When I originally saw the quote for this week’s In Other Words, I instinctively decided that it wasn’t a quote that I had a lot of insight about. I have been enormously blessed in my life and have experienced little of what this quote initially spoke to me about.

However, when I noticed that my longtime cyber friend MiPa was hosting this week I thought, oh I wish I had something to write about so I could honor her by participating. Still struggling, I decided to read what she had written. Something I don’t ordinarily do when participating in this particular meme because I don’t want my initial thoughts influenced by another’s interpretation. But I needed MiPa to speak to me today. And she did.

During the past five years I have made what I would call “radical” changes in my life. When opportunities present themselves to talk about these changes I find myself stating:

“If it wasn’t for _________ I wouldn’t be in this place of contentment.”

Depending upon the opportunity, I would fill in that blank with:

my husband

my therapist

my antidepressant

my age

I never ever filled in that blank with God when talking with others.

Yet, in my private moments, whether it be driving to class, walking around the neighborhood, or doing nothing in particular…I ALWAYS fill in that blank with God.

I have what I would call a “quiet faith”. Yet lately I have been feeling God nudging me.

Here are some “words” that He has placed into my daily readings:

Erin Keeley Marshall from The Daily God Book:

“Whom do you influence? Just by breathing and functioning in the world, you touch other lives. Besides friends and family, how about the grocery store checker? the postal worker? the furnace repairman? Your world is larger than you may imagine. Even if you don’t communicate with many people in one day, you surely cross paths with numerous individuals over a month or a year.

What impression do you leave on them? Does your smile and the atmosphere you bring into a room invite others to know God better? It doesn’t take much to give someone a taste of God’s love – a luxury that can be in short supply in the days of many.”

Marybeth Whalen’ The Power of the Word. (I highly recommend reading the whole devotion).  I read this just this morning and her prayer spoke volumes to me:

Dear Lord, please help me to remember that Your Word is powerful. Help me to speak it to others in my everyday life. Thank You for placing people around me who need to hear Your Word, and help me to be more aware of opportunities to share it. Please use Your Word in the lives of those I speak to and bring about change and renewal. I don’t want to take Your Word for granted. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

And I just recently read this in the Life Application portion of my Bible:

Who is my neighbor? Does my life-style – my work, my play, my buying habits, my giving – help or hurt people who have less than I do? What one thing could I do this week to help a helpless person?

During my “less” moments (to quote MiPa) and my “more” moments, God is always my strength and my refuge.

How selfish of me to not share this with those that are struggling with their “less” moments. God continues to nudge me to tell others:

“When you get to the end of your rope and there ain’t nothin’ you can do, that’s when God takes over.”

After all, Denver Moore had to have heard these powerful words from someone else before he believed them for himself.

By the way, the book Same Kind of Different as Me has been on my to be read list ever since Susan from Learning For Lifetime recommended it a few years back. I really must read it!!!

Thanks MiPa for hosting and for speaking to me today.

Also many thanks to Heather from An Untraditional Home for selflessly providing me this space in cyber space to “speak” what’s on my mind.

What can you do this week to help a “…….less” person?

The weather in my neck of the woods:

It is an awesome Florida day!!!!! Sunshine….and a balmy 65 degrees!!!! Yee-Haw!!!!

A simple pleasure:

Grabbing my camera and heading out for a photo field trip. Miss Sam has been “hogging” my camera lately and I had forgotten how much pleasure I get from searching out the beautiful and the forgotten parts of our Florida paradise. To check out a few of my favorites that I took this past Saturday…click here.

I am thankful:

That it is Spring Break and I have kept my “day planner” empty of any obligations.

From the kitchen:

Nothing…zip…nada….if it’s frozen it’s dinner. Sorry…that is how I roll sometimes.

From the learning rooms:

Sam received an A in the following subjects: Biology I, World History I, and Life Management. This week begins the second week of English I/Biology II/World History II. Still struggling with Algebra…but that is okay.

I am reading:

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It caught my attention from the first sentence and I have found it hard to put down since. It went with me to the Boat Show….the veternarian….

On My Mind:

Embarking on my own literary adventure. As many of my faithful followers know – I have long been talking about fusing my photos with my writing. Although I have taken a step down and am not pursuing photography as a business…it is still a passion. And so…with no obligations on the “day planner” this week, my hope is to go full steam ahead on my “fusion” project.

Hearth and Home:

Finished up the front outside projects. Plastic tarps are down…lava rocks are getting ready to roll…container gardens are in the planning stage.

Starting up on the backyard outside projects. Lots of clean up work out there since the “arctic blast”.

I laugh:

Because no sooner does one home improvement project get accomplished than there are five others waiting in line!!!!

Inspirational Prayer I’m  Sharing:

“Lord, I often overlook opportunities to shine your love. Please deepen my sensitivity to notice others who could use a smile or a word of encouragement.” ~Erin Keeply Marshall~

Some picture thoughts I am sharing:

Although this is not quite as in focus as I would have liked, I feel as though it truly portrays how I feel about my “literary adventure”.

Now here is one that is just for fun…my friend and I collected these shells on the Homosassa River and carried them to Fort Island Gulf Beach for this special “photo shoot”….fun, huh?

This morning I headed over to Kathryn’s blog Expectant Hearts to find out what this week’s In Other Words quote was. That is where  I found this incredible post about Patches the Bear and how it made it’s way into Kathryn’s home and heart. What a needful and neglected mission field this bear has!!! Please pass this information along.

Will post my response to this week’s quote…perhaps tomorrow. Have a garden full of rocks I need to sort through.

The weather in my neck of the woods:

A smidge overcast but on the whole we have had some awesome typically Florida weather these past few days!!! Was even able to keep my petunias outside overnight!!

A simple pleasure:

Working in the yard. Finally put down the plastic sheeting on one garden and hope to get started on the other today in the front of the house. I am done.done.done. growing flowers in the front in the ground. I just can’t handle the weeds!!! Do you hear me…DONE!!! I am going to put down lava rocks over the sheeting and put in container gardens!

I am thankful:

That Mr. John and I are a team as we embark on the adventure of parenting a 15 year old!!!

From the kitchen:

Made shepard’s pie last night. I’m not a big fan of it but my two peas in a pod like it. I ate a little bit only so I could have a dessert….a piece of John’s birthday cake made by his mom….oh boy…was it delicious!!! It’s crazy how she can make jam and oatmeal come together and taste so good.

From the learning rooms:

Miss Sam finished up World History I with an A. She has a Biology Final and a Life Management Final to take this week. Plus a CPR skills assessment at a local EMS facility. She starts English I this week and World History II and Biology II next week. Still working on that Algebra I…her teacher is a blessing!!!

I finished  still reading:

Fireflies in December by Jennifer Valent. It is very, very, good. I love her easy writing style about complicated issues. I can’t wait to read the sequel Cottonwood Whispers!!!

I am currently continue to reading:

The Daily God Book: A Year of Listening for God. What a great devotional and I am definitely not the devotional type.

On My Mind:

Transferring all my Webportal course information over to Angel – the distance (online) learning program.

Hearth and Home:

Motivated by yet another episode of Hoarders….I am de-cluttering AGAIN!!!! My home office this time. Where does all this stuff come from?????

I laugh:

Because as I mark off items on my “to do list” there are about a dozen more items waiting to make the list!!!!

Inspirational Prayer I’m  Sharing:

Lord, thank you for creating the concept of home, a place intended for safety, security, and growth. Please dwell in mine, and let me be a positive influence in the lives of all who walk through the door. ~ Erin Keeley Marshall ~

A picture thought I am sharing:

We will probably have one more freeze so that’s all the spring flower purchases for now. This weather is absolutely too unpredictable!!! Although I did see people loading up on annual plantings this weekend at Lowe’s! Must be snowbirds who don’t know any better.

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Cold….cold….cold….what the heckle jeckle????????? I don’t believe my bones will EVER thaw out. Did you hear me???? EVER!!!!

A simple pleasure:

Checking out what is available at our 4 public libraries in the comfort of my own home while sitting in my pj’s drinking butter cream flavored coffee.

I am thankful:

That we were able to accomplish a lot of “nagging” home improvement projects compliments of Uncle Sam.

From the kitchen:

Not much going on there. Except maybe swinging by the flea market this weekend and getting a dozen “blanket dogs with cheese”. Yum!

From the learning rooms:

Turns out the “no nagging” rule is not how we get school work accomplished. I’m back to my nagging and keeping a structured environment. Sorry…but it’s how I roll…..and I can see Miss Sam’s eyes rolling as she reads this. Oh and by the way…sweetie peetie….I enrolled you in English 1 starting next week….I see more eye rolling and fist clenching.

I finished reading:

A Separate Country by Robert Hicks. It was a complicated read but I could not put it down!!!!! There is a lot of stuff for contemplation in that book. I am not one to re-read books but I don’t believe one reading does this book justice. It is awesome!!!!

I am currently reading:

Fireflies in December by Jennifer Valent. Thanks Holly for the title correction!! I was wondering how you got hold of Butterflies in December because it is an old..old..book..pretty much out of publication….LOL.

On My Mind:

Catching up with my classes. I was sick pretty much all last week and also our college Webportal was down so the students had zero access to course information.

Hearth and Home:

The bedroom is done!!! I should have taken before/after shots but I forgot in all the excitement!!

I laugh:

Because for Valentine’s day Mr. John surprised me with white “go go” boots that I dreamed about quite obsessively when I was in the fifth grade. How wonderfully thoughtful is that?????!!!!

Inspirational Quote I’m  Sharing:

We all live with a measure of regret and disappointment. The only difference is whether we let ourselves moan for the past or be thankful for where we are…and decide to make choices today that will result in a life of no regrets later. ~Dennis Rainey~

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Cold and sunny! Not warm enough however to venture outside to put down the plastic sheeting on the front gardens to kill the weeds that seem to be the only thing that IS cold tolerant!!!!

A simple pleasure:

Still sitting around in my pajamas and drinking a cup of coffee at 11:00 in the morning! I do have to leave at 1:00 however to run errands before teaching in the big city tonight. Had to clarify in case you get the notion into your head that I am a major slug. That’s slug with a capital S.

I am thankful:

• we are able to get our bedroom painted this Friday and new ceiling fan installed
• that S&S Electric is paying us a call next Tuesday to wire our stove hood (two years without an overhead light!!!) and to check two other outlets. Of course we will be paying them $95.00 just to step through our door – that I AM NOT thankful for.
• that our wonderful “computer guy” will be dropping in tomorrow morning to figure out why my computer is moving soooooooo slow….do you think it is my awesome farm on Farmville that may be slowing it down????
• that our dental insurance will cover Sam’s six month dental check-up this week….after we pay the $100 up front that is and THEN file the claim form…but at least we have insurance and of that I am extremely thankful.
• income tax – because without it we would not be able to afford all of the above.

From the kitchen:

Was very creative in the kitchen this weekend. I made Bulgogi and sticky rice for me and John. For Sam I made Beef Curry and sticky rice (the curry was a purchase from the new Asian market we visited last week in Gainesville). Both dishes were received with hearty yums!!!!

I also made the following Breakfast Casserole which was excellent:

Cheese Sausage Strata

1 lb sausage

9 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups milk

9 slices bread, cubed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the eggs, milk, bread, cheese, bacon and mustard.

Transfer to a greased 3 qt. baking dish.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. (I uncovered it for the last fifteen minutes of baking time). Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

From the learning rooms:

The new rule (see last week’s Daybook: From the learning rooms) is causing so much stress that extra hours of therapy appointments are having to be scheduled. Sam and I “discussed” her ability to become the responsible almost 15 year old that she is and made the decision together that I will no longer stress her out by stating every hour on the hour “you have a lot of work to do” (to which I have since learned she silently responds with – it’s the same amount as I always have). Instead she will take control and accomplish all her work as written on her weekly pace charts without any stressful nagging from her mom. Let’s give her a cheer!!! Let’s hope Mom can keep her side of the agreement.

I finished reading:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It was wonderful and quite different than anything I have read recently. I am looking forward to getting Holly’s recommendation - Butterflies in December which she says has “the same flavor but she would put the Butterflies in December first” as far as enjoyment ratings.

I am currently reading:

A Separate Country by Robert Hicks. I absolutely loved  The Widow of the South and this new book has not been disappointing. He is such a great historical writer!!!

I could not get into reading:

Sometimes Mine by Martha Moody. Just could not get into her style of writing. Too much like Jodi Picoult I think. Okay do not beat me up but I have not been able to get through any of Jodi’s books even though I continue to try.

On My Mind:

Proud of myself for the “git er done” attitude/energy I had this weekend. I pray it continues through the week.

Hearth and Home:

Because everything is dry and dead outside from the Arctic Blast (yes I am still beating that dead horse – it was awful…I tell you AWFUL) there is nothing to serve as a defense against the dust infiltrating through our twenty year old windows. Therefore – there are layers of dust everywhere – which I have been dusting intermittently between blogging and re-filling my coffee cup. I found a great new product (if I can get used to it’s smell) that is making it go more smoothly and quickly.

I laugh:

Because all three of us were on the couch last night watching the Super Bowl.

Inspirational Quote I’m  Sharing:

The resounding evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is the unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ, and the freedom from everything which is not like Him. ~ Oswald Chambers ~

One of my favorite bookstores is Book Gallery West in Gainesville. Two weeks ago we took a side trip and paid them a visit in search of a book of meditations for Miss Sam. Although we came away empty handed in Miss Sam’s quest…I did not. Although I was not searching…I did indeed find a gem of a book.

The book is The Parent’s Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents by William Martin. Now I can hear the gasping and moaning that I have gone the way of New Age…but not so. I appreciate the wisdom that all spiritual explorations offer – I just replace their ‘god’ with my “God”. Or as in this case…when I see the concept of “Tao” I understand it to mean Jesus.

Here is something I read this morning that I would like to share:

Be Alert and Mindful

If you would be a wise parent

be careful in all you do and say.

Know that each action,

each word

has its effect.

Be alert and mindful,

living fully in each present moment.

Treat your children with courtesy

as you would treat a guest.

Be ready in a moment

to let go of one plan

and embark on another

if your inner voice so urges.

Have room within your heart

to hear the voice of both

your children

and your own spirit.

Do not expect fulfillment

from events or people

outside yourself.

Welcome and accept

things as they are.

Welcome and accept

children as they are.

Treat yourself with gentle care.

These qualities emerge naturally,

not by force of will.

William Martin

Make The Ordinary Come Alive

Do not ask your children

to strive for extraordinary lives.

Such striving may seem admirable,

but it is a way of foolishness.

Help them instead to find the wonder

and the marvel of an ordinary life.

Show them the joy of tasting

tomatoes, apples and pears.

Show them how to cry

when pets and people die.

Show them the infinite pleasure

in the touch of a hand.

And make the ordinary come alive for them.

The extraordinary will take care of itself.

William Martin

This is what I am thinking about today. How about you?

Found this great meme over at Linda’s place and thought I would give it a whirl. Susanne from Living to Tell the Story states that Friday’s Fave Five is:

a place to come on Friday’s and think back over your week and just post about 5 favorite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, great internet finds, etc., etc.

So although it is Saturday….while my Korean Beef and Sticky Rice dinner is cooling off to “safe enough to eat temperature”, I thought I would write a bit about the five things that tickled my fancy over the past week.

1. Our income tax was direct deposited! Yippee!!! We hit the home improvement stores today to start working on our “Honey Do” lists!!
2. I found a fabulous daily devotional, The Daily God Book: A Year of Listening For God. As you know, one of my biggest challenges over the years has been to keep that ear tuned in to those whispers…I pretty much recognize the yells (okay..every now and then I recognize them).
3. I have been thinking about putting an inspirational quote on the board at the beginning of each class period. I thought this would be a good one to start with:        ”No one can touch others’ lives exactly as you can.”   This is from The Daily God Book.
4. I FINALLY found a brand of jeans that FIT and DON’T cost an arm and two legs. Lee Relaxed Fit Straight Leg (actually they are boot cut – I guess straight leg isn’t what it was in the 80’s). I bought two more pairs at JC Penney today…along with that other “hard to find/hate to shop for item….the dreaded B…R….A…..I saved $50.00 on my purchases!! Woot!
5. Sam and I found a great Asian Market in Gainesville this week. We bought some sweet rice (I used it tonight to make the sticky rice), seaweed (to make rice balls) and a curry sauce that Sam wants to try.

What great and exciting moments did you experience this week?

Did you know that January 24th is known as the most depressing day of the year? I did. However, I was too depressed on that day to write about it…okay…not really…and not really funny. However, it got me to thinking how January and February and perhaps into March and April (for those of you who live in colder climates) may find us feeling a continuing sense of sadness, anxiety, irritability, or even experiencing a deep depression.

Personally I could sense one of these “bouts” circling around in my mind finding a place to land this past week. It was due to everything being brown and dead from our most recent “Arctic Blast”. That is why I headed out into the still cold temperatures this weekend with garden shears in hand, a trowel, and a fresh bag of soil. I had to put some “life” into that which was beginning to make me feel “lifeless” inside. And it worked. However, many times crawling out of the pit we sometimes find ourselves in (whether it be seasonal/family related/relationship related or “I’m not sure why I feel this way”), something so simple may not provide the relief we need.

This is why I feel compelled to share with you a devotion I read this morning  from God’s Purpose for Every Woman edited by Lysa TerKeurst and Rachel Olsen. It wasn’t so much the devotion itself, “Meter Reader” (devotion No. 53) by Wendy Pope but the Application Steps Wendy suggested at the end of the devotion. A moment in time when God spoke and I hesitated listening.

You see, when I read the Application Steps:

Using a Bible concordance, look up the word “power.” Read several of the verses in context. Learn what it looks like to experience the presence and power of Christ in your daily life.

I said to myself ~ gee I hate to get up and get the concordance. After all, I am all cozied up in my blanket, the dogs are sleeping on my lap and I hate to disturb them..etc…but my coffee was getting cold (God nudging me)….I needed to refill it with the rest of the pot (God pushing me)…the dogs jumped down without me moving one inch (God is now pushing the dogs)…and so it went until I walked into my bedroom and got out my concordance and went back to the couch to look up “power”. (BUT not before refreshing my cup of coffee and warming it up in the microwave.)

Here is what I found:

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. The will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40 29-31)

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within. (John 7:37-38)

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (1 Corinthians 4:20)

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy:7)

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. “(Acts 1:8)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

To quote from Wendy’s devotion:

“As believers, we put ourselves through needless worry and anxiety when we don’t use what God has given us, His power. Imagine how effortlessly we could sail through our troubles if only we would use what has been given freely to us.” Wendy Pope

Amen.

And I sure am thankful and joyful that God slapped me upside the head this morning and got my lazy butt off the couch and into the bedroom to fetch that concordance!!!

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Rainy….but it doesn’t look as dismal as the week before because I spent a good part of the weekend “sprucing” up around the outside of the house…hacking away at everything that bit the dust during out “Arctic Blast”…which was just about EVERYTHING!!! I don’t know how people up north stand the winters…so grey….everything dead as a doornail….and brown…brown…brown. That’s the way it has been here since the “Big Freeze”. Even our orange tree endured a stage four case of frost bite!!!

A simple pleasure:

Sitting out on the lanai with a friend on a Sunday afternoon just “chit chatting”…even though we had to have blankets on!!!

I am thankful:

For everyone that commented on my most recent In Other Word’s post. I will be participating in this week’s quote but on another day (nothing new there for those of you that know me well!!):

• Miriam Pauline from Miriam Pauline’s Monologue (a dear and longtime blogging friend)
• Nicole from As My World Turns (I am 99.9 % positive I used to read her a few years back when she was single)
• Claudia from Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Happiness
• Esthermay from The Heart of a Pastor’s Wife
• Tami from The Next Step
• Kathryn from Expectant Hearts
• Holly from Holly’s Corner Blog (another dear and longtime blogging friend that “knew me when” and continues to want to “know” me now)
• Betty from New Views of New Zealand

From the kitchen:

Tried Linda’s Rich and Creamy Macaroni and Cheese. It was incredibly awesome. On the menu for this week is a recipe from my new Taste of Home cookbook….Cheese Sausage Strata. I was going to try it this weekend but did not read about how it has to refrigerate over night until it was too late.

Creative Corner:

Still working on:

• our Christmas scrapbook – I am currently on Christmas 2007
• an inspirational “book” for a friend

From the learning rooms:

Had to put a new rule in place much to her chagrin…..ALL weekly work MUST be completed by Friday late afternoon or NO COMPUTER TIME ALL WEEKEND!!! Got that???

I am almost finished reading:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It’s a little slow after reading the fast paced Stephen King book. However, it is very well written and definitely keeps my interest. A truer book I haven’t read in regards to the “true” south. It is wonderful!!!

I am getting ready to read:

Sometimes Mine by Martha Moody. A new author for me but a trip to the library yesterday looking for a book for Mr. John…I noticed this in the “New Arrival” section and thought I would give it a whirl.

Trying to use the library instead of the bookstore this year as my source for reading materials!!!

On My Mind:

Still….so many things. It’s like a serving of scrambled eggs in there with a heap of salsa on the side.

However, I am diligently working on a way to help Samantha navigate the uncertainties of adolescence. I want her to be an emotionally healthy and independent young woman and there are days that I feel as though I may be sabotaging that….it’s just on my mind…that’s all.

Hearth and Home:

Taxes are e-filed and the list is getting checked off!!!! Our bedroom is getting a makeover as soon as the direct deposit goes through (I called “the guy” today to schedule a start date). I guess the hard wood floors will have to wait until next January…well worth the wait however as long as we can turn our bedroom into our “private retreat”…FINALLY.

I laugh:

Every class period this semester….my students really are GREAT!!! A good combination/mix of personalities and hardly a trace of shyness in any of them!!

Picture Thought I’m  Sharing:

I took this photo a week ago on one of our photo field trips. Although I do not know the snorkeler (??) I thought it was an awesome capture of life here in the Sunshine State (even though there was no sun that day and it was cold as …well you know)….but the springs stay a warm 77 degrees so both the snorkler and the manatee were quite comfortable..perhaps I should have joined them for a swim.