Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, January 25, 2016


Outside my window...  a clear, sunny morning.  When Gunnar and I went for our walk this morning (before sunrise) we saw a beautiful, nearly-full moon hanging low in a blue-to-pink sky.  Even this non-girly-girl who normally detests pink can appreciate it in nature where God put it!


Hearing...  Wyatt and Tate talking down in the kitchen.


Pondering... the Mother Load.  It's always weighing on me.  Grrrr.  Actually, I just crossed a bunch of things off, but it's still multiplying.


Praying...  work for Kerry - it's just the right time for a whole bunch of work to come in, right?


Thankful...  I have all three baby quilts done and all my sewing stuff picked up for awhile, clearing the deck for other tasks.  That feels good :D

Also, Sunday school was MUCH more productive this week.  It just happened that we were talking about the story (from John 5) where Jesus heals the man at the Pool of Bethesda.  I had pre-printed get-well cards the kids could color and decorate, to encourage someone not feeling well, and was brainstorming about who we could give them to.  And wouldn't you know it, we had two kids out sick yesterday.  I'm not glad they were sick, but it's just interesting how that worked out.

And boy did I get a shock - a good shock.  We were reviewing our memory verse, Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified.

Do not be discouraged.

For the Lord your God will be with you

wherever you go.

I had only given it to the kids last week, and we do one verse for four weeks, so I didn't expect them to know it yet.  We said it together a few times, then went around the class and the kids tried to say it on their own.  (They're motivated since sometimes I bring little chocolates as a reward, because God's Word is sweet, right?!)  Anyway, the adorable little four-year-old sitting next to me was the only one that said the whole verse, word-perfect.  The other kids suspected he was reading it off the card in my hand, but he's only four!  I asked him if his mom had practiced with him over the week, and then I remembered... he wasn't there last week.

He WAS reading.  And he's not just reading like a little kid.  You know, "The fat cat sat on the mat."  He was reading "commanded... courageous.. terrified... discouraged... wherever".  He was reading Big Words.  Amazing!  (He got TWO chocolates ;D)


Creating...  shower invitations for a baby shower I'm hosting in April.  Yes, I know.  That's kind of crazy.  But after a few minutes on the phone with my pregnant friend, and the (pleasant!) negotiations  it took to find a date that worked for both of us, I thought I'd better get the word out NOW, in case our guests have the kind of convoluted schedules we do!

It's complicated by the fact that her baby is due right before Easter, and her husband is a pastor.  That's probably their busiest time of the whole year.  But we worked it out :D


Going...  already been for a walk, so the only place I'll have to go is to drop Tate off at work, and that feels good :D


Learning...  to ask more questions.  Tate and I were at the Tech College last week meeting with an advisor to get some info about how they do Running Start.  Tate had specific questions about various programs he was interested in, and got a lot of helpful insight.  Anyway, the advisor asked us if he wants to do the "regular" AAS program or the AAS-T program.  The latter prepares you for transfer into a four-year university.  I assumed the latter would substitute some higher level classes, but the load would be about the same.  WRONG.  Every single quarter of the AAS-T program has well over 15 credits.  It was killer.  One quarter required the student to take twenty-five credits, which included five credits of calculus and five credits of Engineering Physics, along with fifteen credits of classes in the program.  OhMyGoodness that looks insane.  We'll switch him to the regular AAS program.  If he wants to continue to get a four-year degree later he can take those extra classes then at a manageable pace.  Whew!


Looking forward to...  cooking a turkey this afternoon ;D


In the kitchen... yah, a huge turkey.  Looking forward to the leftovers!


In the learning rooms...  Gunnar has a lot of writing to do today (not his favorite thing).  Tate had no public school today (end of semester) so has been working away at his homeschooling and on the book he's writing.  Wyatt is off to the college for his crazy-long day.


Around the house...  I had thought I was going to put away all the winter decorations over the weekend, but decided to leave it up a bit longer.  Had the boys take down all the outside Christmas lights though.  We keep hoping maybe, just maybe it will snow.


The Mother Load...
* help Wyatt prep for Spring Quarter registration - what credits/classes does he still need?
* help Tate fill out paperwork/application for Running Start at the Tech College
* photograph Quilt #3
* wrap quilts
* call Worldview (again!) about Tate's registration and accommodations
* cook turkey
* make "Lazarus" cookies (maybe Friday) for Sunday school next week, so they can wrap them in Fruit-by-the-Foot... and eat them on the way home after Sunday school, because I'm no dummy ;D
* bake sweet breads/muffins for baby shower this Saturday
* plan dinner for Saturday - my brother and Naomi are coming up
* continue cleaning in office/craft room
* take stuff to consignment
And I'm sure there's more.  Much, much more.


Noticing that...  the days are just a little bit longer.  We have just a little more light in the evenings.


A favorite quote for today...

Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy.

Peace does not dwell in outward things,

but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly

on Him who has all things safely in His hands.

Elisabeth Elliot

One of my favorite things...  seeing the sun rise.

A devotional thought from our church bulletin...  ("here" is earth, "there" is heaven)

I pray, O God,

that I may know You and love You,

so that I may rejoice in You.

And if I cannot do so fully in this life

may I progress gradually until it comes to fulness.

Let the knowledge of You grow in me here,

and there be made complete,

so that here my joy may be great in hope,

and there complete in reality.

Lord, by Your Son You command, or rather,

counsel us to ask

and You promise that we shall receive...

I ask, Lord,

as You counsel through our admirable Counselor.

May I receive what You promise through Your truth

so that my joy may be complete.

Until then let my mind meditate on it,

let my tongue speak of it,

let my heart love it,

let my mouth preach it.

Let my soul hunger for it,

let my flesh thirst for it,

my whole being desire it,

until I enter into the joy of the Lord,

who is God, Three in One,

blessed forever.  Amen.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  homeschool/school, Gunnar's violin lesson, boys to CAP, Wyatt and Tate to their jobs... the usual.  And a baby shower on Saturday :D

A peek into my world...  a blast from the past.  Kerry and I went to a costume party as cockroaches... sort of as Gary Larson would draw cockroaches going to a formal event.  Because... just because.