Too Muct To Do, Too Little of Time.

I am still here alive & well.  We are just soooo busy with school work, Halloween things, & my daughters first competition, that I have no time for my blog right now.  I need a vacation to myself, just to catch up on everything.  I have a load of towels sitting in my living room staring at me, right now as I type. 
I just wanted to check in & say HI!!! to my one follower.  LOL.
I will be back on here very soon.

Have a good rest of the week.

Lauri

For Today: Oct 12, 2009-Simple Woman's Daybook Entry.

FOR TODAY:  OCT, 12, 2009-LAURI'S DAYBOOK.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:  The air is crisp & cool this morning.  I can actually see my breath when I was going out to the car, to take my son to the bus stop at 6:30am.  Poor guy :)  The leaves are turning more prettier everyday.  I just love fall colors.

I AM THINKING:  The peaceful silence is getting ready to end because I am getting ready to wake up my two youngest for breakfast & a wonderful start to a new week at school.  UPDATE:  My oldest daughter has not had a wonderful start to the week, she woke up with a fever, sore throat, & cough.  The doctor said wait for 24 hrs before bringing her in because there is a 12/24 hr. virus going around as well, as the flu.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:  My hubby getting home safely.  He had to leave at 6:00am for work an hour away and work for 15 hours, then drive an hour back home.  He didn't get in until 11:00pm.  Poor guy was worn to the bone.

I AM WEARING:  Nylon pants, with a long sleeve t-shirt.  Trying to stay warm and it is time to clean.

I AM REMEMBERING:  What our priest said in his sermon yesterday.  That our faith should be in our list of top 5 important things in our life.  My faith is very important in my life, that is for sure.

I AM GOING:  No where now.  I had a follow-up appt. with my doctor, this morning.  She put me on a low fat weight loss program in Mar.  I have lost 22 lbs total.  I am so happy & I have only 12 more to go.  Woo hoo.  And because my daughter woke up sick this morning.

I AM READING:  Still reading the same Debbie McComber book and my favorite blogs.

I AM HOPING:  That my daughters sickness is just a 24 hour virus and not the flu.  We already had it in the house once, don't want it again.  :(

ON MY MIND:  My daughter, hope she is better by tomorrow.  Going to let God handle it for me, besides the medicine and waiting on her hand & foot.  Wouldn't have it any other way.  Also, my husband has been working way too many hours.  Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful he has a job with plenty of hours, however, I am worried he is not taking good enough care of himself.  I will be keeping my eye on him.

FROM THE LEARNING ROOM:  Organizing our computer desk downstairs & organizing my kids 1000 of books, they have.  Homework later when the kids get home.

NOTICING THAT:  There are some really RUDE people in our world and I cannot let them get to me, at all, and I won't let them.

PONDERING THESE WORDS:  "Mommy, I love you sooooo much," from my youngest daughter yesterday.

FROM THE KITCHEN:  Nothing right now.  My hubby is bringing home Chinese tonight.  Yummy!!!  Since we curved pumpkins the other night, he is wanting a pumpkin pie now, so I am going to make that later.  I am also going to roast the pumpkins seeds we saved from the pumpkins. 

AROUND THE HOUSE:  Needing to clean, but every time I start something, my sickly child hollers for me :)  Lots of laundry to do, working on that most of the day, so far.  At least I am getting some things accomplished on my to do list.

ON OF MY FAVORITE THINGS:  Decorating or curving pumpkins with my kids & husband and spending Friday night at home together.  Love it.

FROM MY PICTURE JOURNAL:

These are pumpkins made out of stainless steel.  Since my husband works at a stainless steel, copper, & brass plant, he had me take this picture when we were in Brown Co. so, he can make us some.  Hopefully they will be done by next year. 

FOR MORE SIMPLE WOMAN DAYBOOKS GO:  http://www.thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful & blessed day.
Lauri

FAMILY TIME & A WONDERFUL LIFE.

This weekend, we were suppose to go camping.  It was cancelled do to all the rain we had.  We decided to give our site to some friends of ours.  We were going to spend the day up there with all of our friends because it was a big Halloween weekend.  But, we decided to stay home all together & spend some family time together.  Yesterday I got up & made a huge breakfast for my hubby & kids.  I usually save the big breakfast for Sun. before church, but my hubby was working this Sun.  Later we watch my daughter cheer at the football game, we came home to relax for an hour & let the kids run off some of their energy.  We then went to dinner & went to buy pumpkins.  We came home & decorated the pumpkins.  It was really fun & my kids loved it.  Even my hubby was enjoying it.  We were laughing & acting silly & it felt so good to see my kids enjoy this family time together.

This was some much needed family time.  Don't get me wrong, we spend everyday together, but we are usually going to practices, games, or some kind function.  We really never have the time to just sit home & enjoy ourselves.  I told the kids & my hubby that we are going to have "family time" once day or night every weekend.  We will either go to a park, ride bikes, walk, play games, watch movies or even go to the movies.  We use to do this all the time when the kids were younger, but now that 3 out of the 4 are into sports, we can't do it as much as before.  We are always running.  Now that the weather is getting colder, we are able to make more time to just hang out & relax and the greatest thing is, how much we all love it.

This morning my kids & I (hubby was working)went to church and the priest was talking about us making a mental list in our minds about what are the top 5 most important things in our lives with #1 being the most important.  I was listing them in my head with My faith, Husband, Kids, Parents & Brothers-Sisters, House, & Job all being part of my top 5 list.  He was trying to make a point that most people do not include their faith or God as an important part of their lives, however they should.  We cannot go around here, especially with how our world is today without having faith in God, faith in our families, and faith in all things will work out, if you just leave them with God. 

This really hit home with me because I have been having some issues at home with some people in my home.  Not mentioning who or what those issues are.  Anyway, I felt that God was telling me to give my burdens up to him & things will work themselves out.  And you know what, I am going to do just that.  I am going to quit fussing at this certain person and just give it up to God.  Let him open this person eyes & see what they need to do.  It is going to be hard, but I have to do this for the sake of our relationship.  I don't want to fuss anymore, I don't want to get angry at them anymore, I don't want to think this person is driving me insane.  I want to think how much I love this person & I want to get along better with them day in and day out.  I want to have fun with this person and enjoy coming home with them here.  This is what I want & I am giving my request to God, so I can let go of trying to control things myself. 

I needed this sermon at church today because you know what, at the end of the day, my faith & my family are everything I need in life.  We are going to be okay because God is behind us 100% and has a watchful eye out on all of us.

Life is Great.

Lauri

My Daybook

For Today

Oct. 4, 2009

Outside my window:  Just a little activity outside on the streets.  Some people are already going for their morning walks, cars driving by probably on their way to work, and beautiful leaves starting to fall off the big tree in my front yard.  Sun starting to come up.

I am thinking:  Of everything I need to buy & get ready for my son's field trip on Wed.  He is going with 49 other students & 5 teachers to a 3 day trip to Pine Mountain Settlement School in KY.

I am thankful for:  My step-son recovering from the type A influenza, without any problems.

From the learning room:  Nothing until Wed.  The kids are out of school for conferences.

From the kitchen:  Getting ready to make kiddos some breakfast.  Then need to get meat cooked for chili tonigh.  Cooking it in the crockpot today.  I think I might make something yummy for dessert too.

I am wearing:  Sweat pants, long sleeve shirt, socks, with my slippers.  It is cold this morning.

I am creating:  A binder for all my receipes that I have printed off.

I am going:  Need to go to the store later for some travel size things for my son to take on his trip.  Also need to get him some boots & nylon pants.  He has grown out of everything.  My daughter also has cheerleading practice tonight for 2 hours.

I am reading:  Still reading Debbie McCombers, 44 Cranberry Point.  Don't have much time for reading.

I am hoping:  That my son has a wonderful & safe time on his first trip without one of his parents with him.  I am also hoping I will not go insane with worry while he is gone and I can give up all my worries about his trip, to God.

I am hearing:  My son & daughter talking in his room.  I love when he is nice & lets his sisters come in there.  I am also hearing my cat meowing non-stop & he is driving me nuts.  :)

Around the house:  Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning and laundry, lots of it. 

One of my favorite things:  Listening to my kids play nicely together.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Need to go to the store, get stuff ready for my son's 3 day field trip, get sleeping bags washed, get camping stuff ready for this weekend, my son's conference Tues., religion class Wed. night, daughter has cheer practice 3 nights this week.  Then it is off to our annual Halloween camping trip with our great friends. 

A picture of thought I am sharing:  This is the lake at the campgroung we are going to.  So peaceful.

For more Simple Women Daybooks go to

Enjoy your Monday and God Bless.

Lauri

Fall Into Reading

Ok, this is the first time that I am going to participate in the "Fall Into Reading" challenge with Katrina from http://callapidderdays.com/ .  I am only listing a few books to start because frankly, I will be lucky if I am able to get these few read.  The only time I ever read, right now, is in my car during lunch time.  Thankfully the weather has cooperated with me and wasn't too hot.  I am able to roll down my windows, read my book, eat lunch, and enjoy the breeze blowing in. 
When it starts to get too cold to sit in the car anymore, I will go in our back room at work & read, while sitting on the coach.  Sometimes I will read after I eat, in our chapel at work.  So without further do, here is my very small list.

1. 44 Caneberry Point by Debbie Macomber (4th book in series) already started reading this, but still have more then half to finish.  (does this count)?
2. 50 Harbour Street by Debbie Macomber (5th book in series).
3. Daily devotions-every morning with my coffee.
4. Sanctuary: Creating a Blessed Place to Live and Love by Pamela Bailey

Additional readings will be with my daughters every night.  They both have to read one book a night.  They are 7 & 6 years old, so the books are about 5 to 10 pages each.  I also read lots of blogs, so I am counting those in my reading list as well.

Head over to Callapidder Days to "Fall Into Reading" with us.

Have a wonderful day and blessed day.
Lauri

My Daybook

For Today
Sept. 21, 2009

Outside my window:  Right now I can't see outside the window because I am downstairs.  However earlier I was sitting on my couch with my coffee, watching the sun come up.  We had rain all day yesterday so it smells so good out there.  The birds were chirping & loving it.

I am thinking:  about ways to decorate our home for fall and Halloween.

I am thankful for:  my husbands job (even though if requires him to go out of town sometimes), my part-time job, our health, and the love in our home for each other.

From learning room:  my children have to get their homework done tonight.  Monday's are usually big homework nights for them.

From the kitchen:  nothing yet, getting ready to thaw meat for spagatti dinner tonight.  I think I will make some brownie for the kiddos, as well.

I am wearing:  my cleaning clothes.  Shorts & t-shirt, bare feet, & hair pulled up out of my face.  Monday is cleaning day here.

I am creating:  my blog.  It is work in progress.  New to writing on a blog.

I am going:  No where right now.  Already did my grocery shopping for the week this morning, after I dropped the girls off to school.  Later after dinner/homework, I need to take my daughter to cheerleading practice.  It is also my night for car pool.  I need to pick up two of her friends too.

I am reading:  Debbie McComber's "44 Cedar Point." and daily devotions from "Internet Cafe."

I am hoping:  my husband stays safe at his out of town job this week.  He is working in TN for the next two weeks, but he does come home on the weekends.  Thank God!!!

I am hearing:  Nothing much, just the computer humming & the dryer going.  I am downstairs so all is quite.

Around the house:  Monday cleaning, laundry, changing sheets, cleaning most of the house.

One of my favorite things:  The smell after a fall rain.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  homework, practice tonight, religion class Wed, buy some decorations to help decorate a trailer for my daughters homecoming parade, homecoming parade/bonfire/pep rally Fri, homecoming game on Sat and later a wedding for a good friend of mine.  Fall baseball game for my son on Sun. 

Here is a picture of thought I am sharing:

Fall is such a beautiful season.  This is one of the sample pics that came with my computer & I just love it.


For more Simple Women inspirations go to:

Enjoy the day the Lord has given you.
God Bless!!!

Lauri

New Season

Ahhhh, my favorite season is officially here.  Today being the first day of fall, I thought I would start decorating my home.  I have a few things up already, because I just couldn't wait.  Our summer here has been unseasonably cooler then most summers.  Usually in Ky, you can't breathe outside with all the humidity.  But, this summer we have pretty much been spared by the yucky humid weather and I loved it. 
I think what I love most about fall, is all the beautiful colors around us.  I am always in awe when I look around & see all that God has created and how he changes everything with a fresh new look every season.  He is indeed a wonderful God.

Every year my children, husband, & I go to Hubers Family Farm and go pumpkin and apple picking.  They are always so excited about the hay ride to the field.  When it comes to a stop all the kids, take off running to the the pumpkin garden, to find the most perfert pumpkin.  I just love seeing the wonder & admazement in my kids eyes, when they see all those pumpkins, they get to choose from.  It never fails, one of the kids will always try to get the biggest one.  To big to even carry. 

ok may be not this big.

After we pick the pumpkins, we then ride to the apple farm.  The kids help me pick the most delicious apples.  We usually get enough to fill a whole bag. 

I love this quality time I get to spend with my kids.  I get to let go of all the running/things that I have to get done, for a couple of hours.  I get to pretend that I have no cares in the world, except for my hubby & kids for a couple of hours.  It is so great & most of all, relaxing.  One of the best ways to have quality "family time." 

When we get home from this fun filled day, I usually make chili and for desert, apple betty.  I love this dessert.  Served warm with vinalla bean ice cream.   Fall cannot get any better then this, except maybe some yummy pumpkin pie for later in the evening.  LOL

   

Along with these traditions, we have started a new tradition with our friends.  We go to Yogi Bear campground for their Halloween Weekend camping.  We love this time together with our kids and our friends. 
They have activites all weekend, haunted forest, haunted house, karoke, dancing, crafts, & games.  The kids put on their customs & get to be in a parade.  They also get to go trick or treating at all the campsites.  You wouldn't believe how the campers/residents decorate their campers & campsites.  Let's just say they really get into Halloween & Halloween decorations.  LOL

Well, that is about all the time I have to talk about my favorite season and all the traditions that we do. 

What is your favorite season & traditions?

Lauri