Happy Homemaker (Holiday) Monday

On my bedside table:
Lots of magazines: Real Simple, Woman's Day, Taste of Home

On my TV:
Cardinals Baseball Game
On the menu for tonight:
cheap steaks (marinated to hopefully make them more palatable),
smashed (red) potatoes, salad, and HOME MADE, no-knead bread (will post my recipe if it turns out - this is my first attempt)
New Recipe I tried last week:
Last week was kind of a blur ... I don't recall trying anything new.

In the craft basket:
At this stage of my life, I don't have a craft basket...maybe when I'm a grandma?! :)

Looking forward to:
This will be our LAST WEEK OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR!!! Our summer schedule will slow down a little in June, though we still work in Summer School. The office hours are reduced to 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - and though my husband starts his work day at 7 a.m. when the first students come in (more for day care than school at this point), he sometimes will go home at 4 p.m. with me.
I will only be working 3 days a week - except for all the weeks that the other lady who works in the office is gone. AND mostly I'm looking forward to my husband picking a WHOLE WEEK for us to take off together.
Homemaking Tip for this week:
Have a specific place to put items you want to get rid of- either for Goodwill or a yard sale - like in the garage or laundry room or even in your trunk. IMMEDIATELY place any item you come across that you can do without there - to include the clothes your kids outgrow. GET CLUTTER OUT OF the closets & the house ASAP. Since we have a Goodwill very near to us, I often drop off just 1 or 2 bags at a time.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Just today, I read a wonderful reminder that we don't have to try to CONTROL everything and everybody in our lives. GOD will take care of things, in His own time, without our help or manipulation. The post can be found here: Keeping it Simple by Sandra.
Favorite photo from last week:
The pretty dishes I won from Dayspring's Life to the Full collection:


Lesson learned the past few days:
God is a good Father. He delights in His children - and He seeks only their best interests - not for their comfort but for His own glory. Everything He does is good - even trials and sad times. We just have to trust His heart - and receive each day, each gift, and each trial in faith that God is working in us and on us to fulfill His plans and purposes. What a privilege to let Him use us - and have Him bless us - as we serve Him each day.


On my Prayer List:
My husband's family in the aftermath of his godly Grandmother's passing. Now her home must be prepared for sale and all her precious things must be divided and given away or sold.


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
This week I want to list something that really isn't a devotional thought but something in honor of Memorial Day ~ in tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom:

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army.

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.