Home Sweet Simple Home

The fridge is coming home!

Your heavenly Father knows your needs. He will always give you all you need from day to day. ~ Luke 12:30-31

We made our own family fun- under $10

Bad Fridge, a loaner & no water in sink faucet

Bad News:
My fridge never cooled down low enough to put my food back in it after the repairman left yesterday. At 9:30 pm last nite it was still registering 60 degrees in my fridge.  Unbelievable. So another nite of buying ice and filling coolers in my kitchen.
Good News:
The appliance store came and picked up my fridge today. I refrained from kicking it. Just. Thankfully they brought me a loaner fridge until mine is fixed. The loaner fridge is a lot like a loaner car- just enough to get you by until yours is fixed. I am praying it gets fixed quickly we have 35 people coming over here for the 4^th of July . . . . .
It runs which is all that is necessary at this point.
I was able to cram everything into it, which is also good.
Mr. Steady’s brother is coming over tonite to begin the cement work on the foundation on the backside of the house.
It’s about 10 degrees cooler today also.
This all does much for my frame of mind and state of being.
Last night, when the water in the upstairs sink came out as barely a trickle, I just went to bed and cried and cried. I felt completely undone.
I was exhausted physically and mentally.
Mr. Steady held me and reminded me that everything is fixable; that we’ll be okay.
I am taking things one day at a time.
I can’t do any more than that.
This is yet another reminder that I cannot but God can and sometimes it means just sitting back and being still.
God be with me.

Mini-disasters and where my help comes from

My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:2

Oh, Lord do I need your help.
It seems like so many things are going ba-zonkers and not much of anything is going right.
Including my perspective.
The new fridge won’t stay cold and the freezer above it is suppose to be frost-free but has 2 inches of snow. I am now using 2 coolers again after 2 gallons of milk were spoiled plus other foodie items of not near as much importance.
I painted an entire room earlier this week. Our soon-to-be schoolroom.
Then I found out that I used latex paint over oil-based paint.
It nicks and peels and it’s awful.
Just plain awful.
I look at the whole room and I know I don’t have it in me to scrape and strip all that paint off of every surface. I’m just going to have to live with it. Every little nick and mark and scrape.
The schoolroom also has an outside door that we have never used because its broken. Mr. Steady got a new free door and decided to start working on replacing the old one.
This required him to take off the bottom two pieces of siding on the house which led him to find carpenter ants and rotting wood. Not good.
He found this out on Saturday and since then 2 green tarps have been nailed up to the backside of the house while he figures out what to do.
After having consulted a few good remodeling guys who advocate “do it yourself”, he has decided to remove the rotted wood, spray for the ants and fill it all in with concrete. One of his brothers is coming over to help with this tomorrow nite.
Last night as he was knocking out some of the rotted board he found the telephone line that we now know wraps all the way around the house to the other side- except that he found it by accident when he pulled it out and split it with the hammer claw. So we had no phone.
I found this out after bringing the kiddos home from a cousin’s VBS, at 9 pm. He wanted me to place a call on my cell phone.
Bad news- I had let the minutes just about run out on my phone because we had been discussing buying a new one since the phone barely holds a charge anymore.
And so I went over to the neighbor’s to get online and order more minutes feeling like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Did I mention that its been in the mid-90s the past few days and with all the extra work Mr. Steady has been unable to take the time to put in the air conditioner and its too big a job for me to do myself?
Recap: no air, it’s hot, fridge not working right, coolers in my kitchen, it’s hot, rotting boards on the house with a partially ripped out door, a newly painted room where the new paint is peeling, it’s hot and did I mention we don’t have the air conditioner in?
My attitude about all of this has been “borderline” at best. When I’ve been asked how I’m doing, I really want to reply, “I’m hot and I’m cranky and there are coolers in my kitchen again.” So far I’ve only actually said it once to my mom and once to my husband.
It is all getting to Mr. Steady too. Last nite when I broached the subject of putting in the air conditioner he snapped at me. Something which he never hardly-if-ever does. He shook his head and simply said, “I’m sorry. I’m overwhelmed.”
Me too.
I know the Lord is near. I know He is aware of what we are facing and how we are feeling. He knows the bottom line to our finances, or sanity and so much more. I want to ask, “Why?” but quickly on the heels of that comes, “Why not?”
In all honesty, mine are just a bit of little nuisance-y problems stacked in a pile all at once. They aren’t “major”. They aren’t catastrophes or even mini-disasters (okay, the whole oil to latex paint thing could be considered a mini-disaster).
I do not doubt that His grace is sufficient for me and that His mercies never fail.
I’ve failed.
I’ve failed to worry and fret not.
I’ve failed to remain calm.
I’ve failed to trust Him completely no matter what.
But no more.
I may whine a bit, because I do and it’s still hot.
But I will press on. I will tackle what I can with God’s help and let the rest slide.
Priorities.
Scraping, sanding and painting are not priorities when it’s 88 degrees in the house and so humid. They are also not priorities when there are other things in your itty bitty budget and buying more paint isn’t one of them- instead you find you need a lot of cement.
Cement= fixed back wall of house. Much bigger priority.
Even bigger than getting the air conditioner put in.
I have failed to prioritize these last few days.
I am reminded of the importance of committing my day to the Lord when I wake up and ask Him to help me prioritize my day.
I am reminded of where my help comes from.

My help comes from the LORD.

Dropping in with bits of news

Life is very busy here at the Yellow Townie Farmhouse.
We started some big projects this weekend which got even bigger when Mr. Steady went to replace a door and found rotted boards . . . . .
Anyhoo- that's why I've been so scarce. Hope to get in a couple of posts this week inbetween projects.
Wait until I show you what we've been up to . . . . . .
In Other News:
Father's Day was wonderful. The kiddos gave Mr. Steady an ice cream maker plus the fixings and I made him a special book (courtesy of Shutterfly.com) full of pictures of him and the kiddos with notes about all the things we love about him.
I am glad I write my menu plans in pencil. The menu plan for last week and this week are "works in progress" as the projects have messed with the cooking and now the heat messes with the cooking too. Tonight we are having BLT's and then heading off to Mr. Steady's softball game (ice cream at Nana and PawPaw's later).
My sister-in-love and her kiddos have invited my kiddos to their VBS this week and we said yes. This is proving to be more trouble than I thought to follow thru with. It runs from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. It's about a 30 minute drive. This means my kids either eat dinner @ 4:30 pm or 9 pm. Yesterday they had early supper but then wanted a big snack when they got home later.
Tonight we won't be going as it is Mr. Steady's game nite but . . . . . there's Wed. and Thurs. still and what will we do about supper?
I'm thinking nachos or ham sandwiches and then perhaps a snack in the car after we pick them up- like trail mix or a quick bread.
So- life is busy and home repairs are in the works and it's hotter than hot and and on and on and on.
One thing remains the same:
God is good.
All
The
Time.

foodie shopping & Father's Day gifts

Before the rains came thundering in today the kids and I made a trek to the Amish Store. It’s been 2 months since our last trip and it could have waited a couple of weeks except for some necessary items for Father’s Day.

Here’s what we bought:

Regular Purchases:
1 lb. Farmer’s Cheese $3.22
2- 1 lb. pkgs. Butter @ $1.79 each
2- 10 oz. pkgs Smok~y Links @ $1.39 each
6 lbs Cheddar Cheese $12.62
Throat Coat Tea $4.49
Bigelow’s Lemon Tea $2.19
2 lbs. Whipped Topping Mix $3.79
.5 lb. Cheddease Powder $2.18
2 Cans Soup @ 55 cents each (Cheddar & Split Pea)
1.5 lbs. Dried Cherries $6.73
Total Regular Purchases: $42.68

Non-Grocery Purchases:
Cabin Crunch Snack Mix $5.64 (Father’s Day- Dad-in-law)
2 lbs. Vanilla Ice Cream mix $7.34 (Mr. Steady- Father’s Day)
1 lb. Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream mix $3.69 (Mr. Steady- Father’s Day)
19 oz. Apple BBQ Sauce $2.89 (My Dad- Father’s Day)
Toothpaste- for kids $1.50
Battery operated toothbrush (for Mr. C) $1.50
Flower hankie (gift for niece) 49 cents
3 wooden word blocks (gifts) @ $1.49 each
2 card making kits (1 gift- 1 for kids) @ $1.59 each
Total Non-Grocery Purchases: $30.70
plus tax: $.78 = $31.48

Splurge Purchases:
3 cartons of Chocolate Milk @ 35 cents each
1 pkg cowtails candy 49 cents
1 pkg. 8 in. baked pizza crusts (4 crusts) $1.99
5 lbs. Cooked Bacon Crumbles $24.95
Total Splurge Purchases: $28.48
Total Spent: $102.64
Total Spent on Groceries: $71.16

Today’s grocery purchases came from the Squirrel Fund- shopping at the Amish Store is one of the main reasons I started the Squirrel Fund.
Some day I will price calculate what the price difference is between purchasing 1 lb. of cooked & crumbled bacon vs. doing it myself- but for now, this is a splurge Mr. Steady and I both agree on; we love to add bacon to so many different recipes. The milk, candy & pizza crusts were purchased for the kiddos- worthy splurges for such great helpers (and cheap splurges too!).
As you can see, I did my Father’s Day shopping at the Amish Store. Guys are so hard to buy for, at least in the frugal sense. I find it best to stick to foodie items. We don’t do big over the top gifts for Father’s Day here- mostly try to stay in the $10 price range.
However:
The kids bought Mr. Steady an ice cream maker (he’s really been wanting one) and so we had to purchase some ice cream mixes to go with it. Wow, are those things expensive! But who can resist such wonderful homemade ice cream!
Not me!

Question on food storage

The Fridge and finding my happy place

When life gives you lemons . . . .

Making lemonade from lemons.
It seems our problem just may be that the freezer froze and created large amounts of “snow” that may or may not have created frozen blockage that may or may not be preventing cool/cold air to get to the fridge below.
So- everything is out of the freezer and Mr. Steady is using my handiest kitchen gadget- the Pampered Chef scraper, to clean out the “snow”.
Reminder: This MAY work . . . .
and then again, it may not.
Praying.
Now to the lemonade part- The kids took the “snow” outside for a snowball fight. Not only that but they decided to put on winter coats.
Mr. Conductor looked adorable in his winter coat, too-small scarf, yellow rain boots and shorts. What an ensemble.
They had a blast and they all provided me with some much needed laughter to lighten the load.
Sigh.

My fridge is registering at 60 degrees

Went to town and this is what I bought

Splurge Purchases:
1 pkg String Cheese $2.49
8 oz. Fresh Mozzarella $2.49
1 box Chewy Granola Bars $1.79
1 box Fruit & Grain Bars $1.89
100 ct. Freezer Pops $3.59 (that works out to 4 cents each)
Whipped Cream (in can) $1.39
64 oz. Cran-Raspberry Juice $2.29
Total spent on splurge purchases: $15.93
Total spent @ Aldi’s: $53.85

Total spent on Groceries @ Aldi’s: $48.63

Not a whole lot of what was purchased this trip was necessary to feed us this week- just items I had put on the list as being needed the next time we went to Aldi’s. Example: When we run out of ketchup in the fridge and I pull the “reserve” ketchup from the pantry, I write “Ketchup” on the Aldi’s Grocery list. This was our second trip to Aldi’s this month and I’m pretty sure we can make it through the rest of the month without going again.
The granola and fruit & grain bars are to take with us on softball game nites when the kids get the munchies. I’ve done the baked goods route before (oatmeal cookies or muffins) but have found myself feeding half the spectators when we do this- it seems that bringing homemade goodies draws everyone out while giving the kids a granola bar to satisfy their hunger pains doesn’t. [Not that I’m against sharing yummy homemade goodies but there never seems to be enough to go around and someone gets left out!]
Something else of note: since “retiring” I find myself baking a lot more and so I find myself in need of sugar and flour a lot more . . . . I am contemplating purchasing larger quantities and storing them in clean 5 gallon buckets. Is this a good idea?
Something else I’ve been pondering on- juice costs. If my kiddos are eating apples and strawberries and watermelon and such- I’m wondering if we can forgo juice at some meals. And besides- some of that “juice” isn’t really juice- only about 2% juice. The lemonade mixes have a quite a bit of sugar in them- not much better than Kool-aid. Mr. Steady and I are thinking we can have flavored water—water flavored with mint from the garden or limes or lemons (from the store) instead. We have decided we should try to have flavored water with at least 2 meals a week to start with and eventually increase it to 3 then 4 meals.
We’re looking to cut costs but also be healthier in the process.

Daily loaded with Benefits

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits! Psalm 68:19

It’s glorious out today!
Just yesterday a friend asked me how “the resting” is going. I took a moment to think and told her quite truthfully that it is going quite well. I am learning to be still and enjoy simple things.
Like morning devotions with the kids.
Prayer rocks (post coming).
Sitting on a blanket in the shade with kids and books.
Going to the park.
Longer, deeper quiet times.
Finding days where I don’t feel at all pulled in to get on the computer or online.
And so much more.
One other thing I’ve learned, even though it’s only been a few weeks since I quit . . . . I’ve found that right now I simply cannot multi-task to the level I once could. Handling days with more than a couple activities or trying to do 3 or 4 things at once swamps me with heavy overwhelming-ness. It tires me physically and emotionally. I have prayed about this and thought on it and I do believe that God has shown me that this is no longer necessary- I don’t have to do it and so he’s making it so I really don’t want to do it! He’s released me from the need to be constantly active in so many different ways and is teaching me how to “simply be” and because I have so much to learn He’s made it so it gives me a headache if I try and kick the speed up a notch or two.
When I first realized this it annoyed me. It was a pride thing- I took pride in doing and accomplishing so many different things at a time and doing it all well. I enjoyed and was energized from the challenges . . . . and now . . . .
Not so much.
I quickly got past the annoyance when I admitted the pride and asked God to forgive me for it and deliver me from it!
Now, I make adjustments as necessary- even on the fly. When I begin to feel swamped and overwhelmed, I re-evaluate what I’m doing and make changes. Sometimes that means saying No to a good thing- like going to the beach for the day with friends. Sometimes, I tell the family I need an hour of quiet time and I take it!
That’s been hardest- taking the time for those quiet moments God has made necessary for me. At first, I had a lot of guilt to overcome- overachiever guilt Mr. Steady often calls it- the guilt I felt that I needed the quiet time, that I should be doing anything but taking time away from all the things I need to be doing.
I am glad I talked with Mr. Steady about this when it was first bothering me. His response was that there wasn’t much of anything in my life that couldn’t wait or be put on hold for 60 minutes. Even supper. Besides, he stated, everyone would benefit from the momma being in a better frame of mind after a bit of a respite.
Such a smart, steady man.
So I continue to learn what this new normal is for me.
Eight years in ministry and the habits I formed within it is harder to “walk away from” than I thought.
However, I am enjoying these new challenges of learning to slow down and do less in more time . . . .
So opposite of what I’ve done for so long.
A good opposite.
This week I plan to tackle “the storage room” in bits and pieces.
Even in fits and starts.
I’ll concentrate on cleaning out one corner.
15 minutes at a time.
And if I only do one 15 minute segment in one day . . . .
I will be proud of what I accomplished.

Menu Plan June 15-21

Weekly Menu with Daily Costs

Notes: Our plans are up in the air for Father’s Day- so I really don’t know what my menu plan is for that day . . . . goes against the grain for me not to have a plan but I’m trying to be okay with it and be flexible. Also- we now have a Farmer’s Market in our little town on Friday evenings. I took a bit from the Squirrel Fund and we all biked down to the market last Friday nite. Our purchases: Cream Cheese Iced Cinnamon Rolls, cinnamon roll bread and a large bunch of Romaine lettuce; all for $8. PLUS- we’ve been blessed with strawberries- for free . . . . some from my parents and some from my brother (brother’s are homegrown).
Note also that I've added links to some recipes again- I got out of the habit and am trying to do better . . . . .

Monday
B: Iced Cinnamon Rolls
L: Diner Dinner
D: Salsa Beef Skillet dinner, salad
Dessert: @ my parents
Daily Cost: $4.32
Tuesday –Mr. Steady Softball nite
B: Iced Cinnamon Rolls (leftover)
L: Deluxe grilled cheese sandwiches, chips, pickle spears
D: Aunt Florence’s Casserole
Dessert: none
Daily Cost: $6.52
Wednesday
B: Oatmeal with fresh strawberries & brown sugar
L: Turkey & cheese wraps, chips
D: Pork chops with Mr. Steady’s favorite sauce, green beans, biscuits
Dessert: h’made ice cream sandwiches
Daily Cost: $7.24 [Note: pork chops-freebie]
Thursday
B: Choice: cereal or yogurt
L: chef salad or hot dog (for Mr. C)
D: Peppy Macaroni, salad
Dessert:  Root beer floats
Daily Cost: $7.55
Friday
B:  French Toast w/strawberries
L: diner dinner
D:  BLTs
Daily Cost: $4.26
Saturday
B: Daddy cook (eggs, bacon, toast, country potatoes)
L: Leftover Smorgasbord
D: with friends
Daily Cost: $3.00
Sunday – Father’s Day
B: Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
L: No idea- I am budgeting $10
D: lunch leftovers
Daily Cost: $14.00
Beverages for the week:
Cherry Lemonade, Limeade, Milk (2.5 gal), Water, mint water
Cost: $6.79
Snacks for the week:
popsicles, Oreos, fruit, cinnamon bread
Approx. Cost: $3.39
Weekly Total: $57.07
~~ Don’t forget to check out the yummy menu ideas every Monday over at The Organizing Junkie’s blog. You just might find your next favorite family recipe!

Bits and Pieces of drivelling randomness

Bits and pieces of this and that

Random thoughts rolling thru my head today:
~ I’m thinking the next time we make the sour cream blueberry pancakes we will double the batter. I, who normally, will only eat 2 pancakes ate 4 last night. Sassafras ate at least 6. I don’t know about the others but the light fluffy oh-so-sweet taste of these pancakes makes you hungry for more and more and more.
~ It’s June 11^th and we still have not put in the air conditioners. My electric bill looks much more marvelous than usual (under $30) and my pocketbook is extremely happy.
~ I think that my efforts to hang all laundry on the line is contributing to the lower electric bill too. Plus it gives me a bit of countrified living in my little town.
~ I’m really loving this cooler start to summer. The kids however, are wishing for warmer weather so we’ll say “yes” to swimming.
~ Our health insurance costs are going up again July 1^st. Our co-pay and prescription costs too- quite a jump this time. Mr. Steady informed me of the jump this morning- so I hurry-scurried to make annual check-ups for all 3 kiddos before the 1^st. This has turned into three 8 am appointments the last full week of June. I am not a morning person. Neither are my children. I’m toying with the idea of them sleeping in their clothes and packing the car with juice and muffins the night before.
~ Note to self: would not have had to do this if I hadn’t procrastinated on making the necessary appointments . . . . . Sigh.
~ This leads me to being very thankful that the doctor had room enough for all 3 before the end of the month.
~ This also leads me to being thankful that as a rule we are a very healthy family and don’t normally make more than the annual check-up trek to the doctors.
Ah, I do believe we’re going to squeeze in a quick trip to the library while the rains settle down to a drizzle . . . . .

Photo: Mr. Conductor’s drawing of him and Momma (me).

Gardens, life and rain

I puttered and weeded in the garden yesterday evening.
Mr.  Steady planted the veggies I purchased and mowed the yard.
Mr. Conductor hauled his wagon back and forth dumping the piles upon piles [I made as I weeded] into the compost then would come back for another load.
And another load. He and Maiden also captured a toad.
He calls him “Toady”.
Maiden worked diligently in the girls’ fairy garden. Planting, weeding, rearranging the little houses and pebbles and fairies.
Sassafras weeded and carted and carried. And arranged her little fairy abode.
Everyone enjoyed fun work out in the beautiful cool evening.
Gardening never ceases to relax me. I can’t help but be thankful for the work of our family’s hands and the good Lord’s provision. Everything is growing well- in spite of some night-time nibbling visitors. We are hoping from much bounty from our gardens this year. Hoping to have extra to share.
While I was gardening I couldn’t help but think on how we try to live countrified farm life in little bits while still living smack dab in the middle of our little town. I look at the wash hanging on the line, taking notice that there is no one else on our block that hangs wash and I think of how blessed I am that there isn’t an ordinance against it. The wash hanging on the line, the gardens all lush and green, the 5 gallon buckets lined up under the eaves to catch the coming rainwater . . . . . not really city living. As I garden, I think of how much it would cap things off if we could just have a few chickens. As we understand it- you can have x amount of chickens in town but no roosters. We have not pursued this as of yet because Mr. Steady and my momma were talking of possibly having chickens at my parent’s. It’s still just talking. I can wait. It’s just that’s a nice thought.
This morning the rain filled up the rain bucket system to overflowing. Since it wasn’t thundering and lightning and the kidlets were acting antsy- I sent them out in the rain with boots, coats and umbrellas. Mr. Conductor caught another Toady (who knows it may be the same one) and they unplugged the drain in the road in front of our house while they were splish-splashing. We are thankful for the constant downpour- it soaks up in the garden and fills the rain buckets- saving us on water bills. Plus I’m hoping it rained hard enough to wash the bird dirties off the car. Ugh!

Top photo: Granny Smith Apple tree and "box" gardens (lettuce, tomatoes, onions) out back behind the house- photoshopped with colored pencil filter- from the looks of the picture- you can't tell we live in town!
Bottom photo: My 3 in the rain this morning!

Spent $32 for this week's grocery shopping

Here’s what I bought:
Regular purchases:
Craisins $1.96
Skinless Eckrich Sausage 2 @ $1.69 each (on sale)
1.07 lb. Shaved oven roasted turkey breast $4.26 (sale)
1 box Coco Wheats $2.74
1 gal. Vitamin D Milk $1.98 (sale)
Lrg bag of Mr. C’s favorite sugary cereal $5.38
Maxwell House Coffee $5.48
Total regular purchases: $23.49

Non-grocery purchases:
1 box pads $5.94
Dove Clinical Deodorant $7.58 (very pricey but the stuff WORKS!)
Works toilet bowl cleaner $1.06 (on sale- ½ off)
1 bottle Glass cleaner 32 oz. $1.12
3 pkgs Fireworks  $4.00
1 Heirloom Hubbard Squash plant $1.00 (sale)
1  lrg Potted Yellow Pear Tomato plant $3.00 (sale)
6 pk green beans plants $3.25 (sale)
Total non-grocery purchases: $26.95
add tax: $1.18

Splurges:
1 pkg of 8 Fudgsicles $1.00
½ gallon rainbow sherbet $2.64
Lrg bag of crunch sugar cereal for girls $4.22
Total spurge purchases: $7.86

Total Spent at big box store: $59.48
Total spent on groceries: $31.35
Amount added to Squirrel Fund: $18.00
Why is cereal for the girls a splurge? We just don’t normally purchase cereal in such large quantities other than Mr. C’s (we usually settle for the under $2 boxes or knock-off brands) but the girls wanted to try this Capt. Crunch knock-off and since we (as in everyone but Mr. C) try to stick to eating cold cereal only once a week- this should last for awhile.
The ice cream splurge purchases continue to keep the very expensive and very annoying ice cream truck at bay.
Why the plant purchases? We didn’t get green beans planted, we’ve been hunting for the yellow pear tomato plants everywhere and the Hubbard squash was only a $1 and cute as can be!
The milk and Mr. C's cereal were really, truly the only necessary purchases- other items were on my list as running out soon but this was a good week for making the purchases due to items being on sale and the shortness of the list.

Regular Priority Check-ups

I’ve learned a few things these past many months thru the “things” that I have gone through. . . . . like learning to evaluate myself.
For so long, I felt like I was a plate-spinner in a 3 Ring Circus—that I had added so many plates at all different levels that I could no longer keep them all spinning and my “act” was beginning to falter. I was simply loosing my effectiveness in so many areas of my life.
I learned the need to constantly evaluate and re-evaluate the “stuff” in my life. I learned the value of a having frequent Priority Checks.
How am I doing? Have I allowed too much stuff to creep back into my schedule? Am I functioning effectively in my roles?
A great way to do this (for me at least) is with a notebook- to track myself. I write down a list of my current “jobs”, then I look it over thinking of how I spend my time and also by what I believe is most important. This lets me know if I am spending too much time in areas that I don’t deem very important and not much or enough time on the areas that are very important (like being a wife and a mom). I can also notice areas that I am doing pretty good on- which makes me feel good about myself and helps with that feeling that I’m never doing enough. I note the areas that need changing and jot a few ideas of how those changes can occur.
While I’d like it if I’d do this Priority Check weekly- I find most often that it’s more like monthly.
Jotting down ideas on how to change is the beginning of the next step- actually putting forth the ideas and dreams that help me to live according to my priorities.
This isn't the end of this line of thought- I'll add more when time permits.

My Daybook for today

Please visit Peggy, the host of the Simple Woman’s Daybook and others here.

FOR TODAY~ June 8^th   
 
Outside my Window... Green, Green, Green. The garden is lush, the air is heavy and the breeze is wonderful. More rain coming though. Sky is gray.

I am thinking... that our life is setting it’s own pace and I am beginning to settle into it.

From the learning room... math and spelling today. We take the summer off from all other subjects. Math will continue throughout the summer and spelling for a few weeks- until our book is finished.

I am thankful for… the lush breeze coming through the windows mixed with the pungent smell of rain.
For the laughter of my children.
For the growth in our gardens.

From the kitchen... I decided today was baking day. Made 2 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies and a chocolate cake with strawberry frosting. Maiden will help me make cheddar herb biscuits in awhile and perhaps a loaf of bread.
Breakfast was oatmeal with brown sugar and sliced strawberries. Lunch was leftovers for me and chicken nuggets, cottage cheese and crackers for the kiddos. Mr. Steady will make up a pot of his famous chili tonight.

I am creating... baked goods. Plus lesson plans for Michigan History. Notes about odds and ends of schooling that need to be addressed and tackled. 

I am going... nowhere. We went to library earlier today to sign up for summer reading and now we are home to stay for the rest of the evening.

I am wearing... capris, royal blue T with giant smiling fish with saying “God is good” underneith it. Plus my sterling silver heart shaped prayer box necklace.

I am reading... a few blogs, a couple of magazines and a stack of books. What I’ll end up reading depends on my mood.

I am hoping... to let go of my worry and concern for our church and the youth group.

I am hearing... pages flipping as the children read books.

Around the house... menu planning, baking, picking up this and that around the house, 3 loads of laundry, sweeping the kitchen floor, opening windows to air out rooms. Flipping mattresses.

One of my favorite things... the smell of coming rain, or a roaring campfire on a cool nite, or fresh mown grass, a fresh picked peony.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Mr. Steady’s softball game Tuesday night, picking up used curriculum I bought from a friend, a nephew’s ball game, couple of graduation parties. More filing in the office. Perhaps a bit more clean up in the back room . . . .

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...  from our homeschool group camp-out this past weekend. 5 familes- 16 kids in all. A Wonderful time!

Good Eats for the Week

Weekly Menu with Daily Costs

Notes: Meals got jumbled last week and I still didn’t get my favorite Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes. Sigh. We are trying again this week! Of note for Tuesday- we take the leftover chili from Monday- add a layer of corn chips to the bottom then top it with lettuce, tomatoes, shredded & sour cream for Taco Chili. A great way to stretch a meal for another nite! The beverage mint water is simply a few sprigs of apple mint in a jug of water in our fridge- tasty! Oatmeal Raisin Cookies is a mix that was given to us at Christmas that I found way back on a shelf in the pantry (made 2 dozen large cookies).

Monday
B: Homemade oatmeal with fruit, toast
L: chicken nuggets, cottage cheese, cheese crackers
D: Mr. Steady’s Chili, cornbread
Dessert: Chocolate cake with strawberry frosting
Daily Cost: $11.91
Tuesday –Mr. Steady Softball nite
B: Choice: cereal or yogurt
L: Ravioli, toast points
D: Taco Chili
Dessert: none
Daily Cost: $2.78
Wednesday
B: Chocolate chip muffins
L: Homemade Mac-n-cheese, hot dogs
D: Sour cream blueberry pancakes, sausage
Dessert: fruit salad
Daily Cost: $6.28
Thursday
B: leftover pancakes
L: Nachos
D: Salsa Beef Skillet dinner, salad
Dessert: Leftover cake
Daily Cost: $6.77
Friday
B: leftover pancakes
L: diner dinner
D: Grad Party
Daily Cost: $0
Saturday
B: Daddy cook (eggs, bacon, toast, country potatoes)
L: Leftover Smorgasbord
D: Grad Party
Daily Cost: $3.00
Sunday
B: Cocoa Wheats, toast
L: Poorman’s steak, baked potatoes, salad
D: lunch leftovers
Daily Cost: $5.76
Beverages for the week:
Lemonade, Milk (2.5 gal), Water, mint water
Cost: $4.33
Snacks for the week:
popsicles, Oreos, fruit, oatmeal raisin cookies (freebie)
Approx. Cost: $5.89
Weekly Total: $46.72
~~ Don’t forget to check out the yummy menu ideas every Monday over at The Organizing Junkie’s blog. You just might find your next favorite family recipe!

Doing the Hard Thing

Sometimes what seems like a hard task when it is begun ends up being not so difficult after all.
As I have wrapped up my years in youth ministry and we’ve now wrapped up schooling for this past year . . . . . I’ve been turning my thoughts towards continuing on with my hopes and plans and learning on the subject of Hospitality.
I have mentioned this nudging I am feeling in this area in previous posts- about stepping out of my comfort zone in showing hospitality to my neighbors last summer and fall but I found myself shrinking back into my cave when winter set in.
As I’ve “closed up shop” in so many different areas of my life these last couple of months, I felt the nudging returning and started jotting down ideas for how I could share hospitality in simple, frugal ways . . . .
One of the most simple and frugal being a simple note.
Not hard at all.
Unless you feel God nudging you to send a note to someone you are not having the kindest feelings towards at the present time.
That’s what happened to me.
I had the thought to send out a couple of “Thinking of You” cards to others and as I was doing it- the nudge came.
Seeings how I was just praying this morning for God to soften my heart towards this person and to help me forgive this person . . . . I figured this was God’s way of “getting the ball rolling”.
I decided to go out and use one of the new note cards I just purchased yesterday and knew that while my words should be few and sweet that my best bet was to simply enclose a scripture and the words, “Thinking of you.”
Here is the scripture the Lord lead me to:
Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits. ~Psalm 103:2, 68:19

Writing the card was in no way a struggle. It was peaceful. As I sealed it, I knew I meant what I said and a small piece of me that was hard fell away. I thanked God for His work in me and admitted to Him and myself that it wasn’t nearly as hard to start as I had originally thought.

One day at a time, Jesus, I’ll take it as it comes each day.

Photo: wonderful little note cards picked up for $1/8 cards at Target yesterday.