Cinco de Mayo Daybook
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Outside My Window
Today is bright and beautiful, but cold. It won't hit 70 degrees today and the wind is blowing.
I am Listening to
Nicholas and Katie discussing Tangled versus Rapunzel.One thing is certain: Nicholas is sure that Tangled is not a princess movie. "It's way better than that."
I have to agree.
I am Wearing
Jeans, ruffled neck t-shirt, embroidered cotton cardigan.
I am so Grateful for
~my optician, who has been on a quest for nearly ten years to find me a pair of glasses that fit.
~glasses that fit. Worth every penny I saved to buy them.
I'm Pondering
“It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; he is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.” Bl. John Paul II
I am Reading
a review copy of Kate Wicker's new book. Good stuff.
I am Thinking
about asking some small businesses and Etsy crafters if they'd like to sponsor this blog. Let me know if the thought appeals to you.
I am Creating
On my iPod
a little Cinco de Mayo earworm.
Towards a Real Education
Nicholas has been challenged to read his way through every picture book we own--aloud, to me. We have a vast selection of historical, science, saints' and other biographies, geographical, and just plain good stories. If he meets this challenge, he will have a wide and varied (and fairly deep) knowledge base and he will have an appreciation for good art and language. Sounds like a plan.
{The extended time on the couch with mom is not to be underappreciated, either.}
Towards Rhythm and Beauty
We've begun a new school term and so far the rhythm is lovely. Our afternoon knitting and crafting begins in earnest when Gracie arrives around 2:45 every day. Mornings are productive and academic. Chores are getting finished. Outside time happens when the weather permits. Evenings are for soccer and dance. Lots of reading. All good.
To Live the Liturgy...
Playing this song over and over these days.
I am Hoping and Praying
for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me.
for the soul of Ty Lewis and for his family and for the countless soccer families who grieve his loss.
for Sarah and her family as they grieve the tragic loss of her sister-in-law.
for Mike's dad and for his mom and for his medical care.
In the Garden
Snap peas and spring lettuces. Observation: we have a very small square foot garden. There's no way it can a feed a family this size. For instance, I can't begin to gather enough lettuce at one time for a dinner salad for us all. We really need a bigger garden. One at least three times this size.
Around the House
I fixed the washing machine. It's been taking ages to get through one load of laundry--seriously, four or five HOURS. I dreaded calling our very nice repairman and having him tell me that someone's pocket treasures were clogging up the works. And I dreaded even more writing him a $200 dollar check. So I googled. And I found this. We bought a set of Torx screwdrivers ($8). And I fixed the washing machine. When you subtract the $1.75 in quarters I found in the pump, the whole thing cost me $6.25. And made my whole day.
Furthermore, I learned a valuable lesson: it really does matter how well my appliances work. No matter how organized I am and how disciplined I am, if the washing machine doesn't work well, I will get behind on laundry. This principle can be applied to other things. More on that later, perhaps.
From the Kitchen
Tea without sugar. I gave it up for Lent. Now I don't want it any more. Go me.
One of My Favorite Things
the smell of the craft store
A Few Plans for the Week
~May Crowning at the mission church tomorrow with our girls club
~State Cup on Satruday
~Mother's Day: game in Maryland (and hour or so away), pickup at the airport close to home, game in McLean, drop off at the airport close to home.
~ballet on Monday. and soccer
~and Tuesday
~and Wednesday....
~I'm speaking at the women's group on Ft. Belvoir Wednesday morning:-)
Picture thoughts:
{{Comments are open. I have been terrible about responding to mail. Please forgive me? I do read every single note and I do pray for you. But, I don't always answer promptly. I'm hoping that having comments open on occasion will give me a chance to answer the more common questions for several people at once and will give you dear ladies an opportunity to talk with each other. They are moderated, so if you don't see yours at first, it means I'm busy knitting; it will appear shortly.}}
