The Week In Review

This has been a rough week. I intended several times to sit down and post, but I couldn't think of anything to write about. Or rather, I could think of plenty to write about but nothing I wanted to write about.

My ex-brother-in-law passed away on Thursday. He would have turned 49 next month. It was not a surprise; he was diagnosed with brain cancer last December and had been given 3-6 months to live. They tried surgery, chemo, and radiation, but none of these stopped the growth from coming back. The last month and a half he spent in bed, unable to walk, talk, eat, or move. Everyone knew it was coming, but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking. He died two weeks after the first anniversary of his father's death. His mother, my children's grandmother, is absolutely devastated. He leaves behind a wife, a 5 year old son, and a 22 year old son from a previous relationship, along with 5 siblings and a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. 

It was a reminder to me that our days are counted. Everyday we are closer to the day when Jesus returns, or when we meet Him in heaven. We've been studying Jesus' parables in our ladies Bible study group. We've done the parable of the two builders (Matthew 7:24-27), the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), and last night we studied the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). Each of these parables point to the fact that Jesus' return is imminent, but no one knows when He will return. Therefore it is important to be ready. Our hearts need to be fully dedicated to the Lord and His Kingdom, even in the smallest details of our lives. 

Last Sunday I began painting my daughter's bathroom vanity, and Monday I completed it, sealing it with Polycrylic. It turned out so well, and my daughter was pleased with it which is what matters most.

It's a dark greige, which works beautifully with the tile floors that resemble wood. The vanity was in good condition but the finish didn't match all their new fixtures. Paint is a great option whenever you want something new but it's out of the budget.

My son completed his astronomy class in 8 weeks and got an A in the class. I'm very proud of him, because this class was not an easy one. He worked hard and was rewarded well for his effort.

 I put gas in my car this week. Not a big deal, except that I hadn't put gas in my car since August. With this pandemic still hovering over us (though much of Florida has been reopened) I don't get out a whole lot, which saves on gas. What's even nicer is that I spent $28.10 to fill up my tank. That's because gas is $1.97/gallon. Looks like the pandemic has been good in that respect.

Another bit of good news is that my son and new daughter-in-law will be in town tomorrow night. We'll be taking them out for a celebratory dinner, though I haven't decided where yet. I'm so happy that we'll be able to spend some time with them since we couldn't be with them for the wedding. God is so generous to allow this time together.

There is more to this week's happenings, but I'm going to leave that for another post. Till then, God bless y'all and keep y'all safe.

The Week In Review

I thought I'd update y'all today on everything that got done - and everything that didn't.

I say what didn't get done because I had scheduled an electrician to come this week and change out the light fixture in my entryway, the one that is too high up for me to reach. We agreed on Thursday at 9:30 am, so I got up bright and early to be ready. Just as I was about to brush my teeth I got a text message: the electrician's daughter was sick, had been taken to the doctor, and was given a Covid test. Although the electrician had no symptoms, since they didn't have results yet he wisely decided to cancel all his appointments until they knew for sure. I haven't heard back from him, so I don't know if he'll be available this coming week. It's a reminder that, while I make plans, God decides what gets done and what doesn't.

A lot of studying was done this week. I was serving in children's ministry on Saturday so I had to study the lesson. This was week 3 of our ladies bible study so I had to prepare for that as well. We studied Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the 10 virgins. And my son had his Astronomy final plus a research paper he had to turn in, and he asked me to help him study for that. He's done very well in the class thus far, but the final was a disappointment. The professor directed the class to a study guide which my son worked on, only to find out none of what was on the study guide was on the actual final. He ended up with a 68%, much lower than any of the quiz grades he's had. However, since all his other grades have been good, I think he will end up with either an A or at least a high B. Since this is just a gen-ed class I'm not concerned. It's still a good grade for what was a pretty difficult class, and he did it in 8 weeks so I'm proud of him.

Thursday was a day of unexpected stuff. Around 8:30 at night I got a call from my son-in-law. He was at a local gas station whenever his car battery died. Thankfully I have charger cables - though at first I couldn't remember where I'd put them (they were in my toolbox) - so E and I were able to get his battery jumped so he could get home. My daughter had been using his car to go to work because she needed new tires, and my son-in-law is currently working from home. Now this little predicament meant she couldn't take his car until he got a new battery, and she'd have to get her tires changed right away. I teasingly told them it's a good thing I live nearby. I was able to pick them up and/or drop them off at Pep Boys so they could get their vehicles taken care of.   

When my daughter's car was ready she asked if I'd go with her to TJ Maxx to look for some bathroom decor. She and my son-in-law are remodeling their master bath and she wanted to look for some new towels and organizers. I can't say no to TJ Maxx; it's my favorite home decor store because I always find great decor at even greater prices. I'd mentioned before on my blog that I was thinking of upgrading my bedding, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I'd looked at Costco since they usually have some high quality affordable bedding, but I hadn't seen anything lately. Then I saw this at TJ Maxx:

And this is why I love this store! Y'all, this comforter is so soft and luxurious! It came with 2 standard sized pillow shams and the cost is $39.99. I could not believe it was so inexpensive! I couldn't wait to put it on my bed and see how it looked.

While I was at it I picked up some new pillows. The pillows I had were very soft, a little too soft for my liking. I picked up these extra firm pillows for $16.99 for a set of two. 

I tried several different options on my bed. This was the first idea I had.

I folded the current bedding, which is a mint green bedspread, and put it over the new comforter. I also used all the pillows I had on the bed previously and added pillows in the new pillow shams.

I then put the fall pumpkin pillow in front of it. I love that pillow so much, and it ties in all the fall colors that I've added to my bedroom, so I knew I wanted to incorporate it.

I liked the idea of keeping the bedspread folded onto the comforter, but I felt like it covered too much of it, so I folded the bedspread further. Now the comforter showed up more, and it looked like a fancy hotel. This was much better, but there was still something I wasn't feeling that I couldn't put my finger on. Yesterday I tried something else, and I think this is my favorite.

I took off the throw pillows with the teal design and left just the plain teal pillows along with the fall pillow, and I think it's just enough. I figured out that it was too many pillows and that was throwing me off. I feel like now it's just the right amount, and all the fall colors make me smile.

As my daughter looked at bathroom decor, I spotted something that was perfect for my own bathroom.

I knew I wanted to change my shower curtain. Not because I didn't like it; it's a very pretty and simple design, just what I like. But I had a bit of a mishap with the shower curtain and some Clorox cleaner.

I cannot even express how upset I was whenever I saw that I'd gotten Clorox cleaner on my new shower curtain! Thankfully it was at the bottom and it stayed covered by the bathroom vanity. Still, I knew it was there and I wanted to get a new shower curtain; I just didn't want to spend $25+. That's what this one had cost at Target (I had a gift card so it was free to me). The curtain I found at TJ Maxx had all the colors I love and it was only $14.99 - $10 cheaper than the one I already had but much nicer quality in my opinion.

The bathroom went from this:

To this:

It may not seem like a huge change, but to me it makes the bathroom seem brighter and more cheerful. I am so happy I found this shower curtain!

This week was also bittersweet for me personally. My oldest son R got married yesterday. In California. That's where his fiance has been living with her family. I wanted to be at his side on his special day. That had been the plan since they got engaged last year. Then coronavirus hit, and California has so many restrictions that it would have been a waste of time to travel all the way there and not be able to celebrate with him. So we stayed, and I cried. We love his new bride, my new daughter-in-law, and my one comfort is knowing she never wanted a big wedding to begin with, so she got her wish. But oh, how I wanted to be there! Still, I know God is in control, and He has gifted me another daughter, so I will rejoice in that. Welcome to the family AB!

That's my week's highlights. Looking forward to what God has in store for me next.

My Week In Review

It was my intention to post more frequently this week, since it was spring break for my son.  So much for good intentions...

For some reason (that no one seems to understand), schools in South Florida all have different weeks for their Spring Break.  Homeschool students were off this past week, while public school students are off next week.  Since many students have dual enrollment, taking certain honors classes online while still attending traditional school, I have to wonder why they couldn't come together and agree on having Spring Break at the same time?  While it's true that homeschooling is flexible, Florida Virtual School has changes to the curriculum that often don't happen till the day before an assignment is due, or at the beginning of the school week.  Trying to get ahead can be tricky; an assignment might be cancelled or an alternate given, in which case the student would have worked for nothing.  I just think it would have made more sense to have both take their breaks at the same time.

Now add to that the fact that private schools don't have the same Spring Break as public schools.  Some private schools will be closed next week, same as public schools, but Catholic schools are off the week after Holy Week.  That's another change I don't understand; traditionally, Catholic schools were closed during Holy Week.  Anyway, our tutoring center decided to close during the time the Catholic schools close since we have so many students from Catholic schools, and because some of the Protestant private schools will be open but the kids will be taking their SAT's so they won't be coming to tutoring.  That would have meant way too many absences, so it's better to close.

This week I spent a good amount of time adjusting next week's schedule.  With public schools being closed next week, we've had dozens of parents calling in to let us know their kids won't be coming to tutoring because they're going out of town for Spring Break.  Unfortunately it's not possible for the center to be closed for two separate weeks, so we'll be open next week even though it might resemble a bit of a ghost town.

I've also been doing a lot of work on my own.  Tuesday marked my one month anniversary working at the center, but I've already been left to take care of the front desk by myself twice.  I've come to the realization that my boss, MM, is burned out.  She and her husband have owned the tutoring center for over 11 years, and in that time she's take one break.  She's run the front desk on her own for a long time; she's had people working there with her, but they've been tutors, who have to leave as soon as their students arrive.  I think she wants to be able to take some time off once in awhile, without worrying about whether everything is being taken care of.  She wants to walk away and spend time with her kids, with her mom who is getting up in years, with friends she doesn't see too often.  I totally get it, and I'm honored that she trusts me enough to leave me in charge, though I know she's a bit of a control freak and won't let go completely.  She still looks over my shoulders a lot, which I have to get used to.

One thing that unnerved me this week, though, was having to tutor a couple of kids.  There's a stomach flu going around, and one of our teachers had to go to the hospital because she became so sick.  She had some students that needed homework help, and there was no one else available to tutor them.  I was "volunteered", which I didn't mind since they were both elementary school students.  What upset me was that I was pretty much thrown to the lions, so to speak: I received no training on any of the programs, no instruction on what to do, and I had no clue what I was supposed to be doing.  Thankfully the first student was eager to explain everything his teacher does with him, and another teacher (who is an absolute doll) showed me where the material was, and I was able to work with the two boys.  They assigned another teacher (she's a wonderful young lady as well) to train me, but that wasn't until the next day.  I think in their minds tutoring would be a no-brainer for a homeschooling mom.  I had to explain what the big difference is: when I homeschool, it's my kid.  If I mess up I don't have to answer to anyone, I just have to fix it.  The kids that come to the tutoring center are paying customers.  Their parents expect a certain level of instruction that I am not qualified to give.  I'm all about being a team player and helping out whenever I'm needed, so long as I'm properly prepared to do the task.  I didn't feel that I was at that time, and it made me feel uncomfortable, which I let them know.

The rest of the week went smoother.  Since I didn't have to homeschool, I polished some of the floors that had gotten dulled from moving furniture boxes around.  Thursday I got a haircut - I went back to the short bob I'd gotten back in October.  My hair had been chin length at that time, and it had grown past my shoulders.  I debated whether to cut it short or not, but since my hair grows so much as so quickly, I decided to go for it and had it cut chin length again.  This way all the dull and damaged ends are gone, and I'm left with healthier hair to grow out.        

I've been having some breakouts this week.  I hadn't had pimples like this in ages, but Wednesday I had three - THREE! - on my face, two of them plainly on my chin.  I scrubbed them good, and two of them actually popped.  Then yesterday after lunch I started noticing a different kind of breakout.  I have several spots on my face that are not zits.  These look like hives, like when I have allergies.  My allergies have been running rampant lately thanks to the warmer weather, but I suspect this may have been from the fish I had for lunch yesterday.  I made it myself, and I've had tilapia before, but reactions can happen at any time.  I took a Benadryl last night but this morning they're still there.  At least there aren't more, nor has it spread to any other part of my body.  Not that I like having them on my face :P.  Yesterday they were a bit itchy; that isn't the case today.

That was my week, in a nutshell.  I'm off to clean bathrooms now - thrilling, huh?  Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Observing My Senses

For Today, August 29, 2013...

I am seeing...lots of white puffy clouds in a pretty blue sky, palm trees dancing in the breeze, a barbecue grill that hasn't gotten much use because days like these are few and far between.

I am feeling...tired.  It has been a busy, hectic week.  Took my car to the car dealership because ever since my tires got rotated it sounded like a helicopter taking off.  I figured it was probably the way the tires had worn, but I wanted to be sure, since I transport valuable cargo in my vehicle.  After 2 1/2 hours waiting I found out I was right.  :P  Last night was my son's school open house which was also exhausting.  Not to mention that I've been polishing the floors this week and doing major house cleaning so I can start decorating for fall.  I'm beat!

I am hearing...an airplane in the distance, and my oldest son in his room, occasionally laughing at something he's watching.

I am tasting...meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans.  Not trying to brag or anything, but this meatloaf is so flavorful!

I am smelling...bacon.  I cover the top of the meatloaf with slices of bacon which gives it a yummy, smoky flavor, and the smell of bacon is one of my favorite smells.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Observing My Senses

For today, August 20, 2013...

I am seeing...cars lined up to pick up children from school. Lots of grandparents eagerly awaiting their grand children's stories of the day. 

I am feeling...a welcome breeze. It's still hot in South Florida, but the breezes are different. It's as if the opening of the school doors released a cooler wind into the air. 

I am hearing...the screams and laughter of children finally escaping the confines of the classroom. 

I am tasting...Goldfish crackers. I had some before I left the house. 

I am smelling...freshly cut grass. The school finally took care of it. 

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings. Won't you join me?

Observing My Senses

For today, August 19, 2013...

I am seeing...the first load if laundry separated and folded on my bed, ready to be put away. Load #2 is waiting in the dryer. 

I am feeling...sweaty after picking up my son from school. It rained this morning and again while I was at the school waiting for him. The heat is high and the humidity is higher. But I'm glad my son came home from school in a good mood and his sister is excited about her first day at her tutoring job. 

I am hearing...the ceiling fan. Between that and the air conditioner I'm able to survive this heat wave. 

I am tasting...nothing at the moment. Dinner will be in half an hour. 

I am smelling...baked ziti. I made a big pan, enough for lunch, dinner, and tomorrow's lunch for my youngest son. 

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings. Won't you join me?

Observing My Senses

For Today, August 15, 2013...

I am seeing...rain, lots and lots of rain.  Come to think of it, this is the first time it's rained this week.  Considering how much rain we've gotten this summer, I think that's a record.

I am feeling...the money crunch.  I spent $225 on school supplies for my son, mostly clothes.  The boy outgrows his pants faster than I can keep up.  I had him try on his school pants from last semester and only 2 of them fit, so I had to go out and get him 3 new pairs.  Then I had him try on his school t-shirts.  They are an adult small, but on him they almost looked childish.  His shirts are only sold once a month at his school, so I had to go this past Tuesday and get 5 t's (they are $10 each or $45 for 5).  Then yesterday I went for new glasses.  I've needed new ones for a while, since the ones I have do nothing for my reading or computer use (I usually take them off to read which is a waste), and although my current glasses are only about 1 1/2 years old they're pretty scratched up.  The kid's dad took out vision insurance and kept pestering me to use it, so I did.  Well, I will say it saved me some money.  Between the eye exam and the glasses, which I got at Costco to save even more money, the bill came out to $249.99.  After insurance coverage I ended up paying $144.99.  I'm glad I saved $105 with the insurance, but it's still more than what I had expected to pay.  Turns out the insurance covers the eye exam and frames but not the lenses.  Progressive lenses are not cheap.  Add to that the $35 in deductibles and...let's just say I'm gonna have to be cautious with my spending the rest of this month.

I am hearing...the occasional bird chirping, rain water dripping off the roof, and a very quiet house.  Rainy days are like lullabies in this house.

I am tasting...the coffee I had with my breakfast this morning.

I am smelling...chicken taco chili in the crock pot.  My daughter found a recipe on the internet which I've been tweaking.  Once I get it where I want it I'll post my version.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Observing My Senses

For Today, July 13, 2013...

I am seeing...my little potted mango tree, which is not so little anymore, and which will need to get planted into the ground soon.

I am feeling...elated at my son's FCAT scores!  Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Tests, or FCAT, is the yearly exam given to kids in grades 3-12.  It determines the school's grades, and whether the child is learning or needs to repeat a grade.  The highest possible score is a 6; a 2 or greater is needed to pass.  My son got a 3 in reading and a 4 in math - that math score is the highest he's ever gotten!  I was so surprised but pleased as well.  He had pre-algebra this year with some geometry thrown in for good measure :P, and he told me the exam was pretty hard.  To get a 4 (equivalent to a B) is wonderful!  His reading score is also up; while he got a 3 last year as well, the actual score went from 228 to 246.  I'm so thrilled with his improvement!

I am hearing...the ticking of the toaster oven.  I have some biscuits in there for my kids.  Well, the two youngest.  My oldest son left early this morning for work.

I am tasting...my morning cup of Joe along with my vitamins.  Breakfast is coming:  Fiber One chocolate cereal and a buttered, toasted English muffin.

I am smelling...those biscuits, and a couple of sausages fried up because my youngest son loves sausages.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

Patrice is enjoying nice porch weather, so I'm gonna join her there.  Grab a nice cup of coffee, tea, or whatever pleases you, and join us at Everyday Ruralty.


1. Who do you look like in your family?
My mom would tell me I reminded her of her own mother when she was younger.  I favor my mom's side of the family, though I have my dad's dark hair and eyes.  I would have loved to have inherited my mother's aqua colored eyes.

2. Would you rather read a novel, a poem, a magazine, or a how-to book?
A novel, definitely.  I've never enjoyed poetry, even when I was a teenager.  The only magazine I read is the Costco Connection because it comes with my membership.  How-to books are okay, if they're like recipe books.

3. Is there anything in your future that seems challenging, daunting, or "larger than life"?
Life itself!  Actually, I've been seriously considering homeschooling my youngest son once high school rolls around.  The school he's in now is wonderful, but it only goes up to 8th grade.  The high school is iffy at best.  It's a relief school, meaning when other schools in the neighboring cities are too full the kids are bused there.  It has created a negative environment.  The other school near us is a charter school, but I haven't heard anything really positive about it.  Homeschooling is something I'm praying about.

4. Do you have any big projects for this season? (DIY/household/craft or sewing/home business/ whatever you consider a project)
I need to get the outside of the house painted.  We've lived here 12 years and have only painted once, about 6 years ago, so it's time.  The problem is all the rain.  We've gotten rain 3-4 days a week since the summer started, and it hasn't let up.  Until the rain dries up painting will have to wait.

5. Please finish this: It made me so happy to_________________.
It made me so happy to hear my daughter's news.  She is doing an internship at our old church, and they've offered her the opportunity to set up the entire children's worship ministry from the ground up.  She is so excited!  This is what she has wanted all along, to do some sort of worship ministry, and now she gets to implement it completely.  What a blessing from the Lord!

Thursday Thoughts

 - If you haven't been watching the news, and the weather report in particular, then you may not know that a tropical storm has formed in the Caribbean and it is headed this way.  My way.  Towards Florida.  Tropical Storm Isaac is currently south of Puerto Rico and is headed west at 13 miles per hour, over warm waters which will nourish it into a hurricane sometime tomorrow.  We are preparing ourselves, though we've gone through category 1 storms in the past, and in South Florida we refer to them as "kite flying" weather.  I'm more concerned about the people in Haiti.  There was that earthquake that left hundreds of thousands of families homeless, who are currently living in tents, and I can't help but wonder what will happen to them if this system goes through like all the computer models show it will?  Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers.  Haiti is the poorest nation in the entire Western hemisphere.  This weak hurricane could leave them completely devastated.

 - My oldest son brought home something that has me smiling.  Eggo has come out with a new seasonal flavor of waffles.

Pumpkin Spice.  Can I get a "Whoop Whoop!"  I love pumpkin spice anything, and these waffles are A-MAZING!  The smell in my kitchen just from putting them in the toaster oven was enough to get me excited, and I loved the taste - pumpkin and cinnamon together are the perfect combination!  These aren't going to last in the stores or in my kitchen, so I'm gonna have to stock up (or figure out a recipe to make them myself!).

 - School started this week.  My baby boy is in seventh grade.  I'm still not sure how that happened.  He seems to have grown overnight.  I look at old pictures of him, just a couple of years ago, and the difference is astounding.  He had such a baby face!  Now he's almost as tall as me, wears a size 9 shoe and is rapidly turning into a teenager.  I don't know if I'm ready for my baby to be a teenager.  Has anyone figured out how to slow down time?!

 - Our Awana pizza blast was last night.  We were jam-packed!  It was wonderful to see familiar faces, and even more exciting to see new ones!  One of the churches in our area dropped their Awana program this year because it was too expensive :'(.  We expect kids from that church to sign up with us.  It makes me sad when churches cut programs like Awana because they think they can't afford it.  In my opinion, you can't afford NOT to have programs like this for the children.  Remember Proverbs 22:6?  "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is grown he will not depart from it."  God commands us to teach the children so that they will follow Him in the future.  When we eliminate programs that help instruct the children in the ways of the Lord, we can't complain later on because these children turn into adults who no longer care about going to church or living godly lives.

 - On the menu for today:  meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veggies and salad.  I have to make enough food so that we can all three of us (my son R, my daughter A and myself) can have it for lunch, my two oldest can pack some to take to work for dinner, my youngest son E and I can also have it for dinner, and maybe, just maybe, have some left for E's lunch tomorrow.  It's just four of us in the house but I feel like I cook for an army.  All because I'd rather have them eat a home cooked meal and not fast food.

 - I'm also gonna make what Alton Brown calls Pocket Pies.  I buy pastry discs:

and fill them with fruit.  I love fruit pies, especially apple, but my kids are not big fans of them.  My daughter loves blueberries, but I can't have berries because of my allergies.  This way I can make different flavored pies and we all get to eat what we like in small portions.  I hope everyone enjoys them.

Well, I'm off to finish cooking, then start some serious hurricane planning.  I have furniture in the backyard that will need attending to, some items that need to go to the dump and can't wait till after the storm, and of course what meals to prepare if the electricity goes out and my electric stove doesn't work.  Dear Lord, please keep this storm far from Haiti and far from us!  Have a blessed day.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, August 21, 2012...

Outside my window...after an early morning thunderstorm the heat index is through the roof!  Despite our high being 90 degrees, thanks to the humidity it feels like we're in the triple digits.  It's very lovely to look at from inside my air conditioned house, but I don't want to be out there!

I am thinking...wow, the 20 year anniversary of Hurricane Andrew is this week.  Hard to believe it's been 20 years since that category 5 storm came through and caused so much destruction in South Florida.

I am thankful...for my son's homeroom/civics teacher who proclaimed to the class that she is a Christian (yay!) and my son says she is amazing!  First day of class and already he was telling me all about Miranda rights and how even officers are not above the law.  She must be a great teacher to get them to memorize so much in just one day!

I am going...to rest for awhile.  I did a lot of work this morning, redecorating the house again.  Pictures forthcoming.

I am wearing...a white tank top (I was wearing another top over it but it's all sweaty so I removed that layer), black capris and black flip-flops.

In the kitchen...I made my version of bourbon chicken (without bourbon) and white rice nice and early because my daughter said she'd be home for lunch.  Then she texted me that she wouldn't make it because she only got a half hour for lunch today (she's doing some training).  I guess she'll have it for dinner.  It was delicious, by the way.

I am creating...a more comfortable home, less furniture, better configuration.  I feel so much better now that the house isn't as cluttered.

I am wondering...if tropical depression #9 is going to reach us.  It's expected to become Hurricane Isaac within the next couple of days.  It appears to be headed towards Cuba but there's no telling yet if it'll come to Florida or go into the Gulf of Mexico.  My son says he'd like to see it disappear into the ocean.  I agree.

I am reading...Sixteen Brides, still.  I read a little everyday, but what with school starting up and daughter with her new job and doing all sorts of work in the house, there isn't much time for reading :(.  I do read my Bible and devotions each morning, though.

I am hoping...the pain in my index finger subsides.  I'm really not liking this arthritis thing.

I am looking forward to...my daughter coming home and seeing all the work I've done in the house.  She's gonna be so surprised :D.

I am learning...to be content with what the Lord gives me, which is way more than I deserve.

Around the house...I'll need another post to show all I've done today.  I'm gonna try and get it up today, though I have to admit I'm super tired.  Moving furniture is hard work, even with my oldest son doing most of the lifting ;).

A favorite quote of the day..."Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years." - Charles H. Spurgeon.

One of my favorite things...decorating without spending money.  I like getting a whole new look in my house without spending a dime!  There used to be a show on HGTV that taught that - Decorating Cents, it was called.  I miss those types of shows.

A few plans for the rest of the week...we kick off our Awana year tomorrow with a pizza blast - that'll be fun!  I'd like to get some bowling in, but that depends on homework load and everyone's schedule.

Wanna join in the fun?  Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook.  God bless.

Move It Mondays

Good Monday morning, and what a special Monday it is!  Today is the first day of school here in South Florida.  The kiddies are waking up with a not-so-happy face because summer vacation is over :(.  But I think they're secretly glad too.  They get to try out their new school supplies, see their friends, and get back into their routine.  Truth is, we all crave routine, and it'll be nice to get into mine again, too.

I got up this morning and made breakfast for E and me.  I'm having one fried egg and two slices of honey wheat toast with my coffee.  I'm trying to cut down on snacks, so I have to have a good breakfast.  Once I'm done here, I'll get dressed, take my son to school, and stop off at Winn-Dixie to pick up some items that Walmart didn't have in their store.  Once I get home, I'm starting my fall cleaning.  Even though it isn't technically fall, I always do a top-to-bottom cleaning of my house, room by room, starting with the kitchen, the week school starts.  It helps me forget that my little guy isn't at home with me :(.

South Florida is supposed to get a bunch of thunderstorms this week, and we're keeping an eye on a storm out in the ocean which is trying hard to become tropical storm Isaac.  Gotta keep on the look-out!  I hope y'all have a great Monday and a blessed week!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, August 14, 2012...

Outside my window...the sun is blaring, the humidity is high, the heat index is high, and the grass needs to get cut.  Of course, no one wants to do it, myself included.  It's too hot out.

I am thinking...of my son, and how bummed he was yesterday.  His car got towed the night before and we had to pick it up from the impound.  Poor boy, he wants to get financially stable again but he keeps running into walls.

I am thankful...that I can be there for my kids when life's blows knock them down.

I am going...to vote today for local stuff, including the lifting of a ban on pit bulls.

I am wearing...a mint green top, blue skirt and black flip-flops.  It's 84 degrees out but with a heat index of 77% it feels like 94, and it's only gonna get hotter.  Oh, and we're supposed to get rain today.

In the kitchen...my homemade sauce is cooking away in the crock pot.  We're having meatballs and ravioli today - yum!

I am creating...an organized back pack for my son.  School starts on Monday.

I am wondering...what is God up to right now?  He put a desire in my heart to bring one or two children from the orphanage where my daughter works to my house for Thanksgiving.  I mentioned it to her, not thinking it was possible.  Yesterday she said yes, we can invite a couple of children for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and my heart desires it even more.  God is up to something, of that I'm sure.

I am reading...a couple of devotions, and still working through Genesis with E.  I need to go through my Nook and start reading something else.  I just wish my eyes wouldn't get so tired so quickly.

I am hoping...my son enjoys school this year.  He's moving to the middle school building for 7th grade.  I'm thankful he's in the same school he's been in since kindergarten.  They move to different buildings on the same grounds.

I am looking forward to...Awana starting up again.  I miss my girls.  Awana begins August 22nd.

I am learning...that even when things don't seem to go the way I expected, God is still in it.

Around the house...the daily vacuuming must be done.  Molly got her bath a couple of days ago but she's still shedding a ton.  Gotta take a look at the laundry situation too.

A favorite quote of the day..."We do not understand and then obey: that is instruction. We obey by faith, and then we understand: that is illumination." - Warren Wiersbe.

One of my favorite things...flowers.  Of all colors.  They give beauty to a landscape.

A few plans for the rest of the week...bowling, bowling, bowling!  Three of us have bowling shoes now, and we plan on getting use out of them!  Thursday and Friday are my daughter's days off, but Thursday I have a doctor's appointment and Friday E and I are volunteering at our church to get folks to sign their kids up for Awana.  Still, we can bowl!

Wanna join in the fun?  Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook.  God bless.

Five Question Friday

Happy Friday y'all!  I'm doing some grocery shopping today (these kids are eating me out of house and home!) and it looks like it's gonna rain.  Ugh.  Don't like going out in the rain.  Oh well, I've gotta deal with it.  But first, I'm gonna answer a few questions - five to be exact - courtesy of Mama M at My Little Life.  Won't you join me?


1. Thunder storms- love them or hate them?
I love 'em - so long as I don't have to drive in 'em.  I especially like them at night.  For me a thunderstorm is like God's lullaby.

2. Do your kids get back to school clothes?
If they've outgrown them, yes.  My youngest son is the only one in school (well, my oldest is going for his batchelors but he can buy his own clothes) and he tried on his uniform pants yesterday.  Three out of five still fit.  Which means he now needs 2 new pairs of pants and some new sneakers just for school.  There went the budget :P

3. Do you golf? Do you watch it?
No.  And no.

4. Showers or baths?
Definitely showers.  I can't picture myself swimming in my own sweat and dirt. :P

5. What's the strangest meal you ever ate?
Hmm, strangest thing.  That would have to be my mother-in-law's chow mein.  She adds hot dogs to it. *gags*  Oh, and her spaghetti "sauce," which is actually ketchup with worchestershire sauce.  Can you tell I don't care for her cooking?

Thursday Thoughts

It's the last day of school, and my son is extremely thankful!  It has been a good year for him.  He raised his FCAT reading score from a 1 last year to a 3 this year.  The highest grade is a 6, so a 3 is equivalent to a C.  This is the highest his reading grade has ever been, and I am just thrilled at how well he has done.  I am especially thankful to his reading teacher, Mrs. Legra, who encouraged the students, and made character development as important as reading.  She did so much to help my son, and it shows in his progress.  I love when teachers give their all.

 - Saturday was my cousin's little boy's first birthday, and we were able to go to his birthday party.  It was a chance to see my aunt and uncle who are getting up in years, but what was even nicer was seeing their daughter, my cousin, the baby's grandmother, whom I hadn't seen in about 30 years.  She looks fantastic, and was all smiles at her only grandson's party.  We were able to chat for awhile, which I enjoyed.  Her daughter also came with her husband, and it was great seeing them as well.      

 - This week my daughter's childhood bedroom set left our home after 22 years.  Her father had built the furniture when she was just a few months old, and she's had it all these years.  It was all white, with the bed, 2 nightstands, a desk, and a wall unit full of drawers.  Very spacious, but not for A.  It was a child's bedroom set, and she's a young adult.  Her bedroom set in Central Florida will be taking it's place, but in the meantime we are painting her bedroom to fit her new furniture.  With the white furniture she had asked for teal walls, which looked nice though still pretty young.  Her new bedroom set is a dark merlot finish, and her bedding is black and grey.  Teal just wasn't gonna work with it, so we are making it more modern and edgy.  Two walls are being painted grey, one full wall will be purple, and the window wall will have both colors in a diagonal split.  I think it's gonna look really cool; we did the two full grey walls today and it already looks more grown up.  She's really excited to see her room completed.

 - My oldest son R stayed in Central Florida and planned to come back home in July.  He called me to say he needs to come home sooner.  Turns out when he told the store manager that he'd be leaving in July, they cut his hours dramatically, to the point that he can no longer afford to stay up there.  We're looking at driving up the last week of this month, packing everything up and bringing it down on a truck.  Hopefully he'll be able to transfer to his old store, or find full-time work.

 - To make matters even more complicated, my sonogram results came in, and I definitely have gallstones.  My doctor has referred me to a surgeon.  I have an appointment for next Thursday, in which I hope to find a way to avoid having surgery.  Truth is, the gallstones are there but I don't have pain.  There is occasional discomfort, heartburn, and some bloating, but I don't have any other symptoms, and certainly no painful episodes as so many gallstone victims complain of.  Maybe the surgeon will agree with me that surgery isn't necessary at this time?  We'll have to wait and see.

 - The arthritis pain comes and goes.  I find the pain in my elbow is worse when I don't use my arm; I wake up at night when I try to turn over because of the pain.  I need to find a pain reliever that doesn't upset my stomach.  Ibuprofen makes me nauseous, and Aleve is even worse.  Tylenol unfortunately doesn't take the pain away.  :P

 - The rain has calmed down a bit.  At least it hasn't rained these past 3 days, which is nice since the kids had their field days at school.  From the look of it that trend will end soon, though.  The skies are grey right now and weather lady says tomorrow's rain chance is 50%.

I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning, preparing a special breakfast for my (now) 7th grader, then getting to work painting.  Have a great rest of your week folks!

Thursday Thoughts

What's been going on this week?  Plenty.

- It's been a wet and rainy week yet again.  I can't recall one day that has been completely dry.  Either we get rain in the morning and sunshine in the afternoon, of vice versa.  Today it rained most of the morning.  It's sunny now, but it doesn't look like that sunshine is gonna last.

- My daughter did a special at church this Sunday.  She sang a solo, a song from an upcoming BarlowGirl album, and she was amazing!  No, that is NOT a biased opinion.  Not only were people singing along with her while she sang, she got a huge applause and cheering, and plenty of congratulations.  I only wish it had been recorded.  I thought since the service is recorded every week her song would be too.  It wasn't. :(.  I'll have to remember that for next time.

- Monday, Memorial Day, we stayed indoors.  It was (and still is) hot and muggy.  Of course plenty of people were barbecuing, but our grill has been out of commission for years.  Instead, I found a great recipe for baby back ribs which were on sale at Winn-Dixie.  The night before I boiled the rack in a mixture of half water/half apple juice for 45 minutes.  I took it out, let it cool, then covered it in Sweet Baby Ray's honey barbecue sauce (because Sweet Baby Ray's is the BEST) and put it in the fridge to soak up the flavor.  Next morning I put the rack in the oven at 250 degrees for 3 hours.  When those ribs came out, OH. MY. WORD.  They were incredibly tender and delicious!  All that prep and cooking, and they were gone in 20 minutes.  Soooo worth it!!!

- My daughter has gone to some interviews, has filled out numerous applications online and in person, but no job yet.  One positive, though - she applied to volunteer at a local orphanage, and she finally got clearance.  It's her desire to help out with the kids, and see if a possible future career is there.  We had talked about her working at the orphanage, but I told her this wouldn't be just another "job".  The majority of the kids there aren't orphans in the true sense; many have been placed there because their parents are unable or undesiring to care for them.  They've been through trauma, disappointments, and heartache.  It's a tough decision to say, "This is where I believe God wants me."  She wants to be sure first, and we both agreed volunteering would be the best way to see if it's something she can and wants to do.

- Another things we've agreed on:  Starting tomorrow, my daughter and I will be doing a mother/daughter study of the book of Proverbs.  We'll be reading one chapter per day and discussing what we've read and what impacts us the most.  I thought it would be good to do something different than what I'm doing with my son E (we're reading through Genesis), so I told her to pick anything except Isaiah (because Isaiah is HARD!!).  She chose Proverbs.  This is gonna be good!

- Tomorrow I'm going in for a sonogram of my gallbladder.  Due to some issues I've been having, my doctor had ordered a CT scan of my abdomen and found that I have gallstones.  I'm hoping it's not too severe.  Truthfully, I haven't had those intense pains some people complain about, but there is discomfort, and often bloating.  First the osteoarthritis, and now this.  Getting older isn't all it's cracked up to be :P
 
- Five days of school left.  The last day of school is next Thursday.  Sixth graders have their field day on Tuesday, which my son is looking forward to.  He's looking forward to the last day of school even more ;)

That's my weekly update.  Have a blessed rest of your week!

Thursday Thoughts

We've been back home from my daughter's graduation since Sunday evening.  Here's a recap of what's been going on.

* My daughter decided to drive down with us, which was nice, but it meant my oldest son had to stay by himself in Central Florida.  I probably feel worse about it than he does.  He gets peace and quiet.  I miss him like crazy.

* My daughter's new bedroom set is still at the apartment in Central Florida.  We won't bring it down till their lease is up in July so we don't have to make 2 moving trips.  That means she's still sleeping in her childhood bedroom set, but she can't put anything away because her dad sold it and should be taking it anytime soon.  At least that's what he told me 2 months ago :P

* Getting everything unpacked and put away has been quite a chore.  I've been wanting to put up the pictures of her graduation but I haven't had a lot of computer time.  There was massive laundry to be done, and Molly is shedding again which means I have to vacuum a couple of times a day.  Add to that errands and everyday cleaning and taking E to school and helping with homework...yeah, it's been non-stop.

* I was able to cut the grass this morning, thankfully.  We've been getting our summer thunderstorms since last week.  It rains every afternoon, complete with plenty of lightning and thunder, which has nourished the grass till it looked like a jungle out there.  Today, I tamed the jungle.

* Today was also my son E's Blast Day at school.  It's like a field day/carnival.  They had games with prizes, bumper cars, Dunk the Teacher, Throw the Teacher in Jail, popcorn, ice cream, and all day general fun.  He had a blast (hence the name).

* Last night and this morning E prayed that we wouldn't get any rain during Blast Day.  The rain started about 10 minutes after we got home from school.  As we were coming, he said to me, "God answered my prayer and didn't make it rain during Blast Day!"  I just love when my son gets excited about the little things God does for him.

* Did I mention I'm hearing thunder in the distance right now?

* This Sunday is Mother's Day.  I'm a bit bummed, though.  My oldest son will be in Central Florida.  It's the first time my first born isn't with me on Mother's Day.  It won't be the same.

* My youngest son and I are reading through the book of Genesis.  We read about a chapter every morning.    Even though we know these stories, it's great what we're learning by reading them again.  I love spending time in the Word with my handsome little boy.

That's it for now.  Well, not really, but I don't like to be on the computer when there's a thunderstorm brewing.  Have a blessed rest of your week.

Thursday Thoughts

~ Molly and I have been taking longer walks in the mornings.  Since she was spayed last month I had to start her on short walks so she wouldn't tire herself out or hurt herself.  We went from 10 minutes to 15, then to 20, and the last couple of mornings we've walked for 30 minutes.  She enjoys her walks so much, and it's great exercise for me as well.  Plus, I have to take advantage of the beautiful weather we've been having.  The mornings are sunny and warm but not humid, and there's a breeze so it's comfortable for walking.

~ If the weather continues the way it's been, this summer will be unbearable!  We basically skipped winter this year, with only one or two "cold" days (in the 50s).  Winter felt more like spring, and spring has already disappeared, quickly turning into summer.  We haven't had much rain either, just a few sporadic days of showers, so the heat is becoming more intense.  In the afternoons it gets into the mid 80s and we're only in April.  I don't know how we'll survive July and August.

~ My daughter went back to Central Florida on Tuesday.  She came down for the weekend, and we mailed her graduation announcements.  It still seems incredible that 4 years have passed and my daughter will be graduating from college.  She has her last classes this week, and finals next week.  Graduation is May 3.

~ I don't know why colleges schedule graduations for weekdays.  My daughter's graduation is on a Thursday morning.  That means E and I will have to leave here Wednesday afternoon, because A lives 4 hours away.  It also means he'll be missing 2 days of school, Thursday and Friday, because there's no way I'm driving up Wednesday and leaving Thursday.  I know this won't go over well with his school, but I don't care about that.

~ Here in Florida, excused absences are: a) a death in the family, or b) sickness.  I think that's horrible.  The schools will only excuse absences for illness or tragedy.  What about happy occasions?  What if Mom is having a new baby?  Or a special relative is visiting from out of town?  Or maybe your older sibling will be graduating from the university?  I think these are valid reasons for a child missing school.  Children should be allowed to celebrate the good moments in life and not worry about what their teachers will say.

~ My daughter A and I went shopping on Saturday for a dress for graduation.  She wanted to dress up nice but didn't want to wear heels because the graduation is about 3 hours long and that can get tiring.  I dreaded having to go dress shopping with her because she's so picky.  We've gone dress shopping before and it's hasn't been much fun.  God obviously had compassion on me because He found us a dress at the very first store we entered at the mall!  We went into Sears only because it was the first store we passed, not because I expected there to be anything she liked.  Actually there were several really pretty summer dresses that would be totally appropriate to wear with flats, and the first one she tried on was a winner!  The dress was on sale too, $35.99.  She got a tank top to wear underneath (since the dress is low cut) and a pair of black patent flats at Payless, and so she got her entire graduation outfit for just over $75.  After looking at some other outfits and shoes I felt like we did really good!

~ The past couple of weeks have been so busy.  This is the first day I'm taking it easy in quite some time.  I deserve a day off.  Of course I'll still have stuff to do, like making my son's favorite meal (beef empanadas), but I'm gonna relax a little today too.

~ I've been watching Poirot on Netflix, since I've finished watching all the episodes of Sherlock Holmes.  I love those kinds of mysteries, the whodunnit's.  I'm so glad we have Netflix too, because network television has nothing that appeals to me.  I'm not into the competitions, I don't like reality TV (well, except for the Duggars), and even the channels I used to enjoy don't entertain anymore.  I used to watch HGTV all the time for the decorating shows, but now it seems all they ever show is House Hunters or Property Virgins or My First Place - shows on buying homes, not decorating them.  There are still a few good shows on Food Network but too many are repeats.  If it weren't because my son loves watching his cartoons I'd get rid of satellite TV altogether and just keep Netflix.

And those are my thoughts for this Thursday.  Have a blessed rest of your week.

Thursday Thoughts

The week has flown by.  This is what's going through my head right about now:

- Tomorrow is Veteran's Day.  It's not just another day off of school or work.  It's a day to be thankful for men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom and protection.  Let's be thankful to these brave service folks.

- I had the privilege of teaching during Counsel Time at Awana yesterday.  God is so good to allow me to teach His precious children.

- Tomorrow we're gonna tackle that science project and hopefully be done with it.

- I've done very little Christmas shopping this year.  I'm usually more than half-way done by now.  I'm running late, but I'm still pretty organized (I think; I hope).

- I'm praying for Mrs. Michelle Duggar who is expecting her 20th child.  Her last pregnancy was very difficult due to pre-eclampsia, her baby was born extremely early, and a few months later she had to have her gall bladder removed.  That's a lot for a body to go through.  I pray she's healthy and strong so she can carry this new little life to full term.

- I'm also praying for the Maxwell's, who are going to be grandparents again - twice!  Their son Nathan and daughter-in-law Melanie especially need prayer.  Melanie has had 5 pregnancies, all have been challenging, and they are currently raising 2 beautiful little girls.  I'm praying this pregnancy will be a much easier one, that her body will respond well to treatment, and that they are blessed with a healthy baby.  The Maxwell's 2nd son Christopher and his wife Anna-Marie are expecting their first blessing.  What an exciting time for this family!

- My sister, brother and brother-in-law are still at Disney World.  I'm so glad they're having the time of their lives!

- I tried a recipe for Italian lentil and pasta soup today.  It is sooo delicious!  I had 2 bowls for lunch, and another for dinner.  It has no meat in it yet tastes meaty and hearty.  It's also very healthful - lentils have lots of iron and fiber.  I'm gonna have to make this more often.

It's been a long busy day/week, so I think I'll go relax for a bit.  After I clean up the kitchen. :P

Good night everyone!

Thursday Thoughts

Here's a peek into the thoughts roaming my head this Thursday afternoon.

 - I've begun packing for our trip tomorrow.  At least the clothes and shoes are packed, and the portable DVD player is being charged.  So many things have to be left for the last minute: toothbrushes, deodorant, hair care, etc.  That'll have to wait till tomorrow.

 - Another thing I have to do tomorrow: prepare Molly's food and label it.  Dad is staying with her, but since E and I are the ones that always feed her, Dad doesn't know when she eats or how much.  I'm just gonna make it as easy as possible.

 - My siblings will be staying at one of the Disney World resorts, so we get to spend some time with them there.  Disney is my favorite place in this world!  I can't wait to see my brother, sister, brother-in-law, and Mickey!

 - Of course, it means I have to drive.  I don't like driving.  I think that's why I haven't been able to sleep well the last few nights.  I wake up after a driving dream and can't get back to sleep.  I've made the trip before, I just don't enjoy driving, especially long distances.  This is about a 4 hour drive.

 - The weather has been spectacular here in South Florida ever since the rain stopped.  The temps are in the mid 70's to lower 80's, humidity is very low, and there's a cool breeze blowing.  I've been able to keep the windows open most days, enjoying the sweet smell of fall.  It's my favorite time of the year, except for the allergies.

 - Speaking of which, I had to buy my son Zyrtec for his allergies.  The poor boy was so stuffed up yesterday, and Sudafed just wasn't cutting it.  Praying this stronger medicine does the trick for him.

 - I measured my youngest child the other day, and was surprised to find he's passed the 5 foot mark.  He's 5 feet 1/2 inches tall.  He's turning 12 the end of next month, and is one of the taller boys in his class.  It's surprising because his daddy is only 5'4".  Of course the men in my family are much taller.  I wouldn't be surprised if E passed his older brother, who is 5'8".

 - Next Wednesday I have the privilege of teaching during counsel time at Awana.  I'll be teaching on obedience vs. willfulness from 1 Samuel chapter 15.  I'm so looking forward to it!

 - I was trying to do a graph for E's science project on Microsoft Works.  (I have an old computer, okay?)  I prepared the information for Samples A-G, but I couldn't get the graph to include Sample G.  Come to find out, the graph only allows for 6 entries and I have 7.  Either I have to find another graph program or this will have to be done by hand.  Ugh!

Hmm, it's passed 4:30 now.  Time to warm up dinner, then help my son with his homework.  Have a blessed rest of your week!