The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 4th....

Outside my window... cold with a little bit of sun, and a light fluffy snow.

I am thinking... Time with dh home is always way too short! He had to go back to work today. Too bad they don't pay him for just staying home to snuggle up with his wife!

I am thankful for... Our woodstove, a wonderful holiday, and having had dh home for a week. I am SO spoiled!

I am wearing... Pj's, warm LLBean bathrobe, and new slippers!

I am remembering... that I am supposed to start exercising again today. *snorts*

I am going... To Barnes and Noble later this week.

I am currently reading... Babylon Rising, by Tim LaHaye.

I am hoping... To get more sleep tonight than I did last night.

On my mind... Trying to get back into a routine of sorts, and hoping the various stages of coughs and colds here resolve quickly.

Noticing that... Mattan (the cat) likes to watch the snow falling out the big living room window.

Pondering these words... "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

From the kitchen... Oatmeal for breakfast, and I will be setting up the crock pot shortly for supper. We are having italian bean casserole.

Around the house... Some general picking up to do, some organizing, some laundry... the usual!

From the learning rooms... I am doing up quarterly reports, and getting the first semester portfolio's organized, and starting to figure out the next unit study to kick off the second semester. We won't resume lessons today, but hopefully enough will get done so we can do some of the basics tomorrow.

One of my favorite things... Smelling and kissing the back of Isaac's head.

A picture I am sharing...



To participate in the Simple Woman's Daybook, please visit Peggy's blog, The Simple Woman, for guidelines.

Simple Things I Enjoy.....

I am enjoying ironing our Sunday clothes...that means tomorrow is a day of rest!

I am enjoying listening to some sacred music that is soothing and uplifting.

I am enjoying watching our cat chase a little ball around, looking like he is having a psychotic episode.

I am enjoying the warmth from our little woodstove in the single digit temperatures.

I enjoyed some sunshine today, even though it was cold and wintery out. Beautiful day!

I have enjoyed having my dh home all week. I am so spoiled!

I am enjoying making a wall hanging for my friend. I enjoyed quilting it, and now am enjoying the fact all I have to do is bind it.

I enjoy Isaac's smiles.

I enjoy snuggle time when Isaac is sleepy.

I am enjoying the thought of a hot, wonderful, cup of coffee to go with my Bible reading in the morning.

I am enjoying the thought of getting organized next week for next semester of home schooling.

I enjoy playing Wii with my family, even though I lose at everything! LOL

I enjoy thinking of all the wonderful blessings in my life.

Christmas Projects in Review

Whew! Now that that holiday rush is over, I can finally post some of the finished products of my mad knitting/sewing spree between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Amidst all the crafting we did do a little special baking. I posted before about the candy making, but we also made some sugar cookies and gingerbread men on various days.





I made a ton of these fun potholders: (they make great little gifts!)



here are some of the dishcloths I knitted, with some help from Esther:



I made little throw pillows for the girls:



I made fleece socks for all the kids (except Isaac):



Each of the twins made one of these earlier this year:



I forgot to get a pic of the boy's pj's I made before they put them away. They are now in use and the boys are enjoying them very much. I love it when JoAnn's has the flannel on sale wicked cheap!

One of my favorite projects was this quilt for a neice. I call it "Peekaboo Nine Patch". I used the disappearing nine patch technique. It was fun, easy, and very quick! I highly recommend it!

Front:



Back (I LOVE piecing backs! It adds such a touch of uniqueness to the quilt):



Isaac had his fair share of fun helping Daddy unwrap gifts, and playing with the wrap and boxes.



It was so nice to have my mom here for the festivities!



She gave a family gift. One that will yield many, many hours of family fun!



Happy Holidays from the Beehive! I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday.

Blessings!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 28th....

Outside my window... It is a grayish, wintry day, with friendly little snowflakes in the air.

I am thinking... that vacation time goes by too quickly!

I am thankful for... a week of rest with my hubby home from work.

I am wearing... my pj's and bathrobe and new slippers, and have no plans to change in the near future. :D

I am remembering... how when I was a kid how long a week of vacation seemed, and now it seems too short!

I am going... out for lunch with the family tomorrow for my Mom's and my birthday.

I am currently reading... Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott thru Dailylit. I'm going to finish that this week!

I am hoping... to get reengerized this week from a total burnout from the several weeks of burning the ol' candle at both ends for Christmas.

On my mind... wondering if I can conjure up enough energy to do my nails today.

Noticing that... The sun is peeking out from time to time making everything shine brilliantly.

Pondering these words... " Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer IS the greater work." ~ Oswald Chambers

From the kitchen... Nothing right now, but later some homemade stew!

Around the house... Maybe some laundry today, but basically we are having a very easy and lazy day.

One of my favorite things... Early morning quiet with my Bible and the first cup of coffee, woodstove going, and a fresh blanket of snow on the ground.

From my picture journal...

Winter surfing in Maine... Brrr!

Happy Birthday Isaac!

Yesterday (the 23rd) Isaac turned 1 year old! I can't believe a year has passed. A couple at church had asked me if they could make cupcakes and then after church we could have a small celebration. They offered to make pudding for Isaac since he isn't too used to cake-like textures yet. Here are some snap shots from the evening:





















This picture I couldn't resist. Isaac is pushing around my sewing machine case, WITH A SEWING MACHINE IN IT!!! I told Dale, "Hey look! He is going to be a fiber artist!"

Dale looks at me blankly.

I clarify. "He is going to be a quilter!"

Dale looks at me and says dryly, " He is going to be a mover, honey."

Hey, there are lots of very talented guys that design and make quilts for art. You never know!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... December 22nd... (oops, missed it yesterday!)

Outside my window... There were a few friendly flakes falling (say that five times fast!) but now it looks like the sun is trying to come out through the clouds.

I am thinking... I may have to pull an all nighter to get the sewing done before Christmas!

I am thankful for... My wonderful sewing machine!

I am wearing... PJ's at the moment, but will soon be changing.

I am remembering... all the items on my "to sew before Christmas" list.

I am going... to be sewing

I am currently reading... my sewing machine manual in figuring out the fancy stitch on it to make it look like hand quilting.

I am hoping... To get lots of sewing done today.

On my mind... Sewing

Noticing that... Though I am making progress on the sewing pile, I need to put in a lot of time SEWING!

Pondering these words... "A time to sew..." from Ecc.

From the kitchen... Bread raising, sugar cookies ready to frost, need to make cinnamon rolls and frozen fruit salad, then SEWING!

Around the house... Sewing (anyone see the pattern here?)

One of my favorite things... A leisurely cup of tea on a nice, cold, wintry afternoon.

From my picture journal...

Isaac, at about a week old... he turns 1 year tomorrow!



For guidelines in participating in the Simple Woman's Daybook, please see Peggy's blog.

God and Sinners Reconciled

"We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. " (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the "very good" creation (Gen. 1:31), He gave them one rule to follow (2:17). They were created to live forever in fellowship with Him, but disobedience to this rule would bring death.

As Creator, He had both the authority to set the rules over His creation and the penalty for breaking rules, declaring "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). A holy, sinless, everliving God who abhors sin cannot allow disobedience in His presence, and a just God's nature demands a just punishment. Ever since the events of Genesis 3, God and humankind have been estranged, with the awful barrier of sin separating them. Man has been unable to restore fellowship with God on his own! Sin's penalty must be paid!

The angels were present at the creation of Adam and Eve, at their disobedience, and at God's withdrawal of fellowship with them. The angels have ever since been active on behalf of repentant sinners, but they were unable to bring about any permanent solution.

But finally it happened! God, the Creator who had been rejected by His creation, the righteous judge who demanded the penalty of death for sin, Himself had come to pay that penalty, to redeem by His own death His fallen, rebellious, creation, and the angels rejoiced.

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born, in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

(The above devotional was from Days of Praise by ICR, author, John D. Morris, PH.D.)