Daybook: Give the Best

Outside My Window

A bright beautiful day. We're soaking in the sunshine while we can. There is a prediction for an incho or more of rain on Wednesday.

I am Listening to

waffle making in the kitchen. Nick's in charge. It's his narration of this version of The Three Little Pigs.

I am Wearing

pajamas. And it's nearly noon. Go me.

I am so Grateful for

a peaceful weekend; beautiful girls from our dance studio who are ministering to one another in a time of sorrow with admirable tenderness and grace.

I'm Pondering

Give the best you have received from the past

to the  best that you may come to know in the future.

Accept life daily not as a cup to be drained

but as a chalice to be filled

with whatsoever things are honest, pure, lovely and of good report.

Making a living is best undertaken as a part

of the more important business of making a life.

Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands --

a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream.

There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all,

the assurance that you are not alone in the world.

~Sidney Lovett~

I am Reading

Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl

I am Thinking

about what a gift good health is.

I am Creating

I ordered everything I need for a quilt top. Just waiting for it get here.

To live the liturgy:

The Holy Father's intention for this month: That the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters. We are living this day by day, hour by hour, as we wait for one of the "dance dads" to go home to Jesus.

Towards a Real Education

It's a public school holiday today. It's not an "our school" holiday. 'Nuff said.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

We hit a rhythm last week and I'm going to cling to it for all its worth. We are far more creative, productive, and happy once the rhythm has been worked out and life--however busy--is more predictable.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Rachael, her father, and their family and friends. 

 I am learning

well...I was about ready to embark on a furniture painting project, but Mike thinks that the chairs in question aren't well-built enough to merit the investment of new fabric and paint. So, we'll just have to see where that all shakes out. In the meantime, I've been reading  furniture painting tutorials. 

Around the House

It's clean. Really clean. And "the help" didn't clean it. We asked a young woman to come help us clean one day a couple weeks ago. It took her an hour and a half to fold four loads of laundry. Then, she went up to my room. Six hours later, it was time for her to go. My bathroom was mostly clean (except the trashcan wasn't emptied). My bedroom was sort of clean (except for the dust bunnies under the bed and the sheets that weren't changed). Six hours??? It wasn't that dirty; trust me. I randomly asked children who went up there during the day what she had been doing when they saw her. To a man, they all answered texting. It was suggested that perhaps I didn't supervise closely enough.

Here's the thing about that: If I have to supervise the help to keep her on task and make sure she's not texting, I have plenty of that help under my roof. And I don't have to pay them. So much for help.

I cleaned like crazy last week. It's clean.

From the Kitchen 

An autmn menu. I'm thinking about sharing the whole week of recipes, a day at a time, here on the blog. Is that a good idea?

On my iPod:

Mindy Gledhill.

One of My Favorite Things

planting pansies. Tomorrow, I think.

On the Calendar for the Week

Some serious yardwork tomorrow. Weeds are out of control. This rain has really been a boon to overgrowth. And then, bulbs and pansies in the ground.

A local meeting with faraway friends who are here to visit on Wednesday. We'd hoped for breakfast at Bull Run. But rain is predicted.

I have a sense there will be a funeral to attend late in the week.

Fabric on the way. I'm hoping to make curtains for the sewing room and begin that quilt this weekend.

Worth a Thousand Words

 

A totally uncropped, unedited Blackberry picture of Stephen with his trophy after winning a tournament in Philadelphia last weekend. They were outside a kind of cruddy, sort of greasy, utterly delicious Philly Cheesesteak place. Not the best photo ever, but it's all I've got and I'm so out of time!

My heartfelt prayers for you all this week.

October Afternoon Daybook

Outside My Window

Cool, gray baking kind of day. Again:-) No kidding. We have had days and days of cool and gray and rainy. It definitely feels like autumn. 

I am Listening to

all my girls baking in the kitchen. I'm far away from the flour dust, but not so far that I can't enjoy listening in on their cupcake adventures.

I am Wearing

jeans, a tshirt, and a big, red, cotton sweater. Big, heavy socks.  Oh my, it's going to be a long, cold winter. 

I am so Grateful for

good friends who make the lives of my children so much richer and so much kinder when life knocks them around.

I'm Pondering

"If I did not simply suffer from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient; but I look only at the present moment forget the past; and I take good care not to forestall the future. When we yield to discouragement or despair it is usually because we give too much thought to the past and to the future."—St. Therese of Lisieux

I am Reading

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, at the suggestion of Tonia, who recommended it while we were discussing all things internet on Facebook last week.

I am Thinking

About Christmas lists. I want to make and make and make. I need to think how much is truly feasible. 

I am Creating

birthday surprises. I spent today making a fabric crown for tomorrow's birthday girl. Pretty darn cute.

To live the liturgy:

I love this time of year, as the feasts of special saints mingle with the celebrations of of the births of many of my children. We just celebrated the feast of St. Matthew (Matthew Christian's name day) and the feast of Padre Pio (the day Sarah was nearly born at 28 weeks). Now, we will march onward to St. Michael (and Michael's birthday--September 29), St. Jerome (and Katie's birthday--September 30), St. Therese (October 1), the feast of the Guardian Angels (and Patrick's birthday-October 2), the feast of St. Francis (and Karoline's birthday--October 4th). 

Towards a Real Education

I had a chat with some friends the other night and pondered the theoretical question of what Real Learning would read like if I wrote it now instead of ten years ago. I didn't really come to any conclusions except that I would never attempt to write a book like that now. Not exactly sure what that means. Maybe, as Mary deTurris Poust observed recently, I just seem to need more quiet. Or, maybe, I just know that there'd be so much to add that the mere thought of it makes me tremble.

Or maybe it's a little of both.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

About how to tinker a bit with our schedules. We no longer have naps to consider and we don't have to be home on a school schedule . We're going to go apple picking and meander on the way home. We're going downtown--a lot-- and finally soak in the educational treasure that living in the DC suburbs affords us. We're going to embrace this new season.

I am Hoping and Praying

for peace of heart. 

 I am learning

to quilt. Nicky asked me to hurry up already. He's cold in the family room in the morning. How hard is it to back with fleece? Super slippery? Any tips? 

Around the House

Birthday decorations.

The original plan was for Paddy to be out of town for his birthday, playing in Columbus. That game was canceled late Friday. With fewer than 48 hours to plan and decorate and cook, Mary Beth threw together a little shindig for him--just a handful of friends after soccer and a rousing game of FIFA 2012. Oh, and a cake made entirely of Swiss Rolls and chocolate ganache. And he really was surprised. Karoline was so tickled with the decorations that she's insisted we leave them up for tomorrow--her birthday.

From the Kitchen 

I'm thinking sugar free (and honey free) pumpkin latte, maybe?

On my iPod:

my mail. In an effort not to get sucked into my computer during the day, I'm only checking mail on my iPod at two set times a day. 

One of My Favorite Things

Snuggling sweet girls to sleep.

A Few Plans for the Week

Karoline's birthday tomorrow and a visit from our friends from the Cabbage Patch.

Sushi lunch with Katie and Karoline to celebrate their birthdays. 

Apple picking again. I promised Nick we'd return when the Granny Smiths are ready. Boots will not be optional.

The boys have soccer in Pennsylvania this weekend. Nutcracker rehearsals continue here. 

Is Every Day a Birthday?

Outside My Window

Cool, gray baking kind of day. Again:-)

I am Listening to

quiet. It is early morning and the house is nearly silent.

I am Wearing

Not my phone. I usually keep my cell phone in my pocket. Last Friday, it wiggled its way out, unbeknownst to me. I think we got two inches of rain on Friday, while my cell phone waited in the grass for me to notice I was without it. Karoline found it after the rain stopped. Poor phone. So, I'm currently on a cell phone fast.

I am so Grateful for

 sharing hearts with Julie in my sewing room.

I'm Pondering

For of all the utter falsehoods, the most false, I think, is this notion that men can be happy in movement, when nothing but dullness drives them on from behind. . . . [If ] ever there was a whisper that might truly come from the devil, it is the suggestion that men can despise the beautiful things they have got, and only delight in getting new things because they have not got them. It is obvious that, on that principle, Adam will tire of the tree just as he has tired of the garden. G.K. Chesterton

I am Reading

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, at the suggestion of Tonia, who recommended it while we were discussing all things internet on Facebook last week.

I am Thinking

About this post and the full article linked there. While I agree with all his observations and premises, I don't agree with his ideas for solutions. I admit that I couldn't even discern if they were all hyperbole or not. But I am devoting a great deal of thought and prayer to my own life with electonics and how I want it to be. One thing is certain, I don't want it to be the way it is.

I'm thinking that life is short, surprisingly so, and that we will be held accountable for every moment we've been granted to live, every gift we've been given. Accounting aside, when you sit in a doctor's office and look at the shadow that should not be there on a radiology report, your first (or second or third) thought is not "I wish I'd spent more time surfing" or even "how am I going to blog this." 

I want to live my life intentionally with the blessings of my first thought.

I am Creating

birthday surprises. Shhh...

I'm thinking birthday crowns (not the wool felt kind) and twirly skirts... (But not for Michael and Paddy)

 

To live the liturgy:

I love this time of year, as the feasts of special saints mingle with the celebrations of of the births of many of my children. We just celebrated the feast of St. Matthew (Matthew Christian's name day) and the feast of Padre Pio (the day Sarah was nearly born at 28 weeks). Now, we will march onward to St. Michael (and Michael's birthday--September 29), St. Jerome (and Katie's birthday--September 30), St. Therese (October 1), the feast of the Guardian Angels (and Patrick's birthday-October 2), the feast of St. Francis (and Karoline's birthday--October 4th). 

Towards a Real Education

We added the final component to our slow ramp-up of a full-blown school schedule yesterday as another family joined us for Bible study. We all read together and talked a bit, then the little ones worked on a craft while the big ones discussed things more deeply. Conversation was so lively that we never got to the planned picture study before it was time to go. These teenagers are going to keep things interesting all year. I'm sure of that.

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Sigh. Every September, the rhythm is rocky as we try to settle into all the activities we've chosen for the children. I have long adopted the attitude that if I trust it all to prayer, it will all work out. And it always does. This year, it's taking a very long time and we keep hitting bump after bump. The logistics of it all is overwhelming. But we're getting there. Literally.

I am Hoping and Praying

For two dear girls who are learning to trust that God has a plan and His plan is always good--and for all the people who love them and their parents. I really hate cancer all the time--this week has been particularly awful. 

 I am learning

to use GQueues. My friend Ann sent me the link. It was in my box on a day when I'd just finished entering every book we owned (so it seemed) into the Charlotte Mason Organizer. I took a quick look and sent the link to my friend Linda. I thought it would be perfect for Linda, but I doubted she would pursue because Linda is mostly unplugged when it comes to online anything. She's one of my best friends, but she doesn't even read my blog because she recognizes that she can easily get sucked into a huge time-waster here. Anyway, Linda thinks GQueues is amazing. She came to Stephen's soccer game on Sunday to tell me all about how awesome it is. I think that if Ann and Linda both sing its praises, it's probably worth my investment of time. 

Around the House

I am stymied by the sheer volume of laundry.

I am also well on my way to getting help, at the urging of my sister and several in-real-life women friends who are as smart and beautiful as Rachel is and who get help:-). I wonder? Does getting help make one smart and beautiful? 

From the Kitchen 

Well, there will be birthday cake. Lots of it. Four birthday cakes between now and next Tuesday. What's your favorite cake? 

Have I mentioned that I don't eat wheat and have sworn off sugar? In all seriousness, if you have a prayer to send on my behalf, I have no plan to forego making and decorating cakes for my kids, but I can't eat them. I'm working so hard to get back on track after the latst thyroid slip--there's no wiggle room for random wheat mistakes. Pray this all goes well, please?

 

On my iPod:

Jack Johnson I love this album. It's one of the reasons I don't understand why the author of the article I mentioned above thinks we should get rid of iTunes. Is he opposed to music altogether? Or is he just a big fan of CDs that get scratched and lost and broken?

One of My Favorite Things

Soccer friends who make weekends schlepping all over northern Virginia and the far reaches of Marlyand a fun family adventure.

A Few Plans for the Week

Ballet, birthdays, soccer, birthdays, more ballet, more soccer, more birthdays.

Picture thoughts:

Apples and Autumn Daybook

Outside My Window

Cool, gray baking kind of day.

I am Listening to

a rowdy bunch of children doing something morning-ish upstairs.

 

I am Wearing

A new haircut. This thyroid thing has had my hair falling out by the handful. So, I went and got it layered a whole lot more. And I like it :-).

My girls are wearing Missoni for Target. Apparently, these are hot items that sold out in moments. My sister Krysti scooped up three full outfits for each of the little girls and a skirt for Mary Beth and just happened to have them on hand when we just happened to stop by unannounced yesterday. Pretty sweet. 

I am so Grateful for

an aforementioned impromptu visit with my sister.

I'm Pondering

 St.Thérèse never founded a religious order; 
she never performed great works and never went on missions,
but she understood that what matters in the Christian life 
is not great deeds, but great love,
and that anyone can achieve the heights of holiness 
by doing even the smallest things well for love of God.
"All is well," she wrote,
 "when one seeks only the will of Jesus."
 St. Thérèse is a reminder to all of us who feel we can do nothing,
 that it is the little things that keep God's kingdom growing.

I am Reading

Legacy of Love: Biblical Wisdom for Parenting Teens and Young Adults.

 

I am Thinking

that I overthink things.

I am Creating

sewing:

some oh-so-darling patchwork tiered skirts--still. Mary Beth kicked off the sewing bee with skirt for Sarah, usingSoul Blossoms from Amy Butler. I was in a little slice of right-brained heaven the other day as I moved squares of Terrain fabric all over my dining room table to get just the right combinations. I thoroughly enjoyed the process and I think I might really like to quilt. Today, we lay out some Ruby squares to begin Karoline's skirt.

knitting:

I'm still working on last week's projects..

Speaking of handmade Christmas, we picked apples yesterday and I had some apple/craisin/pecan jam in mind to make as gifts for Mike's office. I cannot find this recipe for the life of me! Anybody have a pretty apple craisin jam recipe to share?

To live the liturgy:

Friday is the Feast of St. Padre Pio.

Towards a Real Education

A is for apples today, in a very big way.

 

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

It is truly autumn, isn't it? Try as I did to stretch summer a bit longer, fall has come and it's time to embrace the season that is.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Katie Phillips

for Elizabeth deHority

for Kim Fry

for healing

 In the Garden

We're harvesting basil and putting tomatoes by. My tomatoes haven't done well all year. There is a farm nearby that usually has good picking this time of year. I'm counting on them for our freezer stash.

Around the House

I'm heading out to cut vases and vases of roses. This place needs some brightening right now and that's the quickest way I know perk up whole rooms at a time.

From the Kitchen 

how about a dinner meal plan for the week:

Monday

chicken piccata

butternut risotto

salad

apple pie

Tuesday

roasted pork 

baked sweet potatoes

salad

cinnamon apple bread

Wednesday

 pork and snap pea stir fry over basmati rice

apple crisp

Thursday

Stuffed butternut squash (stuffed with apples and cornbread and bacon or something...?)

Stir-fried garlic green beans

Friday

Angel hair pasta with pesto sauce

apple cake

  

One of My Favorite Things

Weekends when Mike is home.

A Few Plans for the Week

I'm sharing some thoughts on early childhood education  tomorrow night with my neighborhood homeschooling group.

Some more cleaning and decluttering in advance of the great painting and tiling and carpentry adventure to come.

Here on the blog, I've got some great sponsor giveaways planned.

Picture thoughts:

 
 
 

Daybook: Well, hello there!

Outside My Window

Bright sunshine and then weird big thunderheads.

I am Listening to

Little girls singing to the ladybugs they found in their room.

I am Wearing

A $44 pumpkin-colored T-shirt with a little ruffle that I found at Talbot's last week for $10. It's a little too big--I should have stopped to try it on, but I was between games and I had to hurry. I'm hoping I can shrink it a little.

I am so Grateful for

a dear college friend who knows my heart and, quite out of the blue, has an uncanny knck for speaking to my soul just when I most need to be understood.

I'm Pondering

 We live in a world and a country of everyday heroes.  Moms and Dads everywhere, trying to make a better place for their children; teachers, nurses, firefighters, farmers; us normal tea drinkers and quilt makers, island lovers and laundry folders, dinner cookers and flower planters, doggie lovers, kitty petters, and never-giver-uppers . . . scientists, astronauts, artists, poets and philosophers, who do their part every day to make the world a better place to live. ♥   Many everyday heroes were lost that terrible day.  We honor their memory by keeping their dreams alive. ~Susan Branch

I am Reading

Legacy of Love: Biblical Wisdom for Parenting Teens and Young Adults.

I am Thinking

about this post and your comments. Now that we have internet and a fully functional computer, I'm looking forward to joining the conversation.

I am Creating

sewing:

some oh-so-darling patchwork tiered skirts. Mary Beth kicked off the sewing bee with skirt for Sarah, using Soul Blossoms from Amy Butler. Towards the end of the week, I was in a little slice of right-brained heaven the other day as I moved squares of Terrain fabric all over my dining room table to get just the right combinations. I thoroughly enjoyed the process and I think I might really like to quilt.

knitting:

I'm still working on last week's projects. My joints hurt a lot lately and knitting is much slower going. Re-thinking my ambitious Christmas gift "making" list and hoping I can get birthday gifts finished in time.

 

On my iPod

Karoline has maxed out all the skill levels on most of my apps. What educational apps for kids do you like?

Towards a Real Education

We have a workable plan and good schedule. That's a blessing and there is a certain peace with it. I'm adding almost daily to Serendipity, but still not publishing. Praying for the courage to do that and waiting for inspiration regarding a re-design.I know it's diffiult to navigate and I am giving that some thought--as I fold laundry and wash dishes and take walks and photograph soccer games. We shall see. There is a great deal of joy in our home during school hours these days and I want to share that with you in a meaningful and helpful way without taking anything at all from my family.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

We've got none; at least we didn't last week. We were hit (again) by a lightning strike last weekend. It wiped out the telephone, television, and internet. While I enjoyed the relative quiet, I was disoriented--all the soccer messages were going out via email; it seems they've given up on phone calls to families because everyone has a smart phone these days. I don't. But I might have to cave and get one. And that saying about lightning not striking twice? Five times. And counting. But we've learned not to have our computers fry with the lines, so there' s that.  

Anyway, we lost the plugged-in rhythm and I did re-think the widsom of having so many of my lessons or notes stored online. Then, I hit a major thyroid bump. Oh my. The doctor called after blood work and said she was doubling the meds, but they don't kick in right away and I plummetted to rock bottom. Hit hard. The week was pretty awful healthwise and I'm only sort of functioning now, hoping that they've got the dosage right this time.

Then, after the internet access was returned, my computer itself broke, as in the entire bottom fell out. The geniuses at Apple took care of it, but it took a few days.

So there went my online presence and rhythm last week. My in real life rhythm was only slightly better. I really felt sick. It rained for days and days. Schools were closed because of flooding. Soccer schedules are crazy mixed-up and rescheduled.

Perhaps this week will be a bit more rhythmic?

I am Hoping and Praying

for the wildly successful launch of a new show on ESPN next week

for Katie Phillips

for Elizabeth deHority

for healing

 In the Garden

The mums are popping:-)!

Around the House

We're choosing paint and sketching sketches and I'm hoping to meet with a contractor this week. Big changes coming. (Well, big for us.)

 

From the Kitchen 

I fried okra yesterday for Katie. My goodness! That sure sucked up an enormous quantity of fat1There must be a more healthful way to serve okra. Have you a favorite recipe?

One of My Favorite Things

The smell of cotton steaming under my iron--the whole room, even the whole house filling with that smell while we sew. I have a thing for smells.

A Few Plans for the Week

Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary. More on that in just a little bit.

We are ramping up to a full schedule, both athletically and academically, this week--full steam ahead. Please Lord, grant me grace and strength.

MRI for Mary Beth on Tuesday. Please Lord, give us answers; the eye problems persist.

Lots of ballet.

Lots of soccer.

Picture thoughts:

  
 
gosh. it sure rained a lot.

{photos and sarah's skirt by mary beth}