FOR TODAY - July 6, 2009

Outside my window...sunny & blazing hot!

I am thinking...about how wonderful our relaxing weekend was. I took lots of sweet memories from it.

I am thankful for...life, & the ability to enjoy it to the fullest.

From the learning rooms...God is faithful & He not only gets us through the valleys in life, He walks with us through them. And if need be, He will carry us through them.

From the kitchen...cleaned up & quiet, after a wonderful family breakfast.

I am wearing...capris & t-shirt.

I am creating...memories for our family. After having just lost my brother, it hits home more than ever, that one day all we are left with, are the memories. And this is what we will leave behind - memories. I want to gift my loved one with good ones.

I am going....to run out to the store to pick up things for our cookout tonight, & make a pit-stop to Starbucks. There's a very excited little girl here, thinking about her strawberries & cream shake. There's an exicted big girl too.

I am reading...No books right now - been too busy catching up on some things, & enjoying Elliot & Emily during these summer days.

I am hoping...my homemade ice cream turns out better tonight. Last time? Think 'soup'. Lesson learned - READ THE DIRECTIONS FOR MAKER!

I am hearing...Emily sing - what sweet music to my ears!

Around the house...peaceful & serene.

One of my favorite things...checking my blog & seeing tags from my blog friends. Icing on the cake, to find a tag from a new reader - a friend waiting to happen.

A few plans for the rest of the week...work on some webset graphics, shopping, bag up some things for Goodwill, introduce myself to some new bloggers.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...I took this during our fireworks show. I had explained to Elliot & Emily that we were celebrating America's birthday, & it was so sweet to hear Emily keep yelling out "Happy Birthday America!"

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FOR TODAY - May 18, 2009

Outside my window...dark & quiet. I'm posting this at 11PM.

I am thinking...about how I wish that I had more hours in the day. Life is so short, & there is so much that I want to do! I'm 'never' bored with a day.

I am thankful for...that Lisa (my DIL) got a job! She & my son have had some struggling months, & it's good to see hope in their faces again.

From the learning rooms...sometimes you have to accept that "it is what it is".

From the kitchen...cleaned up & closed up for the night, after a wonderful family meal.

I am wearing...baby blue pj's.

I am creating...a healthy me, & healthy, happy children.

I am going....to enjoy sinking into bed tonight.

I am reading...a few cookbooks & my Bible study group book.

I am hoping...my friend's further tests come back good, & that her fears over her needed surgery will be removed.

I am hearing...nothing but the tapping of my keys as I type.

Around the house...so quiet from the noise & laughter that were filling it just a few hours ago. Another day is tucked away in my memory book & in the children's. It always seems a bit sad to think that another day is gone, only to be recaptured in our memories. Did I fill it with all the good & wonder that I could?

One of my favorite things...doing graphics for friends, & hopefully bringing a smile to their face.

A few plans for the rest of the week...grocery shop, increase my working out time, eat healthy, enjoy my family to the fullest.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...this was Emily this morning. I asked her what she was doing, & she replied "I want to see what the world looks like upside down." What did it look like? "Soooo pretty!"

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FOR TODAY - May 11, 2009

Outside my window...Quiet & dusk.

I am thinking...that God is 'so' good to me!

I am thankful for...the sweet surprises that a day can bring us. Mike caught me completely offguard on Mother's Day with a cherry red ('love' that color!) laptop!

From the learning rooms...I can't allow the ugliness in another person to take away the beauty of the blessings that surround me.

From the kitchen...quiet tonight, as Mike called from work & told me to be ready for a surprise meal out. I love those calls.

I am wearing...pink capris & a white top.

I am creating...the best memories possible for Elliot & Emily.

I am going....to enjoy the freedom that my new laptop brings. It's going to be wonderful to not be tied to my desktop.

I am reading...a devotional book & my Bible.

I am hoping...my friend's abdominal scan tomorrow comes back with good news.

I am hearing...the tap, tap, tap of my keyboard.

Around the house...it was cleaning day, so all is sparkling!

One of my favorite things...hearing Emily sing.

A few plans for the rest of the week...enjoy being back on the computer after avoiding it for a few weeks, catch up with friends, enjoy my family, encourage my friend daily.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Princess Emily turned in her tiara for just a bit, to become Pirate Emily. She throws boring overboard every single day in our lives!

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FOR TODAY - April 31, 2009

Outside my window...a day splashed in sunshine! Promising to be another very hot day.

I am thinking...about a friend that found out yesterday that she isn't as healthy as she thought she was. She is so concerned & taking steps to make major life changes.

I am thankful for...each & every day with Elliot & Emily.

From the learning rooms...God's Grace is sufficient.

From the kitchen...deciding on dinner tonight - a pasta meal or a roast.

I am wearing...pajamas.

I am creating...a peaceful home. So much is uncertain in the world right now, & it's a blessing to make our home a haven.

I am going...organize our 'schoolroom' today.

I am reading...Managing Your Moods.

I am hoping...my friend can find hope & peace today.

I am hearing...the Disney channel, along with Emily's giggles.

Around the house...after a day of deep cleaning yesterday, everything is shining!

One of my favorite things...my wake-up call each morning. Elliot & Emily come & snuggle up with me.

A few plans for the rest of the week...cleaning out my closet (fun), try to eat better after not eating so great when I was sick last week, sort through some things for Goodwill, enjoy time with family.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...a 'sweet' reminder of our time away at Disneyland a couple of weeks ago. Sure wish I had one right now!

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FOR TODAY - March 30, 2009

Outside my window...beautiful sunny day, after having high winds last night.

I am thinking...about a friend that is so concerned for her job.

I am thankful for...health, family, friends, & my husband having a good job.

From the learning rooms...learning about all the settings & features on my new digital camera that hubby surprised me with last Friday!

From the kitchen...on the menu tonight - spaghetti, salad, cheesy garlic bread, & simply cookies for dessert.

I am wearing...blue pants & read top.

I am creating...trying my hand at making blogger themes from my digital scrapbooking collection. They turned out great, but decided to stick with this new one.

I am going...to enjoy a relaxing evening in with my family, & 'really' take it all in, gathering up every sweet memory that I can store.

I am reading...Managing Your Moods for my Bible study, Bible, magazines.

I am hoping...my son finds another job very soon.

I am hearing...cars going by on the street, keys tapping, clock chiming, & no chatter of Elliot & Emily, as they are napping.

Around the house...everything is caught up. Just the way I love starting a Monday.

One of my favorite things...this quiet time of the afternoon when the kids are napping. I settle in with a cup of tea & have some 'me' time each day.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Emily & my nightly 'girls' walk, while Mike spends special time with Elliot. I treasure the talks we have each evening, & the smiles she gives me as we walk. I also want to create some graphics, spend time outside each day with Elliot & Emily, & create good food & good memories for my family.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Emily, singing along with American Idol. She runs to get her micophone as soon as she knows it's coming on.

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FOR TODAY - March 23, 2009

Outside my window...dark & quiet. I think I'm the only one up on our street, as it's very late.

I am thinking...about how wonderful bed is going to feel tonight!

I am thankful for...my computer, after not having it for almost the entire week last week.

From the learning rooms...there's always so much I want to learn, but not enough time!

From the kitchen...needing to add a few things to the dishwasher before bed, & start it.

I am wearing...pajamas.

I am creating...new recipes for our family to try.

I am going...straight to bed after I post this. So tired tonight!

I am reading...Managing Your Moods for my Bible study, & a few magazines.

I am hoping...Elliot & Emily let us sleep in tomorrow.

I am hearing...total silence, except for the keys as I type.

Around the house...I see signs of a fun evening with the kids - games, toys, & books.

One of my favorite things...hearing Emily's jokes that she makes up. Her latest? "Why did the penguin cross the road? Because he wanted to be with the other penguins!" Keep in mind, she is 3. She throws her head back & laughs 'so' hard at her jokes. They are so silly, that it makes everyone laugh.

A few plans for the rest of the week...do some online shopping, try to get back to blogging, enjoy my family. Looks to be a laid back week (or I hope so).

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Ty Pennington. We spent last week at the Extreme Home Makeover site as they built a home here in Las Vegas. Emily was 'thrilled' to get to see all her favorites! It was a blessing to witness this in person. It airs May 10th.

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FOR TODAY - March 9, 2009

Outside my window...the sun is shining brightly - not a cloud in the sky. The wind is having fun with the trees - tossing the leaves & branches every which way!

I am thinking...about how wonderful it feels to feel good, after not feeling well all day. It feels as though I have lost an entire day, & I hate that feeling.

I am thankful for...health!

From the learning rooms...no matter what is going on on the 'outside', we can have peace on the 'inside'.

From the kitchen...cleaned up from dinner. Since I didn't feel well all day, Mike insisted on picking up take out on his way home. I didn't resist his offer.

I am wearing...black pants & purple top.

I am creating...some small Raggedys in Paint Shop.

I am going...to enjoy the evening with Dancing With the Stars, along with Emily.

I am reading...Joy For the Journey, Managing Your Moods, my Bible.

I am hoping...that I feel 100% by tonight. I still don't feel completely well.

I am hearing...Emily chatter to me as she watches 'The Upside Down Show'.

Around the house...I was on a cleaning binge this weekend, so everything is sparkling!

One of my favorite things...a nice long soak on our jacuzzi bathtub. I took one this morning when I awoke not feeling so great. It works wonders. The best thing about this, is Emily enjoying it with me.

A few plans for the rest of the week...send out some packages, work on my Raggedys, grocery shopping, enjoy my family.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...before my Mom died, she gave each of us daughters (5 of us) $100, & told us to go shop & buy a little something from her. I wanted to spend my money on things that would be a memory of her, & wanted to spend it right away, so that I could share my buys with her. One of her sayings was always "Life is good!"...no matter what was going on in her life, she would say this. I was thrilled when I found this plate by Lang. It has a place of honor on my kitchen counter. Every single time I look at it, I think of her. I found a few things with this saying, & bought them. Mom was right, life 'is' good.

To join in focusing on the simple pleasures of each day, please click here.