The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#148~ 1/17/12

For Today . . .

Outside my window . . . Rain, dreary, dark & gray.

I am thinking . . . that I hope the farm has milk today. I went out there to get milk & brown eggs yesterday & could only get the eggs. Try #2 today.

I am thankful . . . for a dry, warm, cozy home . . . especially on days like this. Lord, please take care those who don't have a dry, warm place to stay out of the rain.

In the kitchen . . . usually Tuesday is bread baking day, but I needed to make a loaf yesterday. I may make some chicken noodle soup, today.

I am wearing . . . jeans, black long-sleeved t-shirt.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home. A refuge & safe harbor for my family & friends.

I am going . . . to FINALLY take our Christmas tree down today! Ha!

I am wondering . . . if I will REALLY get that Christmas tree down today. '-)

I am reading . . . Bible; The Story.

I am hoping . . . in the expectation of answered prayer.

I am looking forward to . . . 2 days off work!

I am learning . . . once again . . . that God's timing is not my timing.

Around the house . . . general pick up, laundry, making soup, finishing off a little trim work . . . taking down the Christmas tree!

One of my favorite things . . . when THE Man sweetly wakes me up every morning to kiss me good-bye when he leaves for work.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, worship practice, taking down the Christmas tree '-) & Sunday worship w/the saints.

A favorite quote for the day . . . "So many people live a 'guilt-focused life' ~ God IS NOT out to get me! If He is, then Jesus Christ died in vain. The opposite is true ~ I AM FORGIVEN BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST!" ~from Sunday's Sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon." ~Isaiah 55:6-7

A peek into my day . . .

Went & got milk off the farm this morning ~ the internet ~ & then the electric ~ went out before I posted the above. Fortunately, I could copy & paste what I had earlier written & then post it after it came back on. I love to go to the farm for my milk & eggs & open their refrigerator & see that line of cream at the tops of the jugs. Mmmm Mm!

Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Marmee-isms ~#20~ Back to Shouldering Our Burdens

"Oh dear, how hard it does seem to take up our packs & go on," sighed Meg, the morning after the party; for, now the holidays were over, the week of merry-making did not fit her for going on with the task she never liked.

"I wish it was Christmas or New Year all the time; wouldn't it be fun?" answered Jo, yawning dismally.

"We shouldn't enjoy ourselves half so much as we do now. But it does seem nice to have little suppers & bouquets, & go to parties, & drive home, & read & rest, & not work. It's like other people, you know, & I always envy girls who do such things; I'm so fond of luxury," said Meg, trying to decide which of two gowns was the least shabby.

"Well, we can't have it, so don't let us grumble, but shoulder our bundles & trudge along as cheerfully as Marmee does."

Little Women ~ Ch. 4

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#52~ Better Than a String on His Finger

{Word-Filled Wednesday . . . Thursday Edition '-) }

PASSAGE: "But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children . . . " ~Ps. 103:17

"The LORD appeared to us in the past saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'" ~Jer. 31:3

"Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth He has made mention of my name . . . 'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands . . . " ~Is. 49:1(b)-15-16(a)

LESSON LEARNED: At sometime or other, many of us have had such hectic schedules, days with too much to remember, or suffered from a bout of bad memory, that we have had to enlist the old trick of tying a string around our finger so that we wouldn't forget something important.

What if the Lord had to do something like that so that He could remember us? After all, He has A LOT on His plate . . . He has all of creation ~ everywhere ~ to be in charge of, not to mention all those prayers being prayed, sins to forgive, healing to administer, comforting those who mourn and rejoicing with those who rejoice. How does the great-big, incredible God of All remember simple little ol' you and me?

Well, of course, we KNOW that simply BECAUSE He is The One True God that that's part of Who He is. But I think He purposefully stuck this precious "word picture" in the middle of a passage over-flowing with reminders of the promise and hope in His faithfulness so that we would be reminded of just how much He loves even us. God doesn't need a string tied around His finger to remind Himself of us, He loves us so much and thinks of us so often because He has "engraved you on the palms of My hand . . . " What a word-picture! How deep is His love!

So, here's something we should need no string on our finger to remember: God has said to even us ~ "I will not forget YOU!"

Glory in the highest!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

I Think of You Everyday . . .

26 years ago this morning, our sweet little Jessica graced Heaven's gates. I still remember exactly how she felt in my arms & I still think about her ~ even if it's a simple, fleeting thought ~ everyday.

I did this drawing as a Mother's Day gift for myself the May after she passed. The model I used from it was from her last photo, 5 days before she passed.

If you have never read her story, click HERE.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Heavens Declare HIS Glory!

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of HIS hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
~Psalm 19:1-4

{Please turn off my music, at the bottom of the screen, before listening to this incredible song}

CANNONS

It's fallin' from the coulds, a strange & lovely sound
I hear it in the thunder & the rain
It's ringing in the skies, like cannons in the night
The music of the universe plays

We're singing: You are holy, great & mighty
The moon & the stars declare Who You are
I'm so unworthy, but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are

Beautiful & free, the song of galaxies
Reaching far beyond the Milky Way
Let's join in with the sound, C'mon let's sing it out!
As the music of the universe plays.

We're singing: You are holy, great & mighty
The moon & the stars declare Who You are
I'm so unworthy, but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of You!

All glory, honor, power is Yours, Amen!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Bathroom Renovation ~ Part 5 ~ The Little Touches

We (that being The Royal "We" ~ meaning us giving our handyman a break :-D) took some time off the bathroom renovation for the Holidays. But I just wanted to show you a little bit of the neat little extras that help w/the look.

One of THE Man's wishes were fulfilled by getting this bowed shower rod. It makes for a little more room for your extended elbows while reaching up to shampoo your hair. No more of the icky, clingy feeling of the shower curtain "grabbing" you.

The other is the matching small tile above the tub surround. It turned out much nicer than I thought it would. That's always a good thing.

Wish we could "talk" more but I have a busy, busy day today! Leave me some love!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Rosemary Infused Olive Oil

One of my favorite & most-used herbs from my little herb garden is rosemary. I have it on my window sill in the fall & winter & then I replant it in my little herb garden in the spring & summer. It's by far one of the most hardy & useful herbs. I even love to run my fingers over the leaves & take a whiff of it's wonderful aroma.

My rosemary from my herb garden to my windowsill for the winter.

I use rosemary quite often while cooking ~ we eat a lot of chicken & my favorite way to prepare it is my version of "fried" chicken: a couple of TBs of olive oil ~ OR, as I'm about to show you how to make, rosemary infused olive oil ~ w/a couple of sprigs of rosemary in the frying pan, boneless/skinless chicken breast sprinkled w/a little Spike Seasoning & my Absolute Favorite Seasoning Mix. (TRY THIS: next time you grill, lay a rosemary sprig on top of your chicken!) Serve w/sides of broccoli & yellow rice . . . mm mmm! This also makes a great dipping oil.
OK . . . now that I've made myself hungry, I need to get on w/my original topic . . .

Infusing your oils w/rosemary ~ or any other herb ~ is quite easy. The recipe I'm going to share w/you is mostly for cooking, but can also be used for your hair (stimulates circulation for shinier hair) or even as a sore muscle liniment (comforts sore joints & muscles, stimulates circulation by increasing the blood supply). Besides making nearly any salad dressing, or anything prepared stove-top taste better (Italian dishes, fish, chicken, pork), the leaves are antiseptic/anitbacterial/antifungal (which is why I use it in my oily skin face wash) & the antioxidants in rosemary can aid w/digestion & weight loss.

You will need:

~8-10 sprigs of fresh rosemary
~2 c. of cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil (I recommend Hain)
~small cook pot/sauce pan
~pint-sized bottle or jar w/tight-fitting lid or cork
~enough decorative & useful olive oil bottles/decanters ~ for later use in displaying in your kitchen or for gift giving
~small funnel ~ to aid in pouring from bottle to bottle

Directions:

1) Gently wash your rosemary sprigs w/a damp washcloth; set aside to dry.
2) Pour 1 pint of olive oil into the small pot on low heat to warm ~ DO NOT BOIL ~ just warm.
3) Place a few sprigs of rosemary into your pint bottle ~ do not stuff it full ~ rosemary is very herb-a-licious, & you will have another sprig in your finished product, so a little goes a long way.
4) Pour warm oil into pint bottle w/the rosemary, seal w/lid or cork, set aside in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight, for at least 1 week.
5) After that time, take out your used rosemary sprigs & either use to cook something that day or throw them away. In the bottles you will now use for your infused oil, put in a fresh sprig of rosemary &, w/your small funnel, pour the infused oil into the new bottles over the fresh rosemary. Seal w/a lid or cork.

Your new infused rosemary oil is ready to use & enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Diary of 5 ~#1~ 1/4/2012

This is my 1st entry for a new "sister community" that is actually linked to The Simple Woman's Daybook; if you haven't guessed, it's called Dairy of 5 & relates to our 5 senses in present &/or past-tense. Enjoy.

I am seeing . . . my Bible on the computer desk

I am hearing . . . Maggie the dog's sighs as she snoozes in the sunshine that surprised us this afternoon

I am smelling . . . chicken noodles soup

I have tasted . . . chicken noodle soup

I am feeling . . .
2 little eyes watching

Read other Diaries & register your own at Diary of 5!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#147~ 1/4/12

For Today . . .

Outside my window . . . gray skies & snow. A week late . . . but we have snow. :-)

I am thinking . . . about some loose ends that need tying up.

I am thankful for . . . Holy protection.

From the kitchen . . . made a loaf of my flaxseed bread & taco soup yesterday, I think I'll make some easy chicken noodle soup tonight. Found one of those soup mixes that you add your own chicken to that tastes just like homemade. Found mine at Manard's. Mmmm . . .

I am wearing . . . purple pull-over sweater, gray merle cardigan sweater, purple socks & jeans.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to go to praise & worship practice later tonight.

I am wondering . . . how tying up those loose ends will work out.

I am reading . . . Bible; The Story/The Heart of the Story & Being George Washington. Hopefully, my schedule will calm down & I can finish the GW book ~ it's great & I hate only being able to read it in little snippets.

I am hoping . . . for the salvation of extended family members.

I am looking forward to . . . DD#1's birthday dinner this weekend! 24 years old ~ where did the time go?

I am hearing . . . the radio, typing fingers, occasional traffic passing.

Around the house . . . a few painting projects, looking into a new roof. Wow . . . this old house needs so much TLC.

One of my favorite things . . . how a simple thing like changing the paint color of a room can make it look so different.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, house projects, worship practice, Sunday worship w/the saints, DD#1's birthday dinner.

Pondering these words . . . "Do I choose to see God's potential in the person who is hardest for me to love? I am in his/her life for God's purpose." ~from our church's Christmas sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ~ of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him & receive eteranl life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor & glory for ever & ever. AMEN." ~I Timothy 1:15-17 [emphasis mine] If the Lord can save & change a wretch like me, I have to remember to hold out hope ~ to their last breath ~ for the person who is hardest for me to love. I have a dear, school friend who grew up in a Christian home & went to church every Sunday w/her family; she once told me that she KNEW Jesus is real & re-dedicated her life to Him after she saw the the change in me. I will celebrate 30 years of new life in May 2012.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .

This is a very cool photo. See all those big camels? Now look at the bottom of each one . . . THOSE are the camels! What we originally thought were the camels, at 1st sight, are really their SHADOWS! We should all be careful to realize what is real & what is an illusion.

Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Marmee-isms ~#19~ The Look of Love

"They [the Little Women] always looked back before turning the corner, for their Marmee was always at the window, to nod & smile, & wave her hand to them. Somehow it seemed as if they couldn't have got through the day without that; for, whatever their mood might be, the last glimpse of that motherly face was sure to affect them like sunshine."

Little Women ~ Ch. 4

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><