Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Daybook...or should I call this my Nightbook?

Outside my window... less treetops. Gary is trimming trees so we can open the pool back up for all the monkeys this summer. It's kind of a best of both worlds thing- still enough trees to feel like a nature sanctuary but now more sky to gaze out on the longer days and rolling storms...
I am thinking... about the people who make up my very crazy life... How very blessed I am in spite of the  overly fullness and busyness of it... How I need to take more responsibility for my own happiness and not allow others to steal my joy. If they can't find it for themselves, I should just feel sorry for them, instead of giving them my own. Enjoy my joy, instead of trying to please people who refuse to discover happiness for themselves. How truly sad is that?
I am hearing... more music in my head than I know what to do with and that is both overwhelming and awesome :)
I am thankful for... this place I now call home~especially the amazing man who built it~ and how much it has come to mean to me...
I am praying for... the ability to give as much grace as I want to receive... So much harder when I am not getting as much grace as I am giving... Sometimes, being a Christ follower can make you feel like a doormat~ or a failure if you can't seem to muster up that much grace for those who persecute you. I have to constantly remind myself to fix my eyes on His grace for ME in order to turn the focus off of my perceived injustices from others.
Toward a healthier me.... Received a bike for my birthday and went gangbusters on the trail until I learned how to shift(!) and then realized my shifter's shifty. :( Need to figure that whole thing out so I can get back out there. Just discovered the West Orange Trail after living here for a dozen years. I know, I know...
Inspiring me this week... Finally having a (mostly) organized home. There are still a few things that I need to accomplish to make this really good for my OCD self, but for the most part, a huge smiling sigh of relief as I walk from room to room (excluding kid rooms!)...
From the kitchen... A really good new baked ziti recipe that everyone liked! Getting better at writing down dinners so I don't repeat as often :) Tough to remember what we had when with who when the household changes up every other week!
I am wearing... an oversized red shirt of Gary's that almost comes to my knees and black yoga shorts. 
I am creating... a new routine for myself so I can get more stuff done when the kids are in school so I have more time for them afterwards. 
I am going... to try not to beat myself up too badly (or at least less than usual)...
I am reading... I just finished The Kite Runner- what a great book! I am starting Change of Heart by Jodi Piccoult- FINALLY :)
Toward a lifelong education... Practice my music more intentionally and work out a few vocal things that are absolutely driving me crazy. C-R-A-Z-Y.  O_o
On keeping home... Use the Home Depot gift card we got for our wedding to get new blinds for the living room, sew valances for those same windows and put up the rich, red ones we got for our bedroom. Print out pictures for all the frames we finished putting up all over the house. Paint the laundry room. Organize the craft shelves. (I did mention the OCD tendencies already, didn't I?)
One of my favorite things... Singing. Music is such balm for my soul. Voice lessons are humbling and dork-afying (my word, grammatically awful as it is), but also deeply gratifying and freeing. 
A verse for this week:
"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?"
 ~ Matthew 5:46                                                                                  
A few plans for the rest of the week:  Natalie's final lacrosse game of the season, Jessi's last high school musical ever ("Hairspray"!), Megan's softball game,  Candlelight at Warren Willis Camp... Never a dull moment around here :)
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...