Daybook for March 4, 2013

FOR TODAY:

Outside my window It is the sunniest day we have had in a good while. The past week has been bitterly cold; Saturday we had almost constant snow flurries, although nothing accumulated. We will finally be getting temperatures back to the 60s this week. So ready for spring!

I am thinking about what projects I'd like to get done around the house: cleaning out and organizing bookshelves, purging closets, getting more pictures up on the walls...

I am thankful Joel is back at school. He spent all of last week at home with the flu. Physically, he felt better by Wednesday/Thursday, but doctor's orders were to keep him home till today. Praying he does well on the tests he missed while he was out.

In the kitchen are clean dishes waiting to be put away. I tried a new recipe yesterday that got a thumbs up from most everybody, Italian Chicken Casserole. Thinking about having some of the leftovers for lunch today.  This was a Pinterest find, and I am planning another Pinterest meal tonight. It's one I've made before: Crock Pot Pasta e Fagioli. Perfect for chilly days/evenings!

I am wearing grey pants, white top with grey polka dots, tennis shoes.

I am reading Luke chapter 8 this week with my Good Morning Girls group from church. It has been a wonderful study. I'm looking forward to the next one.  Still working through my Kindle; started a new young adult fiction book last night called The Misfortune Cookie.

I am looking forward to Spring Break. We don't  really have plans, but it will be nice to have some downtime with the kids. Maybe even more Cora time!

I am pondering how I can help my younger two achieve success with some of their extracurricular school endeavors. Joel is considering trying out for the middle school football team, and Halle is wanting to try out for the JV cheerleading squad.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Dental appointments today and tomorrow for the boys; allergy shot appointments for them on Wednesday. Friday is a teacher's workshop day, so no school!

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February 6, 2013 Daybook

FOR TODAY:

Outside my window it is dark and foggy. I have already received tweets regarding driving conditions in the fog, so I know I will need to be extra careful later when taking the kids to school. I like fog, though... I think it's pretty.

I am thinking about decluttering and reorganizing the kitchen and bathroom drawers. They get disorganized so fast! 

I am thankful to have Emily, Jake, and Cora nearby. Love spending time with them, watching Emily with Cora, and getting a little Cora time for myself. Was also fun last night to see Noah holding her. 

In the kitchen it's too early to have anything going on. It is mostly cleaned up from our dinner last night. For some reason, a clean kitchen helps the whole house feel more peaceful. Maybe it's because it is the first room we see when we come in from the garage, or because it is open to the family/TV room. At any rate, if no other room in the house gets clean, that is the one we try to keep up the most.

I am wearing navy blue pants and tunic top. Bare feet.

I am reading the first 8 chapters of Luke with a small group of ladies from Twickenham and the Good Morning Girls group online. It is my first experience using the SOAP method of study, and I feel like I am getting more from my Bible reading than I used to. On my KIndle, I am still working my way mostly chronologically through the books I've added (I have over 1200 books, the majority of which were ones offered free from Amazon at one time or another). I'm up to February 2012 and just started a short middle-grade novel called It's a Little Haywire, by Elle Strauss.

I am hoping I do more than just plan to get things done today, but actually do them. 

I am looking forward to ordering a glider/recliner for the family room. Found one I really like yesterday at a local baby store and we'll be ordering it later this month.

Around the house it is very quiet. Everyone else is sleeping, except for Brian, who left for work before I got up. 

I am pondering how much better I feel now that I am no longer taking Lexapro. It served its purpose for a time, but it's no longer necessary. I seem to be more in touch with my feelings now and it makes a huge difference to me.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Halle and I are taking a "cakeling" class from a local baker/cake decorator this Saturday. Heather at Slice at a Time is offering a class this Saturday where each person gets to make a mini fondant-covered cake in a Valentine's Day theme. Heather made the cakes for Emily's wedding reception last summer.  I'm looking forward to spending time with Halle learning something new.

A peek into my day: the latest Cora picture from Emily's Facebook page.

Explaining her nefarious scheme to overthrow the gov't.

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Milestones

So last weekend, the not-so-newlyweds took their 2 week-old daughter and moved into their own place. This grandma is glad that the new place is barely half a mile down the road. They found a 2BR apartment nearby with great amenities (washer and dryer in the apt., for one) and very reasonable rent. I am so glad they have a place of their own now, but it feels a little strange having them gone. I miss seeing Cora every day, but Emily does drop by every other day or two, so I'm still getting some snuggle time with her. Can't believe she is 3 weeks old today! I took this picture near the end of her visit today:

We finally got around to taking Noah to take his driver's exam this week. Now he has his license, so will be able to drive himself to work. This is a very good thing, especially since they like him to close (which means working till 1-2am). I believe we may be finding him a good used car this weekend. Let me rephrase that: I really hope we find him a car tomorrow. Sunday night he is scheduled to work very late... 9pm-3am.  I would be totally useless on Monday if I had to get up at 2:40 to pick him up. The chances of me getting good sleep after getting back home would be next to none.

Oh, and before I forget: I was blessed enough to get to hear Karen Kingsbury speak this past Thursday. My dear husband was thoughtful enough to buy us tickets for a scholarship fundraising luncheon at Samford University, where he teaches part-time in the fall. Afterwards, I was able to meet her. We had conversed briefly on Twitter the night before, so she knew I was going to be there. The photographic evidence is too blurry to post, but I do have her autograph inside my Bible study notebook. She is so down-to-earth... and lives less than 2 hours from here, outside of Nashville. Wish we could just plan to meet for lunch some day!

Winding down my computer time tonight... need to work on menu and grocery list for the next week. It will be interesting to see how our food bill changes now there are 2 less people in the house.

Call me Nana

Announcing Cora Jane Free, born yesterday, January 11, 2013 at 3:35 pm. 6 lb. 7 oz. and 20.5 in. long.

Mother and baby are doing great. Cora reminds me so much of Emily when she was a baby. So many similar mannerisms already. Emily is a natural mom. Looking forward to having them home tomorrow night!

Daybook for January 4, 2013

FOR TODAY:

Outside my window the sun is shining. You'd never know it's only 40 degrees out. After a few dreary, overcast days, it's a welcome site.

I am thinking about things that need doing. Seems I think a lot more than I do. If only I had a team of handy "doers" to direct.

I am thankful for my children. They are constant reminders of God's goodness to me. Plus, they keep me humble. :D

In the kitchen sits my new Keurig my husband gave me for Christmas. I am now drinking more fluids than I used to... mostly peppermint tea. Love it.

I am wearing comfy pants, t-shirt, and a fleece jacket. And tennis shoes, or my feet would be COLD.

I am creating nothing at the moment. My creativity battery is on low right now. Hopefully will get it recharged one of these days.

I am going to be a grandmother soon. My daughter texted me from her OB appointment a few minutes ago and told me if she does not go into labor before next week's appointment, they will induce her. (Her husband just found out his job is sending him out of town the first week of February, and she would like for the baby to be at least 3 weeks old before he leaves.)

I am wondering what kind of labor she will have. Hoping she has as easy of a time as I did with mine.

I am reading a book on my Kindle called The N00B Warriors, by Scott Douglas. It's hard to describe, but basically is set in the near future where the Forever War is going on. This war was started by some blog posts, but no one really knows why they are fighting. Kids are being schooled with educational video (war) games and have great difficulty understanding the difference between a game and the reality of war. There is a mandatory requirement to serve in the army that begins at age 13. It's an interesting read. Just found out there is a second book, so I guess I know now there won't be a real "end" to the story.

I am hoping Emily goes into labor on her own.

I am looking forward to being a grandmother. (No surprise there.) Hopefully I can be just the right blend of supportive, helpful, and hands-off. I don't want to butt in where I'm not needed/wanted, but I do want to help.

Around the house I can hear the vacuum cleaner being run in my bedroom. Today is one of the 2 days a month our housekeeper comes. She is a blessing. She leaves our home so tidy and peaceful.

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'Twas the night before Christmas...

And some of the children are snuggled in bed (not to mention their daddy). Emily is still up, and Jake is killing bad guys on Xbox. The house is very quiet, though... so peaceful. I know it certainly won't be in the morning!

It has been a truly wonderful year for us. We have a new son-in-law, a granddaughter on the way (just 4 more weeks!), the school-age kids are doing well in school, and the blessings of family and friends.  Add to that the gift of Christ... Emmanuel, God with us... we are blessed to overflowing.

Tomorrow we will open gifts and eat our traditional cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Later in the day we will visit family at the home of one of our nephews (newly-married this past Sept.). Following that, we will go to his brother's house, where he and his girlfriend will prepare a dinner for all of us. This will be the first Christmas in MANY years that I have not had to cook. Feels kind of strange, but also nice that my kitchen will be clean tomorrow. We'll enjoy what is becoming a yearly tradition of "Dirty Santa" (gift exchange that involves "stealing" presents from each other). Hopefully we'll make a little music together as well.

Five days later, it will be time to celebrate Emily's and Noah's birthdays. Em will be 21 and Noah, 17. Again, we'll fall back upon tradition and go to a Japanese hibachi restaurant to celebrate. Seems like this started around 10 years ago and just stuck with us.

Funny... In the last 2 paragraphs, I mentioned 3 traditions. I wonder how many more we have? I've never stopped to think or count. I wonder if there are any traditions we should discontinue... (I can think of one tradition we used to have that is gone: the traditional fight-while-putting-the-lights-on-the-Christmas-tree. Got rid of that one by getting a pre-lit tree!) Are there any traditions we need to institute?

Such are my deep thoughts in the quiet of Christmas Eve... Praying blessings on all my friends and family this season.

Fall is coming

Time moves quickly on the ol' blogstead when you only post once every month or so! We made it through August, the wedding, and Joel and Halle's first month at their new school. The wedding was beautiful and went off without a hitch. We were so blessed that the extremely hot weather we'd been having decided to take a break that weekend. I don't think it got hotter than the low 80s during the ceremony, and by the time we headed outside for dancing, it was a very comfortable 70s. Such a relaxing day (except for the mad rush to get to the church, wherein I backed my car down the drive... something I rarely do, since I usually back out of the garage and head nose-first down the driveway... and into the fire hydrant at the end of the drive. Felt the thud and it took me a minute to figure out what had happened. Then I said, "Oh, well," and kept on going.)  Here's one of my favorite guest/family-snapped photos of the day:

Things are cooling off around here, which means we may soon get to turn off the A/C and open the windows. This morning was very fall-like. I had forgotten what it feels like! Will be good to see cooler temps and save a little $$ on the electricity bill. Keeping 2 floors of an almost 5000 sq. ft. house comfortable can be a bit draining on the bank account.

Appears that our plates will be as full as ever this fall. I think it's a good kind of full, though... I guess time will tell. The kids seem really happy with their new school. They're both doing very well. The school and their teachers are great about communicating. They embrace technology (email, school website, online assignment and grade reporting) so it really makes it easy to keep up with what's going on.

Tomorrow the kids will be checking out of school early to attend a funeral with me.  A couple from our church (who both teach at the school) lost their 9-day-old daughter this past weekend. It is the worst kind of tragedy, the kind that can totally shake someone's faith. Thankfully, all who are touched by this are choosing to trust God's promises and know that healing will come in its time. We don't have to understand, we don't have to utter empty platitudes that we don't really "feel." We can be honest with our pain and our questions. God can handle that and he accepts it. As long as we can still say, "You are God; I am not.  I will trust what I don't understand. I will hope when I don't feel hopeful. I will still stand with you when I feel shaken," He will sustain us.

An August Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it looks cooler than it really is. But thank goodness it's still not as hot as it was!

I am thinking... of the "to-dos" I have waiting for me this evening. I zeroed out a long list earlier today, but it has filled back up again. One is to take my youngest shopping for jeans; he has outgrown his old pairs. 

I am thankful... that God has held me up through this summer of overflowing bathtubs, ruined bathroom floors and leaking kitchen ceilings, the repair of said floors and ceilings, a front-end collision that left me in a rental car for a month, strep throat, a 2 1/2 month notice wedding to plan, and the abrupt loss (unable to attend, not death) of the bride-to-be's attendant just one week from the wedding. 

In the kitchen... baked spaghetti is in the oven. Thankful to Noah for helping get it started while I worked on some wedding stuff on the computer.

I am wearing... grey pants, a "One Nation Under God" t-shirt, and canvas slip-ons.

I am creating... cards to put on the guest book table to ask guests to download a photo sharing app to their smartphones so we can enjoy their candid shots of the wedding and reception.

I am going... to Target after dinner. Thankful for my RedCard. Actually, the first thing that came to mind when I read "I am going" was the song that says, "I am slowly going crazy, 1 2 3 4 5 6, switch; crazy going slowly am I, 6 5 4 3 2 1, switch." The song gets faster and faster until you can't keep the words straight

I am wondering... nothing at the moment. My mind is too full to wonder.... or wander. Or maybe it is wandering and that's why I can't wonder.

I am reading... The Witness, by Dee Henderson.

I am hoping... my future son-in-law finds the job he is seeking soon. I want him to be happy in his work and I want my daughter to feel secure.

I am looking forward to... the wedding this weekend.

I am learning... what it is like to have kids in a "real" school. Halle and Joel started a new school last week (Thursday) and I'm learning the ins and outs of navigating the protocol. I will be getting involved in a ladies' group that does fundraising for the school and hope I'll connect with some folks there.

Around the house... nothing much new. Just trying to keep it as uncluttered as possible; hard to do with Emily's wedding shower gifts taking up one corner of the dining room.

I am pondering... when I can take a day and just do nothing.

A favorite quote for today... "I'm not hating; I'm stating." (Overheard on an episode of Randy to the Rescue on TLC this past weekend.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Meeting with our wedding photographer tomorrow, having my eyebrows threaded for the first time on Wednesday afternoon, Emily's final wedding dress fitting Wednesday evening, church directory pictures Thursday afternoon, wedding rehearsal 2 hours later, our friend/minister from Omaha coming in to town Friday night, mani/pedis with Emily and Halle on Saturday, and seeing other out of town family members Sunday for the wedding.  What a slow week, huh?

. . .

What are you doing today?

the simple woman's daybook
...where every day is a blank page

Daybook for May 27, 2012

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... The sun is shining ever so brightly. It's a HOT day for May; over 90 degrees out. The lawn is freshly mown from a few days ago and it gives me a feeling of peace to not see tall grass in the front yard.

I am thinking... about all the "to-dos" I have. We are planning a short-notice wedding for August and there are so many details. Never fear, I am not stressed at all. It is actually fun, and things amazingly seem to be falling into place for us.

I am thankful... that the wedding planning is going smoothly. Seems like our first choices for venue, photos, DJ, and cake are all available and doable budget wise. Need to talk to florist and caterer still, but since we are doing a Sunday evening wedding (one concession made because of the proximity of the wedding), I am hopeful they will be as readily available as the other vendors.

In the kitchen... there is absolutely nothing going on. It is blissfully clean and hopefully will stay that way until I have to cook again.

I am wearing... grey pants with a white surplice top, no shoes.

I am creating... LISTS!

I am going... to our special end-of-the-month instrumental service tonight, followed by fun in the park with the youth group to kick off summer.

I am wondering... what the coming year will bring

I am reading... Homefires, by Emily Sue Harvey.

I am hoping... we have a fun and relatively stress-free summer.

I am looking forward to... being a grandma.

I am learning... joy in all circumstances.

Around the house... it is quiet. Halle and I are the only ones at home, since the 3 guys are on their way home from a guys' weekend in Atlanta.

I am pondering... the goodness of God.

A favorite quote for today... Desire God, not his gifts.

One of my favorite things... a good book and a quiet house. (OK, that's two...)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Headed to my sister's house in the country tomorrow for food and fun. The rest of the week will probably be spent firming up wedding plans, paying deposits, meeting with caterer(s), florist(s), DJ, etc.

A peek into my day... 

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Bullets before bon voyage

Just 4 days till hubby and I head out for the KLOVE Friends and Family Cruise... This will be our first pleasure trip (I don't really want to call it a vacation) sans kids in the 20 years we have been parents. Excited doesn't begin to describe it. We're meeting 2 other couples from our old church in Omaha. I am counting on it being a great time. I plan on doing a lot of reading, hitting the gym a bit, some water aerobics, relaxing, catching up with our friends, and of course... listening to and meeting the musicians!

My big sis Pam is going to move in with the kids while we're gone and take over the parenting duties. I expect she'll have the entire crew whipped into shape by the time we get back. Emily will probably help her with some of the transportation issues (getting kids to/from school, classes, lessons, etc.). After all, Pam will be trying to carry her usual medical transcription workload at the same time. I don't have such a thing to deal with.

Before I go, just some things that have been on my mind lately:

• My new best friend. These are the bomb-diggity! No more soaking and scrubbing the crock pot. I will never make a meal in the crock pot without these again.

• One of my new listening favorites on my iPod. He is what I remember country sounding like when I was a kid. Great songs on this album. I rarely buy whole albums on iTunes, but I got this one. Still hard to believe he isn't even 19 yet!

• Brian and I have started couponing. It's a little labor-intensive at first, but I can see that it will be less so after we get used to the whole thing. We will not become extreme couponers, however! It is neat to see the savings. We attended a class held by a local couponing expert, Kristan Stanford.  She was full of really great info. Any local folks who are interested should look into her classes; they are held several times a month by the local paper.

OK, my list wasn't as long as I thought it would be. Should have taken notes in the car when all these things were going through my head and maybe I could remember the rest of the bullets. Oh well... for another day, I guess.