Daybook - August 30,2011

FOR TODAY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 30

Outside my window...a cooler summer morning.  Love those!

I am thankful...for my "new" home - and that the remodeling is done!

In the kitchen...ham and Hawaiian bread, deviled eggs and possibly a salad.

I am wearing... my black tank dress and purple short sleeved cardi.

I am going... to post this today even if it is late!

I am wondering...why people waste their lives trying to impress their "friends."

I am reading... "Promises to Keep" by Ann Tatlock.  I just got started but it seems interesting ...

I am hearing...the sound of the air conditioner.  I wonder how much longer we will have to run it?  It would be awesome if we had a couple months of good weather where we didn't need to run the air or the heat!

Around the house...every thing looks great - at least to me.  I hope I can keep it that way.

I am pondering...our discussion we had Sunday in our adult class.  The discussion was about seeds, planting, watering, even fertilizing before harvest.  A thought came to me - the plant has to die in order to have seeds.  Will there be "fruit" from any seeds I've planted after I'm gone?

One of my favorite things...worshiping.

A few plans for the rest of the week: a road trip for Labor Day!

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

Having friends over to play Rummikub is another one of my favorite things!

Daybooking is a concept by Peggy Hostetler.  If you'd like to join in, visit her blog, The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Friday's Fave Five #153

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five, a blog party created by Susanne at Living To Tell The Story..  The objective is to share 5 highlights from your past week. A highlight is anything that makes you happy:  an event, a food, a quote, favorite scripture or anything that brightens your spirit.  You can always find at least 5 highlights in 7 days, even allowing for having a couple of not-so-great days.  If you'd like to participate, click here.

I've had a good week. It started out with a ROAD TRIP!  A mini one, to be sure, but a road trip none the less.

1.  First, we traveled up a winding road and saw something you don't see much anymore:  a watch-tower used to spot fires.

Wonder if the tower of Babel started out like this?

Then on to a beautiful park where no one was there but us!  Very quiet, cool and serene.

Then we drove on up into the hills to check out the progress being made on restoring Bald Knob Cross, otherwise known as The Cross of Peace.  We have been to Bald Knob before; I think I may have even shared photos on this blog before. The Cross is so beautiful and certainly worthy of mentioning more than once.  Here she is restored, in all of her beauty, at dusk:

Last time we were here, several of her panes were missing.  Now the last part of the restoration needs to be done, the lighting. Once that is done, she will shine like a beacon amongst the hills of Illinois wine country. (There are lots of peaches and apple orchards in this area, as well.)

2.  Another good thing that happened this week is that finally, after weeks of waiting, our furniture has come in!  It's being delivered today!

3.  Scripture of the week:  "To You silence is praise, O God, in Zion;"  Psalm 65:1a  MKJV

What a novel thought - praising God by keeping silent before Him.  Try it, you might be amazed at what you hear.

4. Quote of the week:   “Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought.”  Abraham Lincoln

America was founded on the thought that men would be free to worship as they felt was right.  It wasn't just so people could say, "It's my life and I'm free to do what I want."  No, it's more like, "It's my life and I must be free to do what is right."

So many people use their freedom selfishly.  (Ok, I'm climbing down off my soapbox.)

5. New favorite food:  Jello Pudding Sugar Free "Milk Chocolate Bliss."   Yum!  It makes me happy.  (AND it's only 60 calories.)

Simple Pleasures - My Newest "Road" Picture

As some of my readers already know, I love to post pictures of roads, paths or even trails on my blog.  I love the romance of imagining what can be found just around the bend.
This photo shows a narrow road through the forest that my hubby and I were on last weekend.  It went on forever, and I was beginning to think we'd never come out of the forest!

It was gorgeous and cool in those wooded hills - a simple pleasure, indeed!

I'm linking this up to Dayle's blog party:  Simple Pleasures.  Visit her blog, A Collection of This and That, to join the fun.

The Pause That Refreshes

Come Drink in The Silence

Are you surrounded by noise?

Is the television constantly on the moment you walk in the door?  The moment you turn the key in the ignition of your vehicle does the radio start blaring? Usually the workplace has its own unique noises which I think of as the "sound of productivity."  When do we ever get the chance to be quiet, to clear the "noise clutter" out of the brain, maybe even be still enough to hear God speak to us?

Recently, my husband and I took a drive and ended up at a park.  A big beautiful woodland area with no one at all there except us.  While I enjoyed the quiet and cherished the peacefulness, I wondered, "Where is everybody.  Why isn't this park being enjoyed by somebody besides us?

This isn't the first time we'd been to this particular park and no one else was there.  And this wasn't the first park we've visited lately only to find we were the only ones enjoying its beauty. If few of us avail ourselves of the amenities the parks and recreation department offers, will there someday be no parks to enjoy?

“Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

God's word teaches the value of silence.  Of course, we don't have to go to a park to be silent and hear God, but we need to take time to find a quiet place.

Recently, our bible study leader taught on being quiet before the Lord.  He used a scripture I had never heard before from the Modern King James Version:

"To You silence is praise..." Psalm 65:1

He challenged us to spend time in prayer by saying absolutely nothing, and then gave us an opportunity to do so.  It was much harder than I thought!  It takes quite awhile to keep all the random thoughts from coming to your mind - forgetting about the every day things, our schedules, concerns and even our petitions.  (Because, of course, the first thing on our minds when we pray is asking for something!) I must have a touch of A.D.D. because thoughts of  "what I'm going to do next" are the hardest thoughts for me to banish from my mind.


Finally, I was able to settle down and hear what I think God had to say to me for that day, which basically was "It is Well."  God has everything under control and I don't have to worry about anything.

Whew!  Talk about a pause that refreshes - taking time to hear God say that really rejuvenated my spirit and made me feel better. I am so thankful that He is always available when I go to Him.

I'm linking the above post to Thankful Thursday, hosted this month at Laurie's Women Taking A Stand blog.

looking Unto Jesus

LOOKING UNTO JESUS ....

.... the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

I'm linking this up with Amy Deanne for Word Filled Wednesdays.at Internet Cafe.  Click here to join in.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2011

Outside my window...cooler weather, yay!

I am thinking... of something Pastor brought up in his sermon Sunday night:  "What is your first spiritual memory?"  Mine was being in children's church singing the song, "Behold, Behold, I stand at the door and Knock, Knock, Knock," and all of us would turn around and knock on the metal folding chairs that were in the room.  I was probably about 4 years old.

I am thankful...that my mom raised me in church.  I don't know where I'd be today if she hadn't.

In the kitchen... meatloaf tonight.

I am wearing...my favorite gray dress pants and white jacket.

I am creating...a new look in my home.

I am going... to work and then back home - I love to be home!

I am wondering... if we will have a harsh winter since the summer has been so hot.  I pray not!

I am reading..."The Search" by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  I haven't gotten too far into it yet but I've read other books by her and enjoyed them.

I am hoping... to learn to eat low carb ... but it's tough, I really love carbs!

I am looking forward to...the delivery of my new living room furniture.  It's been ordered forever ....

I am hearing... the hum of the a/c.

Around the house...things are shaping up!

I am pondering...Psalm 6.

One of my favorite things... game shows.  I love them all, but especially Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting ready for a board meeting.  We took a summer hiatus so it's a matter of getting back into the groove.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

 

 

Bald Knob Cross - called "The Cross of Peace."  It is an awesome sight, nestled at the top of a really steep hill. Jim and I took a little road trip Saturday to see how the cross looked (it's been in the process of restoration).  No lights yet, but soon it will shine at night like a beacon!

The concept of Daybooking was created by Peggy Hostetler.  If you would like to join in, visit her blog, The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Friday's Fave Five #151

Happy Friday!  I've had a great week, and I hope you did, too.  I'm sharing five highlights from my week.  If you'd like to join in, visit our lovely hostess for this FFF blog party, Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

1. My favorite highlight of the week is that I unpacked the last box Monday night.  What a relief to finally be done!  Word to the wise:  never collect too much clutter!  You never know when something may happen and you might have to move it all!

2.  We are pretty much done with the remodeling, except for a mix-up on the windows (they were supposed to have grids), and gutters and shutters.  I've been waiting to show the outside of the house until those were resolved but family and friends have been asking to see the outside. So, first, I'd like to again show you how awful the place looked when the flood waters were still there:

BEFORE - sandbags and water, water everywhere ....



AFTER - No Landscaping yet - haven't even fixed up the front porch area yet, but so much better! Can you see my lovely new front door? And I'm excited about having columns on the front instead of the old-fashioned black wrought iron. The siding looks white in this picture but is actually a light gray.

I thought I would also show you a little more about the inside remodel.  Here is the hallway with some of the flood waters still inside:

BEFORE - ugh!

AFTER - Now with beautiful white beadboard (or wainscoting), chairrail, trim and NEW interior doors! What a difference! So much lighter!

 And new carpet!

3.  My new mirror!  Tuesday, my awesome hubby hung up a new mirror for me in the dining area.  I have always wanted a big mirror. Hopefully, it will reflect some amazing tablescapes in the future.

4.  Evening out with friends:  Last night, Jim and I joined a group of friends and traveled to a benefit concert.  The musical guests was Jeff and Sheri Easter, and some local talent.  Of special note was an amazing violinist, Polly Waddell.  When she played "I've Just Seen Jesus,"  she received an immediate standing ovation.  Jeff and Sheri were awesome as usual.  I just love their music!  The concert was given to benefit the American Cancer Society.  As some of you may know, Sheri had breast cancer.  She shared that she has now been cancer-free for three years! (I must not be a totally committed blogger yet, because I forgot to bring my camera to this event ...)

5. Quote of the week:  "Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again ". … Og Mandino

Food for thought!

Simple Pleasures - Shady Rest

Sometimes, it is just vital that we find a place like this to sit, relax, pause and reflect.  Maybe even take a moment to listen to see if God is speaking to you.

Finally, the weather has cooled down in my neck of the woods, and I have a date with my hubby to go searching for another place just like this bench overlooking the Garden of the Gods.

It's the simple things, really ...

I'm linking up with Dayle at "A Collection of This and That."

Friday's Fave Five #150

Welcome to Friday's Fave 5, a blog party that celebrates finding five highlights in our week and sharing them. It's sort of like an online testimony service! 

I've had a good week, and I'd like to share a few of the bright spots in my world:

1.  We now have internet back into our home!  As most of you know, we had to move out of our house when a major flood in May impacted our area.  It's been three months of rebuilding and getting things back to normal.  Our internet service was the last thing to be restored, and we are so glad to have it back.  Now I can blog whenever I want!

2.  I love my new kitchen! One of my favorite rooms that we have redone is my kitchen.  A good blogger always shows you the "before" photos.  I did forget to take a photo before any work had been done, but here is a photo with half the sheetrock torn out:

 This photo does show my new paint color for the kitchen, Valspar's "Baked Bahama.

 Now, I'd like to show you my new countertop, handmade using Wilsonart Laminate, "Black Canyon" and fitting perfectly - Thank You, Raymond!

Next, my new DEEP stainless steel sink.  (My old sink was so shallow!)

This photo shows my new range hood. Picture an ugly harvest gold one for the "before" photo!

Next, a shot of my glorious tileboard that is behind the fridge and between cabinets.  LOVE.

New laminate flooring:

This photo shows it all put together - including my new Bosch dishwasher.

I wish the soffit area showed up better in this photo.  My daughter "bag painted" it in shades of "Misty Morning Dew" and "Baked Bahama" on Sherwin Williams "Creamy."

Another view of the kitchen.

Here is a pic I took of the entrance wall into the kitchen displaying some of my beloved dishes!

3.  New nails:  Isn't it funny how having your hair or nails done just makes you feel so much better about yourself?  I had a new set of nails put on this week. I'm back to my beloved white tips after trying painted nails. 

4. Cooler weather - the last few days have been in the lower 90s instead of 100 degree days!


5. Quote of the Week:  "You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can only decide how you're going to live."  … from the blog of “bcp … My Life”

This quote certainly made me think ... you don't have control of how long your life lasts but you can certainly choose HOW you're going to live your life.  I choose to live it victoriously through Christ and enjoying every minute I can! I'm not going to worry so much anymore, God has proven time and time again that He is in control and He will take care of me.


If you'd like to join in and share your blessings, link up at Susanne's blog, Living to Tell the Story.