Monday, January 4, 2010

Simple Woman #43




FOR TODAY  January 4, 2010

Outside my window...   gray, dark, rain.  Raining when I went to bed, raining when I got up this morning, and raining still.  Which makes it a great day to start back to school!

I am thinking...   about all that I want to implement with this fresh start of a new year.

I am thankful for...   healthy kids.  Really, really thankful.

I am praying for...   work.  I know, I know, I keep playing the same old song.  But that's heavy on my mind just now.

I am creating...  I finished my project last night and put everything away.  I think the boys were beginning to feel like "sewing orphans" the last few days.

I am reading...   The Greatest Generation.  Borrowed it from my neighbor long, long ago and it's been waiting patiently on my nightstand.  Thank goodness it's perfect for being read in little bits.  And with the boys, The Great Turkey Walk.  More on that later.

I am hoping...   the boys' brains haven't turned to complete mush in the last three weeks.

I am hearing...   a Lego battle.

I am remembering...   well, trying to remember, where we were in our schoolwork when we left off.  *sigh*  It seems so long ago...

From the learning rooms...   a very lonely goldfish, a light fixture waiting to be installed as soon as we remember to ask Grampa Grasshopper, the oh-so-familiar smell of pencil shavings and crayons, and books, books, books, books.

From the kitchen...   no wonderful smells yet, but I'm cooking a ham for dinner.  Yum!

Update -  oh, I am in heaven.  Why don't I cook ham every week?  (Okay, there are good reasons, to be sure, but still...)  Sweet and salty just does me in.  The warm juicy ham smell, with the orange/maple/cinnamon glaze.  *sigh*  Trouble is, I'll be hungry all day long.

Around the house...   trying to keep it tidy - having company tonight.  My folks (Grampa and Gramma Grasshopper) and Aunty Tami are coming over to celebrate with us that we completed our read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year project.  I know I've mentioned it before, but I'm really proud of the boys.  (Uncle Dave, you're welcome too, we just didn't expect you to drive up here again.)

On my mind...   You'll be happy to know that I sat myself down last night and wrote our Christmas New Year's letter.  After I send the snail mail out to family and IRL friends I'll probably post it here.

Noticing that...   I love how much bigger my office feels without the ironing board and piles of projects scattered around.  Amazing.  (Duh.)

Pondering these words...   It's not your business what other people think of you.

One of my favorite things...   reading Hither and Thither each Friday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...


Captions anyone?


10 comments:

Felicity said...

I love the smell of pencil shavings and crayons - strangely enough. I hope your 'back-to-school' goes well!! (Gotta keep the goldfish company)

Ritsumei said...

We're thinking back-to-school thoughts too. At least, I was when we got up. But my boy's not feeling so hot, so it's mostly put off another day or two. Good luck with that lego battle!

leah said...

I have nothing on that photo- I wish I were clever enough to come up with something funny!

And ham... glorious ham! I should have made ham instead of turkey for Christmas. Oh, I must buy a ham. After we eat up the last of the other two turkeys stuffed in the freezer (why, oh why, did I buy so many turkeys)?

The dB family said...

Orange/maple/cinnamon glaze? That sounds delicious!! I'm hungry just reading that.

Your words to ponder are so true. It's still something I have to remind myself of regularly. I think it's another one that I have to post on my mirror. And really, why should we care? We're all made in the image of God, so that means he loves all of us! Great words to ponder!

Blessings!
Deborah

Ruby said...

"So, what is the secret to your long life?"
My caption.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"It's not your business what other people think of you."
Can't quite get my head around that. It will give me something to mull over!

We actually have our long summer break at this time of year so we are into week five of an eight week stretch. I am in no way ready to get back to the grind. All the best for the school year at your place.
Ummm....ham!

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Ruby,

"It's not your business what other people think of you."

I'm of two minds about that...

On the one hand, the Bible tells us to avoid causing others to stumble and to live at peace (as far as possible) with others, so in that sense it does matter what others think.

But I was thinking of those words in terms of

1. Not making decisions based on pleasing people (Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.)

2. Not fearing what others think, and

3. Avoiding the "I'm on stage" mentality that leads to obsessing about what others are thinking about me (so prevalent in adolescents, but in adults too).

That's what I was thinking about that. :0)

Herding Grasshoppers said...

And, btw, love your caption!

Ruby said...

Yes, that was why I found it difficult to grasp. Proverbs tells us that a good name is to be treasured. If we are not in some degree concerned about how others view us we can become a law unto ourselves.
I was thinking that today's thinking ie. I can do and say whatever I please, uses this motto.
OTOH as you say, we should not fear man, perhaps it is worrying about others which is holding us back from doing what the Lord requires.
Great little thought provoker!
(My Grandad died at 91 and smoled a pipe all his life. I can remember us kids using him as a reason to smoke with our parents!)

Deanna Gemmer said...

Julie: I found your blog linked on Kamryn Allens and it was so fun to read through! I can't believe how big your boys are getting. We're now in Port Orchard living and working at Miracle Ranch (well, Darin's working there) and I'm doing the mommy-thing to two lovely girls.

Just wanted to say hello!

Jena Webber said...

How did you get a picture of my grandma? ROFL!!!

Oh, you'll eventually remember how to teach school, or your kids will just be dumb like mine. OK not really, but... I do think learning is hard, but not in the ways it used to be. I seem to have developed a high functioning ADHD. LOL. Oh, do you know the definitioin of ADHD? Hey, do you wanna go for a bike ride??