Daybook - 11/9

::Outside My Window::

 Bright, beautiful,warm

::I am Listening to :: 

Michele McLaughlin

 

and

Corin singing "In the Belly of the Whale" from VeggieTales. He only knows a couple of phrases and sings them over. and over.

::I am Thankful For ::

My new designer Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag!  

Discovered with glee at an awesome consignment sale with my sisters and mom.
$179.00 retail (Seriously?  It's a cool bag, but that's just insane.)
Feminine enough for me.  Masculine enough for baby Christian.  

$10.00 = Thankful, Happy me.

::I am Pondering ::

Happy that my mom and dad are getting ready to board a plane for Hobe Sound, Fl.   They are both teaching block classes there, doing what they love most.  They are both retired teachers but you can take the teach out of them because they teach from something way down deep.  

:: I am Remembering ::

A beautiful autumn evening walk we took recently.

:: I am looking forward to/Dreaming of ::

 Finding our next new-to-us vehicle.  Wondering if we will find an 8-passenger mini van or a smallish full size van.  Neither option really feels perfect.  Not sure what to do, but knowing God always helps us when the time comes.

The price is right....but red?  Eeek. The brightness seems to add insult to injury if this growing family starts driving a church van : )

:: Some of what I've been reading::

I enjoy her thoughts, even though we are not in the same place on many things. 

 http://www.amongstlovelythings.com/2012/11/whats-working-5-strategies-for-right-now.html

And

This guest post on I Take Joy:

http://www.itakejoy.com/the-atmosphere-of-home/

::From the Kitchen::

 Bacon and Eggs and Toast for breakfast this morning.  Pretty sure we might do the cereal thing tonight for supper since Daddy is away to Cincinnati.

::I am Thinking::

 That I am concerned that I haven't been able to get 2 of the kids main Christmas gifts to work yet.  We shopped and watched and found good ebay deals.  If these are duds, we can't afford to buy them new and don't know what we'll do about Christmas.  *discouraged*  Hoping I'm just an electronics idiot and the solution is simple.

::I am Creating::

 Ummm...Nothing.  Not real sure what happened to this week.

:: Towards raising hungry learners::

 Dealing with a hormonal 5th grader with hours and hours of homework.  Nightly.  Trying to be tough but patient.  Feeling weary of it.  Sometimes finding ourselves more interested in just getting it done already than actually giving a hoot about the learning part. : )

::Towards Rhythm and Beauty::

 Made some cool new checklist charts for daily, weekly and monthly chores.  I love lists!!!! : )  Give me a list and a highlighter and I can conquer the world. Or at least maybe the laundry. 

::To Live the Life ::

Been painfully feeling my need for Jesus.  To grow me up and just make me and keep me steady and hold me.  Feeling weak and small.  Knowing that I am.

 

::I am Hoping and Praying::

 For patience in disappointment.  For perspective and an ever-grateful spirit.

For the Strength and Truth to fight the enemy's lies about my self and my life choices.  I am wondering if he fights me so hard and so often with this line of discouragement because I'm not fighting back right....or because I am.   He can fight if he wants.  I'm convinced I'm doing the right thing.  I'll just cry and keep on doing it.

 :: In the Garden::

 I'm embarrassed.  I don't want to talk about it. : )

Just kidding about the picture.  Sort of.

 ::Around the House::

 A friend came in the other night to chat and told me my house is beautiful (dishes and lunchboxes and all...what a friend)  We both had tears in our eyes for our own reasons.  

 ::One of My Favorite Things::

  A husband who kisses me goodbye and prays with me when he leaves in the wee-little-bitty hours of the morning on trips.  

And doesn't want me to cook him breakfast or make him a lunch or even iron his shirts (well, sometimes he has me iron before his trips).  I'd love to do those things to feel helpful, but he's a pretty independent man. : )  So I just smile and kiss him goodbye.

::The Kids::

 Kayla:  lots of hormones. hours of homework.  Definitely time for a daddy date tomorrow.

Karissa: She has discovered that she has an entirely different take on early mornings if she has something special to look forward to for the day.  Even if it's a new hand-me-down pair of boots to wear.  She will be up with a smile and ready more quickly.  She has even made herself "happy lists" to help her look forward to the day.  Seeing how this personality quirk could be both a blessing and a curse.

Caiden: How could one little 6-year-old be so kind and sensitive and so innocently irritating at the same time?

Corin:  has a new name for those eskimo-nose-rub-kisses:  peanut butter kisses. No idea why, but i love it anyway.

:: The Man of the House ::

 Is participating in a GBS alumni panel today in Cincinnati. Wish I could be there listening!  The panel is made up of some great people.   Looks like some really neat topics were on the agenda.

photo:  c. Dr. Nicolae Pop

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

 The kids have a 2 hand bells performances on Sunday and an afternoon rehearsal.  They're gonna be tired.  But happy.

So thankful for Mrs. Erskine - the handbells teacher at FCA.

These guys are buds.

Partners in crime and handbells and everything.

:: Love this Quote! ::

"I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in other lives, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness for God."                          ~ Oswald Chambers

:: A Picture from our world::