Simple Woman's Daybook...

For today... August 10, 2009


Outside my window...
the sun is brightly shining, promising for a hot day


I am thinking...
the wonderful messages at church yesterday
by a visiting missionary from Spain


I am thankful for...
the time our family spent together yesterday
as my beloved and I celebrated our anniversary;
also, for the Holy Spirit that is ever working in my heart,
growing me, changing me,
and making me more like the Son, Jesus Christ


From the learning rooms...
continuing with our study in Exodus
and other miscellaneous seatwork to finish
before beginnng our new school year


From the kitchen...
a blessing {cleaning} is needed
On the Menu...
M ~ Tacos
T ~ Lasagna/garlic bread
W ~ Greek chicken over rice
Th ~Sloppy Joes/mac and cheese
F ~Sourdough Pizza


I am wearing...
a burgandy, checkered jumper
with fruit print and a cream collared shirt


I am creating...
nothing currently
but hope to sew something this week



I am reading...
my KJ Bible through in a year,
currently in 2 Samuel, Psalms, Acts;
The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery;
A Wife After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George;
Home Education by Charlotte M Mason;
reading aloud "Summer With the Moodys" by Sarah Maxwell


I am hoping (praying)...
for the Lord to bring revival to my heart,
to my family, to the churches, to our nation


I am hearing...
the lil' girls playing at the dining room table


One of my favorite things...
teaching my children at home


A few plans for the rest of the week...
get our home in order after a busy summer;
focus on completing our studies;
sew a little something; attend our midweek service;
visit with a friend who's husband is going back to Iraq;
enjoy the blessings of life


Here is picture thought I am sharing...


"Call unto me, and I will answer thee,
and shew the great and mighty things,
which thou knowest not."
~ Jeremiah 33:3

What a comfort to know He is able and He cares!

Strawberry Cake... A Year-Round Delight!

I meant to share this recipe months ago, in May.
A dear friend shared how her mother made this cake
every Mother's Day and how she carries on the tradition.
The year she shared this cake with us for the first time,
I knew I just had to have the recipe!
It's a lovely cake for Mother's Day but is delicious year round! ;o)

Strawberry Cake
(a.k.a Mother's Day Cake)

1 box of yellow or white cake mix
2 8oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
1 lb. powder sugar
2 qts. strawberries, sliced

Bake cake in two 9 inch round pans,
according to directions on box.
Allow to cool then combine, in a large bowl,
cream cheese and butter.
Add powdered sugar and mix well till smooth.
Add a little frosting to the top
of the bottom cake piece,
then add a few sliced strawberries.
Place the top cake piece on top of the bottom one,
then frost accordingly and add sliced strawberries
to the top of the cake.

Serve, eat, enjoy and start a new tradition!

A Message for Mama...

I was blessed with this message
from our son the other day...




What a precious blessing and encouragement that was!


"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
~ Proverbs 16:24

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
~ Psalm 127:3

Haven at Home Happenings...

With Vacation Bible School in full swing this week,
things have been keeping busy for us.

We have been working on completing our history/Bible
for this past year so we can begin our new term in September.
We continue to enjoy learning about all the LORD
did for the Israelites through Moses leading!

The younger ones have enjoyed illustrating
these wonderful stories of Truth
as we've been reading them from our Bibles...






Ally, too, has enjoyed sitting in during our reading time.
And she has been a blessing in many areas!
Here she was as our "cafeteria lady", providing lunch for all of us. ;o)



VBS has been every evening and has been a real delight!
Our theme this year is "Polar Extreme: All of me all out for God"

In addition to the songs, competitions, Bible lessons,
games, fellowship, etc... the puppets have been enjoyed...



Monday evening, we had a tent set up outside the church
and the children enjoyed having snowcones afterwards...






Ally has really enjoyed working with the 4th-6th graders this year!

Tuesday evening, after VBS, the children enjoyed
watching fireworks that were going off in town...





We are looking forward to another night of VBS tonight.
I like how our pastor views VBS...
it's like a children's revival!
Children are surely our future generation!
Oh how we need them to love God whole-heartedly
and oh how we need them to thirst after righteousness!
What a responsibility we have to teach children...
whether they be ours or not!


"But Jesus called them unto him, and said,
Suffer {allow} little children to come unto me, and forbid them not:
for of such is the kingdom of God." ~ Luke 18:16

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:
he shall gather the lambs with his arm,
and carry them in his bosom,
and shall gently lead those that are with young."
~ Isaiah 40:11

Simple Woman's Daybook...

For today... August 3, 2009


Outside my window...
the sky is gray, preparing to bring more rain


I am thinking...
of Pastor's message regarding our prayer life
and how I want to be a better prayer warrior


I am thankful for...
people that pray, for the Great Physician,
for God's Holy, Perfect, and Preserved Word,
the freedom to assemble with like-minded believers


From the learning rooms...
we pick up with our lessons, again, in History,
studying Ancient Egypt and Exodus,
continue implementing more nature study;
and continue working on the completion of
other miscellaneous subjects so we can
transition into the upcoming 'school' year


From the kitchen...
counters are clean, most dishes are done, all is well
On the Menu...
M ~ Homemade chicken soup and biscuits
T ~ Gone All Day Casserole
W ~ Lasagna/garlic bread
Th ~Ham & Scalloped potatoes
F ~Sourdough Pizza


I am wearing...
blue and white jumper with ruffle
and a white collared shirt


I am creating...
my list of resources for the upcoming school year
for my Learning Logistics post
(please consider sharing yours soon, too!)


I am reading...
my KJ Bible through in a year,
currently in 2 Samuel, Psalms, Acts;
The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery;
Helping Them Choose by Samuel Philips;
Home Education by Charlotte M Mason;
reading aloud "Summer With the Moodys" by Sarah Maxwell


I am hoping (praying)...
for Vacation Bible School this week;
continued revival in my heart, in my family,
in our church, in our nation;


I am hearing...
the children playing and reading in the living room


One of my favorite things...
hearing the conversations of the little ones


A few plans for the rest of the week...
focus on lessons in learning; attend VBS;
homeschool park day; and enjoy the blessings of life


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



"Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
for thou art the God of my salvation;
on thee do I wait all the day."
~ Psalm 25:4-5

May it be our prayer and heart's desire!

Happy Birthday to Our Young Man...

He turned 11 years old today!
(a bittersweet milestone)

Peanut Butter Cookies

Everyone has their favorite!
These are our family's...

Peanut Butter Cookies

3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup shortening (stick form)
1 1/4 cup light brown sugar
3 TBS milk
1 TBS vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 unbleached flour
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder


Preheat oven to 375.
Beat together on medium speed;
peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar,
milk, and vanilla until well blended.
Add egg and beat until blended.
In separate bowl, combine flour, salt,
baking soda, and baking powder.
Add to creamed mixture and mix until blended.
Drop by tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart
onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Flatten slightly in crisscross pattern
with fork dipped in sugar.
Bake at 375 for about 8 minutes
or until set and just beginning to brown.
Allow to cool about 2 minutes on baking sheet.
Remove and cool completely
on baking rack or aluminum foil.

Eat and enjoy! Mmmmmmm!