Small Successes

Sherry at her blog, Chocolate for Your Brain, hosts Small Successes each Thursday. Check it out to see others' successes & share your own. Recognizing the small things we accomplish each week helps us realize that even when it doesn't seem like it, we are getting things done!

1) Casinodad & I replaced two bathroom faucets! This task had been put off way too long, so this past weekend we made sure to get it done & together we did.

2) I started on the boys' bedroom...got the top of their dresser cleaned off & dusted, cleaned out their dresser drawers, & cleared out underneath the dresser & The Saint's toddler bed. I didn't get through as much as I wanted, but it's a start!

3) I finally took a box of books to Half Price Books & got double what I expected. My success is that I only spent a few dollars of it on more books!

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I'm thankful that my friend/boss/neighbor (yes, she is the same person!) & I were able to clear out the file cabinets in her office at work on Sat. The filing cabinets, full of information on the residents, were getting too stuffed & I wasn't able to put any more in some of the drawers. We worked together to see which accounts had been paid in full & pulled those files to be stored elsewhere in the building. We must have pulled at least 300 files & took us most of the day, but I am so thankful it is done!

2) I am SO thankful that I finally have hope for my back pain! I'm going through physical therapy again w/ a different therapy center & the therapist thinks my pain stems from a twisted pelvic bone (the left side turned back & the right going forward, pushing the SI joint into nerve endings). For the next six weeks, I'll be working on some core muscle exercises & going in for some heated therapy sessions, as well as some adjustments to get the bone even again.

3) I am thankful for "Mom Therapy" w/ my dear friend yesterday. Visiting w/ her was a much needed relief from some stress I've been carrying around lately. While my problems didn't go away, it was nice to not worry about them for a few hours.

4) I'm thankful we are finally getting a break from the heat & humidity. I stepped outside last night to water some of my flowers. It was nice & cool out there.

5) I'm thankful for Judy's Garden of Home post on Benmakesten last Tuesday. I'd been wrestling w/ a desire to participate in an upcoming bible study at church, but knew it was going to be tough to do w/ all our other responsibilities & appointments. Judy's post gave me great peace of mind about not being able to do it this time around. I know I left you a comment Judy on the post, but I thank you once again!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy hosts this meme each week. Read other Daybooks HERE.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...bright, sunny sky, but on the way to a hot & humid day (surprise, surprise!)

I am thinking...that there might be hope after all for my back. I started physical therapy again, this time w/ a different center. The therapist thinks that my pelvic bone is out of alignment (one side twisted backward & the other twisted forward), thus causing my SI joint to rub against the nerves.

I am thankful...that Casinodad & I finally replace two of our bathroom faucets

From the learning rooms...getting ready to start on Aug. 22

From the kitchen...not sure yet! (I really don't like when I don't have a plan.)

I am wearing...a gray t-shirt & black capris

I am creating...(continuing to create) a home of peace & simplicity - clean & uncluttered!

I am going...to continue working through the 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way, working on upstairs bedrooms now...The Princess' room is done & today I will start on the boys' room.

I am reading...The Curious Adventures of the Abandoned Toys by Julian Fellowes (reading aloud to the munchkins), The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen, Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset, & The Imitation of Christ.

I am hoping...that we're finally on track to relieve my back pain.

I am hearing...the dishwasher running, The Saint talking to himself, & The Princess puttering around in the school room

Around the house...I'm still working through 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way. I love the reflections & tasks in this ebook.

One of my favorite things...Twizzlers

A few plans for the rest of the week...PT on Wed., annointing of the sick & penance service at church on Thurs. evening, & family reunion on Sun.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...The Saint exercising w/ Daddy

A Quick Look Back: July 2011

smkelly8 at Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition has started a new meme to be done at the end of each month. It is called A Quick Look Back. I love this idea & am happy to be sharing my reflections w/ you each month.

In whatever form you'd like (photos, writing, etc.) share what are some of the most memorable things you've

• Seen
• Heard
• Tasted
• Touched
• Smelled
• Learned
• Accomplished

this month?

So, here is my Quick Look Back at July 2011:

• Seen: fireworks to celebrate our country's independence; the beauty of the sky full of lightning during an evening thunderstorm
  
• Heard: the squeals of delight as the munchkins watched fireworks
  
• Tasted: the first zucchini picked from our garden, sauteed in olive oil w/ garlic, salt, & pepper
• Touched: the munchkins' foreheads as I blessed them each night before bed
• Smelled: the sulfur remnants from the fireworks; the zucchini being sauteed (LOVE that garlic smell!)
  
• Learned: that I CAN have a clean/organized/decluttered home & that I am not attached to many of the "things" around the house
• Accomplished: completely cleaned & organized the kitchen & school room, purging a LOT of unnecessary stuff
  

Go to A Quick Look Back on smkelly8's blog to share your reflections of last month.

Homeschool Book Giveaway

My dear friend, Judy, is holding a giveaway at her Homeschool Faith and Family Life website. The book, Suzie Andre's The Little Way of Homeschooling, includes stories of 13 families who felt called to homeschool then felt called to unschool. For more details about the book & to enter Judy's giveaway, click HERE.

Small Successes

Sherry at her blog, Chocolate for Your Brain, hosts Small Successes each Thursday. Check it out to see others' successes & share your own. Recognizing the small things we accomplish each week helps us realize that even when it doesn't seem like it, we are getting things done!

1) With The Princess' help, we cleaned, organized, & rearranged her room. It's amazing how much space is in there & guess what...THERE IS A FLOOR! I had no idea!

2) I made two more batches of KoolAid playdough for the munchkins...LemonLime & Grape. This has been one of the best things I've made this summer for them & has been a great way to beat the heat/boredom blues!

3) With more help from The Princess, we cleaned & reorganized the bookshelf in our upstairs hallway. In front of the shelf were a few boxes (one which had accessories from our first computer in 1999...I think it's time to get rid of that stuff, don't you?)

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I'm thankful for the return of our internet! Last Friday's storm fried our modem & it was replaced today.

2) I'm thankful that, because I wasn't distracted by the internet, I was able to read quite a bit & get a lot done around the house. (Stay tuned for Small Successes to read what I accomplished!)

3) I'm thankful our neighbor was able to repair the munchkins' bathroom & w/out having to cut into the wall. We now have three functioning bathrooms again...the first time in at least 2 years!

4) I'm thankful for the beauty & magnificence God created during the storm on Friday. That electrical light display was incredible. (I even wrote up a post on it HERE.)

5) I'm thankful for homemade sherbet! I found a recipe that I used when I was a young'n & decided to try it out on the munchkins. They LOVED it & it is SUPER EASY!

Homemade Sherbert
1 Kool-Aid packet
1 cup sugar (I use a closer to 3/4 c.)
2 cups milk
Blend for 5 minutes.
Freeze or drink as a smoothie (it's great either way!)