The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today...Tuesday, May 31, 2011.

Outside my window...it is a hot 92°, and summer is still a few weeks away. Storms are in the forecast for tomorrow. I hope they aren't too bad.

I am hearing...the coffee pot and the air conditioner.

I am remembering...our nice, relaxing weekend. We spent Sunday afternoon with some of our friends. We had hamburgers and hotdogs, and of course, some potato salad and watermelon. :)

I am reading...The Tapestry by Mary Ann Minatra. This is the first time I've read one of her books. It is really good!

I am thinking...how glad I am that school is almost over for the summer. I'm looking forward to a break.

I am thankful...for air conditioning! When I was growing up, we didn't have it. Thankfully, we did have a finished basement, and I spent many hot summer days there. :)

I am hoping...my husband will feel better soon, he has a cold right now. I also hope I don't get it. I'm supposed to sing at our graduation on Saturday. We shall see....

From the kitchen...Cheesy chicken and noodle casserole. I'll try to remember to take a picture and share the recipe with you. It's one of our favorites. I think I'll steam some squash to go with it.

A few plans for the rest of the week...church on Thursday, last day of school on Friday, Senior Graduation on Saturday, church on Sunday

A Scripture thought...

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

-Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (KJV)

One of my favorite things AND a picture I'm sharing...

Watermelon, cantaloupe, and blueberries. Yum! I love cold, fresh fruit anytime, but I especially like it on hot days! (The blueberries came from our own bushes. They're finally getting ripe.)

Please visit Peggy to read more daybooks.

I hope you're all having a great week. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Take care,

~Melanie

Memorial Day

I hope you all will have an enjoyable Memorial Day, and take the time to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom.

I took this picture at Arlington National Cemetery last fall when we went to a funeral there...such a beautiful, quiet place in the middle of busy Washington, DC.

Have a great week.

~Melanie

Just A Fun Day

My husband and I took some of the school kids on a field trip Wednesday. It was raining in the morning, but thankfully it didn't last long. We went to a park and grilled some hotdogs and hamburgers at the beach, then took the kids for a walk on one of the trails. Everything was so pretty and green, and I made sure I took some pictures so you could see what things look like in our part of the world. :)

There was mountain laurel everywhere.
It was beautiful.





We saw lots of pretty ferns too.







The trail ended at this pretty little lake,
complete with lily pads.
That's mountain laurel blooming all around.



This little lizard blended in so well,
we almost missed it!



This was our group.
They always keep us on our toes!!



This is something interesting
we saw while we were eating lunch.
The one on the right is a stuffed animal, and
the one on the left was a guy dressed up in
some kind of big foot suit.
Someone was on the shore taking pictures of them.
I have no idea what it was all about,
but we thought it was funny.
I wanted to get a better picture,
but the wind was so strong
that it kept blowing them back to shore.

I hope you all have had a good week. We only have two weeks of school left, and I am so happy about that! I always enjoy summer break. :)

Have a great weekend.

Take care,

~Melanie

Helping Others in the Body of Christ

We've all seen the destruction from the tornadoes last month...over 300 people killed, many more injured, homes destroyed. It's so sad to see the pictures and hear the stories. I can't imagine what they must be going through.

You may have heard of the two families I have listed below. Since most of my blogging is with other Christian ladies, I have seen their sites before. When I heard they had been hit by a tornado, my heart really went out to them.

We certainly need to keep them in our prayers, and I'm sure they would appreciate any words of encouragement or any gift you could give. Click here to get their addresses.

Aaron and Kelly Crawford and their nine children lost their home. Their website is Generation Cedar.

Sherry Lee and her thirteen children lost their home and their husband/father. Her blog is A Baker's Dozen Barnhouse News .

The Crawford Family

The Lee Family

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
-I Corinthians 12:12,26-27(KJV)

~More Signs of Spring~

I showed you our roses in my last post,
but we have some more flowers
blooming too!


~Rhododendron~


~Irises~


~Azalea~


~Peony~


~Wild Rose~

Isn't God's creation beautiful?

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today...May 10, 2011.

Outside my window...it's a beautiful day! The sun is shining and it's about 70°. I love these kinds of days...the windows are open, so I can hear the birds and feel the breeze blow through. A few more days like this are in the forecast. :)

I am remembering... the nice Mother's Day I had. After church, we went out to eat at Olive Garden...a rare treat! Lee and Katie gave me a fern, and a pretty stand for it.

I also talked to my mom on the phone. :)

I am thankful...that Katie was safe and had a great time at Battlecry this past weekend.

Around the house...we've been working on our flower beds...getting new mulch, weeding, and just trying to keep it looking nice. :)

From the kitchen...crock pot chicken, baked potatoes, and green beans.

One of my favorite things...Starbucks mocha frappuccinos...another rare treat. Lee and Katie gave me a 4-pack of them for Mother's Day. :)

A Scripture thought...And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. -Ephesians 4:32

A picture I'm sharing this week...

The roses next to our front porch are blooming. I think they're so pretty.

My husband has to keep them cut back or they would take over! :)

Please visit Peggy to read more daybooks.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you're having a great week.

Take care,

Melanie

~Happy Mother's Day~

Last year for Mother's Day,
I showed you one of the sweet things
Katie had made for me.

Well, she painted and decorated
this little wooden heart for me too.
I think she did a beautiful job.

I'm sure you will agree
there's something very special
about gifts that children
make themselves. :)

~♥~

I love being a mom,
and I'm so thankful
to have such a
great daughter.

~♥~

Happy Mother's Day
to MY mom as well.
She's so sweet and wonderful,
and always there for us.

I hope all you moms
will have a wonderful day.

~Melanie

Thrifted Finds

While we were on vacation,
we went to a few thrift stores.
We really enjoy just looking around.
It's like a little treasure hunt...
you never know what you might find.

We found some
miscellaneous useful things like...

some shirts for Katie,
some cologne, a belt,
and a shirt for my husband,

and I was so happy to find
these cute decorative bargains!


~♥~
A wreath by the front door



~♥~
A sweet little basket
for kitchen utensils

~♥~
A heart napkin holder

At fifty cents each, I think I got a great deal! :)

~♥~
Some of my favorite things
have come from a thrift store.
I got this sweater from Goodwill
about eight years ago,
and I just love it!

What are some of your favorite thrifted finds??

Melanie