Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Tuesday Tidbits

This is just a picture that I found on the internet, but isn't it cute?
Our family has a long history with gingerbread men...especially
one in particular named Ralph. Maybe someday I will explain.

Greetings, Friends!

It's Tuesday and, thus far, I've accomplished absolutely none of what I needed to get done today. I did get caught up on some reading, though, and have pretty much figured out my Christmas gift, card, and to-do lists. I guess that all counts for something. 🎄

I have no energy at all. It was everything I could to do scrape the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers into a foil pan and make a shepherd's pie out of them for the freezer. That was it! I was done. 

At least the headache is gone and it was confirmed today that it's strep. The pharmacist should be here shortly with a round of antibiotics so we can nip this thing in the bud. There's too much going on at this time of the year to be messing around with stuff like this!

On the brighter side, though, it's been awesome to have some time to actually sit and think about things, and to think them out, AND I've even got to watch a few new-to-me Christmas movies on Amazon Prime, which never would have happened otherwise. That's been kind of fun! 🎄

Well...this is a really boring post...isn't it? I probably shouldn't even post it, but...hey! It's what's happening and what's on my mind...so...here it is! 

Have a lovely evening and I'll talk with you all again soon!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Happy Homemaking Monday - November 27, 2017



Happy Thanksgiving


Monday, November 27, 2017

Happy Homemaking Monday - November 27, 2017

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
and all the sweet ladies of 
Happy Homemaking Monday!

Note: This post includes affiliate links.


Good Afternoon, Sweet Ladies! HAPPY MONDAY! 😊 


It's the Monday after Thanksgiving and, as you can see, I'm running a bit behind on getting this post out.


We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday at our youngest daughter, Amanda, and son-in-law, Phillip's in KC. Our oldest daughter, Amber, and her husband, Patrick, and their children joined us there, as did Patrick's parents (who happen to be long-time friends of ours), and a few of Amanda and Phillip's friends, as well. We had a great time cooking and visiting and eating together. 



Thanksgiving Dinner 2017 
In the evening John and I went with Amanda and her friend, Heather, to see the Christmas lighting display at Longview Lake. It wasn't the Plaza, but it was pretty and it was something that we had never seen before. We enjoyed it and it was a great way to kick off the Christmas season in Kansas City!

30th Annual Christmas in the Park
Longview Lake - Jackson County, MO


30th Annual Christmas in the Park
Longview Lake - Jackson County, MO


30th Annual Christmas in the Park
Longview Lake - Jackson County, MO
Friday morning after dropping Phillip off at work, Amanda and John and I went to visit one of John's cousins, then did a little shopping at Hobby Lobby. Their fall stuff was marked down to 90% off and their Christmas stuff was 50% off. I was able to buy ahead on paper goods for next Thanksgiving, as well as get a few gift items for next to nothing. It was awesome!!! I also picked up Christmas cards and a few Christmas gifts and decorations, as well. After returning to the church and getting packed up, John and I visited with friends in Blue Springs before returning home. 

I worked Saturday and didn't think I was going to make it home. By the time I got there it was everything I could do to make it in the house. I was back in bed...sick again...this time with chills, a sore throat, and headache. That's where I was all day yesterday and only just this late morning felt like getting up and doing something different. I'm feeling quite a bit better at this point, but I'm certainly not up to running a marathon. I have no idea what's up with this. I'm usually not one to get down with stuff and this makes the third illness in a little over a month.


Oh, well...on with today's post...



The weather...

Right now it's 71 degrees and sunny. The 10-day forecast shows highs in the 50's and 60's most days with lows in the 30's and 40's. For now I'll take it as it keeps that utility bill down! 💵

Right now I am...

Having a cup of tea as I work on this post and thinking about all the things that I need to be doing, but can't just yet. Hopefully, I will feel good enough later on this afternoon or evening to get some stuff done. All I've managed to do, so far, is read a little.

On my reading pile...

I finally finished reading How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God by Kenneth E. Hagin (review done and test taken...yeah!) and the updated and expanded edition of A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George arrived in the mail and was waiting in the mailbox for me when I arrived home Friday afternoon. I've already read in the new edition beyond where I was in the old. I like the changes that have been made.

I am moving into my next book through Rhema, Tongues: Beyond The Upper Room by Kenneth E. Hagin and have decided to revisit Greater Health God's Way by Stormie Omartian. It was the first book that really set me on a scriptural path to better health and, with all the ups and downs that I've had over the past several years, I thought it might be wise to back up and reevaluate where I'm at and what I'm doing. 

My Current Reading Pile
On the menu this week...

I'm not really in the mood for food right now, so I think that I'm going to leave this section blank for now. I'll come back later and fill it in. I don't even know what's in the house at this point.

- Monday - 
- Tuesday - 
- Wednesday - 
- Thursday - 
- Friday - 
- Saturday -  
- Sunday -  

On my to do list....

- Monday - rest and recuperate 
- Tuesday - plan week ahead, make lists, do weekly "home blessing" (a day late, of course), laundry (which will include doing the bedding again)
- Wednesday - take a friend grocery shopping
- Thursday - figure December bills and budget
- Friday - go to the bank, work
- Saturday - work "Christmas on the Farm" at Watkin's Woolen Mill in Lawson, Missouri
- Sunday - church, go Christmas shopping with my husband

In the craft basket...

Nothing at the moment, but still need to be getting some things figured out. Family Christmas for us is the 9th of December. That's in less than two weeks! 😨

Looking forward to this week...

Feeling better and working Christmas on the Farm.

From the camera...
One of My Favorite Places in the World
Split Rock Lighthouse - Two Harbors, MN
Scripture Passage...




Well, Ladies, that's it for this week. I pray that each and every one of you and yours have a wonderful week ahead and that the Lord's blessings are many. 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and all the sweet ladies of Happy Homemaking Monday!

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving


For almost a decade now we've been celebrating Thanksgiving and kicking off the Christmas season in Kansas City. The tradition started when our youngest daughter and her husband got married in 2008. 

The first few years we celebrated at their apartment in Claycomo; the past few years at their new apartment in Gladstone. Over the years different friends and family members have joined us for the celebration and a lot of good memories have been made. 

This year, it's a little different. This year we're congregating at the church our son-in-law pastors and doing what our daughter calls "an extreme church takeover." It's not quite as bad as it sounds, but, thus far, it's been a lot of fun!

For the first year ever since Amanda and Phillip have been married, our oldest daughter and her husband and children have been able to join us for Thanksgiving. We all arrived at the church on Wednesday and took up residency in the classrooms of our choosing. While our husbands visited, Amanda and I spent yesterday afternoon visiting and enjoying each other's company as we baked pies and did whatever other preparations that we could ahead of time for today's feast; Patrick and Amber and the children arrived last night and the visiting and prep work continued until late into the night. 

This morning, as I sit here working on this post, I hear the happy sound of voices down the hallway. I can hear my two daughters talking in the kitchen as they prepare for the day...early morning sister-talk that I don't think I've had the pleasure of hearing since they were both girls still living at home. That's been a while. 

I can hear the grandlittles chattering away...full of fresh energy and ready to revel in the excitement of the day. One of the fun-in-laws says something. There's a pause. Then the sudden roar of laughter fills the kitchen and wafts down the hallway to my awaiting ears. Its holiday time.

I smile to myself as I listen to all of this. Then my mind begins to wander back over the years...especially to the years when my own children were small and my parents and my husband's mother were regular guests at our Thanksgiving table. As much as I love my family now, I still miss those days when my own children were small and we were altogether under one roof.

Even further back than that...sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday that my cousins and I were the littles and that we were the ones gathering at Grandpa and Grandma's with our parents...collapsing into fits of giggles at the antics of one of our crazy aunts or uncles. It's amazing how fast time really flies. 

Soon it will be time to prepare the dressing. My whole life...no matter where the Thanksgiving feast was to be held...it was my mother that was asked to bring the dressing. Of all the dressing recipes in all the world, hers had to be the best! 

Mom's been gone now these past twelve Thanksgivings. I remember well the first Thanksgiving that I was to be in charge of making the dressing. I just knew that I couldn't do it...not as well as Mom could anyway. I remember calling her and her walking me through the steps on the phone. I realized a couple of years ago that, even as I was making the dressing, I was replaying that phone call over again in my head and that I still follow Mom's directions to a tee. In doing so, the dressing turns out every bit as good as hers ever was. Well...almost! 

As my heart and mind wanders over the years, people and places flash through my memory...my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, old friends, church friends, people that we have shared meals with over the past 21 years in ministry, and new friends that we've made and shared the holiday with since coming to Amanda and Phillip's the past several years since they've been married.

I remember last year and how special it was having more-like-family-than-friends friends join us for the celebration. A sudden wave of sadness washes over me at the thought that they're unable to join us today, but hey! It is what it is! Maybe they'll be able to come again next year.

As time moves on and seasons change, people come and go in our lives and sweet memories are made along the way. All is woven into a beautiful tapestry called life and, as the early hours of Thanksgiving Day 2017 dawns I am truly thankful for all of the blessings that the Lord has brought into mine.

I'd like to take the opportunity now to wish each and every one here a Happy Thanksgiving! No matter what your situation or season in life, look for God's blessings, because they're there. The little moments in life today will be the sweet memories and threads in your own tapestry tomorrow. Embrace them!

May God's richest blessings be yours today and always!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

Monday, November 20, 2017

Happy Homemaker Monday - November 20, 2017

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
and all the sweet ladies of 
Happy Homemaking Monday!


Note: This post includes affiliate links.

Good Morning, Sweet Ladies! HAPPY MONDAY! 😊

Well...here it is...the Monday before Thanksgiving! All our weekend plans fell through as I was sick in bed with a stomach bug for over 36 hours...no work Saturday (that's gonna hurt), no church Sunday morning, and no Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends Sunday afternoon. I was so disappointed! 

As of yesterday morning, I had no idea how I was going to rearrange and manage everything, but, as the day wore on, I felt better and better. I ended up making four pumpkin pies yesterday afternoon. The thawed turkey is still in the fridge, but is going into the oven shortly. We have decided to host an impromptu dinner for whosoever is willing and able to come this evening. Someone's got to eat all this food before we head to our daughter's on Wednesday! 😄

As for the rest of the week everything went pretty well according to plan. All of the Terrific Turkey programs are behind me now (two library programs and the last homeschool program of 2017). The programs were a huge hit with the children. They really enjoyed viewing the real, stuffed turkey borrowed from the Missouri Department of Conservation. I will share a few photos later in this post. 🦃

With the help of the grandlittles I managed to get the main tree up in the Van Gogh room Wednesday night, and my husband and I worked on the outside lighting and the rest of the house on Thursday. We had everything done, but the Jesse Tree in the kitchen and the little tree in our bedroom. I  finished those two last night. We try to have everything done before we leave to go to KC each year. That way it's done and we can step right into the Christmas season upon our arrival home. 

The main tree...the big tree with the lighted angel
tree topper...sits in the Van Gogh room. It just
seems to belong with the color and sparkle of it all!

My Mom's Tree
Last year was the first Christmas after Dad's death. I found
Mom's tree in a Christmas barrel in the shed and put it up for the
first time since she's been gone (over 12 years now and after she
passed, my dad wouldn't have a tree up). Our youngest daughter
about lost it the first time she walked in and saw Grandma's Christmas
tree sitting there...just like Grandma used to decorate it. I used Mom's
vintage lights and all of her ornaments...some of them still from when I
was a little girl. I think some of them were my grandma's even! Anyway,
I did the same thing this year. It's a way of keeping Mom and Dad's
memory alive throughout the holidays for all of us.

Just some little Christmassy knick knacks and
things adorn the shelves in the livingroom.

I have little Christmas trees throughout the house. This
little silver one sits in the livingroom. I think I need
to get some fake snow to set those houses on...don't you?

This is the Jesse Tree. It sits in the kitchen where
we spend most of our time...eating, visiting,
reading, and doing our Bible study. Of course, most
of the ornaments for it will be added one at a time
as we go through each night of Advent. 
This little tree adorns the vanity in our bedroom.
I love the way the lights reflect in the mirror.

And, of course, the Nativity. It's my favorite of
all Christmas decorations always. Someday I
want a big, lighted set for the front lawn. 

Well...on with today's post and we'll see how far we get...

The weather...

Right now it's 44 degrees and sunny. From now on through the 10-day forecast the highs promise to be in the 50's and 60's with lows in the 30's and 40's and practically no chance of precipitation. For now that's great! It makes for fair traveling weather and it's easy on the utility bill! 💵

Right now I am...

Having a cup of tea as I work on this post and thinking about the day ahead. I need to get showered and dressed soon, then start checking things off the to-do list for the day. 

On my reading pile...

Still plugging away on these same two. On the next to the last chapter of first one (should have it done by next week), but am deliberately lagging behind on the second. I recently discovered that there is an updated and expanded edition and I just ordered it. As I started in a previous post, A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George is my all-time favorite book ever! I can't wait to see what's new! 💓

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God
by Kenneth E. Hagin
A Woman After God's Own Heart
by Elizabeth George

On the menu this week...


- Monday - (delayed Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends here) 
turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, heavenly corn, cranberry sauce, hot rolls, and pumpkin pie with whipped topping 
- Tuesday 
turkey Italian sausages, fried cabbage, and cornbread
- Wednesday - whatever daughter has on her menu in KC
- Thursday - Thanksgiving dinner at daughter and son-in-law's in KC
- Friday - grilled salmon, baked sweet potato, and steamed broccoli
- Saturday - leftovers 
- Sunday - leftovers 

On my to do list....

- Monday - Plan
 week ahead, make lists, weekly "home blessing, laundry (actually only need to do a quick spruce up...cleaned and disinfected everything after being sick over the weekend on Sunday, which included doing the laundry and bedding, so that's all pretty much done)
- Tuesday - Return stuffed wild turkey to the Missouri Department of Conservation in Joplin, pack to go to daughter and son-in-law's in KC
- Wednesday - Travel to KC and enjoy time with family there
- Thursday - Enjoy Thanksgiving Day with family in KC and, depending on what's going on and who's up to it, 
maybe go to the Plaza for the annual lighting ceremony 
- Friday - Travel home from KC, visit with friends in Blue Springs on the way back, unpack
- Saturday - Work
- Sunday - Church

In the craft basket...

Nothing at the moment, but need to be getting some things figured out soon. Family Christmas for us is the 9th of December. It's the only weekend that the whole family can be together and I'm quickly running out of time. Better get to hoppin'! 😲

Looking forward to this week...

Spending time with family and kicking off the Christmas season in Kansas City. 

From the camera...

The stuffed wild turkey from MDC and the library display.
We read SEE HOW THE TURKEY GROWS and A
PROUD AND PERKY TURKEY. What a fun book!!! 🦃

This is a real turkey egg. Our naturalist found it in
an abandoned nest when they were putting in the new
campsites at the park. He watched and waited for a
few days and, when she didn't come back, he took
an egg for us to use for interpretation purposes. 🥚

These two cuties insisted on having their picture
taken with the wild turkey. The children really enjoy
getting to view a real turkey up close and they're
amazed at how big they really are. 🦃

Miss Tay exhibits her beautiful turkey art next to the
wild turkey on display. She's such a cutie and she's super
smart! She literally cracks me up with some of the
stuff that she says! I love this little girl! 💔


Scripture Passage...



Well, Ladies, that's it for this week. I pray that each and every one of you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving and that the Lord's blessings in your life are many. 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and all the sweet ladies of Happy Homemaking Monday!

Monday, November 13, 2017

Happy Homemaking Monday - November 13, 2017


Good Morning, Dear Ladies! And HAPPY MONDAY! 😊

I pray that this post finds each and every one of you healthy, happy, serving the Lord with gladness, and ready and willing to face the challenges of a new week head on!

Much has happened here since our last meeting. I pretty much got the deep cleaning done that I had hoped to and am chomping at the bit to decorate for Christmas. 🎄 If not this week, perhaps next before heading to our youngest daughter's for Thanksgiving. 🦃 We'll see. 

I finally made it to the Amish store last week and got stocked up on dry goods. I laid away a good supply of oat bran, natural sea salt, nutritional yeast, bulk spices, and other things that we were out of or close to being out of. We only make it there a few times a year, so it's always a joy and a blessing when we can actually get around to making it happen! Yeah!

I worked Friday and Saturday, but there wasn't much going on. It was really pretty quiet. I spent most of my time preparing for this week's turkey programs...two at the local library and a homeschool program at the park on Friday. 🦃

Okay...so on to this week...

The weather...

The weather's not been too bad temperature-wise (daytime temps in the 50's; nights in the 30's and 40's), but it's been super cloudy for days! The forecast is showing high temps steady in the 50's and 60's and only one low in the 30's for the foreseeable future. This will be good as far as the heating bill is concerned and, hopefully, it will stay nice, making travel over the holiday more certain for many.

Right now I am...

Having a cup of tea as I work on this post and thinking about the day ahead. I need to get showered and dressed soon.

On my reading pile... 

Still plugging away on these same two. About half done with both. 

How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God
by Kenneth E. Hagin
A Woman After God's Own Heart
by Elizabeth George

On the menu this week...


- Monday - leftover pasta, sauce, and meatballs
- Tuesday 
chili (from the freezer) with cornbread
- Wednesday - turkey burgers and sweet potato fries
- Thursday - turkey 
Italian sausages with fried cabbage and cornbread
- Friday - grilled salmon, baked sweet potato, and steamed broccoli
- Saturday - leftovers
- Sunday - turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, heavenly corn, cranberry sauce, hot rolls, and pumpkin pie with whipped topping

On my to do list....

- Monday - Take a friend grocery shopping, drop donations off at second hand shop, pay taxes, plan week ahead, make lists, weekly "home blessing", laundry
- Tuesday - Go to Joplin to pick up a stuffed wild turkey from the Missouri Department of Conservation for upcoming turkey programs, take turkey out of freezer and put in fridge for the weekend
- Wednesday - Present two library programs at the local library - Terrific Turkeys 🦃
- Thursday - Take a friend to have her hair done, take car to the shop to have oil changed, put the Christmas tree up
- Friday - Work - Terrific Turkeys homeschool program 🦃
- Saturday - Work, bake four pumpkin pies, bake turkey overnight
- Sunday - Church, early Thanksgiving dinner with family here

In the craft basket...

Nothing at the moment. 

Looking forward to this week...

Getting ready for the holidays and spending time with family.

From the camera...

A friend from work and I went exploring
back home (Blue Springs) last
Wednesday and we had a ball!
The autumn colors were absolutely gorgeous!
We found many tiny treasures in nature along
the trail. This is a turkey feather that we found.
I couldn't resist taking this photo of this little
mushroom over into black and white. Beautiful! 
More mushrooms! How cool are these???

My favorite place along the Bethany Falls Trail!
Scripture Passage...


Well, Ladies, that's it for this week. I pray that each and every one of you have a wonderful week ahead and that the Lord's blessings in your life are many. 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and all the sweet ladies of Happy Homemaking Monday!