My Heart's at Home Daybook~September 22

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Outside My Window ...it is an absolutely beautiful autumn morning.

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Towards a daily rhythm ... I've ditched the block plans altogether. Unexpected doctor's appointments and a  myriad of crises have pushed those organizing strategies out of my realm of possibility. Instead, I sit down on Sunday evening and pull from each of the Serendipity topics I'm using for each child, cutting and pasting straight from the blog onto a Word document.This takes about an hour, in total,to finish all seven individual plans. Then, they each have a checklist for the week. I know which lessons I need to present to them all together and I make sure to get those going early in the week. The children who are old enough transfer the list items to their plan books and plot their time for the week. It's working well enough. I'm sad that we haven't been able to co-op at all, due to the amount of time I'm spending out of the house, but I'm grateful that I'm still able to virtually co-op as we plan. The lesson plans themselves have been an enormous blessing. I'm so grateful for the hard work and the camaraderie of the women working on Serendipity.

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I am thankful for ...Margie Brandquist, my midwife. It's becoming increasingly doubtful that I'll have a low-lights, quiet room, low technology labor and delivery that we midwife-lovers like to have. But what I've found is that a Certified Nurse Midwife with hospital privileges becomes one's greatest medical advocate and dear friend when things threaten to become complicated. She might not actually catch this baby but she'll be there, along with the excellent team she's assembling. I'm thankful I can trust her.

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From the kitchen ...
The Refrigerator is Fixed at Long Last!

for breakfast:
Pumpkin Pudding 
Lunch:
Leftover Sausage, Peppers and Potatoes
and for dinner:
Penne Rustica (Christian's request--his first name is Matthew and I owe him a feast day dinner)

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To live the liturgy...
Our week of super celebrating will begin in earnest.
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I am wearing ... denim capris, camisole and sweater, hair clip, crocs. 

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I am creating ...a St. Anne chaplet, rosaries for my girls, and a new rosary for me.

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I am going to breathe deeply ...Absolutely, positively no exercise allowed, so I'm just going to sit outside and smell fall.
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Bringing beauty to my home ...we've begun to reflect the new season around here--Mary Beth will post pictures later, I'm sure.

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I am reading  ... these meditations every day. And this stack.

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I am hoping ... for a healthy, happy, peaceful delivery.

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Around the house ... Megan is coming four days a week, beginning today. She'll bring with her good cheer and lots of practical help. I am so grateful for her friendship and the abundant love she lavishes on my children.
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One of my favorite things ...my husband. Seriously, this man is a total rock. He's traveling like crazy and then when he's home, it's a little nuts. We've been thrown more "stuff" in the last week than we could have imagined. But he is steadfastly calm, optimistic, and faithful.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: This has become both the plan and the prayer these days. More practically, I thought this was going to be a week free of doctor's appointments, but Paddy knocked his shoulder and needs to go back to PT. Michael broke his nose on Wednesday and his foot (?) yesterday (still waiting for confirmation on break or sprain), so it's probably going to be a bit more complicated than I had hoped. And apple picking. I think I will try to take the children apple picking. I'm finding silence a really good thing, so you'll hear more from Mary Beth this week than from me. Many thanks to those of you who have written to encourage her.

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~
 
   

   

One red Cuisenaire rod. That's how far up the placenta needs to move. Just one red rod's worth. I'd sure appreciate a prayer or two. We're hoping it's not stuck.

Please visit Peggy for more Daybook entries.

My Heart's at Home Daybook~September 8

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Outside My Window ...the day is glorious. We've cleaned up the garden a bit (more still needs to be done) and we planted some new mums. The man at the nursery assures me it's much too soon for new pansies.

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Towards a daily rhythm ... I learned today that as much as I try for a regular schedule, sometimes it's better to to be flexible. When I am flexible, God puts me where He wants me to be when He wants me to be there. Next time, I promise not to grumble so much in the getting there.

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I am thankful for ...a small community of Catholic women who are planning a conference for next June. Today, they showed me why we need each other and how gracious God is to ensure we have each other when need is greatest.

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From the kitchen ...
cupcakes to celebrate the Feast of the Birth of Mary

Still no refrigerator repair, but Sears says they'll be here tomorrow;-).

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To live the liturgy...
We had cupcakes with 20 other kids today to celebrate Mary's birthday. Tragic news just before the party was quickly translated to some very serious young pray-ers on their knees praying a rosary. No one felt much like singing "Happy Birthday," but those precious children were a witness to faith and hope I'll never forget.
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I am wearing ... denim capris, pink t-shirt, flip flops, bandana (which is exactly what I was wearing last time, I know).

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I am creating ...a new schedule. Because life happens.

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I am going to breathe deeply ...It promises to cool off this week. I'm hoping to get check out all the wildlife my kids have discovered at a nearby lake.
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Bringing beauty to my home ...I brought some roses inside and changed up the mantle for the new term. Pictures later--my camera is no longer speaking to my computer. I can't figure out why.

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I am reading  ... . the blog of Stephanie Nielsen, a young mom in Arizona. The blog is just beautiful--full of life and love and utter joy in family. Stephanie has four young children and her love for them glows through every post. She clearly adores her husband and isn't shy about telling the world so. Last month, she and her husband were critically injured in a private plane accident. While they fight for their lives in Arizona, Stephanie's sister Courtney--who just had her first baby--has taken the children into her own home in Utah, where she, her husband, and the rest of Stephanie's siblings are loving them and heroically holding onto Stephanie's vision of family life. Courtney is blogging her experiences. I have found such inspiration between the two of them, and more than enough fodder for prayer.

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I am hoping ... to stay awake long enough to welcome my husband home tonight.

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Around the house ... The middle floor is in good shape. I'm noticing way too much laundry around upstairs. I thought we'd addressed the issue, but the system isn't working all that well. Oh, and the basement flooded during Hanna, so the fans are going strong and we've bought new tubs of Damp Rid. Someone reminded me today that it's been at least three weeks since we flooded the toilet. Seems like we flood something every three weeks or so.

One of my favorite things ...talking politics with Christian.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Monday Night Football on ESPN, more PT for Paddy, a new improved schedule, nature study with friends.

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~
 
   

   

My Heart's at Home Daybook~August 24

I've really enjoyed The Simple Woman's Daybook--be sure to visit Peggy for the latest entries.

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Outside My Window ...it looks like it just might rain. Oh happy day! We so need rain.

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Towards a daily rhythm ... I'm tweaking my daily rhythms for the start of school next week. Originally the plan was to start this week, but I don't think we'll swing that. We were out of the house all last week. The kitchen sink isn't working again. and there are still more physical therapy and midwife appointments. Better to get things organized this week and start with a "clean" slate.

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I am thankful for ...the Loudoun County Schools calendar. Neighborhood schools don't start until next week. Works for me. .

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From the kitchen ...
for breakfast:
cereal in paper bowls 
Lunch:
the dollar menu at McD's
and for dinner:
depends on the plumber

Still no refrigerator repair, but the plumber is coming for the sink in just a few hours.

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To live the liturgy...
I'm going to Holy Hour and confession with St. Monica on Wednesday. I am so, so grateful that the soccer driving schedule finds me with an hour on Wednesdays to go to Holy Hour and Confession by myself.
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I am wearing ... denim capris, pink t-shirt, flip flops, bandana (pink, I think). 

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I am creating ...daily plans. Realistic daily plans.

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I am going to breathe deeply ...hopefully, the midwife will lift the exercise restriction at my visit this week.
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Bringing beauty to my home ...I so have to dig out. I spent all last week at soccer camps and playgrounds. It was so wonderful to be out and in the fresh air. And my children are tanned and happy and peaceful. But oh my! the house is so in need of tender, loving care.

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I am reading  ... nothing. I'm quite sure though, that I will be watching lots of political television the next couple of weeks. In a former life, I was a Congressional intern who loved the hallowed halls of the Capitol building. Now, I'm just political television junkie.

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I am hoping ... to catch up on a giant backlog of email. Not much has changed in this regard since last week. Or the week before.

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Around the house ... I'm turning down the lights and lighting lots of candles. Maybe it will all look a little less intimidating.

One of my favorite things ...the Our Lady of la Leche prayer for expectant mothers that is on my righthand sidebar. I love this prayer so much--I'm going to miss it when I'm no longer pregnant.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: physical therapy with Patrick, midwife for me and baby, lots of soccer practices and another tournament. Mike's traveling, gearing up for Monday Night Football on ESPN.

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~
 
   

   

I can hardly wait! It's nearly that perfect nature study time of year.

My Heart's at Home~ A Day Late:-)

I've really enjoyed The Simple Woman's Daybook--be sure to visit Peggy for the latest entries.

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Outside My Window ...my garden is a bust. The roses are making a comeback and the sungolds are great but everything else--annual, perennials, tomatoes, even the basil--just didn't do well. I'm looking forward to scrapping the whole thing and planting fall color

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Towards a daily rhythm ... still pretty sleep deprived. Karoline is insistent on eating at 5AM. She goes back to sleep. I don't. I think about how Dawn and Earlybird have done this for years. I can't imagine--this could possibly be my new rhythm. I love morning, but not quite to this extreme.  No rhythm this week to speak of, anyway. This is the big week for cramming in 4 more dentist appointments, 5 orthodontist appointments, soccer and dance camps,"pre-season" soccer tournaments.

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I am thankful for ...naps .

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From the kitchen ...
for breakfast:
Mary Beth has taken over cooking--she's big into four course breakfasts. I'm glad somebody is happy to be a short order cook. 
Lunch:
leftover Lemon chicken and Rice
and for dinner:
No. Clue. At. All.

 Still no refrigerator repair--they were supposed to come today, but called yesterday to cancel.

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To live the liturgy...
Yesterday was the feast of St. Jane de Chantal. I do love her. I appreciate this book in particular, full of letters to her children--lots of warmly given but very stern spiritual advice.
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I am wearing ... denim capris, white t-shirt, flip flops, bandana (red, I think). 

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I am creating ...not much time for creativity this week...

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I am going to breathe deeply ...I see some outdoor time at soccer camp this week, chasing Karoline if nothing else.
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Bringing beauty to my home ...I'm not sure about beauty, but I'm going to try desperately not to get too far behind despite the amount of time I'll be away from home this week..

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I am reading  ...
The Charlotte Mason Back to School Panning Bash. There's lots there and I have almost zero computer time this week, so I could be reading well into the new school year.

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I am hoping ...to get a good night's sleep sometime soon. Very soon. I also hope to catch up on a giant backlog of email. Not much has changed in this regard since last week.

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Around the house ... sigh...

One of my favorite things ...soap and candles from Trish at Saintly Soaps.The St. Therese scent is my very favorite and it's nearly time to indulge in order to be ready for her feast.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I have no blogging plans for the week. All things inside this screen must wait as my real life catapults forward at a speed that puts Google searches to shame

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~
 
   

This is a picture of Michael and Karoline in his dorm room when we left him there this time last year. I'm holding in my heart and my prayers the intentions of my friends who are seeing children off to college these days. What a  bittersweet time. I'm begging the Blessed Mother to hold those mothers very, very close.

My Heart's at Home Daybook~August 12

I've really enjoyed The Simple Woman's Daybook--be sure to visit Peggy for the latest entries.

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Outside My Window ...the weather promises to be absolutely beautiful all week long--in the high seventies and low eighties with low humidity. This is not at all what August in Virginia is usually like. I am hereby scuttling plans to begin lessons this week.

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Towards a daily rhythm ... we haven't got much rhythm right now. Karoline's been sick since last Friday and I'm so sleep deprived that I can't even really tell time, never mind dance to it.

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I am thankful for ...the community of saints to keep me company in the dark of night .

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From the kitchen ...
for breakfast:
hashed brown potatoes and poached eggs 
Lunch:
leftover steak and asparagus from Michael's "Last Night Home Dinner"
and for dinner:
something from Saving Dinner the Low Carb Way--we're cooking straight from the book this week.

 Still no refrigerator repair.

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To live the liturgy...
Maximilian Kolbe's feast is August 14 and Friday is the Solemnity of the Assumption.
      
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I am wearing ... denim capris, Mike's polo shirt, big hair clip, crocs. 

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I am creating ...hmmm...I'm trying to revitalize my nature study blog so that my kids can use it for narrations once again. I guess that's creative:-).

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I am going to breathe deeply ...Mike and I have been walking in the evening. I don't go very far but it's nice and cool and it sure is good to get out.
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Bringing beauty to my home ...The trim painting continues (still). We'll complete the bedroom switching this week and hopefully all my plans for order will crystallize at last.We're using every square inch of this house.

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I am reading ... Little Men and Jo's Boys--getting my annual fill of Plumfield inspiration before the school year begins.

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I am hoping ...to get a good night's sleep sometime soon. Very soon. I also hope to catch up on a giant backlog of email.

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Around the house ... my friend Molly came to help me tackle some items on the nesting list. We've made great progress. Now, of course, it's time to really work on maintenance and diligent adherence to the chore chart.

One of my favorite things ...family dinners. We're going to struggle the next few nights. Despite our competing schedules, we eat dinner as a family the vast majority of evenings. When Mike first took his current job two years ago, I started feeding the children ahead of him because he got home so late. I really noticed the toll it took on our family life. So now, we eat dinner at all odd hours, but we eat it together. Karoline and Nicky especially are sensitve to everyone being present and in his or her particular seat. Michael won't be here tonight--or any night until Thanksgiving. This is not going to go over well.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Michael leaves for school today. Six kids go to the dentist tomorrow. More PT for Patrick. Did I mention Karoline is sick?

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~

   

We went back to the orchard last week to pick peaches. They were truly the most amazing peaches I've ever eaten! I haven't uploaded those pictures yet. Look for them later on the nature study  blog.