The Simple Woman's Daybook



This amazing idea is from the blog The Simple Woman.  Please join us if you can...

 FOR TODAY January 31, 2011...

Outside My Window...
The sky is cloudy and we are waiting for snow.  Praying for "snow days" for my little ones. 


I am thinking...
about how my life has been transformed over the last several months.  I am so very, very grateful.

I am thankful for...
my incredible husband and the gift of my children.


From the learning rooms...
We are behind on our lessons but I am really happy with the learning enviornment here.  Krystiana got the Harry Potter series for Christmas.  She finished all seven in a month and still got her lessons done.  Amazing...


From the kitchen...
I have accepted the fact that our family really doesn't like fancy, complicated meals.  That's okay.  It's saving me time and money.  I have lost 27 pounds so lean protein, fruits, and vegetables work for me too.


I am wearing...
Jeans and a grey ribbed turtleneck from Coldwater Creek.  They were a gift from Chris on my birthday:)


I am trying to create creating...
a relaxed, clean enviornment in the home.


I am going...
to get rid of the clutter and all of this extra "stuff."  It is driving me (and my type A husband) crazy. Simplify, simplify, simplify.


I am reading...
about Clean Eating, working out, and the transforming power of self-discipline.


I am hoping...
to inspire others with my life.  I will be posting before and after pictures in a few months.


I am listening to...
Joel Osteen's Podcasts and upbeat music for my workouts.


Around the house...
Bags to give away and constant discernment about what we really need.  How did we accumulate all of this?


One of my favorite things...
The sound of my children running to the door and my husband yelling "Daddy's home!"  A close second are the words: "I can work from home today if you need me to."


A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Hunkering down at home.  It is supposed to snow and Willow still isn't feeling well.  It will be good for everyone to have some family time.  Chris and I grew up in the Northern part of the country.  We both love being snowed in:)


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Why I love snow days.  Landon was stck in the swing.  It took Chris, my Mom, and I to get him out...



The best spaghetti sauce, ever!

Personalize your own recipe card

Pearls of wisdom

Recently, I have developed a habit of waking up early.  It has changed my life.  Really.  Being able to fit exercise, prayer and reading into my day has made me happier than I have ever been.  The only problem is trying to be quiet so I don't wake up the rest of the house.  Which would be counter-productive:(  I started downloading pastor Joel Osteen's podcasts and listening to them first thing in the morning on my ipod.  He is so amazingly positive that it is the perfect way to start my day!  I am taking notes and letting his sermons guide my Bible study for the week.  This week he spoke about "developing your pearls."  In short, he said that oysters form pearls from a piece of sand...an irritant.  He went on to explain that irritants in your life are allowed by God to form character or pearls.  He said that if there is something that you are praying about and it does not change, God has put it there for your benefit.  Suffering forms spiritual "pearls" or character.  Pastor Osteen said, "It is not where you are but what you are that matters."  It is what defines you as a Christian.  Sometimes you hear something from God that you know is just said for you.  He quoted a passage by the apostle Paul on suffering.  After the podcast ended, I wished he would have given the chapter and verse.  I was looking over my notes and decided to open my Bible.  If anyone has ever done Lectio Divina you know it can be powerful.   I still have my drivers licence that I got 16 years ago when I got married.  Tosha Michell Schiffli.  I was so proud of my new name I ran right out to get my new licence.  I keep it out and look at it to remind myself of the blessing of my marriage.  I let Landon play with it the night before and he had placed it in my Bible.  So I naturally opened it up to that place.  Landon  God had marked the place of Paul's quote that was in the sermon that morning!  It was Romans 8:18-19. 

I consider that the sufferings of the present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be reveled for us."

I looked at my licence and at my smiling naive face.  I thought about how different things turned out than I had planned.  I thought about God's plan and all of the trials of our 16 year relationship.  I thanked God for all of them and how grateful I was that I was not that girl anymore.  Thank you Jesus...for all of my pearls.

Joy comes in the morning

Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.  Psalm 30:5

For years, I have been praying about how I could pack everything I wanted to into my day.  I read every book I could get my hands on about managing my home.  Fly Lady, Managers of their homes, Motivated Moms...you get the point.  Read them all.  Every.  Single.  One.  I would do good for a while but ultimately it was a total failure it did not work for my hectic household.  I found Godly council in many of those books but none were written for an Orthodox Catholic Homeschooling/ Public School family with kids on the Autism spectrum with an ADD Mom and an OCD Dad (who is going crazy in this mess).  Does such a book exist?  If it does...could someone please tell me where I could get it?  Landon started coming downstairs between four and five am and crawling into bed with us about a month ago.  He kicks and turns like Bruce Lee.  It took me five minutes to get out of bed.  This rude awakening turned into an epiphany of sorts.  There really isn't much to do around here at four am.  So I started my day with prayer and scripture.  Then I noticed the dishes...and I could throw in some laundry...and I could go for a quick walk on the treadmill.  By seven o'clock in the morning I was ready and prepared to start my day.  My body started waking me up early and I was wide awake by five.  I have already lost 18 pounds!  The lesson here is I was looking to others for inspiration and what I needed was to go to the source for answers.  God gave me the answer to my prayers in the early hours of the morning.  All I had to do was meet him there.

New Years Resolution

Have nothing in your home that you do not find to be useful or beautiful. 

William Morris

This year my resolution is to simplify.  Especailly in my home.  I am tackling clutter in order to have more time for my family.  I know someone who has a problem with hoarding.  I have seen firsthand what happens when "stuff" takes over your life.  It seems like lately all I do is clean manage my things.  Chris is on board and we already have started boxing things up!  It feels great.  I am initially planning on doing "40 bags in 40 days" like many have done during Lent.  I know if I don't tackle it while we are both motivated it will never get done. Please join me and link to your blog to show your progress:)  If you don't have a blog, e-mail me and I will post your pics.  Good luck!