The Simple Woman's Daybook - Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Outside my window...a cold sunny day in the midwest.  I stepped outside to put the trash out and I got a face full of a bitter cold breeze.  Next time I will be wearing a coat that's for sure. 

I am thinking...about how cuddly both my children are but especially my little Oli.  He's even curled up on me while I type this.

I am thankful for...my ability to be patient.

I am wearing...comfy but nice clothes.  I teach a piano lesson today so I can't be too casual.

I am remembering...Christmas traditions of years past

I am currently reading...not much at the moment but I did just update my book list on Goodreads.com.  I love being able to track what I have read, what I am reading and what I would like to read all in one place.  You also can share your book list with friends and get ideas.  Now I just have to decide what I want to read next. 

 

I am hoping...for a peaceful holiday season full of meaningful moments and wonderful memories.

On my mind...There are so many choices of cool things to do with your family for the holidays.  I am also quite overwhelmed by all the neat craft ideas out there to do with your kids.  Here is just a list of a few websites I have been looking at.

• Borax Crystal Snowflakes from Martha Stewart Living's Craft Department
• Advent Calendars & Beyond from Impress Your Kids
• Kids Craft Weekly's Advent Craft Challenge

Noticing that...December 1st will be here before I know it.  Tomorrow even!  I think I better get cracking on my advent calendar print out and start cranking out some paper chains. 

Pondering these words... 

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

— Maya Angelou

From the kitchen...I did some bulk cooking last week so I haven't cooked a whole lot this week.  I just popped a casserole in the oven every couple days.  This might seem strange to some but I haven't cooked my big Thanksgiving meal yet.  Several factors have made it necessary to postpone it until next week.  So I am still looking forward to mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and my famous pumpkin pie. 

Around the house...the usual cleaning and tidying up today.  I am also preparing to decorate a little for Christmas.  House hunting is also on my mind.

One of my favorite things...getting to make my Christmas wish list.  I'm working on it now and will share it in a future post. 

From my camera...I thought I would share a couple pictures today.  The first one is our first attempt at a box guitar.  So far it has held up pretty well to the beating my children have given it.  But yesterday my husband found a shoe box with sturdier cardboard that has turned out to be a better alternative to a cereal box. 
.   

My second picture was taken on Thanksgiving last week while we waited for our table at Cracker Barrel in Independence, MO.  We had a lunch with friends before they set off to visit family for the holiday.  The gift shop was so full of people waiting that we couldn't move around very well but we did enjoy looking at all the new ornaments and Christmas decorations. 

Would you like to linger on the simple things...then join me and many others at "The Simple Woman's Daybook" in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the 'everyday moments'. I will be posting a weekly update using this unique and simple format.

Hope: Advent Devotional - Week One

Welcome to week one of this Advent season!  I have decided to try something a little bit different for my blog this year.  I wanted to create a unique way to share this special time of year with all of you.  So, I have put together a series of musical devotionals that take us on a journey from Advent to Epiphany.  Each devotional in the series will include a visual word cloud that I hope aides in your reflection time, a Scripture passage, a music video, and a prayer.

So take a minute to light a candle and reflect on today's message of Hope.

 

 

Scripture:  Isaiah 11:1-10 (The Message)

Isaiah 11     A Green Shoot from Jesse's Stump

 ^1-5 A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse's stump, from his roots a budding Branch.
The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him,
   the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength,
   the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.
Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight.
He won't judge by appearances,
   won't decide on the basis of hearsay.
He'll judge the needy by what is right,
   render decisions on earth's poor with justice.
His words will bring everyone to awed attention.
   A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked.
Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots,
   and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.

A Living Knowledge of God

 ^6-9The wolf will romp with the lamb,
   the leopard sleep with the kid.
Calf and lion will eat from the same trough,
   and a little child will tend them.
Cow and bear will graze the same pasture,
   their calves and cubs grow up together,
   and the lion eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child will crawl over rattlesnake dens,
   the toddler stick his hand down the hole of a serpent.
Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill
   on my holy mountain.
The whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive,
   a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.

 ¹⁰On that day, Jesse's Root will be raised high, posted as a rallying banner for the peoples. The nations will all come to him. His headquarters will be glorious. 

 

Song:  Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Featuring Christy Nockels from Chris Tomlin's album "Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs Of Worship"

Prayer:  O, Holy Comforter, come and dwell in us and among us.  Help us to stay hopeful even when we are facing hardships and strife.  Amen.

*Special thanks to these online resources who helped me pull this together.

http://www.merriam-webster.com

http://thesaurus.com

http://www.wordle.net

http://www.biblegateway.com

Making Music with Cheerios

Made by Joel is one of my favorite blogs for neat and simple designs you can share with your kids.  His tutorials are so easy and usually use items you regularly have around the house.  So, this day after Thanksgiving I thought I would share this simple project for taking your empty cereal boxes, rubberbands and clear tape and turning them into a new and fantastic musical instrument.  It is sure to bring hours of joy to your little ones.  Enjoy!
 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, 

to set in the hearts of honest men; 

but be careful that you do not take the day, 

and leave out the gratitude.  

~E.P. Powell

Video of the Week: Playing for Change & "Stand by Me"

Music has this amazing way of  helping to forge connections with people of all ages, races and creeds.  Playing for Change is one of those projects that has managed to cross boundaries with the power of music.  I think their website sums it up the best.      

"Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music.  The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world."

(The Playing for Change website)

I wanted to highlight the 16 artists from all over the world that took "Stand by Me" to a whole new level.

• Roger Ridley - Santa Monica, California
• Grandpa Elliott - New Orleans, Lousisiana
• Washboard Chaz - New Orleans, Lousisiana
• Clarence Bekker - Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Twin Eagle Drum Group - Zuni New Mexico
• Francois Viguie - Toulouse, France
• Cesar Pope - Rio de Janero, Brazil
• Dimitri Dolganov - Moscow, Russia
• Roberto Luti - Livorno, Italy
• Geraldo & Dionisio - Caracas, Venezuela
• Junior Kissangwa Mbouta - Congo
• Pokei Klass - Guguleta, South Africa
• Django "Bambolino" Degen - Barcelona, Spain
• Sinamuva - Umlazi, South Africa
• Stefano Tomaselli - Pisa, Italy
• Vusi Mahlasela - Mamlodi, South Africa

In 2007, Playing for Change created the Playing for Change Foundation, a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to create "positive change through music education for all musicians and their communities". In early 2008, they established Timeless Media, a for-profit group that helps to fund the work of Playing for Change. Later that same year, Timeless Media entered into a joint venture with the Concord Music Group through the support of label co-owner and entertainment legend Norman Lear and Concord Music Group executive vice president of A&R John Burk. The ultimate goal for all of these ventures is to bring Playing for Change’s music, videos and message to the largest audience possible.

And now, anyone and everyone can participate in this life changing musical experience by joining the Playing for Change Movement. You can host a screening, spread the message of Playing for Change through media sharing, or hold a benefit concert.  You can also purchase "Songs Around the World: Playing for Change" on CD and DVD or the DVD "Playing for Change: Peace Through Music". 

"Together, we will connect the world through music."