Taking The Challenge

~* Week in Review - Week of June 30 *~

WEEK IN REVIEW

(The purpose of this meme is to record a weekly memoir of your life to look back on for your own personal reflection/enjoyment and for your children/grandchildren to enjoy and learn from your experiences.  Don't you wish your parents/grandparents had left something like this for you??  I do!!  Feel free to answer all or any...whatever you want to share and record, and feel free to add any subject I may have overlooked.

Please be sure and sign Mr. Linky so we can all enjoy each other's Week in Review posts.)

Before getting to my Week in Review, I need thank my buddies who took a minute to visit Teena and leave her some comment love...AND to announce the winner of the $5 Starbucks Gift Card...  DJ of Chocoholic Life. Congratulations, DJ! Just e-mail me your snail-mail addy and I'll get that gift card right out to you.  Thanks again to NancyFace, Annie, DJ, and Karen W for participating in the bloggy love.

Last week I forgot a couple of things in my Week in Review...and went back and added these...just in case you're interested, I'm putting them here too.

EDITED TO ADD:  Forgot our anniversary meal! (blushing)  It started with artichoke spinach dip (love this stuff!) then we both had the Tour of Italy meals only I got eggplant  parm instead of the chkn parm.  the meal also included lasagna (both of ours went home for another day) and fettucini alfredo YUM!!  Not to mention Olive Garden's yummy salad in between the dip and the meal.

I also finally got the hang of purling.  I've been trying to teach myself to knit by books, but could. not. get. the. purl. stitch.  Bought a video at Joanne's for half-price and finally have the hang of it.  Now to put those stitches to use and get some Christmas gifts made!                        

Week's Weather  85(loving this cooler weather!), 86, 85(July, no less! Love it!), 91, 90, 93? (forgot to check but it felt warmer), 91

Sunday Sermon  I Cor. 3:10 - 17

Life lessons Eating the elephant one-bite-at-a-time works.

Favorite Meal(s) to-die-for pot roast, Italian Sausage & Peppers Hoagies, grilled hot dog & cheeseburger for me/grilled steaks for the guys,

Treasured Moment(s) exchanging belated anniversary cards with my honey (can we stretch out the good times or what?!), holding hands w/my honey while watching the fireworks, laughing with my family at the movies

Simple Pleasures  Cool weather in July, reading a good book

Impacting News

    National  American optimism failing

    Local  CA wildfires continue - straining CA resources; 814 square miles burned so far

    Personal

Things I Read  Riven by Jerry Jenkins (Excellent book! Review coming soon), started reading The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love

Movies We Watched Veggie Tales Jonah DVD (blast from the past); Kung Fu Panda at theatre (thanks Grandma for the treat!)

Interesting Internet

Talked with  good friend Heather, brother Steve, sil Mary, and niece Stephanie via IM, mom and sister over the phone

Places We Went community college; met one of my best friends at Panera's and, as always, had a great time together; church for ice cream social and fireworks; Kung Fu Panda

Budget Savers/Busters  Buster: Gas!  Savers: earned .10 off-per-gallon gas fill-up from Safeway grocery shopping; bought the guys steak for the price of lean ground beef! A real treat for them!!

Blessings family, health, home, honey's job, upcoming schooling

Challenges college financial aid maze, choosing major and simultaneous certification program

Accomplishments getting more comfortable with knit/purl stitches, working through the college financial aid maze (I think!), choosing major (English) and simultaneous certification program (Education Aid), getting more unpacking/organization done,

Family Happenings enjoying the day off for the 4th together...love long weekends!

Photos

Backyard fruit trees and tomato plant

pomegranates

pears

nectarines

~* Friday Fill-Ins July 4th, 2008 *~

Friday Fill-Ins #79

Saw this at Annie's and thought I'd join in the fun.  To view more participants responses or join in, go to Friday Fill-ins.

1. Holidays in the summer are __too few and far between :)____.

2. _Boneless-skinless Chicken breasts and hamburgers___ are my favorite things to grill.

3. My thoughts are __random_______.

4. __The ice cream social at church and following fireworks display____ is what I'm most looking forward to this weekend!

5. My favorite book so far this summer is __Riven by Jerry Jenkins (review coming soon!)_____.

6. __Coffee in hand, youngest son with me, having devotions_________ is the best way to begin a day.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to __ice cream social & fireworks disply___, tomorrow my plans include __spending time with the guys, knitting, and possibly covering some file folders in pretty fabric___ and Sunday, I want to  go to church, take a nap, spend time with the guys, prepare for next week_____!

~* Faith-Lift Fridays July 4, 2008*~

"13 These all died in faith, ^F38 not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Heb. 11: 13 - 16)

I consider myself to be very patriotic.  I love America.  I love the principles she was founded upon.  I love the generations before mine that gave their all to keep her safe and strong. 

BUT...America is temporal.  America is not my ultimate home or country.  I am a pilgrim and a stranger. And that fact becomes more and more a reality as the years pass by so very quickly.

It's good to be patriotic, to be appreciative of the blessings we enjoy in this country.  But we can never take our eyes off of our ultimate home and country.

I often think of all that we know in the physical sense...how God created all we can see, touch, hear, taste, smell...and He created the things so far out in the universe that we can't know them with our physical beings...all that He created in the beginning.   I get excited when I think of the awesome creation He came up with in six days (yes, I do believe in a young earth)...and now...he's been preparing this place for us for over two thousand years!  I can't even begin to imagine...but I love to try!   "3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3)

And while it is good and right that we celebrate our American Independence Day, it's also good and right to take a few moments and think on our final destination....our true country...our ultimate home and  the fact that we have been given the greatest Independence Day anyone could ask for...freedom from sin and it's deserved punishment!

"36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

"1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection ^F14 on things above, not on things on the earth." (Col. 3: 1-2)

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

~* Calling All Bloggy Buddies *~

Well, buddies,it seems that Teena of Toronto is in Canada (duh...geography queen here!) and wouldn't be able to use the starbucks gift card...and since she's not a coffee drinker...and since she was the name drawn, I'd still like to leave her feeling like a winner.  So (here's where my good buddies come in), I'd like my blogging buddies to drop by Teena's, read a few of her posts and give her some comment love.

AND...since I do still have a $5 Starbucks card up for grabs...any of my buddies that leaves her a comment (and leaves one here telling me that), will be entered into the drawing.

Is that win-win or what??  I mean...you GET to share some love and possibly WIN a gift card!!

Doesn't get better than that!

Comments need to be left by Saturday, July 7th, 2008, noon PST...when I'll hold the drawing and announce it in my Week in Review post.

Okay...go share some bloggy love!

~* And the Winner...*~

... of my Happy Blogiversary to Me drawing ($5 Starbucks gift card) is: Teena in Toronto

Congrats, Teena (who also had her blogiversary this week)!  Please send me your snail mail addy and I'll get that right out to you.

~* I TOTALLY forgot!!

Today is my 3rd Blogiversary!!

Thanks to Schmutzie (guess he/she/they stopped over at blogoversary and found out that way) for the reminder.

Anyhooo...to celebrate and in lieu of party favors, I'm putting all the commentor's names from my weekend posts Faith-Lift Fridays, Week in Review, Menu Plan Monday, and Monday with the Mouse, in a hat...or a bowl...or a bag...and the winning name drawn will get a $5 Starbucks card....cause I'm fun like that!

When's your blogiversary?

~* Mondays with the Mouse *~

My friend Mikki (Living Life Where Shoes are an Option) has started a new Monday meme: Mondays with the Mouse " a place where other's can join in and share their Disney memories, news, info, and secrets".  It looks like tons of fun, especially since we're Disneyland fans in this house.  Feel free to join in and be sure and visit her site for more fun reads on the subject.

This week Mikki specifically talks about celebrating the 4th at the parks.  We tend to try to avoid the parks during the summer because we like to avoid the crowds.  Our favorite time of year to go is the week after Thanksgiving.

Since I don't have any 4th of July Disney memories to share, I'll share one of my sweetest memories.

Our youngest son was around 2 1/2 years old when we took him for his first trip to Disneyland.  The little guy didn't sleep one speck the whole day.

It was closing time and we were getting ready to head back to the hotel when we saw Pinochio.  As you probably know, most characters are swarmed with kids wanting their attention (in fact these days, they all have at least one and often several "handlers" with them) however, Pinocchio didn't have anyone around him.  He saw our little guy, who was by this time, very drowsy, and came over to say "hi".  We were a little uncertain how our son would recieve this bigger-than-life character, but Pinocchio moved slowly and was very soft spoken.  It was just the sweetest exchange to watch.  We were so surpised and delighted with the time that Pinocchio took with our little guy.  Of course, we stopped at the gift shop on the way out and bought a Pinocchio figurine.  It became one of his favorite toys.

We had no clue that day that our young son would desire to someday walk in Walt's shoes and develop theme parks and family oriented movies.  15 years later and heading into his Sr. year of high school, his dream hasn't changed.

Who knows...if his dream comes true, maybe it will have all started with a kind, gentle, not-in-a-rush Pinocchio saying "hi".

~* Menu Plan Monday - June 30, 2008 *~

Monday

To-die-for Pot roast w/veggies

Green salad or fruit

Tuesday

chicken noodle casserole

String beans

fruit 'n' yogurt

Wednesday

Sausage 'n' Peppers Hoagies

Fresh fruit

carrots

Thursday

Ziti and pasta sauce

Garlic bread

Green salad

Friday

Tacos

Pinto beans

Spanish rice

For more menus and recipes, visit Organizing Junkie.

NOTE: This week while Laura is on vacation, Laura of Heavenly Homemakers is hostessing MPM...head over there for this week's menus and recipes.

~* Week in Review - June 23, 2008 *~

WEEK IN REVIEW

(The purpose of this meme is to record a weekly memoir of your life to look back on for your own personal reflection/enjoyment and for your children/grandchildren to enjoy and learn from your experiences.  Don't you wish your parents/grandparents had left something like this for you??  I do!!  Feel free to answer all or any...whatever you want to share and record, and feel free to add any subject I may have overlooked.

I added another category this week...look for the asterik*.

Please be sure and sign Mr. Linky so we can all enjoy each other's Week in Review posts.)                           

Week's Weather 89 & hazy (thankfully much cooler! Very hazy from all the wildfires), 89 (still smelling smoke and still hazy), 86 (love those dropping numbers - stilly hazy/smoky), 90 hazy/smoky, 93 hazy, smoky, 86 much clearer and cooler

Sunday Sermon   I Cor 3:1-9 We are so enjoying this sermon series by our pastor!

Life lessons Nothing is Wasted in God's Economy

Favorite Meal(s) Beef, Bean, & Cheese burritos, chicken fried steak w/ mashed potatoes & cream gravy, chicken & rice, EDITED TO ADD:  Forgot our anniversary meal! (blushing)  It started with artichoke spinach dip (love this stuff!) then we both had the Tour of Italy meals only I got eggplant  parm instead of the chkn parm.  the meal also included lasagna (both of ours went home for another day) and fettucini alfredo YUM!!  Not to mention Olive Garden's yummy salad in between the dip and the meal.

Treasured Moment(s) celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary (my honey took me to see Wall.e {very cute!} and to Olive Garden...YUM!)

Simple Pleasures*  eating fresh cherries, strawberries, apricots locally grown and sold at roadside stands/farmer's market, enjoying fresh zucchini bread made by our neighbor's daughter, holding hands with my honey, talking with our sons

Talked with our daughter who's in TN (I sure miss her!), my brother via IM and wii web (isn't technology amazing?!)

Impacting News

    National Obama to get Hanuman Idol, Supreme Court Rejects Death Penalty for Child Rapists,  Evangelical leader critical of Obama's understanding of Bible

    Local CA wildfires,

    Personal  having college registration fees waived!

Things I Read Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber, starting Riven by Jerry Jenkins 

Movies We Watched Faith & Doubt at Ground Zero, 

Interesting Internet  Found we can play wii with my brother and sil over the net!!

Places We Went  Arden Fair Mall, Large Thrift Shop in Sacramento area, seeing Wall.e in theatre, Olive Garden

Budget Savers/Busters  Saver: Bought 3 pairs of in-great-condition jeans, 6 nice golf shirts for my honey, 3 nice golf shirts for our second son, 8 nice tops for myself, and six baskets for approx. $70 - a really nice savings on needed clothes even with the gas spent to get there. It worked out to $3.50 per clothing item!  It was an especially rewarding trip since I usually can't find things in my size/style at our local shops.  Got a wrought iron hanging plate rack I've been wanting since last year to turn into a hanging file rack.  Great bargain at the thrift store.  Now I just need to make some cloth covered file folders to finish the repurposing...pics will be posted as soon as that project is completed :)

Blessings  Thrift store savings, spending time with my family, good health, tomatoes off our vines

Challenges Filling out the fafsa financial stuff, and the usual weight loss...did continue getting my daily exercise in, though!

Accomplishments  unpacking more boxes, getting more organization done, starting the fafsa process, getting the actual college registration processed  EDITED TO ADD: I also finally got the hang of purling.  I've been trying to teach myself to knit by books, but could. not. get. the. purl. stitch.  Bought a video at Joanne's for half-price and finally have the hang of it.  Now to put those stitches to use and get some Christmas gifts made!

Family Happenings  celebrating 28 years married to my honey!

Photos

our first tomato thrift store haul

~* Faith-Lift Fridays June 26, 2008 *~

Since my honey is taking the day off tomorrow to spirit me away for our anniversary,

thought I'd better post this now.

I will be back to visit everyone when I get back or over the weekend sometime.

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!   Sheryl

*************************************************************************************************************

This was taken from one of my devotional reads this week.  It's by Catherine Doherty and published on page 401 of the NIV Women's Devotional Bible.  (If you want some great devotional reads, I highly recommend this Bible.  I've had it several years now and still enjoy re-reading all the devotionals.)

                                 Realize

                                          by Catherine Doherty

What is our spirituality when all is said and done?  I see us silently, in a manner of speaking, doing little ordinary things men and women do everywhere, always with an immense, burning love, knowing that love makes every gesture, step, work, and work, redemptive.  I see us loving each other, serving each other and all the world, because to our eyes of faith and truth, each is Christ to the other!  That is all.  The rest he will do through us.  We are just lovers witnessing to love, servants reflecting the light of the Master and torchbearers of love and light in our modern darkness, by being lovers and doing ordinary daily tasks for Love's sake and with great love.

When I read this I think of the verse:  Col. 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or  deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him."

I also think of mom's everywhere going about their daily routines  showing God's love to their families and friends with their nurturing care.  So often, our culture demeans mother's unless they have a career.  Even then, the praise is not for their mothering abilities, for their loving efforts as wives, but for their pursuit of a career.

I don't want to jump into the career mom vs stay-at-home mom debate...but I do want to tell ALL mom's, all wives,  by doing those daily little things : laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, chauffering, etc...you are surrounding your family with God's love.  Those things that you do are exceedingly valuable!  Don't let the shouting voices over-ride the still small voice that says, "Well done!".