Hearing a Pin Drop

I've always appreciated the stillness of thoughts,
the quiet of a library,
the hush of an art museum,
and the taking in of an idea and silently mulling over words.

There is a time and place for quiet.
Right now, right here is one for me.
I know it won't always be this way, but for now...

You can hear a pin drop here.
It is quiet.
The comments are turned off, but I am still listening.
If you would like to share your thoughts or get in touch with me, then please contact me.
~ Dorie


{Pictures from my latest denim project. To see the other denim repurpose projects click here and here.}

All Work and No Play

Though we've been on spring break, I haven't really taken a break from work until yesterday.

Before that, I sorted and organized four children's clothing, which resulted in 11 garbage bags filled with out grown clothing {2 for attic storage, 7 for various friends and charity organizations, and 2 for the trash}; and purged and rearranged the back room, which we use for homeschooling.

It has been all work and no play for this momma.

That ended yesterday morning.

 

 

 

I seized the opportunity, and did what I have not done often, in the past 13 years. I didn't wake up at a set time. Instead, I lazily greeted the day. Sure, I was up before seven to pray with my husband and see him off to work, but in my world, this is sleeping in.

The day was filled with creativity and play. To be truthful, there's not much to show for the day. No grand result or major project completed, except for the smile on my face and a more rested posture.

It was a good day, and a good way to spend part of spring break.

 

 

 

Today, the fun continues with an online party. The Ultimate Blog Party 2013 has begun, and like last year, I decided to participate. This party is a great way to mingle and find a few new-to-me and wonderful-to-read blogs. So, in that spirit, if you are visiting from The Ultimate Blog Party,


Welcome to my online space!


As my About Page says:
"This blog is a journal of sorts, a place where I record thoughts, pictures, and the life that surrounds me. With our family and our plethora of activities, the days are never predictable. You may find anything and everything here, but what I really hope you see is God's grace shining through our lives and yours."


Some Favorite Posts:
You can find some of my readers favorite posts in the side column, or you can peruse the categories in the picture menu bar near the top of the page.

However, to read some of my personal favorite posts from the past year, click through these:
Defining Something Important
Dear Formula Company Marketing Department
Spring Snow
A Birthday Party with a Shakespeare Flair
A Royal Breakfast
When It Feels Like a Desert
Why the Climb Is Worth It



*All photographs are linked to previous posts from this blog, click them to read the original posts.


Are you new to this space? Then, please feel free to introduce yourself.
I look forward to meeting you.
~ Dorie

The Ups and Downs of Blogging

{The snowman my children built last week}

Really, for me, blogging is just a past time. I'm not trying to make any money. I'm not out there advertising my space or my writing. And, certainly, I am not thinking my little blog will revolutionize the world. No, I am just sharing my life and experiences in the hopes that it may encourage another, and having fun while I do.

What I love about blogging:

• connecting with other women/moms all over the world
• finding common ground with people I may never encounter in real life
• having an outlet for creativity that can fit my schedule

What I like about blogging:

• sharing some fun family moments with those who live far away (there are other ways to do this)
• sharing, reading, and gleaning some great ideas

{One of the cookies my children decorated with their cousin}

What I dislike about blogging:

• mean comments
• being misunderstood (this is a possibility in all communications so I can't blame blogging for it)
• the idea of follow someone so they will follow you (follow if you like, don't follow if you don't)

What I hate about blogging: (oh, yes, I just used the word hate)

• comparing, evaluating, measuring of one another (We are each unique individuals with our own talents and interests. What you see on the internet is only a part of the picture. Some people may have lovely, organized blogs, but their homes are in complete disarray, and vice versa. Some people may have thousands of followers, but not one real life friend, and vice versa.)

*The Irony of Blogging:

• Lately it seems that when I have much to share, I have little time to share it...

So, "you take the good with the bad and there you have..." the ups and downs of blogging.
~ Dorie

Anyone else singing The Facts of Life theme song?

Now on Facebook!

Before I make this announcement, I should be completely honest and tell you I don't use Facebook as the main way to contact or connect with people far away. Much to the dismay of technologically advanced family and friends, I am still using snail mail, telephone, and email. For that matter, I barely use my cell phone and don't text! Shocking, I know. {or perhaps even pathetic!}

However, I wanted to make it easier for people to find and read These Grace Filled Days.

After creating a page for our homeschool blog, I discovered how easy it really was to make a page on Facebook. So, yesterday, I whipped up one for this blog. You can 'like' These Grace Filled Days on Facebook by following this link, or clicking on the badge in the footer on the left side.

Someday soon, I hope to move into the 21 Century with technology usage, but baby steps for now.
~ Dorie

Voting: Our Right and Responsibility

 

There's some weird statistics out there about how many people don't vote.

Some of it may be for shock value, but some of it is true.

 

The sad reality is a lot of people, who are eligible, don't exercise their right to vote.

 

Really, it is not hard.

 

Register, 

learn about the candidates,

know the issues, 

pray,

and then go vote!

 

Let us never forget...

It is our right,

our privilege,

our responsibility.

~ Dorie

 

 

 

Resources and Further Information ~

 

Looking to learn more about voting?

Register to Vote

 

Want to join others in praying for our nation?

One Cry

 

 

 

Getting to Know...Me?

As an active mom of four children, I find great joy photographing and writing about life as it happens.   My fabulous husband encourages me in these creative endeavors of mine. 

(Hi, Honey! - He also reads my posts, and I've always wanted to put a shout out there to him. ) 

Along the way, I started this blog a couple of years ago.  It is fun to meet new people, share ideas, and post a few pictures.  These Grace Filled Days is a hodgepodge of posts about faith, family, and life.  Readers might find the posts endearing, tender-hearted, and encouraging, but above all I hope God's grace is evident and He is glorified in my words.  

~ Dorie

Linking up today with the Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes For Mom.

Come join the fun?

Praying Proverbs 31 {winner}

Recently, I was blessed to review Praying Proverbs 31.  It is a book I am currently using as I pray for my daughters.  And, in years to come, I will eagerly return to this book as the prayer journey is applicable for daughters of all ages. 

Tracy Glockle, the author, graciously offered one of you a free ebook.
The winner, chosen using Random.org, is comment number 2 - Congrats to Annette W. - you won!

Result:2 

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For those who did not win, Praying Proverbs 31 is available through the website, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.  It is definitely worth the price.

Interviewing a Girl Growing into a Proverbs 31 Woman

Poised and waiting patiently, she sits across me for an informal interview.  Her name is Kayla, and she is an eleven year old girl with her own business, KanineKookies. 

Approximately two years ago, Kayla was looking for a way to pay for her horse riding lessons.  She was baking dog treats for her own dog, Maggie, when her mom suggested that maybe she pursue making and selling dog treats.  Kayla considered, researched, and decided to give it a try.  One of her first sales was for her KanineKookie-of-the-Month Klub, a monthly delivery of two packets of fresh-baked KanineKookies. 

Peanut Butter Twist-and-Shouts
photo by Jordyn, courtesy KanineKookies

Since her first sales, Kayla has increased her business by selling her KanineKookies at various retail locations and shipping them across the United States.  Each of her eight gourmet variety dog treats are nutritious and dog tested.  Kayla devises her own recipes, combining flavorful and nutritious ingredients.  Her primary dog taste tester is her own dog, Maggie.

Within the last few months, Kayla has added a new line of treats.  These are for horses and are called HorseMorsels.  Currently, she sells three varieties of nutritious horse treats.

HorseMorsels ~ Carrot Rolls
photo by Jordyn, courtesy KanineKookies

This past Friday, Kayla kindly sat down with me and discussed in detail her entrepreneur experience.  We talked about her favorite and least favorite parts of the business, struggles and successes, and past experiences and future dreams.  



How do you find balance with school, life activities, and running a business?
"I don't think I could do this if I didn't homeschool," Kayla explained to me.  Starting a business, developing products, advertising, analyzing costs, and maintaining inventory are all time consuming.  However, Kayla uses her time well.  She pursues her passions, completes her school assignments, and still has time for family and friends.

~ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.  Her lamp does not go out at night.  Proverbs 31:18 ~

How do your parents and siblings help or encourage you with your business?
Kayla's family is very supportive of her entrepreneur efforts.  Her parents and siblings encourage her with Bible verses, prayer, and loving support.  From time to time, her mom and sisters help with baking.  Also, her mom helps with deliveries.

How do you define success?
When I asked Kayla to give me her definition of success, she replied with a quote.  "Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor."  She also mentioned that success has gradual growth.  Words of wisdom we all can apply no matter what our age or situation.

~ She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. Proverbs 31:16 ~

What do you foresee for the future of KanineKookies?  Would you like to continue on a long term basis, or will you stop once your goals have been met?
Kayla's original goal of paying for horse riding lessons have been met, but she wants to continue running and growing her business.  She'd like to use the profits to buy a horse, and has a dream of some day owning her own therapeutic riding stables.

Kayla riding
photo by Jordyn, courtesy KanineKookies

What has been the greatest lesson you have learned starting and running a business?
"I can't do it on my own," Kayla quickly answered.  I have known Kayla for about five years now. She is an incredible person. Her family lovingly supports one another, cheering each other onto great works, but always giving glory to the Lord.  Kayla readily shared numerous experiences of the Lord's guidance, protection, and blessing in her life and business endeavors.

~ Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.  Proverbs 31:31 ~

Kayla also writes a blog in which she shares about inspiration, entrepreneurship, therapeutic riding, dog nutrition, horse riding, and homeschooling. Currently, she is sharing a series of tips on starting your own business.  Visit her website or blog to meet Kayla, a remarkable girl growing into a Proverbs 31 woman.

~ Dorie

Describing with Nouns

Recently, I wrote about not attending the Relevant Conference being held this weekend.  One thing led to another and I found out that Courtney from Women Living Well had an idea of those not attending getting together virtually in a Blog Bash.  How could I resist such fun fellowship?

We are suppose to do some type of introductory post, but I am terrible at formal introductions.  It took me forever to write a blurb about myself for Growing Your Homeschool {a group blog that I contribute to along with seven sweet ladies}.  For our family's homeschool blog, Homeschooling Just Next Door, I skipped a formal introduction, and instead used a question and answer format.  Though I thought about using either one of them here, in the end, I decided to write something shorter, and a bit different.  So, for my introductory post...

These Grace Filled Days described in Nouns

Three people I like to talk about...

• Jesus
• Jerry {my husband, I sometimes call him 'The Drummer'}
• our children {yes we have four, but I limited this category to just three, so they have to share one spot}

Three places I like to talk about...

• the farm dotted countryside I grew up in
• the mountains
• anyplace my family is

 Three things I like to talk about...

• family
• motherhood
• life lessons

One noun I hope you see interwoven in the lines of my posts every day...

• God's grace

~ Dorie

 

Winner of the Recent Give Away

A warm thank you to all who entered the give away of God's Story, Your Story, by Max Lucado.  The give away winner is comment number 8 - Congrats to Janet Rose - You WON!  Expect the book to be delivered to you shortly. 

Result: 8
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For those of you who did not win, please stay tuned for another give away coming soon....details later...

God's Story, Your Story {a giveaway}

Literally, the UPS man just dropped off the package, and I am too excited to wait until morning to tell you.  Zondervan has graciously given me two copies of God's Story, Your Story: When His Becomes Yours, the recently released book by Max Lucado (as in last week).  One of the copies is for me to read and review, but the second copy is for one of you! 

That's right, they want to give a copy to one of you too!

This give away is open to anyone with a mailing address in the USA or Canada.  You do not need to be a fellow blogger or even have a Google account (select anonymous when leaving a comment).  Each person may enter up to three times.  This give away ends October 6, 2011.  Winner will be contacted via email. 

To enter:

1.  Leave a comment, be sure to leave an email address or have an account linked to your profile.

2.  Add another comment if you follow or subscribe to These Grace Filled Days.

3.  Add another comment if you spread the word about this give away. (Twitter, Facebook or blog)

Wondering what all the buzz is about this book?  

You can read an excerpt below courtesy of Scribd.com.

God's Story Your Story by Max Lucado, Excerpt

For Forty Days

Some may already know, or participate on a local or national level, but for those of you who don't...
A campaign of forty days for life begins tomorrow.  It is a time of prayer, fasting, and community outreach.  For more information, please visit 40 Days for Life.  To find a local to you group, visit this link.  And for those of you who may want to know just how does this movement impact individual lives, you can read Abby Johnson's testimony in her book Unplanned.  The 40 Days of Life campaign played a role in her transformation from pro-choice to pro-life.

If you would like a copy of Unplanned for your very own, I have ONE copy to give away to someone with a mailing address within the United States of America.  
Please contact me via email, if you are interested. 

Comments are turned off for this post as this is not a giveaway contest.
Disclaimer: I am not financially compensated for telling you about this campaign or book, just spreading the word to those interested.  The book for giveaway is the same one I received for review purposes from Tyndale House Publishers.

An Inside View of Our Homeschooling

Have you ever wondered what goes on in our homeschool?  What some of our lessons are like?  How our days progress?  What fascinating finds we discover in our own back yard?  If so, you may just be interested in a new blog I have put together.  It is called Homeschooling Just Next Door.  It is a place where I hope to share about the nitty-gritty details of our homeschool days.  So, if you are interested, then please stop by for a visit.   

And, just in case you are wondering, I will definitely still be sharing regularly here at These Grace Filled Days.

~ Dorie

A Different Kind of Anniversary

Last week, I posted exclusively about homeschooling.  This week seems to be centering around anniversaries: Today is the 1 year anniversary of my very first blog post!

Recently, at Missional Mama, I read this post about 'a trip down blog memory lane'.  Since today is one year since I started this blog, I'd like to take a similar walk using some of the same categories.  Recently, I admitted that I do not follow rules well, and apparently I cannot tag along very well either as I have changed some of the categories and added a few of my own.  However, I got the idea from her fun post, and I do know how to give credit!

Most Beautiful - Opening the Present
The photographs from this post are from a trip to the local gardens we frequent.  The place is so beautiful that even an amateur photographer like me can take breath taking photographs.

Most Popular - Rainbow Party Theme Favors
Can you believe this post outshines every other post I've ever written by a multitude of hits according to Blogger Stats?  I had no idea my youngest daughter's birthday party favors would be so popular.  They really were fun to make and give.  If I had to do them over, I would have tied a white ribbon to the ends instead of using the pipe cleaners.  Perhaps a bit more of a feminine touch...

Most Controversial
Opted not to use this one...why bring up that controversy again...it was the post that made me want to close comments for good...might I just add, moderating comments at this time was both a good idea and a bad idea. 

Most Helpful
Opted not to use this one as well...not sure which of my non expert tips could really be included here.

Surprisingly Successful - A Little Lesson on Lambs
Though truly I would say that I am most surprised by the rainbow party favors, another surprise is the amount of email conversation, website links, and comments I received for my preschooler's lamb lesson.  Honestly, the resulting art work is precious and quite durable.  Almost a year later, and I still have his tucked away, a sweet memory keeper of the time we spent together learning about lambs.

Not Enough Success
Opted out of this category, as I don't really know how to measure success best.  I don't put too much stock in number of hits or comments.  Though that can be interesting, it isn't really success to me.  Success, for me, is doing my best (which is definitely not the same as being perfect) and hopefully helping or encouraging someone else along the way.

Post Your Most Proud Of - When They Understand Better Than You
Actually, it was this one and When You Can't Help but Remember, Steps on the Journey, A Long Journey, and Suffering for a Purpose, but I wanted to choose one.  I suppose I am most 'proud of' the posts where I write more from my heart and life.

...and I'm adding a few categories of my own...

Favorite Link-Up Post - Simply Sewing
This may be a surprise since I only linked up once to Simple Pleasures at A Collection of This and That, but it sure was a fun time with a great mix of friendly ladies and a gracious hostess.  And, of course, I still enjoy sewing and look forward to a few more projects.

Favorite Post to Write - Still Standing
It was my favorite post to write because I could not save it as a draft and revise it.  It had to be posted pretty much as is, with the exception of spell check.  It was probably one of the hardest posts to publish though.  I agonized as it was so 'raw' without any revisions.  In the end I was so glad to have done that challenge, and may try it again one day.

My Very First Post - Hiking
A year later and I still love this post!  Of course I should add here that though this was my very first post, it was not the first post most people read.  I did not tell others I was blogging until several weeks later.  So, the first post most of my family and friends read was Pom-Pom Predicament.


Thanks for walking alongside of me on this dusty road of grace filled days,
~Dorie

Kindly Awarded

Personally, I am humbled by these two awards and the kindness of the wonderful women who sent them my way.  Thank you both!


Mountain Mama awarded this blog:

I'd like to pass it on to some ladies with style...

A Whitewashed Cottage

Beautiful and Blessed

A Lovely Thought*

The Farris Wheel

Aurie of Welcome to Our Good Life awarded this blog:



And, of course, I want to pass this one on as well...

The View From Hidden Valley

The Passionate Homeschooler*

Just Following Jesus

Wildflower Cottage

* These two bloggers are currently taking a break, but I have greatly appreciated their posts in the past, and look forward to their return.

There are so many wonderful blogs I read and would love to share with you.  I'm hoping that you will click on the links to the above mentioned blogs including Mountain Mama's and Aurie's blogs.  They are all fantastic, and maybe there are a few 'new to you' blogs in the listings. 

These awards come with a few rules about telling some things about myself.  Since, I combined the awards into one post, I'm using the following seven for both (please refer to number 1).

1.  I'm not the best at following rules.  OK maybe those a life is in danger follow the rules rule, I'm good at following those, but these no one is gonna get hurt rules, not so much.

2.  There are four favorite things on my writing desk in the family room...a picture of my children, a mini painting (3"x3") made by my oldest son, a groundhog bolo tie that belonged to my grandfather from his days in the Groundhog Lodge (hangs from the desk lamp), and a rubber cow that can be squeezed so its eyes pop out from its head.

3.  I bought a vegetable brush several years ago with every intention of cleaning our produce to a shine, but I have only used it three times.  It just sits on the counter next to the spray nozzle.

4.  I like crisp mornings spent sitting on the front porch with a cup of hot, strong coffee (no milk, but definitely sugar).

5.  I prefer to read nonfiction books, but won't pass up a good fiction title.  Also, I prefer to read more than one book at a time.  This greatly perplexes my husband.  Currently, on the nonfiction side I'm perusing Of Plymouth Plantation, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Other Puritan Sermons, The Valley of Vision, The Missional Mom, and Organized Simplicity.  For fiction, I just finished Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series, and have begun Emily of Deep Valley.

6.  I use to like very spicy food...then I got pregnant with our first child...now I eat more moderately seasoned foods.   I use to hate broccoli...then I got pregnant with our first child...now I tolerate it.  I didn't eat red meat...then I was pregnant with our second child...I craved bacon...now I enjoy a full range of red meat, including a good fillet mignon (medium well).

7.  I have to wear sunglasses in the sunlight, all year long...not for fashion, but because sunlight is one of my triggers for migraines.  It's been many months since my last migraine, and if wearing sunglasses helps, I'll don them regularly.


This was a fun way to end a busy week.
May you all have a great weekend!