Goals for week beginning April 29

From my collection of antique cards

Last week wasn't as productive as I'd have liked, but it wasn't bad as I began getting back into real life following our 2-week vacation.  Here are some goals for this week:
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study
*  Finish Sunday School lesson 14
*  Start new Sunday School lesson 1
*  Make 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook
*  Memorize Psalm 104:33-34
*  Read 2 chapters in A Woman's Call to Prayer
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows
*  Keep up with crafting goals for birthdays and finishing UFOs
*  Keep up a good water intake
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night
*  Post once or twice in each blog
*  Continue work on kids' devotional book for summer 2013
*  Make a simple spring banner
*  Keep up with homemaking goals as much as possible, including decluttering several closets
 *  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do.


And here's how last week went:
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study -- DONE!
*  Finish Sunday School lesson 14 -- almost done, but not completely.
*  Make 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook -- not done
*  Memorize Psalm 104:33-34 -- not done
*  Finish reading How to Build Your Home on Holy Ground -- DONE!
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows -- not done
*  Keep up with crafting goals for birthdays and finishing UFOs -- DONE!
*  Keep up a good water intake -- DONE!
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night -- DONE!
*  Post once or twice in each blog -- -- DONE! in this blog, but not at my Christmas kitchen.
*  Continue work on kids' devotional book for summer 2013 -- DONE! (Just 5 pages left to do.)
*  Make a simple spring banner -- not done
*  Keep up with homemaking goals as much as possible, including decluttering several closets -- not done
 *  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do -- not done every day.


The upcoming week doesn't look too crazy (yet!) so I am hoping it will be more productive.

A finished project!

 Now the pictures can be shown, since little Emily's belated birthday gift has been delivered to Nevada.  Does this look like an odd gift to give a five-year-old?  I can explain.

Many years ago when Emily's mother was in college, her grandmother (my mother-in-law) and I made a quilt for her dorm room.  Several different people stitched cross stitch pieces that would have special meaning for the recipient,  and my mother-in-law sewed them into a quilt in the Attic Window style.

Fast-forward to the present, and that quilt is still in use.  Emily has seen the quilt on her parents' bed, and was struck by one design in particular.  Emily is a little girl who loves color -- as she sometimes puts it, "glorious colors"!  She asked her mom if she thought Grammy could make a cross stitch piece of this "Rainbows & Flowers" design, just for her.  Well, of course I could, and I did.  On the advice of Emily's mom, I revised the saying a bit and changed the lettering to make it easier to read.

I was not, however, the stitcher of the original piece; my mother-in-law, I believe, did that one.  And I have an even greater respect for her after stitching the design myself.  So many colors and so many color changes.  My eyes hurt after a half hour of working on it.  But now it is done, and framed in fabric to hang on Emily's wall. 

Here's a closer look:

Glorious colors, indeed!

Another fabulous giveaway from the Muncks!

My much loved copy of this book

Yes, the Muncks Quiver is having another giveaway today.  This time it is a replica of the vintage Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys & Girls.  Now, I have a strong sentimental attachment to this particular children's cookbook, because the 1957 edition is the one I learned to cook from.  I used to pore over that book by the hour, and I tried a good many of the recipes.  Some of them, especially the cookie recipes, became standards in my childhood home.  And it was this book that I used when I first cooked a complete meal when I was ten or so.  I remember making meatballs, baked potatoes -- and surely there was a salad and some kind of dessert, but I've forgotten those details.

I still have my original copy of this cookbook.  It is in tatters, with many missing pages and lots of smudges from ingredients.  It would be such fun to win a replica to use with my grandchildren!  Would you like to get in on the fun?  Head on over to The Muncks Quiver and leave a comment to have the chance to win the Betty Crocker cookbook giveaway! The giveaway ends at midnight, so you will want to enter right away.

A fun giveaway for writers!

From a vintage calendar

Do you enjoy writing and journaling?  I certainly do!  For many years I kept an ongoing journal of ideas, thoughts, trips we took, and so on.  I am also working on my second scrapbook-style journal where I paste pictures and other items that speak to me, and then journal daily activities in and around them.  For some reason I seldom seem to find time for that anymore, but I do try to journal my daily Bible reading even if I do nothing else. I also have an impressive collection of journals filled with Bible studies I've done in the past.  It makes it handy to look back when I'm studying a particular book.

And of course blank books, note cards, stationery and even nice pencils, pens, and highlighters are always fun to have.  If you enjoy the writing process too, you'll want to check out today's giveaway at The Muncks Quiver.  Here's the link: Giveaway for the writer.  This fun giveaway ends at midnight tonight, so head on over and check it out.  Someone will win, and it just might be you!

Goals for week beginning 4/22/2013

From a vintage calendar page

Well, having been away, it has been awhile since I posted weekly goals.  I'm trying to get back in the habit, so here goes:

*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study
*  Finish Sunday School lesson 14
*  Make 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook
*  Memorize Psalm 104:33-34
*  Finish reading How to Build Your Home on Holy Ground
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows
*  Keep up with crafting goals for birthdays and finishing UFOs
*  Keep up a good water intake
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night
*  Post once or twice in each blog
*  Continue work on kids' devotional book for summer 2013
*  Make a simple spring banner
*  Keep up with homemaking goals as much as possible, including decluttering several closets
 *  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do.


We will see how it all goes, but I'm hoping for a productive week ahead.

Coffee Giveaway!

Over at the Muncks Quiver, there are some fun daily giveaways going on to celebrate their 1000th post.  Today's giveaway (which ends at midnight tonight) is for two kinds of coffee.  Head on over, read about the  Coffee Giveaway and leave a comment to enter.  If you enjoy coffee as much as I do, you won't want to miss out on the opportunity to win!

Back from vacation!

Image from RetroAmerica.com

I can't take a lot of time today, but wanted to post just a few pictures from our recent vacation in Nevada.  During our time there with loved ones, we ventured into south-central Idaho and had a wonderful few days there together.  So here are the pictures.  I will try and post more of an account of our trip in a few days.

Like many towns out west, Elko's location is marked by a giant capital letter marked out by white rocks on a hillside high above the city.  At Easter time and on other occasions, part of the giant "E" is illuminated to resemble a cross.  We went up to the "E" at night as it would not be lit up for much longer, and that's where these pictures were taken.  In the foreground some of the lights of the cross can be seen.  The distant lights are those of the city.

The city lights of Elko

At Balanced Rock Park near Castleford, Idaho

Also at Balanced Rock Park

At Niagara Springs in Thousand Springs State Park, also in Idaho

This ladybug on sagebrush was right beside the path to Niagara Springs

A gorgeous flowering tree at Clear Springs Foods, a trout hatchery

More of the amazing springs at Thousand Springs State Park

Sunset in Bliss, Idaho

All in all, it was an amazing road trip to Idaho.  As I viewed God's magnificent creation, verse after verse came to my mind.  The huge castle-like rock formations made me think of Isaiah 33:16 which talks about "the munitions of rocks".  The springs bursting forth from canyon walls reminded me of Psalm 104:10 -- "He sendeth the springs into the the valleys, which run among the hills."  And there were many more.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to spend time with family and friends and to be reminded once again of the power and awesomeness of God.

(I should add a note also that these pictures were taken by our daughter and son-in-law.  We haven't loaded our own pictures onto the computer yet.)

On vacation ...

Just a quick note from Nevada ... we're on vacation visiting family, but will be back home very soon.  We've had a wonderful time with loved ones and friends out here and have seen many fabulous sights.  It will be good to get back to our home and routine, but this time has been a wonderful blessing and we're thankful to the Lord for providing for us to take this trip.  See you all soon!

April goals

from my collection of vintage cards

Here are my goals for April:
* Begin reading through the book of Psalms, journaling as I go.
* Finish reading How to Build Your Home on Holy Ground
* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses.
* Begin study of 2 Samuel
* Exercise at least 15 times; walk as often as possible
* Get to bed by 10 pm each night.
* Limit sugar.
* Drink enough water each day.
* Keep up with Kelly's missions in homemaking zones of the week.
* Travel to and from Nevada; enjoy time with family there
* Spend several hours updating my A-store.
* Finish reading Following God with All Your Heart.
* Make at least a dozen items for sale at craft fairs.
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family.
* Write 8 new pages for summer devotional book
* Post often in both of my blogs -- probably not daily, but more often than weekly
* Finish some UFO craft projects for the home.
* Finish writing down my memories for faraway grandchildren/bring book to them
* Declutter several closets
* Finish preparing Sunday School lesson 14
* Finish several handcrafted birthday gifts for April birthdays.

And here is how March went:
* Read through the gospel of Luke and into the book of John, journaling as I go -- DONE!
* Read 4 chapters in How to Build Your Home on Holy Ground -- DONE!
* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses -- DONE!
* Finish last chapter of 1 Samuel Bible study book -- DONE!
* Exercise at least 20 times -- not done; think I managed about 10 times.
* Get to bed by 9:30 pm each night --not done
* Limit sugar -- not done
* Drink enough water each day -- DONE!
* Keep up with Kelly's missions in homemaking zones of the week -- did pretty well with this.
* Continue with planning for trip to Nevada-- DONE!
-* Mail a box of books to Nevada -- DONE!
* Spend several hours updating my A-store -- not done
* Read 4 chapters in Following God with All Your Heart -- DONE!
* Make at least a dozen items for sale at craft fairs -- not done
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family -- DONE!
* Work on updating and writing new pages for summer devotional book  -- DONE!
* Post often in both of my blogs -- probably not daily, but more often than weekly -- not done
* Finish some UFO craft projects for the home -- not done
* Continue writing down my memories for faraway grandchildren -- DONE!
* Declutter several closets -- not done
* Spiff up entire house in preparation for being away in April -- DONE!
* Decorate for spring -- DONE!
* Finish several handcrafted birthday gifts for March and April birthdays -- done with March, not with April yet.


I'm hoping for a productive April!