Book Review: Going Gray, Looking Great!

Over spring break, we were blessed to be able to take an spontaneous trip to Florida.  We made the decision, packed and arrived at our destination within 48 hours! 

During the picture taking process, I realized just how much gray I can't see in my own hair! At first, I was distressed at my realization, but I'm so opposed to damaging my hair and my health with the coloring process that I needed to find a way to bolster my resolve not to color.  This book did the trick.

With information ranging from the best types of hair care products for grays, to the best hairstyles, colors for clothing and cosmetics, it didn't take long for me to realize that this transition to gray is just another season in life to be embraced and enjoyed!  Even rooms are going gray this season, per Martha Stewart!

I was please to find a corresponding website by the same name,  Going Gray, Looking Great!  With so many beautiful friends like Sister.Faith and the Penless Writer who have made the switch, I'm encouraged to continue in my natural state, and move into the phase of "unfading glory..."

Wednesday Walking: Making Plans and Setting Goals

Several days ago I had a dream, and I heard these words, "The purposes of God always outlast the plans of men." Today I found that in Scripture!

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

If you have plans that have gone by the wayside, it might be the greatest thing that ever happened to you! Now God's plans can prevail!

Does that mean we don't plan or set goals?  Absolutely not!  We just plan with flexibility and a realization that life requires adaptation! 

Here are some tools I've used over the years to help with my planning and goal setting:

The Family Calendar: 
I purchase the large desk variety every December, and every activity that affects the family is written on this calendar.  It hangs on the wall in the kitchen and when making plans it is the first place I go!  (Hint: Make sure you can access yours while on the telephone.)

They aren't expensive; in fact, this year I found mine at the Dollar Spot at Target!

The Household Control Journal: 
I had never even heard of a control journal until a few years ago, and never knew anyone who used them until I became a homeschooling mom.  These homemade or premade binders can contain all the basic information needed to run your home.  They can be as simple or complex as you need.  I've found over the years that the more simple I keep my journal, the more I will use it. 

FishMama told about hers here.

FlyLady explains her system here.

And, in my next post, I'll give you a close encounter with my own!

My Personal Journal:
I've always been a fan of journaling, because I've always had something to say.  (Just bein' real here!) 

I prefer to use spiral bound journals because they can be folded back on themselves, and my pen can be tucked in the binding. My journals are filled with precious thoughts, hopes and dreams written over the last 20 years, and they are the place where my life has been planned and revised again and again.

If you are not in the habit of keeping a journal, here are a few tips to get you started... 

In the morning, spend a few quiet moments organizing your thoughts on paper.  Include the date, how you are feeling physically or emotionally, and what your goals are for the day.

Write down any Scriptures or inspirational quotes that are on your heart, and explain why these things inspire you.

Capture those cute expressions, first words, or humorous little events your children are experiencing throughout the day.  These are great to go back to when they're grown and about to leave the house, and they can be used in scrapbooks, and notes you write to your children as well.

Keep a list of answered prayers and prayer requests.

Journal your household spending, personal expenses, and other costs to track where your money is going.

These are just a few of the things I do to stay organized and keep focused on my goals.  What tricks or tips do you use to stay on track?

Wednesday Walking ~ Dealing With Dishonesty

²⁰ He who walks with wise men will be wise,
      But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
       (Proverbs 13:20, New King James Version)

Today's wisdom comes from Parenting Today's Teens with Mark Gregston:

"The latest “Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth” (by the Josephson Institute of Ethics) shows that teens are lying more often, and more easily, than ever.

Dishonesty may seem like a minor issue in comparison to other adolescent problems like drug abuse or sexual promiscuity, but it is a vice that parents should never ignore or allow to creep into the teen’s lifestyle.

Dishonesty is rooted in an attitude of disrespect; disrespect for others, for authority, and for your family’s values. It won’t go away with the mere passage of time. It will reappear at significant stress points in your child’s life, and that can land them in real trouble. So, deal immediately with every instance of dishonesty today, and you’ll be avoiding bigger problems tomorrow."

To hear the podcast, follow this link.  If you're dealing with being dishonest yourself, you can have a fresh start.  Ask the Lord to deliver you from lying and dishonesty, and make a choice to be truthful, especially with those who care for you.

Smart Women Are The Best!

I received the following in an email this week:
    
     "We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me happy, and a piece of chocolate with my friends..

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.

So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my self in the mirror I will think, 'Good grief, look how smart I am!'"

Who Is Going Hungry?

I just read a great article by Wayne Greene, Editorial Writer for the Tulsa World.  While I usually don't endorse most editorials printed by the "Tulsa WorldLY" as we call them, this one had some rather interesting facts considering I'm doing the Pantry challenge.

Greene writes:

"One in five Oklahoma children is at risk of going to bed hungry tonight.

In November the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service said that 14 percent of Oklahoma residents are "food insecure," meaning they lack consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food. Of those, 5.9 percent are in the agency's most severe level, "very low food secure."

That means Oklahoma is the fourth hungriest state in the nation. " 

I really had no idea it was that bad here. And we have such an abundance, even with a limited grocery budget for the next few weeks!  So, I've decided that a portion of my savings from the Challenge will go to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, who according to the article cited above, used a large donation of wonton wrappers to make lasagna, which I had no idea could be done.  Talk about creative! (Here's a recipe link to a similar dish that sounds great, minus the pork.)

The menu here for the last few days has been:
Breakfasts of cereal with milk and fresh juice, or homemade pancakes with milk and fresh juice
Snacks of leftover Cranberry Orange muffins or oranges
Lunches of nachos or green salads with turkey
Dinners of homemade cheese/veggie pizza with salads and homemade beef stew with crackers.

We'll have homemade sausage balls tonight along with a cheese ball and crackers I picked up last week, plus fresh salsa (free w/ coupons) and chips and whatever the other partygoers bring. 

Have a safe and merry New Year's Eve!  I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone did this week with the wrap-up posts coming on Saturday!

Obedience Brings The Blessing!

(photo from the shabby chic cottage)

I had a private struggle this morning.  Actually, it began a few days ago.  I had gathered several high value free~item coupons recently, but after using a few of them, I noticed that they said "one per customer:"  I was convicted not to use the remainder of them, but really struggled with throwing them away!  It probably sounds silly, but I had a real battle with my flesh over obeying what I felt was a clear leading from the Lord.

This morning, during my prayer time, I threw them in the trash.  I was still struggling, but decided that obedience with struggling (and admitting that I was having a hard time being willing) was better than not obeying!

I asked the Lord to prove Himself to me today, and to give me a blessing to replace what I felt I had "lost."

He ALWAYS proves Himself, and goes beyond what we could have imagined.

Tonight, we celebrated "family Christmas" with our daughter still living at home, and with our adult daughter who will not be able to join us for Christmas this year.  It's always a special time for my husband and I, when we can all be together, since we only have the two daughters and we don't see our older daughter as often as we would like.

We decided to eat out because our plans were in flux until the last moment.  I didn't mind, as I knew the restaurant had a fireplace and I was hoping we would be able to sit near there to enjoy our meal.

(last two photos from getty images)

We arrived at the restaurant to find that the room with the fireplace was completely unoccupied!  We asked for and received a table in meeting room, where the light from the fireplace, Christmas tree, and a few wall sconces cast a cozy glow.  The wait staff provided excellent service, and even blessed us with complementary desserts after our delicious meal!

It was as if the room had been reserved for us alone.

The manager even came back to check on our meal, and make sure everything was to our liking.  She said that they thought the meeting room was booked for tonight, but realized that the room was actually reserved for tomorrow night!  We had the room to ourselves for the whole evening.

We had amazing favor and a truly special evening together.  I'm sure it's something my family will never forget!

Thank You, Lord, for the blessing of Your favor!  Thank You for proving Yourself to me once again.

This Makes Me Laugh

Find more here!

"God has presented Him (Jesus) as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in His blood." Romans 3:25

Need POWER in your prayers? Apply the blood of Jesus. Make much of the blood. We are nothing; He is everything. We are justified (JUST as IF I'ED never sinned) by the blood ALONE, NOT BY OUR GOOD WORKS. We do good works to show our love to God for His great gifts, beginning with salvation.

Having Ears To Hear

It's time to get ready for the holidays!  It's not just about the celebration of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chanukkah, but about making the days Holy Days and not vacation days from work.  It's time to hear God's voice.  And it's time to pay attention to the voices around us.

For me, holiday celebrating and giving are about ministering to individual people, and not just about buying gifts or making food.  Since my "love language" to others is acts of service, it gives me great joy to give gifts, cook yummy foods, and serve others in a way that really ministers to them.

I'm working on my final gift lists and paying close attention to comments made by those who will be receiving gifts from me.  Teachers who make comments about their love of coffee and circus peanuts will surely be receiving those types of gifts, packaged creatively from me.  It makes my life easy because I don't have to figure out what to give, and it makes them happy to receive what they truly enjoy!  Easy peasy.

SophiasDelights on Etsy has just posted the most beautiful bark candies.  I'm inspired to learn how to make the candies with such clean, precise cuts like they have here, so anyone who has tips on working with chocolate, please speak up!!!

Who wouldn't be thrilled to receive such a beautiful, thoughtful gift such like custom made candies in their favorite flavors this season?  And while I'm busy creating gifts for people, I'm inspired to pray for them.  That's one reason homemade gifts mean so much more to me personally than something purchased quickly from a store with no real thought or effort other than swiping a card.  So if you're buying gifts, make them meaningful!

Last year, one of my daughters purchased a beautiful smelling lotion for me.  One reason I loved it so much, and have enjoyed it this entire year, was because every time I used it, I remembered what she said when she presented it to me.  She had the idea of giving me a "signature scent".  I remember my grandmother, Louise Warren Carman, always wearing Este Lauder in her later years.  I still have the last bottle of perfume she owned, and from time to time I get it out and open it, just to remember her signature scent. 

Another friend always has a jar of lemon drops in her home to remind her of her father, who always carried this candy in his pocket.  One taste of that tart sweet candy instantly warms her heart with the memory of reaching in daddy's coat pocket to pull out a bright yellow candy.

Lord, please help me have ears to hear You this season, and ears to hear those around me.  Please help me minister to those in my own home first, and then to those I meet outside these walls.  Slow me down so that I do not rush past the hurting.  Anoint my words with grace and love so that I can bring a daily gift to those in need of love, encouragement and friendship, and help me to prepare and minister good gifts to all those who are willing to receive them.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen!

Self Study

Constant reading and learning are only beneficial if you apply what you learn.  Otherwise, you get no where.

I just finished watching BBC's Masterpiece Classic Little Dorrit.  This is my second time to enjoy it (although I did watch some of the episodes twice when it originally aired in the spring). 

One thing that stood out to me this time was that, although William Dorrit had lost everything, and then saw his fortune restored, he didn't change the behaviors that caused him to be in the Marshalsea in the first place.  Careless handling of his personal life brought him to ruin not once, but twice.

As I watched the scene where Dorrit was riding to the bank in the carriage with Mr. Merdle, I thought about Dave Ramsey, and the story of him borrowing a car from a friend after his was repo-ed.  He was humiliated by the experience, but he LEARNED from it, changed his behaviors, and now can drive whatever he chooses.  It made me disgusted that William Dorrit didn't learn from the 20+ years he spent in a debtor's prison, and rise from that experience to make different decisions.  But, am I any different?

I'm being very introspective after this viewing of the mini-series, and asking myself tough questions:

Have I learned from the mistakes I've made, or am I just repeating them again and again?


What behaviors do I have that are causing me to continue in a cycle of debt or lack?  (Although we are not borrowing money, we are not yet debt free, and I am not satisfied with the rate of decline in our debt.)


What thought patterns need to change in my life, so that I can move forward from lack to prosperity?


If I were to inherit a great deal of wealth today, would I be willing to manage it or, like Dorrit, would it prove to be too much for my character, and end up being a curse instead of a blessing?

"Knowledge without wisdom is like a load of books on a donkeys back", author unknown.

I'm still thinking...

Wintertime is coming...

I've been reading in preparation for the fall garden season.  Manuela tipped me to the delights of Tasha Tudor, so I requested every book I could find in the library system about her life.

Tasha was an amazingly diligent woman, and her books are well worth seeking.  I'd love to own the Garden book above, and the crafts book makes me realize just how much we have lost through what we call progress.  Tasha could do everything, it seems.  She might even have been able to walk on water ~ well almost.

If you're looking for some inspiration for gardening, and for life, Tasha might be a good place to look.  Although I didn't read anything about her beliefs, and do not know if she was born again, Tasha is an inspiration as a woman who was determined, disciplined and devoted to capturing every moment of life. 

Make a pot of tea and settle in to your comfy chair with these books if you're looking for a good read!

Havin' a little "Fun"

I've seen some of Holly's work featured on another blog, but didn't realize who she was until I looked through almost all of her pictures, and read many of her posts.

Some of her pictures make me laugh out loud ~ especially the "Swaddle" picture with Wren. Go over and take a look at some of the amazing "reinvented" pieces she has created. They'll knock your white socks off!

Having a NO day...

Some days we feel like we need a superhero cape to pull off everything we need to do.

I've had a few WEEKS like that!

So, I've decided to take a "no" week.

To all things there is a season, and rest is a necessity. I know I can't take on one more thing right now. It's good to know your boundaries.

Sometimes, with a no week comes a season of waterworks, mostly from your own eyes, but sometimes from those to whom you must say no. But, that's okay. Water brings growth.

During this no week, I'm finishing things I've left undone, but nothing new will be added. I must find some light at the end of the tunnel.

The Gospel

Is anything too hard for God?

25 But thus says the LORD: “ Even the
captives of the mighty shall be taken away,
And the prey of the terrible be delivered;
For I will contend with him who contends
with you, And I will save your children.
26 I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh,
And they shall be drunk with their own blood
as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know
That I, the LORD, am your Savior,
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of
Jacob.”

Our God is mighty to save!

My nephew was in a car accident on Friday. He was thrown from his vehicle and landed on the pavement in the center of the roadway, on the downhill side of a hill. He could have been killed.

But, God.

He alone has contended with death and he saved that young man. Although he suffered some injuries, they are quickly healing, and he is out of intensive care after less than 24 hours.

No surgery. No long term adverse effects.

Only God has saved this child.

We rejoice in the faithfulness of 0ur God! God's Word is good news.

I've got a big fat head!

I'm working on a post about my kitchen, so check back in a little while. In the meantime, I have news...

My blog post on the gossip bench was featured on Kimba's A Soft Place To Land! Can you believe it? It's almost too good to be true, but I saw it with my own eyes here...

Thank you, Kimba. You made my week! Now my bench has a little secret of it's own.

Sacrificing to win...

Our fridge went out last Monday.

If' you're a regular reader, you know that we've been working on remodeling the kitchen, so replacing the fridge was something we had on the radar anyway. The problem is, we need to do the remodel on our time, not in crisis mode. When paying cash for a remodel, it's best to have the cash before you need the appliance. ;-)

So, we went to the jars. We have two. One is the savings from my Craigslist sales, and other junking ventures, and the other is a purposeful jar, where we save for something the whole family wants, like a programmable thermostat, or a new mini-series DVD set, or whatever we choose. We pooled the money, and came up with enough for almost half of the fridge. But who wants half a fridge?

Since I knew I wanted the stainless steel, I did ALOT of shopping around, but in the end it was more expensive than I had hoped. $1400 including the installation. Nice. That's like half a cruise payment. Fortunately Brenda, I have skills...

Believe me...
are you listening?...
drop the chocolate bar and look into the screen...
voluntary frugality and simplicity of life is a whole lot easier than if you come into a season of forced frugality without the skills.

Six months ago, I would have thought it was impossible to have most of my kitchen remodeled by August 1.

You know it is impossible for a bumble bee to fly, but he does. It's God's design that does it.

It's that way with us, too. He's not caught by surprise with any "crisis" in our lives; He never sleeps or slumbers. Good thing!

So, I ordered my fridge from the local appliance store, paid cash for it with the help of part of my grocery budget for the next two weeks, plus some from the Emergency Fund, (***thank you, again, Dave Ramsey***), and the rest from the jars.

I'll have to be very diligent with my grocery shopping with only $70 for two weeks, but since we have a stocked pantry and freezer, plus our garden, we'll eat well and probably won't even notice much that the grocery budget was cut. There won't be any stockpiling or garage sale-ing, but that's okay.

And this little beauty will come to live at my house...

(all pictures are mine, taken in the backyard. Thank you again, Clarissa, for the seeds!)

A Lighter Moment...

Just Announced - Sauder Furniture to take over GM!

SAUDER, located in Archbold, Ohio, has announced its intention to take over GM, and to sell cars... with some assembly required.

At the moment, that's sort of what my kitchen feels like!

And then there's this one, that I'd like to post between myself and my neighbors...

Seriously, who lets their teenage kids jump the fence and wander around on my back porch 6-8 times a day, because their ball or frizbee "accidentally" comes into my yard??? Can't people just be normal and respect boundaries? Really.

In other news, I'm busy selling my Craigslist postings from yesterday, so I'm happy about that. I have several meetings scheduled for this afternoon, and a couple of calls to return, so I'll try to post again later or in the morning.

I have some great pictures of a luna moth who was visiting this morning on our front porch during a gentle rain shower. I love this time of year!

Who's been sleeping in my (flower) bed?

Well, here's the kitchen~ in progress, of course! I'm really enjoying the new countertops, and looking forward to getting the backsplash installed.

I like the countertops with the staineless, and the black sink is growing on me, although it does tend to show water spots, a fact about which I am not thrilled. Still, I'm grateful to have it!

I'm also grateful to have such a variety of birds visiting this summer ~ many more than we've ever had before. I guess the word has gotten out that the Little Creek Cottage has a great bird buffet, and cozy bedding for critters like these:

Isn't he adorable? I had a little frog sleeping in the crevice of a chair on the porch yesterday, but this is not the same one. I hope they eat whatever is munching on my canna leaves! And I wouldn't mind if the birds filled themselves with some of the slugs that have made their way into my garden as well.

I'm listing on Craigslist this afternoon, so I better get back to work! Have a great afternoon!

Shopping List

I'm taking a rest day today, blue flannels pjs and all. I've spent part of my time studying, listening to my favorite teacher, Perry Stone, and browsing blogs. Hubby used all the white flour, so he's just run to pick up some more, and, of course, I took advantage of that fact to ask for a couple of cans of black spray paint to finish a project I hope to post tomorrow, if the weather warms up just a little.

Blogging and being addicted (my dd17 says I am, so it must be true)to decorating blogs is getting a little pricey, so I'm posting my wishlist for bargains and believe I will find the following for next to nothing at yard sales and thrift stores this week:

Modge Podge, and lots of it, as I have several projects requiring it, like this one, or this one

Monogram Paper Napkins to make this for my front porch, or plates, or gifts...

Pink & Brown fabrics to finish the schoolroom redo

Double curtain rods for the living room and dd17's room

Picket fence for the backyard

Vines, flowers, ornamentals, and I'm sure you're getting the idea...

And, if it's not too much to ask, I'd like the weather to cooperate a little more with my plans. Don't I sound like a diva?

Another assignment completed!

Have you ever noticed that God brings people into your lives for a season? I had that this spring, in this form of this little angel. She's a Princess Baby from my church, the child of friends with whom we fellowship in our local congregation. She's been my shadow for four months, while her mother was wrapping up a career and transitioning to life as a stay at home mom.

It's been an adventure, since my youngest is 17, and we're not used to having a baby around the house. Still, we all took it in stride, and have thoroughly enjoyed this semester of "early childhood development." We've learned to use baby signs, to be patient and persistent, and to be disciplined when we wanted to spoil. **Ahem**


Having Baby inspired me to slow down and enjoy my backyard and the birds.

We watched them often, and enjoyed taking pictures of the different species.

She made us all smile.

We enjoyed walks around the neighborhood and picking flowers and playing in the dirt, all in our nice clothes! (Don't tell mom!)

I will miss seeing this smile in the mornings, and getting little cuddles and hugs throughout the day, but I know that Baby belongs with mom, and that mom is best for her as well. I'm rejoicing in the idea that another mom is able to stay at home and care for her little ones!