An Earthquake, a family day, a Bible Bee, and a hurricane~

WOW! is all I can say as I think back over the last seven days. God's power is amazing. The power of His creation is unbelievable!

Last Tuesday, I took the kids for a picnic lunch to a local park...and while we were under one of the pavilions, the ground started shaking. At first I thought it was the Marine Corps base in our area, but the shaking kept coming, and then the pavilion started moving back and forth. We quickly moved out from under it...I tried to call my Hubbie, but cell calls wouldn't go through...anyway, we were all safe, and the earthquake didn't do any damage to our home.

On Thursday, 8/25, Hubbie had the day off, so we were able to have one last "family day" before school started. We decided to head to a museum and lunch and...you'll see from all the pictures.   :)

~Hubbie's meal~

~my meal~

~the museum~

~one of the planes hanging from the ceiling~

~my sweet kiddos~

~Go, Marines!~

~an amazing adventure!~

~the size of the space shuttle was incredible!~

~one more picture of the shuttle~

~aren't these fascinating?~

~soaring~

Then, it was on to...

~one happy gal~

It was a beautiful day for our family...lots of great memories, too!

On Friday, we were making our final preparations for Hurricane Irene to come for a Saturday visit. Thankfully, we just got some much needed rain and some wind. We never lost power, although a cousin who lives a few hours south of us, was without power for 54 hours! We had some branches down in the back yard, but we were fine.

On Saturday, "R" participated in the local contest of the Bible Bee. She had worked hard all summer studying I Peter and memorizing verses. She placed 3rd at the local bee, and we are so proud of her!

Today, we're making our final preparations for the start of school tomorrow! Have a happy Tuesday!

Continuing~

As I continue to count the many blessings bestowed upon me, I am humbled...I am grateful...and I am so thankful that you have decided to stop by today!

The Counting Continues~

#51- 65

51. good Christian friends for my kids

52. the freedom to worship as I wish

53. shade trees for our back yard

54. our garden produced well for our first year!  :)

55. Costco  ;)

56. surprise birthday celebrations

57. talking to my mom

58. teleworking

59. tall glasses of iced tea

60. Fiesta dinnerware

61. other Bible-believing friends

62. new opportunities for service

63. Missions Conferences--to get my focus on God's heart

64. loving hubbie

65. Pinewood Derby fun for our church kids

A blessing captured:

~all the components~

~the semi...complete with nitrous oxide~

~some of the other competitors~

one of the girls had a pink car complete with "diamonds"

and a license plate that read

"Eat my Dust"

~"D" with his truck~

he got first place in his division for the "beauty contest"

I'll be linking up with Anne for Multitude Mondays.

Simple Woman's Daybook~#44

For today, Tuesday, August 2, 2011~

Outside my window~

the sun is shining brightly

I am hearing~

birds singing

I am thinking~

about my mom, who is struggling with some physical issues

I am thankful~

for my salvation and for my sweet family

I am remembering~

the fun Hubbie and I had with "S" last Thursday and Friday

I am reading~

my Bible and cooking magazines

I am going~

to run a few errands today

I am hoping~

those errands don't take very long  ;)

I am praying~

for "R" who is not feeling well

On my mind~

are some ideas for our new school year

From the learning rooms~

"R" and "D" are improving so much with their swimming skills

"S" is really doing well with potty training

Me? I'm still trying to figure out the art of couponing...

Noticing that~

I used to do a Daybook almost every week...but I have been slacking off here lately

I am creating~

this blog post :)

hopefully will be able to make a baby blanket soon

From the kitchen~

M~chicken tenders, mac-n-cheese, lima beans

T~spaghetti and meatballs, salad

W~chef salad (our faithful stand-by)

Th~cheeseburgers, fresh corn on the cob (hopefully!)

F~Santa Fe Chicken tortillas

Sa~taco salad

Su~roast with the fixins

Around the house~

the dining room is prettied up with patriotic items

and the school room needs some serious attention

One of my favorite things~

is spending time with my Hubbie and children

A few plans for the rest of the week~

swim lessons for "R" and "D"

church on Wednesday

having some fun with the kids

From my picture journal~

~on the water taxi at Inner Harbor, Baltimore~

~check out the front of that submarine~

 ~skyline~

~there's always time for a stop at Chick-Fil-A for a sweet treat!~

Thanks for stopping by today!

I'm linking up with The Simple Woman's Daybook...

Have a blessed day!

A Simple Reminder~to me!

Do you ever receive emails that contain images of catchy church signs? Some are, in my opinion, not worth sharing, but others are down right convicting! Like this one:

Attitudes are contagious...is yours worth catching?

Or this one:



A parent's life is a child's guidebook.

Just a few thoughts for this Wednesday. Have a great day!

July 19th Daybook

For today, Tuesday, July 19, 2011~

Outside my window~
the sun is hiding behind some clouds

I am hearing~
the fan on the A/C

I am thinking~

about my sweetheart :)

I am thankful~
for good health

I am remembering~

sitting on my "Pappaw's" front porch

and the scent of his boxwoods

I am reading~
the latest issue of Taste of Home

I am hoping~

to get a lot of things done today--we'll see :)

I am praying~

that God will change me into who He wants me to be

I am creating~

some new clothes for "R" and "S"

On my mind~

is a fellow blogger who just had a baby girl and

the reminder of God's timing and
the joy of His redemption

From the learning rooms~

still working on the coupon thing

R is busy with her Bible Bee verses and word study

D is having fun with numbers

S is doing well with potty training

Noticing that~

I need to get a few things organized before

my cousin visits next weekend

Wondering~

where the summer has gone?

Pondering these words~

"But He giveth more grace..."

From the kitchen~

trying to lighten up the menu a little

Sunday-caribbean jerk chicken w/ fresh salsa

Monday-chef salad

Tuesday- caribbean jerk chicken w/ fresh salsa (using up the leftovers)

Wednesday-taco bowls

Thursday-tba

Friday-chicken tenders

Saturday-tba

Around the house~

the family room is so much more organized

now that we have our little cubes in place

One of my favorite things~

is when my Hubbie says

"You're so pretty..."

A few plans for the rest of the week~

"R" has basketball camp this week

finish up a few sewing projects

pick some fresh veggies from the garden :)

church on Wednesday night

From my picture journal~

black bean and corn salsa

grilled jerk chicken

the presentation

 fresh corn on the cob (from our garden)

Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be linking up with

The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday, I am so thankful for some sweet friends who had us over for lunch today...along with some good fellowship and fun playtime for the kids. For lunch, the kids had "pigs-in-a-blanket", and the grown-ups had Caribbean Jerk Chicken with corn and black bean salsa. YUMMY! Since I asked for the recipe, I will be making this yumminess very soon here in my own kitchen...

Have a wonderful Thursday! :)

Bloom Bargains

Happy Wednesday! Thanks for stopping by today! Yesterday, Hubbie and "R" scored some good deals at our local grocery store, Bloom. They always double coupons up to $.99, but for the last few Tuesdays, they've been doubling coupons up to $1.99.  :)

For a total of $7.87, here's what we purchased yesterday:

Bounty napkins~ $2.99 on sale - $1.00/1 coupon (doubled) x 4 coupons = $.99 each pack
AXE deodorant and body spray~ $7.00/2 on sale - $3.99 coupon = $3.01 or $1.50 each
Danimals yogurt~ 2/$4.00 on sale - $1.00/1 coupon (doubled) x 2 coupons = FREE
Philadelphia Cooking Creme~ $2.00 on sale - $1.00/1 coupon (doubled) x 4 coupons = FREE

Pretty exciting!!  :)  Have a great day!

Daybook for 6/21

For today~

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Outside my window~

the sun is hiding behind some clouds

I am hearing~

the fan on the A/C

I am thinking~

about how very blessed I have been, and

how I don't deserve it at all!!!

I am thankful~

for my freedom and for my family

I am remembering~

sweet times of fellowship with my Hubbie  :)

also, ten years ago this month, both of my

grandfathers went to Heaven

I am reading~

my Bible

A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus by Elizabeth George

(this is going to be a very good read!)

Food Network magazine just received in yesterday's mail

I am hoping~

to get our family room re-organization finished this week

I am praying~

that my tongue will help and heal others, not hurt them

On my mind~

is a sweet lady who just lost her husband of over 60 years...

From the learning rooms~

I am learning the art of couponing

Some of my favorite sites are:

the coupon mom

 money saving mom

Noticing that~

we are starting to get some grocery items for **FREE**

Wondering~

why I didn't start this coupon thing earlier?!?!

I am creating~

actually, just hoping, to get some new clothes made

for "R" and for me this summer

Pondering these words~

"The tongue is a fire..." according to James 3:6

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue

among our members, that it defileth the whole body,

and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."

From the kitchen~

Tuesday~steak and cheese wraps

Wednesday~chicken with Philadelphia Cooking Creme (free!)

Thursday~chef salad

Friday~homemade chicken tenders

Saturday~?

Around the house~

Hubbie's nerf gun box reminds me of

the fun we had on Father's Day...that's for another post

One of my favorite things~

is being with my family

A few plans for the rest of the week~

swim lessons for the kids

church on Wednesday

From my picture journal~

a few pictures of our little garden  :)

~week 6~

~week 7~

 ~our peas are sad...but that zucchini plant is huge!~

~week 8~

~watermelon plants are doing well~

~crooknecksquash~

 ~zucchini is ready to be harvested today!~

 ~just look at those baby cucumbers!~

~from the back of the garden~

~getting bigger every day~

I'll be joining other bloggers over at The Simple Woman's Daybook...

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hooray!!

Well, our first vegetables of this year have been harvested! :) With many tomatoes on the vines, and more cucumbers, squash, and several zucchini already growing, it looks like our gardening efforts are starting to be seen...what a blessing to see God's faithfulness to me through our little garden!

~three cucumbers and one crookneck squash~

A New Daybook

For today, Tuesday, June 7, 2011~

Outside my window~

the sun is shining, and it's kind of cool this morning  :)

I am hearing~

my children's voices

I am thinking~

about going walking this morning

I am thankful~

for my sweet Hubbie

I am remembering~

the wonderful weekend we had with our church family...

we celebrated 30 years of ministry!

I am reading~

Psalm 62

I am hoping~

to get a summer reading "wish list" written down,

and to start the Elizabeth George book,

"A Woman that Reflects the Heart of Jesus"

On my mind~

is my sister who just moved to Indiana last week

Pondering these words~

"God's been good...in my life...I've been blessed

beyond my wildest dreams..."

From the learning rooms~

school is finished for the year, but we will continue

to work on reading skills with "D", language and math skills

with "R", and potty training for "S"

Noticing that~

I work better under pressure

I am praying~

that God will keep working on my heart

Wondering~

if we will get any green beans from our garden...

we seem to have a little visitor that likes the leaves

I am creating~

a clutter-free home this summer

Around the house~

things are put away and I love that feeling of "Ahhh"

when I get rid of stuff we don't need! :)

One of my favorite things~

is spending time with my family...and we are

making our summer plans (so fun!)

From the kitchen~

Monday~out to eat to celebrate the end of the school year

Tuesday~leftovers (roast and vegetables)

Wednesday~chef salad

Thursday~chicken enchiladas or fajitas

(using Philadelphia Cooking Creme)

Friday~bacon cheeseburgers

Saturday~tba

A few plans for the rest of the week~

Wednesday~mid-week church service

From my picture journal~

with temperatures predicted to be 99 degrees by Thursday, plus

high humidity, I think I might be wishing for

some of this! :)

I'll be joining other bloggers at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Home and Garden update...

~week four~

~tomatoes are really going strong...

watermelon (on right) is also doing well~

~week five~

Our zucchini, crookneck squash, and tomatoes all have blossoms on them...Yeah!

Some other things we've been working on are:

~freshening up the flower beds with mulch and vinca~

can you believe all this mulch was only $16?

~the kids built a fort from some branches we cut down~

 ~you can tell they are pretty excited!

(Yes, this was a few weeks ago when it was chilly)~

I'm so glad you stopped by today...have a great Wednesday!