Happy Homemaker Monday

Hi, I'm back to blogging, my Mum is much better now and she no longer has to stay in that face down position. I'm joining Sandra, from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, in this Happy Homemaker Monday, as a start. I'll try to post more tomorrow. It's good to be back and I hope to be able to read some blogs today.

On my bedside table: The Bible

On my TV: The Oscars. I recorded it and we're watching it now.

On the menu for tonight: I still don't know as I haven't done menu planning lately.

On my To Do List: Ironing and many other things.

New Recipe I tried last week: No new recipes

In the craft basket: My knitting projects. I'll have to show them to you.

Looking forward to: Having time to go to the library

Homemaking Tip for this week: I can't think of anything. Sorry!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): I haven't been reading anything but I hope to start doing it today.

Favorite photo from last week: I didn't take any photos.

Lesson learned the past few days: That things are not always as we plan them and that God's plans are better than ours, even when we don't understand them.

On my Prayer List: My family

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Phillipians 2:5-10

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

More news + Missing you / Mais notícias + Sinto a vossa falta

My Mum is revovering well from her vitrectomy but she will have to stay in that face down position until the 26th. I'm still staying with her most of the time to help so I don't have much time to post. But whenever I find some time, I'll do it. Thanks once again for your prayers.

A minha Mãe está a recuperar bem da vitrectomia mas vai ter de continuar naquela posição de cabeça inclinada para baixo pelo menos até dia 26. Continuo a passar a maior parte do tempo com ela e por isso não tenho muito tempo para escrever. Mas assim que tiver um pouco de tempo, escrevo qualquer coisa. Mais uma vez, obrigada pelas vossas orações.

Thank you

Just a quick post to say thank you for your prayers. My Mom's surgery went on very well but she's having a very difficult time. I'm staying with her so I don't have the opportunity to post regularly. I'll give you more news as soon as I can. Once again, thank you very much.

Prayers Please / Orações Por Favor

My Mom's surgery is tomorrow and I would like to ask you to please pray for her. I'm not having time to post and, Sandra, although I don't post and don't comment in yourposts, I'm joining you in 31 days of prayer for our husbands.

A cirurgia da minha Mãe é amanhã e gostaria de vos pedir que por favor orem por ela. Não tenho tempo para escrever no blogue nesta altura.

Day 6 / 6º Dia

Pray that your husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of the culture. Pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life, and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil. (Prov. 27:12; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 10:12-13)

Ore para que o seu marido ame a justiça e abomine o mal, especialmente os males da cultura. Ore para que ele reconheça e evite o mal na sua própria vida e, se necessário, assuma uma posição forte e clara contra o mal. (Provérbios 27:12; João 17:15; 1 Coríntios 10:12-13).

Proverbs 27:12 (New International Version)
12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

Provérbios 27:12

O avisado vê o mal e esconde-se; mas os simples passam e sofrem a pena.

John 17:15 (New International Version)
15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

João 17:15
Não peço que os tires do mundo, mas que os livres do mal.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (New International Version)
12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Coríntios 10:12-13
Aquele, pois, que cuida estar em pé, olhe não caia. Não veio sobre vós tentação, senão humana; mas fiel é Deus, que não vos deixará tentar acima do que podeis, antes com a tentação dará também o escape, para que a possais suportar.

To know more, please go to Sandra's blog.

Para saberem mais, vão por favor ao blogue da Sandra.

31 Days of Prayer For My Husband / 31 Dias de Oração Pelo Meu Marido

Join Sandra.
Juntem-se à Sandra.

Day 5 / 5º Dia

Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)

Ore para que o seu marido seja fiel aos votos matrimoniais. Ore para que ele tenha o desejo de alimentar o vosso relacionamento como sinal da sua lealdade e compromisso para consigo, e à imagem do amor de Cristo pela Igreja (Provérbios 20:6, Génesis 2:24).

Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,But who can find a trustworthy man?

Provérbios 20:6 A multidão dos homens apregoa a sua própria bondade, porém o homem fidedigno quem o achará?

Genesis 2:24 (New American Standard Bible)

24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Génesis 2:24
Portanto deixará o homem o seu pai e a sua mãe, e apegar-se-á à sua mulher, e serão ambos uma carne.

My first diaper cake / O meu primeiro bolo de fraldas

This is my first diaper cake. I'm really excited about the idea of making diaper cakes, and as many friends are pregnant now, it is a good opportunity to start. But I have to practise more. And I also need to buy more material but money is the problem. Always money!!!

Este é o meu primeiro bolo de fraldas. Estou muito entusiasmada com a ideia de fazer bolos de fraldas, e como muitas amigas estão grávidas, é uma boa oportunidade para começar. Mas tenho de praticar mais. E também preciso de comprar mais material mas o problema é o dinheiro. Sempre o dinheiro!!!

Questions / Perguntas

Typography: Question Mark

As some of you have asked me some questions lately, I'm creating this post for you to ask me anything you want to know about me or my blog (please be gentle). Sandra did this last month and it was very nice to know more about her. But I'm doing it as she did, with the video. I will write my answers. And maybe then you'll do the same. (Mari, I've got at least one question for you!!!)

Como alguns de vocês me fizeram algumas perguntas recentemente, criei esta mnsagem para me perguntarem aquilo que quiserem acerca de mim ou do meu blogue (mas sejam simpáticos por favor). A Sandra fez isto o mês passado e foi muito interessante ficar a conhecê-la melhor. Eu não vou fazer com vídeo, como ela fez, vou apenas escrever as minhas respostas. E talvez vocês depois façam o mesmo. (Mari, tenho pelo menos uma pergunta para ti!!!!)

Menu planning / Planear Menus

I've tried doing menu planning several times but with no success. I still do it but I rarely stick to my plan. I usually shop once a month and I buy fruit and vegetables once or twice a week. I find it quite difficult to plan menus one month ahead,especially because I almost always end up not doing anything as planned. I've seen that most of you do menu planning. Could you please give me some ideas of what has worked for you? I like to try new recipes at least twice a month but if I don't plan that, I never have all the ingredients I have.

Já por várias vezes tentei planear os nossos menus mas não fui bem sucedida. Continuo a fazê-lo só que raramente cumpro aquilo que planeei. Normalmente vou ao supermercado uma vez por mês e compro fruta e vegetais uma ou duas vezes por semana. Tenho dificuldade em planear os meus menus com um mês de antecedência porque acabo sempre por não fazer nada daqilo que planeei. Já vi que a maior parte de vocês planeia os menus e por isso gostaria de vos pedir algumas ideias. Eu gosto de experimentar receitas novas, pelo menos umas duas vezes por mês, mas quando não planeio, nunca tenho em casa os ingredientes de que preciso.

Valentine cards / Cartões para o Dia dos Namorados

DD and I have made several Valentine cards some days ago but I didn't take any photos and we have already given them to some friends. This is the only one left but as my husband has already seen it, I'll have to make another one to give him!

Eu e a minha filha fizemos vários cartões para o Dia dos Namorados mas não tirámos fotos e já os oferecemos a algumas amigas. Só restou este mas como o meu marido já o viu, vou ter de fazer outro para lhe oferecer.

31 Days of Prayer For My Husband / 31 Dias de Oração Pelo Meu Marido

To know more, please go to Sandra's blog.
Para saberem mais, vão por favor ao blogue da Sandra.

Day 4 / 4º Dia

Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship—protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)

Oremos para que os nossos maridos desenvolvam as suas capacidades de liderança no relacionamento connosco, protegendo-nos e provendo para nós. Oremos para que eles sejam capazes de liderar e amar de forma sacrificial, para que Deus seja glorificado nos nossos casamentos.

Ephesians 5:25-29 (New King James Version)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

Efésios 5:25-29
25 Vós, maridos, amai vossas mulheres, como também Cristo amou a igreja, e a si mesmo se entregou por ela, 26 Para a santificar, purificando-a com a lavagem da água, pela palavra, 27 Para a apresentar a si mesmo igreja gloriosa, sem mácula, nem ruga, nem coisa semelhante, mas santa e irrepreensível. 28 Assim devem os maridos amar as suas próprias mulheres, como a seus próprios corpos. Quem ama a sua mulher, ama-se a si mesmo. 29 Porque nunca ninguém odiou a sua própria carne; antes a alimenta e sustenta, como também o Senhor à igreja.

Colossians 3:19 (New King James Version)
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them

Colossensses 3:19

19 Vós, maridos, amai a vossas mulheres, e não vos irriteis contra elas.

Portuguese or English? Portuguese and English? / Português ou Inglês? Português e Inglês?

Someone from Brazil told me today that he likes visiting my blog but that he cannot understand most of what I write because his English is not very good. Well, I started my blog in Portuguese but then, as most of my readers are English-speaking, I started writing in English. I thought I could write my posts in both languages but I felt too lazy to do it. But as «diligence cures sloth», I'll start writing both in English and in Portuguese. And maybe some of my English-speaking visitors will start learning some words in Portuguese.

Uma pessoa do Brasil disse-me que gosta de visitar o meu blogue mas que não entende a maior parte daquilo que eu escrevo pois sabe pouco inglês. Eu comecei a escrever o meu blogue em português mas depois, como a maior parte das pessoas que me lêem falam só inglês, comecei a escrever em inglês. Pensei depois em escrever as minhas mensagens nas duas línguas mas tive preguiça. Mas como «contra a preguiça diligência», vou começar a escrever em inglês e em português. E talvez alguns dos meus visitantes de língua inglesa comecem a aprender algumas palavras em português.

31 Days of Prayer For My Husband

Go to Diary of a stay at home mom to know more.

Day 3

Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord.(Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8 )

Psalm 51:2-4 (New International Version)
2 Wash away all my iniquityand cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinnedand done what is evil in your sight,so that you are proved right when you speakand justified when you judge.

Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.And what does the LORD require of you?To act justly and to love mercyand to walk humbly with your God.

Is it just me?

Go here to find more reality cards like this one!

Sometimes I feel absolutely overwhelmed with all the things I have to/want to do daily/weekly/monthly/yearly. I have to/need to/want to pray, take good care of myself and my family, spend quality time with DH and DD, spend time with family and friends, cook healthy and delicious meals, clean, organize, declutter, homeschool, learn new things, read, knit, make cards, exercise, go to church, travel, go to the cinema, go to museums, take DD to the park, do volunteer work, decorate... And the list goes on and on.

Someone once called me a perfectionist. I thought that person was completely mistaken. A perfectionist? Well, I had to go to the dictionary to see if I really knew what a perfectionist is. The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English says that a perfectionist is: 1. person who believes that moral perfection may be attained, that it is possible to live without sinning; 2. (colloq) person who is satisfied with nothing less than what he thinks to be perfect.

Well, I surely know that we're not perfect but «I press on toward the goal. Maybe I'm a perfectionist because I'm never satisfied with what I'm doing. But when I feel like that, I sit quietly and pray. And I immediately stop feeling overwhelmed.

By the way, for those of you who cannot understand a word in Portuguese, the name of my blog, Prossigo para o alvo, means I press on toward the goal, and the description is Philippians 3:12-14.

31 Days of Prayer For My Husband

Today is Day 2 of the 31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands. As I'm having problems with my computer right now, please go to Sandra's blog, Diary of a stay at home mom (you can see the link on the right side of my blog, under blogs I love to visit) to see what the prayer for today is.

Some photos

Today I'm sharing some of our latest photos. This one was taken last week. We decided to watch a film together, so we turned off the lights, made some popcorn and sat down to watch the film. I once did that when Catarina was about three and she loves pretending that we are in the cinema!

Here is Catarina with the snowman we made for the project in Dalle un colinho. Poor snowman!!! We're both not very crafty but we tried! We certainly did. We made our snowman with some old socks and buttons.

This is a card we made for a dear friend. Her birthday was last Thursday and we invited her for lunch as she works near our house.


And here you can see our table prepared for that lunch:

Here DD is showing her new scarf, my first knitting project. Ok, I know it's very basic and not very perfect but it's my first one and for Catarina, it is beautiful. That's what matters, isn't it?

And these are the tuna pastry rolls, the new recipe I tried last week. They were delicious.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Sandra is hosting Happy Homemaker Monday and I'mjoining her once again.

On my bedside table: The Bible


On my TV: Hubby is watching something but I don't know exactly what it is.

On the menu for tonight: GalicianTurnovers

On my To Do List: Vacuuming, ironing, homeschooling

New Recipe I tried last week: Tuna pastry rolls

In the craft basket: I have finished Catarina's scarf but I'm knitting another one for a friend. Valentine cards and a Valentine wreath

Looking forward to: Nothing in particular.

Homemaking Tip for this week: Spring cleaning all year round. It is much easier to do it like that.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): A Lady's Hope, by Lady Katherine.

Favorite photo from last week: No photos from last week.

Lesson learned the past few days: That you deserve to be happy but as a mother, and in general, as a person, you should always serve others without expecting to be rewarded.

On my Prayer List: My husband, my daughter and a neighbour who has gone to another city to work and left 5 children behind. She says she will come back to take her children with her but it is a very sad situation.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Filling a Blogging Lull - Fifteen For Ten

I saw this meme at Kathy's blog and thougt it would be fun to do.

Rule for the meme: List the first ten people who commented on your last blog post. If you’re on my list and you are experiencing a blogging lull/looking for a filler, you can do the meme on your blog, too. If not, just read mine and learn a little bit more about ten follower bloggers.

My ten bloggers are:

1 - Mari,

2 - Meninheira,

3 - Sandra,

4 - Terry,

5 - Michele,

6 - Becky,

7 - Belinda,

8 - Sandra,

9 - Alice and

10 - Lady Katherine

1. What is your favorite post from #3's blog? Maybe the one where she has posted photos of her twins. I don't know Sandra very well but I do like to visit her regularly.

2. Has #10 taken any pictures that have moved you? I can't think of a paticular photo that has moved me but Lady Katherine has beautiful photos in her blog and I had great fun looking at the most recent ones, with the flamingo. LOL

3. Does #6 reply to comments on their blog? No, I don't think Becky does that but I really don't mind that. I don't do it either. What I do is to visit everyone who leaves me a comment.

4. Which part of blogland is #2 from? She's from Galicia, Spain, a place I love and where one of my great-great grandparents was born.

5. If you could give one piece of advice to #7 what would it be? I don't know Belinda very well so I cannot think of what advice I could possibly give her.

6. Have you ever tried something from #9's blog? Not yet. I've started visiting Alice's blog very recently.

7. Has #1 blogged something that inspired you? Lots of things. Mari is one of my special blogger friends and although I don't know her personally, I'm sure she's a wonderful woman. But go here for an inspiring message that Mari has posted. (Mari, I haven't forgotten your surprise. I just didn't have time to go to the post-office. I'll do it this week!)

8. How often do you comment on #4's blog? I just found Terry's blog very recently so I've only visited and commented a few times.

9. Do you wait excitedly for #8 to post? Definitely. Sandra's blog is one of my favourites and I visit it daily. She is such a talented and inspiring woman, so I'm always looking forward to seeing her posts.

10. How did #5's blog change your life? Well, I cannot say that Michele alone has changed my life but she is a special blogger friend as well. She visits me often and always leaves nice comments. But she could post more!!! Michele has changed my life the same way other bloggers have. It was very important for me to find women like me, who like being at home, because as I don't know many women like that, I felt the need to explain and to give excuses for being at home. And when I found out that I was not alone, I stopped giving excuses and concentrated more on fulfilling my mission as a wife, mother and homemaker. So a huge thank you to all the wonderful womn I have met through blogging.

11.Do you know any of your 10 bloggers in person? Not a single one but maybe that will happen one day!!!

12. Do any of your 10 know each other? In person, I don't think so. But they do no each other in blogland. Maybe Meninheira is the only one who doesn't know because I met her through a Portuguese homeschooling blog.

13. Out of the 10, which updates more frequently? Let me know if I'm wrong but I'm sure it is #8, Sandra, from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

14. Which of the 10 keep you laughing? That depends on the posts but I think I have already laughed with all my ten bloggers.

15. Which of the 10 made you cry (good or bad) tears? Lady Katherine, with her post about breast cancer. She is a very strong woman and I admire her.

31 Days of Prayer For My Husband

Sandra, from Diary of a stay at home mom is challenging us to specifically pray for our husbands during 31 days. Well, I do pray for mine every day but I will join her in this journey, as a reminder to other women who, for some reason, are still not doing it. Here is what she says about this:

I feel that behind every wonderful blogging woman I have come to know, there is an amazing man, they are the ones working in the background. The ones providing for our families, fixing what is broken around the house, giving us a hug when we're down, listening to our bad days, putting up with the constant flashing of cameras in their eyes (admit it, you tote that camera around just as much as I do LOL).

So I think they need to be recognized and admired and acknowledged for the wonderful husbands they are and what better way to do that, than to devote a whole month of prayer to them. Will you join me?

Embark with me on a journey for the next 31 Days, in which we devote ourselves to prayer for our husbands.

Everyday I will put up a prayer and a Mr Linky. Now, you don't need to go to your blogs and do your own post, you can if you want to but it's not required. But I would like you to sign your name on Mr Linky if you do say the prayer for that day, just so that we can see how many wonderful women are praying for their husbands.

Day 1

Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)

2 Peter 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Prov. 4:23Above all else, guard your heart,for it is the wellspring of life.

It was very interesting to see this verse in Sandra's post because it is the key verse for our church this year!!!