Everyday Notions

kitchen love

2013-05-21T13:43:00.002-05:00

the smell of garlic and onion sauteing in butter slow down. savor the delicious scents rolling and chopping of spinach vibrant green. life giving the rhythmic hum of the dishwasher with hands immersed in the warm, lemony scented dishwater calm the spirit. quiet the mind counting my blessings.........everyday gratitude

Soil Test

2013-05-12T23:08:00.000-05:00

Last week someone posted this on facebook: So our homeschooling day began with an experiment to test the soil in our garden. Unfortunately I only had my "orange infused vinegar" but I thought that the acidic vinegar, which is necessary for the test, coupled with the acid from my orange peels, this wouldn't alter the experiment in any way. The soil mixed with vinegar only created

Blessed to Be Called Mother

2013-05-12T10:31:00.002-05:00

Today I am overwhelmed with the love I have for my children. On this Mother's Day, I thank my Creator for creating my beautiful children and for entrusting them to my care. I am blessed to be a mother.

Comfort - Five Minute Friday

2013-05-11T07:49:00.002-05:00

Comfort is: holding a warm cup of coffee between both hands on a cold winters day the warmth of a hug when the tears won't seem to stop cuddling with a nursing baby my favorite over-sized cardigan wrapped tight around my body my mother. Mom, you comforted me when I was a child, calming my fears of the boogeyman and the mean kids. As a young wife and mother I'd often make daily phone calls

Five Minute Friday - Friend

2013-04-26T07:15:00.000-05:00

This summer, on the 12th day of July, my husband and I will celebrate five years of marriage. Somewhere in the last five years, I stopped seeing my husband as my friend. It's not that I saw him as my enemy. He was "just" my husband. I became focused on my duties as a wife. Sometimes, when we can't look past our duties, we forget the gift that we have. Last weekend my husband and I attended a

SPRING HAS ARRIVED

2013-04-25T22:30:00.000-05:00

It has been a lllllllooooooooonggggg winter here in Minnesota. But today? Today gave me hope that spring will indeed return to the Minnesota tundra. Here's what I saw today: Tulips! Bleeding Heart! Searching for bugs! The kids love moving my landscaping blocks to search for bugs. :) Turning the dirt in the garden! Baby Sedum! My bees arrived (shipped from

Tax Season: the Dark Period

2013-04-24T15:08:00.001-05:00

22 days since my last blog post......I'm not sure with what I've been busy with. Oh yeah. April 15th occurred during that time. I've decided the time period of January 30th (or a little later if I've decided to proclaim a full fledge denial) until April 14 is my "Dark Period". You see, I'm a procrastinator by nature. I'm also self employed and for some dumb reason pay my taxes only at tax season

Redeemed

2013-04-02T15:03:00.001-05:00

It began a few weeks ago when the Five Minute Friday prompt word was "HOME". At reading my prompt word I had no inspirational feelings towards my heavenly home. I had no feelings of gratitude for the earthly home that God had provided for me (this is an amazing story that I will save for a later time). Instead I was careening into a pit of self pity, feeling overwhelmed and alone in the

Furniture Polish

2013-03-21T09:34:00.000-05:00

2 T. beeswax (I use beeswax pellets as it melts easily and quickly) 7 T. olive oil ~Melt in a double boiler (I don't have a double boiler so I use a stainless steel bowl that fits perfectly on one of my pots) ~Stir well. I was going to bring out my hand blender but found that a wire whisk did the job just fine. The polish will harden after an hour or two. I have several notebooks

Rest

2013-03-15T07:20:00.001-05:00

It's FRIDAY! Time to sing and dance. Also time to join Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday. It's a fun party as many gather to write about one word. I always love to read the different views that people can bring to just one word. Our prompt word today is REST. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus speaks these words to the crowds: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Safer All-Purpose Cleaner

2013-03-14T06:39:00.001-05:00

When I began this blog two years ago, one of my goals was to share recipes and tips that were: Environmentally friendly Better for the health of me and my family (and those in my daily care) Frugal Over the years I've done a fairly good job of ridding my home of products that are filled with harmful (for both the environment and my family) chemicals. But sometimes I let my guard down and

Mysterious Eye Rash

2013-03-06T09:42:00.000-06:00

Three weeks ago I developed a mysterious rash on my upper eye lid. Nothing had changed in my "beauty regime" (this makes me laugh as I don't wear make up or have a long list of products that I use!). I wash my hair with a diluted liquid castile soap and I use a natural face moisturizer Yep, that's it. See why I laughed at "beauty regime"? I hadn't changed laundry detergent. The only change in

The Liebster Award

2013-03-05T15:11:00.002-06:00

Sweet AJ from One Part Joy One Part Circus (I love her blog's name) has awarded me with the "Liebster Award". This award is given by bloggers to other bloggers. It is a way to spread the "news" of other small blogs. It is also a fun way to get to know one another in this great big bloggy world. :) Here's how it works ~ 1. Answer 11 questions from the nominating blog. 2. Tell 9 things about you.

Media Fast

2013-02-24T17:34:00.000-06:00

Over lent I am doing a mini 7 experiment inspired by Jen Hatmaker's book "7 - An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess". My hope is that this experiment brings me closer to God and changes me in such a way that I am better able to serve Him and that I may be better equipped in hearing His calling. I've completed a week of 7 foods and am on my last day of my week with only 7 items of clothing.

What mama did ~ LOVE

2013-02-21T23:28:00.002-06:00

Joining Lisa-Jo in another five minute write. Five Minute Friday is writing without thinking too much and not worrying about the mechanics......just allowing our hearts to speak. This week we get to choose our own word to describe "what mama did". Mom and Me, Christmas 2011 My mama loved well. Three babies, one of which was born without breath, born well before the young age of 20. I was

when you are out of words........show photos

2013-02-21T16:46:00.001-06:00

I haven't been very chatty lately...........so here's a few pictures to show you what I've been up to. Kombucha............ It looks like fudge. It smells like mint chocolate. Even though I KNEW it was soap I was still beckoned by this delicious looking soap every time I walked into the kitchen. I finally had to find another room to let this soap "cure" in because I was afraid I was

My Beloved

2013-02-15T15:18:00.002-06:00

Its Friday, which means that it's not only time to dance and sing but it is also time for a five minute write. Lisa-Jo hosts the fun writing party, Five Minute Fridays. The rules are simple: write for five minutes flat with no editing (no overthinking - just write!), share at Lisa-Jo's and read what other's have written (I promise, you'll be inspired!). Today's word is BELOVED

stripped bare

2013-02-08T08:45:00.000-06:00

It's Friday which means it's time to dance and sing (the daycare kids and I have a song and dance to celebrate this glorious day). Friday is also the day in which Lisa-Jo hosts Five Minute Fridays and I humbly join the party of words strung together in five short minutes by a group of fantastic writers. The rules are simple. Lisa-Jo provides the word, write for five minutes flat, no

Great days happen even when it feels like nothing is going right...

2013-02-07T14:39:00.001-06:00

Last week I had a day....yes, ONE day which looked like this ~ Disclaimer: Sometimes, when I share my minor catastrophes, I exaggerate to add some comic relief. Just keep that in mind. A pile of backpacks, coats, boots and winter weat. School was delayed for two hours.....until the school decided at 7:20 am to cancel for the day. This left parents scrambling and extra kids (kids FULL of

again and again.......

2013-01-25T07:59:00.000-06:00

It's Friday which means it's time to dance and sing (the daycare kids and I have a song and dance to celebrate this glorious day). Friday is also the day in which Lisa-Jo hosts Five Minute Fridays and I humbly join the party of words strung together in five short minutes by a group of fantastic writers. The rules are simple. Write for five minutes flat, no backtracking/editing/over thinking,

Does the Church Love Like Jesus?

2013-01-21T14:24:00.003-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, while in the shower...because, of course, this is where all of my great thoughts take place, I was working through my disappointments in my church. The church that I've attended and served for the past 7 years. The church which when my daughter was in the hospital last summer (after an auto accident which could have easily taken her life) prayed for us but didn't know us.

Wanna Join Me in a Valentine Challenge?

2013-01-18T09:43:00.001-06:00

So, at the turn of this New Year I had decided that 2013 is the Year of Relationship. One relationship that I want to strengthen is the relationship with my husband. There's a few areas in my "wife-hood" where I am failing miserably. I mean MISERABLY. I need to love my husband better. It's funny but I've noticed that when I put effort into loving him better that I also start seeing how he blesses

Notebook Facelift

2013-01-17T14:50:00.000-06:00

Rescued from a stack in my office supplies of used/never used notebooks. Mostly likely bought years ago for 12 cents. I've tried using binders for my various bible studies however are big and bulky to carry/store and they also use a lot of lap/table space when I'm writing in them. I'm trying something new for all my note taking. One notebook instead of five binders and/or notebooks. I am

A Song for Melody

2013-01-13T17:04:00.000-06:00

On December 10, 2012 I spent my day praying for my friend, Melody, who was undergoing a double mastectomy. I started my day in prayer for her and throughout the day, as God brought her to my mind, I would pause to offer up my prayers. Every time I silently lifted her name to God, I'd begin singing "In my heart there rings a melody...." Although the song does bear her name, I thought it odd that

Orange Shower Spray Recipe

2013-01-10T08:14:00.001-06:00

Needed: glass jar, orange peels,vinegar, salt, water and a spray bottle Fill jar with orange peels. Sprinkle a little salt on the peels and shake. The salt will help "release" the oils in the peels. Let oranges and salt sit for 20-30 min. (this is a perfect time to check Facebook while eating the oranges). Fill jar with equal amounts of water and vinegar. Shake and find a place for