Category Archives: Books/Magazines

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 29, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 29, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was hot and humid today, humid enough that we were getting drops of water from condensation. I haven’t been in humidity like this since I lived in Ohio!

I am thinking… about plans for tomorrow and everything going on, especially getting my rental car if I can.

I am thankful… that we had a good first night of VBS and that Daniel gets to come with me tomorrow.

In the kitchen… we had pizza and build-your-own salad tonight at VBS. Tomorrow will be walking tacos and fruit kebabs.

I am wearing… my Momcat shirt and capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for my friend Krystin’s baby to be released from the NICU, for Krystin’s healing after emergency surgery, and for a bunch of special intentions. Oh yes… also for VBS to go well for Daniel.

I am going… to physical therapy tomorrow.

I am wondering… if I’ll have my rental car by tomorrow. (I kind of need it PDQ for VBS.)

I am reading… Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs. I just finished up the Classic Diner Mystery Series by Jessica Beck.

I am hoping… I sleep OK tonight with all the congestion in my face!

I am looking forward to… singing with the kiddos at VBS.

I am hearing… various silly songs I’m checking out for VBS tomorrow.

Crocheting… Daniel’s big boy blankie and the amigurumi stuffed animal for my friend.

Around the house… silence. I’m loving it.

A favorite quote for today… “”When I pray for another person, I am praying for God to open my eyes so that I can see that person as God does, and then enter into the stream of love that God already directs toward that person.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… my kids laughing and getting silly.

A few plans for the rest of the week: VBS every night, PT tomorrow morning, and a special lunch on Saturday.

A peek into my day… One of the songs we did with the kids!

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 22, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 22, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It’s after midnight but I’m finally getting around to blogging. It was in the 90’s today and I’m guessing it will be similar tomorrow.

I am thinking… about new songs for VBS because we just changed the Bible stories that we’re using.

I am thankful… for my church which is committed to making Daniel welcome and who has found a way for him to attend VBS with me this year. One of the dads is going to be doing one-on-one with him and we’ll find more things with which he can help.

In the kitchen… eating leftovers from the barbecue on Sunday.

I am wearing… green shirt and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon and a bunch of special intentions.

I am going… to be practicing all of my hand motions for VBS during my mornings without Daniel this week.

I am wondering… about the timing of some financial things. It’s unnerving me to say the least.

I am reading… A Bad Egg by Jessica Beck. I’m working through her Diner series.

I am hoping… I can go grocery shopping at some point.

I am looking forward to… Bible study on Wednesday.

I am hearing… silly songs that I’m trying to collect for VBS.

Crocheting… same stuff as last week — Daniel’s big boy blankie and the amigurumi stuffed animal.

Around the house… silence.

A favorite quote for today… “I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” — Phillip Yancey

One of my favorite things… sleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s rescheduled dentist appointment on Thursday and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… The Hippo Song which I am learning.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

#FiveFaves: Miscellanea (XXXVIII)

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#5Faves

One

Electricity. The power was off today from 8 a.m. until probably 4:00 p.m. so things like surfing the web and using the washer/dishwaser/machines was out of the question. I’m dead tired but I’m still attempting to get this post out as I had no opportunity to work on it today.

Two

Ice packs. I re-injured my calf muscle in my left leg so ice will be my friend for the next few days. I’ll be doing core exercises and weights if I can avoid dragging myself back to bed after getting Daniel off to school. (His bus comes at 7:10 a.m. which means a 6:40 wake-up call for me… and I am most definitely *NOT* a morning person.)

Three

Quiet. I’m the only one up at the moment and I’m seriously enjoying it. I’m incredibly introverted and this is how I get to recharge.

Four

Prayer walks in the morning. I find that I get my daily prayer time if I can take a walk so that’s what I try to do in the mornings, especially since it gets so hot here so early these days.

Five

Jessica Beck. I didn’t realize that she pretty much self-publishes all her stuff. I’m reading her Classic Diner series right now and loving it.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 14, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 14, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was foggy this morning and got up to 84F this afternoon which is not too bad.

I am thinking… that the takeaway messages from my church’s VBS later this month are going to be that God created hippos and penguins drink tea.

I am thankful… for the awesome food at the Practice the Tithe picnic today.

In the kitchen… leftover brisket that was thawed out.

I am wearing… charcoal v-neck from Old Navy and black capri sweats from Target.

I am praying for… many many things.

I am going… to the dentist with Daniel tomorrow. Denti-Cal is refusing to just give me a peds dental consult for Daniel so we have to see a regular dentist first. I’m really not thinking this will end well.

I am wondering… if I have a sinus infection or if this is just allergies.

I am reading… A Chili Death by Jessica Beck. Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey is still on hold.

I am hoping… to sleep well tonight because I have to get up at 6:40 tomorrow morning to get Daniel off to ESY.

I am looking forward to… my massage and TENS machine time on Tuesday.

I am hearing… stuff from Mission Bible Class that I’m doing for VBS.

Crocheting… all the same stuff as before — Daniel’s big boy blankie and an amugurumi stuffie for a friend’s baby.

Around the house… silence as everyone else is asleep.

A favorite quote for today… “Prayer is not a means of removing the unknown and predictable elements in life, but rather a way of including the unknown and unpredictable in the outworking of the grace of God in our lives.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… Vacation Bible School. I’ve missed helping with it. (It’s been 8 years since the last time I got to help.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s dentist appointment and ESY on Monday, PT on Tuesday, whatever errands come up the rest of the week, and possibly dinner with my parents on Saturday night.

A peek into my day… Here’s the rainbow that came with the apocalyptic storm that welcomed me back to southern California last week.

The rainbow that welcomed me home.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 7, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 7, 2015

Outside my window… dark but still warm. They claim it was 82F earlier but I don’t believe them — it felt like closer to 90F and it’s still hot in my parents’ house.

I am thinking… about the heat. It’s supposed to be 95F tomorrow and my parents don’t have A/C.

I am thankful… for a good visit thus far with my parents. I’m here until Friday.

In the kitchen… steak tonight. Leftovers tomorrow.

I am wearing… my Momcat shirt and capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for my father-in-law’s cancer, for a friend who is having marriage issues, and for a few special intentions.

I am going… to Costco and Target with Mom and Daniel tomorrow.

I am wondering… if Mom and Dad will finish the planting in the front yard tomorrow. They got rid of the front lawn, covered the area with bark, and are planting ground cover.

I am reading… Vanishing Grace by Phillip Yancey and The Cat Who Robbed a Bank by Lilian Jackson Braun.

I am hoping… the heat breaks soon.

I am looking forward to… cooler weather.

I am hearing… Game of Thrones — Dad is watching it.

Crocheting… the amigurumi stuffed animal but am working right now on Daniel’s big boy blankie which I brought up to San Jose with me.

Around the house… somewhat quiet other than Dad watching TV.

One of my favorite things… coffee with my friend Rebecca. We got to have coffee today after church.

A few plans for the rest of the week: walks, errands with Mom and Daniel, and whatever else happens before I head back down south on Friday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

#FiveFaves: Miscellanea (XXXVI)

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#5Faves

One

Jenna. For those who don’t know Mary Lenaburg, she lost her 22 year old daughter Courtney at the end of December after 22 years of taking care of her through daily seizures and other medical issues. Jenna sent this to her.

Two

Trader Joe’s Greek Yogurt Spinach-Kale Dip. This stuff is freaking awesome! I love it for dinner with carrot sticks on hot days. It also works well on a baked potato when someone in your house has consumed all the regular Greek yogurt you bought. (Not that this happened this past week or anything…)

Three

This graduation video. My class was so bad during graduation that subsequent classes were required to come in their pretty clothes and only allowed to put robes on AFTER they were searched! I wish we had done something like this instead.

Four

My priest. At Bible studies with new people, she introduces me as follows: “This is Jen. She’s a Lutheran pastor’s wife but we claim her.” Adding onto that, Jon was supplying at the Lutheran church across the street from my Episcopal church and I went over after my worship ended to catch part of his. I stayed for about 3 minutes at coffee hour (known as the third sacrament for Lutherans) which led my priest to tease the pastor of the Lutheran church about her indignation that “[HER] Lutheran went to [HIS] coffee hour.” I love her.

Five

Jessica Beck’s writing. I fell hard for her Donut Shop mysteries… and enjoyed a donut for the first time in years while finishing the last one. I was less than enthused about the donut (too sweet) but her books are fabulous. I’m starting her Diner series next.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 31, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 31, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It’s been quite warm here lately with temperatures around 80F but humidity that makes it feel hotter.

I am thinking… about my week and if I should ask my physical therapist to work on my leg tomorrow as I’ve got a muscle that is severely tensed in it and not relaxing.

I am thankful… for the concert celebrating Dr. Wilbur Held’s memory that I was blessed to attend yesterday. It was mostly organ with a little bit of choral music and a BIG piece at the end which involved, choirs, organ, and hand bells.

In the kitchen… I had some trail mix as my pre-bedtime snack.

I am wearing… my Run for the Little Flowers 2014 shirt and capri sweats.

I am praying for… my father-in-law, a call for Jon, relief from the muscle pain I’ve been having, and for a bunch of special intentions.

I am going… to take my car in to figure out what is up with the A/C on Tuesday morning. I’m hoping I’m not car-less for too long or that I can borrow Jon’s car if I need anything on Tuesday.

I am wondering… what I did that is stressing out my back and my calf muscles.

I am reading… Powdered Peril by Jessica Beck and I finished Killer Crullers a few days ago. I’m taking a break from Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey to keep up with Beck’s Donut Shop Mysteries.

I am hoping… the issue with my leg isn’t something nasty like a blood clot.

I am looking forward to… seeing my family on Friday. We’re spending a week with them while Daniel is off school before Extended School Year (summer school) starts.

I am hearing… various YouTube hymn videos.

Crocheting… nothing new — still the big boy blankie and the amigurumi stuffed animal.

Around the house… I managed to push this until a late hour yet again so I’m the only one awake.

A favorite quote for today… “The main purpose of prayer is not to make life easier, nor to gain magical powers, but to know God.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… the smell of anointing oil.

A few plans for the rest of the week: PT and errands tomorrow, taking my car to the mechanic on Tuesday, VBS music meeting on Wednesday, Daniel’s last day of school on Thursday, and heading up to San Jose on Friday.

A peek into my day… I love how Twila Paris does this particular old gospel song.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.