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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 6, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY July 6, 2014

Outside my window… cooler. It was 96F in Claremont today. I hate July in the desert…

I am thinking… about the organizing of all of Daniel’s therapy notes, IEP’s, goal paperwork, ABA reports, etc. that starts tomorrow for me.

I am thankful… that I have a really good relationship with my in-laws, especially my mother-in-law. People have commented upon meeting us that they’re kind of shocked that we’re not mother and daughter. (She’s been my “other mother” for 14 years now — we’d better be getting along well.)

In the kitchen… just cleaned it. My mother-in-law made a peach/raspberry cobbler today with the peaches off of her tree. I’m not a fan of cobbler but it smelled pretty good.

I am wearing… my preeclampsia survivor shirt and black running shorts.

I am praying for… discernment, some special intentions, Daniel’s school time to go well this week, for another call for Jon, and for healing for various people.

I am going… to Target tomorrow to pick up the scripts they couldn’t fill today because of computer problems.

I am reading… A New Song by Jan Karon. I finished Out to Canaan yesterday.

I am hoping… the weather is much much cooler tomorrow.

I am looking forward to… finding out where God wants us next.

I am hearing my mother-in-law’s Mints and Roomba running. It sounds (and looks) like “Robot Wars” going down in this house.

Around the house… laundry to fold once I get Daniel to sleep.

I am pondering… aspects of the human condition.

A favorite quote for today… “There are two kinds of love: we love wise and kind and beautiful people because we need them, but we love (or try to love) stupid and disagreeable people because they need us. This second kind is the more divine because that is how God loves us: not because we are lovable but because He is love, not because He needs to receive but He delights to give.” — C.S. Lewis (from today’s email — I’m on a mailing list in which a piece of his works appears in my inbox every morning)

One of my favorite things… Daniel asleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week: “school” for Daniel Monday – Friday, speech on Tuesday, and various errands sprinkled throughout the week.

A peek into my day… Felicity (one of my in-laws’ cats) asleep in the laundry I have to fold.

Felicity *helping* with laundry

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook + What I Wore On Sunday: Pastoral Farewell Edition

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 29, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It’s around 11 p.m. and I’m staying up and waiting for Freya to come in. She has become an indoor/outdoor gremlin after moving down here to Claremont and she’s not one of nature’s best camouflage jobs so I worry when she refuses to come in.

I am thinking… about Daniel working with the home teacher tomorrow that the school is sending out. She has no ABA training which is going to mean that I’ll have to train her in how to work with him. Oh freaking joy.

I am thankful… for my in-laws. They babysat last night so that Jon and I could go to the country club reception for the pastor of our church down here who is retiring after 40 years of ministry. (They also got Daniel to sleep even though he came and curled up with me around 1 a.m.) They watched him again today so we could go to church in the morning and the special service of farewell for our pastor in the afternoon. When we got home, my mother-in-law tucked me in with Edda and told me to take a nap. She is made of awesome.

In the kitchen… mint chip ice cream. I’m still pretty full from the reception after church but I needed something on my stomach to take pills.

I am wearing… my lavender Momcat shirt and black capri sweats from Target.

I am praying for… a good session with the home teacher tomorrow, for no more problems getting services for Daniel down here, for a few special intentions, for discernment in what comes next for us…

I am going… to hit up Target for Noxzema tomorrow. Daniel apparently smeared 1/2 a jar of it on himself during his “play bath” tonight and ran me out.

I am wondering… where Freya is.

I am reading… Out to Canaan by Jan Karon — continuing to read brainless stuff right now as I deal with the weightier things in my life.

I am hoping… the little monster comes in soon.

I am looking forward to… snuggling up with my house panther and going to sleep.

I am hearing crickets. It’s a relatively cool night outside.

Around the house… silence as I’m the only one up.

I am pondering… various things, most presently popular artists performing with symphony orchestras. I could see it working for Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony 10+ years ago. (What? You didn’t know I like Metallica?) I’m a bit surprised at how it worked out for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra performing with Sir Mix-A-Lot and doing “Baby Got Back”. (If you don’t believe me, the video is here. It’s probably mildly NSFW.) I’m also kind of surprised at all the women who got up to dance on stage with him.

A favorite quote for today… “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” — Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) which was quoted a lot during all the events for Dennis (the pastor who is retiring).

One of my favorite things… mint chip ice cream.

A few plans for the rest of the week: annoying various people and social agencies to get services for Daniel. It’s what I do best. 😉

A peek into my day… I’m using this particular topic for my “What I Wore on Sunday” meme picture. I wish I had gotten a picture of me in my super pretty clothes last night at the country club but oh well. This particular outfit worked for church this morning at St. John’s (I accidentally slept too late to go elsewhere), a trip to Michael’s/Target/Stater Bros. (grocery store), and then the worship service honoring Pastor Dennis.

What I Wore on Sunday: June 29, 2014

V-Neck: Kohl’s
Skirt: Kohl’s
Shoes: Naturalizer

For more, go see Emily and the other pretties at Fine Linen and Purple.

Funny story: My mother-in-law runs a Little Free Library in their front yard (I’m standing in front of the tables of books in this picture) and on Friday, I had just gotten home from picking Jon up at the train station in Pomona when I saw a mother and daughter walking away from the table of books. We greeted each other politely and then it clicked that I knew here from somewhere. It was Jamie from A Year in Skirts and Helping Each Other Every Day! I knew she lived in the area but I hadn’t realized how close she was. Even better, my mother-in-law knew who she was because I had showed her Jamie’s blog and she had been meaning to tell me that Jamie was one of the patrons. It’s a small world indeed. I think I shocked her when I pointed out how I knew who she was (which, by the way, is totally unlike me).

What I Wore On Sunday

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 24, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 24, 2014

Outside my window… sunflowers. It’s nice right now but should get to 88F today.

I am thinking… about the errands my mother-in-law and I will be doing with Daniel this afternoon.

I am thankful… that the move is over and we’re settling into things here.

In the kitchen… my mother-in-law is making salmon packets for my father-in-law.

I am wearing… black polo shirt, jeans, and flip-flops from Old Navy.

I am praying for… Daniel’s school situation to resolve, for some special intentions, for grace and guidance as I process the last month or so.

I am going… to drop off my little black dress to be mended on my way to pick Daniel up from summer school.

I am wondering… what our status will be at the end of the summer.

I am reading… These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon. I also read A Common Life last week.

I am hoping… Daniel goes down peacefully tonight and that we can get a new routine in place here for bedtime.

I am hearing my mother-in-law’s Roombas.

Around the house… Roombas are running, laundry is cycling, and I’m sitting in my room with my needy black cat.

I am pondering… too much mentally. Will have to journal some things out tonight.

A favorite quote for today… “What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… a place and time where my mind can be quiet.

A few plans for the rest of the week: errands on various days, sorting through boxes, shredding old papers and bills, and living where my feet are at the moment.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 26, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 26, 2014

Outside my window… hot. The high was 94F today. It’s hopefully supposed to cool off a bit this week though it will still be summer temperatures. *sighs* Definitely not helpful that we have a drought happening in California at the moment.

I am thinking… about everything coming up in the next few weeks.

I am thankful… for my in-laws and the way they’re helping us make some decisions right now.

In the kitchen… dishes!

I am wearing… my Run for Courage shirt and black yoga pants.

I am praying for… the ability to make good decisions, the strength to confront everything happening over the next few weeks, and for a number of special intentions.

I am going… to Trader Joe’s tomorrow. We need sourdough bread and I need some ginger mints.

I am wondering… why I seem to get stuck with the women who take Titus 2:3-5 literally and wax poetically about how they wish they had an older woman like that in their lives when they were young. They don’t care about making me into a Biblical woman — they just want to be able to boss younger women around because they think they *gasp* “know what it’s like to be a young mother in [my] situation”. Ummm… no.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans.

I am hoping… that my hands eventually stop hurting.

I am looking forward to… having some of these decisions behind us.

I am hearing Jon typing on his laptop. Daniel is still asleep. *crosses fingers that he stays asleep*

Around the house… decluttering and organizing.

A favorite quote for today… “A towel, [The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-boggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.” — Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

One of my favorite things… quiet evenings after my precious sweetling has been knocked off his schedule and is being bratty.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy every afternoon, a counseling appointment on Friday, and that’s pretty much it.

A peek into my day… My grandfather (an aviator with the U.S. Navy in WWII) and me probably 30 years ago.

My grandfather and me in 1984.

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7 Quick Takes: Things I Do to Avoid Dealing With My Life

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7 Quick Takes

I’ve got some things going on in my offline life at the moment that are terrifying me (and which I can’t talk about on this blog which is why I’m being vague) so this is how I’m avoiding things related to that.

— 1 —

Facebook. If I played all the games I get invited to play, I’d be attached to my laptop 24/7. I stick mainly to Words with Friends and Scrabble. Still, even on days when I only read certain lists of people, it’s a good way to kill a few hours.

— 2 —

Reading. I’m currently re-reading A Year of Biblical Womanhood when I’m sitting down and eating meals. I don’t read at night because I’d just stay awake doing so and unfortunately, I have a little boy who wakes me up at 7 asking for “mo chee”. (Translation: “more cheese”.) My favorite genre is murder mysteries and I love being transported to another locale that way for a few hours.

— 3 —

Advocating for orphans. It puts my problems into perspective. By the way, Brett (the little boy on my sidebar) needs a mama. If you think you might be his mama, click on his picture with all possible speed. Currently, I’m crocheting a baby blanket to raffle off to raise money for his grant.

— 4 —

Netflix. When the house is quiet, I tend to binge on Netflix. My current addiction is Leverage.

— 5 —

Blogging. If I put down every thought in my head, I would probably max out my server space and annoy all of you. Still, it’s what is keeping me sane at the moment and helping me to avoid thinking about everything going on.

— 6 —

Sleeping. I’m a huge fan of it, especially since I don’t get much of it these days. If I had my way, I’d be able to shift my wake-up time from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. permanently.

— 7 —

Watching TV. I’m a forensics show junkie. I get irritated if people call me between 7 and 9 p.m. on Tuesday nights because it’s NCIS night. I also have other shows that I watch and follow religiously.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 19, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 19, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It was pretty nice outside today.

I am thankful… for a good day with my family on Saturday.

In the kitchen… dishes. Always dishes.

I am wearing… light blue preeclampsia survivor shirt and black sweats.

I am praying for… guidance for what comes next.

I am going… to try and get all the bills paid tomorrow.

I am wondering… what I’m going to hear at the end of the week.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans — it’s actually a re-read.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

I am hearing the episode of Leverage where they’re trying to scam a corrupt car dealer.

Around the house… ignoring housework today as it’s my birthday.

A favorite quote for today… “Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… sushi.

A few plans for the rest of the week: errands tomorrow morning, ABA therapy the rest of the week, parent training on Wednesday morning, counselling appointment and massage on Friday.

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7 Quick Takes: A Melange of Things

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Someone needs a mama. Do you see this sweet boy?

Brett

Brett needs a mama. Are you his mama? Click on his picture for more information.

— 2 —

Prerequisite baseball take. My boys (the Giants) are at the top of the NL West… and the Dodgers are five games back. Yeah… trying not to be annoying toward Jon.

— 3 —

Big Bang Theory. OMG… season finale!!!! I wonder what we’re going to see when the show returns in September with regard to Sheldon’s train trip. I was also bummed out to see that the comic book store burned and I’m kind of amused that Stewart is now joyfully taking care of Howard’s mom when every other nurse quit on them.

— 4 —

Leverage. I freaking love Leverage!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am up WAAAAAAAAAY past my bedtime watching it. I do still adore Parker but I also love Eliot (the hitter) as well. I’m watching the one where they’re scamming the Bernie Madoff guy and they’re doing the science fair-musical thing.

— 5 —

Ginger-flavored Altoids. Unfortunately, they don’t sell them here so I’m imbibing large quantities of Trader Joe’s Ginger Mints to help with inflammation. My stomach has been happy in addition so yay?

— 6 —

The weekend. My evil twin and his wife will be down this weekend for the communal birthday celebration. I haven’t seen Sean (the evil twin) since March and I haven’t seen the girl since Thanksgiving. They used to live about half an hour north of us so we used to do the communal birthday celebration at our place. They moved up to Tacoma last August so now my parents are the most centrally located people. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing them.

— 7 —

Books. I finished Something Other Than God (Jen Fulwiler) and Girl at the End of the World (Elizabeth Esther) this week so I’m now re-reading A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans. If you haven’t read it (or any of them), I recommend all three of them.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.