what are you waiting for

So, Joanh's Auction started!! 

There are some great items up for bid - definitely something for everyone!

It runs through February 27th, but why wait??

Head on over to

JONAH'S EB AUCTION

February 23, 2010 - February 27, 2010

and help raise funds for DebRA to help fight EB.

I think it is safe to say

that if each of us threw our troubles in a pile and saw everyone else's, we would most certainly want ours back.

While some of the hurdles I must get over are quite large, I know that my God is larger and will see me through. I pray for all of those who have not come to the Truth yet and don't feel there is anyone helping them. He loves us all and those that come to know Him will be blessed.

ISAIAH 46:4

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

 That said, I must thank ~ Andrea ~ for the

Lemonade Award!

Me and lemons weren't always so good together.

I didn't realize how easy it is to make lemonade.

We are { lousy with it } now though!

So I accept this award because I have come a long way but

I give the Glory to God

Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman (how I wish that title were true to me!) is hostess to The Simple Woman's Daybook.

"Would you like to linger on the simple things...then join me and many others in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the 'everyday moments'."

Now I don't know about you, but there are days that I have a difficult time finding beauty. Reflecting back or pausing to pay attention to these simple things is a wonderful way to start my day!

Outside my window...is a thick blanket of snow covering our neighborhood

I am thinking...that I have so many things to think about and how wonderful it would be to not think about it for just a few moments

I am thankful for...where God's plan has brought me. Listening and being obedient is often confusing and difficult but WOW! How rewarding!

From the learning rooms...lists of all of the books I need to purchase for the next quarter. Random pieces of paper everywhere - My Angel loves to draw and make paper airplanes. 

From the kitchen...Pork stew in the crock pot. I cook lunches for one of the young girls in our church who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. 

I am wearing...my fleece pajamas although in 15 minutes from now I won't be - I swear!

I am creating...a website for a flea market in our town. Our town hasn't thrived in a loooong time and I will do what I can to help support the businesses that have endured.

I am going...to the doctor again this week. I had some benign growths removed a couple years ago and recently found out there were complications that went undetected for 2 years and now I have bigger problems. I have also been told I have to see a geneticist because of some ovarian issues that have showed up in tests.

I am reading...Endtime Magazine (Irvin Baxter of Endtime Ministries) and Pentecostal Herald (the woman who built our church (Eva Hunt) is written about in the latest issue)

I am hoping...to have all of the work done in my house before my mom makes a trip down to us AND before the spring so I can focus my attention outdoors!

I am hearing...the hissing sound of the cold air being forced out of our steam heat radiators  as they  heat our lovely house AAAHHHHHH

Around the house...are signs of children who don't always clean up after themselves

 Miss Thang can't deny she left this stuff out!

 

My Sunshine received this from his church group last Sunday and he doesn't share so no denying here!

This one is probably My Angel...He likes to discover things. Here he was maybe discovering reasons # 412 & # 413 as to why we need to pull this carpet up and throw it away!

One of my favorite things...is coffee and I haven't had any in days!

A few plans for the rest of the week: I still have yet to move our piano into our new house. I would be very happy if I could get up the last few sheets of drywall in the bathroom. I have to hook up the new thermostat. Menu planning and food shopping for this week has yet to happen. I have to get out to the bank that is 45 miles away. Taxes Taxes Taxes...Now that I think about it, I have much too much to get done this week - Why am I sitting here??!!


Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

It was this time last year that I made first contact with my son that I had put up for adoption. He moved in with us for a few months. He moved out after being told I do require everyone in my house to be responsible. He is turning 22 on the 24th. I have not talked with him in months. I hope and pray he is well.

i did it again

The house was clean. The kids were fed & laying in their beds (possibly listening to music on their headphones or reading with flashlights but in bed nonetheless). Laundry was put away. Bills were paid. Phone turned off. Boiler filled. PJs on.

and it was still early enough for me to jump online!!

So what did I do?

What I always do...

I planned to blog about what's going on with us but first 

I visited Tripp's blog to get my daily dose of eyelashes and miracles

and then

I visited Mimi's blog to remind myself how badly I need to save for a camera (her pictures are as beautiful as her family)

and then

I visited Jonah's blog because he's growing so quickly and just one day without him is too long.

 And then I found that there is going to be an auction

{ Jonah's EB Auction }

 

to raise money for DebRA

- the only national non-profit organization dedicated to both promoting research to find new treatments and a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa and providing information and support for people with EB and their families -

They seem well on the way to having more than enough stuff to auction and I am excited at what I will find! Patrice is now asking that we spread the word. The auction begins February 23rd and runs through February 27th. So, blog about it, share it on FB, Twitter it, MySpace might have a few people left who need to hear about it, casually mention it to the rich widow down the street, place it on your bulletin at work....SHARE SHARE SHARE!!!

And now I'm tired and Birdy is due to wake for his midnight snack and I haven't blogged AGAIN!

it is so difficult to admit

...when I have failed.

I have always taken pride in a job well done. I { typically } don't start something that I don't finish. When I come across things I am ignorant on, I do my best to become learned. I don't believe things are too difficult...

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I pray each morning for help with planning my day that I may glorify God with all I do (and doing away with things that do not).

As of late I have had some days that I considered unproductive. I felt that I had failed because I had not completed tasks that I had planned. Silly me...

It only took a little quiet time with God to realize I had failed because I did not listen for and obey His plan for my day.

See, God's plan for us does not include days that are "unproductive". He wants us to be happy, healthy and successful. He sets us all on a path that leads toward Him and it is only once we make our own plan that we fail. I need to remember that my actions and words throughout my day need to glorify Him...

1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

So, as you browse through my page and you find that I only completed 8 of the 52 Weeks photo challenge, try not to judge. He just had a different plan for me on those days!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, I've missed you all

Things have been extremely busy for us in our new house.

I have never understood how people buy a house and call it their own but live in it exactly the same way the previous owners did. That being said,

My kitchen:

is in the process of being insulated (which required the plaster & lath being taken down and drywall being put up)

has been stripped of all linoleum flooring, which revealed a beautiful pine floor (that I will soon get around to painting)

is no longer home to the washer & dryer (which have been moved to the basement)

shows no signs of any cabinets ever having been there (bring on the farm tables for food prep, baker's racks and wall mounted drainboard sink)

will soon be made beautiful with (faux) tin ceiling and mis-matched fabrics and reds and yellows

My bathroom:

has gone from 8' X 11.5' to 8' X 15' (by not so simply moving the door frame)

is also in the process of being insulated (which requires the same work as in the kitchen)

will soon show off my new, used claw foot tub (that I won't know how antique it is until after I sand the exterior/bottom)

is being designed around the dry sink I made (out of my Birdy's changing table)

My upstairs:

has been stripped down to the supports in order for me to put up electrical and insulation

I'm tired. Much to do though as Grandma is due for a visit and won't care much for the unfinished look so I'll rest later.

I do need to mention that I have been away from my computer but so many of you have been in my mind and daily prayers.

Psalm 91

Two weeks ago I was requesting quotes for a new roof. After receiving what I thought was pretty high prices from a couple guys, I brought it to God letting Him know what I wanted to pay. One of the roofers is someone in the Church and I assumed God would speak on his heart to lower his quote. Although a roofer came back with a much lower price, it wasn’t who I thought it would be, but I trusted God and hired this guy. I gave him a pretty large sum of money

and then didn’t see him for the next 4 days.

I expressed concern over this to a friend and was reminded that everything will work out fine if I had prayed before making my decision. So I again brought it to God.

The next day materials were dropped off at my house and the tear-off began.

Saturday morning the roofer was showing me some areas he was working on when his brother came by to let him know rain was headed our way and he shouldn’t start tearing off the next section. As he turned back to continue our conversation he put his foot through my roof! He was not injured and it was the part of the roof that was scheduled to be done next, so no big deal…
until 11 PM when I walked into the kitchen to see my paint on my ceiling and above my windows had bubbled and rain was dripping down the wall.

Within moments I was praising and thanking God! See as I pulled the paint down, I discovered that mold and mildew was growing on the walls.

I realized immediately that if the work had started 4 days sooner that the roof above this part of the house would have been completed and this problem would have gone undetected. I was sorry that I had not trusted God. I know His timing is perfect but I had allowed my impatience to get the better of me.

As we go forward in our days and events in our life do not happen as we would like or think they should, I pray that we all are able to remember that He is protecting our every step.
 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

 ²I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

 ³Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

 ⁴He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

 ⁵Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

 ⁶Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

 ⁷A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

 ⁸Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

 ⁹Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

 ¹⁰There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

 ¹¹For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

 ¹²They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

 ¹³Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

 ¹⁴Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

 ¹⁵He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

 ¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

8 of 52 weeks

We spent Thanksgiving week at my mom's. I had hoped to come and post updates and check up on a few of my favorite families here but was unable to because she doesn't have internet at her house.

Anyway

Carin at Forever in Blue Jeans posted a 52 week challenge...





I failed at week 8 but by no choice of mine! This photo was actually taken on the right day. It was just unable to be posted until now.





No, we are not standing in front of a white, blank screen. That's her dining room wall! It was a lovely time but it's nice to be home.

(Week 9 is a few days late but will be up here really soon)

luke 12: 22-31

For two years people have been asking me why I moved my family from Chicago to Pana. My answer until late was "My father owns property in Shelbyville and we always enjoyed coming down for vacations."

What did I know...

To those that ask me now, the answer is considerably different now that I know the truth.

Several years ago I was living my life my way and my kids were headed in the same direction.

I thank God every day for what He did.

See, I was so far off course that He had to completely change my life in order to get me on my path

{ H O M E }.

Two years ago I bought a very large house that had (still has) very large problems. Buuuuuuuut, without that critical move I would not have met Bro. Daniel. He, as most of us in our town know, has a deep burden for all souls and he invited us to church. ... We have since been baptized in Jesus' name and given our lives over to God.

I also thank God every day for what Bro. Daniel did.

On November 30th (this past Monday) I bought a new home in Pana for my family. I had been impressed on to do so and I watched as God stepped in to make it all possible, the acceptance of my very low offer, the help I needed from my mother, the timing of it all...only God could do what was done!

I was working on my water heater that night when I cut my finger. My Sunshine followed me into the bathroom as I searched for a band-aid, in our new house, where none of our things had yet been moved to. The bathroom closet is still home to items that the previous owner left behind - candles, linens, hair dryers and ashtrays. I joked to My Sunshine, "What are the chances of finding a band-aid in with this stuff?!"

and then I opened the storage door.

There on the shelf sat:

a reminder that He knows the beginning from the end

my confirmation that I had been obedient in buying this house

a faith-builder for My Sunshine

a reason to stop everything and thank God for how He orchestrates everything in our lives ever so perfectly when we listen for and follow His directions

* a one, single band-aid *

Thank you Jesus.

²²And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

 ²³The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

 ²⁴Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

 ²⁵And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

 ²⁶If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

 ²⁷Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

 ²⁸If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

 ²⁹And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

 ³⁰For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

 ³¹But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

7 of 52 weeks

This has been one of the busiest weeks I have had in quite some time. While I do plan on sharing our news, I have not yet had the time to sit down at the computer and upload some photos. I guess that's how us moms always go missing from the posts! I know that if I skip one week it is that much easier to skip the next so I am posting this week's photo tonight...Better late than never!

Yes, My Birdy's shirt is filthy with biter biscuits! I have found that it is easier to layer him up early and just peel the layers away as he ruins them!

responsibilities

I wake up each morning and graciously thank God that I have these people to be responsible for:

{ My Sunshine }

{ My Angel }

{ Miss Thang }

{ My Birdy }

My life also bring other responsibilities. I have bills to be paid on time. I am the lunch lady for my church's Christian Academy. We attend several church services a week plus a Bible study (these are more privileges than responsibilities.) I am the teacher here at home. As a single parent I also do all of the maintenance on my home. Right now I am closing on a house that needs a little work. I have a busy schedule.

We all have very busy lives.

BUT

We need to remember that our responsibilities don't stop there.

Matthew 18:12-15

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Matthew 28:19-20

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I pray today and always that I have the courage to reach out and tell everyone that I can about my Savior.

Still don't think it is your responsibility?...watch this video and give it a little more thought.

i love

I {heart} Jesus.

I {heart} friends.

I {heart} perfectly roasted marshmallows.

I {heart} simple pleasures.

I {heart} hot tea on a cool night.

I {heart} flannel sheets.

ooooh, that smell, can't you smell that smell

My Birdy is 9 months old. He's at the wonderful age of mobile curiosity. Earlier this week I heard a crash, well there were actually several crashing sounds, in the kitchen. There he stood in his walker

{ X marks the spot he was standing }

next to the baker's rack

which he had thrown down to the floor

dumping baskets and contents

including the basket of silverware

Needless to say, I spent the next several hours rearranging the kitchen so he can only get to the items too large for him to man handle.

...........................

Yesterday My Birdy was given a new bottle because after searching high and low we could not find his

until

My Sunshine made pizza for dinner.

Because apparently I can move all the furniture around

but the fact remains

My Birdy

can still open the oven door

6 of 52 weeks

my view 11.10.09

Our town is small. Downtown covers approx 5 square blocks and consists of 4 bars, 3 antique shops, a couple banks, a couple churches, a couple gas stations, 2 markets, a car dealership, a couple auto parts stores, a video rental place, the post office, a movie theatre, a hardware store, a family drug store, a dentist, a realtor, Walmart, Walgreens and McDonalds. Of all of the places we do not have in town, visitors from larger towns/cities might miss a coffee house the most. I have managed without one so far.

One thing we have that most do not is

[ Kitchell Mansion ]

It was built in 1876 by Captain John W. Kitchell, who served as a Captain for Abraham Lincoln both before and during his presidency. The house is at the top of the highest point in our town and and it is said that he selected this high point to look over the city and out onto the Illinois prairie.

The home still reflects the Second Empire design, mansard roof, central tower, and front and side verandas. I am so glad they are my neighbors because this is

|| My View ||