Outside my window…there is a gentle breeze.

I am thinking…I never get tired of seeing the world through little eyes.  Before arriving at the beach, I dread the sand, the heat, the effort.  Once we’re there, I watch their little eyes take it all in and I, too, am reminded of how little we are and how great this world is and I know that the effort is totally worth it.

I am remembering…Every now and then when we’re eating lunch, I let the kids watch Super Why!  Monday I turned it on only to find that Super Why! was not on, but instead a new show called Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood was on.  The episode was about how “if something seems bad, turn it around and find something good.”  I let the kids watch it while I caught up on email and such.  Halfway through, I lost my internet connection.  I let out a grunt and said, “Ugh, I just lost my internet connection.”  William quickly piped up that I should turn it around and find something good.  At first I wasn’t sure what he was talking about.  I confusedly asked, “What?”  William patiently replied, “Just like they said, Mommy, when something seems bad, you should turn it around and find something good.”   Point well made, William (and PBS).

Ah, but that’s not the end of this story.  The next day after lunch, Andrew threw all of his leftover food on the floor (which was about half of his lunch).  I picked it all up (or so I thought) and went about my business.  Joseph was sitting in the kitchen talking to me when I stepped on a piece of grape from Andrew’s lunch.  “Ugh,” I grunted.  Joseph asked what was wrong.  I explained that I was frustrated that Andrew had thrown all of his lunch on the floor and that I kept stepping on bits of it.  “Well,” Joseph replied thoughtfully, “let’s see if we can find something good about this.”  I looked at him.  “Just like we learned yesterday, Mommy, you know, on PBS.  Let’s turn this around and find something good.  So if Roo threw his food on the floor, what can you tell me is good about it?  Now before you tell me, Mommy, I just want you to know that I really think this might be a virtue lesson.  Finding something good when it seems bad really does seem like a virtue, doesn’t it?”

I thought I was the teacher here.  I have so much to learn.

I am thankful…for blue skies.

In the refrigerator…a carton of coconut milk.  Always.  Nothing makes a better smoothie than coconut milk.

I am wearing…jean shorts and a blue v-neck t-shirt.

I am creating…wooden saint dolls to add to our collection.

I am going…to attempt a garden again this fall.

I am wondering…what is it about taking the cushions off of the couch that amuses children so?

I am reading…The Rhythm of Family by Amanda Blake Soule.

On my iPod…Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  It’s long and my walks have been short lately.

I am looking forward to…my next cup of tea.  I may just be addicted.

I am learning…that my attention is worth more than gold to these little children of mine.

Around the house…we’re schooling.  We’re playing.  We’re loving.

I am pondering…the thought that sometimes we are failing.

I am praying…for our friends, Kateri and Joey, as they continue to mourn the loss of their 6 year old son, Avery.  If you are able to help financially, please click over to the memorial fund for Avery.  In Kateri’s request for help, she reminded us that “Just like the little loving actions of that special boy in his daily life, there is NO amount too small to help us through this.”  Please consider giving.

A favorite quote for today…”Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.”  St. Gregory Nazianzen

One of my favorite things…reading to Andrew.

A peek into my day…

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…it is windy.  Very windy, yet I can still hear a dog barking somewhere in the distance.

I am thankful…for joy, laughter, and the time to share it.

I am thinking…about some wise words that I recently heard.  I now find myself asking often, “Will this … get my child to heaven?”  Be it a book, a game, a playdate.  Each moment should take us one step closer.

From the learning rooms…you wouldn’t know this yet, since I haven’t posted the promised plan for this school year, but we are traveling down the Alphabet Path again (we just can’t resist) and this week is A week.  Our house is filled with excitement…who knew that a letter could be so incredibly inspiring!

In the kitchen…an apple pie, of course.

I am wearing…a pink t-shirt and black gym shorts.

I am creating…plans, plans, plans!

I am reading…Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper, which I was tempted to quit a few pages into it, but now I’m intrigued and can’t seem to put it down.

I am listening…to the sound of a car passing by, the hum of the computer, and that barking dog somewhere out there.

I am praying…for our beautiful friends, Kateri and Joey, as they prepare to welcome their newest little one into the world.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing…

Outside my window…it is beautiful and sunny, although terribly hot.  Forecast is calling for rain, but I don’t see a single gray cloud.

I am thankful…for sign language.  Andrew communicates so well with those little hands.

I am thinking…just when I think I’m back into the swing of blogging, I regress.  Someday I will be consistent.  This is not someday and I think someday may be far, far away.

From the learning rooms…today was the official first day of our new year…before I even saw Joseph this morning, I could hear him, “Yea! It’s the first day of school!”  We’ve been schooling lightly all summer so it wasn’t a very dramatic change, but we did start all of our new curriculum and I promise to post our plan very soon.

In the kitchen…lots and lots of fresh berries.

I am wearing…a white skirt and a striped tank top.  Mom asked me last night if I was going to wear a skirt for our first day of school and I said, “Enh, I don’t know.”  Mom replied, “Well you should.”  Well, Mom, I did.  Mostly because you said so.

I am creating…plans for this next school year.  Always planning, but I’ve learned that I’m happier this way than trying to fit in a box.

I am reading…Charlotte Mason’s original works.

I am listening…to Andrew blow raspberries as he takes down every. book. from. my. shelf.  AGAIN.

I am wondering…who was really having more fun here?

I am praying…Stay with me Lord by Padre Pio:

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You.  You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes; death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows.
O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all it’s dangers. I need You.
Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it, but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.    Amen

Around the house…the boys helped clean this weekend, so now it’s just a matter of picking up toys.  Again and again.

One of my favorite things…brothers.

Here are some pictures for thought I am sharing…