Happy Homemaker Monday - 07/22/2013

Hello everyone! It has been weeks since I've gotten to participate in a Happy Homemaker Monday. Things have been a whirlwind around here preparing for back to school, and I took some much needed time off to unplug and spend time with my family.
I do hope you have all been doing okay though, and I am glad to be back. I missed blogging and catching up with you all. If you want to join in with all of us posting for Happy Homemaker Monday you can head on over to our lovely host Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and join in the fun :)

::The weather::
It's very cloudy, but temps are cooled this week which is a nice reprieve from the usual heat and humidity. We've been getting a lot of rain this summer which has been so nice compared to last summer's drought.

::Right now I am::
Sitting on the couch by my boys. Lucas is playing on the kindle and Levi is coloring. I've got all the windows open letting the cool breeze rush in which feels heavenly.


::Thinking::

• About all that's ahead of me today.
• About how I am so not ready for my baby boy to start Kindergarten. It's definitely going to take me getting used to because this year he'll be going all day. Last year preschool was only half day so it wasn't very long at all. I will still have my littlest at home but it's definitely going to be different.
• I have a few more things to get on the school list and then we'll be set to go.

::On my reading pile::

Many books! I actually have about five books I need to get a review typed up for not to mention what's on my TBR pile. I just finished Brood X by Michael Phillip Cash and it was incredibly creepy. I will never look at Cicadas again that's for sure. lol

::On my TV::

Catching up on some episodes of America's Got Talent when hubby gets home. It's one show we love to watch together.

Other than that I'll be catching up on some episodes of Bones and tonight is an all new episode of The Fosters.

I haven't been watching much television as of late. Been "unplugged". :)

::What I found while surfing the net::

Nothing lately. I haven't really had the chance to be online lately.

::On the menu for this week::

Monday- homemade cheeseburger macaroni, steamed seasoned red potatoes, corn on the cob

Tuesday- Salisbury steaks, mashed potatoes, steamed baby carrots

Wednesday- grilling day (grilled cheeseburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans)

Thursday- pizza take out (shopping day)

Friday- 

Saturday- 

Sunday- 

::On my to do list::

• Laundry (the one chore that always needs done)
• Dishes
• Sweep and mop kitchen and bathroom
• Vacuum carpets
• Change bed linens
• Drop off due items at the library
• Setting up doctor and dentist appointments for the boys

::In the craft basket::

Nothing at the moment.

::Looking forward to this week::

Spending time with family. We have much planned for this week as far as family activities. Visiting the splash park, picnic, grilling, fair, etc.

::Looking around the house::

All the windows are open, a nice cool breeze is blowing in making it comfortable, the wind chimes are blowing (I love that tinkling sound), the kids are being wonderfully good today and other than what chores I listed there isn't much else left to do.

::From the camera::

Nothing this week

::On my prayer list::

Family and friends who are going through a rough time right now in varying circumstances.

::Bible verse/Devotional::

I read this devotional on biblegateway.com and wanted to share:

Let’s Sidetrack Perfectionism

Colossians 1:21–23

Additional Scripture Readings: 2 Samuel 22:33; Romans 5:10

When Caesar Ritz opened his Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1898, this fastidious man sat at every table in the dining room, measured its height to the exact centimeter and adjusted the legs if needed. He slept in each bed in the hotel, one per night, and threw out the mattress if he didn’t sleep well. Caesar Ritz was a perfectionist.

How many of us are perfectionists? We so often get hung up on serving a regimen of perfectionism rather than serving the God of grace. When our eyes are focused on our unattainable standards of performance, we miss his best for us. We are, in effect, rewriting his requirements.

When Paul writes that God will present us “holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:22), he doesn’t mean that we must somehow, some way, make ourselves perfect. That’s God’s job. But God promises that one day, through the grace of Jesus’ death on the cross, we will stand perfect before him.