Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, October 29, 2010

Outside my window.... Sunny skies, warm rays beating in on me while I write. Love-e-ly!.

I am thinking... this week sure went by fast. I am not sure where the time goes anymore other than in the car multiple times a day, in the classroom or on this computer. I am so excited Boo will have her license in two weeks. Even as I write she is in her driving course required. She has her hours already and now had to take this course Colorado requires. For those who don't want their kids to drive.. WHY? WHY I ask?? It's liberating!

I am thankful for... my husband. He is so different from me. We don't process the same, we don't operate the same, we don't do much the same. But we are always on the same page. It might take some discussions to get there but we do get there. We celebrated 21 years yesterday and I can say I wouldn't change any of them. I have been sharpened and resharpened by Terrell. I think he would say the same thing. Is it always perfect, nope. We work and work. Some days are easier than others. But, I love him oh so much. He is the chocolate icing on my chocolate cake. And I know, I know, God orchestrated our marriage.

I am thankful for you SHJ!


From the learning rooms.. homeschooling is going well this week. Lina is settled and I am giving more time ot her. She is learning some fun stuff about Canada. I am really thinking a trip to Ottawa is in order. Ok.. I'm hoping a trip to Ottawa is in order. I have one more week of New Testament and I've started Capstone this week. I am almost done with college and then I can take a breather. Maybe go to Ottawa.

From the kitchen... I made a warm yummy peach pie to take to some friends tonight. I also made a couple of quiches for dinner. Ours (the adult, mature eaters) has mushrooms, onions, and ham in it. The girls, just ham and cheese. This cool weather makes me want to bake, and baking I've been a doing!



I am wearing... Jeans, black shirt, purple shirt, tennies.

A recipe worth sharing:

Mrs. S' Pie Crust

This is my new favor-ite pie crust. Delicious and easy. You have to get past the Crisco and just buy it. You won't regret the flavor.



2 3/4 cup of flour

1 1/4 cup of shortening

1/2 teaspoon of salt


Cut through with a pastry blender. I use my Kitchen Aid with the hook.

add: 1/2 cup of water and mix just until blended. The less your dough is handled the better.

Cut two sheets of wax paper, throw some flour on there, put half the dough in between the two pieces and roll.


And Wa La!


I am reading... Oh this is blank again. Just class stuff. Nothing worth reporting unless you want to hear about what Matthew-Henry said about Matthew 6?

I am going... our family is going to some friends place for a small group idea planning session, I am going to sit at the DMV tomorrow for two hours while Boo drives around, I am going to some fun Halloween activities with my girls, and I am going to rake the front yard again. We have more and more pine needles to clean up.


I am hoping... for this weather to continue a wee bit longer. It's so Amazing. I know, I keep saying that, but really, It is!



I am hearing... Hannah Montana. "You get the best of both worlds!"

Around the house... We will be setting up my desk this weekend so I can get organized. Yeah!



A picture worth sharing.. umm.. the pie up there.. Yes. Worth sharing and EATING!

Zombies

Here are some pictures for you to check out of the Zombie Crawl. One of the weirdest events I've personally seen. Yep. Weird. But they were having fun!

Jazz, Christian Science, the Homeless, Zombies, and Broncos

How in the world does all this fit together? Well, let me tell you.....

T and I celebrate 21 years of marriage this week but decided to go away early due to the Broncos game. We love the 16th Street Mall area. We park and walk all weekend. No driving allowed. It is a great way to experience the City, eat well, and enjoy the culture. (This is the view from our room right above 16th Street.)

We discovered Jazz at Jack's awhile back and made this one of our stops Friday night after a great dinner with friends.

On Saturday, we left our hotel to go walking and exploring. We stopped in on a Christian Science reading room first. Why? Well, I've never been in one. The lady who was working the place was very open. We were able to ask her some hard questions. Atonement for sin, Who is Jesus? Things like this. We left educated about her beliefs and well... yeah. So then we went walking down to this beautiful structure, looked over the trains, and took a few pictures. On our way back up 16th Street, we saw a man selling a paper called The Voice. We stopped to ask about it and he proceeded to tell us his story. Homeless, married, convicted felon though he served his time over 10 years ago, can't find work because of his record, unstable housing, and child in the system until they find stable housing. All very tragic and all very real. We prayed for him and gave he and his wife lunch.


So theeeen... we saw this area on the side of a building partitioned off with music playing. We wandered on over to see what was happenin' only to find zombies all dressed up and ready to party. After asking few questions, we found out the Zombie Crawl was about to happen. 8000 Zombies walking down 16th Street Mall to break a world record. Okay.. we had to see this! We found a front row seat at a restaurant, got a beer and played cribbage while watching and waiting. Oh my goodness! Here is a speckling of what we saw. Let's just say I will be doing another post just to show you all the different zombies we saw. So stay tuned...

And the weekend ended with going to our first LIVE Broncos game Sunday afternoon. It was a great time away. I love walking and being away with my man. One memorable anniversary!

Go Broncos.. well at least try!

Go Broncos!

This weekend for our anniversary gift to each other, we went to our first Broncos game LIVE! They played against the Raiders, if you call what they did playing. But let's not go there just yet. Excitement was in the air! We rode the bus over from 16th street mall along with tons of other fans. The entertainment began the minute you step off the bus... live music, tail gating, vendors and lots of orange and blue. I wore pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. We got our seats and took in the huge stadium. The crowd filled in and the game got under way. It didn't take long to realize we were going to lose and at home, the TV would be turned off or at least I would do something else AND hear it in the background. In the stadium, you sit and HOPE your team can get it together. Never happened. And sure enough the fans started piling back out and going home. We stayed until 4th quarter and joined everyone else...shoulders slumped, we left. It really was a fun time though in spite of the loss. We're now thinking Season Tickets?? Hmmm...

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, October 22, 2010


Outside my window.... blustery cold, windy and wet. Low clouds hiding the mountains. Rain or snow?? No, that's hail. A cold rain and hail I think.

I am thinking... that this weekend is going to be so much fun! Broncos game on Sunday with my husband and dinner and a jazz club tonight. I can't wait. I am also thinking how much sleep helps me mentally. I think I shall sleep more.

I am thankful for... a good solid foundation in Christ. I am so concerned for our youth and young adults today. Relativism is oozing into the church.


From the learning rooms.. another reason to rejoice! I just finished Senior Research to-day! I now only have 2 weeks left of New Testament and then Senior capstone. i can see the light getting brighter. Now.. a piece of trivia to chew on. Did you know the Trinity is not mentioned once in the Gospels? I am now researching where it is mentioned and how the Church decided it is what we know it to be. Interesting the things we "know" from our Christian walk but do we really "know"? Hmmm.. digging deeper here.

From the kitchen... I made a great potato soup this week. Yummy. I hardly did any other cooking. Oh we had food, and I did cook some pork but school has taken up a lot of time. I am going to use my crock pot for sure next week.

I am wearing... gray sweats again, sweatshirt, new red slippers. I go through 3 or 4 pairs a year.

I am creating... a workspace for myself in the basement. I'll show you next week. Now that I got my first very own desk of my very own, I am claiming some real estate down stairs. (How's that for a run-on sentence?)


I am reading... Country Living this week. Yummy Thanksgiving ideas. It makes me hungry every time I read it.

I am going...to go shower, finish any last minute things around the house, go get Boo from school, eat and start. my. weekend.

I am hoping... to see my parents next week! They are supposed to come in for a brief visit on their way to KY.

I am hearing... Not much. Wow.. that's odd. Terrell fixed my chirping fridge and it's actually quiet now. Yeah for quiet.

Around the house... I need to do some fall/winter organizing and paint two rooms; laundry and master bath. But.. not yet. :)

A picture worth sharing:

I got my cap and gown and tassel today!! Oh yes! I am going to be a college graduate. My long awaited dream is finally just a few weeks away. Hot Diggity!

Volleyball!

Volleyball season is over but boy was it fun! Lina did an awesome job this year. She not only became an excellent server, she learned what perseverance is all about. We are so proud of her! Who knows maybe this is her sport!

What Ever Happen to living Above Reproach?

But was it used in context?

Yeah.. that was the question posed to me at church today by a young adult male referring to the F word in the movie Kick Ass. Really? Context? According to the dictionary's definition? Since when is the dictionary the end all be all for life.

T and I rented Kick Ass last night. From the previews it looked funny and not once in the previews was there any language. So I thought, "Hey.. I could use some humor!"

WRONG! Not only was the F word used, it was used A LOT. That's just one depraved part. Another part is the unspeakables that this "superhero" did in his spare time. How many times can one person refer to their body or someone else's body in a perverse way? Apparently many. Oh yes, let's not forget the young girl whose father taught her to murder "the bad guys". So in the first 10 minutes how many of God commandments were broken? Hmmm. Let me count.

We turned it off.

So why bring this up? Why vent? Because too many "Christians" are compromising.

I told this young adult male and another young adult male they were callous. They said maybe. But you know what.. it didn't bother them that they were. This, my friend, is where the problem lies.

What happen to drawing a line and living by standards that are higher than the world's? Does this make us self-righteous? No, it doesn't make us self-righteous. Though that will be what some say. God did call us to a life of holiness. Oh that. Yeah that. Christ walked with the sinners, spent lots of time with them but never, never did he compromise.

It's time to call it like it is.. sin. darkness. depravity. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Stop compromising and saying "Oh I'm used to it, I hear it all the time. It doesn't bother me."

It's time to call and ace an ace and a spade a spade. So here's my ace. Stop being in the world and of the world.

Come on people.. No Compromise

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.


Reality Check:

Integrity is your belief and behavior saying the same thing. Does your behavior match your beliefs?

Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, October 16, 2010


Outside my window.... darkness covers the sky with just a tint of opaque blue left.

I am thinking... that my room needs a good cleaning, I love this weather. People say if you don't like the weather just wait 5 mins, it will change. Well, ours is the best fall in years. Just splendid. Let's see, what else am I thinking.. I only have one week left of my research class and I am so excited.

I am thankful for... God doing things to remind me he hears me. I struggle with staying put and have asked God to remind me why we are here. He has! Over and over this week. I don't want to be a wanderer. I want to settle in and stay. One thing we learned from Pastor Rick is how God works upstream. I can still hear him saying that. So this week, we've had way too many financial conversations to keep them straight. One BIG conversation had to do with my long term vision in this home and making it what we said we would almost 3 years ago. I was discouraged after we talked and thought, it will never happen. Now, it may take a long while but here's how God heard my heart (you know that desire for women to make their home, THEIR home, not someone else home?). Our realtor sent pictures to us of a home JUST like ours that he had seen this week with a complete kitchen makeover JUST like I told Terrell I wanted! For reals. No kidding. That was huge for me cause I really HATE (so it's strong and offensive but it is how I feel) how our kitchen is laid out. So non-functional and SMALL! I got a glimmer of hope and realized God heard me and knows just where I am today. I'm not ungrateful, mind you.. I just think it's okay to make your home, your home.


From the learning rooms.. lots to do this week. Four papers due and lots of reading.

From the kitchen... warm pumpkin bread with chocolate chips this week. Yep, that's not on p90x. After crying and falling a part one too many times this week from the abnormal amount of stress, I announced I could NOT try to remember meals and food as well as do everything else this season. We will eat healthy and T is adhering better than I but pumpkin bread will be made... and enjoyed.

I am wearing... gray sweats, t-shirt, new red slippers. I go through 3 or 4 pairs a year.

I am creating... nothing. I tried this week but it just didn't happen.

I am reading... textbooks mostly.

I am going...to clean my room, watch movie, eat chocolate, and climb in bed.

I am hoping... for enough sleep to feel rested tonight. I am also hoping for a good finish to my research class.

I am hearing... the wind roar through the trees outside, a car or two pass on the road, and Lina singing downstairs.


Around the house... Terrell is working on a garage project. He is putting in a back door in the garage so we can get Charley in and out without messing up the house in the bad weather. My husband is sooo handy.

A picture worth sharing..

There he is working hard on taking it all a part.

Father Daughter Dance

Whoops! I thought I posted this but sure enough I only posted pictures on facebook. Now, since this IS my scrapbook for our family and good memories to treasure, this one is really important.

The Father Daughter dance is held every year and my man takes one of our daughters each time. This one was Boo's. She looked beautiful as ever and her daddy looked mighty fine too, don't ya say?

Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, October 8, 2010


Outside my window.... pine trees, blue blue sky, sun shimmering on the ground, breeze moving the branches.

I am thinking... I can't believe it's October 8th already. I am a little overwhelmed in my mind with how much is coming up and hoping I can keep up. I think daily about moving.. to land, to a neighborhood, to where ever. I think about travelling too. I got this restless spirit about me that never seems to settle in for too long. I think it came from my parents or maybe I just want to experience my bucket list before I can't.

I am thankful for... grocery stores and a husband who shops. I haven't been in Wal-Mart in about a week. Actually, he went to King Sooper for our veggies this week. Let's see..
I am thankful for my first paycheck in 20 years. That was cool but anticlimactic as well. I guess I always figured I would be thrilled and then take the little bit I got and spend it somehow fun. No.. not quite the picture. Maybe someday. :)

From the learning rooms.. I started my New Testament class last night. Lots of homework and not so engaging as I was hoping for. Sad for me. I am in week 6 of my research class and let me just say, I can not wait for it to be over. I love the accelerated schedule for school. I would not want to sit for 16 weeks anymore in one class.

From the kitchen... We are on day 5 of the P90X food plan and semi-exercise program. I say semi cause we also walk and Terrell bikes instead of just the videos that come with the box. I am marking the foods off on our white board everyday; 1 carb, 5 proteins, 1 fat, ect. Lots of works right now trying to figure that all out. I want chocolate.

I am wearing... jeans, a gray sweater, and fuzzy socks.

I am creating... I hate this one but refuse to get rid of it cause someday I will create. So for now I am creating a healthy lifestyle. We always work towards it but having my man do this with me makes it more do-able.


I am reading... Understanding the New Testament, P90X books, Emails, Websites, Facebook, but nothing for pleasure. Come December 18th that all changes.

I am going... to organize my work files this weekend, do some yard work before the snow flies, and for sure, rent a movie for tonight.


I am hoping... for clarity.

I am hearing... Lina sing as she is working on an art project, complain as she works on her art project, and the quiet of a house with a just two of us in it today.

Around the house... pine needles. Everywhere! It's the time of the year that they drop and we need to get out there and bag them up.

A picture worth sharing..

We woke up to snow on Pikes Peak today. It was a beautiful site. Now, if only after living here for almost three years, I could ACTUALLY go up to the top in the cog rail.

Some think this..but it's REALLY this...

"You're so organized. How do you do it all?"



That's what I get from so many people when I say I am not organized. They look at me funny and say, " Yes, you are!"



Let's be clear here: I am NOT organized by NATURE.. it is all NURTURE. And because it is all nurture, it's hard and exhausting. Anyone else out there like me?

This, my friend, is my closet. You can see why I keep the doors closed. I like it clean and organized but in the priority of the house, it ranks pretty low.

This, however, is our room. I try realllly hard to keep it clean. I honestly, can't study in a messy house. I can't think in a messy house. I think it's 'cause my mind doesn't think orderly in the first place so I must have order Visibly around me in order to think clearly. And as I get older.. it's getting worse.

This here is my husband's closet. I aspire to keep my closet as orderly as his. He thinks this way though so it is an easy thing for him. I do so love this man. One less thing for me to keep clean and tidy.

This is our family area. Clean. Another spot I need to remain this way for me to think right. Now I have things out and it doesn't stay this way BUT I need it tidy, daily.

This is my pitiful laundry room. Sad. Sad. SAD! I would love for this to be organized. I find I walk away from a mess like this and close the door..like my closet. I can't even start 'cause what I see in my mind that I want cost me time and money. More money than time. I can visualize an organized tidy laundry room but it doesn't have cabinets like this and it has the washer and dryer stacked. So instead.. it just piles up.

So I am organized in some aspects of life. and others..not so much. It requires a whole bunch of mental energy to maintain organization for me.

And And And My bestest organizer around moved off to college. WAAAAAA! I could always count on Becca to come in and fix a mess. She thinks like her daddy.

and finally, my favorite room. Our basement is simple and always always clean. Love it!

There you go. Reality Check complete. I am a messy who works darn hard not to be.

Perry Park Red Rocks

I love this picture. It's such an example of what God does for us. We work and work and He comes along pushing us up the rock, giving us our boost when we need it.

Lina conquered the rock!

Isn't this Awesome!!! Look at the colors and the structure. I kept saying, "wow!"... and "tennis shoes would have been a good idea".

Terrell kept saying ,"You're wearing those?" I was sure they were fine. Little did I know we ere gonna CLIMB the cool rocks. Not the right shoes. Nope. Boo broke hers!

And yes, we saw camels on our way home. Big Gorgeous spread of land and these two cute things. IN Colorado.

My main squeeze. Glad he took us here for lunch.

ME!

What a glorious afternoon. It was a perfect time and perfect weather for a picnic. We went offroading and loved it. Best part.. this is only 20 minutes from home. Oh Colorado. What you have to offer.