day 1: 31 days of thanks... and a simple woman's daybook

i took a long break from blogging - 8 months actually! it was a much needed break. i never intended for it to be so long, but it ended up being the space that my soul was needing. i am back!

my intention is to join in the nester's 31 day blogging challenge. pretty ambitious after a 8 month blogging break? maybe so. but it might just be the nudge i need back into the world of writing.

my 31 days will be 31 days of thanks. redirecting my heart to give thanks in all things is one of the most important things the Lord has taught me over the past couple years. however, i am starting my 31 days off with a simple woman's daybook, so you and i can get reacquainted. 

for today:

picture for the day:

this little love of my life is a dream come true.

she is a gift that my heart gives thanks for many times a day.

hadassah grace

may 23, 2014

3:50pm

8 lbs 8 oz

21.5 in

outside my window... the leaves are rustling in the wind. the very tops of the green trees are just beginning to show their true colors of burgundy, amber, and gold. clear blue skies are bright with the autumn sun.

i am thinking... about this 31 day blogging challenge. it is intimidating to be perfectly honest. i have been so far from the world of blogging, and many other things have filled my off screen life, that i may fail at completing every single day. i think i can do it if i keep it short and sweet with acknowledging His activity and giving Him thanks.

i am thankful... my beautiful baby girl. she is like a baby doll - often i have walked in to see her sleeping and momentarily thought she was a doll. she is the promise that i laid down before the Lord. she is the sweet and creamy frosting on top of my beautiful family of 5 little boys. she is worth all the waiting and the tears and the questions of if she would come. i would do all the painful journey all over again to have her here for a time such as this - sweet hadassah grace.

remembering... how all the journey is worth it. in the middle of journey we often misunderstand what God is working into our hearts in the process of walking out a life of trust and leaning. oh if i could just have perfect perspective in the middle of the stumbling steps that seem murky and dark! this is what my heart yearns for - thankfulness in the present stretching and struggle because i know my God has good plans for me.
 

from the learning rooms... this is home school year 2.0 for this family. my desire is to have a redo at last year. i have no idea if this is a long term plan of education for our family, or if it is just the present circumstance the Lord has us in. i do hope to have the fruit of this year be connection and fun filled learning. i also hope to be found faithful before the Lord in this time of learning from the living room couch and dining room table.

from the kitchen... i am on a journey of learning fermentation. i have always loved real traditional foods and imagined my utopia world being one very similar to the little house series (minus their hardships, right?!). right now i have yogurt and milk kefir culturing on the counter, and home-pickled radishes, jalapeños, and garlic in the fridge. praying that the hubby is blessed with a buck again this year. last year a freezer full of venison was such a blessing and treat.
 

i am wearing... jean cutoffs, a pink 3/4 sleeve sweatshirt, and leather flip flops, with my hair back in my signature pony. 

i am creating... a few baby girl things for a baby shower i am attending this weekend. i love to celebrate new life and be able to give from the work of my hands.

i am going... home after this sweet short retreat at the coffee shop. my dear hubby home schools the kids on wednesday mornings, while keeping baby girl as well, so i can have a few moments to hear my own thoughts.

i am reading... my grandma's writings about her life and family history. it is fascinating. she isn't finished, but i am enjoying all the stories - some i have heard before and some that are completely new to me. every one should journal about their lives - we all have so much to share and so many stories and reflections to tell.

i am hoping... that we find a home to rent that is a little bigger than the one we own. we have lived in our little house for the past 11 years, far longer than i ever thought we would, and have been so blessed to have made so many rich memories in its wall. but, with 6 kids, we could use a little bit of stretching room. i am learning patience as the Lord purposes to bring us exactly the place He has for us to live next. i know i will have many tears when we start the next chapter because of the rich life we have lived out in this house, so i am trying to stay thankful and present in this whole process.

i am hearing... the kansas city prayer room in my ear buds.

around the house... we are working on so many little things to get our house ready to rent out - bill spent over 20 hours redoing all the plumbing and wiring of our sprinklers (not what he anticipated, but we go with the flow, right?). the kitchen cabinets are half repainted, our room has fresh paint, and a pipe that had broken under the house is now repaired. we still have a lot to do, but the items are being crossed off the to do list.

  
one of my favorite things... is the quiet in the house after all the kids are in bed.

pondering... how to live a life of trust with all of my being.

a few plans for the rest of the week: we have co-op tomorrow. i am teaching an art class of 1st and 2nd graders and an ancient history class that is 3rd-6th, and then i get to be a helper in a sensory class with preschoolers and in a class for older elementary on prairie primer, based on the little house series. co-op is fun and full this year, as well as taking every bit of my energy and focus leaving me a bit overstimulated when we get home. the kids love it - they look forward to it all week, and i enjoy the adult interaction as well. it is our second year with this group of families and i feel like i am starting to build relationships that i look forward to growing.

i am linked up with other lovely ladies at the simple woman's daybook.  

i will see you again tomorrow, i suppose! i would love to hear from you in the comments. it has been a long time my friends, but i am happy to be back.

charis

simple woman's daybook 1.29.14

this season has been so busy - i am enjoying returning to the simple woman's daybook here in this space. i hope you enjoy my simple thoughts and activities. it is a season this blog is in and i think it is a good one.

for today:

outside my window... we have rain today! we need the rain, so i am giving thanks!!

i am thinking... about chapter 39 in isaiah. go read it right now! it is so sobering - how, after hezekiah saw the great mercy of God toward him and a great sign of God moving the shadow backwards on his staircase to confirm His promises to hezekiah, he could turn to attempt an alliance with babylon and trust in the might of men instead of in the faithfulness of God. it is sobering how he didn't cry out for God's mercy after he had already seen God's heart turn to his cries for mercy before. it is sobering to think that any of us, after walking in faith and seeing God move powerfully and personally in our lives, could turn to reliance on the might of man and to self-preservation instead of leaning into the Lord. if it could happen to hezekiah, it could happen to me. oh God, have mercy! faith must be continual, not an experience or a one-time (or even many time) decision. it must continue until the end. we need the grace of the Holy Spirit for this to be true in each of our lives.

i am thankful... for my sweet uriah jaden who is 8 years old today. he is such a gift. he is my psalm 27 boy and he lives that psalm. he is a mama's boy - always has been and always will be. he holds such a special place in my heart. he says he is never getting married but living with mommy forever and making me breakfast and tea every morning. i could live with that - though i think he will win some amazing woman's heart with his sweetness one day.

remembering... that God is faithful. so many times i doubt Him, even after He has come through again and again and has shown is mercy and compassion toward me. i do not want to make the mistake of hezekiah, but i want to be found faithful until the end. Lord, help me remember the ways You have been good to me, that my heart would be stirred to continually trust You.

from the learning rooms... we are about to embark on one of the perks of homeschooling - traveling while doing school! i am excited to see how our upcoming ministry trip will shape our kids. i know they will learn a ton, and not just from the math books i am going to cram into their suitcase!

from the kitchen... uriah wants a pumpkin pie for his birthday dessert, so we are roasting the pumpkin and i will be attempting my 1st gluten free pie crust. we will see how this goes. i am not very experienced in pies. 
 

i am wearing... jeans, a shirt that shows off my belly bump, a gray hoodie with silver stripes, and my charcoal felted toms. picture below minus the hoodie.

i am creating...a couple knit things that i contracted to sell with a couple people who have seen my latest creations on facebook. i have done terrible at keeping my etsy shop stocked, but i am having fun doing these local projects.

i am going... to guatemala in 2 weeks. eek! so much to do before we leave! we are taking 5 kids out of the country while i am pregnant - am i crazy?!! it will be memories for sure.

i am reading... more in my isaiah study. just finished chapter 39 right now. i feel like isaiah has shaped my world view so deeply. i don't know if any other single book of the bible has affected me this way. i have slowly dug deep in it over the past 3 years. i am sure if i didn't have a cackle of children i could have gone through it faster, but it feels like a slow marinade... like it is sinking in deeper and deeper because of the slow way i move through it. i think it is good evidence that no matter what season you are in, you can do a deep bible study. it may take you a long time, maybe years, like me. but it is so worth it to dig deep into the Word. i do my normal bible reading as well - right now i am going through the new testament again. this isaiah thing is in addition to that and is a great compliment.

i am hoping... i pass my glucose test with flying colors and that my iron levels come back good as well. i hate that drink. i don't know why they can't find a less tummy offensive way of checking blood sugar levels while pregnant.

i am hearing... the kansas city prayer room in my ear buds.

around the house... still working on little projects to get the house rent ready. i also finally cleaned out the fridge, like really good, and switched out hosea's clothes. his whole dresser was full of clothes that were too small. i am so thankful for having saved boy clothes from his older brothers. the poor house has not had the tlc it needs.

  
one of my favorite things... is telling my kids about their birth stories at their birthday dinners. they look forward to it now! even though i told uriah his story last night, he told me that he might forget so i need to tell him again tonight at dinner.

pondering... what it looks like and what it takes to maintain a steady life of faith til the very end of my days.

a few plans for the rest of the week: we are celebrating uriah tonight, and then in 6 days we will be celebrating david. there is so much more going on between now and then including co-op, basketball games, birthday parties, church, holding that new niece of mine that was born this week, homeschooling, managing my bursting household, a potluck with some of our house of prayer people, and prepping for our upcoming trip.

picture for the day:

i am linked up with other lovely ladies at the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 1.15.14

 

for today:

outside my window... it is january and it is still amazing weather. i am sure that we need more rain, but i am enjoying the warm afternoons. today it is forecast to be 79. believe me, we will be going to the park for sure! i love sunshine and warmth.

i am thinking... about how it feels like so much has changed for me in the past couple months. for one, i am pregnant with our 6th baby, our 1st baby girl! this pregnancy brought so much as far as unlocking my emotions that were stuck in a numb state after my dad's death, that i feel like a completely different person in some ways. i am smack in the middle of processing but, with homeschooling for the 1st time and 5 little active boys, i don't really have much time for processing. so it is kind of a draw out process. but my whole outlook, my whole view of the world, the way i feel like i interact with people and with God feels altered. not necessarily in a bad way, but in a way that makes it difficult for me to write here in this space and not just in my paper journal that allows me the space to be okay with my change and my process. i do want to keep this space up, but just because of the season of life i am in i can't really write here as regularly as i have in the past.

i am thankful... for my wednesday mornings when my husband takes a shift teaching the kids, and lets me get away for a bit. the time he has freed up for me these mornings has forced me to process with God the pain and struggles of my heart. i hope it is bearing fruit of me being a better wife and mom when i am home in the trenches the other 165 hours a week.

remembering... to be patient with myself. i feel like i am so behind in life and don't have the energy to catch up. trying to be okay with what i get done each day, and to try to enjoy the day and not just view it as an overwhelming amount of stuff to accomplish.

from the learning rooms... we are halfway through our homeschooling year and praying about direction for next year. there have been things i have liked about it and things that i feel are lacking. this could be due largely to me being pregnant and feeling like i am just treading water at life right now. the boys love math and are flying through their curriculum. we are going to guatemala next month for a ministry trip, so bill is teaching them spanish. david is a full blown reader and it is so much fun to hear him read.

from the kitchen... i just started going into my kitchen again. yes, i said going into it. haha!! i started cooking a couple meals a week (bill has been cooking for us for the past 3 months or so) and my kids started cheering and commenting in utter disbelief that mommy was cooking again. it is so strange that being someone who loves to create in the kitchen, i become a totally different person who wants nothing to do with food prep when i am pregnant. good thing i have taught my hubby to cook!
 

i am wearing... jeans (my staple), a black shirt, and my charcoal felted toms. 

i am creating...baby girl stuff!! my niece who is soon to be born had a baby shower this week, and i have my own little one to create for. it really doesn't feel real yet, so i keep wondering if i should wait til they take one more look before i create too much! the sono tech got a great look, and looked 4 times for us because i was so in disbelief. it is just so strange after being used to having boys all the time. so many fun cute things you can make for a girl! good thing i have had 15 nieces to practice making things for. :)

i am going... to guatemala in a month! so crazy to think we are taking our whole tribe down there. i am so excited. we are buying the tickets later today. God has really provided for this trip. i haven't been out of the country for 10 years. my kids have never been out of the country. my husband grew up outside of the country! this trip is way overdue, and yet the exact perfect timing. most of them will remember it, and i think that is so awesome. 

i am reading... a book from one the series by my favorite author bodie thoene. it has been a while since i read some good historical fiction. i love how she writes about the times of Jesus and how it makes the bible just come alive that they are real people who had real experiences and emotions and back stories.

i am hoping... that all the things that need to be done in the next couple months get done in the perfect timing. it feels like so much of our life is a jigsaw puzzle right now, and timing is everything! i know the Lord can work out timing, so that is my main prayer. 

i am hearing... the kansas city prayer room in my ear buds.

around the house... we are trying to get our house ready to rent out, so we can find something a little bigger for our expanding family that we could rent. that means a lot of little fixes here and there and hopefully some organizing so it isn't a wreck when we show it. we are definitely using every square foot of it to the max.

  
one of my favorite things... is hearing the boys talk about their new baby sister who is coming. they are already so excited and so protective. asher has forbidden 2 piece bathing suits and simeon is concerned that we get enough skirts for his sister to wear. they are all much more enthralled with the color pink than i am.

pondering... how fast time is going to go by these next couple months. life is so full, i have a feeling it will fly by.

a few plans for the rest of the week: we are going to get away for a little date time. it has been over a month since our last coffee date, so i think it is due. we are spending time at the park. we have homeschool co-op, which always feels so hard to get to, but then the kids enjoy it so much and are in great moods when we leave. we have our first basketball game this weekend for the older two. being a sports mom is fun. i enjoyed the break from sports this fall, but i am ready for it to start up again.

picture for the day:

i am linked up with other lovely ladies at the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 10.9.13

 

for today:

outside my window... it is a beautiful fall day. the trees are just starting to turn their warm red and golden tones, but still have patches of green intermingled. the wind is biting though. i had a dream last night that the wind was going to stay. let's hope that isn't a God dream.

i am thinking... about so many things. i haven't blogged for so long. i am sorry friends. it has been one of those seasons when i just needed to step back and be silent. i needed to write in the paper journal sitting by my bed. i needed to process without any friends reading over my shoulder. i have missed this space though.

i am thankful... for the Lord's faithful provision towards us. we had a very hard couple months - some of our hardest since we started living on missionary support 4 years ago. i have to say that i had very hard days when i wanted to doubt the Lord's ability to provide for us. so immature of me. He still came through, even with my threatening doubts, and has been so merciful and kind to even take care of the things on my heart. i am so thankful today that His goodness has nothing to do with me. He is who He is and i get to benefit from that reality.

remembering... my dad. i have been remembering him a lot. so much of him that i am missing right now.

from the learning rooms... we have survived our 1st month of homeschooling. it has been quite the adventure. with 5 kids, i just have the littlest 2 along for the ride without doing any specific activities for them besides their own drawing pads. i just can't plan and manage one more thing right now. we are making it. i have so much more in my heart i wish we could do, but i think we are at least learning and becoming closer to each other, which is good.

from the kitchen... even though this is my favorite season for the kitchen, i haven't been motivated to cook or bake much. i have made granola for an easy breakfast lately. i love honey, maple syrup, molasses, good butter, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and big chunks of coconut in mine.
 

i am wearing... a light grey short sleeved turtleneck chunky sweater, dark jeans, gray sweater boots, and my hair up in a back knot.

i am creating... some christmas gifts. if i am going to do homemade, i better get started or it just won't get done.

i am going... to go on a date with my hubby tonight. i love time with him one on one. i am such a quality time person, even more now with 5 kids than i was before kids. i am sure glad that i still like him as a friend even after being married 11.5 years.

i am reading... through isaiah again, and picked back up my intense isaiah study. i was about halfway through, so i am about done reviewing what i had done before and about to start in on going deep in the rest of the book. i just love this book. so rich. so deep. so full of hope.

i am hoping... that i can participate in the annual turkey trot here. i got out of the rhythm of running for several reasons, and am trying to get back into it with the cooler weather.

i am hearing... matt gilman's last set at the international house of prayer. did you know you can download your favorite sets now? i am so happy about that. this set is on july 3rd, 2013 if you want to look it up and listen to it yourself. so full of hope.

around the house...we are trying to switch out clothing sizes and seasons for the boys. one thing i am thankful for is i have been able to hold onto clothes that the older boys have grown out of to pass on. just a lot of work to go through the closets for 5 little boys to see what fits and what is the right season.

  
one of my favorite things... is the color of the trees during autumn. just gets me every year.

pondering... eternity. i mean, really, i am. i think the more i experience the pain of this age, the more i want to anchor my heart in the time when He wipes every tear away. there is so much that is so hard to understand right now. there is so much injustice that happens. there is so much loss and grief. i don't think it is escapism to long for Jesus' return even more when bad things happen. He is the Promised Seed that will reverse the curse of death forever, and take away all grief and pain.

a few plans for the rest of the week: we have a homeschool co-op we are part of on thursdays. it feels like a lot of work, since i have to mobilize all the troops to get there are also teach writing to a class full of kindergarteners and 1st graders. but my kids really enjoy it, so we do it. it has been worth it so far.

picture for the day:

go here to 5 minutes for faith to read a post i wrote a couple months ago and haven't been about to share here yet. it is on my thoughts on heaven anchoring my heart right now.

i am linked up with other lovely ladies at the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 8.2.13

 

for today:

outside my window... blue skies, a hot sun, and a light breeze blowing through the green leaves of the giant oak tree in the middle of our front yard (which saves us so much on energy costs in the hot summer months!).

i am thinking... about our new adventure of homeschooling that lies right around the corner! i am just starting to get excited about it, but still feel so not ready.

i am thankful... for the very full summer we have had with so much activities and laughing together. we have not been bored at all.

remembering... that it has been a month since i last blogged. sorry friends! wondering how this blogging adventure will mesh with the upcoming homeschooling adventure.

from the learning rooms... we joined in our library's summer reading program. the boys have loved earning prizes for reading. we read all of the original winnie the pooh stories out loud together this summer, and is was quite bonding to share a little of my childhood literature with my kids. you will find us quoting a. a. milne a lot around here now. :)

from the kitchen... i really try to not use the oven in the summer here. we frequently have days that are between 105-115... so adding oven heat inside just is no fun. we have eaten lots of salads, tons of stone fruit (that means peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, apriums, plouts, and cherries), and bbqing a lot to keep the heat of cooking outside. we also have been in this kick of this awesome yellow curry dish that i make on the stove top - not quite as much heat as the oven - and i crave it now. we are eating it about once a week. i took 3 different yellow curry ideas and made up my own version, which changes based on what is in our veggie box. let me tell you one thing: turnips are a surprise favorite in curry.
 

i am wearing... just some running shorts and a light weight cotton shirt. did i just go running? no. i wish! i haven't been able to get myself out of bed early enough to run before bill takes off for our prayer room in the mornings. i would be running at like 4:30-5am to make that happen, and that just is not happening folks.

i am creating... a pair of knit socks for myself. i made bill a pair of socks for christmas, and in this in between time of making gifts, i thought i would work on a little something for me.

i am going... to my son's t-ball game tonight. he is 5 and it is his first sport that he has played. he has spent lots of time watching his older brothers play sports, so it is especially fun for him to be the athlete this time.

i am reading... the book of the revelation of Jesus again in my bible time. it has been about a year since i last read it, and i felt the Lord prompting my heart that it was a good time to crack it open again.  

i am hoping... to participate in some local short races in about a month. which means... i need to find a time when it isn't too hot to run again.

i am hearing... the sounds of piano practice. music to this music mama's ears.

around the house... is a big old mess. i am serious. we had to do some work on our bathroom because we inherited a mold/moisture problem (our house was built in the 50's). we had to tear out some of the dry wall, put in a super duper bathroom fan, paint on some hard core mold and rust treatments... so it is truly a mess that has leaked out into almost every room of the house, as any house renovation seems to do.

  
one of my favorite things... is going swimming with my boys. 3 of the 5 are fully swimmers and the other two are quite eager. we have tried to be by water almost every day this summer.

pondering... how to make more hours in a day...

a few plans for the rest of the week: well, we have t-ball and then we hope to take the boys fishing up at mt. shasta for a family fishing day tomorrow. hopefully we can get some swimming in some time too. :)

picture for the day:

go here to 5 minutes for faith to read the story behind this picture. i usually share with you all when i write over there, but it has been so busy i never shared the link here.

i am linked up with other lovely ladies at the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 5.3.12

 

for today:

outside my window... the sky is gray and the wind is blowing the new green leaves on the tree and the last of the pollen is falling to the ground.

i am thinking... about all the mess in my house!  with a new baby and 4 other kiddos, things get messy very quickly.

i am thankful... for my new little hosea justus.  he is such a sweet little baby and is fitting into our family so nicely.

remembering... to give thanks for all the Lord has given and is giving me.  i want to live from a thankful heart.

from the learning rooms... right now we are working with david (4 years old) on learning the very basics of reading 3 letter short vowel words.  he wants to read so badly and is ready already knowing all his letters and sounds.  bill found a great little game on his ipad for david to play that practices blending 3 letter words... i think we will have a 3rd amazing reader in no time.

from the kitchen... we have been incredibly blessed by friends and family bringing us meals to help the adjustment to the new baby in the family.  our refrigerator is full of leftovers that i have been eating for lunches quite happily.  i am simmering on the stove a stock pot of new chicken stock getting ready to fill the freezer so it will last hopefully through a good chunk of the summer.  we are still enjoying our csa produce boxes and finding ways to get lots of veggies into our diets.  i love trying veggies i wouldn't normally buy in the produce aisle and experimenting with new recipes.
 

i am wearing... a long sleeved black shirt and jeans.  it is supposed to rain today and be in the mid-sixties.

i am creating... the cutest baby legs for a gift.  i made some for hosea that are very boyish and i love putting them on him with a onesie - makes for easy diaper changes.  i am thinking about listing some in my etsy store.  would you be interested if i did?

i am going... to an appointment with my midwife today.  seems a bit early for an appointment to me, but i guess she likes to do 2 postpardum appointments.

i am reading... a book called poised for harvest, braced for backlash by timothy miller.  great book so far that is sort of an autobiography of his overseas missions and sort of a teaching book on what is the gospel.  

i am hoping... to settle into life routines again soon.  the transition with a new baby always adds so much and subtracts energy!

i am hearing... hosea's cute little sounds.

around the house... is a bit of a mess.  okay, so it is more than a bit!  i am glad you can't see through the computer screen into this room!

  
one of my favorite things... is a new baby.  i love their sounds, cuddles, newness... hosea is so fun right now!

pondering... how to grow in perseverance in prayer.

a few plans for the rest of the week: we are going to the lake on saturday to celebrate my birthday (a bit early) with my family.  it is supposed to be a beautiful day and i kinda have a lake bbq birthday tradition.

picture for the day:

i am linked up with other lovely ladies at the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 6.24.11

 

for today:

outside my window... it is a bright beautiful blue sky day!  it is supposed to be in the 90's - a mild summer day around here.

i am thinking... about an upcoming guest post i am doing.  watch for it!  i will let you know when it is up and give you the link to go check it out.

i am thankful... for so much!  one thing in particular is that i was able to spend time with a dear friend who happens to also be one of our partners (and who was also one of my college roommates).  i love when there is a still that heart connect with someone over the years even when we do not live in the same place or get to talk all the time... but it is still there.  i think it is evidence of the Holy Spirit.

remembering... how fast this past year has flown by when i look at my little guy cruise around furniture and realize he is almost 1!  how do little ones grow up so quickly?!  i have adored each and every season of their lives, but i must say i always have fond memories of the baby days.  i think i am a baby addict.

from the learning rooms... well, since it is summer, we decided to do a library reading program with our kiddos.  asher has flown through the simple bookmarks where you color in the picture for each 20 minutes that you read.  he is reading sometimes 2 hours a day or more!  right now he is working on re-reading (yes, i just did say re-reading, as in reading for the 2nd time) the entire chronicles of narnia.  did i fail to mention that he is 7, just finished up with 1st grade?  i do not know how to keep up with this kid.  if we home-schooled him, i bet he could graduate in like a year or two!  okay, so i kid.  kinda.  there is no way i would let my genius child graduate at 9.

from the kitchen... so... you may think i am a bit strange and crazy (unless you are a strange crazy real foodie like me), but lately i have been really into water kefir.  i know, several of you may be scratching your heads thinking, what?  she is fermenting water?!!  yes, it is true.  probiotics, you know?  though i do not write about food much here on my blog, lots of the blogs i personally subscribe to in my google reader are blogs about natural living and real food.  my own dad wonders where i came from?!  oh my. 

i was making homemade yogurt for the probiotic benefits, but two (and a 3rd suspect) of my kids struggle with digesting lactose, so i am trying the water kefir route to avoid the dairy yet get all the probiotic benefits.  so far, so good.  my favorite one right now?  well, i have been adding a bit of vanilla extract (homemade of course) and half a cinnamon stick and it is creme soda-ish.  i have also been adding it to our summer smoothies.  even bill approves, but he is always up for my crazy food schemes.
 

i am wearing... well, i am not quite ready for the day yet... but i assure you today i will be in shorts, a tank and flip flops.  that is the way we dress around here in the summer.

i am creating... more headbands for my lovely etsy store.  i am sorry i have neglected it as of late, but life has just been so busy and flying by!  the good news is i listed a new one last night and it was already featured on a treasury.  so fun!

i am going... to an all house of prayer gathering in roseville this weekend.  i am looking forward to connecting with the other house of prayer folk in california.  i am hoping for some good heart connects and encouragement.

i am reading... the book of luke in my Bible reading challenge.  i am both enjoying reading the gospels and being so challenged by the words and life of Jesus as i read.  so many times christianity can become so status quo, at least for me personally, and then when i come face to face with our Savior and His life i am challenged to change and shaken out of the comfortable.

i am hoping... to go camping this summer.  we are working out the detail of a little trip to lake siskiyou and i am so looking forward to it.

i am hearing... the sound of the boys' pencils coloring on paper and coloring books at the table and the baby boy crawl around exploring.  it is actually pretty quiet in here for 4 little boys, and yet no one is "into" anything.

around the house... i have been rather overwhelmed by this area of my life.  does it not seem like there is no possible way to catch up or keep up on the house?  it is such a huge job and i would love to hire like a dozen people to knock off all the things on our to do list around here!  anyone willing to work for the dazzling pay of a good dinner?

  
one of my favorite things... is summer time.  i just love blue skies, sunshine, (even the heat, yes even the heat), hanging out by water, spending time outdoors, big salads as the main course, fresh fruit and lots of it, camping trips, longer days, and on and on.

pondering... the topic that i am writing my guest post on... in working on it i have had the opportunity to reflect on past seasons of my life which felt excruciatingly difficult and it is amazing to realize God's faithfulness in the midst.  they say that hindsight is 20/20 right?  (who are they infamous they anyways?  they always say the smartest things.)

a few plans for the rest of the week: i already mentioned how we are going to spend time with other houses of prayer in california.  other than that, i believe our weekend consists of going to church and spending time with my family.  sunday for us is always family time.  we have had sunday lunch (which 90% of the time is pizza) with my parents and siblings every sunday for, well, forever.  it is a great tradition.

picture for the day:

this is my newly listed headband at my store.  so summery, huh?!  

i am linked up with other lovely ladies at the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 5.25.11

 

for today:

outside my window... the small city i live in is surrounded on three sides by beautiful mountain ranges. awwwwww... i am always blessed with such a beautiful view!

i am thinking... about how huge the mercy of the Lord is and how thankful i am that i receive it when i don't even deserve it.

i am thankful... for all the reminders God is giving me to spend time with Him getting filled up with His love and the knowledge of Him.

remembering... that justice and mercy are not opposites.  God operates in both and it is a beautiful paradox to my naive mind.

from the learning rooms... i feel like i have been learning so much about the small prophetic books in the end of the old testament that i was not all that familiar with before.  i am really enjoying becoming re-familiarized with them.  i have read them before, but not for a long time.  reading unlocking the Bible as a companion to my Bible reading has helped me so much in just getting the context of these little taught on books. 

from the kitchen... i have slowly been building a whole foods pantry.  i have been buying in bulk from azure standard and have amazing gals in town who are willing to split 25 or 33 lbs orders of things like sugar, oats, beans and such with me so that i can get the best prices possible and be able to feed my family stuff that is good for them and cheap.  i have to counter balance all the not good for us treats we have been eating with all the birthday celebrations this month (though i have to say i have really enjoyed them)! 
 

i am wearing... jean shorts, a sleeveless knit sweater in pretty greens and blues, leather flip flops, hair up in a messy pony tail, and light makeup.

i am creating... gifts (i keep saying that because i keep creating them!).  i even thought of things to make for my husband, brother, and brother-in-law that they actually would use and like!  it has been so fun.

i am going... to house of prayer sets more regularly lately at our house of prayer here (called the watch).  i have really enjoyed just the little couple hours away to focus on the Lord, to refuel my heart in loving Him.  i had really missed not going as regularly!

i am reading... the last few books in the old testament in my Bible reading challenge. i can't believe i am almost all the way through the old testament!  even though i am constantly a couple days behind in my reading plan, i keep sticking with it and not giving up.  it has been so good for me and i have to say the accountability of regularly letting my readers know where i am in this challenge i committed to is so good for me to keep on going.

i am hoping... to have a great time connecting with my husband tonight!  yesterday was his birthday, but we were so busy that we decided to celebrate today instead.

i am hearing... the sounds of a busy home with four busy little boys getting ready for the day.

around the house... let's talk my veggie garden:  my garden is coming along nicely.  i did have a few of my little seedlings die, but it seems that more is making it than isn't, which is a great thing.  i am still a pretty novice gardener. i am trying to grow: tomatoes, potatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, bell peppers,  jalapeños, cucumbers, carrots, eggplant, kale, bunching green onions, mint, basil, thyme, strawberries, blackberries, sunflowers, and various other bee attracting flowers.  did i get it all?  i am hoping to have a great harvest this year. 

  
one of my favorite things... is crossing things off a list.  i must admit that i frequently lose the lists i make, but when i don't... i find immense pleasure in crossing things off of it.

pondering... how amazing God was to bring my wonderful husband bill scofield into my life.  it was a pretty amazing story.  maybe i should blog on it someday?  he has been such a blessing to my life.  my very best friend.  the way God brought our paths to cross is truly amazing. 

a few plans for the rest of the week: we have a big birthday bash for our 3 oldest of our 4 boys this weekend.  their birthdays are not in may, but i told them if they would wait to celebrate their birthdays until we could have an outside party, i would let them invite any friends they wanted to invite.  so... i made my month of may even busier than it already is!  it is fun though.

picture for the day:

two years ago my dear sister-in-love did a photo shoot in the lovely month of may of me and my dear beloved. (don't you just love my purple hair? i had to do something bold for my 30th birthday.) in honor of his birthday yesterday, i wanted to post a picture of us together.  can't you tell we like each other an awful lot?!

i am linked up with other lovely ladies at the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 4.20.11

 

for today:

outside my window... drizzly rain, light gray clouds, and everywhere green!

i am thinking... about making sure what is really important is kept as really important.  this is not easy for me.

i am thankful... that the Lord loves me unconditionally.  so often i feel as if i should have to earn His love and so often i fall short. 

remembering... that it will never all get done.  there will always be more to do or things that i didn't get to.  my idealistic expectations are not reality.

from the learning rooms... i am reading library books trying to learn quickly more about gardening and how in the world to raise chickens.  and then i get to learn from the doing of it as well.

from the kitchen... we have been eating a lot of lentils and rice, and beans and homemade tortillas and produce.  it is a good thing we like beans, lentils, and rice because they are affordable.  and i just can't give up fresh produce.  being a vegetarian for 8 years definitely had its lasting effects on me.  however, i will be glad when we buy some meat because it has been sounding really good lately.
 

i am wearing... jeans (my staple) and a long sleeve light weight sand colored shirt.  bare feet.  cherry red toe nails.  wet hair.  no makeup.

i am creating... gifts.  i am experimenting... trying to be creative with what i have here to give.  i am hoping it all turns out!

i am going... to keep pressing into learning how to love the Lord.  to be honest, i don't always have the warm fuzzy feelings.  how i wish to have those feelings!  i love them.  i don't always feel full of faith and conviction of the realness of God and following Jesus.  i know that i can't rely on always having feelings.  some days it just makes more sense than other days.  some times i am more engaged than others.  but i press on.  i keep going.  and when i fall down, i get back up and pursue this life of knowing God and being a christian mom, and faithful wife, a lover of Jesus, and a member of our house of prayer.  and i pray for myself - that He would give me the grace to love Him, the grace to pray, the grace for it all to make sense on the days it just doesn't make sense.

i am reading... just finished the book of jeremiah in my Bible reading challenge.  i had a harder time staying focused during this book.  i am realizing, once again, that i am in such need of the Holy Spirit opening my eyes and ears and heart to actually receive revelation from the Word.  it isn't enough to just read it!  we need grace to receive it.

i am hoping... that i really get a chance to connect with the Lord about this important week - the passion of Christ!  i still feel disconnected from the fact that right now we are celebrating the greatest gift ever given to us.  i want that heart connect.  i want to be able to connect my four boys to this wonderful week and have it come alive for them and for them to get it.  sure, we do an egg hunt and they get special candy on sunday... but that is so not what it is about.  it is about His death and resurrection.  i want to experience this for myself and my family.

i am hearing... the blessed sounds of the prayer room right now.  what a blessing to be able to turn it on at any time of day and just allow the tenderness of the Holy Spirit to minister to my weary heart.

around the house... let's not even talk about around the house.  all my plans of getting stuff organized and cleaned out just haven't happened like i hoped.  the backyard is the main project right now and is taking way longer than we thought it would, and a lot more money too.  it will be so good when it is done and the inside can get some attention. 

  
one of my favorite things... is a sleeping baby.  i don't know why, i mean i love awake babies, but there is nothing like a sleeping baby.

pondering... an obedient people are magnetic to the watching world. j. alec motyer

a few plans for the rest of the week: easter is on sunday and we will be spending time with my family.  otherwise, not a very eventful week from here on out.  i like that.  the first half of the week was busy enough for the whole thing.

picture for the day:

what do you think?  a new hat on my etsy store.  the flower is removable so that this can be a gift for a baby shower for the "surprise" baby.  it can be a girl newborn hat or a boy newborn hat!

here is where i am linked up for the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 4.6.11

 

for today:

outside my window... it is another beautiful spring day.  not too hot.  not too cold.  i wish weather like this lasted around here.

i am thinking... about a series of posts i am working on about how to study the book of isaiah.  i think i will post the first of the three part series later this week!  be looking for it.

i am thankful... for the colors of spring popping up all over!  i love the beauty of flowers!  too bad they make me sniffle.  they add so much life to everywhere i look.

remembering... that everything will get done in time.  i need to be patient with myself and with others.  there isn't a rush to life.  when i rush, i miss enjoying the process and the journey.   

from the learning rooms... i am learning how to knit in the round on circular needles.  it is taking me forever,  but it is looking so good!  i love learning!

from the kitchen... i am making homemade peanut butter as we speak!  easy recipe: salted roasted peanuts in a food processor... and there you have it!  peanut butter.
 

i am wearing... jean shorts, brown leather sandles, a grey t-shirt with a vintage gold and grey sweater on top.  how is that for california dressing?!

i am creating... my first knit hat on circular needles.  i will try to post a picture when i finish.  it may end up on my etsy store or maybe it will be a gift.  we will see...

i am going... on a date with the love of my life tonight!  where or what?  i have no idea, but i will have good company.

i am reading... just finished the book of isaiah in my Bible reading challenge.  as i said, i am working on a 3 part series of blog posts about the book of isaiah!  you will not want to miss them.

i am hoping... the nice weather stays.

 

i am hearing... my middle two sons singing worship songs to Jesus in the other room at the top of their lungs.  what could bring a smile to my face faster than hearing them sing to their Savior?!

around the house... we are working, working, working on the backyard demo.  and by we, i mean bill.  not me.  did i mention that now we have more room he talked me into getting chickens? um, yeah.  now i am researching raising backyard chickens like a mad woman.  we will be our own little supermarket before long... garden, check. chickens, check.  what next?  

  
one of my favorite things... mangos.  i believe they are sweet nectar from heaven.

pondering... what does it mean to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ?  why would the apostle paul pray this for those who already believed?  i don't really get it, so i ponder and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me.

a few plans for the rest of the week: date night, back yard demo, soccer, night and day prayer sunday school... and of course hanging with the 4 coolest boys in the world.

picture for the day:

peanut butter in process as i type away on this blog post.

peanut butter finished!  whew, that was easy!

here is where i am linked up for the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 3.31.11

 

for today:

outside my window... beautiful blue skies.  i think it is supposed to be 86 today.  hail and freezing cold last week, 86 today.  i guess we don't mess around.

i am thinking... that when i am upset and feeling the swirl of emotions, that i should just restrain from opening my mouth.  what i want to do in the moment most of all is just let it flow and get it all out verbally, but it never really helps anything at all and usually just hardens my heart a little more.  i know taming the tongue is right, but it is not easy.  how painful it is to keep my mouth closed and just let the tears flow!  i am so not good at this. 

i am thankful... for a husband that reminds me of how i want to live instead of telling me that my reactions are justified.  i am also thankful that he is gentle in the way he reminds me.  i want to be encouraged towards the Lord, not towards more of my flesh.

remembering... His mercies are new every morning.  He is so faithful, even when i feel like my world is a mess.   

from the learning rooms... i feel like my sister is my all things creative teacher/coach.  i come from every conversation with her inspired to make something new. 

from the kitchen... my husband accidentally bought kidney beans instead of pinto beans and i am not a fan.  so, i found a recipe online to try and find a way i would eat kidney beans.  oh my goodness!  this red kidney bean dip from food network was amazing!  we will get use out of those beans after all!
 

i am wearing... jammies.  it seems i always write these in my jams.

i am creating... lots of fun items for my etsy shop.  what do you think of this crocheted flower headband?

i am having a great time creating for the daughter i never had.  (don't you love my model?!  ha!)

i am going... to a piano student's talent show tonight.  we have worked on a piece for it for the past 6 weeks - he is going to do amazing!

i am reading... the book of isaiah in my Bible reading challenge.  it is amazing how much of the prophesies of isaiah have yet to be fulfilled.  it feels like such an important book for the time we are living in.

i am hoping... our new idea for getting our #3 son to stay dry while sleeping is a success!

my sister made this amazing game board for kids.  she uses it for her girls with chores.  we already do a chore chart, so i thought i would use it here to help david remember to keep his diaper dry during nap and night time.  he has been potty trained during the day for a year, but is a deep sleeper.  every time he shows me a dry diaper after waking up, all three of the older boys (simeon isn't participating yet!) get to move their magnet forward a space.

there are treat spaces and when we reach the finish line we will take them all to chuck e cheese and david will get to sleep in undies!  the game reminds me a bit of candy land and she did all the graphic design for it - bright and colorful and kid friendly!

so far it has the older boys cheering him on.  you can buy your own game board at her etsy store.  she sold 4 within the first 24 hours of having them up (i got mine for free - that is what you get when you have a creative teacher/coach for a younger sister)!  if you decide you want one too, but in the purchase notes that you heard about it here on my blog!  thanks.
 

i am hearing... sweet baby talk from a sweet baby next to me.

around the house... we are doing a demo of a structure in our backyard.  it was a little building we had high hopes for when we first bought our house, but later found out was pretty much condemned by the city.  bummer.  well, now we are taking it down and instead going to have extra space in the yard and put some raised bed gardens in that area, since it is the only part of the yard that gets sun. 

  
one of my favorite things...watching my #3 son make the baby boy laugh and laugh.  i can tell they are going to be friends for life.

pondering... faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.  a. w. tozer

a few plans for the rest of the week: well, hopefully the backyard demo will be finished.  i have to take #1 man-child to a dentist appointment today for another filling!  poor guy.  he was so nervous last time.  poor mama's wallet!  i get to watch a piano student perform for his talent show tonight.  not really sure about the weekend plans, but if the weather stays nice i am sure we will be outside soaking in the vitamin d.  how about you?

picture for the day:

here is the backyard demo after the guys pulled down the car port section with our jeep.  i think they are having too much fun with this.

here is where i am linked up for the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

simple woman's daybook 3.16.11

 

 

for today:

outside my window... birds singing blue skies, sunlight... i thought it was supposed to rain today?!

i am thinking... about the houses of prayer in japan.  safety.  protection.  opportunity.  courage.

"and now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."  and when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. acts 4

i am thankful... that God is doing a huge thing in my heart right now.  my heart hasn't been this tender for a long time.  the season of repentance is painful but so freeing to my heart.  it is like the dust is lifting for the first time in some of the dark corners i never thought could be cleansed.  

remembering... to turn my heart to Him first thing in the morning.  

from the learning rooms... i am wanting to work with david on recognizing his letters.  i was more purposeful with the first two, but as we add on babies my mind becomes more muddled and time flies more quickly!  

from the kitchen... being creative with what we have right now!  i am sure several of you can track with me on this one.  i am putting an order together with azure standard to stock back up on a lot of our basics that we have depleted.  we get things like lentils, rice, coconut oil, coconut milk, bread flour, pastry flour, rapadura sugar, apples, rolled oats, organic beef, and such in bulk from them.  they are a great food coop and we have been customers for the past year.  they are a christian run company out of oregon and deliver all over the country, so check them out.
 

i am wearing... jammies.  i promise, i will get dressed when i am done with this.

i am creating... an etsy site!  you can grab my etsy button on my right sidebar or click on the button to go check it out!  i only have a couple things listed so far, but i am having fun with it.  if you are an etsy community member, would you consider adding my shop to your favorites? i would love it!

i am going... to help in my number 1 son's class today.  so fun!

i am reading... the book of proverbs now in my Bible reading challenge. i am feeling so convicted and challenged by all the rich wisdom in the book of proverbs.  i am realizing once again how i talk way too much and how much it gets me in trouble!  i am realizing that controlling my mouth is the number one hardest thing i could ever do, but that i can't give up!  it is a must.

i am hoping... to get a raised garden bed in our back yard this year.  i am planting seeds inside in preparation, but we need to demo the back building first.  otherwise, i will have to make a way to do my veggies in pots this year.  

i am hearing... the sweet noises of my 8 month old crawling around on the floor in front of me playing.  right now he is stuck under the coffee table.  should i help him get out? 

around the house... so, remember how i was inspired a while back to tackle a catch all hall closet, and then was totally unmotivated to finish it for weeks?  well, we did it!  with the help of my husband, it actually has order to it and stuff has been thrown away, put in right places, and some is being currently listed and sold on craig's list and ebay.  woohoo!

  
one of my favorite things... dates with my hubby!  we have so much fun together and finally get to talk without being interrupted every couple minutes. 

pondering... "there is something better than being right... being free (from anger's hold on me)!" - allen hood, teaching called growing through mistreatment.  this is a big one for me as an oldest child!  ouch, and yet so right on.  this may be the most paradigm shifting teaching i have ever listened to, and one of the few i have ever listened to multiple times.  i am not a teaching junkie, so if i am willing to listen to it more than once that means it is the real thing!

a few plans for the rest of the week: lots of stuff, though this week feels less busy than the past few.  we have a harp and bowl training with our house of prayer staff tomorrow night (that is basically a training in how to intertwine worship, singing and prayer).  we start a corporate 40 fast with our house of prayer community thursday as well (still haven't decided exactly what i am fasting or how i am working it).  asher has his very 1st soccer game saturday!  we had practice monday night and he is really good!  i can't wait to cheer him on!  i have a baby shower for my newest niece sunday afternoon.

we also will be on our 3rd week of a sunday school our house of prayer is offering at bethel church.  i am so enjoying attending it (no responsibilities for me this time!)  it is awesome that my kids can be in their sunday school classes and i only have the baby with me, so i can actually focus and learn a bit!  anyone who is local is welcome to join us.  email me for more info!

picture for the day:

i can't get enough of this cute boy's face!  can you see why i named him beloved?

more of the simple woman's daybook.  

charis