Simple Woman's Daybook- November 16

Stole this from a blogger friend, now you can steal it from me...

Outside my window: It's a long way down.  Dogs are barking, leaves are rustling, a little girl yells, wind blows branches against my house.  My tree is stunning. 

I am thinking: I don't know if I'm ready to teach yoga yet.  Am I ready to teach yoga yet?  Yes, there is an opening.  Yes, I have enough hours... but those hours aren't exactly in instructing a class yet.  I want to do it.  But I want to be good enough that any students I have will want to return.  I don't want to be embarrassing.

I am thankful for: So much.... but in this moment, my husband's good job, PCPK and the wonderful wonderful women who work there, children's motrin which is making Holland feel better, the ability to go to a grocery store to buy food and that there is food there on the shelves, a new car, a Savior who loves me when I am unlovable. 

From the kitchen: an extra cheesy lasagna, freshly made by muah.

I am wearing: Aero comfys, Aero t, and an Aero hoodie. 

I am creating: Memories.  I'm beginning to put my efforts into Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I love to make the whole month or so special for my three girls and my guy.  John paid me the greatest compliment when he told me he always liked Christmas, but now because of all I do, he loves it.

I am dreaming: of the Dominican, where in three months and three days I will be lounging on white sand beaches with around 20 or so of my closest friends; celebrating the wedding of two of them. 

I am going: to read aloud at story night tonight for my In-Laws, hubby, and big girls.  We are almost finished with our second book Self Raised by EDEN Southworth.  Up next will be The Printer of Udell, which President Regan mentioned as being one of the most influential books of his life.

I am reading: I just finished reading The Hunger Games trilogy aloud to John.  They were crazy good.  And they make most others books seem like a bore after the rate at which the action moved.

I am hoping: The Lord chooses to make me an amazing yoga teacher.  For good things for John and our family.

I am hearing: Holland sounding out words next to me.  How fun to be a kindergartner learning to read!

Around the house: I got every single window in the entire house washed today, inside and out.  The Acadia got a bath as well, and all the laundry is done.  Now if I only I had had time for me to get washed up too...

One of my favorite things: a neat and tidy house, candles burning, a bottle of wine breathing, children tucked into bed, and John with me to enjoy the evening.  Aaaahhhh.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Story night tonight, followed by yoga.  Youth group for Alyssa tomorrow night.  Teaching some small group ladies yoga on Thursday night.  A cigar event with friends Friday night.  Teacher Training all day Saturday, sleepover at night for Holl, and friends over for dinner for us.  Sunday will bring church, grocery shopping, hanging with the girlies, and yoga.  Awesome.



I wish the picture could do it better justice, but truly, this day it was stunning.



You're killing me. Or am I killing me?

Let me a create a little picture for you.  It's 8 am.  The morning has been pleasant: up early, kids fed, a movie is playing in the car, Anna is strapped into her carseat.  This part is the best part.  She calls to me "Mom!  Mom!  Guck.  I guck."  I respond with a smile, "No honey, you're not stuck, you're in your carseat." 

We arrive at the kindergarten at 8:30.  We get out and make it through the doors and waabam!  Anna is no longer 'guck,' she is running full board down the hallway, ignoring any attempts of mine to try and control her.  She steals kids' binkys.  She hits little boys playing with trucks.  She colors on papers that are neatly waiting for their actual owner.  She drains the wall mounted automatic hand sanitizer dispensers of every last drop they hold.  She screams bloody murder any time I try and corral her.  Lord have mercy.  This kid is killing me. 

Or am I killing me?  I realize that some of this is my fault.  I have become far more lazy in my discipline then I ever have been.  The big girls are really quite obedient and lovely girls.  And I know that that is due in large part to diligent consistent discipline.  Now, Anna really is a pistol, I'm not just saying that.  But I have got to step it up.  I just have to make up my mind to do it.  I also really need to get back to reading the basics in my old standbys like Parenting is Not for Cowards, Dare to Discipline, The Strong Willed Child,  BabyWise II, etc.  Time however, is not on my side.  I've been contemplating getting up at 5 (and if you know me, you know that I do not get up early) just to find some more time.

For now I'm off to go face more embarrassment at the hands of a two year old.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6

The Culprit

Driven to Distraction

When I sit down to do my Bible study it is amazing the burden I develop for things like... Laundry.  Dishes.  Closet cleaning.  Amazing.

New Things

Last night we went and picked up our shiny new Acadia.  The first new car we've had in 5 1/2 years.  We picked it out in about a day.  And bought it within 24 hours.  I was too excited to sleep last night.  I just love getting new things.  And a car, weeellll, that's a big new thing. So many buttons to play with. So much horsepower to experiment with.  Six levels of heat on my seat heater, which by the way, should have come with a disclaimer: "Unless you have frozen your behind into a sort of assicle, don't use level 6."

Unfortunately the ride home wasn't quite as fun as it should have been, what with 'the knock' and all.  Yes, my shiny new car had a knock you couldn't ignore.  That's enough to spoil a new purchase.  I had it in to the dealer this morning where they promptly tightened it's loose sway bar, but still!  I just bought the thing last night!  I'm sure it will be fine, after all I did buy the big warranty, but that was a downer.

This major let down in my new car got me thinking about joy and happiness.  New things make me feel happy.  I love going to bed on a Thursday night, when my house is a clean, and I know that the next day I'm going shopping for New Things.  And then it's really fun when I can plan places to go in my New Things.  With a lot of my new things however, the happiness doesn't last.  Don't get me wrong, I really do try to be a grateful person, and I strive to be content with everything the Lord gives, or doesn't, but... when it comes down to it though, happiness just doesn't last.  Joy lasts.  And joy doesn't come from things.  Now true, joy isn't always going to be bursting forth, bubbling out of you.  I remember Richard Wurmbrand talking about when he encountered Russian believers during WWII and they explained to him how there just wasn't any joy in them.  They had been so oppressed and so stripped bare there was nothing left but to cling to the hope of the Lord.  It wasn't mentioned in the book, but I wondered if they were able to choose joy.  Deep down I just know that when push comes to shove, that the Lord will grant me at least some joy in just knowing that I am His, that He has a place waiting for me, and that no one can separate me from His love.  I don't know if I'm strong enough to choose joy in really dire circumstances, but I am certain that He will be faithful to give it.
Car knocks, new things, and joy.  Who'da thought.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10