Daybook time :)

On Monday mornings, women all over the internet mark entries on their blog in The Simple Woman's Daybook. It is a time of reflection and projection. A record, of sorts, of the life of a woman-- The Proverbs 31 woman? Maybe. Today's woman? Absolutley! Check out my entry below for Monday, August 30, 2010 and click on the title, it's a link to the Daybook originator and other entries :)  Have a wonderfully blessed day!

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook 

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...Quiet and still pretty dark for 5:42am.

I am thinking...no matter what...I have the love of God.

I am thankful for...God's provision.

From the kitchen...homemade mayonnaise, zucchini bread, and cookies...not all together ;)

I am wearing...still in my jammies.

I am creating...a scarf for mom.

I am going...Bible study tonight... almost finished with Revelation.

I am reading...well, about to start reading Captured by Grace  and finishing up The Shack (finally)

I am remembering...time for God, time for me.

I am hoping...friends and family are safe and blessed.

On my mind...my marriage and how to make it better :)

Noticing that...the closer I get to God the bigger the issue with Satan.

Pondering these words...To weather the storm, I must praise God through it!

Around the house...lots of chores.

One of my favorite things... baby kisses.

Here is a thought I am sharing... Don't let life overwhelm you; choose your stressors carefully!

 

AMEN.

Monday Night -- French Bread Pizza

Oh yeah! Another dinner on the cheap. $14.22 served the whole family!!!  That's $1.58 each. Take out usually costs us over $30 for pizza plus the tip for the driver.

Two loaves of garlic bread
Jar of pasta sauce
Pepperoni
Mozzarella
Five mushrooms
a little oregano

Build, set the oven to 350 and bake for about 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Add a two liter rootbeer for $1.00!!  Woohoo!!

AND...I have half of the cheese, pepperoni, and sauce left over. 1 1/2 hours of work for my bread machine tomorrow and we will have calzones for lunch!

Sunday Evening Dinner on a Dollar

Today I learned that sometimes what you think you need is far from it and if you are truly living for Christ He will order your steps. AMEN!

Dinner tonight:

Lasagna!!! It turned out so yummy.

1 pound Turkey Italian Sausage
1 red onion, diced
1 large zuccini sliced in rounds
1 can spinach, drained
1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 can Huntz spaghetti sauce, any variety
1 egg, scrambled
1 1 pound box of lasagna pasta

1. Start a large pot of salted water to boil.
2. Brown turkey in a medium sauce pan. Saute onions with sausage. Add spaghetti sauce. Simmer.
3. Add a little sauce to the egg and scramble vigorously to temper. Add egg to sauce.
4. Add the pasta to boiling water and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.
5. Spray a 9x13x2 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
6. Layer pasta, zuccini, 1/3 sauce, 1/3 cheese, pasta, zuccini, spinach, 1/3 sauce, 1/3 cheese, pasta, 1/3 sauce, 1/3 cheese. (Don't add too much sauce or the lasagna won't set up.)
7. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes to cook zuccini and melt cheese.
8. Let set for about 5 minutes before cutting. Mine made 12 servings. 

Be careful-- the zuccini will be hotter than everything else (they are in there steaming).

On My Loves and Making Money

I will send off another batch of manuscripts today. I received my first rejection letter last week. I was excited. One "No" gets me that much closer to a "Yes." It's a rite of passage.

My love of writing and my love of children has evolved to another level. Putting what I do orally on paper and asking others if they see the value in my words that I thought I put there. The inspired text? I think so. I hope so. Words with purpose. And now I am desperately trying to transform my words from personal to public, from fun to paid. Not simply for the paycheck, but also for the sharing. Relaying the message that I have, the pieces of wisdom and maybe a little bit of whimsy.

The next project is taking it's place on the keyboard as emails are send with inquiry letters and high hopes.

It is MoNdAy! DAYBOOK time!!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

It is a beautiful day. Praise the Lord!
Monday, August 9, 2010:

It is Monday! Click on the link to find the official site and join the fun!

The Simple Woman's Daybook 

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the sun is shining, there is a sweet breeze, and not a cloud in the sky.

I am thinking...about not much other than catching up after a lazy weekend.

I am thankful for...a loving husband.

From the kitchen...chicken kabobs...mmmm

I am wearing...blue jeans with a belt and a short sleeve black cotton top

I am creating...another afghan for Christmas. Four down...

I am going...to pray, fast, and wait to hear God's instructions

I am reading...I am not reading. Not right now. So sad.

I am remembering...to dedicate some time for God each day. Can't afford to be too busy.

I am hoping...in God.

On my mind...my marriage and how to make it better :)

Noticing that...the closer I get to God the bigger the issue with Satan.

Pondering these words..."pray without ceasing"

Around the house...the children are giving me a moment alone...RARE!!!

One of my favorite things... bare feet.

Here is a thought I am sharing... If you are having a food craving, take a bite and get it over with!

AMEN.

Where is God? by Dr. John Townsend - a book review

Where is God? by Dr. John Townsend is a book that addresses the omnipresence and sovereignty of God through the hard times in life. Dr. Townsend guides readers to realize God's role in the rough patches of life by revealing His promises in scripture and translating them into our reactions to trouble. Knowing that God is always there and that He handles situations in ways that may not be clear to us on the surface, Dr. Townsend shares insight on God's intentions for us.

It has taken forever for me to muddle through Where is God? The opening was an intriguing near death narrative, but then the author gets stuck on telling stories and writing lists. The style of writing is reminiscent of college work. Lots of repetition to meet the page requirement. I quickly bored of the book and had to force myself to read on.

During my reading I faced some real-life struggles and found the advice and guidance in Where is God? to be a weak consolation that God is still there with me through the tough times.

What Where is God? did do is to what I already knew giving me valid and on-point scripture. I liked the way the chapters are broken down and found the book to be a viable resource when I needed scripture or guidance in a particular characteristic of God and His relationship to me in time of difficulty. Where is God? provided a good starting point. I was able to use the information in my own Bible study and prayer time with God.

I received a free copy of Where is God? to review for Thomas Nielson (Booksneeze.com).

Doodlin' with Friends

Because I have been scatter-brained and light-headed--because life is a little bit scrambled up--because I need something to occupy me right now--simply because my friend did it and I needed some crayon therapy...

See my friend's blog and her lovely village here

She's the Upsidedown Bee :)

Waiting on a Promise

Psalm 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way...

The day ahead is full of promise. Promise from God, promise to self, and promise of possibility. And so I am waiting.

My dog, Rollo, is sitting at my feet staring up the stairs. He is waiting too. In a bit he will hear the sound of children. Slowly. One by one they will get up and move about. He stares up there waiting. There is promise that a child will appear at the top. And to his delight, and theirs, they will make eye contact, the dogs tail wagging ferociously and the child pointing and squealing his name. Promise.

In my waiting I am looking up hopefully too. Maybe a bit less patiently than my dear friend. My soul gets restless as the soul of the human does. Training sets it steady like a hunter, still and ready, yet patient. Movement-- restlessness can bring defeat. But it is in the steady waiting. Quiet. Did I learn this from the dog?

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him...

The instructions are clear. The promise is clear. It's just the waiting that is muddy. Relying upon myself to sit and wait on God. I know I can't do it alone. I know I need His help. I pray and talk with Him about my restless nature and I tell Him, like the dear friend that He is that I want to wait. I want the promise. And with humor and lesson to be learned His answer is slow. More waiting. His answer comes quietly. My movement a distraction from the Word He has for me. I miss it. And in angst I seek Him again for the promise.

Has the waiting become long and intense? I feel like it has. I am frustrated and believe that God has forgotten His promise. I know He hasn't. But my mind. Oh, my mind. A spot for the deceiver to slip into my conscious.

So, silly as it may seem, I look to be more like Rollo. Waiting. Waiting. When he gets restless, he lays his head down, but he doesn't move. His ears rise at the slightest sound, but his body is still. I imagine his mind is still too. On task. Just where I need to learn to keep my mind. Steady and unmoving, quiet and patient. Waiting on my promise.

And just then the frame of a small child appears from around the corner. Delight in her voice as she points, Rollo standing and wagging and wiggling. His patience rewarded. The child clamboring down the staircase. Thus I ready my soul and I align my spirit to wait on Him.

Hebrews 6:12 Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Though it has been a while since I posted a daybook, I decided that today would be a good day to start back... So here's my entry for today, Monday, August 2, 2010:

 

It is Monday! Click on the link to find the official site and join the fun!

The Simple Woman's Daybook 

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...It is dark, anything could be out there.

I am thinking...about those things that I will allow to consume me, because they are good and those things I will not, because I refuse to waste time or energy today.

I am thankful for...a loving husband.

From the kitchen...ginger snap cookies.

I am wearing...my gown.

I am creating...socks if I get a chance today.

I am going...to slow it down just a bit.

I am reading...the book of Revelation, the book of Hosea, Faith in the Night Season by Chuck and Nancy Missler.

I am remembering...to make arrangements today for a school fundraiser.

I am hoping...in God.

On my mind...Dad.

Noticing that...I have peace when I thought I would have pain.

Pondering these words..."fulfill your calling"

Around the house...there needs to be some cleaning but I'm not gonna.

One of my favorite things... first-thing-in-the-morning-quiet.

Here is a thought I am sharing...if you aren't right, get right, because time for the getting may be short.

 

AMEN.