Prais and Worship Sunday-The Coloring Song-Petra

http://youtu.be/S0cOOge_ljo

Saturday Disney Fix

http://youtu.be/hRT86ZggCEk

Some recent Book reviews and First chapter peaks of some great Christian Books

On my other blog A Room without Books is Empty I have recently posted some reviews and first chapter peaks of some good books.  Click on the titles below the covers and that will take you to the reviews.



Prayer Walk by JanetHolm McHenry



Someone to Watch Over Me by Michelle Stimpson



Summer Dream by Martha Rogers



Shadows on the Sand by Gail Roper


Any of these would make a great summer read. 

Feeling inadequate - a confession

The world is a rough place to live nowadays.  We women have enough telling us that we aren't perfect.  If we aren't a size 2 we are over weight.  If our house isn't perfectly clean then we are slobs.  If our kids misbehave when they are small or make wrong choices when they are older then it is our fault. 
We get enough of this stuff with out it coming from other women or even ourselves. 
When I first started homeschooling I would buy the homeschooling magazines and read how other homeschoolers were doing it.  You know the magazines, the ones with the family of 12 on the front cover all clean and shiny with matching outfits with the matching article inside telling you how they all get up so cheerfully and have their breakfast finished and all the chores done with no complaining by 7.  I was lucky if my kids were up and ready for school by 10 never mind that they were still in there pj's and eating cereal while they did their math.  And I only had three kids. 
I find myself falling into that trap time and again but in different areas of my life.  Just recently I found myself  being trapped when I was reading other blogs.  There are so many out there that write so eloquently and they draw such wonderful points from scripture.  They can sound so deep no matter if they are writing about some profound point or how to make apple pie. 
I am a simple woman.  I draw strength from spending time with  the Lord in the Bible and prayer.  I don't expound very much (much to my husband's dismay).  I take the Bible at face value and don't feel like you have to go into great theological debates to present the gospel to other's.  Like one of our past pastor's said once I like the K.I.S.S. method.  Keep It Simple Stupid!! 
I found myself being trapped when it was implied recently by someone that because I have many interests that I must be lacking in my walk with the Lord.  What that person didn't take into account was the many different things that I do that are done when others aren't around to witness it.  I just finished the latest book by JimBob and Michelle Duggar (that's another post)  In it they said that they listen to a recording of the Bible everynight so I have started doing that with my phone and the audio Bible I have on there.  The only problem is getting the volume right so it's loud enough to hear but soft enough that I can go to sleep.  I usually turn it off during the night sometime but it is pumping into my brain the whole time.  In the morning while I am driving to where ever I happen to be walking that day I listen to Pilgrim's Progress (this is the current book my husband and I are listening to) for a half an hour (my audible app has a sleep feature that I can set it for 30 minutes).  I will continue listening when I get to where I am walking.  After that time is up I go through my scripture memory list a few times ( I also have an app for this that will read the list for me, yes it's computer voice but it is a good way for me to review my list). I listen to Beth Moore or Kay Arthur on my way home (my husband and I are currently listening to Kay Arthur speak about Matthew).  All of this is done before 8 am without to many witness except for a few birds and squirrels.  My other interests are more public like watching tv (not very much) watching movies, reading, blogging, and crafts of various types.  So it may seem like I spend more time on other pursuits where in actuality I spend more time on spiritual things.
I found myself in the trap recently of thinking that I am not (wasn't) a very good parent because of some choices and mistakes that my adult children have made.  I have to remind myself that they were taught right from wrong and it is their choice which way they choose.  And they need to live with their choices.  My Husband and I weren't perfect parents but we did what we thought best and to the best of our abilities and love our children no matter what they do (this in no way means that we condone some of their decisions).
I guess this is all to say that when you find yourself falling into one of these traps look at what you do in that area that is positive.  If you can learn something from someone else then by all means do it and find a way to fit it into your life but do just that ,  make it yours not a copy of someone else.  God made us each different,  Wouldn't it be awfully dull if we were all the same. 

Praise and Worship Sunday There is a Redeemer by Keith Green

Disney Fix Saturday

Things I am Thankful for!!

Today my Nephew and his wife had their first child.  His name is Evan Joshua. 

I am thankful that my husband can sleep through just about everything.  With him having to sleep during the day it is nice that I don't have to worry to much about disturbing him.  I guess it's all those years sleeping in the truck. 

I am thankful that Hannah passed her written test for her driver's permit. 

This is a picture of her yesterday eating our celebration lunch of Kentucky Fried Chicken at Long's Park.  Took her to an empty parking lot after this and she drove for the first time.

I am thankful that we live in an area that I could walk in a different place everyday for several weeks. I am really enjoying discovering new trails. Here are a few pictures of where I walked today.

I am thankful to live in a country where if I want to I can have someone else do the cooking.  We are having Charlie's Chicken tonight.  No cooking for Me!!

Those are just a few things I am thankful for.  What are you thankful for?

What's Going on? Wednesday

We have been busy on and off recently.  On Monday night a bunch of ladies from church got together to honor four young ladies in the church who had recenly graduated or turned sweet 16.  Hannah was one of these.  We had a good time with several of the ladies sharing bits of wisdom and one of the girl's grandmother giving a wonderful talk complete with props on following the recipe for life (the Bible).  The other grandmother of this girl gave each of the girls a note with her favorite verses in it and encouraged them to memorize scripture.

It has bee really hot here the last couple of days and I haven't felt like walking.  I did walk today and took some pictures.

 Yes that is goose droppings on the sidewalk.  It makes it very interesting to walk here.  But It is so pretty!!

Hannah had her physical for her drivers' permit so she just has to decide when she wants to go for her test.  She is taking her time and making sure that she is ready which I believe is a good thing.  She has always been our tentative one when it comes to things she is not sure about, she takes her time and feels things out. 

We have recently discovered an new park that has a walking path beside a creek.  It is a nice quiet place and you can go in the creek and wade if you so choose.   We hope to continue to discover other great parks as there are alot located throughout Lancaster County.  I will try to take pictures of the various trails as I explore them. 

I have been watching some oldies but goodies lately.

Lost in Space.  Bad acting and Bad special effects but good campy fun.  Nothing to worry about here. 

The Patty Duke Show Reunion Movie.  I discovered The Patty Duke Show when I was a teenager on reruns.  I always liked the whole concept of the show.  Again good clean fun.

Beach Party with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon.  I was a bit surprised by this one as sex is mentioned quite often and the professor is even studying the teenage mating rituals.  No one is actually sexually active but Frankie brings Dede to the beach so they can be alone.  She wants him to think of her as a wife so she invites all their friends.  Annette keeps her promise to Walt Disney and doesn't show her naval but there is plenty of bikinis around . Tthe one girl always wears some kind of outfit with fringe so when she dances it is swinging back and forth.  The teenagers made out quite a bit.  Not the innocent little movie you would think it would be. 

I love Lucy.  Always a Classic.  this is a great clip. 

I hope that everyone has a great day!!!

Our busy life

That title is really a misnomer.  We are not anymore busy than anyone else but it just seems like we can't get anything accomplished.  We had a good holiday weekend.  David took our daughters and one of Hannah's friends to a local demolition derby on Saturday and they had a blast.  Who knew that girls would like that kind of thing. 

Sunday we went to church and then just came home to relax.  Hannah went with her friend to a picnic that one of the families from church was hosting.  We had planned on going to a local park to see the fireworks but since they saw fireworks on Saturday night and it was hot and I didn't really want to deal with the crowds we decided to stay home and do nothing.  LOL. 

On Monday we had a small cookout and then Dave and I went to a local park and walked the trail.  The first place we went to we couldn't find the trail but we did find a covered bridge.

I hate the way I look in this picture.  I have lost some weight and the pants are a bit loose.  But I guess that is a good problem to have. 

This is us on the trail.

The green behind me is an interesting rock formation on the other side of the creek.

I have been walking quite a bit lately.  I have been discovering all the beautiful parks we have just within a short distance of our house and where I work.  I walked a trail near my work this past week.  I didn't walk the whole thing as it was five miles round trip but I did do half of it. 

Dave and I just recently finished listening to the Bible and we have started listening to Pilgrim's Progress.  I listen while I am walking.  I also just recently read a book (am rereading now) a book about Prayerwalking. (click on the link to read the first chapter of the book)  I plan to start doing that for the second half of my walk.  I have started to wear a pedometer to track how many steps I walk a day.  My goal right now is 5000.  It is recommended that your take 10000 steps a day so I thought I would work my way up.   I have been walking between 5000 and 8500 this past week. 

I am still couponing but we have gotten to a level with most of our supplies that I don't need to buy much every week.  I won't buy things just to be buying so either we need it or it's a really good buy.  I find that I get better use of my coupons at the drug stores. 

My Doctor was very pleased with my progress with the diabetes.  All my numbers are within the range they should be and my blood pressure even went down to the normal level which it hasn't been in years.  It is still a struggle everyday though trying to balance the food and everything.  A great sight that I have found is Sparkpeople.com.  I can keep track of my food, gloucose level and exercise all in one place.  It's free and it's for anyone who wants to lose weight or just have a healthier lifestyle.  Great Sight. 

Well that's all for now.  Hope everyone has a great day.