A Few of my Favorite Things: Rose Edition...

My jellies: Mama doesn't let me sleep with them, but I bring them to her every morning so she can put them on me... aren't they cute? (Thank you Aunt Lydia!)

Playing outside: Being outside makes me so happy. Sometimes I even get to help bring the trash to the dumpster. Big people might say it's not very far, but I'm sure it must be a whole mile in baby steps.

Looking at pictures: I miss Grandma and Nonnie and Kathryn and Mea and Katelyn and... everybody. (Thank you Nonnie!)

Dolly and doggy: My baby is so sweet. She's a good girl like me. My doggy plays with dolly and me. (Thank you Grandma and Nonnie!)

When Pappa gets home from school: I talk about Papa all day long. When he finally gets home I toddle to see him as quick as I can. That's my very favoritist part of the day.

These are some of my favorite things.... check out other's here.

The sun is out!

It rained all morning and all day yesterday and all day** the day before yesterday and all day the day before that! But now, the sun in shining. Hurrah! Time to head to the park...

** Well, just about all day. For a few brief moments it stopped and Rosalind and I went to the park (we really like it). But the moments quickly passed and we arrived home soaking wet. :)

Our home: the office and our bedroom

Loose papers everywhere. Cell phone always in use. Books covering the bed and floor. Not a quiet moment ever.

This is what I envisioned having the office in our bedroom would entail... but I actually like it. The chrome and black make the corner feel distinct from the rest of the room while still blending in. And though papers and books may abound, it's kind of fun.

I love the way Joshua used a cheap white board (less than half the cost of black for some reason!) and a scrap from the grow boxes to make the shelf and monitor stand. Amazing what a 99 cent can of spray paint can do!





And now for a peek at "the bedroom part". A bit of tulle left from our wedding inspired me to make a sheer drape for the head of the bed.

Though not a very busy street outside, the major gaps between shade and window casing required curtains desperately-- which I finally got around to making from an old sheet. Feels much more like a real bedroom now! :)

Check out what works for others here. :)

Plans...and menu plans

Laura over at "I'm an Organizing Junkie" hosts a weekly Menu Planning Monday. Since I need to get better about menu planning, I thought I'd join in... especially because this week will be kind of different. :)

A week and a half ago, Joshua surprised me with a ticket for Rosalind and me to go back "home"! I couldn't believe it at first, having resigned myself to waiting until October for a dash up for his brother Steve's wedding. But I am thrilled. It has made the whole process of adjusting much easier. Before just looking at pictures from Missouri made me cry. Now I know I'll get to see everyone soon. Thank you darling!

...And soon I will be homesick for Alabama. Or at least the wonderful man I'm leaving behind!

But with this in mind, I thought it imperative to chart out the meals for the week-- especially the part in which Joshua will be fending for himself.

Breakfasts-

Scrambled eggs, toast, hash browns and juice
Granola topped with dried fruit
Blueberry muffins
Yogurt and granola
And lots of sausage egg casserole for Josh while I'm gone.

Dinners-

Monday- Creamed chicken on wheat biscuits with corn.

Tuesday- Taco salad pizza

Wednesday- Pork chops (stocked up for 99 cents a pound last week!) with mashed potatoes, cooked carrots and homemade rolls.

...and for the rest of the week while the girls are gone...

Thursday- Chicken tetrazzini (in fridge-ready to heat up)

Friday- Mini cheddar meat loaf with twice baked potatoes (in fridge- ready to heat up)

Saturday- Dinner at a friend's house.

Sunday- Left over taco salad pizza from Monday night

Monday- Chicken broccoli casserole (in fridge-ready to heat up)

Tuesday- Left over chicken tetrazzini

....arriving home late Tuesday night ....

Wednesday- Joshua taking me out for my birthday

Thursday- I have no clue!

Rejoice the Lord is King!

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and Heav’n,
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv’n;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He all His foes shall quell, shall all our sins destroy,
And every bosom swell with pure seraphic joy;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
We soon shall hear th’archangel’s voice;
The trump of God shall sound, rejoice!

Charles Wesley

Whether rejoicing in the goodness of God to me... or needing to be reminded that He does reign so I should rejoice, the words of this hymn have been such a blessing to me.

A few of my favorite things...

It has been a great week- an exhausting week- a week full of adjustments!

Susanne, over at Living to Tell the Story is hosting "Favorite Five" today so I thought I'd join in with five of the things I'm grateful for this week...

Sweet baby hugs: What can be more delightful than warm chubby arms wrapped around your neck or little lips smothering your cheeks with kisses?

Long walks at the park: There's a lovely park just five minutes walk from our home. Massive old trees shade the walking paths, and Rose and I often go after lunch to enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

Watching the plants begin to grow:

Great internet finds: We've had some pretty rough nights around here lately [Rose wide awake and ready for stories at 2:00 am- help!]. Imagine my delight when I got on Librivox a few days ago and found that "Mother" had just been completed. I downloaded it immediately and have been so blessed- just what I needed. :) You can download it here.

Having just recently joined the coupon zealots out there, this story about made me cry with laughter.

On a more serious note, Elizabeth Botkin wrote a great article on girl's reading boy's literature. I'm working on recording St. Bartholomew's Eve by G. A. Henty and found it especially pertinent.

Dinner time: Can it really just be Friday? I'm sure Joshua has already put in 80 hours studying! This has made dinner a jealously guarded highlight of my day: a time to set aside the books, relax and talk.

Our home: the living room

I think it's about time to post a few pictures of our home!

We fell in love with this little house when we first saw it. After looking at several rather scary apartments this duplex with its big shaded yard and quiet neighborhood was really attractive.

But there were two major drawbacks for me. First the tiny closets, limited cupboard space, small linen closet- in short almost no storage space. Second, an unfinished wood bookshelf spanning the length of one living room wall (it really did not go with the beautiful one Joshua's dad made us).

As I thought about it though, I realized that the one was the answer to the other. Instead of filling the bookshelf with books, it could serve as storage space...

My sis Heidi and I

A batten burg curtain my mother found at a garage sale a year ago worked perfectly as a covering.

Now the only other change I would make would be to cover the couch. For a free one it is pretty comfortable-- but quite crazy looking.

Since I wasn't going to spend the money buying fabric to cover it, I tried this:

Which looked okay until you sat down. :)

Then a few days ago I was attempting to find a spot to store the cover from the guest bed we sold before moving. My efforts to squeeze it into the linen closet were proving futile when an idea struck me...

I love it: a "new" couch for free! And now just one last shot of the other side of the room.

Check out Crystal's blog for some great frugal ideas.

James and Betty Taylor: Bedtime Stories Part I

How I miss the nights of telling stories to my sweet little siblings before bed! Rosalind still prefers pictures of dogs and horses to "real" stories, but in anticipation of the day that she begs for "one more" story, I thought I would record some of my favorite...

One sunny winter morning in 1776 Betty Johnson awoke for the last time in her parents' home-- for today she was getting married. Her husband to be, James Taylor, was a lively young man known for his love of dancing and partying. They had met at her fine old church, fallen in love and now the day they had waited for was finally here.

She gaily prepared for the wedding and festivities to follow. As the clock struck noon the bridal party entered the church in Royston. There she found her beloved James, excited-- and breathless. It was not until after the ceremony was over and they were pronounced man and wife that she realized the reason:

That morning, James had risen before dawn to make the last preparations to welcome his bride. But as he gathered wood and brought in grain, he began to be troubled with things he'd never considered before.

A little while earlier, Methodist preachers had visited the area and he had been among the foremost scoffers. This morning however, he could not shake the verse "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" from his mind.

Would he and his house serve the Lord? Hours passed as he struggled with this question. Finally he knew the answer must be yes. And out in his little barn, he surrendered his life to Christ.

But in the contemplation of these things he had lost all track of time. When he arose from his knees it was almost midday and he was still in work clothes! Would he make it in time? Hurriedly he donned his outfit and ran the whole two miles to church. He arrived breathless just as the wedding was about to begin...

As they left the church after the ceremony, James earnestly told Betty what had happened. In dismay she replied, "Surely I have not married one of those Methodists!"

Certainly this was not what she had bargained for! Every day James held "family prayers" and every day Betty flatly refused to join him. Daily she grumbled and scolded him. One day when she was being especially trying, James picked her up and carried her up the stairs. There, he kneeled down beside her and poured out his heart to God on her behalf.

Never before did she realize how much James cared for her. All the next day she quietly pondered what he had said and that evening joined him for family prayers.

From that day forward they were laborers together in God's kingdom and one day their great-grandson Hudson Taylor would bring the Gospel to thousands.

From Hudson Taylor Vol. I by Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor

Little Mommy

Check out more Wordless Wednesdays here.

Wedding Vows

In the sight of God and witnesses here gathered,
I, Joshua, take thee, Anna, to be my lawfully wedded wife.
As I set this ring a seal upon thy finger
I set thee also a seal upon my heart.
As many waters cannot quench love
I vow to love thee in sorrow and in joy;
In sickness and in health; in poverty and in prosperity.
And as Christ loves the church
I, with Divine assistence, will endeavor
To always love, protect and cherish thee
And hereto pledge my faithfulness to thee for as long as I shall live.

In the sight of God and witnesses here gathered,
I, Anna, take thee Joshua, to be my lawfully wedded husband.
As I set this ring a seal upon thy hand
I set thee also a seal upon my heart.
As many waters cannot quench love
I vow to love thee in sorrow and in joy;
In sickness and in health; in poverty and in prosperity.
And as the Church is subject unto Christ
I, with Divine assistence, will endeavor
To always love, honor and obey thee
And hereto pledge my faithfulness for as long as I shall live.


August 19, 2006