tuesday, 2/8, we were busy with our homeschool Valentine party! What fun we had and there were 32 of us in the house! Some of the kids participated in a valentine exchange and that was a lot of fun for them. There was lots of food. I am a planner, so we had party food--bbq meatballs, two different types of chips and dip, fruit with dip, cupcakes, brownies, fudge cake, cookies, candy, and drinks. Everyone seemed to have a good time! The kids all did really well with their "literary" presentations. Moms and kids alike had lots of good fellowship!

Wednesday, 2/9, my sister-in-law came over for lunch and brought her two little ones with her. We had a good time of talking and the kids played well together. My youngest cut her fingernail about halfway down into her nail, so she and I spent an hour or so at the doctor's office while Hubbie took "R" and "D" to church that night...

Thursday, 2/10, my youngest niece came over for a few hours while her parents ran an errand. What fun to watch my oldest learning how to take care of others...she does well with the little ones!

Then, Friday, 2/11, Hubbie had off and we worked on our bedroom some, went out to eat, and "S" went to Grandma's for the night.

Saturday, 2/12, was another basketball league day...the red and blue teams were tied until the very last seconds of the game...and the blue team came away with the win. The girls (and their parents) were so very excited! Go BLUE!

On Sunday, 2/13, our church celebrated "Sweetheart Sunday" and the messages in the AM and PM service were both on "The Invisible Part of Marriage", based on Psalm 1:1-3. I came away from those messages encouraged and challenged to not listen to the world about how my marriage should be...not to listen to ungodly counsel...it was good! After the PM service, we had a dessert fellowship and all the men were supposed to make the desserts! There were some really yummy things! Hubbie made brownies, then covered them with a layer of cream cheese (mixed with crushed Mint Oreo cookies), then chocolate pudding on top of that, followed by a layer of whipped topping...it was delicious!

Then our Valentine's Day~I'll show you in pictures.  :) I think we would all agree~we had a very lovely day!

~breakfast~

pancakes with valentine sprinkles

sausage cut in the shape of hearts

pink milk

 ~pink milk was a definite "hit"~

 ~for a more grown-up palette~  ;)

 ~Valentine's table~

~a dozen roses from my sweetheart~

 ~enjoying breakfast~

~excited about his meal~

~she loved her pink milk~

~one of the valentine decorations and kid's cards~

 ~new Valentine's apron~

~bag full of my favorite scent from Bath & Body~

japanese cherry blossom  :)

~huge rose from Hubbie~

over three feet tall!

 ~Grandma came over after breakfast,

Hubbie and I went out for some shopping,

talking, and fun together! We ate an early Valentine's dinner

at The Cheesecake Factory~

cajun chicken littles

~orange chicken~

 ~we ended our day with a slice of

Reese's chocolate peanut butter cheesecake~

delicious!

But, most of all, I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with my sweetheart! I hope you enjoyed your day!



February Daybook

For Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Outside my window~

the sun is beautiful!

I am hearing~

a Bible movie

I am thinking~

about my sweet Hubbie

I am thankful~

for warm clothes

I am remembering~

this time last year, we had a lot of snow on the ground!

I am reading~

cookbooks

my Bible

still working on Decision Points, by President Bush

I am hoping~

the children's choir does well tonight

On my mind~

are our servicemen and women who are in harm's way

From the learning rooms~

"R" is learning to multiply with decimals

"D" is learning to count/write by tens

"S" loves story time and any time she can play with trains

Noticing that~

having the laundry basket full of clean clothes

is better than a pile of dirty ones!   ;)

Wondering~

if I will get a chance to paint some more

parts of our bedroom today (trimwork)

I am creating~

a Valentine atmosphere in several spots in our home

Pondering these words~

"Romans 8:28 is always true. God is always good."

from Ladies Bible Study yesterday

From the kitchen~

pizza casserole, salad, and garlic bread

Around the house~

snow boots are still out...maybe

everyone is still hoping for some more snow

One of my favorite things~

is my time with Hubbie

A few plans for the rest of the week~

church tonight

visitation Saturday

basketball league Saturday

From my picture journal~

Valentine tulips from last year (aren't they pretty?)

Please visit Peggy if you would like to read more daybooks! Have a

great day, and thanks for stopping by today!