Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, November 17th, 2008

Outside my window...

squirrels and cardinals are entertaining my lazy cat as he sunbathes
in the windowsill.

I am thinking...

about the week ahead which will be full of family and food!

I am thankful...

that I cannot see an end to the list of things I am grateful for. If I were to try to
"count my many blessings" and "name them one by one"
I would go to infinity and beyond.

From the kitchen...

The kitchen is getting prepped for the feasting ahead.
Today it is getting scrubbed and reorganized (call it "fall cleaning").

I am wearing...

Grubbies = an old pair of Levis' and a green Snoopy t-shirt.

I am creating...

a surprise for one of my friends and a holiday wonderland inside my house.

I am going...

to the attic to bring down more Christmas decorations.

I am reading...

one of my favorite historical fiction novels, The Silver Chalice, written by Thomas Costain in 1952. It is a story written about the making of a silver chalice to hold the cup that Christ used during the Last Supper. It is a fictional account of the early church and some of its Biblical leaders. I've already read it twice (all 533 pages), but was inspired to read it again after my Dad returned from his trip to Cyprus with stories and his pictures of the places where the apostle Paul had been.

I am hoping...

I accomplish everything that I want to get done during my week "off"
and that there might be a few spare moments left to relax!

I am hearing...
holiday music from pandora.com .

Around the house...

its beginning to look and sound a lot like Christmas.
My mom is hosting the Thanksgiving feast at her house,
so I am trying to my house decorated before my in-laws come in
and before my week "off" is over.

One of my favorite things...

is Thanksgiving traditions.
I always watch the Macy's parade with my Mimi
- either together or across the miles.
We also prepare the same feast using the same recipes year after year.
Some of my favorite family tradition foods are my Grandma Tapp's fruit salad,
Dad's gelatin salad, Mom's yeast rolls and our sweet veggie relish.
Of course it wouldn't taste like Thanksgiving
without the cornbread dressing and pumpkin pie!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Finish decorating inside the house and start on the outside.
Put the finishing touches on my "special project" for a friend.
Thanksgiving feast preparation. I am fixing all the sides and baking all the pies.
Enjoy spending time with my husband, children, parents and brother, as well as,
Weldon's mom and her husband who are joining us this year.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Howdy Pilgrims circa 2006.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, November 17th, 2008

Outside my window...

the setting sun is illuminating the beautiful autumn leaves.
I'm so happy my husband planted trees that have fall pizazz!

I am thinking...

how very blessed I am.

I am thankful for...

being able to get home at a decent time. We were keeping late hours last week
and I am grateful that is not the norm.

From the kitchen...

I am wishing we had more of the stew I made this weekend, but we finished it all off last night.
I think I'll make some baked chicken, sweet potatoes and steamed veggies.

I am wearing...

my favorite blue cardigan sweater and brown slacks.

I am creating...

a Christmas program for my K-8 students.

I am going...

to bed early tonight.

I am reading...

... I have good intentions to read, but my schedule has been insane as of late.

I am hoping...

my boys have fun on their field trip to the King Tut exhibit in Dallas tomorrow!

I am hearing...

quiet...weird.

Around the house...

things are finding their place after our crazy week.
I spent a good part of the weekend doing laundry and "setting" the house for the week.
We'll see how long that lasts...

One of my favorite things...

is the autumn.
The cool, brisk air does something to my creative senses.
I want to sew and bake and craft and create.
I want to snuggle up on the couch and read.
It's the busiest time of my year, but it inspires me.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Both of my kids have field trips this week.
Jadan is going to see Tut with Weldon tomorrow
and Esther is going to the exotic animal farm on Friday.
We have early release from school on Friday, as well!
We missed choir and Awana at church last week
and I am anxious to get back to that routine.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Autumn in the Ozarks last fall.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Things Come in Threes: Part 3

After the play on Thursday night, we had to completely take down the set. I hate tearing down. Not because it is hard work(although it is), but because the magic is getting packed away. It's like putting away Christmas decorations - it gives me the blues. Oh well, on to the next big thing...

Friday night, the Student Council hosted a Fall Festival in the gym for the entire student body, Kindergarten through eighth grade. My two kiddos are classroom representatives and I am a Student Council sponsor, so we had to be on deck. I actually had to admit that I am not Superwoman and took the day off from teaching on Friday. I stayed home and did all the laundry and housework that had piled up this week, so it wasn't really a day of "rest"! We went to the school around 5:30 and help set up for the festival. I helped make a rotation of rep. responsibilities flow chart so none of the kids would get stuck manning a booth all night. My main job of the evening was being the DJ and I cranked the sound system up REAL loud!! That was very fun. I spent part of my morning off making a kid friendly playlist on my iPod - lots of Disney flick hits. I also helped with the Cakewalk - press play, press pause, press play, etc. I took a few breaks from the cakewalk to lead in the High School Musical "We're All In This Together" Dance, the Macarena, the Limbo, the Twist and the Hokey Pokey. Sorry, no pictures to post of the fest - I was too busy!!

So, here is the "Week of Threes" recap:

Tuesday - Veterans' Day Program

Thursday - The Troupe presents "The Emporer's New Clothes" (two times)

Friday - Student Council Fall Fest

What an extrodinary week.

Things Come in Threes: Part 2

Immediately after the Veterans' program was over, Weldon, my friend Lori Miller, her husband Robert and our buddies Grant and Jordan disassembled the Vet set and reset the gym for our play on Thursday night.

Lori and I have partnered up together this semester and formed The Troupe, a drama group for students grade 3 - 8. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time but was hesitant to try to pull off by myself. As partners, Lori and I can each work from our strengths and resources, and I must say, the result was something special. We decided to put on "The Emperor's New Clothes" - love the story, love the moral. As The Troupe took shape, we had no problem making casting decisions because we already knew the kids really well. We were going to purchase a script, but decided to write our own instead. Lori, being the language arts queen, set to work on retelling the story, working in some appropriate lines to fit the personalities of our cast of characters. The end result was hilarious and fit together so well. Lori is also a very demonstrative and expressive orator, so she was a great vocal coach for the kids. I was amazed at how she was able to get this group of kids to project and inflect!

I am apparently more of a drama queen than I would like to admit. I began to realize this when it came time for the Troupe to begin staging and acting. The kids thought I was crazy most of the time, but getting into character means losing yourself and becoming bigger than life! It's called ACTING! I also had a ball creating the sets, making and advising on costumes, and gathering the props. The husbands were also a great help with the big picture, they even made it to where the scenes were lit up!!

We gave two performances, one in the afternoon for the entire school, and then one that evening for working parents to be able to attend. The student body was wide-eyed as they entered the dimly lit gym and sat quietly as the medieval prelude music played. We were so pleased to give them a quality presentation.

One of the main reasons I wanted to create a drama group was for my son Jadan. He is an outstanding orator and, turns out, an amazing actor. He had the role of the Chief of Guards, the Emperor's loyal adviser. Just between me and you, he stole the show. He would never voluntary ask to be in drama or in a spotlight of any kind, but since I am in charge of it, he is going to be a part of it and maybe he will realize that he has a real gift for it.

Since I was in the middle of producing the program, I wasn't able to photograph much of it, but here are a few shots taken after the curtain call.

The Chief of Guards, a Lady-in-Waiting and the Narrator.

The Loyal Chief Jadan

The Village People: Esther and Paige

We love the Theatre!

Things Come in Threes: Part 1

Veterans' Day

We observed Veterans' Day at school this week with our annual patriotic music program. It is such a privilege for me to be able to share and encourage a patriotic spirit with my students. I think it is so important that they learn to value liberty and the sacrifices that are made to maintain the freedoms we enjoy. We need to remember that freedom is not free.

One of my favorite songs that we sing is called "Everyday Heroes":

All around, who can see
Who is strong and who might be?
Can we know who is brave,
Who will sacrifice to save?
All around, who can see
What their fate is meant to be?
People give, people care,
There are heroes everywhere.
Everyday someone cries out;
Everyday someone needs;
Everyday someone hears them,
And listens and heeds.
Everyday there are heroes,
people just like you and me;
Everyday there are heroes ,
Who never meant to be.

We collected pictures of Veterans from students and teachers, and created an Honor Wall to recognize our family members and friends as the heroes they are.

Some of the Vets that attended our program came in their old uniform and hats.
They looked so very noble and still carried themselves with a sense of pride and resolve.
I think my students caught the spirit of patriotism and began to really respect it
after seeing these men and women for themselves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Blessing of the Flags

I must testify about the goodness of God in the little things. The picture I posted above of the mass of American flags will forever be a symbol of God's sweet hand in my life. I love the way He sends unexpected blessings.

I have ideas about how to put my programs together, but am sometimes limited (or challenged, as I like to look at it) because I am a creative being on a budget. For the Veterans' program, I wanted to have my Kindergartners wave flags...a little pop, a little texture, a little movement, a little something to keep their minds and hands busy during their song. I didn't want to and couldn't spend a lot of money on flags, but found some at a dollar store and went in armed with just enough money in my billfold to cover the cost. I got a little nervous as I approached the checkout because I wasn't sure I could cover the tax. But, when the checker rang me up, a total that should have been $20 rang up as $4.
"There must be some mistake", I said. So she checked it again. "No, no mistake. Those flags are on clearance for 1 cent a pack. I don't know why they would be marked down that low, but that is what the register says, so I guess that is how much I have to charge you." I stood there in shock and then I smiled at her and said, "I don't know how this worked out either, but one thing I do know is that God is good and He is smiling on me right now". The checker answered my reply by looking at me like I was from another planet. I guess in a way, I am. Thank you, Jesus!

The Wild Things

We had fun dressing up for Halloween this year!

Esther as "Sugar" the kitty cat.

Indiana Jadan

Little Red Riding Hood

Weldon as an obscure Bill Murray character, Steve Zissou.
Weirdo.

Esther the Pirate

Esther the 50s Chick

Sarah Palin wannabe

Where the Wild Things Were

Feast your eyes on the eerie images from our fright filled visit
to William Joyce's haunting home in Shreveport.