The simple woman's day book

Outside my window.. is the dark, dark night. however, next to me and quite "inside my window" is my amazingly handsome husband. I'm very blessed.

I am thinking...  about the Sunday school class that my husband is teaching tomorrow and next week and I'm teaching the following 2 weeks after, along with a couple other amazing teachers. I'm excited and nervous.

I am thankful for... food that is in my house, the roof over my head, the heater that warms our home, the fact that even though my heart is hard I still desire to desire Jesus (and that's only Holy Spirit), my precious family and lovely friends.

.
From the learning rooms... we've taken a full week off from schoolwork, around here. that darn flu bug is still trying to keep the little one down. we'll get back up and dust off next week and go for it again, I'm so grateful for homeschooling!

From the kitchen... moroccan stew from yesterday's dinner. it makes me happy and it makes me feel healthy. here's my version of the recipe i got from someone else. 

1 med onion diced

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick

1 good sized butternut squash

4 med potatoes (usually red or yukon yellow or 3 brown and 1 sweet)

2 cans chick peas (1 drained, 1 not)

1 can diced tomatoes (not drained)

2-3 cups chicken or veggie broth (I use water here with "better than bouillon")
1 lemon juiced
salt and pepper to taste
1 pinch of saffron strands (it tastes yummy without, but I like it)
2 extra cups of water 


**Big stew pot** Dice the onion and saute in oil/butter mixture with cumin and cinnamon. Skin and chop up the squash and potatoes into med sized pieces and throw them in to the pot once the onions become slightly transparent. Coat all of the added veggies with the oil/butter/seasoning/onion mixture and add some salt/pepper. Next add the 2 cans of chick peas and the can of diced tomatoes. Mix it again and again add salt/pepper. Here's where you throw in the rest of the ingredients and let the whole pot boil, then I usually put the lid on it and turn it down to low for about 30 minutes or until taters and squash is tender. The last 20 minutes I turn on my kettle and boil up some water... then I grab a big old casserole dish and measure out my couscous. After the waters boiled I pour it over said couscous and put a tight lid/foil over it to keep the heat in for 10 minutes. This is the best way that I've found to cook the couscous for it to be light and ready to absorb all the wonderful flavors of the stew. This is by far one of my most favorite meals and I always feel to satisfied after eating it. 

I am wearing... flannel pj bottoms, a green long sleeve shirt and a brown sweater. I'm comfy and I think everyone else should be too. I realized recently, it's actually scary that it took me all of my life to realize it, that I care way more about comfort then style. It's a sad thought.

I am creating... a blog? gosh... this has definitely not been my most creative season. hmmm. well, I am in the middle of making a baby hat for a baby shower coming up. Crocheted, puff stitch, creme cotton yarn, huge cute girly flower.

I am going... to bed soon so I don't wake up late for Sunday school class. Before I do that, however, I'm going to the kitchen to see if there's anything I can eat a little of and take a couple vitamins. 

I am reading... through the Bible in 90 days. confession: I'm behind. confession: I'm always behind until I catch up and then I get behind again. I don't let me myself get behind more then a couple days, but with this reading schedule that seems to be anywhere from 20 - 35 chapters that I could potentially be behind at any one moment.. lol! I love the pressure! It's actually going really well and I love it. I'm just literally starting my Psalms portion today and am so happy to be in that section of the Word. I encourage any of you to go for a planned Bible routine, it really helps. I am also reading a new parenting book that has been encouraging me in the difficult ways of parenting, called "Shepharding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp.

I am hoping... that it won't always be crisis that tenderizes my heart. honestly.

I am hearing... the soft drip, drip, dripping of the rain outside of my window. the clicking of the keyboard and my husbands calm breathing.

Around the house... don't think about house, don't think about house... oh. hmmm. well, around the house is messy messes. Seems like every surface has something on it and if you know me then you know that's not my love language. ha. Seriously, something I'm learning is to let things go a bit. I could definitely be up cleaning and picking up right now, but I'd much rather sit next to my hubby for a bit.

One of my favorite things... is the sound and smell of rain. it's cleansing and refreshing. I don't necessarily always appreciate it, but I have fond memories of the rain. When I was very young, before my parents divorced, we lived in a big old 3 story victorian house in Jersey. One year my dad took off the metal railing of the front porch and make a wooden bench there instead. The way it was situated, you could sit on it and it was far enough from the edge that you could really enjoy the rain and the night. I long to have a front porch again someday for sitting on and thinking and spending time with God. In my memories, it was magic.

A few plans for the rest of the week... back to schoolwork/chores. finish my baby hat project, spend less time "doing" and more time "being". I know, it's a dichotomy... but those are my plans, nonetheless. 


I thought I'd try something new with this... I think it was fun.