Daybook

Outside my window… sunshine, a gentle breeze, cars parked at the neighbor’s.

I am thankful for… cooler temps; everyone who has helped and encouraged with setting up my new classroom, especially hubby, M & L, and Aunt.

I am wearing… jammies and a pink robe

Some plans for the rest of the week… survival mode, practices, church parent meeting, Labor Day weekend at the end of the week!

I am currently reading… Teacher’s Manuals.

I am hoping… to have some balance with work and home. The boys got way too many fast food meals with hubby gone last week too.

On my mind… Dad changing rooms at the VA Center (a good thing) and wondering when I’m going to make it there to see him.

Hearing…. Quietness of the house with someone still asleep and two someones gone already for a soccer tournament in another town.

I am praying that……. Family going through a difficult time will have reprieve and other family will have healing and softened hearts.

From the kitchen… we do have breakfast food in the house and managed to eat dinner at home at least twice (I can’t remember some of the days!)

Around the house… have a pet stain on the wonderful, new, clean, soft, plush, freize carpet to keep working on!

One of my favorite things… when hubby comes home after being gone for three days, surprising him at the airport, watching the boys run to him.

From my picture journal…

Pictures from end of the summer visit to preserve when family was in town.

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Daybook

Outside my window… a tree that has lost leaves due to heat and lack of water. It certainly isn’t because of cooler temperatures!

I am thankful for… a wonderful first week of schools for the boys and great teachers.

I am wearing… vintage (about 20 yrs. old) college boxers and a Texas Rangers tshirt.

Some plans for the rest of the week… next week – it depends. Right now it’s taking the boys out for lunch, subbing, and a dr’s appt.

I am currently reading… Hot Chocolate for Couples (for 9 more weeks) and Three Cups of Tea (no it’s not a theme either!)

I am hoping… to get our office put back together today.

On my mind… still the office (especially my desk and the bookshelves). Needing to accomplish much in case I’m working more next week. Knowing it will all work out.

Hearing…. the hum of the floor fan. M. is sleeping and L. & hubby are gone to soccer skills practice.

I am praying that……. God’s will be done in my employment

From the kitchen… spaghetti, chicken for tacos, plans to use some of things I prepared and put in the freezer, sandwiches

Around the house… wonderful, new, clean, soft, plush, freize carpet!

One of my favorite things… watching movies or HGTV with my family cuddled on the couch together.

From my picture journal…

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Yesterday and Today

Yesterday I was sad when our family left after visiting for about 10 days. I was excited for the carpet installers to arrive with our new carpet. They stayed until it was all done - yay! (I just knew they were going to have to come back today and finish). I was excited to meet L's teacher, sad that my Dad asked me my name when we visited, and excited to watch M enjoy football so much (scrimmage #3). What a day!

When I was considering my up and down emotions of the day, I was reminded of Hebrews 13:7-8:

Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn't change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself.

Now, it's okay for my emotions to flux, but I'm reminded to check my consistency. It's in Christ. The first part of the verse says to look at the way our pastoral leadership lives. Fitting as our Sr. Pastor celebrated 40 years in ministry this weekend. I haven't known him for long, but I can see that LP has lived a life of dependence on God, friendship, and laughter. So...in my sadness I can remember the fun we had during our family's visit. I can reach out in love to my Dad and tell him my name (and use my children's name whenever possible) and treasure the times he could remember. I can depend on God during all the exciting and sad times, knowing that Jesus doesn't change.

J on the new carpet. Boy do I have a lot to put back together in the house!

Today was the first day of school! M remembers his locker combo and schedule so all should go well. This is the first year the boys aren't together for first day photos. L. was just getting up and around when I was leaving with M and wasn't exactly dressed. When I dropped M. off he was so excited he left his lunch in the car. I handed it to the teacher on duty who called after M and handed him the lunch. BTW, I am super impressed with all the staff at this secondary school. Hubby went with us to take L to school. I'm so thankful he always makes a point to be there (and is able to) for this milestone. Now, although I have tons to do in the house so far I have shop vacced (how do you spell that???!) the car and garage (carpet strands) and am now blogging!

M wanted a picture with J, but the grass was wet.

L, first day of 4th grade

Daybook

Outside my window… darkness

I am thankful for… 15 years married to a thoughtful, caring husband

I am wearing…brown shorts, green/brown striped shirt

Some plans for the rest of the week… next week – more practices, carpet install, the first day of school, subbing

I am currently reading… Hot Chocolate for Couples

I am hoping… we have some down time in our very full fall

On my mind… Scouts, wondering why L isn’t as interested right now. Knowing what a wonderful program it is and how hubby wants him to go through Arrow of Light, but not wanting to put forth the effort myself. Reflecting on the things that interest M&L right now – some of the same things that have always interested them. See Pondering these words…

Hearing…. Monopoly being played, hubby grading papers

Pondering these words... “Way” refers to a unique capacity or characteristic, whether of an eagle, a serpent, a ship, or a person. If you raise your child “in the way he should go” you attune yourself to your child’s inherent characteristics and inborn distinctives.” – from Max Lucado in Cure for the Common Life.

I am praying that……. M & L has a wonderful first day of school, a spectacular year of learning and friends

From the kitchen… roast beast, veggies that are still cooking since I forgot to turn the crockpot on – thank goodness there were some in the other one.

Around the house… many, many things that will have to be moved off the carpet by Tuesday

One of my favorite things… museums (I know - I used that last time, but it's been a banner few months), history

From my picture journal…

Hubby fixing the busted radiator. Thank you hubby for the thousands and thousands of dollars you have saved us in car repairs, installing tile, painting, landscaping, and countless other home improvement projects. You are my knight in shining armor (which looks a lot like a grease covered work shirt here)

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The Lincoln Memorial

If you've read my blog at Butterfly Wings, you know we visited Washington D.C. this summer. We were visiting a local museum today with family and found the original bronze from which the Lincoln Memorial was made. Who woulda thought!?

This is the quote that I didn't quite get in the photo, "Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built." Abraham Lincoln

If you're interested in other quotes by Lincoln, such as, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.", check out Brainy Quote.

Daybook

Outside my window… my rocking chair wishing it would stop being so hot so we would sit there at night!

I am thankful for… our van making it home from our weekend trip and that the radiator waited to bust until we pulled in the driveway (at least that's when we knew about it!) I'm so grateful for how God takes care of us and that we weren't stranded on the side of the Interstate in 100 degree + heat.

I am wearing… still jammies

Some plans for the rest of the week… football scrimmage, getting a new school schedule, meetings for Dad, and our 15th anniversary!

I am currently reading… still the same

I am hoping… to get lots of errands done this morning

Hearing…. click of the clock that needs to be hung, birds chirping

I am praying that……. we have some calm in the chaos (check this out from Karen Ehman) and settle into a good fall routine, knowing what to say "no" to

From the kitchen… Chick fil a is sounding wonderful!

Around the house… it amazes me how quickly a clean picked up house can be in disarray!

One of my favorite things… spending time with family, museums, Cowboys football

From my picture journal…

Picture from our weekend trip.

To view more daybooks visit Simple Woman's Daybook.

On The Home Front

I had wanted to post a picture of our first canteloupe, but thought doing a post about a canteloupe would be kinda silly. So, now I'm grouping it with a few other things (so maybe it's only partly silly?). This is the first canteloupe from our garden...

In almost 15 (next week) years of marriage, this is the first year we have gardened. Haven't been hugely successful, but we've learned a lot! This was absolutely the most beautiful and most ripe canteloupe I had ever seen and it was delicious! I picked one today and I'm hoping the other two survive - but otherwise the garden is crawling with thousands of seed shaped bugs. Sigh.......

When hubby went on his home improvement frenzy, he hung things in L's room. L has an affinity for Cowboys and Indians (mostly Cowboys). You know, when I was little I played Cowboys and Indians with my cousins. Since I was the littliest I got handcuffed and left by the tree. If they used handcuffs, shouldn't we have been playing cops and robbers? (That was just an aside.)

Also, on the home front, this is a picture before M's first football practice. I refrained from taking pictures at practice. We are getting ready to head full force into 4 nights a week football and 2 nights soccer (L) - games on the weekend.

Today on the homefront - dish network install. We got rid of expanded cable after the Super Bowl and well, now it's close to preseason, so we had to do something! The intaller has been here going on three and half hours. Hubby just walked in to the office (where J has been trapped the whole time) and said "Yes, he's still here."

Thankful Thursday (Friday)

I am thankful for two nights of dinners alone with hubby and walks afterwards (although I miss our boys!)

I am thankful M&L get to spend some time with Pink, Uncle & Brudder - and for Pink & Uncle's generosity. I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with everyone at an "almost" half-way spot.

I am thankful that at Dad's new Center he is taken off the secure unit to eat lunch and that when you call, the nurses give substantial information about how he is doing.

I am thankful that even though I don't have a consistent part-time job this year, I already have one substitute job lined up.

I am thankful we are getting new carpet soon! I can't wait to walk barefoot on it!