Saturday 17 October 2009 - This Week in the Olive Grove

I am always amazed when God works things out ~ even though I shouldn't be!  October 5-9 was a planned academic break week, which worked out very well since we spent most of it in the hospital.  So this week we were back in the swing of things without having to play catch-up, and we had a great week.

• we started reading The Story of Dr. Dolittle and Just So Stories for literature
  
• Now We Are Six for poetry
  
• and The Struggle for Sea Power in our world history series
• we memorized the first four verses of Psalm 139
• I got my supplies organized enough that the kids could draw and play with modeling clay while I did our history and literature read alouds; they were quite excited about that.
  
• on Friday we did a little geography block with a story from Africa out of Folktales from Ecosystems Around the World, some songs from Africa from Wee Sing Around the World, and an African-inspired craft from Global Art.  The kids really enjoyed this ~ even the too cool 11yo boy!

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Thursday 8 October 2009 - Thankful Thursday ~ the flu/pneumonia edition

Last Thursday Sgt. Elf was healthy.  Her younger siblings had "chest colds", and I was starting to feel one coming on.  Friday it was her turn, and by Saturday night she was in ICU at Children's Hospital with a partially collapsed lung.  Yesterday she got to come home.

I am very thankful for:

• my wonderful husband who insisted on taking her in (I didn't realize how sick she was, since I was spending most of my time in bed myself.)
  
• countless prayer warriors ~ many of whom did not even know us
  
• emergency rooms
• ambulance drivers
• Children's Hospital
• ICU
• doctors
• nurses
• respiratory therapists
• physical therapists
  
• medical technology
• insurance to pay for it
• friends who brought the rest of my family food
  
• 13-year-old lungs that are working again

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Wednesday 30 September 2009 - What my daughter did on her summer vacation!

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Wednesday 30 September 2009 - Wednesday Word Art: Autumn

click the image to see it larger and visit the site where I made it

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Monday 28 September 2009 - The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
28 September, 2009...

Outside my window...
a bright, sunny start to another hot day

I am thinking...
how much I enjoyed the cool days last week and how I look forward to the lower temperatures returning and how I am hoping for a nice cool fall after a long, extremely hot Texas summer

I am thankful...
that Frap is coming home tonight ~ she has been in Colorado for two weeks and I miss her

From the learning rooms...
a light load this week as we are winding down our year ~ Morning Time, some spelling, and a few silent readings

From the kitchen...
the smell cinnamon toast

I am wearing...
denim shorts and a navy blue tee

I am creating...
lists and plans for Autumn, Advent, and Christmas

I am going...
nowhere until I leave for the airport tonight

I am reading...
Hind's Feet on High Places
The Magician's Nephew
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I am hoping...
to smile and hug more than I grumble and yell

I am hearing...
Lulapalooza and Toodles singing made-up nonsense songs

Around the house...
we are having a lazy morning, but all but O Special One are up and at 'em now ~ the main part of the house is fairly tidy (for us) ~ the younger ones are finishing up their morning things, and then we will gather for our Morning Time readings

One of my favorite things...
days at home

A few plans for the rest of the week:
a 50c. movie for dad and kids at the discount theatre tonight
coffee with a friend on Tuesday
go with O Special One to check out a riding stable for jumping lessons Tuesday evening
introduce Eugene Field & Grandma Moses
finish decluttering & organizing the downstairs kitchen~living spaces
a special autumn craft and treat on Friday
a special TeaTime with Frap

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
I found this photo at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
we do not get much autumn colour around here

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Sunday 27 September 2009 - Project Christmas: Week 3

• Make list of activities & enter those that are date-specific on calendar.  DONE!

• Decide on Advent devotional focus and calendar design

~ almost done

• Make card list 
• Choose ornament design 

• Make gift list
• Get Advent Candles

~ I tend to wait too late to do this and have a difficult time finding  any

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Friday 25 September 2009 - This Week (and last week) in the Olive Grove

We are winding down the year here in the Olive Grove.
We finished quite a few of our books over the past two weeks:

• The Wonderclock
• God's Marvels in Washington
• The Complete Book of Nonsense
• The House at Pooh Corner
• Lulapalooza finished his nature & history reads
• J~Man finished his science & literature
• Toodles finished Flower Fairies of the Trees

• The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter
• When We Were Very Young
• Pilgrim's Progress
• The Awakening of Europe

• Spiced Apple Cider & Apple Pie Coffe Cake
• Candy Corn
• Pumpkin-scented orange candles
• Some Autumn Poetry
• Some crafting
• And, of course, Vivaldi

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