Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Happy Valentine's Day!




Were he still here, John and I would be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary today.

February 14, 1988

I love and miss him so much, but I have assurance in Christ Jesus that I will see him again, and know that we have all eternity ahead to look forward to.

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but
then face to face: now I know in part; but then
shall I know even as also I am known."
(1 Corinthians 13:12)


I am so extremely thankful for the many years that God gave us together upon this earth...fifty-five years of friendship and thirty-three years of marriage.



"I was a child and she was a child,
   In this kingdom by the sea,
But we loved with a love that was more than love—"

(from Annabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe)

He entrusted us with a beautiful family and has bountifully blessed us with twenty-two (soon to be twenty-three) grandchildren. Who could ask for more?

From J.K. 2/14/18


We were (and still are) beyond blessed!

 Thank You, God! Thank You for John, for our marriage, for all that we shared as friends and, later, as husband and wife, for our beautiful family, and for all the goodness and many blessings that You have bestowed upon us. I am truly humbled. In Jesus' name...Amen!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...




Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Monday, February 13, 2023

Monday Check-In

Good morning! It's Monday morning, yes, but I've, literally, been on the run since I posted Thursday morning and still am. I haven't even looked at my planner since then, either, so, have no idea what's happening past today. Perhaps I'll be able to take a look at it a little later in the week and make a proper plan for what's left of it then. 

In the meantime, weekend highlights...

I worked Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The weather was crazy...spring-like on Thursday...




...wintery on Friday...




...and late fall-like on Saturday...




We celebrated the birthdays of three grands over the weekend...



Dante turned 8 on Thursday, Kira turned 5 on Saturday (their combined celebration was Friday night), and Jed turned 10 on Sunday.



Aaron, Amanda, and Alysia arrived Saturday night to spend the weekend and are still here. 



I don't think I've ate a single meal at home this weekend, as different ones of the kids have invited me over to eat with them in celebration of birthdays or to just visit and fellowship (except breakfasts, of course, and packed lunches taken to work). It's been a very enjoyable weekend to say the least!

Sunday evening the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, of course. We didn't watch the game, but I wore my Chiefs shirt and the grandkids and I kept track of live updates throughout the entire game. That final quarter? Whew-wee! Were we ever on the edge of our seats and what a ruckus we made when the Chiefs won!!! WOOO-HOOO!!! CHIEFS!!!!!! 



Now, here it is Monday morning. I am finishing up a cup of tea as I prepare to leave shortly to attend a Valentine's Day get-together for the grands. I just finished icing the cookies that I made (and froze) last week and will take them along as my offering to be added to the festivities.



Hopefully, I will get a chance to sit down soon and plan the remainder of the week. When I do, I will share a belated master list and menu plan post here.

In the meantime, you have a nice day and I'll be with you again soon!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...




Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Thursday Things - February 9, 2023

It's Thursday morning and I've got to leave for work shortly, but, since I had a few extra minutes, I thought I'd share them with you while I finish my tea.



How's your week been? Mine here has been good. I've managed to stay busy with a variety of projects, including getting those greeting cards sorted and organized.



I told you all at the beginning of the year that I probably had enough greeting cards, tissue paper, wrapping paper, gift bags, and tags to open my own gift shop, and I wasn't kidding. It feels so good to have all that stuff sorted and organized. I will save a ton of money this year by 'shopping' out of my own stock instead of purchasing more of what I've already got.



In addition to that I've done quite a bit of cooking and baking, reading, and...uh-oh...it's almost time to leave. I better be going. 

You all have a nice day and a great weekend and I'll be with you again soon. 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...





Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Book Review: Biblical Minimalism by Cheryl E. Smith

Back in 2021 I promised to read, and do a book review, for a gal I met online. Her name is Cheryl Smith and the book I promised to read and review is called Homespun Devotions - Volume 1. 

Before Cheryl mailed the book to me she asked if I'd also be interested in reading and reviewing her first book Biblical Minimalism. Of course I would! She mailed both books to me right away.




Of course, I had the best of intentions when I agreed to read and review the books and was thrilled to get them when they arrived, but, sadly, with being in the throes of grief after my husband's death, I laid the books aside and forgot all about them. 😢
 
That is until recently when I got an email from Cheryl looking for my past reviews and announcing her latest book, Homespun Devotions - Volume 2! Oh. my. word! Here she was announcing book THREE and I hadn't even started reading book ONE yet, let alone posted a review! I felt so bad! 

I sent Cheryl an email of apology and promised to pull the books out and get started on reading them right away. She assured me that all was well and that there was no need to be sorry, but I was...and, since she's ready for reviews on Homespun Devotionals - Volume 2, I probably should have started with Homespun Devotionals - Volume 1, but didn't. I started with Biblical Minimalism - Following Jesus From a Life of Abundance to a More Abundant Life and I'm so glad that I did! It was just what I needed at this particular time in my life!

Biblical Minimalism is a book about, not only overcoming overloaded schedules, overwhelming debt, and being enslaved to excess physical possessions, but it's about breaking free of worldly (and sometimes self-imposed) expectations, putting God first in every area, and discovering His plan and purpose for your life.

The thing I liked most about this book is that, as Cheryl shares her own family's personal story of finding the freedoms that they've come to enjoy in every facet of life, she stays vigilent and true to scripture, constantly reaffirming and backing up every word she has to say with it. She also offers a lot of practical advice, as well.

This book helped me regain my perspective. I found, without doubt, that my husband and I were on the right track and had already achieved many of the things Cheryl discusses in the book. I found that, in my own situation, it's just a matter of keeping my eyes on Jesus and, no matter how frightened I get at times, to just keep moving forward, fine-tuning as I go, as I seek to find God's will for my life in a new season.

I'm very thankful for this book...to Cheryl for writing it and sharing it with me, and to God for His perfect timing and allowing me the opportunity to share it with you. I pray that, should you choose to read it, that Biblcial Minimalism will minister to your spirit and soul as deeply as it has my own. 

Biblical Minimalism is 213 pages long and has 16 chapters. Chapter titles include For His Name's Sake, Why Do We Have So Much Stuff?, What Do We Really Own Anyway?, Putting God First, Don't Look Back, Shaking The Dust Off, and Some Practical Advice. 

In all honesty, next to the Bible Itself, this is one of the best books that I've read.

I'm getting ready to start Homespun Devotions - Volume 1 now and will post a review for it when I am finished. In the mean time, please check out Cheryl's website and all of her books by clicking on the links below.

Cheryl's Website:


Cheryl's Books - 


Until next time...
~Rebecca

P.S. - I will be doing a Biblical Minimalism book giveaway soon, so be watching for it! 

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - February 6, 2023

Thursday Things

Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: ,

Monday, February 6, 2023

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - February 6, 2023

It's Monday and, not the greatest photo in the world, but...I've got crocuses blooming! 

The First Crocus of 2023

I wouldn't have even thought to look for them yesterday if Angie hadn't posted on Facebook that hers were up. I went out and, sure enough, I had four crocuses up...two yellow, a cream-colored, and a purple one! I'm thrilled and I'm sure there will be more crocus photos before the month is over.

Growing up it was always a race to see which came first...the first crocus of the year or my mother's birthday (February 8th). This year, the crocuses won out!

My Mom and I Back in the 1960's With
One of My Dog, Frisky's, Pups

(Happy Heavenly Birthday this week, Mom! I love and miss you! The crocuses always remind me of you!) 💜

So, back to the present...

How was your week and weekend? Despite still battling broncitus, or whatever it is that I've got, my weekend here was great!

Aaron, Amanda, and Alysia came down to spend the night Friday. We had supper and visited at Patrick and Amber's that evening and enjoyed celebrating Aaron's birthday while we were there. 

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

I had to work Saturday and, first thing that morning, caught this merlin in the middle of breakfast...

Merlin

It was great getting to see a merlin that close up! What an absolutely amazing bird!

Sunday was church in the morning, then a quiet afternoon and evening at home. I enjoyed watching Episode 7 of The Chosen Season 3. 

Now, here we are, off and running in the middle of the first Monday of February 2023! Let's take a look at the week ahead, shall we?

Red-shouldered Hawk

This week's master to-do list...

- Clean house
- Do laundry
- Celebrate grandlittle birthdays (three of them this week!)
- Sort tote of greeting cards into categories (birthday, get-well, anniversary, new baby, etc.) and organize into folders
- Mail sympathy cards to friends that have recently lost family members
- Start a new craft project
- Work

Look at the buds on this tree! Wow!

This week's menu plan and winter food challenge update...

The winter food challange continues and, while there is still a wide variety of canned and boxed goods left on cabinet shelves, the older foods from the deep-freeze and freezer are just about gone. I will use most, if not all, of the meat that remains this week.

Breakfast ideas this week include pancakes with fruit, yogurt, and syrup, apple and cinnamon oatmeal, and eggs and toast; lunch ideas include soup, salad, and sandwiches.

Supper ideas this week include...

- Meatloaf (turkey burger from freezer) with mashed potatoes (boxed) and fresh asparagus
- Broiled Salmon (freezer) with baked potato (fresh) and oven-roasted carrots (fresh)
- Green Chili Burrito (turkey burger from freezer, fresh potatoes, and canned green chilies) with brown rice (boxed) and black beans (canned)
- Salisbury steak (burger from freezer)  with mashed potatoes (boxed) and fresh asperagus
- Breakfast for supper (turkey bacon from freezer), eggs, and toast) 
- Leftovers

Well, that's it from me today. How are things going on your end? I hope your Monday is off to a great start and I wish you a beautiful and bountiful week ahead! 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...


Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels:

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Thursday Things

It's Thursday night and, after another busy day (and week), it's time to settle down and unwind. 



The sorting and organizing of the Van Gogh room is done! Does that mean that I'm finished with it? Not at all!

What it does mean is, that all those piles and totes have been gone through. Some stuff has been thrown away and a lot of stuff has been put away where it belongs. What's left has been sorted and organized into like groupings...all the books in one place, all the nature journaling and craft supplies in one place, all the correspondance, etc.



Everything has been sorted, yes, but I still have way too much stuff in too small a space, so the next stage will be to go through everything again and decide whether to keep, sell, or give away, BUT, I'm going to save that for another day. The main thing right now is, that the room is clean. I know what I've got and where it's at and THAT feels GREAT!



Other than working on the Van Gogh room this week, I've done a variety of other things...cooking, baking, spending time with family and friends, planning, and shopping. I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Well, I suppose I should be going for now. I've got a lot to do tomorrow and it's time for bed. I hope your Thursday has been a good one and that the weekend ahead is fantastic!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...



Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)