Saturday, December 17, 2016

Day 17 - December Photo Project


One of our favorite "date" spots.  
Dacia enjoys sitting at the counter and watching them bake.
Arthur and I enjoy a date while sitting at one of the cafe tables and people watching.


Peppermint Mocha
YUMMY!




Pain d'Noel!


Baby, it's cold out there!
BRRR!
But so fun!


Selfie overlooking Lake "O"





This was supposed to be a selfie of "us" but...
we were photo bombed by this beautiful TWEEN!




Dacia and Dad!




Dacia and Mom


She has an arm!


 But Dad had a cool aim today!!!!


We enjoyed the blooming flowers in the area!



Friday, December 16, 2016

Day 16 - December Photo Project



Tia sitting watch from my bedroom.  Guarding the neighborhood from all the dangerous cats and squirrels.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Day 15 - December Photo Project


Sliding on the streets!

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Day 14 - December Photo Project


Snow that will hopefully stick around for a few days.






Edited later - The snow storm that shut down the city.   It would remain for several days and provide hours of fun for Dacia.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Day 13 - December Photo Project



We have enjoyed strolls at the local mall this month.  

Monday, December 12, 2016

Day 12 - December Photo Project


We were walking through the mall and what to our wondering eyes did appear but Santa strolling around on his "turkey break".

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Day 11 - December Photo Project



Nothing like Sunday morning worship with my church family.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Day 10 - December Photo Project


Hanging out at the bookstore on a gray Saturday afternoon.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Day 9 - December Photo Project


Chocolate Mint Tea from Trader Joe's
Mom's Christmas hot pad that she made many years ago.  
Miss her!


Christmas gift from Arthur's work
Would you like an almond roca?  Cashew?
Peppermint?  Dark Chocolate?

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Day 8 - December Photo Project



SNOW!!!!!!!  Looking from our front porch to the trailhead across the street.  It will likely all be gone by tomorrow.  We had a "snow" day.  Dacia was so excited!



Enjoying the snow day by curling up with a good book by the fire.  SHHHHHH!  Don't tel her this was school too.  Reading Pride and Prejudice.  Studying the illustrations!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Day 7 - December Photo Project



My sweet, SWEET girl organized a surprise birthday luncheon for my 50th birthday.  When did she grow up to be so big and mature.  She is an amazing young woman of God.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Day 6 - December Photo Project



Look who we ran into while walking around Bridgeport earlier this month!!!  
My old pals....Raggedy Ann and Andy!

Monday, December 5, 2016

Day 5 - December Photo Project



Pa Keon is a favorite breakfast but expensive to buy ready made.  Here is my first attempt at making one sans a recipe.  Pretty good for a first attempt.   The rough recipe is over at my other blog:  LuLu's Creations and Designs.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Day 4 - December Photo Project



Handmade by my grandmother many years ago.  One of my favorite Christmas items that I actually keep out all year long. Along with this wonderful cardinal, she sewed quilts one of which was a wedding gift to Arthur and I even though she had died many years prior to us meeting!

She was an amazing lady. She was born in the early 1900's and lived to see the car become a common place mode of transportation.  She worked as a librarian.  Lived through two world wars, Korean War and Vietnam War.  She saw the telephone become a common household fixture as well as electricity, indoor plumbing, running water, radios and televisions.  She played the piano and the organ beautifully.  

She loved God and was devoted to Him wholeheartedly. I am also privileged to own her Bible and several of her devotional books.  Reading her notes in her Bible and her devotional books is such a wonderful encouragement to me.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Day 3 - December Photo Project


In addition to the December Photo Project, I have been on a personal mission to do something with the family each day in the month of December that pulls us all together.  With it being Saturday, I asked the family to join me by going to the local high school for a craft bazaar.  While we had a good time together it fell rather flat.  We decided to head over to the local mall and walk around.  Oh the memories and fun that we had.  As we were leaving to go to dinner we passed by the Corner Bakery Cafe and was invited in by the manager for a dinner on the cafe.  It was the "training night" before the big opening next week.  What a wonderful evening that we had.  

Here Dacia is showing Dad how to play Color Switch.  Computer games/games online  are not our favorite thing but they are Dacia's.  We are stretching our comfort boundaries and embracing things that she likes.  In the process we are finding new things that we enjoy with her.  I love my sweet tween girl!  She adds so much life and fun to our lives.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Day 2 - December Photo Project



Just another squirrely Friday evening at Fanno Creek Lodge!

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Day 1 - December Photo Project


I am participating in the December Photo Project this year.  It was started a number of years ago by a Christian woman in Nebraska and quickly spread with the help of her friends.  This is my first year in participating.  I do not have any claim to be a professional photographer.  I just love capturing memories that mean something to my family.

This photo represents home sweet home to me.  Arthur LOVES Christmas lights so we have these up ALL year long!  Yes, even in the summer if someone in the family is out late, these lights will be lit waiting for the family to be together once again in our wonderful lodge!  

(If you want to join in the fun of the December Photo Project, hope on over to the host blog and join the fun.  You can also look for the Facebook group if that is easier for you.)

#DPP2016



26th Anniversary of Dad's Homegoing


This photo was taken two weeks to the day that my father was killed. Today marks the 26th anniversary of his homegoing.  He was a wonderful family man.  Here is a little more about my Daddy.  (For some this will be a repeat of what they know about him.  For others this will be new.)  

(1) He loved to play men's softball and did throughout his life. He played college ball as a catcher. This was before catcher's wore any protective gear. He was hit in the wind pipe by a ball once and ended up in the hospital for several days.

 (2) He loved the outdoors. At my childhood home in St. Louis, he lovingly planted about 20 trees on our property because he loved seeing them bloom.

(3) Besides winning many awards for his stone and brick work as a top notch stone and brick mason, he was an accomplished woodworker. I love his handiwork.

What a wonderful treat in February when I was able to visit One Logan Square in Philadelphia where my father worked my sophomore year.  The night that we visited it was COLD but I was able to go into the foyer of the business building and into the hotel to see the building today.  When we moved away from Philadelphia, the building was not yet finished.  Interestingly, the hotel is now part of the hotel family that Arthur works for!

(4) He loved, LOVED the Word of God. I know of at least three small Bibles that he read so often that he wore them out.   I cherish the one of his that I have.  I also have is journal of notes.

(5) One of my fondest memories is of him reading his Bible in the corner of his room early on Sunday morning. He loved going to church so much and would be up early on Sunday morning reading and praying and prepping to teach whatever Sunday School class he was currently assigned.

(6) He was my 6th and 7th grade Sunday School teacher! Much of what I know and love about the Lord's Prayer comes from his teachings.

(7) He originally wanted to be a forest ranger when he went to college. He spent one year north of Couer d'Alene, Idaho planting trees. I have been able to see some of those trees all grown now. I have to be honest that I was a little emotional seeing those trees and realizing he had planted them.

(8) He loved birds! I give him credit for my love of birds.

 (9) He was a man of prayer. When we were cleaning out his work truck after he died, we found what seemed like hundred of 3x5 cards with prayer notes on them. He never had a radio in his truck instead he would pray while he drove wherever he went. He prayed for the salvation of my Uncle Jim. I learned that Uncle Jim became a Christian before he died which is many years after my Dad died. At one time I knew how many years this was but suffice it to say it was over 25 years! Don't ever give up praying for the salvation of your loved ones! 

(10) He was quirky at times. He was a red headed Swiss that would wear a Swiss hat on St. Patty's Day. LOL!  Somewhere I have that hat!

Love you Daddy!


Monday, August 1, 2016

Bible Study Method #1

As I train Dacia Grace in studying the Word of God, I want so share a little about what I have found online.  There are many free resources out there that serve as great encouragements in our studying of the Word of God.

Good Morning Girls is a world wide group of women that study a section or a book of the Bible together for a set period of time.   The method that used is S.O.A.K. or S.O.A.P.  Here it is explained in a blogpost which also has a video embedded in the post.  May you be encouraged as well.

How to use the SOAK Bible Study Method

Saturday, January 9, 2016

SImple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
once again I see the gray of January and the rain coming down.  So thankful for the rain and the way that it is preparing the earth for the upcoming Spring and Summer.  Praying it will have a lasting impact on the drought like conditions we have experienced last year.

I am thinking...
the passage of time.  In some ways time passes so quickly and in other ways it crawls along at a snail's pace.  As a mom, time is passing through my fingers and Dacia is growing up so quickly. As I look at the world around me and see the sin and the devastation it causes, time passes slowly as we wait anxiously for the return of Christ to this dark world.

I am thankful ....
for God's goodness and peace.  This week found me in the Emergency Department of our local-ish hospital with scary symptoms.  If it were not for God's peace, I think I would have gone crazy.  God in His mercy and goodness intervened and I was given a clean bill of health.

From the learning rooms...
we are learning about the Roman arch, the Roman aqueducts and how to draw architectural sketches.

From the kitchen...
I am working on menu plans which will include cooking from the pantry and freezer with some fresh veggies from our Organics to You delivery. Pork tenderloin and albacore tuna tenderloin are on the menu as well as shrimp scampi.

Currently my favorite breakfast item is ricotta cheese on toast!  Yummy!  Toast, ricotta cheese, sliced pears and drizzled with Turkish honey and sprinkled with chopped English walnuts.  Or toast with ricotta cheese and strawberry jam splashed with Balsamic vinegar

I am creating...
a file of photos for Arthur to take to his parents when he goes to see them later this month.  While their mind slowly slips away, photos of the family bring them so much comfort and are a practical way that we can show them that we love them.

I am reading...
On This Foundation by Lynn Austin.  It is the second book in The Restoration Chronicles which tells of the years following the Exile when the Jews rebuilt the Temple and the wall of Jerusalem.  God's promise to protect a remnant of the Jews regardless of their sinful ways encourages me so much today.  If He loves these sinful people so much, will He not also love me in my sinfulness?!  Thank you Jesus! 

I am praying...
for the peace of Jerusalem.  Our world needs peace but it will only come with the return of the Prince of Peace.  Maranatha!

I am hearing...
Wayne Watson .........  Yep, it is a throwback music type of day.  Listening to the songs of my high school and college years this morning.

Around the house...
it is quiet as Dacia is at a grade school event.  The last Forts and Floats that she will attend as a grade schooler.  HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!?!  She is in beginning to count down how many months......no weeks......remain in her grade school career.  How is that  possible?  WOW!

One of my favorite things...
time with my family.  This week's medical emergency really awakened the frailty of life.  Time to cherish those times together. As trite as it sounds we are not promised tomorrow.  We are not even promised the next moment.  Make the one you are in right now count!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
focusing on school and watching to see what Divine Appointments God has in store for me.

My Picture Thought...


Light in the Dark



Not the clearest of photos but I seriously love this photo.  Dacia loves wrapping up in her firefly lights and reading at night.  Makes me think of the way God is the light in my life.  I long to wrap myself up in His light as I walk through my  days in this dark world.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me 
will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
John 8:12

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Keeping It Real!

I don't feel like I have any clue what I am doing homeschooling. I don't feel like I have any business homeschooling. I don't feel like I am doing a good job homeschooling. Matter of fact there are times, I know I am not doing a good job.

BUT GOD......... 

He is the one that has called Arthur and I to homeschool. 

BUT GOD.....

He is the one we have chosen to obey and submit to in all areas of our life. 

BUT GOD.......

Looks at the heart of man rather than the outward appearances. 

I can look at the outward appearances, the educational outcomes, the test results, etc. and see what man sees...

OR...

I can choose to look at the heart and see that I am leading a little girl down the path of young womanhood and see that today she loves God more than she did yesterday and more than she did last year. I can choose to see that God is at work in her life and in mine and in my husband's life. I can chose to look at the outward signs of success or I can look at the BUT GOD moments. 

I choose today to look at the BUT GOD moments. Will you look at them with me!?!

           Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet 
                      and a light unto my path.
                             Psalm 119:105



Friday, January 1, 2016

Wisdom of the Ages