The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY . . . November 19, 2013

Outside my window . . . I see blue sky and wispy, white clouds. The trees are looking more and more bare. 

I am thinking . . . that I am glad to feel some better this morning. I got hit with a stomach bug early Monday morning. It was the worst I've felt in a very long time. Kudos to Alan and Claire for taking such good care of me.

I am thankful . . . for intellectual growth. I never want to stop learning, and I always want to be open to new ideas and concepts.

In the kitchen . . . lots of saltines and ginger-ale.

I am wearing . . . my Chinese lantern pants, a white t-shirt, and my FIL's denim shirt.

I am creating . . . not sure right now. Yesterday I didn't feel like doing anything. I'd like to finish my Danish shawl, and then look over some other ideas, now that Presents with a Purpose is behind us.

I am going . . . nowhere today!

I am wondering . . . how much I'll feel like doing today.

I am reading . . . well re-reading Alias Grace, but I checked out 2 other books from the library as well -- The Golden Notebook and Still Midnight. Not much reading going on right now as it was hard to concentrate. I have a ridiculously large stack of books I want to read, but I've been a bit ADD about it, skipping from one to the new without completing anything.

I am looking forward to . . . feeling better today. 

I am hearing . . . absolutely nothing, but the hum of electricity.

Around the house . . . it's pretty chaotic. It's amazing how quickly things fall into disarray when I'm not feeling well. I don't really think I do that much, but based on a day and a half of sickness and the current condition of the house, I must do more than I think.

I am praying . . . for more and more people. I just found out last night about a 40 year old husband and father who died from a heart attack on Sunday. I am so grateful for all I have, and yet so overwhelmed with sadness for the suffering I see around me.

One of my favorite things . . . is feeling well. I know it sounds a bit silly, but it's so easy to take for granted. A day or two of feeling really sick certainly puts things in perspective!

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . everything's on hold until I see how long it takes to bounce back from this crud. 

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing . . .

part of our display at Presents with a Purpose

for more visit The Simple Woman's Daybook

2012 Wrap Up

December 31st . . . 

How did this happen? Not really the end of the year as much as the end of the holidays. I've been sick for the past 10 days. Really not the way to spend your holidays let me tell you. Curled up in bed tossing back codeine laced cough syrup and antibiotics that made me feel worse than the disease. No Christmas dinner. Alone in the house while the rest of the family went to celebrate. Then assuming the worst was over and I'd be feeling much better -- NOT. Still stuffy and coughing a week later. 

So what have I learned from this experience? Christmas is just another day in the year. There is no right way to do Christmas. I have an amazing family -- husband, daughter, and son -- who all took up the slack and made sure presents were wrapped and delivered. Important food items were prepared and eaten. And in the midst of it all they kept the kitchen and laundry mostly caught up, all while checking on me, feeding me, getting me drinks, and meds, and just visiting me as I coughed my way through bags of cough drops and boxes of tissues.

Oddly, the other lesson I learned is how much I do for my family. I don't really think I do that much as a rule. Sure I wash clothes and dishes. I prepare meals and do the shopping. I pick up around the house, but somehow it doesn't seem like that much . . . until I couldn't do it. Until they had to handle it all themselves. Perhaps I'm not just taking up space. Perhaps I serve some useful purpose after all. 

So on this last day of 2012 I encourage you to look back at the year and recognize what you do for others. Maybe you already know this, but maybe you're like me, and tend to assume the world would function just fine without you in it. You might be surprised.

Blessings of the new year where we all can find our purpose.

Ode to Christmas

(guest post by DH aka Alan Pennington)

Ode to Christmas

It was the day before Christmas

Sam in his bed,

Melanie coughs up a lung,

And Claire baking bread.

The Y was half empty,

A chin up, a sit up,

A squat and a lung,

Not too much work out but still had some fun.

Sam made the pumpkin bread,

Already half gone,

Claire made the sour dough,

Not quite ready, but it won't be long.

The packages are half wrapped,

The house is a wreck,

Clothes are all dirty,

Except for my sweats.

Though tattered and scattered, our lives may be,

I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.

My son and my daughter, getting along,

And Melanie, though groggy is coming around.

Santa oh Santa,

On this Christmas eve,

Help us remember,

Help us believe.

Christ in the manger,

Mary so calm,

The stars watching over,

The savior has come.

Lord lift my heart,

Draw us all tight,

Share with us joy,

And if is not too much trouble, could you heal my wife.

Merry x-mas all!!!