For Today - October 18, 2010 - Monday

Outside My Window. . It is cloudy & cool w/a predicted high of 85. In October. Yeah - what's up w/that?

I Am Hearing . . .Dogs panting. I have my dog & my daughter's two. We just came in from the porch. Apparently lounging around outside wore them out!

I Am Wearing...black velour pants &red v-neck, 3/4 sleeve T & bare feet.

I Am Thinking . . I need to finish decorating the porch & put out some bird seed. Also need to fold a load of jeans.

I Am Wondering . . .if mom's cell phone miseries are now over . . . . she has a new number. . . . hopefully the nuisance calls will cease. At least for a while.

I Am Grateful. . . that my hubby dealt w/the cell phone issue. I've done it every other time & was in no mood to mess w/it again. He handled it. Thank you, Honey. I owe you!

From The Kitchen . . . Soapy water w/morning dishes waiting to be washed.

I Am Reading . . .Max Lucado from When God Whispers Your Name.

"It is quiet, It is early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black, the world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.

The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the days demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I am free to choose.... And so I choose…

I choose Love…No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose Joy…I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical, the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose Peace…I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose Patience…I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose Kindness…I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose Goodness…I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse, I choose goodness.

I choose Faithfulness…Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My husband will not question my love. And my children will not fear their Mother will not come home.

I choose Gentleness…Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.

I choose Self-Control…I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when the day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest."

I Am Hoping. . .to finish decorating the porch! Glory! How nice it will be to have the whole thing livable!

Around The House . . .3 dogs. Need I say more?

One Of My Favorite Things. . .is a homey home.

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .I have not put out very much birdseed since we've moved here. I used to put out pounds per week. Now we have lots of trees. And lots of squirrels. I am not fond of rodents of any variety. They eat birdseed. While enjoying the newly rearranged porch this morning, the Titmice, Chickadees & Cardinals came to accuse me. Accusing me of lying to them. While at the old house I told them about our move, 2 miles as the crow flies &amp that I'd continue feeding them if they followed me here. They know that's not true. They know I lie.

I need to do as my brother did & buy one of those funky squirrel feeders that are off balance &amp as a result the squirrels flip off - flying through the air. I might as well get some enjoyment - right?

About Today's Photo...This photo is from Tara Dillard's blog. I love, love this structure. . . which is in Douglasville, Georgia. Supposedly built from a lot of *found* materials, it is perfect...just perfect! Don't you love the metal culvert over the doorway? I so want this conservatory!

I almost covet it. Except..except....except for our dreaded mosquitoes. And snakes. And what is to keep mice from setting up house in the bed? Or the dresser drawers? Not to mention having to drag everything into the house when rains come. But. . . . . if I lived in Eden - this is the shelter I'd want!