The Paschal Home
• Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Powerless Sketches
Due to heavy storms here last night (July 22nd) we were without power (thus the 'powerless sketches) from 10pm to 8am today, but I kept right on doodling anyway. (well until 2am that is)
I decided to work on a few challenges from a blog list I am on, and came up with this for #1 Draw your shoe. Now mind you this is just the sketch. I will be adding color to it later today.  Then for Challenge #2 draw a desk lamp I decided to do this one...  There is a lot of detail in this one but I will be adding color to it as well. Not bad for doodling in the dark huh?!!
If you would like to see my other doodles and challenges please visit www.heavenlymouseprints.blogspot.com I appreciate any comments, criticism, suggestions. |
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• Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday
• Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - IT's the final countdown
I am getting so excited about seeing my dear friend Laurie this weekend. We will be attending Anne Abgott's "Daring Color" class together and then having the weekend to do a sketch crawl, draw in the gardens, visit art museums and so much more. (Let's see how much we can cram in a weekend hehee) Anyway, I was making my packing list and checking it twice and as I was thinking of other things to write on the list I started doodling and this is what I came up with. .. 
1 Day 15 hours until I leave |
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• Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Blogging break...
Posted By Messyjo
• Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Wednesday's list of things to do....
Tomorrow will be Wednesday so that means Roger will be working from home and that it is a light cleaning day . Wednesday's are also my baking day.
Wednesday's to do list~
*Clean toilets in hallway and master bathrooms
*Clean sink and counters in hallway and Master bathrooms
*Clean tub/shower in hallway and Master bathrooms
*Windex mirror/windows in hallway and Master bathrooms
*Check supplies in hallway and Master bathrooms
*Sweep/mop hallway and master bathrooms
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• Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Point of Grace.........
I am messing around on the computer right now, taking a break from cleaning and I was visiting some blogs, one of my favorites Amy Jo's I had to go over and bother her about her curtains that she was making. She finally posted pictures, they turned out real cute...Now I am listening to my Point of Grace CD, I just love their voices they are so pretty, right now this song is playing and the words are so true~
Heal the wound~
I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew me back then
I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the eveidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of
The place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
and heal the wound but leave the scar
I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
the rubble that you found me in
And every stone will sing
of what You can redeem
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar
don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful, how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
Heal the wound but leave the scar
Have a great Tuesday...
Blessings, Joann |
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• 2008-Jul-22 - Fears must be set aside- its my job
It is difficult to mention job “troubles” and then be vague in what they are.
To say it is complicated is an understatement. I do not feel at liberty to share all that is happening as it feels like gossiping and whining.
Allow me to say this- I am concerned for my job because of some changes that are working on being implemented. There are people in the church that would like to see my job become a volunteer position- they simply do not believe I should be paid for what I do. Currently the church can fund a part-time youth leader but that may not always be the case.
One particular change that could very well be implemented is that I would no longer have only my pastor over me as my “boss” but that due to the title change (the board changed my title from youth pastor to youth director due to the fact that I do not have the college degree to back up the “pastor” part) I would become directly answerable to the Sunday School Superintendent.
Who happens to be the in-law currently “yanking my chain”.
Mr. Steady and I have discussed this and neither one of us believes it would be a good thing for me to continue in my job if that particular matter was indeed implemented.
I do not believe that I have shared the financials of it all. I am not normally comfortable with just spouting out numbers that money-wise affect my life but I believe it may bring clarity.
I am paid $200 a week for 20 hours of work. It is often a rarity that I work only 20 hours. It is a running joke with other paid youth workers that part time youth workers are “part-time paid, part-time volunteer and full-time ministry”. My benefits are a small mileage reimbursement (there are stipulations on this also), 1 week’s vacation per year and 1 paid Sunday off per quarter.
The church gets a lot of work out of me for a small amount. I am quite aware that a person with a college degree would ask/demand a lot more but I have never been comfortable “taking money” from the church and this small amount has suited our needs. The church has never been able to afford me a raise, at one point I had to take a salary cut to $150/week when money was tight and at another time I lost my mileage reimbursement when money was tight.
I have always viewed it as a mutually advantageous arrangement. I make money to help my family and do 80% of my work right from home and the church gets a part-time paid youth worker (might I add that I saved them money right away when I signed on because I didn’t need their small health benefits package?).
We currently have what I call The Little Red Hen Syndrome at our church. This means we have plenty of people that come up with ideas or think the ideas we want to implement are great but there is little to no follow through. We are scraping the bottom of the barrel for volunteers. Currently our Sunday School board worked hard for months to put together a kick-off fest for our VBS- when the sign up sheets went out and such- 1 person signed up to help (the event was subsequently canceled). We had to make the announcement last week that there will be no children’s church for the remainder of the summer due to the fact that no one will sign up to do it (we do have people signed up for the fall though) not even when our children’s director stated that you didn’t have to sign up for a whole month- she was just asking you to try it for one Sunday. [I would like to interject here that two young ladies in my youth group, both student leaders- quickly filled in last week for children’s church after the announcement was made at the beginning of service- and did a marvelous job too!]
I have parents that volunteer and help fill in the gaps in youth ministry but other than Mr. Steady I don’t have regular help. I have to beg for someone to fill in for me when I cannot be there. It hasn’t always been this way- I use to have a wonderful group of volunteers- 6 people! But for various reasons they all needed to step down and no one else cared to step in.
It is a common dilemma for many small churches. I do not believe I am the be all and end all of youth ministry but it is hard to look at our church and honestly see someone step up to take charge of this ministry as a volunteer, should I have to step down. I know that God can do it if that is His plan but the logical side of me looks at all those kids in my group, knowing their various needs, and ponders “what will happen?”
It is of extreme and utmost importance that I remain in God’s will through all this. It is a continual matter of prayer. I continue to feel God saying to me “Be still. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. I will lead you.” And so I do. Things like this shake me and make me feel like I should run out right now and secure some other job and yet- there is God whispering, “Be still. Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch Me rescue you.”
And so it becomes a leap of faith. A leap of faith that I don’t move- that I stand firm and don’t chuck it all for a job as a waitress that I’m sure would be a whole lot less stressful.
And with that said- I rec’d an email from my Momma today that simply said, “Proverbs 29:25”. I looked it up.
To fear anyone will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
And so I will not fear my in-law or any of the others that would like to nudge me out. I will not fear over my job or our finances but instead will put my trust completely in the Lord. |
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• Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Whew and Simple women's daybook
Whew I am glad that is over. Was having a little computer trouble last night (read as.. was having such a hard time staying awake while working on the computer that I pushed the wrong key and deleted the whole entry I was trying to make) 
Refreshed and ready for another day I want to post what I was trying to post last night. (actually it was 3am THIS morning)
Hosted by Peggy @ The Simple Woman
Outside My Window…it is pitch black with a few stars shinning in. The moon is bright and laying like a crooked cat smile. In the distance I can here the sweet frog and cricket seranade. I know there are horses romping about graizing because I can hear the pounding of their hooves.
I am thinking…about all I need to prepare for this weekend get-a-way of mine. I am getting so excited about it. I am also thinking about how different it was today, the children were smiling and my dh was laughing. What a wonderful site!
I am thankful for…the wisdom from the Lord to be still and wait upon Him. It was His timing for things to come about as they have and I am thankful He carried me through.
From the kitchen…I can hear the crunching of Kibbles and Bits and the running paws of the kittens in their night time play.
I am wearing…an oversized T-shirt, cotton capri's and diabetic socks.
I am creating…recipe cards, ATC's (artist trading cards) and postcards to send out for the swaps I am involved in.
I am going…to have to run some errands tomorrow so that I can take care of things before I leave for the weekend. Finish cleaning the office and organizing all my art things.
I am reading…Daring Color by Anne Abgott because I will be taking one of her watercolor classes this weekend.
I am hoping…that this weekend will be a time of refreshment, encouragement, inspiration and all around fun. I mean, how could it not be, I am going to be with my best bud!
I am hearing…the pitter patter of kitten feet, the sweet frog and cricket seranade and the clicking of the keys as I type.
Around the house…I see a little improvement as far as the organization is going and WAY to many animals. heheh
One of my favorite things…MICE
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: need to finish preparing for my trip, finish organizing the office and grooming all the doggies.
Here is picture thought I am sharing… 
I drew this frog and cricket seranade ATC to remind me of the sounds I am hearing tonight.
Well I hope you all have a wonderful day and hey.. if you want to see more daybooks, stop by the simple women's blog. Be Blessed! |
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• Monday, July 21, 2008 - Tuesday's list of things to do...
I did get my menu made today, also the grocery shopping done and things put away. We had Pizza for dinner and now I am ready to go for our evening walk with the dog and then home to put my jammies on and kick back for the rest of the evening... Tuesday is one of my major cleaning days, it is one of the two days Roger works in Livermore all day so I have the house to myself and seem to get a lot more done.
Tuesday's to do list~
*Dust Roger's office
*Windex window in Roger's office
*Check/empty garbage in Roger's office
*Vacuum Roger's office
*Dust in my craft room
*Windex window in my craft room
*Check/empty garbagein my craft room
*Vacuum my craft room
*Dust living room
*Windex windows in living room
*Dust blinds in living room
*Wipe down T.V. and electronic equipment
*Vacuum living room
*Febreeze furniture in living room |
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• 2008-Jul-21 - Um- Hmm I love these muffins
Since the oven AND kitchen were already flaming hot with supper baking, I decided to whip up tomorrow’s breakfast tonight rather than heat the oven up again tomorrow morning.
I love the following recipe but hardly ever make it due to the fact that I don’t keep maraschino cherries on hand. Also due to the fact that those cherries aren’t cheap. But I was doing a pantry inventory and found these shoved way back on a shelf with a price tag of 99 cents. Wha-hoo!
Cherry Chip Muffins
1.5 cup flour
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 egg
½ cup milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 jar maraschino cherries (reserve juice- chop cherries)
¾ cup chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; set aside. In another bowl, whisk egg, milk and oil. Add dry and wet ingredients together. Drain cherries, reserve 2 Tbsp juice for glaze. Chop cherries and fold into batter with chocolate chips. Drop into muffin cups. Bake at 375 degrees for 13 minutes.
Glaze: combine powdered sugar and cherry juice to make glaze and drizzle over top of muffins.
Cost breakdown: 12 cents for flour, 8 cents for sugar, figuring 3 cents for baking powder and salt, 8 cents for egg, 9 cents for milk, 5 cents for oil, 99 cents for cherries (reg. $2.19), 37 cents for chocolate chips and I bought the powdered sugar so long ago I don’t have a clue- lets say 5 cents.
Total Cost: $1.86 for 1.5 dozen muffins [that's 10 cents/muffin]
Now- these would cost $3.06 purchasing the cherries for regular price. [I like to keep breakfast cost under $2.]
Also I probably could squeeze 2 doz. muffins out of this recipe if I didn’t fill the muffin cups up so high.
Perhaps I should try making these as mini muffins. Course, I don’t own a mini muffin tin . . . . . best to stick with what I’ve been doing. |
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About Me
Here on the side of our little Arkansas mountain. Our family includes me, Allison, my husband Justin, my step daughters (14 yo twins) "Bert" and "Nic", our sons (6yo) "Si", and (3yo) "Roo". Next door are the in-laws Wendy and Dan. And between the two homes, we have 3 dogs and two gardens. We live next to a National Forrest so we see all sorts of wildlife. We love homeschooling, gardening, whole food cooking, quilting, crafting, and having bonfires!
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