Last week was crazy! I fell suddenly ill right before Rich and I were supposed to go on a getaway trip to a bed and breakfast. We thought about canceling, but I was well enough to do things and be up, so we decided that we'd go anyway and just take things easily if we needed to, because we'd be where I didn't have a home, children, and meals to take care of, so I would still rest and we could still enjoy each other. I cannot recommend Autumn Pond Bed and Breakfast highly enough. The place was beautiful, the food was exquisite, the owner was a chef who had done some work with Jacques Pépin, and was pleasantly surprised that we recognized the photo. He said most people didn't know who the man was in the picture with him.

So, that was the first thing. Then, when we came back, even though my cold was getting much better, my ear kept hurting more and more and more. So, I finally said I needed to go to the doctor who found a raging ear infection. So, now I'm on serious antibiotics. On top of the horrifying heat. It was 112 last Sunday. Today was cool because it was the first day in over two weeks that the high didn't get above 100. It was 99. Anyway, the terrible cold (which is an insult in the summer) is almost over, but the coughing fits still linger and my ear still has some trouble. Please pray for my complete healing.

Plus, we had all sorts of stuff being worked on for the house (a project started FIVE years ago is almost finished now), Rich and the boys were doing planting and some butchering, and Alexander had his placement exams for Running Start. Glory to God, the parts that we thought would be the hardest, he was able to handle, and he felt good about it. He received his math placement right away, and we should hear back this week about the rest. We would appreciate prayers for him there. This would help him move along with his educational and career goals quite a bit. His math score vindicated me in how I have been teaching them math since we pulled Alexander and Dominic out of school. Those two have been consistently behind, and handicapped, by the way the school taught math. Every one else of the kids who started at home is at or above "grade" level. Even still, on a test which we knew he wouldn't have full knowledge (they were testing for college level algebra and trigonometry, which we knew he didn't have), he placed far higher than he or I expected. I'm so proud of him.

I ask your prayers for the repose of the soul of Rich's Uncle Ron, who passed while we were on our trip. His funeral is this week, which means we have a pretty busy week this week, too. We also have the next family birthday - Yasmina will be seven! It's hard to believe it. She was literally just starting to walk when we moved here.

Remember that the Psalms are according to eastern numbering in our daily Bible reading, also I Kings is the original designation, it is I Samuel in western Bibles (II Kings is II Samuel in the west, III Kings is I Kings, and IV Kings is II Kings). Since I didn't post at all last week, I'll include last week's readings, if you want to catch up. Honestly, when we miss a day or six, we just read that day's readings and catch it the next year.

June 28: I Chronicles 26-27, Psalms 118:49–64, Proverbs 26:1–5, John 10:1–21
June 29: I Chronicles 28-29, Psalms 118:65–80, Proverbs 26:6–9, John 10:22–42
June 30: II Chronicles 1-4, Psalms 118:81–96, Proverbs 26:10–13, John 11:1–37
July 1: II Chronicles 5-6, Psalms 118:97–112, Proverbs 26:14–17, John 11:38–57
July 2: II Chronicles 7-9, Psalms 118:113–128, Proverbs 26:18–23, John 12:1–28
July 3: II Chronicles 10-13, Psalms 118:129–144, Proverbs 26:24–29, John 12:29–50
July 4: II Chronicles 14-17, Psalms 118:145–160, Proverbs 27:1–6, John 13:1–17

• Sunday II Chronicles 18-20, Psalms 118:161–176, Proverbs 27:7–12, John 13:18–38
  Breakfast: Leftover Raspberry Custard Pie, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Cold, Spicy Crawdads, Pastrami and Swiss Sandwiches, Potato Salad
• Monday II Chronicles 21:1-24:14, Psalms 119-120, Proverbs 27:13–18, John 14
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Dates, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Papas con Chorizo, Salad
• Tuesday II Chronicles 24:15-26:23, Psalms 121-122, Proverbs 27:19–24, John 15
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam, Cherries, Buttered Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Elk and Pepper Stir Fry, Jasmine Rice, Cherry Clafouti
• Wednesday II Chronicles 27-29, Psalms 123-124, Proverbs 27:25–29, John 16
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Toast, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pizza, Salad, Ice Cream
• Thursday II Chronicles 30-32, Psalms 125-126, Proverbs 28:1–5, John 17
  Breakfast: Cereal and Bananas, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Dinner with Friends
• Friday II Chronicles 33-34, Psalms 127-128, Proverbs 28:6–11, John 18:1–27
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Granola, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Dinner with Friends
• Saturday - Feast of Saint Benedict of Nursia II Chronicles 35-36, Psalms 129-130, Proverbs 18:1–27, John 18:28-19:4
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Bacon, Fried Eggs, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Funeral Food

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Homesteading, House, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen