Simple Woman's Daybook, 7/11/11

Outside my window...it's HOT. but it's sunny. and not snowing. works for me.

I am thinking...that standing here in front of my computer is a respite from the reality that my girls...are grown-up enough for teen camp. right. now.

 
I am thankful for...air conditioning. my son's best friend.

I am wearing...grey tank, plaid button-down short, denim shorts

  
I am remembering...my first day of teen camp, Chambers, 1984.

I am creating...the keep-Bryson-busy-while-his-sisters-are-away-without-going-completely-crazy-or-spending-a-small-fortune schedule for this week.

I am going...to be one tired mama by Friday. ;) 

I am reading...Breaking Free by Beth Moore.

 
I am hoping...for the best week for my girls. that they grow. love. learn. stretch.

 
On my mind... so very much.

From the learning rooms... learning rooms? what learning rooms??

Noticing that...when my kids are gone, my house is ridiculously clean. and i like it cluttery better.

 
From the kitchen...mint chocolate chip ice cream mixing in the ice cream maker we got for a screaming deal at Walmart yesterday...

Around the house...everything left over from packing the girls for camp. holy nightmarish process.

One of my favorite things... thunderstorms.

 
Praying for...focus. the ability to "praise him in this storm."

A picture thought... 

The girls and their girls... ;)
A few plans for this week... Nerf camp. Drive-In movies. Campfires. Swimming Lessons. Sleepovers. Missing my girlybugs. Lots and lots of that one.

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Simple Woman's Daybook, Dec. 6, 2010

Outside my window...the sky is spitting snowflakes, and it's just covering the sidewalks and roadways...i keep waiting to hear we'll get measurable snowfall...it will come.

I am thinking...about how quickly my babies are becoming...not so much babies.

 
I am thankful for... hehe...the internet.

 
I am wearing...an amethyst, hooded, big-buttoned sweater, a slightly lighter purple, long-sleeved t-shirt, dark boot-cut jeans, warm socks.

  
I am remembering...how much i love Christmas music...but also that last year, i said i needed to find new Christmas music...and how...there really isn't new Christmas music.

I am creating...a Christmas wishlist. i am not good at wishlists.

I am going...to rent a car. 

I am reading...The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. still. has to be read by Friday!! 5 chapters to go.

 
I am hoping...for snow. lots of it.

 
On my mind...love. and whether or not i do it well.

From the learning rooms...lessons on the brain, the fall of the Roman Empire, the spread of Christianity, a focus on times tables and general math facts, Christmas crafting.

Noticing that...decorating for Christmas totally sets the tone for the season for me. decorating my parents' house for Christmas...makes me long for my own place to decorate.

 
From the kitchen...absolutely nothing. recovering from a weekend of 2 extravagant cakes, 4 dozen elegant cupcakes, and 72 cheesecake truffles.

Around the house...it's beginning to look like Christmas.

One of my favorite things...being surrounded by family and people i love.

 
Praying for...peace. still.

A verse to share...So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14

A lyric or two... 

Love is not proud

Love does not boast

Love after all

Matters the most

Love does not run

Love does not hide

Love does not keep locked in side

Love is the river that flows through

Love never fails you

Love will sustain

Love will provide

Love will not cease at the end of time

Love will protect

Love always hopes

Love still believes when you don't

Love is the arms that are holding you

Love never fails you

When my heart won't make a sound

When i can't turn back around

When the sky is falling down

Nothing is greater than this

Greater than this

Love is right here

Love is alive

Love is the way, the truth, the life

Love is the river that flows through

Love is the arms that are holding you

Love is the place you will fly to

Love never fails you

Brandon Heath "Love Never Fails"

A few plans for the week....picking up our angel tree gift, going for ice cream with my friend, picking up my rental car, hoping the insurance figures itself out, starting Christmas shopping, hanging out with my sister-friends, without kids, for a night of our favorite high school movies, pizzas-the-kids-wouldn't-eat, and conversation...

Simple Woman's Daybook, Nov. 16, 2010

FOR TODAY, November 16th, 2010

Outside my window...New York can't decide what season to be.  

I am thinking...about how sometimes...I'd like a vacation all by myself to someplace absolutely beautiful.

I am thankful for...the acceptance and love of amazing people.  

From the learning rooms...Paul's missionary trips, the skeleton, multiplication and division facts, order of operations, descriptive paragraphs, stories, stories, stories...

From the kitchen...A crockpot meal for mom and dad while we have Vegetable Beef Stew and Crusty Bread with my dear cousin's family...oh, and fresh chocolate chip cookies made by the kids and Ompy last night while Mom and I partied with a whole bunch of ladies over Pampered Chef catalog items.

I am wearing...An orange, v-neck, thin cotton cable-knit sweater, layered over a white tank with my favorite, way-too-big light wash jeans.  Oh, and fuschia ballet flats. :)

I am creating...A business plan.  Still.

I am reading...blogs. And impatiently awaiting a couple of new books from paperbackbookswap.com

I am praying...for grace. And peace.

I am hearing...Lainie's feet dancing in her bedroom above me, Bryson talking in my ear, Reasa clicking her story on the keyboard, a little Maroon 5 to start the day.

Around the house...the constant struggle to keep my parents' house from looking like we moved in and took over.  Sometimes we succeed...but not right now.

One of my favorite things...unconditional love. 

A few plans for the rest of the week...Horse lesson, play date, a cake tomorrow, gymnastics, youth group, a long overdue haircut, the girls first major youth group outing, a date night with Bryson, a laid-back weekend...

Simple Woman's Daybook, Tuesday, Nov. 9

Outside my window...gloomy and grey...but a little bit warmer than yesterday? (I think we're supposed to hit 48)

I am thinking...about how much shorter my to-do lists have been lately.

I am thankful for... the generosity, grace, and faithfulness of my family.

I am wearing...an orange, v-neck sweater and skinnyish jeans.

 
I am remembering... how simple things were 20 years ago. even though I thought they were SO complex.

I am creating...a business plan.  Sort of.

I am going... to learn to be independent again.

I am reading... blogs. at the moment, that's it.  currently waiting on new books.

I am hoping... that I don't catch the cold my children seem to be coming down with.

On my mind... my babies' hearts.

From the learning rooms...  diagrams of the eye, history of the early church, multiplying fractions, 2's and 3's times tables, writing descriptive paragraphs.

Noticing that... it's much easier to sit and think than to get up and get moving and accomplish anything productive.

From the kitchen... a meal plan I actually wrote down and am following, a collaboration of efforts from Mom and me...although she needs to stop with the delectable desserts or I might have to smack her.

Around the house... trying to keep our stuff from taking over...I'd like to think we could live here without it looking like we live here...but...hehe...there's 4 of us and a dog.  not so much going to happen.

One of my favorite things... routine. (agreed, K)

Praying for... wisdom. peace. strength.

A verse to share...Romans 12:2: "Do not conform to the patterns of this world. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is: his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

A few plans for the week... Reasa's first horse lesson at her new barn today, Lainie's try-out at her potential new gym tomorrow night, a trip to the Y to get Bryson established with something, Lainie's last meet for Dynamats (and the first of her competitive season) in Carlisle on Sunday, regular school schedule, figuring out our routine here...

Simple Woman's Daybook, July 6, 2010

Outside my window...it is already 93, with the promise of about 96.  These are the days I can't explain how grateful I am for air conditioning.

I am thinking... that my parents should live much closer. and be here much more often.

I am thankful for... weekends which allow me to mellow, and sleep, and work out, and watch my children, and sit/swim/lay/read in the sun.

I am wearing... a dark brown bloused t-shirty-type-thing, khaki shorts.  eventually to be replaced by a swimsuit. :)

I am remembering... how different last fouth of July weekend felt...and so thankful to be settled and in less turmoil.

I am creating... forever memories.

I am going... to put my children to bed for naps in 14 minutes. 

I am reading... Rendezvous with Rama.

I am hoping...  to accomplish much this week. and finally find a routine for the summer. 

On my mind... opportunities and responsibilities.

From the learning rooms...  a relative amount of order...with (ahem) a tiny bit of chaos.  summer reading program in full swing. mostly.

Noticing that... the more time my children spend outside when it's 98, the more quickly they fall asleep at night. no matter where they sleep.

From the kitchen... yesterday, determined that i will never make shortcake again. cake with no oil. that's the way to go. started out as a mistake...didn't end that way. :)

Around the house... the girls are "judging" a "fashion show" on yoville. bryson is sulking about the nap. and the house...will wait until naptime to be tackled. it needs tackling

One of my favorite things... the smell of real vanilla throughout my house.

Praying for... answers. 

A few plans for the week... two swim meets, a horse lesson, gumpaste calla lilies, gerber daisies, and hydrangeas to begin for two cakes due in two weeks...

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Simple Woman's Daybook, June 28, 2010

Outside my window...it's dark and dreary out there, but we need the rain, and i'm hoping for thunderstorms. the turning-brown lawn is making Seth crazy.  

I am thinking... that i should put off less and plan ahead more.

I am thankful for... air. conditioning.

I am wearing... white t-shirt, fun, floral-print summery skirt..

I am remembering... how simple (and busy) life was when they were little and wanted me to find things for them to do.

I am creating... an organized glimpse into the girls' 5th grade year to turn in to the school district tomorrow.

I am going... to spend the summer running children hither and yon.  and making cakes. :)

I am reading... The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan.  if i continue reading at the rate at which i'm currently reading, i might finish it by August.  

I am hoping...  that Lainie gets her optional floor music soon. she's had enough discouragement for one season and needs a pick-me-up. 

On my mind... more than i plan to share in a daybook post.

From the learning rooms...  cleaning!  it has to happen this week. i'm going crazy. (like that's something new)

Noticing that... we can completely clean the entire house to company-ready in 20 minutes when the whole family pitches in.  funny how that works.

From the kitchen... Mondays are totally pasta days...spaghetti or lasagna?

Around the house... i'm always intrigued by how the weather affects the mood...gloomy weather = quiet, still kids.  

One of my favorite things... pictures of my kids.  talented family members who share them with me.

Praying for... wisdom.  amongst other things.  

A Lyric or two...
It's hard to argue when
You won't stop making sense
But my tongue still misbehaves and it
Keeps digging my own grave with my


Hands open, and my eyes open
I just keep hoping
That your heart opens...


A verse to share... And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 2:9-11

A few plans for the week... finishing up recovery week, starting Phase 2 again, sports with the cherubs, possibly having my family here to visit for the weekend (yay!!!)


A picture thought...

Aren't they gorgeous?


























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Simple Woman's Daybook, 6/3/10

Outside my window...a cool breeze blowing (pretty hard, actually) through the trees...and through my windows.  and birds.  noisy birds.  

I am thinking... about tomorrow.

I am thankful for... a house that gets messy. because it means i have a house that was once and will again be clean, and three blessings who mess it up for me. 

I am wearing... what i wore to work out this morning...white tank top, grey shorts. shower time.

I am remembering... promises I made.

I am creating... memories with my kids. every day, i hope.

I am going... to fold a load of white laundry, make french toast for my boy, wake up the girls, and clean the house. 

I am reading... A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle.

I am hoping...  that the crunching i keep hearing in my knee goes away. 

On my mind... oh, gosh. where should i start?

From the learning rooms... the learning room looks like a bomb hit. looking forward to finishing up this school year so i can reorganize and make good decisions about next year's plan of action.  curriculum research begins this weekend.

Noticing that... apathy doesn't work.

From the kitchen... french toast. and very little else today.  Thursdays are running-around days.

Around the house... blankets and pillows and cushions...kids sleeping in each other's rooms means relative disaster everywhere. how does that work?

One of my favorite things... teva tanlines.

Praying for... peace. 

A Lyric or two...

 

Whenever I climb too high, keep my feet off the ground

And when I get full of me turn me upside down

You know pride and not just sorrow come before the fall

So if it's you that's getting bigger, I don't mind being small

-Jimmy Needham, "Being Small"

A verse to share... 

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.  Jeremiah 29:12-14.

A few plans for the week... planning worship. Lainie's last level 4 gymnastics meet this weekend. a few hours by the pool.  building...something.

For more info or to get involved by writing your own Simple Woman's Daybook,  CLICK HERE.