Simple Woman's Daybook

I forgot if I was clear on this: Mama Monday will be taking a break for awhile while I wait on this baby and readjust to life with five children.
Today? The Simple Woman's Day Book.

Outside my window...
Gorgeous weather: low humidity, clear blue sky. I am loving this summer so far!

I am thinking...
Of Joy, Aimee, and Laurel--all due very soon along with myself. (one more week?)

I am thankful for...
My husband wrapping up a very busy week. I think I've seen him a total of one hour all week.

From the kitchen...
This morning? Grits and eggs. And peaches and ice cream for desserts--yum.

I am wearing...
flannel pj pants, t-shirt

I am creating...
a baby in the oven, a Tumblr  page. Like I need another web tool to occupy my time.

I am going...
to be busy today. Errands, chiropractor visit. But I've got all my "to-dos" done for the most part. Now just keeping up with laundry and waiting on this baby. Staying close to home. I'm hibernating!

I am reading...
The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule

I am praying...
for two specific worries that keep creeping in my mind. Trying to give them to Him and have peace.

I am hearing...
The washing machine and the girls playing a computer game.

Around the house...
I am loving being able to open the windows every morning and let the fresh, cool air in. Makes me happy.

One of my favorite things...
My chiropractic care this pregnancy. It's been sooo great. I'm pretty sure I'm addicted.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Nada. Zip.Nothing. Try to not go crazy waiting on this baby.

"If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would only have courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favorite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents."
~Charlotte Mason

Some good reads this week:

Daily dose of food for the soul
Brains, breathing, and play: A new kind of counseling
Perfect: Not a word high on my vocabulary as an expectation of life
365 days of grateful
The Art of Now: Six steps to living in the moment

Happy weekend! And happy reading!

How can you take Charlotte Mason's advice in the coming week, mamas?? Remember, this advice was way before it was "Oprah-ized".

and speaking of "Oprah", read this awesome post. 

sweet simple things

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

::a favorite spot in my home::

::fried rice made by my daughter, seltzer with mint, a good book, sunshine::

::a gracious, gracious and dear friend sent me this robe (a big surprise) i have been eyeing for awhile...

it spoke God's love to me in volumes--when i needed it the most::

::a belly with baby::

What sweet, simple things are you loving lately?

Somethin' ain't right...

Okay, so I looked at the ticker tape of how far along I am in this pregnancy, and it said, "38 weeks, 8 days to go.." Huh?? Isn't that math off a little bit? Help me out here, people. 

Trying to understand

reading Ann Kiemel Anderson's book I Love the Word Impossible:

"no, life isn't so simple now.

it can be complex and sometimes very frightening.

in my traveling i have met many people...Christians...with

seemingly impossible situations. there are not a lot of easy answers. sometimes i cannot even think of one. people call for advice. i have no pat answers. i can share what is right for me, what the Bible says about various things...but i don't know where people are coming from, or all the wounded parts of their emotions.

i cannot make judgements.

i don't believe Jesus Christ asks that from me. He wants me to listen, to give warmth and love. to try and help a person grasp God in his/her life and decide, through God, what is truth for him or her, to understand the power of total commitment.

but judgement, no.

i've not walked anyone else's road; i've not carried others' crosses.

i've not felt their childhood. i've never crawled behind their skin where hearts and minds beat.

only God has.

only i know me, and only God and i, alone, know what place God has in my life...and if what i say is honest."

This little book has so many nuggets of wisdom in it. I am eating it up.

This passage reminded me of a recent post I read that I will share:

Understanding

May I seek to understand others not only in the Christian body, but everywhere.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For a long time, I've been wanting to participate in Peggy's "Simple Woman Daybook".
I love catching a glimpse into everyone's day. It's my favorite part of Facebook. (Maybe I should "Twitter"?)

So, without further adieu, here is mine:

For Today...

Outside my window... bright sunshine, perfect shadows--looks like a beautiful day.

I am thinking...about making another cup of coffee.

From the learning rooms... enjoying all that summer has to offer. Sunshine, fresh food, eating outside, just "being".

I am thankful for... my husband and how he takes care of us.

From the kitchen... craving a greek orzo salad with lots of feta and some blueberry muffins with cream cheese icing.

I am wearing...my husband's tee and striped pajama bottoms.

I am reading... I Love the Word Impossible by Ann Kiemel Anderson

I am hoping... to get my house in order this week so I can just wait on the baby. (2 weeks left!)

I am creating... a life inside me, with the help of a great and powerful God!!

I am praying... all day long--so many things to turn to Him.

Around the house...bags that need to be unpacked, laundry that needs to be folded, baby stuff that needs to be set up.

One of my favorite things... I really, really love Northeast summers, after growing up in Southeast summers.

A few plans for the rest of the week... swimming lessons for the kiddos, midwife visit, trying to take it easy and not plan too much.

Biting off more than I can chew

In these last days of pregnancy, it's easy to start feeling overwhelmed about the future. How am I going to add one more to this already crazy mix? How am I going to meet everyone's needs? How am I going to survive on little sleep? How the heck am I going to do it all????

It's in those moments when I need to tell myself: One day at a time.

We are given daily bread for each day. Enough grace to make it each day. With a daily dose of the Word, we are only asked to do this day, this moment. Man is born of trouble, but we are not asked to do it past this day.

The antidote for feeling overwhelmed at the many unknowns, is to not bite off more than we can chew. It is to take one day at a time. And that's what I'm telling myself as I wait.

Related:

One yes at a time

ht: Elizabeth

Baby baby baby

I'm so glad Amy hasn't stopped blogging. Hers was the first blog I ever read (in 2005) and it really introduced me to the world of blogging.
This is from her archives:

"When a person can barely walk, has to be manually rolled over, moans all day, attends weekly doctor visits, and can’t think straight, the usual protocol is to call a family meeting and arrange for home-health care, convalescent care, or some other form of involvement. It’s just the right thing to do.
But when these are just pregnancy symptoms, somehow standard protocol is overlooked. Ignored. In fact, not only is nobody rubbing my swollen ankles and feeding me mushy food, but they’re hounding my phone at the same rate as telemarketers."

I just love that.

I'm not getting hounded....yet. (though I surely don't mind it, don't get me wrong!)

Just wanted to say I have not had the baby yet.  I promise you all will know when I do. And I can't wait to share the news!!