Woman's Simple Day (evening) book

Outside my window...snow. Mmm, probably about 8 inches, maybe more. More forecast for tonight -- a storm that is supposed to last until Wednesday. Not much by northern standards, but it should fairly well cripple this city unless it comes down really slowly.

I am thinking...about making some big changes in our days -- more discipline, more structure. I feel like my kids have taken a mile (I gave them an inch...). I need to seriously pull back on the reigns in order to get back to a good place, a good flow for our days during the week, as well as on the weekend.

I am thankful for...short winter days and long winter nights. And snuggling.

From the learning rooms...trouble in River City. I smell a crackdown. I need to be on top of every lesson -- something I have trouble forcing myself to do. Of course, I prefer that the children show some self control and self-start. But, they are having a hard time doing that right now, so we will huddle up and write some new plays.

From the kitchen...tonight was a mediocre Chinese meal. Tomorrow -- roast chicken, Greek pasta, homemade bread. I can almost smell it. (Yes, I know I'm not following my own menu, but the chicken is thawed today.)

I am wearing...a new pink nightgown and my white bathrobe. I've had my shower for the night and am ready for bed.

I am creating...a couple of rosary bracelets, and I just bought these darling patterns that I plan to stitch and frame -- in shades of pink and green --for Faith's bedroom makeover. They are just too cute.

I am reading...Sarah's Key.

I am hoping...for a good week and looking forward to a weekend filled with love (and maybe a little romance).

I am hearing...Bill O'Reilly -- he's doing a rundown on the Superbowl ads. I thought they were all pretty stupid and I think it's sad how much money is wasted.

Around the house... a huge basket of ironing that I'm going to ignore for another day. I have Joshua's lunch to pack tonight and then I'm calling it a day.

One of my favorite things...a long winter's night ahead.

A few plans for the rest of the week...the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Thursday, a black tie event on Saturday, and Valentine's Day on Sunday. Maybe I'll get to paint a bedroom Fairest of All pink in between.

A picture thought...The kids on top of the big pile of snow the plow made on Saturday. We live in a cul de sac and there is just no place for it to go, so it's in front of our house. Noah was playing out there in shorts. My husband would probably say he's made from tough German stock, but I say his thermostat is broken. Crazy kid.



A lingering thought...from today's Divine Intimacy (mine is 1961 edition):

"St. John of the Cross compares the soul to a glass window with a ray of sunlight shining on it, If the glass is dirty, 'the ray cannot illuminate it, nor transform it completely into its light; its illumination will be in proportion to its clearness. If, on the other hand, it is absolutely clean and spotless, it will be illuminated and transformed in such a way as to appear to be the luminous ray itself, and to give the same light' (ASII, 5, 6). "