The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ February

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today:  Monday,  February 25, 2019

I guess in my case, it should be called The Month of a Simple Woman!

I've grown to like using her format for my monthly update.

Outside my window…

...it looks about the same! Slowly I continue to putt around, trying to get some order under control, but it will take time!

That table came out of my bedroom. It once held all my Bible study books on it. Six years ago now, but last year I had to remove it for a new bed set. Going from a queen to a king size didn't leave room for a 4' table, but my old 36" side table worked great, taking its place. Only there wasn't the room for the number of books I have. So they are now next to my reading area.

Last weekend I put the outdoor chairs around it for the guys to eat lunch. They'd been working on switching out a service bed on one of the trucks. Covered in grease and dust, it was the best place for them to eat.

I am thinking...

...we are going to need another cage for fair!

The granddaughter's goats each had 3 babies this year. All six fit in this cage the weekend before last, but they won't by fair time. Amazon to the rescue. Ordered and has already arrived. 

Once in their pens at the fair, the cages are used to transport and store the alfalfa. Saves mom and her from carrying in a slice of a bale twice each day.

I think fair is going to be fun this year. 

I am thankful...

• ...the doctors have figured out my hubby's pain, and a plan has been scheduled.
• ...for the times I get to spend with the grandchildren. It's just GRAND!
• ...for the seeds that have sprouted. Not just for the ones in my starter planter but also for the ones in the hearts of those I love. A new generation is growing right before our eyes. The littles aren't so little anymore. Dreams and goals are developing.
• ...of our recent award for Yuma's Best 2018. Our daughter has worked hard this last year, growing our business within social media. Seeing just how much our customers appreciate us is overwhelming. We appreciate them just as much and more. 
• ...for the last twenty-five years in our business. We wouldn't be here without the love of our God, our satisfied customers, the love and support of our family, and the long hours and hard work, that brought us to here.
• ...for the next generation who are taking our business to the next level. 

I am still reading...

It's Not Suppose to Be This Way by Lysa Terkeurst.

I was surprised to read what happened in her marriage. There was a time, I thought ours was heading in the same way. 

A bad fall, saved it all! 

Not totally true. It had already been heading in that direction for a while before I fell, but it did allow for those last pieces of our puzzle to fall into place. Perfect timing! God knew. He just needed both of us to see His plan, and it worked.

As I get through the last of this study, yep, I fell behind due to distractions beyond my control, I didn't give up, I just had to adjust my study times a bit. 

I am creating...

...time for the littlest grand to be creative with the Lego's.

...time for him to experience snow for the first!

...time to put the many things I had set aside into motion.

...time isn't easy, but when it works out, the memories made during that time, make it the best time!

I am wearing...sweatpants, a tee that says "Wake up & Smell The Campfire." My Sketcher's. Oh, and a lightweight jacket. 

I am hoping...I can get everything done that needs to be done!

March is going to be a hectic month. It's the end of our Forty Adventures and at the same time, the beginning of the twenty-fifth anniversary of our dealership. It was during a convention 25 years ago that brought us here. Celebrating it will last all year, and there is a lot to do! 

In my garden...

...it's a start!

Spring cleaning will be moving outdoors!

The rock should go down sometime in March so that the planters can be put back, fill them with dirt and it will provide a place for my starters. 

The new canopy for the gazebo needs put up.

The fairy garden needs to be cleaned up as well.

In the Kitchen...

...we have subscribed to eMeals for new recipes!

No meals come pre-prepped.

Each week I pick and plan my meals, send the ingredients to the grocery store, they shop for them, and I pick them up without getting out of the car or having to step foot into the store. Spouts even deliver which is the best part. It's only a matter of time before other stores join in.

It's a step closer toward the Jetson's era! (laughing)

One of my favorite things...

...is capturing these guys playing around in my yard.

I didn't capture as many photos of them last year. It's been nice to be able to get out and get some again. I love to make notecards with them for the grandkids, family, and friends.

 A favorite quote...

    Psalm 59:9-10 New International Version (NIV)

You are my strength, I watch for you;

you, God, are my fortress,

my God on whom I can rely.

Our best friends lost their 16-year-old daughter back in 2003. She collected frogs because God was a big part of her life. Every now and then she pops up in memories, especially when I see this quote.

I am so scared about the upcoming surgery my hubby has to have. I will be fully relying on God to get him through this! Anytime you have to work around the spinal cord, things can happen. God will make sure all will be well.

If you would like to write your own Daybook, or weekbook, or monthbook, the guidelines are here. 

Thank you to Peggy for hostessing The Simple Woman's Daybook each month.

Five-Minute-Friday~Just

It's just the most wonderful way to end a week, writing with the FMF community that offers me the opportunity to expand on a one-word prompt.

To write for five minutes, raw and unedited can be a challenge for me.

With all the thoughts floating around in my head, sometimes putting them into words can create a conflict within me at times.

What if they create a conflict for others?

Words said, can be forgiven but are not always forgotten. And that door swings both ways! I've said and written my share during some really tough times. I've also been hurt by the words or actions of others. Yet, as I look back over them, cleaning my closet (brain) of some clutter, had I not said it, wrote it, faced it, it might not have been addressed, or fixed, or understood, or recognized, or ____ fill in the blank!

It took a while for me to control those words, said or written, during those raw feelings, in the depth of the darkness, or the rage of the fire within.

It was then, as it is now, my voice was just speaking up! It's my God-given ability to speak up in His honor, not for my own. To help others that might be going through similar struggles. Sharing a kind of direction that might just take them on the path God plans for them.

5 

I will always do what I do best...I will always pause. I will always take time to reflect. And I will always pray my heart out to God, patiently waiting for the answers, the healing and the growth He has for me, for us, for them too.

While putting my words into their place, it's time to set the timer...

Go...

What. A. Week!

Nike had an ad, "Just Do It!" Stop over thinking it, and "just" do it!
Just like writing for Five-Minute-Fridays, just do it!

Not everything can just happen, especially when it has to do with the medical world. It takes time to get on schedules, get the test done, then get the results that require a referral to a specialist, to get on that schedule, only to have more test to do, with more scheduling.

Before you know it, it's been six months, then a year.

Just in time, is the feeling you get when they find a growth on a vertebra causing the spinal cord to collapse, which finally explains the pain your hubby has been in, happens just in time. Watching him suffer has just been awful. With all he has done for me through my illness, surgeries, and falls, now that it's his turn to be cared for, I'm just a bit worried.

What if...seems to pop up a lot too!

All I can do is pray, listen, comfort, and love while...

STOP!

...he recovers and be patient with him, as he was for me. Just be there!

Somewhere along my FB timeline, a saying popped up from Focus on the Family...

This just fits us to a tee!

Each and every storm we have been through has had a rainbow because we did what God was directing our hearts to do. In the end, it might not be a rainbow in the sky that the world sees, but one reflecting through the window sending prism of colors onto the wall beside you, just for us to see. When you take the time to just listen and observe all His work around you, even the birds I enjoy outside are His creation for my enjoyment.

As I began to type, the sparrows or swallows, not sure which, they might even be some type of a small blackbird, are singing outside my house. It goes from deafening to quiet and back again. They seem to like my trees, they are in four of them around the house. They have been here before at this time of year. Only there just seems to be more this year. Maybe they spread the word that my home is a safe place for them too!

Thanks for stopping by.
Go to Kate's blog, Five-Minute-Friday, and read more on how to join in on the party!

Five-Minute-Friday~Confident

I'm going to jump in and start while the thoughts are raw and on my mind this very minute...

Go...

Yesterday, it was not only Valentine's Day but also a day that brought me confidence.

At a time, I needed it the most!

I still face the demon of doubt. Sometimes more than I should, because the outcome always seems to turn out in God's favor.

Yesterday began with so many doubts running through my head that sometimes I wondered if I looked good or not. Though I knew ahead of time this award was coming, I still wasn't confident in myself.

It is at a time like this that I see just what God meant upon answering my prayers in His favor.

Being confident includes be patient.

Being patient with Gods plan will build confidence.

Being voted as Yuma's Best of 2018 gave me confidence that the journey we are on, expected or unexpected, shows that He's got this! God is always confident with His plan.

Receiving compliments of how my daughter and I look like sisters, was the icing!

 As I continue to read more of It's Not Suppose to be This Way, by Lysa Terkeurst, it's contributing to building this confidence more in highlighting passages where God shows us how our directions will come from Him no matter what the weather is along the way.

It's supposed to be like this because He loves us so much.

It is never a punishment, but will always be a lesson.

While going through our storms, He knew we would turn to Him in prayer, that we would then reach out to others, sharing the darkness of our stories with the light that brought us through. That others, who may be or who may not be believers, are going through a storm of their own, will see His work through us.

STOP!

I went a bit over trying to type out that last thought.

I see myself getting more confident as time passes.

Being confident is something new for me, and on my really good days, I am beginning to see a glow in the mirror as well.

Stop by Kate's blog, Five-Minute-Friday, and read more on Confident.

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Yesterday was also full of signs, signs of love that is...

His card went perfect with my 'sign' gift to him.

My sign was because we both continuously say, "there isn't enough time!" Plus enough seems to have become my word for the year. After having joy as my word, in one form or another over the last few five years, we found 'enough' joy is in everything we have, what we've done or places we went.

Birthday gift from my daughter, she knows me so well!

The doorbell sign from our daughter is because no one can see the Ring that is on a post on the carport. I've wanted one for a while, and she had it made especially for the location I needed it. For whatever their reason are for passing by it on the way to the front door, that should help. I understand it is in an unusual place, but it is mainly for our deliveries. Family and friends who visit already know.

The tulips he bought me on Monday, still haven't opened but they are still so pretty.

Five-Minute-Friday~Build

Each week, the instructions from Kate Motaung link says: "Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation. Just write."

Ready, Set, Go...

I going to build on something from our week. 

Our week was half over, it was HUMP Day. 

A call came that got my heart beating faster and faster. As that feeling of something was wrong built up inside me, the call dropped. I could hear her, I could hear something was wrong, but she couldn't hear me. Then silence. Call back, the same thing. Over the next few minutes of hit and miss with our call, my heart is sinking because it hit me, I think someone broke into our office!

"Amber!" "Mom!" "Amber!" "Mom!" I think, oh shoot, someone has been in the office. Through our uncooperating phones, she was trying to ask if dad and I had stopped in the evening before, as things were out of sorts. Just as I am about to tell her, she says, "Dad laptop is gone!" 

In a matter of 5 minutes, the build-up of so many thoughts, and emotions had to be dealt with, First. Things. First. Call the police. From there each step, each breath, takes on the tasks of getting what they didn't take, secured. 

STOP!

A list of what was missing and fingerprints were taken off the many items they had touched. 

Our building is old. 

I've noticed the door hasn't always been latching. Add in, it was a very windy evening, my first thoughts were that DAMN DOOR!!!

No, she knew for a fact that it was secured. She retraced her steps, over and over, and each time it's concluded some broke in!!!

Someone had ruffled through our business!

Things can be replaced.

A note was found that said I door was found open at 11:36 PM, and whoever it was closed the door. 

It could have been worse. 

Build Your House on the Rock

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Check This Out!

A friend shared the link below yesterday.

I should announce that in no way, shape or form am I getting paid to write this post.

I just want to share something that is so convenient for us.

Walking the grocery store is getting harder, and the scooters they offer aren't always available or charged. When Walmart started their shopper program, at first, I was reluctant to have someone else pick my protein or produce. Other staples I am okay with, but by the time I get what I need in the online shopping cart, either no times were available till the 5-6pm slot or later, or pick a time for the next day. I would just go myself and get through it. It's worked great a couple of time and set up so hubby would stop on his way home.

We liked the delivered meals. They came with everything needed to create a dinner that could be served at a fancy restaurant, and splurging once a month was like going out to dinner 3 times for a lot less. With the recipe cards sent with it, we can cook any of the meals we had delivered anytime we want. We can't get them through the summer though. Try as we might, no matter what, our brutal heat just isn't avoidable! The ruined meals, wilted vegetables, wasn't fair to the company that they pay for the loss when we can schedule the times to fit, avoiding the hassle.

Now there are Emeals. It's similar to the delivered meals we've done, but they don't send you any food. Instead, you pick which meal or meals you want to have, the ingredient list is then sent to the grocery store of your choice, or they can be printed out. I like the stores that do the shopping for you, like Target, Walmart, Sprouts, Fry's, Ralphs, and others.

Since we keep meat, poultry, and pork stocked in the freezer, all I needed to do was pick the meals we wanted to try using what we had. We do this shopping once a month, usually at Albertsons, and buy the family size packages. It is then divided up accordingly into either the seal-a-meal pouches or quart size freezer bags. The problem we are having is I take something out, and the question is always asked, "How do we want to cook this...?"

Now we have another option.

For my first shopping experience, things went reasonably well.

To have everything I need, I sent a list to Walmart, and hubby picked it up on his way home. Then I realized I goofed and didn't do something correctly, and had to create a second list. A senior moment cleared, and I realized the company Instacart, that is on the website, is Sprouts. Shopping with Sprouts is fantastic! Now I can continue to shop there for my produce and such, and it even has a delivery service, win, win! I created another of the things I missed, and within an hour all the produce and deli meats had been delivered.

Over the next two weeks, I have everything I need to create some excellent meals, and I never stepped into a store!

Here are my picks:

      Madeira Pork and Mushrooms                                 Smokey Chicken Carnitas

          Italian Turkey Meatballs                                   Sheet Pan Salmon and Brussel Sprouts   

Chipotle Pork Chops                                   Tuscan Chicken

Chicken Saltimbocca

Our journey through life isn't changing to a food blog. Just passing along some good food to make along with it.

Things They Are A Changin'

Shutting down Google+ for consumer (personal) accounts on April 2, 2019...more

You can still follow us at Bloglovin...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

And of course through Blogspot.

My new site on WordPress is coming along, still under construction, still so much to learn and figure out.

Learning remains to be the main ingredient of my life.

Now if I could just get it to stick, and stay longer, LOL!

Seems we are heading into another storm...

Even as we got closer, I thought, yep...

That storm cell is heading right in the direction of our destination. Rain at a cattle ranch equals 'mud'! 

Fortunately, we missed it! 

Just like I will miss google+.

Seems things they are changin' again... 

Five-Minute-Friday ~ Where

It's another week with Five Minute Friday. 

It's Friday, and I'm so excited to be posting on time! 

Ready. Set. Go!

Where...

"Where is your God!" (Psalm 42:10) came to mind first, so I had to look up the verse. 

Where do we go from here?

Where can I find what I am looking for?

"Where" can bring questions, it can become a place or position. 

I love where I am today! Home with all it's beautiful noises outside, from the chickens and roosters to the hummingbirds, and hawks. They all have their own way of announcing where they are.

But that is not where I was going with these five minutes, either. 

I love where I am in my new bible study.

Finishing week two and I have all my homework done. 

Where this study has taken me, it is right where I am supposed to be. Which makes sense as to why God directed me in this direction. He knew where it would help me.

"It's not supposed to be this way," by Lysa TerKeurst, has me motivated, and it feels terrific!

Sometimes I need to read how others have made it to where they are from these devasting events that can happen when we least expect them. 

I know I have never really been alone, but when you lose the people that got you through all the things life can throw you, finding that new balance without them takes time. Just as you begin to find some stable ground, another one leaves, then another, and before you know it, where you are, is lost. 

Adventure after adventure, some were well planned, other unexpected, gave us the opportunity along those roads to talk about our loss, the kids, the future, whatever God put in our hearts.

It can be scary on some of these roads. 

Stop! 

Back in 2015, we took a journey to Orcas Island for my husband uncles funeral. We took our time and soaked up the beautiful scenery along out path. Sharing those end of life questions with each, we began to create something between us that had been lost for a while.

  

Facing where we are has been a trying time. Sometimes it got loud. Sometimes we just ignored the elephant in the room until we could talk about it. It wasn't and still isn't the easiest time of our lives but we know with God, we will get through it. We can see His fingerprints along it, which comforts and encourages us.

I'm reminded of what those we had lost had set an example of, to build our home on a firm foundation of faith that can survive the storms life will produce. 

Remember, after every storm, there will be a rainbow! 

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