The Simple Woman's Daybook - 9.21.09

Just wanted to get my thoughts flowing on a Monday morning...if you'd like to play along, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Outside my window...
dreary. It rained all last week and rain is in the forecast every day until Sunday. I'm feeling convicted lately about complaining about the weather, though, and instead working to acknowledge God's sovereign grace by cultivating gratitude and keeping my mouth shut about what I don't enjoy :) Our back patio is nicely swept, thanks to Steve!

I am thinking...
about Dooce's latest post...about cutting all my hair off...about how much I need wisdom and grace from above for parenting...about how the clouds have parted and I am really enjoying this season of life.

I am thankful for...
the fact that Elijah is still in bed! He woke up and chattered for a while around 7, but I try to encourage him to sleep until 8, so I finally went upstairs and gave him a drink and told him to go back to sleep--never dreaming he'd still be up there and quiet over an hour later! Also thankful for an afternoon/evening of fellowship with a family from church yesterday--it was a blessing to have friends around the dinner table and spend time getting to know them.

From the kitchen...
I made chicken tortilla soup for dinner last night, and tried out Danielle's (friend's) recipe for black bean and mandarin orange salsa. The salsa was a huge hit--I'll definitely make it again!

I am wearing...
pajama pants and an Indiana Wesleyan t-shirt--I usually don't shower until after our morning walk.

I am creating...
not much of anything lately. I haven't made any cards or worked on scrapbooks in a long time (hoping to do that Thursday) and don't really have any other projects going. This week I hope to work on creating a more organized office (it is crazy-cluttered in here) and/or some writing projects.

Always, I must remind myself, I am creating a home: a haven where grace reigns, where Christ is treasured and celebrated, where Steve feels supported and respected and built up, where Elijah feels loved and safe and can learn and grow.

I am going...
to listen to the eighth(!) lecture for my class today. I am going to remind myself frequently, "Work before play is the rhythm of the day."

I am reading...
Pilgrim's Progress (John Bunyan), Seeing with New Eyes (David Powlison), Shepherding a Child's Heart (Tedd Tripp), Biblical Parenting (Crystal Lutton)

I am hoping...
to get in a walk every day this week, in spite of the rain...to have coffee soon with an old friend whom I haven't seen in ages...to say NO to the flesh and YES to Christ today more often than vice-versa.

I am hearing...
trucks going by (we live on a busy road) and the fake-running water sound of Elijah's white noise machine on the monitor. The house is blissfully quiet :)

Around the house...
my kitchen is possibly cleaner than it's EVER been (with the exception of breakfast dishes in the sink)! My in-laws gave us their old microwave last weekend, so we got to chuck our enormous, old, slow microwave (no joke, it was older than we are and took approx. 2:30 to heat a mug of milk for hot chocolate). Steve helped me completely rearrange everything on the kitchen counters--now everything is neat and tidy and I have way more workspace!

One of my favorite things...
the quiet of early mornings. I'm a night owl, so I really hate getting up early...but these early hours with Steve and by myself/with the Lord are so precious to me. It makes all the difference in my day to start it with the Word and prayer.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
another busy week with lots to anticipate. We may hit the library for story time this morning. Tomorrow we're going to a friend's house for a playdate/lunch, and we get to sit in on their homeschool morning, just because I think it will be fun to get a firsthand look at what that's like. Wednesday is our church playdate, and on Thursday, since Steve has to work late, I may be having a friend over.

Saturday is the day of the big plans: Mama's day out! Steve is watching Elijah all day long while I go to a Pampered Chef party in the morning, a huge used book sale after that, and then spend some time at Starbucks or Panera or somewhere having extended time alone with God. THEN, I get to have dinner with my friend Kathryn, whom I have not seen in four and a half years! I can't wait!

A picture thought I am sharing...
in honor of football season (yay!), here's a photo of my little man playing in his grandparents' backyard last weekend. I love how the expression on his face and the placement of his hand looks like he's concentrating really hard before making the winning touchdown pass :)

Have a blessed Monday, everyone!