Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday - The TUESDAY Edition - March 19, 2019

Greetings, Dear Friends! 💗 As you can see, I missed Monday completely, so, welcome to the Tuesday edition of HHM! 😀 

Last week was a blur. On the way home from KC on Tuesday (was that really only a week ago today???), I stopped and picked up the corned beef, cabbages, and potatoes for St. Patty's Day. Wednesday was spent catching up with things at home (laundry, etc.), worked Thursday, was busy and ran all day Friday (baked two cakes...a quadruple recipe..., met dil for breakfast, figured budget, bank, vehicle inspection, license renewal, paid bills, picked up groceries for a couple of shut-ins, and prepared work supplies). Needless to say, I was beat by the end of the day. Worked Saturday. Then, Sunday afternoon was our annual St. Patrick's Day family get-together. 🍀

A Trio of Pretty Irish Princesses
Granddaughters Ruth, Esther, and Mercy
Of course, Amanda and Phillip weren't able to be here, which was really sad for all of us 😢 (it sure wasn't the same), but, good news! After being in the hospital nearly a month, Phillip finally got sprung yesterday! 😊 We appreciate all the prayers on behalf of him and Amanda both and are so very thankful that he is home! 💗

Amanda Shared Thi Photo of Phillip Fresh Out of the Hospital
We are so thankful! 💗
The reason I didn't make it here yesterday is, John and I had been planning our annual trip to Branson for early April and had decided that, on the way down, we were going to go to Bass Pro, Wonders of Wildlife, and the National Museum and Aquarium (I had been before, but he hadn't), BUT, with all the stuff that's been going on lately, we decided to cancel our trip to Branson and just do W.O.W instead. We were still planning on doing that in April, but found out that W.O.W. was having a special half price off deal for anyone living within a 100 mile radius of Springfield during the entire month of March. So, being as yesterday was one of only three free days left in March, we decided to take advantage of the half price deal and go. Our oldest daughter and her children were able to join us as well and what a great day it was! We had a lot fun...especially when it came to watching the penguins and petting the stingrays! 🐠🐧🐬🐡🐋🐙

🐧💗🐧 Us Photo-Shopped Into The Penguin Exhibit 🐧💗🐧
This morning my BFFF came over for a short visit. Sadly, we've both had our hands full on so many fronts, that we hardly see each other anymore. It was nice just getting together and getting caught up a bit. 

Now, it's Tuesday afternoon and I'm just now getting ready to plan the week ahead. Won't you join me as, in the process, I link up with Sandra of Diary of a Stay At Home Mom and all the other lovely ladies that make up the Happy Homemaker Monday crew? You'll be glad you did! 💗

Today I am joining Sandra and the other ladies over at
Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.
Please be sure to go over and check it out! 💗
Right now I am...

... Finishing up lunch (leftover corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes from St. Patrick's Day), looking over my calendar, and trying to make sense of where I'm at the moment. 😵

Am thinking...

... about how blessed we really are. John and I have a wonderful family and a loving God who watches over and takes care of each and every one of us. I am truly thankful! 💗

On the breakfast plate...

... this morning I had THM pancakes with blueberries, a dollop of Triple 0 vanilla yogurt, and sugar-free syrup.

The weather...

... is gorgeous! Right now it's partly cloudy and 61 degrees. I think there's a chance of rain overnight, but the ten-day forecast promises highs in the 50's and 60's with no night-time temperatures below freezing. I'm happy! 💗

Sorry! Saw this on Facebook and couldn't resist sharing! 😆
On my reading pile...

Am still reading The Great Buffalo Hunt by Wayne Gard, but finished Song of the Shenandoah by Mark Strength. Am now reading Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser.

Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilderby Caroline Fraser
On the menu this week...

Monday - fish sandwiches and leftover baked potatoes
Tuesday - salad, pasta, sauce, meatballs, and homemade French bread with imported sfogliatine cookies for dessert
Wednesday - chili dogs (freezer) and chips
Thursday - roasted chicken breasts, brown rice, and salad
Friday - broiled salmon, baked potatoes, and green beans
Saturday - dh's night to cook (per his request)
Sunday - leftovers

On my 'to-do' list...

Monday - Visit Bass Pro, Wonders of Wildlife, and the National Museum and Aquarium @ Springfield
Tuesday - Get together with my BFFF, make French bread, have a cousin and his wife over for supper
Wednesday - Library programs in the morning and afternoon (Animal Tracks)
Thursday - Catch up on stuff around the house, run errands
Friday - Work
Saturday - Work (Nature Bingo)
Sunday - Church

In the craft basket...

You guys will think I'm crazy (or maybe you already know that I am), but I've ripped my temperature afghan out and am starting over. I had the month of January nearly finished and realized that, if I kept going, this afghan was going to end up approximately four feet wide and twenty-four feet long! 😲 After talking it over with Amanda (who is an expert crocheter), we decided that it would be better to stop where I was, rip it out, and start over rather than keep going! Instead of doing the shell pattern, like I was, I am now doing a single crochet, but in the back loop only, which gives the afghan kind of a rippled pattern. I will try to post pictures of the revised afghan soon (as soon as I get far enough along for you to see what I'm talking about). 😆

The Month of January Unraveled
Something interesting that I saw this week...

Tiny Purple Crocus's Blooming In Our Yard
These are the ones that Carla and I dug up and moved over from the old house on Payne Street. John and I  have been in this house for going on three years now and this is the first of these we've seen come up. I thought that they were gone for good! I'm so happy to finally
see them blooming! 🌷



From the camera...

Granddaughter Kira - "Let the Shenanigans Begin!"
Photo Credit
Scripture passage...


Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful New Year, and I'll see you next week! Blessings!

Until next time,
~Rebecca

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



Happy Homemaker Monday - March 4, 2019





Sunday, March 17, 2019

St. Patrick's Day 2019

Shamrock Treats For The Grands

Guess what I was up doing at 6:00 this morning? Yep! Making those shamrock treats for the grands and blowing up green balloons! 💚

I made a quadruple batch of the traditional Emerald Isle Cake recipe on Friday, the corned beefs (three of them) have been in the crockpot overnight, and I've got eight heads of cabbage and 20 pounds of potatoes yet to prepare this morning before church. Our children and their families are expected to join us this afternoon for our annual St. Patrick's Day feast. 🍀

All, that is, except Amanda and Phillip. Sadly, Phillip is still in the hospital and they will be unable to join us for the first time since they got together well over a decade ago. They will be sorely missed. 😢

Phillip, this is for you...

This little guy will miss you, Phillip, and the hiding of the leprechaun will not happen this year. Knox will sit on the shelf and remain patiently awaiting until your return. 🍀
Have a blessed Sunday and a Happy St. Patrick's Day, Dear Reader!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Happy Homemaker Monday - March 11, 2019



Monday, March 11, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday - March 11, 2019

Greetings, Dear Friends! Happy Monday and Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀

We're back in Kansas City this week and have been on the go, so, I'm running super late today. Welcome to the Monday evening edition of HHM! 💗 





Being as it's so late, this is going to be a super condensed version, but, please, join me as I link up with Sandra of Diary of a Stay At Home Mom and all the other lovely ladies that make up the Happy Homemaker Monday crew. 


Today I am joining Sandra and the other ladies over at
Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.
Please be sure to go over and check it out! 💗
Right now I am...

... Have been in the city since Saturday and have spent the past two nights at KU. Tonight Phillip's mother is staying with him and we are spending the night with Amanda at home, where, we hope, she will get a good night's rest. We just unpacked and are getting settled in.

Am thinking...

... about what a long three weeks it's been and how thankful we'll be when all of this is behind us and our son-in-law is home and things are back to normal.

On the breakfast plate...

... this morning it was hospital cafeteria food...turkey sausage, boiled eggs, cottage cheese, and fresh fruit.


The weather...

... is BEAUTIFUL! Right now at 7:00 p.m. it is still sunny and 50 degrees, however, there are still areas where there are piles of snow along the roads and, one road that we were on, still had an inch of ice on it in places. Crazy! 😲


On my reading pile...

Am still reading The Great Buffalo Hunt by Wayne Gard (at work) and Song of the Shenandoah by Mark Strength.

Song of the Shenandoah by Mark Strength
On the menu this week...

Monday - out of town
Tuesday - THM pancakes with blueberries, Triple 0 yogurt, and sf syrup
Wednesday - oven-roasted chicken breasts, boiled, buttered, red potatoes, and fresh asparagus
Thursday - tuna patties, oven roasted sweet potatoes, peas and carrots
Friday - broiled salmon, baked sweet potatoes, and green beans
Saturday - turkey burgers and oven fries
Sunday - corned beef, cabbage, baked potatoes, and Emerald Isle Cake




On my 'to-do' list...


Monday - out of town
Tuesday - traveling home, grocery shopping
Wednesday - catch up on housework and laundry
Thursday - Work
Friday - Make St. Patty's Day treats for the grandlittles; bake cakes for Sunday
Saturday - Work
Sunday - Church; celebrate St. Patty's Day with the family

In the craft basket...

I hope to make some of these this week....

Recipe and Photo Credit

Something interesting that I saw this week...


Holy Rosary Catholic Church
(This is the church that my MIL went to as a girl.)
From the camera...

Our daughter had to go into work for a couple of hours today and, so, while she was working, John and I walked the lane at Watkins Woolen Mill and discovered this sycamore leaf on ice. 🍁
Scripture passage...



Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful New Year, and I'll see you next week! Blessings!

Until next time,
~Rebecca

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



Happy Homemaker Monday - March 4, 2019


Update on Our Son-in-Law - Thursday, February 28, 2019


Recipe - Emerald Isle Cake

Monday, March 4, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday - March 4, 2019

Greetings, Dear Friends! Happy Monday! 💗

Can you believe it? The first Monday of March and the month that officially brings us spring! (I'm so excited!) 🍀

I trust that you and yours had a good week and a nice weekend. We spent the first half of the week in Kansas City with our daughter and son-in-law and the second half of the week doing what needs to be done here (home stuff, work, etc.). 

Over the weekend we got snow. Sunday afternoon my husband and I drove out to the park and observed this...


White-tailed Deer Camouflaged Among Lichen-Covered Trees
I've got much to do today, so I'm going to cut this short. Please join me as I link up with Sandra of Diary of a Stay At Home Mom and all the other lovely ladies that make up the Happy Homemaker Monday crew. 


Today I am joining Sandra and the other ladies over at
Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.
Please be sure to go over and check it out! 💗
(NOTE: This blog post has been updated since first posting to reflect changes made shortly after posting. Also, I have been inundated with comments made by anonymous readers and, to be honest, most of them have been totally irrelevant to my content, so, I have adjusted my settings. As of now, only subscribers to this blog may leave comments. If you're not a subscriber, please, subscribe today and leave a comment below to let me know that you've been here. That would absolutely make my day! And if you try to leave a comment and it won't let you, please, e-mail me right away at proverbs31heart@yahoo.com. Thank you!) 😊

Right now I am...

... finishing up breakfast and enjoying a cup of tea while I finish this post. I'm also watching the birds as they flutter and flit at the feeders outside my office window.

Am thinking...

... about and praying over our daughter and son-in-law. Will be heading back up there over the weekend to be with them. Please continue to remember Phillip and Amanda in your prayers. There have been a few setbacks and Phillip is still awaiting the big surgery. 😢

On the breakfast plate...

... a big breakfast for a busy day...French toast with sugar-free syrup, turkey breakfast sausage, Triple Zero vanilla yogurt, Mandarin orange slices, and a steaming cup of hot tea.



The Breakfast Plate
The weather...

... cold! We are under a windchill advisory until 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. The current temperature is 8 degrees with a windchill of -5. Today's high is supposed to be around 20. The next couple of days promise to be super cold, but, after that, highs in the 40's and 50's with lows in the 20's and 30's. I'll just be glad when spring arrives and decides to stick around! 🌷🐇🍀🐑💗




On my reading pile...

Am still reading The Great Buffalo Hunt by Wayne Gard (at work) and Song of the Shenandoah by Mark Strength.

Song of the Shenandoah by Mark Strength
On the menu this week...

Monday - turkey chili dogs on leftover cornbread (freezer) and salad
Tuesday - bison-vegetable stir fry, brown rice, and salad
Wednesday - 
 turkey burgers with rice and beans
Thursday - tuna patties, oven roasted sweet potatoes, peas and carrots
Friday - broiled salmon on a bed of sauteed zucchini, baked sweet potatoes, and green beans
Saturday - out of town
Sunday - out of town

On my 'to-do' list...
Monday - Plan the week ahead, do weekly "home blessing", do laundry, wash bedding, set eye appointments for myself and my husband
Tuesday - Set vehicle inspection appointment, do some on-line shopping, work on book project
Wednesday - Grocery store, have tires rotated and balanced, sort program tote
Thursday - Work (CPR training)
Friday - Work ('Meet the Mustelids' homeschool program)
Saturday - Off work, headed back to KC
Sunday - out of town

In the craft basket...

Am concentrating on the temperature afghan, but am only through the 23rd of January. If my yarn arrives in time, I can take it with me on my next trip to KC and really make some progress on it. 

Jodi, this is for you...

2019 Temperature Afghan
I am using Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn and my color scheme is as follows: 

Below 22 degrees - ROSE
23 - 32 degrees - BLUE HEATHER
33 - 43 degrees - BLUE MIST
44 - 53 degrees - AVOCADO
54 - 66 degrees - FOREST GREEN
67 - 77 degrees - GOLD
78 - 88 degrees - PUMPKIN
89 - 98 degrees - RANCH RED
99+ degrees - CRANBERRY

Something interesting that I saw this week...

Kansas City lights at night! No wonder Steve Warner did a song about them. They are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! (And I never get tired of seeing them!) 💗

Photo Credit

From the camera...

I took this picture of snow drifts on the way back from the park yesterday...

Snow Drifts Along A Country Road
Scripture passage...


Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful New Year, and I'll see you next week! Blessings!

Until next time,
~Rebecca

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Update on Our Son-in-Law - Thursday, February 28, 2019



Thursday, February 28, 2019

Update on Our Son-in-Law - Thursday, February 28, 2019

Greetings, Dear Ones!

It's Thursday afternoon and I felt that I should drop in and share a mid-week update with all those that have been praying over our son-in-law, Phillip, and his wife (our daughter), Amanda.

Amanda and Phillip

Phillip had his first brain tumor removed at the age of 14, the second removed at the age of 28, and the third in January of 2016. The plan this time was to go in and remove scar tissue that has grown over the past three years at the site of the last tumor removal. 

On Thursday of last week (2/21/19) Phillip had surgery to put in the brain mapping grid. After the grid and diodes were in place, the plan was to wait for seizure activity, do more tests, then go in and remove the scar tissue. Upon further testing it was discovered that Phillip has three new brain tumors growing at the site of the last tumor removal from three years ago. This was unexpected and totally changed the game plan.

To further complicate matters, getting the grid in place revealed that the seizure activity was originating further back than first thought. Yesterday (2/26/19) they had to go back in and place seven more diode into the brain. Now they are, once again, awaiting seizure activity in order to do further testing before they can do the big surgery in which they will remove the scar tissue and the three new tumors. 

As for us, we are home now. I've got to work tomorrow and Saturday, then, bad weather is supposed to move in Sunday and Monday on both ends (on ours and in Kansas City). I have no idea what next week holds. I feel terrible about not being with Phillip and Amanda right now, but we have responsibilities on this end, too. We will just have to come and go as time and circumstance allow.  

Phillip After The First Surgery @ KU

Thank you so much for your continued prayers on Phillip and Amanda's behalf. Where would we be without the power of prayer? Praise God for His continual mercy and grace! 

The 91st Psalm is one of the main passages of scripture that I stand
on continuously concerning every member of my precious family.
Blessings over all and until next time...
~Rebecca

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Monday, February 25, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday - February 25, 2019


Greetings, Dear Friends! Happy Monday! 💗


I write this post this morning from our son-in-law, Phillip's, hospital room at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. He underwent the first of two (possibly three) brain surgeries this past Thursday and is anticipating the second before week's end. Your continued prayers on behalf of our son-in-law and his wife (our daughter), Amanda, would be much appreciated. 🙏

View of KU Medical Center Complex from 6th Floor Window
Please join me as I meet up with Sandra of Diary of a Stay At Home Mom and all the other lovely ladies that make up the Happy Homemaker Monday crew. 


Today I am joining Sandra and the other ladies over at Diary of a Stay At Home Mom
for Happy Homemaker Monday. Please be sure to go over and check it out! 💗
Right now I am...

...sitting in Phillip's hospital room, working on this post, and waiting. They put a mapping grid in Thursday; now they're waiting for him to have enough seizure activity to pinpoint the exact location of where they need to go in to do the work that they need to during the next surgery.

Am thinking...

...about and praying over Phillip and others that are going through various trials at this time. We know so many hurting people right now and many of them are facing serious situations including loss, illness, and financial woes. It makes my heart sad, but praise God for His boundless love and infinite mercy over all! What we see is not all there is!💗

On the breakfast plate...

...had turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, and potatoes O'Brian in the hospital cafeteria...and it was pretty good, too! 🥓🥚🥔

The weather...

...I'm not sure what it's doing at home (it's 60+ degrees on Saturday), but here in the city they've still got a lot of snow on the ground and it is COLD! At the moment it's 30 degrees with a windchill of 21. 

Phillip and Amanda's  Back Yard
On my reading pile...

I finished reading Bonny Kate's Honeymoon - Victory At King's Mountain by Mark Strength and am still reading The Great Buffalo Hunt by Wayne Gard (at work). Have added Song of the Shenandoah by Mark Strength to my reading pile this week. 


Song of the Shenandoah by Mark Strength
On the menu this week...

Monday - out of town
Tuesday - out of town
Wednesday - roasted chicken, brown rice, steamed broccoli, and salad
Thursday - turkey Italian sausages, oven roasted potatoes, green beans, and salad
Friday - broiled salmon, baked sweet potatoes, beets, and salad
Saturday - turkey burgers, oven fries, and salad
Sunday - leftovers

On my 'to-do' list...

Monday - out of town
Tuesday - out of town
Wednesday - Unpack, straighten house, do laundry
Thursday - Figure March bills and budget
Friday - Pay bills, go to bank, celebrate next-to-the-youngest son's, birthday, work
Saturday - Work
Sunday - Church

In the craft basket...

Have several projects in the works including Christmas card crafts and the temperature afghan, but aren't actively working on any of them at the moment. Will try to post pics of the temperature afghan next week. (I don't have it with me at the moment or would do so this week.) 

Something interesting that I saw this week...



From the camera...

Coffee Filter Snowflakes
(This is what we made at this week's "Let It Snow" library program.)
Scripture passage...





Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful New Year, and I'll see you next week! Blessings!

Until next time,
~Rebecca

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Happy Homemaker Monday - February 18, 2019