Saturday Morning Ramblings

Good morning!  It is a downright cold (!!) 47 degrees here in my little spot in Georgia. As much as I want to burrow under the covers all day with a good book or a movie or three. there is much to do. I need to clean my kitchen (never ending job), bring some semblance of order to my living room, and start organizing my craft supplies. I left out a Studio G stamp for a few days too long and my dear J decided the rubber die no longer needed to be attached to the wood. I found the wood base outside, underneath a window. The rubber die has yet to be found. Studio G's are very inexpensive; this one was less than a dollar at Wal mart, but still, not very happy to have to replace it.
  I love crafting, almost as much as i love reading and writing. I've tried different craft projects since I was a kid, and when I married my husband, my mother in law, who was a voracious crafter at one point, tried teaching me some needlepoint stitches and I learned how to make fabric yo yos 
for a project I wanted to do. I never did finish that yet, and want to get back to it now that J is older. Unfortunately I haven't even done much stamping and card making, which are some of my favorite things to do. Since I like making cards and I'd rather make than buy Christmas cards, it's past time I get my supplies ready and get back to work. Maybe I can get J to make a card or two with me.
  I've gotten so used to mild falls and winters here in the south, and gotten stuck with a painful electric bill or two during the summer months, that I've had my head stuck in the fall leaves about preparing for cooler weather.  When an overgrown three year old and several cats huddle up on your bed at three in the morning, you know it's time to give in. This old house  would keep a handful of handy men busy for awhile with the projects needed to be done, but we have J's window covered with plastic once again, and this morning I finally relented and turned on the heater. It's supposed to warm up a little this week, for which I am very grateful. I hope that doesn't change.
  As for this blog, I still need to do this morning's Cup of Tea post and I've been percolating a post on a subject that's been on my mind for awhile. Hopefully soon I will be able to get it written down, and make sense of the jumble of questions and comments and bible verses in my head. I also have a book review coming up on Monday. I was given the opportunity to read a fiction book in return for my thoughts on it. 
 As far as personal organization goes that is a stop and go thing for me. Sundays are especially hard because I'm not as watchful of the time as I should be, and sometimes it's not J's lack of cooperation that makes us late to church. That has to end, so I'm going to start doing at least the Morning Cup of Tea posts a few days in advance. They will show up one a day as they should, and I will still be doing my bible reading, but illness or doctor appointments or whatever that comes up shouldn't keep them from showing up on time. Others may follow as I find my way and decide just how I want this blog to really run, but some posts will always be off the cuff, especially the ones dealing with autism. And possibly organization. Those are two ongoing and sometimes intertwining subjects here in my life at home.
  We are creeping ever closer to Thanksgiving. As a Christian I feel I should be thankful all the time, and not just for the good things. The bible says to be thankful for all things  --  Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18,  English Standard Version. I was reminded of this yesterday from the sign outside a local church building. I was in a really dark mood concerning finances and the upcoming holidays and all I could see was the negative. We drove past the building, and there was the sign: the exact same thing my husband had been trying to get me to understand. I was not in a rather receptive mood, I'm sorry to say, for either instance. But it stayed in my mind, and I prayed, and groused, and grudgingly gave thanks for the learning situation and the blessings we have. Blessings that sometimes go unappreciated unless they aren't there. 
  If you ever read my posts here or on facebook and think I have it all together or I'm holier than thou, I'm far from the  person God wants me to be. I'm taking it one step at a time, one verse at a time, trying to get it right. If I sound prideful or judgemental or holier than thou, please forgive me. I love people but I don't love sin. I get a little preachy on some subjects but only because people, especially children, are very dear to my heart. If you read this, and know that there is an area I need to work on, especially in my Christian walk, feel free to contact me. I'd love to hear from any of my readers, really, on any subject, whether you think I'm doing okay or you think something isn't right.  
  What are you doing today? Are you cuddling in front of a fire? Doing some pre holiday shopping to beat the rush? Trying to figure out a turkey recipe for Thanksgiving? Whatever you are doing today, I hope it is a wonderful day for you.
 

Quiet Saturday -- Home Journals, Easy Days, Giveaways, and Holidays

I hope you're enjoying your Labor Day weekend. It's a quiet day for us here. Jim is sleeping because of third shift, J is sitting cuddled up in his Archie Bunker chair all cozied up in a blanket. I have been --well, my usual slightly lazy, slightly nerdy self today.
  I have picked up a little in the kitchen and living room, played on pogo a bit, and I've been working on my Household Journal. Just in case you don't know what a household journal is, I'll tell you. It's a binder system that you can buy or make and customize to your needs. I'm a bit of a scatterbrain and although in my head I can see a nice, tidy home...in real life, not so much. My brain is constantly jumping from one subject to the next, getting sidetracked by new thoughts, and just plain living life! So, my Journal, once I have it put together again, will hold a calendar, my family's schedules, medical information, contact information, financial, menu planning, and (thank you, Flylady)   my daily routines and cleaning schedules. 
  I am the type who needs to know step by step what needs to be done, otherwise I get overwhelmed with where to start and I end up on pogo all day. Not a very good thing for anyone.
  Also, my Journal will hold my Bible study pages and prayer lists. I find that if I write everything down, I work better. 
  Do you use a home journal or other helps? Are you one of the lucky ones who just seem to know automatically how to keep a neat and pretty home? I'd love to hear your tips and ideas. 
  I have a giveaway and product review coming up in the next week or so. If you like scrapbooking, card making, or other crafts you may be interested so stay tuned!
   I know it's only September but Christmas is already on my mind! Thanksgiving I love, but I know fairly well what to cook for that day. Christmas however, needs a lot of planning, at least for me. I want to make gifts this year. One idea I had I'm not sure I'll be able to get done because of the timing, but it's on the list for another time. I'm really excited because I don't have to share Jim with work this year for Christmas --unless they change the schedule again. It's happened before but you learn to roll with the punches. 
  Well now there then (to quote a character from a favorite 80's tv show of mine), my young man is patiently letting me know its about lunch time. He thinks the arm of the Archie chair may be good to chew on, so yep, time to feed him. Have a wonderful day!