The Simple Woman's Daybook blog - January 21, 2010

January 21, 2010

Photo for thought... (none today - need new camera batter!)


Outside my window... the sun is on the rise! What relief after so many gray days! 
I am thinking.. of the day before me - busy! .
I am thankful for ... a few minutes of quiet this morning to collect myself; for a repaired dishwasher.
From the learning rooms... quiet.
From the kitchen... sausages sizzling on the stove, oatmeal is ready, and coffee is in my favorite mug next to me.
I am creating... opportunities for people I care about to shine!
I am going...to teach 3 yoga classes today and have a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce about the Women's Network. .
I am reading... A Day of Rest by Martha Whitmore Hickman...
I am hoping... the Subaru lasts until the end of the week when we can get it to the shop - concerned about the weird smells and sounds...
I am hearing...cooking sausages, a low hum in the distance.
One of my favorite things... being part of another person having an "ah-ha!" moment and watching them bloom as a result.
A few plans for the rest of the week...visiting a friend and her new baby tomorrow, a visit with the midwife, and getting caught up on paperwork - 1.5 hours needs to get done tomorrow because this week was so busy!

Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook

9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.

 - John 15:9-17

What We're Reading this Week and Beginning to Write!

I'm really enjoying myself - rediscovering some children's books that I'd forgotten about as well as discovering new gems!

• We're using the Five in a Row curriculum for Katy and The Big Snow. We're on day 3. I love how many layers of enjoyment there are to be had in this timeless book. Every day we've been exploring different aspects and uncovering new details in the illustrations.
• Time of Wonder - beautiful water colors and nostalgia for me, having grown up in Coastal NH.
• Little Red Riding Hood

D has also been asking me to teach him how to write letters lately, so I got out our "ABC's Write and Wipe!" from Kumon. We work on a few different letters a day and we've been having fun. We tried them a few nonths ago, but they didn't really work out. so, now that he is interested again, we're giving it another go. His hand coordination has improved dramatically and he's able to follow the lines independently since he now knows his numbers.  I like these rather than simple paper because they can be reused and they have a corresponding word on the back, so they double as flash cards.

The Simple Woman's Daybook blog - January 19, 2010

January 19, 2010 - Get Out the VOTE! The nation is watching us, Massachusetts!

Photo for thought... (none today - need new camera batter!)


Outside my window... another gray day with snow softly falling. 
I am thinking.. of the election today for Senate among many other things. That, and I need a nap.
I am thankful for ... being home with my son, for the right to vote, for the birds songs on my walk this morning.
From the learning rooms... my son is telling me a story about the firefighters from Katy and the Big Snow.
From the kitchen... dishes from lunch, pork chops thawing for dinner.
I am creating... a virtual conference for the Dream Factory Community - researching technology - my mind spins....
I am going...to VOTE and then to the library and CVS.
I am reading... A Day of Rest by Martha Whitmore Hickman.,.
I am hoping... the Subaru lasts until the end of the week when we can get it to the shop - concerned about the weird smells and sounds...
I am hearing...the story of the dinosaur hunter from my son, the UPS truck outside.
One of my favorite things...having unstructured time to explore life.
A few plans for the rest of the week...virtual conference planning calls and begin to promote!

Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
 - Philippians 4:13

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and suppliation with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
 - Philippians 4:6

The Simple Woman's Daybook blog - January 18, 2010

January 17, 2010 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Photo for thought... (don't have one today - sorry!)

2 Quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. - Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength To Love, 1963.

The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty. Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967.

Outside my window... a gray day, sleet, snow, wet coating.
I am thinking.. of the many things I have to compete in the next few days... trying to keep faith that if it is right that it will all somehow get done; of the people in Haiti and praying for them; reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and his last campaign, "The Poor People's Campaign" and how can we, in any small way, keep moving the campaign forward.
I am thankful for ... my precious life, for the health and safety of my family and friends, for being at home with my son and being able to learn along side of him.
From the learning rooms... my son is playing with his transformers following a fun morning of Katy and the Big Snow, counting, and building a Lego city.
From the kitchen...lunch is finished and we're getting ready to go to the grocery store. I'll tackle the dishes when i return. Only 2 more days until GE comes to look at the dishwasher!
I am creating... an integrated life; an at-home day of service - making sandwiches for Sherry's House with D this afternoon.
I am going...to Walmart and will teach yoga this evening.
I am reading... A Day of Rest by Martha Whitmore Hickman.,.
I am hoping... the people of Haiti receive the assistance they so badly need. I am praying for them.
I am hearing...the marching feet of my son, the car alarm go off outside, the dog barking....
One of my favorite things...having the whole family home.
A few plans for the rest of the week... leading a 20-minute demo yoga/movement class for prescholers with special needs.

Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself". 
- Leviticus 19:18

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
-  Matthew 22:36-39

The Simple Woman's Daybook blog - January 12, 2010

January 11, 2010

Photo for thought...


Outside my window... a dark gray morning.
I am thinking.. the long day ahead...
I am thankful for... a good's night sleep and feeling refreshed this morning -ready to take the day on and for finding a good doctor yesterday.
From the learning rooms...my son is watching "Super Why". He awoke early this morning after a dream.
From the kitchen... dishes galore. Too tired to do them last night... and quiche in the oven!
I am wearing...  pjs.
I am creating... a plan for starting Five in a Row next week...
I am going...to Cambridge today for an appointment and then leading my first Prosperity Circle this evening!
I am reading... The introduction to Five in a Row curriculum.
I am hoping... I have a wealth of energy for all I'm scheduled for over the next 3 days!
I am hearing...the television, the hum of appliances, my husband getting ready for work upstairs.
One of my favorite things... dishwashers! Hopefully ours will be fixed soon!
A few plans for the rest of the week...leading my first Chief Dream Officer Training tomorrow night!

Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When our mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers. if you love someone but rarely make yourself available to him or her - that is not true love.

   - Thich Nhat Hahn

Loving Reading - Books This Week and Five in a Row has Arrived!

D loves to read - so great! Or, I should say, he loves to be read to. We're spending about an hour a day reading. Usually he wants to read one or two books several times through and likes to memorize them. Last night he recited "The Snowy Day" with me word-for-word.

This week, we've been reading...

• The Snowy Day

• The Quiltmakers Gift

• Olivia

• The Giving Tree

• Owl Babies

• Town Mouse Country Mouse

The links included are pretty cool. Several take you to websites that offer enrichment activities and extras for kids.

Today, our curriculum for Five in a Row arrived! I am really excited to get going on it. I have Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel queued up for next week!

The Simple Woman's Daybook blog - January 11, 2010

January 11, 2010

Photo for thought...


Outside my window... is a pastel sky and birds singing.
I am thinking.. of how to get back on track with housework after taking yesterday off...
I am thankful for... a great Sunday with the family.
From the learning rooms...darkness. I haven't opened the curtains yet... not ready to admit it is really morning.
From the kitchen... dishes galore. Too tired to do them last night... I've got my work cut out for me this morning!
I am wearing...  pjs.
I am creating... a supply list for making bird feeders... peanut butter, pine cones, bird seed, twine...
I am going... to visit a new doctor this morning - hopefully he REALLY IS interested in family-centered maternity care and open to seeing women who plan to homebirth!
I am reading... The Snowy Day with D. What a magical book!.
I am hoping... the Five in a Row curriculum arrives today! I'm excited to get started.
I am hearing...the hum of the refrigerator, the ticking of the clock, the tapping of the keys, the songs of birds outside.No stirring form upstairs... I'd better get up there and wake the guys up!
One of my favorite things...having nothing to do on Sunday except be with God and enjoy time with my family!
A few plans for the rest of the week...leading my first Prosperity Circle!

Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12