Happy Homemaker Monday on Tuesday

 

As usual, there's no time for a long post, and I'm a day late, but I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.   It's been great because it has provided an easy way to post for December Daily.  I hadn't really been sure if Sandra would post a Happy Homemaker Monday, but I'm glad she did!

The Weather:::

38º and foggy, with 2 mph wind.  Mostly cloudy with a chance of a little sun later today, and a high of 43ª.  Pretty unseasonable temperatures for late December in New Hampshire.

As I look outside my window::: 

 There are only a very few small remnants of snow in our woods, but for the most part the ground is covered with brown leaves.  And also, at the moment, the ground is covered with dozens of little brown  striped birds -- some type of finch or sparrow, I would guess.  They are finding plenty to eat on the ground, it appears. 

Right now I am:::

 Working on a blog post.  And, once again, feeling guilty about taking the time!  So much to do!

 
Thinking and pondering:::

 

The important thought that even though our Christmases may seem less than perfect and we may feel sad or lonely during this season because of brokenness in our lives or families, nothing will ever change God's love for us.  He sent Jesus out of His great love for us so that we might have a relationship with Him.  We can cling to that regardless of difficulty in our families or lives or even our world in general.

 

On my bedside table::: 

 A lamp, four books,  and a pen.

 Listening to::: 

The hum of the dryer.

 

 On the Breakfast plate:::

I do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast.  Lunch will be a salad with cubes of turkey and cheese in  addition to leaf lettuce.

On the dinner plate::: 

Roasted kielbasa and vegetables -- red peppers, squash, onions, Brussels sprouts

On the menu for this week::: 

 A few meals on my menu plan:

Ham and cheese sliders, hash brown casserole, cinnamon apples (meal to share with friends)
Leftover Ranch House Chicken, with broccoli

Shepherd's Pie using mashed turnips in place of potatoes

 

On my reading pile:::

 

Choosing Forgivemess by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor by Donna Otto

A Step Farther and Higher, by Gail MacDonald

High Call, High Privilege, also by Gail MacDonald
All Manner of Things, by Susie Finkbeiner -- which I am reading through for the second time, and loving it

On my to do list today:::

Work on December blog posts
Work on Sunday School lesson 17
Email Sunday School lesson 15 to ladies
Follow-up email to hospitality team/church family about outreach opportunity
Prepare a small package for mailing
Order vitamins√

 

 

Plans for this week:::

Plan menus and make grocery list
List some Christmas cards on Etsy

Ironing
Take a bag to the thrift store
Work on my Sunday School lesson

Blogging

Meet up with friends for supper on Friday or Saturday
Finish superhero capes and masks for little friends

 

What I am creating:::

 

January cross-stitch sampler, plus another cross-stitch I am dreaming of starting

Some "condensation catchers" out of old towels to place behind toilets that sweat in the humidity -- no, I still haven't finished started those! 😕  And I need to do so, because the old towels are just sitting around waiting to be used!

Some dishcloths in Christmasy colors

Need to make some superhero gifts for friends

Crocheted hot mat for the gift stash
Below are scans of a few completed projects using Readerville fabric.

 

A coaster.  The pre-cuts were the exact right size for coasters.

Side 1 of a mug rug.

Side 2 of a mug rug.  These are a little larger than some mug rugs because I wanted to use the fabric squares as they were and not cut them at all. 
 

Here are some photos as opposed to scans:

Side 2

Side 1

Coaster and edge of mug rug

 

Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::

 

This quote from Pain's Hidden Purpose, by Don Baker:

 

"The Christian life is kept fine-tuned by biblical theology.  We should always interpret experience by truth -- we should always filter every pain through the lens of deity.  When God is in sharp focus, then life is also undistorted." 

 

 This quote was shared by Elizabeth George in the chapter "Trusting the Lord" from her book Loving God with All Your Mind. 

 

On my prayer list:::

 

Friends & family
Church family
Missionaries
Our country

 

And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday  for this week!