FOR TODAY...
October 18, 2010
Outside My Window...
Dark, Quiet, and probably chilly at the moment. Birds beginning to chirp a bit. After the sun comes up, there will be the beginnings of fall color visible. So looking forward to the color to come in the next few weeks!
I Am Thankful For...
I actually just replied to a "Five Things I'm Thankful For" thread elsewhere, so I'll cheat a bit and copy those answers here...:) :)
1. Billy's vacation last week...all the things we got accomplished and fun family times with him and our growing-up-way-too-fast children!
2. For a job for him to go back to today, even though we are really going to miss him!
3. That God led us, in a very odd way, to our current church 14 1/2 years ago, for the blessing it has been in so many ways, and for the opportunity to be part of it's 50th anniversary celebration this week.
4. The Sunday School class of youth girls I get to teach every week...I love the girls, I love teaching, and I'm just blessed every week by this class.
5. Six years ago this week was a turning point in my life in many ways...God began working in my life in several areas in very obvious, pivotal ways that "set the stage", so to speak, for the major events He was about to bring into our lives (my dad's death and the situation with my brother and the girls). I'm thankful for the memories of that week and all that followed and the reminder that they are of God's perfect faithfulness and sovereignty.
2. For a job for him to go back to today, even though we are really going to miss him!
3. That God led us, in a very odd way, to our current church 14 1/2 years ago, for the blessing it has been in so many ways, and for the opportunity to be part of it's 50th anniversary celebration this week.
4. The Sunday School class of youth girls I get to teach every week...I love the girls, I love teaching, and I'm just blessed every week by this class.
5. Six years ago this week was a turning point in my life in many ways...God began working in my life in several areas in very obvious, pivotal ways that "set the stage", so to speak, for the major events He was about to bring into our lives (my dad's death and the situation with my brother and the girls). I'm thankful for the memories of that week and all that followed and the reminder that they are of God's perfect faithfulness and sovereignty.
From the Learning Rooms...
We were on vacation last week, as Billy was off. This week is a very busy and oddly-scheduled week for us, so school this week will probably be rather "bare-bones basics" as we transition and meet the demands of the week. Next week should be a "normal" school week, and then we will have a week or two (or more) of "school-on-the-go" as my mom is having hip replacement surgery and things will be a bit topsy-turvy for a while. I've got some major planning to do between now and then, because we aren't especially good at school-on-the-go. :)
I Am Remembering...
Delving into Oak Cliff's history for the anniversary celebration has brought back many memories of the beginnings of Woodland Heights. It's hard to believe that has been over 23 years! Those were exciting times...and times God used to grow my faith immensely. It looks like we may get to go back for a visit in December (hopefully we'll be there for their Keyboard Christmas!)
From the Kitchen...
I need to pull out my menu plan and see! Billy did most of the cooking last week...which was wonderful! A few things I can remember from this week's menu plan...CopyCat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana, Baked Mac & Cheese from Southern Plate, sloppy joes, lasagna soup, and enchiladas. (I actually didn't remember all those...I pulled out my list when I couldn't remember anything other than the Zuppa. :))
I Am Creating...
Actually "re-creating" our church scrapbook. The huge scrapbook that was made ten years ago for our church's 40th anniversary has been looked at and loved on a bit much in the intervening years, so we decided to refurbish it for our 50th anniversary celebration this weekend. It's been one of those "Murphy's Law" projects where everything that could go wrong, has, and it's all taken 10 times as much time as originally planned. :) So...it's crunch time to get it finished, and that is top on the list of the week's priorities.
On My Mind...
Thoughts on the topic of faithfulness brought on by preparations for our church's 50th anniversary celebration this weekend. Planning a blog post related to this soon. They involve a big pile of photos, a couple of songs (Steve Green's "Find Us Faithful" and Getty Music's "By Faith"), and a Psalm (Psalm 145).
Noticing...
This has been one of those weeks when you notice all over again how fast your children are growing up. We bought Peter new shoes this week...bigger than his daddy's! He is 12 and wears a men's size 11.5. He's already taller than me, and given his age, he still has quite a bit of growing to do. :-O Bayley is growing into such a young lady. I can't believe she will be a "youth" in less than a year. And speaking of shoes...she's wearing a ladies size 7 now. Eek. Emlyn is really "coming into her own" now...it's been amazing to see how much she has changed and matured in the last few months. She is developing a real sense of vision and purpose about what God may want her to do with her life that is exciting! And Ammah Grace...my "tiny girl" is growing up, too! I've gotten so many glimpses in the last week or so of "big girl Ammah Grace"...and they are startling sometimes! I don't know if it is because she is our youngest, and therefore always the "baby" to us all, or if it is more specifically because of her preemie tininess, but I've been slower to see her as a "big girl" than my others. I realized last night that she is older now than Peter was when she was born...when he and Bayley became "the big kids" (and sometimes Emlyn...she's the true middle child who is one of the "big kids" one minute, and one of the "little girls" the next. :))
I Am Reading...
*Still* trying to get through Ted Dekker's Immanuel's Veins. I had to take a little break from it this weekend...it is pretty intense, and I needed "not-so-intense" for a while. I'll get back to it this week. Also re-reading The Schwarzbein Principle a bit at a time. Other than that, these days have been too busy for much reading. I'm hoping to catch up after this weekend's anniversary celebration (and when my mom has her surgery...I'm planning for all of us to get a lot of reading done then!)
I Am Hearing...
Silence, mostly. And birds chirping outside. And the tapping of my keyboard as I type. I love quiet early mornings. :)
Around the House...
Enjoying the fruits of Billy's labor from his vacation...Peter's room and the girls' room got painted last week and we are SO excited. We didn't quite get to the dining room, but we have the paint now and plan to have it done before my mom's surgery. I can't wait! This week's plans include mostly maintenance, a bit of decluttering/organizing, and the seasonal clothes switch (which we planned to do weeks ago, but didn't...and thankfully so, given the 80-90 degree temps we've had lately!)
One of My Favorite Things...
My husband's cooking! I always said that if I married a man who liked to cook, I would let him. :) Billy loves to cook and he is an excellent cook, and I always enjoy his experiments in the kitchen.
A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...
School, chores, and food prep
Finish church scrapbook
Children's choir, Adult choir, and Ensemble rehearsal Wednesday night
Field trip to Prairie Grove and trip to Lake Fort Smith with Billy later this week
50th anniversary celebration this weekend at church
*Somewhere* in there fit in a two-week grocery shopping trip!
Photos to Share...
From our trip to Natural Dam/Lake Fort Smith last week...more to come soon!
Thanks to Peggy for hosting the Daybook each week!
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