mid-week daybook

Outside my window... 
...it's a grey day. It seems like it is grey a lot lately, which is a welcome switch (for me anyway) from bright sun and heat. It is oddly sticky though, considering it's not raining, and oddly warm. I guess this is Indian summer, minus the sun.

 I am thinking... 
...about working so hard to establish a rhythm to our days, and failing. I need structure. I function best with structure, but I never seem to be able to establish structure in my days. There are so many fires to put out. Or maybe it is my inability to determine what really needs me and what doesn't really need me. Case in point, on Tuesday my sister-in-law called me first thing in the morning to tell me my nephew was sick with what he thought was strep throat. She is in Maryland and he is at Ohio State, 20 minutes from me. I am glad she called me and I am glad I dropped everything and made chicken soup, cookies, and stopped at the store to get him the necessary supplies for a strep throat CARE package, but it pretty much shot my day. Every day there seems to be something thrown in that doesn't belong. Remember that Sesame Street song One of These Things is Not Like the Other? I feel like I sing it every day. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, school all belong. Putting out the fire doesn't. Or does it?

From the lesson plans... 
...we are getting into a pretty good groove in school. Faith knows how to self-start each day, and she gets her morning work done well. The afternoon, on the other hand, she doesn't do so well, but I have a feeling that part of that is my fault and it has to do with the above-mentioned fires.

From the kitchen...
...I had a lot of Cilantro Lime rice left from Saturday night's burrito bowls and so I made a Mexican Beef and Bean Rice that was really very good. We had buttered corn and a yummy fruit salad with oranges, blueberries, bananas and pomegranate seeds. I ate pomegranate seeds for the first time this week. I can't believe I have been missing them all my life. I also made some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares to try and cheer up my Noah who has been a real grumper lately.

 I am wearing...
 ...a peach and grey floral skirt, a white tee and white Keds. And my chains.

I am creating...
 ...a Seven Sorrows chaplet with the same beads as this rosary, and a bronze medal and center like the ones on this chaplet. I love the color of the amazonite beads.

I just finished a baby quilt, so I am not sewing anything other than an embroidered scapular. It's for a young man who is a first-year novice in the Society of Jesus. I am so touched that he wants one of my scapulars.

 I am planning...
...to get a lot of rosaries made this month. Not only is it the month of the Holy Rosary, but I am hopeful to use up some supplies and get them in my Etsy shop before Christmas.

I am hoping... 
...for some answers to my medical mysteries.

 Around the house...
 ...laundry and ironing. There's always laundry and ironing. Everything else is pretty clean. Except the floors. I just can't keep them clean with the dog and kids. I am sure I am the only one who notices the footprints on the dark wood-like floor in the family room, but it drives me nuts nevertheless.

I am going...
...to work harder at schedules, maybe even writing down what must be done, so that the must-be-dones don't get pushed aside as often.

 I am praying for...
 ...my children, and my husband
...my dear friend Gina. Thank you to all who are praying for her. She had a mastectomy several weeks ago and now she is waiting to see what her chemo schedule (then radiation) will be. I know she appreciates the prayers.
...our priests and all religious, especially the young priests who sometimes have such an uphill battle to fight
 ...all of the babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion this week

 For the rest of the week...
...I'm taking Faith to dance classes tomorrow -- jazz in the afternoon and then back again for lyrical ballet around dinner time. I really wish her lyrical ballet class wasn't at 5:10, but it's the only lyrical class our studio has at her level. It messes up dinner every Thursday. I think tomorrow I'll pull some Wedding Soup out of the freezer to heat up for dinner.

On Friday, it's the homecoming football game at Noah's school. Doug is an alum and so are the other boys, so we'll probably go. Maybe some Pizza Rolls  and salad for tailgate?

Thought for the day... 

..."As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Is that the Lord saying don't stress the schedules? Now I am so confused. {wink}