The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The post-Chicago Edition

This blog post is dedicated to my dear friend Barbara, who asked me to write a post about LIFE.

It was inspired by Peggy’s blog, where the daybook idea originated.

For Today

I am happy to be back in this space. I miss blogging dearly—I miss the connections—and I am getting close to maybe (please, God) finding a kind-of, sort-of balance between the demands of my home life and my need to create, relate, and make a difference.

Looking out my Window

I see the black, pre-dawn Minnesota sky.

Three days ago, though?  I saw this:

…because I was on my way to Chicago for a Stream Team Meet-Up!

I am thankful

…that the plane didn’t crash, because it was by far the most turbulent flight that I’ve ever been on. Seriously, even the flight attendants stayed buckled the whole time, with one of them waving a paper puke bag and saying, “Use this if you’re going to be sick! Do NOT throw up on my furniture!”

Which is funny in the retelling, so there’s that.

One of my Favorite Things

…is being on the Netflix Stream Team, because they invited me to Chicago, for crying out loud! I would not have gotten there on my own, probably, but oh my goodness, it was so much fun.

 

(Please don’t be jealous ’cause that’s a sin.)

(Instead, be happy that you weren’t on that plane!)

I am Creating

Photos!

‘Cause that’s what I truly love to do.

I am Wearing

Gray running shorts, gray slippers, a black Beat Bugs t-shirt (’cause All You Need is Love!) and my reading glasses, because I am blind.

I am Reading/Watching/Listening To

I’m reading The Screwtape Letters and I’m watching 13 Reasons Why on Netflix and I am listening to lots of classical music featuring violin solos.

I am Hoping

…that my sweet, sweet Mommy & Daddy can finally be together. Could you please, please say a prayer for this intention? Because currently my dad is living in Assisted Living and my mom is miles away (semi-literally but definitely figuratively) in a different  Memory Care facility. 

They have Memory Care in my dad’s building, just no openings at this time, so please pray that something opens up soon! But, (in the words of my dear brother Michael), “Don’t pray that someone dies, ’cause that’d be mean.” 

I am Learning

…how to balance all the demands of my life. That said, I don’t really want to get all my granaries in order, because then I’ll die and I’ll feel like a fool.

(Tell me you get the reference.)

In my Kitchen

I made some really yummy gluten-free fried chicken Monday night using this recipe. Thank you, Sarah Scott! It was delicious, although I decided (perhaps wisely) to not tell my husband about the tapioca flour when he raved about my dinner.

In the School Room

My little man is learning the violin!

(He joins in at the 40-second mark.)

In my Garden

…there are weeds and dead tomato plants. I am hoping to amend this sad fact in the near-ish future.

Board Room 

I made a wonderful new friend on the trip to Chicago—Colleen Kessler from Raising Lifelong Learners—and I am going to have a lot of fun perusing her Pinterest Boards.

She was a font of wisdom throughout my stay—super patient, super encouraging, and super smart about blogging and homeschooling. She was one of the biggest blessings of the trip. ♥

Shared Quote

Return to your home and declare how much God has done for you. (Luke 8:39)

A Moment Several Moments from my Day

Closing Notes

Thank you for stopping by today, and for sharing my crazy-busy-but-beautiful life with me.  Please leave a comment if you feel inspired–either here or on my Facebook page–and let me know if you have any special intentions. I’ll take them to Mass and my holy hour.

God’s blessings on your weekend, friend!