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~
 
   

   

Goooooooooal, Patrick!

Comments are open, per Patrick's request. And Stephen asked me to tell you that he got a bicycle kick goal on the same day. He did. What's the chance of that?   

To see it even more clearly, click here, and then when you are on the Youtube page, click on "watch in high quality".

Hunting for Hurricanes?

I've noticed lots of searches for "Hurricane Reading" lately and it's no wonder! I dug this post up for our own use this morning, though we are certainly far enough west to merely enjoy a little rain and not much more. Happy hunkering!    

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude; you are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control. The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season, we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a storm-less eternity awaits us. Amen.  HT: Cay's Cajun Cottage

ETA: I take that back. We are far enough west or east or something to get absolutely pelted. It's pouring and blowing and oh! I do love a good storm! Not a hurricane, just a good storm.

A Favorite Quote

From John McCain last night:
"Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn't think of them first,let's use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let's try sharing it."

Much wisdom there for all of us.

On the menu tonight...

We live in a neighborhood that has a very large Indian population. Andwe are so lucky to have one of the finest Indian restaurants ever right here in town. When the restaurant opened, my husband was enthused about introducing our family to Indian food and we were heartily receptive to the introduction. The only drawback is that the restaurant is outrageously expensive. Patrick and I have tested several recipes at home for our family favorite main dish: Chicken Tikka Masala. This is the fruit of our testing. Perfect for the Feast of Mother Teresa tonight!