New Challenge and Study! Making YOUR home a Haven

November is almost here and with it comes my favorite holiday- Thanksgiving! I love this season most of all.  Plans to get together with family and friends, cooking cozy and delicious foods, thinking about all the ways God has blessed me.  Something I try to be conscious of always but am not always successful.

November also brings one of my favorite annual Bible Studies and challenges- Making Your Home a Haven.  I have been doing this study for the last several years.  All the info can be found HERE- the journal/guide is available on amazon but not required.  The title this year is slowing down and it resonates with my very soul.  Think about joining me- I am starting a small private Facebook group, I will also be writing here.  Feel free to text or message me about it, leave your thoughts in the comments. Or even meet up in person. Studying God's Word and focusing on being a Homemaker- even tough I am not longer a "stay at home" Mom- is one of my favorite things.  I am still a Mom and and as a wife and mom you have the power to set the tone of your home. 

I am not officially affiliated with this study in anyway.  Its just one I love and believe in.

As you read this know that I am praying for you and the home where you dwell.  May you find refuge and strength in Him this season.

Friday

 Last night I made Ryan's birthday dinner since he had to work on Tuesday night.  We had italian sausage sandwiches and parsley potatoes. Rhett picked up an oreo ice cream cake for dessert. 

I'm thankful today is Friday - it has felt like a long week.

Egg sandwich on toasted sourdough! 😍

A little in the dark this morning at work- the 4th and final light bulb burnt out over my desk.

6 hours later... I have light again...

I saw this week long photo challenge/readathon this morning on instagram

I'm a day late in starting but here is yesterday's photo - currently reading

✨All Along You Were Blooming in my devotional time, this is a little book of poetry I am really enjoying.  And my Bible of course.

✨We Will Not Be Silenced for an online a Bible Study- just starting this one- currently reading the eBook waiting on my print copy to arrive.  *update- looks like it is out for delivery today! :D

✨ Luck, Love and Lemon Pie on my Kindle- jury is still out on how I feel about this book- the main character MJ makes me want to scream.

✨Parable of the Sower for the @mmdbookclub-- not loving it so far

✨Anna Karenina - reading this in all three formats in hopes of actually finishing this year 😅 paperback, kindle and audio

 Happy Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead of you!

looking for the good things...

I found myself feeling very grumpy last night, work stuff and then I started what I thought would be a feel good comfort read from one of my favorite authors and thus far is about a blaise 20 year fading marriage and possible infidelity. I guess maybe I should have read the synopsis closer. Maybe it will turn out OK, maybe it's even a good book just not one to pick up when I was already feeling vulnerable and struggling with bad thoughts/feelings.

Then on the way home I was waiting to turn left at a stop sign- it was taking a while as there was a bit of traffic in both directions. I could see the car line growing behind me which makes me more anxious when suddenly this big white truck zooms up next to me- presumably to turn right.  He is now completely blocking my view of the road in that direction. As traffic from the left cleared- I waited for him to turn so I could make sure traffic had actually cleared when he turns left in front of me!!!! WHAT?!?!

Somethings making me feel happier... fresh sourdough.  I made an egg sandwich on the bread this morning and it was soooooo good!

My sister and I randomly made the same dinner last night from our last freezer meal workshop-

Beef & Broccoli- 

This picture doesn't do it justice but the sunrise this morning

Tonight we are celebrating Ryan's birthday (he was working on his birthday) and the whole family will be home for dinner. <3 <3 <3

Another poem from "All Along You Were Blooming".

Soup, birthdays and Brrrrrrrrr

Sunday night we had a soup night at house church.  I made this copy cat Panera Corn Chowder.  It was a very good night for soup and bread. I had a leftover bowl for lunch- so good!

Saturday we celebrated October birthdays~ we have 6- October is our biggest birthday month.

Friday I had the day off- I spent part of it making these sourdough croissants- at Ryan's request. They came out so amazing! 

 

 

They made really exquisite little turkey sandwiches Hannah and I enjoyed for lunch on Saturday.

Last night Hannah and I spend a big chunk of time waiting around the eye dr...but she is getting new glasses and hopefully contacts! (Waiting on a call back about that). 

The change in the weather has left me feeling like I want to hibernate.

live LOVED

I started a different kind of post this morning...I was feeling weary and discouraged.  

But tonight I feel thankful.

Thankful for...

• spending Saturday evening with my husband at his sister's wedding
• being married to my man for 23 years last Wednesday.
  
  Oct 6,1998
  
  
• a day apple picking, shopping and having lunch at Chipotle with my girls.
  
  
  
  
• seeing Mikayla's apartment as she gets more settled in her new place
• Finally seeing and hugging my Dad after several weeks of illness
• a warm supportive House Church...even on nights where it feels loud and crowded :P
• Choosing to look to the future with hope and expectation instead of Fear
  
  
  
  
• These two loveable goofballs
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  So go ahead and live like you're loved

  It's ok to act like you've been set free

  His love has made you more than enough

  So go ahead and be who he made you to be
  ~from the song "Live Like You're Loved"
  by Hawk Nelson

September Books

1- No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert     9/5 (print)

I really enjoyed this book.  I thought it did a good job of showing the story from multiple perspectives. The story is told from three points of view- Anya a young first year Black teacher, Camille a suburban PTA supermom who appears to have the "perfect" life, and Jen a nurse and new adoptive mom of a troubled little girl from Libera. 

I liked Anya alot, she reminded me of Mikayla and her passion for children in teaching. 

Very thought provoking about racial issues etc.... one reason I liked this- it was written in 2018 before the whole 2020 fiasco.  Everything from 2020 feels blurry and confusing to me.

It challenged my heart- we can do better. We need to do better. America feels so broken.

   "Hatred is a tasty morsel," Mama said, her face a mask of compassion-- because maybe at one point, or several points, she had hated them also.  "It's poisonous too."
    Anya knew that for herself.
    She was currently choking on its poison.
    "It'll eat you from the inside, until all that's left of you is a husk of bitterness."  She pulled the chair out beside Anya.  The legs scraped against the linoleum.  She sat down and let a out a long sigh that filled the kitchen.  "It ain't easy.  Choosing to see the image of God in people who don't see the image of God in us? I think it's one of the bitterest pills I'll ever have to swallow.  But, baby, those people?  They aren't the real enemy.  The minute we start believing they are, the real enemy wins, and out hearts turn hard."

2- I Hate Running and You Can Too by Brendan Leonard     9/8 (eBook)

I think I heard about this on the AMR podcast.  It was a fast read, funny and entertaining. Some good tips for running, and keeping yourself out there and motivated/disciplined.

Don’t count on motivation. Count on discipline.

When it comes to running, you have to become the person you don’t want to let down. You get a few minutes or an hour a few times a week when you put yourself first, and you don’t flake. You show up for yourself.

3- The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks   9/14     (print)

I read this because it was a MMD book club selection. Honestly I didn't love it.  It was slow moving and the characters mostly annoying. I still haven't watched the author talk, maybe because I didn't care much for the book.  Maybe because I just got busy and forgot. :P

4- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah 9/18     (print)

Recommended to me by a co-worker.  When I picked it up at the library the librarian told me they couldn't keep it in! I very much enjoyed it. The story is a hard one to read full of heartache. It begins in Texas in the midst of the Great Depression.  Elsa's journey and strength is incredible and inspiring. 

 Believe me, Elsa, this little girl will love you as no one ever has … and make you crazy and try your soul. Often all at the same time.

Elsa knew that a library card—a thing they’d taken for granted all of their lives—meant there was still a future. A world beyond this struggle.

Elsa hadn’t known until right then how much difference a friend could make. How one person could lift your spirit just enough to keep you upright.

 I don’t understand. This is America. How can this be happening to us?

5- Recursion by Blake Crouch 9/24     (kindle)

This was Loren's Book club pick...and wow it made my brain hurt.  But at the same time I could not stop reading. A science fiction, multiple timelines, time loops, "false" memories.  It was very intense and I'm looking forward to the book discussion on this one.

Is déjà vu actually the specter of false timelines that never happened but did, casting their shadows upon reality?

It is the lonely hour of the night, one with which he is all too familiar—when the city sleeps but you don’t, and all the regrets of your life rage in your mind with an unbearable intensity.

So all in all- I "only" completed 5 books this month.  The Whispering House took a while to get through. I read a bit more of Anna Karenina (nope still not done).  Also jumped around and started several others depending on my mood. 

This month: 5

Total read in 2021:  67

Kindle/Ebook: 2    Print: 3    Audio: 0

Library: 5   Owned: 0

When you need a little extra...

from All Along You Were Blooming 

He leads me beside the still waters,

He restores my soul.

Question of the Day- What are 5 things that immediately make you smile?

     For me in no particular order- 

my family, dogs (especially mine) coffee, books, water and blue, blue sky

Ah October...

I've been trying for a week to write this entry. I loaded the picture at the top and then have just stared at the blank page every day before giving up. I have a lot on my mind and no idea where to start. So I'm switching to the Daybook format today and seeing if that'll help with my disjointed thoughts.

For Today: Tuesday, October 5, 2021 

Looking out my window: not exactly outside my window but on yesterday's run.  Somewhat grey and gloomy... felt very October-ish.

I am thinking: Goals... here we are in the final quarter of the year... I don't think I am doing so hot on goal keeping this year... thinking about Goals for the remainder of the year... and next.

I am thankful: for my church <3 

One of my favorite things: Last night I watched part of Ten Things I Hate About You with Hannah.  It made me feel happy and nostalgic.

I am wearing: I wore my yellow ballet flats today because I didn't want to put on socks- it was too cold for sandals and yellow felt like a pop of sunshine on this otherwise grey day.

I am creating: still working on that dishcloth- hoping to finish it during tomorrow night's Masked Singer.

I am reading: Gone South by Meg Moseley and loving it! 

Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality by David G. Benner

I am hoping: good things for tomorrow. Working on seeing the good things God has done and not getting hung up on some bad memories that are always especially potent this time of year... 

I am learning: Sunday our Pastor finished a lengthy series on Philippians.  Lots to  consider and think about.

• working on being Joyful and Content; not worrying but keeping my focus on God and the verse below.
• Philippians 4:8
  ...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
• How many things I think about, worry about, fret about that are not even true. 
• I can't help but notice how much this goes hand in hand with my Word for this year- Delight

In my kitchen: made some yummy sourdough this week.  I'm very happy about fall baking weather.

I tried this new recipe.  It's pretty simple and has yielded pretty good results so far.  I have been baking in my Rock Crok Dutch Oven.

Board room thinking about my next project...

pinned: knit/crochet

source: Lion Brand

Post Script Tips to get more reading into you day.... saw this on another blog post this morning-

• 5 Essential Mini Habits for Busy Book Lovers from Peanut Blossom

A moment from my day:  Mikayla moved out this weekend, walking by her empty room every day makes me feel a little sad.  Praying for her as she begins this new adventure.

Closing Notes: