Not Quite Ordinary Observations

For Today...Monday, December 5, 2011

Outside my window...a new lake being continually added to. And the island that is the yard decoration we made ourselves last week – the manger scene in lights. Pretty proud of that accomplishment!

I am thinking...chocolate is essential. Sorry – that’s all I have right now.

I am thankful for...a warm, dry house.

I am wearing...jeans and a blue-green long-sleeve t-shirt (might need something a little warmer as the temperatures drop today).

I am creating...well, it’s December! This one should be pretty obvious!  

I am remembering...a couple of things that should be on my to-do list but aren’t. Better go take care of that.

I am going...to enjoy being back in our routine over the next couple of weeks.

I am reading...Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy.

I am hoping...for enough of a break in the rain tomorrow morning to be able to walk with Karlyn.

I am hearing...the squeaking of my chair, the heater, silence from children – accompanied by the knowledge that this time I know it’s not a bad thing.

On my mind...honestly? Christmas crafts. Hmmm…I think I need to be focusing my mind beyond my tasks.

From the learning rooms...holiday schedule for the next two weeks: core studies and very scaled down independent work. Still in World War II, but I’m not sure what science will be this week. I think still microscopes.

Noticing that...Olivia cleans like I do. Which is an awesome thing because there are things I put on my own to-do list rather than delegating them because I know I’m weird to want them done in the first place. But, Olivia sees them, too, and sometimes does them simply because she wants them done, not because I ask her to do them. Ah, big smile.

Pondering these words...God is gracious like this: wealth is not the key to worship. Effort is. ~Doug Hibbard, from Advent Reflections 2011: The Gift Cycle

From the kitchen...quesadillas made from leftover taco meat. Mmmmm…

Around the house...less and less clutter as the house gradually gets cleaned.

One of my favorite things...rain. Yes, I know it’s flooding again, and I know it’s cold and miserable to actually have to be out in it. But, I think it would take a lot for me to not love rain.

A few plans for the rest of the week...school, deacon’s Christmas party tomorrow night, ladies’ Christmas party on Saturday.

A picture worth sharing...the kids set their stuffies up as a nativity. I really couldn’t get a picture of it all, but here’s Bunny as a wiseman, bringing his gift to Baby Jesus (the doll in blue barely seen on the right of the picture).