A Daybook for September

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...

it's dreary and overcast, even the birds are quiet this morning. This gray misty day is just not much motivation for me to get up and get moving, but I must.

I am thinking...

about the outward things that give me inward purpose. That sounds rather academic, but it certainly isn't. It's really day to day stuff. It's just the things that trigger a response from my heart, moving them from the routine to a whole other realm. For instance, holding and praying my rosary helps me form a daily connection with Jesus' life, with those for whom I pray and with God who infuses that act with Himself. Or preparing snacks and meals for Boo, a very routine part of our day, but one which provides endless opportunities for sharing the beauty of a special mug or flower, listening to and reciting poetry and just talking.

I am thankful...

for the positive response Elizabeth seems to be making to her treatments for leukemia. I'm even more thankful for her positive, giving attitude. It's such an inspiration to me...and to many others.

In the kitchen...

are plenty of leftovers for today. Large Sunday dinners tend to provide lots of extra food for us and lots of extra dishes. As a matter of fact, I have a few things still soaking in the sink waiting to be washed. (My mother would probably be horrified at that admission.)

I am wearing...

comfortable jeans, an off white long sleeve shirt, a black headband and bare feet. Of course, my feet are tucked under a quilt at the moment.

I am creating...

more digital scrapbooks. This time I'm working on Christmas presents. I'm also thinking about preparing family calendars for Christmas. If I were willing to follow a prepared template, it would be simple. But no, not me. I want to reinvent the wheel and completely design my own.

I am reading...

Medjugorje: The Mission by Wayne Weible and several novels.

I am looking forward to...

Well, for some reason this one is difficult this morning. I really am looking forward to several things this week and I can't remember any of them at the moment. Has my hot tea not kicked in yet?

I am learning...

more with Paint Shop every day. It's so much fun to experiment and play with this program. It also keeps me occupied when Boo needs me beside him. I'm also learning some Irish crochet stitches. Oh, maybe I didn't phrase that quite right. I'm learning some crochet patterns that mimic Irish cable knits...since I don't knit.

Around the house...

it is very quiet. The whole neighborhood is quiet this morning.

I am pondering...

my deep need for relationship. More and more I find myself drawn to those with whom I can be authentically myself and those who think. Recently, I've reconnected with high school and college friends, with cousins and even some friends from Girl Scout camp years ago. Thank you Facebook! Many of these I've maintained a superficial relationship with for years by exchanging Christmas and birthday cards. Now, we actually have “conversations” on FB about our faith, about politics (and boy, do we disagree!), about those things that are truly essential to each of us...and about mundane, every day things.

One of my favorite things...

is slowly savoring a cup of hot tea with a little stevia and sometimes a little lemon...depending on the type of tea I'm drinking. Never, never would I pollute a wonderful cup of tea with milk or cream, but that's just me.

A favorite quote for today...

“Eros will have naked bodies. Friendship naked personalities.”

100. S. Lewis

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Wow, just thinking about the rest of the week makes me tired. We have several appointments. The preparations for these appointments is far harder than the appointments themselves---reminding Boo several times daily about the upcoming appointments and what we're likely to experience there, making sure I have all the essentials in a backpack (necessary papers, snacks and water, change of clothes for Boo, BP cuff and glucometer, meds just in case we're out longer than anticipated, a knotted cord rosary and a photo of Boudreaux to help during those confused times for Boo, my wallet, a small brush, comb, wet wipes, etc.) and, most difficult of all, preparing him for the trip itself (Yes, we'll be leaving the house at ___ time in a car. We'll be back in time for ____ hopefully. Yes, you'll have your rolling walker. No, we won't get lost. We will be coming back home. Boudreaux will be waiting for us when we get back...)

The Simple Woman's Daybook