Simple woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

* Outside my window…the weather is high clouds, fluffy and light. Bright sky and sunshine poking through. I'm sure the day is gorgeous.
* I am thinking… today I feel pretty discouraged. But I shouldn't hide that I have these days because, well, flaring as bad as I am is apart of my life with chronic illness. And I need people to understand this is my struggle.
* I am thankful that I have good days, and that I had so many last week when I had so much I needed to get done.
* From the learning rooms… Kevin and I studied about the star convergence that happened at the time of Christ's birth, and then got distracted by many other topics. Personally I'm still working in 1 Samuel.
* From the kitchen… I think I'm taking a break from the kitchen today. Yesterday's special Valentine's day dinner was grilled asparagus, baked yellow potatoes, spinach salad, steak, and brownie cheesecake for desert. I got the recipe idea from Kraft, but what I ended up doing was baking a box of Girradelli chocolate brownies, and then making a no bake cheesecake filling that I spread on top. It turned out REALLY good! I'm going to repeat this soon for fellowship meal at church sometime soon.
* I am wearing…Pajamas as I'm mostly staying in bed today. My legs are very sore and weak so I'm not going to do much today.
* I am creating… I really should work more on my book I'm trying to write, but I haven't really gotten back into that yet. It's a good thing I'm not writing for a publisher, I just couldn't write under a deadline, the creativity doesn't flow out of me that way. Yesterday I made a handmade Valentine's day card for my hubby using a bunch of my scrapbook supplies. It was fun. I just couldn't find a card in the store that said what I wanted it to say, so I made one myself.
* I am going…to just take things easy for a while, I did too much last week and now my body is causing me problems. So I'm not planning anything until I feel my energy return.
* I am reading… Never Say Never (Kindle Edition) by Lisa Wingate, I got it when it was a freebie on Amazon. I love getting free kindle books on my iPhone.
* I am hoping…that things go well for my hubby at his dentist appointment today.
* I am hearing… the whirl of the humidifier, and an otherwise quiet house. The silence is a little bothersome, I think I'm going to turn on some music now that I'm thinking about it.
* Around the house… is much to do, but it'll have to wait.
* One of my favorite things… having a completely stocked kitchen, another is big savings on my grocery bill! Saturday we went shopping and BOTH happened! We spent just over $100, got everything off our shopping list, AND we saved about $50 bucks between store deals and coupons!
* A few plans for the rest of the week: schedule doctor appointments and make plans to go on a vacation to surprise a loved one in a few weeks!

Simple Woman's daybook

Outside my window... High clouds and a damp ground, though it doesn't look like it will rain just yet.

I am thinking... about how my boy cat is trying so desperately to pack on weight for the winter. Any time he sees me eat he wants what I have, he has plenty of cat food all the time.

I am thankful for... all the housework my husband did over the weekend. I'm pretty ill right now with pain and fatigue from Fibromyalgia and have been a bump on a log. I recently adjusted my meds some so I'm getting some sleep again and slept TONS over the weekend. We missed church because of it, but I'm so thankful for the sleep I got as I have such a huge sleep debt from only getting about 4 hours if that for most of the nights of October.

I am wearing... A PJ shirt and pants. This will probably always be my response unless I have an appointment or it's Sunday and I'm going to church. If I'm staying home all day I stay in PJ's. With Rheumatoid arthritis and Fibromyalgia it's just easier on me this way, otherwise I take a LONG time getting dressed.

I am remembering... or trying to anyway, that we need to buy water, milk, eggs, and bread. Or I need to feel good enough and bake some bread.

I am going... to go see a pulmonary specialist tomorrow. I may end up having a sleep study done. Pain induced insomnia was really bad most of October and my Rheumatologist referred me.

I am reading... the Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey It's a great read! I'm really enjoying it!

I am hoping... to get a nap before Kevin gets home. I'm still super sleepy.

On my mind... I'm wondering if I bit off more than I can chew with pledging to participate in NaBloPoMo. I hope forcing myself to make a post every day of November doesn't prove to become stressful, I want to enjoy this.

From the learning rooms... Studying 2 Corinthians, and also trying to learn more about the process of regeneration, faith, and love so I can better communicate this process with others.

Noticing that... I haven't been drinking enough water. I normally am very good about it, but with being sleepy I'm forgetting to go refill my glass often enough. I'll get better again.

Pondering these words... "Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone!" And am thankful for the gift of salvation, and the change that the Reformation brought to the church.

From the kitchen... I'm eating leftover potatoes. I'm not really cooking much these days. Which saddens me a little, but it was super relaxing having dinner made for me and given to me last night! Kevin made steak, mac & cheese, and broccoli, and he did a great job!

Around the house... needs a lot of help, I've been ill for far too long.

One of my favorite things~ snuggling with my cat.

From my picture journal...
My hubby Kevin and I with our cats Maddie (the black cat) and Siggy (the orange cat) on Halloween. Sorry it's fuzzy, it's hard to get pictures of us with just using the tripod. And yes, I am wearing a tiara. I was a rock princess for halloween. All the neighbor kids loved it - I wore the guitar hero guitar slung over my shoulder!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - June 9th, 2008.

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window...is cold, grey rain clouds, it's been raining on and off all day.

I am thinking...about if I should take any pain pills or not as I'm gritting my teeth from back pain.

I am thankful for...my dear loving husband. We will celebrate 8 years of marriage tomorrow!

From the kitchen...I'm not sure yet, we were talking about soup.

I am creating...shopping bags, aprons, and trying to spring clean.

I am going...to need to call some doctors this week. I didn't make appointments last week.

I am wearing...PJs

I am reading...over a huge stack of books, none of which are any were near completed.

I am hoping...that I won't be stuck on the phone forever when I do start scheduling these appointments I need to.

I am hearing...Kevin talk to his dad on the phone.

Around the house...is a very bothersome infestation of ants. They always come inside when it rains a lot! I'm at a loss, I think I've tried everything. I have piles of borax, and piles of corn meal out in hopes that something will reduce them, and I think we ran out of ant bate. I can't even find anything that they're going for. I haven't sprayed for them, but I try to keep that as an absolute last resort, I hate breathing that stuff.

One of my favorite things...is my sweet cats. They love to just hang out and cuddle. They remind me to slow down and just enjoy, I love them for that.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...make swap stuff, make stuff for my store, make doctor appointments, general housewifery.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
It's of a tank top I found on someone's Etsy shop. I'm hoping to get the things necessary to make this top for myself.

Today's daybook log.

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window...bright blue clear skies, promising another hot, early summer day.

I am thinking... about how I really should be getting ready to go to my doctors appointment this morning, but I'm trying to take a moment right now to take time to see what I need to get done today. My rheumatologist are going to review my MRI scans, figure out how many additional scans I need, and to hopefully for an action plan for treatment. I.E. physical therapy, massage therapy, etc.

I am thankful for...my amazing church family who continue to bless Kevin and I. While we were gone to California we missed two weeks of church, and we both realised it effected us both in a negative way. We spent ALL of yesterday in fellowship and it was SUCH A BLESSING! We went from church to my best friends house, and another family from church came too. We had so much conversation and prayer for each-other, it truly was powerful getting to know each other more, share with each other and know now from our time together just how to pray for each other. Truly an amazing time filled with God's love from God's family.

From the kitchen...these days cooking like I like to has continued to be a challenge. Because Kevin hasn't had enough sleep lately, and I can't stand for very long we're probably going to settle on baking potatoes and chicken, and make some veggies. I have to keep things simple, but my brain is going on different recipe ideas, so I think when I'm able to get around my kitchen better I'll be back to making much more interesting dinners.

I am creating...at the moment I've been working on a paper doll. I've kind of had to regroup my creative side. I hope to finish her and make a Gothic arch card as well later today and post them both later today. I also think I'll try and work on my cookbook some more. I can't believe how long this book is taking to write, but I do know that in the end I will have a wonderful resource and hopefully it will, Lord willing, sell well, for it's purpose, to help raise funds for either fertility treatment, or adoption expenses.

I am going...to the rheumatology clinic today. After I'll come home, take a nap, and then work on crafts.

I am wearing...capri jeans, sandals, and I haven't settled on a t-shirt or tank top yet today. Still in PJ's at the moment.

I am reading...too many different things to make a list. I'm hoping to get some information about osteoarthritis and what to do to slow the progression of deterioration, if possible.

I am hoping...for cooler days, the ability for my veg starts to spring back after this great heat, and for understanding to know how to deal with my limitations.

I am hearing...Food-network on the TV, I'm trying to watch the news less, but find I still feel a need to be hearing something while I'm spending time on-line.

Around the house...the cats are content, there are still a few bags I need to finish unpacking from our last trip, and our normal messiness. It's OK, with time things will improve.

One of my favorite things...is my piles of craft supplies, I can just sit and make... loosing myself and my worries in creating something pleasing to at least me.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... tend to the gardens, take the paper recycling to the dump, reclaiming the office space, and working on dishes. Also to remind Kevin to finish tending to the lawn. Upload photos from the California trip since I'm now able again to upload photos.

Here are two pictures I thought of sharing with you... They're a couple of photos my mom took on our trip in Napa Valley.

The first one is me and my husband at the spa that my grandma very generously paid for us to enjoy. We all had a wonderful time getting pampered together in a very peaceful secluded place. Golden Haven Spa in Calistoga, CA. It is actually an important place for Kevin and I too, we have been there once before. For our 5th anniversary. It was then that we realized God's call for us to move to Washington state on faith that there He would provide Kevin with the right job. Because of the peace and quite we were afforded during our first stay there we were able to really reflect on if this huge decision was right. We have been blessed by this choice, we have a wonderful church home, Kevin has a wonderful permanent full time job, we have a home that we feel we can grow in, and a peaceful community out in the country away from all the noise and distractions and pollution of city life. Our first stay at this place was the turning point for all of this, as well as focusing our needs on God's promise to provide for us. It was wonderful to enjoy this spot again and reflect on how far we've come since our last visit.



And then this next photo is of my dear grandma K and I in St. Helena, CA. We all went to the Cooking institute of America - Greystone and had a wonderful time with amazing food that we wouldn't normally eat.

My grandma is such a special person in my life. She is amazingly giving, without hesitation, blessing those she loves with her generosity. Kevin and I never could have afforded this trip, and it was wonderful to enjoy it with her, even if we were all tired from our travels to get there.

Grandma also lives with Rheumatoid arthritis. I don't blame her it was her genes that passed it to her too, I appreciate our conversations because I can learn so much from her. It actually is nice to me to have someone who can relate to my limitations and encourage me and show me how she's had to relearn to do things differently. My grandma and I have had a connection even before that that I've always treasured. I'm her first grandchild. Even though we are a couple generations apart we have some fun things in common. We love to read books, have a joy for cooking food we can be proud to serve, a love of dressing in black or dark colors, an appreciation for cultural dolls, and green thumbs that make keeping plants rewarding.

I'm so blessed to have Grandma as my grandma. I love the friendship we have.