Daybook - Back To The Grind

Outside My Window - cloudy, intermittent showers, and gusty winds.  The Christmas decorations on my neighbor's porch helps cheer up this otherwise glum of a day.

I'm Listening To - the swish swish of the dishwasher.  My husband washed a ton of dishes over the holiday weekend so he is off duty this week. 

The Week Ahead- back to the grind.  All of it. School, exercising, healthier eating, laundry, and all the chores.  There are plans to finish the outdoor decorating.  Ending the week with a Jingle Bell walk with a dear friend.  Our boys are running, we are walking.

What's Cooking - not turkey! I indulged in a lot of not-so-good-for-me food between my sister's visit and Thanksgiving.  My liver hurts lol. Lots of veggies for me, lots of soft food for my oldest as he is suffering the beauty pains of Invisalign braces.  

Homeschool Is Cool - so happy to be back to routine. My happy zone is routine and school is a lot of routine. Preparing my eighth grader for highschool scholarship exams means lots of Math and writing.

Prayers - for a friend who lost her mom this past week, before Thanksgiving.  So so sad for her.  Say a few prayers for her as she struggles with losing both parents.  Also prayers for a friend who lost her baby a week after birth. 

What I'm Reading - preparing for consecration renewal with my kids.  We renew on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.  It's always a joy for me to renew with my children. It's a gift and a privilege.

I'm Thankful For - a warm home, a warm car (with seat warmers!), and a fridge full of food.

Great Nature - a fun end to a fun week-and-a-half with a visit to the zoo.  We got smart this year by arriving early before the throng arrived.  By the time we were leaving around six p.m. the traffic to the zoo was bumper to bumper.  It was a bit insane.

Race Recap 2018

Happy Thanksgiving Week! Today I'm taking a break from the usual Monday Daybook post to write about the race this past weekend.  The Texas fam arrived early last week to acclimate to the cold weather.  We had ice, snow, and rain along with freezing temps all within a 48-hour period.  It was not a very warm welcome for my Southern people.  But as you all know by now, Jesus loves my sister.  As she is a favored child by God, Sunday run day was perfectly clear. The previous forecast was cold rain but by the time we woke up the temps hovered above forty with not a hint of rain.  Sounds very much like last year.  Needless to say, I had to change my running gear to accommodate this glorious weather change.  

With my sister in rehab for an injury, they registered for a slower than their usual corral so I decided to move down with them.  My oldest was, of course, in the A corral with the fast people. As a seasoned runner and despite her injury, I can tell you my sister still gave me a run for my money!  Her "slow" pace gave me a workout hahaha.  She never took a walk break while I hobbled at the last 400 meters with a foot cramp.  I loved running with her and she totally inspired me at this race. We are already looking forward to next year. I'm still undecided about this week's Turkey Trot as I am currently nursing a cold (just like last year!).  It will have to be a last minute decision.  In the meantime, I have a house to clean, baking to plan, and turkey to thaw.  Back to the Thanksgiving hosting grind this week!  

Pictures to share:

the jacket this year was pretty cool

lots of laughter when we are together

third-wheeling

we were not the champions, my friend

taking advantage of closed streets to pose in one of the busiest roads in the city

 

we like our colorful shoes

icy before race day
 

pretty but not fun to run in

Daybook - Advent. But First Let It Snow!

Outside My Window - cloudy. All the leaves from our maple tree are now bagged on the curb awaiting city pick-up.  We spent most of the weekend tidying up the yard for the season.  Finishing up the rest of the backyard today and then I can truly say "let it snow!"  It's supposed to snow tomorrow.

I'm Listening To - the usual morning silence to temper my jumping-off-the-walls mood. Morning person + excitement over my sister's arrival + happiness over a clean house + so many blessings = a very happy Monday. And I've only had a cup of coffee.  Silence is definitely a cure to my morning obnoxiousness hahaha.

The Week Ahead - see equation above!  Did I say my sister is coming from Texas!?  I can't wait!  So lots of family time and getting hyped about our race.  She will get a taste of what it is to run in cold weather not usually seen in her neck of the woods.  Oh yeah, my brother-in-law will be here too.  He is the best brother-in-law in the planet. Now I'm in trouble with all the other ones hahaha.  Actually, I am very blessed with great in-laws. Love you all, if you're reading this.

What's Cooking -  I can't even think about cooking this early.  My fridge is stocked so there will be cooking, just haven't gotten around to figuring it all out.

Homeschool Is Cool - I think there shouldn't be any school in the Fall.  I am digging up old material for Advent.  We love our Advent traditions.  Speaking of which, there's only 20 days 'til then. Do you have candles ready? I got my usual at Hobby Lobby.

Prayers - I re-started my monthly novena offerings through the Seraphic Mass Association.  It's part of a devotion I have to Blessed Solanus Casey.  I wrote about him in 2014 here - https://bottledponderings.blogspot.com/2014/10/pondering-face-of-holiness.html

What I'm Reading - this was a present I bought for my husband a few Christmases ago and now I get to read it -

I'm Thankful For - what am I not thankful for?!  I have a very blessed life.  Despite all the trials and tribulations along the way I cannot begin to tell you how faithful God has been to me.

Great Nature -  Lots of yardwork

On my next post let's talk about Christmas! My heart is ready.

Daybook - Foliage And Fresh Air

Outside My Window - the maple tree on our front yard is shedding its leaves. Less leaves on the tree more vista of the clear skies above.  Fall is gloriously here, showing off, delighting the senses. 

I'm Listening To - silence. Blissful, comforting, blessed silence.

The Week Ahead - getting the house ready for Thanksgiving and also the arrival of my sister and brother-in-law.  I hope they will enjoy racing in the cold Ohio Fall.  Lots of running this week to prep for the race.

What's Cooking - making my crockpot work overtime.  Our evenings are busy this week so it calls for meals that don't require babysitting.  On the menu plan, we have slow-cooked cubed steak in mushroom gravy, pot roast, chili, pork adobo, and definitely baking in between.  It's that time of the year when our kids seem to have friends over more (jumping on the pile of leaves!) so I must provide some sugar sustenance.

Homeschool Is Cool - I want to cap this week off with a field trip. Maybe a trip to the zoo or somewhere to hike and enjoy what would be left of the Fall foliage.

Prayers - offering a novena this week for a special intention. For a conversion and a reversion.  

What I'm Reading - Autumn Meditations by Fr. John Bartunek.  I may have talked about this little devotional in the past.  I love that the meditations are weekly in format with a seasonal theme.  I also own the Summer and Spring versions of this gem. I'm currently on chapter seven and the topic is Sadness.  Here's a quote: "The emotion of sadness can be in harmony with the Holy Spirit's work in our souls, but that kind of sadness is different from discouragement.  Since sadness comes simply from recognizing the brokenness of a fallen world, it doesn't paralyze us and extinguish our hope. That kind of sadness strengthens our hearts against evil and actually feeds our courage".

I'm Thankful For - second chances (and third, and fourth, etc.)  because I think we all get one, deserved or not.  

Great Nature - lots of photos to share!

Our first run together in a very long time. He ran his six miles in forty minutes.  Cross country runners are beasts.

hamming it up for the camera

love of my life

loves of my life

pretend sleeping