The Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY...Tuesday, April 26, 2011


Outside my window...{if you look out the front window, spring green everywhere ~ trees, grass, flowers ~ jasmine in bloom, rose bush offering large red fragrance, magnolias fill the air BUT out the back…oh my, still a construction zone ~ DIRT (can’t wait until trees are down, fence is finished and sod can be laid!), both sides of the fencing done…lovely white border, garden boxes are really filling out with fruits and veggies, orange blossoms fading into tiny green round oranges, BUT oh that back yard! Holding on to the vision of final results…}

I am thinking...I seem to lose motivation around this time of year regarding current year school and want to always jump into the next year’s planning; watching how the children are drawn toward the beautiful weather and need prodding to keep focused...but knowing this is their tendency, I do fit in lunches at the park or additional outside time during the day to help provide more focused afternoons {last week we met my husband for lunch at a quiet park and witnessed several learning opportunities...a hummingbird, a Carolina wren's nest, and the icing on the cake was a raccoon scavenging a dumpster for lunch}
I am thankful for...a week off from normal school schedules as Resurrection Day marks the first day of our Easter break.

I am praying for…a friend and her family's soon departure to minister to her oldest daughter across the ocean opposite, another friend...in marking the end to one season of life while embracing a new opportunity to assist her husband with business, my mom…changes and that each day would be one she embraces as a gift, endurance for myself and new energy to work on tasks that have been pushed to the side

From the learning rooms...Easter break! {although this week will be a break from ‘normal’ routine, we will still work on preparing for portfolios…yearbook scrapbooks, gathering samples, finishing up writing assignments, etc.}

From the kitchen...leftovers from dinner last night: smoked ham, baked macaroni n’ cheese, salad, corn-on-the-cob, cranberry sauce and bread {Resurrection Sunday dinner was postponed to Monday which coincided with Austin’s 15th birthday…so we enjoyed a nice sit-down meal with friends after Orchestra and embraced the two days together}


What is a party without cake & ice-cream?  He wanted to make his own cake...so lots of vanilla icing and candy sprinkles it was!  {Notice the two candle blowers...K & Graham blew as soon as we stopped singing and Austin was the accommodating big brother...}

I am creating...notes of gratitude and encouragement to send to a few friends and loved ones today

I am going...to take one to football practice this evening {will provide me an hour or so to catch up on some grading…as well as, watch him practice and prepare for the championship game this Saturday!}

Last playoff game, this past Saturday...Logan was so excited to intercept this pass and return for a touchdown...the team was cheering him on all the way & they won a nail-biting game...now for the Championship Game this Saturday!

I continue reading...the Bible, Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening and My Utmost for His Highest

I am hearing...the washer spinning, pages turning in a workbook, the hum of a fan…what’s missing? I need to put on some Christian music ~ maybe one of my favorites to set the tone of today.

Around the house...order in some areas, disorder in others…a few paper piles to tackle that has been pushed off for quite some time.

One of my favorite things…seeing anticipation in my children

Anticipating the empty tomb...Resurrection Rolls baking after all the children prepared them Resurrection Day morning ~ Zach did our reading as each child helped in preparing the "body" {marshmallow}, click here for the recipe.


Here is picture for thought I am sharing…


Sunrise Birthday Tradition...15 years ~ a beautiful array of light beginning another day of life

Blessings this week ~



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Menu Plan Monday ~ April 18, 2011


Well, Logan’s flag team (Seed #2) won their game on Saturday…a very happy young man with QB time and receiving a touchdown pass! The boys all played well and had a good time, so moving on to the next round on Saturday. A couple more practices this week to keep them on their toes and ready for game time!

A beautiful {warm} day for football...final score ~ WIN!
The fence project is moving along…one step at a time. We are waiting to hear back from a couple tree companies for removing pines on the easement area near the fence line of our property, as well as a large pine in the front (if they are going to come for that, mine as well have them take down another one while they are here. My husband and sons starting on removing other trees on the property line and one near our home last week. All the dismantling, relocating and yard prep is as far as we can go at this point. My goal (spoken and hopefully) is that we can actually have the trees removed and fence up by the end of this month, with city inspection following that. Just moving slowly but steady in that direction… :-) {As I type this, another company arrived to provide a quote for tree removal…}

So what's for dinner?

Monday: Easy Salisbury steaks, leftover red potatoes with green beans, biscuits, applesauce {Youth Orchestra this afternoon…most of the day spent on tree cutting and branch clean-up}

Tuesday: Beef tips n’ gravy, buttered egg noodles, steamed broccoli {Football practice tonight}

Extra tender, fall apart sirolin goodness basked in beef gravy and served over pasta
Wednesday: Baked ziti, Texas toast, sliced pears {Youth Orchestra…}

Thursday: Soup n’ sandwich ½’s {Longer football practice so a very simple dinner for this night}

Homemade {and easy} chicken and pasta soup...

Friday: Whole herb baked chickens, rice, mixed veggies, fruit side

Saturday: Baked fish, corn, baked beans, millet muffins {using the Basic Muffin recipe}

Yummy sweet and crunchy millet muffins...similar to a sweet corn-type muffin in taste, but better.  ;-)

Sunday: Resurrection Rolls for breakfast {family tradition} Lunch out…probably with Resurrection Egg Hunt in the afternoon {family tradition} Resurrection Sunday dinner ~ baked ham, baked macaroni n’ cheese, glazed carrots, steamed broccoli, whole wheat rolls, Fritz’s eggs {Typical family tradition meal for celebrating our Risen Savior}

Last year's Resurrection Rolls in the making...crescent rolls, marshmallows, melted butter & cinnamon sugar are all you'll need to make them with a story behind the "empty tomb" here.

What traditions do you have for Resurrection Sunday? To read more about some of the things we do, click here.  Don't forget to comment (either here or there), as it’s always fun to learn about what other families do ~ even gleaning and adopting new traditions along the way. :-)


Blessings to you as you gather around your meal table this week ~



To read other Menu Plans, click here…thanks for hosting each week, Laura!
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Resurrection Sunday Traditions

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:  that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures...

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Resurrection Sunday is a cause for great rejoicing, as Christ was raised from the dead, conquering death.  In addition to joining with other brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate His resurrection, we celebrate as a family with traditions carved out over time.

The morning begins with a reading of the Word, the account of Christ's crucifixion, death, burial and His resurrection {usually Luke 23 through Luke 24:12 or sometimes we utilize the account in Matthew, as listed below}.  The children's father may read some or all of these passages {or sometimes the passages are shared in reading with the children}, as Resurrection Rolls are baking.


Last year's Resurrection Rolls after baking...the sweet truth of an empty tomb.  :-)
Resurrection Rolls are a "sweet" picture of the empty tomb which we incorporate into our breakfast menu.  The children all help to prepare them from the youngest to the oldest and we discuss what each of the ingredients represent.  Click here for the recipe and accompanying story to use while making them.


Another family tradition we do to celebrate (& remember the importance of ) Resurrection Sunday is by hiding Resurrection eggs for the children.  Each plastic egg contains an item that represents one element of the account of Christ's crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection.  After the children find the eggs we gather and each child opens their egg and explains what they can about the item inside and how it relates to Christ.  We aide little ones as needed.  This activity is usually done several times during the day.  You can easily make your own eggs using the idea as listed here or purchase eggs already put together from companies such as ShopFamilyLife.



We try to read various books (in addition to Scripture) during the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday and watch related videos to further encourage our children at the celebration to soon take place.  Some books and movies we have enjoyed are:
I'd love for you to share your family traditions for celebrating Resurrection Day, by leaving a comment. 

Blessings in Him ~

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