Simple Devotion

For Today...

Dear Lord,

I'll bring you my shortcomings...Again, my selfishness always finds a way to creep into my day. Lord, I continue to turn it over to you to rebuild and mold me more in your image. I am not perfect, but I do want to be more like you.

I'll bring you my worship and praise...Father God, you touch lives in ways many of us don't understand, or even comprehend. Sometimes you touch us in ways we do not even see until long past the day when you intervened. As the songwriter says, "You are God of all, before time began, you are God alone." May my days be full of worship and praise to you, the Father of all creation.

I'll bring you my prayer...Today, I bring you my pastor and his wife. Lord, the challenges are great to lead your flock, and I pray that you will uplift and uphold him as he seeks your will and guidance.

You spoke to me...I feel compelled to use the same verse as last week, to guide me in my works and ways... "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3

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May God bless your day!

A Simple Woman's Daybook - January 19, 2009

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FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...Cloudy day, but happy it is not so cold. 20 degrees feels like springtime around here

I am thinking...what a blessing it is to be able to stay home with my kids and teach them in our home

I am thankful for...my dh who gets up and goes to work every day, manages the finances, is active in our church, and leads a godly life to be an example for his family and everyone he encounters

From the learning rooms...JT is taking a math test, JD is rushing through his work as he has computer on the brain, TJ is at my beck and call to start whenever we can get her going

From the kitchen...need to make a menu plan for the week. I did really well over the weekend cooking meatloaf, chicken and rice, but now I need to plan for the week. I think I will do beef stew and crusty bread or a different soup tonight

I am wearing...wool socks, jeans, long sleeve white tee and flannel shirt

I am creating...lesson plans for the week and trying to get a calendar for all of our activities updated

I am going...to the dreaded Walmart to take back a few things and get some necessities; We're getting a Kohl's and Target on this side of town in the next year and I can't wait!!

I am reading...nothing right now. My attention span has been poor and I haven't been able to focus on some of the library books I have checked out. Just too many other things to do that I haven't been able to enjoy reading

I am hoping...to continue to keep on top of the organization around this house - seems like it is a continual battle with us here all day and one project always leads to another!

I am hearing...TJ chattering about her birthday party for her stuffed bear, JD humming as he does math problems and JT humming his way through a math problem as well. The low grade noise is all over the place.

Around the house...I need to find a final resting place for the rest of the Christmas gifts that are still in our living room. We've been playing the games frequently and they need to get a special home where we'll still get them out. I find if they are easily accessible, we play them more often.

One of my favorite things...my prayer shawl and my cup of coffee with my bible in hand

A few plans for the rest of the week: payroll, statements at the office, general cleaning around the house, choir for kids, final prep for Discovery workshop at church if we get a few more people

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Special cousins together at Christmas...

I hope you all have a blessed week!

A Simple Devotion - January 14, 2009

For Today...

Dear Lord,

I'll bring you my shortcomings...My fuse is constantly short and I struggle to look outward vs inward. Lord, you know how I am made, and I pray you will continue to guide my eyes toward others and away from myself.

I'll bring you my worship and praise...Lord, I praise you for a good health report for a dear friend, that you have held her and her family in the palm of your hand while awaiting results of tests. I praise you for the way you work in our lives, through a simple touch, or an outright miracle, your hand is in everything. Each of us are amazingly made, and it is awe inspiring to see your handiwork.

I'll bring you my prayer...Father God, I pray for you to always be at work in our family, that you can make us a unit knitted together in you. Help us as parents to guide our children in your ways, and to be examples of you in all we do and say. I also pray that you will guide people to the classes at our church beginning this Sunday so that, as a church body, we can all become more deeply rooted in you in order to share the Gospel with others.

You spoke to me...You are guiding me to be less selfish, and I see this challenge in the days and weeks to come. Blessedly, you provide assurances of help when we struggle with earthly problems. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3

May God bless your day!
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A Simple Woman's Daybook - January 12, 2009

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...not quite sunny with a wicked cold front and wind coming through later today

I am thinking...that this will be a full day of school and I'm trusting it will be quite productive

I am thankful for...a chance to catch up on sleep and that we all have been extremely healthy this winter thus far

From the learning rooms...still yet to get the ball rolling this morning, but we will do all subjects today

From the kitchen...thai chicken perhaps for supper? Have some chicken in the fridge that has to be used; Will also back chocolate chip cookies as the butter is out and ready to be used

I am wearing...slippers, socks, yoga pants, long sleeve white top and pullover black sweatshirt

I am creating...not much - getting ready for the start of two new bible studies this week that we are teaching

I am going...probably to the store later today so we can nestle in for the next few days

I am reading...Rachel Ray's magazine to get some fresh ideas

I am hoping...that today goes smootly, that I can balance school with work and home activities

I am hearing...the shower run as Brad gets ready for a late start today

Around the house...finish re-organizing the storage room now that all the Christmas decorations are put away

One of my favorite things...a well thought out day with everything planned for school - unfortunately, that's not how today is thus far!

A few plans for the rest of the week: clean TJ's and JD's room again as they have gotten a bit out of hand, family meeting, master calendar for January, deal with work computer issue, spend daily time with the Lord

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


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I pray you all have a blessed week!

A Simple Woman's Daybook - January 6, 2009

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...slightly hazy, but soon to be sunny, cold and crisp morning

I am thinking...what a challenge this week is going to be

I am thankful for...safe travels home by all my family. Many traveled along icy highways and saw many accidents, but all made it home safe

From the learning rooms... a bit of extra vacation time due to having to work this week - we're hoping to be able to get math, vocab, spelling, and literature done despite the change in schedule

From the kitchen...just washing dishes right now to clean up from last night - lasagna is on the menu for this evening

I am wearing...brown corduroys, white shirt, brown patterned sweater, fuzzy socks, and slippers - all stuff I can wear to work!

I am creating...lttle to nothing at this point!

I am going...to work today as dh's receptionist is ill and we're not sure when she'll be back

I am reading...nothing at the moment - in between books

I am hoping...that we can still have a good devotion for all the kids at church tomorrow night despite the fact that we still need to prepare it

I am hearing...the furnace clunking on and off - just a matter of time before the repair man will have to venture out here I am sure

Around the house...general clean up as it gets out of hand pretty quickly when we don't stay on top of things or the schedule is changed up; still need to take the tree down as well

One of my favorite things...today, it is my cup of coffee that also keeps me warm!

A few plans for the rest of the week: decorations away, plan for JD's birthday on Saturday, devotion planning for Wed night, and update blog with all of our past activities during the holiday weeks

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Have a blessed week!

Simple Woman's Daybook - December 29, 2008

For today...

Outside my window...it looks like the first day of spring with the melting snow, birds fluttering about, and the patches of green in the lawn.

I am thinking...of the items on my list today, the path I will take in town to get all my errands done, and what we should get for that one final gift that isn't bought yet

From the learning rooms...all is quiet - kids sleeping and enjoying their school break

I am thankful for...coffee, heat, a patient husband, recycling, external hard drives, a loving family

From the kitchen...coffee perking, making almond bark dipped oreos today

I am wearing...my warm, fuzzy robe and slippers

I am reading...a book from Tracie Peterson, Angels Flight, that is unsettling to me for some reason

I am hoping...to continue to be in this relaxation mode for quite a while yet! I am also hoping to get some snow for the nieces and nephews to sled in before this weekend

I am creating...a clean school room

I am hearing...just the computer fan and the occasional rumble of a garbage truck in the neighborhood

Around the house...final touches on all the rooms prior to my family coming Wednesday

A few plans for the rest of the week...shopping for necessary paper products and groceries, wash the car, finish cleaning, spending the entire time from Wed to Sunday relaxing with my family here!

A picture I thought I would share with you...Christmas joy!!



Blessings to each and every one of you!

Christmas vacation

As a child, I am sure I enjoyed and looked forward to school breaks, but now, as a teaching parent, Christmas break is the best! While I love homeschooling my kiddos, the break in the action, particularly for my mental health, is essential and wonderful!

My first impulse is to see how many things I can get done...should I pull out the pictures and start scrapbooking? How about a deep down cleaning in all the rooms? Time to get some stuff ready for Goodwill to drop off...My list could go on and on. I have found though, what I don't do very well is good old fashioned sitting. I have a hard time sitting and just doing nothing. Or reading a good book. I feel guilty and feel as if I should be doing something productive since the time is so fleeting and in short supply. Between trying to have enough time to keep up the house and do things for Brad's work, I don't feel I have much time leftover for relaxing.

But, this vacation, I hope to find time to sit back and relax. I want to play games with the kids, do some baking, organize some shelves. The two week break is going to go by much too quickly, so my goal is to enjoy it to its fullest (which means not sitting in front of the computer all day!) I'll let you know how it goes... :)

Blessings!