The Secret of Living

Slow Down, Summer

So... how about something a lot lighter and more fun than deep thoughts about how life is never the same after you have a child with special needs? I've got it - Random thoughts from this summer!

I don't know why but Robbie still wants to go out in the hot weather and jump on the trampoline. This summer I rarely go out with him, but sit on the sofa with the window open instead. The bugs are so bad this year that we have to spray if we are going to even step into the backyard, so that has been a problem. I haven't been near bug spray in a long time and with the recent bout of hives, I've been avoiding everything that can potentially be a problem for me. So far, Nina has been home and she has taken him out to the patio and spray his legs for me. Note to self: teach Robbie how to spray his legs, with supervision. That would solve this problem!

Robbie is finally learning to brush his teeth, but still misses the top (bottom?) of the upper molars. We continue to supervise and encourage him to get them but he just doesn't flip the toothbrush over. Brushing your teeth with the back of a toothbrush doesn't really work.

I finished two books this week. Wonder was absolutely fabulous. I re-read it and then read every extra e-book chapter I could locate for it as well. The only problem is now I don't want to see the movie. There is no way that they could have done it justice. The other book was Apollo 8. It started out really slowly, so slowly that I put it down and read Wonder instead! But when I returned to Apollo 8, it finally grabbed my attention and I enjoyed it a lot. I learned a lot about the first trip to moon orbit.

I found a new bird guide for K for Father's Day. (shhhhh. don't tell him.)(He doesn't read this blog often...) It won't arrive until long after the day but it will come before his trip to a conference being held in the Canary Islands. I am so excited for him to be able to go there. His maternal grandfather emigrated from the Canary Islands to Cuba. K gets to visit where some of his ancestors lived! We have no way to get more information on this grandfather, since he died when K's Mami was young, and his name is fairly common. K's uncle went and tried to find out more about his father but was not successful. At least we know where he emigrated from.

I can't believe it's almost Father's Day. This summer is rushing by so quickly. Father's Day is also our 29th wedding anniversary. Note to those considering getting married the day before Father's Day... every so many years, your anniversary will hit Father's Day! I wish this summer would slow down a bit. I'd like to enjoy it more.

I am currently sitting in a study room at the library. I am still studying for the Mathematics Praxis. I haven't found a job yet (praying I will soon!). I find that I have so much more desire to... clean house, write a blog post, whatever... right now, since I really should be studying. Yesterday, I had the urge to practice piano! I hadn't touched the piano in months, which meant that my scales were absolutely abysmal. I also discovered that I need to get the piano tuned. Something else to do instead of studying, hooray!

Back to work. I continue to use a pomodoro timer (tomato-timer.com) which helps me to stay on task. 2 minutes studying, 5 or 10 minute break, 25 minutes studying, 10 or 5 minute break (I alternate between the short and long break), and so on. I have probably mentioned this before, but it really does help me. The long timer just went off, so back to integrals...

Random Thoughts after Decorating Cookies; Plus a Prayer Request

Powdered sugar icing tastes good, dries well on sugar cookies, and holds on to decorations very well.

It also has disadvantages (other than a sugar high from all that concentrated sugar).

1) When measuring powdered sugar, and when sifting powdered sugar, be aware that it will go EVERYWHERE. You will have to clean every surface within 6 feet of any activity done with powdered sugar.

2) When icing cookies, the icing will inevitably run out when you have less than 8 cookies and more than 3. Three is the number that I would say, oh forget it, and just eat the cookies without icing.

3) When making a small batch of icing, you will forget you are supposed to add the extra milk by the teaspoon, because you used a tablespoon while making a triple batch of icing. This will result in powdered sugar glaze instead of icing. You will then have to add more powdered sugar. See point #1 for the rest of this point.

4) After completing the cookies, you will have leftover icing. You must clean this bowl immediately because the icing will harden to the consistency of petrified rock, and you will have a really hard time cleaning it later.

5) It is so very sad if you drop and break an iced cookie on the floor. (5 second rule.) (yummy.)

6) It takes twice as long to decorate the cookies than it did to bake the cookies in the first place.

7) You must also sit around protecting the cookies from the cats while they (the cookies) dry enough to put away. Especially when you have a kitten who has finally mastered jumping as high as a chair without falling back to the floor instead. (Though he still falls back to the floor when attempting a higher jump, which is quite hilarious, and we actually hope he never masters jumping well.)

8) I do not remember the last time I had to decorate cookies. I usually outsource this to young adults, but they were not available this time.

9) Upon completing the cookies, you will survey the damage to the kitchen, eat some lunch, and clean up. Then you will sit back and relax.

10) Until you suddenly realize that you haven't made Robbie some GFCF cookies yet. And that's not going to go over well with him, so I will have to make more cookies when I get back from picking him up at school. Thankfully I have a couple of mixes that we like in the pantry. This is a great spot to lead into my prayer request, because I'm hoping he will eat many cookies...

Prayer Request:

Robbie has been losing weight (and does not have weight to lose. He's getting thin.). He's now taking an appetite stimulant for the next week to see if that helps. My prayer request is that we can figure out why he's not eating and if there is an underlying health problem, that we will find it. Thank you!

Hugs

It's amazing how much a hug fills your spirit. That physical contact can be just what you need.

I went to a wedding yesterday with K. Beautiful bride, fabulous family, amazing occasion. I love weddings.

I went for three reasons: 1‚ the wedding, of course! 2, time with K - always a plus. and 3, friends and hugs.

I suppose my friends thought I was joking when I said I had decided I was going to collect hugs at the reception. But I was completely serious. I haven't really seen anyone in ages and I doubt I will see many people for a while again. I am slogging through this quarter and oh so tired of it. I do like the teaching part mostly, but I am tired of jumping through hoops.

The latest hoop I've encountered? The class I need? to graduate? in MAY? that I was supposed to take in the spring? It's not being offered. Even though it's been offered in the fall and spring for years?

Let that sink in.So I called my advisor and she's figuring it out. Okay...  So hugs were just what I wanted, needed, and thankfully, my friends are very willing to give them too.Happy hugs to you if you need one!

A Year in Review: 2016

This makes two posts in one week in spite of the fact that Finn has already learned that one of his primary roles in life is to lay on my keyboard when I am typing on it, so blogging is challenging. For years, I have done a year in review where I take the first sentence of each month and then briefly talk about it. I suppose the old posts aren't all here in the new blog, but it is useful to me to look back and then look forward. Here's the looking back.

January 2016: I returned home last night with my family. 

We returned home on January 2nd. If you didn't already know, my mom died last December. I arrived shortly before her death, and stayed through the Christmas break. And I started the rest of my life without my mom. Grief is different with every loss, and the loss of my mom in my everyday life has been the hardest I've experienced so far. I miss her every day.

February 2016: Two months ago today, I was rushing around doing laundry, packing, contacting my teachers. 

My dad called me that morning, and I quickly rescheduled my flight, and left town. My mom died the next day. That's about all I feel like saying about that today. The one year anniversary came and went in December and it hurt as much if not more than I thought it would.

March 2016: I didn't take a single picture on his birthday, though I think there is video of us singing happy birthday and him blowing out the candles.

Robbie turned 12 a couple of days before I wrote this. Twelve has been challenging and fun at times. He'll be 13 in February - a teenager. (How time flies...)

April 2016: Life keeps rushing by.

This year went fast. Robbie in particular has been growing very very quickly. He went from a couple of inches shorter than his sister to an inch taller. This time next year, I bet he'll be taller than I am. (That's not all that tall, btw. I'm only 5'2" tall.)

May 2016:

No blog post this month. I was making the decision to start my blog over in a way, to make my blog much more public to those who know me in real life.

June 2016: I've been blogging for years at this site (since April 2005, actually).

And someday when I have more time (ha ha ha), I'll move more of those past posts. For now, this is it. It was the right decision and I am glad that I made it.

July 2016: Two weeks ago, we took Robbie to church with us, and he completely melted down.

What a year it's been for church. Or not going to church. Between illnesses and Robbie's meltdowns, I don't think I've missed this much church in a very very long time. Maybe not since I was on bedrest during my pregnancy with Robbie.

August 2016: Looking out my window... It's hot.

A Daybook post - and it was hot. One of the hottest summers we've had for a while. I like winter so much better - at least we can get outside and not melt! (Though 80 degrees the day after Christmas? too hot for December...)

September 2016: Let's try talking about something happier, shall we?

I talked about how Robbie was going to band class. In December, he actually sat with the band and played on a song - just sleigh bells, but it was more than we ever expected with him. Let's count the ways he wouldn't have liked it - big bright echoing room, lots and lots of people, unfamiliar. K went and said that the other students in the band were kind and helping, so that's a win as well. I doubt he played perfectly well, but he tried. And it was something we didn't even dare hope for.

October 2016: I'm trying to write a daybook for the month but for some reason (school), I'm so incredibly busy (family), and I haven't had a chance to write much (other stuff), and oh well.

It was a rough week when I wrote this. Our sweet elderly cat went downhill and we had to say goodbye. I still miss Tasha. I said then that I didn't know when or if I'd get another cat.

November 2016: If I had to pick one comment that I have heard the most over the years of parenting a child with moderate to severe autism, it would be "I don't know how you do that. I don't know if I could."

Since I wrote this post, I have thought of one thing to add to it, a piece of advice to anyone. No matter what the other person is facing, this is NOT the comment to say. Ever.

December 2016: Finn is our recent addition to the household, a fluffy bundle of purring kitten. 

I got another cat! (Which is a surprise to no one at all.) He's a sweetheart and I'm glad to have new life in the house.

And this is the end of the year in review for 2016. It's 2017 today and I hope you are having a wonderful New Year's Day, and will have a fabulous year ahead of you.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - November 2016

Welcome to the Simple Woman's Daybook for November 2016.

Please click here to visit the host's blog.

 

For Today

 

Looking out my window... It's sunny and cold. For Northern readers, that means it's only 61 degrees at 9:30 a.m. Yeah, I know we're spoiled, but let us enjoy it. We were hot way too long this year and it's finally fall, almost in time for winter.

 

I am thinking... about the graduate project I have due on Tuesday. Though I am actually writing this, and not really doing it. And Tuesday is tomorrow. As is the last quiz. After that I just have to go to a short meeting on Wednesday to sign my evaluation and I am DONE for the quarter. Hallelujah.

 

I am thankful... for the fact that the quarter is almost over. Yes, this appears to be a theme.

One of my favorite things...

I finally succeeded in finding one of these after 3 or 4 years of trying.

It's a Christmas tree for my husband's large aquarium! He loves it.

I am creating... nothing at all. I need to find something to do over Thanksgiving. What am I going to do with myself with no homework to do? I think I will pick up my daughter's afghan again. Or the scarf I was making for a gift. Or something. So knitting or crochet or maybe nothing at all.

 

I am wearing... Blue sweat pants and a grey Illinois t-shirt.  As always not what I'll be wearing when I leave the house in a bit!

 

I am listening to... Beloved, by Jordan Feliz - on repeat. I tend to find one song and listen repeatedly, trying to keep myself from the depths. Life is always stressful here, but school definitely has been an added stress, more so this quarter than past quarters. Add in other stresses and you have the recipe for not good things in my lovely brain. Enter lyrics:

 

Sometimes a heart can feel like a heavy weight
It pulls you under and you just fall away
Is anybody gonna hear you call?
Oh, oh
But there's a purpose
Under the surface
And you don't have to drown
Let me remind you
That love will find you
Let it lift you out
You are beloved
I wanted you to know.

 

More than ever lately, I need that reminder. I need to remember that even when I feel so alone, God is still here with me. It is so easy for me to spend my time in that dark place. Writing here is one of my ways of trying to fight against the darkness. I pray, I hope, I cry, I write. I wish it was helping more this time though.

 

I am hoping/praying... for light in the darkness.

I am learning... a lot of things? what am I learning? How to have confidence in myself. How to get it done when I don't feel like doing. How to keep walking.

 

In my kitchen... the bane of my existence. All I can say is I was right not to work full time and go to school, because even a part time practicum has been very hard on keeping us fed for less money. And dishes. Ugh... Dishes just keep getting dirty! Someone send me a house elf.

In the schoolroom... I am almost done with the quarter! (<--central theme again!) Can't wait for the break. Two more days!

 

 Shared Quote...

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. - Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

 

A moment from my day...

 

I love looking out into our backyard, especially in the early morning. We have woods behind us on two sides. It seems so peaceful. I like to just soak it in before I leave the house, and go to whatever I need to do. That moment of peace sometimes lasts in my heart for hours.

 

Closing Notes

 

I didn't write a Daybook in October. I had one started, but then it was the end of October and I said oh well. But there was a super big event in our lives last month... our only daughter accepted a proposal of marriage. We knew ahead of time, since the young man in question had asked for my husband's blessing in September. We are happy for her and for him. Just don't ask me when the wedding is - I'll know once they have an idea of when!

 

Yes, a very intimate proposal...

just the two of them & the band director & the band and 17,000 fans...

 

 

Welcome to the Simple Woman's Daybook for November 2016.

Please click here to visit the host's blog.

 

For Today

 

Looking out my window... It's sunny and cold. For Northern readers, that means it's only 61 degrees at 9:30 a.m. Yeah, I know we're spoiled, but let us enjoy it. We were hot way too long this year and it's finally fall, almost in time for winter.

 

I am thinking... about the graduate project I have due on Tuesday. Though I am actually writing this, and not really doing it. And Tuesday is tomorrow. As is the last quiz. After that I just have to go to a short meeting on Wednesday to sign my evaluation and I am DONE for the quarter. Hallelujah.

 

I am thankful... for the fact that the quarter is almost over. Yes, this appears to be a theme.

One of my favorite things...

I finally succeeded in finding one of these after 3 or 4 years of trying.

It's a Christmas tree for my husband's large aquarium! He loves it.

I am creating... nothing at all. I need to find something to do over Thanksgiving. What am I going to do with myself with no homework to do? I think I will pick up my daughter's afghan again. Or the scarf I was making for a gift. Or something. So knitting or crochet or maybe nothing at all.

 

I am wearing... Blue sweat pants and a grey Illinois t-shirt.  As always not what I'll be wearing when I leave the house in a bit!

 

I am listening to... Beloved, by Jordan Feliz - on repeat. I tend to find one song and listen repeatedly, trying to keep myself from the depths. Life is always stressful here, but school definitely has been an added stress, more so this quarter than past quarters. Add in other stresses and you have the recipe for not good things in my lovely brain. Enter lyrics:

 

Sometimes a heart can feel like a heavy weight
It pulls you under and you just fall away
Is anybody gonna hear you call?
Oh, oh
But there's a purpose
Under the surface
And you don't have to drown
Let me remind you
That love will find you
Let it lift you out
You are beloved
I wanted you to know.

 

More than ever lately, I need that reminder. I need to remember that even when I feel so alone, God is still here with me. It is so easy for me to spend my time in that dark place. Writing here is one of my ways of trying to fight against the darkness. I pray, I hope, I cry, I write. I wish it was helping more this time though.

 

I am hoping/praying... for light in the darkness.

I am learning... a lot of things? what am I learning? How to have confidence in myself. How to get it done when I don't feel like doing. How to keep walking.

 

In my kitchen... the bane of my existence. All I can say is I was right not to work full time and go to school, because even a part time practicum has been very hard on keeping us fed for less money. And dishes. Ugh... Dishes just keep getting dirty! Someone send me a house elf.

In the schoolroom... I am almost done with the quarter! (<--central theme again!) Can't wait for the break. Two more days!

 

 Shared Quote...

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. - Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

 

A moment from my day...

 

I love looking out into our backyard, especially in the early morning. We have woods behind us on two sides. It seems so peaceful. I like to just soak it in before I leave the house, and go to whatever I need to do. That moment of peace sometimes lasts in my heart for hours.

 

Closing Notes

 

I didn't write a Daybook in October. I had one started, but then it was the end of October and I said oh well. But there was a super big event in our lives last month... our only daughter accepted a proposal of marriage. We knew ahead of time, since the young man in question had asked for my husband's blessing in September. We are happy for her and for him. Just don't ask me when the wedding is - I'll know once they have an idea of when!

 

Yes, a very intimate proposal...

just the two of them & the band director & the band and 17,000 fans...

 

 

Welcome to the Simple Woman's Daybook for November 2016.

Please click here to visit the host's blog.

 

For Today

 

Looking out my window... It's sunny and cold. For Northern readers, that means it's only 61 degrees at 9:30 a.m. Yeah, I know we're spoiled, but let us enjoy it. We were hot way too long this year and it's finally fall, almost in time for winter.

 

I am thinking... about the graduate project I have due on Tuesday. Though I am actually writing this, and not really doing it. And Tuesday is tomorrow. As is the last quiz. After that I just have to go to a short meeting on Wednesday to sign my evaluation and I am DONE for the quarter. Hallelujah.

 

I am thankful... for the fact that the quarter is almost over. Yes, this appears to be a theme.

One of my favorite things...

I finally succeeded in finding one of these after 3 or 4 years of trying.

It's a Christmas tree for my husband's large aquarium! He loves it.

I am creating... nothing at all. I need to find something to do over Thanksgiving. What am I going to do with myself with no homework to do? I think I will pick up my daughter's afghan again. Or the scarf I was making for a gift. Or something. So knitting or crochet or maybe nothing at all.

 

I am wearing... Blue sweat pants and a grey Illinois t-shirt.  As always not what I'll be wearing when I leave the house in a bit!

 

I am listening to... Beloved, by Jordan Feliz - on repeat. I tend to find one song and listen repeatedly, trying to keep myself from the depths. Life is always stressful here, but school definitely has been an added stress, more so this quarter than past quarters. Add in other stresses and you have the recipe for not good things in my lovely brain. Enter lyrics:

 

Sometimes a heart can feel like a heavy weight
It pulls you under and you just fall away
Is anybody gonna hear you call?
Oh, oh
But there's a purpose
Under the surface
And you don't have to drown
Let me remind you
That love will find you
Let it lift you out
You are beloved
I wanted you to know.

 

More than ever lately, I need that reminder. I need to remember that even when I feel so alone, God is still here with me. It is so easy for me to spend my time in that dark place. Writing here is one of my ways of trying to fight against the darkness. I pray, I hope, I cry, I write. I wish it was helping more this time though.

 

I am hoping/praying... for light in the darkness.

I am learning... a lot of things? what am I learning? How to have confidence in myself. How to get it done when I don't feel like doing. How to keep walking.

 

In my kitchen... the bane of my existence. All I can say is I was right not to work full time and go to school, because even a part time practicum has been very hard on keeping us fed for less money. And dishes. Ugh... Dishes just keep getting dirty! Someone send me a house elf.

In the schoolroom... I am almost done with the quarter! (<--central theme again!) Can't wait for the break. Two more days!

 

 Shared Quote...

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. - Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

 

A moment from my day...

 

I love looking out into our backyard, especially in the early morning. We have woods behind us on two sides. It seems so peaceful. I like to just soak it in before I leave the house, and go to whatever I need to do. That moment of peace sometimes lasts in my heart for hours.

 

Closing Notes

 

I didn't write a Daybook in October. I had one started, but then it was the end of October and I said oh well. But there was a super big event in our lives last month... our only daughter accepted a proposal of marriage. We knew ahead of time, since the young man in question had asked for my husband's blessing in September. We are happy for her and for him. Just don't ask me when the wedding is - I'll know once they have an idea of when!

 

Yes, a very intimate proposal...

just the two of them & the band director & the band and 17,000 fans...

 

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook - September 2016

Welcome to the Simple Woman's Daybook for September 2016.

Please click here to visit the host's blog.

 

For Today

 

Looking out my window... It's sunny out and looks gorgeous. But the temperature is 90 degrees, with a heat index of 106, so we're still doing this summer thing here. There have been days with less heat and humidity, so I am starting to believe once again that summer heat shall actually end.

 

I am thinking... about what I need to do for school. My classes didn't even start until last night even though the quarter started last week. Today I will go to my other class (for the first time), so I will have a better idea of what my daily/weekly schedule is going to be like. That will help a lot. I am a planner and this is feeling so disorganized and discombobulated.

 

I am thankful... for our new king bed. It is comfortable, roomy, and more. The only part I don't like is how hard it is to make the bed in the morning by myself. I have two choices, get up with K and he'll help, or sleep another hour and do it myself. Not a hard decision, since the opportunity for sleep is one I am always thankful for!

One of my favorite things...

 Robbie canoeing with his daddy at camp

I am creating... or at least in the starting process of creating a baby quilt. I don't know who I'll give it to, but at this point, I'm just fascinated with learning about this.  I suppose it would be easier to crochet or knit but then I won't have the fun of learning something new.

 

I am wearing... a grey/purple t-shirt and black shorts. Not what I'll be wearing when I leave to pick up Robbie, take him to therapy, then go to class!

 

I am listening to... You are Loved by Stars Go Dim. It's on repeat right now. This song is speaking to me where I am, right now, right here, especially the lines that say "We hide pain in the weirdest places, Broken souls with smiling faces", and "We're not made to be superheroes, Photoshopped, all size zeroes..."

 

You are loved

If your heart's in a thousand pieces

If you're lost and you're far from reason

Just look up, know that you are loved

 

I need that reminder yesterday, today, tomorrow. I am loved.

 

I am hoping/praying... that God can open my heart, that I may trust in Him more.

 

I am learning... how to organize my life a bit better. Most recently, I started a habit tracker in my bullet journal. It has been a nice way to remind myself to do certain things - like drink enough water every day. I only picked 5 things to start on: Meds, H2O, Budget Status, Exercise, and Write. I added write to make sure I make time in my day, even if it's just 10 minutes, to spend time doing something I love to do, for myself.

 

In my kitchen... the kitchen... ah, the kitchen. The kitchen is being very challenging this week, mostly because of this situation...

This is our seven gallon water container. It's been sitting on the counter in the kitchen since Monday. There are also two big pots of cooled water that was boiled. <--- the clue! Yes, we are dealing with a water boil order, since Monday. We were told last week that this would be happening because they had to do a repair and that meant that our water was turned off for several hours on Monday. Until they get the all clear from the lab, we have to use alternate sources of water or boil our water for drinking, washing hands, cleaning food, etc.

As you can imagine, this is a slight challenge for cooking/cleaning/etc. I keep reminding myself that this is definitely a first world problem. After all, I have water in my home and usually never have to think about it. So... I'm dealing. But I'm not cooking very well this week either!

In the schoolroom... I'm the student right now, and will be a teacher in a school as soon as I finish this degree and get a job! For my birthday, one of my gifts from my family was the salad storage container I wanted for my lunchbox. I will probably be eating lunch at school more as I do practicum class and student teaching, so this is a great addition to my storage containers. 

Mine has green instead of blue - I took this picture from here on Amazon.

 

 Shared Quote...

"The gospel gives me hope, and hope is not a language the dark voices understand." - Andrew Peterson, songwriter, writer

 

A moment from my day...

 

The house is very quiet right now. All I hear is the whir of a fan overhead. As an introvert, I need  some time to myself and I am enjoying it more because I know that this season is going to end soon. I will finish my degree and I will have a full time job, and it will get harder to find these moments.

 

Even so, I miss all of the family being around. You get used to having others coming and going through the house. At lunchtime, I texted Nina to see if she could talk, and she could. I miss having her at home, but I am so thankful for the technology that allows us to talk when we can.

 

Closing Notes:

 

A few years ago, I wrote Daybooks often. I am planning to return to them on a monthly basis. The snapshot of life it provides for my memories is so valuable to me. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Welcome to the Simple Woman's Daybook for September 2016.

Please click here to visit the host's blog.

 

For Today

 

Looking out my window... It's sunny out and looks gorgeous. But the temperature is 90 degrees, with a heat index of 106, so we're still doing this summer thing here. There have been days with less heat and humidity, so I am starting to believe once again that summer heat shall actually end.

 

I am thinking... about what I need to do for school. My classes didn't even start until last night even though the quarter started last week. Today I will go to my other class (for the first time), so I will have a better idea of what my daily/weekly schedule is going to be like. That will help a lot. I am a planner and this is feeling so disorganized and discombobulated.

 

I am thankful... for our new king bed. It is comfortable, roomy, and more. The only part I don't like is how hard it is to make the bed in the morning by myself. I have two choices, get up with K and he'll help, or sleep another hour and do it myself. Not a hard decision, since the opportunity for sleep is one I am always thankful for!

One of my favorite things...

 Robbie canoeing with his daddy at camp

I am creating... or at least in the starting process of creating a baby quilt. I don't know who I'll give it to, but at this point, I'm just fascinated with learning about this.  I suppose it would be easier to crochet or knit but then I won't have the fun of learning something new.

 

I am wearing... a grey/purple t-shirt and black shorts. Not what I'll be wearing when I leave to pick up Robbie, take him to therapy, then go to class!

 

I am listening to... You are Loved by Stars Go Dim. It's on repeat right now. This song is speaking to me where I am, right now, right here, especially the lines that say "We hide pain in the weirdest places, Broken souls with smiling faces", and "We're not made to be superheroes, Photoshopped, all size zeroes..."

 

You are loved

If your heart's in a thousand pieces

If you're lost and you're far from reason

Just look up, know that you are loved

 

I need that reminder yesterday, today, tomorrow. I am loved.

 

I am hoping/praying... that God can open my heart, that I may trust in Him more.

 

I am learning... how to organize my life a bit better. Most recently, I started a habit tracker in my bullet journal. It has been a nice way to remind myself to do certain things - like drink enough water every day. I only picked 5 things to start on: Meds, H2O, Budget Status, Exercise, and Write. I added write to make sure I make time in my day, even if it's just 10 minutes, to spend time doing something I love to do, for myself.

 

In my kitchen... the kitchen... ah, the kitchen. The kitchen is being very challenging this week, mostly because of this situation...

This is our seven gallon water container. It's been sitting on the counter in the kitchen since Monday. There are also two big pots of cooled water that was boiled. <--- the clue! Yes, we are dealing with a water boil order, since Monday. We were told last week that this would be happening because they had to do a repair and that meant that our water was turned off for several hours on Monday. Until they get the all clear from the lab, we have to use alternate sources of water or boil our water for drinking, washing hands, cleaning food, etc.

As you can imagine, this is a slight challenge for cooking/cleaning/etc. I keep reminding myself that this is definitely a first world problem. After all, I have water in my home and usually never have to think about it. So... I'm dealing. But I'm not cooking very well this week either!

In the schoolroom... I'm the student right now, and will be a teacher in a school as soon as I finish this degree and get a job! For my birthday, one of my gifts from my family was the salad storage container I wanted for my lunchbox. I will probably be eating lunch at school more as I do practicum class and student teaching, so this is a great addition to my storage containers. 

Mine has green instead of blue - I took this picture from here on Amazon.

 

 Shared Quote...

"The gospel gives me hope, and hope is not a language the dark voices understand." - Andrew Peterson, songwriter, writer

 

A moment from my day...

 

The house is very quiet right now. All I hear is the whir of a fan overhead. As an introvert, I need  some time to myself and I am enjoying it more because I know that this season is going to end soon. I will finish my degree and I will have a full time job, and it will get harder to find these moments.

 

Even so, I miss all of the family being around. You get used to having others coming and going through the house. At lunchtime, I texted Nina to see if she could talk, and she could. I miss having her at home, but I am so thankful for the technology that allows us to talk when we can.

 

Closing Notes:

 

A few years ago, I wrote Daybooks often. I am planning to return to them on a monthly basis. The snapshot of life it provides for my memories is so valuable to me. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Starting Over

I've been blogging for years at this site (since April 2005, actually). Well, technically on my other blog on this site, but I've password protected it now, and this is now the default blog for www.terelina.typepad.com. I plan on moving over certain posts as I continue blogging, but for now, I'm saving those old posts for my own memories.

But I felt it was time to have a more "public" blog. I've never cared if anyone found me here, but over time, I felt like there was too much of a secret component to my blog. That was never my intention, but still it seems to have happened too much.

I don't want to lose what I've already written, and I do plan on moving several posts from the past. But not today. Today I'm just saying, hi, I'm mostly starting this blog over.

If you're just coming in for the first time, this explanation of the blog's title also lives on my "About" page.

It comes from the verses that I continue to reflect on over and over again, ever since I trusted in Christ as my Lord - Phillippians 4:4-14. The title comes from Phil. 4:12 - "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little." My goal in life is to try to learn this secret, to follow God in all circumstances of my life, from single life to marriage, from barren woman to the happy mother of children. I wish I could say that I've completely arrived, but it's a work in progress - but one that is worthy to strive for.

Welcome.