FOR TODAY,  October 9th, 2008...

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW...

It is lightly misting.  The window shutters are open in the mudroom and I am feeling the gentle, cool breeze blowing in.  Several of my children are filling up old plastic containers with water that is dripping from the gutter spout of the outbuilding.   One red headed daughter in particular is completely drenched and has mud from head to toe.    

I AM THINKING OF...

my first born son, Logan, his birthday was October 7th and he would be 12.    I wonder what he is doing up in heaven right now with Jesus?   I am also remembering the circumstances of his birth.   The uncertainty if we both would survive it (The event was labeled later as HELLP syndrome which basically was a severe toxema along with these conditions:  hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, dangerously low platelets.  Additionally, I experienced kidney failure requiring dialysis, and heart catherization to monitor the dangerously high blood pressure)     Miraculously we did survive the birth but, Logan later died of brain and spinal cord cancer at the age of 3 and a half years old after fighting it's effects for 11 months (and probably longer) .    

   

I AM THANKFUL FOR...A husband who just went out and bought me an exercise mat because he saw me doing Tao-Bo exercise video on the hard wood floor.   

FROM THE KITCHEN..... 

Breakfast:

Homemade whole wheat bread slices with butter, apple slices, and a yogurt drink.  

Also, decaf coffee for my husband and I.  

Lunch:

WASA rye crisp crackers with a layer of cream cheese and turkey pepperoni on top.   More apple slices, and bananas and milk.   Left over homemade barbecue chicken pizza for my husband.    

Supper:

Brown rice penne pasta  with a red sauce.  I created a delicious but crazy sauce.   I will probably will never be able to duplicate the recipe again.   Because, it started with  Asian eggplant (from my Mom's garden) sauted in olive oil and Asian flavored turkey burger (left over from when I made Chinese steamed buns) to which I added cans of tomatoes and can of paste and spices.   (Just so I won't forget  it...The Asian spices in the turkey burger include:   wheat free tamari, sesame oil,  sliced green onions,  sucanat, ginger root diced, garlic cloves minced)

I AM WEARING... my favorite light green apron over my old clothes which include a faded light blue long denim skirt with off white leggings and of course, in  bare feet.    

I AM CREATING....bloomers for myself out of off white muslin.   I just took a sewing lesson from a friend (I brought  her family a meal along with my 10 year old son to help watch her boys and 2 yards of muslin to 'gift' her)  

I AM GOING..to sleep eventually.. but, I'm trying to adjust to our new schedule.  We moved several months ago.   Previously my husband would drive off to work each day.  But, now he works from home 9-5 for his employer.   After several hours of family time in the evenings, he stays up late every night to work on his sermon.  (His second career is the teaching pastor of an age integrated church plant we started several months ago.)    I usually stay up late to get my work done and spend a little time with him.   We sometimes enjoy  a little snack  together (icecream, oatmeal flax chocolate chip cookies)  and our best husband/wife interactions tend to be at this time when our children are all snug in bed and the house is silent.    

I AM READING..mostly homeschool helps...phonics blend ladders with my 5 year old K daughter, and  phonics readers to my 6 year daughter.   Also, today I helped my 7 year old son to write a simple little descriptive story about the life cycle of a butterfly.       

I AM HOPING...our house will sell.

I AM HEARING...the sound of silence..

AROUND THE HOUSE..."The ants go marching eleven by eleven Hurray, Hurrah!""  This year, you can't walk very far outside without finding an ant hill.    A very large colony invaded our home and there were thousands marching all over the kitchen.   My husband has been doing serious battle with them.    First he offered them ant bait which they ignored completely.    So, he invented a system of destroying them...by rolling them over and sticking them to a lint roller.   Then,  he noticed how they loved my raw honey.    So, he mixed the honey with the ant bait and they are going for it.   Lots of dead bodies and slow ones everywhere.   Sadly, our two year old keeps repeating.."The ants are killing their babies!" (which is true actually).

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...going on family walks

Finishing my bloomers,  pulling weeds   

HERE IS A PICTURE THOUGHT I AM SHARING...

Reminder to myself to put time in God's word FIRST!