Lord, That I May See

from http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/ FOR TODAY September 30th 2008 Outside My Window... Birdsong. I love the way it increases in the spring and fall. I am thinking ... of how I wish I had done this daybook yesterday like I was supposed to. I could've boasted about all the stuff I got done and looked like super-mommy on the internet. :) Oh, well. A mega-productive day like yesterday happens once in a blue moon, so I'll just write a more "normal" daybook. :) I am thankful for... The Office. Really. It makes me happy. From the kitchen... a mess left over from breakfast. I am wearing... those only jeans that fit right, an aqua polo shirt, and flip-flops. I am creating... my two-week menu plan. My favorite task (NOT!) I am going... to shoot myself if my baby doesn't start sleeping again. She's rejecteing that whole idea and it makes me crazy. Literally. I am reading... this article on the essential value of the Practical Life in Montessori education: http://ww...

The other day was an extremely trying day of multiple temper tantrums, lots of tears, anger, and general unhappiness amongst all parties, but especially on Turtle's end. It was the kind of day that makes one wonder why anyone would sign up for this kind of torture! Then, as Turtle was getting ready for her nap, turned, and rushed toward me. Her arms were out, her little round face upturned and joyous. She ran into my arms and said, "Mommy, you make me happy." And then she kissed me, all on her own. And I want to remember that moment always.

In a Primary Montessori classroom they have a sensorial work where a child smells different scents in bottles and then matches the scents that are the same. I wanted to make something like this for Turtle. My sister told me, however, that a child under 3, because of their developmental stage of learning should be exposed to the actual object that had a certain smell, not just smell the essential oil on a cotton ball, which is removed from the object itself. So, this is the work that I came up with. I got these little latching boxes for $1 each at Michael's. This is the first set of smells: Rosemary, Garlic, Cloves and Cinnamon. The second set (which I switch in and out when the first gets old): Lavender, Lemon, Basil, and Coffee Bean I don't have her matching smells yet. I think that is probably too hard for her still. I did find it a bit challenging to come up with things that smell strongly enough. With the Rosemary I added a drop of the Rosemary essential oil to the sprig...

from http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/ FOR TODAY September 22nd 2008 Outside My Window... could anyone ask for more perfect weather? I am thinking ... of how dreadful this morning was: a crabby toddler who cryed ALL morning (I kid you not), getting lost driving lunch to my husband -- who is working up on a roof (I HATE it when he works on a roof , what can I say, "don't wanna be a widow", maybe?), awful traffic, no parking spaces except very FAR away, changing Turtle's wet clothes in the car, squabbling children in the shopping cart, no luck finding what I needed at the store, fierce homesickness for my country after a glorious day there yesterday . . . *sigh* Well, at least the morning's over now. I am thankful for... this post: http://aholyexperience.com/2008/09/who-is-happiest.html From the kitchen... I just finished soaking a bunch of kefir -- which, by the way, is not that bad. ;) I am wearing... my only jeans that fit right (which could probably st...

This month, we thought I was pregnant. There were several signs that seemed to us to confirm it, and I was terrified. Really, really terrified. I refused to take a test because I didn't want to know. I refused to think about what we would do if this were true. I refused to talk about it. There are so many good reasons for us now that makes the possibility of a baby very very challenging. God has given us these reasons, and yet was He asking us to take this challenge anyway?? It seemed too much, too heavy right now. And so, I asked, with tears, with anger, with incomprehension, "Why God?" And I opened my book and read: "My dear friend, you will learn so much about love in Heaven. You will look back at your time on earth and you will understand that many things that occurred to you were both exercises in love and opportunities to love. There is misunderstanding about love in the world . . . It is true that love creates joy. This is true. But when we take on love, it ...

Every season when I wash and fold and lay away the girls clothes, I feel a wave of sadness. My baby is growing. My little girl is getting taller and bigger. The baby's little pink bathing suit, the lacy summer dresses, the matching ones that they will not wear together again, the colorful little outfits and shorts -- I lay them in the bin sighing at how big my baby is becoming, taking her first shaky steps and eating "big girl" food; how my little girl who once wore this tiny clothes too is now counting, getting herself dressed, and going to the Atrium. I think how another season has passed and a new one is at hand and of how I can not even guess how much I will miss this time someday down the road. I shall not pass this way again . . . not with these little ones . . . not this time . . .

This set of posts have me thinking: Of Blogging, Secrets, Porn, and Truth Telling Our Stories

from http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/ FOR TODAY September 16th 2008 Outside My Window... it is a cool and quiet sort of day I am thinking ... of how I am already missing summer I am thankful for... an amazing mother -- her example to inspire me and her loving words of wisdom whenever I need them From the kitchen... Chicken fajitas and mexican rice for dinner I am wearing... Jean gauchos, a brown shirt and my cheapy but cute checkered shoes I am creating... album pages in my children's scrapbooks I am going... to renew some library books over the internet after I am done with this. Technology makes my life so much easier, even though sometimes I hate it. :) I am reading... nothing at the moment. I had to return The Child in the Church to my mom before I was done, unfortunately. I am hoping... that this week will be better than the last. Please, oh please God? I really wanted to run away to Italy or something last week! I am hearing... Birds chirping out my open window ...

And I'm a homeschooler myself so I'm allowed to make fun of them :) Seriously, though. Turtle's favorite clothes include jumpers, overalls and sweater vests! It cracks me up! If any of the above are clean and in her drawer she will pick them out first without fail. The sweater vests/shirts/whatever they are were given to us by a Great Grandma and since she glimpsed them she's been in love. She IS quite in style when it comes to the very "in" trend of layering. See? The dress, fleece jacket and bathing suit cover-up (complete with hood, which you can't see in this pic) are all specifically chosen to produce the desired style.

Matching the animals to the cards Making a necklace, with wooden beads, pieces of colored straws, ziti noodles and shells. Arranging the frozen meatballs in the pan Sorting the silverware

And, I must own, depressing. I'm meeting a new co-worker for the first time and she asks: "When are you due?" Arrggh. So yeah, I weigh now what I weighed when I was 4 mos pregnant with Turtle, but hey, it's only 10 lbs more than my weight on my wedding day. :) But its all in my stomach, dang it. So . . . well . . . I guess I look pregnant. I felt really bad for the the poor woman, who looked mortified when I said "I'm actually not." I certainly won't hold it against her, but if I were her I would never feel quite comfortable around me again. :) Interesting first day, I will say! :)

from http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/ FOR TODAY September 9th 2008 Outside My Window... it is gray and overcast. More rain coming . . . I am thinking ... of this tragic story. I know the family and I can't get it out of my head. http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7387579&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1 I am thankful for... Two of my dear girlfriends that I spent two long "date nights" with last week. Those evenings refreshed me so much! From the kitchen... Leftover Italian sausage lasagna for dinner . . . with corn, I think? I am wearing... Gray sweatpants, a black shirt with a green tank layered underneath and bare feet. I am creating... Oh, this is the hardest one! Do I have to be creative right now? :) I am going... to the grocery story today. I am reading... The Child in the Church by Maria Montessori. Almost every paragraph inspires and speaks to me. I am hoping... for a good day tomorrow as I start my ...

I have been going through my blog and deleting any comments from people that know me and have used my name in their comment. It's not because I don't love getting your comments! I just thought I would mention now for anyone who reads that I am trying to keep any specific personal details about our location(s), names, children's names or faces, etc. off of my blog. So, you can just call me "M. T.". :) Thank you all!

All day long, I prepare food serve food serve more food wipe food off faces wipe food off chairs wipe food off tables wipe food off the floor sweep up food prepare more food clean up from food wash dishes covered with food launder foody washclothes and bibs and clothes decide which food to buy decide what I will cook with that food shop for that food unload food stock shelves and fridge with food And the most important food duty of all: I am the Food Policewoman! "Have you been eating enough vegetables?" "No, you may not have macaroni and cheese for breakfast." "You must eat this carrot before you may have hot dogs." " The flour is on the same shelf it always is." "Look on the second shelf down of the fridge on the right in a little glass dish with the gray lid and you will find it. No, no the other second shelf." "We aren't having noodles tonight, we are having chicken." "I am saving those eggs for the baby, don...

We had a lovely Labor day! (This one is Turtle and "GrandBob" at the falls.)

One cool new thing I have discovered about myself since moving to the "city": I am one dang good parallel parker. :)