GratiTuesday- Mrs. Edith Delaney, Grandma Retold

Tonight after visiting Grandma, I came home with wonderful new memories; my mom, Aunt Betty, and my cousin, Cindy, all were sharing memories and stories from the past, sometimes with tearful stories, and others with laugh out loud, cracking up stories. I did not want to leave tonight, and I honestly can't wait for tomorrow. I just wanted to kind of update my memories of Grandma below, though.

Today, I just have to say how grateful I am for Mrs. Edith Delaney, otherwise known as Grandma. She is some tough lady, let me tell you. She has always adored us kids, and we never had to ask twice for a story from Grandma because she had plenty to tell. This is an absolutely beautiful, remarkable womanwho has gone through so many dramatic events in her lifetime, from, early on as a girl, losing not only her father to a flu epidemic/pneumonia after a fire to losing her stepfather also to an aneurysm after a fall off of a silo, to living through the Great Depression with all of its financial obstacles, to living through the emotional turbulence of World War 2. Grandma had two brothers who served in the war, and she cherished every letter received from them, as evidenced by her saving every single letter and every single newspaper clipping she could get her hands on. She used to tell me a story about how when my mother was a baby, she carried her in a basket on the train to California. There was a young soldier who came up to her and looked at Mama in the basket and said, "That's the reason we fight; that's what we are fighting for right there." That story has stuck with me for life, and we still have that basket hanging in the cellar. She and Grandpa raised three beautiful daughters, and they worked their farm for many years, raising Jersey cattle, and then later on, Grandma raised Murray Grays. She was such a strong woman, so resourceful in so many ways....she was always working hard. Before she was ever married, she would get up at daybreak to milk the cows, and then she would walk all the way into town to her job, which she did not get off of until after dark. Then she'd walk all the way home again to milk the cows. After she married Grandpa, she took in laundry, as well as helped to keep the farm going. She took care of her mother up until it became too much on her, and when the love of her life, Grandpa Maynard Delaney, died of a brain tumor before I was even born, she took over the running of the farm. I remember one time when my mom had surgery, and I stayed with Grandma; she had to go get a cow in the old milkbarn and milk her and feed her, and I still remember Grandma dancing around the milkbarn singing an old song; I think it was DannyBoy or Old Dan Tucker or Oh, Susanna. She always had a little jig to do, and she always got me up dancing with her. Yes, my grandma is a one of a kind woman; from having us out helping her chase the cows or feed the cows to getting up at the break of dawn with her to exercise to the old PBS exercise show and then power walk up the gravel road, Grandma was always working, even in her later years when she inspected claims for the insurance company....oh, but she knew how to have fun too. She knew when it was time to go to town to the old Corner Cafe, where everyone knew her, for a hamburger or milkshake or when it was time to go berry picking or fishing in the pond, and she always had Easter baskets to hide amongst all her flowers for all the kids to find. In her later years, I still remember her sitting in her chair reading her Bible or reading the old Western stories she loved. She used to take us to the old homestead and cemeteries to relive our history, and you know, I didn't appreciate all of that then. As I grow older, though, I'm realizing how much I missed out on, how much I want to know now, and I'm so grateful for having known this strong, tough woman who is leaving behind both a strong, bold legacy, but a legacy filled with so many years of love.So, today, I'm thankful and grateful for my grandma, and after tonight, I feel like her story is just begging to be told, and I cannot wait to start this book. Who inspires you in your life, and who are you grateful for in your life?

For more GratiTuesday, link up with Heavenly Homemakers.

TMTT- Grandma's Chocolate Cookies

In honor of my grandma, I thought I'd share her recipe for chocolate cookies, a huge family favorite.

Chocolate Cookies

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1/2 cup sweet milk

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

3 level Tbsp. cocoa

1/2 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well. Sift all dry ingredients together. Stir into creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. If batter is too thin, you may add more flour. Drop from teaspoons on well greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Put together with good icing.

My great grandma, who came to Missouri by covered wagon in 1905, used a cooked icing she made with: 1 cup sugar, 1 or 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, dash of salt, and enough cream to set this mixture. Cook to soft ball stage and ice cookies on underside, putting together two cookies like a sandwich. Work quickly as this icing sets up fast. I use a basic powdered sugar recipe with powdered sugar, butter or margarine, vanilla, milk, and a little bit of almond flavoring. Makes approximately 2 to 3 dozen cookies. Enjoy!

For more Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, link up with Blessed with Grace.

Daybook

FOR TODAY, Monday, March 30, 2009...
Outside My Window...it is sunny and bright.
I am thinking...I wish I hadn't slept through my alarm this morning.
I am thankful for...family.
From the learning rooms...We are learning more about ancient China this week, and Jacob is working on 2 column addition and subtraction. We are over halfway through the alphabet in cursive now; yea! With Jaden, I really want to start doing more things from the Slow and Steady Get Me Ready book.
From the kitchen...tonight will be fresh spaghetti and rolls, depending on Grandma's condition and if I have to be gone.
I am wearing...jammies and robe for only a few more seconds.
I am creating...notes and records from some of the letters and pictures and old newspaper clippings I was able to get yesterday from my grandma's house; want to start a book about her life and then two about my uncles' lives.
I am going...possibly to breakfast with my sister and other family this morning; not sure.
I am reading...almost finished with The Yada Yada Prayer Group, then on to The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down.
I am hoping...to get my seeds ordered this week.
I am hearing...Jaden starting to jabber in his crib.
Around the house...have to dust and vacuum and mop today, as well as catch up on some laundry from the weekend.
One of my favorite things...spending time with my dad; last night, we had a whole evening with him, and it was really nice.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: depends on circumstances, but school definitely; library run; kickboxing at gym (and this week, I am going; unless the lady with no rhythm is leading it); working out with Nancy; decluttering and cleaning more; possible trip to Springfield, depending; helping Dan with getting the property cleaned up and getting out to finish up the tractor.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing...(Grandma)

For more Daybook, link up with The Simple Woman.

Butterscotch and Psalm 23

Today was a day filled with many emotions....it started out with my Aunt Nancy calling this morning, letting us know that my grandma might pass away. So, we got up, got dressed, and headed to the nursing home. That is where we spent the majority of our day. After we had gotten there, my Aunt Betty and Uncle Wilbur came, and with them they carried a Bible. Grandma, up to that point, had been unresponsive, but as Uncle Wilbur got down on his knees next to her and talked to her, very soothingly and tenderly, she started to respond, ever so little. He told her that he knew her favorite Scripture was Psalm 23, and as he did so, he started to break down himself in tears. He continued, though, and asked if she would like for one of us to read it to her. By this time, we were all fighting back tears, as she let out a weak sort of moan, which we took for yes. Cindy, my cousin, was the only one in the room who could manage to read it, and you know, Grandma was just a bit more responsive after that. She had a few responsive moments today, but for the most part, she is still not doing well. That is a moment, though, that I will never forget.

As I left the nursing home to go with Dan and the boys to get something to eat, I started reliving memories....the town we drove through brought back many special moments with Grandma, and one of those was how she used to load me in the car and head to Dairy Queen....the one thing I always wanted was a butterscotch milkshake. So, today, in honor of those special moments with Grandma, I had a butterscotch milkshake....(ok, so I had two, one later on the way to Mom and Dad's house). Isn't it funny, though, how just a sip of something, or even a drive down Main Street can just trigger so many memories that were hidden away, tucked into the recesses of our minds? It was amazing, and I just hope that somehow, I can trigger more memories in the coming weeks.

I love you, Grandma.

Friday (Saturday) Funnies- Dads

I came across these videos on Familyman's website, and they made my husband and me both laugh and laugh....enjoy!:) Laughter is truly the best medicine!:)





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I Am Mommy; Hear Me Roar!

A friend from college, who is also a fellow bloggy friend, recently posted about Mary pouring the costly perfume over Jesus' feet and how we, as mamas, are that perfume to our children every day. I encourage all mamas to read that post. It actually inspired me to post my stand on being a stay at home mom and encouraged me, as lately, I've still been in my little funk and just sort of unmotivated and feeling very alone.

As a stay at home mom, I get both that look and that question a lot that says, "Oh, you just stay home; you don't have anything to do; you are so lucky to have so much time, but you are so young; why aren't you working? Why aren't you using your education?" Better yet, I get told a lot where all the best nursing jobs are and how I should be doing this or that.

I am here to tell you today, that I am and will be, for as long as God wills, a stay at home mom, and I am so proud of it that I could shout it from the mountain tops. You see, I'm not one of those little "desperate housewives," and I'm not one of those soap opera junkies, and I'm not one of those sit on the couch all day eating bon-bons kind of wife/mom. No, I'm a full-fledged writer; housecleaner like a maniac; organizer; scheduler/receptionist;teacher (I homeschool my boys, well, Jacob right now); nurse to all tears/open cuts/bruises/scratches/loose teeth/coughs/sickness, you name it; head chef with the best of them; laundress; blogger; dishwasher; counselor; gardener; designer; tailor; nanny/friend; photographer; memory maker & preservator; etc., etc......yes, I am Mommy, and I am proud of it.

By the time I lay my head down at night, I am so exhausted, you can ask my husband, I can't even stay awake, to save my life, during a movie. Being a mom is exhausting, both physically and emotionally, but it is the MOST rewarding job I could ever have; what God has called me to, I dare not let any man/woman tear me away from or make me feel put down for. You see, I could go out and get a good-paying job as a nurse, but you know what? I choose to be here for moments like this one,

and this one,

and this one,

because you see, they are my pay, and that pay rises above any man-made dollar I could ever earn anywhere else in the world.

I am Mommy; hear me roar!

Things I Love Thursday- Chocolate Animal Crackers

My kids love snack time, but it can be hard to come up with good, no-mess snacks; plus, most snacks are so chock full of sugar and fat, it's unreal. BUT, I have found a new love when it comes to animal crackers.....Stauffer's Chocolate Animal Crackers. Yes, they are chocolate, and they are sooooooo good, as you can see from the nearly empty bag! The great part is that you can eat 13 of these babies, and it's only 100 calories. Not bad when it comes to most of the snacks on the market today. Plus, Mommy enjoys them too, when that chocolate craving hits me about 4pm.....mmmmmmmm.............

For more Things I Love Thursday, link up with Diaper Diaries.

Book Review- The American Patriot's Almanac

The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb is the first book I recently chose to review for Thomas Nelson. It actually would make a great book to have on your coffee table when friends come over because it would encourage some interesting conversation. The title fits it well; it is absolutely full of patriotic stories, dates, facts, and heroes. There are several well-known facts, but there were also things I had no idea about, such as the story of the astronauts who read from Genesis 1 as they orbited the moon in 1968, or the story of General MacArthur and how at first, he had refused to leave his men behind on the Bataan Peninsula, until the order came from the President for him to go. It brought out the stories of so many heroes down through our history. For example, there was a more recent story of Marine Corporal Jason Dunham, who essentially gave his own life for those of his comrades in arms. The stories both inspired me and gave me a hunger to learn more, to read more about our history.

The setup of the book is different, in that it’s similar to a devotional. There is a page for each day of the year, and that page starts out with a story from American history, and the bottom of the page ends with several well-known to little-known facts from different years for that day. The facts were fun to actually skim through, and certain ones would catch my eye. There were serious facts, but there were also fun facts, such as when Teflon was invented in 1938 or the Taco Bell prank of April 1, 1996.

All in all, I loved this book and won’t be getting bored of it anytime soon. Even if you aren’t a history buff but would love a great read, read more here.

Urgent Prayer Request

We have an urgent prayer request, and I'm just asking everyone who reads this to say a prayer today, to say many prayers on the behalf of a college friend, Matthew Grubb. He is very sick right now with what they think is bacterial meningitis, and he is in a comatose state right now, is what I'm hearing from others around him. Just please be in prayer for him, as he also has a wife, Mandy, and three daughters, a really beautiful family. Just pray for his complete healing and for God's will to be done through all of this....thank you.

Update:
Received this news on Facebook today; keep praying!

Jared was at the hospital with Matt all day yesterday. They diagnosed him with a viral form of Meningitis (infection in his brain). He is sedated and on a ventilator in order to help him rest and keep his airways clean in order to help his body focus on fighting the infection. He had an MRI done last night but the results will not be in until much later today (usually 24 hours). At first everyone had to wear full coverings, masks, & goggles to see him, but now they do not have to wear the goggles or masks as the expert on contagious illnesses has said he is not a contagious threat and that Mandy and the girls should not be at risk. He is in the ICU right now. Jared and I are planning on visiting later today and I can give you updates as I find out.

Another update:

Here's an update on Matt & Mandy Grubb...Matt Grubb continues to fight his pneumonia. The doctors made an initial diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, however, now that the cultures have matured in the lab, they have come to rule that out. They are saying that he has an infection in his brain that is tied to walking pneumonia which Matt has more than likely had for the last 3 months. Matt continues to be on antibiotics that are helping restore his health and he continues to breathe with the support of the ventilator while under heavy sedation. The doctors want him to rest, rest, rest! That's what he needs most in order to fight this infection and heal from this pneumonia.The doctors continue to have an optimism about Matt's recovery and so does Mandy and the family. The reality is that he is young, strong, and healthy and is expected to make a full recovery, however, this typically takes quite awhile. The doctors are estimating that Matt could be in the hospital recovering for as much as a month, with even more recovery time to follow at home. This is not uncommon for someone in Matt's condition.Here's what you can do to help the Grubb's:1. PRAY, PRAY PRAY! God is the Great Doctor, the loving Daddy, and the Sovereign All-Powerful LORD, who tells us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. Christ-followers have an all-access pass to this Holy God. Let's use it!2. Please do not come to the hospital to visit unless you are a family member of the family or pastoral team. (While Matt is sedated, the doctors believe he can still hear some of what's going on around him, which creates in him a desire to respond, and therefore he becomes agitated and breaks out of his resting cycle.) Also, many family members are in town and they need to be together as a family. And just a reminder, Matt is still in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) which is a unit with restrictions for the good of the patient. So, please continue to love from distance. I know that that is difficult as Matt & Mandy are so deeply loved and respected by so many, but it really is what is best for them right now.3. Be selective in your phone calls and texts to Mandy. She has her plate full and while she desires to respond to everyone, she has a number of other priorities right now.3. Offer assistance with meals and domestic support. Matt and Mandy are running a marathon, not a sprint in this recovery race. Meals are currently being arranged by Karen Eastham. Contact Karen at karen.eastham@bridgewayonline.org.4. Send cards or write notes to the Grubbs. You can send them to Bridgeway and our pastoral staff and student ministries team will make sure they get the Grubbs. Bridgeway Community Church, 9189 Red Branch Rd. Columbia, MD 21045 410.992.5832 Or you can drop them off at the reception desk of our administrative offices or at the Bridgeway Student Ministries table in the Lobby before & after services, Fusion & Common Ground.5. Be ready! In the near future, out-of-town family will need to get back to their families and responsibilities. We want to be ready to fill any of those voids for the Grubb family. Right now, sit tight, pray, and be ready. We will keep you posted.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at bridgedm@aol.com.Blessings!
P. Mich

You Know It's A Good Day When....

You know it's a good day, and you can come out of that "trash can," when you call about a certain medical bill, or any bill for that matter, and the person on the other end of the line tells you that your balance is actually $0, so why are you calling? (They readjusted the bill the day after they sent it out....hmmmmm.....), but who's complaining? Yeah, that's when you know....it's a good day.:)

Daybook

For Today, Monday, March 23, 2009...

Outside my window... it is sunny and very windy today.

I am thinking... I have so much to do today.

From the learning rooms... this week we are starting our study of Ancient China. Jacob is getting his addition/subtraction tables memorized, praise the Lord!

I am thankful for... a good doctor for my kids.

From the kitchen... tuna noodle casserole tonight.

I am wearing... dark jeans and a blue Colorado t-shirt.

I am reading... finishing up The Yada Yada Prayer Group; Seed Savers Exchange Seed Catalog; different magazines for inspiration in decorating my home.

I am hoping... that Jaden gets better with the nebulizer treatments and antibiotic and that his fever will go down; and that we can sleep more than an hour or two tonight.:)

I am creating... a beautiful retreat in the form of our home; trying to give it a little more of my feminine touch, since I'm the only "girl" around here.:)

I am hearing... Jacob taking a break to watch a cartoon, and Jaden is sitting on my lap rustling around with paper.

Around the house... laundry is going, dusting is half done, and vacuuming & mopping has yet to be done today.

One of my favorite things... waking up to the birds singing, and you just know that it is truly spring then.

A few plans for the rest of the week... hopefully, get Jaden better; kickboxing at gym; Jacob to Tae Kwon Do; homeschool group; etc.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...(Ladybug, my parents' dog)

For more Daybook, link up with The Simple Woman.

I Got Inspired

I got very inspired this weekend....I had found some dollar fabric, and I had found some fabric at Alco, when I had gone with my mom. Then, this weekend, I put it to good use. Stress has run high this weekend, with Jaden being sick yet again with a bad respiratory infection (he's on a nebulizer and antibiotic now), and just all of the things going on right now, so instead of stewing, I chose sewing and got inspired and really busy....want to see what I made?:) I ironed and ironed the table runners, but they are still a bit wrinkly....and I even made a scarf with the same materials for the curtains in back, even though I haven't taken a picture of that yet. (The flowers are from our big bush outside in the front yard.)

Show And Tell Saturdays- Handmade Things

There are a couple of things that I can put on here for handmade things by yours truly. I love making and creating things; writing and creating are such outlets for me. It just brings a calm to my soul. Anyway, here are a couple of things:

The first cake was made for Jacob's kindergarten graduation last year....Dan helped me a little bit with the fondant; it was the first time I had actually used it, and I'd really like to figure out how to work with it better.

The second cake was made for the highschoolers at the school, as well, for graduation. One side a basketball, the other a volleyball.

Lastly, I created these two scrapbook creations for last Christmas as Christmas presents, and I ended up giving them to my mom. They are pictures of my grandma and grandpa; I plan on making more for myself.:)

For more Show and Tell Saturdays, link up with Homesteaders Heart.

Frugal Fridays- Spring Time Is Here!

Spring time is here, and it's that time of the year now for starting our seeds and thinking of what all we want to have in our garden. Whether you choose to plant a huge garden, or whether you choose to plant in containers, or even if you choose to just plant a few things in your flower bed, having your own fresh veggies, fruits, and herbs can really save so much money, and it can be healthier for your family, especially if you choose to not use all of the pesticides so readily available today. I am currently getting a small order together from The Seed Savers Exchange. Their prices are really not too expensive, and they sell a lot of organic and heirloom varities, which really interests me. Now, I'm not sure if I'll have a huge garden; I may just have some containers, but I hope to learn how to can a couple of things this summer. Canning can also save a lot of money, especially in these uncertain times with the grocery prices going up and up and up. If you want to learn how to can, here is another great blog, The Simple Woman; Peggy has a whole section on learning how to can, filled with great tips and how-tos and encouragement. I'm excited to see what I can do.

Lastly, on the news this morning, I heard something interesting and actually encouraging for once, and I'm kind of excited that this is happening. First Lady Michelle Obama is breaking ground today on a garden on the South Lawn of the White House. This garden will provide fresh veggies and fruits and herbs to the White House kitchen. The exciting part to me is that local school children will be helping and working in this garden, learning the skills it takes to raise a garden. What a great resource and opportunity for learning. This could help encourage others in bigger cities to get out there into their communities, and start a community garden! Now, that's being frugal and green all at the same time! Happy Spring, everyone!

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Friday Funnies- Panda

This is really cute.

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What's This I See?

In the spirit of tomorrow, being the first day of spring, I thought I would share a few inspirations of the season from our front yard. Crocuses are in bloom, bushes are hot pink with new blossoms and blooms, and Easter Lilies are popping out everywhere! It may not exactly feel like spring everywhere yet, but hang on....it's coming to a neighborhood near you!

Am I Right?

Lately, Jacob has had a phrase that he just repeats and repeats over and over again....you know what I'm talking about, don't you, Moms? He seems to pick a phrase, and he will use that phrase either in every sentence or after every sentence, and he'll use that particular phrase for a month or two, and then he moves on to a new one. His last one was, "Rock on, dude!" Hmmmm.....:) So, his new phrase after every sentence is (drumroll, please), "Am I right?" Ok, now I have no idea where he got that one, but some days it almost drives me bonkers, because he not only says the phrase, but then he expects an answer, and let me tell you after about 50 times of hearing, "Am I right?" in just one morning, I'm almost thinking that I can't wait until he drops this one and grabs onto the new phrase of the month. Oh, the joys of motherhood. Oh, but aren't they worth it? Every single second of it, he is my boy, and I just love, love, love him.

Haircut, Honey?

Monday's art project was a close-up portrait of a picture of someone familiar. So, I found a good picture of Dan for Jacob to try drawing.....hmmmmm....looks like he might have a hint of my artistic talent.LOL Not bad, though, and he had so much fun doing it; he was giggling the whole time.

Oh, and Dan's so thrilled that I caught this picture of him and his fun hair this morning....think it's definitely time for a haircut. LOL

I really do love him....but this is just too much fun not to post!

GratiTuesday- Mrs. Nancy Bailey

People come in and out of our lives, almost like seasons. I believe that God has a reason for every single person that crosses our path. Today, I am thankful for Mrs. Nancy Bailey. Back in college, when I was going through a particularly life-changing, very sticky, very rough situation, she was one person who was there to just listen and give little tidbits of advice. She was the mom of a good friend, Tim, and I remember going over and having a holiday dinner with them and also going over after this very sticky situation had begun. I sat on their front steps, sort of pouring my heart out, feeling like my life was over (I was young and very naive), and she was just there. There are times in our lives where we need others in our lives who will just be there, and she was.

Now she needs our prayers. Here is an email I got from Tim and Steph last night:

Hey this is an urgent prayer request,
It's major because of the high risk posed. Tim's mom (Nancy Bailey) is dealing with some restrictive health issues. She has also given permission to Tim to share this for prayer.

1) Osteomalacia which is basically a softening of the bones, it makes them more prone to breakage. This could be why her sternum broke as bad as it did when she had the car accident last winter 2008 and why she is having such trouble with her knees since her fall in church and elbows now.

2) New to all of us is Carotid Artery Stenosis. This is where the high risk comes in as it can be suddenly deadly if something loosens up ( a clot ) as it can go to her brain or heart. A recent ultrasound showed solid spots on both sides of her neck. Surgery is basically the only thing to do, but very risky. Complicating this surgery is high cholesterol and high blood pressure, she is having issues with these again. They lose their insurance the end of this month. So Dad is trying to figure that part out.
Updates will come as we learn more. Thank you to all for your prayers. This is what the body of Christ is supposed to be doing for each other. Let's keep it up and pray more.

Blessings,

Tim and Stephanie Bailey

So, today, I'm going to pray for her; she may not know how much of an impact she had on my life, but she truly did, and I'm so thankful for her.

For more GratiTuesday, link up with Heavenly Homemakers.

Motivate Me Monday- Are You In A Funk?

I have to admit, I'm in sort of a funk right now. Last night, my really good friend told me that she envies my freedom and boldness in writing. Now, I don't exactly feel bold; in fact, most of the time, I feel like I should be asking myself whether or not what I'm writing is real; I have to make sure that I'm real and not fake. Believe me, I am no perfect Christian by any means....in fact, right now, I'm going through some kind of funk in my Christian walk. For some reason, I have lost the desire to go to church (no, I'm not staying home; we are going to church), but the desire is just lacking. I try to pray, and I try to trust God for everything, but it seems like lately, I feel myself slowly giving up. I don't want to give up at all, but I can feel it with every discouraging thing that comes along and with every bit of bad news (I know a lot of people feel this way right now with all the world events going on). I sort of feel like doing this....

BUT, I'm here to say that I'm not going to give up, and neither should you, because as my husband tells me, that is Satan, and he wants us to give up; that would make him the happiest if we were to give up. We are not alone; we have God, and He has given us each other to hold each other up. So, this morning, I kept my ritual of getting up and reading my Bible; I may feel like I'm in a funk, but I have to keep reading and soaking myself in those verses each and every day. Only then can God speak to me and help me get through this funk. Are you going through a funk right now? Just open your Bible, and read one verse. I promise you, it will help you; just one verse can speak to your heart. Keep fighting to get yourself out of that funk; together, we can do this.... "Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says, "Oh no, she's awake."
For more motivation, link up with Like A Warm Cup Of Coffee.

Daybook

FOR TODAY, Monday, March 16, 2009...
Outside My Window...it is slowly getting light, but it looks very foggy.
I am thinking...I am glad that I can stay at home.
I am thankful for...my family; no matter what, we have each other.
From the learning rooms...another week of school starts today. This week, Jacob wanted to learn about wolves in science, and we study ancient India in history. And somehow, we have to get our addition/subtraction families memorized better.
From the kitchen...cheeseburgers and fries and veggies tonight.
I am wearing...jammies and robe right now, if only for a few more minutes.
I am creating...a decluttered boys' room this week; time to go through clothes and toys again and just purge....and this time, I mean really purge.
I am going...nowhere today, hopefully.
I am reading...The Yada Yada Prayer Group; The American Patriot's Almanac, which will definitely be finished and reviewed this week; Country Home magazine among others; and seed catalogs.
I am hoping...that the boys will sleep just a bit longer.
I am hearing...the news (ugh) and the furnace.
Around the house...today is home blessing, among many other things.
One of my favorite things...is the feeling I get after cleaning a room; it just feels so fresh.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: School, kickboxing at the gym, Jacob to Tae Kwon Do, get some writing assignments/query letters out, skating with homeschool group.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing...(this was taken at the Springfield Nature Center last summer)...

For more Daybook, visit The Simple Woman.

Ruth's Recipe

Today, we had a little family get-together at my Aunt Nancy's house for our cousin, Amanda, who is going to Japan for 6 months at the end of June; she is going to serve with SEND International as a short-term missionary. Anyway, I made Ruth's Chicken Wing Superbowl Snack, and everyone was asking for the recipe (by the way, instead of hot sauce and blue cheese, I've been using barbecue sauce and Ranch dressing like Ruth suggests, since my boys don't exactly like "hot" stuff). Ruth is a friend of ours who we went to college with, and she is now a wife and mom of two boys....check out her blog over at Thoughts of the Heart. I have to say that every one of her recipes that I have made so far have been so delicious. Ruth, I too wish we would have gotten to know each other more in college, although I'm so glad that we have that opportunity now. Enjoy Ruth's blog; it's very inspiring and has so many tidbits of wisdom all throughout. Have a great rest of the weekend!

For The Love of Fudgesicles!

Last night, Jaden had his first Fudgesicle....and well, the pictures pretty much speak for themselves.:)LOL Oh, he makes me laugh!

Friday Funnies- 5 Nuns

My good friend, Nancy, shared this joke with me yesterday, and I asked her if I could share it; it is very funny!

5 NUNS IN A BAR

Sisters Mary Catherine, Maria Theresa, Katherine Marie, Rose Frances, & Mary Kathleen left the Convent on a trip to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and were sight-seeing on a Tuesday in July. It was hot and humid in town and their traditional garb was making them so uncomfortable, they decided to stop in at Patty McGuire's Pub for a cold soft drink.
Patty had recently added special legs to his barstools, which were the talk of the fashionable eastside neighborhood. All 5 Nuns sat up at the bar and were enjoying their Cokes when Monsignor Riley and Father McGinty entered the bar through the front door.
They, too, came for a cold drink when they were shocked and almost fainted at what they saw.



For more laughter and fun, link up with Homesteaders Heart.

China Cabinet Redo

I have such a hard time making decisions, but this time, I think I have actually chosen a color for my china cabinet. (Please don't mind the clutter; I've let my recipes pile up on me). Yes, I'm going to paint my wood china cabinet; it needs a makeover; then, I am going to put new handles on it and fill it with hopefully, white or some kind of decorative dishes. White or cream colored dishes would really brighten it up. Keep in mind that eventually, I would love to have some type of yellow walls in my dining room/kitchen. Not bright yellow, but cheerful. I'm going for a country Tuscan sort of look, with also a bit of shabby chic thrown in. Part of my inspiration has come from a fellow bloggy friend over at Living My Life, Outside the Box. Anyway, if you have time, check out these colors at Valspar; I'm thinking of going with the first one that is a bluer tone....I really think it would look great. Of course, I know I have no decorative expertise, but I'm trying to learn, so bear with me.:) What do you think?

SuperBread

Ok, so I'm thinking that maybe I should have cut the bread recipe in half and then made it into sausage bread....holy cow! That is a hunk o' bread! LOL It literally takes up the whole top of my oven! LOL

Artsy Smartsy

We've done a couple art projects lately, and I just thought I'd show you Jacob's creations. He had fun with these. We got the ideas from Art Projects For Kids.

The first one we did was the Louise Nevelson Found Sculpture. We started it last week and finished it up Monday. He, of course, chose to paint his sculpture black....we just found all sorts of little things he could glue onto his popsicle stick platform, and he went to town on it. He got creative with it. I've found, with him, that if I let him look at the example the whole time, he won't be as creative (meaning he just tries his hardest to copy the picture), but if I take the example away, he will obviously step out and do things on his own more and use his imagination more. It stretches him.

While it's not the prettiest art project we have done, it was a fun one and promotes great creativity.

The second one we did was the Abstract Oil Pastel Cat. I had to get in on this one too; I love working with oil pastels. Jacob had a lot of fun with this one. He had to use his noggin to make sure he used different colors on each side of the black lines....it was a bit more of a challenge for him but still fun.

For more cool ideas, check out the Art Projects For Kids Blog. You might just find something you can't pass up doing with the kiddos.