ABC's

A Mini Alphabet Book about This Week

A is for Apple Cheddar Scones. 

 (Recipe here)

 A friend shared some of her abundant apple crop, and we baked a batch of these.  They're why autumn needs to arrive soon.

B is for Back to School Busyness. I'm already behind, but I've accepted that this is a semi-permanent condition.

C is for cut, as in haircut.  After years of shoulder-length bushiness curls, it was time for short.  I might take a picture if y'all promise to not to comment on how un-photogenic I am.

D is for Darling Daughters, both of whom are precious even when they're grumpy. One is grumpy in the morning and the other in the evening.  It's a whole day of precious grumpiness, or grumpy preciousness--whichever you want.

D is also for didn't go to bed on time, so it's time to say goodnight!

Be blessed,

Ginger

Hello Monday--Good-bye August edition

Hello, Monday!

Hello, last Monday-of-August!  You're always a month I'm happy to see go--although you have been much more bearable this year, on the whole.

Hello, eating-out-of-the-garden!

 

You are the best thing ever!  So far, I'm not tired of a fresh tomato with every meal.

Hello, 2nd week of school.  Has it only been a week since you began?  It feels like we've been together for longer than that already.  Really. 

Hello, sunflowers.

 

You make me happy when skies are gray.

Hello, raspberries. 

 

You're my fav.  Don't tell the blackberries I said so.

Hello,  before dawn.  I like you.  It's cool and quiet except for the crickets, and sometimes in the stillness, I can feel the breath of God.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Linking up with Lisa Leonard.

Midweek Mary Moment: Just You and me

I walked in from a frustrating errand-run to hear my husband playing this song.

We're big David Crowder fans around here, and I'm not sure how we'd missed it.

Maybe God knew I needed these words to fall fresh on my heart this week.

Having absolutely no idea what David Crowder was thinking when this song was recorded, I won't presume to know the purpose of the "round" at the end, but I like to think of it as a picture of our prayers.

Do you ever wonder how the Creator of the Universe, the LORD of every follower of His Only Son, hears every prayer prayed by His children?

Whispered, shouted, alone, with a whole congregation, He listens and answers to them all.

The overlapping choruses at the end of this song remind me that no matter how many voices around the earth are crying out to the Lord at the same moment I am, 

it really is just Him and me. 

And just Him and you.

And just Him and the orphan on the streets of Bangladesh, 

or the business executive in his office in DC, or the harried mom in the carpool line.

The blood of Jesus opened the way for me to enter the throne room of my Father and hear Him say, 

"It's just you and Me here now."

 

Scripture and a Snapshot: Teacher's Pet

As you may have guessed from some of my summer posts, James ate my lunch.

Most days I put down my pencil and did a lot of thinking and praying.

I remember hearing someone say once that the gospel is offensive because only what offends me will change me.

I want to be changed by James's words.

They offend the dark, selfish places in my heart that are contrary to the Christ-like person God intends for me to become.

James 2:1-4 has many applications in our appearance-driven culture, but in the most daily of senses, it speaks to me as a teacher about my little acts of favoritism.

Let's face it.

Some kids are more likeable than others.

James challenges me to check my responses and presuppositions about students.

2012 @dwellinginthehouse

Something to ponder!
Be blessed,
Ginger 

 

Five Things About Friday

Quickest Blog Update Ever:

1. Kiddos start school Friday!!!!

I hope to post room pics next week!

2. Car #2 not totaled! No car shopping for me this weekend; just rental driving until all repairs are done.

(Happy news, this.)

3. Starting "Hello, Mornings" Bible study on Monday. 

4. Speaking of morning, my am routine will get an overhaul since DD#1 has to make her high-school bus connection very early.  We'll be leaving our house at dark thirty.

(Unhappy news, this.)

5. Hoping your weekend is full of just happy.

Be blessed!

Ginger

 

Counting It all Joy...Again

Just when I thought it was safe to hit the roadways again,

this car

(Yes, the new one after Big Red's accident in June)

was hit yesterday.

Rear-ended by a guy hauling coon-dogs,poor fellow.

Not kidding.

We're still waiting to find out if it's totaled, but things aren't looking good.

*Heavy sigh*

I'm thankful that again, no one was hurt.

And, again, Big Red wasn't at fault, so there's no second-guessing (and no insurance penalty.)

And, again, it's just a car.  Compared to some of the news I've had this week, this really qualifies as an inconvenience.

So, even though we're back in car-buying purgatory and our back-to-school is slightly more stressful than we'd hoped, 

we're thankful for a good healthy dose of perspective.
***
Just for fun, let's lighten the mood a bit with a quiz:
if you could buy your dream car, what would you get?

Be blessed,

Ginger

  

Hello, Monday!

Hello, Monday!

Hello, back to school for teachers!  Ready or not, you're here.

Hello, alarm clock!  You and I are buddies (not) once more.

Hello, routine!  I've missed you just a little.

Hello, cooler temperatures!  Thanks so much for crashing August's party!  I know you'll get kicked out in a few days, but, boy, am I enjoying you while you last.

Hello, zinnias.  You make me happy.

Hello, canning and freezing!  Thank you, Lord, for vegetables to put up for winter.  Please give me the energy I need to finish the work after school.

Hello, dawn!  I think I will slip outside with my coffee now and just listen to you for a moment before the chaos begins.

Be blessed today!

Ginger

 

Back to School Copycat Mantel

We're in the no-man's land between summer and fall; school is about to start, so carefree summer decorations are just depressing, but lovely autumn accessories seem out of place with 90* temps outside.

So when I spotted this lovely mantel,

 

 I knew it was the perfect solution for August at the 'house.

Here's our version:

Other than the $5 clock, this was a shop-my-house project.  We made the wreath on a cardboard base and folded pages from an old thesaurus. (Sorry, Roget, but you can be replaced at the dollar store.)

Today is the last lazy day for us!  Tomorrow I'm helping a friend can tomatoes, then Monday I'm in my classroom for preplanning.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Making My List and Checking It Twice

Back to School approaches rapidly!

This week's To-Do List

1. Cook and freeze assorted meat for quick meal-prep--done (almost); bbq and pork chops still left to finish

2. Back to School wardrobe refreshing for teens-- Check! Hallelujah!

3. Cutie-patootie notebooks and assorted office supplies purchased-- Check! 

4. Classroom Cutification Projects--in progress; planning to wrap this up today.

5. Enjoy Crayola-colored Zinnias in the garden--Check!  

 This is exciting because a)zinnias remind me of home since my mom grew them every year, and b)deer consider them salted caramel chocolate truffles. Blooms mean these guys

 

are earning their dog chow.

Go dawgs.

What's on your to-do list today?

Be blessed,

Ginger

 

Scripture and a Snapshot: Quick and Slow

When we first began the Beth Moore James Bible study, I knew he was going to get into my business.

After all, isn't that why we avoid James (and lots of other scripture for that matter) some days? 

Our family is *ahem* passionate.

We I am slow to listen, quick to yell speak, and quick to become angry.

James 1:19 is everything I am not.

Yet.

Jesus changes lives.

His blood covers and cleanses hopelessly ingrained sin.

The Holy Spirit convicts and empowers.

I can do all things (including hold my tongue) through Christ Who strengthens me.

  Be blessed,

Ginger
Linking here