Thankful Thursdays

"I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth." - 3 John 4.

Yes, I know, I'm running late. I don't always get the computer long enough to actually post something. But I am still thankful.

Today (and yesterday too) I'm thankful that my son was able to take his Florida Writes test this week. Because of his dyslexia, he has trouble writing out his thoughts on paper. He can listen to someone describe something, repeat it verbally just fine, but if he has to write it out he gets flustered and doesn't know how or where to start. We've been praying for wisdom and a calm spirit so that he would know what to write when the time came. I told him not to be worried, God would be right there beside him. So on Tuesday afternoon when I picked him up, I asked how the test had gone. "I was able to fill up the whole first page and part of the 2nd!" I can't describe how excited and thankful I was to hear that. It was more than he's ever written before. I know where he got the confidence to put his ideas on paper, and I'm so very thankful.

Then yesterday afternoon, as we were driving home, he told me a little girl in his class had asked him to be her Valentine. He was kind of excited, since this is the first time that has happened. But to my surprise, he told me, "There's just one problem: 2 Corinthians says we aren't supposed to marry unbelievers, and I don't know if she's a believer." That was unexpected! I was glad, and thankful, that this lesson has taken root in his heart. I told him we needn't be thinking of marriage just yet (he's only 10!) but he could always invite her to church and see if she would be a believer. So this morning he took one of our church invitations to school so he can invite her to church this coming Sunday. I am so thankful for a child who understands who his priority is in his young life. May God always be number one in my son's life as well as mine.

Join in thankfulness to the Lord at Grace Alone. God bless.

Mothers Who Pray

I remember hearing this poem when we studied A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George for our women's small group. I typically don't like poetry but this one really impacted me, so I thought I'd share. Enjoy.

Some have had kings in their lineage,
Some to whom honor was paid.
Not blest of my ancestors - but,
I have a mother who prayed.

I have a mother who prays for me
And pleads with the Lord everyday for me
Oh what a difference it makes for me -
I have a mother who prays.

Some have worldly success
And trust in riches they’ve made -
This is my surest asset,
I have a mother who prays.

My mother’s prayer cannot save me,
Only mine can avail;
But mother introduced me to someone -
Someone who never could fail.

Oh yes... I have a mother who prays for me
And pleads with the Lord everyday for me.
Oh what a difference it makes for me -
I have a mother who prays.

(Unknown)

Are you a mother that prays?

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, February 8, 2010...

Outside my window...it's COLD! Again! I can't believe how cold this winter has been. It was 49 degrees this morning. Tomorrow is supposed to be the warmest day of the week, with morning temps in the upper 50's, then it'll be cold the rest of the week. My palm trees are suffering miserably.

I am thinking...about the front of the house, and how I'd like to plant some flowers there, only it's too cold right now. It's gonna have to wait till next month.

I am thankful...for my home. As a child we lived in tenement apartments in NY, many of them mouse and rat infested, and I dreamed of one day having a real house with a yard for my family. God has been so good in making a little girl's dream come true!

I am going...to tackle a truckload of laundry. Well, not a real truckload, but it sure does feel like it.

I am wearing...a long sleeve black velour tunic top, jeans and sneakers.

I am remembering...yesterday's bible study. We broke up into groups to study 2 Corinthians 1:1-7. It was great.

I am creating...well, don't know if creating is the right word, but I'm working on our income tax return, hoping for a good refund so that we can proceed with the home improvement project my hubby said yes to, once we get our income tax money. I'm so excited!

I am reading...Deuteronomy for morning devotions, John for SOAP devotions, just finished re-reading Pride and Prejudice, and the study guide Having a Mary Spirit.

I am hoping...to send in my income tax return this week. I'm almost done at this point, just need a few details which I'm waiting on my daughter for.

On my mind...my sister's visit. She and my brother-in-law will be coming down at the end of March, and I'm praying for a safe trip and some fun, relaxing time together with my bestest friend.

From the learning rooms...E has a pep rally today, and tomorrow he has his FCAT Writes exam. Please pray for my little boy. He gets so nervous when he has exams.

I am noticing that...we keep filling the garbage tank with palm fronds every week. Palm trees aren't accustomed to cold weather, and we've had lots of it this winter. R picked up a bunch of palm fronds on Saturday before cutting the grass. There's about 5 more down since, and they're big ones.

I am pondering these words..."Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18

From the kitchen today...oven baked pork chops with rice and beans.

Around the house...I'll be doing laundry all day long.

One of my favorite things...home improvement projects.

A few plans for the rest of the week...just the standard stuff, library, Awana, Boy Scouts.

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

Observing My Senses

For Today, February 6, 2010...

I am seeing...a bright, sunny day wind down. I absolutely love this weather!

I am hearing...the palm fronds swaying in the wind. It's very tranquil.

I am feeling...refreshed after my shower. We washed the cars so now they're sparkling clean, and so am I!

I am tasting...Famous Amos chocolate chip and pecan cookies that were on sale - buy one get one free.

I am smelling...hair dye. I colored my hair today also. Roots were out of control.

It just takes a moment to see what's going on around you. Won't you join me?

Thankful Thursdays

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children." - Titus 2:3-4

Today I am thankful to the Lord for the women He has placed in my life. I've been praying about a decision I need to make, asking God to guide me so that I do what He wants me to do. Last night we had Bible study at church, which my dear friend IR began attending with me a few months ago. I've known her for some time now and I trust her as a godly woman who fits the Titus 2 description very well, so I prayed and asked the Lord to speak to me through this friend and sister in Christ. When I began telling her what was going on, she listened, promised to pray for me, and gave me the encouragement I desperately needed. What's more, she confirmed what I believe God was saying to me all along, so that now I have peace. God didn't create us to be alone; He means for us to have fellowship, to minister to one another and encourage one another. I am so very thankful for the way God has created us, and for brothers and sisters in Christ who I can count on and who I hope will count on me!

Join in thankfulness to the Lord at Grace Alone. God bless.

The Merits of Crock Pot Cooking

I know what it's like to run around all day running errands. I know how it feels when there are a hundred things on that to-do list that you want to knock out. And I know that defeated feeling of coming home after a long, busy, hectic day, when I'm too tired to go into the kitchen and prepare my family a home cooked meal. So I stop off at some fast food place and feed them a plate brimming with calories and cholesterol. Regardless of all I may have accomplished that day, it seems like I've taken one step forward and two steps back if I have to sacrifice my family's health just to get things done.

That's why I can't praise the crock pot enough. Whoever invented this marvel of the kitchen, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! It takes away the worry and instead fills me with the satisfaction of taking care of my family's needs.

I know there are myriads of blogs, websites, books and magazine articles that tell about all the conveniences a crock pot brings. I'm just gonna list the reasons why I like my crock pots (I've got two of them!). They're probably on a lot of people's lists, which goes to show I'm not alone in my love of this wonder appliance.

1. It's a time saver. Prepping a meal in the crock pot usually takes no more than 10 minutes, and most recipes take about 5. Who wouldn't make 5-10 minutes in the morning if it meant saving 45 minutes in the afternoon?
2. The food is healthier. There's a book out called Eat This Not That! which lists the calorie, salt and fat content, cholesterol, and other nastys found in fast foods and restaurants. Just looking at some of the statistics for fast food takes my appetite away. Why would I feed my children a meal that contains 2 days worth of calories? Enough salt to turn the Atlantic Ocean into the Dead Sea? Or enough fat to clog an entire families arteries? Since I'm preparing the food, I control what goes into the meal. When food is prepared in the crock pot the flavors are intensified, so less is more. I add very little salt in my crock pot recipes; some contain no added salt at all. I can prepare leaner cuts of meat without worrying about the food drying out, and without sacrificing taste.
3. It's economical. Since the crock pot is a slow cooker, a leaner and therefore tougher cut of meat becomes tender because it cooks for 5-8 hours. Those leaner cuts of meat are less expensive that the ones that are marbled with fat (and healthier too, don't forget). Also, the crock pot uses about the same amount of electricity as a 75 watt light bulb. That's a whole lot less than your stove or oven, and you don't have to worry about overheating the house in the summer.
4. It's a no brainer. Women who have never cooked in their lives can prepare a delicious meal in the crock pot on their first try. It is almost impossible to burn anything in the crock pot. Meats are juicy and flavorful, soups are thick and rich, and you don't need alot of ingredients to make something yummy.
5. Best of all, you can come home after a long day of work or running errands, and dinner is ready and waiting. It's like having a private chef in the house! Just recently, while my daughter was home from college, she and her best friend wanted me to take them shopping at a mall that's about 25 minutes from the house (they had gift certificates from Christmas that were burning holes in their pockets). This particular mall is huge, so I knew we'd be gone for a good part of the day. So that morning, I put a roast with onions in the crock pot and some rice in the rice cooker. When my husband came home for lunch, food was ready and waiting for him even though I wasn't. He appreciates this, because it means he doesn't have to eat on the go; he can sit down and have a home cooked meal that he enjoys. It's also great if you're running around with the kids and feel guilty because they're hungry. The first thought is to stop at some burger joint and get them a not-so-happy-for-Mom meal. Instead, when they say they want something to eat, you can say, "Dinner's waiting for us at home." And oh, what a wonderful feeling to walk into a house that smells like grandma's kitchen!

I would recommend to anyone who hasn't tried cooking with a crock pot, what are you waiting for?! You can get them at a very good price; a 5-6 quart model will run from $20-30, and trust me, it will pay for itself. Give it a go - you can thank me for it later ;-).

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, February 1, 2010...

Outside my window...it's raining. We're thankful for it, it was desperately needed. We should be getting rain for the next two days, then a weak cold front that'll bring the temps down to the 50's.

I am thinking...of projects to do around the house.

I am thankful for...a loving God who knows better than I do what's right for me and my life. I need to remember to trust in Him even when things don't seem to be going the way I expected.

I am going...nowhere today. My car needs a new sensor of some sort, and it's been giving me problems. I almost didn't get to church yesterday, but the enemy was defeated once more, praise the Lord!

I am wearing...a white tank top under a purple tank top, pink shorts and sandals. Yes, I know, it's the middle of winter. It's also 72 degrees outside.

I am remembering...how happy my son was this past Thursday when he got all his belt loops and badges at Cub Scouts.

I am creating...a budget for a home improvement project I hope to present to my hubby this week. It's something we've wanted to do for awhile, and the opportunity to get it done at a very economical price has arisen, but I still need to be sure we can afford to do it at this time. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?" - Luke 14:28-30.

I am reading...Deuteronomy for morning devotions, John for SOAP devotions, Having a Mary Spirit for personal study, and Jane Austen: The Woman which I got from the library.

I am hoping...my car gets fixed today and it isn't too expensive and doesn't give me anymore trouble.

On my mind...pastors. They carry a very heavy load. Pray for them; they are human too, yet have a huge responsibility.

From the learning rooms...Florida Writes exams are this month; my son is very nervous, since writing is not his strength. On the upside, he is doing very well with multiplication and long division.

I am noticing that...it just started raining harder.

I am pondering these words...I saw my youngest son (10 yo) on his way to the bathroom with a book. Asking what he was up to, he answered, "I need to toss a few toys down the chimney." I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

From the kitchen today...steaks, I think. Haven't done my menu for the week. Shame on me.

Around the house...kitchen and family room today. Oh, and I've already started laundry.

One of my favorite things...is reading a good book when it's raining. Though I have to admit, my eyes have been bothering me lately when I read. I hope it's just allergies.

A few plans for the rest of the week: library, Awana, Bible study, Cub Scouts, the usual.

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