"I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live."
Psalm 116:1-2
Prayer Requests
~Please keep my brother, Danny, in your prayers! He has to have some tests done. I'll post more details when we know more about what we're dealing with.
~My Teacher's Assistant orientation is Monday morning at 8am. I'm nervous and excited at the same time! Prayers that I do well and find my niche in this position.
~My Bible study time. I haven't been able to focus very well the last few weeks and that makes it hard for me to sit down and actually study. I'm hoping to once again work on a routine now that I'll be getting back on a schedule.
~Our Country, and our Leaders.
For Your Listening Pleasure
This is a new song by Megan Woods. So beautiful! Enjoy :)
I almost missed posting today! I usually will sit down on Sunday evening and type up my Happy Homemaker post but I was just too tired yesterday. I decided that a nap was what was needed for that moment.
Then today, Monday, I was busy working from 10a-4p and then this evening we had Laken's very last High School Open House. She was just going to go with her friends but we (the hubby and I) have been to every single one of her open houses and decided we weren't going to miss this one either.
There is officially one more day of Summer Vacation here in our house then the school year begins. Where has the time gone? I feel like I ask this question all the time but it seriously feels like the weeks fly by. Fall is in the air!
Let's get on with today's Happy Homemaker :)
The weather outside is:
This morning when I went outside to go to work, it definitely felt like the beginnings of Fall. It was warm but the breeze was cool. I think the highest the temperature got today was 73F. Tomorrow looks to be even cooler but then it gets a bit warmer toward the end of the week. We've been getting rain here and there but on Sunday afternoon it absolutely dumped the rain. It was as if someone were pouring the rain out of a bucket instead of being raindrops! At least the grass has gotten green again :)
On today's to-do list:
I had to work 10a-4p. I keep telling myself that when I work this shift, I will get up early and get something accomplished before heading out the door. Inevitably, I end up sleeping until I absolutely HAVE to get up to get ready.
As I mentioned above, this evening we had Laken's Senior Open House. When we got home I jumped in the shower and then sat down at my desk to have my devotion time and now type this post.
Happening this week:
Counting today, I work 4 days in a row this week: M-TH. I have Friday off but then work Saturday 7a-1p and Sunday 9a-2p. My work schedule is really strange next week. I'm also not happy about work on Sunday again :(
Tuesday should be a fairly relaxing evening unless Laken decides that she needs last-minute items for school. Other than that I have nothing planned.
Wednesday is the first day of school. I need to make sure to get up early enough to get first day pictures. I have the name "necklace" that Laken made on her first day of Kindergarten and I want to get a picture of her with it on.
Currently reading:
Only my devotional and Bible.
I do want to take a moment to mention a new blog I've been reading. My oldest daughter, Kaylee, has started a brand new blog called Rants, Rambles and Reviews. I would really appreciate it if you could go check it out and give her some blog-land love!
Listening to:
I really want to see TWISTERS! Enjoy :)
Watching:
I managed to catch the last half of the Steelers preseason game against the Bills on Saturday evening. We lost. I ended up falling asleep for the last 10 or so minutes.
We watched a cute Christmas movie the other evening. Now I'm not one to watch Christmas movies in the Summer, but I wanted to spend time with the hubby and he was already watching it. The movie was about a "scroogette" who gets stuck in a Christmas movie. A bit predictable, but aren't they all? :)
In the Kitchen:
I was off last Friday, so I spent the day homemaking :) One of my favorite things to do is bake. I finally got a chance to make Zucchini Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins, Yummy! They were actually better the second day :) If you'd like to check out the recipe you can click HERE.
In the Craft Basket:
I didn't even pick up my hook this week. Please give me your opinion on whether to outline in Hot Rose or stay Ivory.
Picture from the Camera
Quackers getting a much needed bath :)
Prayer Request
My brother's surgery went well and he is on the mend. Thank you for the prayers.
Please pray that Laken has a wonderful, healthy, fun and educational Senior Year! She has had a rough go of it the past few years with being sick and having surgery. We're really praying for an uneventful year!
Bible Verse
"God is the one I am trying to please." Galatians 1:10 ERV
I'm actually typing this post on Sunday evening when I have a bit of time to sit down and reflect on the week ahead. Monday is actually going to be very busy even though I don't have to go to work. I'll tell you a bit more about that later in the post.
Let's get on with today's Happy Homemaker :)
The weather outside is:
We finally got the much needed rain! And we got a lot of it from good old Hurricane Debby. Here in the mountains of Pennsylvania, we usually only get the rain and a bit of wind when hurricanes go up the east coast. It absolutely poured and now the temperatures are much more comfortable. It was actually a bit cool this morning when I left the house around 9am.
On today's to-do list:
Monday's to-do are:
I'm off work Monday but like I mentioned above, I have lots to do.
~We have a meeting at 9:30am to make sure everything is situated for Laken's enrollment in her college classes for the fall. I think I mentioned before that she is doing what is called "Senior Challenge". It basically means she'll be taking 2 high school classes and a few college classes in the mornings and then be able to leave school before lunchtime. The college classes start on August 19th (next Monday!) so we have got to get this set up and find out exactly what she will need to complete her classes.
~Sweep
~Mop
~Clean out my car
~Supper
~Dishes
~Devotions
~Wash work clothes and hang up to dry
Happening this week:
This week I'm off Monday and Friday and Sunday. The rest of the days I work 7am-1pm.
Tuesday Laken has an appointment to get her Senior Pictures taken for the year book at 3:00pm. Then Kaylee's work is having a Back-to-School Night that she invited us to come to. It is 4pm-7pm and we get to take a tour of her work so I'm excited to see her office area. Then at 6:30pm we have our Ladies' Class Meeting at Church. So it will be a very busy day.
Wednesday is Kaylee and Shawn's 3rd Anniversary and Kona's (our chocolate lab) birthday :)
Thursday is pretty normal.
Friday (my day off) is once again filled to the brim. Some items on the list are laundry, groceries, bills, bank and my usual daily to-dos.
Currently reading:
I didn't even touch "Living Slower" this week :( I only have a few more chapters to go. Hopefully I'll finish it soon.
Listening to:
Raise the battle cry and take back what the enemy stole! Enjoy :)
Watching:
I tied to watch the Steeler preseason football game on Friday evening but it was on Prime. We have Prime but the game was blacked out. Apparently we live too close :( argghh! They lost anyway so I guess I didn't miss much...
Instead of the game, we watched a movie on Freevee about a wedding photographer at a family owned venue who falls in love with the movie-star best man/brother of the couple getting married. I forget the name of it but it was really good.
I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on why/how women are returning to wearing dresses/skirts. One YouTuber (from Heavenly Minded Home) challenged her subscribers to wear a dress/skirt for 7 days in a row to really give it a try. I've decided to take her up on it and this is my fourth day of wearing a dress except for while I'm at work. I even ordered a few new dresses because my wardrobe will be very limited if I continue to wear only dresses/skirts.
In the Kitchen:
I didn't make the Butterscotch Zucchini Bread this week but I did bake! I made what I'd like to call "Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler" and it was so easy and VERY delicious.
You basically take cut up Cinnamon rolls, apple pie filling, brown sugar and cinnamon and mix it all together and bake it. If you'd like a more formal recipe go check out this ONE at Olives & Thyme.
In the Craft Basket:
I've been working on the Japanese Fields blocks a bit each evening (well most evenings) but I'm just not sure what to do about the edges of the blocks. The bottom block is with the Ivory outer round and the top block is with a single crochet of the Hot Rose. Should I do a round of the Hot Rose on all the block and then join with either the Hot Rose or the Ivory? Should I just keep it with the Ivory and then join with the Hot Rose? Should I keep the last round Ivory and then join with Ivory? I just can't decide! I think I'll continue to work on just the main block for now and then decide later. Please give me your opinion!
Picture from the Camera
You've got to give "Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler" a try! The best was just out of the oven but it was also delicious the next morning for breakfast. I put it the microwave for 20-30 seconds and it was warm and gooey and almost as good as fresh from the oven :)
Prayer Request
My brother, Danny, is having surgery Monday morning to remove his gallbladder. He is almost 48 year old (his birthday is Saturday) and he's never had surgery of any kind before. Not even a broken bone. Please keep him and his doctors in your prayers that all goes well. Also, please pray for my Mom as she's very nervous about her "Baby Boy" having surgery.
Bible Verse
"Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." Luke 18:16 NLT
~Dan made it home safely! My brother's trip to Italy went well and he is now safely home :)
~Brunch with the Bride! My cousin is getting married on September 7th. Saturday morning we celebrated his bride, Rachel, with a "Brunch with the Bride". I thought it was a super-cute idea. The Maid of Honor did a wonderful job putting it together and we had a great time showering Rachel with love and gifts :)
~Kaylee Passed Her Driver's Test! Kaylee is now a licensed driver. I was so nervous while we were waiting her turn and she was worse than me! When her turn came, she didn't even know which door to open she was so flustered. hehe She did a wonderful job and she passed on the very first try. So proud of her! Now she'll be able to drive to college come August 19th :)
~8/10! I've read 8/10 of my goal for my "10 Books of Summer" challenge. Only 2 more to go and I'll have completed the challenge! This is big for me as I have a hard time actually completing challenges that I sign up for.
~ WW - Third times a Charm! I decided to give WW (weight watchers) one more try and signed up for a promotion that gives me 2 free months if I commit to 6 months on the program. I need the commitment to stay the course. Stay tuned for updates :) What are you thankful for today? Colletta
~My brother's trip to Italy! As I'm typing this my brother is somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane on his way home from Italy for a work trip! Other than my father who was in the Army and was stationed overseas, he's the first one in my family to travel internationally. We've been tracking his flight and pray that by the time you are reading this he'll be safely home :)
~We paid our car off! Yes, our Subaru Legacy is now officially ours! So exciting :)
~Kaylee had an interview! It was her very first job interview and was good practice for her. We haven't heard anything about the job yet but that is OK. She'll be busy with College. In a way, I'd rather her just focus on her school work but God's will be done :)
~Cotton Candy Ice Cream! Laken's very favorite ice cream flavor is Cotton Candy. Our local ice cream stand, Sundae's, had Cotton Candy as their flavor of the week so another trip for ice cream was pretty much a must! Laken got her Cotton Candy and I got another Peanut Butter Sundae. Win, win :)
~Kaylee's Driver's test is tomorrow! Kaylee goes for her driving portion of the driver's test at 1pm tomorrow. We've been practicing parallel parking and what we THINK is the driving route for a few weeks now. She wants to go back and practice again today. I'd appreciate prayers that she does well on the exam and passes. She really needs her license so she can drive herself to College by August 19th! Of course, I'll be a nervous wreck but that's OK :) What are you thankful for today? Colletta P.S. I hope you can stop by my ETSY SHOP!
