Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today: November 12, 2016

Looking out my window: It is dark now, courtesy of last week's time change, but I don't mind. The moon is nearly full and the sky is cloudless so I can see it clearly. Lovely.

I am thinking: That the sound of my youngest son and hunky dunky hubby laughing over silly video clips is a wonderful sound in the mostly quiet house.

I am thankful: For an evening to rest and recuperate before another busy day dawns bright and clear.

One of my favorite things: Autumn's cooler weather and an excuse to pull out my long neglected favorite mug for some orange and spice tea.

I am creating: happy memories

I am wearing: jeans and my Mama K Gym Magic t-shirt

I am reading/watching/listening to: Confessions of a Prayer Slacker, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and my new Pandora Station based on Pentatonix

I am hoping: that this week is less hectic than the last few have been.

I am learning: that small bits of time, carefully used, can lead to great things. It's easy to overlook that in hustle and bustle of life.

In my kitchen: Meal Plans courtesy of Life As Mom (found here: http://lifeasmom.com/free-printable-meal-plans-grocery-lists)

In the school room: Reading Eggs, cooking, board games and spelling lists were all that happened this week. But, it's enough.

In my garden: nothing much, but I'm delighted that Dan ran out into the hailstorm of last week to rescue my pineapple plant and my ficus tree that were enjoying the last of the sunshine for the day.

Post Script: Life can be hard, and messy, and difficult. But it can also be sweet, and deep, and immeasurably wonderful. Don't let the scary parts keep you from enjoying the good stuff. 

Shared Quote: Government is not a solution to our problem government is the problem.”
― Ronald Reagan
A timely quote after this week's election.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to read others like it, head on over to Miss Peggy's Site, called www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com Would love to see you there :)

November Goals Update: Mid-month

Anyone remember me posting my goals at the beginning of the month? If not, here they are again.
**Complete 3 weeks of school and take a one week break for Thanksgiving.
**Turn off my small/personal tech once DT goes to bed so I can spend uninterrupted time with Dan.
**Stop multi-tasking!
**Say NO to unnecessary crazy.

Mid-Month update: How am I doing?
**School has been hit or miss, and largely unschooling since we aren't getting to the MFW curriculum with all the extra boys so far this month. However, we're still getting things done and I"m not giving up.
**My personal tech has gone away every evening around 8:30 so I can enjoy some time with Dan. Good stuff!
**Giving up Multi-Tasking has been harder than I thought, but I"m loving it. I feel less scattered, more focused and less irritable.
**Well, 3 outta 4 ain't bad, right? Totally flunked this goal so far. Had Jodi's boys for 6 days straight, going to have them for at least another 4 next week, got company coming for Thanksgiving, already did the Ren Faire and the dance recital, still have Feed My Starving Children and the girls home meet to go. Been to a doctor appointment with my S-G and and now am considering an impromptu trip to Chicago to be with her for her upcoming surgery. Meh, life is demanding. All I can do is my best.

November Thankfulness: Day 12

I love Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 12:
     A quiet evening at home. It's 8pm. I've worked at the gym, shared a meal with my favorite boys during the dance recital at the gym, done a bit of grocery shopping, helped DT set up tanks for rearranging his pets, took Pat to Tyler's for an evening of junk food and video games and once DT heads off to bed in a few minutes, Dan and I can enjoy a movie without interruptions, something that happens very infrequently. I'm looking forward to it greatly and thankful for it already.

November Thankfulness: Day 11

I love Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 11:
     Veteran's Day. Bless all you who have served or are serving in our military, and those of you left behind while they serve.
     A day off, courtesy of BossMan who works for the gov't. I SO needed a day off. No rushing around. No schedule to be forever hurrying to meet. No alarms going off over 37 minutes to keep up on task. None of that. Praise the Lord. James went off to school, and the little boys and I spent the morning playing games, working on school, lounging and laughing. BEST. MEDICINE. EVER. The afternoon brought more school, some laundry, some more games and some more laughter. Music was enjoyed, fresh air was enjoyed, laundry was flipped and restarted and prep for Game Night was accomplished before the guests arrived. (whoever heard of such a thing?)
Jodi got home safely from Chicago, Game Night was fun, I had the first reasonable discussion about politics since the election on Tuesday, and I still got to bed at a reasonable hour.
Hooray for a day off!

November Thankfulness: Day 10

I love Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 10:
     I'm grateful (again) for our community group. Today pretty much ran me over, flipped me the bird, and then backed over me again to make sure I was down before it swerved back into traffic without using a signal. I spent most of the day in a stupor, just trying to survive the day. I strongly considered not attending the meeting, but since I was bringing some of the side dishes for the dinner (and I didn't have other meal plans) we dragged our tired and bedraggled selves there. Once we arrived, we were welcomed, loved, lifted in prayer, slapped on the back, complimented on our cooking, made to laugh like a pack of wild hyenas, fed delicious food and filled with the Word of God. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so.
Andazola/Howard Community Group, you guys rock! You turned my whole week around. I am humbled by your generosity and grace.

November Thankfulness: Day 9

I love Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 9:
     I'm grateful for Patrick, who watched a duo of small rambunctious boys this morning so I could go to a doctor appointment with my Sister-Girl, Karen. She was concerned that she wasn't asking the right questions of the specialist she was seeing so I gladly went with her. She got frightening news, so I was  grateful that I was there for emotional support. Helpful family is awesome sauce.
THANK YOU PATTY-CAKES!

November Thankfulness: Day 8

I love Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 8: 
     I'm grateful for meal plans and Crock Pots. They plain old save the day when life is hectic and dinner is the last thing on my mind. Tonight's beauty? Red beans and rice with smoked sausage. The recipe is below. You're welcome ;)


Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage:
~1 quart stock (chicken, pork or veggie)
~1 "loop" of smoked sausage chopped or diced
~1 large can of ranch style beans
~1 cup brown rice

Instructions:
 Chop or Dice sausage and place in crock. Add ranch beans and stock, stir to combine. Turn on high and cook for 1 hour, stir in rice and continue cooking for another 3 hours.
Dinner is done!
*You can also put the rice in at the same time if you won't be home to add it later. The rice will be softer, but still delicious.

November Thankfulness: Day 7

I love Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 7:
     I'm grateful for the flexibility of my job and the graciousness of BossMan and BossLady. James and Titus will be with me all week as Jodi is in Chicago on business. It's nice to be able to lend a hand with family while still upholding my commitment to work.

November Thankfulness: Day 6

I love Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 6:
     Our sermon series this year for our annual 40 Day Campaign is the best we've ever had. It's bigger and better in every way, like 50 days instead of 40, packing more meals for Feed My Starving Children and Pastor D is preaching so well I can hardly stand it! (sermons can be found on the website www.getrealchurch.org ) Every week is a new topic and the encouragement to love deeper, serve more, accept (and offer) more grace. It's humbling. I"m so blessed!

November Thankfulness: Day 5

I love Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 5:
     Sweet, sweet Saturday. This weekend is the annual Renaissance Faire, so I spent the afternoon stirring Dragon Soup while surrounded by other Team parents while we worked to raise money for Team activities. We had a blast! Laughing, stirring, telling funny stories, stirring, giving advice to newer-to-the-party parents, stirring, and eating. GOOD stuff! The soup AND the fellowship. I went home tired, but feeling accomplished.

November Thankfulness: Day 4

I love Autumn!

I'm working on gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I"m enjoying right now.

Day 4:
     I'm grateful for Game Nights. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by family and friends every week as we usher in the weekend with laughter, chips and dip, and games. It is something to look forward to each week as we work our way towards a day of rest.

November Thankfulness: Day 3

I'm thankful for Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 3:
I'm grateful for my Community Group from our church. (www.getrealchurch.org) Dan and I have been here in NM for 9+ years and it's taken us this long to find our niche. These people...I can't even tell you how wonderful it's been to be made welcome and loved and be part of the family for just being us. The Andazolas and the Howards have made our lives so much richer and fuller with their love. God is goooood! 

  

November Thankfulness: Day 2

I'm thankful for Autumn!

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 2:
I'm grateful for time spent with other mamas. Laughing, sharing, encouraging one another. We were made for this. And when we do it, we multiply the blessings, and divides our burdens. It's good. REAL good.

November Thankfulness: Day 1

I'm working on Gratitude this month. Seems reasonable with Thanksgiving just around the corner. (Where did this year go?) I want to post a little something each day that I'm enjoying right now.

Day 1:
    I'm grateful for the weather today (and this time of year in general) This is New Mexico, you guys. From May to early October, it's similar to living on the surface of the sun. The temps are often well into the triple digits for weeks and weeks, with almost no respite evening overnight. It's not unheard of for the overnight "lows" to still be in the high 80s or low 90s. So, when the temps finally start to cool, it's cause for celebration. Right now we are enjoying cool mornings and evenings (mid 50s) and sunny warm afternoons (mid 80s). Perfection.

November Goals

This year, I've been learning about goal setting and how to meet those goals. Today, I wanted to share my monthly goals so that I could (hopefully) inspire you to set some as well, and/or you can help keep me accountable on meeting this month's goals.
Here they are in no particular order:
**Complete 3 full weeks of school and take one week off for Thanksgiving. 
**Turn off my small/personal tech (phone, tablet, laptop) once DT goes to bed so that I can spend uninterrupted time with Dan, even if that means watching a movie with him.
**STOP MULTI-TASKING. Enjoy those around me, live in the moment and be more focused.
**Say NO to unnecessary crazy. No extra projects, no added disruptions, just say NO. Try to get back on an even keel before the holidays and gymnastics season begins. 

The End.