Brittany and I went to church this morning and it was so good...they just began a new series and it is so timely...called Fearless Living in Fearful Times. I have a bit of catching up as we have been absent for a few weeks. Anyway...we are studying the book of Daniel.
3 reminders that I came away with this morning are...
1. God is in Control...sometimes we forget that these times we are living in are all a part of God's plan. For instance, in Daniel Chapter 8, we found out that this was not to happen for 200 years...tying in history, our pastor was able to confirm what truly happened...fascinating! What peace we can have during troubled times if we can just remember this.
2. We can be appalled but still trust God and do His service. We must never stop standing up for what is right...for being of service to Him...for trying to reach the broken and lost. We have much work to do my friends. (I loved this because I have been appalled much of the last two years!)
3. We don't have to understand a circumstance to trust God...if we try to understand everything that happens to us...we will never have the trust in Him that we need.
Our pastor summed it up like this. "You can trust God without having complete understanding."
Isn't that fitting for these days that we are living through when everything feels like it is upside down and backwards? I really need to be reminded of this today and hope that maybe these words will help you too.
Wishing you a blessed Sunday...I am leaving soon to pick up my sweetheart from the airport...can't wait to give him a great big welcome home kiss!
Joyce Marie
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
End of Snow?
We were hit with two snow storms this week...this is the way we started our week and that is the way our week ended. Driving this morning, I was struck by just how much snow we actually got this week. While it is pretty...I couldn't help but notice the birds that were singing this morning as I opened the door. They were the birds of summer that I hear in my back yard...the one that sounds like it is saying "pretty, pretty, pretty" or as Brittany says they sing "Britty, Britty, Britty". I really needed to hear that this morning...it was a gentle reminder that Spring really is on it's way. Last night...just before sundown...the sun was shining and the sky was a bright blue...I was talking with my mom on the phone and she remarked that is sort of made her feel like maybe it was a promise that it truly was the end of winter. We can only hope...
My husband didn't make his flight this morning...he was up and out the door at 4:30 AM Texas time...and was greeted by a rental car that wouldn't turn over. The hotel could offer no assistance...no shuttle...no nothing. So, he rescheduled his flight for tomorrow and so we will wait for our homecoming dinner for one more day.
I finished all of my housekeeping for the week yesterday...well, not really, I do still have to dust but that won't take me more than a few minutes. My goal is to always be done so that I can keep Saturdays free...so I think, perhaps I'll curl up with a good book and just enjoy the fruits of my labor today.
Wishing you a great weekend,
Joyce Marie
My husband didn't make his flight this morning...he was up and out the door at 4:30 AM Texas time...and was greeted by a rental car that wouldn't turn over. The hotel could offer no assistance...no shuttle...no nothing. So, he rescheduled his flight for tomorrow and so we will wait for our homecoming dinner for one more day.
I finished all of my housekeeping for the week yesterday...well, not really, I do still have to dust but that won't take me more than a few minutes. My goal is to always be done so that I can keep Saturdays free...so I think, perhaps I'll curl up with a good book and just enjoy the fruits of my labor today.
Wishing you a great weekend,
Joyce Marie
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Well, guess what? I lost 7 lbs in one week! I can hardly believe it. Brittany lost 6! I looked at her face as she got on the scale and it shined with disbelief. Then I stepped on. I was so stunned I couldn't even do the math. Never have I managed to do that before...not even when a joined WW so many moons ago.
Our secret...just calorie counting. Haven't changed a thing...didn't go to the grocery store and buy a bunch of diet foods...we have been staying away from carbonated beverages for about three weeks...maybe that has a bit to do with it...not sure. We bough a Brita pitcher about a month ago and have been drinking plenty of water...maybe that helped. But I really think the key is eating just good old-fashioned, regular food and measuring everything we eat.
We are using this site to track our calories, water and activity...the best thing about the whole thing...it doesn't cost us a dime. Calorie Count
I just discovered that you can actually analyze a recipe....by putting in the ingredients. So all of those recipe favorites that I have in my book can now have a number attached to them. That is the key!
Time for me to get busy just thought I'd share my bit of news in bloggy land...I am trying to ignore the weather advisory of freezing rain and snow from tonight through tomorrow...and just focus on my day.
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Our secret...just calorie counting. Haven't changed a thing...didn't go to the grocery store and buy a bunch of diet foods...we have been staying away from carbonated beverages for about three weeks...maybe that has a bit to do with it...not sure. We bough a Brita pitcher about a month ago and have been drinking plenty of water...maybe that helped. But I really think the key is eating just good old-fashioned, regular food and measuring everything we eat.
We are using this site to track our calories, water and activity...the best thing about the whole thing...it doesn't cost us a dime. Calorie Count
I just discovered that you can actually analyze a recipe....by putting in the ingredients. So all of those recipe favorites that I have in my book can now have a number attached to them. That is the key!
Time for me to get busy just thought I'd share my bit of news in bloggy land...I am trying to ignore the weather advisory of freezing rain and snow from tonight through tomorrow...and just focus on my day.
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Ugh!
Nice title huh? That is how I am going to sum up this week.
Remember how I was raving about being in a melt down last week? I was even basking in the warmth of 58 degrees one day...oh, how I remember it well. The local talk radio guy said...there isn't any snow in the the forecast for the rest of the month. Inside, I was daring to hope it to be true. And then came Sunday evening...freezing rain and slush...by Monday afternoon...we had heavy snow and needless to say...8 inches later...we are right back where we started from. My mom had a foot...so I guess we got lucky.
Brittany has a bad cold so yesterday...we just let the blanket of snow surround us and tried to forget about it. She is feeling better today...so she strapped on her pocket timer and went out in 18 degree weather to shovel the driveway...because today is our weigh in at the Y. We have been counting our calories...and staying on track so we'll see. Haven't made it to the pool because she was sick and our weather was terrible...so we are going to pop in there today...use the scale and leave. I don't want her in the pool just yet...maybe tomorrow.
I am on track with my weekly jobs...almost done with my laundry...my bathroom took five minutes...my bedroom took another five minutes...today is kitchen day...so I'll do that when we get back here...
Tomorrow...we are supposed to have rain...go figure...it is Ohio after all.
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Remember how I was raving about being in a melt down last week? I was even basking in the warmth of 58 degrees one day...oh, how I remember it well. The local talk radio guy said...there isn't any snow in the the forecast for the rest of the month. Inside, I was daring to hope it to be true. And then came Sunday evening...freezing rain and slush...by Monday afternoon...we had heavy snow and needless to say...8 inches later...we are right back where we started from. My mom had a foot...so I guess we got lucky.
Brittany has a bad cold so yesterday...we just let the blanket of snow surround us and tried to forget about it. She is feeling better today...so she strapped on her pocket timer and went out in 18 degree weather to shovel the driveway...because today is our weigh in at the Y. We have been counting our calories...and staying on track so we'll see. Haven't made it to the pool because she was sick and our weather was terrible...so we are going to pop in there today...use the scale and leave. I don't want her in the pool just yet...maybe tomorrow.
I am on track with my weekly jobs...almost done with my laundry...my bathroom took five minutes...my bedroom took another five minutes...today is kitchen day...so I'll do that when we get back here...
Tomorrow...we are supposed to have rain...go figure...it is Ohio after all.
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday wrap-up
I have had a great week. I have accomplished so much this week and it feels so good. I followed my new housekeeping schedule except that I didn't have to grocery shop this week because I do this every two weeks. I have managed to put a good dinner on my table every night this week. My house is clean. I have gone to the pool three nights this week and Brittany and I began tracking our calories. We are officially ready for spring and it is a good thing because it is 56 degrees today and all the snow and ice are gone except for the piles at the end of our driveway...I just dropped off Brittany and whipped up some pizza dough, browned some turkey sausage with peppers and onions so that we can make pizza tonight. The only bad thing...our retaining wall by our sidewalk just fell over...I guess all the water and weight of snow and ice and high wind this afternoon was more than it could take...so tomorrow we have to break it up and get it off the sidewalk...and start looking for options of what to do down there this spring.
Can't win them all I guess...
Wishing you and yours a great weekend!
Joyce Marie
Can't win them all I guess...
Wishing you and yours a great weekend!
Joyce Marie
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Keeping on Schedule
Well, it is Wednesday and as promised my bathroom has been scrubbed, my bedroom is sparkling and I can now add my kitchen to the mix. My two loads of laundry for today are on target and it is only 10:35. I absolutely love this Housekeeping Schedule. I only ask myself...why couldn't I have come up with it by myself. It is liberating to know that instead of killing myself one day a week to do all of the same things...I can do it piece by piece and get the same result and to top it all off...have time to do other things as well.
Brittany and I made it back to the gym last night...we spent an hour in the pool sort of creating our own workout...laps and then at the deep end some ballet moves and things I remembered from when I took water aerobics...all in all...I think we gave ourselves a total body work out and had a lot of fun too. I woke up this morning feeling all the work that I did...no soreness...just gentle reminders that I tired out my muscles and that feels good because I know I worked out good. We are heading back tonight...three days this week and then next week we'll go for five. We have been easing ourselves in between ice storms and frigid temperatures.
Our house is marooned with an island of ice all around us...it is very difficult to walk out there and salt still hasn't helped...we have to reserve what we have because the stores were out a week ago. I just skated to my outdoor trash can to take out my kitchen trash...but I made it back to my back porch without injury. The temp is supposed to reach 48 blessed degrees today and 58 degrees the next two days with a promise of rain which will hopefully not only melt this ice away but clean up outside too.
I think I am off to work on my little blanket for a while...it is turning out really cute!
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Brittany and I made it back to the gym last night...we spent an hour in the pool sort of creating our own workout...laps and then at the deep end some ballet moves and things I remembered from when I took water aerobics...all in all...I think we gave ourselves a total body work out and had a lot of fun too. I woke up this morning feeling all the work that I did...no soreness...just gentle reminders that I tired out my muscles and that feels good because I know I worked out good. We are heading back tonight...three days this week and then next week we'll go for five. We have been easing ourselves in between ice storms and frigid temperatures.
Our house is marooned with an island of ice all around us...it is very difficult to walk out there and salt still hasn't helped...we have to reserve what we have because the stores were out a week ago. I just skated to my outdoor trash can to take out my kitchen trash...but I made it back to my back porch without injury. The temp is supposed to reach 48 blessed degrees today and 58 degrees the next two days with a promise of rain which will hopefully not only melt this ice away but clean up outside too.
I think I am off to work on my little blanket for a while...it is turning out really cute!
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Just another Tuesday...
and all that water that melted yesterday is frozen solid. It sounds like I'm wining but I'm not...but it is treacherous outside. We'll only reach 35 today but the sun is supposed to shine which may help some of that ice melt. Our ice was so thick here...my husband has repeatedly put ice melt on it and it won't budge. Now, the snow is icy and our dogs can barely walk out there. The warm up comes Wednesday and Thursday and I am so hoping that most of this is gone by then...
On my agenda today...I am going to clean my bedroom, wipe down my woodwork, and change my bedding. Then there is the laundry...a new recipe for dinner that sounds good on the back of the Mexican cheese bag. I have to run out and buy A stamp. I am out and I only need one. Then, I get to start a baby blanket for my daughter's boss. She is expecting her 3rd boy in April and I thought it would be fun to do as I've never made a baby blanket before. I'm using three colors. Brown, beige and either blue or a pretty grassy green and I am using a velvety cotton as her baby is a spring baby and thought it would be soft and cool on his skin. I haven't decided about the color yet...I am really leaning toward the green...but then the blue would be really pretty too. I guess I'll decide when I start. I'm looking forward to it.
Brittany went to bed last night feeling like she was getting sick...she has had a pretty good run all of fall and winter so far. Many sick kids right now and she may have picked something up from one of her little dancers. I may have to add some sore throat medicine to my errand of buying one stamp.
Well, it is time to get this show on the road...
Blessings,
Joyce Marie
On my agenda today...I am going to clean my bedroom, wipe down my woodwork, and change my bedding. Then there is the laundry...a new recipe for dinner that sounds good on the back of the Mexican cheese bag. I have to run out and buy A stamp. I am out and I only need one. Then, I get to start a baby blanket for my daughter's boss. She is expecting her 3rd boy in April and I thought it would be fun to do as I've never made a baby blanket before. I'm using three colors. Brown, beige and either blue or a pretty grassy green and I am using a velvety cotton as her baby is a spring baby and thought it would be soft and cool on his skin. I haven't decided about the color yet...I am really leaning toward the green...but then the blue would be really pretty too. I guess I'll decide when I start. I'm looking forward to it.
Brittany went to bed last night feeling like she was getting sick...she has had a pretty good run all of fall and winter so far. Many sick kids right now and she may have picked something up from one of her little dancers. I may have to add some sore throat medicine to my errand of buying one stamp.
Well, it is time to get this show on the road...
Blessings,
Joyce Marie
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Robin Red Breast
I am so very happy to say that I just saw my first Robin which has to mean that better days are ahead for us. He or she just took a rather messy landing on my telephone line not more than 30 minutes ago. I can just tell that SPRING is in the air...
Blessings,
Joyce Marie
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Ice and snow and I am so ready for spring!
It is so very cold here...so very snowy...with layers of ice under the current snow. Our driveway is a mess...we can't keep up and the stores are out of snow melt. Our road is even worse. I have been looking for two days for a Robin. I haven't seen one...can't blame the poor things if I were a Robin I certainly wouldn't want to come back here. There is a rumor that we are supposed to reach 40 degrees this weekend. I'll believe it when I see it...:)
We had a bit of excitement on our street yesterday...not the excitement that we want. We had a half a dozen police cars out here yesterday...the officers were walking along the sidewalk and down to the stop sign. One officer came of the driveway and my husband met her down there...apparently there was a home invasion yesterday around 3pm a couple of doors away from us. Apparently two black guys with guns! Ok...so that is pretty scary and not exactly what you want in your neighborhood. Just another sign that times are changing I guess. We even saw the forensics van...and to think we watch CSI...we knew what to watch for.
Other than all of this...life is pretty quiet. We made it to the YMCA last week one day...and were iced in the rest of the week...we made it there on Monday of this week...but it is so cold right now...I want it to warm up just a bit before I go and sweat and have to walk out of that place.
I scrubbed my kitchen floor this morning...had my rugs sitting on my back porch for about 15 minutes and they were frozen solid and crunched under my feet when I put them back down on the floor. Now that is cold!
We are having a pork roast...boiled potatoes and coleslaw for dinner and I need to get back to it. So stay warm...and I'll keep looking for those Robins...
Joyce Marie
We had a bit of excitement on our street yesterday...not the excitement that we want. We had a half a dozen police cars out here yesterday...the officers were walking along the sidewalk and down to the stop sign. One officer came of the driveway and my husband met her down there...apparently there was a home invasion yesterday around 3pm a couple of doors away from us. Apparently two black guys with guns! Ok...so that is pretty scary and not exactly what you want in your neighborhood. Just another sign that times are changing I guess. We even saw the forensics van...and to think we watch CSI...we knew what to watch for.
Other than all of this...life is pretty quiet. We made it to the YMCA last week one day...and were iced in the rest of the week...we made it there on Monday of this week...but it is so cold right now...I want it to warm up just a bit before I go and sweat and have to walk out of that place.
I scrubbed my kitchen floor this morning...had my rugs sitting on my back porch for about 15 minutes and they were frozen solid and crunched under my feet when I put them back down on the floor. Now that is cold!
We are having a pork roast...boiled potatoes and coleslaw for dinner and I need to get back to it. So stay warm...and I'll keep looking for those Robins...
Joyce Marie
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