My Hero

A role model for meeting all those "wanna-be" wishes from my earlier post.  She sounds like she was living proof that  "with God, all things are possible," and this encourages me in my daily quests.  In fact, I knew a woman a lot like this (actually, all 3 women I discussed in this previous post come close), and today would've been her 100th birthday...  I miss her very much.  Happy Birthday, Grandma H!  I hope God gives you an extra hug from me.

She is more precious than rubies.
 Her husband can trust her,
    and she will greatly enrich his life.
 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life. 

She finds wool and flax
    and busily spins it.
 She is like a merchant’s ship,
    bringing her food from afar.
 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
    and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
    with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She is energetic and strong,

    a hard worker.

 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
    her lamp burns late into the night.

 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
    her fingers twisting fiber.
 She extends a helping hand to the poor
    and opens her arms to the needy.
 She has no fear of winter for her household,
    for everyone has warm clothes.

 She makes her own bedspreads.
    She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
    where he sits with the other civic leaders.
 She makes belted linen garments
    and sashes to sell to the merchants.

 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
    and she laughs without fear of the future.
 When she speaks, her words are wise,
    and she gives instructions with kindness.
 She carefully watches everything in her household
    and suffers nothing from laziness.

 Her children stand and bless her.
    Her husband praises her:
 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
    but you surpass them all!”

 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
 Reward her for all she has done.
    Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Proverbs 31: 10-31

Wanna-Be... A lot of things!

I might consider this sort of my daily "Bucket List" - Please forgive me repeating ones you've heard before:


I want to sew... quilts, baby clothes, clothes for myself, clothes and projects for others.

I want to crochet --I should say learn to crochet--and then make fantastic afghans for my children grandchildren to cuddle in, like my grandmas did.

I want to bake and keep the bread drawer, granola container, and cookie jar full.

I want to learn to make, then keep us supplied with, tortillas.

I want to cook full and delicious dinners, and serve family dinner at the table.

I want to do cook-ahead, freezer meals for busy days.

I want to get up early and make sure my family has nutritious breakfasts in the morning, and for those who leave, take nutritious lunches with them.

I want to read the Bible and related studies.

I want to read books about quilting, cooking, baking, sewing, art, and architecture.

I want to read entertaining books.

I want to learn to play the cello...like Yoyo Ma... in about a month.  haha

I want to be very fit and healthy.  Maybe even sculpted.  Definitely want to be sculpted.  I suppose this means actually moving...  (But Katie at Domestiphobia says, "It's the thought that counts!")

I want to ride my bike and be able to manage changes in terrain without so much effort.  I don't think thought alone will accomplish that one.

I want to be fully involved in homeschooling my children... Finding fun ways to learn and great projects to work on... Instilling a love for learning, and a love for doing things like math, writing, sewing, baking, building...  Going on adventurous, interesting, and fun field trips.

I want to garden.  I want my yard to look neat and beautiful, but mostly, I want to grow (and preserve) good, fresh food for our family.

I want to have people over for dinner, and the house (and 'larder') be ready for guests at all times.

I want to keep my home de-cluttered, dust-free, and comfortably beautiful and warm.

I want to keep better organized files and records of financial papers and other household business.

I want to integrate Bible verses into our home, following the admonition in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 "...These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

I want to help make or save our family a significant amount of money to improve our monthly finances.

I want to share our projects and a bit of our lives on this blog... Not only sharing ourselves and preserving memories for family and friends, but hopefully, feeding others in some positive way.

I want to start a kitchen design page on the blog for those who yearn for a functional and family-friendly layout, and may not be finding the help they need elsewhere or are having trouble organizing their wishes into a plan.

I want to feel more willing to reach out and get involved in church projects and programs.

I want to be the greatest wife my husband could ever dream of....Supportive, accomplished, cheerful, attractive, helpful, respectful, loving, builder-upper.

I want to spend more 'couple time' with Hubby.

I want to be the greatest, most helpful, encouraging, supportive, loving, and beloved mom to my children... and also confidante and friend as they grown and become adults.

I want to really know each of my children as individuals, and have a close relationship with each, encouraging and supporting their dreams and ambitions, as God leads.

I want to be able to sit and enjoy a movie or favorite TV show with my family.

Downloadable images suitable for making reminder wall hangings
from Live the Way you Want to be Remembered by Kristen Duke,
in which, among other good things worth reading, she says:
"...I want to live in such a way that they will remember our time fondly. I don’t want them to remember me always on the computer, but spending time with them or reading to them or taking them on adventures."
Yes!

I want to be the best grandma to my soon-to-arrive grandson and other future grandchildren... I want to be the kind of grandma who bakes, sews, reads, cuddles, and is cheerful, loving, and fun.

I want to meet with close friends.

I want to spend time with my parents.

I want to connect with the Lord all day every day, trusting and living in faith instead of fatigue and fear.  --Sitting in confidence of my salvation, walking in the path He has for me, and standing with Him in the face of whatever my days bring.  

I want the spirit of faith, thankfulness, praise, love, service, and family to be contagious in our house, and, with the Lord's help, I want to be a main 'carrier.'

And.... I since I want to feel energetic enough to get out of my chair and do these things... I want more sleep!

Hubby is my Enabler

One of the first checks for my most recent Bucket List is beginning to form, thanks to my Christmas gift from Hubby.  He gave me a bike and helmet for Christmas!  

The one presented that day was a "placeholder," until I could get into the store to explain what kind of riding I intended, and so the bike could be fit to me.  I did that this weekend.  It was an extra treat, because the owner of the bike shop I patronize is a very good friend from high school, and it's always fun to catch up and, in the case of bikes, pick the brain of someone whose expertise I trust.  

So now I can embark on my bike riding adventures!  With Prince CuddleBunny at my side on his own bike, I took my first jaunt around our neighborhood this morning.

My Canondale, 24-speed 'hybrid.'  Mostly road bike,
but ok on paths and gravel when necessary.
It's my first bike since I gave up on my too-big,
chain-always-fell-off, high school 10-speed 30 yrs ago.

After that frigid maiden voyage, I may soon be investing in some of those padded bicycling pants, and some insulated, windproof clothing!

Bucket List, 2.0

As I've written before, I decided it was time to adjust my original Bucket List.  I thought I should sit down and take time, forming some thorough and very thoughtful goals.  I haven't had time, and was feeling badly about not getting it done.  But then realized, is that what a Bucket List is all about?  I think it was supposed to be a random list of things you hope to do before you die.  -Not that deep or overly complicated.  

So here are some of the things I think I might want to do in the rest of my life, some, hopefully, sooner than others!  Not in any particular order...

Photo source

Learn to play the cello. --I know that's not a cello pictured on the right.   I played the baritone horn in high school and part of college.  I loved the mellow, rich sound and hoped to own my own horn, which never happened.  I think the cello is the same type of sound, and it seems like it would be easier to make beautiful solo music with that more than with a horn. --Although, the horn's required breathing would be good for me, so could be a 'win-win.'  I still like the idea of drawing across the strings and having the cello ooze some cool and elegant, classical melody.  Seems a little classier choice for a "woman of a certain age," who is long removed from sitting in the pep band at football games.

Photo source

See picturesque parts of New England with Hubby.  And maybe other parts of the country, too, especially where our kids might live.  But I don't want to rush around, doing touristy things and visiting too many places in a short time... Just see, walk, enjoy, and relax, appreciating the views and environment in one place at a time.


Take a course in furniture-making or concrete artistry.  Other course possibilities: ceramics, stained glass, cooking or baking

Build a business with Hubby and/or one or more of the royal offspring...using creativity and handcrafting/manual skills.

Visit kitchens I've helped design... and mostly, and finally, meet their owners, of course!

And besides, Facebook told me this!  ;-)

Take up bike riding... Just local and flat-to-rolling terrain.  Nothing too difficult... strenuous... ambitious.  (Finding a route without major hills will be the biggest challenge around here!)  I don't see myself racing, or going long distances, but getting fit and, also, some fresh air.


Grow veggies and fruit enough to supply a good part of our food needs.

Learn to can those fruits and veggies... and do it!

Sew, sew, sew.  Quilts, babies'/kids' clothes for future grandchildren and families in need, my clothes, home decor.  Keep Hubby in fun shirts.

From Shape Magazine
 Arm-Toning article

Get "buff." I've always wanted sculpted arms and strong legs (and behind).  Maybe a little over-ambitious (and shallow) for someone at 52... who has no exercise routine, and who specifies she doesn't want to work too hard when she rides her bike!  But, hey, these are hopes and dreams, right?

Read the Bible from beginning to end.  And then maybe start over again...

Learn Spanish with my kids.

Post Scripture around our house in some attractive, classy way.                                                                                                                          

Just a couple of the beautiful examples from
Decorating our Home in Scripture
on Blessed Femininity 

Open our home.  Invite more friends over, more often. Host more events.

...and as a daily focus, 
Take seriously the prayer I've posted on my bathroom mirror:

LORD, please help me to reflect the light of Christ in our home. Please guide my steps, direct my activities, and give me words. Help me know and demonstrate Your priorities.

Bucket List... During

I came to the realization that I was making my new Bucket List into something more like New Year's Resolutions... A somewhat oppressive list of things I should accomplish, instead of things I want or hope to do.


This has given me a new outlook on this task.  I'm going to try to leave personal discipline issues out of it, and make it more positive... and more FUN!

Bucket List, "Before"

To 'celebrate' my 2 years of blogging, I thought I'd return to my very first post and redo my "Bucket List."  Before I revamp and make a new one, I thought I should take time to review the original.  There have been a few checks (✓) added as I accomplished a goal...very few, but I do celebrate those.  I have added comments, where appropriate:

1)      Kitchen:

a.       Make a sourdough starter and sourdough breads - I love Sourdough bread, but still have not been motivated enough to try my own.  Our pizza dough gets close, since I leave a little every time I make a new batch.  If it sits 2 weeks, the family seems to love it even more, and recognizes the sourdough type of flavor.

b.     ✓Make my own yogurt - I'm so glad I did this.  I really love it after it's been drained, and my go-to, healthy breakfast is our homemade Greek yogurt with roasted almonds, unsweetened coconut, and a squirt of Blue Agave nectar.

c.       Make fresh pastas - Still think I might like to make fresh ravioli from scratch.  We'll see.

d.     ✓Create more veggie-rich meals, including work lunches for DH

2)      Sewing:

a.       Machine Embroidery…I have the machine and I should use it!

b.      Sew for the local crisis pregnancy organization

c.       Sew for myself and the kids again…Make a duct tape body form? - I REALLY want to do this.  But I think I might have to wait until our young marrieds get into their own space, and my sewing room is no longer their laundry/office/storage area.

3)      Gardening

a.       Study greenhouse gardening…Get the greenhouse fixed, finished, and working for us

b.      Learn succession gardening

c.       Learn all-season gardening

d.      Establish and plant berry gardens

4)      Yard

a.       Create flower beds around the front porch, and eventually redirect the driveway - The building of the garage addition will actually force some of this to happen, and in those same plans, I should get a bigger veggie garden area with better exposure.  It'll happen!

b.      Remove sod, and put gravel around the garden boxes

5)      Woodworking - Maybe in the new garage's shop area!

a.       Butcher block cutting boards

b.      Tables and work islands

c.       Start business?

      6)      Raise chickens…?  We’ll see…-   Still on the radar, but a ways down the list.

7)      Art and Crafts - Doesn't seem to be happening!

a.       Learn to knit

b.      Keep a sketch diary

c.       Refresh my painting skills

8)      House

a.       ✓ Create our ‘library’

b.      Design a pet area, including a contraption to keep the dogs out of the cat food, or we’ll need a doggie treadmill (Rosie is already almost rolling down the stairs in the morning.) - We put the cat food on the sewing counter (not the best solution), which did help Rosie regain her proper weight range.  But I hope for a better set-up in the new enclosed breezeway between the house and garage.

       9)      Homeschooling - There have been big changes in our approach this year, with         still more adjustments needed.  Definitely a subject for the new list.

a.       More writing!

b.      ✓Expand the great new math program (Teaching Textbooks) used for grade 7 and Algebra this year for all the kids at all levels

c.       More reading!

d.      History timelines

e.      Have a ‘project component,’ so there are always ongoing projects underway for each child

       10)  Self-Improvement - SO LITTLE progress here.  Need to rethink and refocus.

a.       Daily devotions/Bible

b.      Daily exercise…Oh, ok…

c.       READ…Quit returning books to the library only partially read.

d.      Periodic dates with DH…The Love Dare?

11) Write blog entries that don't take 2 days to post, and 2 days to read! - Instead of becoming more productive, I've cut back.  I think that was the better approach for my family and my priorities.  

Now, no more looking back, or feeling badly about what I didn't do... But, instead, taking steps everyday, forward toward new experiences and a renewed set of goals.

Oops, I Did It Again

Missed my blogiversary, that is.  But oh, well... It's a harmless 'forget.'

It's an interesting opportunity to look backward for a minute or two, though, through the last 2 years I've been sharing our lives with you.

First, I checked into posts of November 2011.  There was some baking going on, and I was in the midst of my kitchen zone series, 
and slipped in a shorter series on our few days of Thanksgiving prep.  I also found that not only do I forget about recipes I find on other blogs, 
I forget about new discoveries of my own.  The delicious pumpkin muffins haven't been made since the ones I wrote about on November 28.




Next, I went back to my maiden-month, November 2010.  

So recent, but forever ago, too.  I spent some time explaining our weekly pizza feasts, and the recipes used.  We had a terribly long power outage and low temps outside; an experience I've been happy not to do over. I also note that I began the blog with My Bucket List of many, many items and goals.  --I can't remember the last time I checked it, updated it, or did ANYthing on it.


My plan now, is to readjust that list and reset my personal compass.  There will be a lot of things I will give up, I'm guessing, and am not at all sure what I might add.  I think I'm less focused now, and more inclined to follow where the Lord leads on a day-to-day basis.  But I promise a new Bucket List in the nearish future.  

You've been warned.  ;-)

Bucket List: Little Progress but 1 Big Step in the Right Direction

The Bucket List

A guest pastor at church focused his sermon around the topic of Bucket Lists.... Lists of things people want to accomplish before they die, made popular in the 2007 movie, The Bucket List.  This reminded me that I haven't thought about mine for awhile, and wasn't even sure if I'd made much progress in checking things off.  (Click here, or on the tab above, if you'd like to see my Bucket List.  Whereas it might be more convenient to read, I don't want to copy it onto this post, because it's so long.)  




When I pulled it up to look at it, I can only find one new thing that I've done.  I made my own Yogurt, but I haven't kept it up at all.  Just that one time.
  
I've also made steps toward things like exercising and reading more, but I'm not too consistent in those areas, either.  I've done reading about raising chickens, and definitely have that in mind for next spring. 



Other items, like improving my garden and adding more veggies to our family's diet, are on-going, but not anything I'd call accomplished.


Some things I'd completely forgotten writing down.  Adding daily devotions and Bible reading to my life was not one of those.  I've thought of this goal often, and started in several different ways.  I tried reading the Bible from the beginning.  I tried reading in various places.  I've tried searching out verses in books I knew, but hadn't studied thoroughly yet.  
I also tried a more formal approach with a written study of the Gospel of Luke.  That was going fairly well until I lost the study book...


A combination of things led me to my latest attempt, which I think, is actually going to work for me.  As Christians, at least, we go through life hearing certain stories and verses over and over again, until we think we know pretty much all that's in the Bible...  Over time, though, I heard bits and pieces of stories and new verses of which I'd been unaware.  I was realizing that by hearing only the main stories and themes related in sermons and children's Bibles, I've been missing out.


I also realized that I was often struggling with my Bible reading, even with the New International Version, which has more plainly spoken wording than the King James Version I grew up with.  I found myself skimming over the wording, as if I was reading a text book.  This is a time and situation in which my skills and education in speed reading were not serving me well, and even though the wording was plainer, maybe I needed plainer yet to get me started.  The New Living Translation is supposed to offer a more conversational wording style, closer to today's books we are used to.

In researching to add a NLT (New Living Translation) Bible to our library, and hopefully, my daily reading, I found 2 whose descriptions and reviews interested me.  The first was the NLT Life Application Study Bible, which not only offered the easier to understand wording, but study notes and, an additional bonus, suggested ways to apply the information to our daily lives... which is not always easy.  


The other I found highly recommended, including by a non-Christian reviewer who was trying to investigate the Bible and Christianity for himself, was The One Year Bible NLT.  I had previously dismissed the idea of "Bible in a Year" type of books.  I'd had one that was written for kids but it was too abbreviated, and I found it difficult to keep on the date.  These books are always set up for the reader to begin on January 1st.  I missed a whole year by misplacing a book, and unreasonably thinking I had to wait until January 1st of the next year after I'd found it again.   When we did start it, I had trouble always keeping up with the dates.


That particular reviewer pointed out the problem with the reading by date, and recommended ignoring the dates and just reading it from the beginning, and each day you read, moving to the next reading.  Well, duh.  Why hadn't I thought of that?  He wished, and I agree, that they would just number the days and forget labeling by dates.  


I ordered both.  I was completely excited about the Life Application Bible, and dubious about the One Year Bible, but I'd found it used, so for a great price.  


 The One Year Bible arrived first.  I think that with prior Bible reading I had a tendency to read too much at a time; to bite off more than I could chew.  I've been finding these Bible readings to be VERY clear and in daily, digestible chunks.  The fact that every day has a reading from the Old Testament, a reading from the New Testament, a reading from the Psalms, and one from Proverbs is not at all confusing.  I find that it gives me a chance to consider just enough of each to get the point.  I find, also, that I'm reading each and every verse, rather than skimming to get more read.  I have found verses that take me to the computer to do my own research on their meaning or history.  I'm learning a lot, and it's interesting and fun.


The Life Application Bible arrived after I'd been reading the One Year Bible for over a week.  It's OK, and will serve as another reference or study tool when I get to a verse I don't understand or about which I wish to know more.  But now I'm very happy to have been led to the One Year Bible.  I miss a day of reading here and there.  But ignoring the date format, I just pick up where I left off, and read only one day at a time, not feeling any need to rush and catch up.  It's much better that way.