The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 27, 2012


Outside my window...clear and bright...a mild day


I am thinking...  God is good,  God is great!   He is there  all the time and   I must never forget that!


I am thankful..for good friends  who care and  demonstrate their  lvoe and concern in such  special ways.


In the kitchen...nothing  today




I am wearing...  black slacks and khaki turtleneck


I am creating...nothing


I am going...to    a followup to my surgery  tomorrow...   I am hoping I will be turning a final corner   regarding  this   very soon....


I am wondering...could spring be too much further away???


I am reading... Karen Kingsbury's   One Tuesday Morning,  the 911 Series


The Book of James


Mercy Triumphs       by Beth Moore

I am hoping... to  be able to get all the housework down tomorrow  and be able to play most of the  the rest of the week..... 


I am looking forward to.... the kids are coming on Wednesday evening...YAYAYAYAYAYAYYA


I am learning...  to be content  in all things




Around the house.. just a casual pickup is necessary and a bit of dusting  will do..   


I am pondering... the  manner in  which  God uses the  very small details of our lives to   create the impetus  for great and mighty works in His kingdom...   as evidenced by the wonderful testimony we had in church on Sunday...
    


A favorite quote for today...
"Make a plan now to keep a daily appointment with God. The enemy is going to tell you to set it aside, but you must carve out the time. If you're too busy to meet with the Lord, friend, then you are simply too busy" ( Chalres Swindoll )

One of my favorite things..

I love  bluebirds and I saw  a handsome fellow  over the weekend!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Monday: Bible Study, lunch out with Dottie,   Library time, blogtime,  
Tuesday-Doctor's appt, ,breakfast out,  marketing,    house cleaning,  dad to  doctor
Wednesday- work on my Bible Study,  pick up kids at the ariport yayayayyaya
Thursday-   take  Amanda to senior choir with us,  luncheon,    visit with mom and dad
Friday-   go to the movie to see The Vow with Amanda

Saturday- prayer chapel
A peek into my day...

This photo was taken  6 months ago  right before I had my surgery      and  three months  before  my parents had to move into Assisted Living...  I am  spending  time this week  planning how to  make  wonderful memories  with  my family    on  Thursday and Friday ... by God's grace this will be a wonderful family time for us all.

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook here for more offerings...

A Hint of Blue

  Click the  image  to visit  Smiling Sally and more  Blue Monday!
Just a hint of blue in a room will do me.....

Just a smattering of  a bit of blue  that  gives a bit of anchor to  a setting....

a surprise... something unexpected...

I love this  planter I  received from my mom when she downsized....  just a hint of blue!

Show And Tell Friday

The Romantic Home  hosts this  blog hop      each Friday  and    I have something  I am anxious to share...  A great friend and neighbor    like everyone  in our  area  was  enchanted by the  beautiful snow  on Monday morning.. but being much more industrious than I  she went out walking and when she  saw  our home  she    took this amazing shot....   as you can see it was  before the sun had fully risen and only the   snow-laden canopies of the oaks in the front  are a blaze  with  glory  while the  house still rests  in the early morning shadows...   She   had the photo enlarged and matted for  framing  which  I cant wait to do this weekend!    Ive told so many friends about this I couldnt wait to share about it! 

I Love Baking!

Katherine hosts this  blog hop each week   where  participants  share  their favorite things.... 

This morning I  woke up  wanting to  do  some baking....   and I realized that one of my favorite things is  trying new  biscuit and  scone recipes...  this  morning I found this  fabulous recipe...

Biscuit Recipe:

21/2 cups (325 grams) Virginia's Best flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon granulated white sugar

1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

2/3 c milk

1 large egg, lightly beaten


Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and place rack in center of oven. Lightly grease baking pan.

In a large mixing bowl,sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs... I just rub the butter into the flour with my fingers. Add the milk and slightly beaten egg and stir until just combined. (The texture should be sticky, moist and lumpy.)

Place mixture on a lightly floured surface. Kneadthe dough gentlyuntil it comes together and is a smooth dough.

Roll out dough to about a 1/2 inch and cut into about 10-12 biscuits... bake for about 10 -15 minutesor until the tops are golden brown a toothpick inserted in the center of the biscuit comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Serve warm with butter. I served these biscuits with a delicious peach jam I bought yesterday at the Amish shop, but they are so flaky and light they would be fabulous with sausage gravy!

Skywatch Friday

Check out Skyley for more wonderful photos!

Word Filled Wednesday...the coming storm

Click the above photo to return to Cafe Devotions!

Isaiah 4 states beginning verse 5.....Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory[c] will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

This glory of God is our hiding place our very real tower in time of trouble..... I dont know about you, but I see a storm brewing!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 20, 2012


Outside my window...A glistening  6 inches of fluffy  whipped cream...I mean,  snow lay on   everything


I am thinking...  I am so glad  the last of the homemade vegetable soup and the  home grilled burgers are  at last  eaten  all up.....   leftovers are good... but  too much a good thing... you know what I mean?????


I am thankful..Lynn  , my sweetie, has  a mind for business and he takes care of all the  financial matters.....   Ive done just about all the math I'm  aimin' to do...


In the kitchen... leftovers... I said!   Sorry t  come across grouchy.  Im not really...  just  hoping for a new outlook on  meals  around here....  tomorrow is  market day...  have to  think of something  adventurous!




I am wearing...black slacks and  white and pink tee!


I am creating...nothing much this week!


I am going...to  start  a new research project.. actually started it today...  studying the messianic  holy days  and how they relate to our  current  future events.... fascinating  topic...


I am wondering...when to actually sit down and watch  a video on  here....   I think  watching  Leap Year  would be more  fun up close and personal   here on the computer...    maybe tonight!


I am reading...


Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts... this is a book to savor.. the  writing is so  deep and  poignant... I  dont  want to miss a single nuance or  figure of  expression!

Book of James
Beth Moore's   study,  James  Mercy of Triumph


I am hoping..well since  nothing got done last week,,,,I am still hoping to make a huge dent in getting mom's house ready  for  painting  this week...
I hope I dont  have to write that one  week after week!  But it looks like   I may have too....


I am looking forward to.... next week....   the kids are coming for a couple of days!!!   YAYAYAYAYA


I am learning...to accept things  as they are and be content.....   God is in the little things in very huge ways!


Around the house..hoping to  get  the laundry all done and perhaps  get  some  stuff  cleared out of the basement and off to good will this week!




I am pondering... the importance of staying focused on seeing God in every  circumstance and  not giving  sway to the  lies of the deceiver  whose voice is so much like my own  it is hard to differentiate....


A favorite quote for today...
The forgiving state of mind is a magnetic power for attracting good.
- Catherine Ponder

One of my favorite things..

 Perusing Teatime magazine!!!
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Monday: Bible Study, blogtime,  
Tuesday-allergy shot,breakfast out,  marketing,   laundry,  visit  mom and dad
Wednesday- work on my Bible Study, dinner at church, Adult Bible Study
Thursday- take dad for his followup, ,  Ladies' Bible Study on James
Friday- take mom to the doctor 

Saturday- Morning  coffee with prayer  Sista's
A peek into my day...

 I love to  take photos  for  what else... this blog!  

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook here for more offerings...

Submission in Marriage (This is a Toughie)

I am excited about this new meme, Marriage Monday, created by Chrysalis...it seems this appears every first and third Monday and this week is a topic  that has  really  given me  much to  think about!

Welcome to Marriage Monday

How Marriage Works:21 Secrets Every Couple Needs to Know

Secret #10: A Wife’s Submission Empowers Her Husband

Q. Why all the fuss about submission? Is it really relevant in today’s egalitarian society?


 Our   hostess has given  us  a few writing prompts to guide our thinking  and I'll share them  with you...

1. Define the Greek word for submission, "hupotasso" [hoop-ot-as-so].
2. Tell us a story. Show how your submissive attitude blessed your husband on a specific occasion.
3. Expound this biblical passage: Ephesians 5:22-33.
4. Discuss what the Bible has to say about submission outside of marriage
e.g. to bosses, political leaders, and other authorities.
SO I looked up  submit  from  the following  verse 1Peter 2:13 "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every  human institution, whether to a king, as one in authority...".  IN this  case the  word submit means   to yield to....  or subject to... according to  the Key word Study Bible of the Hebrew and Greek Lexicon...
  Vine's Expository  Dictinary   lists Subjection as a primarily military term to rank under...     as in Eph. 1:22-23  which  details God's plan  for establishing order in  the world..
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. This them continues in Eph 5:22-23...
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.  So  how   do I  take this  idea of  being subject to my husband  ...  yielding to him????

  Seeing  this from  God's perspective is very different  from  how the world perceives this... The world would say  " who is the husband to  "Lord" it over the wife....   this is just short of a husband enslaving a woman keeping her in her place and how does the equal rights amendment  fit into this kind of marriage....

Frankly,  I  grew up in a family where the man deferred to the wife more than he should...  My mother was  strong force and my father   did not  actually   practice  Ephesians 5:23  in our home... and so   anyone who visited with us for any amount of time  would attest that  our home was often filled with strife and bickering....  nothing so serious to  cripple the family.. but I    was raised to never see God's perfect plan for  the family...  this is an area in my life where I had to learn  the long hard way about what godly submission is....and what it is not....

First of all it is not   a forced  type of submission... is not a Lording it over on the woman  ...far from it...  one  can look to the rest of the text in Ephesians 5...."24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself..".  and then  " 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. "   

There is nothing here to  even remotely suggest  a  ruling over kind of submission....    but  I can see that  in God's  holy order for the family   by placing the man at the head  he is also given him the awesome task of keeping the family together... providing for and  making wise judgments for the family  pertaining to every need and  decision... the man  is  under God's  authority to     serve his family to the best of his ability.. Fatherhood and  husbandry should never be  taken lightly...  and I love the verse 28.. where the man is love the wife as God loves the church....   that is an awesome love....     not one of  enslavement or forcefulness  but  tenderness yet sacrifical love...  

So what about the wife and her submission...     she is to  be subject to her husband.. yielding to him  ....   I find this  very  comforting...  knowing that if the man is  living  a godly life before God in  his role  then I  can rest assured of   a peaceful loving home....  it is easy for me to   do verse 33..   to respect my husband when I see him  serving  the family  under the direct headship of  the Father....  oh, if only this  ideal from the scriptures  was a typical family in today's society...!!!!

  My mother  joined the work force in the late 50's   which put more  money in our family coffers, but  put a stress on the family  as well...  she had to put in the work hours then come home and  cook,  wash, clean, and sew for the family  and  she put in many many  long hours.....   and  I believe that with this  divided role of the working wife and mother  she learned to  push her opinions into the mix  as what society was demanding was her right.... and that  slippery slope has entrenched itself into  the mainstream  for so long  that  today  God's plan is  so very far from  what is the expected  it is  now considered abnormal....  a  housewife is considered less than   ambitious.. just as  home schooled  children are often times  considered  odd.. out of touch...

  I struggled with  trying to  grow up and mature  in an everchanging upside world  of working wife and mother, and  had my share of  embittered  arguments and angry  episodes  before God 's way finally chipped away all of the coarse rough places  the world  had tried to mold into me...  My husband as well,,,  has come to grips with what a godly husband is like...   because like many men  he struggles with  a type of arrogance and critical spirit that perhaps  my  demeaning spirit may very well have  helped to create.

 Long hours of Bible study and biblical marriage seminars.  have taught us   what  we needed to understand about godly marriage and  proper role playing  between  husband and wife.... and now  I can truly say I wouldnt want it any other way...

   I feel completely loved and cherished  by  my husband whom  I work with  in decision making for the family...   we share in  decisions   about everything...even eating out...   because  when  I respect and love him for  what he means to our family  I want what he wants  .... it makes  our home  happy and  I see how God has blessed our marriage  over  the  times of our growing together  in submission to Him. HIs  Godly wise order for  all things is the one and only way  that leads to  happiness and fulfilment.

                                                                                                                                                                                     

Winter's Icy grip

This morning   a  winter wonderland greeted us... our first  major snow of the season!

Visit Mary at the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday!!

Happy Homemaker Monday

For more   Happy Homemaker  posts  visit here!

The weather:::

a gorgeous  snow  lays  glistening beneath brilliant turquoise sky

On my reading pile::: 

I am reading 

 Amy Voskamp's, A Thousand Gifts

Mercy Triumphs, Beth Moore Bible Study.

The Book of James

On my TV:::

Anything on HDTV

Food Network

On the menu for this week:::

Monday - home grilled  hamburgers and salad

Tuesday - Lentil soup with ham

Wednesday - dinner at church

Thursday -   boneless barbecued pork ribs

Friday - grilled tilapia and crab cakes

Saturday - leftovers

Sunday - Chinese

On my to do list:::

laundry

Bible Study

clean the  guest room

organize 

journalling/researching the Jewish calendar feasts

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

no time for anything at this time

Looking around the house:::

I see  the need for a bit of organization... especially  down in the basement
  

From the camera:::

Out the front door this morning

Something fun to share::: 

I am  really looking forward to  finding the time to watch my favorite movie... especially as   March  is looming  on the horizon  which puts me in my Celtic frame of mind!

On my prayer list::: 

our family

our church

our neighbors and community

many special friends who are struggling with their health, family issues, and finances

Blue Monday Just a Hint of Blue

  Click the  image  to visit  Smiling Sally and more  Blue Monday!
Just a hint of blue in a room will do me.....

Just a smattering of  a bit of blue  that  gives a bit of anchor to  a setting....

a surprise... something unexpected...

I love this  planter I  received from my mom when she downsized....  just a hint of blue!

Show and Tell Friday Angels

  Click the    photo to  return to  The Romantic Home and more  Show and tell Friday!

I love my  collection of angels..   most of these are  from  the Jim Shore collection... I love the   attention to detail in the  folk art painting...   precious.... angelic!

Some of My Favorite Things

Katherine hosts this  blog hop each week   where  participants  share  their favorite things.... and this week I am looking ahead to March... I suppose it is the teacher in me...  once one  holiday  was past, it was time to concentrate on the upcoming one  to decorate the classroom and  gather  ideas  that would entice the  8 years old to write   and  paint  and  inspire them to  think  with their right brain a bit...  a respite from the  fervent  attention paid to the   ever looming  standardized tests....     so   today I  changed my blog music to  my Celtic list and     getting a bit into my highland  moods of late!
Time to lay aside my heart pendant  and bring forth my  Celtic  Knot medallion  representing everlasting life!

I also find that my mind wanders  along the lines of  dream itineraries yet again as the  days of March  begin to come into sight on the  calendar..

 One of my  most favored places on my bucket list of "must sees"  is  Eilean  Donan Castle  ... 

 I actually took this photo  myself using this amazing  web cam situated by the site...  I love to check in there  at various times of day and take  shots of  this  marvelous  castle and its environs!
I fell in love with castles when we lived in Germany and  I could actually see one from my parlor window.. we lived very near the the Odenwald mountains    dotted all along their  length  by  feudal  ruins  from  ages past....  My love of all things medieval  grew out of  that study years ago...
  and  as you can see  is reflected in some  of the decorations in our home today!

Follow Me Friday

  Finding  the Inspiring....
 Follow Me Friday,   is a delightful  opportunity to hop about blogland  sharing enjoying all things inspired! 

  If you haven't discovered  Ann Voskamp's blog,  A Holy Experience, 

then you are in for    the best to be  found in blogland....  I first discovered  her  insightful blog  when I started doing her  theme on  1000 gifts   a couple of years ago...then  imagine my  surprise and delight when I  realized that this is the one and same AnnVoskamp  who authored one of my very  favorite books  I am currently reading...  

One Thousand Gifts:

A Dare to Live Fully 

Right Where You Are 

Now I not only  get to relish every word of the written text of her book,  but also  am  inspired ongoing   through her  daily posts ...awesome!  If you havent  connected with this  amazing  woman... now is the time to  be blessed and  truly  led to the brink of heaven's gates through her soulful  writing... 

Skywatch Friday

Through   A February Window
Check out Skyley for more wonderful photos!

Green Pastures

Click the above photo to return to Cafe Devotions!

  What a relief it is to  know  my Savior leads me and  I can rest in HIM!

Will you be my valentine?

If it's Valentine's Day  there will be roses!

Visit Mary at the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday!!

Blue Bird Return???

  Click the  image  to visit  Smiling Sally and more  Blue Monday!

Until the blue birds return to the  the nesting  season  I  enjoy this indoor fellow...
Perhaps it won't   be too long until I will  watching for  him!

The SImple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 13, 2012

Outside my window...A sunny,  but  very  cold  day   outside.....

I am thinking...  I love the music on my blog  but it is time to make a change don't you think??

I am thankful..for  Lynn and my life together....   goodness we are coming up on  our 40th  anniversary  next month!

In the kitchen... simplicity is the spice of life... Hotdogs   hahahahahha

I am wearing...turquoise turtleneck ,green sweats,  green and turquoise socks... hahahaha  I am a hoot today!

I am creating...nothing much this week!

I am going...to the Symphony tonight  for the Romantic Showcase
the programme::
Bernstein One Hand, One Heart from
West Side Story
Mahler Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
Hanson Symphony No. 2, "Romantic"
I love the Hanson!   The  kids  played it  several times in different concerts in high school and college.It brings back such fond memories.. Oh, how I miss  those days!

I am wondering...what to wear this evening...  I want to look good,  but not be too cold either..  hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

I am reading...

Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts... this is a book to savor.. the  writing is so  deep and  poignant... I  dont  want to miss a single nuance or  figure of  expression!

Book of James
Beth Moore's   study,  James  Mercy of Triumph


I am hoping..well since  nothing got done last week,,,,I am still hoping to make a huge dent in getting mom's house ready  for  painting  this week...
I hope I dont  have to write that one  week after week!

I am looking forward to.... next year's mystery night at the  library
   We attending our first one  on Saturday night and it was a blast...   Loved it from start to finish!

I am learning...to let go and have fun when I can!

Around the house..my house is on hold for the next week or so....

I am pondering... the importance of staying focused on seeing God in every  circumstance and  not giving  sway to the  lies of the deceiver  whose voice is so much like my own  it is hard to differentiate....

A favorite quote for today...
When people cast fear to the wind and spend themselves and risk their lives and fortune in the cause of God's truth, and in love for other people, then God is revealed for who He really is: infinitely valuable and satisfying--so much so that His people don't need the fleeting pleasures of sin in order to be content. John Piper

One of my favorite things...The Hanson....enjoy it for yourself

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Monday: Bible Study, laundry,  computer  time,  symphony
Tuesday-allergy shot,breakfast out,  marketing,  take dad for his laser treatment on his eye
Wednesday- work on my Bible Study, dinner at church, Adult Bible Study
Thursday- Choir practice, Luncheon  with the choir,  Ladies' Bible Study on James
Friday- catch up day

Saturday-  Sunday School Dinner a t Bellacino's
A peek into my day...

Ive spent a lot of time today   on  Bible Study and  computer time  ... otherwise you  might find me driving over to see my parents,  or thinking about my  family  or  dreaming of springtime...  They say  it is a'comin!

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook here for more offerings...

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday

Spring is definitely in the air!  You  can not only feel it, you can see it!!!

  Gorgeous  flowering quince is the first harbinger that  winter is almost over....  so it is reflected on my mantel  at home...
\   
   But   this   isnt   shown in  its best    composition...

   Now as  the  backdrop for my    mantel display it sets the tone for my preEaster   setting...

Center stage...   the cross....   an ever present reminder of  the true meaning  of the season...

HEALING AT THE CROSS

We know when Jesus was crucified

Upon the wooden cross

Our every sin was laid upon Him

All for loving the lost

And we know that when He rose again

He conquered death and hell

Through His resurrection we have

Eternal life as well

For this we praise our gracious Lord

And thank Him for His love

For we could never have had this hope

If it wasn't for His spilled blood

But we can know His resurrection power

Right now while we are here

For we can come to the cross of Christ

And lay down our burdens there

For everything that may hold us back

The hurts from yesterday

At the foot of the cross we lay it down

And then just walk away

For I believe that there is healing

At the cross of Christ

We do not need to carry these loads

For they've all been crucified

Receive from Jesus the healing you need

For your spirit, body and soul

Then you can arise, freed from your past

To walk completely whole

For what He accomplished on the cross

Goes on into eternity

Just reach out your hand and He will too

And receive His victory

 By M.S.Lowndes ~ 2006

The lovely  Dresden ladies   are decked out for the Easter parade!
The mantel is flanked by music and literature...   two gifts from  God  that  that  enable us to  dwell  on higher  planes    closer to Him!

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