February Goals

February was an interesting month for us. We got a lot of things done, had lots of friends visit, and had moments that I'm sure we will remember for the rest of our life.

In the middle of everything that was going on we managed to make two items from the lists of goals the girls and I had created at the beginning of the year.

Up first was an apron that Rosebud wanted. She thinks housework is a lot more enjoyable while wearing an apron. I may have to make one for me to test out her theory.

We tried our hand at making cannoli yesterday. They were easy enough to make even though they were time consuming. We were happy with the end results.

March is just around the corner and we're already looking forward to trying our hand at making some new things then.

Praising

   Sometimes life hands you something you really don't want to deal with. Response to those type of things can vary a lot for different people.
    I chose to not share the particular issue I was fighting, with others. Maybe because I didn't want to think about it more than necessary. I chose instead to really focus on the ones I love the most. Life is short and memories we make are precious.
     This past week one of my cousins and her Pastor husband came to visit. They had left the Amish some months before we had under very similar circumstances, so we have a lot in common. It was great visiting and catching up with each other's lives.
     I couldn't quite hide what I was dealing with, while they were here. They asked if they could pray for healing. Of-course I accepted.
     That issue has been healed. Completely removed. It is so nice to be pain free. I have been going to bed praising God. Waking up in the morning with great thankfulness. God is good. All the time. I had peace either way, but I'm so thankful He answered the prayers.
      The little notes and birthday e-cards I had scheduled to be delivered over the next two years to our children ...... I'll leave them scheduled and as they arrive I'll simply take them as another reminder to praise God.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. February 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. It lands on the calendar one day after National Do Something for a Grouch Day (February 16) which somehow feels related. Perhaps the 16th inspired the 17th?

Tell about a time you performed a random act of kindness or were the recipient of one. Will you make an effort to perform a random act of kindness on the 17th? Share details if you're so inclined, and if you have something specific in mind.

A time when I performed a random act of kindness was one day when we were behind a woman at a grocery checkout. She was frantically pawing through her purse looking for money to buy a gallon of milk. We paid it for her.

I'll be at home all day so any random acts of kindness will be focused on LV and the children.

2.What's the most uplifting or encouraging thing you see happening in the world right now? You may have to dig deep for this one.

I find it encouraging, that even amid all the junk that is going on in the world, there are people still serving God, and desiring to have Him as their focus for their life.

3. Black olives, black currants, black grapes, black beans, blackberries, Oreos...your favorite food the color of night? Your least favorite on the list?

My favorite is a tie between black olives, black grapes, and black beans. My least favorite would be blackberries. I can't get past all those seeds.

4. A while back I read (here) a list of twelve things you should do before you turn 50. They were-

travel when you have the chance, take care of your skin, learn a foreign language, make exercise a habit, leave a toxic situation, stop caring what others think about you, stop worrying, volunteer, spend time with your grandparents, pledge to work less, learn to cook an amazing dish, and seize an opportunity as it arises

What do you think of the list? What would you add or remove and why? If you're over 50, have you done all 12? If you're not yet 50, have you done any at all? What's on the list that you haven't done, but would like to do?

I think the list is interesting.

The chance to travel doesn't come around very often for us, but we have taken it when the rare opportunity presented itself.
I take care of my skin. I've never wanted to resemble a worn out leather bag once I'm old.
I'm fluent in two languages, and not too bad at a third.
I have left a toxic situation.
I have come a long way in not caring what others think about me.
I don't struggle with worrying.
I have volunteered.
I spent an hour or two with my grandparents everyday until I got married, and once a week afterwards until my Grandpa passed away three months later. So glad for that time and all the memories.
I have learned to cook some pretty amazing dishes.
I have seized an opportunity when it rose.

I still have some years before I'm 50, but it looks like adding two more things and I'll have completed the list.

5. Besides the classic Christmas flicks, what's your favorite film where winter plays a part in the setting?

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It's not a favorite, but it's the only one I could think of.

6.When did you last feel helpless, and what did you do about it?

I can't think of anything that made me feel helpless recently. Having a child in the hospital makes you feel pretty helpless, but that was almost seven years ago.

7. Share a favorite proverb.

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Freezing rain is my least favorite thing about winter. But look how pretty!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Create an acrostic using the word LOVE. If you're unsure what an acrostic is click here. 

              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.

2. Does love really conquer all? Why or why not?

God's love conquers all.

3. Tell us about a time recently, where you really put your heart into something.

Rosebud and I have been working on a writing project together, and have been putting our heart into it.

4. What's your favorite fictional love story?

I have quite a few that I really like a lot, but I think I'll have to go with one of my all time favorite series. Anne of Green Gables. The love story between Gilbert and Anne is not unlike the one that LV and I share which makes it even better.

5. Do you generally wear your heart on your sleeve, or keep your cards close to the vest?

 Unfortunately my face is very easy to read to anyone who knows me, so it's kind of hard keeping feelings hidden.

6. What food says love to you? Why?

Chocolate.

Blue crab ravioli. It's always a special occasion when LV treats me to my favorite meal.

7. When were you last 'tickled pink' over something? Explain.

Rosebud needed a new pair of shoes, and I was tickled pink to find the pair she had really wanted on clearance at a huge discount.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

On today's schedule is deep cleaning the kitchen. Not my favorite task in the world, but I always love how it feels once it has been done.

Winter Days

Our power has been restored after having been off for a while on this lovely winter day, and I'm enjoying being indoors while watching the gently falling snow.

Such a happy, cozy atmosphere. Beautiful instrumental music playing softly in the background, while the girls are both curled up with a book that they're reading for their school assignments. Buddy is working his way through all the many puzzles he can handle, for the third time today. Anything under 100 pieces he will do, lining them all up on the living room floor when he has them completed. Right now the floor is basically covered in puzzles.

Sailor has gone next door to check on our elderly neighbor, like he does every day. He'll be back in an hour or so with some more stories that he has been told from by-gone days.

There are times when I wish I could slow time in order to savor each moment longer. Today is one of those days.

Post-it Thoughts

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Describe love using all five senses.

I'll keep it simple.

Taste - Sweet.
Sight - Smiles.
Sound - Music, laughter, raindrops.
Touch - Soft, warm.
Smell - Got nothing for this one.

2. February is Canned Food Month. What's your favorite food that comes straight from a can?

Pineapples. I love pineapples, but both Rosebud and I break out in a very irritating rash when ever we eat fresh pineapples. Somehow canned pineapples don't do that, so I'm choosing them as my favorite straight from the can food.

3. A principal in a UK school recently sent home a letter to parents requesting they (the parents!) dress appropriately when escorting their children to/from school (basically saying please don't wear your pajamas) You can read the letter here. It's gotten a lot of publicity, both positive and negative. Your thoughts? And do/did you ever make the school run (or hit Starbucks, Walmart, etc) in your pjs?

I never even step foot outside our bedroom in pjs. So there is no way I would go somewhere out in public in them.

4. Crew neck, V-neck, turtleneck, scoop neck...which is most prevalent in your wardrobe?

A mixture between crew neck and V-necks. I have a few turtlenecks, but never wear them. They make me feel too clunky.

5. I read here recently a list of four things to avoid so you wake up happier. They were late night snacks, hitting the snooze button, social media just before bed/upon waking, checking emails. 

Are you guilty of any of these behaviors? Which on that list do you need to work harder at avoiding?

I don't do any late night snacking. The last food I eat usually happens around 5:30 to 6:00. I never hit the snooze button even though I often wish I could spend a few more minutes in bed. I usually take a quick look at Facebook a little before bedtime. I always wake up happy, so I don't feel guilty for doing that and have no plans to work at avoiding it.

6. Share something you remember about a house you lived in as a child? Of all the homes you lived in as a child, which did you love best?

The house we moved into when I was seven had bright orange counter tops. I didn't care for the color, but it's the house I love the best. It's the one where the most of my childhood and growing up memories were made.

7.Your favorite movie based on a true story?

Sheffey. Based on the life of a circuit riding preacher.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I went ahead and signed up for the April A-Z challenge again this year. It will be my third year doing this. It's called a challenge for a reason, but I feel ready to tackle it once again.