MY DAYBOOK

Good morning! It’s Monday again and time for My Day Book!

Outside my Window… Patches of sunlight are just beginning to touch the far reaches of my yard.

I am thinking… about plans for some homeschooling this summer.

I am thankful for… encouraging words from friends, loved ones, and the Word of God.

From the kitchen… chicken soup tonight.

I am creating… I’m painting my picnic basket barn red. I’ve got to give it one more coat of spray paint. I plan to show it to you all on Friday.

I am going… to the pool with my kids. I’ve been trying to “work out”; but, I’m having pain in my back. So, I’m going to do my exercising in the pool this week.

I am wearing… a purple knit jumper with bare feet, hair down.

I am reading… My new Mary Jane’s Farm magazine. A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levinson.

I am hoping… for a breakthrough this week.

I am hearing… not much of anything. My eldest son just woke up. He’s getting ready to go lift weights.

Around the house… the normal Monday things…getting things back in order after the weekend, laundry, oh, I’m quite sure I’ll find plenty to do!

One of my favorite things… early morning quiet before my family gets up. So why don’t I do it every morning?

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… easing into a few lessons with the kids, beginning a new log for hours. Our state requires 1000 hours of lessons per year. I like to start counting in July since our state’s official year goes from 7/1 to 6/30 each year. This year I’ll be counting for my youngest daughter, too; because, she’ll be turning 7.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

This is a spring a few miles from our home. I don’t know if it has a name or not. We have an older friend who remembers walking to this spring to get his family’s water. I’ve been told it’s not safe to drink; but, while we there, a family came and filled their water jugs and told us it was safe. I don’t know; but, for my family, we’ll just enjoy the beauty!

Now, go on over to Peggy’s Blog and see what the other ladies are doing!

God bless!
Laura
Splashing in the Grace of God

Presidential Quotes

Just a few Presidential quotes I came across recently….

“The United States is the best and fairest and

most decent nation on the face of the earth.”

~George Herbert Walker Bush (Father)

“You ain’t learnin’ nothin’ when you’re talkin’.”

~Lyndon Baines Johnson

“I have never been hurt by anything I didn’t say.”

~Calvin Coolidge

“The only man who makes no mistake is the man who does nothing.”

~Theodore Roosevelt

God bless America!

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

You’re Invited!!!!!!!!!!

Come on over and see me at my new blog!  Just click anywhere on this post!  I’ll be waiting!

God bless!

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

Happy at Home

Something to Think About…Ripples on the River

Recently I went down to the river with my oldest son, Matthew. He’s thinking about his future and trying to make some decisions about which path he wants to take this next year. I, on the other hand, am trying to come to terms with the fact that our time with all of our children at home will come to an end sooner than I wish. One of the songs that plays on my blog is “I Will Never be the Same Again.” I don’t like to think about the fact that our family will never be the same. There’s such a desire in a momma’s heart to have all her little chicks under her wings, to protect them from all life’s foxes, possums, and dogs.

While Matthew and I were sitting there talking, he picked up a handful of rocks and began tossing them into the river, an age old pass time. I gazed at the ripples as they spread slowly outward, just as in a pond. As I watched, I saw them slowly move downstream carried along by the never ceasing current. I was struck by how for an instant he put something into the river. Yet, the ripples continued on, not only spreading out, but also moving on at the same time. I realized that my time to invest myself fully in my son was but a small part of his life. I made ripples that will continue; but, he’ll be moving on soon. Those ripples will continue and will touch others as well.

“Lord, I pray that the good, true, Christ-like things that I’ve invested in my son will continue and stay in his mind, heart, and spirit. I pray that the things I’ve done wrong, the gaps I’ve left in his education, the times when I’ve made wrong decisions, the times when I’ve lost it, will all be covered in the Blood of Jesus; and, You Lord will make it all right. Thank you, Jesus.”

Friends, I do hope you don’t mind a prayer or two on my blog. You see, I do believe that God reads blogs. I do believe we talk about praying; and, we need to be praying.

So, today I choose to toss a rock in and make a splash in my children’s lives and let God handle the rest. This blog is a bit like that. I toss my posts out and hopefully make a little splash in your lives…a splash of hope, a splash of encouragement, a splash of kindness, a splash of Christ’s love.

God bless you!

Laura

Splashing in the Grace of God

Our Latest Family Picture

I’m so pleased to share our latest family picture with you all!

Artist: Amy, age 6

P.S. If you’re wondering, Go is actually Josh, our dog.

Blessings!

Laura

Thankful Thursday

1 Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Thank you Lord for air conditioning!

Thank you Lord for my long term life term marriage to my high school sweetheart.

Thank you Lord for loving me even when I’m whining to you.

Thank you Lord for loving me even when I’m complaining to you.

Thank you Lord for forgiving me when I ask your forgiveness. I’m asking now for the above two!

Thank you Lord for food in my freezer, my fridge, and my cabinets.

Thank you Lord that I know how to cook a lot of things from scratch.

Thank you Lord that I’ve lost 9 pounds this month.

Thank you Lord for giving me friends that truly care for me.

Thank you Lord that you are my hope when all is hopeless.

Thank you Lord that Lowell is always there for me, even when he’s busy.

Thank you Lord that Lowell is always calling me to look at something, to ask me something, to proof something, to share his ideas with me.

Thank you Lord for our Friday night date nights.

Thank you Lord for giving me this opportunity to write a blog. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s got me writing again. Who knows where it will lead?

Thank you Lord for the dear ladies who leave me comments. It just blesses me so very much!

God bless you all!

Laura

So Thankful to Be at Home with My Family

He Gives and Takes Away….

He Gives and Takes Away….

Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

I will trust the Lord to provide. I will trust the Lord to give us what we need just when we need it. I will trust the Lord to know what’s best for our family. I will trust the Lord to show us the next step. I will trust the Lord to be our Comforter through this long process of finding employment for my husband or helping him to create income.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

He gives and takes away….

My heart will choose to say…

Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

~

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above the Heavenly Host. Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost.

Blessings!

Laura

Happy at Home

Something to Think About…Listening to Children

My girlfriend sent me a list of quotes recently about listening. These quotes about listening to children spoke to me.

“I think a lot of our problems are because people don’t listen to our children. It is not always easy. They’re not always so brilliant that you want to spend hours with them. But it is very important to listen to them.” ~Barbara Bush

“Education commences at the mother’s knee, and every word spoken within the hearing of little children tends towards the formation of character.”
~ Hosea Ballou

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.”
~ Robert Fulghum

Have a wonderful day!

My Day Book

Good morning! It’s Monday again and time for My Day Book!

Outside my Window… the wind is gently blowing the leaves. It’s still wet from the thunderstorm we had in the night.

I am thinking… I have so much to do, I’m not sure where I’ll start!

I am thankful for… God providing for us in these very difficult trials that we are going through right now.

From the kitchen… I need to make butter, start some lentil sprouts, start some wheat sprouts, and maybe start some yogurt. I may just leave the yogurt until later in the week. I also am going to start my first batch of Kombucha tea. My friend gave me a “mother” to start it with. It’s supposed to be very good for you.

I am creating… a menu for the next month using up as much of what I have on hand as possible, keeping purchases to a minimum.

I am going… I’m just planning to stay home. We went to Vacation Bible School last week and were out until 9:30 each night. I’m still tired from that!

I am wearing… a burgundy jumper with bare feet, hair in a clip.

I am reading… My new Mary Jane’s Farm magazine.

I am hoping… my Honey doesn’t have to drive in the rain when he comes home from his business in the next city this afternoon.

I am hearing… beautiful music playing from my blog. I was so happy to find music to add to it. I had used Sonific before; but, it is no longer available.

Around the house… general pick up from the weekend, laundry, etc.

One of my favorite things… filling and keeping a hat box filled with things that will become gifts for friends and loved ones.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… I’m going to have my yard sale Friday and Saturday weather permitting. So there will be lots of sorting and pricing to do. Fun fun!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

I hope you all have a terrific day. Now, go over and check out the Simple Woman to see what the other ladies are doing!

God bless!

Laura

Happy at Home

Best Friends for Life…

My Emily and My Amy

Best Friends for Life

I’ve tried to teach my children that their brothers and sisters are their best friends for life. Other friends drift in and out of our lives; but, our brothers and sisters are forever. I don’t have that kind of relationship with my brothers. We were brought up in a broken home. One of the reasons I homeschool my children is that I want them to have that close loving friendship connection with their family when they grow up. Only time will tell; and, it is ultimately up to them. We shall see how it all comes out. I hope they will value each other.

God bless!
Laura