Beauty For Ashes – Some Link Love

Oh, I’ve found some really great blog posts this week.  Here are some of my favorites…

Moms of Faith: A Stubborn Wife Creates an Angry Husband (okay little toes, get ready!)

Blissfully Domestic: Give Yourself the Gift of Sleep (this one made me laugh – I keep trying, but my “gift” is too often rejected…)

Adding Zest to your Nest: Grab Your Blues (this one made me think – but be warned, it may make you blush…)

Family Foodies: The Ultimate Summer Coffee Coolers (okay, shameless plug here, but it was my last post at Family Foodies, so I had to share!)

Great Blogs that are Worth Your Time to Visit:

Thirsty For Him

Amy Bayliss

Dancing in the Margins

A Company Girl – Inspired!

Christin, at Journey to A Gracious Woman featured this meme of sorts on her blog last week and I was intrigued.  I visited Home Sanctuary and found it to be another one of those warm, inviting, encouraging blogs that I just HAD to subscribe to on the spot. And it’s really more of a club than a meme.  Cool!

You know – like walking into a little coffee shop that smells of fresh coffee & pastry and holds pretty little trinkets or candles in every nook and cranny.  Aaaah.  (Is it completely shocking that I’m totally HOOKED by a coffee theme???)

The theme for Company Girl Coffee is:  “Sanctuary is in the Small Things.”  Creating sanctuary at home.

I. LOVE. IT.

Each weekday Rachel posts a new activity to incorporate into your day – with the opportunity to win points. 

Monday – it was exercise for 5 minutes (for 50 points) and my goal for this week is to walk for 20 minutes a day at least 4 days.  MORE motivation!

Rachel also has a monthly drawing and even if you only do one activity, you are eligible to enter.  BUT the participant with he most points wins a big prize.  Here is July’s prize!

TODAY’S ACTIVITY IS: Coffee Time 7.10

On a side note (or maybe I should say novella, since I’m completely incapable of keeping things short & sweet…):

I have to admit – I have found plenty of excuses not to create sanctuary in the house we live in.  Our particular house has many “issues” that require work that Roy & I aren’t skilled with, or requires money to hire skilled workers who tend to charge more per hour than the price of gas, know what I mean?  Needless to say, for the 5 1/2 years I’ve lived here “sanctuary” has been farthest from my mind when I think of our house.

However – my attitude is changing.

Roy has spent a lot of time and effort in our front yard – extending out the landscaping into our front yard, adding beautiful plants and flowers around two bradford pear trees to give me a “cottage style” garden. This part of the yard has become a sanctuary for a variety of birds and animals including yellow finches, turtle doves, hummingbirds, and yes, even skunks. (Yes, you can think “Snow White” if you want to – I just need the 7 magic dwarves to come do the work around the house!)

Something about this has made me want to carry this feeling INTO the house.  So it doesn’t feel impossible anymore to think about ways to create sanctuary in what I’ve considered – at times – to just be a train wreck… (which I am not ready to show pictures of.  yet.)

My brain is spinning with all the motivation and ideas and now I want to make our home a SANCTUARY rather than just a domicile or shelter we stay in to be protected from the elements…

I’m not a sketch artist, but I am a collector, so I am going to print off some pictures of styles I like and start putting them in a dream notebook.  I’m getting paint chips from my local hardware stores so I can start planning on how to do things.  And I’m going to keep my dream notebook with me and keep my vision in front of me.

See – this is the vision of a Keeper At Home.  Of a Home Maker.  And I believe it comes from God – not that I’m having divine revelations – just that God is speaking to my heart and enlarging my vision.  And I am not just going to think about it – I’m going to prepare for it. (And if you’re not sure God doesn’t give visions anymore – read this post at Praise and Coffee!)

One room at a time, I’m going to invite God to help me make this run-down, needs-so-much-work house into our Family Sanctuary.  And you’ll get to see the progress…

Tea-riffic Thursday!

So have you been enjoying your iced tea this summer?  I’ll admit I’m hung up on Iced Mochas right now – but I can only drink so many of them before I get sick.  Not to mention the calories consumed…

Iced Tea is the perfect solution!

Just because National Iced Tea Month is over, doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy one of the world’s favorite summer beverages.

With my fresh peppermint growing out back, I am going to have a fresh jug of tea made today.  I’ll just use my regular black tea bags for now with a couple sprigs of peppermint (Mmmm – that’ll be so refreshing!)

What I really long for is some great fruity-flavored tea!

Teaporia has some great blends that make terrific iced teas for summer!  Red, White & Blue is Teaporia’s July theme:  Red Raspberry in Paris, White Swiss Truffle (oh. my. word. is it good!) and Blueberry Bang are all on special during the month of July – saving 25% on any of these 3 flavors!

Doesn’t raspberry tea sound yummy?

And if you love Christmas, check out the Christmas in July sale in the Accessories ~ Holiday Collection!!!

To check out the specials, over 100 flavor blends, as well as the scone mixes and more – click the image below!

Hey Listen – if you don’t feel like plunking down some change on great tasting tea or yummy scone mix – maybe this will appeal to you!  Read this post about a ministry to widows and pray about contributing to their needs:  Like a Warm Cup of Coffee: What is Pure Religion?

Book Review: The I Believe Bunny by Tish Rabe

When I saw the opportunity to do some book reviews for a Christian publishing company, I HOPPED on it.  Thomas Nelson has published many books that I’ve enjoyed reading.  And now there’s another one!

My first book review is of The I Believe Bunny, by Tish Rabe.

SUCH a cute book.  I was very pleased to see just how beautifully illustrated it was, and as I read it the first time – how simply written and appropriate for my girls to read!

This is the story of a bunny who loved God and thanked God for his blessings.  As it began raining, he began “drooping” a little, but remained hopeful that the rain would end soon. Instead, Bunny discovered a little mouse being swept along in the swift currents of a river.  Knowing he could not stand by and watch, he does what he can to reach out and help the mouse, who is in a desperate situation.

Fearing his ability to help in this crisis, Bunny cries out to God in prayer, and God provides . Despite his small size, Bunny is thankful God could use him to help someone in need.

A precious lesson for any child of God!

Seven Easy Tips: How to Get Your Daughter to Say No Ebook

I enjoy Alyssa Avant’s writing and follow her blog, Beauty By Design.  She is a really sweet, Southern Christian lady and I enjoy the opportunity to share her with you.  Alyssa Avant is a Christian writer, speaker, and business owner whose mission is to turn the hearts of girls towards God. She combines her experience in the modeling industry and as youth and children’s director to reach out to girls pressured and confused by the messages of style, fashion, and beauty.

I asked Alyssa some questions about her e-book, 7 Easy Tips: How to Get Your Daughter to Say No, and this is what she had to say:

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: Monday, July 6, 2009

Outside my window… a small flurry of birds scampers through our “cottage-style” garden looking for seeds and tweeting their morning greetings.

I am thinking… about how big my mouth is and how I should just tattoo “I’m Sorry I Said That” on my tongue!

I am thankful for… my hot cup of coffee.  And blogs Like A Warm Cup of Coffee.

Happy July 4th!

I Love America!

I grew up in a home where Faith and Patriotism ranked high.  If you’ve read this blog for long, that’s probably something you’ve read about.  The Bible and the United States Flag – while not on equal terms – are to be held in high esteem and with the utmost respect.

The Bible holds the story of the Savior of the World – who died on a cross to bridge the gap between fallen humanity and the Perfect Jehovah Creator. It is is what makes Scripture precious.  It is not just a story book of fables designed to entertain and teach moral lessons.  It is the story of generations of imperfect humanity.  Humanity that God has relentlessly pursued without fail – all for the sake of creating a walking, intimate, individual relationship with each person who has ever or will ever live.

While our nation is far from perfect, the foundations on which our country was formed have stood the test of time. They have been mistreated, slandered, and even forsaken.  But they are what they are and they have yet to fail us.

Taking It Easy Thursday

I don’t know what it is, but I have not felt good for a few days.  Georgie has a “funky” eye right now (swollen, goopy, but not really pink or red) and has not slept well – and had a slight fever off & on for awhile.  I’m just not feeling great – need some sleep (but I’m settling for coffee) and am winding down on my Philosphy class with my final due tomorrow.

Curly – on the other hand – has more energy than I can keep up with and is expressing herself artistically through the house with a blue-green crayon.  Don’t think that my apparent calm is a reflection of reality.  She did learn that cleaning up is NOT as much fun as expressing herself…  She needs to have about 3 hours outside – but it’s rainy & cool, so that’s not happening.

I’ve posted at CuppaLove for today, and started a short series on Kitchen Herbs 101 at Family Foodies.  Feel free to stop and visit – leave me comments and feedback – and check back tomorrow. Oh – and if you need some last minute ideas for July 4th menu – check this post at Family Foodies for a new take on your Independence Day BBQ!

I’m already working a couple of posts for next week – so stay tuned!  Thanks for stopping by.  I’m off to get my coffee buzz…

Randomness Meme: Writing

After I posted my original response to The Simple Woman’s Daybook on Monday – I realized I had forgotten a portion and had to go back and add it.  It’s unusual for me to edit a piece I’ve already posted, but really felt it was so necessary.  So if you read the post on Monday, feel free to visit and read the updated version. This is something I hope to continue doing, online and off.

Last week, I was tagged by Erin at Mom’s Resource Blog to be part of this randomness meme focusing on favorite quotes.  I thought I’d join the fun and post some interesting quotes about writing:

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.

~Anaïs Nin

Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.

~Anton Chekhov