Riverbend Ramblings

Since I am a regular shopper at the local Wal-Mart Supercenter, I was very dissapointed to read this article. What a shame!

With a new month right around the corner (can you believe it?), I thought we could all focus on some specific prayers for our husbands. Marriage is under tremendous attack these days, and I want the Lord's blessing and protection on my dear husband! Let me encourage you to print out these suggestions and stick them in your Bible or prayer journal. September has 30 days, so you'll need to double up on the last day of the month. If you are not married, you can pray for the special man that the Lord has picked out for you, even if you don't know him yet! 1st: That he would become a holy man, a man of prayer, mature in the Lord, growing in his knowledge of the Lord. I Thes 5:23, Col 4:12, Eph 1:18-19, 3:16-19, 6:18. 2nd: That he would grow into a man of integrity, who works righteousness, speaks truth in his heart, does not slander, does no evil, does not take up reproach against friends, honors those who fear the Lord, swears to his own hurt, is unchanging in these things, does not charge interest on loans, and does not take bribes. Ps 15 3rd: That he would be a man of contentment. Prov 15:16, Phil 4:11, I Tim 6:6-8, and Heb 13:5. 4th: That he would learn to take every thought captive, to not be conformed to the world's thinking, and to think scripturally. Rom 12:2, II Cor 10:5. 5th: That he would daily seek God with all his heart, walking in the Spirit moment by moment, growing in his dependence on Him. Psalm 119:1-2, Prov 3:5-6. 6th: That he would ever be captivated by my love. Prov 5:18-19. 7th: That he would be a man of courage. Deut 31:6, II Chron 19:11. 8th: That the Lord would give him wisdom to lead his family physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Eph 1:17-19 9th: That he would always look at the plank in his own eye before seeing others' sawdust. Matt 7:3 10th: That he would become a called man, not driven, with well thought through and prayed through goals in life. I Cor 9:24-27 11th: That he would be a man of prayer, guarding his heart and mind, puting into practice what he has heard, seen, and learned. Phil 4:4-9 12th: That he would stand firm against the schemes of the devil and resist Satan in all circumstances. Eph 6:10-18, James 4:7 13th: That he would grow in spiritual maturity by putting away childish things, cultivating, understanding, striving after the Christ ideal, partaking of the deeper truths of the gospel and overcoming temptation. I Cor 13:11, 14:20, Eph 4:13, Heb 5:14, I John 2:14 14th: That he would be cleansed by the word. Eph 5:26 15th: That he would learn to not depend on his circumstances for happiness but on God alone. Heb 3:17-19 16th: That he would be a man prepared for spiritual warfare. Eph 6:11-12, I Thes 5:8 17th: That he would have new strength in the midst of his busy schedule, and that the Lord might infuse him with His strength. Is 40:31, Eph 3:14-19 18th: That he would have a burden to see lost people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Matt 28:12-20 19th: That he would be kept from strange women and evil men, and that his friends would be men and women who walk with God. Prov 13:20 20th: That his self-image would be a reflection of the Lord's thoughts toward him. Eph 1:17-19, Rom 12:3, Psalm 139 21st: That he would be a man responsible for family spiritual growth. Prov 4:1-14 22nd: That he would not be deceived into unbelief, sin, or bitterness. Matt 13:8-10 23rd: That he would learn to love as God has commanded. I Cor 13:4-7, Rom 12:8-10, Eph 5:25 24th: That the fruit of the Spirit would be exhibited more and more in his life. Gal 5:22-23, John 15:8 25th: That he would grow in humility and in being a shepherd. I Pet 5:2-6 26th: That he might grow daily in character. II Pet 1:5-8 27th: That he might keep a clear conscience. I Pet 3:16-18 28th: That the Lord would protect him, guarding his course. Prov 2:8 29th: That he would manage his time well. Eph 5:15 30th: That the Lord would put a song in his heart. Psalm 33:3, 40:3, Job 35:10 31st: That he would have a holy fear of God. Psalm 34:11, 111:10, Prov 9:10

WARNING: Don't read this if you have a weak stomach! Miracles still happen. Yes, they do! Tonight my sweet 2 year old Lil' Nut finally went #2 in the potty. I'm still in shock. She's been staying dry in the daytime for a few weeks, but still hadn't figured out the other part. I called in the other kids so she could "show-n-tell." They held their noses and then cheered for her. I'm really hoping that now that she's done "it" that she'll continue doing "it" in the proper location. Mr. C has been promising her a trip to Wal-Mart for a new toy once the blessed event occured, so I guess they'll be heading there tomorrow. It's been almost nine years since I haven't had DIAPERS on my shopping list. I wonder what I can do with that extra $10 a week???

I am not a happy blogger! On Thursday our computer decided that it didn't want to work anymore. After spending an hour on the phone with Adeline in India, I had it running again. Adeline gave me her team's phone extension and a case number, and she promised me with that information I could speak to her very quickly should the need again arise. Well, on Friday the computer decided it didn't even want to turn on. I quickly called Adeline's number and received the dreaded voice mail. I left a message begging her to call me back anytime during the day. When I left the house for an hour to run some errands, guess who called? That's right, someone from Adeline's team left me a message on the answering machine. I quickly called back, but of course I only got the recording again. No one has called today or responded to my email, and the good folks(?) at DELL are quickly getting under my skin. So, right now I'm using a borrowed computer to check email. I missed getting to post Friday's Favorites yesterday, but I'm thinking the blogging world will survive. I hope you all have a great weekend, and I hope DELL gets their act together!

(Yes, it was delicious!) It's still hot enough where I live to enjoy a refreshing salad for lunch. I'm no Martha Stewart when it comes to presentation, but I had fun making this! Definitely more colorful than PB&J! I used mixed greens topped with cucumber, tomatoe, boiled egg, and a vinegrette dressing; tuna salad; sides of veggies and fruit. I tried some new crackers: Keebler wheat. They taste yummy like a Ritz cracker, but they aren't as crumbly and are lower in fat!

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4: --“Dad walked in. ‘Smells delicious. How’s it coming along?’” from Autumn with the Moodys by Sarah Maxwell. 2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can: --There’s nothing there, but I think I pulled a muscle. 3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? --Fox News at the gym. 4. Without looking, guess what time it is: --2:17 p.m. 5. Now look at the clock. --2:16 p.m. 6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? --Thunder rumbling outside, and Curly Girl talking to Reader Rabbit on the other computer. 7. When did you last step outside? --3 hours ago when I went to get the mail 8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at? --I was looking at Mrs. B’s blog. 9. What are you wearing? --a pink, orange, and tan striped shirt/denim skirt/orange sandals 10. Did you dream last night? --Most likely, but I don’t remember. 11. When did you last laugh? --Earlier today Lil’ Nut said she wanted to play with the cucumber, but she was talking about the computer. 12. What is on the walls of the room you are in? --a bulletin board with the kids’ artwork, two calendars, and lots of black Sharpie marker scribbles 13. Seen anything weird lately? --Yesterday in the garden I saw a black bug (don’t know what kind, but it had wings) carrying a much larger bug wrapped in a spider’s web . Where did #14 go? 15. What is the last film you saw? --Little Lord Fauntleroy—We watched it as a family 2 nights ago. 16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy? --A maid, a butler, and a cook. 17. Tell me something about you that I don't know. --I am left-handed. 18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? --I would want everyone to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. 19. Do you like to dance? --No. The only dancing I do is when we’re playing around as a family, and it’s not a pretty sight—trust me. 20. George W Bush: --Much better than the alternatives! I voted for him, I pray for him daily, and I think he has the toughest job in the world. 21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her? ---We’ve been blessed with 3 girls, but if there is a #4, I like the name Emma. 22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him? ---We have one boy, so if we were blessed with another it would probably be Clay. 23. Would you ever consider living abroad? --I have never desired to live anywhere but the U.S.A. I have never traveled outside of the U.S., but I would like to visit Ireland someday. 24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gate? --"Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” 25. Four or Five people you want to do this quiz on their blog: Susan P. ~ A Place Called Home Susan ~ ByGrace Tammy ~ Tammy's Times Kate ~ Maranatha

My new favorite quote:

The days are long, but the years are short.

Some days that about sums up how I feel as a mom. I know that God only gives us what we are able to handle, but sometimes I wish that there was more of me to go around. That is especially true since our homeschool year has begun. I spend a lot of time with my kids each day as we eat, learn, and play together, but I want to make lasting memories with them, too. With four young children to love, teach, correct, counsel, and train, I struggle to find individual "fun" time with each child. One-on-one time just for them. Time to play a game or lie on our backs looking up at the clouds. Time to listen to their silly stories and actually pay attention. Time to really enjoy just being with them. Bookworm is my firstborn. She is loving, intelligent, talented, and creative. She's the smartest third grader I've ever met! She is also the child that I expect too much from. Although she is with me throughout the day and included in many activities, she doesn't get the snuggling and kisses that the little ones get, but I'm working on that! The Lord has convicted me to spend more time tying heart strings and nurturing my relationship with her. I decided to take Bookworm out to lunch. We ate at a cozy little cafe where she ordered a corn dog and chips. Next, we went window shopping in a nearby town. We had so much fun browsing in several antique shoppes. She made cute comments about some of the things we saw. We shared an ice cream cone together and discussed the virtues of cookie dough ice cream--you know, the really important things in life! Bookworm was thrilled with all we had done, but I wasn't finished yet! She had never had a manicure before, so I took her to get one. She was squealing when she realized that she would be getting the royal treatment. She picked out a very pretty nail polish color, and the nail tech even added flower embellishments on her cute little fingers. Best $10 I ever spent! She practiced her princess wave the whole way home. Later that night when I took a picture of her hands, I remembered that in a few more years those precious little hands will be as big as mine. Oh, to cherish each day we have together! We made some memories she will never forget. I won't forget, either.

Some days it's fun to check the mailbox. Last week I was so excited when I received my special gift from Susan. Well, today my mailman brought another surprise. We got a refund check in the mail from our former insurance company! The letter attached to the check informed us that we had been overcharged for our auto insurance on one of our vehicles. I thought it was interesting that we were just now getting a refund on a policy that we cancelled over a year ago when we moved to a different state! (Gotta love insurance companies!) Guess how much money that big fat check was worth? A whopping $7.51 cents!!!! My heart began beating regularly once again. Oh, well; I'm still thankful for this little blessing! Although, my Chevy will probably eat up that entire amount in gas on my way to the bank to deposit the check!

Mommy and Fawn heading off into the woods.

Yesterday I heard the annoying sound of a car horn honking incessantly in front of my house. That's the way my mailman lets me know he has a package to deliver that's too large to fit into my mailbox down by the road. Actually, that's his signal for me to come outside and get my mail from him. You might say that my friendly letter-carrier is a bit on the lazy side. He knows if he just sits in his truck and lays on that horn, I'll go down the front steps and around the side of the house to retrieve my package--even in the rain. Grrrrr! He always cheerfully smiles and tells me to have a nice day. I feel like telling him to do his job the right way, but I just smile sweetly and wish him well. One of these days I'm not going to go out when he honks and he'll just have to get out of the truck, walk up the front steps, and ring the doorbell! Imagine that--actually delivering the mail! Anyway, yesterday I quickly got over my irritation when I saw that the return address on the package was from Susan at A Place Called Home. Susan recently hosted a fall giveaway, and I was blessed to be the recipient of her graciousness. Since this gift was from a blogging-buddy, I knew I was required by blogging ettiquette to take some pictures to share on my blog. Inside the package was a cute autumn card; a wreath adorned with squash, pumpkins, and a lovely bow; and an "Autumn Harvest" scented Yankee Candle tart. Autumn decor and a Yankee tart, too! As Maria Von Trapp would sing, "These are a few of my favorite things!" I am sooooo ready for fall! Thank you, Susan, for spreading some harvest cheer!

We started off our first day of school this week by taking an afternoon field trip to Stone Mountain http://www.stonemountainpark.com/ (hey, one of the benefits of homeschooling is taking field trips whenever you want to!). The weather was p-e-r-f-e-c-t! It rained early in the morning, so the high was only in the 80's. Mimi (my mom) has been visiting this week and went along with us. We visited a few of our favorite attractions (the kids love playing in the Treehouse and The Great Barn). We also took the skycar up to the top of the mountain. I always get a little bit nervous when we're on top of the mountain because the kids love to run all around up there and I worry that somehow they're going to topple over the edge-yes, I know there's a protective fence, but I still worry! Lil' Nut wore herself out and slept the whole way home. I bet the public school kids didn't have as much fun on their first day back in class as we did!

Growing up I always enjoyed school and absolutely dreaded the summer. We lived out in the "sticks", so there were no neighbor kids to play with. All of my siblings were already grown and on their own, so there was no one at home to play with either. I was always thrilled when August rolled around and it was time to hit the books again. When I was in high school I had aspirations of becoming a lawyer, and the possibility of becoming a teacher never entered my mind. In fact, becoming a teacher was the last thing I thought I would ever do. However, God had other plans for me! Guess what He ended up calling me to be? Yep, you guessed it--A TEACHER! I spent a few years teaching 3rd and 4th grade in a Christian school. As I prepared for the beginning of each school year, I had so much fun getting my classroom all decorated and preparing for my new students. I really enjoyed getting to know all of my students with their strengths and weaknesses, and I strived to make learning fun for them. I loved teaching, but once God blessed me with children of my own, I knew that He wanted me to be at home with them. My oldest child attended a Christian school for Kindergarten, but the following year we began homeschooling her. We now live in an area where there is no Christian school for the children to attend. Even if there was one, we feel that our home is the best place for our children to learn. Now I know why the Lord had me spend a few years teaching in a traditional classroom; He was preparing me for my job as a homeschooling mommy! We will begin another school year on Monday. I am so excited--I can hardly wait! (yes, seriously!) Bookworm will be in 3rd grade, Mickey Mouse will be in 1st grade, and Curly Girl and Nut will be doing "fun preschool". My days are very busy, but I really wouldn't have it any other way. My children are precious gifts from God, and I feel so honored to be able to spend my days with them.

This week I thought I'd share another one of my favorites in the kitchen. This "Family" plaque rests atop the kitchen cabinets. It's amazing how one word sums up what's most important to me.

Your Russian Name Is...

Varya Irina NovikovO.K., now that almost sounds pretty.

How do you begin your day? I know, by hitting the snooze button, right? Most of us have so many things to accomplish each day that we feel overwhelmed as soon as we wake up. If I begin my day on my own strength (of which there is very little), I cannot expect to be prepared to face the challenges that may come my way. I am guilty of neglecting the Lord first thing in the morning because I hold on to the few moments of quiet before my children wake up. I want to do some "me" things before the busyness of the day takes over. I do most of my Bible reading and praying after the children are asleep at night, but I still need to start my day with an attitude of thanksgiving and praise to my Saviour. My days go much more smoothly when my priorities are right and I have given God first place. Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Psalm 92:1-2 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

Psalm 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Let me challenge you to start your day off with the Lord, but don't let it stop there. If you work outside the home, read your Bible during your break time or lunch hour. If you are at home during the day, keep your Bible open on a table, in the bathroom, or by your favorite chair. I've been keeping mine on the kitchen counter since I'm in and out of the kitchen so much during the day. I know that I have a more peaceful spirit and kinder attitude toward those around me when I'm in the Word throughout the day. Read a snippet of Scripture whenever you get a chance. It's so easy to use the excuse, "I just don't have time," but then we seem to find the time for T.V., crafts, computer, pleasure reading, etc. Make it a point to stay off of the computer each morning until you have spent time with the Lord (yes, I know I'm meddling here). Make morning time with God a priority and see if there is a change in your heart and life.

Begin the day with God! He is thy Sun and Day! His is the radiance of thy dawn; To Him address thy day. Sing a new song at morn! Join the glad woods and hills: Join the fresh winds and seas and plains, Join the bright flowers and rills. Sing thy first song to God! Not to thy fellow men; Not to the creatures of His hand, But to the glorious One. Take thy first walk with God! Let Him go forth with thee; By stream, or sea, or mountain path, Seek still His company. Thy first transaction be With God Himself above; So shall thy business prosper well, All the day be love. ~Horatius Bonar

Your Driving Is is: 44% Male, 56% Female

According to studies, you drive both like a guy and a girl. This means you're a pretty average driver, with typical quirks. Occasionally you're frustrated and or a little reckless, but that's the exception - not the norm.

12 Signs You've Been Neglectful in Your Kitchen... **Your toddler isn't hungry at lunch because he's been snacking all morning off the food on the floor... **Instead of wiping the counter and table off, you'll make better time sweeping it... **Rather than sweeping the floor, you'll make better time vacuuming it... **There's no silverware in the drawer, so you have to take silverware out of the dishwasher, and then wash it (since the dishwasher hasn't run yet)... **You're okay with sharing your home with a mouse and/or other small rodents rationalizing, "Hey, at least THEY'RE picking up!" **There's more than one science project on mold in the fridge... and you're not studying mold in science... **You avoid cleaning out the fridge so it looks like you have a lot of food (and hey... the toddler's full!) **You burn a candle that smells like food (apple pie, brownie, angel food cake, etc.) so upon the visit of a surprise guest, it smells as if you've been busy slaving away... **You turn the ceiling fan on so you can't see the layer of dust on the blades... **The dust bunnies are so big, your toddler has named them and affectionately refers to them as his pets... **You "self-clean" the oven and the children gather 'round to watch the "pretty fire" burn inside... **You take the phrase "spot cleaning" to a whole 'nother level... ("there's a spot that needs to be cleaned... there's another spot... oh, and I need to get that spot...") I've been guilty of a couple of these...uh-oh!

I hope all of you had a great weekend! Ours was, thankfully, uneventful. I did my grocery shopping on Friday, so Saturday was very relaxed. The kids and I went to the church building on Saturday morning and spent about 2 hours cleaning. I should say that Bookworm and I cleaned while Curly Girl and Nut tore the church nursery apart! Well, it wasn't that bad. The next time you are wondering what you can do to be a blessing at your church, offer to help clean! We have a couple of families in our church that take care of the cleaning each week. Our family is not part of the rotation, but we were glad to help out this week. Bookworm straightened all of the hymnals in the pews and picked up trash. I suggested to her that she pray for the people who would be sitting in those pews on Sunday. She told me that she would have an easier time remembering where the kids sat in Jr. Church. I cleaned the bathrooms, mopped the hardwood floors, and vacuumed the carpets. I just have to tell you that I cleaned a urinal for the first time in my entire life! Mr. C mopped the fellowship hall, which was a BIG job! The whole building smelled a bit too strongly of Pine-Sol when we were through, but it felt good to have a part taking care of God's house. The kids and I spent the rest of Saturday relaxing around the house while Mr. C finished up his Sunday preparations. Bookworm went with him to visit the bus route kids in the afternoon. You'll never guess what we saw Saturday evening...RAIN! That's right--precipitation from the sky! We were practically jumping up and down. We needed the rain badly. Around 7:00, I had the overwhelming urge to tackle the mess in the office/music room. I cannot figure out for the life of me why there are 127 wires and cords hooked up to the computer. I got soooo frustrated trying to get everything plugged back in the right spots after I relocated the computer desk. Thankfully, Mr. C arrived home and rescued me. I told him that I really wanted to move the piano, too, but he told me that 11:00 on Saturday night was NOT the time to discuss it. We'll see what happens this week...

Can you believe that I'm already back zone cleaning in my kitchen? Wow, a month sure goes by fast! In a previous post I asked for suggestions on storing plastic bags. Several of you had some good ideas (none of which I have yet acted upon). I think it will be a good art project for the kids one of these days. I did a search and found these handy-dandy baggy holders. I keep my holder (an old milk jug) tucked away under the sink where no one will see it. These spiffy ones range in price from $10-25. I don't think that I would actually pay money to store my plastic bags, but these do look nice. The one with the fruit motif was my favorite, although it does look a little bit like a birdhouse.

I subscribe to Mrs. Pam Ianello's email devotional list. Mrs. Ianello is a pastor's wife, and she does an excellent job of ministering to ladies through her Bible studies. You can subscribe to Mrs. Ianello's devotions here. I've been finishing up our homeschool schedule for the upcoming year and looking at all of the things I need to get done each day, and I thought Mrs. Ianello's devotion would be a good reminder that we all need a spiritual routine, too. Rise and Shine for Jesus! By Pam Iannello A ministry of New Beginnings Baptist Church @ www.nbbconline.com There are various tasks that each of us automatically carries out on a daily basis. Laundry, cooking, cleaning, running errands, caring for the children, exercising etc. are just a few of the many duties that keep us women occupied. Ladies, did you realize there are also spiritual duties that we are to carry out on a daily basis? Hopefully you have discovered what they are, but if not, it’s time we made them a part of our routine! READING OF THE WORD Neh. 8:18a (KJV) Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God… The number of eight in the Bible is the number of new beginnings. How interesting to note that reading the Word of God is referred to in the eighteenth verse of this eighth chapter! As a matter of fact, this particular verse is speaking of Ezra when he read the scriptures to the great congregation. The people had not been in the habit of doing so and it brought great revival. So too, will it do the same for us as we read and heed God’s Word each new day. It has a cleansing and refreshing power that you and I need! PERFORMING OF VOWS Psalm 61:8 (KJV) So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. Yes, we are to act according to that which we have purposed and even promised God. What things have you determined to do or not to do? Did you not appeal to the Lord seriously concerning a particular issue He was dealing with you about? Has God witnessed your sincerity in regard to the matter? Ladies, God expects us to take our pledges seriously and daily act upon them. Perhaps you have a great deal of catching up to do… PRAYER Psalm 88:9B (KJV) …Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. With the various concerns that weight upon our spirits, one would think a reminder to pray daily would not be necessary! Yet, sadly, it is. Christians are far too lethargic about their conversations with the Lord. We must daily commit ourselves and our loved ones to God’s care and seek His will. Are you keeping up your communion with God, dear lady? Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?? WATCHFULNESS Proverbs 8:34 (KJV) Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. Here the Bible stresses the importance of daily waiting upon the Lord and watching at His gates for every ounce of wisdom we might gain! God’s wisdom teaches us to avoid evil and cleave to that which is good. How strong is your desire to learn? Is it intense enough to lead you to God’s gates on a daily basis with sincere zeal? What a crime it is when we neglect to discover the very mind of Christ! CROSS-BEARING Luke 9:23 (KJV) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Cross bearing is something we rarely think about doing on a daily basis. Know why? Because it entails the denial of self! Be honest, dear lady; are you really in the habit of surrendering yourself to Christ? Did you yield to Him yesterday? How about the day before that? When is the last time you took up your cross and carried it after Jesus? Are you following the Lord in everything? Or has daily obedience to God been buried in self-interest… EXHORTATION Hebrews 3:13 (KJV) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. While we have time, we must daily seek to secure the pliability of our hearts and the hearts of our brethren, for eternity is just around the corner! Sin is tricky and sometimes we can’t see it for what it is. Hence, the great value of sincerely and soberly looking after one another… Giving strict attention to God and His Word is the best defense against a hardened heart. We are none of us exempt from the grave injury of resisting truth! While these may seem like the basics of the faith, how many of us can truly say we have been faithful to carry each one of these duties out day by day? The Bible warns us that we must beware of being corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. I hope you’ll take it seriously and set up a new routine for yourself according to the basics! Copyright 2002 Pamela A. Iannello Revised 2006

In our previous homes I had a Victorian decorating theme in my formal living room. My couches were ivory and mauve, the picture frames and mirrors were ornate, flowers were everywhere, and I had marble-top Louis XV tables. (Yes, it was elegant and, yes, I know you would love to see pictures!) Our current home has a more "earthy" feel to it and is definitely kid-friendly. I no longer have a formal living room, and I sold all of my Victorian furniture when we moved. Yes, quite a sad situation. I did, however, manage to hang on to a few decorative items. Most are tucked away in the attic, but I was able to display a few things without losing the woodsy feel of our current home. One of my favorites is the picture below titled "The Greatest Moments in a Girl's Life." It now resides on the wall in my entry. It was a gift from my mother-in-law when Mr. C and I bought our first home (actually a condo) right after we got married. I plan on keeping it forever!

The captions below each vignette are impossible to see on good 'ole blogger, but they read as follows:

"The Proposal"

"The Trousseau"

"The Wedding"

"The Honeymoon"

"The First Evening in their Own Home"

"Their New Love"

Got milk?

You Are a Boston Creme Donut

You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you. But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft. You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily. You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and pout if it's sold out.

Curly Girl has a language all her own. Most of what she says only makes sense inside her own little head. This evening Curly Girl and Bookworm were spinning around on the living room recliner (their version of a merry-go-round) when Curly Girl began to shout, "My crunchy, my crunchy! Look, Mommy, I found my crunchy!" Of course, I had no idea what she was talking about! Upon closer inspection I found in her hand a hair scrunchie. It had found its way under the chair cushion. Now I know what a crunchy is!

I found this great summertime recipe in the latest issue of Taste of Home magazine. I can't wait to try it! Zucchini Bacon Quiche 1 tube (8oz) refrigerated crescent rolls 2 tsp. prepared mustard 6 bacon strips, diced 3 c. thinly sliced zucchini (about 1-1/4 pounds) 1 medium onion, chopped 2 eggs, beaten 2 c. (8oz) shredded mozzarella cheese 2 Tbs. dried parsley flakes 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 1/4 tsp. dried oregano 1/4 tsp. dried basil Separate crescent dough into eight triangles; place in a greased 10-in. pie plate with points toward the center. Press dough onto the bottom and up the sides of plate to form a crust; seal perforations. Spread with mustard. In a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 2 Tbs. drippings. Saute zucchini and onion in drippings until tender. In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, seasonings, bacon and zucchini mixture. Pour into crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cover edges loosely with foil if pastry browns to quickly.

Yesterday I just couldn't seem to get out of vacation mode. When I went to bed last night I didn't feel like I had accomplished anything all day! Do you ever feel like that? Well, I was one busy bee today! I started off the day doing 2 loads of laundry. Before breakfast I chopped and froze 3 gallons of okra. We headed to town after breakfast and chores. I dropped Curly Girl off to spend the day with one of the sweet widows from our church. She is so kind to invite each child over occasionally and take them out for lunch. Next I ran a couple of errands around town. I surprised Bookworm by stopping by the home of one of her friends from church. I had secretly arranged for her little friend to come to our house for lunch and a few hours of playtime. We buzzed by the library so we could pay our whopping 20 cent fine and pick up a few books. We then hurried home for lunch. Mr. C was not home when I first made Mrs. R's eggrolls, so I made them for him today. They were sooo yummy! I froze a dozen for another day. After lunch the girls helped me bake oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to take to some visitors we had at church on Sunday. While the kids had quiet time I visited 50 homes on BooMama's Tour. Whew! I was just a clickin' away on my mouse as fast as I could. I think I'm going to have to limit myself to just a few houses a day even if it takes a couple of weeks to see them all. I'm tempted to take some pics of my house when there are toys and clothes strewn about and my countertops are covered with dirty dishes---then again, maybe I'll just let everyone keep thinking I'm a perfect housekeeper! With my brain fried from staring at the computer screen too long, I drove back into town to drop off our little visitor and pick up Curly Girl. Somewhere in there I deep cleaned my bathroom...I'm not sure how that happened. Anyway, I'm zonked! It's going to feel so good to pillow my head tonight knowing that I accomplished a few things today. I'm not counting on a repeat performance tomorrow.