Faithful Friday (on Sunday)!

I hope you are having a beautiful Sunday!

I'm sorry- I have been out of town and couldn't post a Faithful Friday post this Friday, so I am posting it today :)

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 Very wise words.  I think it is so important to have the mindset that Abraham Lincoln had throughout his life regarding God and faith; in our walk, we are so much more likely to be favorable in the sight of the Lord if we focus on being on Hi's side in all we do.

Have a blessed day♥

May Daybook

I hope you are having a joyful and blessed Thursday!!
I felt like writing a little bit today and thought I would do a Simple Woman's Daybook entry since it has been quite a while since I wrote one.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
It is a little humid from a morning rain we just had, but getting breezier and nicer as the day goes on.  The kittens outside are sleeping peacefully and I can hear the birds high up in the trees out back.

I am thinking...
about something sad, a little bird.  We went walking this morning and found a little bird under a tree.  We aren't sure if he was injured or what was wrong, but he was so weak and was just lying there barely moving.  The ants were on him and we didn't want him to die there, so we took him home and put him in a basket with a towel.  We were going to try to nurse him back to health, but unfortunately, before we could even leave the room we noticed he wasn't moving anymore.  He passed away.  It's so sad and we have no idea what happened, but if he was hurt at least he is in peace now.

I am thankful...
for every laugh and moment spent with my family.

I am creating...
a scarf that I am working on crocheting.  I love the colors of the yarn and can't wait to finish it and  wear it this fall.  I am also hoping to start sewing again now that I have a little more free time.

I am going...
to hopefully get to go to the grocery store to pick up some things for a fun southwestern style recipe we are going to try tonight!

I am wondering...
what book I would like to start reading next and how many books I will have a chance to read this summer :)

I am reading...
or actually listening, to the KJV on audio right now.  I'm trying to make it through a whole book today to catch up on my reading.

I am hoping...
that we will be able to do something fun as a family this weekend and go somewhere we have been hoping to go!  We'll see, but I'm praying about it.

I am looking forward to...
the next time we go to Hobby Lobby so I can look at fabrics, and maybe get some new yarn too!

I am learning...
about what is involved in getting a book published; who to send it to, how to do that, etc.  I would love to publish a children's book someday!

I am praying...
for more self-discipline in certain things.

I am pondering...
how good examples around you and in your life can change the way you think in such an amazing way when it comes to such important areas in life.  I am so thankful for them!

A favorite quote for today...
"A strong woman stands up for herself.  A stronger woman stands up for others".

A peek into my day...
This is a place we went to recently and loved not far from our house.  It has a little trail and this quiet little pond.  I loved it under the open skies and feeling the breeze off the water, not to mention seeing little ducks.  I'm hoping we can go have a picnic here soon.

 

Healthy Chocolate Banana Shake

 

Yesterday, I decided to make a shake on a whim out of what we had in our kitchen.

I am trying to be healthier and I figured making a shake out of (mostly) healthy ingredients

was a good way to do that while enjoying something cold and refreshing.

 

 

I didn't follow a recipe and sort of just added things into the blender that looked like

they would go well together.  In the end, I used:

 

2 scoops vanilla ice-cream

(you could do 1 if you want it less "shake-y")

 

1 banana sliced up

 

1 cup chocolate milk

 

2/3 cups regular milk

 

1 teaspoon coconut flakes

 

 

~If you want this to be like a regular drink, leave it as is.

For a shake, put it in the freezer until firmer.

For a smoothie, add crushed ice into the blender.

 

 

I preferred mine either in shake form or as a drink.

I liked making this because it was so simple and so good, using all healthy

ingredients- okay, except for the ice-cream.

*You can also buy extra-protein chocolate milk with much less sugar to use, which is what I used,

so that you get a good amount of protein and potassium altogether with both milks

and the banana but you don't have too many sugars.

 

I will say that if you don't like the taste of bananas, you probably won't like this,

but I was really happy with how it turned out.

The flavor was so good and it was really frothy and delicious.

And it felt healthy to drink!

 

 

Thankyou for reading!

Happy Shake-making :)

 

 



 

Our Mothers, Our Angels



As children, I think most of us see our Mama (and Daddy) as our world.
As we start growing up, I think our love for our mothers only grows deeper.

From my childhood to my early teens to now that I am a little older, I have always loved being around my Momma, usually preferring to do things with her over anything else on my weekends, and that's never changed... but I believe that whether you are that type of kid or not and despite any destractions that come with growing up, you sort of reach this point- maybe in your early teens onward- where you look at your mom differently and more beautifully than ever before...
You understand more about her.
You begin to have a better concept of just how deep her love for you is.
You seek her advice more.
You are more grateful than ever that she willingly went through pain to meet you and love you
You look back on how she has unconditionally loved and put up with you, hehe
You have a deeper appreciation to think of all the nights she stayed up with you when you were sick
You realize you don't fully understand how her heart aches to see you growing up everytime she brings up "when you were a baby"
You are indebted to her because she has not only loved, but supported and encouraged you always
And you just cherish her.


When it comes down to it, nothing matters but the fact that she has loved you with all her heart and that God entrusted her to raise you and love you because he knew she was the perfect person for it♥

I'm so thankful for my Momma!  I thank God everyday for my family and my Momma.
I'm so thankful for all the love and nurturing she has put into me and into my life, that she brought me up to love the Lord, that she stays up late and watches movies with me, all those little things that make a mother daughter relationship special.

~

Growing up, I am also thankful to be able to look back on everyone in my family, as well as friends- even those who have passed- and think of all the wonderful women who have also been like second mothers to me.  I have been blessed to have wonderful examples of mothers all around me.

If it is in God's plan for me, maybe one day I will get to feel what it's like to be a mother- if I do, I only hope I can succeed anywhere close to them.  Until then, I don't think I can fully understand a mother's love, but it seems like the strongest love there is.

~

In the South, we say that all daughters are their Daddy's little girl, and their Momma's best friend.
I think that is one of the most true statements, and I couldn't be anymore thankful for that truth- and for the blessing of having mine be a mother and friend and so much more in my life.


We should be thankful for our mothers everyday, but on this day as the world celebrates mothers, I hope you have the most blessed day- whether you are a mother or you are celebrating your mother, your angel♥

.           .          .


Here are a few words on mothers that I love.

 

 

Faithful Friday!

Have a blessed weekend!!

The Smell of Fresh Peaches

This week has been so nice in that it marks the beginning of a much needed break which I am so thankful for!  It has been such a blessing the past couple of days to sleep in, get excited about places we are hoping to go as a family, books I am excited to read (and finally have the time to read!) , and the possibilities of things to do this summer :)

 

It has been fun to celebrate the start of this break too!  In our family we always seem to celebrate with food, haha, so my first day of "freedom" my Daddy barbequed burgers because he knows they are my favorite. 

 

We also got to do a little shopping later.  My favorite thing was going to the bookstore a couple of days ago and picking up some books on travel, as well as a biography about Laura Ingalls Wilder, which I am really looking forward to reading.

Sometimes it's funny though, how you find something you love in an unexpected place.  On the way home, we actually had to get a few groceries for cooking that night, and the closest place to the area we were was Wal-Mart.  And we happened to walk by the candle aisle, and I'm so glad we did.

We found a display of at least a hundred candles from a company I had never seen before.  It's called "Candle Cottage".   They had so many amazing scents to choose from and after we smelled one, I was amazed that they were stronger and better than any candles I have ever smelled, even Yankee Candles!

The variety was amazing too... everything from scents of the seashore, magnolia blossoms, and gardenias to mango, pomegranate, southern pecan pie, and one of the best we smelled- iced oatmeal cookies.  The one we decided on because it was so summery and fresh was fresh peaches!

 

 

The things I LOVE about these candles...

They are the same price as a candle less than half their size at the place I usually buy candles.

The smell is so strong and fresh and amazing.

They are supposed to burn longer than ordinary candles.

They have a fun, cozy, country look to them.

They are made in a mason jar :)

 

 

And here is what my dog did while I was taking photos of the candle outside.  She was more interested in soaking up some sun and lying in the grass. 

 

 

If you are a candle lover too, then you can understand how I could make a whole post about a candle, haha.  I just wanted to share because I have never seen these before and they are amazing.

Your nose will be in heaven.

I can't wait to go back and try out some more wonderful scents and stock up for summer.  Fresh Peaches is wonderful, but I'd love to get the mango and maybe the strawberry or watermelon (let's face it, I'd like to buy the whole display, haha). 

These would make wonderful gifts as well.  I think any mom would love one of these, and it's exciting to think of what scent matches different people you could get them for.

 

 

Have a beautiful day!

Blessings♥

 

 

 



The Story of Teddy Stoddard

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, Mrs. Thompson told her students a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper That he got from a grocery bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling* her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."



I don't know if it is a true story, but if it isn't, I'm sure there are children like Teddy who have had a similar experience in their lives.  I really appreciated this story, which was actually read to us in my final art class this week.  I have hopes of teaching and working with children in the future... that's where I feel God is leading me and I hope that I can only hope that I am able to make an impact on someone the way Mrs. Thompson did... this really touched my heart and I will never forget it.

I hope maybe this made you smile, too.


Have a blessed day!

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