The Fairest of Them All

Some thoughts for today.....

The View From My Window

Hi friends,

Hubby and I have an east-facing bedroom,

so this is the first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning....

You might be wondering, "They have a cross in their back yard?"

The answer is yes...and no. 

You see, when hubby built what we call "The Ark" (i.e. playground for the children)

in the backyard, he built this cross-shaped mast to attach the Zipline to.

But when the sunrise is just right, it's a beautiful reminder of Resurrection morning....when the cross was empty, obviously. But even more than that, the tomb was empty.

And it still is.

Go to the tombs of other "religious" leaders. You'll find their bones.

But we serve a risen Savior, my friends,

who will one day return to this earth to take His Bride

home to be with Him forevermore.

May we live light of His promised return.

And live in such a way that we will "not be ashamed before Him at His coming."

~ I John 2:28

linking up at The Modest Mom

February Daybook, 2013

February - yippee! A short month, then spring is just around the corner.  :)

For today, February 19, 2013.....

Outside my window...it's 52 degrees, sunny, with a beautiful blue sky. And cumulus clouds are floating on the wind.

I am thinking... about preparing supper. It's only 2:00 pm, but the children are reminding me that their hunger pains aren't far away.  ;)

I am thankful...for antibiotics. I stubbornly fought a sinus/ear infection for quite some time, before finally giving in and going to our family doctor. Help is on the way!

In the kitchen...we are growing rock candy.

I am wearing...a white top under a red top (love the layering thing) and a multi-colored peasant skirt - all treasures from my thrift store.

I am creating...bloomers for Natty for this summer. She has already grown out of the ones I made her last year.  :(

I am going...nowhere today. I LOVE stay-at-home-days!   :)

I am wondering... if Mimi will be ready for yr1 of Ambleside this September. Hmmm...still praying about that one.

I am reading..."Trusting God When Life Hurts" by Jerry Bridges.  Awesome book, and just what I need to be reading right now.

I am hoping...for a bountiful harvest from the veggie garden this year, with plenty of rain throughout the growing season. Last year it was too hot and dry to harvest much of anything.

I am looking forward to...planting peas at the end of the month.

I am learning...that using encouraging words with my children is a wonderful motivator.

Around the house...musical instruments are all over the couch. The children just finished practice and the house was filled with music. Love that.  :)

I am pondering...how our country has gone downhill so fast over the past four years. I used to wonder why the older generation (namely, my parents) worried so about our country. Now I realize that what they remember, is so far from what it is now. America is no longer in her glory days. How sad...especially for my children and grandchildren.

A favorite quote for the day..."The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." ~ George Mueller

One of my favorite things...is hearing the laughter of my children as they play together.

A few plans for the rest of the week...school lessons, maybe a trip to the library, and, after my battle with this infection, getting some much-needed rest!

A peek into my day...

This is Asher having his morning devotions. Sometimes, when it's not cold enough to use the wood stove, we use the heat pump, which happens to be the case on this particular morning. Asher's response to not having  the warmth of the wood stove is to completely cover up with this blanket to keep warm. I guess you could call it his prayer tent.  :)

I hope your week is going wonderfully, friends!

linking up at The Simple Woman's Daybook

Daily Resolutions

 Dear friends,

As 2013 approached, I heard some of my friends talking about their New Year's resolutions.

Well, I am not a make-a-New-Year's-resolution kind of person.

I am a take-one-day-at-a-time kind of person.

Not that I don't have goals, and like to plan ahead, because I do.

But my experience with New Year's resolutions can be summed up in one word: failure.

However, if I could make a list of what my daily goals are, it would look something like this....

Just for today...

...I resolve to have a merry heart. (Proverbs 15:13 & 17:22)

...I resolve to have a wholesome tongue. (Proverbs 15:4)

...I resolve to have the law of kindness on my tongue. (Proverbs 31: 26)

...I resolve to have soft answers.  (Proverbs 15:1)

...I resolve to have a gentle and quiet spirit. (1 Peter3:4)

...I resolve to speak with wisdom. (Proverbs 31:26)

...I resolve to have a humble spirit. (1 Peter 3:4)

...I resolve to model the examples of godly women in Scripture. (1 Peter 3:5)

..I resolve to do my husband good and not evil. (Proverbs 31:12)

I resolve to be a joyful mother. (Psalm 113:9) 

...I resolve to be clothed with strength and honor. (Proverbs 31:25)

...I resolve to delight in and meditate on the Word throughout the day. (Psalm 1:2)

...I resolve to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

...I resolve to meditate on only things that are praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)

...I resolve to live in light of the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)

...I resolve to speak evil of no one. (Titus 3:2)

...I resolve to remain unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

...I resolve to set no evil thing before my eyes. (Psalm 101:3)

...I resolve to keep my heart with all diligence. (Proverbs 4:23)

...I resolve to trust in the sovereignty of God.  (Daniel 4:35)

Sounds like a tall order, doesn't it?

But remember, I can "do all things through Christ, who gives me strength." :)

Have a wonderful day, everyone! 

linking up at The Modest Mom
Deep Roots at Home 

Kindle Freebies

Hi friends,

If you're like me, you're always trying to find ways to lower the dreaded grocery bill. Well, here are 2 free Kindle books that might help us all be more frugal with our grocery money.

These are free for a limited from the Amazon Kindle Store, so hurry and get yours before the offer ends!

The first one is called the 2012 Family Guide to Groceries Under $250 a Month by Melissa Burnell.

The other one is called  How to Feed A Family of Four or More for Less Than $200 a Month, also Melissa Burnell.

Sorry I couldn't include the links for these, but the link gadget is apparently taking the day off. ;)

Have a blessed day!

The Great Backyard Bird Count

Hi friends,

Have you ever heard of the Great Backyard Bird Count? If you haven't, you and your children should give it a try. It's a great way to encourage nature observation skills in your children, not to mention enjoying God's creation.

The next count is just around the corner (February 15-18th) and participation is free. Here's the link.

Another bird watch is called Project Feederwatch and runs through the month of April. This one has specific educator and home school  resources, however, it's not free.

Happy bird watching!

"So God created...every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good." ~ Genesis 1:21