BLESSED SUNDAYS

Having a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Thanking God for all the blessings he has bestowed upon me and praising Him today.

Thursday

So wow!! What a busy season I am in.  I haven't had time to post since last Tuesday.  I have been so incredibly busy. Busy with work, busy with home, and I've still been sick with this cruddy junk.  I finally have my voice back but it is still scratchy.  I still sound like a raspy 3 pack a day smoker, but, it's getting better.  I have totally neglected my home keeping duties last week and this week.  I have completed the bare basics and that is about it. Shame on me.

I never did get back here last week to tell about our weekend get away.  We ended up taking Katie and Amber with us and the grand sweeties stayed with their other papaw. The girls wanted to get out and go and do something since their gentlemen were working all weekend.  We went North to Horn Lake, close to Memphis, on Saturday morning. Well, first we stopped off in Batesville for a classic car show they were having. We strolled around there for a bit and then we had a lovely lunch at one of the fabulous Mexican restaurants that is in Batesville.  After lunch, we headed to Horn Lake and did a little shopping or looking mostly.  We hit up Sportsman's Warehouse for the hubs, and Tractor Supply...again for the hubs. Then we walked around through some of the outdoor shopping outlet malls, hit up the Goodwill store (thrift store junkie here!!), then checked into the hotel and hubs and I started getting dressed for a concert we attended. This was an early birthday gift for my husband. His birthday isn't until early November, but since the concert was Saturday, I decided a couple months ago to surprise him with tickets. He loved him some Hank Williams Jr. back in the day and still does.  Hank Jr or Bocephus as some call him, was in concert there Saturday night along with two opening acts, Drake White and The Big Fire Band and Aaron Lewis.  I knew I had gotten good seats, but I had NO IDEA that I had bought front row seats until  a couple days before the concert when I looked up the seating chart online. I was blown away, as was my sweet husband. We enjoyed the concert but admittedly, we aren't as young as we used to be and by the time Hank Jr. started playing at 9:15pm, well, that's usually a little past our bed time haha.  We ended up leaving before the concert was over, which was probably a good thing, because it would have most likely taken us two hours to get out of that mess. After the concert, we had a late night supper at Chili's, though that wasn't our first choice, it was about our only choice. Why do restaurants in bigger cities not stay open past 11pm on weekends? That's crazy.  After that, we headed back to the hotel, where Amber and Katie had stayed in their own room. They had no interest in the concert, they just wanted to get away.  They had ordered pizza for their supper. PS...Papa John's rocks!!

Sunday morning, we slept in a bit, then went to the hotel lobby for a free breakfast...uggh...indian owned hotels, I don't care how clean and nice they are, they are completely cheap on their "breakfasts".  It is very difficult to find a hotel anymore that is not indian owned.   After breakfast and check out, we strolled a few more stores and then had a nice lunch at Red Lobster and then headed home. It was a great little get away and I'm glad Chris was pleased with his early birthday gift. I love that boy!!

I'll leave with a few pics from the event.

Me, all concert ready

Well, for some reason, I wanted this pic at the end and Blogger wanted it here, so here it shall stay. My handsome gentleman. Lunch at Red Lobster on Sunday. See why I wanted it at the end? Blogger will not cooperate.

My sweet gentleman

Ole Bocephus, himself

and the clock struck midnight and Cinderella turned back into the old hag that she is. Ha. Back to my comfort zone of t-shirts, yoga pants, barely there make up, hair up in a pony. Me 95% of the time.

Tuesday

Good Tuesday morning!!  I did not accomplish a single thing on my "to do" list yesterday, except for supper.  We spent the entire afternoon at a dr's appt with Katie and then at the pharmacy.  I got home shortly after 5pm.  No house cleaning yesterday. I will have to double up this afternoon.

  Today is                                    
       

Alex had his first test of the school year on Friday.  He finished his English PACE book and tested on that and made a 100!! Go Alex!! Poor kid then got sick that night with a tummy bug.  Bless his bones. He's feeling better now and has a few more PACES to test on today. Should be a light school load today.  Tomorrow will be his off day since I have my IV iron treatment and then Thursday and Friday he will begin new PACES in each subject. 

In other news.  Day two this week getting up early enough to do my Bible study.  I am hoping and trying and praying to not get behind this week.  

My Bible is certainly getting rather colorful.(though you really can't tell it in this picture.) I love the Bible Coloring that I've learned with Good Morning Girls. It really is relaxing and while I was skeptical at first, it really does help in digging in deeper into God's word.

Well, beautiful people, I need to get going and get some work done.  

~Blessings, Love, and Hugs~

Monday

Good Monday morning!! Today is the day that the Lord made and I shall rejoice and be glad in it !!

Despite my tooth hurting horribly and on day 6 of no voice.  Well, it's coming back...just very slowly. I sound like a  raspy 3 pack a day smoker at the moment. For the most part, I believe my cold is getting better, though.  Good thing, too, because the Mr. said last night that if I wasn't better by Thursday, we couldn't go on our weekend get-a-way. WHAAATTT???!! Oh heck yes we will...I paid wayyyy too much for his early birthday gift, we are going regardless.  Well, let me rephrase that...I know I am going regardless. Nuff said about that and more about that later. 

So, I had been or thought of writing about my "Blogging Through The Bible" with Good Morning Girls on Wednesdays, but I thought I'd change it up and do it on Mondays instead.  Wondering what in the world I am talking about?  Check it out here.

This week GMG is reading/studying through Acts 16-20 and this is the reading plan for the week.

This is the GMG verse of the day, which is also my personal SOAK verse of the day.  Wonder what in the world SOAK is? It is a method of studying the Bible that GMG uses.  You can also learn more about that here.  Sometimes, I do use the GMG verses of the day as my personal SOAK verse of the day and sometimes, there will be a verse that just speaks to me and I will use that one. That said, this is the GMG verse of the day as well as my personal SOAK verse of the day.

S(Scripture) - Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. Acts 16:31

O(Observation)- I believe that after Paul and Silas had spent much of the night singing hymns and praising God, even after being stripped, beaten, and thrown into prison, the jailer who was responsible for keeping a watch over them witnessed all of the miraculous signs  that occurred that night and he became afraid and he asked Paul and Silas what he needed to do in order to be saved. They answered with verse 31.

A(Application) - How might I apply this verse to my life?  I know and believe with all of my heart and soul in the Lord and I believe with all that I am that I am saved and I believe in the salvation of all of my children, grandchildren, sons-in-law, future sons-in-law, and future daughter-in-law.  I can also tell people of Jesus' saving grace. 

K(Knealing in Prayer) - Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you. Thank you for saving me. Me. A sinner, so undeserving. I totally believe in you and your saving grace and I thank you for not giving up on me.  Lord, help me spread the joy of your word to others. In your precious and sweet name, Amen. 

I won't always do my SOAK's here, but thought I would today for an example. 

At Good Morning Girls, there is a discussion question each day to go along with that day's reading. I don't always participate in those, but I will post today's discussion question.

There are just too many instances and answers to this question, that I wouldn't even know where to start. I am blessed. 

On to what's for supper this week....

Monday- Meatless Monday - Sauteed Mushrooms, onions, and black beans with a cream sauce poured over bow tie pasta. 

Tuesday - Taco Tuesday (not every week...) - Tacos

Wednesday- Loaded Baked Potatoes

Thursday - Chicken, Cheese, and Rice caserole

Friday - Sausage and Peppers on Hoagie rolls with Onion rings.

And last but not least....

This is what my Home Keeping list will look like this week.

dAILY CHORES

MORNING:

·         Make bed

·         Load Washing Machine

·         Lay out supper

AFTERNOON:

• ·         LOAD DRYER
• ·         ALL HOME BLESSING CHORES FOR THE DAY AS WELL AS ZONE CHORES
• ·         FOLD/ PUT AWAY CLOTHES

EVENING:

·        Wash dishes

·        Clean counters, stove

·        Sweep Kitchen

·        Lay out clothes for next day

·        get to bed at a decent hour

HOME BLESSING CHORES

Can be done all in one day or spread throughout the week

MONDAY-  Dust the house. All flat surfaces, ceiling fans, knick knacks. Clean all windows and mirrors and glass in doors. Purge all old magazines, papers, materials that are laying around and no longer needed

TUESDAY-  Sweep small bath, L/R, and Laundry Room. Swish and Swipe sink/counter, commode

WEDNESDAY – Sweep front entrance, clear any clutter from counter/table, sweep front porch

THURSDAY -  Sweep Den and Master Bedroom

FRIDAY – Sweep Master Bath, swish and swipe sink, counter, commode.  Mop kitchen floor

·          5^th WEEK OF MONTH (or combined with area 4)/ FRONT ENTRANCE & LAUNDRY ROOM

·         MONDAY – CLEAR TABLE OF CLUTTER FRONT ENTRANCE/ CLEAR CLUTTER FROM DRYER AND CORNERS OF LAUNDRY ROOM

·         TUESDAY – CLEAR CLUTTER FROM UNDERNEATH TABLE FRONT ENTRANCE / CLEAN OFF WASHER AND DRYER AND INSIDE LIDS LAUNDRY ROOM

·         WEDNESDAY – CLEAN FRONT DOOR INSIDE AND OUT FRONT ENTRANCE/ CLEAN DRYER VENT LAUNDRY ROOM

  Easy week in this area. Can also do them on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or they can truly all be done in one day, in a matter of 30-45 min. total.  

  That's it for today folks. Catch yall later on in the week. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day. You never can tell with me. 

~~~Blessings. Love. Hugs~~

Friday

So, it's been a pretty good week despite Monday starting off as a true Monday and then me finally succumbing to that dang cold that is going around and then losing my voice the very next day.  On day 3 with no voice at all.  I'm sure there are lots of people really liking this, but, I'd like to have my voice back, please.  I guess I am the (hopefully) very last person to get this junk. It started with Jack getting it from daycare the week of August 17th.  Since then, he, Laila, Amber, Jake, I'm sure his parents and sister since they all live together, Kristen, Katie, Alex and Chris have had it and even my co worker got it ?? (his wife probably brought it home, she's a 2nd grade teacher) He even lost his voice for two weeks, but so far he and I are the only ones to have lost our voices.  Among those mentioned (though I'm not sure about Jake and his family), Amber, Laila, Jack, and Katie have had it TWICE.  All this time, I have germex'd, Lysol'd, bleach'd seriously EVERYTHING. I have usually had a WALL of Lysol or Germex around me at all times. Seriously. I'm that much of a germaphobe. Then sure enough, it was about Tuesday when I came down with it full fledged and overnight Tuesday, I lost my voice. Haven't found it yet :(  Hoping to be able to rest my vocal chords this weekend and not so much as whisper, maybe I'll just use a dry erase board to talk lol. Hopefully, I will be better by Monday.   Of course, everyone wants to call just when you can't talk. Very annoying. 

Oh, and Alex came down with a tummy bug last night. Yippie. I believe it is probably the same one that Katie had last weekend.  Tis the season....Prayerfully, he will be better quick. 

What am I doing today and this weekend.  After work, I am going shopping or looking for a blouse or cardigan to wear with a tank top to a concert next weekend. More about that later. Then home I shall go. 

For supper, I shall grill  fry in a black cast iron skillet, with lots of buttah, some nice big juicy steaks and to go with, some loaded baked potatoes, beefy beans, and garlic bread.  Yuuummmyyy!!!  For supper tomorrow night will be pizza. Sundays, the Mr. usually cooks, so we will see.  I usually make a dessert every weekend, but I think I'm gonna skip this weekend.  We have sweets in the freezer that need to be eaten  and Lord knows we gonna be eating next weekend. More about that later...haha. 

As for plans for the weekend.  I will be finishing up chores and laundry today and tomorrow just lots of reading and resting and Sunday will be church and grocery shopping.  

That's about all I have. I know. I live a boring life. I like it that way. 

Don't forget...it's 

So, be sure to reach out to a friend and nurture that friendship today. I think my form of communication today is going to have to be email and text lol.

~Blessings, Love, and Hugs~

Blogging Through the Bible with Good Morning Girls

I didn't do my Wednesday's Blogging Through The Bible post last Wednesday because I had gotten really behind last week.  In fact, I think I only did Monday and Tuesday's chapters. I'm afraid to say that it's happened again this week, thankfully, I'm only behind by one day.  Today, I am on Acts 12. I should be on Acts 13, but hopefully, I will catch up soon. 

Learn more about the Online Bible study here.  

Oh!!  I just realized that today is the first day of FALL or Autumn or whatever you want to call it.  I like Autumn, myself.  I just love September!! I love Autumn!! 

What's cookin on the old stove this week?  Well, Monday, the Mr. brought home supper that the father in law had cooked. Fried eggplant, and Chicken Spaghetti. Yum!!  Last night, I made smothered pork chops with gravy and onions, along with smashed potatoes, and mac and cheese (for Alex) and dinner rolls. Again, I say YUM!! Tonight, will be leftovers from last night.  Tomorrow and Friday have yet to be decided. I know...I know...very unlike me to NOT have a plan going for two or three weeks in a row now.  I am hoping to get together a menu/grocery shopping list/and shopping trip this weekend. Hopefully. 

Tuesday

It's Tuesday!! Yesterday was definitely a Monday!! I won't even go into it, but I rarely have a bad Monday, but boy howdy was yesterday ever a doozie.  Thank God, Monday is over.

On to Tuesday. Since I missed Monday blogging, I will post my homekeeping schedule for this week. 

This is what I'm working on this week. As usual, my daily chores will be posted at the end. I love my routine. As I have mentioned before, it is based loosely on another popular cleaning lady routine, I've just made a few tweaks to make it my own.  I've tried other routines from others but I find this to be the simplest of all.  Seriously, from to start to finish, my routine never takes longer than 30 min...most times even shorter. 

So, this is the 4th week of the month and that means I am working in :

·          4^th WEEK OF MONTH / LIVINGROOM, DEN

·         MONDAY – PICK UP, PUT UP, OR THROW AWAY ANY CLUTTER

·         TUESDAY -  CLEAN UNDERNEATH SOFA CUSHIONS

·         WEDNESDAY – CLEAN UNDERNEATH SOFA

·         THURSDAY – SPOT CLEAN WALLS/DOORS/LIGHT PLATE SWITCHES

·         FRIDAY – SWEEP/MOP

 HOME BLESSING CHORES

Can be done all in one day or spread throughout the week

MONDAY-  Dust the house. All flat surfaces, ceiling fans, knick knacks. Clean all windows and mirrors and glass in doors. Purge all old magazines, papers, materials that are laying around and no longer needed

TUESDAY-  Sweep small bath, L/R, and Laundry Room. Swish and Swipe sink/counter, commode

WEDNESDAY – Sweep front entrance, clear any clutter from counter/table, sweep front porch

THURSDAY -  Sweep Den and Master Bedroom

FRIDAY – Sweep Master Bath, swish and swipe sink, counter, commode.  Mop kitchen floor

dAILY CHORES

MORNING:

·         Make bed

·         Load Washing Machine

·         Lay out supper

AFTERNOON:

·         LOAD DRYER

·         ALL HOME BLESSING CHORES FOR THE DAY AS WELL AS ZONE CHORES

·         FOLD/ PUT AWAY CLOTHES

EVENING:

·        Wash dishes

·        Clean counters, stove

·        Sweep Kitchen

·        Lay out clothes for next day

·        get to bed at a decent hour

And my...

LAUNDRY SCHEDULE

MONDAY – REDS, PINKS, ORANGES, PURPLES, MAROONS/ COOLTO WARM WATER

TUESDAY – WHITES, ALL WHITES/ HOT WATER, BLEACH

WEDNESDAY – BLACKS, DARK COLORS, BLUE JEANS/ COOL TO WARM WATER

THURSDAY- TOWELS, UNDERWEAR  / HOT WATER

FRIDAY – ALL OTHER COLORS THAT DON’T FALL INTO ANY OTHER OF THE CATEGORIES / WARM WATER

SATURDAY – BED LINENS, PILLOW CASES / HOT WATER  - ALL COMFORTERS AND PILLOWS SPRAYED DOWN WITH FEBREEZE AND LYSOL AND PUT INTO THE DRYER FOR 30 MIN EACH TO FRESHEN AND FLUFF

As for ....

I have decided to slow down a bit with Alex.  This new grade is requiring a substantial amount more of work than in previous grades, and that is expected, of course. But, with having to cover such a large amount of material each day to keep up with our schedule of being done by the end of May, he is just not retaining what we are covering. Furthermore, I have noticed over the last couple of weeks that he has really lost a lot of his math and reading skills, despite us working a couple days a week on these skills. To his defense, we really didn't work that long each session, after all it was summer time. I've decided to go back to our original plan (of a couple years ago, that is) to just go with a year round schedule only a shorter schedule during the summer.  This will allow us to shorten our lessons each day, and add in a Bible reading curriculum. Hopefully, this will work a little better for him/us.