My Most Embarrassing Moment This Week

This whole trying to run my own publishing business thing has slap worn me out. Yesterday the kids and I were at the post office trying to figure out how to mail another package. The postal worker asked if I’d like to buy some stamps in addition to mailing my package. I said yes and she pulled out a sheet with all sorts of stamps on it so I could choose what I wanted.

Pause and understand that it’s late afternoon on a cold, rainy, winter day and I had been going since 3:30 a.m. My reading glasses were somewhere buried in the bottom of my purse and I didn’t want to dig them out again for the umpteenth time that day. I said, “I can’t really see any of them so let’s just go with this brightly colored one.”

She said, “Oh, the breast cancer stamps.”

I took a closer look and through my blurry eyes all those colors looked like one of those colored images from some sort of medical test, the kind where they look inside your body. My mind was thinking, “It’s a picture of a test where they looked inside a woman’s breast to determine if she has breast cancer.” My mouth said very loudly, “Is that a picture of a breast?”

The postal worker was aghast, but trying to hold back laughter. In her boisterous voice she said, “No, honey, that ain’t no breast! That would be called pornography and putting that on a stamp would be illegal!”

At that moment every ounce of blood drained from my teenagers’ bodies. I’m certain that if you look up the word “mortification” in the dictionary their picture is there.

But the postal worker and I had a great laugh. I just hope the businessman behind me was eventually able to regain his composure.

Daybook for January 25, 2010

Outside my window… a rainy dreary day. I’m writing this on Sunday afternoon because I’ve found that when Monday hits I’m usually way too busy to blog.

I am thinking… about how wonderful it is to have a Sabbath rest. I’ve been soooo tired this weekend.

I am thankful… that my son was accepted into Berry College! Hooray!

I am wearing… a gray sweatsuit. Can it get any plainer?

From the learning rooms… we are getting my daughter set up to start working toward the Congressional Award.

I am reading… Corinthians- both books. I read Corinthians when I feel the need to grow up and mature in my walk with Christ.

From the kitchen… today was teriyaki pork tenderloin (made with Braggs Amino Acids instead of teriyaki sauce), rice with tri-colored peppers and onions, cinnamon apples, pineapple. The next few days could be interesting as the cupboards are pretty bare. Plenty of frozen meat in the freezer, but not much to go with it.

I am creating… lessons for my writing classes. I finally sat down and finished each syllabus for this semester and now want to get all of the handouts and homework sheets copied.

I am hoping… my son will start feeling better soon. He was sick yesterday and today.

I am praying… for my son, for Haiti, and for Kara who is leaving today (Monday) to be a missionary in Guatemala for FOUR years!

I am going… to take my daughter to get her braces off this week. She’s one happy camper!

I am hearing… football games from the living room and my husband occasionally shouting or cheering.

Around the house… the office! Oh my, how did it ever get this messy?

On my mind… might be time for another facebook fast. Pathwords is way too tempting!

Noticing that… I truly am a different woman on sunny days than I am when it rains.

Pondering these words… You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? I Corinthians 3:3

A few plans for the rest of the week… Taking care of business- literally. Trying to find someone to make a new Hands-On Essays website and making some decisions about how to proceed from here since I no longer have a publisher. Lots of odds and ends and administrative details to handle, but really want to exercise and spend ample time studying God’s word.

One of my favorite things… Sundays!

To read other daybooks visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

Daybook for January 18, 2010

Outside my window… can’t see a thing. I’m writing this on Sunday night so it’s dark.

I am thinking… Actually, I’m trying not to think about all that I have to accomplish this week. When I do it makes me want to cry so I’m meditating instead on Isaiah 26:3 and receiving God’s perfect peace.

I am thankful for… a husband who helps me see things clearly when I feel overwhelmed.

I am wearing… gray sweats, red turtleneck, white sweatshirt and pink socks. Classy, huh?

From the learning rooms… I’ve got to get my son a new world history book. We’ve been very disappointed in his current history curriculum- too much religion and too little world history.

From the kitchen… a little bit of power cooking tomorrow. Got lots of ground chuck and chicken that needs to be cooked and/or divided up and frozen.

I am creating… a recipe book. I’m having deja’ vu. Haven’t I said this before, like nearly every week? One day it will get done!

I am reading… My friend Kristen’s first book, Coffee With the Savior.

I am going… to get my daughter’s SS card this week. You wouldn’t believe the fiasco this has been. It was supposed to come in the mail when she was an infant, but didn’t, and now it’s nearly driver’s ed time. Okay, so maybe I procrastinated for 15 years, but I was thinking this would be a simple process. Boy, was I fooled!

I am hoping… that I will get a lot done this week and not be frazzled.

I am praying… for the people in Haiti and particularly the organization we’ve supported for 20 years, International Missions Outreach. We’ve put 4 or 5 kids through school via this ministry.

I am hearing… my family in the living room watching TV as they anxiously await the arrival of the new season of 24. Personally, I can’t stand watching Jack Bauer, but hubby did promise a foot rub if I’d join him.

Around the house… I seriously need to get on the ball and paint the living room and kitchen. (Please don’t tell the Nester I haven’t done it yet). I hear paint is on sale this week so I’ll try to fit in a trip to get some.

A few plans for the rest of the week…Like I said earlier, I’d prefer not to discuss it right now as it steals my peace. I have MUCH to accomplish. But it’s still the Sabbath as I type this and all of that can wait. 

A picture thought I’m sharing… This is the snowman my son made at work on March 1 of last year. Thus far, no chance of making snowmen around here this winter.
You can find other daybook entries at The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

A Gift to End the Year

And you thought the gift giving season had come to an end! Not yet. My sweet bloggy friend, eLisa at Extravagant Grace is offering one more gift to finish out the year. She’s giving away a free blog makeover!


Best of all, she’s made it easy to win. All you have to do is visit her blog and leave a comment that includes your name, email address, blog address, and why you blog or want to blog. The winner will be chosen and announced on January 3. Hurry! All entries must be in by January 2.


Even if you don’t win, you’re still a winner because eLisa is giving a 50% discount on a new blog design to every person who leaves a comment!


Did I mention that eLisa is the designer of this blog that you’re currently reading? She designed my writing blog too. She is so easy to work with, beyond patient, and incredibly talented. I can’t recommend her highly enough.


Head on over and comment, but I warn you that I really plan to win this one. I have some blog-related ideas that I’m just itching to implement. But even if I don’t win, I’ll be using that 50% coupon for sure!

Daybook Entry for December 7, 2009

Outside my window… surprisingly sunny after being overcast all morning. Chill in the air, but still doesn’t feel like winter.

I am thinking… about the morning’s events. My daughter got sick and fainted in the bathroom. She seems to be okay now, but that was a frantic way to start a Monday morning.

I am thankful for… good health! I take it for granted far too often.

From the learning rooms… kids searching for scholarships.

From the kitchen… Parmesan chicken and salad.

I am wearing… a navy blue sweatsuit. My wardrobe is pitifully limited at present which should motivate me to lose the few extra pounds I'm carrying, but somehow doesn’t.

I am creating… a holiday cookbook with Thanksgiving recipes on one side and Christmas ones on the other. This isn’t anything to publish, just for my personal use. I’m just so thankful I actually have something to contribute to the “I am creating” prompt this week.

I am going… dentist and hair stylist for daughter this week. A few errands. Otherwise, I’m home.

I am hoping… to get the Christmas decor up today. I finally got the Thanksgiving stuff down, not packed away, just down.

I am hearing… the clinking of spoons on bowls. Nothing like Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup when you don’t feel well.

Around the house… a fire in the fireplace. It was much colder this morning. We probably don’t need it now, but we love fires so we’ll just keep it going.

A few plans for the rest of the week… Get Christmas decorations up, finish cleaning out files in office, visit my friend’s new house and rejoice with her, lots of prayer for others, help my new client work on her book proposal.

You can read other daybook entries here.

The Lord of My Freezer Cooking

If you had asked me on Sunday when I was planning my week if I’d be cooking huge amounts of food in bulk this week the answer would have been a resounding, “No!”, but God…

The other day I took a little time to visit one of my favorite blogs, Money Saving Mom. I love this girl and I’m over the top excited that we will both be speaking at the same event in late 2010! She mentioned that she was bulk cooking this week and as I perused her recipes, I got an idea that domestically-challenged people almost never get- I should cook in bulk too. At first I thought it was a wild hair thought so I waited to see if it would go away. It didn’t, which is a miracle in and of itself.

Before I share what I cooked yesterday and what I’ll be cooking today, I have to share how God blessed me, even in my ignorance, since I had no idea how much this would cost or how to organize and pull it off on such short notice. I gathered a few recipes on Tuesday and waited to see what the sales would be in the new store flyers on Wednesday. What are the odds that ground chuck and chicken would both be on deep discount in the same week? But it happened. The very first store I went to had numerous packs of chicken that needed to be sold that day on even deeper discount. That worked for me since I was going to cook it all that day anyway. I got nearly $100 in chicken for about $30.

Normally, a task like this would wipe me out physically. But lately God has done a wonderful miracle and I’m actually sleeping full nights of sleep night after night! (Thanks for the prayers!) I didn’t start cooking until 3:45 in the afternoon, yet I was able to cook enormous amounts of food in only a few hours. Only God! Plus, I wasn’t wiped out. I even stayed up late after cooking and got up early this morning. Today my daughter will help me do some more.


And did I mention that I got multiple Pyrex pans on deep discount at the Corelle outlet this summer, perfect for bulk cooking? And I didn’t blow my budget? And that I watched at least four Hallmark movies while cooking? Or that I will now be able to enjoy the Christmas season without a moment of wondering what’s for dinner? Priceless!

Okay, so what did I make or am going to make? An * means it’s already done.

Freezer meals
3- Farmhouse chicken*
3- Chicken tetrazzini*
2- Parmesan chicken*
2- Broccoli chicken casserole*
1- Quesedilla chicken meat*
1- Shredded chicken for wraps
3- lasagna*
2- enchiladas
2- Shepherd’s pie mix
2- ham and cheese quiche
5- individual hamburgers
1- hamburger steaks (4 pack)
1- chili meat
1- meat for hamburger vegetable soup
4- individual spinach rice casserole*
2- cooked rice*
1- cinnamon apples
3- dozen pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
2- dozen sausage balls

Planned crockpot meals
Chili
Beef stew
Hamburger vegetable soup
Beef and barley soup

Other meals
Pork tenderloin
Cubed steak
Salmon
2- flounder
Homemade mac and cheese
2-homemade pizza
Pinto beans and ham
White chicken chili

Plus I got lots of fresh veggies and fruit, also on sale.

I’m stoked! Oddly, this really put me in the Christmas spirit. The meals are taken care of and now I can focus on celebrating!

A Shoebox Full of Love

Yesterday the high schoolers in our homeschool group volunteered at Operation Christmas Child and I went as a chaperone. Helping at OCC is one of my favorite things in all the world to do and I haven’t done it nearly as often as I’d like.

I did four jobs. First, I bagged peppermint candy to add as fillers to the boxes. Then I was a pre-sorter looking for the donations in the boxes. Next I was a taper, winding a single strand of tape around each box. Then I was an inspector, looking for contraband items and making sure that each box had candy and was full. Finally, I went back to being a pre-sorter. My daughter was an inspector and a taper. My son was a heavy lifter, making sure the large cartons full of shoeboxes got where they needed to go in the warehouse.

As I was looking for a donation in one box, I paused for a moment to take it all in. I looked around at hundreds of people at dozens of assembly lines and scattered throughout the warehouse doing various jobs- people of every age (above 12), race, social status, education level, and culture. Some were local and some had traveled great distances to volunteer. All were united for one cause- to bring Jesus and a smile to a child somewhere in this big dark world. What a holy, humbling moment to realize that I was a part of something so much bigger than me- something that was touching the world for God.

I looked back down at that shoebox which, like all the others, had so obviously been packed with love, and I saw it differently. It was the hand of God extended. It was His gold, the currency of the kingdom- a box full of love.

To read more unwrapped moments where we notice the small, but wonderful, please visit my sweet friend Emily.