Simple Woman's Daybook

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FOR TODAY:  Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Outside my window... We had a high of 90 today, still warm, but not nearly as hot as it has been & it should be dropping back into upper 80s from here on out, thank God; I am sooooo ready to turn off the a/c for good, hopefully once it drops down it won't spike back up that high again.

I am thinking...  about greed & how it can consume people; I know someone who is so focused on money & possessions at the moment that it is truly consuming them & destroying them

I am thankful...  for my simple life, material stuff can make things so complicated; I am grateful for the life the Lord has given me

In the kitchen...  leftover night tonight (a nice break for me!); made a batch of rice milk this morning-used to be Lil J's fave drink, but now he won't touch it!  But the almond milk is no longer going well with him, gotta keep working on this...................

I am wearing... blue tank top & denim shorts; I never seem to write these blog posts on day when I actually wear something cute

I am working on...  still working on finding a cure for my IC & chronic UTIs, struggling with a UTI currently  :(

I am going...  grocery shopping tomorrow most likely; as big of a chore as it is, it does bring me joy to shop for my family & plan meals & get out of the house for a few hours

From the learning rooms.....  still just daily Bible study & reading lessons for Lil J; next month I will start some preschool material with him; I'm working on my CEUs as my license is due for renewal this year

I am reading...  Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers.  I started & finished the first part, A Mother's Hope, in between these blog posts

I am hoping...  that my UTI resolves quickly & completely with no IC flares

I am looking forward to...  meeting up with a group of homeschooling moms at a local park later this week; I met with them quite a while back & then right after that my stepson moved in with us full time & it was a much bigger adjustment than I had anticipated & I wasn't able to continue meeting up with these ladies.  Last week I ran into them (here at my community pool) & we did some catching up & I am now in a position where time-wise I feel I can meet up with them weekly & I had been looking for a group to get Lil J involved in, so it's absolutely perfect

I am learning.........  that a child's spirit can be crushed easily; care must be taken in disciplining to do so without crushing

Around the house...  I'm slacking so far, but hope to get caught up; on Monday I just wasn't feeling up to it: I didn't work out & didn't clean the house although I did do the laundry & I went to the doctor & got my antibiotics.  Today I did clean the bathrooms, but that's all I got done.  I still need to dust & clean floors & clean the kitchen...........and weed the garden & hose down outside.........I have a feeling I won't get ALL of that accomplished by the end of the week unfortunately...........but I still gotta do it all again next week

I am pondering...  why is a relationship with Christ so simple & easy for some & so difficult, if not impossible, for others......When I met Christ I clung on as tight as I could & refused to let go.  Yet I look at the girl who went forward with me at the same time & others who I have seen come to Christ more recently tha I did & so many of them waiver &/or fall away completely.  I will never fully understand what makes that difference.  I wish I could so I could ensure that my child would cling as tightly as I did.  But no two people will ever be alike nor will they ever be in the exact same situation.

A favorite quote for today...  True nobility isn't about being better than anyone else; it's about being better than you used to be.

One of my favorite things...  getting lost in a good novel, it's been a long time since I've read a novel, so it's a nice reminder to how much I love it; so much better than any movie out there

A few plans for the rest of the week:  trying to get as much housework done as I can, meeting up with other homeschooling moms, taking Lil J to the community pool, taking Lil J to his swim lesson, taking Lil J to the doctor, & church

I am praying for:  my stepson

Simple Woman's Daybook

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FOR TODAY:  Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Outside my window...  It's been very hot & humid for way too long now.  I really really dislike humidity.  I dislike having to run the a/c & I dislike not being to go for walks & to parks & just spending time outdoors in general.

I am thinking...  How tired I am of feeling so locked up in my house.  Going a tad stir-crazy.

I am thankful...  for having air conditioning; I know there are folks who don't & I REALLY feel for them right now.

In the kitchen...  made chicken, rice, & asparagus last night for dinner......tonight will be a night of left-overs I think.

I am wearing...  grey tank top, denim shorts

I am working on...  getting Lil J's baby book updated--need to print out some pics

I am going...  to my niece's birthday party this weekend

From the learning rooms.....  still just daily Bible study & reading lessons for Lil J, next month will be starting Preschool

I am reading...  just Bible, but will probably start a novel soon, been craving a good novel recently

I am hoping...  this weekend works out well; Lil J has swimming lessons & my niece has a birthday party, but hubby has a business meeting that has to get squeezed in there as well-I just hope it all works out

I am looking forward to...  ahhhh, a wedding next month!  I've been craving a good wedding for quite some time now; and not only do we get to go to a wedding, but my Lil J is going to be the ring bearer!  I feel so honored.

I am learning.........  how to have more patience & understanding with difficult people

Around the house...  did laundry & floors & bathrooms & dusting yesterday; still gotta do the kitchen & then some work outside (weeding & hosing)

I am pondering...  how so many people are so focused on the splinter in other people's eyes while looking past the log in their own & all the while they have no clue they are doing so......makes me wonder how many times I am guilty of the same & why it's so easy to see someone else's sin but not your own.......and makes me wonder why we can't just all help each other (& why we don't all WANT the help) by lovingly sharing with each other when there is visible sin.

A favorite quote for today...  Love the Lord your God--Matt 22:37

One of my favorite things...  fun time (free time) with my hubby; this last weekend was really great between swimming lessons, going to Bass Pro Shop & to the pool

A few plans for the rest of the week:  to the pool tomorrow & probably Friday too; not sure about Thursday yet

I am praying for: my stepson (been very sick), my hubby (seeing an ENT soon), Lil J's appetite, my own health issues, lots of family & friends

Simple Woman's Daybook

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FOR TODAY:  August 7, 2012

Outside my window...it's hot & muggy & ugly; I don't like this weather & hate that it's so hot that I need to turn on the a/c--I hate a/c, love to have doors & windows open & fresh air

I am thinking...about life, once again, have dealt with 3 unexpected deaths in the past 3 months

I am thankful... my husband, my family, my life

In the kitchen... made a turkey tenderloin roast for dinner last night, yummy!  making chicken tonight

I am wearing... a yellow top with spaghetti straps & denim shorts

I am working on... getting more creative, especially with dinner planning

I am going... to my niece's piano recital this Saturday

From the learning rooms..... will be starting preschool next month for Lil J, will be starting swimming lessons for Lil J this Saturday

I am reading... just my Bible for now

I am hoping... to do something fun with my hubby soon, getting tired of being stuck in the house so much

I am looking forward to... cake decorating classes next month!  I can't wait!

I am learning......... how to teach Lil J to read......it's not how I remember learning & not what I was expecting, but it's working & he's enjoying the process, so I guess that's all that matters

Around the house... did most of my cleaning chores yesterday, still gotta clean the kitchen & detail the stove, hose down outside, & weed the garden.

I am pondering... addiction & why some people can beat it while others can't

A favorite quote for today... if you always do what you've always done you'll always get what you always got

One of my favorite things... having lunch in a park

A few plans for the rest of the week: got some errands to run, probably tomorrow, the rest of my cleaning chores that I already mentioned, & taking Lil J to pool since it's too hot to go to a park, swim lessons, piano recital

I am praying for: Josh's family, my hubby's throat, my bladder & toxic body, & lots of family & friends

I've been "tagged"

I was tagged by Danielle

RULES:

Name 11 random facts about yourself.

Answer the 11 questions the previous person tagged for you to answer.

List 11 random questions for other bloggers to answer.

Tag 11 bloggers in this post and spread the word.

11 Random facts.

*I am a total bookworm, have been since I first learned to read

*I love to drive stick-shift (manual) [& yes, my hummer is manual!]

*I absolutely LOVE motherhood

*Being a SAHM is hard for me, I need to get out of the house more

*I am totally addicted to working out

*I love learning about health & alternative medicine

*I love to garden, just have a hard time keeping up with the weeds!

*I love to play guitar & sing

*I love to bake & cook, but sometimes I get stuck in a rut with dinner planning

*I absolutely adore the weather (very breezy) where I live & I know if I ever move I will miss it badly

*I want a pool BADLY yet I don't even know how to swim, LOL

Winners Questions

1.) What's your favourite TV show?

hhhmmmm, that's a tough one, I really don't watch much TV.  I used to be addicted to General Hospital, but haven't watched in a lot of years now.  I guess the show I watch most often is "Know The Cause", although I do usually follow American Idol when it's on.

2.) What do you consider your scary age? (for me, it's 30)

I was having a really hard time as I approached age 30, but once the birthday came & went it wasn't such a big deal anymore.  But when I turned 30 I still felt like I was 19.  Now, as I'm fast approaching 40, I really can't say that, too many health issues these days.  And I am definitely aging.  But I really don't fear any age at this point.  My goal remains to try to stay as strong & independent & healthy as I can no matter what age I am.

3.) Do you have any regrets?

I have really tried hard to live my life with no regrets.  But now that I'm older, looking back, I don't actually think that's possible to do.  I think there will always be "some" regrets in anyone's life.  I do regret some of the choices I made when I was young.  But then again, the results of those choices have shaped me & made me who I am today.    

4.) Favourite meal?

That would have to be dinner I guess.  Most days I just do a protein shake for breakfast & a lot of days I just do cereal (raisin bran) for lunch.  So dinner is typically my most elaborate meal.

5.) Favourite summer drink?

ice water--I know, I know, I'm wild like that

6.) How is your summer going?

pretty good, just wish we could take a real vacation & do more fun stuff than one day at the beach

7.) Dream occupation?

hhhhmmmm, that's a tough one, I guess it would be a microbiologist or something along those lines.  Microbiology was my favorite class in college.  

8.) How many children do you want?

I would've loved to have been able to have 2.  But I had my first at 36 & it was already a very high risk pregnancy & I would not want to push my luck & risk my own health to have another now that I'm even older.

9.) Celebrity crush?

really, truly, none

10.) Current relationship status?

very happily married

11.) Do you vote?

YES, I'm very passionate about it, it's very important to me to get my opportunity to do so, however, it's tough being a conservative in liberal California, my vote doesn't count for much.  And then when the people vote down same sex marriage & one judge overturns our vote & forces it upon us it makes it a little hard to swallow.  How is that a democracy?  When we voice our opinions by voting & yet it doesn't stand?  Just so totally wrong.  Our govt is really upsetting me more & more all the time.  

Questions for Tagged People to answer:

1) How many best friends do you have?

2) What are your favorite hobbies?

3) How many siblings do you have & do you have a good relationship with them?

4) Do you have a good relationship with your parents?

5) What is your relationship status?

6) How many children do you have/want to have?

7) What's your dream job?

8) What is your favorite form of stress relief?

9) What's your dream vacation?

10) What's your favorite summer weather activity?

11) What's your favorite rainy day acitvity?

11 Friends I've Tagged

http://titus2woman.wordpress.com/

http://countryroadsleadmehome.blogspot.com/

http://dairydaze.blogspot.com/

http://holly-lifeinthebighouse.blogspot.com/

http://ourpeculiarlives.blogspot.com/

http://www.lifeonmanitoulin.com/

http://silverpencils.blogspot.com/

http://throwingtheballtonaturally.blogspot.com/

http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

http://www.childtrainingbible.com/

Addendum to the Child Training Bible Blog Post

I have already been using this tool with my son.  And I really love it.  I cannot say enough good things about it.

As I said in my previous blog post on this topic I felt there was some room for improvement in my opinion.  There were a few areas that I felt could be improved, but a big one to me was that I feel there is a big need for the topic of "purity".  In this day & age I believe this is a big issue that needs to be taught to our children straight from God's word.  So I did a study today for verses pertaining to this topic & added my own tabs/highlighting on my Child Training Bible for this topic.

I have quite a few verses for this particular topic, more than this tool has on the other topics it covers.  And a few of them pertain specifically to marriage & one of them pertains specifically to homosexuality.  Obviously which ones I choose to go over will depend on my son's age at the time.  But I do plan to continue to use this tool for many years to come in the future & I also plan to start discussing purity in general at a young age.  I think the world has waged war on this particular issue & we need to fight to reclaim it by teaching our children from a young age straight from God's Word as I already said.

Diva Cup update [warning: TMI for some]

Ok, so I posted this blog post previously about the Diva Cup.  And I will once again warn that this may be TMI for some readers.

I have now gone through 3 cycles using the Diva Cup.  And I am happy to say that I am still happy with it.

The first month was a little rough I will admit.  I had a lot of leakage issues during the first month I used it.  It wasn't until the end of that period that I realized the cup wasn't even full when I was leaking & so the problem had to be that I wasn't inserting it properly.  I must also say that during this week I was also dealing with the loss of my brother in law & focusing on this new diva cup was really not a priority at that time.  I felt a little numb overall, like I was in shock, as his death was VERY unexpected & VERY sudden.  I was tempted to just go back to tampons for this time, but I didn't want to be a quitter & continued with the cup, leaks & all.

During the second month I used it I had some leakage issues on the first day I used it.  But I quickly started learning how to insert properly & that went away.  I'm sure the learning curve for everyone is different, but for me I struggled with getting it to fully reopen once inserted inside.  So it was a matter of fixing this issue & then I no longer had leakage issues, except when the cup is full & needs to be emptied.  I will say, though, that even though I learned how to insert properly this month, it was still taking me a really long time to get it inserted & fully reopened properly.  But I persisted.

During the third month I feel I have become a real pro.  I can quickly remove, clean, reinsert, & fully inflate in a very short time.  I had no leakage issues this time around, with the exception of when the cup is full & needs to be emptied.

So for now I feel like inserting, removing, & cleaning is a piece of cake.  What I am still working on is knowing when to empty.  My flow varies greatly sometimes & it makes it tough for me to gauge.  I'm hoping to improve in this area.

I did get a pan to boil it in when my period is complete each month.  I hadn't boiled it yet, to be honest, & felt that I definitely should be doing that.  And I really couldn't stomach the thought of using one of my kitchen pans to boil it in.  So I bought a separate pan & will be storing somewhere outside of the kitchen, just so there's no confusion & no one ends up using it for food, LOL.

I did also get a second Diva Cup.  I was having a hard time dealing with having only one cup & no other form of back up.  I kept worrying about all these "what if" scenarios where I would need a back up.  So I went ahead & got one.  Now I keep one in my bathroom & one in my purse.  So no matter where I am I have one available in case I start unexpectedly.

I have also mastered the public restroom issue with using the Diva Cup.  That was one of the first things I thought of in regards to the cup, how on earth do you deal with it in a public restroom??  I found a video on youtube where a woman says she carries a peri bottle of water with her, in her purse, & uses that to rinse off the cup & her hands & then when she's done she washes her hands again at the sink outside the stall.  I have done this, in the public restroom at church, & it worked great I am happy to say.  You can also hunt down places like Starbucks where it's one person at a time with a sink right there with the toilet, if that's doable for you.  But I know that there will be times, like at church, where that's not always doable, so I needed to find a good way to handle it without that option & I did & I am quite pleased.

The only other issue I am wondering about: when I initially switched from pads to tampons I was amazed at how much easier my periods were using tampons.  I had less cramping, less mood swings, bloating, nausea, etc.  But I had thought that using the Diva Cup would be comparable to using tampons in regards to this.  But it is not at all.  I am having bad cramping, mood swings, bloating, the list goes on & on.  All those ugly things that went away when I switched to tampons so many years ago.  I find that both odd & interesting.  It makes me wonder what exactly is in the tampons that causes that effect.  I have learned even more now than I knew when I first made the choice to give up tampons & switch to the Diva Cup.  I now know that tampons have dioxin in them & that it is a carcinogen.  Just knowing that alone makes me never want to insert a tampon internally into my body ever again.  I am hoping that my body is just going through some sort of adjustment period to the cup & that it will pass & things will settle down & my periods won't be so difficult once again.

In closing, just let me say how happy I am with the Diva Cup overall.  They say they can last 10 years easily, if cared for properly.  Ten years from now I'd have to guess that I'll be well into menopause & probably not having periods anymore.  And so this will be my final purchase, final expense as it were, towards my periods.  I think that's pretty cool, although I sure do wish I had learned about them & started using them at a much younger age.