Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather:::

A rather damp and dreary day, but one that I really could enjoy if I could just stay home and not have to go out... but alas, it seems something is always on the agenda....


On my reading pile:::

Joseph Prince book, Designed to Reign

Bible

Eric Metaxas book, Bonhoeffer


On my TV:::

Last night I enjoyed the Chopped All- Stars Competition....

Intending to rewatch the video Leap Year soon.... this rainy weather puts me in the mood for a good movie and popcorn


On the menu for this week:::

Monday - Leftover half sandwich from lunch and salad

Tuesday - stir-fried steak and veggies over rice

Wednesday - Church dinner

Thursday -

Friday -

Saturday -

Sunday -

Have to finish Menu Planning today, so not sure yet what the rest of the week looks like.



On my to do list:::

Funeral for a Friend at church
Laundry... a ton from our trip last week

organize my desk and office and do some organizing of the seasonal clothes

Sitting with a friend at hospital during her mom's surgery

National Day of Prayer Thursday greeter and prayer

Menu Planning/Grocery List


Looking around the house:::


Seeing lots of piles of things that need organizing, clothes that need to be stored and others brought out of storage and put away, I am hearing my sweetie outside mowing, and I hearing the marvelous piano jazz from my blog playing.... hoping to get into the mood to tackle a lot of the needs I am thinking about!!


From the camera:::






This is such an awesome book... so well written, enchanting and very inspiring life of a great Christian, and martyr for the Lord!


Something fun to share:::


I think this is a happy pastime... making home a hospitable place for guests... so along that line I found this fun site full of easy and helpful tips for making home a welcoming space...

http://thehappyhousewife.com/home-management/making-your-home-a-haven-for-guests/

Of course, you'll find much much more there as well.... always fun to go exploring!!!


On my prayer list:::


As I am working with our ladies prayer team at our church on our plans for the National Day of Prayer which is coming up on Thursday, I am burdened for our country and it's place in the world... our position with Israel, the state of our economy, the slippery slope we find our society on as it seems to be spiraling out of control, the coming election which in my mind is the most important one in which I have had the right and privilege to vote in.... our Christian principles on which our nation was founded .... many areas we have always taken for granted are at risk.... our schools, even our churches are failing us.... It is a time full of trials and our only hope is found at the foot of the Cross!

Bible verse, Devotional:::


1 Peter 5:7

Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.

Rainy Day

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


For a season that  started out  very warm and dry, I must say these  dreary and  cool,  misty days are a welcome  change!

April Rain Song

Let the rain kiss you

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops

Let the rain sing you a lullaby

The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk

The rain makes running pools in the gutter

The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night

And I love the rain. 

Langston Hughes

Temperate, cooling, nourishing rain!

Porchtime

This morning  I am  celebrating a return to loveliness  by returning to my  general  daily routine....   a week away from home is a wonderful time of refreshing and fellowship,  but to  return  and  settle back into the  routine of  living  is  a glorious  thing!  

So a simple breakfast on the porch

helped to set the tone of  the day...
a nice  bowl of  Special K  with strawberries and a cup of English breakfast tea  and my  thoughts!!!
 
 ...getting the week into perspective,  quiet time to reflect and be thankful!
..... lovely pace for  beginning a new week... a busy week ahead.....  
 I will also be sharing this on 
 Blue Monday!

One Thousand Gifts (71-100)

Ann Voskamp, creator  of  this site, A Holy Experience, and  author of One Thousand Gifts   is    one of my favorite bloggers.   Her theme of

was the springboard to her amazing book  by the same  title

  Every Monday  she is hosting this  wonderful  theme  whereby we join  in  counting the blessings of our lives online, I pick up at 71...

71.  morning rainbows
72.  fresh sheets on the bed
73.  yummy granola on cherry yogurt
74.  morning light filtering through cumulus clouds
75.   thankful that I do not live near the metal reclamation yard
76.  violin music with its spiritual moods and timbre
77.  air conditioning blowing in my face while driving
78.  robin's egg blue skies
79.  quince blossoms  blazing  in February  (written  in  Feb but shared today)
80.  yellow privet blossoms  joyously singing  "spring is on it's way!"
81.  leisurely rides with Lynn around town on morning errands
82.  life together  singing  praises in united spirits
83.  revealing soul directions and leading me to  act in obedience to the  God's will  for my day
84.  opportunities  that edify   and demonstrate God's love  and provision for  my inner spiritual needs
85.  expository teaching that edifies and convicts
86.  The majesty of the organ
87.   The encouraging " pert--ty"  of the cardinal when I stepped out of the door this morning
88.    The friends who see God in me and  trust me  with their life issues to  pray and encourage them
89.  Amanda and Joshua  are coming today... (  2 months ago)
90.  my doctor's appointment went well and  was helpful to my myriad issues
91.  Mom and dad are doing better and settling in to assisted living
92.  The sun is pushing the storms away
93.  The sweet savor of life lived well.. help me lord to move more and more out of myself!
94.  The finances are met... God  provides!  Thanks be to God!
95.  Giving  me the eye to see the  soot tag I need to get down  and the dust as well...
96.  The ability to do the work that needs to be done
97.  The desire to  be more actively involved
98.    Friends that  inspire and encourage
99. Peace that passes all understanding
100.   Confidence to step out of myself in new arenas of life

Trip to Lancaster

Katherine hosts this  blog hop each week   where  participants  share  their favorite things.... 
is  traveling with our church group on  trips....   most of my Sunday School class travels along on these and  we have such a great time of fun and fellowship.....we just returned from Lancaster, Pa  where we toured  the Amish country... Our hotel was the Amish View Inn and  Lynn and I would definitely  choose to stay there again...

  
The lodge was  so  nicely appointed and the view was spectacular... 
                                              
 the property looked out onto a glorious  pastoral  scene
We sat  by this window our first morning   as we  had our  tasty breakfast!

 
  There we could see  little  Amish children  walking to their  school and     farmers tending their fields....
our room was  huge and elegantly furnished

and the  breakfast chef  included   fresh fruit, quiche, and   baked  apple crisp  on the  buffet....  quite  delicious..

Our tours were so  delightful.. the farms pristine, 

the country lanes were  quaint and charming.

I loved making friends with the farm animals we met along the way...

 the sheep were my favorite.

  but this young lady  fair stole my heart as well..

  One of the highlights of our trip was  the Sight and Sound Theater where we  enjoyed the  presentation of "Jonah"!

We stopped in at Hershey on the way home yesterday...

 We  had such a great time....   whether   it was  just the two of us  or with the whole gang!

Breaktime

WILL BE IN AND OUT SO MUCH THIS WEEK...   I AM TAKING A  BIT OF A BREAK  JUST FOR A FEW DAYS!  BE BACK  IN BUSINESS BY WEEK'S END!  GOD BLESS AND SEE YOU SOON!   WITH MANY NEW IDEAS, I'M SURE~

One Thousand Gifts (35-70)

Ann Voskamp, creator  of  this site, A Holy Experience, and  author of One Thousand Gifts   is    one of my favorite bloggers.   Her theme of

was the springboard to her amazing book  by the same  title

  Every Monday  she is hosting this  wonderful  theme  whereby we join  in  counting the blessings of our lives online, I pick up at 36...

36.    Raindrops on  windows  after  a period of   extremely dry weather
37.    breakfast out with my sweetheart
38.    warm refreshing  showers to begin  my day
39.    Eldercare counselling  leading us through    the labyrinth of  red tape and paperwork 40.  Lynn rustling around  the house.. I still  just love  having him home in his retirement
40.   God's Truth revealed in Scripture
41.   Unexpected smiles and greetings
42.   Reassurances in  the Word of God
43.   Easy accomplishments of morning duties and conferences
44.   understanding  in reality the work of affliction in my life
45.   a flash of blue on a wing
46.  fiery warmth of a fireplace
47.  morning coffee reverie with  easy listening music
48.   times of refreshing with good friends
 49.   raindrops hanging jewel-like on branches
50.    zephyr breezes on my face
51.   reconnecting with my God given parameters
52.   Glory times in the Word
53.   learning to wait expectantly
54.   morning sun shifting shadows in the trees
 55.  dishes rattling as Lynn faithfully washes them
56.   steam curling off a teacup
57.   delicious benefits of cinnamon
58.   guileless innocence of a squirrel on the window sill
59.   joyful hope in circumstances  because of God's faithfulness in answered prayer
60.  encouragement from true friends
61.    the work of confession and  repentance
62.   soul satisfaction this morning
63.   Godlight shining in my  heart
64.   sweetly savored cathedral moments shared in my family
65.  Faithful, loving ministrations  of my husband
66.  happy cheerful voice of my mother on the phone
67. Clarity in the help offered  from friends  in knowing  what I  need to  do next
68.  Headway toward complete normalcy  ( aftermath of surgery  and  recuperation)
69.   Holy Spirit guidance moment by moment
70... Help in moving  the truth of scripture from head knowledge to  the heart ( application and processing)

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday!




Thought I'd  share a few of my springtime pinks  of 2012

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

Home Sweet Home

Sherry, of The Charm of Home ,hosts this blog party every Friday

This time of year, the focus is on the yard...   and  these wonderful spring rains have brought things out in abundance!!!!

Things are shaping up our  in the  back garden!

I love this Lil Gardener friend  we  purchased at Tuesday Morning   a couple of years ago... the weathered patina  in the finish  gets better every season....

I am also sharing this today on  Show and Tell Friday a t The Romantic Home...

Rain Shower

Finally the   threatening clouds we've been having  have given way to a few showers and washed the pollen away!

Check out Skyley for more wonderful photos!

Home and garden Thursday.. a Day Late!

Excitement abounds!!!!   A red letter day for Wings of Eagles!...

I have been featured on  one of my favorite sites  at  the Delightsome Life....  I am so appreciative of this honor....  It has made my day!!!!    Now when I look out my window  I  long to see the sight that greeted my eye last week ...

but alas, the  glorious pink has given  way to  lovely greens...

The spring rain has come ushering in a   transition from vibrant to verdant....

 The grass is growing by leaps and bounds, much to sweetie's  dismay....but that is a good thing... now the    geraniums and other  annuals  will begin to  have their hayday!!!!