The Simple Woman's: Daybook ~ March

For Today: March 31, 2019

Looking out my window: 

Things are blooming!

I am thinking:

Yes, it is!

I am thankful:

To have had this time!

One of my favorite things:

"Grand's" and Bubbles!

The "Grand is creating:

I am hoping:

They will remember this time forever!

I am learning:

In Sally's kitchen:

 

In my garden:

Moments from this month...

Sorry, it was a simple daybook this month.
I have a lot on my plate and mind.

Five-Minute-Friday ~ Measure

Each week I join Kate's Five-Minute-Friday link-up. The rules are simple, free write for five minutes, unedited and share.

GO...

Each week I measure myself against some pretty impressive writers!

Will I ever measure up?

As I read the many Bible verses that mentioned "measure," I see I still have a lot of work to do.

I tend to continually judge others, and myself, then others, and myself again, and again, and again! Each time I pray and ask for forgiveness for doing it, only to do it again! Only God knows how I've tried over and over again to break that ugly habit.

It's not easy to change a pattern that was taught since I was a very early age. For a substantial measure of time, I thrived on being better than that. Knowing what I didn't want to be, pushed me toward learning who I wanted to be. Though I found myself walking the paces, my heart wasn't absorbing it anymore. Over that time, I had become bitter. Sarcastic. Competitive. Resentful. Boisterous. Even proud that I hadn't followed in the footstep of those older. Unfortunately, I lost track of the correct steps that I was meant to follow.

By age 25 I had everything I wanted, but the most important person who I had reached out to in the beginning. It would take another 5 years before I would truly look for Him again. He was quick to remind me He had never left. He knew all along this was going to be our path. He showed me the faith that was strong in my heart. The hope that everything would work out in His name.

STOP!

This last weekend I was reminded of that young lady, the mother of three teens, who is loved by a man who would go to the ends of the earth if needed. We took a leap of faith and here we are!

A fire began to burn in my belly again as I watched our children, with their children, walk amongst those we have walked with these last forty-three years. I might still have doubts about where this writing might go, I have no doubts about the direction God has for us.

As for...

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

And...

Mark 4:24

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.

Until I kick this terrible habit, these words are going to be first and foremost on my pray list. 

Five-Minute-Friday~Reward

It's like this weeks word was selected just for us!

Since I am writing from my bed at the beautiful Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, with a view of the harbor, taking advantage of the quiet morning, it was the perfect time to check in with FMF.

Timer set, and GO!

We wouldn't be where we are without relying on Gods direction. 

His reward for my faithfulness, is us being here, in beautiful San Diego to receive our 25 year Service Award. (I've mentioned hubby enjoys my faith, but he's not on the same page as me or in the same book. My book is the Bible, and his is Hot Rods, LOL! It's just how we roll, and God is all over it!) 

It's okay, cause I keep planting seeds in him, and over the years I have seen some pretty impressive growth, which always brings us closer. 

If only we had known during those hard times what the reward would be. 

God doesn't work that way though. We are to be patient, continue to be stewards of His words, share our journey, our hopes and even our hurts will bring the rewards. Until we take that path, experience it's purpose, can we look back and see exactly what God had planned and why. 

Even as we draw near to the end of this stage, I see His hands in everything. To see the energy our daughter has to take our business to the next level, excites me in a way that I continually am praising Him for this journey.

We wouldn't be where we are without Him.

Our daughter planted those seeds 30 years ago at the age of ten. Seeing her growth through a devasting situation, I asked to be introduced to Him. Being raised Catholic during the '60s and '70s never got me this close. I will always appreciate that early learning, my wandering to other churches because it was where this journey really began. Meeting my hubby at the peak of that craziness, was His doing, and I believe He put the love in us without us knowing.

"Thank you, Jesus" come out so much. For we don't get to the Father without Him.

STOP! 

It was a bit longer than five minutes.

There is a full day of break-out sessions, some sightseeing or castle building with the "Grand's," so it's time to get the day started...

See you next week!

Five-Minute-Friday~Place

I know it's not Friday, but this is what was happening at our place yesterday...TGIF!

It's was a stinky job, and I am so thankful they could find a place in their schedule for me! 

So, without further ado...

GO!

Around here, and at our daughter's, it's all about getting ready for fair, pageants, and the convention! While at the same time, getting ready for hubby's upcoming surgery. 

The granddaughter has six baby goats and two mommas to haul in this year. They all won't fit in the rolling cage grandpa built last year, so he and the grandson are going to make up another one today.

It's always a pleasure to watch these kids, who have worked really hard with their livestock, all that is left is the waiting to see how they will place. No matter where that is, they support each other with such encouragement it grows confidence in each other. These kids are the future. What they learn now, will only help them to achieve and succeed.

Next week is our convention in San Diego. I just love this place! There is so much to enjoy from the beaches to the restaurants! One thing that we will be experiencing on this trip is receiving our 25 yr award for our business. Which places us in a distinguished group of other owners, and I am so blessed that we made it to this point. Plus the banquet dinner is on the USS Midway, what an extraordinary place for this to be held. 

In a few weeks, I'll be looking for places to park, either at the fair or the hospital parking lot. Finding places to pause, pray, reflect, regroup or refresh from what could be some chaotic times, will be essential to my mental health. 

STOP!

As always, I am linking up with FMF.

I am not in the same place as some of the other writes, but I do believe I am in the right place to learn from them.

You can click the link above if you're interested in reading other FMF prompts.

Have a great weekend.

Five-Minute-Friday~More

Sorry for being late in posting, but we were out adding more adventures to our journey this last week.

Without further ado, I'll get right to FMF's prompt word, more...

GO...

What a great time we had!

I had my laptop with me with all intentions of getting some writing done. Only I never opened it until Sunday night to get a jump on editing all the photos I had taken. 

I always end up with more than I think I have.

I used to think I wanted more. 

More money. 

More clothes.

More accessories.

More furnishing.

None of which I really needed. 

What I needed was more memories and more time to create them. 

More adventures with those who make up my world.

And most of all, I wanted to learn more about what God wants of me, and what more I can do to honor Him. 

He has always been a part of my life, even when I ignored Him, He made Himself known. He wanted more of me during a time I didn't know which way to go let alone know what he wanted. Instead of moving further away, He was moving me closer to the life He has had planned for me all along!

I believe He loves that I want and need Him more!

STOP!

*          *          *          *         *

Yesterday I had one of those God moments that we all would love to have more of. They are always there, we just need to slow down to see them.

We had to come home right after the race got over Sunday. Having already packed up before we went in, all we had to do was basically hook up the truck. Hubby had tests the next morning, bright and early.

When I went to leave, to meet up with him at the doctor's office, I sat my wallet on the hood of my car while I ran back into the house for the keys. I came out, walked around the car, and left. When I noticed I was going to be a few minutes late, I went to grab my wallet to call Hubby, and instantly my heart started to pound!!!! 

I knew exactly what I had done!!!

I said so many prayers and in so many ways all the way from Ave B and 24th to Ave D and 8th Street. Racing at 70 miles an hour at one point, oops!!! Praying,  and hoping it fell off in the driveway. Or on the side of the road. Anything but being found by someone else. I prepared myself for all the scenarios. As I prayed, I also felt Him calm me and allow me to accept the fact that this might possibly be the time I will actually lose my wallet and phone. I prayed for patience to get through this and the strength to handle all of what it would mean. Losing my wallet would have been the worse and the last thing I needed right then. 

As I approached our driveway, I saw it, in the middle of the road. Oh God, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! It thankfully landed between the double yellow lines in the busy street right in front of our driveway. Had the yard guys left they would have run over it. If anyone decided to pass a slower car, they would have run over it too. (Double yellow lines which mean do not pass, are not followed on this stretch of the road. I honk at them all the time!) 

Though the phone did fall out of my wallet, it DIDN'T break!!!! Not even a scratch!!! (I don't have a screen protector or case on my phone.) Nor did anyone run it over!!! 

It was also chiming as it was the time I usually pick up my granddaughter, LOL! 

More and more, I notice Him watching out for me, saving me from myself, LOL!

He is the LOVE of my life!

He. Is. An. Awesome. God!

Five-Minute-Friday~Search

It's Friday!

You know what that means, FMF!

GO!

How was your week?

Around here, I've been searching for anything I can find to do to keep myself busy.

We still have our last four adventures ahead of us this month, all of which require some type of preparation, along with searching for those items that we need to pack. 

Add in hubby's surgery after this, on the 1st of April, I've been searching for the answers to my many questions. I've been on a roller coaster of thoughts, on my knees praying and doing anything I can to raise myself above my fear.

I even got the closet done that was torn apart when I broke my shoulder. Hubby and the nurses just put things away. I kept having to search for things that weren't in their correct place. Now was the perfect time to tackle it again!

One thing is for sure, this surgery has me flipping the Bible pages! Searching for anything and everything with the right message that I can hold onto. Creating a favorite file to click on while he is in surgery. I need His armor!

STOP!

I know God has this, but my hubby doesn't know God like I do. We do not pray together. I'm the Lone Ranger in this duo when it comes to the praying. It's my own War Room! Maybe he will find Him along the way through this. He is closer to Him then he has been, so perhaps he's having his own search going on.

Maybe, just maybe, God is working on something within him too.

Oh, how time will tell!