Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ Sept 29th 2008

Outside my window. . .warm, clouding up to rain. Ashleigh is playing softball with a little neighbor girl.

I am thinking. . .about my Dad. He's part of every passing thought. Everywhere I turn something else reminds me of him. I wonder what he is doing right now...with Jesus!

From the learning room. . .its hard for me to focus on anything right now, so easing back into school...life. Did some phonics bookwork, a little memorization with Ashleigh. Logan learned about music, sang some songs; and had some "nature study" chasing a grasshopper around the backyard.

I am thankful for. . .my amazing family. Mom, two brothers and two sisters, in-laws, how close we are.

From the kitchen. . .trying a new recipe for dinner tonight. Chicken Penne in Smoky Chili Cream Sauce. Found it in a magazine, while waiting for my new great-niece to be born Sat evening.

I am wearing. . .blue capris, blue t shirt, wet hair...

I am creating. . .word clouds on Wordle. I just discovered it this morning. Thanks to Brin over at My Messy Thrilling Life. You type in a bunch of words...random words or a quote, etc...and wordle creates a word cloud, that you can print or do anything you want with. You get to choose the font and colors...was too much fun. I want to make a collection of words for each child to hang in their room. Would be cool used for scrapbooking too.

I am going. . .to try and get back into writing on my blog. This past 10 days it has been simply too hard.

I am reading. . .To Love, Honor and Vacuum by Sheila Wray-Gregoire; The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight; alot of emails that I am behind in.

I am hoping. . .to figure out how to keep an "almost" two yr old from climbing up on the kitchen counters.

I am hearing. . .air conditioner running. Logan talking to his toys.

Around the house. . .a big mess from a busy week. Laundry that needs folded.

One of my favorite things. . .Millstone Pumpkin Spice Coffeebeans

A few plans for the rest of the week. . .catching up on cleaning & laundry; packing for 3 days in St Louis at a ladies conference; shopping and meal planning for Fred & kids while I gone.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .my new great-niece, Jada.

To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman to find the list of participants in this week’s The Simple Woman’s Daybook. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

My husband rocks...

It was one week ago today, about 7am, that we got the call from IL that my father was on his way to the hospital after suffering a massive heart attack. Before I was even off the phone with my sister-in-law, my husband was on his phone to his boss - letting him know he wouldn't be in for work, that we were rushing up to see my Dad. After we were both off the phone, I suggested we could maybe wait until Dad had seen a dr and we had an update. Fred said no, we were going no matter what. I began to pack. 20 minutes later, we got the update. Dad had gone on...to his long home.

The rushed trip to IL. Mom, brothers, sisters. Planning my father's funeral. Shaking so many hands and getting so many hugs from well-wishers. Crying so many tears. Sorting through Dad's things. This week as been the longest and hardest of my entire life. I feel like I am going through the motions in a thick fog.

This entire week, Fred has been strong for me. I know that Jesus will help me through this and that Fred will be by my side through it all.

In Memory...

My Dad

September 11th 1934 -- September 19th, 2008

Kid's Picks

This week marks the first Kid Picks carnival at 5 Minutes for Books. Once a month, we get to share books that our kids are enjoying. We read lots of books each week. And visit the library at least once a week as well.

Some of their recent favorites have been:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - by Bill Martin
John Deere Farm ABC's
The Pokey Little Puppy - a little golden book (one that we have been reading and making a lapbook on)
Pooh - Just Be Nice to Your Little Friends - another golden book
A Ball For All - by Brigitte Weninger (very cute artwork)

And then another favorite is: I Will Rejoice - by Karma Wilson


We have been reading this one for a few months now. Karma Wilson is best known for her Bear books. Bear Wants More. Bear Snores On. Very cute books. I Will Rejoice is a rhyming book, based on Psalm 118:24. I loved being able to re-enforce the concept of rejoicing in the simple pleasures of everyday life. I recently discovered that there are a couple other books like this one....Let's Make a Joyful Noise; and Give Thanks to the Lord.
I am anxious to see if our library has this one. Would love to use it this fall/Thanksgiving.



For more great children's book suggestions, head on over to 5 Minutes for Books and check out the monthly Kid's Picks Carnival.

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...Sept 15th 2008

Outside my Window...The moon is a big yellow ball.

I am thinking...how I should've been in bed way before now. getting up in the morning will be hard. ugh, I am so not a morning person.

From the learning rooms...our math & phonics workbooks finally arrived, so today was our first "official" day of kindergarten.

I am thankful for...a daughter who loves to learn; who challenges me and keeps me on my toes.

From the kitchen...chicken tortilla soup, caramel apples

I am wearing...a fluffy white bathrobe ;)

I am reading..."Blessed Are the Meddlers"...christian novel about a matchmaker vs God's timing

I am hoping...the rest of our homeschool week goes smoothly. No major upsets.

I am hearing...sweet silence, interrupted by fat cat snoring.

Around the house...2 loads of laundry done, day one of kindergarten down, some tidying up , broken door latch replaced.

One of my favorite things...is the cool, crispness of autumn...with the smell of wood smoke & leaves.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... leading a game of "Are You Smarter Than a Preschooler" at MOPS tomorrow night; teaching 4 & 5 Yr olds at church wed night; returning library books; making applebutter; being a happy homemaker.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... the happy schoolgirl :)

Way too cute!

Logan did "activities" too. But by the time I got the camera out, he was already down for a much needed nap!

To read other's Simple Woman's Daybooks, go to http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Ike

What kind of a name is Ike anyway??

The good news is my dear in-laws are safe & sound. They live about an hour north of Beaumont TX. Lots of wind, LOTS of rain, no power for a couple days (but they have a generator) trees down around town but all is well.

Now, here we are, getting our own mini-version of Ike. Even clear up here in the Ozarks. Amazing.
It began blowing and raining last night. I left early for church this morning, as it was my sunday to teach a class. Ditches & low-lying roads were flooded. So after a few detours, I arrived at church only to discover that the power was out! We had a couple lines down on that side of town.
Plans were quickly adjusted and lanterns brought in for an acoustic in-the-dark version of church. Just 30 seconds before 1st service started -- the power came back on!
So again all is well.

I took a much needed break today...had lunch with some girlfriends and then we went to see the new movie "The Women". When we came out two hours later, the temps had dropped and it had turned into a brisk, misty, fall day.
Only to be in the 50's again tomorrow. Mmmm, I love fall.

Turning 5

So my baby turned 5 last week. I cried. I think I had a harder time with her turning 5 than I did when I turned 30!
Where has the past five years gone?! When she become so "grow-up"?
I remember bringing her home from the hospital. She was so tiny. Only 4 lbs and 12 oz.


Now she is 40 pounds of all girl. Full of personality. Loves to talk. She has her own group of friends.
Curious, imaginative, bossy, energetic. She's a girly-girl who loves her pink & purple bedroom, playing dress-up...the more sparkly stuff the better;...enjoys dolls, purses, & coloring.
But at the same time, there is a bit of a tomgirl in her. She can't wait to be allowed to go outside & play. Ride her bike. Dig in the dirt. Collect leaves and look for bugs.

She is a great big-sister to her brother. Teaching him daily. All kinds of stuff. She loves Jesus and manages to teach me daily as well.

She starts kindergarten on Monday. She is so excited. The workbooks we had been waiting on arrived last friday. She has asked at least a hundred times since, if we could go ahead and do school now. It's so cute. I am glad she loves to learn.

My beautiful baby girl. Mommy's princess. I love you more & more each day.

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

For today -- 09-08-08

Outside My Window...it is dark. A slice of moon is peeking out between clouds, and the tempature is dropping. They are saying possibly 5o's tonight.

I am thinking...about our first day of school (today!) and how well it went. Short, since the workbooks I ordered havent arrived yet, but it was a good practice session for us in following our daily schedule, sitting still for a time, having the tv off.

I am thankful for...my daughter's good behavior and use of manners today. After yesterday's attitude issues, I wasnt sure I could survive a repeat.

From the kitchen...our special fall mix -- consisiting of candy corn and peanuts. The perfect blend of sweet & salty.

I am wearing... jeans, white tank top, light green hoodie

I am creating...a lapbook lesson plan on the first American Girl book about Felicity. I think Ashleigh will enjoy it.

I am going...to bed early tonight.

I am reading...blogs tonight. I havent been on the computer in a few days, so alot of catching up to do.

I am hoping...for a chance to scrapbook pictures from my daughter's birthday.

I am hearing...HGtv in in the background. Earlier this eve, I heard my almost two yr old singing " Jesus Loves Me" by himself for the first time. awwwwww....made mommy cry.

Around the house...the kids are falling asleep, bathtub is still draining, and my husband is working on somebody's computer.

One of my favorite things... autumn! The spicy smells, the cool crispness in the air, the earthy colors of rust, burgandy, browns, and golds.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: finish the lapbook plans, invite a friend to MOPS, teach at our homeschool co-op, call our insurance about a windshield crack,.....