The Simple Woman's Daybook

Today I reflect on simple thoughts and simple pleasures. My leads are somewhat similar to other in The Simple Woman's Daybook group, yet a bit different as well.  

Sharing a Picture

On our anniversary a few days ago, we took a trip to a lodge in the mountains of West Virginia. As we topped the mountain near Thomas, we came upon these wind turbines. They spread for miles along the mountaintop. They're much taller than they appear--over 300 feet tall. 

As we travel on I-65 through Indiana on our way to Chicago, there are hundreds of them row upon row, mile after mile throughout the cornfields.

Controversial, to be sure, for those who believe they blight the landscape. I tend toward that thought, preferring natural beauty. But, then, I tend toward thinking tatooes blot the landscape of natural beauty as well.

Outside my window... 
A little bunny rabbit nibbling on the clover. Plenty of yummies in the yard, so please stay away from my flowers, little bunny!

Noticing the sound of...

Cawing crows. We thought at first it was the neighbor's grandsons blowing kazoos.

From the gardens... 
We finally decided what to do with a small area by the garage where we had a cherry tree cut down a few years ago. Can't plant much there because of the roots, so we moved some fountain grass, mounded some soil around it, and planted a few shallow annuals. Turned out rather nice looking.

Around the house...
My Beloved is working some more on an upstairs bath. Hoping to get the floor finished before Elizabeth and her family come to visit next week.

From the kitchen...
Thought about making a pie to take to a pie social at church tomorrow. Opted to buy an apple caramel walnut pie from Honeybaked Ham while we were there for lunch today. I'm sure this will be much more appreciated than my feeble attempt at making a pie.

From the sewing room...
More strip quilting practice. It's getting easier! Now I'm into log cabin blocks. Making a baby girl quilt for a new little addition to our church a couple of weeks ago.

Learning...
To measure and trim quilt blocks as I go so they'll end up the same size.

This coming week I'm looking forward to...

Having little Elijah come for a brief visit. Oh, yes--his mommy and daddy, too!

Thinking...       

About yesterday's phone conversation with a homeschooling friend from the past. Her daughter graduated a year early, a blessed occasion for this family. Probably more of a milestone than for most us--the mom was not expected to live through May. Mom and daughter worked diligently to get the schooling finished first. They made it. Now they're considering college. To God be the glory. Great things He has done!

Thankful...    

That my mother's CT scan showed no growth of a spot that has been there through a couple of scans. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights.
 

A thought from my Quiet Time...
I've been reading through the gospels in my chronological Bible, and my attention has been arrested  over and again that after healing a variety of people, Jesus tells them not to tell anyone. Then off they go and tell everyone they know. I find this curious. Instant disobedience. Even more curious to me, though, is why Jesus told them not to tell.
 

Currently reading...

Almost finished with Decision-Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen. It's not a quick read. Much food for thought. Sharing a bit with you today.

God sovereignly superintends every circumstance showing that He cares personally for every detail and decision in your life (Luke 12:6-7). So, on the positive side, sovereign guidance should give a calm sense of security and peace that God is working all the details together for good. He helps us make choices that are moral and wise. And when circumstances are beyond our knowledge or control, we can confidently place them in His hands, knowing that they are under His control.

[I]n noncommanded decisions made with God-given freedom, the goal of the believer is to choose the alternative that will best expedite and promote the revealed will and purposes of God. To accomplish that objective, we should seek for wisdom through the channels God has provided: prayer, Bible study, research, counselors, past experience, and personal reflection. The amount of time and energy invested in such a search should be in proportion to the importance of the decision (Eph. 5:15-16). If one option is recognized as the most spiritually advantageous, it should be chosen. If two alternatives appear equally prudent, either may be selected. 

We should be able to explain and defend our final decision on the basis of moral guidance ("God Word says...") and wisdom guidance ("It seemed best..."). The decision should be in harmony with the moral will of God in all its details. Then the decision maker should demonstrate that the decision is spiritually advantageous for promoting God's moral will.