Category Archives: Family

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 4, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY July 4, 2011

Outside my window… bloody hot. We’re having a heat wave in northern California as usually happens about this time (late June/early July).

I am thinking… about that which awaits me in my week.

I am thankful for… time with my parents this long weekend and for the massage I have scheduled for Wednesday. (We’re talking medical necessity here, not Jen spoiling herself.) Also thankful that Daniel doesn’t have speech therapy tomorrow — I love Easter Seals and I don’t mind driving into Sacramento for speech; but I’m thankful to not have the appointment at 8:45 a.m. because it means that the little boy and I can snuggle and watch cartoons together. (It also means no drive into Sacramento in rush-hour traffic.)

From the kitchen… pesto… and lots of it.

I am wearing… my light blue “Preeclampsia survivor” shirt and jeans shorts.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… back up to Gold Country this afternoon/evening.

I am reading… The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. I just finished Quiverfull by Kathryn Joyce and am happy to be done with it, especially after reading some of the ideas people had about the evils of c-sections (kids born to Satan — gee thanks… it wasn’t like there was much of a choice in my case) and about birth politics.

I am hoping… for a relatively calm week. I’m also hoping that Daniel’s cold doesn’t turn into an ear infection.

I am hearing… my dad watching a movie that seems to be a cross between Glee and Fame Glee. OK… serious questions being raised here — my dad usually watches things that involve cursing and/or things being blown up. My mind is being blown here.

Around the house… bookcases from IKEA to be put together.

One of my favorite things… Crystal Light on a hot day.

A few plans for the rest of the week: no speech therapy tomorrrow and possibly no physical therapy. Massage on Wednesday morning. I also need to drop off records at UC Davis Pediatrics at some point.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… Daniel in his cupboard at my parents’ house.

Daniel in his cupboard.

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7 Quick Takes — At My Parents’ House

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7 Quick Takes

I’m at my parents’ house this weekend to give Jon some time to unpack and structure his man-cave. (Ahem!) It’s 11:00 p.m. and I want to do this post but I also want to go to sleep. Decisions! Decisions! Pardon any spelling or grammar errors — it’s getting late.

01.) Steak. As Jon is vegetarian, we don’t have steak at our house. Granted, I could go get myself a hunk of cow but I haven’t found any that are small enough to go on my George Forman grill when I’ve gone to the store. My dad, however, LOVES to barbecue so he makes it almost every time I come down. Good times.

02.) The tupperware cupboard. My parents have a cupboard where all their tupperware/Gladware/plastic containers are located and it’s right at Daniel’s level. We always drag a laundry basket over so he can ravage the cupboard and we can just toss the contents into the laundry basket until it’s time to go and Mom can organize it again.

03.) Bananas. Daniel likes bananas and he gets them whenever he wants here. Mom is a whole lot more patient than I am apparently and she doesn’t mind cleaning off the highchair tray… and everything else that gets covered. 🙂 She has also taught me quick ways to clean off the kid.

04.) Spoiling of Daniel. My parents see him at least once or twice a month these days now that we’re in northern California and they love the relationship. He gets away with stuff that I don’t if my brother and I got away with and he gets all the attention he wants from Grandma and Grandpa. (He adores both of them, especially Grandpa who invents new toys for him.)

05.) Garden. My mom has the green thumb that sprouts in her family around age 25 or 30. She has a huge garden and she and Dad actually started some plants for us. Right now, Dad is starting some pole beans to replace those that got eaten by snails in our garden.

06.) S’mores. My dad has a big cast-iron barbecue/fire pit that he got in Washington when I was in my teens. (My grandparents had a similar one at their cabin in British Columbia.) When I’m down, he usually builds a fire and we sit around and talk. Tonight, I had s’mores for the first time in probably 5 years. (The last time was when I was visiting from Montana in 2006 before heading down south for a wedding.)

07.) Pesto. Since I was probably 3 or 4 years old, I’ve helped my mom make pesto when I’ve been home in the summer. (The last time was 2000 when I cleaned a bumper crop of leaves one-handed after re-spraining my wrist at work.) Mom has a ton of basil right now so we’re having a pesto-making marathon tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.

(For more quick takes, go see Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.)

Tetelestai

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I was a bit vague yesterday in my post but…

My cousin Erik passed away tonight. He was only 40 years old and had really struggled in life. I’m glad he finally has the peace he couldn’t find in life but I’m mourning the fact that I’ve lost any chance to have a relationship with him in this life.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Erik. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Please pray for me and for my family.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 6, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 6, 2011

Outside my window… cloudy with sprinkles. It should hopefully clear up by tomorrow.

I am thinking… about my extended family — some difficult decisions had to be made today by some of them.

I am thankful for… being able to be in San Jose yesterday and today as those decisions were being made. (I know I’m being vague but it’s kind of a touchy family issue.)

From the kitchen… pita and hummus.

I am wearing… grey maternity shirt and blue plaid boxer shorts that I sleep in during the summer.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… hopefully nowhere big this week other than maybe San Jose for a funeral.

I am reading… In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming.

I am hoping… I get decent sleep tonight.

I am hearing… Daniel’s musical toys.

Around the house… dishes and laundry to be done.

One of my favorite things… purry ginger tabbies and licorice cats.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I’m enjoying not having any day planned out except for Friday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… I’ll have new pictures next week, OK?

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 30, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 30, 2011

Outside my window… cloudy and cool. We’re supposed to have a weather system off the coast and it’s giving me a headache.

I am thinking… about Daniel’s MRI appointment tomorrow.

I am thankful for… a visit with family. Daniel and I went down to San Jose on Saturday afternoon and spent time with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and my aunt and her boyfriend who were on their way back up from Anaheim where my youngest cousin had competed in choral and band competitions with her high school. My aunt and her boyfriend were driving the instruments back up to Washington.

From the kitchen… nothing homemade. Tonight was Hawaiian pizza from Round Table.

I am wearing… a blue shirt and my penguin pajama bottoms.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… to Sacramento tomorrow for Daniel’s appointment and a few other places this week though I’m not entirely sure yet.

I am reading… The Alpine Uproar by Mary Daheim.

I am hoping… Daniel’s MRI comes out clean.

I am hearing… a neighbor trimming their lawn or leaf-blowing or something.

Around the house… clean thanks to Jon.

One of my favorite things… Hawaiian pizza from Round Table. I had forgotten how good their pizza is.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s MRI tomorrow, Ladies’ Night Out for church on Wednesday, and errands TBA for the rest of the week.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… I’m unfortunately out of pictures at the moment. 🙁

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 23, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 23, 2011

Outside my window… sunny and LOTS of pollen.

I am thinking… about Ann of House of Estrogen and what she’s going through. Also about an article I read on reforming youth sports and how one of our former parishioners in Minnesota is the poster child for WHY they need to be reformed.

I am thankful for… being able to get together with my heathen family at my brother’s house for the communal birthday gathering. There was some joking around about which city was going to be annihilated next in the Rapture (Christians do have senses of humor — really, we do) and lots of Daniel fun.

From the kitchen… ramen for lunch.

I am wearing… brown polo shirt and khaki capris.

I am creating… this entry. 🙂

I am going… hopefully nowhere else today though I may have to take Mr. Grumpy out for a drive or something to get him to calm down.

I am reading… The Body in the Boullion by Katherine Hall Page. I’m liking her mysteries and I’m thinking that I need to carve out more time to read them.

I am hoping… the pollen abates or it rains. Serious misery here on my part.

I am hearing… Daniel grumping about something.

Around the house… lots of cleaning for Daniel’s 6-month Regional Center eval tomorrow.

One of my favorite things… playing the “yogurt snack game” with Daniel. (He drops the bag in my lap. I say “thank you”. He stands up or crawls in my lap. I put the yogurt snack in my closed hand. He uncurls my fingers and gets his snack.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s 6-month eval, getting some car stuff arranged, and hopefully a lot of unscheduled days.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… My grandfather and I watching cows when I was 5. I chose this because I miss my grandfather and when Daniel gets grumpy in the evening, I stick him in the car and we go “cow-hunting”. Watching cows is a special pastime shared in my generation by my cousins Kristin and Sarah who are 12 and 13 years younger than me. (*sniffs* Kristin is now 19 and Sarah will be 18 this year.)

Cow-watching with my grandpa.

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7 Quick Takes Friday — Positives If Apocalypse Happens Tomorrow

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7 Quick Takes

According to Harold Camping at Family Radio, the world is ending tomorrow. With my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, here are the positives of the apocalypse if it does indeed happen tomorrow.

–1–

No campaigning for the Republican ticket in 2012. The election isn’t until next November. I don’t give a rat’s butt about who is running and who isn’t. And seriously, I don’t think the Republican Party can put forth a candidate that I’ll actually *like*.

–2–

No more “Real Housewives of ______”. The mere teasers for the shows make me turn off the TV and run screaming. I’m looking forward to less botox, less hair-pulling, and less DRAMA in heaven.

–3–

Getting to see my deceased loved ones again. I am missing my grandfather (who is in the picture in the frame holding my hand when I was five years old) a lot and the Rapture would mean that I’d get to see him. There are some other people I’d be excited to see as well.

–4–

No more fibromyalgia pain. I’m not going to lie — Revelation 22 describing no more pain and suffering is really tempting when random parts of your body start hurting at bizarre times.

–5–

No more church politics. I’m getting kind of sick of churches splitting left and right and hearing how ________ aren’t Christians or how ________ are deluded. C’mon people! We love Jesus. Let’s focus on that!

–6–

No more Fox News and Bill O’Reilly and all the talking heads. Enough said.

–7–

It’s giving Christians a chance to laugh at ourselves and joke about things. I can’t think of anyone in my Christian circle of friends who believes that the world is going to end tomorrow. However, it doesn’t mean that we’re not enjoying the opportunity to laugh at ourselves a bit while feeling embarrassed about being associated with the Family Radio crowd. It was actually one of my pastor friends who alerted me to the post-Rapture looting plans on Facebook. 🙂

(For more of this, head to Conversion Diary.)