About Me, Part One

These are a few of my favorite things.  These things make me smile. Most of these photos were taken in 2007.

Bright blooms...

Old houses with big porches...

A husband who has too many Bibles...

Library books!

Being in nature...

Coffee!

My cat's life...

A day at Lake Michigan...

Little girls who like to dress up...

and Swallowtails!

Slice of Life Monday, Number 1

~Things I hope to do this week~

Visit my grandparents in the nursing home.

Go to the grocery store with a happy heart.

Be available to watch my friend's kids if she has jury duty, also with a happy heart.

Open my home to my flock group this Friday without stressing out.

Gather more things to purge.

Work on the kids rooms with them in a non-threatening manner.

Continue to work on my journaling everyday. 

Go to Good Will to find costumes for my boys for Halloween.

~Menu~ 

Monday:  BBQ Chicken, rice and vegetables

Tuesday:  Loaded Big Bakers

Wednesday:  Parking lot picnic at church before AWANA with Daddy

Thursday:  Chuck Roast & vegetables in crock pot

Friday:  Rotisserie Chicken and vegetables, bread with butter

Saturday:  Leftover chicken on a big salad

~What I am reading~ 

Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes

Genesis

~Things I am thankful for~

A husband who comes home every evening and remains engaged. 

Just enough.

Healthy children.

~What we are learning together~

(Week three of My Father's World) 

This week we start off with The Tower of Babel and then will read about some of the earliest civilizations.  We will continue to read through Genesis.  We will be singing This Is My Father's World.  We will continue to read In Search of the Source and Tanglewood's Secret.  We need to update our timeline and make maps of the Fertile Crescent. 

~A Prayer Request or Two~ 

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  Praying for my tone of voice, especially when I give directions to my children.  (Proverbs 31:26)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Praying for God's provision day by day.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 ~Picture I am sharing~

I took this while on a trip a couple years ago.  I love the vibrant color.  

Have a wonderful week and thank you for taking time to stop by! 

Blessings,

~Jenn

Setting the Tone

It's my responsibility. 

"She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness." (Prov 31: 27)

 

 

 

Defined:  prevailing character or style, as of manners, morals, or philosophical outlook: the liberal tone of the 1960's. (dictionary.com)

 

 

It's a habit that takes time to cultivate...

"Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time."

-Mark Twain

Where I go for inspiration.    And here as well. 

 

 

 

Oh Father in Heaven, grant me the desire of my heart to cultivate a peaceful heart and home. 

Amen. 

 

 

My Homemaking Journal

Inspiration comes when one is looking.  I found it here and here this week. 

I am going to create my own homemaking journal, in addition to my fledgling nature and travel journals. I do not want to forget these years, as they are the best years of my life.  A blog is nice, but my children can't hold it in their hands when I am gone. 

Here are some pictures of what I've done so far.  I would like to have a notebook with thicker paper, but for now, this is what I have to use. 

Here are a few pages on the inside. 

I love maps and this one is of one of my favorite places.

I found images from travel brochures I collected this summer. 

Don't they look like a fun couple?

More Thoughts on the Simple Life

A good blogging friend of mine came up with a terrific idea.  She challenged her family to purge their belongings by filling up a box before Sunday, when they plan to go to Good Will next.  This truly is an inspired, most excellent idea. 

So, I said to my family, "Let's do the same!"  To which I got the standard luke-warm response.  I even tried to tie an award to the box, like ice cream.  A little more interest was generated, but no one volunteered to go first.  The box is empty. 

I see this "love of stuff" that my children have as my biggest obstacle to getting a more simple life.  And the root of this problem lies with me.  Yes, that is right.  It is all my fault. 

When they were babies, I allowed very generous, excited grandparents to sow the seeds of covetousness.  Every birthday and Christmas I allowed these seeds to be watered.  Every summer, once a week when Grandma came bearing gifts, I allowed the seeds to take root.   It would have been so easy to cut out these weeds way back then.  But, I too was in love with stuff and so I did not heed the warnings along the way. 

My daughter is the worst offender of hoarding stuff.  No one can walk through her room.  I have tried for many years to organize her. As I've said her love of stuff is causing strife between the two of us.   Again, I am to blame.  I would like to blame her father or her own tendency to be disorganized.  But I had the power long ago and I did nothing. 

It would be tempting to be very discouraged.  It is true that alone I have no hope of change.  Ah, but I am not alone.  I read these words from Genesis 18:14 this morning, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"  There is my answer.  Nothing is too hard for the LORD!  Perhaps, if it pleases my King, he will help my family to win this battle with excess.  Already, I see big changes in my husband and myself.  (We are only months away from being debt free by the grace of God!) 

So, I am going to get that box out and challenge them again.  This time with no awards, just the simple pleasure that comes from having fewer things to manage.  I will start the giving myself.  I will not whine, nag or badger them into compliance.  I will pray and wait on the LORD to move. 

~Jenn

Duneland Harvest Festival Pictures

Nature Never Did Betray...

"Nature never did betray...
The heart that loved her, is her privilege
Through all the years of this our life to lead
From joy to joy;for she can so inform
The mind that is with us; so impress
With quietness and beauty; and so feed
With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues
Rash judgements, nor the sneers of selfish men
Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all
The dreary intercourse of daily life,
Shall ere prevail against us; or disturb
Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold
Is full of blessings."
~ Edith Holden
The Nature Notes of an Edwardnian Lady