Daybook

Outside My Window...Very overcast and gray. A few brown shrunken oak leaves are still clinging on, but for the most part the trees are empty.



I am thankful for... family who travelled to be here last weekend to celebrate Granddad's 86th birthday and Sara's baptism



I am thinking... about my upcoming silent retreat.



From the kitchen...not much! It is in complete dissaray. We are having it renovated so I am clearing it all out.



From the schoolroom...see previous daybook entry :)



I am wearing...khaki corderoys and an old t-shirt. I was looking fairly nice earlier because I went to a program at Mary Clare's preschool, but I had to change my shirt after Sara burped all over me.



I am creating...again see previous entry



I am going...on a silent retreat this weekend and my best friend is coming along! I hope we can maintain the silence, that will be very challenging.



I am reading...the latest First Things magazine



I am hoping...that the 2 dads can keep up with the 8 children they will be taking care of this weekend!



I am hearing...brids tweeting and the baby swing



I am praying for... Marcia an amazing and gentle homeschooling mom and her family, she is not doing so well.



Observing the Liturgical Calendar...hmm, I am still thinking on that Candlemas thing.



One of my favorite things...a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning.



Around the house...pots and pans and everything from the kitchen but the kitchen sink!



A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...cleaning and straightening the house for our company.



Here is picture I am sharing...

Daybook

I have found a great format to make myself blog more. Yay for fill in the blank formats!



Outside My Window...
The sun is shining and the sky is clear, not one cloud!



I am thankful for...
a decent nights sleep



I am thinking...
about all that needs to be done around the home and all that I want to do around the home



From the kitchen...
Another meal has been brought to us by yet another wonderful family. We have been so blessed by all of the meals that various friends and family have shared with us. I did not truly appreciate this awesome ministry of mothering until this time of need in our lives. I received some meals when the twins were born and also when Mary Clare came home but this time I am even more thankful, I think because our need has been so great recently.



From the schoolroom...
We are in workbook school for now. It is fine, surely not ideal, but sufficient for the time being.


I am wearing...
khaki pants and a pink sweater



I am creating...
um, this blog? does that count?



I am going...
to nurse Sara in a few minutes


I am reading...
Graced and Gifted by Kimberly Hahn. This is a perfect new year's read for me. I am also reading other various mystery novels.



I am hoping...
our old heating system survives this severe cold front



I am hearing...
Lee's muffled voice as he makes his umpteenth phone call today and also intermittent shrieks and screams coming from the direction of the trampoline in the backyard



I am praying for...
Marcia an amazing and gentle homeschooling mom and her family



Observing the Liturgical Calendar...
We are now in Ordinary Time. I have really slipped on our liturgical celebrations in the home. Maybe we can do something for Candlemas, Feb 2



One of my favorite things...
a warm, content baby resting on my chest



Around the house...
several Christmas decorations still hanging around, laundry in the washer and dryer too many dishes in the sink



A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Lee's birthday's on Saturday, we will have some Mexican food and I will pull out the blender for some celebratory margaritas. Jake has altar server refresher training (much needed sadly)


Here is picture I am sharing:

Memory

What a busy and wonderful year 2008 was. I hope I remember it in years to come.

I have often said to Lee that one of my hopes for heaven is to be able to have a perfect and clear memory of life on earth. I hope to picture and remember all of the precious and sweet moments with babies, loving moments with my husband, fun times with friends and all of the goofy things my kids do. Other productive parents diligently commit these moments to scrapbooks and home movies, but I am barely treading water in the memory keeping department and am very thankful for my friends and family who remember to bring their cameras to big events.

Of course, the drawback to a perfect and clear memory in heaven is replaying all of the yucky shameful and embarrassing moments I have experienced that are now forgotten. Perhaps I can ask my Lord to edit those parts out for me!

Heaven seems a long way off now anyway, so I will do my best to blog more in an effort to prompt my feeble memory and remind myself of the wonderful moments 2009 will surely bring. I will probably not record the ugly ones, but I reserve the right to change my mind on that. Sometimes you have to remember the oooky to appreciate the good.

To re-cap 2008:

1. Mary Clare began pre-school, which she loves!
2. We made a family trip to Disney World.
3. We made several new family friends, the F**o family being one of them.
4. Celebrated the 4th of July with extended family.
5. Had a record number of visits from the Tooth Fairy.
6. Enjoyed a trip to the beach.
7. Ryan received two 'first' sacraments.
8. Jake began karate.
9. Ryan played flag-football and Luke played soccer.
10. Laine began gymnastics.
11. Welcomed a new daughter and sister
12. Lee broke his ankle one week after welcoming new daughter and sister

I hope to write more about our end of year experiences, but I am still processing all that happened right there at the end of December, so that may come later.