My Daybook: November 9, 2009

Outside my window... it is a lovely, sunny warm day! The grass, still green, is covered with pretty fall leaves. (This also reads…we didn’t get the time to rake this weekend!!)

I am thankful for...a last minute call from friends last night, inviting us all to a park to enjoy the 72 degree weather and a bucket of fried chicken. Our children continued to play together even as it grew dark.

Towards a Real Education...M has all new learning activities for the Letter F this week. 

To Live the Liturgy... Thinking about Advent!! I find I need to start planning now since the first Sunday of Advent is Thanksgiving Weekend. I’d like to ponder the idea of Welcome this Advent. As we welcome the babe in the manger, how it builds in the ability to welcome the weak, the impoverished, the stranger, the beautiful in ourselves and in our neighbor.

From the kitchen... We started the day with a crustless spinach quiche. Don’t you find the day goes better after a hearty breakfast? I love to start my families day with something warm and inviting. 

For Lunch, we had PBJ with Strawberry-Banana Preserves we canned this Summer!

Tonight Homemade Pizza!!

I am reading... The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald for my Book Club; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe with the children; and just finishing up Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail: Why Evangelicals are Attracted to the Liturgical Church by Robert E. Webber for myself.

My husband (thanks!!) bought me Living the Christian Year: Time to Inhabit the Story of God by Bobby Gross (2009) on his travels to Calvin College last week. I can’t wait to dig into it this Advent. The introduction was wonderful.

“…we want to inhabit the still-unfolding Story of God and have it inhabit and change us. And this is exactly what the ancient liturgical habit of living the Christian year helps us to do.”

I am hearing...children playing outside, baby munching on pretzels and chattering by my side.

One of my favorite things… I’m sipping some strong black tea to gear up for the rest of the day.

Bringing beauty to my home…Our Late Fall, Thanksgiving Nature Table. Here is where I display seasonal Picture Books, the kid’s nature finds, and attempt to show off the glory of His Creation.

 

A few plans for the rest of the week: With the children…the Philly Zoo, Art Day with G’s K12 Co-op, Friday Co-op. My project--Tackling the laundry area in the basement—hanging an indoor clothes line, setting up a table for folding, trying to make it not feel so dingy J

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

 

Proud of my 3 year old guy for working so hard; 

every member of a family is needed!

Read more Daybook entries at Peggy's page.

 

My Daybook: June 8, 2009

Outside my window...watching a robin preening in our neighbor's bird bath. It's beginning to feel summer-hot here.

I am thankful for...a husband who delights in my happiness!

Towards a Real Education...This week is P...P...Penguin! We're going to make it interesting with a trip to the Philadelphia zoo! Looking forward to reading some good picture books and watching March of the Penguins for Family Movie Night.

To Live the Liturgy...I'd like to get a plan in place for what we will do for our Sabbath feasts (our family night) during Ordinary Time, otherwise it is easy to let them go during the Summer.

From the kitchen...strawberries, strawberries, strawberries...jellies, jams, syrups, pies!

I am wearing...an old shirt and shorts, wet hair back in a ponytail for a day over the stove--no pictures of that!

I am reading...Home by Marilynne Robinson the sequel to Gilead, one of my favorite books of the year. I love that it is not really a sequel, but a concurrent story to Gilead. It is so good to meet the same characters again (they feel like old friends) in a way that fleshes out the previous novel while adding new themes.

I am hoping...for hubby to get home soon. On Mondays in the summer, he comes home early to give me some time to myself. I also hope the children all stay asleep for him!

I am hearing...Sufjan Steven's Chicago from the CD Illinoise, this song always makes me hopeful and brings me to a peace with the "sins of my youth" as the Psalmist writes. After college, Sufjan was some of the first Christian music I could listen to. I especially appreciate how he tries to reconcile his faith with pain, tragedy and sadness. And he makes me miss the midwest.

One of my favorite things ...early Monday morning with time on the front porch with a cup of coffee and my Bible when everything is still fresh and quiet...again, hope.

Bringing beauty to my home ...with roses from our yard...though it is sad to see the bush bare we enjoy them so much more inside. I can't wait for the perennial garden we planted to flower...again, hope!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
-Canning, Canning, Canning
-I must get our attic in shape before guests come!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Who knew playing in a box could be this much fun?

Read more Daybook entries at Peggy's page.

My Daybook-Feb 9, 2009

Well, this is my first daybook so here goes!

FOR TODAY FEBRUARY 9TH

Outside my window...all the snow is gone and the sun is shining.

I am thankful for...time with my family this past weekend in the mountains. My parents rented a house for our family and my brother's. We had fun just hanging out, roasting marshmellows in the fireplace, playing games, dancing with the singing deer, movies when the kids went to bed... The guys went skiing Saturday; the girls went shopping Sunday!

Towards a Real Education...we'll be learning about A-A-APPLES! Learning how they grow and their uses, doing a taste test, lots of baking, reading some great picture books and focus on the Fruits of the Spirit. We'll also use Van Gogh's The Pink Orchard for our artist study. But since it's the wrong time of year for this unit, I'm not quite sure what we'll do for our Outdoor Nature Study time.

To Live the Liturgy...we'll learn about Saint Valentine and find ways to express love and affection to one another. I hope to post about this more later!

From the kitchen...we're making apple sauce today. How have I never made this before? It seems so easy-peasy!

I am wearing...a new stripped Old Navy shirt I got on the sale rack for $2.24!

I am creating...I'm still working on knitting my very first scarf, but I can't decide if I should sign up for another round of knitting classes. I desperately need the help...

I am going...to take my daughter to dance class tonight! She had to miss last week because of her cold so she will be so excited.

I am reading...Real Food for Healthy Kids by Tracey Seaman and Tanya Steel because I seem to be in such a rut for breakfasts and lunches. How many days in a row can you have oatmeal for b'fast and PBJ for lunch?

I am hoping...we are finally over our colds. This has been the longest bout of colds my little ones have had. I can't wait for them to be their usual perky selves.

I am hearing...much-needed coffee brewing.

One of my favorite things ...my secret stash of Chocolate Tastycakes! Thanks, mom!!

Around the house...things are getting back into order after a trip away. I'm always amazed how long it takes, especially since we were only gone 2 nights!

Bringing beauty to my home ...I've printed a copy of Van Gogh's The Pink Orchard. I hope it will inspire good discussion and the hope of Spring.

A few plans for the rest of the week: It looks like a quiet week. Looking forward to our Valentine's Day Feast!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Read more Daybook entries at Peggy's page: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/