a daybook the week, August 6-12

Outside my window...

It's hot. Really, really hot. The temperature only hit 95 degrees the other day and I honestly noticed a huge change! BUT, August means that September, October, November, and December are close. And that means I can start getting excited for fall colors, new schooling, picking apples with my girls, making apple desserts with those girls, cooler weather! October feast days (best month for feast days!)! Then after that, turkeys, cinnamon, yummy smells, family gatherings, friendly gatherings, twinkling lights, Advent, Nativities, flickering candles, whispers about presents being given to excited little hands....seriously, everything about the upcoming seasons excite me. Hence my excitement that it is August. :)

I am thankful for...

The loving thoughts of my parents, my parents-in-law, and a dear friend who have all made sure that my nights aren't lonely without Joseph!

I am thinking about...

Schooling, schooling, schooling! I still have no idea what I'm doing, so I'm a bit overwhelmed, but not too much so. Molly will be reviewing pre-school material for a month (or longer if she shows the need to) and then we're moving into Kindergarten material. I have workbooks galore for Molly, and even some for Ellie and Theresa to work on. Of course, the two-year-olds won't be doing any formal schooling (heck, even Molly will be learning more organically than not), but I know they'll want something to do. I also found some Latin curriculum that can be started as early as age two. Which means, even the two-year-olds will begin learning Latin soon! There are two systems I'm interested in - one teaches classical and ecclesiastical and teaches familiar songs in Latin and the other is solely ecclesiastical and teaches traditional prayers and hymns in Latin. I want both badly but we'll see what I end up with. They've both have glowing reviews, but the latter has been used with success by people I actually know. 

Also, beds for the girls. Is it really so hard to find vintage, shabby chic, solid wood, white, matching twin beds for under $200?  Oh. I also have grand plans of making their bedspreads with a friend's mom. My grandmother also crocheted a blanket to put at the end of their beds. Grand plans, I tell you! I've been saving up. :)

In the Schoolroom...

Oh. Should have read ahead. 

I guess I'll go on! I just ordered an entire curriculum for PreK-4/Kinder for Molly, used, for $20, plus $5 shipping. Not bad! I've been haunting curriculum swap sites! 

I also found huge boxes filled to the brim with books for $10 each at Half Price Books this summer. I bought two. The worker there even let me go through the boxes to make sure it's what I wanted. I now have a fully stocked (for little ones) homeschool library. This has been the summer of schooling, really. I can see how people become homeschool junkies!

From the kitchen...

Eh. With Joseph gone, I don't enjoy cooking. I cooked a bag of chicken and a huge batch of rice on Saturday and have been eating off that that or eating with friends for dinner. 

I am creating...

Order in my home. 

I went through and priced our cloth diapers for selling and wrote ISBN's for selling Joseph's old text books. 

I'm inventorying fall and winter clothing tomorrow or later this week so I know what the girls need. 

To accomodate all the new school books we have, I had to buy a bookshelf. I'm so excited! I'll be avoiding putting that together until Joseph gets home since that's not my forte. 

I am working on...

Patience, patience, patience. I ashamedly admit that too trivial of things have been frustrating me or causing me hurt or anxious feelings. I chalk it up to being with my kids NON-STOP for the last six weeks, but that's the cross that Our Lord felt fit to give me to help me get to Heaven, so...it's not an excuse. I've been consistent in my Confession routine and pray that those graces get me through.

Joseph and I have noted that this is the summer of helping our souls to overcome our principal faults. It's been a great wrestle with God. If only I'd learn to let go of myself and unify my will with His, then things would be so much easier!

Clicking Around...

Not much these days. I frequent Craigslist, Fr. Z, facebook, email, and my new homeschool swap sites, but aside from that, not much. 

I am reading...

Uniformity with God's Will, by St. Alphonsus Ligouri
Love Will Find A Way, by Barbara Freethly (I think...it was a free Kindle download, so not sure)

I just started the Freethly one, but it seems like a mystery wrapped in a love story wrapped in a mystery. I'll see!

I am praying for...

My husband, that he remain a light of justice in all the slanderous goings-on in Chicago and in all the world. This time for us has been very hard, but I'm glad to lend my faithful spouse out to fight for Our Lord. I don't pray for him nearly as I should, and this summer has reminded me of that.

Guidance in a particularly sticky situation. 

I am hearing...

The quiet that goes along with nap/quiet time. Molly is playing Calico Critters and Ellie is napping.

Around the house...

I am killing bugs! A rarely-used house tends towards an over-population of roaches and ants. Be gone, critters. I still fear finding a mouse but haven't yet, thankfully.

One of my favorite things...

Looking at the stars with my girls. We've done this for the past few nights. It gives me pause and warm feelings before the most trying part of my day occurs. Bedtime isn't my favorite and that virtue of patience that I so failingly work for all day is just gone, gone, gone. It reminds me  of how small a part we play is and that nothing, NOTHING else matters but getting to Heaven and getting our spouses and children there. 

Molly playing make-up with me this morning. I found out that my lipstick really is long-lasting! Good thing I have dinner with friends tonight...

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Saying good-bye to dear friends as they depart for the next chapter in their lives. One that holds a new baby, a new job, a new state, a new house! We're so excited for them, but hate that they're leaving.

Spending time doing fun things with the girls, interspersed with ordering the house for the coming school year. This is our last full-week together before nannying begins, so I want to make the most of just doing spontaneous museum visits, trips to the store, etc. 

Planning a date night for when Joseph gets home! I have some potential sitters lined up, but I need to make firm on their offers. Joseph and I just don't do well without each other. We complement each other well. So after being apart for seven weeks, we need this date! Also, we haven't seen The Dark Knight Rises, but that's not as important. Right? Right. 

A picture thought (or ten)...

Molly is very into taking pictures in the mirror with Mommy. We took a series of about fifteen of these and this was my favorite, entitled, "Lipstick Kiss."

Elisabeth is a ham. She is just a funny kid. Disciplining her is a task because she just makes me laugh! One day, during nap time, she told me it was too light in her room. I said she was fine and left. This is what I happened upon when I checked in to see if she was asleep.

This is just plain cute. This was on the girls' first train ride.

Nonnie and Potts got a brand new kitten while the girls and I were visiting. He was so small, he had to be swaddled and bottle-fed. This is Molly holding Jag. 

This picture kind of sums up our summer. Two girls, attached to mama's hip, smiling, sun-kissed, and in mis-matched pajamas. Though sometimes my arms aren't so much around their waists as their necks.

I kid, I kid.

...

May you all have a blessed week!