Happy Homemaker Monday 11/20/23

Taking a quick minute to join in this week's Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay At Home Mom.   

The Weather:

Cold & sunny. 

Outside my Window:

Lots of sunshine, a few leaves still on the trees.

 Right Now I am:

Blogging and waiting for the oven to preheat.

Thinking and Pondering: 

What I need to make for Thanksgiving dinner (not hosting but bringing some dishes).  I also need to make a packing list as my husband and I will be away with friends for a few days in the coming weeks.
 

Podcasts I'm listening to this week:

 Haven't listened to any this week.

On my T.V this week:

Not sure.  Maybe a Studio Ghibli movie or two since our 15yr old is really into those lately.

On the Dinner Plate:

Chicken and Rice Soup

On the Menu this week:

Soup

Swedish meatballs

Chicken pot pie?

Thanksgiving dinner

What I'm Reading:

Bible

The Words we Whisper; haven't gotten very far into this so we'll see how it goes.

On my To-Do list today:

Finish Laundry 

Errands ✓

Make Bread✓

Write note to prayer partner & oldest son & mail them. ✓

Plans for this week:

Keep up with housework.

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Celebrate Thanksgiving w/family

Take daughter to airport (returning to college after Thanksgiving break)

Pack for trip

What I'm Creating:

I promised pictures of the giant lollipops I was making so here is that picture and also a couple of the parade float.  I was hoping to walk in the parade with our youngest two but with iffy weather and a family member needing help last minute, the logistics for walking didn't work out.  It was still fun to help decorate the float. 

 

                                                                         

From the Camera:

Just the ones from above.   

 

Highlight from Last week:

The highlight from last week was definitely our oldest coming in Saturday night for a visit.  It's great to have her home for a few days.  Another highlight was celebrating Friendsgiving with the ladies group at church.  We are currently going through a study on the Lord's Prayer and the time together was so sweet and encouraging..with yummy food too!

 

Bible Verse/Devotional Quote:

These few verses really stood out to me this week.  People had heard of the work God had done in Paul's life and they glorified God.  Am I living my life so that if people were to hear about God working in my life they would glorify Him?  Is my life one that always, only points others to glorify God and not seeking my own glory?

On My Prayer List:

Family & Friends who are ill.

Kids away at college and kiddos here this school year.

Safe travels over the next several weeks as many family & friends are traveling.

Wisdom in parenting

Peace & the willingness to let go of things that are not mine to carry.

Thankful Thursday: Countdown to Thanksgiving

Seems hard to believe that next Thursday is Thanksgiving.  I'm grateful for this month; where many take a more focused look at gratitude.  It's easy to focus on what is wrong with this fallen world but oh! the gift of focusing on the goodness of God!  How that even in such a fallen world His faithfulness, goodness, and grace are on full display.  

 

 

 

 There is SO much for us to be grateful for.  So here is my list of things I'm thankful for this week:

    - I'm thankful for walks & talks with good friends who encourage, pray for and walk life with me.

    - I'm thankful for the energy & time to get tasks done ahead of "schedule".

    - I'm thankful for Scripture; God's Word to us!  That it is always relevant, fresh and living.

    - I'm thankful for God's patience and understanding with me.  His timing of giving just what I need when I need it.

    - I'm thankful for talks with my kids, including those unexpected calls from our oldest two as they navigate college and see God working.

    - I'm thankful for "car concerts" with my girls! And for new songs shared with me by my kiddos.

The song below was shared with me last night by one of my daughters.  I love the message & the sound of this song.  The reminder to "put it down" and trust Jesus.  Take a minute to listen; I pray you will be blessed and encouraged.

What are you especially thankful for this week?

Happy Homemaker Monday 11/13/23

I almost didn't sit down to blog but the thought of just sitting down and doing something routine was actual a comfort today.  Some days are just harder and a Monday after a long weekend seems to be one of them.  It's hard (but a necessity) to be reminded over and over that while we, as mamas, can control a lot of things there are certain things we will never be able to control.  Resting today in the truth that God does really have all of us. 

 I'm happy to say that last week I did get to writing up a schedule for the next two months.  So, it's broken down by each week and what needs to be accomplished each week.  It's doesn't seem quite so overwhelming to have it all written out. So with that said, I am happy to again be joining in this week's Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay At Home Mom.   

The Weather:

It's chilly here with a mix of sun & clouds.  This morning it was 25F when I took the youngest out to the bus stop.  Brrr...

Outside my Window:

It's sunny right now with lots of blue sky.

 Right Now I am:

Blogging and enjoying the quiet.

Thinking and Pondering: 

If I will finish the decorations for the PTO parade float today or tomorrow.  I'm helping make some giant lollipop decorations.   Also deciding what days I'll do other tasks since I have an appt in the city this week and other things that will take up some extra time.
 

Podcasts I'm listening to this week:

 

Haven't listened to any this week.

On my T.V this week:

Not sure.  Maybe a Studio Ghibli movie or two since our 15yr old is really into those lately.

On the Dinner Plate:

Roasted Pork Loin, Rice & some veggie

On the Menu this week:

Not sure, might just make extra of meals I'm prepping and freezing.

What I'm Reading:

Bible

The Echo of Old Books

On my To-Do list today:

Finish Laundry 

Work on float decorations

Shop for new coat ✓

Write note to prayer partner ✓

Plans for this week:

Keep up with housework.

Appt in the city

Walk with a friend

Gathering Table (ladies group at church) Friendsgiving 

Start Prepping meals

Help decorate float

Pick up oldest daughter from airport (Thanksgiving break)!

What I'm Creating:

Making some giant lollipop decorations for a parade float.  Not sure I'll get to much other crafting                                                                        

From the Camera:

So, I checked to see if I'd taken any photos this week and I haven't.   

 

Highlight from Last week:

The highlight from last week was that the kids had two days off from school.  Tuesday was election day and Friday they had off for Veteran's Day.  We didn't do really anything special but it is always nice to have some more relaxing days.

 

Bible Verse/Devotional Quote:

This morning as I was reading through Acts chapter 7 I noticed verses 24-25.  Stephen is retelling the events of the Old Testament and showing how all of it was pointing to Christ.  In verse 24-25 he is speaking about Moses. Moses had killed an Egyptian and it says "He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand."  Moses thought that they would see him as their great savior; how wonderful it was that he, Moses, would stand up for them.  But God's plan was to glorify Himself & show He was their True Savior...not Moses.

So often we try to control things and "help" how we think things should go; but God's timing and ways are always best.  His purposes will be fulfilled but it rarely, if ever, looks like how we think it should go or in the timing we think is best.  

It was such a great reminder to me, especially on this harder morning, that I don't have to figure everything out, that it's not my job to fix everything for everyone.  My job is to pray, serve as God leads and to leave it all in His more than capable hands.

On My Prayer List:

Family & Friends who are ill.

Kids away at college and kiddos here this school year.

Safe travels as oldest girl flies home.

Wisdom in parenting

Peace & the willingness to let go of things that are not mine to carry.

Thankful Thursday: Countdown to Thanksgiving

 It is getting bu-sy around here!  So, I'm especially thankful for a quiet minute to sit and blog.  Earlier this week I wrote up a schedule for the next two months and posted it on the fridge.  It's broken down by week and the things I need to do each week.  Getting things down on paper helps me to put into perspective just how much I need to do (which often feels much less overwhelming once I'm not trying to mentally keep everything straight) and also to feel the accomplishment of checking things off the list.  So, in honor of that thinking here is a list of things I'm thankful for this week.

Image from Country Living Magazine

1) For God's patience and faithfulness!  That as I learn and grown He's always there and shows me clear reminders that He's listening and He really does understand and will provide just what I need..when I need it!  His grace and timing are perfect!

2) For godly friends to "do life" with.  Such an encouragement and so much fun to have them in our lives.

3) For cozy homes on cold days.

4) For the simple things like fun new recipes and cozy books.

5) For new songs that encourage.  I love this song as it combines Scripture truth, an old hymn and new sound.

Happy Homemaker Monday 11/6/23

Eeekk, it's November already!  The next two months are very busy but with a lot of joyful moments planned.  Yesterday I was telling a friend that I've reached that time in the year where I really need to focus on just one week at a time so that I can keep everything organized.  Some of that weekly focus is on preparing for later things but I find it helps for me to break those bigger plans/tasks into smaller ones and prep a bit each week.  So I'm taking a few minutes to blog and then will jump in to the task of breaking up those bigger plans.   Happy to again be joining in this week's Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay At Home Mom.   

The Weather:

It's chilly here with a mix of sun & clouds.  The highs this week are only supposed to be in the 40's to low 50's so definitely feeling more late fall now.  The time change and earlier sunsets are also giving that late fall/winter vibe.

Outside my Window:

Many of the leaves have dropped so the trees are looking a bit bare now.

 Right Now I am:

Blogging and enjoying the quiet while I wait for laundry to finish.

Thinking and Pondering: 

How to break up bigger tasks over the next few weeks.
 

Podcasts I'm listening to this week:

 

Haven't listened to any this week.

On my T.V this week:

Probably will finish the mini series All The Light We Cannot See.  I read the book a few years back and have been enjoying the Netflix mini series based on the book.  Highly recommend this book!

On the Dinner Plate:

Leftovers

On the Menu this week:

Don't have all the meals figured out but so far:

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken Parm

Meatball Sub on a Stick

What I'm Reading:

Bible

A Slave No More (getting back to this one)

On my To-Do list today:

Finish Laundry 

Sketch out the week and hopefully next few weeks

Finish planning meals to prep for later in the month

Plans for this week:

Keep up with housework.

Vote in local elections.

Dentist visit

Enjoy extra time with kids on their days off (for voting & veterans day)

Continue working on daughter's blanket

What I'm Creating:

So last week my husband and I built a plant shelf.  We had seen a similar design on Etsy and decided to recreate it for our dining room window.   I really love how the floor is clear and how cozy this corner looks. The shelves swing out so we can still open/close the window and clean it when needed.

                                                                        Daytime photo

                                            Nighttime photo (I love how cozy this corner looks)
 

I was also able to work on the graphgan for my daughter.  So all in all a productive week for crafting.

From the Camera:

'Tis the season for baking.  Last week at Awana the younger kids (Sparks) decorated pumpkins.  Our youngest came home and asked me to roast the pumpkin so we could make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  Here she is helping to put the dough on the cookie sheets.  

 

Highlight from Last week:

This past week was quite full. From the regular events like, Awana & Youth group, to a PTO meeting, dentist appointments, a church workday, a concert date night, hosting friends for Sunday lunch and an unexpected video call from our oldest girl.  There were many highlights and I'm so thankful for each of them.

 

Bible Verse/Devotional Quote:

In the read through the Bible in a year plan that I am using this year; we read John 13 the other day.  This passage has become one that I return to over and over for both encouragement and admonishment.  The example Jesus gives of washing feet is rooted in the fact that He is fully grounded in Who He is, Who sent Him, what His purpose is and where He is going.  Such a great reminder to keep our focus on God so that we are willing and able to love and serve as He directs.

I posted more on this passage a few years ago in a blog post titled Thoughts on John 13

On My Prayer List:

Family & Friends who are ill.

Kids away at college and kiddos here this school year.

Wisdom for parenting.

Wisdom in scheduling and preparing for these busy next few months.

Thankful Thursday: Countdown to Thanksgiving

Yesterday I was thinking how I wanted to do some sort of blog series to focus on gratitude this month.  At first I thought I'd like to post each day but realistically that just isn't going to happen.  So I'm planning to post each Thursday.  So today I'm sharing a verse that I found encouraging and a new-to-me song that was a great reminder and encouragement to me this week.  I'm so very thankful for how God brings specific truths into every situation we face and at just the right time.  Extend grace, increase thankfulness, glorify God!  It is ALL for His sake!  Focus on God!

The graphic at the bottom is something funny I saw on Instagram. Wouldn't it be great to always skip over the panic part...definitely a work in progress in my life. 

 What are you thankful for today?