Thankful Thursday

Another wonderful Thursday. I am a very thankful woman today. I am thankful for:

• A sweet loving husband who sends flowers because he's "Thinking of me"
• A wonderful bible fellowship on Wednesdays that renews my strength for the rest of the week.
• A sweet family that opens their home every week for praising, teaching, singing and worshiping. That same family welcomed me to stick around after fellowship to laugh at some pictures and videos. It was so cozy crowding around the computer to giggle and chat.
• Blessings and prosperity God continually pours out on me and my family.
• Airplanes - so I don't have to wait longer for DH to get home.
• Dave Ramsey for his encouragement and directness to help us manage our finances better.
• A teaching that reminded me to focus on God and not bring Him down to my level but take my thinking up to His.
• All my blogging friends who encourage and entertain.

Thanks to Sting My Heart for hosting Thankful Thursday.

Works For Me Wednesday: Shower Clutter

So DH and I used to have the constant battle of all married couples where the wife (or husband) purchases every possible concoction to have in the shower. Not enough room on the little bitty ledges to hold all the bottles. (Curse you Bath and Body Works with your big sales!!)

So when I saw this in Home Depot while looking for...whatever it was DH wanted at the moment (curse you Home Depot and your many many aisles) I knew we had to buy it.

DH has the left two (one for shampoo/conditioner, one for body wash) and I have the other two (one for shampoo, one for body wash). I also use the little shelf for my conditioner and shave cream and we hang our scrubbies on the little hooks. I have a razor that came with a wall attachment and that is on the left side of the dispenser.

Having only one container for body wash limits my selection but now I can store my other scents in our linen closet and switch them out when my section is empty. This allows us to buy shampoo in larger containers because we are refilling and don't have to have the bulky bottles on the ledges.

We have had ours for 2 years and if something breaks which has happened twice now, we can order parts from the company.

It really works for us.

Tackle it Tuesday - Kitchen Reorganization

Ok, so now that DH and I are eating more at home I am seeing in glaring detail the inefficency of my kitchen. We have plans to renovate in the spring but April seems a long way away. I want to post some pictures but seeing as how I can't find my camera cord you will have to wait for an update later tonight. I am employed outside my home so blogging is determined by my work schedule. It would help if I had all of these necessary cords located in one central place but that will be for another Tuesday!

Currently the kitchen has two working counters. One on either side of the sink. However, I have loaded those up with appliances galore and dirty dishes prevail over clear counter space. I have a table which is used as another counter opposite the sink but that is loaded down with junk too. I will be working heartily on this project tonight and I can't wait to post pictures of my progress. I might be biting off more than I can chew here on a weekday night but I'll give it my best!

In lieu of kitchen pictures here is one I thought you might enjoy.

This is Spaz the cat cooling himself by the AC vent. TOO CUTE!! ;)

Here he is saying hi to all our blogging buddies. "Wait, is someone eating a Tuna sandwich while they blog? Gimmie some!"

Menu Plan Monday

Well, this week will be another simple meal week with some dinners out. DH is away on business all week and it's just lonely little me. I usually go out with friends on weeks like this so I'm not eating alone. DH and I are trying not to eat out as much so I think I'll work on eating small meals at home.

• Monday - Chicken Salad Sandwich from Jodi at Deputy Domain. I had some of this over at Mary's home last week and got some delicious apples from her so I will have a sandwich and have leftovers for a tossed salad for lunch tomorrow.
• Tuesday - Seafood night at the local bar and grille. I might head over there with a friend for all you can eat crab legs. So fun to have a girls' night out. If not, I will probably have some Vegetable soup my Mother gave to me and some hot biscuits. DH won't eat vegetable soup so if I want to have it I have to eat it while he's gone. :)
• Wednesday - Chicken Cheese Quesadillas with salsa. I have my bible fellowship tonight so I need something quick.
• Thursday - Beef stew with biscuits. I love walking into a yummy smelling home. I can throw that together in the morning and have it ready when I get home.
• Friday - DH gets home tonight but I'm not sure when. I will probably do a cheeseburger quiche because it's one of his favorites and it is easily reheated for when he arrives. Throw a salad with it and you have a well rounded meal.
• Saturday - DH and I are going to a minor league baseball game tonight so it will be grilled food that comes with our ticket price. I love going to the AAA games because these guys are playing with some real heart and you can get a great picnic package with all you can eat food and great seats for $17.00! We are meeting some people from our bible fellowship there and it should be a GREAT time.
• Sunday - We are having some manly men over to spend the night so I think we may do steak and potatos potatoes with broccoli. Of course some kind of chocolate dessert. I'm not sure yet.

Sure seems like a lot of dialog for a simple list of meals! LOL, I guess that's what blogging is all about. Last week's menus turned out great. We switched a couple of days around but I'm all about being flexible. DH was so proud of me for having dinner planned and not flailing around at the last minute until we ordered pizza! I was proud of me too!

YEA ME!!

For more wonderful menu plans (some with recipes) head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and check out the great ideas.

Thankful Thursday

Wow, this one is going to be tough. I had a rough day yesterday and it has been a difficult few months. I know that writing down those things I'm thankful for will help me handle life in the best way I know how.

I am thankful for:

• A minister with great insight who lets the love of God show through all he does. His sharing last night really hit home;
• A wonderful group of friends and fellow believers to fellowship with and learn with;
• A sweet and loving husband who is willing to hear my fears and address them with the Word, no matter how much I resist (I tend to want to mope);
• Scriptures that are deep inside my heart that only need a quick reminder (from DH or myself) "Romans 8:1, darling;"
• A mother who will take the time to pray with me when DH is in a meeting and God seems so far away;
• Fresh peaches, ripe for eating;
• A cat who, despite his faults, entertains and snuggles when he senses I need it;
• Lungs to take deep breaths;
• A reliable car with a radio that blasts when I need to stay alert and awake;
• Golden Oldies to sing really loud to;
• Thankful Thursday to remind me to breath with those lungs and pray with my understanding and leave the rest in His hands.

Wow, so much deeper than I thought it would be. I think it's just what I needed. Thanks to Sting My Heart for hosting Thankful Thursday.

Tackle It Tuesday

One way I thought I could get back in the swing of blogging was participating in the great "Days of the Week" challenges I see on others' blogs. Today is Tackle it Tuesday and that means I have to find something undone to finish. I think the only problem for me will be where to start!

Because I have many MANY chores to do at home, I thought I would tackle some run around errands throughout my day today.

1. Schedule doctors appointments;
2. Ask for time off for doctor appointments;
3. Return library books - library is downtown where I work; and
4. Pick up new contact lenses.

Whew, getting these things done during the day will allow me to focus on my home tonight.

To check out more Tuesday Tackles or to add your own, go to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Menu Plan Monday

I have been away from the blogsphere for a while, but now I'm back. Here's the Menu for this week. It will be a very busy week so some quick meals were in order. DH will be stopping at a very very delicious farmer's stand on Tuesday so many many fresh veggies and fruits are on the menu for the later part of the week. DH loves tomato sandwiches when the tomatoes are in season so he can have those on Wednesday. I'm not wild about them so I have given myself the hot dog option. It's all about what works for my family. :) Thursday we are having company for dinner so a dessert was in order.

I have also been preparing different sweets for DH to take to work with him. I was inspired to do more of this from Meredith over at Merchant Ships. DH has enjoyed taking a treat to the "guys" at the power plant where he works. The benefit of baking something sweet for him to take to work is I get to taste test before it goes out the door. I get to have something sweet without being tempted to eat the whole tray. :P

• Monday: Grilled Chicken Salad, Iced Tea


• Tuesday: Deer & Broccoli Stir-fry (with Mini Corn & Water Chestnuts; DH’s favorite), Rice, Iced Tea


• Wednesday: Hot Dogs (Me) or Tomato Sandwiches (DH), Potato Chips, Iced Tea


• Thursday: BBQ Grilled Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Baked Beans, Brownies or some other dessert, Iced Tea


• Friday: Shepherd’s Pie, Iced Tea


• Saturday: Grilled Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Salad, Iced Tea


• Sunday: Pizza, Salad, Iced Tea

For more wonderful menu plans (some with recipes) head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and check out the great ideas.

I've been tagged - Library meme

Molly over at Cuppa, Cuppa, Cuppa posted this meme.

Literary Meme

How it works:

1. grab the book closest to you

2. open it to page 161

3. find the 5th full sentence

4. post the text of the sentence to your blog

5. don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that is really next to you.

6. tag five people to do this meme

The book next to me is Paralegal Practice and Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Legal Assistant

The Sentence is "Moreover, to develop your skill requires constant practice, practie and more practice."

That is pretty cool. I have been struggling so much with developing my homekeeping skills. Who knew the answer to my problems was in a book I use for work! LOL

I guess I need to get back at my Amigurumi Chicken pattern I picked up from this site I will show pictures as I move along. I started it the other day but I was using pink yarn and no stitch markers. I'm stuck now because I can't remember where my rounds started and I don't know how to decrease. I will restart the pattern after a quick stop at Walmart. I will pick up some white yarn instead of pink.

An Evening of Game with DH

For Christmas last year my Mom and Dad got my DH a beautiful chess set. It had been languishing in a box for long enough, I decided to set it up on our coffee table in the living room so Dh and I could play "on a whim."





The chess pieces are soldiers and officials from the Revolutionary War. DH played as the United States and I was England. The most difficult thing about this chess set is the lack of a female "Queen." The box didn't come with labels so we just guessed. DH figured the officer with the bars on his shoulders was the king and made the other officer the "queen." I think on my end King George ended up being the "queen" simply because he was wearing a cloak dress. Poor King George.

I am not a chess master. I dont claim to be one and I really only know how the different pieces move (Even if they are "cloaked" as queens). I figured I could learn from DH how to play and we could have a great time. He was really helpful and showed me a lot. I know more now about chess than I ever did.

The chess match did not last long. I tried to win but...




I just couldn't alter history. America is still free and what remained of Great Britain has retreated. Poor King George.



I guess the Revolutionary War will have to be fought again another day.

Bacon makes anything taste great!

DH and I had some family and friends over for dinner last weekend. My father-in-love and his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s niece all came to the house on Saturday night for food and fellowship. My FIL loves oysters so my DH wanted to make some oysters wrapped in bacon for an appetizer.

I am not a big fan of oysters. I think they are slimy and gross looking. After confirming that DH would be making that appetizer I put “oysters” on my shopping list.



Don’t they look yummy? You can’t tell from the picture but that oyster on the top of the jar is spinning around uncontrollably! EEWWWW

After DH rinsed out the oysters thoroughly and got the grit out of them he got out the bacon and sliced it in half. Then he took one large oyster or two smallish oysters and placed it like so:


Then he wrapped the bacon around the oyster and put a toothpick through the middle.




The toothpick serves two purposes. One is to hold it all together and the other is to enable easy turning on the grill.



I am proud to say I did the last row of oysters on the cookie sheet! They aren’t so slimy…ok, they are, but I was able to get over it. : )

Then my grill master husband put them all on the grill. That’s a fish pan you see under the majority of the oysters. That comes in handy when we want to grill a nice flaky fish and the grates on the grill are too harsh for the tender fish.



Then when the bacon is fully cooked, the oysters are done too.

Drain them on a paper towel or two and then eat them while they are hot!


I have to admit it, I think I may have been converted! I don’t like them raw and they feel slimy, but they sure taste great wrapped in bacon and grilled!! Of course, everything tastes better with bacon.

Even Spaz the cat thinks so.

Update on DH

His fever broke at around 3AM. It was as high as 103 degrees. I was in a state of constant prayer for most of the early morning. I was so blessed to see 100.3 degrees this morning. Then, before I left for work, it was 99.7. Thank you Father!! DH was moving around and seemed to be feeling better. It certainly gave me peace of mind heading off to work knowing he was better. I will go home at lunch of course and check on my wonderful DH but I think we are through the worst of it.

It is at times like this I feel such a strong pull to be at home. I am tired from being up all night, my DH still needs me and here I am at a JOB! Sometimes I wonder how I can reframe my priorities and realize I don't need to feel bad for my employers if I leave. I have grown so accustomed to them I would hate to leave but I can feel everyday my priorities are skewed.

I guess I better get back to work and focus my attentions to the tasks at hand. Work heartily as unto the Lord, not men.

Its only half past 12 but I don't care...my DH needs me

Here I am, sitting at my computer waiting until 1AM so I can check my DH's temperature again. He was shivering and burning up earlier tonight. Once we got in bed I tried to stay close to him so I could help regulate his body temperature. I couldn't get to sleep because he was BURNING UP!! It seemed like the longer I lay with my back to his the hotter he got. He was sleeping really hard but whimpering in his sleep. I started to get really concerned. I prayed for him as well as myself. I could tell I was losing it with worry. I got up and did what any "new" wife would do, I called my Mama!

We prayed together and I started getting more peaceful. She gave me some good advice. Get his temperature (which I hadn't done yet, just the hand on the forehead thing) and then give him some Tylenol. Wait 45 minutes to an hour and take his temperature again. If it hasn't gone down even a little bit, call the doctor. After discussing his symptoms we figure he has the flu. He had a filling done last week and his jaw has been aching ever since. He has been so busy at work he hasn't had the opportunity to get it checked out yet. DH and I figure his bite just needs adjusted but Mama said it might be some infection started there and that could be the reason for his symptoms.

She encouraged me to remember that "by his stripes, ye WERE healed." Past tense. God has already put in great guards in our bodies to fight off infection. He has also provided for medications and doctors if our bodies need a little help.

DH has a temperature of 102. He took some Tylenol and now I wait for another 1/2 hour to wake him and take another reading. I am believing for great deliverance. DH needs his rest but a little peace of mind for me will help me rest better and take care of him too.

On the topic of medical care, growing up we always had 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Aid.

1st Aid - Pray for yourself, if you don't feel better within 10 minutes-6 hours (depending on the severity of your injury) go to 2nd Aid. And of course if it is life threatening, go to the HOSPITAL.

2nd Aid - Have someone minister to you. Sometimes someone outside yourself can see things you can't and can give you some words of comfort and encouragement. This can be via telephone (gotta love technology) because even just talking through your symptoms can be helpful. And of course if it is life threatening, go to the HOSPITAL

and last but NOT least

3rd Aid - Seek medical help. A lot of times I skip right to 3rd Aid because I know what is causing my headache (lack of water) or my tummy ache (indigestion, heartburn). The great thing about our bodies is that we have the ability to sense what is wrong and really, if we lift things to God, he can and does give us the guidance we need.

So, off I go to check on DH and maybe then I can get some rest. I should take some Airborne too, so I don't catch whatever this little bug is.

Dramatic haircut (with Pictures) for Locks of Love

Ok, this will be a very "picturey" post. My DH is the fabulous photographer for these shots.

After much deliberation and a week of planning, I went to my local hair salon on March 30th and had 12" of hair cut off of my head!!!

Why in the world would someone do this after just learning how to french braid her own hair? This is why. On Thursday night DH and I were laying in bed and all of a sudden I realized I was getting it cut off the following day. "WHAT AM I DOING?!!!" I started to panic. DH was so sweet. He listened and then simply stated that "Hair grows back, but some little girl will have a beautiful set of pigtails because of your great big heart"

I was sold!

Here is the before shot of my ponytail.


Here are some "during" shots. You can see my eyes are closed in these pictures. I was praying. I was praying for the child receiving my hair and the organization that provides this services and I was praying that my hairdresser would be able to make me look presentable! LOL, I'm glad I have such a personal God!!




12 inches ready to be sent off.


Here is my after shot. I am still getting used to styling short hair. I have never had hair this short before. I have to get a "round brush" and thankfully Mrs. B has shared some advice on her WFMW

Dyson Giveaway

Over at 5 Minutes For Mom they are doing a Dyson Slim Giveaway. This would be awesome to win but I am just happy they are making a lighter, smaller Dyson. The others are so expensive and huge I just haven't even contemplated them. If you want to, go an enter at 5 Minutes For Mom

A Package From Jodi Deputy!!!

I have been gone long enough. After all the hustle and bustle in our house from the plumbing I have been neglectful of my little blog. I missed you all so very much!

A while back Jodi over at Deputy Domain did a contest for her 200th Post and I won!! I was so excited as I thoroughly enjoy her blog and it is always a long pit-stop on my internet travels. Shortly thereafter I recieved a big ol' box in the mail, she was very timely on sending it out...I unfortunately am not as timely blogging about it. When I opened it up I was pleasantly surprised by the lovely card nestled right on top.




I started tearing into it and these are the wonderful books I found.



This magazine is LOVELY! I was so excited to realize I can find a nice teapot and cups without spending a fortune. Some delicious looking recipes as well.



I haven't cracked the spine on this book yet, although I did flip through looking at the bright, inviting pictures.



I just started this book. So far it is sad and humbling. I am only on chapter 2 though and I am sure it cheers up as the main character has a wonderful spark about her.



What could be under this beautiful handkerchief?



CANDY OF COURSE!!!!



What a wonderful gift to receive.

THANK YOU THANK YOU JODI!!!

I still haven't received my package from Mrs. Wilt for the Procrastination Challenge. I certainly hope everything is alright.

God is Good...ALWAYS!

I wanted to share how God has blessed my DH and me during this whole plumbing nightmare.

When we first found out how much the emergency repair would cost we were concerned. Where was the money going to come from? Where did we need to cut back? How would we take care of this without going in DEBT?

God answers prayer.

We did our tax return in February. We got a sizable refund only a couple of weeks later. We paid off a credit card and were saving the rest to pay off our last credit card when DH received his end of the year bonus. Normally we would receive that bonus at the end of March. For some reason (GOD) we found out we would be receiving it this week. We had specific plans laid out for that money. We were going to 1) pay off our last credit card, 2) put a down payment on my braces and 3) buy a flat panel TV for our family room. One need and two wants (my teeth aren't THAT bad, it was basically for cosmetics and because I clench and grind my teeth at night).

Even with the plumbing situation we still have enough to pay off our last credit card and we have not gone into debt to fix the emergency!

Sometimes it takes a little deep breathing, intense believing, and some renewing of the mind to see where God is during difficult times. How blessed we are to have our own home. How thankful we are for God's great timing. The devil may be in the details but GOD is in the deliverance! Praise GOD!!!

I John 1:5

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Psalm 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

I Am Making Progress

This past weekend I got a lot accomplished. I did my routines (was up early and everything!) and even got some extra housework done. Here's a picture of my stars...




I did really well on Monday as well, although I don't have a picture of that one. Tuesday and Wednesday are a different story all together.

On Tuesday I decided not to take a shower that night because I was too tired. When I woke up on Wednesday I was so mad at myself for skipping that item on my routine. DH gave me a "free pass" on the laundry because of the plumbing situation but I ruined my "star power" by skipping my shower. So silly of me. So here I was on Wednesday, mad at myself for "failing" and giving up on the day because "the month is ruined anyway."

Can you say PERFECTIONIST!!!!!!!

Last night I was moping and pouting. DH wouldn't let me get away with it for long...he knew why I was pouting, I wanted him to say "it's ok about yesterday, go ahead and put your star on, it's been a rough week...etc." How childish and immature I am!!! Well, I renewed my mind and cut up some leftover steak for stirfry. I made dinner and got a load of laundry started. DH cleaned up the kitchen (unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher) and gave me a big hug. He reminded me I didn't need a "month" of stars, I need 30 days of consecutive stars. That is my goal. It was time to refocus and get back in gear.

This morning I had a dentist appointment at 8:00 A.M. I could have given up on my Morning Routine because "I don't have time this morning" but I DIDN'T.

I got a load of laundry started and I got the dishwasher unloaded. I have bible fellowship tonight so dinner will be quick and easy, maybe another stirfry, maybe some fast food. DH will be working late so he will probably grab a bite on his way home.

I am making progress but bad habits (and attitudes) are really hard to break! I am so thankful my DH knows me so well and is willing to lovingly reprove me with the Word when I am wrong! *Happy sigh* I am such a blessed woman.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Terra Cotta - Great for Pots, Not for Pipes PART 2 (or Why I've Been MIA)

OK, so this week has been REALLY rough. If you will refer to this post you will be up to date with our situation.

OK, so they flushed the pipes and came back to see what the problem was (they couldn't see for all the "gunk" last time). In one month we were completely backed up again! I was so discouraged. Here is the whole tale.

The plumbers came out and put in their camera to take a look. After ~16 feet they were to the NEW back up. The plumber took his little "find the camera" thingy (like a metal detector) and went outside to find the camera. I watched from the basement door. He paced out about 16 feet and started looking in an arc to find the spot of the problem. The arc got closer and closer to our home. (at this point I am praying "not in the house, not in the house, not in the house") When he came back to the door he said, "well, we're in the house."

"NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!"

He searched in the basement and found the spot. In our family room. IN our family room!! IN OUR FAMILY ROOM!!!

We scheduled the excavation (read: jackhammer 8 feet of our floor and remove the "contaminated material" and busted pipe) for the next day (Tuesday, March 5th). I took the day off of work, my bosses were very understanding, and stayed at home to "supervise" the work. (read: Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray. Oh, and pray)

At the end of the day there was a big hole in the floor of our home and more bad news. The pipe INSIDE our house is collapsing (read: $5,800) and we need to fix it soon. The pipe OUTSIDE our house is collapsing (read: $6,000) and we need to replace it. After spending almost $4,000 on this emergency repair I was a little shell shocked.

I have been very dejected from all this. DH has been working so hard during this outage and I have been handling all the communication with the plumber. I was mortified to find out that we needed $11,000 worth of work done. I was scared and depressed.

DH came home yesterday and gave me a big hug. We talked about the situation. The inside pipe can wait for a while. The only pipe they were talking about was from the floor drains in the storage side of the basement and the laundry sink. (NOT all the plumbing in the house) The inside repairs can wait. (Praise the Lord) As for the outside repairs, we will get a second opinion. DH has received a reputable plumber's name from one of the guys he works with. This co-worker was born and raised in this community and his family is very involved. He is a GREAT source for recommendations.

For now, we have the emergency fixed, the pipe has been replaced and the hole has been filled with new concrete. We can use the "facilities" as well as the dishwasher and laundry. We can wait until we get a second estimate for the outside work and save for the rest of the inside work.

I am so much more peaceful. I was trying to stay my mind on the promise of God "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. I love God, I am called, I must trust in Him to work things together for good.

As I was digesting that the family room carpet would have to be torn up for the jackhammer to get in there I thought about the fact that I was so disappointed when we couldn't re-carpet the basement when we first moved in two years ago. We have this harsh RED carpet in there right now. There is NO padding left and it is cold because of the concrete beneath it. Now I see the "work together for good" in that situation. We would have had to tear up the new carpet to fix this problem if we had gone in debt to put the carpet in the family room. "Thank you God, you knew this was coming and made it less painful by 'working together for good'."

Well, I will post on my weekend later, including pictures, but for right now I am going to listen to some calm music and thank God for His love and care for my family.

"Success Breeds Success"

This is what my mother would say to me when I would complain about having to do some little chore around the house when there were "bigger" things to be done.

Success Breeds Success = Faithful in least, faithful in much



That's right ladies...TWO stars now! And today has started off strong. DH said that on the weekends as long as I am up before 7 A.M. and get the rest of the things accomplished I can consider my Morning Routine successful. I was up at around 6:30 and have been running ever since. I took a break for a little while and watched "Nanny McPhee" on TV. So cute, it's like Mary Poppins with a little "umph."

Now I have more chores to get accomplished and some errands to run.

DH is working today and this week is going to be rough for him. He is the Engineer at a Natural Gas & Steam (called Combined Cycle) power plant and they are having an "outage" right now. Basically, they shut everything down, open things up and then they deep clean, repair, modify or overhaul everything and get everything up a running again. A LOT of long, hard days lay ahead and I know I will need to be on top of my game (so to speak) to keep everything peaceful. DH said there were three things he would like for me to focus on this week.

• Peaceful & Tidy Home
• Laundry Done
• Iced Tea ready when he gets home

He would also like simple meals that can be reheated if necessary. I think this week will be a time for cassaroles. I only have ONE in my repetoire (Shepherds Pie) so I guess I better do some digging. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

This is going to be a great week for me to work on my Husband Keeping skills :)

Ultimate Blog Party

I added the Ultimate Blog Party banner on my blog. I didn't read up on it to see if I have to do something specific or just invite y'all over to my blog and introduce myself.

My name is Rean Day. I am a non-denominational Christian, born again of God's spirit and working to live my life according to his matchless Word. I live in SW PA and have been married to a wonderful Mr. Steady for almost 5 years. DH is an Engineer and is always helping me see the logical/practical side of things. I have always dreamed of being a SAHM but so far DH and I are childless. I would love to be a SAHW but I am having some struggles with leaving the work force. This blog has become almost a journal of my progress and decision making "sounding board." I love the community that I have found online. I am meeting so many woman who have the same desires I do and are leading as examples. I would love to get to know more and more of you as the days go by.

I guess that is a little about me. I will have to take a tour of the "Party Scene" and say hey to all of you too!

Pleased to meet you.
Rean Day

My Routines

As I stated yesterday, I am focusing on establishing routines in my life. This is something I learned but never implemented from Flylady but was further encouraged by an article on Survival Basics by Large Family Logistics.

Here is my Morning Routine:


This is what I am to get accomplished before I leave for work at 8:40 A.M. One thing that has made my "Read the Word for 15 min" easier is this program. It really helps to have the definitions of words right at my fingertips. I enjoy reading my Bible in a big comfy chair, but sometimes I need more focused study in the mornings.

Here is my Evening Routine:


This routines starts when I get home. It is mainly a list of things I need to do before going to bed. I may expand on these routines at a later time but for right now they are posted on my bathroom mirror where I can see them everytime I go in that room.


You can see the reflection of our shower curtain in the mirror. The wallpaper is really bold 70s but I've tried to "go with the flow" and keep with the green/yellow color scheme until we can redo the bathroom.

My goal is complete my routines (both Evening and Morning) everyday for one whole month with no skipped days! So far March is looking good.



Can you see the sparkle? Here's a close-up.



YEA!!! I am so proud of me. One thing I am able to shift from Evening to Morning is the "Put laundry in dryer" I can do this before I leave for the day, then I just fluff them in the evening and put them away.

I am blessed I am making these routines work for me.

Focus and Shining Stars

I wish I could remember where I got this little picture. It really blesses me. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know, I want to give credit where credit is due!
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Shame on me for taking so long between posts!

I have been under the weather this past week. I believe I came down with the stomach bug so many people were talking about. I am grateful to be feeling much much better today.

Work is going ok. I have been so unfocused lately. I know part of it is because I have not been putting my full heart into my job. As much as I want to be home full time I know I have a responsibility to my Heavenly Father to represent Him in ALL that I do. Yes, even my full-time, away from home, mentally exhausting, secular, exciting, rewarding job.

DH and I talked last night about my lack of focus at work and my desire to be home full-time. We decided that until I get my Morning and Evening Routines down for a month I shouldn't even think about quitting to come home. I need to set myself up for success and establishing those routines is the way I can do this. I will do a separate post on my routines. I have silver stars I will be posting on my calendar at the end of every day to show myself I am accomplishing my goals.

I am so very thankful to have a problem-solving, sweet and loving supportive husband.

I feel all shiny inside!! It's time to make my calendar shiny too!

Presidents Day - A Day of Focus

Well, I was planning on doing this post yesterday but I got too wrapped up in the day.

I am always so thankful when I have a day off of work when DH will be working. I am able, on days such as this, to feel connected with my home and see it in a new light.

I was enjoying my lunch in the basement family room while I watched a show which had been recorded on TIVO and I lifted my eyes to see sun shining through the little half window above the couch. I suddenly realized I had never noticed the sun in this room. I am working so much I haven't even had the joy of seeing how the sun hits the upright piano on a sunny afternoon. I cried, both for joy and for sorrow. I am so out of touch with my home I don't even know its inner workings. I am so blessed I was able to witness this moment of clarity and enlightenment. It reminded me of one of my favorite hymns.

Open My Eyes

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

I was able to focus on my home yesterday. I threw open the windows in the master bedroom and the bathroom. Opened the door from the kitchen to the screened in porch (much to the joy of Spaz who ran out immediately and basked in the sun rays on the porch swing) as well as the front door to let the light in. I put on a sweatshirt to keep myself warm from the cool air coming in and put myself to work.

I cleaned the bathroom in detail, so nice to have a shiny bathroom.
I washed a load of laundry as well as dried and put away.
I emptied ALL trash cans for the garbage men to haul away (they don't have Presidents Day off)
I cleaned out my fridge
I loaded my dishwasher
I shovelled my front porch and driveway
I read Little Homes and Big Heart
I made dinner
I greeted my DH who came home at 3:30 to pack a suitcase for his trip
I prayed with DH for a safe drive and profitable week
I closed up the windows, lit some yummy candles;
Took a nice hot shower in my nice clean bathroom and snuggled into my freshly made bed to fall into a deep, peaceful sleep.

After all I accomplished yesterday and the eye opening fact that I CAN accomplish things at home all day I am much much closer to deciding to come home to stay. I have established routines for my daily life now and can see the benefit of being a SAHW. I am becoming more convinced I can overcome the fears and apprehensions I listed before in this post.

I am excited to see the progress I am making.

Terra Cotta - Great for Pots, Not for Pipes

DH and I had noticed an "off" smell in our home. As soon as you walked in the door, it smelt as if I had broccoli sitting in the closet, just waiting to be found. After you left the entryway it disappeared and only reappeared as you opened the door to head down to the basement family room and laundry.

I have searched for 2 or more weeks for the source of the smell. I cleaned throughout the house. Found my nephew's lost car and my nieces Christmas gift (don't ask) but no broccoli, no dead animal, no "foreign objects" anywhere.

In deep frustration I spoke to my dearest friend and her family. They suggested the possibility that something had crawled in my heater vent system and died. Eeek! I was going to call the duct cleaners when the smell disappeared last week. I thought we were home free. DH was out of town last week and things were nice and quiet. On Friday I did a load of laundry and left for work. When I arrived home the smell was BACK!!! "Oh for heaven's sake!!" I exclaimed to my befuddled husband who had just arrived home from a loooonnng drive. I had wanted the house nice and fresh with the laundry done when he came home.

Long story longer, we have terra cotta pipes running from our home to the sewer line and they have shifted and collected "gunk" along the way. Doing laundry was the culprit. After $600.00 worth of "Hydroscrubbing" (read pressure washing) we can now do our laundry, take a shower and run the dishwasher among the other normal activities. We cannot, however, leave the terra cotta in the ground the way it is. We have another appointment with the plumber to determine how much time and money it will take to replace the pipe so we aren't seeping into the soil around our home.

I guess I will have to plant my tomatoes in Terra Cotta pots instead of in the ground this year. It's a good thing terra cotta is good for pots!

Full Week and a Fun Weekend

I have been out of the blogsphere for a about a week now. DH was out of town for a week so I was enjoying a little down time from the internet as well. I have been focusing on my current job as well as working on my home. I found I was so focused on wanting to be at home, I was shirking some of my duties at the office. I decided that "Whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord" applies in ALL situations so I took some time to commit to the office. It is difficult "serving two masters" but I need to remember to do my best in both arenas until I make the decision as to becoming a SAHW.

I have also been working on researching and journaling my desire to be a SAHW. The resources everyone provided for me to utilize in the comment section of My Passion to be a SAHW post. I was avoiding posting until I could post some of my notes from my study. I realized I was procrastinating and decided to just post!! : D

DH got home Friday night and we picked up his niece (11) and nephew (9) on Saturday. We spent the day at the Science Museum and enjoyed a Laser Light Show that night in the planetarium. They spent the night and DH's Brother and Sister-in-law came to pick the kids up today. We had such a fun time. We played "Guitar Hero" on the Playstation 2 and had fun with Yahtzee too. I made sweet cream biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast and had hot dogs with macaroni and cheese for lunch.

What a fun time. I love having kids over. DH and I love to spoil them and laugh with them and teach them while they are here. When we were playing Yahtzee, which neither of them had played before, we were able to talk about math and decision making (as far as whether to use a three-of-a-kind or go for the Yahtzee).

I have been doing really well with a Morning and Bedtime routine. I will do a separate post on the progress I have made. Just know I HAVE MADE PROGRESS!!! Yay!!

I'm a WINNER!!

I feel so blessed to have accomplished so much this past week. I did my daily check of my favorite websites/blogs and guess what?!!

I WON!!

I was surprised to see that Mrs. Wilt pulled my name out of her lovely straw hat and I was chosen for the Monday Anti-Procrastination challenge winner.

I was astonished to find out that I was also the GRAND PRIZE winner!! I am so blessed.

Honestly I am more blessed about the exposure my last post might get from winning. I am so looking forward to hearing from you wonderful ladies and getting some great resources for my journey back home. I have already met so many new "kindred spirits" that I am just tickled pink!!

Thank you Mrs. Wilt. Thank you for your encouragement and cheerful attitude. I am believing to accomplish many more tasks which I have been procrastinating for far too long.

God Bless each and every one of you lovely ladies who have already provided such encouraging comments and offered your beloved hand of friendship.

Too blessed for words,
Rean Day

My Passion to be a SAHW and a Request for Help at the End

For a very long time I have longed to be a wife and mother. I have never had an intense desire to have a career. I attended college for 2 semesters and the best thing that came from my college experience was meeting my DH online.

DH proposed about 4 years later and I accepted. We were married in 2002.

Before our wedding, we learned DH had the opportunity to take a job in SW Pennsylvania, close to where his family lives.

We were moving! We moved almost one month after we were wed. I was raised in a military home and was used to moving. I was truly excited about the prospect of a new, fresh start as husband and wife in a new town.

DH had a good job and financially I didn’t need to work. FINALLY my time had come. I was going to be a SAHW and certainly, within a couple of years, we would be bringing our first child into the world.

As is so often the case, life did not go as planned. That first year I stayed home and expected to know EVERYTHING I need to take care of DH and our home. I expected to become my mother when that ring went on my finger. I was disappointed in my inability to focus on our home and our inability to have a child. I was unable to take care of my home, uncaring about my appearance, and downright FRUMPY.

It was hard not knowing anyone nearby. It was hard only having one vehicle, which husband took to work. That first year at his job he was working 80 hours a week. He was exhausted when he came home and I was miserable. After talking it through we decided I should try to find a part-time job, just to help me get out of the house and the ever present funk I was in. We bought a second vehicle and I put in for any part-time secretarial position I could find.

Flash forward 4 years. I am working 40 hours a week. We have our own home now and I have matured greatly from where I was 5 years ago. And now…

I WANT TO COME HOME!!! I want to be a SAHW. We understand it will take more financial and emotional effort to have a child (due to fertility problems). We understand it may never happen. I am willing to accept that (for now). I don’t have the empty feeling inside anymore. I know I am to be FIRST AND FOREMOST a helpmeet to my husband.

I am anxious and I need to be sure about my decision. DH will support me either way. He understands my desire to be at home and truly, I think he would prefer it. He does not, however, want the old frumpy wife again. Thus, I need to be sure about my decision.

We talked about it about a month ago and DH had some valid points. This is what I am working on right now.

These are the components DH has witnessed I need in my life to be happy and productive.

• Social interaction;
• Sense of purpose;
• Accountability;
• Being a contributing member of society; and
• Being challenged by my work.

I have all these things at my job and DH wants me to figure out how I will be able to find them at home or, if I can't find them, how will I supplement them.

I need to reason it through and identify where these components will come from. DH can’t provide a lot of them because he works ~ 12 hours a day.

I need to study each component in the Word to see where biblical women got these things.

Thanks so much for reading this. It was more about putting it in writing than anything.

I am not looking for counsel. I want to make that clear. I know that this is our family’s decision.

I am simply looking for the right avenues to research. I want to be able to make a decision on this by summer of this year and I just thought I could get some good resources from you all.

I have a wonderful woman who is our Fellowship Coordinator’s wife. She is wonderful to bounce thoughts off of. I just thought I would take advantage of the on-line community and any input you might have about books or simply records to look at in the Bible. I am currently reading through Ruth and noting (where I can) where Ruth received her support and all of those things listed.

Thanks so very much.

Anti-Procrastination - Monday

First off, let me say I have truly enjoyed this challenge. This past week has been very productive and has really blessed me. I love meeting all the ladies who are also participating in the challenges and I love how we encouraged one another this past week.

Just so everyone knows, I did finally get my laundry put away. It is nice to have so many clothes to choose from and also very eye-opening. I have A LOT of clothes. It might be time to reduce the number of clothes I have in the closet. We almost ran out of hangers with all the clothes clean and put away!! LOL

So, my mission for today, Monday, January 29th, 2007 is...Work on the post that has been in my head and drafted for some time. It is a difficult one to articulate but I need to have it in writing. Especially if I want to get some advice from you wonderful SAHWs and SAHMs.

Hopefully I can get that done after lunch and tidy up the Living Room before DH and I have to leave for our Biblical Research class tonight.

Anti-Procrastination - Saturday

DH and I had a Biblical Research class to go to this evening but before we had class DH took me out to eat at one of my favorite restaurants Don Pablos. It was so nice just having the time to eat together and share how our week went. Then we went over to Borders so I could do one of my favorite things...browse for books. DH stayed in the van and took a little rest. He was blessed to get some rest before class and I was blessed because I got to look at some books. Then we had class. We sat next to each other and shared little glances when something taught caught our attention. It was really a blessing.

I am so blessed to have a DH who loves God with his whole heart!!

Mission (sorta) Accomplished

Ok, Laundry is in process. I have all but one washed, dried and folded. I just have to put them away. I can finish that tommorrow. I did however sort out the clothes which had been thrown on top of the closet. It seems the shelf only collected summer clothes that were not being used (since it's winter). I folded them all up and put them in my BIG L.L. Bean Bag for storage. If DH has to go out of town to someplace warm this winter, all I have to do is pull that bag down and pull out the clothes. So, I did get something accomplished.



Here's another cute picture of my kitty Spaz and his favorite place to rest...MY COMPUTER!!



Awww, isn't he cute (the rascal).