the simple front porch daybook ~ february 21

beyond the front porch . . .
misty~ slushy~ snowy ~ gray

remembering the weekend . . .
Squirrel Hill ~ Trader Joe’s ~ cross stiching ~ lingering at the library ~
Jesus in the Old Testament teaching ~ The Square Cafe ~
laughter & tears with a dear friend

around the kitchen . . .
lonely hockey sticks & a stray puck ~ the pioneer woman cookbook ~ garden seeds ~
new composte pail, Feb Bee Culture

lessons from the bouncy seat . . .
grandmother judy (i must think of a shorter name for her) talks angrily to the TV when some man reads from his teleprompter.
hmmmm, maybe I shouldn’t listen to him either.

from the study . . .
piles of books ~ section 1 of essay to proof ~ library books ~ dead computer

currently reading . . .
Bee Culture ~ Holiness, J. C. Ryle ~ Father Brown Mysteries

the apiary . . .
spring cleaning activity earlier in the week ~ snuggled into the hive trying to survive
a few more weeks

a verse of Scripture . . . Luke 13:24
“Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many,
I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

at the morning watch . . .
The Daniel Plan of Rick Warren

a few plans for the week . . .
dinner with a friend ~ preparing to refinish cabinet for the front porch ~ bottle homemade laundry detergent ~ clean out refrigerator
pickup horse feed ~ meet the farrier ~ watch wonderful old movies from the library

my favorite things . . .
kitchen table chats with friends ~ wind blowing ~ a new pen ~
gray, overcast days ~ fresh tulips ~ time with daughters

I truly enjoy savoring the weekends and planning for the week ahead, thinking out loud about discerning issues, pondering Scripture, while encouraging my heart to be full of thankfulness and grace. I discovered a simple tool to that fosters order and humility into my life by pausing & preparing early Monday mornings for the new week. I invite you to use these prompts and leave your blog url or just add a few of your daybook thoughts as a comment for all of us to enjoy and be encouraged.

Laura Says:

February 21, 2011 at 5:11 pm

It’s Monday afternoon. Does “better late than never” count?

beyond the front porch . . .
snow, gray skies beyond stark branches… but this morning I heard spring birds a-twittering!

remembering the weekend . . .
shopping with my husband, my son and his friends working around a kitchen table filled with laptops as they work through yearbook design questions while I share tea and ice cupcakes and discuss “the church” with a friend, fighting a headcold on top of sinus infection, an agonizing and disconcerting congregational meeting, tears with my husband over the meeting at the end of the weekend

around the kitchen . . .
nutella dipped pretzels my kids made while we were at the meeting that they could give to their music and art tutor, books, mail, a cookbook with a recipe I want to send to a young cook

from the study . . . piles of books ~ the ones I’m supposed to use to create lesson plans (3 days late!!) and the ones the kids are using, a sleeping duo — the cat on one side of me and the dog on the other, a guitar, just tuned and occasionally picked

currently reading . . .
Standing Firm, Darkness at Pemberley (TH White’s only murder mystery), Valley of Vision, New Horizons recent issue (with an article by Craig Troxel, a speaker at this summer’s family camp)

a verse of Scripture . . . John 17:17
“Sanctify them with your Truth, your word is truth.”

at the morning watch . . .
blue-haired brigade and “Ladies’ Bible Studies”

a few plans for the week . . . track meeting, a school break beginning on Friday, coffee with Judy?

my favorite things . . . kitchen table chats with friends, lovely young ladies and godly young men to be friends with my children, the amazing blessing of a man who loves the Lord and His word above all else.

Yvonne Says:

February 21, 2011 at 6:49 pm

Thank you for creating another daybook. I enjoy your perspective and look forward to participating, with a slight modification. ‘Lessons from the bouncy seat’ might have to be changed considering my babies are grown. (-;

gideonstudycenter Says:

February 21, 2011 at 9:27 pm

An abbreviated “eveningbook” post, since my earlier one got lost:

beyond the front porch . . .although currently it’s too dark to see much, I do sense swirling flakes and I hear the snowthrower already fired up. The sound of spring a-twittering that I savored this morning is now a distance memory.

remembering the weekend . . . clothes shopping with my husband, the sights and sounds of my son and his friends around a kitchen table with laptops open and yearbook design talk filling the air, a passionate discussion with a friend about the concerns of a church capitulating to the culture, the sad realization that it’s happening more and more all around me as a congregational meeting goes sour, tears and prayers with my husband after said meeting end this tumultuous 48 hours.

around the kitchen . . . dirty crockpot with bits of Brunswick stew still attached, books that have since been downloaded to a kindle now sitting about seeming lost and purposeless, a cookbook with the special recipe I’ve decided to share with a young friend, cocoa almonds and nutella dipped pretzels

from the study . . . lessons to plan, homework to grade, notebooks in mid-organization, music sheets, dog toys and bones

currently reading . . . Darkness at Pemberley, the only murder mystery written by TH White, Standing Firm, Valley of Vision, Christianity and Liberalism

a verse of Scripture . . . John 17:17 “Father, sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth”

at the morning watch . . .the blue-haired brigade of ladies’ Bible studies

a few plans for the week . . . track meeting, soccer practice and game, medieval feast (and some sewing to do beforehand), praying for my husband, planning vacation for my mom, winter break beginning Friday (although the weather outside says it’s started this evening!), coffee with Judy?

my favorite things . . . kitchen table chats with friends, getting to know the young people my children choose to be their friends and seeing them grow up to be godly young adults, a husband who loves the Lord and the Word above all things, access to stirring writing and preaching that exegetes the scriptures and teaches me how to glorify and enjoy God.

judy Says:

February 21, 2011 at 9:38 pm

Lovely thoughts and heartbreaking when the business of doing church hurts godly friends. Coffee sound great! When do you have time for coffee with the banquet on Friday? Nutella and pretzels — will have to share this combo with Nacci. Too bad he missed the yearbook meeting . Maybe classes will be canceled tomorrow for a cozy day at home!