Daybook - Showing Up and Pushing Play

The world outside - a beautiful Winter's day with snow on the ground and more on the way.  Not so beautiful for those who have to navigate the slippery roads. Meanwhile, we are looking forward to playing outside.

I am pondering - the incomprehensible: God's gratuitous, immeasurable love and mercy.  I will elaborate below.

I am reading - the Old Testament. A verse that stuck with me, prior to the banishment of Adam and Eve from the garden: "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them".  Pondering this brought tears to my eyes. That's how He has been to me, providing me with the garment (of salvation, love and mercy through the sacraments) despite the many falls I have freely chosen.

I am praying - for so many. There is so much to pray for out there, the lost, unloved, sorrowing, struggling, meaning-of-life seeking people waking up to a world without hope.

I am thankful - for everything! The joys, the trials, the lopsided balance sheet, the pile of laundry that requires heroic virtue to tackle.  All of these are temporary, all of these are opportunities for grace to say " I will serve" (unconditionally)

I am planning - for Lent.  My notebook is full of scribbles about Lent plans.  Nothing ambitious, just what worked for us in the past and a couple of new things to mix it up. Blog entry a comin' sometime this week.

I am looking forward to - the Valentine's day party with our homeschool group. As with all our activities, each year gets bigger and better.  Last year we went to a local ice skating rink, that was awesome.  This year we are going to a bounce place.  The kids are looking forward to making their valentines box and cards to exchange while I look forward to hanging out with my mama-friends, meeting new members and reconnecting with long lost friends.

I'm teaching - the usual, reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic and religion.  As we major in the latter that's where I find myself lecturing the longest. Today we discussed the sixth and ninth commandment, the seventh and tenth commandment (usury, bribes, breach of contract, reparation of damage to property).  Tomorrow we're discussing Social Justice (the real kind LOL) and Communism.  How to talk about that to kids ages 11, 8 and 9 calls for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit ;-) and a husband who is well-versed on these things.  As much as I get all the credit for homeschooling, my husband is really the brains in this family.  He is very smart man and I defer all the difficult lessons to him.

I'm feeling accomplished - chipping away at my Spring cleaning list, yippee!!!  It helps that my older three can be counted on to do their part. Nothing says cozy like a tidy home in the Winter.

I'm punishing myself exercising - it's the fourth week of P90x and I'm still alive!  It's all-cardio week, no lifting weights, push-ups/pull-ups, hurray!  There will be no before and after photos because that would just be too scary :-)  I don't weight myself, it is far too disheartening and they say muscle is heavier than fat anyway.  After three weeks there are noticeable changes (to me):  my clothes fit better, I can feel muscles that I haven't felt in so long, there's less flab flying around and I have more energy.  The only thing that hasn't changed is the whining (just ask my husband) : "I don't want to do this today" "what am I doing, why am I doing this to myself?", "can I just do this tomorrow?"  But to paraphrase Tony Horton, I keep showing up and I keep pushing play anyway, six days a week.

I am capturing moments - 

the very yummy birthday cake by the girl, despite the technical difficulties the taste was superb and the birthday brother was so pleased

cake!

she also played the Happy "Birthday song, is there anything this girl can't do?  :-)

the baby found the scrap socks bag: "this fits just right!" uh-huh, holes and all :-) he wore these socks all evening

the girl combines cursive and spelling, she can just do spelling all day if I let her

the garish valentines day chandelier decor but when your children do the decorating you don't re-do, so we'll just endure this and call it "sweet"

 *the spelling words are from this website: http://www.aaaspell.com/grade4.htm