Daybook - November 29, 2011

FOR TODAY, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29

Outside my window... a thin layer of icy snow lays on top of my daughter's car ... traffic going by on their way to work

I am thinking ...about all I want to do while I am off work this week.

I am thankful ...for time off and a cozy home to spend it in.

In the kitchen...crockpot orange chicken.  This is a new recipe for me and I think today would be a good day to try it out.

I am wearing ...my favorite jeans and my pink t-shirt that says "my husband rocks."  This is a rare day that I don't have to dress up!

I am creating ...my pinterest boards.  This may be a new addiction ...

I am going ...NOWHERE!  Yay! I am literally on the road 7 days a week, so staying home is a treat.

I am wondering ...which thing on my list I should tackle first.

I am reading ...nothing right now.  Can you believe I forgot to bring home some library books for my vacation?

I am hoping...to be organized and rested up by next Monday.

I am looking forward to ...tomorrow.  Each day is a gift from God.

I am hearing ... the heater kick on and off.  It's only 37 degrees outside.

Around the house ...the smell of cinnamon. I love it!

I am pondering ...this quote by John Milton, 

"Loneliness is the first thing which God's eye named not good."

We need each other! Even though I am a loner by nature, I need to be more intentional about connecting with others.

One of my favorite things...candlelight and this time of year I try to use them everyday.

A few plans for the rest of the week : organizing my desk drawers, and getting out my winter clothes.  (I know it's crazy that I haven't done that chore yet, but up until now, it's been pretty warm here in my neck of the woods.)

Here is picture for thought I am sharing ...

(My cozy spot for relaxing, watching game shows and surfing the net.)

Daybooking is a concept created by Peggy Hostetler.  It's a great way to journal!  If you'd like to join in, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Big Words. Seriously?

Hello, my name is Jerralea, and I am a logophile. I am a lover of words.

Thankfully, I'm not a sesquepedalian (a lover of long words).  At least not yet ...

I have always loved words.  I think one reason I like them so well is because of my voracious reading appetite tendency to read a huge amount of books. Whatever is front of your eyes will eventually come out.

Whenever I use a big word, my daughters people look at me strangely. You can see them thinking, "Seriously? What does she mean? Why not say it simply?"

Ah, but you lose something in the translation.  Some words just lend the right nuance to the situation.

Case in point:  My middle daughter and I were cooking together this Thanksgiving. I was teaching her the intricacies of cornbread dressing. We had chopped onions and celery and softened them in the microwave with real butter.  We had crumbled all the cornbread into the pan.  We had even shredded up some crusts of bread to give the cornbread dressing a little texture.  Now, we were ready to add the spices when, horrors!  I realized we had no sage or poultry seasoning!   

Without thought, I opened my mouth and said, "Oh no! We're stymied!  We can't go on until we send your dad out to get some spices."

Hilarious laughing occurred.  I was teased the rest of the day.  Everything was, "we can't do this or that because we're stymied."

Sheesh!  What is so funny about using the word stymied?  The dictionary says it means, " to present an obstacle to, stand in the way of." Right.  A lack of spices stood in the way of making delicious dressing. 

I will probably be on my deathbed some day and someone will have to bring up my using the word stymied. Luckily I am not emo.

This was not the first time the phrasing of my words cracked my family up.  One time we were eating out together.  My hubby was sporting some stubble on his face that day.  When he used his paper napkin, some of the paper remained on his chin. I said, "Jim, you've got napkin residue on your chin."

I've never heard the end of that one, either.

Really, I think that people need to use more words in their vocabularies.  There is a wealth of words out there - why not use them?

I would caution some to be sure they know what their word means.  It is embarrassing to use a word that is not appropriate for that sentence. Instead of getting respect as a wordsmith (skillful writer), you may be thought ridiculous.

I once worked with a pastor who loved words so much he subscribed to Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day and then encouraged himself to use the word in a sentence correctly five times that day. That, my friend, is a wordsmith!

I Am Grateful

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.  I pray that everyone has contact today with someone they love, and that all are finding some way to express gratitude.  Thankful living is key to happiness.


I'm enjoying an Oklahoma thanksgiving with my daughter and son-in-law so there has been no posting this week. Look for me next week!

Friday's Fave Five #166

Today I feel like Maria in the "Sound of Music" as she sings, "these are a few of my favorite things:"

1.  I love being home!  I feel that home should be a haven, a place to retreat from the pressures of the workplace.  I work hard at making sure my home is comfortable, pretty and fragrant. More than just the outer trappings, though, I want home to be a place where we can just be ourselves.  My favorite times of all are sitting around the dinner table sharing our day, and if there are occasions for belly-laughs, so much the better!

2. I love being a blogger!  I've always wanted to be a writer.  Blogging may be the closest I ever get to that goal.  I love sharing about new insights in God's word, my beginning photography skills, home decor, recipes and all of the other interests I have. And the best part?  Comments!   When my readers comment, it makes me insanely happy.

3. I love my job!  Being a church secretary is one of the best jobs in the world!  I consider it ministry to help my churches run as smoothly as I can.  I love that I can use my organizational and creative talents in the workplace.  I love people and sometimes my listening ear means a lot to them.  What an honor to share life with the congregation!

4. I love sweet tea! I can't help it, I just do.  I was raised on it.  I do try to limit it because I could drink it all day and night.  I drink water during the day and with my meals, and drink sweet tea at night and on weekends. I confess I make frequent stops at McDonalds just for sweet tea. I'm thinking of getting a bumper sticker that says "this car stops at all McDonald's for sweet tea." I also have to brag on my hubby - he stopped and brought me a sweet tea to work this week - twice!  He is so awesome!

5.  I love chocolate! I've always loved chocolate, but it's on my mind especially because just yesterday I had a yummy homemade brownie with luscious chocolate fudge frosting. It. Is. So. Good.  Too bad there was only one!

What are some of your favorite things?  Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a blog party every Friday where we link up and share our favorite things from our week.  Why not join in the fun?

Tea Talk, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011

I'm joining Ruth at Celebrate Friendship for Tea Talk today.

1. I'm having...coffee with vanilla caramel creamer.  This is my SEMO mom's cup.  I'm going to have to get different cups if I keep participating in Tea Talk!

2. I'm feeling....happy and productive.
3. On my mind.... the many many blessings God has given me.  I'm just so amazed at His love.
4. A verse to encourage:

"For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
      is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth." Psalm 103:11 NLT

You know, we have powerful telescopes that scan the heavens, and never yet has the boundaries of the heavens been seen.  God's love for us fills up all that space!

Knowing about His limitless love has to lift your spirits!   For more encouragement, read the whole psalm.

God bless each of you, and have a great week!

My Bed, How I Love Thee!

Dear King (sized Bed),

I just wanted to let you know what you mean to me.  I so look forward to spending time with you every night!  I admit it, I am a sucker for you.

What do I love about you?  Let me count the ways!

First, O King, I love your spacious surface.  I remember when we had to sleep in your cousin, the full-sized bed.  When my husband and I were first married, the full-sized bed seemed a good fit.  However, as the children came along, Mr. Full Size just didn't feel right.  It was hard to cuddle and tell stories to a couple of toddlers when we were practically falling out of bed!

My husband said we might as well go big, so we invested in a king-sized mattress.  But alas!  We had thought to save a few shekels and got a low class priced relative of yours.  Oh, my aching back! What a noisy uncomfortable lout that mattress turned out to be.

As soon as we could, we replaced that mattress with a better model and enjoyed a good night's sleep for several years.

But then ... the flood came and claimed the box spring of that worthy sleep partner.

I remember when I first saw YOU, O King.

We were at Menard's.  We thought we were  there to price doors and tile to remodel our flood-soaked house. Little did we know that we were about to meet a new love.

My daughter saw you first.  She pointed you out, set up in aisle for everyone to see!  Like a magnet, you drew us to you, and we did the unthinkable.  We laid on you right there in the store! 

Ahh, such craziness!

I knew right then and there I had to take you home.  A few weeks later, the delivery man brought you and your little sister, the Queen to our home.  You, of course, live in the master bedroom. (What a fitting place for the King!) and the Queen lives in the Princess' room.

Another thing I love about you is your height.  Growing up, I always had to fall into bed.  But you - I must climb up onto your surface.  I love it up there!  I feel sort of like the Princess in the story, "The Princess and the Pea."  She slept on 20 or so mattresses piled high.  Your lofty height gives me a sense of sleeping up high like she did.

I also love the bedclothes you wear!  Those sateen striped burgundy sheets with the luxurious thread count feel so wonderful.  (When I was younger and unsophisticated, I didn't know about thread-count!)  And your downy comforter feels like a dream!  I love to sleep on top of your comforter almost as much as under it.  You just look so inviting when you are all dressed up! 

Often, when I go to get my coat out of the closet as I leave for work, I glance back at you longingly. "Soon," I tell myself, "soon, I will be back and climb up into your comforting pillow top, but I must go now and earn money to keep you in fabric softener."

You don't have to worry, O King.  I will always come back to you.

Love,

Your Loving Sleeper


The above is a love letter written to an inanimate object as a writer's challenge at Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.  I had to debate awhile as to whether I wanted to write about my love for my air conditioner, dishwasher or bed.  I only need air conditioning half the year, and I don't really mind washing dishes by hand, I just love to save time by using the dishwasher.  But I come from a long line of  good sleepers, so I felt I must pay homage to the one who makes good sleeping a joy, my beloved king-sized bed.

If you'd like to participate in the writers' challenges, hook up at Mama Kat's website here.

Daybook - November 15, 2011

FOR TODAY, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Outside my window...rainy but warm for November morning.

I am thinking... how quickly nature changes.  There's a gorgeous tree next to the church that has ruby red leaves in the fall.  On Friday, I noticed a carpet of red leaves had fallen under the tree, and the sun was shining on the tree and the ground, almost as if a spotlight was on the scene.  I thought to myself that I should take a picture to share on my blog.  But I was too busy at the time.  The next time I saw the tree, all the leaves had fallen and the leaves on the ground has shriveled up.  The beauty is gone. This happens to me all the time.  I must learn to take advantage of the moment NOW.

I am thankful...that I am back living in my home.  I am so blessed to be back here after 3 months of renovations after the flood.

In the kitchen...since I have a board meeting tonight, I'm thinking about bringing home Kroger's fried chicken.  It tastes better than mine does!

I am wearing...gray pants, short sleeve black cardi with a gray and black zebra print shirt.  It's so warm, I'm still wearing short sleeves!

I am creating...blogposts in my mind!

I am going...to Oklahoma next week to see my daughter and son-in-law for Thanksgiving!

I am wondering...how I'm going to get everything done in time to go to Oklahoma ...

I am still reading...an Amish book by Tricia Goyer, "Beside Still Waters,"  ... It's unusual for me to take a week reading one book.  I've been busy!

I am hoping...to rest up after I get back from Oklahoma.

I am looking forward to...time off and sleeping in.  (For me, that will mean sleeping to maybe 8 o'clock.)

I am hearing...my refrigerator making weird noises ... I'm wondering if it is going to go kaput!

Around the house...cozy lamplight gleaming.  (I love the ambiance of lamps.  I'm not into harsh overhead lighting.)

I am pondering... the goodness of God and how many things He has given us. (Read Psalm 103 sometime, it will bless you!)

One of my favorite things... bible study.  I love learning about God's care and provision for us.

A few plans for the rest of the week: board meeting, presenting Wednesday's bible lesson, and working ahead at work.

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

One more shot of fall beauty - I love orange leaves!

The daybook is a concept created by Peggy Hostetler.  Please visit her blog to join in, The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Friday's Fave Five #165

It's been a good week.  I hope you have had a wonderful week, too.  The days fly by so fast that I find this little exercise of looking back and finding five highlights of the week helps me to remember my days. Sharing about the good things that God has done for me is just icing on the cake!

1.  As I mentioned previously, last Friday and Saturday was our Women's Retreat.  Our speaker was Marlyn Durham who did an excellent job.  Marlyn is such a hoot, she is a 70 year old woman who looks younger than me.  She loves big hair, wearing lots of jewelry and going deer hunting! Her word from the Lord was "He'll Do It Again." Even though times look bad, God is not afraid, and He has just as much power to redeem, heal and do miracles as He ever did. We just need to pray with expectancy.

2. I was pretty excited on Monday when I opened my regular email from Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop and I saw an honorable mention for my post, "My Husband Cannot Cut Hair."  Click here if you'd like to read it.

3. Jim took my van to get a new muffler this week.  On the way back home, the van got really hot and the air conditioner would not work.  He was really upset and concerned that perhaps the van had gotten so hot it might have damaged the engine.  We prayed about it and I felt sure God would work everything out.  (After all, if God can bring you through a flood, what is there to worry about?)  Turns out the van needed a new fan relay switch and a new condenser for the air conditioner.  Of course there was cost for the switch and condenser but it was minimal when you compare what the cost would have been had the engine really been damaged. Knowing God would take care of us is priceless! Even if the engine had been damaged, I know He would have helped us figure out how to fix it.  He's just good like that!

4. Quote of the Week:  This time, I'm sharing a quote from a co-worker.  It just cracked me up!  Before I share it with you, though, I have to set it up or you won't understand it.  There's a story in the Bible where the children of Israel made a golden calf and worshiped it instead of God.  Nowadays, when Christians talk about a golden calf, they mean someone has taken something and made it more important in their lives than God. One day, we were at the office talking and Robbie said,

"They not only have a golden calf, but they are painting its toenails gold!" [Robbie Ralls]

I asked him if I could quote him because he just described the ultimate in idolatry!

Ahh well ... you just had to be there, I guess.  Anyway, a good belly laugh is always a highlight!

5.  I'm thankful for a carport.  Today, I didn't have to scrape frost off the windshield!

Bonus:  I want to thank all those that have served, or are serving, in the military to protect our freedoms.  Your sacrifice means more than I could ever say.  I will not forget your service:  those that have passed on, my uncles Orman E. Winn, Jr. and Duane S. McCoy; and those that are alive and have served, uncles John Haslauer and Charles McCoy, cousin Jack Winn, friends Michael Busby, Lonnie Hasty, Randy Kiplinger and Pete Ivie; and those still serving, my son-in-law Daniel Lawson, brother-in-law Jim Bledsoe, nephew Dustin Miller and cousin Kevin McCoy, and all those that I don't even know.  You have put yourself in harm's way to protect me and mine.  God bless you!

Would you like to share your week?  Visit Susanne at Living To Tell The Story.

Come Walk With Me

Fall beauty is such a fleeting thing.  When you see the leaves change color, you only have a short while to enjoy before the rains, freezing air and blowing winds do their damage.

I've heard the beauty of the fall leaves can be seen at Giant City State Park in scenic southern Illinois, which is not far from my neck of the woods..  Let's drive there and check it out!

We arrive at the park in late afternoon.  The first thing my hubby and I always do when we visit this park is climb up to the water tower to see what we can see.  Come climb with me.

The leaves on the trees have such a lacy texture from up here:

 

Here the view looks softer:

Here is my beloved blue van down below:

Giant City is a great park with many peaceful and colorful views.  Let's climb down from the water tower and explore.  Come walk with me.

There are many paths to wander:

There is history in the park:

Statue dedicated to Civilian Conservation Corps workers who helped build Giant City Park in the late 1930's to early 1940's.

Some of the names of the workers.


Being at the park can also teach you science.

For instance:

This strange apparatus called a gyrator can tell you the season and directions:

"Gyrator" is a sculpture that takes the form of a synthesis between giant top and a gyroscope. Alignments built into the concrete pad record the gyrations of the heavens as created by the circadian and annual motion of the earth. The sun marks noon each day as a disk of light falls between two parallel lines cut into the concrete. The same disk of light rings bronze plaques embedded in the concrete at the start of each season. (www.waymarking.com)

See how much fun it is to go to the park?  Boys will be boys ...

All good things must come to an end.  Look over your shoulder as we drive out of the park and you'll see some awesome color!

Buh-bye!


 

 

I'm linking this up with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop under the prompt, Fall In Your Neighborhood. Link up here to read some awesome posts!

Daybook - November 8, 2011

FOR TODAY, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

Outside my window...daylight and a school bus just passed by.

I am thinking... that I can't believe how quickly 2011 has passed.  We're already halfway into the 4th quarter of the year!

I am thankful... that God has supplied all my needs - and quite a few of my "wants."

In the kitchen...barbecue pork in the crockpot

I am wearing...gray slacks and cardigan with a "salsa green" blouse.  I love gray - it's the new black!

I am creating... a prayer journal

I am going... to have a week off after Thanksgiving.  My only goal is to clean out my desk drawers at home, and sleep and read - maybe scrapbook a little.

I am wondering...about a young couple I know that seems to have dropped off the face of the earth!  I've left messages, but have heard nothing ...

I am reading... a new Amish book by Tricia Goyer, "Beside Still Waters." I guess the appeal of Amish books for me is that they are clean books focusing on simpler times.

I am hoping... the earthquakes in Oklahoma where my daughter lives STOPS!

I am looking forward to... my time off - perhaps I will just read all day long for one of those days ...

I am hearing...the sounds of my daughter getting ready for work.

Around the house... the smell of cinnamon.  I love to decorate with cinnamon sticks which makes the whole house fragrant.

I am pondering...Psalm 103 for my next bible lesson.  I love verse 2:

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits"

I'm focusing more on gratitude and thankfulness.  He has given me many benefits - not the least of which I can call on Him at any time, day or night, and He listens!

One of my favorite things... a sparkling clean kitchen.  I never like to go off anywhere leaving  my kitchen in a mess (which often causes me to run late.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: hair appointment, work on bible lesson, having friends over Saturday evening.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing..

Wouldn't it be nice to have the time to just sit here and reflect?




Daybooking is a concept created by Peggy Hostetler.  Why not link up at her site, The Simple Woman's Daybook, and join in?  I'm thinking regular daybook-ers could publish all their posts into a book, using a company like Blurb.com, and have a journal that would be a treasure to your family.

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Friday's Fave Five #164

TGIF!  One of the loveliest days of the week ...

1.  Does anyone else love crock pots as much as I do?  I bought a new one this week, and I'm excited as a kid with a new toy.  My hubby frowned on another crock pot, so we compromised.  I had an old one that had a hairline crack in the crock (lol) and I decided to get rid of it to make room for the new.  I now have 5, 2 big, 1 medium, 1 small, and 1 little dipper. That's not too much, is it?  Please say no!

Isn't she cute?

2.  I've had a good week at work and was able to get  some things accomplished ahead of time. It just makes me feel so efficient, and that is a great feeling!


3. Anticipation - Tonight, our women's retreat begins.  I'm excited because I've heard our speaker before and I always enjoy her messages.  I'm also really hoping and expecting to experience God's presence.  Nothing is more special than that!


4.  I tried something new:  I put a tablespoon of peanut butter in my oatmeal as soon as I took it out of the microwave.  After it melted, I was in love - it was so creamy and yummy.  More filling, too.  If you like peanut butter - try it!


5. Quote of the week:

God's goal for every Christian is Christlikeness (Romans 8:29). And He will use everything in our life to see us reach that goal (Romans 8:28). Our job is never to lose sight of God's calling. … David Jeremiah, Turning Point Devotional, 11/1/11

This really resonated with me - everything that happens to me is only allowed because somehow it will bring about Christlikeness in me. To think that God cares that much!


Have a wonderful weekend!  Remember, you are God's masterpiece!

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago".
Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Friday's Fave Five is a blog party sponsored by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.  If you'd like to share your 5 highlights from your week, link up here.

My Husband Cannot Cut Hair

Oh, If Only Mine Had Looked This Good!

One of the things that has happened to me is that I was in a car wreck.  Now, you who know my family, know that this is not an unusual event.  (Our names have been blacklisted at a couple insurance companies ...)  However, this was a wreck of epic proportions.  This was no fender-bender!

It happened after a killer day at work.  At the time, I was a legal secretary at a place that I dreaded going to each day. I forget now the scenario, but what I do remember is that my boss yelled at me and I was upset.  When my hubby picked me up that day, he could see the stress on my face.  Being a wise and loving husband, he suggested that we go out to eat so that I would not have to cook and clean up the kitchen.

We picked up the kiddo from daycare, had dinner and then headed home.  We were traveling in a Ford Ranger pick-up.  It was the three of us, with our daughter strapped in her car seat between us. It was a chilly early April evening and a light rain had fallen.

The road home has been appropriately named "Grapevine Trail."  As we rounded a curve, it became apparent there was "black ice" on the road.  My husband began to scream as he realized he could not control the vehicle. Before you could whisper "Jesus help me," we had rolled that truck over onto its side and landed in a ditch.

A ditch with water in the bottom. Not a lot, but enough to be scary.

Especially when I realized that the window had been knocked out and my long hair had flown out and the truck landed on top of my hair effectively pinning me down.  From my husband's point of view, he thought my neck might be broken due to the unnatural way my head was held back.

After taking inventory, we realized he was ok, our daughter was fine, but my arm was broken and I was stuck.

People stopped by, a kind friend took our little girl home with her, an ambulance was called.  (This happened in the days before cell phones.) One of the men that stopped by tried to help my husband lift the truck where I could pull my hair out.  They couldn't budge it. I was still stuck.

So, Jim did the only thing he could do.  He whipped out his pocket knife, which unfortunately was dull, and awkwardly leaning over me (there's not much room in the cab of the truck) began to whack my hair off.  I didn't know whether to cry because I was in pain from the broken arm or cry because I was losing my long hair ...

Finally, success!  My hero freed me.  I had to be lifted out of the cab of the truck. Because the ambulance had not gotten there yet, I was wrapped up in a blanket and laid in the back seat of a car belonging to a helpful stranger who had stopped to help my husband try to lift the truck. We didn't get his name and later I realized the blanket I was wrapped up in must have belonged to him.  

Turns out my head had a gash in it (not from my husband's pocket knife!) and I had to have stitches. A small area was shaved on my head to put in the stitches. Then I was discharged from the hospital.

On the way out the door, I told my hubby I had to stop at the rest room.  Good thing, my sister in law was there and offered to go with me.  Once I had taken care of business and stopped to wash my hands, I glanced in the mirror and she had to catch me because I nearly fainted. Who was this monster looking back at me?  I was swollen, bruised and dirty from the muddy water I had been laying in. But the real shocker was my hair! One side of my head had jagged ends a good 6 inches shorter than the other side.  Imagine a scarecrow's hair.  That was the look I was sporting.

And that, my friend, is why I say, my husband cannot cut hair.

I'm linking this up to Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Workshop.  The prompt was to take one thing from last week's list of 22 things you've done and give out the details.  My little adventure explains my #4 and #5 on that list. Click here to read the rest of the list. (Image from Google Images)

Tea Talk, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011

1.  I'm having ... coffee with sugar-free French Vanilla creamer.  I am trying to cut down on carbs, and I can't decide:  is it better to use sugar-free creamers, or buy flavored coffees and use my regular half and half?

2.  I'm feeling ... blessed!   I have a good life and I'm thankful for it!

3. On my mind ...  my solo at the upcoming Women's Retreat.  I hope my voice doesn't crack!  I am so looking forward to this retreat - I'm expecting that the Lord has something special for us.

4.  A quotation to encourage ...

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.” ~Thomas Edison 

Be encouraged in the work you have to do today, you never know how God will use it to bless others ... and maybe even YOU!


Tea Talk is a concept created by Ruth at Celebrate Friendship.  Please visit her blog!