One Thousand Gifts

There are so many things to thank God for every day but how many times do we complain instead? In my effort to get back into the habit of blogging, I thought I would try this weekly meme on gratitude. These are a few of the things I am thankful for:

1. the LORD who is my shepherd and watches over me
2. my Shepherd who is also the Shepherd of my children and loves them more than I do
3. Holly who is away at camp and quickly becoming a young woman
4. Gabriel and Hannah who are far away at college but ever so close to my heart
5. their summer jobs to help pay for college
   
6. my husband who works diligently and loves his job
7. for God's presence with each one of us no matter where we are
   
8. a home - a house with a front and back yard
9. air conditioning to keep us cool in this oppressive heat
10. an ice maker that we now have after nearly a decade of being without
11. a washer and dryer - side by side
    
12. music to soothe my soul
13. the opportunity, ability and desire to homeschool my children
14. a new school year that is about to begin
15. the privilege of going boldly to the throne of grace
    
16. answered prayer
17. the promises of God
18. a piano that survived a trip from Romania and four years in storage
19. forgiveness
20. God's mercies which are new every morning

What's on your list?

The Long Awaited Week

The long awaited week has arrived. Holly is now in a van full of kids on a 7 hour trek to camp. She loves any and all youth activities whether it's simply Sunday School, a Friday night time of fun at the youth leader's house or the mega event of the year known as camp. Taking a long ride in a noisy vehicle just to march around a campground in hot sweaty weather and then sleep on uncomfortable beds is not my idea of vacation. Not to mention camp food! But the teens love it. And I love hearing all the stories on Friday night when they return.

Meanwhile, I have plans of my own for the week. Here is a list of a few of my goals:

1. Unpack the boxes that are patiently waiting their turn in the den- such a never-ending job!
2. Pray for Holly
3. Homeschool planning
4. Purchase science and history books at ABeka materials display on Thrusday
5. Wonder what Holly is doing
4. Blog (like I'm doing right now!)
5. Read - I'm not sure what yet. Trying to read non-fiction this year.
6. Remind myself that the LORD is Holly's Shepherd too and the He loves her more than I do.

If you are one of the two or three people who read my blog, please pray for Holly and the other teens at camp. Pray for their physical health and protection, safety as they travel and that God will work in their hearts and lives. Thanks!

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

I am sorry for my four years of neglect and my sporadic attempts of keeping this blog going. I feel I have some valid excuses but they are, in the end, simply excuses. I blogged faithfully in Romania; almost daily. I was busy there too but somehow life was different. And you, dear blog, were a connection to reality, to family, friends and peers who spoke English.

Leaving Romania not only broke my heart but it destroyed my routine. I haven't found a new one yet as life has constantly been changing. We moved to Virginia and John worked a security job while waiting to be hired by the State Police. We found it necessary for me to work as well. I worked a combination of part and full time jobs substituting in the public schools - and homeschooled my children at the same time. Then John was in the academy and only home on weekends. A new routine was needed. January 2010 was his graduation. Gabriel and Hannah were seniors in high school. June was their turn to flip their tassels. And the following September they found wings and flew away to college. How life changed with only one child at home!

Amongst the business there has also been heartache, frustration and sorrow. There were days that I might have had time to write but I did not have the heart. Not that all my days have been somber. Many have been filled with happiness , laughter and good times. But too often, the enemy would step in and steal my joy.

Those first four years were also years of apartment living. And this spring, we decided (God did actually but that is another story entirely!) that it was time to move. So God led us to a nice house and we are still in the process of getting moved in - and finding a routine. I am hoping that blogging will be a part of my new procedure.

.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

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Outside my window...It's cold, cloudy and getting ready to rain. The weather forecast is calling for ice tonight and early tomorrow morning. That will make it a hazardous night for John who is working midnights this week.

I am thinking... that I've not been very successful with this blog. At least I'm doing the day book on a weekly basis. That is a start.

I am thankful for... modern technology. I love being able to text my children who are so far away.

From the learning rooms...Holly began notebooking science on Monday. The first chapter is on Oceans. Today we learned about Lt. Matthew Maury, The Pathfinder of the Seas." We found out by doing some research online that there is a monument of him here in town! So we drove by there this afternoon. (See picture below.)

From the kitchen... We had Beef Stroganoff for dinner. A "new to us" easy favorite.

I am wearing... Jeans, green top and my warm, comfy and obviously favorite State Police sweatshirt.

I am creating... an organized coupon file! Or at least that's what I plan on doing this evening.

I am going... to get my haircut on Saturday! It's long over due.

I am reading... Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin. One doesn't get very far when they only read once a week.

I am praying... for ways to pay off bills. College is expensive.

I am hoping... for spring!

I am hearing... Glenn Beck on the television.

Around the house... The house is fairly clean. Seems easier to keep it that way with only three of us living here. Our bedroom needs some serious work. One of these days. . .

One of my favorite things... Reading aloud. We've sadly gotten out of the habit with teens working and miscellaneous activities. Holly and I are taking turns reading Where the Red Fern Grows. It's part of her language arts curriculum so we can't read as much as I'd like each day. But we're still enjoying it very much.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I am now playing the clarinet in our church orchestra. I haven't played for DECADES! So that means lots of practicing for me. The week is almost gone! I started this post on Monday but life got busy!


Here is a picture I am sharing: This is Holly at the monument downtown. Matthew Maury - The Pathfinder of the Seas.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

Outside my window... It's cloudy and 30 degrees. This morning it was in the teens. Virginia is very fickle, though. Tomorrow it should be in the mid 50s.

I am thinking... I cannot wait to see all the many ways that God will bless us this year.

I am thankful for... the $200 book for Gabriel's Astronomy class that he was able to buy for $20! God is good!!!

From the learning rooms...Holly and I finally got back on schedule today! I am most excited about the unit study we are doing on Where the Red Fern Grows. It's been a while since I've read that book!

From the kitchen... Tonight I'm making some chicken with a homemade sauce and rice. We'll probably have something green too. I'm not sure about the rest of the week. Taking life one day at a time!

I am wearing... Red sweats, a tee- shirt and my warm and comfy State Police sweatshirt.

I am creating... greeting cards to send to friends and family. I have a lot of scrapbooking supplies so I thought Holly and I would have fun making cards instead of buying them. Trying to save every dime we can these days!

I am going... nowhere today. I love days when I can stay at home.

I am reading... Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin. I don't get around to it often enough. Just pulled it out and took it to band last Wednesday.

I am praying... for God to bless John with more overtime hours.

I am hoping... for spring!

I am hearing... Silence! Holly is cleaning her room and John is working late.

Around the house... things are getting back to normal - our new normal - now that Gabriel and Hannah have returned to college. John has turned Gabriel's room into his office. That's a huge improvement over last semester when we used his room for clutter and storage!

One of my favorite things... Bath and Body Works hand soap. I don't splurge on it very often but I did buy some with Christmas money. Brightens up winter time, don't you think?

A few plans for the rest of the week: Holly has band on Wednesday and a teen activity on Friday. Other than that, I'm planning on staying home and staying warm!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

John and Holly at the zoo last fall. We had a great time!

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The Twists and Turns of My Heart

Gabriel and Hannah left just before dawn yesterday morning for their second semester of college. They took a carload of all the things they needed and some things they wanted to make their dorm rooms more comfy. They also took a huge piece of my heart. What's left of my poor heart has been twisted and turned so many times in the last several months. I am so excited for their successes. I love that they love college life. But I miss them; their hugs and their laughter. Yet I know that to keep them here would not be the best thing for them. Who wants a 30-40 year old son living at home living at home and playing video games? They must grow up. They must fly away. But they are so far away. They cannot come home on the weekends. I miss snuggling with Hannah on the couch and watching a chick flick. I miss Gabriel's sense of humor. He always makes me laugh. I realize how blessed I am to have such amazing kids. I am grateful for the one on one time with Holly. She enjoys the individual attention. Yet she will spend her teen years without having siblings around. Oh, do you see the maze that my heart is going through? So many emotions! I have always known that motherhood involved the cutting of the apron strings. I just didn't know it was such a long and painful process.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

Outside my window... It's cloudy and 37 degrees. We're supposed to get rain later this afternoon and maybe some snow mixed in.

I am thinking... about how blessed I am with a husband who loves me, amazing kids, a healthy family and God Who watches over us all the time.

I am thankful for... my husband's job that he loves.

From the learning rooms...We decided to wait until Gabriel and Hannah return to college before getting back into our homeschool routine.

From the kitchen... Something simple for tonight since Gabriel and Hannah are both working. Tomorrow we are going to the youth pastor's home for dinner. Wednesday or Thursday I'm planning on making chicken and dumplings. Holly is wanting to make some cookies - peanut butter or snicker doodles.

I am wearing... Blue jeans, a favorite black shirt with embroidered flowers and my State Police sweat shirt.

I am creating... a shopping list - things Gabriel and Hannah need for their second semester at Pensacola Christian College.

I am going... nowhere today. I love days when I can stay at home.

I am reading... nothing besides the bible. My goal for the year is to read at least five non-fiction books. Haven't gotten started yet. This category is not seeing much change!

I am praying... for God's provision.

I am hoping... to make a to-do list and check many things off!

I am hearing... The click of Hannah's laptop as she takes pictures of herself, Holly and their friend Bethany who spent the night. And lots of laughter.

Around the house... Laundry is piled up. I need to get it finished so the kids can begin packing.

One of my favorite things... laughter. We have a happy home.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Spending time with Gabriel and Hannah before they leave early Friday morning. Checking the weather along their route. Hopefully winter will be relatively mild for just a few more days.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Holly and homeschool band classmate Jamie at their Christmas concert last Thursday. (December's concert was postponed due to snow.)

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