This blog is a safe place to pour out my heart! Weird day, so far. Church alone, then to Mom and Don's and pick up Chinese food at the mall, and a few cards. I am swearing off Pepsi, so I'm a little tipsy feeling. I know what you are thinking! Should be wine that does that, but it's not, it's withdrawing from all that sugar. I need to finish my preschool plans and then read the first chapter in my reading text. Help me get motivated, God.


Francine Rivers--you have done a number on my heart with Her Mother's Hope. I have deeply cried, more than once. I think it is stirring up feelings I had buried. Later...after Tom gets home, things will be normal, I hope. Gonna get very busy and deeply engrossed, so I don't THINK.

Love, love, love. Jesus IS the answer...

Wow!

I had to stop mixing up coffeecake to post how excited I am every time I use my KitchenAid mixer. It is amazing!!! I'm making a lemon coffeecake with cream cheese filling. The radio is softly playing country music, the sun is shining, and the air is cool and beautiful. I love life--especially when things are going my way--aren't we all like that? I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. again working on preschool. I was getting the handbook into this year's format and then sending a pdf file to all parents. I feel surprisingly "free" now even though I still have MUCH to do. The to-do list is long, but obviously the things on it are less weighty, because I feel a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. I have plans to go through Taco Shop drive-through for lunch. It is going to be an AMAZING day. Thank you, JESUS. :)

Today's womanly feat

Today's feat was getting into "blackboard" on the FHSU website. I'm a student once again. I have completed a master's degree and I had to read the syllabus twice (for understanding). The class will be hard, but good for me.I've been in the little kid world for over two years now, so we'll see how I do with entering the academic world once again. My word choice will have to get larger than: "O.k. sweetie. Do it like this! Play nice. In a minute... What color is it?"

You get the picture. It is essentially the same as entering the work world after being home with your own kids for a number of years. You think your brain turned to mush, but it really didn't. It was there all along. It is like a muscle and needs exercised. So here goes in exercising my brain. It wouldn't be a bad idea to exercise my body once again also.

I forgot to post something darling Carson said. I was telling Chelsea a story and naming lots of names in succession and Carson said "don't forget...da da da da da." He hears people say that when they mean "etc." I laughed and laughed.

I am thanking God today for my many many blessings. It has been wonderful to slow down this summer and do things that I have wanted to do for years. I even have my goals for next summer! The goal is to go through keepsakes under the bed and the crawl space.

I LOVE MY FAMILY! I am so proud of all my kids and what they are doing in the world. They are all wonderful kids and so are their spouses. How can one woman be so blessed? I will let you ponder that. Until tomorrow...
Mrs. C

Oh my goodness! It is so late!!! I wanted to post yesterday, but the whole day got away from me. We went to small group, church, out to eat pizza, and then I worked on cleaning and projects while Tom napped. Later in the afternoon--4:00--we went to Chelsea and John's to help with the baby's room and putting their basement back together. The baby's room is precious! Light green, light blue, and cream. The way the light shines in is soothing, and he is going to be one loved babyyyyyyyyyy!!! Can't wait. In the meantime, I'm spoiling baby #1: Carson, and loving every minute of giving him hugs, kisses, gum, and playing with him and teasing him. The cutest thing ever was today when I was on speakerphone with him and I said I wanted to talk to "mommy.' He said "grammy, can you say is mommy abailable?" Yes that is a b, and not a v. It is so precious!!! I don't know how I will be able to start school and not see him as much. It will be different having him for a student, as opposed to a grandson. All good, though.

Today found me working, working, working. Details galore. Faxed, scanned, promoted Livinity and worked on Connect Me Voice, got ready for the meeting,watered grass, went to Wal-Mart. The funny thing is I felt anxious today. No more coffee than usual, but my heart was pounding, and mind racing. I suppose it was from being on a "dead run" today! Can't think of anything else. I am no more stressed out than usual!

Please Lord help me get my handbook and class lists done tomorrow. Pictures of the preschoolers up would be awesome also. And first day plans! Do we have time to have a baby? Fall and school are starting. O.K., the answer is yes. We have to make time. Just like 3 years ago. I remember thinking there is no ideal time to slow down and have a baby. Therefore, we are supposed to "go with the flow" and slow down. It is God's way of helping us rest and treasure what is really important in this life.

Well, I better sign off and get these scratchy contacts out. Tomorrow will bring more work on my two classes. Oh yes, one (KCSL) is going well, but can't even figure out how to access the FHSU online class. Go figure!

L a t e r . . .

Today

Today was such a good day. There are days I am in the "zone" as a woman...and really accomplishing the feminine purpose that God has for me. When I woke up, I immediately felt good today, where some days it is a struggle to wake up, or I hurt somewhere. Today, I felt rejuvenated and alive after a good night's sleep, and ready to start the day! I could smell coffee brewing in the kitchen, and Tom must have heard me stirring, because he came in and gave me a kiss. I gathered some things around me that I wanted to read, and I drank coffee in bed while reading. The light was beautiful in the house when I walked into the kitchen, and I thought it would be a great day to make a coffeecake, so I dug out my recipes. The ripe pears looked so good, so I settled for that and a blueberry bagel, and got to work. Work for me today was sorting papers--preschool and personal--transferring pictures to the computer, light housecleaning, searching for recipes, babysitting, and running to the grocery store for a gift, card, and a few other things we needed. We ended the day by celebrating a surprise 40th for Laurie at Thirsty's. Good friends, good food, laughter, happy conversations, love...the stuff life is made of. Tomorrow I'm going to start my weight-loss portion of the blog. Good night, all!