Happy Homemaker Monday- Sunset 9/24/2018

Posted on by Mary

Happy

Have you ever stood and stared and watched a sunset as it changes. It’s like it’s a living water color painting.  I love sunrises too and they are the same way.  But as of late I have been watching sunsets and pondering them.  Every sunset os different and there are Many factors that go into that. A sunset os very similar to life.  sometimes it’s full of color and vibrant and other times it’s dull and gray.    The one thing we know and can expect is that nighttime is coming.  I the Bible we are promised dark and hard times, but we are also told joy comes in the morning which as you guessed it is something else that beautiful. a sunrise.  the thing is that just like life if we don’t take the time to soak up the beauty, we will miss it!  That’s what I love about Happy homemaker posts is that it makes me sit down and think about all that is going on around me!  So let’s get started!

The weather:::. Fall showed up on Saturday after quite the storm Friday night. But since then it has been bright and crisp.  The clouds started rolling in this afternoon and  now is overcast and ready to rain at any moment.

As I look outside my window::: I see my neighbors porch light and an occasional car whizzes by but other than that it is pitch black outside

Right now I am:::  sipping sinus soother tea and mentally  working on my #write312018 blog posts

Thinking and pondering::: about many things but I have really been pondering a challenge given by a speaker while I was at camp all by myself this summer.  My word for the year has been influence and it has been forefront in my mind but this speaker challenged up to write letters to those who have had an influence on us.   specifically ministry leaders who have poured into our lives so I have compiled my list and am preparing the preamble to those letters.

On my bedside table::: a whole bunch of books wanting my attention

On my tv::: nothing

On the menu for this week:::

Monday –  Chicken bacon Ranch casserole  (I tweaked the recipe so I could make it in the crockpot”

Tuesday – Meatball subs and salad

Wednesday – chicken pot pie (also in the crockpot- yeah we will see how that goes)

Thursday – grilled cheese

Friday – chili

Saturday – hayride 9there is dinner -kinda with that

Sunday – Hamburgers, salt potatoes and veggie

On my to do list::: well ya see I kinda made this mess, a VERY BIG MESS.  I kinda lost something and so I went on a hunt to find that something (with no positive outcome) and when I was done it looked like a tornado had hit the place.  Now I have to fix it.

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating::: I am starting on the curtains for my craft room this week.  I also have to sand and paint the trim and sills of my three windows in the craftroom. And I have a sign that is the theme thought for my room and that involves painting AND Cricut work.

My simple pleasure::: hot beverages.  I LOVE me some COFFEE but I also really enjoy tea and hot cider as well.

Lesson learned the past week::: oh I have two.  1) well on Sunday I was catching up from my missed devotions while I was away at a conference.  and as I read I began to see a pattern I a couple of different places waiting on God was forefront I my reading and then my secret sister gave me a cute ceramic pen holder with a very cute pink sloth on it and it says Take your Time.   Ok I get it.  So many times I think it should go on my time line and that I can fix it but in reality  I need to wait on God.  he has it all under control.  2). over the last month r so there has been some heavy stuff I have had to process through. and I have learned these last few weeks that sometimes you have to let go of self-imposed expectations and go with simpler disciplines and routines and build back to where you once were.  so That is what I have done.  I have gone back to my 3 minute morning routine I set up when I  read through Hello Mornings, and it has been a huge blessing.  Because God has met me in the simplicity and deeply fed my soul.  As much as I would like to say I am back to my old self , I can’t.   ButI’m getting there for sure.

Looking around the house::: UMMM did you read what I wrote on the to-do list part??

From the camera::

:sunset- happy homemaker

This was the sunset from behind our church Saturday night during youth group.  It’s unfiltered and I firmly believe that we have some the best sunsets around!

Prayer List::: unsaved friends and family and I have a bunch of friends and family going though some really hard stuff.

Bible verse, Devotional:::

Isaiah 40:31 English Standard Version (ESV)

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

for more happy Homemaker posts check OutDiary of a Stay at Home Mom

Book Review:The Hundred Story Home by Kathy Izard

Posted on by Mary

book review

Have you ever completely goofed yeah thats what happened for me I thought I was getting this book from one place and then another and then another.  I have been confused.  The long story made very short is you should never judge a book by it’s cover, publisher or otherwise.  Just read the book and decided if it is a good book based on its content and the writing ability of the author!  That was a huge takeaway from this book and that was way before I ever opened it! and I’m not even kidding!

I must confess due to misconceptions I avoided the book for a few weeks! Then we left on vacation and in the moments I had to read I could not put this book down.  I have fallen asleep countless nights holding this book and woke only when it fell and smacked me in the face.  Inevitably after the third or fourth attempt I give up but HONESTLY this book is powerful!

Kathy Izard Life was different than most.  she opens talking about her mother’s struggle with mental illness. this was powerful for me because over the last decade this has become Avery big struggle for many people in my life.   I love these friends dearly but this opened my eyes to how the children really struggle.  This also really affected her faith walk as well and as you walk through the book with Kathy you watch as God pursues her and she is transformed. and how God uses all of these pieces from her life in the formation of  Moore Place. a Place to help the homeless of Charlotte North Carolina.

As I said above I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  Kathy Izard is a skilled writer and I was very much gripped by her ability to be so transparent and honest about her life.   You could tell she was not trying to make her life seem like something it wasn’t’t .  I loved her honestly about how she was feeling in pretty much every area of life..  I really have nothing negative to say and I would read more by her if she ever writes more!

If you want an encouraging and uplifting story this is for you!

I give it five stars!

Thanks BookLook Bloggers for giving me a free Copy of this book for review purposes!

Random Reflections- IT”S CAMP WEEK!!

Posted on by Mary

lists

It’s camp Week!!!  What does that mean exactly?

That Means two things

  1. the majority  of our children were at camp for at least part of the week.
  2. I am at our camper–Alone.  It’s actually day four of everyone’s time away.  and tomorrow  it’s all over when hubby goes to pick up the last two kids at camp and makes the long drive west to pick me up!

This has been a different sort of camp week for me.  Usually I come and read and write and write and read .  There is usually  a lot of writing going on.  But over the last few months I have to be honest I have been struggling.

Struggling to know what to write and even how to write.  As writers we go through dry spells.  Once upon a time I could link a dry spell to not being it’s God’s word, But that was NOT the lease this time.  This dry spell was different.  So yes I posted two blog posts right at the very beginning of the week BUT that was a book review and just Kinda an easy post, which I love but I have not written a  substantial meaty blog post in quite some time. AND I’m not sure why, and ya know what THAT’s ok!

So lets  get on with my 5 Random Reflections from this week

  1. Here are the state of the children and their counselors when we dropped them off at camp!  They look so happy including the random child who thought it was his job to photo bomb all pictures.  How do I know that he said so!

Camp

This guy only did a half week of camp, because he already did a full week of special needs camp.  He rocked it but he was ready to come home mid-week.  Looks like he might just go to regular camp!  He has made huge strides this year!

crazy 1

This is old hat for Ladybug.  It’s her last year in this age bracket and she turns 12 in less than a week and a half *SIGH*

Crazy 3

And this little guy…it was his first year at cam pAnd he had a ball. Minus the fact he over did it on candy and got sick BUT he didn’t have to come home.

2. One thing I didn’t mention above about my week at camp is I almost always bring art supplies of some form. The last time I was here I brought jewelry stuff and this time it was some water colors.  For the last coupe of years I have been teaching myself via Youtube videos and the like how to use water colors.  Todays break was a 20 minute art Challenge from the Creative Sparks ebook.  I had to set a timer and do an art project in 20 minutes.  a  mama robin I have been watching all week was my inspiration

camp break

I have never painted a bird before so that was all new territory

3.Usually I walk away from this week away with a bunch of writing done, and a bunch of reading done.  I almost become a writing machine and that didn’t happen.  I told hubby about a week ago thatI was considering giving up blogging.  For various reasons.  But the biggest was that I was not sure where God was directing me.  wWe discussed it. and then didn’t mention it again.  But I knew in my heart That this week would be a defining week for me and my blog. And then I got to camp and for four days…NOTHING. Not one blessed thing. And then last night a couple of things happened.  I started reading a new ebook. and I had a phone conversation. And then I woke up this morning late. and I read some more from that ebook and the wheels started turning. and my heart and mind were flooded with experiences and sights and sounds of 38 years in CHURCH.  I didn’t use any specific example because it’s not specific to any one church.  Unless you make it a cumulative American Church sort of thing.I have been in churches from Vermont to Utah and two churches  half way around the world. It just kinda made sense. Check out that post here.

And then something else happened…I had an IDEA!!

4.  For the first time ever I will be having a guest writer every Thursday for what we are gonna call Theology Thursday.  So stay  tuned.  In the next few weeks I will introduce said  writer.

5.  Another thing that is different for me on this trip is  I have this massive list.  It’s kinda reminiscent of the concept of a brain dump.  It’s a list making technique used to unclog your brain. And in all honestly I think I would really need a milk truck dose of Drano to unclog this think tank of mine!   This list contains some pretty crazy stuff.  Stuff that books suggested a question my mom journal thing asked that Got my wheels turning but still don’t have an adequate answer for and so on.  (OH and things that the speakers said! Ha that promises to be an interesting post for sure!)

When it comes right down to it.  I have grown.  just not in the usual expected ways.

and lastly there is a big announcement coming in the next week or so.  Some already know it, and let’s just stop some rumors before they start:

NO I’m not Pregnant

and

NO we aren’t moving!

have a blessed evening!

 

Jesus, Me and Nehemiah- It’s a Heart Thing

Posted on by Mary

It's a Heart thing

Jesus, Me, and Nehemiah- It’s a Heart Thing!

I have been here in our camper for the last four days. 

Just me…ALONE, me and Jesus that is.  And we have been working.  Yesterday I began reading a PDF book I received in my Ultimate Homemaking Bundle a few months back.  The title is Revival by Christi Gee.  She walks you through portions of the book of Nehemiah where Israel is transformed.  One of her thoughts really struck me and got me thinking…

Christi Says about Nehemiah 8 & 9:

Israel went through a process to experience confession and repentance. In that process the Israelites spent THREE HOURS listening to the law being read  and the history of Israel’s failures and sins by Ezra and that brought them to their knees crying out, confessing to their God for repentance for ANOTHER THREE HOURS! (paraphrased from Revival)

MY THOUGHTS:

It took Israel concentrated and extended time in God’s Word to experience growth and yet in today’s American churches we complain, moan and groan if the pastor goes over his “allotted” 30 minutes by 15. I have even read discussions from pastors on reducing preaching to 15 min total. We as Americans have lost sight as to why we NEED church (Church is for the teaching of believers.  Instruction in how to live the Christian life and encouragement to keep fighting the hard Battle for Jesus!). It’s become a deed we check off our “good Christian checklist” so we can get on with our week. 

There are People groups in this world who “count it  all joy” to be taught God’s word for hours at a time, there are even churches (though they are few and far between) in this country that still sit and listen to their pastor teach from God’s word for an hour or more. We sit in churches week after week and we say to ourselves “I’m so thankful we live in a Christian nation,” when in reality we lie to ourselves, not only about being a Christian Nation BUT being in a Christian Church.   Let’s be honest with ourselves. Churches today look more like social gatherings than sitting at the feet of our teachers soaking up truth because we need it to thrive in our daily walk as believers of Jesus. It was their  fuel that kept them motivated to keep walking forward rather than running and hiding in fear of persecution.   Yes our country was founded on Christian principles, but our forefathers sat in church each week from about 9 in the morning til noon.  They then took a break for lunch and came back for another 2-3 hours of teaching depending on the pastor and time of year. That is what a Christian nation was built on. That was the foundation that was laid. 

(Did I mention that in many of those churches the people stood all of that time and others sat on hard wooden benches with no backs- thats dedication)  

Continue reading “Jesus, Me and Nehemiah- It’s a Heart Thing” →

Book Rview: A Memory A day for Moms- 5 Year Inspirational Journal

Posted on by Mary

Memory

This little book is beautiful it’s artwork is amazing. The copper leaf work is gorgeous.  This little book is a journal with the idea to help moms record memories of the precious little ones.  the cool thing about this book is that ut spans a 5 year time period.  It has 366 prompts. and it has a prayer and a verse for each day of the year and that’s about it To describe this book in lengthy terms is not possible, other than what I just gave you I can say  “and the pages have a bunch of lines on it….Let’s get into my critique!

Pros

It’s beautiful- the color scheme is gorgeous.

It feels nice in the hands (it’s just the right size).

It’s a unique idea….BUT….

Cons

The copper foil used on the cover and spine have significantly worn off since receiving it a month and a Half ago.

What is a memory you want to Keep?

THE PROMPTS- ( when I requested this book I didn’t realize it had prompts.  Had I realized this I may have not requested it at all.) I was super excited about this journal and I showed it to a good friend of mine, a mom of 3 kids.  She loved the idea and opened it up. The very first two prompts she opened it up to were about your husband. now no big deal right but my friend left an abusive spouse and so this is rough on her and this spawned some in depth study.  I counted every prompt there are 12 that mention husband/ spouse.  the kicker is that most of them have nothing to do with being a mom (go back and review the title of the book if you are confused why this is a problem.)

As I began to count those something else occurred to me, so I began to count this too.  Out of 366 days there are 159 days that refer to the mother’s offspring as a singular child.  now I don’t know about you bu most of the moms I know have more that one child. SOOO how do you pick which child you will journal about? So you might say  “well Mary, how many prompts refer to multiple children? 100? No 50? Um no. 20? I wish BUT NO.

5. There are 5 prompts that refer to multiple children with a few others referring to “FAMILY”.  ok I get it you need to reach every spectrum of parents BUT that kind of unbalance????  Seriously?

On a whole I think the prompts are pretty much worthless anyway because honestly they really aren’t about “mEMORIES as the title would suggest. honestly I don’t want the memories of what the kids bedtimes were…THATS CHEEZY in my opinion.

the things I want to remember was that a certain child thought he needed to stand in the toilet to pee in it. (yeah that’s real life in this house) or the first day of camp, or first crush or  cute thing the littles talked about at dinner.

The prompts make the journal feel underwhelming and purposeless. it would be a much better book with out it.

The verses and prayers- Ive never been a fan of prayers written for me.  How about a prayer prompt instead?   Something to make you think and converse with God over.  I think that the Christian writing community has the idea that people don’t know how to pray for themselves.  this was a discussion not long ago amongst some friends.  The general consensus we would rather pray for ourselves so we skip them.  the verse a good idea but put it at the top f the page rather than an afterthought at the bottom.

Overall I give this 2 stars and you got them solely on Aesthetics.  I think you can do much better Thomas Nelson.

A Big thanks to book Look Bloggers for sending me this free copy for review purposes and for letting me write what I really think about this book