Feel Good Week!

Well it's Friday again, and I'm not sure where the week has gone. It's been a crazy busy kind of week. It has also, on the whole, been a good week. For my FGF, I'm going to rehash the week for you at top speed!


Monday -- Labor Day! YMCA, a little housework, US Open, nap, grilled burgers, baked beans and chips.


Tuesday -- Dh takes the day off, swimming, Centennial Park for Bible study, lunch at San Antonio Taco Co., Ben & Jerry's, a little housework, Discover SCUBA Class from 6-8 where I actually had fun!


Wednesday -- Ds sick with a fever : (, KFH comes over to kill time, much laughter, talking and sorting of fabric (more on that later), Moe's Southwest for lunch since ds is sick (Mexican 2 days in a row -- what was I thinking!), got to talk with dd for a little while, fixed eggs for dh, church -- first Beth Moore video.


Thursday -- Ds is well!, Precept Bible class (fascinating), laundry, Beth Moore lesson, sort more fabric, laundry, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese with limas and applesauce, pick flooring for bathroom remodel, FOOTBALL, more laundry, help dh study for American history test.


Friday -- teaching my first yoga class this morning using friends as guinea pigs! (hope we're still friends when I'm done),  fabric sorting, return shoes, pick up book at library, Blue Water Scuba to pick up wet suit and sign up for classes, date night.


Whew! I'm tired all over again. Have a Feel Good Friday and a terrific weekend.


Feel Good Friday is hosted by The Girl Next Door Grows Up.

Bible Study x 3 = Thankful Thursday

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to submerse myself in Bible studies. I am trying something new this autumn. Traditionally, I do Precept Upon Precept Bible study by Kay Arthur. I have been doing these studies off and on for 12 or 15 years. This autumn my group is doing the Covenant lessons, which I have done before. It is my favorite! 



I also was given the opportunity to do Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart Bible study. I love to study about the Tabernacle, and while I've never done a Beth Moore study, I just felt that God wanted me in this class on Wednesday nights. We will take twenty weeks to complete the ten lessons, so I'm hoping that the combination will not wear me out completely! 

In addition to these two studies, my dh and I are doing a Sunday morning study called iMarriage by Andy Stanley. This is also a small group study with videos. 




So I have 3 studies which all have homework and videos to watch! Normally, I would be a basket case at having taken all of this on, but I truly believe God has led me to each of these studies at this time. "If God brings me to it, He will lead me through it." Right? 


So for my Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for these opportunities and I ask for your prayers to keep me faithful, healthy and prioritized over the next several months.


I'll keep you posted!

 For more Thankful Thursdays visit Grace Alone.

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . . September 7th

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the sun is just coming up and it's 67 degrees. It's going to be another hot one today, into the 90's.

I am thinking...about spending the day with my dh. He took the day off, just because!

I am thankful for...good friends and fun activities over the weekend that have improved my mood considerably.

From the learning rooms...it's back to the routine. There was an unplanned German break, which has been remedied.

From the kitchen...homemade Macaroni and Cheese for dinner! What's your favorite recipe?

I am wearing...walking clothes. Dh and I are headed to Radnor Lake soon.

I am creating...more Curious Creatures for Immature Adults.

I am going...to have a play day with dh today, see a friend on Wednesday and more friends on Friday. I am blessed!

I am reading...The Heroines by Eileen Favorite

I am hoping...to get some house cleaning done this week.

I am hearing...crickets and silence.

Around the house...things are beginning to look a little better.

One of my favorite things...is spending time with life long friends.

A few plans for the rest of the week...chatting with a friend, teaching my first yoga class, and sorting through fabric with crafting friends.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

This is my completed Moopy Bunny (she was a big hit this weekend!)

Hosted by The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Mayonnaise Jar and the Coffee

I saw this posted over at Sewing with Trudy. Trudy thanks for reposting.  I'm sharing with all my friends.

The Mayonnaise Jar and the Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee... 

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. 

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a infamous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. 
The golf balls are the important things. Your family, your children, your faith, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. 
The pebbles are the other things that matter. Your job, your house, and your car. 

The sand is everything else. The small stuff. 

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. 

The same goes for life. 

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."


(Originally posted at View from the Hamster Wheel)

Feel Good Friday: Happy Weekend Plans

Well I'm still on a roll from Thankful Thursday. It was a perfect lead in to Feel Good Friday.


1. Tonight is date night which always makes me smile. I don't know what we'll do, but it doesn't really matter. It's just nice that we plan to spend time together every week.


2. Tomorrow I am meeting with a group of people I reconnected with at my high school reunion earlier this summer. We're meeting at the local Starbucks just to talk. How fun is that!?!


3. Tomorrow night my group of life long friends are going out to dinner to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary (a little late, but I like to think of it as extending the celebration).


4. Sunday afternoon my favorite "extra" mother is coming into town especially to see me! We are meeting up for tea and talking. Later she's coming to the house to visit with "the boys", who requested a special visit with her!


5. Finally, it's a three day weekend! Dh gets to stay home from work and ds has no school, so we get to have fun and play all day!


So that's my Feel Good Friday. I hope yours is great too.


Feel Good Friday is hosted by The Girl Next Door Grows Up

September 2nd, Thankful Thursday

I have much to be thankful for today, and I am so happy and excited to be able to share!


The last few weeks have been hard. There's just no other way to say it. Because of that I stretched my comfort zone (yet again!) and asked for help. I sent a message to some good friends asking for support, and boy did I get it! Such love and affirmation (and humor) can only make me feel better. 

--I was reminded of the love of God and good friends. 

--I was reminded of the compassion and caring exhibited by God through His children. 

--I was reminded that I am not alone, even though that's what Satan wants me to believe.

And it didn't stop there. God kept giving me things all day. 

--An unexpected (and much needed) email from my "mother" telling me she loves and misses me. 

--A haircut (yes that was planned) with the opportunity to talk uncensored to the lovely Christian lady who cuts my hair.

--Lunch with my bff, who reaffirmed, yet again, why she is my bff.

--A new Bible study last night where women of God reached out to me and I was able to share some of my needs.

--A "chance" meeting with my minister in the parking lot, who asked me, "How are you doing?" And I realized he really wanted to know.

God is so good. He provides for all our needs. And all I had to do was ask.

For more Thankful Thursdays visit Grace Alone.

For Today . . . The Simple Woman's Daybook, August 31st

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it is 68 degrees and there is heavy dew on the grass. Autumn is in the air!

I am thinking...about friendship and perceptions.

I am thankful for...my husband and son and the way they interact. Two peas in a pod!

From the learning rooms...ds has a Anatomy and Physiology test tomorrow -- he is dogsitting, so I hope he studies.

From the kitchen...I am thinking I need to make something with grits today.

I am wearing...my green knit gown.

I am creating...Moopie Bunny.

I am going...to have coffee/tea with old friends this weekend.

I am reading...I finally finished The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson! It was good and satisfying. Started Talk to the Hand by Lynn Truss last night.

I am hoping...to feel more centered and less pain as this week progresses.

I am hearing...my dogs begging for breakfast.

Around the house...there is less bathroom junk in the living room! But the toilet is still there. LOL!


One of my favorite things...is mint chocolate chip ice cream. Dh surprised me with a carton on Saturday night.

A few plans for the rest of the week...putting together some of my writing to send to a professor who is willing to read through it for me.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Hosted by The Simple Woman's Daybook