Happy Homemaker Monday

Click here to return to our hostess, Sandra!

The weather outside is::::

Another dark and dreary day...even though the temps are rather mild for Dec 31st.

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

I  enjoyed my usual fruited yogurt and coffee..  Hubs treats me so well!!!!  I ,also, used up the rest of the ham  and a red pepper to scramble  eggs  along with  a slice of cinnamon toast...  a lovely  end of season  breakfast!!!

As I look outside my window:::

all is quiet everywhere..  the  slight fog has drifted in  and everyone  is snuggled  inside and  slow to  venture out!

There is a hint of wood smoke in the air as I'm sure some families are  settled in around  a warm fire... We have some logs  ready,  but  getting  Hubs to set a fire  may not be in the cards for today..  He has  other plans for the day!

I see Hubs did open all the blinds in the sunroom to  bring  whatever light  can filter in..  just makes  me feel a  damp chill, however.

Even the birds  are  tucked away  later than usual on such a morning!

Right now I am::::

I am still  wiping  slow tears  that  continue to  run down my face after watching  the best Christmas movie.. 

I don't know how I missed it, but I'm glad  I did get to see it this morning!!

As I look around the house::::

I am not in any hurry to  put Christmas away. It isn't like we have a live tree to  hurry away with and  actually  there just isn't that much  to  deal with...  I  feel that the holidays  sped past  so quickly.. why be  too fast to  put it all away... I still have much music  I haven't had a chance to hear.  I am still in a contemplative  mood!!!  Here is the whole album  that I love to listen to

On today's to do list::::

Hubs has already started  the laundry.. so  I will have much to  put away  because I still need to put away some laundry from last week.. The house is in good stead  because  of the wonderful dinner party we had over the weekend.  So I  will spend some time working in my Christian planner..  and setting some goals for the new year.  I am looking forward to  starting an almost vegan  style of eating in the new year... many more veggies... I read where  beets are  really good for cholesterol control  and I have taken myself off of statin drugs so  I am creating a lovely veg dinner for tonight...  cooked, buttered beets, along with lentil and carrot soup and  cornbread muffins.. yum!!!

Currently reading::::

Bible~John and Isaiah  for various Bible studies I am doing.  
I got so many great books for Christmas.  how to choose..  
Becoming Gertrude, by Janice Peterson,  How Our friendships Shape our Faith

Face to Face with Jesus  Seeing Him as He really Is by Randy Alcorn

Awaken by Priscilla Shirer, 90 days with the God Who Speaks

Just Give Me Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz

Intercessory Prayer, How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth by Dutch Sheets

See what I mean...  Has anyone read any of these...  I know  they are all  precious...wonderful.... It is  just very hard to choose one!!!!

On the TV ::::

I have been enjoying  some of the Hallmark Christmas  movies..  We are  super excited to hear that season 8 of Doc Martin 

will be starting soon  on PBS..  Can not find the start up date, just says January 2019! yayayaya


 Looking forward to this week:

Choir starts up again this week...I am praying about whether to get back to regular choir... I did enjoy  prepping for the Christmas Program..  It is a huge  commitment, though! Later in the week we have a rescheduled  Birthday luncheon for  one of my best friends, Dottie..

 Her original  lunch date was snowed out.  It will be lovely to get together with  the prayer sistas' to  celebrate!
Then I will have  perhaps my final  followup doctor's appointment regarding my cataract/glaucoma/ astigmatism surgeries..  I am  so hopeful  that I can go off of  those glaucoma drops!!!  And I will get my new glasses  prescription..  I  love my  way off vision. It is marvelous,  but  now I  can't see a thing  up close  and  even though it is fun not to wear glasses,  having to continually  grab my readers  is quite a drag. I'm not quite up to wearing them
around my neck! 

On the menu this week::::

Monday -beets, lintel soup,  cornbread muffins
Tuesday - spaghetti and salad
Wednesday - left overs 
Thursday -haven't decided..maybe out!
Friday -fish and chips, slaw

New recipe I tried or want to try this week::::

French Lentil and Carrot Soup

Ingredients

5 large carrots, peeled and sliced

1-1/2 cups dried green lentils, rinsed

1 shallot, finely chopped

2 teaspoons herbs de Provence

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 cups cubed rotisserie chicken

(I am substituting  cooked chopped country ham)

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

(Subbing Half and half)

Directions

Combine the first seven ingredients in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker; cover. Cook, on low until lentils are tender, 6-8 hours.

Stir in meat and cream. Cover and continue cooking until heated through, about 15 minutes.

Test Kitchen tips

Remember to check the label when buying Herbs de Provence; some contain lavender and some don’t. The lavender adds an unusual flavor that really complements both carrots and lentils.

The amount of heavy cream may be increased, decreased or eliminated altogether depending on personal tastes.

Recipe from Taste of Home

Favorite Photo from the camera

That chair, where I do all of  contemplation, Bible Study and reading,  is calling my name.  I'm glad I'm just about finished with this post!

Prayers:::

I am starting fresh with new prayers:

The President and his family, and the administration,  for protection and godly counsel!

Pray against all division in our nation, that harmony and peace will reign supreme throughout the land.

For the God's will to work its way through our Congress to promote a healing and a functioning environment

Pray against delusion and lies of the enemy, protect the hearts and minds of  the young!

Pray that pastors across the nation are  renewed and  re edified to  preach the gospel   using the whole counsel of God...  Let no personal kingdom or agenda   sidestep the work of the Spirit in the church!

Please, God, take back our institutions of higher learning

Pray for the sick that they might be healed

Pray for  the peace and harmony of Jerusalem 

Pray that the light of Christ will shine  boldly through  His people and  everyone is establishing within their own hearts the manner in which to live for Him in 2019

Pray for our service men and women overseas who put their life on the line everyday to  protect our freedoms. I lift up particularly my own  sweet  cousin Josh....  Please  add in the comments  other names you would like named here!!

Pray for the lost who are bewildered and lost... they are hopeless in need of a loving savior!

Pray that  our Congress will find a way to  work together to protect our borders.. a country without borders ceases to be a nation!

 Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::