Simple Pleasures

Leslie Sansone walking dvd's. I answer her questions out loud, laugh with her, and tell her that yes, I will see her tomorrow. And I know if I ever meet her in person, she will be absolutely happy with these facts!

Starbucks half-caff Americano with extra room for cream, please!

Best when with my wonderful husband and daughter, or mom, or sisters, or friends. Slatkin & Co candles. Any scent - they absolutely fill my house with deliciousness.

I love these witty signs for both the words, and the era they represent. And, this one is especially true, as sometimes when I go to bed, I am already looking forward to my morning coffee!

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Gloss. A-d-d-i-c-t-e-d

Love the smell, feel, and the trampy names!

The beach, and especially the beach with this puddin' pop! In love with Cape Cod, and north of Boston shore, and the Oregon coast. ahhhhh...

My mamma and puddin' pop enjoying an impromptu picnic at Revere Beach in Boston.

Love my mamma's love for people, her sense of adventure, and she is always ready to have fun! This was our best day ever together : ) We meandered up north of Boston, hitting Salem, Gloucester, and Rockport. And we happened upon Kelly's Roast Beef sandwiches, which were AMAZING!! So I love my mamma, and love exploring days that are full of fun surprises!

Art by Sally Huss.

Her paintings are full of bright colors, and wonderful words.

My list is not in order, it's just the way the photos uploaded, because my husband is the best happy I have! He is strong, protecting, wise, fun, and a wonderful expression of God's love for me.

Love taking walks. Some of my very best memories are being in the woods with my family at the cabin in southern Ohio, walking to the creek, walking in the snow with Warren at Highbanks Metro park, and of course, any walk/hike in the pacific northwest is always memorable. What a beautiful reflection of God's glory.

A few of my favorites!

Oh, how I love to read!



When I was young, I read and re-read all of the Little House books. Now I've read them to my daughter and love to share that world with her!



We read A LOT in our homeschooling. Here are some of my favorites from the last year that we've read together:



The 21 Balloons


Encyclopedia Brown books and Socks by Beverly Cleary


Any Hank the Cowdog book! I laugh so much reading these out loud!


Star of Light by Patricia St. John


Stepping Heavenward is one of my all-time favorites which I can't wait to read with Olivia when she is a few years older. I like to re-read it every couple of years. Such an encouragement to my heart.



I primarily read non-fiction. When I do read fiction, I really enjoy the Mitford books, All Creatures Great & Small series, and Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and Persuasion by Jane Austen. And at Christmas time, I may or may not read those ridiculously predictable Christian Christmas romance books...



These are some of the non-fiction books that rotate on my nightstand:


Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp ~ this book is invaluable to us as we strive to raise our daughter with love and discipline.


Any book by Elisabeth Elliot. I read Passion & Purity in college, and have read and re-read all of her books continuously.


Having a Mary Heart in Martha World by Joanna Weaver

Lies Women Believe, and the Truth that Sets them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Becoming the Woman of His Dreams by Sharon Jaynes

I Truly Heart Lists

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated?

Cleaning out the pantry. There’s a stuffed giraffe from O’s Easter basket, an E-Z bake oven, and a tiered can shelf which I knew would solve all my pantry-organizational problems.

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night?

I wait to turn off the t.v. until I am positive I will fall asleep within ten minutes. I HATE to toss and turn. If I don't fall asleep right away, my mind starts reeling, and before I know it, I’m online at Mayo Clinic investigating the fatal disease I have now convinced myself that I have.

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles?

The 30’s. Give me a flapper dress, long necklace and sassy hair. Which is almost what I wore to a wedding on Saturday, minus the sassy hair.

4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd?

Braised short ribs, parmesan polenta, and tipsy tomatoes.

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse?

I love to impulse shop! Today I bought a bottle of Lauren Blue perfume at Wal-Mart, yes, Wal-Mart, for $6.00!! It’s a small sample size, which is perfect, because I’ve been wanting to try Lauren Blue.

Now, I only impulse shop for things under $20, though.

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral?

That my daughter and grandchildren would be comforted by the fact that they’ll see me again!

7. If it's true that joy is in found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today?

Holding hands with my honey and daughter as walk around the neighborhood, talking to my mom on the phone while she is at Aunt Betty’s.

8. What is your favorite type of bread?

Crusty, artisan bread with kalamata olives.

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.)

I battle laziness and grumpiness, so I guess greediness!

10. What trait would you like most to develop?

Persistence and consistency

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why?

Our bedroom – coral and pink florals, with a lilac print on the wall. My favorite thing is a silk scarf I have draped over a table which I bought at an antique store in Indiana. Love it!

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging?

Keep the main things the main things. Each day my main priorities are time in the Word, exercise, homeschool, meals for the family, and maintaining the house (in the loosest sense of the word!).

Menu Plan Monday

Salmon with Roasted Asparagus with lemon caper sauce


Seafood Lasagna, steamed broccoli - this is a little extravagant for a weeknight meal, but I need some more 'go-to' meals for company.


Sausage and Tortellini Soup -


Broccoli and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Ahhhhhh...Spring Break!

Who knew we all needed this so much?!!

We didn't have anything big on our schedule this week, so I didn't realize how good all of the nothingness would feel!

Monday we slept in, stayed in our jammies, did school work and then I cleaned and reorganized the family room.

Tuesday we picked up a single friend who didn't run screaming when I asked if she would help me clean my house. We've done lots of chick-flick nights, so this time we just cleaned bathrooms and vacuumed before watching North & South (the British version, not the Patrick Swayze version). That whole movie is so worth the last five minutes...sigh...that and the "Look at me. Look at me." part.

One of my dear friends is having all the family in town before an anniversary party. To say this friend has been through a lot in the past year would be an understatement. I happily made an oreo cheesecake for her last night. Actually I made two, and I am so glad I did because you know what happened when I tasted it? It wasn't so great!

Since this was the pre-anniversary party dinner, I had to bring something good to the table, right?! So this morning I ran out to the grocery and bought things to make Colophon Cafe's Peanut Butter pie. Soooo good! Her sweet cousins were there cooking and helping out, and they are going to stash one pie in the freezer for their own little midnight party : )

Tonight I'm making basil turkey burgers, then we're at a friends tomorrow night for dinner, Friday night we're doing pizza with another family and then Saturday night we're out for dinner with friends. No more cooking! Whoo hoo! I am ready to get this kitchen cleaned and just make our coffee and breakfast for the next few days!

Spring Break!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Life Lessons

I was talking with a fellow homeschool mom on the playground this afternoon. She has 4 little darling blondie girls under the age of six. As we chatted, we watched another mom's little boy crawl under the chain-link fence to join the older children, and then we watched a little two-year-old try to follow. The mom swooped up her little one, and said "No, sweetie, that's not for you to do."



She mentioned that she has a friend of an only child, who will tell her that her girls are being a 'bad influence' on her precious little one. My friend wasn't criticizing, merely observing that this mom will soon realize that life isn't perfect when her next one is born.



As the mama to a 9-year-old, I told her that the other mom will soon realize that it is an ongoing project. I, too, probably tried to keep my daughter from 'bad' influences. And these aren't really even 'bad', rather they are ways-to-add-gray-hairs-to-your-mama bad things.



O has a friend who is from a dear family, but there are issues that we've observed in the home that we don't want in our home. We've encouarged our daughter to 'obey no matter what' and to be firm in her beliefs. She has had a couple of opportunities to try these things, but it hasn't gone well.

During my devotional time the other day, I felt impressed to tell Olivia that what we're asking her to do is a 'hard' thing, and we don't expect her to get it right first thing. It's an ongoing thing that she needs to work on, and that we will make a point to pray before each visit with this friend.

After we talked, and she was comforted by this fact that we acknowledged it's a hard thing, the Lord directed me to my own struggles. I am so hard on myself when I fail, and fail, and fail. So then I was comforted by the realization that God is asking me to do hard things - die to my self will, and He doesn't expect me to be perfect all of the time, but I certainly need to pray, keep myself immersed in the Word, and keep trying.

What an amazing God! I am so so thankful for the priviledge of being a parent, and for what the Lord teaches me through being one!! Amazing Love!