Simple Woman's Daybook #1

For Today...

Outside My Window...the wind is blowing the trees so gently.  It's a chilly fall morning finally.

I am thinking...that I am going to have a busy week!

From the learning rooms...is my bible study on Ms. Happiness that I need to re-read and think about the questions and what I am to gather from this study.

I am thankful for...my husband and his job in these uncertain times and for God's blessings.

From the kitchen...the smell of cinnamon coffee and last night's chicken and dumplings.

I am wearing...a black sweat pants with a jacket and blue fuzzy socks to keep me warm on our first chilly morning this fall.

I am reading...the newspaper and What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.

I am hoping...to write an offer for a client today.

I am creating...a CD of pictures of myself for my son-in-law to create a DVD of my 50 years of life for my birthday.  I love the one he did for my hubby.

I am hearing...quietness at this moment and it's wonderful.

Around the house...I have laundry to do, my bed to be made and some piles to clean up.

One of my favorite things...is looking at photos of family and friends.

A Few Plans For the Rest of the Week...to pack for Chicago(we leave on Friday), get the house ready for our small group bible study meeting here tomorrow night, pick up the motorhome from the repair shop, take 2 buyers out to look at homes and write an offer for them, get my nails done, get my car washed, put some $$$ in my son's account for his books for college :) and take care of Bella and Dylan 2 days this week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

My precious granddaughter walking us out to the pumpkin patch last week to pick her very own pumpkin.  What a nice day that was.

For more Simple Woman's Day Books, visit The Simple Woman.  Have a great day!!

Samantha Who is Back!!

I love this show! What shows do you watch regularly? I also watch the Amazing Race, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars and Gossip Girl.

Pumpkin Patch Adventure

I laid low for a week after my surgery and finally had to get out of the house.  This was my first trip to a real pumpkin patch.  Living in the city, all we have is a set-up on a street corner with the hay, pony rides and the blow up slides for the kids and the pumpkins already picked and placed around the lot for you to pick one or two.  This year, my son and I thought we'd like to take Bella to a real pumpkin patch.  We found one in a rural area about 25 minutes away.  I never knew there were so many different types of pumpkins.  Here's a few they had under a canopy for us to choose from:

Wow!  Dallas saw his favorite!  :)  That's Dallas for ya!  What can I say????

So here we go!  Bella was leading us out to the pumpkin patch.

  I love this picture of her.  Of course, she is my favorite photog subject anyway.

Bella and her daddy, Dallas looking for the perfect pumpkin.

Baby Dylan, getting sleepy looking for pumpkins.  He and mommy found one though!

Dallas and Bella picking her first pumpkin.  We didn't know that pumpkin vines

 have little thorns or thistles so you have to be careful.  They had to 

twist the pumpkin to get it off the vine.

Bella and her pumpkin.  It ended up being a bit heavy and daddy had to help her hold it!

Aunt Danielle came along too!  Baby Mason is due in 3 weeks!  

Grandma and Bella found a little pumpkin for Dylan.  Isn't it cute???

I found this large flat pumpkin and told Bella to sit on it.  She gave me a strange look and then I told her it was a pumpkin chair.  She said "OK".  Isn't she so cute??

Daddy and Bella with our pumpkin haul.  All $80 worth.  Pumpkins can be expensive in California when you pick them yourself.  Hey Nina....your 12 pumpkins for $15 is a bargain!!

Taking a little break!  My favorite subject again!

Then we were off to the petting zoo which was really a pen of goats that we could

feed.  They attacked us before we even got in the gate.  

Selena had one of the goats trying to eat her shirt and another jumping up on her.

We think these were alpacas.  They were shaved and pretty ugly.  Dallas felt sorry

for them and gave them a little to eat.

Bella feeding the baby goat.  He was so cute!

This one jumped on this rail and basically said "Look at me!"

Bella is just not sure of the big goats.

Aunt Danielle playing with Dylan.

Bella feeding more baby goats.

Taking a break on the pyramid of hay.  Bella and I climbed to the top!

This is the picture I got of her on the top of the hay bales.  I love it!

Dylan looking over the top of his daddy's shoulder.

Dylan got so happy touching the big pumpkin.

Trying to take a family pic wasn't as easy as we thought.  This was a cute one!

We had a great time even though it ended up being hot....97 degrees!  We all thought it was supposed to cool off.  It did that night.  We had to wear sweatshirts to the softball game.  

I am hoping for fall weather this weekend.

I've Been Tagged!

Here are the rules:  

1. Link to the person who tagged you:  Chela at Williams Family

2. Post these rules.

3.  Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks.

4.  Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them.

Here are my 6 unspectacular quirks:

1.  I like to dance and sing in my bathroom in the morning.  :)

2.  I have to make my bed everyday.  Ok...every now and then it doesn't get made but most everyday!

3.  I like ice in my water, tea, Pepsi.  My sweet Bella likes ice in her drinks too!

4.  I hate to sweat. Maybe that's why I don't have that daily exercise gene in my body.

5.  I don't go out of the house without my hair and makeup on. I know...but I am so pale and my hair is so flat if I don't!  I've tried....it's just not comfortable and my hubby just looks at me and says "Are you sick???"

So now I tag Debbie at Dishing with Debbie   , Nina at Just Enjoying Life, Brandee at The Berry's Patch, Edwina at The Picket Fence, Carol at Looking Ahead and Beverly at Dancing with the Daffodils

Thanks Chela....I've been out of sync with my blog posts...so glad to do an easy one and get it going again.

Behind Those Eyes-Ms. Confidence

This is a part of an online Bible Study-Yes to God.  We are studying the book "Behind Those Eyes" by Lisa Whittle.   If you'd like to join in,  get the book and go over to Lelia at Write From the Heart who hosts the study to link up with everyone.  You will be blessed and changed.

Chapter 3-Miss Confidence

This is me!  I have become Ms. Confidence since I came out of my shell years ago.  I used to be shy and just wait to be included in everything.  Sadly I was not noticed.  So years ago, I began to get out of my comfort zone and became more outgoing and more confident.  I had always been pretty smart, had a great smile, etc.  However, over the years, I became the Ms. Confidence that would let very few people inside the real me!  I wanted to save myself the pain of being hurt by others seeing the real me.  

On page 43, Lisa writes:  Often, women I become good friends with tell me they admire my confidence and strength.  Because of my type A personality, I tend to choose friends who are a bit more laid back and emotional than I am.  I relate to this so well...I also saw myself in the crisis times where they would call me but I couldn't bring myself to call them for advice on the really personal things.  Believe me, I had picked up the phone, started an email, etc. wanting to ask for help but couldn't.  

Finally...a true crisis hit that I could not hide from.   My son came home and said his girlfriend was pregnant!!  I was devastated...for him, for me, our family, our reputation, he was brought up in a Christian family, went to Christian school and he knew better.  I blamed her!  This was NOT what I had planned for his life.  I cried and went into a bit of a depression.  I could not talk about it.  I could NOT tell anyone for a couple months.  I denied it was real.  I was angry at my son, at God, at myself, at MTV, everyone!  Thank God for pastors who preach God's word and husbands who insist we go to church every Sunday.  It was through a message one Sunday that I felt God take this burden from me and tell me that it was going to be okay and  I needed to share this burden, that I would be okay, not to worry about what others thought and to love my son, his girlfriend, my husband and to be dependant on GOD and not myself.   It was not easy to call my mom, my dad, my mother-in-law, my sisters, my brother, etc. and tell them the news.  God is good.  He paved the way for Dallas and Selena and my precious little Bella who I love sooooo much to make it through this.  Today Dallas and Selena have been through alot....married, divorced, they became pregnant again--Dylan is 6 months old and such a sweetie! and soon to be married.  They attend church together and my prayer is for them to grow in their faith and to LOVE one another.  So girls....here I am sharing with all of you my real story...it's getting easier.  God is growing me and I'm becoming more Real so that I can truly serve HIM better.

Lisa says:  So while my friends may admire me for my strength and counsel, the truth is I admire them....women who are open(like Lelia) and vulnerable and real and genuine and without pretense.  Those are the things that truly take strength.  Amen to that!

On page 50:  We were not made to live in a completely self-reliant state, regardless of how empowering it sounds.  After all Jesus acknowledged our human weakness when he said, "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing"  John 15:5  True confidence comes down to who our confidence is in, where it lies, and why we have the confidence to begin with.  This is the kind of confidence I want to have from now on.  

  Dear Lord, 

We admit that as capable as we may be, we cannot be truly confident without the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives...leading us and directing us in our everyday circumstances.  Our desire is that we begin to be transparent before you and those around us, admitting our vulnerabilities and helping others feel the freedom to, in turn, get real.  

In Jesus' name, AMEN.  

This was the prayer at the end of the Bible Study guide.  This is my prayer today!

Ready for Grandbaby #3

Danielle had her 2nd baby shower and got so much stuff.  Her grandmother, Lenie and her Aunt Peggy were able to join us.  Can you believe Lenie is 85???   Danielle is truly ready for baby Mason.  We all can't wait.  Her little ankles are so puffy and baby is making it hard to eat, sleep and rest.  She's been talking to Mason about making his grand appearance.  Dwight and I are looking forward to our trip to Chicago in two weeks so I'm betting on October 22d for the wonderful event!!  We are ready for grandbaby #3!!

I'm Back!

Surgery went well.  I'm moving slowly!  Feel like an old lady at times but I know it's only for a short time.  My hubby helped me wash my hair today and that made me feel more alive.   My friend Brenda brought me a wonderful lunch and we've enjoyed looking at other blogs.  I'm trying to get her hooked on blogging!  She says she will try it!  Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers.