The {weekly} Daybook.

{Except for the fact that this Daybook isn’t exactly
a “weekly” part of my blog anymore,
I still like the format and the way it gives me an opportunity
to share various bits of my life and information with you.}

…

Outside My Window

Sunshine! I rarely take a sunny day for granted.
I think that means that we’ve had our share of overcast skies this winter.
Maybe every winter? I can’t remember for sure.
I just know that I love the sun!
{Um, did I say the sun was shining?
I guess that was yesterday when I first began writing,
but this is now today, and it’s barely pushing through.
Oh well, one can always hope for tomorrow!}

I am Looking Forward

 . . . to so many things!
I love the hope of spring and summer.
The prospect of sending my children outdoors
for hours of play and life-giving sun rays is cause for great joy.
As are the plans that are stacking up,
with places to go and people to see.

Last summer, except for the week at home and many hours on the lake
with my entire family in Kenora{can you spell F.U.N?},
we were busy with the house, you know,
and therefore all our energy and money was being put into that,
instead of the many little trips that we so love to do.

And this year, though we still have things to finish on the house and property,
which will require more time and resources than we’d like to think about,
we are also so very thankful that we will be able to get away
on little adventures now and then.

A third marathon for Phil . . .
this time in one of the few states that I have not yet visited,
so I am super excited to go,
experience it’s beauty, and check that one off my list!
We also have a couple of weddings to attend,
one being for my very own brother. Woot whew!
And then there is the week of Christian Family Camp in Michigan
that we signed up for many months in advance
because they often have a waiting list . . .

These events are all still quite a ways off . . .
but if a girl has hope,
she can endure and persevere
through the cold winter days still ahead.

I am Thinking

about Heaven.

Yes, thinking about Heaven again.
I don’t know that I really stop, but just a little more heavily again.
Another precious one has moved there.
A little boy from our church family,
about a year older than my own son.
He and his family fought a valiant battle
against neuroblastoma for the past 2 years,
and now, as his mother puts it, he has
“Run into the arms of Jesus.”

Again I am reminded and can certainly feel
that we humans were not created for death.
The pain, the disappointment, the parting.
It’s so final and painful and cruel.
It’s just too much sorrow for a soul to bear!

But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who has made a way . . .
He has conquered sin and death
and the grave through His death and resurrection.
By His grace and mercy, we can be saved
from the brokenness in our own souls now . . . 
and until He returns for us, our bodies and all creation
groans together for Redemption and wholeness!

I am Thankful

for the girlfriends that God gives to enrich and “beautify” my life!
A week ago a few of us church friends
attended the kick off event for a new, online
women’s magazine called Neighborlies.
{Thanks to the invitation from our mutual friend
Michelle of Italian Lane Photography}

Not only is it wonderful to attend a great event together,
but the conversations that happen on the way to and from,
are pretty much worth the trip in and of themselves.

And believe me when I say that rarely do I get out
for a girls’ night out~ever!
Much less twice in less than a week, 
but such was the case this week!
And last night was with my friend Arlyn.

We attended a Concordia College Choir performance in York
because a friend {and sister to my sister in law} is part of that choir.

I didn’t really know what to expect,
but the whole evening was beautiful
and only a few minutes into it, 
I began to wish
{apart from the nice evening out with a girlfriend}
that I would have brought my whole family with me.
They would have enjoyed it!

The vocal and musical talent of the group was superb.
I brought the very meaningful printed lyrics home with me
and plan to ponder them more
as we carry on through this Lenten season and look forward
to Good Friday-Passover/Easter/Resurrection Sunday in the coming weeks.

I also have to put a plug in here for my THM book club girls.
Some are old friends and some are new,
and though I don’t have a picture of us all together~yet,
I must say that they are a fun group and so encouraging to me
as we read, learn, and share ideas and experiences
with healthy living, exercise, and weight loss.
Did I mention that they’re sometimes hilarious??

I am Listening

to chapters of the Bible daily at this wonderful little link
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio.

Phil & I, along with others from our church have committed together
to read the Bible through this year.
I have done it before, but it had been a while,
so though it is a large amount to read each day,
I am enjoying the large, grand picture approach to Bible intake again.

At times when I get behind,
I love to play the story-type Old Testament books
and listen to chapters at a time as I work
in the kitchen or fold laundry.
Other times, though I’m sitting with Bible in hand,
I still enjoy having the audio playing as I read along
using this excellent online resource,
Several versions of the Bible are offered,
as well as a dramatized reading.

 

In the Kitchen

Monday was a busy day in the kitchen as I prepared several meals . . .
Mashed Potatoes & Meatloaf & Steamed Veggies & Salad & Cookies,
to deliver with love to the neighbors, plus an extra pan of enchiladas for their freezer.

At home we ate the same meal for dinner,
and the next night shared our big portion of enchiladas & rice & salad
with my a few of Phil’s siblings and a bunch of Dietrich’s little cousins.

Since then, the kitchen has been a little quieter
but every day finds me happily, gratefully preparing something
delicious and satisfying and sometimes new
as I continue to read and experiment with recipes
in the Trim, Healthy Mama book.

On Tuesday morning I tried “Coconut Porridge”,
which to my taste buds was oh so good
and reminded me a little of the cream of wheat
that I really liked when I was growing up.

This morning I made Quinoa Porridge,
with hemp seeds on top,
~for added happiness in life.
It was my first experience with eating quinoa
in a sweet form, although I have made it often in savory form.
It was really good and something I will certainly make again!

One of my favorite things still, is a large, colorful salad,
topped with a bit of cheese and creamy dressing,
and a beautiful piece of fried salmon.

Oh the satisfying flavors for the palette!

Time does not allow me here,
but I would love to tell you all the health benefits
of the above mentioned foods!
God has created amazing grains, nuts, seeds and more . . .
and when I’m so wrapped up in my unhealthy
all-American diet, I certainly don’t take the time
to eat and appreciate the food treasures He has given.

But when I step back from the processed and refined foods,
I have a whole new appreciation for whole-food eating.

He really is a giver of good gifts~in all areas of life!

One of my Favorite Things

 LOVE.

The Covenant love of God through Christ which I continue to learn about
from Bible Study teacher, Yvonne Pratt.

Christ’s deep love for his bride as described in the Song of Songs
in a teaching series by Nancy L. DeMoss.

And too, the covenant love & commitment & oneness
that I am so blessed to experience on earth with my husband.

A picture

 

The laundry room sink was one of the things
that I had a strong opinion about
as we were building and designing this house.
There were many types of sinks & laundry tubs I knew I didn’t want,
either from past experience or seeing them in other laundry rooms.
My wish was a small, but deep sink.
And that’s what the man brought home for me.
I love it!
And so does the girl.
It’s the perfect size for the occasional wash off
or full blown bath when coming in from the muddy outdoors,
spilling a quart of maple syrup all over your body,
or the rare, but occasional potty accident.

So yes, I love the sink and the girl.