Thanking God on Friday

~ I am thankful for this beautiful weather we've been having. It's been a bit cool, but the sun has been shining and that's what I love. Tonight we're going to our local HS's baseball game to support the coach who is one of the first grade teachers at Jamison's school (which also makes me thankful that Rondell is off tonight!). It's dime a dog night...should be fun.

~ I am thankful for the repairman who fixed our dryer.

~ I am thankful for the Home Depot's Kid's Workshop (click here if you want details). Rondell and Jamison do this together each month and they both really look forward to it.

~ I am thankful that God is always by my side...no matter what.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:7

Baptisms

This past weekend a few people in our Small Group and two children of people in our Small Group were baptized. To celebrate all of us got together for a BBQ lunch.

Here's Josh cutting the yummy smoked brisket. It is a favorite of our group and we always love when Josh makes it.

Just a shot of the goodness.

Karynda and Tonya. Karynda and her husband were baptized together...it was beautiful.

Katie (her son Gray was baptized), Tonya, Karynda, Angela (her daughter Liz was baptized) and Britney (she was baptized).

Caleb and Jocelyn sleeping good. We said they looked like an old married couple with their backs to each other :)

Here's Jamison getting a ride from Josh on his scooter.

Rondell getting in some scooter time!

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4 (ESV)

What's Living Under Your Fridge & Stove?

Rondell and I found out the answer to that question over the weekend. I've wanted to clean under both places for a few weeks now and we finally got around to it on Sunday...and man, oh man, the stuff you find! I will never wait this long again...lesson learned.

Brace yourselves...here's what we discovered under the stove (can you hear the Psycho music playing...I can):

Baby toys (Caleb is 3 so you know how long that's been under there), noodles, Teddy Grahams, etc. It was bad...but now:

It looks like this. Whew!

It was the same situation underneath the fridge (cue the music):

Jamison's art work, paper bowls, magnets, dust, etc.

Now:

Ahh, much better!

Do you know what's under your fridge & stove?

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Monday, April 26, 2010

For today...

Outside my window...cold and gloomy. I'm at home today because I have had a headache since yesterday (I'm better now). It was making my stomach hurt, so it was nice to have a dreary day to rest and try to feel better.

I am thinking...about an email I got yesterday from Jamison's teacher...time to really teach Jamison how to be humble and how to speak kindly to others. I feel we have always taught her these things but it may be time to take it to another level.

I am thankful...to have been a part of a few baptism celebrations yesterday (more on that later in the week).

I am praying...for my children and for focus.

I am reading...2 Kings. I am having such a hard time getting through this book. I'm thinking of reading a different translation (I'm reading the ESV) to make it go smoother. So many kings...

From the kitchen...lasagna, burgers on the grill (this is a staple when the weather is warmer), homemade pizza (we're really doing this on Friday...finally)...

Around the house...Rondell and I cleaned under the fridge and stove and you'll be amazed at the things that collect under that (I'll show you tomorrow). It's so nice to have it done though. I'd also like to tackle Jamison's closet this week.

A few plans for the rest of the week...I'm getting together with my Stampin Up! demonstrator tomorrow to play, snuggle with my babies, and go for a few walks.

How is your day?

Thanking God on Friday

~ I am thankful that my friend Kristina likes to read my blog...enough to call and demand a Wordless Wednesday.

~ I am thankful for (follow me here) my step-father-in-law and Jamison's best friend's mom for helping us out when we had some childcare issues today. It's nice to know that people care enough for us and our children to step in and help out, no questions asked.

~ I am thankful for my BSF questions and the way they bring out great discussions in my discussion group. This has been a rough year with me staying focused (see why I picked focus for my word of the year) on finishing my questions in a timely fashion, but I've done better over the last few weeks and I have really enjoyed the discussions that we've had and the knowledge that I've obtained.

If you're looking for an in depth study of the Bible you should really look into BSF (just click BSF)...next year is the study of Isaiah.

~ I am thankful for Tommy's Pizza!

Wordless Wednesday (Um, Thursday) - A Picture of the Kids for Kristina

Garden Clean Up!

One of the many reasons that we bought this house was because of the yard and one of my missions is to get it restored to the beautiful backyard that it once was (I've talked about this before here).

Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon was spent working in the yard. We pulled weeds, cut grass, edged flower beds, raked leaves, added top soil, spread turf builder and split a few of these:

Hosta are some of the easiest plants around...they don't take a lot to maintain and there are a lot of different types. They are perennials, so they come back each year...usually bigger than the year before. Since they do grow bigger each year, you can split them and replant them. The picture below shows what my beds look like after we split two of my hosta...in the bed on the left the first and third hosta are the replanted ones. It's the gift that keeps on giving. NOTE: Look at all of those lawn bags...whew!

Dirt always overflows from the flower beds onto the walkway so Rondell added the pavers along the walkway. We've had different lining before but this is by far the best...I love the way it turned out:

In the back Rondell dug up a bush that was not so pretty. This is potentially where we'll put our vegetable garden.

We also gave some more love to the back (which I was supposed to do last year, but failed somewhere along the way). We pulled 1001 weeds, raked a ton of leaves, picked up a ton of branches, edged the big flower bed, and added some manure (eww) and top soil:

It is amazing how quickly the soil dries. To the left you can see my decorative grass, which is growing in nicely since I cut down all of the dead growth (on the other side of the decorative grass with where I'll replant more Mexican Heather...loved those!). In the middle you can barely see another hosta coming up (I just planted it last year). Then to the right are my day lilies...they will bloom a beautiful orange flower.

There's still more to do (I see bags and bags of mulch in my future), but it looks so much nicer already. I'll share more once we start planting flowers (which may not be until May).

Happy Gardening!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Monday, April 19, 2010

For today...

Outside my window...sunny and cool. We have a frost advisory this morning.

I am thinking...about my work To Do list.

I am thankful...for all of your sweet comments on this post.

I am praying...for my children...that I listen to God's guidance to raise them to be God-loving and well-rounded little people.

I am wearing...orange...so Spring-like.

I am reading...2 Kings...and man, it is hard to get through. Luckily I found a chart (here) where I can keep track of all of the Kings of Israel/Judah.

On my mind...Destin, Florida!

From the kitchen...I would like to try and tackle homemade pizza again (we didn't get to this last week) and yesterday Rondell and I made chocolate chip cookies...yum!

Around the house...LOTS of work done in the yard over the weekend. We split and replanted hosta, pulled 1001 weeds, mowed the grass (well, Ron did that), clipped dead daffodils, raked, added top soil to some flower beds that needed some serious love, added pavers around two flower beds...it looks so much better already. I'll show you some of our progress this week.

A few plans for the rest of the week...BSF tonight (only a few more to go), more yard work and create a Destin check list.

What's in your daybook?

Come Back Mojo!

I've lost my blogging mojo. Does that happen to you? I'm still reading interesting material on other blogs, but I've got nothing...no crafts going on (I must pull out my sewing machine and my stamps!), I haven't been working on any projects (well, my yard...ooh, maybe I should post about that!), and just not much to update on in general.

BUT, I'm working on getting it back because I love blogging way too much to let some lack of mojo get me down. You need me...right?

Wordless Wednesday - The First Mow Of The Season!

For more WW head over to Tanya's!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Monday, April 12, 2010

For today...

Outside my window...beauty! The sun is shining, the sky is clear (for the most part) and the temperature is cool. We had a gorgeous weekend and this week is looking just a nice (with just a few rainy days).

I am thinking...about Jamison's first day back at school after Spring Break...I know she's excited to go back and to see her friends.

I am thankful for...all of the help that my mom gives us with our yard. She is so knowledgeable and works in our yard just as hard (if not a little more) than we do. I looked this morning at all of the work that we did yesterday and I can't say that my yard would look the same without her.

I am remembering...an old friend of my mom's. She past away recently and I went to her memorial on Saturday. She was someone I had know my entire life and I am remembering various things about her...her love of jazz, the time she accidentally burned me with her cigarette (I never let her live it down), eating Tommy's pizza at her house, her love for gardening, etc.

I am reading...2 Kings...that's right people, I finally finished Beth's book and I'm back to reading through the Bible. I'll recap some highlights of Beth's book this week...I highly recommend it.

I am hoping...for a productive week.

From the kitchen...tacos (we had those last night), chicken & dumplings (Aunt Roni agreed to make them), roast and mac & cheese, chili dogs and homemade pizza. Menu planning is back!

Around the house...so much to do. I have not been as dedicated to deep cleaning inside (it's been too nice outside) and I really need to get down to business.

A few plans for the rest of the week...BSF tonight, yard work, deep cleaning the kitchen and maybe Family Night on Friday.

How is your day...please share?

Wordless Wednesday - More Evidence of Spring

Head over to my friend Tanya's for more WW.

Stubbornness At Its Best!

This is Caleb.

This is what Caleb decided to do instead of eating two bites of hot dog.

Even though, if he had eaten those two bites he would have been allowed to have chocolate ice cream (we were supposed to go out for ice cream after dinner).

But no, Caleb decided to be stubborn, refuse to eat the two bites of hot dog, saying he didn't want chocolate ice cream (which is only his favorite food).

No, Caleb decided he'd just get down on the floor and go to sleep.

Take that Mommy (I swear that's what he's saying in his sleep)!

New & Improved Stool

I was reading a blog (go figure) a week or so ago and this caught my eye. I knew right then and there that I had to make one too. I remembered that we had a wooden stool that Rondell bought when Jamison was first born, but we never did anything with it. See:

So, I cleaned it off, sanded it down, and painted it black:

And then I painted the bottom of the kids' feet and "stamped" them onto the stool. See:

I ended up having to do Caleb's foot twice because the paint I initially used was a transparent paint (I should really read the label next time).

So, there you have it...my "new" step stool. I haven't decided if I'm going to put anything else on it (like in the inspired stool)...I might just enjoy its simplicity.

I'm participating it DIY Day...here.

and here.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Monday, April 5, 2010

For today...

Outside my window...mostly cloudy with mild temperatures. It's supposed to rain today and then tomorrow we're supposed to have sunshine!

I am praying...for no distractions.

I am thinking...about how I did not take any pictures this weekend...sigh. It was a really nice weekend filled with egg hunts, praising God, and playing outside.

I am thankful for...my mother-in-law dying eggs with my kids because it is not one of my favorite things to do, which is strange because my mom and I did it all the time when I was little and I loved it.

I am reading...the end of So Long Insecurity...finally. I have truly been a slow reader lately.

I am hoping...to get together with my friend Tonya this week.

From the kitchen...hamburgers on the grill, enchilada bake and soon I need to convince my aunt to make some chicken & dumplings.

Around the house...So, I bought this new cleaner for the kitchen (mainly because of the scent), but it is not getting the deep cleaning job done. My friend Georgia recommend Ivory dish soap and I'm going to try that this week!

A few plans for the rest of the week...continue working on cleaning up the yard, deep clean the kitchen (that might have to wait until the weekend), and hopefully see my mom (hi mom!).

Share with me your daybook!

Thanking God on Good Friday

~ I am thankful for my salvation...For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 ESV)

All Things Loved in March

1. Coming up with this idea. I may have to paint the kitchen sooner than planned (right now June is the plan).

2. Saying goodbye to this scene:

And hello to this scene:

3. Vitamin water. I've been familiar with this before but for some reason I got really into drinking it this month (it was probably the great sale that Kroger had on it this month). The flavor is really good and it satisfies my thirst (and keeps me away from Coke...I'm trying to cut back).

4. Finding this steak fajita meat recipe:

2 lbs beef round steak
2 packs fajita seasoning mix
1 onion, thickly sliced
2 bell peppers, sliced into 1/2 inch strips
1 red bell pepper, sliced into 1/2 inch strips
1/2 cup of water

Rinse steaks with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Season both sides of steaks with 1 packet of fajita seasoning. Slice into strips; set aside. Add vegetables to a 5-quart slow cooker. Toss with remaining packet of fajita seasoning. Add steak strips on top of vegetables. Pour in water. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.

Serve with tortillas and desired toppings...Delicious and so tender (thanks to my Aunt Cheryl).

This post was inspired by All Things G&D.