Tuesday=Monday

Monday was insane, crazy, over-the-top busy.  So today I present...Multitude Tuesday!

(Teeming Tuesday?)

Counting my blessings, one by one:

56. My chair-It's old, it's no longer beautiful, but I love it.

57. Green daffodil shoots--Spring is a long way off, but I like seeing green.

58. Two superb new recipes that we've created/adapted--Greek mac and cheese and a sausage-potato-kale soup

59. Yogurt and granola

60. Blueberries

61. Nutella

(Yes, my 10:30 lunch was a while ago, and it is not yet suppertime!)

62. Ice day with power still on!

63. Sleeping 'til 8.

64. Some potential progress a long time coming

65. Anything by Selwyn Hughes; reading Christ-Empowered Living

66. Finding good books for $1

67. Stacks of old Victoria magazines

68. Tenth Avenue North and their insightful, penetrating lyrics

69. Apologies

70. Reconnecting with a friend

What's on your list today?

Be blessed,

Ginger   

Thursday=Friday

Ice on the way, so Thursday afternoon feels like Friday.

After yesterday, even possible power outages feel like a risk worth taking for a day without lots of people, particularly teen-aged people.  

Just sayin'.

On a (much) more serious note, I do, after all, have something profound to share about rotten days.  

It's profound because the Lord said it to me--a simple truth that changes everything.

This morning, in the quiet just-Him-and-me time, He spoke this to my heart:

"Yesterday left you feeling beaten.  

You have bruises.

 I have scars."

Christ has scars--nail scars--for that.  His wounds healed me, paid the blood-price for my sin.

You got issues?

Girlfriend, I've got issues.

He has scars for that.

Brain Break

Worstdayever.Worstdayever.Worstdayever.

Worst. Day.Ever. In. A. Long.Time

Insomnia, big fat mom fail, lesson plan fail, had-to-eat-school-lunch-today fail.

This afternoon, DD#2 and I picked up a stack of Victoria magazines at the library and soaked up some flowers and food and English cottages for  half an hour when a diligent teacher (who hadn't had the worst day ever) would have graded papers.

*sigh*  

If I can't be a hobbit on days like this, Plan B is to go live in the pages of Victoria, where winter consists of fluffy throws, leather-bound books, scenic snowy walks, and hot buttered scones.  Lately, winter here means  piles of ungraded papers,car-rider duty in (southern) Siberia, and looming ice storms that threaten power outages.  (No coffee pot!  The luxurious winter photo shoot always includes coffee!)

This is the point in the post where I should say something profound about not living my life pining away for magazine pictures, or quote a Bible verse, and play a song.  

I should, but I won't.  Today I'm just tired,

 and I need to get alone with my Savior

 and show Him my bruises

 and say I'm sorry. 

 I don't think He minds that my girl and I found a bit of quiet in savoring beauty.

He created it, after all.  

Be blessed with something other than the worst day ever,

Ginger

A Hello and a List: When the Sun Shines (or Not)

Multitasking again today!

Hello, sunshine!  You are such a blessing after a week of dark and rain and flood worries.  You make up for no snow day.

Hello, cold, cold temperatures!  It's about time you showed up when you're supposed to instead of waiting until April.

Hello, third cup of coffee.  You're decaf, so maybe you're not so bad,  really?  It seems you are a comfort in these busy days; I can pretend I am lingering over the morning's quiet.

Hello, sleeping in day!  Monday off after a weekend of having to be up at dark thirty = super blessing.

Hello, parenting challenges.  Lord, teach me how to pray in this season when I am fresh out of wisdom.

My gratitude list continues:

46.  Friends who have grown kids and reassure me that I'm not crazy for thinking this is hard

47.  New Bible study group--small but sweet

48.  New CD love--The Struggle by Tenth Avenue North

49. Sunshine!

50. Flowers in a milk jug

51. Psalms

52. Chai

53. Early, early Florida strawberries on sale at the grocery

54. a nerd-girl who loves being a nerd

55.being invited to be known by the Lord, El-Elohim--the Creator--not just used by Him

Be blessed,

Ginger

Linking here

Getting to Know You

Hello, imaginary friends!

We're home for a few extra hours today thanks to black ice warnings, so I'm popping in to say good morning.  

One of the trends I've noticed around the 'House lately is a lot of page views (yay!) but very few comments (so sad).  So today, I'm re-introducing myself to you, and I'd love for you to introduce yourself here!

My name is Ginger.

I have a sweet husband, two teens, and a messy life.

In the midst of our mess, Jesus lives. I love Him for that.

I'd love to visit England (Hi, Helen!), Scotland, and Australia, and would happily listen to anyone from those places read  the phone book.

I teach 7th grade English.  I enjoy my job, stressful though it can be.

My heart goes pitter-patter when I teach ladies' Bible study.  That's my passion.

In winter I love...coffee, fireplaces, quilts, and sunrises on frosty mornings.

In spring I love...daffodils, tiny new leaves, sunshine, Easter,and warm breezes.

In summer I love...early morning, vegetable gardens, hydrangeas,and raspberries.

In fall I love...cool days, deep blue skies, crunchy leaves, and pumpkin.

So...what makes your heart go pitter-patter?  

Nice to meet you!

Be blessed today,

Ginger

If I Tweeted

For the record, I have a Twitter account.

I don't know my user name and have forgotten my password.

The only reason I had it was to participate in a on-line Bible study discussion group.

Big, fat fail.

However, because I'm tired and surrounded by overwrought people and highly tempted to become overwrought along with them , maybe short bursts of communication would be the best idea today.

So I present...

Wednesday in Tweets 

If I tweeted.

Which I don't.

Because I'm wordy, not pithy.

5:00 am It's dark and rainy.  No time for exercise or Bible study. Boo. #sendtheark

5:45 am Teenager awakes on stress-scale at a 10. #DidImentionit'sonly5:45???

6:40 am Traveling to school in a flood.  Mom AND teen at 10.  #teensforsalecheap

8:01 am Explained thesis statements for the billionth time this year. #Needmorecoffee.

10:30 am Eating lunch.  Not brunch.  Lunch.

1:15 pm Fellow teacher shows me 10th plagiarized paper turned in this week. #becomeawalmartgreeter

4:30 pm Strange conversation with tax office.  Having strange conversations with tax people #unnerving.

5:02 pm Snow in forecast for  Friday!  Break out the hot cocoa! #Mustbuymarshmallows.

5:03 pm Forgot to post my memory verse yesterday-Jeremiah 17:8 #ClearlyIneedthis!!

5:51 pm Being pithy is hard work!  Should probably go back to long sentences soon.#likenow

Be blessed,

Ginger

Hello Monday: Multitasking Post

Hello, Monday!

Hello, rain!  Lots and lots of rain.

Hello, return of cold weather.  Glad you're here.  It's your turn.

Hello, classroom.  Last week went by fast and fairly smoothly.  Could this week please do the same?

Hello, pastor search team.  Important stuff on the agenda.  Praying for wisdom.  

Hello, gratitude list!

36. My new favorite song (today)

37. Beans and greens

38. Time in Starbucks to write some cards

39. Opportunity to serve on retreat team

40. New Bible study Sunday nights--a participant this time with several women I don't know well--good times

41. Talk and tears with a friend

42. Ministry opportunities

43. Big Red home safely from a brief trip

44. New watch--didn't realize how annoying it was to not have one!

45. Endings=beginnings

Be blessed today!

Ginger

Linking up here and here