Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, May 16, 2016.


Outside my window...  it's a cool day, but my window is open and I hear...


Hearing...  my husband, on his cel phone.  From his office, across the driveway.  Is this a universal guy thing?  (Talking loud on the phone.)


Pondering...  the agenda for today.  Places to go, errands to run...


Praying...
*  for work to continue coming in for Kerry and for him not to grow weary of doing it.  Through no fault of his own, he's been underemployed for a loooooong time.  It's an adjustment to working full time and/or overtime!  And he's doing great, he just needs to continue :D
*  for the boys to finish the school year strong... especially Wyatt.
*  for my dad's knee
*  for our friend, healing from her ruptured spleen and surgery


Thankful...  for this really fun family we had over yesterday!  Some people are just easy to be around.  Gee, it's too bad the kids weren't having any fun ;D  (Wyatt had to excuse himself to go study.)

Wearing...  gray sweats, blue t-shirt, and blue long-sleeves.  It turned cold again!  Are we headed into June-uary?  Time will tell...

All eight kids (minus Wyatt) played a very vigorous game of tag at a nearby playground!

Going...  to take it easy this evening.  Already homeschooled with Gunnar, picked up Tate from HS, made lunch, brought both boys to the Tech College so Gunnar could finish language work while Tate was in class, run by the bank, by the grocery store, and home for dinner.  Because, you know, I'm a stay-at-home-mom.

Reading...  Proverbs.  Tate and I are doing a little project :D

Looking forward to...  

When this is done, Gunnar and I are on summer break!  (The little stars are for discussion.)

In the kitchen...  filled my crockpot to the brim making taco soup for dinner - used up all kinds of leftovers (corn, chicken, beef, pork), lots of beans, and yummy seasonings.  Lots of good leftovers for evenings the boys work or Kerry's lunches :D

In the learning rooms...  the countdown begins ;D

Around the house...  all is well but the kitchen floor, which desperately needs attention.  Especially before we have little people visit later in the week! 

The Mother Load...  I'm reluctant to say that it's looking more manageable, because isn't that about when the poo-poo hits the fan?  Still, it's not overwhelming right now, and that's glorious.

The next big project:  Since Wyatt is already in college, and Tate will be graduating from homeschool soon, and Gunnar will just be part-time the next two years...  I'm going to do a big sort-cull-SALE of homeschool materials.

Then we're going to move some of the rooms upstairs.  Well, re-allocate, as opposed to remodel.

Noticing that...  Gunnar's voice... it's deeper, except when it squeaks a bit.

Something to remember for later...  how wonderfully this group of kids all got along - from age 6 to nearly 20.  Gunnar looked at Lydia, in the black sweatshirt, and said, "Mom, that's probably kind of what Naomi will look like in a couple years."  And he's right - they could pass for sisters!

One of my favorite things...  the Lindor truffles the boys got me for Mother's Day.  Ahhh, they know me well!

A devotional thought...  I've been reading Elisabeth Elliot's Keep a Quiet Heart.  She has a way of cutting right to the core of things, as well as including intriguing quotes from others.  These came from a section on yearning and unfulfilled desires.

She writes:

God's not having taken away a perfectly normal human desire does not by any means indicate that we are free to pursue its fulfillment in any way we choose.

 Then she quotes George Eliot:

You are seeking your own will, my daughter.  You are seeking some good other than the law you are bound to obey.  But how will you find good?  It is not a thing of choice; it is a river that flows from the foot of the Invisible Throne, and flows by the path of obedience. I say again, man cannot choose his duties.  You may choose to forsake your duties, and choose not to have the sorrow they bring.  But you will go forth, and what will you find, my daughter?  Sorrow without duty - bitter herbs, and no bread with them.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  normal activities (school, homeschool, CAP, violin lesson), Gunnar has an appointment with the ENT (to cauterize his nose again), and I'm getting my hair trimmed.  Oh, it's a giddy whirlwind ;D

A peek into my world...  change in the weather...