A Blog Year in Review...

A Blog Year in Review... hosted by Musings of a Housewife.

As life has changed over the past twelve months, so has the look, feel, and content of this blog.  Join me as I look back over the past twelve months, posting the first line of the first post of each month.

January: my goal is to be a writer - to be published by the time I am 30 years old...
February: so, like a good American, I joined the party and watched the superbowl last night...
March:  There is so much noise in my life - some good, some bad, some indifferent.
April: Yesterday, I took the "day off" from being on the computer...
May:  ...Garage Sale-ing that is.
June: I've been struggling a lot lately with being home all the time with the kids.
July: I FINALLY slept last night!!
August: Just some random thoughts on this "early" Saturday morning...
September: I don't know.
October: If you like reading Amish fiction or like learning about the Amish culture, you'll definitely enjoy this book.
November: This month I had a chance to read three fun books from Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishers.
December: RR#1: It's already Wednesday?!?!!!

What will the new year bring?  I'm planning to continue "ranting and rambling" at times, and I'll continue to review books.  What additional content would you like to see?  Are there any topics you'd like me to share my thoughts on?  As much as this blog is for me (an outlet for my brain), you are the reader and thus, I'd like your help to make this a "must read blog" for you.  

2010 is upon us...

A new year.  Time to make new "goals" to "better" myself.  Here are a few things I'm mulling over...

#1 - Read through the OT during my devotional time.

#2 - Investigate finishing my Bachelor's degree (and possibly adding a Master's).

#3 - Attempting to create a source of "steady" income through blogging/writing/etc.

#4 - Spending more time off the computer, focusing on my kids and playing with them.

#5 - Helping to grow the ministries of FBC through my new "elected office" of CE Chair.

#6 - Spend time studying the Beatitudes (our next study topic for our ladies' Wednesday night Bible study).

#7 - Actually use my elliptical more than once every couple of months... spend 30 mins a day "working out".

#8 - Continue to work with Jenny on the "3 Rs" (reading, writing, and arithmetic).

#9 - Crochet something other than "stuff" - i.e. a sweater, a dress/jumper, etc.

#10 - Start a "Once a Month Cooking" routine, and actually follow it!

That's my list of 10 goals/dreams/etc for the new year.  What's on your list?

Link up your "2010 is upon us..." post below!

"Expecting", by Marla Taviano

No, I'm not expecting, but I was honored when Marla offered me a chance to read and review her latest book, "Expecting".  This book is unlike her other books (which I would highly recommend you also check out), and it is in a class of its own.  "Expecting" is considered a gift book, and it would be a great gift for any expectant mother.

Each week in a pregnancy, new growth and development take place.  As a new mother (whether this is your first pregnancy or not), the growth and development of your baby has a special place in your heart and mind.  I remember reading up weekly on how my baby was growing - how big she was, what body parts were developing, if she could hear me, etc - on a weekly (if not more than that) basis.  The little things are what become most precious to an expecting mother.

This book, "Expecting", focuses on the growth and development of the baby each week during the pregnancy.  Marla shares a prayer for each week for your baby, gives you a glimpse of how the baby is growing and developing that week, and shares inspirational thoughts with you to challenge you as you learn to love this new child.  Each week also has a page to journal any thoughts or prayers you have for your child that week.

Marla has been given the opportunity to share this book with pregnancy crisis centers across America and around the world through the gifts of many of her readers.  I pray that God will use this book to reach out to those women who are hurting and seeking to end their pregnancies, to show them the miracle that this baby is, and to bring them to Himself.

I'm starting to "dislike" weekends...

Weekends are supposed to be a time of relaxation - time away from the busyness of the week to recoup and prepare for the next week's craziness. However, it seems like weekends somehow have become busier than weeks. We try to cram so much activity into two (or three in our case) short days that we end up more exhausted than we started!  Especially when kids are involved.

Take for example our upcoming weekend. 

Since it's a holiday weekend, we thought to try to celebrate with both of our families.  And since Monday is Jenny's birthday, we thought we should probably have a party or two for her as well.

Our first mistake was thinking that a "holiday weekend" would somehow lengthen our normal weekend, but since the "holiday" is during a normal day off, our weekend wasn't lengthened at all.  But I didn't realize this until all our plans had been made - with three homes to visit during our "normal" three-day weekend. 

So, during the course of this weekend, we will be having two birthday parties (one w/ my family and one w/ J's family) and a Christmas celebration of sorts (w/ J's grandparents).  And, we'll be traveling three different times: 2.25 hours to my parents house on Thursday, 1.25 hours to J's parents house followed by 45 mins to J's grandparents house on Friday, then 2.5 hours home on Saturday.

While we'll enjoy spending time with each of our families, we did just see them last weekend, as they were all (with the exception of J's grandparents) at our house for Christmas.  Why, oh why did we think we needed to go to Michigan this weekend?

Can you tell I'm a little stressed about the upcoming weekend and all the fun we're going to try to cram in?  Good thing we have DVD players in the car for the kids (and for me, too)!!

I can't wait for our nice long weekend in a few weeks - five whole days!!  I think we're hitting up the hotel and waterpark (J's Christmas present) during that weekend!

Sticky Notes make me happy...

I am REALLY HAPPY with my new computer.  All I really have left to do is to hook up my old hard drive to the new one and transfer all my files and whatnot.  I already installed all my software (SOOOO fast on the new computer) and have managed to get the internet and such just the way I like.

One of my FAVORITE new features of Windows 7 is the Sticky Notes application.  I can FINALLY make "to-do" lists on my computer and have them work for me!

Now, as I'm sitting at the computer and thinking of things that need to get done, I can just "leave myself a sticky note"!  And, I can "cross out" the items when I'm done, feeling that wonderful sense of accomplishment!

Merry CHRISTmas!!

I apologize for the lack of posts over the past couple of weeks, but my computer was dying and it was more work than it was worth to actually get on it to attempt to get anything done on it, including blogging, checking email, etc.

But, today, my INCREDIBLE husband braved the crowds at Walmart and purchased a BRAND NEW COMPUTER for me!!  It has three times the processing speed (went from 945gHz to 2.7gHz)!!

AND, because my wireless network card is a piece, he ran network cable from the den (where the router is) to the kitchen (where my workstation is) for me!  I LOVE the super FAST internet!!

Q4U: What great gift(s) did you receive this CHRISTmas??  Did you find a way to make this season special for someone you love?

"40 Loaves" by C. D. Baker

 
Do you have questions of God that you think aren't "acceptable" to ask?  Do you have doubts? Do you find yourself struggling to live the Christian life the "right way"?  40 Loaves is a daily devotional for you.  For forty days, this little devotional (no one day takes more than 2-3 minutes to read and reflect) will address the "uncomfortable" questions that so many of us have but are afraid to ask.

From the back cover: There are many questions we're not supposed to ask when playing by the religious rules. It makes people uncomfortable. So why is it that Jesus invited questions and even asked some himself? What is it that you're afraid to ask God? It's a risky prospect to begin asking - but far risker to continue simply trying to get by without knowing. Author C. D. Baker asked himself forty soul-searching questions, which started a conversation in his heart and ultimately showed him more about God than he ever expected... Can we become more honest with who we really are and find who God says he really is at the same time? Come indulge yourself in daily readings with an honest exploration of your secret fears and thoughts, and know that you will always be welcomed in God's unconditional love.

Grab a copy of this daily devotional for yourself or a loved one this Christmas.  This would make a great stocking stuffer!

Thanks to WaterBrook Press for providing me with two copies of this book.  I'll be giving a copy away this Christmas!

"The Rose Legacy" by Kristen Heitzmann

I read this book last week, and although it took a couple chapters to get into it, I found myself hooked. After a few chapters, I found it hard to put down, as I wanted to know "what happens next?"

The Rose Legacy is a story of a girl named Carina who has "run away" from her pampered life in California to what she believes is an "ideal life" in the Rockies.  She quickly finds herself in trouble (before she even makes it to her destination), and she learns that she is often too innocent for her own good.

From the back cover: Fleeing her idyllic home in Sonoma, California, Carina Maria DiGratia journeys to the mining town of Crystal, Colorado. Clinging to hopes of a new life, she finds reality has a harsh welcome for her. Overrun with men seeking their fortune and women bound by circumstance, the town hosts both dreams and nightmares, with little surety for tomorrow. But at least here Carina is far from the betrayal that still pierces her heart... Early on, two men vie for her trust, but neither is what he seems. Will Carina discern the truth and confront the turmoil hidden in her own heart in time to prevent tragedy?

In the first book of the Diamond of the Rockies series, Heitzmann weaves a story full of suspense and romance.  As part of a series, this book appropriately leaves the reader wanting more, looking forward to the next book in series.  I definitely look forward to reading more books by this author!

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing this copy for me to read and review.

Recycled Gift Bows (craft)

1. Turn on a classic Christmas movie to watch while crafting.

2. Choose a colorful page from a magazine to create a bow from.

3. Use a paper cutter to cut the page in 3/4"-1" wide strips.

4. Unbend a paper clip to use as a "hole punch".

5. "Knot" the end of a twist-tie.

6. Use method shown here, but with the twist-tie instead of a brad and the paper clip instead of a hole punch.

7. Do this craft with your kids!  (Kid-friendly version here.)

Great Stocking Stuffers from WaterBrook/Multnomah

WaterBrook/Multnomah sent me two of their "value books" to read and review.  These books, and others in these lines, would make great stocking stuffers this holiday season.

"It's inevitable - worry and stress will attack us all. And when they do, how we fight back makes the difference between succumbing and overcoming. Whether your anxieties are caused by a job loss, the economy, divorce, a death in the family, health problems, work conflicts, unruly children, or other issues, the 99 suggestions in this book provide relief and encouragement." (Excerpt from the back cover.)

Sometimes things come up in life - we all know how that is.  Soon, it seems worry and stress are taking over our lives.  In 99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress, Elsa Kok Colopy brings us simple steps that we can take, based on biblical principles, to refocus our attention on God, remembering that He is in control in every situation.

"You've searched a lifetime for that special person, but how can you be absolutely certain that you've found 'The One'? And how can you hold on to that love for the rest of your life? While finding your soulmate is a great start, you need much more to build a successful relationship that leads to a lifetime of love." (Excerpt from back cover.)


More Than a Match is a great book for couples considering marriage or in pre-marital counseling.  Michael and Amy Smalley share their personal story, including Amy's prior engagement, and help the reader to clearly and carefully examine the relationship that is looking like it's leading to marriage.  This book helps couples to build relationships that will last a lifetime.

Thanks to WaterBrook/Multnomah for providing these books for me to read and review.

The Dreaded Deed is Done

We share a laundry room with our downstairs neighbors.  It's disgusting.  It has been since we moved in 2.5 years ago.  It's a nasty basement room - cobwebs, dust, dirt, etc.  It makes me dread doing laundry.  I think my MIL swept it once for us - but it's been over a year since then.  We try to at least keep the machines clean.

Today, J asked me if I would help him clean it.  I shuddered.  I don't do cobwebs.  But, since he asked, I decided to go along with him and get it clean.

He used the broom to knock down the cobwebs in the stairwell and around the laundry room.  I used the vacuum to vacuum the cobwebs off the broom.  And I wore gloves to avoid touching any grossness.

It's done now, and the room looks much better.  And I don't have to worry about walking through the cobwebs to get to the washer and dryer anymore - at least til they re-accumulate.

Thanks, J!

She's tired, but won't sleep!!

Jenny is SOOO tired (and has been for a couple of days), but she just won't sleep!  Naps are "play time" for her and David (which means he hasn't been sleeping either), and last night, she woke up around 9:30 and was up for an hour or until we went to bed.  Thankfully she is going to bed fine (for the most part - although I did find her under the crib the other night when I went to check on them before I went to bed) and is sleeping until 8ish in the morning.

She is becoming a pain when she's awake, though.  She has trouble obeying when she gets this tired, so it's been a struggle the last couple of days.  Plus, she is super intense when she's tired, too.  Lots of "in Mommy's face" moments (and I'm not a fan of anybody being "in my face").

I'm looking forward to the weekend starting tonight!  Maybe J can help to keep her out of my hair... if only.

Q4U: What are you struggling with this week? How can I pray for you?

Getting into the Christmas spirit...

I'm still not there, yet.  But I think I'm getting closer.

Thursday, Jenny and I made cut-out Christmas cookies as our Advent activity.  She helped me measure ingredient, stir the dough, cut out cookies, and of course, lick the beaters!

Friday, J wanted to go to Menards to pick up a work light they had on sale, so we decided to go ahead and do the rest of our Christmas shopping while we were there.  J also decided that we should decorate for Christmas - he had been in a bunch of homes that were decorated and had seen the folly in his decision to not decorate this year.  We decided to look and see if we could find a tree we liked while we were there, along with some lights and such for the house.  I browsed the trees, found one I actually liked (I'm pretty picky when it comes to trees for some reason), decided I was willing to pay the $70 for it, and was SHOCKED when I went to get it off the shelf and it was marked down to $45 w/ a $10 MIR.  Nothing like a half-price Christmas tree to get me in the spirit!  They also had some white lights that were "free" (after MIR), so we picked up five boxes of those (limit of 5 for the MIR) along with a strand of flashing colored lights for the tree and a tree skirt and two matching stockings (for the kids - they only had "Baby's First Christmas" stockings).

 Saturday, Jenny had practice in the morning for the kids' Christmas program at Church, so she and I went there, then ran back to Menards (it's literally next door to the Church) to get another strand of colored lights for the tree, since the strand we had purchased on Friday wasn't long enough.   When we got home, we worked on decorating the tree (we had set it up Friday night after the kids went to bed) and putting lights up around the house.

Saturday afternoon, J and I were sitting in the living room while the kids were "napping" when we heard a car coming down the road.  It was a "regular" on our road that has a distinct motor sound.  However, it hadn't made it very far when we heard a sound that wasn't part of it's normal sound.  We looked out the window in time to see it driving down the wrong side of the road, taking out our neighbor's mailbox, taking out the road sign (barely missing the utility pole), and spinning off into the woods next to our house!  We immediately called 911, not knowing what had happened.  It turned out to be a drunk driver (had four empty beer cans on the driver side floor).  He tried to make a run for it, but was too drunk to take more than three steps before he fell over.  We had a slew of emergency vehicles in our side yard for awhile!  We were just thankful that 1) nobody was coming in the opposite direction on the road; 2) he hit our neighbor's mailboxes instead of ours - he would have landed in our living room if he had hit ours; and 3) nobody was seriously injured!

Yesterday was slightly less exciting, though busy.  The kids and I went to church in the morning (got there a little late since I didn't want to get out of bed!!).  J got home for lunch the same time we did, so we got to enjoy having him home for lunch.  Then the kids and I all napped - I slept in Jenny's bed so she would stay still and actually sleep - and I got some reading done after naps.  We headed back to church for small group around 6pm, and J met us there after he got out of work.  I had a chance to talk to my grandparents and mom on the phone after we got home from church (two separate phone calls) while watching the finale of The Amazing Race.  (I was glad Meghan and Cheyne won!)  The night ended with the end of the book I was reading.

Today has been a quiet day - Jenny and I did school this morning and David's napping.  I'm hoping to get another book read this afternoon.

Q4U: Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? What was the most exciting part of your weekend? What are you looking forward to this week?

The Art of Making Christmas Cookies...

Christmas Blog Tour from WaterBrook/Multnomah

In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides readers in discovering evidence in their own lives of his attentive love.

“The idea for the book came from a cigar box filled with odds and ends of my grandfather’s life that arrived a few months after his death. Sifting through the objects in the box, I experienced him in a fresh new way. This made me wonder what treasures might be tucked away in Scripture that could frame God for me in an equally intimate, tangible way. This process also helped me uncover my own “treasures” of my walk with the Lord: objects that remind me of my history with him and his faithfulness to me,” says McLeroy.

Drawn from the pages of Scripture, the author considers twelve such treasures and personalizes their meaning for readers, such as a green olive branch that offers proof of God’s “new every morning” mercy and a scarlet cord that demonstrates his willingness to adopt “strays” of every sort.

Weaving these treasures together with scenes from her personal history, Leigh McLeroy invites readers to discover God’s heart for them and embrace their unique role in his redemptive story. Treasured offers readers a guided experience of God’s love and character and invites them to consider their own treasures that point to their part in God’s ongoing story.

"I lowered my face and inhaled deeply, breathing in the last, elusive fragrance of a man I had adored. Nothing in the box could have been worth more than a few dollars, and there was not a single keepsake that might be considered suitable for display. But every small scrap it contained told a story - his story... I've known God longer than I ever knew my grandfather, although I have never seen Him. I've not once touched His face or heard His voice or felt the weight of His hand on my own. Still, I suspect that He has left more than a few scattered bits of His rich and mysterious identity for me to examine, tucked away deep in the pages of His Word. An olive branch here. A golden bell there. A faded strip of fabric, spotted brown with blood. A length of scarlet thread. A few grains of barley. These keepsakes tell His story, and they help me to understand my own... He treasured them, and He treasures me too."

When you read this excerpt from the introduction, you quickly find yourself wanting more.  Wanting to better know the One who created you, who loves you more than you can ever imagine.  Leigh McLeroy walks her readers through Scriptures that speak to the depth of our souls - that remind us just how much we are treasured by our Heavenly Father.  What a precious gift and reminder this holiday season.



In God Gave Us Love, Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, and the young polar bear begins to ask questions like why must we love others . . . even the seemingly unlovable? Why is it easier to love those we like? Where does love come from? And why does God love her so much?
Grampa Bear patiently addresses each one of Little Cub’s curiosities by explaining the different kinds of love we can share: the love between friends, the love between families, the love between moms and dads, and the love for God.

He also assured Little Cub that because of the love God has given her through his Son, there’s nothing she can do to make God love her any more or any less. Through Grampa Bear’s encouraging Little Cub to love others with a “God-sized love,” children will be inspired to love others and to be patient, gentle and kind, so that in every way, they too can demonstrate God’s love.

A beautifully illustrated and well-written book.  Jenny begged me to read this book with her again and again!


In God Gave Us Christmas, as Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear has something on her mind: “Who invented Christmas?” she asks. “Is God more important than Santa?”

Her questions reflect the confusion of so many children during the holiday season. And this heartwarming story takes them on a wonderful journey of discovery—right to the heart of Christmas.

Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns that God loves her and everyone— polar bear, moose, or human—so much that he gave us Jesus, the very best gift of all.

Jenny and I read this story last night as part of our Advent reading before bed.  I absolutely LOVED it - and she did too!  The story takes the focus off of the commercial aspect of Christmas, and focuses on the gift that God gave us - the true Reason for Christmas.  It puts Santa in proper perspective as well - as one who reminds us about giving - which I really appreciated, since we don't "do Santa" at our house.  It helps to explain to children how big our God really is and the awesomeness of the gift of Christmas.  The book is not only well written but also beautifully illustrated.  I was very pleased with it!

(Words in italics are summaries provided by the publisher.)

Disclaimer: These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Simple Advent Calendar

This is our Advent calendar.  I made it out of sticky notes and an old desk calendar.  Not super "cute" or "crafty", but it serves its purpose - to help us count down to Christmas one day at a time.  And, honestly, my kids are too young to understand it's lack of craftiness or cuteness.  David doesn't even know it exists, probably.  And Jenny is just too excited to see what we get to do each day.  It's on the back of the counter, right next to where she eats breakfast every day.  Perfect way to start each day.

Random Ramblings, vol. 12, issue 2

RR#1: It's already Wednesday?!?!!! I can't believe it's already Wednesday.  Where has the week gone?

RR#2: And, since it's Wednesday, that means I have to teach Bible study tonight.  Have I even started on my lesson?  NOPE!  Yikes!  I guess I have my work cut out for me this afternoon - let's hope the study guide is full of great discussion questions!!

RR#3: My "to-do" list for the week seems to be growing faster than it's shrinking.  I think I've managed to add at least one thing to it every time I've managed to cross something else off!  At least I have no reason to not have anything to do... if only I could motivate myself to actually accomplish it all!

RR#4: I almost forgot to "celebrate Advent" yesterday.  I finally got the kids in bed and started to pick up the toys Jenny hadn't, and I found one of the books I was planning to read during Advent.  I thought about skipping it, but decided it would take less than five minutes, and the kids weren't asleep yet anyways.  I went back in their room and read the Christmas story to them and we talked about it before they went to sleep.  Hopefully tonight I'll do better about remembering before saying "goodnight!"

RR#5: I've got some more Christmas-y books to share with you this week - probably tomorrow.  This time, there are two kids books and one non-fiction book.  I just need to finish up reading them.

RR#6: Story time at the library ended yesterday, so we don't have any "scheduled" activities for the next month or so during the days that J works (other than church on Sundays).  I think the kids and I are going to head to Michigan at some point prior to the holidays so that we can deliver Christmas presents for GC's Christmas (since J is on-call during Christmas and we can't make it to Michigan).  I haven't figured out which week/end, yet, though.  If we time it right, J may even be able to join us.

RR#7: I still haven't managed to come up with the desire to decorate the house for Christmas.  I really don't want to add to the temptations for David and Jenny with all the "pretties" around the house.  We only have a 4 foot tree, anyways, so it's not a big deal if it doesn't get put up, right?  Ugg.  I don't know what I want to do!!!!!

Alright, enough randomness for today.  Enjoy your Wednesday!

Q4U: How's your week going?