::Outside My Window::
The windows are dark.  The house is asleep.  I am typing in the fringe hours.

::I am Listening to ::
The comforting sound of the box fan blowing in the darkness.  In my opinion, the noise and breeze from a box fan is one of the most comforting things on earth.

::I am Thankful For ::
A laptop.  And a dependable, affordable computer shop in town.  David and I both had computer crashes the same week.  My desktop PC has left this life.  I kill computers dead.  Lots of them.  So I'm thankful for a laptop until I save up the money for a new desktop.  Typing on the phone just doesn't cut it for me.

::I am Pondering ::

The absolute ridiculous nature of what is going on surrounding this election.  I just shake my head.

:: I am Remembering ::

1803 Josephine Street.  The Wolf family home for over 30 years.  It holds a powerful lifetime of beautiful memories for all of us.  And after Rachelle and I both admitted to each other recently that we still sometimes grieve for that big old house, I realized something really cool. 

After we moved 2 years ago from our little-teeny two bedroom house into this big huge 1900 place, my kids often talked about missing the old house.  I felt sad - and hurt - and tried to talk them out of their sadness.  I was afraid that the new house didn't feel cozy and like home to them.  But I just realized yesterday what a wonderful thing it was.  They were just loving the memories of warmth and togetherness and so many years of family in that little place on Blinn Avenue.  It wasn't a reflection on the new house - it was a compliment to the connection they felt to the old home.  I didn't put that all out there as good as it was in my head, but hopefully you get the idea. It made me feel a lot better, anyway.

:: I am looking forward to/Dreaming of :: 
Well - in my last daybook I said I was dreaming of ziplining.  I did it - twice -  and loved it.  It was waaay less scary than bungee jumping, but I didn't know that till I took the first step off the platform.  I would almost describe it as relaxing.  In an uncomfortable and exhilarating way.  Now I'm dreaming of doing a zipline course of some sort.  My sis-in-law Debbie has one picked out for us.  I'm there.

:: Some of what I've been reading::
Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequest.  (Hard Copy.  Life-Changing/Heart-knowing.  Passed it right on to my sister.  Plan to re-read it a lot.)
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Audible.  To check up on Kayla's world.  I loved it.)
The More of Less, by Joshua Becker (Listening on Audible.  It's good.  Not all that new to me, but good reminders.  Not done with it yet.)
Ember Falls - the sequel to The Green Ember (listening with the kids on Audible)
Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequest (Just starting to read on Hoopla)
Hoopla App:  Total awesomeness for borrowing books and audio books!
Jesus Calling (Devouring this on Kindle, multiple days at a time.  It has just been what I needed.)
The Cozy Life:  Rediscover the Joy of the Simple Things Through the Danish Concept of Hygge, by Pia Edberg  (Reading on Kindle.  Fits me. Speaks my language.  A comforting read.)
The Fringe Hours, by Jessica N. Turner (Reading on Hoopla)


::From the Kitchen::

The easiest drop biscuits ever:
2 cups of self rising flour
1 cup of milk
6 T mayo
Stir until just mixed, spoon onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes.
Add cheese to mix before baking and brush with garlic butter after baking to make them cheesy-garlicky.

And for dinner today I made THIS monstrosity of chocolate.  Probably the most expensive, richest and chocolatey-est dessert I've ever made.  Three layers of dark chocolate brownie filled with Ghirardhelli chocolate chips.  With graduated layers of whipped ganache between:  Dark, Milk and White.  Served with freshly whipped cream.  It is rare to find something that is almost too much chocolate for even me.  This thing is crazy-decadent.



::I am Thinking::
 ..about how many things I want to blog about, but am scared.  I didn't used to be so scared.

Image result for do it scared quote

::I am Creating::
I am making plans for our trunk or treat theme.  Trying to keep it simple while not embarrassing ourselves. Pretty sure that balance is not gonna happen.

:: Towards raising hungry learners::

We just finished reading The Trumpet of the Swan (loved it!)  and started another book about the civil war (can't remember the name and too lazy to go look.)

::Towards Rhythm and Beauty::
I am actually desperate for some daily/weekly rhythm.  As I type out the schedule for this week, even the rhythm is punctuated with things I do not feel I can say no to.  I fear this week is going to be another week of survival.  It is going to require absolute resolve for me to get some quiet days to re-establish rhythm.

::To Live the Life ::
There has been a sort of spiritual and practical rebooting going on in David and I lately.  I am enjoying the rest and peace of Truth re-established deeply in my heart recently when I got away alone for a few days. {blog post to come, perhaps?}

::I am Hoping and Praying::
 About some dreams....and the wisdom and courage to know how to proceed.

 :: In the Garden::
I am absolutely amazed that my summer flower pots are still blooming beautifully.  (I didn't kill them!!!!)  This year's mums are not very hearty, so they are requiring lots of babying to even keep them alive.  But they are still pretty. 

 ::Around the House::
 I don't want to talk about it.

 ::One of My Favorite Things::
 The smell in the air on a cool autumn evening.  Oh my goodness.  Tonight after church, the air was perfect.  Gentle breeze in the trees. Cool air, but not cold.  The smell of autumn leaves.  Good stuff.  I just stopped in the parking lot and breathed a lot before heading home to the chaos of Sunday Night at our house.

::The Kids::

Well - Our church/school community has been dealing with the plague.  Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. One of our kids got it, and so did a bunch of other kids - and the school closed down 4 days.  Then we kept our whole crew home extra days to be sure none of them were carriers.  They have worked hard on their work at home, but we are all ready for them to be back to their normal work schedule at school.  But a few white spots showed up on Corin's tongue yesterday.  So he can't go to school.  And Kayla has a sore throat, so we are keeping her home just in case because strep is going around.  I'm just over it.  I'm tempted to just send them to school sick and let everyone take their chances with the germs.  Just kidding.  Sort of.

:: The Man of the House ::
He has been reading a lot of the old devotional classics.  And praying.  A lot. I love that.

::A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week::

 Monday:  (Our day of Sabbath Rest)  {blog post to come, perhaps?}
I hope to be outside.  I need to be outside.  I have some wonderful books to read and some things to write.  And I've been wanting to take an autumn-leaves spin on Kayla's cruiser bike.  BUT.... I am fighting the strong urge to use tomorrow to catch up. I keep telling myself that I did fun stuff with the kids on Saturday, so I can work myself crazy tomorrow.  I am in a bit of a battle with myself at the moment.  You can pray for me.  

Tuesday:  (Desk & Laundry Day)
I have a meeting with a new beautiful friend, and after that am planning on keeping one of our new neighbor girls while her family finishes moving in.  As far as desk day, I am feeling a bit buried.  I have been struggling for WEEKS with some insurance application issues.  I am dangerously behind on our MVELOPES budgeting, and I dread facing the mess that has accrued.  I also need about 5,280 hours to sort through random papers and bills and papers.  I hate papers.  I loathe how bad I am at managing papers. I have worked on it will all my mind and might, but it is a deficiency in my character, apparently.  I'm tired of talking about that.

Wednesday:  (Errands Day/Evening Prayer Groups Childcare)
Extra lessons today for my teen students who will be gone this week for Youth Challenge.  I hope to pick up my sad, dead computer from the repair shop.  Then, I'm pretty sure it's time to empty out the back of our van, which is completely packed for an embarrassing amount of time with things that need taken to goodwill, returned to the store, or dropped off at various locations around town.  David loves it when I have the backs of our vehicles packed with random errands yet undone.  It draws us together in unity.  I just lied.

Thursday:  Teaching Day
I am enjoying how much I am enjoying teaching these days.  It is just a nice feeling to love your job.   These kids are beautiful.  And I love them - even when they don't practice.  (Kids are so busy these days...for real!)
Thursday Kayla leaves on the bus with her friends for Youth Challenge.  I love how much she loves Youth Challenge.  She is an extreme introvert, and usually really, really happy to avoid crowds.  But she loves Youth Challenge. So that's saying something.

Friday:  (Church Prep Day/Homeschooling Day)
I've had a hankering to take the kids to the children's museum, but it will have to wait.  This Friday I need to finalize my plans for a very busy week to follow.  We need an acceptable trunk-or-treat design for Monday night, and I have lots of things to finalize for our November MOPS group on Tuesday morning.  David will be gone for all of the above, so there will be very little margin for error in my strategy and planning next week.  Must. Work. Ahead.

Saturday:  (Cleaning & family day)
A baby shower
A Quinsinera
My own cleaning/laundry
Family Cleaning Hour
Finalize Sunday food & clothes prep
Prepare Youth House for visiting Spanish minister, if necessary.
(Where is the family day part going to happen?)  Maybe just sitting around the fire on the porch in the evening for a bit.


:: Love this Quote! ::
For years and years, I have loved this quote.  But it is speaking to me in newer and deeper ways these days.  {blog post to come, perhaps?}

Image result for cherish your visions, cherish your ideals



















:: A Picture from our world::

We took a quick road trip for family day and enjoyed the autumn awesomeness in Brown County.  Every day I am overwhelmed with gratefulness for these beautiful people I get to do life with.







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