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I love the simple things in life. Each action, each moment, each sound…they all have significance and meaning. So today’s post will be from the Simple Woman’s Daybook:

Outside my window…
Sunshine and a cool breeze. It’s only 68 here today.

I am thinking…
About cutting up some watermelon.

I am thankful for…
An amazing husband.

From the kitchen…
Lunch was a big salad with all kinds of yumminess.

I am wearing…
Yoga pants and a tank top. I never changed after I did my yoga session this morning.

I am creating…
A home away from home (our new RV!).

I am going…
To travel the country again someday.

I am reading…
The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose.

I am praying…
For patience and wisdom in living with and raising a very spirited (and magical) 5 year old.

I am hearing…
A magpie outside. We call them the “Evil Triplets”…it’s a mama birdy and her 2 babies and they terrorize our neighborhood day and night.

Around the house…
Lucy is asleep in the Moby. Bella is sick and is watching Horton Hears a Who in her bedroom. There is “evidence of life” all around. Matt is working on a job site.

One of my favorite things…
Is a clean kitchen.

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Bella has soccer tomorrow. Chiropractor appointments on Thursday. La Leche League meeting on Thursday night.  Friday and Sunday photo sessions. We’re also looking forward to finishing up the decor inside the RV!

My favorite one in the list is “I am hearing…”. There is much to be learned about another’s world by finding out what they hear during the day. I love just sitting and dissecting the “noises” around me…there is so much that I miss when I’m not mindful of my surroundings. There is beauty in each sound.  So…what are you hearing right now?

Just wanted to check in and see how the James Challenge was going for you. It’s been very difficult for me to maintain steam with my memorization…especially with the end of pregnancy zapping my energy and enthusiasm. And then Lucy arrived and life turned crazy, and then there is summer…and then…well, I am full of excuses but there are none that are very good. SO…I’m jumping back in this week with renewed vigor and FOCUS One of the quotes I have on Happy Foody is this:

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

So, I shall begin again…serenely and with no nonsense

Also, I wanted to let you know that Kristi at Good Like a Medicine is hosting a giveaway for one of her verse purses. So, if you missed getting one on my blog, head on over there and try to win!

Make it a wonderful week!

The joy on our faces in the above photo comes after a long week of unknowns and emotions.

On Tuesday, April 14, my little brother Scotty was in a serious accident on the site of the frat house that my brother owns and is remodeling in Boulder. The ladder that he was setting up fell back against the main power line to the house and he was electrocuted. He was airlifted to the burn unit ICU in Denver and was unconscious for most of the first day. We were so thankful that Matt was in Boulder at the time working on the house as well and was able to be by his side the entire time and give us updates. By that evening, our entire family had flown into Denver from our various points in the globe (literally…my brother Dan had to fly in from London!) to be with Scotty at the hospital.

It truly is a miracle that we are celebrating today and not mourning the loss of a sibling and son. The number of prayers that went up for him will never be known, but we can only guess from Facebook, blogs, calls, and such that it was in the many, many of thousands. He is now on his way to a full recovery. Last night was his first skin graft surgery for his foot (the exit point for the electricity) and he will have one more in about 3 weeks. The doctors don’t expect any lasting long term effects. We believe in the power of God and the power of prayer…and when the nurses in the burn unit call them their “miracle boy”…we know how blessed we are to have him still here.

Here is the article from the Daily Camera and the photos I’ve taken this week.

I talk a lot about Etsy on this blog…so I thought I would share this fun little video about how it all began.

Here are some of my most recent internet findings…hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

• This post by Emily on “taming the tongue” has really been convicting for me. I’m going to print it out and post it where I can see it often! I know it would be difficult to attain all of these resolutions…but it’s such a great reminder of where I want to be. I just really love her blog, Unfurling Flower…be sure to check the extensive archives. A big thanks to blog reader, Liliana, for recommending it!
• Bellies and Babies: The diary of childbirth educator, doula, mother, and aspiring midwife. Not sure where I came across this blog, but I love it. I first saw the Bloomin’ Belly Soaps on her site…which are the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.
• For those of you who are wanting a simple little craft project for the weekend…check out these adorable fabric covered switch plate covers at AT.
• Earth Lust: these water bottles are a fun alternative to Sigg or Klean Kanteen. I’ve never tried them myself, but was attracted to those fun bird designs! I don’t like the twist on caps, but they do sell a sport top. I like the insulated carrier too.

Some new Etsy finds:
persimmon&pink: I LOVE these scriptural pieces of art!
kelly rae roberts: I ordered several of her small affirmation prints and I just adore the rest of her work.
em falconbridge: Em is at it again! Check out these adorable “mama hip pouches”. The perfect alternative to the fanny pack
gaia conceptions: If I had oodles of money and could re-do my wardrobe, I would buy everything from this amazing lady! I especially like her dresses, but be sure to check out all of her stuff. Wow. Love her tagline…”clothing for the urban nomad”.

The day is finally here! This has been quite a popular giveaway with 267 entries! It seems that if you do have a day to yourself, there is a lot of coffee drinkin’, book readin’, and bathing going on This is a reminder to please be good to yourself and take a much needed break! It’s so easy as wives, mothers, and busy women to get caught up in taking care of everyone else all of the time. But if you don’t replenish YOURSELF, you won’t have anything left to give. Make time! Even just for an hour.

And now…for the reason you’re here! Drumroll please…the results of the giveaway:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

114

Timestamp: 2009-02-13 20:51:25 UTC

Congratulations to Commenter #114, Jackie H!
Here is her comment:

“Ooo…a day to myself?! I would sleep in (it’s been hard with a 3 month old in the house! LOL!), read while eating breakfast, go workout and read some more! I have a pile of books that I’ve been meaning to read since baby #3 was born! “

Jackie…please contact me so I can put you in touch with Brenna. And for those of you who didn’t win…add Brenna to your Etsy favorites and be sure to think of her when you’re looking for a unique, handmade item. She has recently added tons of cute new things…go check it out!

Have a great weekend…wherever you are!

Here are a few books for you to check out if you’ve joined The James Challenge. I will be posting discussion questions from both on the Yahoo! group.

“Be Mature: Growing Up In Christ”
by Warren Wiersbe

This book is extremely well written and I’m really enjoying digging into it. It is a commentary, with a few questions at the end of each section. And believe me, Wiersbe knows his stuff! If you really want to dissect the book of James, pick this one up.

“James”
by Max Lucado

We are currently studying James in the small group that we hold at our house, and this is the book we’re using for our 12-week study. It’s mostly discussion questions…with a little commentary along the way.

Hello everyone…
For some reason, comments were turned off on my “Q & A: Round Two” post. Just wanted to let you know that I opened it back up for discussion if you wish. If that ever happens again…somebody let me know!

Thanks!

Alicia Caine is a homeschooling Christian mother of 4 children under the age of 7…and is also is a photographer friend of mine from Bozeman. She has developed a coaching program for fellow photographers to help them build their business. She is a very talented marketer and is the “pricing guru” (and who out there hasn’t struggled over setting prices!?). Here is a description of the new program in her own words:

“I have had the huge privilege of mentoring over 40 photographers in the last year using pricing information that I have accumulated since the start of my business. I developed a program where it could work for any photographer no matter where they were at in their business and where they wanted to go with it. I call it ‘common sense pricing’ because once you learn it- it just clicks— it makes so much sense! Some people are naturals with these kind of things, while others dread this part of their business. It was my desire to remove the trial and error and give something that would take the pain out of the process.”

Today, she is launching her brand new site, Easy As Pie…which offers her methods and ideas in a this simple program. She has agreed to give readers of my blog a $25 discount..making the price of her program and also her blog subscription $153 (PDF Cookbook + Blog Pantry). If you only want the program and not the blog subscription, it’s $129. If you are a professional photographer (or aspiring to be)…this is a great investment in your business. Use the code “OneDayOnly” to get the $25 off. This offer is good TODAY ONLY.

I love music. Whenever I am home…I love to have music playing in the background. It’s soothing, inspiring, and can completely change my mood from cranky to uplifted in a matter of minutes. I would love to hear what you are listening to right now…because I’ve been stuck on my same ‘ol playlists for a LONG time! Here is a sampling of some of my favorites:

Shane and Shane
Sufjan Stevens
Shawn McDonald
Hillsong worship stuff
Waterdeep
Ani DiFranco
Alana Davis
Damian Rice
Ingrid Michaelson
Jack Johnson
Rascal Flatts
Moby
Sarah McLaughlin
Neil Young

What’s on your favorite playlist that you play over and over?