A Blessed Woman's Daybook ~

Outside My Window ~

The temperature is 75 degrees.  Not at all what you'd expect for January - even here in the south. 

I'm hoping ~

We won't have more tornadoes tomorrow.

I'm thankful for ~

God keeping us safe early Monday morning.  The F3 tornado came within 1/2 a mile from our home!  Pretty scary!!!  Poor Buck gets so frightened during these storms.  I know God was hearing his little prayers~

Praying for ~

The families who lost loved ones on Monday.  Also for many, many special intentions.

From the kitchen ~

Hot tea, tissues and chicken noodle soup....  Yep, we are passing around a nasty cold :( 

Living for God ~

Buck and Honeybee are preparing to receive their first  Reconciliations on Saturday.  Please keep them in your prayers.  They will receive First Holy Communion in May. 

Snuggle Bug is preparing to receive The Sacrament of Confirmation also in May.  I am planning on making this lapbook with her as we prepare.

It is an exciting time for all of us.  Our babies are growing up.  We are so very blessed to have one another and our beautiful faith to keep us going strong on this journey!

My Daybook

Outside my window ~
Rain and a sleepy old dog.  I'm getting a little taste of caring for the elderly.  I know... she's just a dog but, she's turning back into a puppy needing lots of care and cleaning up after...if you know what I mean!

For today ~
Snuggle Bug's not feeling well.  Hopefully it's just a cold.  Breakfast and lunch trays have been served to her on the sofa.  A little TLC goes a long way.  She's looking a little better already :)

I'm hearing ~
The House Cat playing piano.  She's got such an ear for music - like her dad.  Now, if she can just discipline herself to learn to read it ;)

We are reading ~
The Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne.  Buck is really enjoying it and I've got lots of ideas for a lapbook to make once we are done.

I'm so thankful for ~
My new washer and dryer!  Well, they are new to me.  My honey found them on Craigslist for $200 each!  It was amazing to get all the laundry done Sat. morning.  The old dryer took three cycles to get the towels dry!!!

In the kitchen ~
Chili is simmering on the stove.  It will be nice to have supper ready and waiting when I get back in with Honeybee from gymnastics.

We are creating ~
Creation lapbooks (Buck and Honeybee).  An inspiration from the first Mass reading today.  Hopefully, I'll be able to share those soon.

Please continue to pray for ~
My sweet mama.  I can't imagine what she's going through!  I know how bad my heart breaks at times....  I know her's is a million times worse!

I'm pondering ~
There will always be people who have more than you and those who have less than you.  Be thankful for what God has given you!

A Brand New Day ~ Daybook Entry

For Today ~ It is a brand new day.

I'm praying for ~ my sweet mama whose heart is broken. 

I'm thankful for ~ all of your prayers.

I'm looking at ~ a picture on my mama's desk of her and daddy.  It's a sweet picture I took last fall.

I'm hearing ~ the water filter running in the turtle's tank.  My daddy found this little turtle in a warehouse where he worked years ago.  Some of the other guys where throwing it around and he rescued it and took it home.  Pete has been with us ever since.

From mama's kitchen ~ French Toast sticks, coffee, and warmed up apple juice.  It's finally cool here this morning!

Fall fun ~ Mama picked up a small pumpkin for the House Cat.  It's painted as an Alabama football player.  I wish I had my camera here.  I'd definitely include a pic if I did :)

A Blessed Woman's Daybook

I'm pondering ~ How things change.  You think you know exactly what God's plan is for you and then you are reminded how easy it is to get carried away and want to make your own plans.  We have come to the realization that God wants us to stay where we are.  So, no move for us now.  We are peaceful with it and are trusting in God's will for us.

I'm thankful for ~ My husband and children.  I am so abundantly blessed!

Honey for my soul ~ A five year old that wakes up and chooses to snuggle up on the couch with her big sister and watch Don Bosco.  It such a wonderful movie and I love to see my son learning such love and devotion through this awesome saint!

Around the house ~ We are doing lots of rearranging and will be painting soon.  I think this will be a welcome change for us all and hope to be finished for the new school year. 

Serving God ~ I'm excited about the call to teach  serve the 7th grade PSR class this fall with my honey.  We've hoped to be able to serve our Lord together in this way for a while now.  May we all grow closer to God in the sharing of our beautiful faith!

I'm praying for ~ peace and trust in God's will - for those I love.

A Blessed Woman's Daybook

I'm looking for ~ modest swimwear.  I really like these capri swim pants and tops.  I also like these but not the prices.  Four of them would add up quickly!

I'm hearing ~ Curious George learning about composting.  I have a feeling this will be in my future.

Brings a smile to my face ~ Seeing Buck and Honeybee running around with their bows, arrows, and swords yelling, "For Narnia and for Aslan!"

We're helping ~ my parents move this week.  We just LOVE their new farm!  The land there is sooooo beautiful!  It keeps calling to me.  I can't wait to go back there and stay there if it's God's will.

Science this week ~

Our caterpillars grow and grow and grow.  It's amazing how much bigger they are each day!  When they are ready we will place them in the net.  More to come on that.

Snuggle Bug continues with her bird study ~

The House Cat and I ~ took in our first Shakespeare play, Hamlet, and it was wonderful - the lead actor was incredible.  The grounds were beautiful also!  We agreed it would be the perfect place to lay out a blanket and read Jane Austen!

To be fit and healthy ~ I'm taking a break from counting points.  I've been battling a lot of fatigue lately.  After talking with a new friend recently, I feel like I need to focus on reducing as much sugar/carbs as I can from my diet.  Don't laugh Scott, I know I just had to have that soft serve cone last night! :)

I'm praying for ~ my mother-in-law who will have her shoulder replaced on Monday.  Please pray the surgery/recovery will go smoothly.

Tea and Cake with the Saints ~

The girls did a wonderful job on their spring tea party in honor of Saint Zita, patroness of homemakers.

By the way, Snuggle Bug loves this book!  The copy I ordered from Amazon came in autographed.  She thought that was really cool!

Our guests brought these beautiful flowers.  Thank you!

On the ball field ~Buck's once again playing ball with the BUCS!

They had a great game Sat. morning!   

Celebrations ~ Snuggle Bug and I celebrated our baptism anniversaries

 last week. 

I've also been sharing lessons on baptism in the atrium the past couple weeks.  It is such a blessing to continue to share, learn, and be blessed by all of God's gifts!

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window~ Spring, beautiful spring!

Housewarming gifts for NaeNae and PapPaw's new home ~

From Buck (above)

From Snuggle Bug

We're reading~  Buck and I are reading Robinson Crusoe. 

 Finally a book he doesn't want me to stop reading aloud to him!  He's been quite a challenge to read to.  So different from the girls.  FYI - If you're thinking of reading this to your young children, be prepared to explain cannibalism :/

The House Cat ~ has her Confirmation Interview today.  We are so happy for and proud of her. 

She and I are going to see Hamlet together on Sunday.  Her copy/memory work this week ~ To be or not to be?  That is the question.

Snuggle Bug's ~ printing off a notebooking page for her copywork.  We read about the Baltimore Oriole on Monday in Our Birds and Their Nestlings.  The section closed with a nice poem.  I just can't say how much I love this book!

Buck ~ has baseball practice today and a game on Saturday.  He just asked me from across the room.  "What chapter are we on in Robinson Crusoe?"  He's building with his legos, waiting on me to read to him.  Yay!

Honeybee ~ just came and asked me for an oven mitt.  I hear her back cooking in her room :) 

Well the dryer just beckoned and Buck has found our starting place in his book.  It looks like I need to stop for now.  Hope to post again soon :)

God Bless you all.

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ Rain.  Nice, soothing rain.  We are enjoying a slower pace around here this morning.

I'm thinking ~ We may need to adjust our daily Mass schedule and go to noon Mass every other day. 

Around the house ~ Easter has arrived!

These beautiful little wildflowers are the perfect bandaids for the holes  wounds left from the crown of thorns.

Out of doors ~

the snowdrops are finally blooming.  I wonder if our daffodils will? 

There are so many pretty little wildflowers scattered about.  Or are they weeds? I have no idea and am not having much luck identifying them.  By the way, these photos were taken by Snuggle Bug who would much rather be outside doing this than sitting here with her math book :)

Hothead ~ Our Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Dixie ~ Our old girl

Max and Ruby ~ Our Cardinals ~ Dining together

In the kitchen ~

Honeybee helping with our popcorn lost sheep snack from The Garden of the Good Shepherd daily activity.

(check out my top left hand sidebar for the link)

Weight Watchers this week ~  Starting the Walk It Challenge.  Bought myself a pedometer.  Time to move more....  down 12 pounds so far.  I guess I'm about where I was before my surgery/recovery.  White Bean Turkey Chili's on the menu for tonight.  Yummy!

Plans for the rest of the week ~

• 
  
  Confraternity of Christian Mothers meeting/Mass tonight
• 
  
  Friday morning Mass and then maybe head up north about 30 miles to my parents new mini-farm.  They just closed on it yesterday.  We are all excited and the kids have already a mile long list of the different farm animals they want :)
• 
  
  Saturday morning Buck has a baseball game.  He's on the Bucs team again this year.  God definitely has a sense of humor! Then maybe home to do some yard work.
• 
  
  Sunday morning ~ Mass, Atrium of the Good Shepherd, Tea Party with The House Cat and Snuggle Bug to finish up our Beautiful Girlhood study.  We've had a wonderful time together!  I'd love to go back to church at 3:00 for the Hour of Divine Mercy to finish up our novena but, I think everyone will be too tired.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

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A Blessed Womans Daybook

Outside my window ~ Spring is here ! :)

Around the house ~ Back to cleaning, straightening, re-vamping things after a sickly couple of weeks.

I'm thinking - how daily Mass is God's gift to us and the devil doesn't want you to know about it!

Look mom ~

I lost my first tooth!

Buck loves PMK!

Weight Watcher's the last two weeks ~ Well, I haven't stuck to the plan, exactly, but I was down .6 yesterday?! :)  It's hard to stay on track while traveling.  Although, I do see how attending the meetings and staying aware of what I'm putting in my mouth is making a difference.  It's all about living a healthy lifestyle!

I'm happy for ~ Buck.  He's finally getting to go to ball practice today!

I'm praying for ~ children with cancer...and their families.

My picture ~

Homeschool Conference shopping goodies :)

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ The weather is warm and beautiful.  Too bad the kids are stuck inside with bronchitis.  I noticed the wildflowers or maybe weeds are starting to bloom.  I picked a few for us to study.  God is so incredible!

I'm hoping ~  Everyone's well soon.  We are anxious to spend time with family!

Weight Watchers this week ~  Down 2 lbs this week!  Thats a total of 11.4!  Yay!  I feel soooo much better physically and spiritually.

Recipe of the week ~ Spinach Lasagna Rolls.  These were so good and easier to assemble than your standard lasagna, in my opinion.  I used more sauce than shown :)

I'm listening to ~ The House Cat's CD - Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia.  Lots of good inspirational music.

I'm enjoying ~ My guitar lessons.  The House Cat is a good teacher!  Right now I'm learning Beautiful and Let your light shine by Bethany Dillion.  It's interesting how we came to listen to her.... She sings the song Dreamer from that movie.  We really liked her voice so we checked into her music.  I was thrilled to find out that she's a Christian artist!  She's definitely one of our favs!

Lenten cleaning from week two ~ I know it's a little late but, I've been busy! :)  Weekly focus was bedrooms.  We spent a lot of time cleaning out closets, going through clothing and doing a little re-decorating.  We took down drapes, scrubbed baseboards and I tried to clean the edges of the carpet that the vacuum doesn't quite get.  Still not perfect but better than before :)

The girls room

Snuggle Bug and I found this precious little bird house lamp for $3 on Sat.  We had some mother-daughter time and enjoyed shopping at one of our favorite stores, Mission Possible Thrift Store.  Proceeds there benefit a local homeless shelter.

We also found this great book shelf for only 8 bucks!

The House Cat was happy with her new CD rack for $2!

And I just love this painting of The Holy Family, given to Honeybee by her Godparents, surrounded by SB and HCs First Holy Communion dishes and El Divino Nino.

My room...

Do you remember Jessica's what's on your nightstand post?  On mine now is a special little book stand made by Buck and his Dad.  There stand some of my favorite books, our wedding photo and my special Good Shepherd picture.

I finally framed a painting by The House Cat that had been leaning in between the wall and my nightstand.  I just love it!

Buck and Honeybee's room...

Toys were sorted and stored in plastic bins.

Shoes were sorted and hung.  If you look closely you will see a door hanger made by HC for prayer time.  She made one for each of us this Lent.

Lenten Cleaning week three ~ Lets see....  Sick kids...  spraying Lysol.  Had the air conditioning guy come and clean the air duct intake.  Smells soooo much better now!  I hope killing that mold and mildew will help with Snuggle Bug's allergies.

Still trying to convince the sugar ants to find a new home.... 

Keeping an eye out on craigslist etc. for an Entertainment armoire.  Our entertainment center has seen its better day.  I'd love to be able to close the doors and hide all of the stereo equiptment etc.  Also watching out for matching twin comforters for Buck and Honeybee's Bunk bed.

Plans for next week ~ Hope to start on the big kitchen project.  I'm sure it'll take at least two weeks.  It needs a head to toe cleaning!  We are looking into updating the cabinets a little with wainscoting and paint.  I also plan to take everything out of the cabinets and pantry, replace shelving paper, and pass along items that haven't been used in a year.  I've asked my honey for a 5 gallon bucket of white paint - semi -gloss at least!  Must be able to wipe down frequently! :)

40 bags ~ We've been filling up lots of bags.  I need to ask hubby what the count is.  It feels so good to go through things, make a home for what you use and give away the rest!

My picture thought ~

Honeybee's new apron... a special gift from her Godmother.

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ Big, beautiful snowflakes this morning.  Now just rain :(

I'm thinking of ~ The Mass offered for our homeschool group by our dear Bishop on Sunday.  His homily was so touching.  He was so supportive of what we are trying to do. What's that?  Getting our children and ourselves to heaven, of course!

I'm creating ~ March, Literature for the Young Lady schedule with Snuggle Bug.  She'll continue reading Anne of Green Gables.  She has started a notebook for unfamiliar words she comes across.  She writes down the  words as she reads.  Then, we look them up together. She reads the sentence again to make sure she now understands the meaning and then writes down the definition. 

Shakespeare studies ~ The House Cat and I are continuing with Hamlet.  When I went out to the website for our nearest Shakespeare festival, guess what tickets had just gone on sale?  Why, Hamlet of course!  She and I are looking forward to taking in our first Shakespeare play and some qualitity mother/daughter time :)

Speaking of Shakespeare, I really like the Shakespeare Can Be Fun series!  Check it out when you have a sec.  Also, Poetry for Young People, William Shakespeare is good.  I just ordered a copy from Amazon :)  New copy/memory work assignment - To be or not to be; that is the question.....

Weight Watchers this week ~ down .8 ~ total loss 9.4.  I'm trying a new snack as we speak or should I say as I type :)  Creole Popcorn.  1 single serve 100 calorie pack of popcorn, popped, fat free Parkay spray and Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning sprinkled on top.  Yummy!  2 points!

I'm reading ~ or will be this week - Part 4, She Provides Tasks for Her Maidens from Graced and Gifted by Kimberley Hahn. 

I'm hoping to ~ Make it to book group to discuss the chapter and to spend some time with some remarkable ladies!

We're playing ~ Staetris, after reading this post.  Please pray for Noah, Donna's nephew, and his family.

I'm praying for ~ God's will to be done in our lives.  Especially in my parent's new home acquisition.

My Picture thought ~

Never fear ~ The Marshall is here!

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ I'm hearing lots of birds chatting away.  Snuggle Bug and I are using one of her new birthday books to try to identify them.



Around the house ~ I've been up and busy since before six this morning.  The laundry is going, I've got a lot in my "to do" pile.  It would be so easy to get overwhelmed.  Through the grace of God, I'll be at peace with whatever happens today.  He knows best.  May I be the pencil in His hand!



I'm wearing ~ A long sleeved Alabama t-shirt, my brown scapular, black Danskin pull on pants, Asics (my work shoes), my hair in a clip , and of course my reading glasses.

To be fit and healthy ~ Two months down with Weight Watchers - a lifetime to go!  We are really enjoying our "life style" change.  I realy like going to the meetings.  They keep me motivated and I pick up lots of ideas there!  So far I've lost 7 pounds.  Even better than that - I wore a belted skirt to Mass yesterday!  I can't remember the last time I tucked in a shirt and wore a belt! 

Recipe of the week ~

Chili (2 WW points /cup) and yummy!

• 1/2 pound lean ground chuck (85-15), 1 onion, 1 green bellpepper, salt, pepper
• 4 cans Mexican Stewed Tomatoes (chopped up as you like them)
• 1 can dark red kidney beans, drained
• 3 Tlb. chili powder
• 1 & 1/2 Tlb. cumin

Start by browning the meat with the onion, bell pepper, salt and pepper.  Drain fat.  Add canned tomatoes with liquid, beans, and seasoning.  Let simmer at least 2 hours or transfer to a crock pot for the day. 

I'm thinking of ~ Lots of days spent busy with blessings.  Especially the date I had with my honey last night!

I'm praying for ~ friends who have babies on the way and those who have new little saints in heaven.  For Donna's nephew Noah and his family.

One of my favorite things ~ morning hugs from sleepy little ones.

We're listening to ~ Pursue Me, Danielle Rose's last CD.  A birthday gift from the House Cat to her sister. All of the proceeds of this album go to support vocations.  So go buy one - you won't be sorry!

I'm creating ~ Lots of Liturgical Year Notebooks.

I'm enjoying ~ more evening family prayer time.  Including the Jesus Tree Reading, the symbol being placed on the tree and a decade of the Roasry by candlelight.

I'm looking forward to ~ Mass with the Bishop on Sunday.  He's offering a Mass for our homeschool group.  We are blessed to be able to help with the Mass music.

I'm hoping ~ we get go to the Natural History Museum this week with good friends.

My picture thought ~ As still as a statue

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Preparing for Lent 2010 ~ Daybook Entry

Outside my window ~ Snow this morning and again this evening.  Buck wonders if spring will ever come....

For Today ~ I pulled out the Lent - Easter bin.  Boy was this easy!  About a month ago, I made some "liturgical year" bins for things that are only used during certain times of the year.

So, it made getting everything together and ready for Lent wonderfully easy and enjoyable.

I put up the branches to our Jesus Tree,

dusted off the St. Joseph Altar,

and organized some St. Patrick's Day decorations I bought on clearance last year,

(another special day in our home :)

The mat awaits the Lenten centerpiece to be made.

The Passion Play waits to be reassembled on Good Friday.

And the Easter Story Eggs, The Garden of the Good Shepherd, a couple of movies, and our Pentecost decorations are ready to help us celebrate the Feast of All Feasts!

For tomorrow ~ Pancake Tuesday.  We'll try to make these point friendly pancakes.

Ash Wednesday ~ We'll make the crown of thorns and I'm planning on making this for our meal before we head out to Mass.  Honeybee was so sweet tonight when she realized this Wednesday was Ash Wednesday.  She said, "Oh yeah, I love that day!"  I wish I could say that I've always felt that way!  However, Father gave me a new way of looking at it at Mass this past weekend.  He said, "Lent is not our gift to God but, God's gift to us!"  How true that is.  He loves us so much and gives us this time to come back to Him with all our hearts.

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