Menu Plan Monday

Having the inventory done I was able to finish the menu quickly as I stood in the hall and listened to Daddy Man read from the Chronicals of Narnia, Prince Caspian. I love his reading voices (yes plural) he is astounding!
I placed all the meats for the first four days in the outside refrigerator to defrost.
I will pre-bake Saturdays and Sundays chicken once thawed while I make Tuesdays meal and set it aside. I like to have more free time on the weekend.
I will make Thursday and Friday's rice tomorrow to save efforts and then stow them in the refrigerator. I'll just have to fry the fish and re-heat the rice for movie night on Friday. Sundays soup will have all of the left over vegetables from the week if any and I'll amend it as necessary.
Backing will be done for breads and Grains snacks like cookies and muffins.

Join us at Organizing Junkie

Carnaval of family life. *Life Celebrated*

The Carnival of Family Life is coming to Write From Karen - AGAIN!

Read on …

If you’re not familiar with the Carnival of Family Life, here is a brief summary:

Goals of the Carnival of Family Life
The goal of the Carnival of Family Life is to provide readers an opportunity to sit down in front of their computers, relax, enjoy a cup of coffee, and be inspired, amused, motivated or experience a couple of “A ha!” or “Me, too!” moments while reading and considering the various entries.

In essence, the Carnival of Family Life is all about your family. The definition of family is broad and this Carnival encompasses all of those interpretations. Write about a family antedote, a funny family story, the meaning of family as it applies to you, family tips, products, etc.

Write your article, post it to your blog and then submit the permalink. I’ll compile the links and post article excerpts here on January 14th.

You can find more about the program and the guidelines here. You can also find this week’s Carnival of Family Life at Pajama Mommy (beginning January 7th).

So tell us about your family - we’re listening

Life Celebrated

Having a thing to anticipate is a way that energy is kept alive and the electricity of excitement charges the air with a tingling that races the adrenaline into every pore.
Holidays come and go monthly. seasonal celebrations of events unfold. Although we are not Jewish is is a beautiful culture,as are so many cultural events.

New year 1-1
Martin Luther 1-16


Ground Hogs Day 2-2
Valentines Day 2-14
Washington and Lincoln's Birthdays 2-20,22


Ash Wednesday 3-1
St Patric's Day 3-17
First day of spring 3-20


April fools day 4-1
Palm Sunday 4-9
Pass Over 4-13
Good Friday 4-14
Easter 4-16
Earth day 4-22

May Day 5-1
Mothers Day 5-14
Armed Forces day 5-20
Memorial Day 5-29

Flag Day 6-14
Fathers day 6-18
First day of Summer 6-21

Fourth of July 7-4
Americans with Disabilities Act 7-26

Labor Day 9-4
Grand Parents Day 9-10
Patriots Day 9-11
First day of Fall
Rosh Hoshanah 9-23

Yom Kippor 10-2
National Children's Day 10-8
Columbus Day 10-9
Harvest

Election Day 11-7
Veterans day 11-7
Thanks Giving 11-25

Pearl Harbor Day 11-7
Homukkah 12-16
First day of winter 12-20
Christmas Day 12-25
New Years Eve 12-31
Kwanzaas

Birthdays
Adoptions days
(we Celebrate the day the Judge said yes!)
Anniversaries
Weddings
Funerals

There are so many cultural events that lend them selfs to understanding through teaching and celebration (even if it is just to acknowledge them for educational purposes). The more we understand each other the more we learn to understand why folks are the way they are. History is also a large part of holiday interest.

In order to keep a budget there are many items that are exchangeable to each holiday. Things to collect are so easy to find at the end of the prior holiday after the things go on clearance.

Red can be used for Valentines and Mothers Day, Fourth of July, Election Day

Greens for St Patric's, Earth Day,Christmas

Whites for St Patric's Day,Easter, Election Day

Thanksgiving browns can be added for Ground Hog Day ,Earth Day
Pinks for Valentines, Easter and such.

You get the Idea so when a holiday ends and your out and about and see a clearance item of such color think seasonally.
Teach your children sociology through celebrations it instills a love of culture and silences bigotry as well.
When you can retroactively end bigotry you wield a powerful sword.:)

Mother and Daughter Blog Carnival

Little Dove is so wonderful and so magical in her beauty.

I have watched her emerge year by year

Her gentle playfulnesses making everything new and a wonder...

As she and her pup have grown and changed ...I have observed her and who she will become.

From early on the fiction and athletic mystery that is Dove

She has always this silliness that makes her so very charming.

Her life drastically changed when she became a sibling.

My sweet snow maiden, my Russian princess

Babies are an instant a flash in time.

The magic they hold...

Toes in the grass and eyes to the sky's

But it is that magically awe inspiring wonder...

The not knowing who or what they might one day become...

She was once so very small

When I first saw her,
It was I who was filled with so much wonder...
(match photo)

link to Carnival
We moms face many issues as we travel on the journey of motherhood. As a mom of three girls, I've found that raising girls has it's own unique set of joys and challenges, and it's fair share of DRAMA!! I looked for a blog carnival catering specifically to mothers and daughters, and I couldn't find one. This is not to say that it doesn't exist, I just couldn't find it. So I decided to start a new one. (What is a blog carnival?)

Cleaning Green

Rhonda Jean over at
"Down to Earth"
has some great cleaning recipes for around the house.
Great information to have, I have her permission to send you over her way to check it out.

Photo Hunt *skinny*

Me at at 16 in 1977

Jewelry at a Life Uncommon Etsy Store (Under Construction)

A new endeavor!

We have our Etsy in process. Beloved has been working on the Web page for me for some time. It has consumed his evenings. It is a hard thing to learn how to do. We were able to purchase the names for the http's and then I saw how several of you are using Etsy for selling your crafts and such. Were going to do the big leap and begin to sell some of my art and crafts, sewing and hand work too. I have showed at several craft shows and such and sell out of the house to folks but now I will be trying to use a new avenue. We have photos and the details of the page set up to do yet. Beloved set up my image from a picture he took on a camping trip we took last summer up on the rim. I Linked to it. Now remember it is sill under construction.
Does any one know about the shipping and handling and setting up of the pay pal merchant accounts. I have a pay pal account. International shipping is a consideration too. I have a lot to learn.
It is sorta exciting. I thought that my Web Page was going to be my Christmas gift. It was just to hard to learn all the process. It looks like Etsy might be the way to go. If you have had any problems or have any tips please share the knowledge.

speechless

speechless ?
I guess I left you all speechless...
Sorry.

Somebody say hi.
I feel terribly awkward.

Aloha Friday

What intentional choice have you made lately?

If you’d like to participate in Aloha Friday, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link over at Island life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! Have fun!

The Great Escape

A life Restored
I have posted on the other blog.

I still find it amazing how drained I am after posting on the other site. It is so hard to revel myself. It is always done in the hope that anyone suffering alone might know that they are not alone. That God is right there and that there are those of us (though few) who have made it out of the vortex.
I feel sorta nervous in a way re directing this audience to that post. Many of you know my story some may not. I hope that this in no way causes you to be hindered. I saw myself writing in response to the prompt the very thing I wrote. I am a visionary woman and I am often asked to walk the few steps ahead and to trust. I still get a little freaked out and slightly panicked but I know where the vision came from and so not to walk in it is to offend my own conscience and my Abba,my Friend my God.
I am now over 25+ years married it was 4 years into our marriage I began recovery and it took 7 years to complete the majority of the issues concluding the process. It will take my life time to heal. I have been vindicated, daily I am living in His favor for eternity, for the choices I have made. The choice to Love and Trust Him.

Laminate floor Mop

Kailani: In the bottle is approximately 3 tbsp of the Murphy oil soap and water mixture. I have been using just clear water.
I think I may just like plain water better.
Today has been a full day!
I mopped all the floors today.

We got a commercial grade laminate floor mop the green one that I purchased at Target is just not substantial enough. The new one is terrific! I still used the little one around tight spots. Murphy's oil soap is iffy for me I am not sure if I liked the results. I used a spray bottle and that worked wonderfully.

That new floor mop is heavy and strong and very wide. It was a terrific investment at $36. very pricey but the work was made much easier!
Then I got the call a play date in two hours. So I finished up the dusting of the dining table and set to poop scoop the yard!
I really do not like that job!, but I got it half way done.
Big dogs sure make a big mess out of the yard.

I had a another play date today at 2:20 with a "Boy" from Dove's class and his little "Sister" who is 3 1/2. I met the Mother once before at a roller rink in mid October and she has been wanting to get together. So I got to meet another nice Mother. She is also an artist of paper and chalk, in college for elementary education. She has the four children. What a nice visit. I am so glad that I put the play date before the chores in the cue.
She told me about a Farmers Market , an answer to my prayers for some good locally grown fresh produce.

supper was an easy burrito affair with the home made refried beans every one is raving over.
Kids are now having a computer time and I just finished a long talk on the phone. Life is good I am tired, but a good tired!
I had to touch up the floor after the play date but it was not as bad as I first thought.

Thursday Thirteen * Words*

Words...
They have the power to change lives. To set the coure. There are so many of them and yet I use such a limited variety in my daily life.
Vocabulary wanting....
So today it is 13 random words.

1. abolish
There are many things on this earth that could use to be abolished.
2. common-sense' adj.
now here is one you don't see ever day :)
3. Manipulate,Manipulation,Manipulative, Manipulator,Manipulatory
I find the derivatives interesting.
My daughter is challenging this or should I say I am challenging it in her. Yet we all have to even challenge this in our own self.
4.Sacrament,sacramental,sacred,sacrifice,sacrificial,sacrilege,sacrilegious,sacristan,sacristy sacrosanct,sacrum ...but it is that next word that follows....sadden
5. girlish...It just rings of beauty and joy.
6. remnant..I always liked this word for to me it speaks of the history of the cloth whats left after a lifetime of use. After everything else has been used up.
7. Transference, transfiguration, transfigure, transfix, transform,transformation, transformer transfuse...but the next in order is just amazing...transgress...transgression...transgressor
8. Yearling... I see a colt frolicking freely and the wonder the majesty of it!
9. desolation is followed by despair
10. eyebright :) The spell break wants me to break it apart but it is one word one concept. Makes me think of "this little light of mine...."
11. ludicrous! it is just fun to say!
12. Foresee , foreseeing , foreshadow, foresight...forest it just figures:) I guess you would just need to know me on this one.
13. Quicken...I respond like when I play red light with the children it just stops me in my tracks. I am often Quickened it is a wonderful way to live. I love being quickened. The children really love it too.

Willy is pointing the dictionary.
The only thing I know about my paternal grandmother is that before she went blind she read the dictionary.
I never knew anything else about her for my parents divorced when I was an infant.
I keep a dictionary stand.
I was given this beautiful volume by my FILove when he purchased a new one.
He keeps a dictionary stand too. It is beautiful! It is wooden I think it is oak or cherry wood.
Words are a heritage given to us to bring life into the world.
When words are perverted they bring death.
The "Word" became flesh and d welled among us
My love of words is a part of my love of life.

The garage!

It still awaits me!

Thankful Thursday

Good Morning!

When I looked up from here last night it had snuck up on me!....
the time! Oh 10:30!
Oh to have such thorough joy to be so entrenched into the beauty that is all of your lives!
For last night I traveled far and wide.
I found myself amused, encouraged in prayer and in deep thought.
How wonderfully amazing to be so rich as to have so many intriguing folks to visit.
Some of you left me speechless.
some of you made me laugh, cry and smile.
I though this...this is rich.
I awake to thoughts of others who reach right back out to me.
Cords...
Cords that tie our hearts together.
Interest that may be common.
New Ideas that I had never thought of before.
Hearts reaching out , touching mine...
Touching yours.

Our Wonderful news!

Beloved called me today.

He got a PROMOTION at work a whole new salary level with the potential of future increases too, and a significant raise!

This is the first time He has received a raise in over 5 years.
When The plant closed down He was in a very high level position. Our income diminished to 1/3 of what we had been living on. He was upper man and the job he began where he is at was at the bottom of the pole (so to speak). All because he was a self taught ...... Well no degree. He began again as if fresh off the street (humbled to a knee). He has now been acknowledge after all this time!
It is a significant change to our income! God is so GOOD!
I fell down before God and Just poured out my heart the day before yesterday that God would give my Husband HOPE>
Now we can make a way out of the stressful penny by penny and see to the dreams of a real back east family vacation this summer (the first in over 6-10 years) he has so longed to take the children on a history trip to our nations capital. We now may be able if we keep to task(save save save) to even be able to save enough to do so, and to be able to get my new tooth. Doves braces too.
We have a hope that we will now be able to conserve and save up enough to meet our future financial needs.

Great Blog Award Gift

Denise wrote...
You are all sweet blessings to me.

A gift of Friendship

Jaye Wrote...I would like to give it to a couple of my VERY CLOSE FRIENDS,,,, Good and Bad times friends,,,,,

1. Donetta,, Donetta and I have been personal friend for close to 20 years. Although there have been time gaps in our relationship we have never lost that friend love. To you my friend, I love and cherish your friendship.

We Had wonderful News today!!!!!!!

My prayers were heard and my Beloved has had his hopes renewed!!!!!!!!!
More later got to run to the grocery I am so very appreciative of your prayers.

Today My Beloved has to go have another minor surgery on his neck to remove the rest of that cancer. Please remember him in it. They have to remove more skin and in the three weeks since biopsy it has grown back that fast. We are trusting it to be alright for the doctor stilled our concerns. He will be undergoing this at 4:30 this afternoon.
Thank you again. More later.

Tasks to do with a clock ticking.

Wordless Wedensday

Carded by a friend

I have thought about this today....

5 gifts I would like to receive in 2008....

To me a gift comes from another's heart to mine freely. It is not something that I can ask for or by definition it is then no longer a gift in the purest since of the word.

Of all the many Gifts I am given It is my desire to truly be able to "receive" them

1.Peace as in the absence of strive and striving after the wind. It is a gift that would preserve me even in the midst of every battle. If I could receive and hold on to this every moment and never forget it is mine I would really succeed. Trusting for HIS best interest is over me.
2. I want to be able to deeply receive the truth about how God sees me, Beautiful treasured and captivating. Whole, perfected through his unmerited favor.
3. I desire to be the best parent for my children in my own eyes. He placed my chosen children into my life and I desire to embrace this when I err to never falter in the truth of this. I become so depressed when I falter...as an adoptive Mother the wound remains that I must live up to a higher standard for I have been given such a great privilege.
4. I desire to be captivating to my husband in such a way that I take his breath away! My body needs to be better cared for for many reasons this is only one of them. I desire to walk in my own power and shine so brightly that he looks at me that way when I giggle and know that he is pleased with who he sees. Not only sexually but in every way.
5. I wish for the treasure of hand fashioned creations from other crafts women and men. I love the glorious handy work of crochet wash cloths of absorbent cottons, the needle work, or creative arts of any thing with the heart poured into it. That is an expression of pure love and sacrifice those gifts from the heart that were stitched just for me... That each time I touch it I heal in the knowledge that someone was thinking of me and that "I am" ...that I belong here on this planet...rooted and established in the hearts of others who are too, rooted in love. Maybe that sounds strange but each thing I have been given has had this amazing healing effect and that feeling of my life time is begining to fade (I was always such a black hole). I always felt like I was an alien here on this earth, and that I did not belong. I have this apron I got in a swap and she made this dish cloth and when I use it something wonderful happens it is like I am loved. Weird maybe but so has been my journey. When I create I put a little part of myself in it. I find that "piece of another" in those things. That is an awkward one to share.

1. Trisha at "Photo Daughter of the King"
2. "Nazarene Family Services"
3. Michell at "Life in the midst of Writing"
4. Bob at "Bobs Blog"
5. Kalani "Island Review"
Here are the rules:1. Each player starts with 5 gifts that they would want for the New Year.2. People who are “CARDED” need to write their own Blog about their 5 things & post these rules.3. At the end of your Blog, you need to choose 5 people to get “CARDED” and list their names.4. Don’t forget to leave them a COMMENT telling them they’re “CARDED”, and to read your Blog.

Tackle It Tuesday

TASK TO DO

pay bills
Knee exercise


This morning as I prepare for a new day of tasks. I paused....
Yes I have these to wrap to stow away

This table to clear and things to organize...

I managed to take my dining room and living room back.

A life was more important than this today.
And with the space heater is warming the garage even as I type this....
I stop and spend a few moments time Remembering Him (Ecc. 12:6)

This looks great now!
As I tend to all my labors I reflect on (Ecc. 2:10).
Realizing that the reward for all of this can be rather vain, empty and seemingly futile.
It is the reward in itself. To think that this is all there is to my day would be a mistake.

Maybe later tonight?
I have the Hoodies to make for the kids but,...in the joy and duty of task of all I have to do I want to stop and remember...Before I am an old woman spent of task and busy of daily responsibilities...I want to stop and Remember Him....

I want to be one who finds delightful words. My desire is to write words of truth correctly. Encouraging goads to spur onto movement my fellows.
I am going to spend some time composing a post that I see (have a vision of) for the other blog.
We have a Party to attend as a family on Saturday and I want to nurture my body. Manicure/pedicure and legs and such. The warmth sounds good. Cold Morning here (Ha)! I think it is 50*?
I found myself an hour to do a spa time for myself. I was just relaxing and praying for (talking to God about)folks I care about. I did a facial mask, lip mask ad shaved the forest off my legs, "timber"...:)
I heard the phone ring in the other room twice and got concerned...
It was my nephew who needed an ear and a restful place to come.
It was so amazing to be in the role of an Aunt to this awesome young man. He arrived with his heart in his hands. I shared some knowledge, experience strength and hope. He had some lunch while I drove to bring the children home. Only to find he was doing the dishes for me. That sweet young man.
Then he met my play date family at the door for they made it to the house a couple of minutes before me. He was very comfortable to rest there with us until it was time for me to go to my 4 pm appointment. Beloved met me at the school.
Thank you Debbie for covering us so we could attend to Doves teacher/parent conference.
I'll have to tell you about that later.

Debbie and I had both put out a roast to cook for supper and we had made her late. My 10-15 minute appointment was 45 minutes long.
After the play date we had both the thought of "Dinner"??? too late to make a roast (as we each had independently planned). So I taught her how to slice it and make broiled steaks which I also made. After supper we played with the kids. It is now bath time.

The conclusion when all has been heard is : fear God and keep his Commandments, because this applies to every person. Ecc. 12:13

Another day.
And if...when all is said and done I may just tackle this tile.
I have a play date here at 2:15 pm
Tomorrow I have the whole house of floors to do. I did not want to do floors to have them a mess by the end of the play date.

Teacher conference at 4 pm

Supper to Make
TO BED AT A GOOD TIME
I must stop staying up to late!

Jedi Coat for Dash Hawk ; Obi-Wan Kenobi

This is what I am up to today.
You think he looks just the slightest bit happy about it?

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of the most prominent characters in the Star Wars saga

I just finished it.
I have a few small details yet.
It is fully lined and has a bit of weight to it. It is actually made of coat wool and is very warm.
I need to work on a rustic closure for it perhaps a toggle and eye.
The force is with you. Of course they know the true force.

I have one happy little boy.
I am on tired little Mommy!
I already have an order for another one from Dove.
Beloved thinks I should sell them on E-bay.
This is high quality for a cloak.
My boy will be warm tomorrow!

The Men just finished group and one asked me if I might take orders. He wants a Monks Robe.