For Today . . .
Outside my window . . . lovely long-awaited sunshine! It may even get up to 52*F ~ record for this date is 54*F in 1917.
I am thinking . . . that I hope a local job opportunity for THE Man will work out. He now drives 1-1/2 hrs EACH way to work everyday. :-(
I am thankful . . . that THE Man even HAS a job!
In the kitchen . . . bread baking day. Also making a batch of laundry detergent.
I am wearing . . . jeans, long-sleeved shirt w/gray & pink hearts, socks.
I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.
I am going . . . to take DD#2 to work.
I am wondering . . . how long, Oh Lord?
I am reading . . . Bible; daily scheduled assigned reading from The Story. And reading Being George Washington.
I am hoping . . . that life will calm down enough that I will have more reading time. I used to read SO much & just haven't been able to. I can't believe how long it now takes me to finish a book! Sheesh.
I am looking forward to . . . getting a facial & mani/pedi tomorrow!! Woohoo!!! THE Man blessed me w/a gift certificate from CHRISTmas & tomorrow is the day. Ahhhh!
I am learning . . . new lessons on God's timing . . . whether I want to or not. :-/
Around the house . . . FINALLY finishing-up some trim work on the bathroom, the new wall cupboard for the bathroom should be finished this week.
One of my favorite things . . . singing ~ all by myself, in front of an audience, praise & worship w/the saints ~ what a wonderful gift of expression & worship the Lord has given us.
A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, a possible schedule change at work :-) Sunday worship w/the saints.
A favorite quote for the day . . . "Feminism is mixed up with a muddled idea that women are free when they serve their employers but slaves when they help their husbands." ~G. K. Chesterton.
Scripture thought . . . "Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge." ~Psalm 119:54
A peek into my day . . .
My hammered dulcimer. I play as much as I can.Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
"For the sake of Your word and according to Your will, You have done this great thing and made it known to your servant." ~II Samuel 7:21
"Your words have supported those who stumbled; You have strengthened faltering knees." ~Job 6:25
"I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word." ~Psalm 119:16
"May Your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your promise; then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in Your Word."
~Psalm 119:41-42
I have kept a habit for the around the last 10 years. Oh, don't worry, it's a GOOD habit! lol
It starts out that I am a note-taker. I keep a little notebook in my purse to write down ideas for articles or blog posts, & for great quotes that come up from time-to-time. I am also one of those people you might see furiously writing down notes in Sunday School or during the Sunday Sermon. I learn more by writing and seeing.
I used to have piles of notes & church bulletins with notes scribbled all over them . . . and because they were in a pile, many eventually got thrown away. So sad.
When my girls were little, the Lord put the idea into my heart that 1) why take all those notes if they weren't going to be saved and re-read? 2) His Word, along with my thoughts on them, may benefit someone ~ my family, in particular. 3) They are all written in my own hand & may be treasured just as much as I treasure hand-written letters from loved ones who have passed.
So, I started getting those blank notebooks that they sell in gift shops & book stores (there are some really beautiful ones, I especially like the ones that already look old & worn) & from there was born the habit of writing out my sermon notes, adding my own thoughts to them & writing out the words to worship songs that touch my heart. With these all being written my own handwriting, I'm hoping that they will become treasured by my daughters & for future generations. I'm hoping that they will help to lead my descendants to the loving arms of Jesus Christ (should He tarry) & also give them a glimpse into my own life, thoughts, prayers, favorite music, my walk with the Lord & how precious God's word is/was to me.
And it will all be in my own handwriting. In a world going high-tech, I'm hoping that this will be appreciated as a treasure from their past.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
"Home-based education is NOT an experiment. It's how people learned to function in the world for centuries. And there is no reason to think people today can't do the same thing. School is the experiment, not the lack of it, and the experiment is in trouble." -Wendy Priesnitz/author
Our dear friend, Gregg Harris, has often observed, arguments against homeschooling by parents are equally valid against home cooking by parents. (But don't tell Michelle O.)
"Parents might not balance meals properly, they might give their kids ... junk food, some might not feed their kids at all. Some might leave "gaps" in their children's dietary experience. Shouldn't we then require all parents to use meal plans prepared and approved by university educated and certified dietitians? And bring their children in at least once a year to be measured and weighed to make sure that they are following the plans properly? And if their children are not within the proper height and weight ranges on the charts, then their right to cook at home would be revoked and the children required to take their meals at state-run and -supervised cafeterias?
"I actually hesitate to spell this out in too much more detail for fear that someone will take me seriously and draw up plans to implement state-certified nutritional and cooking programs for parents. Don't laugh!
"It sounds ridiculous when applied to the matter of feeding our children, but it is equally ridiculous when applied to the far more important matter of educating our children."
As many of you know, we homeschooled our girls their whole lives ~ officially for 16 yrs, K through 12 for both. I would never have done it any other way.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
I am seeing . . . the driveway & yard almost back to normal after our roof was replaced.
I am hearing . . . radio, Maggie the dog barking.
I am smelling . . . chili.
I have tasted . . . the sweet & spicy taste of chili on this cold, dreary day.
I am feeling . . .
Anxious to get my little herb & little kitchen garden started. I would love to have one just like this. Come on, Spring!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
PASSAGE: "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" ~Daniel 3:16-18 [emphasis mine]
"Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him." ~Job 13:15
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." ~I Peter 2:12
LESSON LEARNED: Hard times . . . persecution . . . outcast from the popular crowd . . . we've all struggled with being accepted for who we are. More-over, as Christians, is seems that the deck is always stacked against us.
More and more, we are faced with decisions that MUST be shaped by our walk with Jesus Christ. In the culture we live in ~ whether school or work or even with extended family members ~ there are times when we never quite know what situation we will be thrown into. Will my profession of faith & life of integrity condemn me as an outcast because I'm a "goody-goody" and won't go along with the crowd? . . . keep me from getting promoted because I won't bend the rules? . . . foster false rumors that will run through the family grapevine because of some sort of miss-placed jealousy? There will be times in our lives when things, or people, will be lost to us because of our stand with Christ.
Oh, but when we stand!
When we stand, I have no doubt that "the God we serve is able to save us from it . . . But even IF He does not . . . " And even IF He does NOT, our God is a great God. He alone will bring glory unto Himself even out of our weakness. Whether winning or losing in the Lower Story (the "earthly realm" as referred to in The Story), our walk with the Lord ALWAYS ends in VICTORY! Our obedience and integrity will ALWAYS quiet the nay-sayers. God is concerned that we handle what the world brings against us in a way that brings glory to Him. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had no guarantee that God would deliver them out of the blazing furnace or the jaws of the lions, although they knew that He could. But what they KNEW God would do ~ whether they lived or died ~ was that He would bring glory to Himself. That lives would be touched because of their faithfulness.
Our faithfulness gives those around us tangible evidence of God's glory in our good times or bad ~ that's what really matters when we face difficulties in this world. May He shine through it all.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
I just HAD to bring this up. Sometimes, those in this current White House boggle my mind & make me want to scream.
But I just wanted you to see this for yourself so that if any of your more Liberal friends or relatives tell you that B.O. did the right thing by denying the pipeline ~ & the jobs & energy independence that would have come from it ~ PLEASE show them THIS . . .
This is a layout of all the pipelines ALREADY running between the USA & Canada. Isn't it "funny" that the people who work on these pipelines & related jobs AREN'T complaining, "funny" how they AREN'T proving with photos that their "pristine" land is being destroyed (because it's not), "funny" how there are no "endangered" animals that are being disrupted or put farther into danger. BUT we can't help ourselves with our own North American resources.
By the way ~ Look at ALL those pipes going through Ohio! I have no idea where any of them are. They aren't bothering anyone I know.
OK . . . rant over . . . blood pressure going down. Thank you for your time.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
For Today . . .
Outside my window . . . a blue tarp. Beyond that, it's gray & c-c-cold.
I am thinking . . . about errands I need to run.
I am thankful . . . for being able to get a huge home repair done.
In the kitchen . . . bread baking day. Chicken & stir-fried veggies later on.
I am wearing . . . jeans, rust-colored thermal Old Navy shirt, wool socks. It's COLD!
I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.
I am going . . . to run some errands, get as much done around the house as I can before I go to work.
I am wondering . . . about doing the Daniel Fast.
I am reading . . . Bible: This week's assignments for The Story are in Daniel & Jeremiah.
I am hoping . . . a certain relationship w/an extended family member will have to come to an end. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." ~Romans 12:18. Unfortunately, sometimes "living at peace" with someone means severing the strings. :-(
I am looking forward to . . . the possibility of some day-time hours at work!
I am learning . . . not to rush a good thing.
Around the house . . . a new roof; banging & pounding . . . driving Maggie the dog crazy. :-/
One of my favorite things . . . laughing & talking about wonderful family memories.
A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, home repairs, cleaning house, Sunday worship w/the saints.
A favorite quote for the day . . . "Christianity is NOT a 'self-help religion;' it IS about FORGIVENESS of sin & a RELATIONSHIP with & IDENTITY in Jesus Christ. I am NOT worthless BECAUSE Jesus Christ died for ME!" ~from Sunday's sermon.
Scripture thought . . . "I will show the holiness of My great Name, which has been profaned among the nations, the Name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show Myself holy through you before their eyes." ~Ezekiel 36:20-21
A peek into my day . . .
The view outside my window as the roof is being replaced. Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
"I want to ask a favor of you, Marmee," Amy said, coming in, with an important air, one day.
"Well, little girl, what is it?" replied her mother, in whose eyes the stately young lady still remained 'the baby.'"
Little Women ~ Ch. 26
For my youngest "baby" who will soon be 21 ~ whether I want her to be or not. :-)
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
ATTENTION homeschoolers & lovers of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott . . .
Here is an opportunity to down-load a FREE (FREE!!!!) audio version of Little Women.
This is a classic radio version of the reading of the book, complete with Katherine Hepburn as Jo.
Click HERE to get your FREE copy!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim (a.k.a. Marmee)<><
OK girls . . . if you haven't already experienced it, you KNOW it's coming!
HOT FLASHES! . . . NIGHT SWEATS! Que the Psycho music!
Your own personal quick trip to the tropics whether you want to go or not.
I don't know about you, maybe it's a regional thing, but once I started having peri-menopausal/menopausal symptoms I found that there were really very few women I could talk to about it all. SO MANY women have had hysterectomies ~ including my mother ~ that I found very few who were facing this change of life naturally like me.
So, like so many other things I have faced in my life, I figure that if I need the information, someone else will, too. And, once again, like so many other things I needed information about, I researched & conjured up a few things by trial-&-error.
Here are some of my favorite finds~
HOT FLASH MIST
~10-15 drops clary sage essential oil
~10-15 drops lavender essential oil
~8 drops geranium essential oil
~2-5 drops peppermint essential oil
~distilled water
1) Nearly fill an 8-10 oz misting bottle w/distilled water
2) Add essential oils
3) Shake well before each use, to mix oils
4) Store in refrigerator.
SAGE TEA
Drink a couple of cups per day. Cuts down on perspiration & body odor. (This works for men, too.)
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL
1,300 mg per day (some may need to double the dose ~ start low & add more ONLY IF you need to). I have taken this for years & often recommend it to my customers at the health food store. Helps w/hot flashes, mood swings & breast tenderness. Great source of Gamma Linoenic Acid (GLA).
HOMEOPATHICS
~Lachesis ~ helps w/hot flashes & mood swings
~Palsatilla ~ helps w/hot flashes followed by chills
~Veleriana ~ helps w/intense sweating & insomnia
~Sepia ~ helps w/hot flashes that make you feel exhausted &/or depressed; also good for headaches, including migraines (Sepia is good for so many things)
GOOD TO KNOW . . .
Even sucking a piece of hard candy can help ward off a light/moderate hot flash. That could be a matter of diverting your attention ~ as in Lamaze during labor ~ but it seems to work for many.
FYI . . .
I have written previously, in the Women's Health category, that I elected to not go the HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) route because of it's relationship to causing breast & other female cancers. You may read in those posts that I have chosen to use Flaxseed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil & Progesterone Cream as my regimen & the reasons why.
I have been on this regimen for nearly 6 yrs, having "crossed the line" of peri-menopause to menopause approximately 16 months ago. I must give testimony that I believe this regimen has kept me sane. :-) As many of you may know, 2 yrs ago THE Man was laid off from a great job, I had to go back to working outside of the home, my mom suffered from Alzheimer's & passed away in Sept. 2011, our DD#1 is getting married this year, we've had home repairs & we have a very strained relationship w/a close relative . . . all having gone on while I was in the throws of menopause. I am thrilled to tell you that, other than a few hot flashes & night sweats (usually when I forgot my Evening Primrose Oil) I have done very well. To prove it to myself ~ so as not to think I was imagining how well I was doing while my family was suffering (HA!) ~ the other day I asked THE Man if he knew that I'd gone through menopause about a year ago & he had NO idea! I'm sure he's been gearing up for all those horror stories he's heard of other men of nearly getting eaten alive by their wives, or that I would dissolve into a puddle of incoherent cries & tears, that he was so surprised to know that he'd not noticed ANYTHING! lol
Now, I am NOT saying that prayer & the grace of God didn't play a LARGE part in all of this, but I also believe that He led me to these resources that helped me so much.
I hope that this information will help some of you. And you younger readers, might just want to copy this information to keep for later use ~ in those blessedly busy years while you are raising our children, this may be the last thing on your mind ~ it was for me ~ but it sneaks up on you before you know it. :-) And then YOU will be able to bless someone else with this knowledge.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Edinburgh
