Not Quite Ordinary Observations

For Today...Monday, March 24, 2014

In the great outdoors...sunshine! It’s a beautiful day, although a bit chilly. After a more typical spring week last week, we are back in the 50’s this week. That means we get to enjoy another batch of soup today! Yay!

Within our four walls...much quiet – it’s testing day! Steven has pulled out puzzle books and is joining us at the table…for now

A heart of thanksgiving...for the sunshine, for friends, for friends who pray, for the ability to test at home instead of having to get to one of the state established testing sites.

A heart of prayer...for an expectant mom who lost her husband last weekend; for our farmers and the multitude of issues that face them as they get started; for traveling friends, including my brother and sis-in-law who are on a mission trip; for salvation of loved ones; for ever-deepening relationship with Christ for other loved ones.

Random observations...I am an introvert who really does enjoy meeting new people. They are interesting to me. It’s not easy for me to know what to say to them, but new people are still fun…usually.

My silly children...really have such different personalities. It shows up so clearly on days like today. Olivia can easily beat the allotted time on her test, but she’s taking as much of it as possible just to make sure she gets the questions right. Angela, on the other hand, has no need to slow down, even when checking and double-checking her work. Then there’s Steven, who has to be in here with us because, even though he frequently plays happily by himself, he just cannot bear to be left out today. But, he’s also not sure he can just hang out beside us the whole time. So, he’s alternating between puzzle books here beside us and Angry Birds on my Fire (typically not allowed in the mornings).

Thoughts from the kitchen...pasta e fagioli soup and another attempt to make bread sticks. We make some good bread around here, but we just haven’t managed great bread sticks yet.

On my bookshelf...just finished Thief over the weekend. I loved it! Now I’m getting ready to read a Civil War era YA fiction novel written by a homeschool student (don’t remember the title off the top of my head).

Projects...it’s birthday season. All projects will be birthday related, I’m sure. Or writing related. Although I am also adding to my supply of crocheted/knitted dish towels. That’s what I do when I want to keep my hands busy but don’t really have brain power to connect to the busy hands. 

Sounds of the moment...quiet as the girls continue to test. Although Steven is doing some whispering from the couch.

From Hibbard Academy...testing today and tomorrow, then off the rest of this week and next week. Yes, two weeks. One to play with preschoolers and another for a real spring break.

The planner...My precious nieces Abby and Nora arrive tomorrow and will be here until Sunday. We are so excited! (My parents have had them since Friday since Ben & Ashley’s flight left early Saturday.) So, the rest of the week will pretty much revolve around balancing work and extra kiddos.

Because visuals are fun...what testing day looks like at our house.