Simple Woman's Daybook - Monday, August 30, 2010

FOR TODAY, MONDAY, AUGUST 30

Outside my window... overcast skies ... perhaps today we'll get some much needed rain.
I am thinking... of how much technology I gather up everyday just to leave the house. Cell phone, camera, portable hard drive ... why, even my key-chain is high-tech! With just a push of a button, I can open doors, turn on lights, even turn on the ignition. Ah... the carefree days of my childhood when I could just run out the door with nothing in my hands!  Oh wait, even then I had to take a backpack with all my schoolbooks inside.
I am thankful for...God's provision.  Without Him, I would never have the wonderful job that I have, nor the income to buy all those wonderful techno marvels!
From the kitchen...pinto beans, cornbread and macaroni and tomatoes.  Good ole home cookin' as my granny used to say.  Also, this week, we'll be having watermelon, an apple pie, and a peach-blueberry cobbler.  We must enjoy the last of the summer produce while we can!
I am wearing... black dress pants, zebra striped top, my dark colored stone necklace my daughter gave me, and a favorite pair of black earrings ... at least I'm carrying a burgundy purse for some color!
I am creating...photo collages of recent road trips.
I am going... on a ladies retreat in about 12 days.  I can't wait!
I am reading...1 Timothy.
I am hoping...for an early and long autumn season.
I am hearing...the hum of the air conditioner.
Around the house...new curtains in my bedroom to hang! Also, some serious scrubbing of appliances needs to be done.  (Wonder who I could get to do this!  *grin)
One of my favorite things...worshipping in the presence of the Lord.  It just doesn't get any better than that.
A few plans for the rest of the week:  Besides the aforementioned hanging of curtains and scrubbing of appliances, I need to clip coupons.  Also, I need to work on a devotional I am bringing for day 2 of our retreat.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Driftwood log by the Ohio River ... wouldn't you just like to sit there and watch the boats go by?

I find this exercise of taking stock of your world at the beginning of the week a good thing. It crystallizes for me the things that need to be done and helps me remember what I was thinking about.  It is sort of like "intentional journaling."  I haven't done this for some time, but will be doing it every week from now on. If you'd like to participate, link up at Peggy's "Simple Woman's Daybook."

Friday's Fave Five #103

I love to look back on my week and relect on the good things that happened.  Things that made me happy or smile in the midst of every day life. There is a wonderful group of people that participate in the meme, Friday's Fave Five, and they share the highlights from their week.  Visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story if you'd like to learn more.

1. For those of you that know me, you understand that new dishes bring me joy.  Here are a couple of photos that show more of my latest obsession:

The table was only set for three that night ...

I bought these black plates at Good Will in Florida, $1.06 per plate!  The napkins and glass salad bowls were yard sale purchases.  Since I love table settings so much, I have to be frugal to indulge my obsession. As regarding storage, these black dishes are very thin.  I bought 5 dinner plates and 5 dessert plates.  They only take up about 4 inches in one of my stacks of dishes.

2. Another thing I did this week that my FFF buddies know I love was to take another road trip.  This time, hubby and I went to a place on the Ohio River. (Usually, we visit the Mississippi River parks.)

I love photos with blue sky, clouds and water.

These barges were filled with coal.

We sat on a bench and watched boats go by ...  sooo peaceful!

We stayed a long time ...

til dusk ...

3.  I enjoy visiting historical sites.  We also visited Fort Massac on our road trip. Unfortunately, my camera batteries were beginning to die on me, so only a few shots:

I took this next photo upstairs in one of the bunkhouses looking out the window across the courtyard to the other bunkhouse.

Here's a photo of a statue of George Rogers Clark, the famous explorer.

It was a good day ...

4.  Later in the week, I went to a ladies meeting at church.  The highlight of that day was that we felt new direction from God.  In essence, "Quit waiting for your church to grow so that you can help hurting people, help hurting people now, and THEN your church will grow." As hearing from God always does, we felt excited and rejuvenated and ready to "keep on keeping on."

5. Last night, Hubs and I went to pick up something from Home Depot and then visited our favorite pizza place.  We always order the "Saluki Special," which is a supreme pizza featuring sliced apples. Yum!

Friday's Fave Five #102

I say this every week, but seriously?  It's Friday again? The week flew by!

1. God's Protection:  I give thanks for this constantly. (Hey, I have three daughters who are on the road all the time!) This past Sunday night, I was driving home on a road that is appropriately enough named Grapevine.  It was dusky dark, when all of a sudden I came up on a deer  that was standing by the side of the road. He was standing so close, in fact, that his front hooves were on the white line on the shoulder. He was big and sported a magnificent rack.  I didn't have time to count the points on his antlers as I whizzed by, but he was by far the biggest and oldest buck I'd ever seen.  Thank God he didn't step further into the road or I might not be here to tell about it.

2.  Sense of Accomplishment:  This week, I had many tasks that needed to be completed, both on the job and for my roles as board member, worship leader, and Sunday School teacher.  God enabled me to get them all done.  Usually I have an anxious feeling when so much needs to be done, but this week I had a peace and just went from one thing to another.

3. El-Shaddai:  One of the things I was doing this week was preparing a bible study for midweek service at my church.  (All the board members are taking turns leading the bible study.  This week was my turn.) My topic was the Names of God.  What a blessing to study the names of God and the characteristic that each name means!  This is going to be a two part (or maybe three part) study because this topic is so rich and too much to cover in one sitting.  Anyway, one of my favorite names is El-Shaddai, the All Sufficient One.  He is sufficient for every need we might have.  I've heard it described this way:  "He is the God of More Than Enough."  I love it!  He is more than enough for whatever you might be facing!

4.  Cooler weather:  I give the Lord praise that it has cooled down a little in my part of the country.  Instead of 98° or 100°, it has been in the low 90s and the humidity is better.  I'm looking forward to low 80s but I'll rejoice in 90° temps anyhow.

5.  New washer:  I'm excited because this week my new High Efficiency front loader washer was installed.  My old washer was having an issue that it didn't want to spin all the rinse water out, so I'm in heaven with a washer that really works!  Bonus:  It seems like it gets my white clothes much whiter!

I also have to share the Quote of the Week with you:  "If you are facing a situation today that seems hopeless, one for which you have no answers, pray Jehoshaphat's prayer: "Lord, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on You." Stay focused on Him until the answer comes."  … David Jeremiah

How about your week?  Would you like to share the highlights of the past seven days?  Link up at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story.  We'd all love for you to share!

RD12 for August 18, 2010

1. What is your favorite fair/carnival food?

In my area, fairs usually sell those boneless pork chop sandwiches - the smell makes them irresistible!

2. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

I've got four boxes right now waiting for me do de-clutter.

3. What is your favorite gift to receive?
Money or jewelry!

4. When was the last time you tried something new?

About two weeks ago, I tried a panini at Panera's for the first time.  I know, I don't get out much ...

5. What is your favorite and least favorite book genre?
Memoir, Mystery, Political Intrigue, Romance, Humor, Historical Fiction, Historical nonfiction, Chick Lit, Self-Help, Other

Favorite - Mystery, Least Favorite - Romance

6.Silver or Gold?

I like both, but if had to choose I would pick gold.

7. What makes you sigh?

I sigh when I find the iced tea pitcher empty, AGAIN, or when I cleaned up the kitchen and then come back into the room and find dirty dishes in the sink.  Seriously?  Are you kidding me?

8. If you didn't know how old you are, how old would you claim you are?

35

9. Would you break a law to save a loved one? To protect a loved one?

First, I would pray and ask God to make a way out of the situation without breaking the law.

10. If you had to teach something, what would it be?

I love to teach the Word of God.  Oh wait! I already do!

11. You're having lunch with 3 people whom you respect and admire. They begin to criticize a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. What do you do?

Point out her good qualities.

12. Which of the 5 Love Languages is your prominent means of experiencing love?
Quality Time
Physical Touch
Acts of Service
Gifts
Words of Affirmation

Oh, I'm definitely a words of affirmation girl which is why I love comments on my posts so much!

Let's all go over to 2nd Cup of Coffee and give Lid some words of affirmation now!  

Friday's Five #100

I'm back!  I have been in Florida and missed last week's Friday's Fave Five. I consider the meme, Friday's Fave Five, a wonderful way to journal the highlights of my life. Each week, we try to list at least five highlights that came our way.  Join Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for further information.

Our week in Florida was definitely an eventful week.  There are certain things about vacation that I always love:

1. Eating Out.  I adore eating at restaurants, and even better?  No clean-up!

2. Beautiful scenery: I so love to look at all the beautiful things God has made, and definitely Florida has been blessed:

Beautiful Sand and Sea (and a parasailor)

Beautiful Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota, FL, with my beautiful Malia sitting in the surf.

Beautiful Beachy Sky

3. I just love the beach! But only in moderation.  In years past, I have went and stayed so long that I was lobster-red the rest of the week.  Vacations are not fun when you are sunburnt. I love looking for shells and walking in the surf.

4. Time with family and friends:  Vacation is the one time that I actually have time to visit people.  Of course, number one priority this vacation was to spend time with my mom, sister, and brother, and their families.  But I also got to visit with dear friends, my high school chums, and one of our favorite pastor and wife couples who pastored our home church years ago.

5. Shopping:  My girls and I think that the perfect vacation consists of going to the beach, eating out, and shopping which basically is just what we did.  (Jim just likes the eating out!) We went clothes shopping (of course) and then hit some thrift stores because what is a shopping trip without some bargains?

Guess what I bought? ... Yes, more dishes!

Now, the downside of our little trip is that the air conditioning in the van went out on the way to Florida, and our van spent most of the week in the shop.  Praise the Lord that we were able to borrow my mom's car!  In keeping with the exercise of looking for the good in every situation, now our van should be ready to go for many more miles ...

One less thing to worry about ...