Happy Homemaker Monday - Labor Day Edition

Joining today with Sandra at Dairy of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.

The weather here in Phoenix is still in the triple digits but, hey, it isn't 119 every day any more so we are making progress.

Right now I am writing this post while taking quick breaks to hang laundry and oversee food preparation in the kitchen, all while enjoying a diet cherry cola flavor enhanced with French Vanilla coffee creamer (see my last posts for more about this new favorite beverage). I am nothing if not a multi-tasker!

Thinking that I am so very glad I have an extra day this weekend to get things done, relax a bit and enjoy my family.

On my reading pile the scriptures, textbook from the online class I am taking, daily devotional Let Him Ask of God and a fascinating book about a neurosurgeon's journey into the afterlife when he contracted bacterial meningitis, Proof of Heaven.

Something interesting and inspirational from the internet can be found here, at this post on The Exponent, a Mormon oriented online magazine/blog. The article, by a woman name Deborah who is NOT me, is about Pope Francis, the "allurement of fashion" and respect for the human person. I have always had a deep respect for my practicing Catholic friends (including my Catholic blogging friends) and the Catholic Church so this article really resonated with me. It is well worth the few minutes it takes to read it.

On the menu for the week (I really do have one this week - just hope I actually feel like cooking what is on it):

Monday - Brats on the menu, but in reality, we will finish up leftovers from the weekend.
Tuesday - Swiss steak
Wednesday - Chicken salad sandwiches
Thursday - Quesadillas
Friday - Biscuit pizzas

On my to-do list is the usual weekly cleaning - bathrooms, dusting, mopping, vacuuming, laundry, and ironing, as well as doing the assignments for module two of my online teacher class.

In the craft basket is fabric that I purchased a few weeks back to make pillow cases for my grand kids. I'm not sure I will get to work on them this week. I still haven't finished my crochet afghan either. I need to make a conscious effort to spend at least a few minutes a day on it (little-by-little I might actually finish it).

Looking forward to a short school week with plenty of grading and lesson planning to do at school. In the evenings there is a church youth activity for Josh on Tuesday, a meeting for me on Tuesday and a class for Charly on Wednesday. Also, on Thursday, I am preparing and taking dinner in to a family from church who just welcomed twin sons!

Looking around the house I see laundry that is drying in the back bedroom and will need to be folded and just a bit of straightening up here and there. Hubby has just finished a phone conversation with his sister and Josh is playing a video game.

On my prayer list is my youngest son who has some big decisions to make; my husband who has a bad cold; Barb,a friend suffering from a painful pinched nerve, Braden, a former student who is leaving this week to serve as a missionary in Equador, Sue, a friend from Illinois who has breast cancer and kidney failure; Jacob the son of a friend who is a missionary in Columbia where strikes are threatening unrest and violence; blogger friend Lori, who has a brain tumor; and blogger friend Beth Marie who is recovering from cancer.

Scripture for the week:
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
--Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
From the Camera:
Here are the clouds that finally opened up and brought us some nice rain on Friday and Saturday.