February 1-14, 2005
Feb 14
8AM: I have an advanced case of the Monday’s today. All I want to do is go back to bed. I really need to move-move-move to get over that. So, I guess I’ll do that! We’ll be having leftovers tonight for supper, as the frig is so full I can’t find stuff in it, LOL!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
9AM: I got moving!!! And most of my tidy-ing is done. When I turn my attention to business today, I really need to go through my email, and write down my orders. I have a feeling I have forgotten someone. Or someoneS, even. Also need to order supplies for a couple of orders that came in over the weekend. And make some school notes for myself.
Well, Baby is up, and I am more than ready to feed her!
Feb 13
So, I survived my first teenage party. I had tonight 7 “angry goth” teenagers in my house, including my own. The sure were a lively bunch for such bad kids Let’s see, they ate, they played with the little ones, laughing and tickling and giggling. They watched the movie “Grease”. And they took running slides into the kitchen, just like my little kids do. Oh, yeah, bad kids altogether. We’re planning another party next month.
Feb 11
Ok, not off to a stellar start here. I forgot to turn the dishwasher on last night. The head gasket is blown in the van. Dh informed me last night, he’ll be helping with his friends move on Sunday instead of Saturday, which means I can’t go to church. My boys have already been rolling around on the floor wrestling *for real*, and I am grumpy. So, Good Morning!
I’ll be having a discussion with dd16 about her bed. She left again without making it. And she has clothes strewn everywhere, and her stuff is just…untidy! It’s not that I want to be a grinch. It’s just that I am a much nicer person when my environment is orderly. Call me ADHD, it won’t hurt my feelings at all. But I just can’t THINK when stuff is messy. And, yes, her unmade bed will nag at me until she gets home to make it herself! I am 1/2 tempted to make it. But what is the point in that? Here’s a picture of me closing my mental eyes!
Are you a “type A” personality, like me? I really have a hard time with it. I feel an absolute drive to get things completed! But it ocurrs to me that the last person to say “It is finished” was Christ on the cross.
The only other One to be able to say “It is finished” was God Himself, after creation.
For the rest of us, it’s a process. Still. No matter how much we do, there will always remain more to be done. That’s not an excuse to do nothing, it’s just an acceptance of our humanity. Because we are not finished works, we will never finish our work. So work hard, rest well, and tomorrow, start again!
Feb 10
Good Saturday Morning! Let�s Roll Up our Sleeves, and Get to Work!
What? You have got to be kidding! No way am I doing that! That�s me talking. Well, the old me. I was totally stressed trying to cram all I needed to do into the week. I was trying the �Cinderella� act with my work. Trying to shoe horn a stepsisters foot (6 days of work) into the glass slipper (5 days). Glass shoes are not really practical, now are they?
My Saturdays were unsatisfying, as my house reverted to chaos. My Sundays were anything but restful. The early morning was consumed with trying to find the right clothes and shoes. The dishes piled up on the counter, the laundry piled up in the bins, and my bad attitude piled up with it. It took me hours on Monday to dig my way out of my �free weekend� pit. And this:
Psalm 122:1
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
was a joke. I actually dreaded Sundays!
Once again, dissatisfied with the way my weekends were going, I decided to chew on some Words. I wondered what God had to say about all this extra stuff I needed to do. Exactly where was I supposed to fit this in?
We take a five-day workweek for granted, but let�s look at God�s work habits, shall we?
Genesis 2:2-3
2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
He worked 6 days, and He rested one. What about that?? There�s the model, right in the beginning of His Letter to us. And look here:
Matthew 25:1-13
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Ephesians 5:15-16
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Oh, I don�t want to be foolish. No, I don�t! And if we are unprepared, Jesus says we are foolish. So, I started working on Saturdays. Here�s what I do:
Prepare my home:
During the week, with home schooling, running a business and being a mom, I just don�t have time to clean. We pick up, so the house is tidy, but we don�t really clean. But on Saturday, we change sheets, scrub toilets, dust and do the floors. The house is prepared for a restful Sunday, because I don�t see �something I need to do� every time I glance around the room. I don�t do this alone. All the children pitch in and help. We are usually done by noon!
Prepare to feed the family:
I do my grocery shopping on Saturdays as well. I pray that eventually, I will be able to cook a few meals on Saturdays as well, further reducing demands on my time during the week. Time that I can invest in my children.
Prepare to teach:
I write my lesson plans on Saturday. Right now, I do 4 weeks for one child each Saturday. This leaves one Saturday per month to work on things I want to present to the children, those lessons we do all together. I used to do all the lesson plans for everybody for 12 weeks in a weekend. And I was useless for anything else. I was ill and snappish, and frustrated. And it never failed that something would go awry, and I would have to change the plans anyway. I have a �master plan� of where we are going in school, and 4 weeks in advance is plenty to �firm up� at a time.
Prepare for God:
I am going to meet God on Sunday morning!!! We have an appointment!! Hallelujah, what a thought. HE!! is counting on me to be there! This is the most important part of Saturday. It comes later in the day, because by then, I am able to put my thoughts on Him, and what I do is an act of Service to Him, a reminder on Saturday of what Sunday is about. We all get baths sometime during the day. I clean all those little ears, and check all those little fingernails. I lay out clothes, and find the shoes. I figure out the easiest things on the menu to prepare on Sunday, so that I am not consumed with cooking. If possible, I set it up, ready to cook.
The last thing I do on Saturday is spend a little time on me. After the children are in bed, and all is prepared, I do what I want to do. This one time a week, peace fills my soul, and I am satisfied that all is done. I never feel this way Monday through Friday, even if I have xx�s through everything on my list. But on Saturday evening, there is peace for me. I am quiet then, like a weaned child on the Father�s lap. I am ready for Him. I have done my part.
And Sunday, oh, Sunday!
We wake up, and eat breakfast. Usually some store bought stuff, treats like doughnuts or turnovers. I scan the sale papers during the week, to look for goodies like that. And we get dressed for church, no scrambling for this or that, it�s all together, see. We have lunch when we get home, and we clean the kitchen. And then we usually take a nap. You knew that was coming, right?? Cause I do love a nap! We like to play games in the late afternoon and evening, spending this time together as a family. It�s restful. See, just like God said way back in Genesis.
And on Monday, I am refreshed, recharged, and ready to go again!
——–
Kinda boring today. Sorry.
So, I did take that nap yesterday. And I started the sweater, made good progress. Then I had to start over because I mis-calculated the button holes. I expect to get the bottom done today, at least.
In the kitchen today, I moved some stuff around in the cabinets. As in, put the leftover containers under the counter where we actually deal with left overs. Wow, concept, huh? I have decided I just really love those ziploc/glad ware dishes. I had to get some for the lunches, and the more I use them , the more I like them. Now, I used to sell tupperware, so I have a lot of it. But, over the years the “tracks” on the lids of the leftover containers have gotten bent, and are increasingly difficult to get on the containers. Life’s too short to be fighting with leftover bowls, right? I’ll be tossing the ones that don’t work anymore. And looking for sales on those I like.
No recipe today, and no philosophy either.
Feb 9
I have more to say!
Ok, minor rant here. Dh is home for the day. It’s almost 2pm. He has planned to go help a friend move Saturday, which is my usual shopping day. So, he asked me if I wanted to go to the store. Now, the list is made, but…………I’m tired. I don’t *want* to go shopping. So, I started to get really bugged about the fact that I run out of stem everyday at 2pm. But, hello, by 2pm, I’ve put in a solid 7 hours around here. NO wonder I am tired. And, so, I am sending off this email, and I am NOT going shopping, and I may even take a stinking nap! After I read to the boybarians and get them settled, it will be time to feed the baby again then anyway.
Living with a clone of one’s self is certainly interesting. I now understand another part of the meltdown over algebra that dd has. Both of us are used to gaining total comprehension at first glance. At the very latest, first read. And neither of us can do this with the algebra. It takes mental effort, lots of it, to “get it”. And humans by nature being extremely lazy, we don’t want to give that. So we struck a deal. We’ll study. Hard. For 30 minutes a day. She’ll not give me grief over having to do it, and we will stop after half an hour. Since I use the Charlotte Mason method with the younger children, I am a firm believer in short lessons. They work. Nuff said!
I did get the knitting done on the custom pants yesterday, which means I start the sweater today. Which bring me to buttons. I like buttons. I mean, I really like buttons! So, when I had to get buttons for this sweater, I ordered some extra, just because I liked them, and they inspired some ideas in me. I now have a couple sweater/soaker plans on the back burner of my mind. One ultra girly one for some lucky girl (maybe mine, LOL), and a dinosaur themed one, as well. I get my buttons from www.denverfabrics.com . Amazing selection of baubles, and I never have to leave home!
Last night, I learned that the daughter of one of my mother’s friends has severe cancer. Yep, that would make her my age :(. I’ll be making a couple of chemo caps for her, and I will start that today. Sigh.
My mom also told me yesterday that Grandmother is having more issues. The bottom of both her lungs have collapsed, she has lost superficial layers from her kidneys, and she has “some thickening” or her rectal walls. She’ll be having a cat scan today to check that out. I am really torn on this. She is just a shell of her former self. The highlight of her day is Jeopardy, after which she goes to bed. In fact, here is her schedule: Breakfast. Who wants to be a Millionaire and Price is Right, beginning at 10:30. Lunch. Nap. Supper. Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, ending at 8. Bed. But I remember Grandmother out-working me and my mother combined, less than 20 years ago. *That* Grandmother is fading from my mind, edged out by this new, frail Grandmother, whom I do not know or recognize. Sigh.
Recipe-don’t get used to this, it’s not going to be a daily feature, ROFL!
The Food Lion put avocados on sale, but did not have any guacamole mix. How lame is that?? Anyway, not to be deterred, I bought 4 anyway. Peeled, etc them, sprinkled in a bit of lemon pepper. Then I had purchased this new stuff made by McCormick, Garlic Pepper Seasoning. But it comes with a grinder on top, so you grind it as you use it! Pretty cool, huh? So, I ground a very generous amount of that over the avocado, and used an old fashioned potato masher to mix it all up. Incredibly edible guacamole! You may wish to add a bit of salt. Or not.
BTW, my 20th High School reunion is this year. How the heck did that happen?
Feb 8
Well, here I sit at 8:40, and my housework is done!!! Woohoo!! I am in stunned disbelief, btw, LOL!
Here is a recipe!
Spinach Dip
1 cup more or less of sour cream
1 cup more or less of mayo
1 cup more or less of thawed, well-drained spinach
1 packet of Knorr cream of spinach soup mix.
Combine ingredients, mix well, and chill for a couple of hours. How easy is that?
We pulled the school desk and couch back to make the living room bigger so we could all sprawl out Sunday night for the game. We liked it so much, we left it that way. It really makes a lot of difference in how we feel when we gather there.
I think I will be finishing the custom pants I am working on today, and then I will start the sweater. That means I have to compile all my notes from the prototype I knit, and *that* means we’ll be publishing the pattern soon!
Well, the baby is now awake, and being changed, so I guess it’s time to get on with the day
Feb 7
Dear Son number two!
I am so mad at you!
This day started for me
When I stepped in your pee.
Please, in the early morn,
take better aim.
Hit the bowl, for the good of your soul!
There’s my little ditty for the morning, needless to say, I was a bit grumpy!
We had a superbowl party last night. One of the cool things about a family this large is that we are our own party, LOL! One of dh’s friends had mentioned a party to him, and was supposed to call him back with details. Saturday came and no details, so we decided to just do supper in the living room with party type foods. We also played “Route 66″, the new game we got for Christmas. It was fun. The best part??? NO OVERTIME! Yay, me!! And thus ends another season of the stupidest game ever, right next to hockey!
I made a new chore chart for the children late Saturday night. I was so tired of hearing “but it’s my day off”. Now, nobody has a day off *ever*, and I have a personal helper every day. Another Yay, me!!
As far as dd’s going out, she got home at 1:30. About 1, though, I decided not to waste all this time I was going to be sitting up waiting, and I mopped the kitchen floor. She got home just after I finished. Which would have been a cool time to go to bed, but I was wired from doing the floor, LOL! So I listened to her rave over the “hott” drummer, who’s drumstick she caught, and then she went to bed. I, however, was up until 3. I worked on lesson plans.
Ok, time to get up and moving again.
Feb4
Lookie!! Here I am again!
I have entered brand new territory tonight. My teenager has gone out. So, I’ll be waiting up for all my chicks to come to roost :). Umm, make that snoozing on the couch!
Here’s my first public “I remember when”. I remember when events marketed for teens ended at 11 and no later. Tonight’s event will not end til after midnight. Then there is the obligatory IHOP trip afterwards. Hmmmph! Then we live 1/2 hour from town, so………all told, I can expect my gal home after 2, probably closer to 3. I did weigh the activities and time involved, and set her curfew at 3. Geez, it felt like I was saying “go ahead and stay out all night, that’s fine” 
I worked an algebra lesson today. Reworked it, I guess I should say. One problem still has me stumped. Oh, here is my fine question on that. WHY, when the book says to epress your answer in radicals, is the answer in the back written with exponents? And is it really wrong, if the answers are equivalent? Yes, I am teaching Algebra 2, without a teacher’s manual, mind you. Using just the student text from the high school. Oh boy!
I am trying a new short row technique on my shorts. Fibermom says no wrap, just turn, slip, go. (I wish I knew how to do that link thing like do, Fibermom, please forgive me). I tried it today, just a couple back and forth passes and it does seem to work. I have been wrapping then slipping with good results, but I dislike the look of the wrap when it’s a purl side wrap picked up going knitwise (worked in the round, see?). I am pretty persnickety, I know, and it’s a wee small blemish, but……….I don’t like my work marred. OOh, work reminded me, I want to show this one off:
I just think it’s so stinkin’ cute! That’s not the only thing I have finished since I last posted pics, but I think it’s the most interesting piece I have made lately.
Ok, I’m off. I know you all are just giddy after hearing from me 2 days in a row. *snort*
Feb 3
Hmmph! It’s not like I don’t do anything. In fact, I do lots of things. I do so many things, I can’t find time to write about it. And when I do find time, I am too tired to remember what I did. So, here’s a little round up. Since I wrote last, I have:
cooked
cleaned
changed diapers
fed the baby
washed laundry
folded laundry
knit
knit
slept
played referee
played therapist
played Don’t Spill the Beans
played Don’t Break the Ice
read to the children fro fun
read to the children for school
knit
dyed some yarn
dyed bras
worn my underwear inside out without realizing it for a full day
gotten new underwear, in the style I like, in the right size (YIPPEE)
filed my taxes
realized the IRS sent 3 years worth of SIZEABLE refunds to offset debt erroneously
filled out paperwork to correct said error
ranted about the way the government can take your money like that, and then make you fight to get it back
ranted about the way the municipality I live in can force you to hook into their water and sewer system and then refuse to grant you a 4 day extension on your bill
realized that if God worked 6 days a week, I probably ought to do the same
watched God perform miracles in front of my very eyes
looked in the mirror of my soul and did not like who I saw several times
looked in same mirror and given myself an “atta girl” a couple of times
had a mounstrousthrobbinghorriblesobadIcan’tevenbreathe headache
and a bunch of other stuff I am sure I am leaving out.
So there!
