Caution: Contents May Be Hot!

My coffee needed a "Caution: Contents May Be Hot" label on it this morning. I burned my tongue. I never burn my tongue on my own cup of coffee! Then flashbacks of my little fellow standing up by the coffee maker and pulling every button he could find before I caught him came through my mind. Sure enough, when I looked, the temperature knob was turned up as high as it could go.

That reminded me of other random stuff around my house that just stop and make me laugh. Things I know that I know that I know will be missed some day. Like the fireman figure that was waiting on the other side of the window sill to greet me this morning when I opened the blinds to let in the sun.

The motion-activated fire engine that was apparently parked under our arm chair and produced its authentic siren sound when the lady who was attending Bible Study Monday night dared to turn her body. Who knew?

My Simple Daybook

For Today, Sunday, August 29, 2010

Outside my window...

the sun is just rising and looking very similar to yesterday's gorgeous cloudless day. However, looks can be deceiving. And I am thinking that perhaps this beauty does not hint that the temperatures we are supposed to be reaching in the next couple days. Except I was thinking about last year too. Our village has a city wide garage sale once a year. One half of the main road does it one weekend, and our half the other weekend. And I remember being pretty hot walking around those weekends too. Although 90's was probably not in the forecast then… that just seems a little extreme.

I am thinking...

my sinuses are about to drive me crazy. I remember having this problem when I was pregnant with Isaac, but not to the point where I couldn't safely drive or want to sleep all the time. I think it's my allergies, which normally I would take some great medicine for. Medicine that I cannot take while pregnant, plus being pregnant is supposed to aggravate some peoples sinuses anyway among many other things it does to your former self. Some people enjoy being pregnant and they glow, radiant joy… I would prefer to skip the nine months of chaos raging over my body, mind and emotions. Should you see me with those strips over my nose, dousing water down my throat every five minutes, while chewing gum or a throat lozenge… and waving a tissue wildly through the air while sneezing… that's just me… trying to breathe and live somewhat of a productive life.

I am thankful for...

a wonderful, restful, real night's sleep while Stephen was away teaching his weekend class. Normally I stay up super late because I can't sleep, and then once I wear myself out I go to bed, only to wake up frequently to the creeks and bumps that come along with a house. But I made myself go to bed early last night when Isaac went down… and the small Tylenol PM I took probably helped too. Except I take half of a half of a half… so it's like nothing really. What percentage of that would be the actual recommended dose? I just think that my brain thinks it has some help, so I just go to sleep! I am glad. Very glad!

From the kitchen...

are the remains of an assembly line of sandwich and lunch making line. We made several sandwiches, and Isaac and I decorated bags for the kids that are here to help out with the Hispanic rally Stephanie planned. We figured they'll sleep a lot on the ride back to Indiana or be really bored, so we found some little toys to keep them busy. So it's our own version of a Happy Meal… times 25.

I am reading...

Finding Peace for Your Heart still… I keep putting it down every once and a while because once she got past the basic salvation message, she's branching out into… "different" interpretations of certain aspects of the Christian life and ways of belief. I'll finish it this week though because I have several other books that are waiting to be read. I keep finding ones that look interesting or are recommended! I love reading… when I can find the time.

I am hoping...
Stephen is able to rest after he preaches today. I "worry" about him sometimes… It's my job right? To keep an eye out for my boys. He's worked super hard the past few days teaching, traveling, visiting, doing different things for a church rally last night and today, and getting things at church ready (including his sermon). I hope he enjoys a nice nap this afternoon and we'll look forward to having him home a day or two with us since we missed him so much. Last night when we came home from picking up his overheated car after the rally I kept asking Isaac if he was glad Daddy was home and he would climb over to his daddy and give him big hugs and kisses and say "ya." You should have seen how excited he was when we first went to pick up Stephen since he couldn't finish driving home. And when Stephen had to walk away to transfer his suitcase and other things from his car to our car Isaac just dropped his head into his little hands (drama) and cried and cried (thinking Daddy was not staying with us).

I am creating...

fso many things! The creative bug has bit… probably because I am realizing the baby will be here "soon" and my list to get things done between now and then is extremely long. The number one thing to get done this week are some… "happies." And that is all I will say about that until I blog about them later. It's for a particular holiday and season coming up soon… and I don't want to give to much away. I will say that it is not finished yet because it involves glitter… as much as kids love glitter… I despise it. So that is why I am putting this project off as much as I have.

I am hearing...

the following quote ring through my head over and over, "Ew goo mommy." Not solicited, but a random bit of praise for all my mothering efforts during a building block session on the carpet yesterday.

Around the house...

we are in transition. Stephen's bags are still needing to be unpacked since we didn't have time last night, and lots and lots of bagged lunches are sitting everywhere… waiting to be organized and carried over to church.

Isaac is…

learning to be such a big boy! Yesterday morning we had to get ready to go to the store. I have all his clothes in bins, awaiting appropriate labels, and he picked some pants and shirt. I helped him get dressed, but he likes to try by himself. I step in during the part where he can't get his big head squeezed through the hole…. always a scream during that part. I try not to laugh. Then I was shocked when he walked in my room with his shoes on!!!! The boy was ready! I like big kid stuff! I was sad to lose the baby-ness… but this big kid stuff is going quite well. He was doing so well using his little toilet at the beginning of the week without my prompting!!; but we hit a snag which will be overcome in a short time I know.

Our second child…

is going to be a newborn. A newborn… a newborn… I keep telling myself. I'm going to have to hold his head, he won't automatically pull his arms through the right holes in his shirt. He will cry, he will not tell me he would like a cracker or more juice. He will be a newborn. I'm trying to prepare myself. Except, I have been thinking about Isaac's first year. And getting excited that I will not daily have to make sure I have extra diapers, extra clothes, enough food, wipes, lotion, rash cream, extra formula, clean blankets, labels on everything, all compacted nicely in one bag so that I can still maneuver a baby carrier into the daycare. And then come Saturday do all that plus put a highchair, bowl, extra food, extra water, toys, clothes, blankets, wipes, and more all my the door for traveling to church Sunday. This will be a completely new, newborn experience. And perhaps, I will not spending the first year giving him four to six breathing treatments a day, perhaps I can sleep more because he will not be sick, coughing, having difficulty breathing, because he cannot get better with all those other kids around. Yep, this will be new.

He's moving in on Isaac's space in his room. He has his own basket of little clothes we are working on getting clean and making room in the dresser for. One morning I told Isaac to go in his room and get a pair of pants. I didn't tell him whose pants, which I guess I'll have to start clarifying. He walked about and said, "Uh Doch's panz." He has named our baby one of his favorite Bible characters (Joshua), which was also almost his name! (It was that or Isaac.) And sure enough, these puke green and dark brown size 0 pants were being wiggled over his foot. (Puke green is cute in baby clothes.) Okay.

One of my favorite things...

Sitting in one of our new thrift store chair early in the morning, just in view of Isaac's bedroom door. And hearing him crawl out of his bed, turn off his sound machine, and trot over to his door. He slowly opens his door, sees if I'm sitting here, swings it wide open and comes running with big arms open to give me morning hugs and snuggles. There are huge benefits to this big boy stage!

A few plans for the rest of the week…

-Blood test for any sign of diabetes.

-Babysitting another child two days a week for this semester.

-Catching up on lots and lots of sleep.

Wednesday

Today is my day to be awakened at an absurd hour by the garbage truck. We have three that come through, on both sides of the street. So technically that is six times I hear screeeeeeeeeeeeeeech, boom, voooooooooooooom, screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech right outside our windows: A weekly travesty for me, the delight of one two-year-old, and nothing of disturbance to one nearly thirty-year-old male (how does he sleep so well?). It always gets me thinking about what we're going to do today. It's going to be a beautiful day weather-wise. Some have dared to hint at the excitement of even more "fall weather" approaching. A few years ago I would have counted myself among them, have following a few winters and being stir crazy I want every day of summer coming to me… Fall means the eminent doom of Winter is approaching with the first snowfall frequently before Thanksgiving, even into October, which technically is Fall. Now if Winter would confine itself to its dates (mid-December to March) I may feel differently. But when it encroaches and steals the glorious days of Fall and Spring, I can't help but feel doom when even those seasons approach. Anyway… I'm getting off track (and you dear friend, know who you are… Fall, indeed!)

Let me just say that as my mind was listing various ways to go about our tasks for the day: opening windows; pulling out soil (I will let someone else do that heavy part); finding my pruning tools, garden gloves, and sticks and leaves bin; potting my amazing clearance mums (yes, I know that's fall-ish, but I had to while they were on super clearance because who in the world actually wanted to buy mums last week while they were the store special… when the weather outside was in the 90's; their now less than $2.00 price was irresistible and that way, if I kill them again… gulp… like last year… I won't feel bad at all!); cutting back all our spring bushes and flowers; putting some of our spring garden "to sleep;"…. Lots of outside stuff today…Maybe even doing some more organizing in the garage if I could just get my little fellow to think he doesn't need to find his own "tuff" in all the chaos of our garage, pulling apart boxes and squeezing between things. I always wonder why he just can't enjoy play! But no, he must "fine tuff." I guess it looks like I am having so much fun he must join in.

All this was in fact, a fun way to get out of the house and complete some of the tasks which have been put off with the extreme heat we've been having. Getting out of the house is a good thing. Away from tasks left undone from yesterday, because Isaac's early bedtime was just too nice and I had to go to sleep myself. And now that I'm up super-early, I have more time to finish… but instead, I get to enjoy a wonderful quiet time, and even get to write all this because…sniffle, sniffle… my wonderful husband pulled out the laundry from the drier so it wouldn't wrinkle, set it on the couch, so I can fold it…. Emptied the sink of all its dirty dishes… and I mean every dirty dish, even the ones from the stovetop. And not stopping there, he even cleaned the stovetop. Everything around the house is ready and waiting for a new day! I can even start a new round of laundry because there's nothing sitting on top of the washing machine! And the most amazing part of it all: I didn't even ask him!! I didn't ask him to do any of it. He just did. I thought he was grading and working and prepping for his weekend class Friday and Saturday. And here in the midst of all that… he took time to help me out. What an amazing husband I tell you!! I think I'll let him sleep in!!!

My Simple Daybook

For Today, Monday, August 23, 2010

Outside my window...

There is a beautiful clear sky and almost full moon. I can't believe it, but I even think I saw a STAR when I went out there to usher the ladies home from Bible Study and bring my boys back in.

I am thinking...

I cannot be friends with everyone on Facebook! And also… I need to go to bed really, really soon!

I am thankful for...

Wonderful, wonderful days with my family this weekend downtown.

From the kitchen...

Is complete darkness, but clean table and dishes. Ready for tomorrow.

I am reading...

My blog reader right now. Gotta get caught up on those when I can.

I am hoping...

I can sleep in tomorrow!

I am looking forward to…

Today Aug 23Sunny 82° 65° 10% precipitation
Tue Aug 24 Mostly Sunny 84°/62° 10% precipitation
Wed Aug 25 Mostly Sunny 77°/ 58° 10% precipitation
Thu Aug 26 Sunny 74°/ 58° 0% precipitation
Fri Aug 27 Sunny 78°/ 61° 0% precipitation
Sat Aug 28 Sunny 82°/ 64° 0% precipitation

I am creating...

This post.

I am hearing...

Stephen clicking away on his own keyboard. Trying to make up for all the time "lost" on our days out.

Around the house...

Things are really, really clean because the ladies came over for Bible Study tonight! Yea!

Isaac is…

Sleeping. But I really thought the past two days that he looks so old! He is so tall… and skinny. Like a real little boy. Can I possibly be old enough to have a real boy for my own son? And his words… he just woke up Sunday morning speaking full sentences (still needing interpretation… but long sentences.) I'm left to wonder frequently these past couple days… Who is this kid?

Our second child…

Is breech according to the doctor. So he's going to see how things keep going the next couple months. He's not worried, and I'm not either. I guess this can be common for second births because my petite, girlish tummy is gone, and there's just too much space for that wee little lad to float around right now. Wait till he gets a little bit bigger.

One of my favorite things...

Bedtimes!! Especially after really, really, really long days!

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Do I have to think about that right now? I just need to sleep. I'll figure out the rest of the week tomorrow… or Wednesday even. Weekends for us are exhausting… glad Monday night is here and tomorrow we rest!

Sunday Review

Thanks to everyone who left funny emails, encouraging comments, and words of insight. This Sunday went a lot smoother! Sundays are just hard days for little guys! You wake up, you be still at church all morning, you come home to eat and nap, and then wake right up again to be scuttled off to church again, then back for more bed. He was a lot less whiney, so that made all the other infractions bearable. I was expecting much worse considering we were out for twelve hours on Saturday doing some fun things I will have to write about later!!! I am going to finish taking the pictures for those posts on Monday! Have a great week!! Thanks for all the comments, emails, and texts! It was very encouraging to my young mother heart!!!

Checking In

That was a pretty dismal post yesterday. Haha. But I just felt like I had to explain why I could not do my normal "daybook" post. Today is a new day… and a gorgeous one too! Since I've been writing Jon it seems like posting and updating here has been easier. So I thought I would just include a snippet of what I just wrote so that yesterday's post isn't left on the top here:

I've got all the windows open and enjoy hearing the summer critters and my wind chimes outside the front door… and there's a wonderful breeze coming in and around the house. Just beautiful! After all that blistering heat we've had THIS kind is just amazing! We played out in the sprinkler today, enjoying some good ol' summer fun, came in, had lunch, read books, brushed teeth and put a certain lad down for a nap. I was prepared for a long fight again. Last night took over an hour and a half until he finally stayed in his bed. It was 11 o'clock before he stayed in and fell asleep… Then this morning I heard little bare feet on the floor at 6:30… and a cautious little head peeking into my room, wondering what to do. Needless to say, after so little sleep, so much fighting, and then playing… he's tired and really needed the nap. Thankfully this time he only climbed out of bed once and then fell asleep within seven minutes! Yes, I was shocked. Not sure how long he'll sleep… I hope a while so he can catch up on some of that sleep he's missing!

Like I told him… I'll sign off for now and do a few other chores around here before I hear those bare-pigs on the floor again!

My Not-So-Simple Daybook

For Today, Sunday, August 15, 2010

The Top Ten Reasons Why Today Will Not End Soon Enough

1. I have been fighting, chasing, arguing, directing, and re-directing an extremely energetic, ever increasingly whiney, obstinate two year old since 7 o'clock this morning. Note to self ten…. Even FIVE… years ago: Mothers do not have Sunday rests, sick days, or rest in general.
   
2. My son has discovered how to easily climb out of his crib, making my naps non-existent from this point on… erasing peace and relaxation while he cries himself to sleep… instead, coming in and haunting my few moments with… "Hi Mom!" and a joyous, victorious, proud, and mischievous smile pasted on his face. Making the simple beginnings of nap time extend to thirty minutes of back and forth lifting and carrying… which is growing increasingly difficult for my own self.
   
3. My super great lunch plans were thwarted by the fact that I should have had the crock-pot on High instead of Low (who knew? That's what I get for trying to make my own recipe).
   
4. It's hot, way hotter than I expected for the day. Making me extremely uncomfortable in the outfit I chose for today… and no one's air conditioning seems to be working… the heat and discomfort are causing my annoyance level to go even higher.
   
5. Guess who did not have wipes for someone's poopy diaper in church?
   
6. How many times must I drop food on myself, drop silverware and dishes on the floor… in ever increasing regularity? How many stains and soakings will all my clothes have to endure? How can I feel so incompetent?
   
7. Why do I have to be so emotional and want to cry, cry, cry, at everything today?
   
8. Hearing my son say "No!" to every single…. EVERY. SINGLE. THING. I. SAY.
   
9. Whining… constant whining… I dared to leave following Daddy home from church so he could see the fire engines like usual coming home from church. Drama: "Daddy's gone! No, no, no! Daddy's gone." Pulling up in the driveway and SEEING Daddy: More drama: "No, no, no… Reed's house! A go Reed's house." To which I could only pull his kicking feet and wiggling body out of the car, lest he be overcome with heat being left in the car (beware winter, Young Lad) and plopped him in our lawn, leaving him to put on a great show for the neighbors. Sweet tea and (yet to be discovered un-finished) lunch were waiting inside.
   
10. I have to go back to church, pack this kid in the car and do the above for another six hours. I could go crazy. Don't talk to me or ask me how I'm doing. I will melt into a bundle of tears, huddle on the floor and rock slowly back and forth.
    

A Quote to Remember

We made yummy muffins for breakfast this morning, and because he made them I guess, Isaac was really enjoying them. He ate very well and then was more than happy to get down to play. Normally he will sit in his chair after we take his tray off and wait for Stephen to take him to the sink to wash up. This time he slithered down while the tray was still in mid-air, going to find a resting place on the table nearby. Stephen said, Isaac, let me wash you off, bud. And Isaac chimed up from the living room… No… (Looking himself over) I keen. Just as matter of factly as anything, like crumbs and dry food were not a mess at all. He did come in to show dad eventually what he was talking about… but it was really funny at the time. No… I keen.

Dog Days

Well, the rest of the week has proven to be exceptionally hot, even hotter with each passing day. Isaac and I did not venture out to the store or any type of play places by ourselves since earlier in the week. We went out early in the morning, when the heat was less oppressive; however, morning temperatures of 80 to 85 are not that low really. The first morning out I put the sprinkler on low, I thought this may be successful now that he is a pro at the water splash pad at the zoo. And it did work. He had a lot of fun. I took a video, but am having trouble downloading it. I will have to wait until Stephen can show me how to get it onto my computer from my phone (surely that's possible!). We also filled up his pool. What would we do without our little (big) swimming pool? Isaac would not be a happy camper because there is no way his own mother would sit outside without that nice pool! I have deep gratitude and amazement at everyone who works outside on days like this. How can though do it? I can literally feel my skin burning! We frequently (minute by minute) keep dousing ourselves in water to keep from melting. Melting would be a bad thing…

Playing Around

I thought I heard mouse in there!

Climber

He knows he isn't supposed to be up there, right? So what does he say, "Mom! Cam-uh!" Cheese!

At the End

It's been another long day. Either they really are getting longer, or I am just realizing how long they actually are. Today was so long because it was full every minute with activity. I could tell when Isaac woke up that he was not feeling completely whole… his little eyes were puffy but his smile was still there. He had energy, until about lunch time when he completely bottomed out. All he could do was snuggle down on the floor and run a car across his tummy. I told him his cheeks looked a little red (like he had a fever) and he said, No… they were blue. Oh, okay. Then could I please look in his mouth to see if there were any polka dots. Orange and green of course. He took a nap, and pulled on my heart when he woke up. He was still so tired and whiny. It is not a happy thing to see your little fellow not feeling 100%.

After Isaac woke up, Stephen did an amazing job of being here at home and completely rearranging our living room! We are enjoying it now. He has finally come in for the day, and working on the couch with his computer. He has done an amazing job keeping our house looking nice both inside and out. Several things off our to-do list today!!! We took the dining room table down and moved the couch where that used to be. We moved several other pieces of furniture… nothing stayed in the same place except the two corner cabinets which are occupying the only two corners we have in the living area. (We of course live in a square house, but the other corners are busy with doors and hinges, and the like.) We have a lovely, cozy sitting area now where we used to have the dining room and have a nice open area… although I am currently noticing my son is trying to circle around my recliner… as if the living room just isn't big for him…. Some people are never satisfied!

A Quote to Remember

An original sentence… by Isaac. (Unwilling to put pants back on after a diaper change. Rather, enjoying the comfortable feel of being undressed.)

Day is Done

It has been a really, really long day. But it is over now…almost. As soon as I can finish writing and wind down a little bit. But I so happy to report that I can now flush the toilet without fear! I can (one day, when all the backwashed grime is gone) take a long, long shower. (Exactly how many scrubbings will it take to get the bathtub clean again?) And Isaac is good for one more year before having another maintenance check-up. Today's was long (I said that, right?)… very long. I am so thankful for a husband who went through this entire day's trials with us. A large sacrifice of time on his part, hours and hours…including taking care of Isaac while I had Bible study to night. I think right now I hear him getting back into the ticking groove on his keyboard.

Isaac is 37 and a half inches tall, and 25 pounds. Extremely skinny for his age, and exceptionally tall. The doctor did not consider the bruises a testimony to any type of child abuse thankfully; even casually overlooking the bruised bump that conveniently found itself on his forehead right before we had to go in today of course! By the dirt collected under his finger nails and between his fingers from admiring the plumber's rotating machine in the front lawn today for over an hour and by the popsicle stain running down his arm… she came to the conclusion that he was active. But little did she know that drama leading up to the appointment. I overcame the feeling of being belittled because… there is just really nothing you can do when the housing plumbing is beyond your control. Thankfully she didn't see the stains on my own shirt from those same popsicle-hands and muddy fingers, that were much dirty before I was able to get them somewhat clean before we got in the car. I just don't even notice things about my own self when I am trying to get my own child looking decent. There are days I get to our destination and wonder if I put my shoes on, or did I even look in the mirror to fix my hair? Or… what am I wearing?

It's been a long… LONG day!

My Simple Daybook

For Today, Sunday, August 08, 2010

Outside my window...

The sun is very bright and is ten degrees less than the projected temperature on the radio this morning. A very nice blessing indeed!

I am thinking...

Where are my Aunt and Uncle right about now? Are they in the plane, still waiting at the airport? Have they arrived?? I hope they have a fabulous time on their trip to (the state of) Washington and are rested and revived! Praying for you every day! Anxious to try out your phone numbers a week from now to find out if you made it safely back to civilization!

I am thankful for...

I got to talk to my brother today! What a surprise! Sorry for my parents who heard him hang up on them, but happy all Jon could here was a busy signal and decided to use his few remaining minutes to talk to his old sis'. Thankful he is able to still have his cell phone working, despite the added expense a few months for someone else! Because just getting some news from him each week is worth it!

From the kitchen...

Are some wafting aromas that remind me of our fun muffin baking yesterday. Isaac and I decided to make Banana Crumb Muffins for breakfast yesterday. And he actually did a great job helping! He was really into it (literally and figuratively), he couldn't wait to see how they would turn out. He was completely in charge of the brown sugar crumbs we put on top just before sticking the batter in the oven. He was very successful and because he used handfuls instead of pinches, probably turned out better than I could have made them. Don't remember if you remember that really, really old post of him in his green apron… he was extremely reluctant to wear it then, but yesterday… had a hard time getting him out of it. He kept explaining to me that he was a baker, he needed it!

I am reading...
Finding Peace for Your Heart, by Stormie Omartian. I have been really touched at her testimony and her encouragement to find fresh faith. It has "empowered" me with basic explanations, easy to reference Scriptures, and answers for very basic, basic questions unbelievers (and new believers) have about God, salvation, and living a godly life. It has been a real encouragement to me and I am anxious to finish through it so I can start on her next one too!

I am hoping...

I do not have an hour and half wait in the doctor's office tomorrow (again). Last time was a nightmare! I have been talking to Isaac about what the doctor will check, but I can't bring myself to mention the shots. He is a big boy now, and he can kick! That means someone is going to have to hold him down. It means he is old enough to blame someone… oh please don't let it be me!

I am creating...

A LOT of spelling mistakes in this blog! I think I am catching them, but will not be going back over and reading this because… why torture myself?

I am hearing...

The air conditioner! So thankful for the air conditioner!

Around the house...

Are signs of great progress being made! Isaac's "old" toys are put away, leaving only the toys he actually adores out on his shelves. The dining room table is clear, and ready to be put away, making more room in the living room area for baby equipment come a few more months. The laundry has just that… laundry stuff… no junk waiting to be put in the garage. And the bathroom… is waiting for the plumber to come fix our horrible draining problem!

Isaac is…

Changing every day! He is starting to get excited about stuff. For example, when he sees someone he has missed like Dad at the end of the day, or a friend at church… he just cannot control himself and seems to turn off all his listening ears. Monday, when we were going to Wisconsin, he was so excited to be going on vacation he could not WAIT for us to pack the car. He was going around the house just pulling random stuff out, chattering on and on, banging stuff, being a general nuisance, and by the time it was time to actually be in the car, he had worked himself up so much he was in tears!

Our second child…

Has several nice clothes waiting for him in the garage. I was able to go through several baby boxes this week in the garage and organize them. There is a large tub waiting to be washed and put away in the dresser once I get all Isaac's stuff in the house organized and stored in the garage. I am thinking there are a few more boxes I missed because there are some onesies and little tiny pants we bought when he was two weeks old that are missing still. I'll find them before December. I was blessed to find a great garage sale this week and get some winter baby clothes for a quarter a piece! Including one brand new, tags still on, winter suit to wrap around Baby, and transfer him in and out of his car seat because it has this convenient little hole in it, so I don't even have to worry about getting his out in the cold. I can just strap him in and go!

One of my favorite things...
Surprise phone calls from brothers in Basic Training, and then calling the parents for a nice, long, Sunday afternoon conversation! Sundays were made for such things!

A few plans for the rest of the week…

-Take Isaac to the doctor

-Have a first women's Bible Study on Luke Monday night

-Celebrate Play In the Sand Day on Wednesday

-(Secretly) celebrate International Left-Handers' Day on Friday. (I told him already, but I'm thinking he won't remember, therefore it will be a surprise!)

Birthday Dollars

Isaac thinks he is a "fye-mun." Everyone is a "fye-mun": the police officer, the construction worker, the mailman. All helpers and workers get lumped into his all time favorite job: fireman! So how convenient that the week after his birthday he is able to spend some birthday dollars in the Dollar Aisle and buy a fireman hat and jacket? A dream come true I tell you!

Kenosha

Before the summer got away from us and the busy-ness of our Fall schedule begins, we wanted to take a little vacation together. And by "little" I mean one night. Two days, one night away. And for each of us, it was just the right amount of time. We enjoyed each other's laughs and giggles, relaxed, played, didn't worry about doing dishes, cleaning up toys, or staying up too late (because we were exhausted). It was nice.

We drove about an hour and ten minutes out of the city and up to Wisconsin, right on Lake Michigan. Thanks to Priceline we got an amazing hotel, and felt luxurious. We left before lunch and stopped off at Trinity, taking a grand tour of the new facilities they have just put up there. We enjoyed seeing where Stephen goes to school and works, and met many new friends we had only heard about this past year since we have been gone from that area. After that it was only a few minutes until we were unloading at our hotel, and then taking our picnic lunch to the beach. The first day we were there was overcast, but still warm. By the water, we were a tiny bit chilly, so we put our blanket a little ways up the shore. The water was ice, but thankfully when we went back at lunch the next day, we found a different beach that actually had sunshine and sand… and had a much warmer experience. But both were extremely fun and relaxing. Can't go wrong with a beach-y day, sun or clouds, in the middle of summertime!

After the beach and late lunch we took a tour of the city, found the lighthouse, and several other places of interest. We went back to the hotel, washed all the sand off of us, and turned in early. The next day we enjoyed a yummy breakfast and went off to tour the Jelly Belly Factory. It was pretty cute… and I learned so much about jelly beans!! Amazing stuff! When we left the factory, the sunshine was calling us back to one more trip to the beach before we headed back home late in the afternoon. We stopped off at one of our favorite places for a very late lunch, and then meandered our way back home.

This scrapbooking design created with Smilebox

My Simple Daybook

For Today, Sunday, August 01, 2010

Outside my window...

The sun is shining and the temperature is not nearly as humid or hot as it has been last few weeks I have sat (I almost wrote "have sitten"… I don't even think that is a word!) down to write. The temperature is a lovely 84 degrees and the cicadas are outsides humming away. I like to hear them, but I highly dislike finding them on a bench I am about to sit on or in the grass where I am about the take my next step. "Huge bugs they are!"

I am thinking...

About my family far away. I had the wonderful privilege of talking to my Aunt on the phone for several minutes today. Isn't it so nice to talk to someone who seems to have always known you? I remember that same feeling when my grandparents passed too, that feeling that someone who has always known me and those memories of my life are missing. But as this same Aunt and Uncle inspired me to think: Don't cry because it is gone, smile because it happened. And the more time goes by from me, and now as I frequently fold a shirt of Isaac's for the last time, or find some other memento that has served its purpose and is to put away or given away, I do smile instead of regretting that time is over. It has been good, each moment I am blessed with, because God has been good, He IS good. We look forward to what is ahead. And I am thinking of my brother. Funny how you think of someone even more when you know you cannot easily get in touch with them as you once would have.

I am thankful for...

A wonderful husband who is so tender and supportive through all the ups and downs of pregnancy!

From the kitchen...

Comes the remaining yummy aroma of roast with potatoes and carrots. I love the smell of Sunday dinners when we walk in from church. Yea for the crock-pot and a timer on the plug and outlet that make it work so well for us. Even a train that made us wait over fifteen minutes today couldn't make me worry… I knew things had already switched off and weren't awaiting my arrival lest they burn!!

I am reading...

Beyond Ourselves by Catherine Marshall.

(I thought I had read all her books until I picked this one off the shelf last week. How long has it been sitting there unread??)

Most impressionable moment from it this week:

"…the Christian life must be lived in the will, not in the emotions; that God regards the choices decisions and choices of a man's will as the decisions and choices of the man himself—no matter how contrary his emotions may be. Moreover, when this principle is applied, the emotions must always capitulate to the will. I don't 'feel' God's presence today' we wail. What is the remedy? It is simplicity itself: Our emotions are not the real us. The motivating force at the center of our physical being is our will."

I am hoping...

We have wonderful weather for our two days off together as a family. We are looking forward to two days up in Wisconsin, enjoying a little family vacation before we fall into what appears to be an extremely busy Autumn schedule!!

I am creating...

(Don't laugh…) An Advent Calendar. Yes, this is for Christmas. "Christmas in July" (except now it's August). I have finished all our family devotions for the Jesse Tree and have chosen some activities for us to do every day during the holiday season. The reason I am doing this now is that if my first trimester symptoms return the third trimester, I will feel like doing nothing which will really frustrate me because I adore the Fall and Christmas. So I am getting ready for it now, especially since we do not know when Baby will be officially coming and how. So now there is something for Isaac to always do every day whether I am in the hospital or feeling unmotivated, fat, and overtired at home. I was telling Stephen I actually like this planning (because it's almost done) and feel like I will enjoy the holiday instead of doing all this DURING the time of celebration. It will all be done and I can actually BE! So don't send me your wish list… yes, it's already been bought. Even down to the wrapping paper and bows.

I am hearing...

The hum of Isaac's baby monitor while he takes a nap since I cannot hear back in his room while the air conditioning is on!

Around the house...

Are several little boy toys. A well built track that is waiting for its Engineer to return and a truck load of animals waiting to be unloaded again into the barn. What a relief that girl themed toys will not have to be added to our collection (nothing against girl things at all, just one more thing that's "easy" this time around).

One of my favorite things...

Sunday afternoon coffee. Thinking ahead for the week. Reflecting on the past. Rediscovering how much I enjoy writing letters!
Writing every week has developed in me this realization that… things pass. As I go through a new phase with Isaac (spitting, kicking, whatever) I have gained an amazing perspective that made me realize we are always in the process of development… so work hard at growing… and that nothing (whether annoying, bad or adoringly good and comfortable) comes to stay for always.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

-Go on vacation!\

-(Still) wait for the new Ladies' Bible Study material to come (they had to make a new recording for us)

-Start organizing the unorganized baby stuff that was quickly packed a year ago when we moved