Random Ramblings- Welcome to the New Year and a New Title

Posted on by Mary

Ya know what, I cannot seem to ramble when writing.  (But I have zero trouble being random, matter of fact Hubby is amazed at my ability to be so random.). I know sometimes I might take a rabbit trail or two BUT to ramble, that’s another story entirely.  I can ramble with hubby.  And when I am nervous, or when there is awkward silence.  I HATE AWKWARD SILENCE!. So What I have decided is to pick a couple of Random topics to share with you my thoughts on.  They will be things that have been on my mind.  Things I have been pondering.  So (drumroll please) it will now be called:

Random

Random Reflection #1-Slow Starts and Being Flexible

This year has had a seemingly slow start, and I think that is a good start.  I am hungry though for a more normal schedule.  Things just keep getting cancelled and re-scheduled.  You know because of  randdom things like:

  • weather
  • sickness
  • scheduling conflicts
  • did I mention weather

Seriously though we have had two rather mild winters.  The kids had more snow days after spring started than they had the entire winter.  This winter we have already had a severe cold temps day – they missed school because it was -25 with the windchill. and it looks like something might happen tomorrow.  Im not heart-broken I LOVE snow days. after awhile though a lack of consistency starts messing with my head.  As I work through One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp last year I have learned to look at the smallest things as gifts.  and that means schedule changes too.  I kind of look at it now as if God says you need time to….(insert whatever I am currently in need of at the moment in my life.

Random Reflection #2-New Planner Setup

I am still using  the Happy Planner (and I love it) But instead of doing a full 12 months I am Using two six months together.  Now I know what you are thinking , “Mary Mary Mary clearly you cannot do Math 6+6=12”. Yes I know But The first 6 months of my 12 month planner and then a 6 month expansion pack – so each 6 month section runs January to June .  The expansion pack is a brainstorm I hadst I can keep my blog planner and regular planner all in one classic sizedHappy Planner.  It’s taking a little getting used  to but I am beginning to  really get into it.

Random Reflection #3-Goal Setting

YIKES!!  I am soooo far behind it’s crazy!  But this past year I was gifted the book Meet the New You by Elisa Pulliam.  I decided that I would work through this book and it is a “21  day plan  for embracing fresh attitudes and focused habits for real life change.”  I have used some of her other materials in the past  and loved them and I even began to use those same ones again this year.  Now I don’t really think  that there needs to be a whole lot of life change but I really wanted to be more focused in my goals, more concise if you will.  So I began this journey.  Wow can you say intense.  there is a lot of work even outside of the focused study questions.  The chapters are short BUT the work takes longer than one might think.

Thanks forechecking out my random reflections for this week.  What is something that you  have been randomly been reflections on this last week?  Share it here

Blessings.

Mary

Happy Homemaker Monday- Better Late than Never 1-16-2018

Posted on by Mary

Happy

Greetings and I am so sorry this is LATE!  What a weekend this has been and boy was I exhausted by the time I hit this morning.   Seriously though let’s get going before I get side-tracked by something else.

Breakfast time….what is on the plate this morning:::: Nothing really I wasn’t really hungry

Looking around the house:::: YIKES!!  We are doing some re-arranging , including putting our living room back in order!  Yes hat means the Christmas tree MUST come down tomorrow.

On today’s to do list:::: Get this blog post done.  I have some other late correspondence as well that I need to catch up on

Currently reading:::: Meet the New You and my new review book for the monthHello Mornings

On the TV today:::: well we watched Family Matters during lunch and the Brady bunch

The weather outside is:::: ICK…snow again, but it is not as cold so possibly not as bad as the last Happy Homemaker post.  I will admit though I’m in desperate need  of some legit WARM sunshine.

On the menu this week::::

Monday-
Tuesday- Meatball subs
Wednesday- Tortellini Soup
ThursdayPhilly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes (Yeah I found that yumminess on Facebook)
Friday-Grilled Cheese and soup

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will:::: NAP  (and yes I did)

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week::::  See Thursday!  Philly cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

One of my simple pleasures:::: coffee in a cute mug
Favorite photo from the camera or internet:::: I have two!

Beter late than never

This is the project I worked on with another lady at church yesterday.  it was fun but we learned some ins and outs of Cricut design space..LOL.  and here is a quick snapshot of my new space hubby created for me as part of my Christmas present.  I LOVE IT!
Praying for::::  Family in So Cal. Friends and family going though some tough stuff! Church

Bible Verse, Devotional that is resonating with me at the moment::::

I am still SLOWLY going though Hebrews and I am almost finished with it!  Today I was in Hebrews 12:7-17

I am also Reading through the Bible chronologically  this year and I am somewhere in the middle of Genesis.  I am a few days behind and I will catch up easily over the next few days. The two oldest kiddos were challenged to do it in Sunday school so I have accepted the challenge right along with them!

I hope you have a great week and I will do my VERY best to not be late to the Party next week BLESSINGS!

For  more Happy Homemaker Monday posts visit Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Happy Homemaker Monday : New Year Edition 1/1/2018

Posted on by Mary

Happy

Good Morning and Happy New Year.  I know that I kinda fell off the face of the blogosphere. BUT I am back.   I’m quite exhausted BUT that’s ok.  The next few months are going to be quiet ones so I’m here to camp for awhile .  I know this year is going to be a crazy one but I am going to strive to be consistent through all the CRAZINESS!  More on that in the coming months!   So let’s get on with Happy Homemaker  MONDAY!

Breakfast time….what is on the plate this morning:::: Im going to be making Monkey Bread Shortly!

Looking around the house:::: Pretty clean…a few dishes from last night’s church game night

On today’s to do list:::: Blog, Plan, Goal setting, RELAX, NAP

Currently reading::::Woman of Influence and Meet The New You

On the TV today:::: who knows

The weather outside is:::: FRIGID!  we have below zero temps and wind chill advisories on top of that!

On the menu this week::::

Monday:  Pork and aurkraut

Tuesday:  chicken and Biscuits

Wednesday: Pork BBQ and French fries

Thursday:   Taco Salad

Friday:  Baked Ziti

Saturday:  Deacon’s Christmas Party-  Roast Beef with  potato dish, veggies and dessert..

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will:::: Finish My Craftroom.  (Hint Big reveal of hubby’s Christmas present to me!!  I’m so excited)

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week:::: Nothing for this week but  next week will hold new adventures in cooking!!

One of my simple pleasures:::: SILENCE

Favorite photo from the camera or internet::::

not so happy
Mia being tormented by a large life-like dog in our bedroom

Praying for::::

Some friends going through some really tough things in their lives

Bible Verse, Devotional that is resonating with me at the moment::::

Today I begin Bible study in Titus 2 and reading through the Bible Chronologically!  Stay tuned for more details about my upcoming year!

For more Happy Homemaker posts visit Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Book Review :Boundaries ByDr. Henry Cloud &Dr. John Townsend

Posted on by Mary

Boundaries

( writer’s note:  if you are looking for a comparison of the two boundaries books and how they are similar/ different I’m sorry this is NOT the blog post for you.  I hav not read the previous editions so I cannot fully compare other than to basically say what you can already see on the cover….”Updated and expanded for the digital age”

Chapter 1- (Don’t Worry I’m not going to go chapter by chapter-  but seriously we NEED to discuss this one in a little more depth).  Chpter 1 is a day in the Boundaeryless life.  It follows Sherrie around in all the ins and outs of her CRAZY life.  Sherrie can’t say NO.  Sherrie is a doormat for anyone and everyone can walk on.  She exemplifies what most people struggle with.    This book then proceeds to take you through some of the most logically written, helpful material.  Chapter 1 Hits you hard with the reality  that we all have Sherrie within us..  At various points in each of our lives we all struggle with our inner Sherrie.  WE CAN ALL IDENTIFY!

The first section of this book focuses on what boundaries actually are, how they are developed and common myths about boundaries (just to name a few).  The second section deals with boundary conflicts, specifically with family, friends,spouse, children, work digital age and God.    And section 3 deals developing healthy Boundaries focusing on  resistance to boundaries and how to measure success with Boundaries and comes full circle in Chapter 17 with A Day in the Life with Boundaries.  This is where Sherrie has learned how to set boundaries and is a new person because of them. She enjoys life rather than dreading it!

I must confess as I journeyed through this book I had a few favorite chapters.  Chapter 5- the 10 Laws of Boundaries is first-  this chapter for me was pivotal as I began to see boundaries  in a different light.  Really I already use and apply these laws in my life and with our children but this made more sense!

  1. The law of sowing and reaping
  2. The law of responsibility
  3. The law of power
  4. The law of respect
  5. The law of motivation
  6. The law of evaluation
  7. The Law of proactivity
  8. the law of envy
  9. the law of activity
  10. the law of exposure

As I read through these sections I became keenly aware that there are natural laws that play into our everyday lives.  These things impressed me that God has set them in place for a reason and I need to utilize them for all they are worth!

Chapter 13-  Boundaries and Yourself-  ALL I CA SAY IS YIKES!!!  This is one of the most challenging chapters.   We can  set boundaries on others but when it comes to ourselves it’s easy to make excues.  Some of the topics the authors touch on is food, money, time, task completion words, sexuality, and substance abuse.  I can tell you for me task completion and time are my biggest struggles. and  as I have read this book I have a new game plan for change and to get better.

Chapter 16- How to measure success with Boundaries.  I’m a goal setter by nature sohis struck a deep resounding chord with me.  I measure goal every single week.  I evaluate and re-evaluate.  It drives me absolutely batty when someone writes about a process but then you have no way to evaluate  whether or not you are progressing.  THIS CHAPTER. WAS A HUGE PLUS.  The authors give you 11 steps of progression….This is NOT a checklist!   This is a Eans of measurement.  This is huge for me and maybe one of the greatest reasons this book is so incredibly helpful!

It was also incredibly helpful to read chapter 18 as Sherrie has found  joy in life (who wouldn’t love  that!)

So my thoughts:  This book was HARD and CHALLENGING!

and yet it is so helpful.  It helps me, not only in my own personal life BUT it helps me as I mentor women,.  It helps me raise my children, and it helps me grow closer to God.

But I have two concerns: 1). I don’t appreciate books that change  translations of the Bible to fit their purposes.  I get what they are trying to do BUT it confuses people.  We need to be careful not to try to fit Bible passages into what we want to say BUT we need to  take God’s word and write from that.  We call that playing hermeneutical gymnastics with the text.  when we change and bend and mold the Bible to fit what we are trying to say.

2). Is not really complaint but a desire.  I desire that in some these books that they might include some chapters that are helpful for this in full time ministry.  It’s not a downfall to the book just a personal wish I guess.

other than that I must say I really enjoyed the book and give it 4.5 stars out of 5.  You Can check out Boundaries on Amazon by clicking here.

A age thank you to BookLoook Bloggers for the free copy for review. with no expectation of positive review.    It has been a real pleasure working with you for the last few years!  This blog post does not contain any affiliate links!

Happy Homemaker Monday- Sleep Deprived but choosing to be HAPPY

Posted on by Mary

Happy

Happy Monday…it’s kinda dreary here today.  But that doesn’t mean we cannot Choose to be Happy.  It’s hard at times, but in the midst of hard things we can choose to be thankful.  And when we have a heart of Thankfulness, happy creeps in

Breakfast time…what is on the plate this morning::::nothing

Looking around the house::::uh general straightening up.  it was a long and tiring weekend
On today’s to do list:::: rest, read, write, laundry, dishes and play practice
Currently reading:::: the Bible One thousand Gifts and a few others
On the TV today::::nothing

The weather outside is::::.cold ad gray, we even had freezing rain this morning
On the menu this week::::

Monday- Cicken Noodle soup
Tuesday-  Pork BBQ and potato salad
Wednesday- Beef Stroganoff and salad
Thursday Grilled cheese and tomato Soup
Friday Sandwiches

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will:::: begin my paper Christmas village

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week:::: no time for new recipes right now

One of my simple pleasures:::: reading by the fire in the wood stove
Favorite photo from the camera or internet::::

planner
Praying for:::: friends and family.   some going through some hard things, some making poor decisions…and the rest because I love them

Bible Verse, Devotional that is resonating with me at the moment::::

Hebrews 11:32-40 NIV

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with uswould they be made perfect.

For More Happy Homemaker Posts Check out Diary of a Stay at Home Mom