Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... snow, snow and more snow. I think we got over 12 inches since yesterday. The sun is shining and it looks so beautiful out.

I am thinking... oh how I could use a nap!

I am thankful for... a warm home, a snowblower, hot chocolate with whipped cream, my new cozy crocs.

From the learning rooms... we are on a break. The kids enjoyed playing in the snow today and playing with their new toys.

From the kitchen... hot chocolate. Not sure what is for dinner... maybe pasta and sausage or chicken pot pie.

I am wearing... black yoga pants, a light blue long sleeve shirt, and my new brown crocs with a plaid trim.

I am going... to acupuncture Wednesday.

I am reading... the Bible.

I am hearing... my kids playing Mario Cart on Wii.

One of my favorite things... my new crocs. Oh did I mention that already?! LOL. Really these are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I think I will have to get a few more pairs :)

A picture for sharing...


Click here to visit Peggy and The Simple Women's Daybook

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Eighteen Ways to glorify Your Husband (Taken from “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace)

1. Ask your husband, “What are your goals for the week?”
2. Ask your husband, “How can I help you accomplish these goals?”
3. Ask your husband, “Is there anything that I can do differently that would make it easier for you?”
4. Be organized with cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, and cooking. As you fulfill your God-given responsibilities, your husband is then free to do his work.
5. Save some of your energy every day for him.
6. Put him first over the children, your parents, friends, job, ladies’ Bible studies, etc.
7. Willingly and cheerfully rearrange your schedule for him when necessary.
8. Talk about him in a positive light to others. Do not slander him at all, even if what you are saying is true.
9. Do whatever you can to make him look good, to accomplish his goals. Some examples are to offer to run errands for him, organize your day to be available to help him with his projects, pray for him and make good suggestions. Give him the freedom not to use your suggestion, and do not be offended if he does not follow it.
10. Consider his work (job, goals, hobbies, work for the Lord) as more important than your own.
11. Think of specific ways that you can help him accomplish his goals. Examples are get up early in the mornings to help him get off to work having had a good breakfast, take care in recording telephone messages for him, anticipate any needs he may have in order to attain a specific goal, and keep careful records of money spent to keep up with the budget.
12. Consider the things that you are involved in. How do they glorify your husband? Ask his guidance.
13. Be warm and gracious to his family and friends. Make your commitment to him obvious to them.
14. Do and say things that build him up instead of tear him down.
15. Dress and apply your makeup in an attractive way that is pleasing to your husband.
16. When your husband sins, reprove him privately and gently, always giving him hope and pointing him to the Lord.
17. Encourage him to use his spiritual gifts in ministry.
18. Realize that just as God is glorified when man obeys Him, your husband is glorified when you obey your husband.

Which one is the most difficult for you? What can you do this week to try to change that?

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... it is dark and cold. It was in the 30's today, sunny and very windy.

I am thinking... I still want to do more baking. What is wrong with me?!

I am thankful for... this time of year when we reflect on the birth of Jesus.

From the learning rooms... handwriting practice and lots of reading.

From the kitchen... more baking for Christmas. Today I made thumbprints, another batch of M & M's and peppermint bark. I am still thinking of doing some more tonight.

I am wearing... black pants a lime green t-shirt and bright green flip-flops (yes it is December in NY, but I am indoors :)

I am going... to have to do some last minute shopping this week.

I am reading... the Bible and advent stories.

I am hearing... my husband and kids playing Wii, the refrigerator humming.

One of my favorite things... peppermint bark. Something about peppermint and chocolate.

A picture for sharing...




Click here to visit Peggy and The Simple Women's Daybook

Cookie Recipes!

I am so excited that my blog friend, Rachel, is hosting this Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap! I was hoping to host a Cookie Exchange this month, but couldn’t pull it together. Last year I had one with some friends from church and it was a great time. I would love for you to share your favorite recipes too. You can link up by clicking here.

I started my Christmas baking this week. So far I have made Chocolate Chips, M & M’s, Raspberry Bars and Sour Cream Cookies. I plan on making Wedding Cakes, Maple Walnut Balls, and Thumbprints still. I will add those recipes as I bake them.



Chocolate Chip Cookies (adapted from Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Morsel Cookies) Makes about 5 dozen cookies

2 1/4 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 12 ounce package Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. In large mixing bowl beat butter with both sugars and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes.




M & M Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 sifted flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups M & M's Plain Chocolate Candies

In a large bowl mix butter, brown sugar and sugar. Beat in vanilla and eggs. In another bowl sift flour, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to the sugar-egg mixture. Blend well. Stir in 1/2 cup of M & M’s. Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate tops with remaining M & M’s. Bake on center rack of 375 degree oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Sour Cream Cookies (will try to add picture later)

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour

In large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Mix in the sour cream. In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with colored sugars or non-parells. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Raspberry Bars (will try to add picture later)

3 cups flour
3 cups powdered sugar
3 cups ground walnuts
1 1/2 cups butter
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups raspberry preserves

Mix first three ingredients together. Add butter until crumbly. Take out 2 cups and put aside. Press mixture into a 9 X 13 baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Spread raspberry preserves over top. Spread remaining 2 cups of mixture over the top. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

I hope you enjoy these recipes. I will be posting more as I do more baking. I am excited to read all of your recipes. Happy Baking!

Truth for Thursday

I am continuing “Truth for Thursday” here at Being Refined As Silver.  We are on the last chapter of “Lies Women Believe”, chapter 11: “The Truth That Sets Us Free”.  It will take several weeks to review this chapter, so I hope you will continue to come back each week. 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss encourages her readers to take time to savor these liberating, life-changing truths.  She suggests saying each Truth aloud, again and again until your thinking becomes aligned with God’s way of thinking. 

Here is the nineteenth truth:

God is more concerned about changing me and glorifying Himself than about solving my problems.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”  Romans 8:28-29

When faced with a problem, is our first reaction to look for, or even demand a solution?  For most of us the answer is yes.  What if we actually stopped and meditated on the verse above?  If we truly believe God’s Word we can rest in the truth that all things (problems and trials included) are working together for good.  “If we do not recognize and embrace God’s purposes and process in our lives, we will become obsessed with finding a way out of our problems.  We will become despondent and angry when God does not “cooperate” with our agenda.” (DeMoss, page 263)

The things that matter most to us most be secondary to what matters most to Him, which is that we reflect His glory.  We may not always understand how our trials can bring Him glory, but we can trust that His Word is true. 

If you are in the middle of a trial right now, may I encourage you to seek what God has for you to learn through this.  Don’t be so focused on “when it is over” that you are missing the lessons God has for you right now.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”  James 1:2-3

How has God tested your faith?

~Theresa

 

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... it is dark. We had tons of rain yesterday so everything is soggy. I did hear there were some snow flurries tonight although I haven't seen them.

I am thinking... The Sing Off is on. I love this show. I hope the Gospel group wins!

I am thankful for... my mom coming home from rehab. after her knee replacement.

From the learning rooms... sshh..but we didn't do much in our schoolbooks today. Lots of real life learning though. The kids decorated Gingerbread Men and Women.

From the kitchen... M & M cookies and chocolate chip cookies. I started my Christmas baking.

I am wearing... gray yoga pants and a turquoise t-shirt.

I am going... for another acupuncture treatment this week.

I am reading... the Bible and my new cookbook from 1942!

I am hearing... my daughter playing the keyboard, my son playing cowboy and the TV in the background.

One of my favorite things... hot tea with milk. Yum, going to make some soon.

A picture for sharing...






Click here to visit Peggy and The Simple Women's Daybook

Truth for Thursday

I am continuing “Truth for Thursday” here at Being Refined As Silver.  We are on the last chapter of “Lies Women Believe”, chapter 11: “The Truth That Sets Us Free”.  It will take several weeks to review this chapter, so I hope you will continue to come back each week. 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss encourages her readers to take time to savor these liberating, life-changing truths.  She suggests saying each Truth aloud, again and again until your thinking becomes aligned with God’s way of thinking. 

Here is the eighteenth truth:

Personal holiness is more important than temporal happiness.

“…that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”  Ephesians 5:26-27

Some believe that when they become a Christian they will not have any problems.  They think that their life will be a bed of roses and they will not have any trials or hardships.  It is not long before they realize that this is not true.  Becoming a Christian does not guarantee you a life free of trials, sickness or unhappiness.  Actually if you are a Christian you can expect various trials.  

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  James 1:2-4

Paul doesn’t write count it all joy IF you fall into various trials, but rather WHEN.  We can know that the trials will come because God’s Word tells us.  Is that encouraging to you?  If not, look further.  Trials test our faith and produce patience.  Patience makes us perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

The world around us today tells us otherwise.  It contradicts God’s Word.  We are bombarded daily by various ways to avoid trials or unhappiness.  If your husband doesn’t make you happy anymore, divorce him.  If your kids aren’t behaving perfectly, send them to the specialists.  If you are not getting what you want from anyone or anything, move on.  There is no reason for you not to be happy.  You deserve to be happy.  And the same thing is taught to our children. 

I am hesitant to say it… but is the same thing going on in some of our churches?  If you are not happy with what your church offers, disregard your commitment and move on.  I am not speaking of theological differences or other valid reasons for leaving a church.  However, I do think that sometimes we find it easier to move on somewhere else than to stay and work on a problem we see.  For example, if you would like to have more women’s activities in your church, why not start one yourself?  Many times we sit around waiting for someone else to do it and all along we could be doing it instead. 

“God did not save us to make us happy in a temporal sense--- He saved us to ‘redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.’ (Titus 2:14)”  Nancy Leigh DeMoss, page 262

Sometimes the choosing holiness will require sacrifice.  But that sacrifice is temporary and can’t be compared to the joy and fulfillment we will gain in eternity.  One through seeking to  be holy can we ever experience true happiness.  (DeMoss page 263)

Are you eager to do good?  Willing to sacrifice your happiness to do what is right?  Seeking to be holy? 

~Theresa

Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom

The following is taken from the book “Womanly Dominion [more than a gentle and quiet spirit]” by Mark Chanski:

“Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” Genesis 2:18

“Why,” asks the woman, “am I here?”  What am I supposed to be doing with my time?  How am I to go about my business?  Womanly Dominion seeks to provide answers- answers at a critical hour when misguided voices from both sidelines, and even from inside her own head, are shouting at her all kinds of foolishness."  Page 20

Are you allowing foolishness about your purpose as a woman to fill your head?  May it not be!

~Theresa

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... it is dark. The drapes are all closed for the night. We did have a few snow flurries today :)

I am thinking... I am tired and going to bed soon.

I am thankful for... my mom's recovery going so well after her knee surgery, good results from my dad's scope, my father-in-law's tumor on his kidney has not grown, good news from two pregnant friends.

From the learning rooms... quotation marks, measurements, telling time, learning to read.

From the kitchen... ham and cheese calzones (just cheese for the kids) and salad for dinner, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for dessert (I know I mentioned them last week but only got around to making them today).

I am wearing... black yoga pants and a light blue long sleeve t-shirt.

I am going... to my second acupuncture appointment tomorrow.

I am reading... the Bible and "Overcoming Fear,Worry and Anxiety" by Elyse Fitzpatrick.

I am hearing... the dishwasher running.

One of my favorite things... Christmas decorations. I did my indoor decorating this week. Now we have to put up the outdoor lights and buy a Christmas tree.

Click here to visit Peggy and The Simple Women's Daybook

Truth for Thursday

I am continuing “Truth for Thursday” here at Being Refined As Silver.  We are on the last chapter of “Lies Women Believe”, chapter 11: “The Truth That Sets Us Free”.  It will take several weeks to review this chapter, so I hope you will continue to come back each week. 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss encourages her readers to take time to savor these liberating, life-changing truths.  She suggests saying each Truth aloud, again and again until your thinking becomes aligned with God’s way of thinking. 

Here is the seventeenth truth:

In the will of God, there is no higher, holier calling than to be a wife and mother.

“the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- that they admonish the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husband, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”  Titus 2:3-5

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her…”  Proverbs 31:28

By  God’s design, the woman is made to be a helper to her husband and to bear and nurture children.  Marriage and motherhood are God’s norm for most women.  Is being a wife and mother valued as it should be these days?  We may expect to see that it is not in the “world” but what about among Christians?

As Christians, do we take seriously the responsibility of being a wife and mother?  Of course many of us would say yes.  Our actions speak louder than words.  Do we mock the role of husbands and make jokes about the leadership of our husbands?  Often it can be heard of women complaining about their God given roles.  I have heard women, as they are cleaning up after a meal and their husbands are sitting down talking with other men, being bitter and resentful that they are “working” while the men are enjoying themselves.  It is difficult to not join in the negativity in these situations.  We have to remember by complaining like this we are fighting against God’s plan.  The sad part is that many times children are watching.  They are learning that serving is a miserable thing and not to take delight in their roles. 

Do we talk with other women about how we can’t wait for our children to be old enough to go off to kindergarten or to go to college or get married and be out of our home?  I vividly remember a woman saying that she will be doing cartwheels when her child gets on the school bus for the first time.  How sad!  She was more concerned with having free time for herself that cherishing the wonderful opportunity she has to be with her child during their early childhood.  As mothers we are given the awesome responsibility and privilege of raising the next generation for Christ.  Are we living like it?

“…to make a home, to be united with a man in glorifying God on this earth, to nurture and tend the lives of children and grandchildren, to train and mold the next generation, to deny oneself and lay down one’s life on behalf of others- there is no higher calling and no greater joy.”  Nancy Leigh DeMoss page 262

~Theresa

Welcome December!

I hope you enjoy the new Christmas look on my blog. I also added some of my favorite Christmas songs to my playlist. I spent way too much time today updating my blog so this post will be short.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom today come from the book of Proverbs.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7

Are you fearing the LORD today?