Skip to main content

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... My garden is growing! The tomato plants all have green tomatoes and as I was watering them yesterday, I spied one that has the smallest hint of orange. It won't be long until that first tomato sandwich of the season. Two pieces of bread, toasted to perfection, a generous dollop of mayo on both slices, and a thick slice of tomato, lightly salted, and a dash of pepper. Mmmmm.

I am thinking... about life. Each morning, I take my cup of freshly brewed coffee and step out in the new morning air to tend my little vegetable patch. I have been thinking how one's environment can play such a big part in their growth. My parent's have the space to give each plant plenty of room to grow to its full potential. My dad can take a tiller between the rows to keep the soil aerated and to stop the weeds from taking over. Every year, their garden thrives; the plants are full and lush and produce a plentiful harvest. My little boxes, on the other hand, limit severely the plants growth. They are never as big or productive, and ususally at some point the weeds grow faster than I pull them. Where all this led me was my spiritual life. If we are boxed in by all the worldly things, we can never truly blossom as fully as God would want us to, for we are stunted by our surroundings. My hope is that I am allowing my children a bigger plot in which to grow in God's love than I had.

I am thankful for... my round belly, and the kicks and squirms within that belly that let me know she is growing as she should. I treasure each day of this pregnancy and look hopefully to the moment I hold her in my arms.

From the learning rooms... we are winding down for the summer (for which I am also VERY thankful!) We should be done by the week's end. The fall will bring many changes for our little schoolroom. Sophie will be settling in at Franciscan, Olivia will be at the Catholic High School that is just around the corner from our neighborhood, and Anna and Jack will be with me at that big table, where their feet can't reach the floor. I walked in the classroom this morning, surveying how it is now and thinking of how I could change it around to make it fit our new needs.

From the kitchen... to show how much I love my dear husband on Father's Day, I temporarily abandoned my usual healthy fare to give him his heart's desire. Beef hotdogs on store bought white buns, potato chips, and raspberry lemonade for lunch. Then we packed up and headed out for a relaxing afternoon on the beach. It was lovely and refreshed my soul. We came home full of sand in our clothes, but full of smiles and laughs and the memory of a good day together.

I am wearing... my pajamas.

I am creating... baby gifts for two other pregnant mamas, both wives of Army bandsmen. The Tradoc Band Family Association is giving all three of us a baby shower this weekend. I'll post pictures of the knitted gifts after they have been given away.

I am going... nowhere today! Yippee!

I am reading... Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime by Ray Guarendi and 1984 by George Orwell.

I am hoping... to get most of the paperwork ready to send off to MODG today. It will feel so freeing to put that package in the mailbox.

I am hearing... Tony getting ready for work, Sophie in the shower, the click of the keys as I type, the hum of the A/C unit (which is my saving grace during this hot week of 90+ temperatures), and the quiet of sleeping little ones.

Around the house... is the transition into summer. School books being closed and doors to the outside being opened. Long, hot afternoons in the sprinkler, a good book under a shady tree, a glass of iced tea, and the squeals of unbridled happiness from my children.

One of my favorite things... staring out at the endless ocean, with a breeze on my face and the fullness of God in my heart.

A few plans for the rest of the week: finish the school year!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...from last year's family beach trip.






Go on over to Peggy's to read more.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Door Table

Once there was a store in Georgia. It is no more, but how I wish it was. I likened going in there to treasure hunting. One never knew what was going to be in there, and you had to dig through and wade through all the "other people's treasures" to find your own. I once found a set of blue and white teacups and saucers from England. I found lace handkerchiefs, a rocking chair, and an end table. But by far the best find was my kitchen table. I had stopped by one day while the kids were taking horseback lessons and the then little ones were asleep. The store was not open, but I went up to the window to see if anything new was there. And it was there. The table. And six chairs too! We were in need of a bigger table with Jack on the way. My mom had offered to give us her old one, which I was going to accept if I didn't find something I liked better. I didn't want anyone else to even see the table because I knew it was supposed to be ours, but one can never tell abo

Fog and faith

 I stepped out into the coolness of the November morning to start the car and defog the windows, preparing to take Jack to school. Daylight had yet to appear. As we drove the many miles, the sky lightened, and we could see the mist hanging out just above the grass. We usually listen to a story together on our drive, adding commentary, exchanging a knowing glance or a shocked expression as the twists and turns unfold. I relish this time with Jack. I know that all too soon he will be preparing to leave the nest, like his sisters before him.  On the drive back, I pull my rosary from my purse and pray. By this time, the sun is just about to appear, making the sky a beautiful orange-pink on the horizon. I am pondering much as I pray, for the path I am on is once again rocky and uncertain. Such is life, whether we have faith or not. Faith makes it bearable. For the most part, the road home is a straight shot and I can see the ribbon of road laid out before me, narrowing in the distance. The

A Tale of a Tail (or the excitement of the day)

 First of all, I doubt anyone still checks this little old neglected blog, so I am probably talking to myself right now. But if by chance, there is still someone out there, I will tell the tale of the tail I came to tell. As little boys are apt to do, Peter left his rainboots outside on the front porch several days ago. As they do not add to the decor on the porch, I decided to bring them inside this morning and I put them by the back door, where they belong. There they sat, until the mail truck came by and tucked our mail into the box. I may or may not have mentioned that our property is surrounded by a moat during the rainy days. There is no going to collect the mail without rain boots. Seeing how Peter was supposed to be doing his math lesson, of course he eagerly volunteered to go get the mail. He hopped up from the table and went to put on his boots. The scream that came from him made me leave my seat! I thought he had hurt himself. He claimed there was a roach in his boot. I pick