A Happy Heart at Home

Top Ten Tuesday, May 3, 2011

2011-05-03T18:32:00.004-04:00

Ten things that are happening
in the month of May

1. A morning off from work...

2. ...so we can go to the Big City and pick up my middle daughter, who is coming home from college for the summer!

3. While we're there, we'll pick up some items for my youngest's high school graduation party next month...

4. ...and hopefully find just the right graduation dress for her, too!

5. A children's musical performance at our church. Our youngest participated for years as one of the children and then, when she was too old for the program, as a helper and occasional adult participant in the performances.

6. A Mother-Daughter banquet at our church. I'll be so glad to go with my two youngest daughters.

7. A special day in May when we go out as a family and have an ice cream from the local dairy bar. :)

8. A Senior Trip for our youngest. They'll have a wonderful time!

9. A "Flour Sack Baby" project at school. That should be a lot of fun! My youngest must carry a five-pound sack of flour that's dressed in baby clothes wherever she goes.

10. Designing, printing, and mailing invitations to my youngest's graduation and graduation party.

If you'd like to read more Top Ten Tuesday lists, click here. You can add your own Top Ten, too! :)

The Simple Woman's Daybook, May 3, 2011

2011-05-03T17:55:00.000-04:00

For today...

Outside my window...it’s gray and cool with occasional sprinkles.

I am thinking...how amazing it is that the years have flown by and my youngest will be graduating high school in a little over one month.

I am thankful for...God's mercy and grace as we have raised our girls and have seen them grow into women after God's heart.

From the kitchen...came spaghetti with sweet sausages for dinner tonight.

I am wearing...a blue top and navy blue shorts.

I am creating...memories of these upcoming three and a half months of having our two youngest at home over the summer before they go off to college.

I am going...to hold them close during those months and praise God for His love, protection, provision, and more for them as they leave the nest for the next thing He has for them.

I am reading...some scriptures, a library book, and blogs. :)

I am hoping...my middle daughter's flight comes in on time next week. I'm very happy that she will be home soon!

I am hearing...the hum of the computer and the sound of cars driving by.

Around the house...it's cool and quiet.

One of my favorite things...a lap cat and a good book.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting together some scholarship paperwork that must be mailed tomorrow; a new fibromyalgia support group meeting to attend; my daughter's "flour sack baby" project for school will begin; and a children's musical presentation at church this weekend.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Enjoy your week!

If you would like to read more daybooks or post one of your own, visit Peggy’s linky here.

1000 Gifts, #11 - 20

2011-05-02T12:54:00.002-04:00

1000 Gifts, #11-20

Counting my blessings and thanking God…

11. I have a part-time job.

12. The days and hours for my job are exactly what I wanted and what our family’s schedule could work with.

13. I don’t hurt more because of my job. (I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.)

14. I have my own office where it’s just me, my computer, and two printers. :)

15. The people I work for are very nice to me.

16. I actually have the office skills needed to do this job. Even the word processing program is the same as the one I use at home.

17. I have the flexibility of taking time off when I need to, as little or as much as I need.

18. I get to use writing/editing/creativity to do my job.

19. I work just down the street from my daughter’s school. My husband works at the same school. It’s a nice feeling to know that I’m physically close to them each morning.

20. I like being able to contribute to the family’s finances.

If you would like to post some of your blessings, join the linky here.

WFMW - 31 Days to Clean e-book

2011-04-27T21:12:00.010-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for a good way to clean the house! Well, Sarah Mae of likeawarmcupofcoffee.com has written a new e-book called "31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way." There's even a "31 Days to Clean Challenge" throughout the month of May.

In addition to that, from now until midnight (EST) (today is Wednesday, April 27), if you tweet on Twitter or write on your blog about "31 Days to Clean," Sarah Mae will send you a free copy of her e-book! Click here for the details. That's what I'm doing, and I'm so excited to receive my free copy! (Getting a free e-book works for me!) Hurry and tweet or blog so you can get your free copy, too! Happy cleaning!

Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!

The Simple Woman's Daybook, April 26, 2011

2011-04-26T06:32:00.006-04:00

For today...

Outside my window...it’s gray, cool, and rainy. April showers bring May flowers! :)

I am thinking...about a phone call I need to remember to make this morning.

I am thankful for...God's people and the comfort He brings through them when they say, "I'm praying for you." I'm thankful that people are praying for us.

From the kitchen...is going to have to come something made with an ingredient other than ham. It's practically gone! (Yummy ham.)

I am wearing...clothes ready to go to work.

I am creating...a decluttered home, a few items at a time. I did a lot of decluttering last week, but this week, I really need to pace myself more - do less, but more often.

I am going...to hopefully get my to-do list done this week.

I am reading...some scriptures, a library book, and blogs. :)

I am hoping...to remember to do what's on my list. I am hoping to remember to look at the list!

I am hearing...the hum of the computer and the sound of cars driving by on the wet pavement.

Around the house...it's cool and quiet.

One of my favorite things...a cup of tea on a cool morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week: important paperwork to do; lots of phone calls to make; information to get so I can start planning some summer trips; and a dessert auction/talent show to attend on Saturday. It's going to be a lot of fun! I'm going to bring a pineapple upside-down cake. It's a fundraiser for a college girl in our church who is going to Australia on a medical missions trip this summer.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Yummy Cadbury eggs! I think I have one more left...

Enjoy your week!

If you would like to read more daybooks or post one of your own, visit Peggy’s linky here.

The Simple Woman's Daybook, April 19, 2011

2011-04-19T22:43:00.007-04:00

For today...

Outside my window...it’s dark, 10:30 p.m.

I am thinking...how surprised I am that it is supposed to snow tomorrow!

I am thankful for...the grace of God and the strength and courage He gives. Praising Him for helping me to do so much work around the house over the past couple of days.

From the kitchen...came an English muffin with one scrambled egg and some ham to feed my teen just home from work.

I am wearing...comfortable clothing.

I am creating...this post.

I am going...to get a lot done this week. I’ve already done lots of housecleaning over the past two days.

I am reading...some scriptures here and there, but I haven’t had time in the last two days to do any reading.

I am hoping...to get necessary things done in the next couple of days so I can relax over the Easter weekend.

I am hearing...the sound of the electric heater warming the room.

Around the house...things are quiet, and the rooms are looking better after the cleaning.

One of my favorite things...relaxing after all that housecleaning!

A few plans for the rest of the week: important paperwork to do tomorrow; my birthday; grocery shopping for the Easter meal; church Easter brunch and service. Praising God for the resurrection of Jesus!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

picture by sxc.hu

Enjoy your week!

If you would like to read more daybooks or post one of your own, visit Peggy’s linky here.

1000 Gifts, #1 - 10

2011-04-18T13:19:00.005-04:00

1000 Gifts, #1-10

Counting my blessings and thanking God…

1. Jesus. Because of Him, I am a new creation!

2. God. Because of His gift of Jesus, the world has hope.

3. The Holy Spirit. My Comforter, my Teacher, One just like Jesus, coming alongside to help.

4. My salvation. O happy day!

5. The Bible, God’s very words to us to show us how to – and how not to – live our lives day by day.

6. My husband, a gift from God. God in our marriage has made all the difference.

7. My children, blessings from God’s hands.

8. My children being Christians and loving Jesus. I am so grateful. They are women of God. I love them so much. I am so proud of the people they are. I am so happy that God’s Word lives in their hearts and their spirits. God has wonderful plans for them.

9. My son-in-law, who is a Christian. Praying for Christian spouses for my other children, as well.

10. My grandchildren, sweethearts and blessings indeed. Young men and women of God.

If you would like to post some of your blessings, join the linky here.

Happy Homemaker Monday 2011.04.18

2011-04-18T13:08:00.002-04:00

The weather in my neck of the woods:
This morning: partly cloudy, 34, feels like 28
This afternoon: should be sunny and 50 - yay!

Things that make me happy:
Beautiful, sunny days!

Book I'm reading:
hopefully, I'll read some of the Bible today
as for other reading, I don't have a book started right now

What's on my TV today:
We don't get tv reception; even our converter box doesn't work!

On the menu for dinner:
Good question. Family working here and there at different hours.
I don't know what I'm going to do for dinner yet. Pizza?

On my To Do List:
My new plan! Get rid of 10 clutter-items per room today. :)

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
maybe salmon patties

In the craft basket:
Should finish crocheting the woobie that matches the baby afghan I made for my newest grandchild.
Will be starting an afghan soon(!) for my youngest who's going away to college in August.

Looking forward to this week:
My birthday! :)

Tips and Tricks:
None right now.

My favorite blog post this week:
"A Mother's Work is Never Done"
a blog post about your kids in college

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Don't remember

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
(Found this on Sandra's Happy Homemaker post, and it's so true!) Enjoy every single moment you have with your kids especially, before you know it, you blink your eyes and they're grown.

On my mind:
All that I need to do today, this week, and in the next four months (getting our two youngest to their colleges).

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, KJV)

If you'd like to join Sandra's linky, post your Happy Homemaker Monday URL here.

Things I Love for Dry Skin

2011-04-14T07:00:00.008-04:00

I've tried a lot of products in the hope of finding something that will work on the dry skin and splits on my hands and fingertips. I'm happy to say that there are two products that I have come to love! Lubriderm Intense Skin Repair Ointment (notice it's the ointment) is wonderful stuff! Makes a huge difference overnight on my hands and my heels. I'm sure it would work just as well on elbows and knees. If the dry, chapped areas and fingertip splits are particularly painful, I'll put some Carmex from the stick on them. Doesn't hurt, and heals fast. Usually within a day or two of using the Carmex, I'm able to use the Lubriderm Ointment again.

Find more things to love here. You can also check the guidelines here and add a 'thing' of your own! :)

Update for 4/20: Because these products work for me, I'm linking this post to

Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!

Tasty Tuesday - Four-Cheese Chicken Fettuccine

2011-04-12T06:35:00.000-04:00

photo from Taste of Home

This contest-winning four-cheese chicken fettuccine recipe from the Taste of Home website looks so delicious and easy! To find more wonderful recipes, visit Tasty Tuesday, posted this week at incourage.