Handmade Wooden Playground Toys, Library Fun, SPCA Volunteer Work and More - The Walnut Acre Daily November 21, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

OUT AND ABOUT

Today has been very much of an out and about kind of day.

Normally Friday is our day to run errands and maybe visit local places of interest but this week we switched it up a little. A friend needed a ride to Verona today for an appointment and she also needed to go to the library so we decided to just do our other errands while we were out anyway. So beside the library we made stops at the gas station, the pharmacy and Walmart. 

The library is one of my favorite places. I love the rows and rows of books, so much information, so many adventures, so many things to see in all those volumes. Michael's favorite part is the self check out desk. He loves to center the bar code under the scanner and hear it chime. And we always visit the big dinosaur in the children's section - sometimes Christopher roars at it. Madalynn and Austin usually head straight for the computers. 

While our friend was at her appointment we decided to go for a little ride rather just sit in the parking lot and wait. So we headed down some back roads in the Verona area. Amanda and I love to point out the scenery that we like. We have totally different ideas on what is photo worthy. While I'm saying "Oh look at that beautiful house, farm, view of the mountains" she saying "Oh trees, look at the patterns all the bare branches make against the sky." So I made two different collages of the photos taken. The first one is what I liked and the second one is what Amanda liked. 

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This evening I took Amanda to volunteer at the SPCA. Most of her time she spent with Bailey and Rosie, two of her favorite dogs. They were excited to be outside and are a lot stronger than they look. But Amanda loved every minute of it. She also visited some of the little puppies and gave them treats. 

Michael and Austin went to Grandpa's house this evening. After my hour in the prayer room at church I went to pick them up and found they had been busy helping Grandpa and everyone else in the shop. My dad makes these wooden playground toys to sell and they like to help or hang out in the shop. 

FURRY, FEATHERED AND FOUR FOOTED FRIENDS

Little Red, the guinea pig was happy to have some playtime and a clean cage today. She was not so happy about having her nails trimmed but I'm sure she feels better now that they've been done.

READING AROUND THE WEB

Effective Time Management

The Real Truth about 'Boring' Men --- and the Women who Live with Them: Redefining Boring

TODAY'S QUOTE

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used on to say "thank you?" ~ William A. Ward

The Walnut Acre Daily Thursday October 10, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

~ Proverbs 19:20-21

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

Today has been wonderful. I was able to take a large part of the day and enjoy some time to just work in my planner, tweak our schedules, do some blog work and simply soak in the peace and quiet. A friend took the kids for me from 9:00 AM until 3:20 PM and I went to the library and for the day. The library is one of my very favorite places to simply relax and regroup. My favorite library even has a little place where patrons can make a cup of coffee or tea and sip while they work. Thank you so much Karen for letting me have this time today.

Later this afternoon I took Amanda to the SPCA so she could work with some of the dogs there. This is still a very important part of her week that she looks forward to very much.

Later this evening is my weekly hour in the Community Prayer Room at church with my friend Tammy. 

IN THE KITCHEN

Breakfast this morning was simple - cereal with milk, bananas and juice. Michael helped me put meatballs for meatball subs in the slow cooker before I left this morning and that was what they had for lunch, along with some applesauce. On my way home from the SPCA this evening I stopped at McDonald's and bought chicken sandwiches for our dinner. 

ON MY MIND

There has been a lot on my mind lately - but one of the things in the forefront has been how much I tend to think I can do things on my own and that no one will understand some of the things I struggle with. But as I've opened up more and talked to more people I've realized how important it is to share with others instead of trying to walk alone. Of course, God is always with me, but He also made us to be in relationship with each other. Anxiety and OCD has made life very difficult for me for a large part of this year (and has been a large part of the reason my blogging has been so sporadic lately) but it has also made me grow in a lot of ways. God has used this time that I've worked on getting past these things to teach me so much about His love for me and His desire for me to stop trying to walk through things by myself. 

READING AROUND THE WEB

A Balanced Life is a Beautiful Life at The Welcoming House

How to Plant a Fall Garden at New Life On A Homestead

TODAY'S QUOTE

As long as you live, keep learning how to live. ~Seneca