Daybook

FOR TODAY Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

CHRISTMAS EVE!

Outside my window...

The C-9s are illuminating my porch so Santa won't miss our house.


I am thinking...

about the glee which will abound in the morning
as our bright-eyed children
awake before dawn to discover
what has been veiled in bright red and blue
packages under the tree.

It makes me smile to think how
similar scenes of unbridled joy
will be taking place all over the world.

I am thankful...

that we are able to have
bright red and blue packages under the tree,
that I have special people in my life
who inspire me to be a cheerful giver,
that I have experienced receiving
the greatest gift of all -
the redeeming love and grace
of that precious Babe in the manger.

From the kitchen...

Beef stew on the stove top and too many sweets
to think about laying about.

I am wearing...

my cozy grey pjs - bring on that long winter's nap.

I am creating...

a organized photo cache. I am trying out Picasa,
which I am finding very user friendly.
I am also creating gifts using some of my photographs.

I am going...

to be up late tonight
and will probably be awakened
WAY too early in the morning.

After the present frenzy,
we will go celebrate across the street
with my parents and my brother.

I am reading...

Christmas books with my kids!

I am hoping...

that our days will be merry and bright even if
all our Christmases won't be white.

I am hearing...

folky Christmas music thanks to Pandora.com .
I can't get enough of it!

Around the house...

Twinkle lights, extra sweet children,
and a spirit of anticipation.

One of my favorite things...

Christmas!
It is the most wonderful time of the year!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Christmas!!
Spending time with family,
Weldon's Mom & Granny are coming on Friday
and his Dad will come on Sunday,
relaxing and resting and rejuvenating
for the birth of a new year!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Jadan and Esther
"hanging out with the Clauses"
(as Jadan put it)
December 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, December 15th, 2008

Outside my window...

"Hey Baby, it's cold outside"...I love, love, love this cold weather.

I am thinking...

how blessed I truly am.
I have a gracious and loving Savior who calls me by name,
a handsome and witty husband, smart and sensitive children,
a loving and nurturing family, funny and inspiring friends,
a joyful fellowship at church, a fulfilling job,
a supportive boss and team at work,
a quaint home, two furry companions,
clothes on my back, food in my cupboard, gifts under the tree...
what more could I possibly need?

I am thankful...

for my sweet Weldon.
He voluntarily went to get groceries in this brr-freeze.

From the kitchen...

my chai is still steaming
and some good smellin' chili is simmering on the stove.

I am wearing...

the nicest clothes I will wear all week:
a black skirt, olive green sweater, burgundy blazer and my dressy boots.
My Honor Choir sang at the hospital this morning, so I had to dress up a bit so I would look more like a director and less like a student. We have the opportunity to wear jeans the rest of the week - this is a big deal at a uniform school. All we have to do to get a "jean pass" in bring a canned good for the food pantry. Our goal is to fill up Coach Martino's truck bed with food. When I delivered a few boxes from our concert food drive, the cupboards were bare, so this will be exciting to see what we can do to make a difference.

I am creating...

Pretty packages for my family and friends.
I am also working on a skit for the enrichment teachers at Trinity -
PE, Spanish, Computers, Art, Bible, and Music.
This year, the teachers must provide our own entertainment.
This could get really interesting.
Our "number" will be a rendition of the "Hallelujah Chorus"
using flash cards, since my partners are "non-singers".

I am going...

to enjoy not going as much this week.
I am so happy to have a few evenings with "nothing to do"!

I am reading...

Christmas books with my kids!

I am hoping...

that the weather will stay cold, or at least cool, for a while.
It just doesn't seem like Christmas if its 80 degrees outside.

I am hearing...

my children enthusiastically playing Wii games with Grant
(speaking with British accents for some reason)
while his clothes are running through the spin cycle.

Around the house...

Laughter and warmth and homecookin'.

One of my favorite things...

is getting the Christmas festivities and responsibilities behind me
so I can relax and enjoy the beauty of the season.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

We are watching movies in Music class this week.
My kids have TOTALLY earned it.
The post-concert flick this year is "Muppet Christmas Carol"
and they are all really into it.

Our faculty Christmas party, featuring teacher entertainment
and Secret Santa reveal, is on Tuesday night.

We are hosting our fourth annual Christmas Caroling party on Friday night.
It started out as a neighborhood party,
but has evolved into a interesting blend of friends.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Gandolf snuggled in for his long winter's cat nap.
December 2008

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Tagged

I've have been tagged by my sweet friend Kathy. I think that all my blogging buddies have already been "it", so I will leave it up to you, the reader, to tag yourself, if you so desire.

• Two Names You Go By: Momma and Mrs. Stutes
  


• Things You Are Wearing Right Now: my favorite blue jeans, a red sweater and my brown Birkenstock loafers.
  


• Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment: Christmas vacation and snow.
  

• Two people who you look up to: I'm 4'11, I look up to most people.
  


• Two things you did last night: led my students in a Christmas production in front of 1,000 people and then got my feet rubbed. :)
  


• Two things you ate yesterday: A Subway sandwich and Baked Lays
  


• Two people you last talked to: Weldon & Esther
  

• Two Things you're doing tomorrow: watch "Muppet Christmas Carol" with my students and help set up for "World Bazaar" in the gym.
  


• Two longest car rides: Ruidoso, New Mexico to Pensacola, Florida and Marshall, Texas to Orlando, Florida
  


• Favorite Holidays : Christmas and Easter


• Favorite Vacations : My European trip with my Dad and our Wild West adventure this past summer


• Last trip: Weldon & I went to Longview today - that has to count.


• Two favorite beverages: Sweet ice tea and hot spiced chai tea
  

I

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, December 8th, 2008

Outside my window...

the cold front winds are a blowin'.

I am thinking...

how excited I am about our school program tomorrow night.

I am thankful...

that I have a job that I love.
I feel so fulfilled seeing the light in my students' eyes when they sing.

From the kitchen...

dirty dishes and leftover biscuits from breakfast dinner.
The kitchen suffers on 'program weeks'.

I am wearing...

my pjs and my fluffy robe.

I am creating...

an opportunity for many happy Christmas memories for my 180 students,
their families and friends.

I am going...

to be at ETBU all day tomorrow making sure everything is ready for the show.
I love being back on "the Hill". Its like going home.
It is such a thrill for me to have our program in the chapel;
so many old memories mingling with new.

I am reading...

playlists and program notes and schedule charts, oh my!

I am hoping...

that the Lord will be glorified with our songs of praise.
I also hope that the message of love, joy and grace ring out loud and clear.

I am hearing...

the hum of the dryer fluffing a load of clothes.

Around the house...

the children are nestled, all snug in their beds.
We are all winding down...thanks be to God!

One of my favorite things...

is listening to children sing Christmas carols.
I am totally in the right line of work.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

The Trinity Christmas program held at East Texas Baptist University on Tuesday night.
Wednesday is my annual scheduled day off after the program.
I plan to spend the whole day Christmas shopping.
Choir practice on Wednesday night.
We may go to a candlelight service in Jefferson on Friday night.
The children and I will be in the Wonderland of Lights parade on Saturday.
Sunday morning, I get to sing in the Christmas choir for a change.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Jadan & Esther at the Trinity Christmas Program
December 2007

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, December 1st, 2008

Outside my window...

it is dark and cold.
Earlier in the evening, we watched the waxing crescent moon
as it was joined by Venus and Jupiter.
The three are making quite an extraterrestrial light show.
Scientists say that the planets won't show out with the moon
like this again for a long while.

I am thinking...

about all that we crammed into this last week!

We surprised our friend Grant with a house makeover
when he was out of town on holiday.
We repainted, rearranged, redecorated and refreshed his bach pad. Great fun!
We also cleaned our house and decked the halls with holiday decor.
We made way too much food for our Thanksgiving feast,
and we spent some quality time with family.

I am thankful...

a warm house in which to snuggle up and sip hot tea.

From the kitchen...

My tea is steaming and somewhere there is some pumpkin bread
whispering my name.

I am wearing...

My fluffy robe, Tink p.j.s and my fuzzy house shoes. Ah, nice.

I am creating...

an accurate calendar of events for the next month...
I don't want to miss a thing!
I am also creating a playlist /CD and 30 ribbon wands for
our school Christmas program.
Tonight we created 3D foam airplanes for Jadan's World Bazaar project
(Did you know that airplanes are France's largest export?).

I am going...

to bed...in just a minute.

I am reading...

I started and finished The Silver Chalice over the holiday.
I'm a little hesitant to pick anything else up right now.
I'm one of those "can't-put-it-down-'til-I'm-done" kinda readers
and I really need to rest a little this week.

I am hoping...

that we can truly enjoy this holiday season.
It always seems to get so hectic and go by so fast.
I really want to linger in the joy of Christmas!

I am hearing...

Gustav Holst's "The Planets".
I am admittedly a music and science nerd, but it's okay,
because being a nerd is celebrated in this house.

Around the house...

The dog is curled up in his bed, the cat is lurking in the shadows,
the children are unwinding and getting ready for bed,
Weldon is watching PBS (another celebrated nerd) and I am getting drowsy.

One of my favorite things...

is the changing of the leaves this time of year.
I have taken so many "leafy" pictures that I may have to
dedicate an entire blog to our autumnal flora.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Insane Christmas program practice schedule at school.
Coach Music Memory academic team on Tuesday;
teach 2 piano lessons on Wednesday
Choir practice and Awana on Wednesday night.
Go to Jeanne Damoff's "Parting the Waters" book release party on Thursday.
Esther and I are attending our neighbor Christina's Christmas Tea on Saturday.
The Trinity Honor Choir will be singing at Trinity Church Sunday morning.
I think that's all ... maybe I should consult my "accurate calendar of events"...

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The Evening Show Starring
The Moon, Venus and Jupiter
December 1, 2008

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http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/