The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... from Carolyn's Daybook

Outside my window...Ah.... this first Monday following my release of my teachng contract
...I enjoyed the 37 years of teaching in the public schools, children will always remain my favorite people on earth... and perhaps I will return to teaching sunday school some day... as the Lord leads me.... but for now... oh let me revel in the prospect of no more school, no more school nightmares, no more teacher's plans for the substitute, or grade books.. (sigh) life is so good! So as I look out the window I see a beautful new day filled with new hopes and dreams... the essence of which are yet to be realized... love it!!!

I am thinking...about the myriad possibilities that lay before me... but mainly I am rejoicing in the contentment of abundance that I experiencing at this moment... abundance of God's grace and blessing!!!

I am thankful ... for the holiday today and that Lynn is home with me and we have a lovely day planned ahead of us...

I am wearing...navy shorts and light blue knit tee

I am remembering.... that i need to purchase a cabbage today at the store so I can prepare the slaw to take to the cook out at Gerri's this evening!!

I am going...to have a very full day tomorrow with my mom and just catching up on errands that have been neglected over the past few weeks... life has been so hectic.

Books Im reading.....

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs
Christ is in Control, Bible Study
Destroying Spiritual Strongholds, by our Bible Study teacher, Jim Tarter
Book of Isaiah
I love Liz Curtis Higgs. I was priveleged to actually meet her in oerson this spring at a women's conference... I have read many of her books and this one is proving to be just as enthralling and powerful in message!

I am hoping....to get tickets to see Chris Botti in concert at Wolftrap in August... You can hear his easy jazz here on the blog.

On my mind...
several of us at church have been so taken with a previous study on the Church view as opposed to the world view in regard to how the church has really dropped the ball in allowing our society to propel down the slippery slope upon which we now find ourselves.... we are meeting together to discussing the church's role in the world today and just how it can educate the people and spur them to action in their realm of influence to stay the hand of the enemy in our homes, schools, community and government...

Noticing that...

aches and pains are becoming a tad more commonplace in me.... not good....

Pondering these words...
"No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.
--from The Virginia Act For Establishing Religious Freedom, 1786, authored by Thomas Jefferson

Around the house....laundry as usual... bah!

One of my favorite things... blogging, and this week I definitely plan to catch up with it!! YAYA!
From my picture journal...


My lilies will soon be in bloom this season... I love these so much!!!!

This week you can visit Peggy for more SWD on Tuesday!

Skywatch Friday

Sunset over Lancaster, Pennsylvania

For more skies visit Skyley.

Word Filled Wednesday

On Friday, May 27, 2010, my career as a teacher officially comes to a close.. transition time, once again! I'm leaning on God's direction and purpose for my life to be revealed in His timing!
Click here for more WFW!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... from Carolyn's Daybook

Outside my window...ok,, I am way off.... just chalk it up to the fact that I've been subbing at the Middle School administering the Standard of Learning end of Year tests for the last 3 days and have several yet to go! I have barely looked outside of a window since last Thursday when I was returning home from the church trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. That day it was sunny and warm... thankfully, we have had overcast and much needed rain since then. The clouds broke up today and a lovely day is forest for tomorrow... but alas, I wont see it.There are no windows in this academy of learning.

I am thinking...wow, have I really actually made it through half of the days I had lined up this week... well, actually since last Friday.... it has been grueling.. and I really must continue to go to bed by 8:30 to build up my strength for each day....so I suppose I need to get a move on if I plan to finish this tonight!

I am thankful ....for all the wonderful opportunities i have had to go on church trips and to work in the schools to make a little extra money... although this time around I am really earning the money more so than some jobs.... I really like 12-14 year olds one on one... but they are hard to take by the class ful

I am wearing...jammies!

I am remembering.the fabulous production of "Joesph" we saw at the Sight and Sound Theater last week in Lancaster....

I am going...to really enjoy prayer team on Saturday morning and breakfast out with the girls!It will definitely be time to celebrate!

I am currently reading...

One Hot Country Summer, book 4 in the Barleybridge series by Rebecca Shaw
Christ is in Control, Bible Study
Destroying Spiritual Strongholds, by our Bible Study teacher, Jim Tarter

I am praying ..that Ivan, my facebook friend from Sweden, who had a heart attack3 weeks ago and has been in th hospital with complications will come through the open heart surgery scheduled later this week... join me in prayer over him for his physical and spiritual well-being.

On my mind...I didnt know that one could feel so completely drained!

Around the house....who cares!

One of my favorite things....
Amish Country

From my picture journal....
the Sight and Sound Theater entrance

This week you can visit Peggy for more SWD on Tuesday!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... from Carolyn's Daybook

Outside my window...this has been a gorgeous day... we awoke to temps in the 40's.... aw... I love seasonal spring-like weather.... and this afternoon it has been in the high sixties and a nice breeze.... I love it....the only thing we really and truly need is some good ole April showers... somehow we missed those and jumped right in to July there for a few weeks....

I am thinking...oh, how I ever wish it was Thursday afternoon... and these sub days at the middle school were behind me.... I will be working in the computer lab teaching the use of the spread sheet... prob my very least understood application and the operating system there is windows 2007 which is all new to me..... Please pray for me to have wisdom, patience, and stamina to make it through those 2 days.... I am trying to think of it as an opportunity and a blessing to work....

I am thankful .... for the three pounds I lost this week..... that makes 10 so far..... I am trying to renew my thinking.... God is so good to help me in this endeavor!!

I am wearing...my new turquoise sweater and new dark wash capri jeans

I am remembering..that this is the last year of working in the public schools... my last opportunities to work with kids in that arena.... my last day to ever step foot in my old elementary school after 37 years will be this Friday when I sub in second grade.... a great relief after the previous 2 days.

I am going...to the symphony tonight! The programme:
An American Landscape

Roanoke Symphony Orchestra

Copland - Billy the Kid: Suite
Tower - Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman
Gershwin - An American in Paris
Margolis - The Millcreek at Waxman's Crossing
Rodgers - Victory at Sea
Bernstein - Selections from "West Side Story"

Oh, this promises to be quite wonderful and uplifting... some of my very favorites!

I am currently reading...

One Hot Country Summer, book 4 in the Barleybridge series by Rebecca Shaw
Christ is in Control, Bible Study
Destroying Spiritual Strongholds, by our Bible Study teacher, Jim Tarter

I realize there are other books in this series which the library has not purchased and they are only available in the UK... I hope this one wont be a terrible cliffhanger... I probably should have stopped with book three because everything in that was all tied up in a nice little package and all the issues were neatly and amicably resolved... I just love these books!!!

I am hoping..to hear from my facebook friend today... he had some heart issues late last week and was feeling better over the weekend. But he has been completely absent from the scene today.. he is an elderly European man living in Sweden and he is all alone... and is a precious friend... pray with me that he is well, and above all that he will make right choices pertaining to his life... it is difficult with no one to help guide one through the struggles of life.

On my mind...I have been reminded yet again of the craftiness and subtlety of the enemy of our souls... and just how very rampant he and his minions are in these days...our only hope in this world is the mercy and grace of our loving Father in heaven!!
.

Noticing that...

the pollen has been worse again this week and I believe it must be the lamb's foot weed with is my worst allergen because my head aches all the time!!It was great to get the porch all cleaned off and the car washed today!!

Pondering these words...

"It was such a spring day as breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing
that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves or grass, and fling out his arms to embrace
he knows not what."
- John Galsworthy

Around the house....I have to get my tomato plants in the ground...

One of my favorite things...
meeting new and chatting with new friends in the FarmTown game... I have some really great "friends' I enjoy chatting with daily from England, Australia, Sweden, Canada, and Japan... it is always amazing to me that we can chat across the fence as it were yet be continents apart.

From my picture journal...

This week you can visit Peggy for more SWD on Tuesday!

Skywatch Friday

One afternoon this week the afternoon sunlight was dancing gloriously upon the cloud bank on the eastern horizon...

For more skies visit Skyley.

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer on our country and our community... I am pleased that our church opened its doors this morning at 7am for those wishing to come in and spend time humbling themselves before God seeking direction and mercy for our country. I was there to help kick off the day and Lynn and I will go spend an hour there around 5 this afternoon. Doors close at 7pm. There are so many issues in desperate need of soaking prayer we need to be continually seeking God's will in every area of life. Our nation is struggling with the effects of the enemy in everya rea of our society and government... God is our only hope...

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

The Simple Woman's DayBook

FOR TODAY... from Carolyn's Daybook

Outside my window...I am unable to sleep this morning... top many things on my mind... I am up before 5 and pondering my day... the weather forecast says its mostly cloudy this morning with clearing during the day ...highs in the mid 80's... but the humidity will be high so it will probably be a bit uncomfortable to my way of thinking.

I am thinking...I have to be at the Middle school this morning before classes begin for training in administering the standards of Learning tests when I sub there at the end of the month for 6 days. I am praying that I may also meet with the computer lab instructor to run through the procedures needed for subbing for her for 2 days next week..May is really going to be an awesome time for me to catch up on my subbing days for the year...9 days in all this month...and then my subbing days will be a thing of the past.

I am thankful that Lynn's work has calmed down somewhat... he isnt staying late and working weekend any longer... for the time being anyway.... so we can actually plan some work days around here for a change... and the list is long!

I am wearing...khaki's and white blouse

I am remembering..the procedures we established a couple of weeks ago for the national day of Prayer... I will be going to the church bright and early to help get the day started....I was actually laying in bed this morning thinking about what we had said about documenting how many individuals participate in prayer this year... I need to discuss this with the team tonight when I see them.... that is one element that we have not fully decided..

I am going...to the Ladie's Aglow meeting tonight with some ladies from our prayer team..the speaker has a marvelous ministry in healing prayer.

I am currently reading...

Country Passions, book 3 of the Barlybridge series by Rebecca Shaw
Christ is in Control, Bible Study
Destroying Spiritual Strongholds, by our Bible Study teacher, Jim Tarter

Rebecca Shaw's books are so engaging.... I had checked the original 2 books from the library a couple of months ago and thoroughly enjoyed them.. they are very much in the vein of Herriot's books.... except these books recount a veterinarian practice in a small village inYorkshire in more modern times, although the setting is so quaint, the stories are timeless... However, the end of book 2 was such a cliffhanger I was horrified to discover that the library did not have the following 2 books at all.. I registered my dismay at the desk and Friday I was called and told the next two books were ready for me to pick up... So I am the first to read these lovely last 2 books in the series.. I noticed that they had been ordered from England as I had already checked they are not readily avaibable here in the states.. YAYAY! I am quite ecstatic to have the opportunity to read them.

I am hoping..to continue my advances I have made in my weight loss program... I am feeling better even though I've only lost 6 pounds so far... I'm really hoping that is 6 pounds I'll never see again!!.

On my mind...last Saturday a group of us ladies watched a video on the work of the enemy in our world today which really opened our eyes. One thing which came to our attention is a deep concern for the errors in many of our new Bible translations...particularly the one of which i have really thought was a good translation and have used for the past 20 years. Much to my dismay we discovered that it appears to water down the true power of the scriptures by
attacking the virgin birth, removing the blood from our redemptive process, misrepresents the truth in several passages, actually uses a metaphor which describes Christ as a name for lucifer , removes many uses of the word "hell" and what i found very offensive, ha completely removed over 20 verses entirely form the scriptures, including one of my favorite... Matthew 18:11... For the Son of man has come to save that which is lost... There fore last night Lynn and i went out and purchased new King James Bibles which we believe are the most authorized Bibles for these times... This has been most disconcerting for me... for i loved my previous Bible... had it all marked underlined and so many notes... just the way i loved it.... I will spend days getting used to my new one... but I at last now feel that my Bible will be filled with the truth...

http://www.lwbc.co.uk/KJV/attack_on_bible.htm

Noticing that...

the stink bugs seem to be out with a vengeance this spring... they are everywhere in the house and they seem to be on the advance.... Yikes!!!

Pondering these words...

I just chanced to look out the window.. it is just 5:40am and the sky is still black as pitch and was amazed to see the great full moon beaming down out of the eastern sky... I just never thought it would still be in that quadrant at this time of day.... it fairly took me by surprise.

"The young May moon is beaming, love.
The glow-worm's lamp is gleaming, love.
How sweet to rove,
Through Morna's grove,
When the drowsy world is dreaming, love!
Then awake! -- the heavens look bright, my dear,
'Tis never too late for delight, my dear,
And the best of all ways
To lengthen our days
Is to steal a few hours from the night, my dear!"
- Thomas Moore, The Young May Moon

Around the house....I have to get my tomato plants in the ground...

One of my favorite things...
birdwatching

The handsome male standing sentinel atop the birdhouse guarding whilst his mate sits on the nest... 6 eggs waiting to be hatched... glory to God!!

From my picture journal...

This week you can visit Peggy for more SWD on Tuesday!

Pink Saturday

Good morning! Wishing everyone a bright, rosy, morning on this PinK Saturday!
I love the way the morning sun spreads across the yard ...

casting deep shadows and illumined blazes



until finally it has climbed above the treetops and everything is fully alight and radiant with color!

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your PINKNESS today!!