The weather today in my neck of the woods:

Overcast ~ Hot ~ Humid. Cleared out the laundry room of all the hoodie hooks and put the hoodies in storage for next year….because you know it won’t get cold again until around January. We hope.

A simple pleasure:

Staying home while it pours down rain all day.

I am thankful:

For macaroni. Sam is having mac and cheese for dinner tonight and I am making plain old macaroni salad. Mr. John????? He just grabbed a frozen pizza out of the fridge.

From the kitchen:

See above.

From the learning rooms:

Finally managed to get some of those aggravating labs started (the yeast is still growing) and one finished (seems I don’t know how to wash my hands properly). Left is the math one…yeehaw.

Miss Sam will be interviewing her grandfather tomorrow for her World History assignment. This blends well with our genealogy project.

I  finished reading:

I haven’t. I checked out about 20 books from the library but could only work my way to Chapter Two or Three before getting bored with about five of them.

I am currently reading:

Smash Cut by Sandra Brown. Now her books ALWAYS catch my attention. This one is no exception. It’s good. Looking forward to reading it tonight as I snuggle into a bed that has freshly laundered linens on it. Luxury!!!

On My Mind:

Working on that minimalist lifestyle. So how long has this work been going on????? Those that have been with me for the four years I have been blogging know that it’s been about…..oh yea…four years.

Almost there. Second car load will be heading out on Friday.

Creative Projects:

• Too hot to work outside anymore. Working on plans for the fall gardens.
• Really getting revved up with the genealogy. Have all documents sorted and filed. Have all the available photos sorted and ready to scan and print. Just waiting for Hobby Lobby to have their 40% coupon…hopefully next week. I was going to scrap with the 12 x 12 book but decided on the smaller 8 x 12 because it will be easier to scan the book and send to all the siblings.
• Chess. That’s creative isn’t it???? I have never played so Miss Sam is slammin’ me. But I am going to keep plugging along.

Hearth and Home:

Spent much of the day putting the final touches on the minimalist look. Even the refrigerator got a “makeover” (see below).

I laugh:

Because Miss Sam doesn’t know that I am reading The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chess. Shhh. Don’t tell.

Inspirational Thought I’m  Sharing:

As Spring Semester comes to a close and new opportunities within the college are opening up for me (developing and teaching Abnormal Psychology Spring 2011) and becoming involved in a new adjunct project spearheaded by the college president….I know that it is no coincidence that I read this particular reading this morning:

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 1 Chronicles 21:1

David’s census brought disaster because, unlike the census taken in the book of Numbers that God had ordered, this census was taken so David could take pride in the strength of his army. In determining his military strength, he was beginning to trust more in military power than in God.

There is a fine line between feeling confident because you rely on God’s power and becoming proud because you have been used by God for great purposes.

Life Application Bible

Some picture thoughts  I am sharing:

Before:

After:

My macaroni salad is chilled. Time to see who has to leave American Idol tonight. I just hope it isn’t Lee.

Before you click off to leave a comment (hint – hint) I hope that you take a moment to read two posts that my IRL friend Linda has recently written. Both of these posts have really resonated with me. I plan on addressing both topics once I have some time to “chew” on them. Please go by and read the following posts:

What You Will Get

Suffering

Don’t forget to say hello!!!