Lifelong Learning

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether this happens at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps on learning not only remains young, but becomes constantly more valuable regardless of physical capacity." ~Harvey Ullman


In my final post about focus for the new year, I wanted to share a list of projects I'd like to try in the coming months. I was inspired by Crystal's post on 12 Do-It-Yourself Projects I Plan to Attempt in 2011 and hope to learn some new skills (and probably attempt a few things that I will never repeat!).

January: Cook homemade spaghetti sauce (Got a recipe to share for this one?)

February: Post a vlog

March: Make homemade doughnuts

April: Plant a container garden with cherry tomatoes and cucumbers (I tried the tomatoes a couple of years ago, but hope to do better with them this time.)

May: Learn how to play chess

June: Select a song and learn to play it well on the piano (I have basic musical knowledge, but very rarely sit down and use the piano.)

July: Read my digital camera manual, along with a couple of photography books or blogs, and learn to take better photos

August: Make my own yogurt

September: Bake homemade bagels

October: Publish an e-book

November/December: Knit scarves for my daughters' dolls. (Yes - it may take two months, considering my lack of skill at any handiwork!)

What's something new you'd like to try in 2011?

photo courtesy public domain pictures

Got Books?

Reading is one of my favorite ways to relax. These days it's rare that you'll find a fiction book in my hand, though I still enjoy a good escape every now and then. (My difficulty in reading fiction is that I get so caught up in the story that the phone could be ringing, the kids jumping on the furniture and supper burning on the stove while I still have my nose buried in my book!)

While I have set goals in the past as to a certain number of books I'd like to read in a year, I have never created an actual reading list. Below are twelve books that I would like to read over the next twelve months. I'm sure I will read others that aren't on the list, but this is my starting point. I tried to select books that will help me in the four areas on which I'm concentrating my focus this year.

The second list are those books that I would like to read aloud to my daughters this year. We do most of our reading together at bedtime and, since most of these books are new to me as well, I look forward to enjoying them together!

My List

1. How to Pray by R.A.Torrey (I've already begun this one and will soon be sharing what I'm learning!)
   
   
2. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
   
   
3. With the Master on Our Knees by Susan J. Heck
   
   
4. The Olive Plants: Raising Spiritual Children by Warren Henderson (thanks to Clara for introducing me to this one!)
   
   
5. The Parenting Breakthrough: Real-Life Plan to Teach Kids to Work, Save Money, and Be Truly Independent by Merrilee Browne Boyack
   
   
6. Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel
   
   
7. Finding Your Purpose as a Mom: How to Build Your Home on Holy Ground by Donna Otto
   
   
8. What to Eat by Marion Nestle
   
   
9. Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think by Brian Wansink
   
   
10. The Generosity Factor: Discover the Joy of Giving Your Time, Talent, and Treasure by Ken Blanchard and S. Truett Cathy
    
    
11. Make Every Word Count by Gary Provost
    
    
12. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

Read-Alouds for My Daughters

1. The Adventure of Missionary Heroism by John C. Lambert
   
   
2. Alone, Yet Not Alone: the Story of Barbara Leininger by Tracy Michele Leininger
   
   
3. To Have and to Hold: A Tale of Intrigue and Adventure by Mary Johnston
   
   
4. George Mueller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) by Janet & Geoff Benge
   
   
5. Dear Princess: A Book for Girls by Mary M. Landis
   
   
6. On the Banks of Appletree Creek from Pathway Publishers
   
   
7. The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
   
   
8. The Bible Smuggler by Louise A. Vernon

Have you read any of these books? Did any of them become favorites? If you're currently reading a great book yourself or have one to recommend for my girls, feel free to share!

Join Jessica at Life as Mom as well as other bloggers who are booking it in 2011!

Amazon links included in this post are affiliate links.

Meatball Pasta Stew

While my girls search the stacks of books at the library seeking new reading material, I usually peruse the shelves of used books and old magazines for sale at the entrance. A few months ago, I got a stack of Country Woman magazines from the mid-1990's just so that I search the recipe sections for new meal ideas.

The September/October 1995 issue produced a winner! This stew is a simple, hearty meal that I created based on a recipe I found there. I served it with slices of homemade French bread for a tasty supper!

Meatball Pasta Stew

Meatballs:

1 pound ground beef (I used venison)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce:

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cups beef broth

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 bay leaf

3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups cooked pasta (I used rotini)

Combine the beef, egg, bread crumbs, milk, dry mustard, salt and pepper; mix well. Shape into one-inch balls. Brown meatballs in oil in a large pot over medium heat; drain and set aside.

In the same pan, cook onion and garlic in oil until tender; stir in flour. Gradually add broth, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook and stir one to two minutes or until thickened. Stir in tomatoes, bay leaf, Italian seasoning and salt. Add meatballs to the sauce mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for thirty minutes. Add pasta and heat through. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Have you tried any new recipes lately? Find other bloggers sharing their favorites at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

photo courtesy public domain pictures

Look Out

As we enter the first full week of the new year, it's quite appropriate that we come to this particular verse in our study of the Proverbs 31 woman.

Verse twenty-seven says, "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."

The Virtuous Woman is Vigilant.

The lady we are learning about observes what is taking place within her family. She is attentive to their needs, be they physical, emotional or spiritual. She is watchful, guarding the hearts and minds of those she loves by monitoring the ideas and influences she allows into her home.

From previous verses, we know that the virtuous woman could certainly not be accused of being lazy. She does not avoid work and, on another level, she doesn't allow herself to be involved in pursuits that are of no significance. Her time is not spent on activities that have no real value.

I found it interesting that one synonym for idleness is stagnation. As I mentioned last week, one of the areas on which I'm focusing my attention this year is personal development. I want to challenge myself to continue learning new concepts and skills that I might grow as a person.

So, on this first Monday of 2011, I am encouraged to keep my eyes open to what my husband and children are doing, my ears listening to the words they are saying as well as the thoughts they are expressing, and my heart attuned to their attitudes and desires. May I avoid wasting time and instead involve myself in activities that will help me be all that I should be for Christ.

photo courtesy public domain pictures

Rules for Daily Living

As we begin a new year, full of days to fill with hopes and dreams, I am pondering the following statements which I recently saw posted in my Dad's study.

These rules for daily living were composed by Dr. Jonathan Goforth in 1894 and written on the fly-leaf of his Bible.

1. Seek to give much — expect nothing.

2. Put the very best construction on the actions of others.

3. Never let a day pass without at least a quarter of an hour spent in the study of the Bible.

4. Never omit daily morning and evening private prayer and devotion.

5. In all things seek to know God's Will and when known obey at any cost.

6. Seek to cultivate a quiet prayerful spirit.

7. Seek each day to do or say something to further Christianity among the heathen.

What great things could I accomplish for God if I would but keep these ideas in the forefront of my mind in the coming months!