Five on Friday

While I'll have to make this quick due to my sick little baby, I did want to link up with The Good Life and runningMOMentum for Five on Friday.

 

 

[one]

perfect PotAToeS

 

As mentioned earlier on in the month, I have incorporated several of The Pioneer Woman's recipes into my October menu. Last night I broke out the heavy cream and cheese (these are not meant favor your waistline) and made her Perfect Potatoes au Gratin. I would recommend adding about 10-15 minutes of additional baking time, but overall they were delicious!!! I took some for lunch today and the smell alone received multiple compliments.



 

[two]

25

My beautiful daughter turned 25 weeks today! One week from tomorrow we'll be celebrating 6 wonderful months!!! How time flies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[three]

100 bOokS

 

One of the items on my 30 before 30 list is to read 100 books to my daughter. I've kept a log of books in a small notebook. While I've only got ten written down (due to repetition), I'm looking forward to many library visits next summer. We'll make major headway.

 

 

[four]

mAN cAnDLe

There are many scents of fall that I love...but one of my favorites (which I broke out tonight) is Yankee Candle's Mountain Lodge.

[five]



mOvIEs

 

I normally don't review movies. I either like them or I don't...however, C and I (true kids at heart) watched two new movies over the last couple of weeks. The first was Epic. We LOVED it! The graphics are beautiful and the story line keeps you interested the whole way through. The second movie we watched, just this week, was The Croods. Adorable. We laughed a lot and loved the characters. I truly look forward to the day when G can enjoy these movies with us.

 

 

Okay...back to nursing my little one to health...let's hope G is able to sleep most of the night instead of waking up every couple of hours. Fingers crossed...

 

Wacky Wednesday

Today was a roller coaster ride. While I'm mentally exhausted from the chaos of the day, it felt so good to pick up G from the sitter, look into her beautiful baby blues, and snuggle her cuddly little body close to mine. I was so wiped out from today that I played Christmas music...yes Christmas music in October...to lift my spirits on the way home.

Upon getting home, my hubby and I worked together to make dinner: Buffalo Chicken Salad...Yum! G enjoyed some mangoes.

I was able to get the kitchen cleaned up before C left for his meeting. This allowed me to spend the remainder of the evening with G. She enjoyed her bath time, as always. She was then fed and put to bed. Normally she falls right asleep. This evening she was up for a quite a while, kicking her legs in her bed and letting me know that she was not quite ready to lay down for the night. She eventually got over this and the house has since gone quiet.

I took this time to venture forth with one of my DIY projects. I've long awaited to complete this project and with the fall weather setting in, the timing could not be more perfect. After my last DIY was a minor bust, I was a bit anxious...but this project was VERY successful and I will be making more...I now present to you...baby leg-warmers! I'm so in love!

(make your own)

 

 

This project was a great way to wrap up my evening. The last thing I need to do prior to going to bed this evening is to focus on my 1000 Gifts List. Since the start of this prayerful, eucharisteo focused journey I have entered 44 God graced gifts. While I could spend hours listing, I have decided to focus on just a few at a time. This allows me to savor these moments of grace and thanks. Today's challenge is to list 3 Gifts Praised For...

 

 

- Bold Innocence: As the controversies of faith in public arenas, primarily schools, continue to rage, I find such refreshment in the hearts and minds of my first grade students. While I do my best to love them like Jesus, the way they minister to one another is so encouraging. My students frequently speak to one another about going to church, loving God, Santa vs. Jesus, and so on. They are unwavering in their convictions and will stand their ground against any killjoys. If only as adults we would readily maintain this child-like faith.

 

 

-Zac: Zac is the soon-to-be two year old that will be placed in the arms of our dear friends over the next few days. This faith-filled couple left today to travel to China to retrieve the child that God has set apart for them. Praise God for His love and provision!

 

-6 Month Milestone: G will turn 6 months old this month. I praise God for each day we have with her and each advancement she makes. While her growth is bittersweet, I rejoice in each moment.

 

 

I hope you'll take some time to reflect on gifts of praise. We truly have so much to be thankful for. 

 

Flip the Flops

Having lived in Georgia for many years, I find it very difficult to relinquish my flip flops as the seasons turn here in the Blue Ridge mountains of Central Virginia. As the cool weather sets in, the mornings are greeting us with temperatures in the 40s. Combine those temperatures with the wet dew and you're talking some cold feet! I'm not sure how much longer I'll sport my favorite type of shoes, but I know it will soon be coming to an end...at least until Spring returns.

This week already seems to be dragging along...it's only Tuesday and I'm already wishing for Friday. Tomorrow is a new day...and I'm trying to be optimistic.

Today's challenge centered around 3 Gifts Prayed.

-Conception: For well over a year, my husband and I earnestly prayed for the time when the Lord would allow us to conceive. We never gave up hope that He would fill our home and hearts with children...there were many days when we could only rest in His promises, hope and pray. Then, last August, God blessed us with our most precious gift...a positive pregnancy test signifying the conception of what would become known as our beautiful, truly beloved, daughter.

-Jobs: Both my husband and I worked in different positions prior to our current jobs. I was a Child Protective Services Social Worker and my husband was a machinist. While our salaries allowed us to be comfortable and our needs were met, we knew God was calling us elsewhere. I went back to school to obtain my Master's and to my surprise, God led me into teaching. I graduated with my Master's of Arts in Teaching. I now serve as a first grade teacher. My husband left a very profitable position to follow his true calling. He became a full-time firefighter for a nearby city. We both LOVE our jobs. While the pay cut was major, our happiness flourishes, the Lord continues with His provisions, and we rejoice in knowing we are exactly where God has called us to be.

-Healing: Over the last several months there have many close loved ones and acquaintances that have dealt with sickness and loss. I am continually amazed as I see God intervene. I am most taken back by how even when the healing does not  happen on this side of Heaven, God comforts the hurting hearts and brings peace to weary, aching souls. Only He can bring that kind of healing.

There are still so many things that C and I continue to pray for and about. We have answers we are longing for, and while the waiting is often the hardest part, we know God is working out all the details and will produce amazing results in His time.

A Gift Baked, Stirred, and Eaten

A rainy Monday. Enough said.

While the monochrome clouds began to break towards the end of today, I realized that I had yet to reflect on and list the gifts for my October challenge. Today's gifts include one gift baked, stirred, and eaten. Of course, my mind instantly goes to things that fill my home with harvest time smells. This time of year fills our home with scents of enticing spices and sweet vanillas as apple pies are baked and soups brew on the stove top. Here are the gifts that made it on my list today.


-Baked: I am fortunate to have a husband that is open to a new recipe every night should I so choose. While I have some tried and true go to recipes that make it onto my monthly menu, I am constantly experimenting. This month's menu has quite a few recipes from The Pioneer Woman's blog page. Tonight's tasty recipe fit right into the baked category. I love to serve my husband a piping hot meal that feeds the heart and tummy. Each bite that he enjoys is a special gift in and of itself as it brings joy to my soul. I love to see him happy and content...and you know the old saying? The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I've got that covered. Tonight's meal was Sour Cream Noodle Bake...delish!

-Stirred: You may be surprised to find that this gift is not one that comes out of the oven or off of the stove top. I was reminded of this gift tonight as I was reading One Thousand Gifts. The author discusses a passage that I have heard and read multiple times throughout my life. The scripture comes from Luke 17:17-19. It tells of the time when 10 lepers were healed and only one, a Samaritan man, returns to give thanks to Jesus for his healing. Jesus inquires as to why he is the only one to return to give thanks. Without what seems time to respond, Jesus than tells the man to "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (v. 19) The author makes a point that I had skimmed over for all these years...if the man was healed prior to coming back to Jesus, why then did He tell the man that he is fully healed and made well? Here it comes...the point that I've missed over and over again. Jesus looked past the physical healing and focused His eyes on the man's heart. The man was made whole. He was transformed by his faith. It's moments like this...these moments of recognition...these "ah ha" moments...that stir my heart and soul. They get my mind churning and my heart yearning to submerse myself in God's truth. Only when we come to God with a sincere heart of gratitude are we experiencing the joy of our God given life and salvation.

-Eaten: Considering food has been my enemy these last few weeks, I had to think long and hard about how I wanted to approach this gift. I decided to take an easy route on this one and list a special little goody given to me by one of my fellow teachers...it would have to be a Cran-Orange cookie. While some of you may wrinkle your nose, I know that it is simply because your taste buds have not experienced cookie perfection such as this. It was such a special treat on this dreary Monday.

Just for Fun

I have become a little obsessed with this whole making bows business. They look so adorable on G's little strawberry blonde fuzz (I say on because she is yet to have enough hair to put them "in"). Here is another one that I did tonight. I can't wait for her to wear it! I have realized that I need to start branching out. There are so many cute styles...I just tend to find something I like and run with it for awhile...I'm also hoping to get some leg warmers made for her this week. Yay for fall temperatures!

3 Gifts Redeemed

Redeem: to buy or pay off; clear by payment

Today's challenge is to list 3 gifts redeemed. I took some time to reflect on this today. "Redeem" has it's place in several facets of life...from the redemption of a coupon at your local grocery store to the redemption found at Calvary's cross. Redeem...a core concept at the heart of my salvation.

3 Gifts Redeemed

-My salvation: My Jesus died a tragic, unimaginable death, only after living a perfect, sinless life. He bought me with a very high price...His very life. This occurred solely that I, and every other sinner such as myself, could have a perfect eternity with my Savior. The gift of my salvation is of course the number one gift ever accounted for in my existence.

-The Jeep: If I look at gifts from a materialistic stand point, my vehicle comes to mind. Thankfully, due to the Lord's provision and my discipline, I was able to pay off my Jeep early. This would have been the year that my debt would have finally been paid in its entirety, but Praise God! I was able to pay it off in 3 years as opposed to 5. That has been a major blessing.

-Student Loans: I have mixed feelings about listing these as a "gift". Student loan debt will haunt me for years to come...it was a necessary evil. However, in an attempt to change my perspective, I have come to a point where I can consider even this hefty payment a joy. While they are far from being paid off, I rejoice in the Lord's provision to be able to pay them every month. I rejoice in the degree that allows me to have a job that I love. Yes, even student loans can be a gift.

While thinking upon today's gifts and the beauty of this day, I ran across a couple truths in my devotion that really struck a chord with my heart.

G is already for church

"Joy is [God's] presence-driven not circumstantially bought or delivered."


"The joy of His presence envelopes you and protects you."

The joy of the Lord is eternal. What a heartwarming reality.

I also read a verse that I will most certainly carry with me this week. I was doing very well with my weight loss and have since failed miserably over the last couple of weeks. I'm dreading the scale tomorrow. Knowing that we all have our battles, I thought I'd share:

Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." Matthew 19:26

Just for Fun

As mentioned in one of my previous posts, I listed 4 upcoming Pinterest projects that I wanted to accomplish. I designated one for each month. Last month I completed G's peasant dress. This month I wanted to make a watercolor onesie for my daughter. I gathered my materials and prepared to begin. Unfortunately, this project was not successful. I did everything as I was told, but after reading similar posts on the same concept, it appears that rubbing alcohol should have been used as opposed to hydrogen peroxide. At some point I may attempt this again using the alcohol. I did manage to salvage one of the onesies and I look forward to putting G in it.

I'm looking forward to trying several new recipes this month and making some DIY leg warmers for G.

Out and About

I'm looking forward to the fall weather returning. Today was a last ditch effort by summer to leave its impression. I'm not going to miss it.

My hubby, G and I went out soon after he got home from work this morning. We hit a few yard sales on the way into town to run errands. One of my favorite finds was a little table and chairs for G. While she has a ways to grow before she can fully enjoy it, we'll surely have a blast with some of our friends' children. My hubby found an old school Tonka truck like the one we both grew up with. I also found a couple of cookbooks and books for G. There were so many yard sales today that there was no way we could hit them all and still get our errands done before heading home in time for C to get into the woods. Yes ladies, the time of year has arrived when many of us will once again become Hunting Season widows.

I've had a few VT onesies for G and she is finally able to fit into them. However, I didn't want to put yet another daisy on her headband...so, a mom does what she must. I purchased some ribbon and put together my first hair bow (without instructions)! Take that Pinterest! I'm looking forward to making more as I look through some more styles and possibly some diy instructions.

Tomorrow should be an equally enjoyable day. We have church and then we're meeting friends for lunch (and I'll be picking up my bridesmaid dress for my cousin's November wedding). We'll end our time in town by stopping by the house of one of our favorite couples to see their newest addition. We can't wait to snuggle their new little boy and get in some play time with his 17 month old sister.

Before tomorrow gets here, I need to get down my "gifts" for the day. Today's challenge is to list 3 Gifts Returned...this was difficult. I'm not certain what this is supposed to mean but here is what came to mind...

-Hunting Season: Hunting season is such a blessed time for our family. While I miss my husband in the evenings that he makes his way into the woods, I can always count on him to do what he can to provide our family with bountiful blessings. We save a large amount of money by processing and then freezing his kill. Many people are repulsed by the fact that we do such things, but my grocery bill speaks for itself. I cringe when I have to buy beef. Last year was a less than desirable year for filling our freezer. Normally we have enough meat by the end of hunting season to last until the next one. This year we ran out in early summer, and we don't even eat a ton of red meat. I see this time of year, every year as it returns, as yet another blessing for our family.

-Answered Prayers: All around us, prayers are being answered. I was reminded of that truth as I read an email from some of our close friends. They have been praying for God to open the doors for them to adopt overseas. Their request was answered very quickly as far as the world of adoption is concerned, and they will be leaving in just a couple of days to head to China. They will return towards the end of the month with their new son. This is just one returned answer filled with blessing.

-Former Students: Every afternoon when buses are called, I have a few former students that faithfully stop by my room. They always have funny stories to share, hugs, and lots of love. They are such little blessings.

Five on Friday

There are so many wonderful things about Friday...one of which is linking up with The Good Life for Five on Friday!

 

 

[one]

piE

 

On Tuesdays, my first grade team gets together to discuss various academic topics, co-plan, and share resources. Not only do we contribute ideas, but we contribute food! A couple weeks ago TG brought in some orange cranberry cookies. They were to die for! Ever since I'd been trying to pacify my sweet tooth. With G being more active and more aware of where Mommy is at all times, it's a little tricky accomplishing things in the kitchen. She'll only tolerate her bouncer for so long. So...this Tuesday I brought in one of my long forgotten favorites: Chocolate Peanut butter Pie. Yum!

 

[two]

mOrnIng GlORy

 

I just had to stop yesterday morning. This is a feeble attempt to capture the beauty of yesterday's sunrise. If this is what our side of Heaven looks like...I can only imagine what it must be on the other.

 

 

 

 

[three]

meNu

 

Each month I put together a menu, along with a corresponding grocery list. This menu/grocery list will feed my family 3 meals a day for the entire month of October. I incorporate a lot of recipes from The Pioneer Woman in this one...so excited!

 

[four]

diY

 

I'm super excited! I have all necessary items to complete this month's DIY project! I'll post on this later.

[five]
fRee FrIDaY download

I am a huge fan of Kroger*. I love their selection and I can always find what I am looking for. I also love that I don't have to clip coupons to save money (although I know I might save more if I took the time to do so.) Another perk of being a Kroger card holder is that I get free downloads on Friday! In the past I've gotten free boxes of popcorn, breakfast items, etc. While this week's free download isn't one that has me jumping up and down, at least not until G gets a bit bigger, I still thought I share...

This Friday's offer:

• 

  exp 10/19/2013
  Free Tum-E Yummies Fruit Flavored Drink Get One (1) Free Tum-E Yummies, 10.1 oz. Limit one per house... more

  Sign in to Load

*I was not compensated to "advertise" for this store.

While this takes care of my Five for Friday, I did want to quickly mention my 3 Gifts Reaped.

-Student Achievement: As a teacher there are times you wonder if what you are doing is making a difference. We differentiate until we're blue in the face and then wonder if it is doing any good. Today I reaped a great reward! My students made HUGE strides on a particularly difficult math concept!

-Joy: As I diligently work to change my perspective, I find myself truly experiencing joy. I feel at peace. I no longer feel rushed. I'm finding time for the little things. I feel like I'm turning a corner :)

-True Friendship: A long lasting, unconditional, forgiving friendship is rare. In order to succeed, one must constantly work at communicating, compromising, and loving. I am so blessed to reap the rewards of this gift.