Soooo.....

So, what did you do today, Jennifer?

Well, I'm glad you asked.  I paid for a new water heater.  For our house.  You know, the one that's ON THE MARKET. 

I'm thinking we need to take the sign out of the yard and stay for a while to get some of our money's worth.  Take lots of hot showers and wash clothes and dishes all day.  But then the dishwasher will break down and we'll be right back where we started. 

And then!  And then I come to my senses and am thankful to have water to heat and the money to replace things that break. 

And although things don't always go like I plan or even like I want, I am reminded that I am blessed.  Blessed beyond measure and way beyond what I deserve. 

How has God blessed YOU today?

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...snow!!  I love love love snow.  I have such fun memories of snow days from my childhood. (Right, Ashleigh?)  And it's carried over to adulthood.  I get even more excited than my kids I think.

I am thinking...about a statistic I heard on The View, that a woman's eggs are 90% gone by the age of 30.  Whoa.  

I am thankful for...warm clothes and a warm house.  It's never far from my mind that these things are blessings and not rights. 

From the learning room...Robert Fulton, overviews of Indiana and Mississippi, 6s multiplication tables, art, science class, and spelling words. 

I am wearing...jeans, NC State long sleeved T-shirt, and 2 pairs of socks.  And longjohns.  And I'm still cold.

I am going...to watch the LOST premiere tomorrow.  Can't wait!!!

I am reading...On the Banks of Plum Creek (to the kids).

I am hoping...this is not the only snow we get this year. 

I am hearing...the kids playing upstairs with neighbor kids.  No school today for the public school kids.  No such luck for mine. :)

Around the house...clean kitchen, clean bathrooms, vacuumed floors.  Yay!

One of my favorite things...snuggling with the kids while we read history. 

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Target group, basketball practice, trip to The Homeschool Room and lunch with friends, and who knows what else!

 

                

Go on over to the Simple Woman's Daybook blog for more daybook entries.

Snow!!

Friday evening through Saturday we got a little snow and sleet.  Not very exciting for those of you who live cool places like Colorado or New England, or even Western NC, but for us, well, we'll take what we can get!

We all went out yesterday morning, but since it was still sleeting I didn't take the camera.  We bought sleds a few weeks ago in faith.  All the ice made it perfect sledding on the roads around our house. 

Hayes made it about an hour and then we brought him in for a day of video games and play time with us.  (Ok, so it was games with Daddy and Mommy had a Glee marathon.)

Rebecca stayed out ALL DAY.  She was sledding and in and out of friends' houses until I had to call her home at 6pm.  And we had gone out at 9am!

I went out with the kids this morning and let me tell you, I was a little scared!  The ice was twice as fast as it was yesterday and the mailboxes and gutters made it a little hazardous! ha!  You couldn't exactly dig your feet into the ice to slow down. 

                

We could push the kids on our almost flat driveway and they'd go all the way to the street and down to the corner!

                

I'm sledding behind her snapping pics. Probably not very smart.

                

Another hill.

                

                

Down the hill....

                

                

And around the corner!

                

When Hayes figured out that he wasn't going to get to play video games all day, he decided to join us.

                

                

                     

Fun times!  But I was ready for their friends to come out to play so I could come inside! ha!     

Sometimes you're the bug....

You ever have one of those days?  I mean, one of THOSE days.  The kind of day that you just want to do over.  And it's not even noon.  I'm not the only one, am I?

And if I'm going to be honest, (and really, why wouldn't I, if I'm going to talk about it here) but if I'm going to be honest I'd have to say it's not even because the day itself has been so bad.

It's because I have been. 

I've been grouchy, impatient, unkind, easily frustrated and just all around NOT NICE.  And the guilt over acting this way towards my children is immense.  Overwhelming even.  I'm talking a stand-in-the-shower-until-the-hot-water-runs-out cryfest over it all. 

So it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out I didn't have my quiet time this morning, right?  But the cryfest sent me to my knees.  And of course my Father met me there.  God Calling for today said that He heard David when he cried out from the depths and that He hears me too.  Crying out from the shower.

I've asked for forgiveness.  Pleaded for help.  Apologized to my kids. 

There are consequences though.  There always are.  My kids are grouchy too.  I set the mood in the house.  I made my daughter cry today.  THAT sucks.  (I know that is such a tacky word, but it really is the only one that fits right now.)  I see in their eyes that they are worried, scared even that I'm going to yell again. 

And now I'm crying again because Hayes just climbed up on the couch beside me and kissed me on the cheek.  For no reason.  Thank you God.  I am so very undeserving of anything good, especially today. 

I know His mercies are new every morning.  Maybe they are new every afternoon as well.    

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today.....

Outside my window...some crazy wind.  And the beautiful sunshine. 

I am thinking...I should really be doing laundry, but after I post this I will be starting my new book.

I am thankful for...libraries.  I know, I'm such a nerd.  But we just checked out 8 books for school for things we'll be learning about this week and I just love that it's free.

From the learning room...this week it's Thomas Jefferson, The Louisiana Purchase, Louisiana, the 6's (times tables), plants, spelling words and proper nouns.

From the kitchen...leftovers from Pei Wei and a new BBQ place we tried this weekend.  Not cooking tonight since the kids have basketball practice.  And I'm so sad about that.

I am wearing...brown sweats (see? my uniform!) and a Seattle T-shirt.

I am creating...house plans.  Ok, so I'm not creating them, but I am finding ways to tweak them so they fit our family.

I am going...to meet a friend to catch up tonight.

I am reading...Breaking Dawn (well, in about 5 minutes I will be!)

I am hoping...the people who looked at our house Saturday come back next weekend!  Looks like they might!!

I am hearing...the wind outside and my 4 year old playing video games. 

Around the house...shoes in the floor, mail on the couch, laundry in the dryer, and my feet on the coffee table. 

One of my favorite things...witnessing my children learn new things every day.  And most days, they actually ENJOY it!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  school, school, school.  And my friend just gave me the idea of going to the Nature Museum for a field trip.  We ARE studying plants this week!

 

Head on over to the Simple Woman's Daybook blog for more entries.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I've seen these daybook posts on Marybeth's blog for a while and decided to participate today.  Loosely translated:  I can't think of anything to blog about.

Outside my window...the sun going down after a beautiful day.

I am thinking...about making chocolate chip cookies.

I am thankful for...a husband who, although he had to work today, came home early (surprised us!) and took us all to the park.

I am wearing...brown sweats, purple hoodie, socks (aka, my uniform)

I am remembering...my kids throwing football at the park today and my 4 yr old's almost perfect spiral. 

I am going...crazy.  No, not really.  To make cookies after I finish this post.  (See, I'm still thinking about them!)

I am currently reading...my Bible.  Need to get the 3rd Twilight book.  Yes, I realize the two don't exactly go hand in hand.  Don't judge. 

I am hoping...my house sells soon.

On my mind...finding land to build on and deciding on a house plan.

Pondering these words..."Live life without regrets." (Robert Rogers)

From the kitchen...the smell of chicken quesadillas from supper.

Around the house...QUIET!  Everyone is at basketball practice and I'm all alone.  Ahhh.......

One of my favorite things...having coffee and visiting with a friend. 

For more daybook links, go HERE.

Shoot some hoops!

Well, it's started.  We now have two kids playing sports.  Two practices a week.  Two games on Saturdays.  Ahhhh.  It's just like when I was growing up except now I'm the one driving here and there and shelling out money for snacks. 

And I seriously LOVE IT!

And who couldn't love this:

                       

Or this:

                       

Or this:

                       

Hayes was taking pictures and he likes to get all up in your face.  We will not be showing the ones he took of me.  Trying to lean back away from him gave me like 5 chins.

So this is our life on Saturdays for a few months.  Loving every minute of it.

Remind me I said that about March, ok?