Thoughtful Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

Outside my window... The backyard. I can see turtles in the creek.... and a guy mowing.

I am thinking... About my classes for BLAST tomorrow

I am thankful for... A flexible schedule

From the learning room... Most everyone is done with school today. I had a math test this morning.

From the Kitchen... Not much is happening there tonight. The kitchen is usually uneventful nights before BLAST class.

I am wearing... My dark Skinny Kick Jeans, a comfy tee, barefoot, my silver cross ring, "diamond" stud earrings. My hair is straightend.

I am creating... Mmmm. I'm working on a few things...

I am going... Nowhere tonight. I had to go to the college this morning.

I am reading... My bible - psalms, proverbs, and I Peter. I'm not currently reading any books (looking for one to read) but I'm kinda reading a play by Oscar Wilde (same guy who wrote The Importance of Being Ernest) but I can't really get into it...

I am hoping... I can get my classes planned quickly and have a nice evening and an early night.

I am hearing... The lawn mower. Actually, it just stopped. I can hear the kids in the other room.

Around the house...  Everyone is busy doing something. Lots of us aren't home. Most people are getting ready for classes tomorrow.

One of my favorite things... Earl Grey Tea. I'm crazy over it. Did you know its Prince Charles' favorite blend? He has great taste. I need a cup about now...

A few plans for the rest of the week... Tomorrow is BLAST. Saturday is shopping. Sunday is a rest/catch up on unfinished things day. And all the next week is just full of normal week day stuff - school, homework, errands, gym, etc.

Happy Graduation, Sweet.

Until next time,
Juliana.

The Prettiest Place on Earth?

Here are a few snapshots I took around the house this morning. I love living here.





The humming birds love the flowers Mom planted along the front of the porch.

 

Around the corner of the house - everything is getting so green. *SUMMER*



A view of our front yard, down the driveway.



A gorgeous tree in the backyard



A view of the creek. See it? Its way down there.



Another view of the creek. If you look hard, you can see a bird on the log.



Close up of the water.



A sitting area by the creek





Fig sitting on the bench



Our garden - we have two raised beds and a plot(?). We've got several varieties of tomatoes, red bell peppers, basil, squash, cabbage, beets, green beans, thyme, lavender, strawberries, two types of lettuce, three types of greens, cucumbers, water melon, cantaloupe, carrots, jalapenos, and onions.



Little cucumbers sprouting



German Thyme



One of the many varieties of our tomatoes. I don't think they will ever turn red...



Cherry Tomatoes



Strawberries!!




We have wild blackberry bushes growing at the front of our property.



Barrack O'bunny, Gus Gus the kitten, Penny and I, and a nest of guinea eggs

Until next time,
Juliana.

Picture of the Week!

That awful, horrible subject of abortion has been in the news a whole lot lately. I've learned quite a few things about abortion recently that I didn't know before. Probably a lot more than what I wanted to know. But now I know them. And they are terrible. And our nation allows them to happen.

How important it is that we combat these practices. How can we allow this to happen in our "Christian Nation"?

There is a war out there to fight. There are precious lives to be saved. And everyone needs to enlist and do their part to put a stop abortion.

As a friend told me the other day, there are many different battles to be fought in a war. And every soldier is sent to fight a different battle.

When it comes to fighting abortion, every soldier has a different battle to fight. Some will fight in court. Some will fight one the front lines, picketing outside of abortion clinics. Some will fight by witnessing to lost mothers and fathers. Some will fight by sharing the light with others they know. Some will fight by teaching their children God's standards and truths at an early age so they will be equipped to fight these battles as they grow.

Whatever your battle be, fight with all courage and faith, knowing that our God is always victorious.

Until next time,
Juliana.

It's Earth Day: The Importance of Christians Going Green.

Today is Earth Day - A worldwide holiday dedicated to promoting the protection of our earth. What a great day. However, the real importance of Earth Day often get's over-looked.

 

That importance? This is God's world.

 

 

 

  

"This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres. 
This is my Father's world: 
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

 This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise. 
This is my Father's world: 
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere."

 

 

Earth Day has so much potential to bring God glory! He made a beautiful world. He made it because He loved it. He loved the trees and plants and oceans and animals. He made it show His glory and majesty. He made the animals to give Him praise. Consider these scriptures:

 

"Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them". ~ Psalms 69:34

 

 

 "Wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens" ~ Psalms 148:10-13

 

 

 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" ~Psalms 150:6

 

 

(Thought this was funny... hehe) 



 

  

God created the plants and trees and stars and planets and seas and land and animals and said "It was good". The magnificence of this world really brings Him glory. They show His handywork.

As I look at the earth and the habitats and animals therein I see that magnificence fading away. I see amazing creatures that have been driven from existence. I see many more following down that path. I see habitats growing smaller and smaller providing fewer and fewer homes for their inhabitants. I see a beautiful earth disappearing. And this stirs in my heart so much. I want to give my life to protect God's creation. It wont be here forever. But we, as it's inhabitants, can nurture it while it is.

 

And Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to share with other people the importance of protecting the earth. So get out there and tell those people not to litter, this is God's beautiful earth!

 

Now for some (super easy) tips on how to be green and eco friendly this year:

 

 

 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

1. Whenever available, use a recycling garbage can instead of throwing your garbage away in the regular trash.

2. Collect empty soda cans and take them to a recycling center (you can get cash for bringing them in too!).

 

3. Recycle food and yard waste by making a compost bin. Check this out: http://www.michigan.gov/kids/0,4600,7-247-49067-62499--,00.html

 

Conserve Water:

1. Take a shower instead of a bath. A shower uses only 1/3 the amount of water a bath does!

2. Don't let the water run while brushing your teeth.

3. Make sure your don't have drippy faucets.

 

Don't contribute to pollution:

1. Don't let your car idle. Overall, Americans idle away 2.9 billion gallons of gas in just one year!

2. Ride a bike or walk when possible.

 

Save Energy:

1. Turn off lights when you leave the house (or room)

2. Unplug appliances that are not being used (like a computer or TV)

 

Use fewer plastic bottles and more eco-friendly, biodegradable products.

 

AND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES DON'T LITTER!

 

 

These steps may not seem like much but if you do them and get everyone you know to do them, it really WILL make a difference.

 

QUIZ TIME!!!

Take this fun quiz to see how many Earth's we would need to support a population that lived exactly like you do! I took it and we would need 6 Earth's to support everyone if everyone had the same lifestyle as me. Yikes! My results also said it takes 30 acres of land to support all of my needs! Yikes! Post your results in the comments! http://www.footprintnetwork.org/pt/index.php/GFN/page/personal_footprint/

 

 

Now that you know the importance of Earth Day, get ready to celebrate it and spread the word about God's great creation. Earth Day is Monday, April 22nd. In fact, Earth Day falls on April 22nd every year. Because of a certain man's hard work in protect the environment and making Earth Day possible, Earth Day was put on his birthday. That man? Eddie Albert!

 

Happy Birthday Eddie Albert!

Thanks for making the world a greener place, Oliver!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time,

Juliana.

He is Risen!

He lives! He lives!

Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me,

along life's narrow way!

He lives! He lives!

Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives,

He lives within my heart!

 

 

And because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Life is worth the living. Happy Easter, y'all.

 

Until next time,

Juliana.

Thoughtful Thursday

 

 

 

Unfortunately, now that I go to school on Thursdays, Thursday's aren't so very thoughtful. But I'll give it a go anyway.

 

 

 

Outside my window... Empty computer labs.  

I am thinking... About babysitting tonight

I am thankful for... Excedrin

From the learning room... About to go to math class

From the Kitchen... I don't think this counts but I had a chicken salad spinach wrap from the campus cafe?... I made muffins and homemade pizza yesterday!

 (But the cat got in the house and ate all the pizza....)

 

I am wearing... Darkish colored jeans, a brown cami, a white/see through blouse with brown designs, three silver rings, brown boat shoes

I am creating... This blog post

I am going... No where for now, math class later, and to babysit even later

I am reading... My bible and "My heart in His hands"

I am hoping... For smooth sailing tonight and tomorrow

I am hearing... What is it that makes that humming noise in an empty room? Computer monitors? Lights? Whatever that is. And a guy rolling a cleaning supply cart down the hall.

Around the house... I'm not home so I couldn't say. But I would guess school and getting

ready for the evening

 

One of my favorite things...  Going home at the end of the day

A few plans for the rest of the week... Babysitting, homework, gardening

 

Morning Glory Muffins

 

 

 

 

Ingredients ~

 

2 cups of apples, chopped

1 cup of carrots, grated

1 cup of zucchini, grated

1 cup of raisins

3/4 cup of nuts, chopped

1 cup of honey

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

2 tsp. of vanilla

2 cups of flour

2 tsp of baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

 

 

Directions ~

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. In a large bowl stir together apples, carrots, zucchin, raisins, nuts and honey
3. In another bowl beat eggs, vanilla and oil
4. Add flour, soda, and cinnamon; mix well
5. Fill muffin tin 3/4ths the way full, bake 25 minutes

Yeilds 24 muffins

Until next time,
Juliana.


 

Merry Christmas!

 

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly! O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
From base to summit, gay and bright,
There's only splendor for the sight.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!

Until next time,
Juliana.