The Simple Woman's Daybook

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: things are looking very bright, which is fitting for the beginning of a brand new year! The entire sky is milky white and the ground is covered in snow - a beautiful blank palate, if you will. It is currently 10° in my neck of the woods, but feels like 0° with the wind that we have.

I AM THINKING: how ironic it is that each time I make another re-entry into the blog world, I use this Daybook as a tool to get me started. It's good for me to have prompts I guess. Do any of you use special blogging formulas, calendars, websites, tools, or schedules to help keep you on track, specifically with blogging? If so, I would LOVE to hear from you!

I AM THANKFUL: for blessings in my life. The older I get, the more appreciative I am for the ways God has blessed me and my family. With age, it seems I become more intimately acquainted with death and dying, sickness and struggles, and people with an array of problems. In the midst of those situations, I hope I always see God's hand, working "for the good of those who love Him." (Romans 8:28)

FROM THE KITCHEN: Suzanne continues to relentlessly churn out recipes. Her goal for the month of December was to bake every Christmas cupcake she'd pinned to her Pinterest board. My favorite was her Snowman Cupcake. After baking white cupcakes, she scooped a little out from the middle and stuck in a white Lindor truffle. She frosted them with cream cheese frosting then dipped the tops in sugar and decorated them like a snowman. Delish! (see photo below)

I AM WEARING: my favorite old blue jeans, an IOWA Hawkeyes hoodie, and slippers. Perfect for a lazy day at home.

I AM CREATING: nothing. Truth be told, I'm tired of creating. Emily and I had so many Christmas orders to fill this year that I'm just plum tuckered out. But I do have some winter projects I'm contemplating. There's a salvage/thrift place about 20 miles from here that has old doors and windows for $10-$20. When I decide what wall to hang one on, I'll make a trip over and get started.

I AM GOING: to be a Grandma in July!!  I know it'll be wonderful, and I can hardly wait! The kids have asked me to babysit when Emily goes back to work this Fall, and I'm more than happy to oblige. I am also going to be transforming the school room into a nursery of sorts. Brittany will have graduated high school by then, and Suzanne has already moved her desk to a more conducive spot.

I AM WONDERING: if the rest of our family will get whatever Brittany has. She was fine last night when we had supper with friends, and was fine at midnight when I went to bed. But she woke up this morning, vomiting. I put some Ginger Ale and the laptop and some movies on the steps for her, hoping it's short-lived and that she'll be content in her room, away from us, today. Thank goodness for texting!

I AM READING: not much these days. But browsing through Carrie's 2012 Book List, I'm freshly inspired. With some Christmas cash still left in my envelope, I will be visiting Amazon, as well as my local library, shortly. Thanks, Carrie!

I AM HOPING: that somebody else will want to fix meals today, or that my family will be happy with leftovers and various snack foods!  I'm also hoping that the slight gurgle in my tummy just means I'm hungry.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO: July, for obvious reasons.

I AM LEARNING: my way around Microsoft Publisher. I had no idea it was even ON my computer until this Fall, when I consented to create and mail monthly invitations/postcards for our MOPS group at church. There are so many wonderfully talented designers out there who offer their creations for free! Needless to say, I am enjoying this new creative outlet immensely!

I AM PONDERING: Jesus' humanity lately. Here's a short except from an Advent devotional book by Max Lucado: "God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created. God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother. God had come near. No silk. No ivory. No hype. To think of Jesus in such a light is - well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn't it? It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. But don't do it. For heaven's sake, don't. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out." Much to chew on there.

A FAVORITE QUOTE FOR TODAY is from Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness!"

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Dove dark chocolate. Always has been, always will be.

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: create a family calendar for the new year, take down the Christmas stuff (but leave up the winter things), and make a healthy 2-week meal plan.

A PEEK INTO MY DAY:

(Suzanne's Snowman Cupcakes)
Thanks to The Simple Woman's Daybook for inviting us to join in! Click on the link to read some amazing thoughts by other women during the month of January.