Daybook- A Much Needed Retreat Weekend

Outside my window.... sun is up, soft breeze blowing on the leaves of the maple tree on the front yard. After the scorching heat in Houston and the Philippines, 71 degrees is a treat.

I am thinking...too much.  So much going on, my mind is a busy place and my body can't keep up.  I am overwhelmed with things that need time (and money) to be resolved.

I am thankful for...this weekend, the homeschool mom's retreat that starts tonight.  Need to be around friends in the faith and be wrapped in the grace of good company, Scripture and the Sacraments.  Looking forward to my alone time with Jesus.

I am wearing...a brown island dress, embroidered delicately and lovingly made by Target, white island flip-flops accented with crystal jewels hand-attached by Old Navy - these were my standard wear in the Philippine Islands.

I am remembering...beach, surf, volcano, friends and an unforgettable Summer.

I am creating...a checklist for my overnight bag, I've been such a scatter-brain lately that there's actual danger of my forgetting the overnight bag itself.

I am going...to pick up the older two from a sleep-over (thank you Becky K.!), dropping off recyclables and clothes for donation,  dropping off the girl for an ice cream parlor date with her girlfriends, tidy up the house before I leave my brood for the weekend. 

I am NOT...handwashing today woohoo!  Giving my hands a break from manual labor. 

I am reading...nothing yet, need to go through my bookshelf for spiritual books for the retreat. 

I am hoping...to find a reasonably priced, well-built clothes washer sometime this week.

On my mind...Georgia.  Umm, not really, I've never been to Georgia.  My mind is in the here and now, at least doing my best.

From the learning rooms...school is still out for the Summer.  A girlfriend is selling me some of her homeschool books though.  Apologia will be our Science textbook this year.

Noticing that...running has become easier since coming home.  Maybe it's the cooler temperatures and not having to deal with heat exhaustion.

From the kitchen...a sinkful of dishes. It will be a take-out food kind of day for all of us.

Around the house...a word - UGH!  In a more hopeful tone - this too shall pass.

One of my favorite things...a little baby who won't stop saying "Daddy" as soon as Lawrence gets home.  He only says "Mama" when he's trying make bubbles with his saliva.  Yup, this child obviously loves me very much, he salivates at the mention of my name!

A few plans for the rest of the week... just trying to get through each day with a smile on my face and more check marks on that chore list.

Ready for my close-up...for those of you not on Facebook (Barb S.!)  a photo of our beach vacation in the Philippines (Boracay), I've been asked if this is a postcard, it is not, I took it with my humble Kodak digital camera and it wasn't even re-touched.  Nature is photogenic.