{ Bible Journaling - Time to get real }

We are all CREATIVE because we were CREATED in the image of the CREATOR!

WOW!!!  Talk about a thought provoking and humbling quote.

I heard this quote this morning, while listening to one of the videos in my latest adventure.  I say adventure because it truly is an exciting thing for me.

The past few weeks, I have talked about the spiritual journey I'm on, how hard it's been and how I'm making changes in my life.  One of those changes is all about reading the Bible more and being consistent with it.

But there's a slight problem, and this is where I am going to get brutally honest and real with you all.

I struggle to read the Bible!!!

There, I said it.

I've read pieces here and there over the years, but I'm not a daily reader, I haven't yet read the whole Bible, and mostly because I just don't know how to read it, where to start, how to stick with it and not get bored.

As a Christian, the thought of even admitting out loud that I find some of the books in the Bible, boring, is something that makes me cringe.  I shouldn't be saying that, that goes against everything in me, but I'm also honest and open and I can't lie about it or pretend that I'm one of those wonderful women who can quote scripture easily, reads the good book every day, has read it all from cover to cover and so on.

I would love to be able to say that I am just like that, and who knows, maybe one day I will be at that point, but right now, in the present, and in the past?  Yeah, it's not like that at all.

The part where I've struggled the most, is thinking that I need to be reading from the very beginning in Genesis, and just going along like a story.  I've tried, trust me, and I fail every.single.time.

Why?  Well because I approach it all wrong.

Recently, I sat at my dining table with my mother and father in law, two amazing faithful God loving Christians who both know the Bible intimately.  I asked them for help, for suggestions on how to read it, how to start reading it and how to get past the dry parts of the Bible, which for me are the very beginning books containing the families, and all the names and so forth.

After speaking to them and getting great advice, I also turned to the internet and researched dozens of websites, trying to find what spoke to me or helped me get past this obstacle.

Here's what I've learned:

• You don't HAVE to start in Genesis, matter of fact, most people suggest starting in John or Romans, or Proverbs.
• Stop thinking of the Bible as intimidating.
• Pray to the Lord for understanding, for Him to show you what you need to take from that scripture.
• Take it slow, start with a few minutes a day and then increase
• I love History and so I've decided that I need to approach the Bible in that sense, for me reading it as a beautiful History account, is what I think will help me stay on track.

I believe that the Lord guides us to certain websites or people, when we need it the most, and that is exactly what happened yesterday.

While researching Bible reading, I happened upon a Bible Journaling Group and Convention, and I knew immediately that is exactly what I needed to help me along.

I signed up for the Convention, which by the way, is free, and I took the plunge.  I'm a very creative person, always have been and I had never thought to join the two things.....Creativeness and Bible Reading.

I only wish I had come across it before and started sooner, but never mind that.  I got my Study Bible which as empty blank borders on the side for notes or whatever else you wish, and this morning, after sitting down to watch Day One's Interviews and Tutorials, I started my journaling.

I've had this Bible for years, probably close to 10 at least.  It's just been sitting there, waiting for me to start reading, to pick it up and love it and give it the attention it rightfully deserves.  And I didn't.....until today.

I've scribbled on some of the borders, just a verse that stuck with me while looking through.  Some people draw and color and paint right on their main Bible, but I just can't bring myself to do that, so I'll stick with the border until I can buy myself a proper Journaling Bible, which I am hoping to do maybe this weekend. 

In the meantime, I have some pretty scripture print outs that I'm going to be coloring in and then just adding to the books of the Bible where they belong.  Like the one above, and the one below.

Sitting at the dining table this morning with my colored pencils and Bible, just coloring, reading and starting this project, was one of the best mornings I've had in a very long time.

I am so excited to read now, and I can't wait for tomorrow's convention videos to be emailed to me.

In the meantime, I have made the decision to start reading John and then go from there, actually my reading plan is as follows:

John
Romans
Psalms
Proverbs
Genesis


I'll be sure to share as I go along, and if I get a journaling Bible this weekend, I'll most definitely show you all.  I'll also let you know how this is going for me and maybe show some of my journaling pages as I move through the Bible.

I'm ever so thankful to the Lord for guiding me through this process, I really could not do it on my own. :)

{ Using what you have on hand - Earrings to Stitch Markers }

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I'm all about using what you already have on hand, or making do with what is around.

It's easier to quickly hit some buttons and order online, or run to the store and get it.

Convenience, that's what it all boils down to.

I used to be all about convenience and saving some time, but a few years into my marriage, I realized that in the end, it's easier and cheaper to take a few moments and either make it myself from scratch, or reuse what I already have around.

There are so many items that are multi purpose, all you need is a little imagination and time.

Make it do, or do without....have you ever heard that quote?  It was actually very popular in the 1930's in New England, around the Great Depression Era.

A pretty simple quote to remember and apply to our lives.  I've grown used to thinking before I buy anything and really deciding whether it's something I need and can't live without, or if it's more of a want and would like to have.  You'd be surprised how many times it's in the Want Category.

So, with that in mind, let me tell you about my latest Making Do.

I've been crocheting now for how long?  Years?  And would you believe me if I told you that I have never bought stitch markers?

It may sound completely insane, and it's not to say that I haven't seen stitch markers that I loved or would have really like to have.  Truth be told, stitch markers are a must if you are a crocheter, or knitter.

But I've held off because, it's not something I couldn't do without.  I've been known to use bobby pins or pieces of yarn to act as stitch markers, just whatever was on hand and did the job.

As I was cleaning my bathroom out, organizing and going through the shelves and drawers,  I came across all my little jewelry boxes filled with old earrings.  Some have gone a bit rusty, others are missing backs, some are missing the other half and so on.

I was just about to throw them away when a light bulb went off.  Why had I not thought of that before???

They're pretty but I don't really want to wear them as earrings any longer, so they're the perfect stitch markers, don't you think?

I removed the little plastic backing from the ones that still had it and threw that out.

These were some of my Halloween ones.  I don't know why I bought them because I've never worn them but they look absolutely adorable on my current crochet work.

Because they're earrings, they are super easy to bend, so once I slip them into the stitch, I just squeeze the top shut so it won't slip out and when it's time to move it, I easily pull them open. 

Honestly, give it a try, if you have old earrings that you are no longer going to use and need some cute stitch markers, use them and see what you think.

I for one am very happy with my new found use for these old earrings, and now I'm keeping an eye out for old, cheap earrings that I can use for my crochet and knitting.

I hope this gave you some ideas and maybe inspired you to look beyond the original purpose of the items you have all around your house.  Next time you need something, try to find it around your home first before making the trip to the store :)

Do you use what you  already have on hand? 

What was your best use of an item for something completely unrelated?

Would love to hear your ideas!!!

{ Hello May }

I'm a little shocked that we are heading into May already, can you believe that?

May Day by Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)

A delicate fabric of bird song

Floats in the air,

The smell of wet wild earth

Is everywhere.

Red small leaves of the maple

Are clenched like a hand,

Like girls at their first communion

The pear trees stand.

Oh I must pass nothing by

Without loving it much,

The raindrop try with my lips,

The grass with my touch;

For how can I be sure

I shall see again

The world on the first of May

Shining after the rain?

I think we're officially past the bad cold weather, and full steam ahead to hot days.  This past week was wonderful and this week is about the same, high 80's and 90's.  Makes me go into spring clean mode and I've been zipping around my house, like a tornado.

Projects that were meant to be done, but God knows when, have been tackled and finished and checked off my list.  It gives me a sense of accomplishment that is unbeatable.

Thing is, I've been so tired and haven't really had a chance to sit and do anything fun for myself, though to be completely honest, I love my job and I find homemaking fun, so I guess there's that.

The kitchen cabinets have all been organized and cleaned out, clothes have been making their rounds, from the washing machine to the clothes line, to the ironing board and back into their drawers and hangers.

Windows have been opened early morning and left until bedtime.

The breeze has blown through and sent curtains flying, swooshing into the house a scent of fresh cut grass and spring.

I've cooked, I've baked, I've worked on school projects and lessons with Nick, I've weeded out the garden, I've planted more herbs and veggies, pulled out my sewing machine and fabrics, written down a list of blog posts, to do's and projects.

Basically, I've sprung into spring with a renewed energy for life!!!

Thank goodness, cause there's so much I want to get done this year. 

Speaking of which, I need to go and start working on the new menu plan, so I'm gonna sign off for now and I'll see you all back here tomorrow :)

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 04/30/2018 }

Good morning everyone, and a very happy Monday to you all :)

I sure hope you had a beautiful, relaxing weekend and that your new week is a good one.

I went back to 2013 to grab one of the Happy Homemaker Mondays, now I know I've switched up categories here and there, but really for the most part, it remains the same.  I just get a bit bored at times and like to switch things up.

I'm adding a new category to the mix., and I understand that when you read this you will already have your HHM up, that's fine, you can just add it next week.


The new category is:

Something interesting I watched:::



Now that could be a Youtube video, a movie, a TV show, a documentary, a small clip on facebook or instagram.  Basically anything that you watched that you really enjoyed and want to share :)

Right, now that's out the way, let's get going.  Happy Week everyone :)

 

The weather.....Beautiful weekend, upper 80's, sunshine and just absolutely gorgeous.  Makes me so excited for summer days.  We'll be staying in the upper 80's and 90's this week, so it should make for some pretty nice weather, meaning, I need to start hanging out outdoors more so I can start working on my tan cause these white pasty legs, ain't cutting it. 

Right now I am....Sitting on my couch.  I just finished updating my blog template, hope you all like it. I needed a change, something a bit different but I also not too busy etc.  I think this one will do for a while.

Thinking....That I have a few projects I really want to get done this week, plus some more spring cleaning and organizing.  I've recently changed my way of thinking when it comes to approaching projects and chores needing done.  I used to think about all these things I wanted to do and then not do them and use excuses for not doing them.  The past two weeks I have literally tackled everything that comes into my mind, without even thinking, I just DO IT.  And guess what?
Life has been so much easier for me. 

On my reading pile....Oh I have so many wonderful books coming up for review, I'm super excited to share them with you.  But the one I'm currently reading is called Where Hope Begins by Catherine West. 

On my TV.....I love soaps and I love my Portuguese ones, they are fantastic.  I've been very lucky in being able to watch them online since I don't live in Portugal.  I'm currently watching 3 different ones, A Herdeira, Vidas Opostas and Espelho D'Agua.
I'm also catching up on When Calls the Heart. 

Something Interesting I watched.....So yesterday I watched the movie Hostiles.  It was FANTASTIC.  I loved it.  If you haven't heard about it, it it takes place in the 1800's.  I just really enjoy historic movies of any kind, and the whole Native American wars etc., is one of my favorite eras.

In 1892, legendary Army Capt. Joseph Blocker reluctantly agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their tribal land.

What I found while surfing the net....My net surfing the past week has been a mix of different things.  Mainly gardening, recipes, crochet and DIY's. 

On the menu for this week....I'll be going grocery shopping on Friday, so I don't have a full week of meals planned.  . 
Monday - Pork Chops, Gravy, Baked Spaghetti Squash and Cheese, Stuffing
Tuesday - Veggie Burgers, Potato Wedges
Wednesday - Sausage Alfredo Pasta, Steamed Broccoli
Thursday - Salisbury Steak, Basmati Rice, Salad
Friday - Grocery shopping
Saturday - 
Sunday -

On my to do list....Clean kitchen, empty dishwasher and refill
Finish painting bookshelf
Vacuum and Dust
Kid's laundry
Make a list of upcoming blog posts

In the craft basket....Working on Part 2 of the Cosmic CAL.  I'm kind of stuck at the moment, I need to pull out the last row I did and go back and restart because the stitch count is WAY off. I love Helen Shrimpton designs, but just like her Mandala Madness, I often get a little confused with the way she writes her patterns and if I don't pay very close attention, I can easily skip a stitch.

Looking forward to this week....Just hoping for a good week with my family.  Tuesday we are taking Jasmine to dinner, even though her birthday was last week, she wasn't feeling well on the day and she had requested Italian food for her birthday, so we will go tomorrow.

Looking around the house....It is clean, super clean and tidy at the moment.  I had a good weekend of cleaning and organizing and getting things done.  I have a few more things I want to clean out, spring clean rather, but for the most part, house is looking good. 

From the camera....
Washed some of the crochet blankets and just love how they look on the wash line :) 

Bible verse, Devotional...."And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands."
Acts 12:7

{ Weekend in Review - April 28 and 29 }

I have had the most wonderful, home staying, homemaking, pottering around weekend.

And those are my absolute faves, because they don't tend to happen too often, or as often as I would like them too.  Believe it or not, and I'm sure you agree, most weekends are just a run on of the busy weekdays, and you go here and there, do this and that, and blink your eyes only to groggily wake up on Monday morning.

Last week, I started a Sourdough Bread Starter.  I've tried many over the years, some I've had success with, others not so much, but my go to is always in the Amish cookbooks I have.  Fingers crossed this one works.

♥♥♥

I've spent a lot of my weekend homemaking, and yesterday I actually took you all along with me on Instagram.  Just snippets here and there of my day, and it seems to be very popular.  I've received so many messages thanking me and letting me know that they love the Day in the Life Instagram stories I put up.

Now I don't always do them, matter of fact I hadn't done one in a long time, but had received so many of those messages last week asking if I would be doing them every again, that I thought the weekend was the perfect time.

The amount of messages that I have been sent, letting me know that I motivate and inspire other women out there to enjoy and love being homemakers, is truly amazing.  I don't and have never blogged in any attempt to show something I'm not, or to convince anyone to do what I do.  But, it does bring me immense joy to know that so many of you out there enjoy seeing homemaking through my eyes.

Weekends are supposed to be lazy.  You're *supposed* to sleep in, and do nothing.  I guess I skipped that whole memo because weekends are pretty much the same for me as any other day, aside from the fact that my husband is home and we do more things as a family.

Whether it be Monday or Saturday, I get up around the same time.  Maybe I sleep in about 30 minutes, but by 6:30AM I am up and starting my day.

By the time the clock struck 10AM on Saturday morning, I had done 2 loads of laundry and hung them up to dry, did all the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, stripped the bath tubs, sprayed them down, removed all the curtains, bath mats and bath rugs and threw them in the wash, and gave the bathrooms a really good deep clean.

I vacuumed, I dusted, I watered plants, I fixed lunch, I ironed and did yard work.

♥♥♥

I was exhausted by the time dinner was finished, and just wanted a bath and bed with a good book.  That is exactly what I did.

Here's the thing though, exhausted in a good way.  In a productive, beautiful, loved every minute, kind of way and that is the kind of weekend that I truly enjoy.

♥♥♥

As Sunday rolled around, I went in with the thought that I had absolutely nothing to do, nothing to clean or wash and the whole day was before me.  An empty blank page, waiting for me to fill it with whatever my heart desired.

But I'm not one to sit idly and do nothing.  It makes me antsy.  I can't sit on the couch and just watch something for hours on end.

And so I did a load of laundry which consisted of couch blankets and some tablecloths, hung them out to dry and then planted two more trays of herbs and veggies.  From my previous one that was doing so well, only 1 survived.  I don't know why, I'm not sure what happened, but hey ho, we move on and try again.

♥♥♥

I usually don't cook on Sundays and if I do, it's always dinner because lunch tends to be whatever we have on hand, or whatever whoever feels like.

Today though, I decided that I really wanted some good comfort homemade food for lunch, and so, I cooked, and I cooked what would have been dinner, for lunch.  A Husband's Delight, which really should be called a Family's Delight because it's that yummy.  Everyone ate, and everyone went back throughout the day for more, I'm actually about to go grab another bowl for my a late dinner for me.  I haven't eaten since 12:30 and it's now 6:30PM.

♥♥♥

I've started a new book for review.  How pretty is that cover?

Speaking of books, I have so many coming up for my Summer Reading List, I'll share them with you this week, or at least, most of what I'll be reading within the next 4 months.

♥♥♥

I've been trying to watch this movie all day, but get distracted and keep stopping and doing other things, so I've stopped it completely, and am about to get my dinner and finally sit down to watch it.....uninterrupted.  Yes, that will be a good thing.

Weekends don't have to mean busy, they don't have to mean going out and spending money and having to absolutely get out of the house.

You can have a great relaxing, and soul recharging weekend, right within your 4 walls, and for me, that is one of the best things in the world.  I'm a homebody, always have been and I am pretty certain I always will be :)

Have a beautiful rest of the weekend, my friends!!!