I’ve really enjoyed reading Daybooks from bloggers like Elizabeth Foss and Sarah Reinhard over the past few months, so I’ve decided to start occasionally sharing my own Daybook.
The Simple Woman’s Daybook idea began with Peggy in 2008. I’ve decided to adopt some of its headings, make up some of my own as well as borrow some from folks like Sarah and Elizabeth.
Outside my window…
Sunshine, glorious, sunshine! It’s finally starting to feel like spring in Georgia.
I’m listening to…
The groaning of the washer and the clanking of the dryer. They’re good sounds; I’m way behind on laundry. The humming of a five-year-old as she makes patterns on her Geoboard and a two-year-old talking to her Geobands as if they were people.
I’m thinking…
I recently turned 31. I don’t feel old. I didn’t feel old when I turned 30 either.
I don’t understand why some women dread their thirties. To tell the truth, I feel relieved to be through with my twenties. There was so much uncertainty in that decade. There was all this pressure to find out my life’s vocation, to snag the perfect soul mate, and to ponder the meaning of life. Oh, the angst!
What makes matters worse is everyone tells 20-somethings that they’d better enjoy this time because these are the best years of their lives. I remember feeling a sense of dread and wondering if that was really true – that it all goes downhill from here.
It wasn’t. Life has only been getting better. Or maybe I’ve been getting better at taking the good with the bad. Whereas my twenties were defined by searching, my thirties seem to be about settling. Not settling for less, but settling for where I’m at any given moment, settling into the rhythm of motherhood, settling into being married to the same wonderful man for nearly 10 years, settling into my own skin and feeling good in it (on most days), too.
Bring on the birthday candles!
A button-down blouse with navy and white stripes, jeans, and brown ballet flats. It’s a very classic look – a look my husband loves.
I am thankful for…
A perfect birthday. My mom (Gaba), Rae, Madeline, and Mary Elizabeth and I had a girls’ day together. It was 70 degrees and sunny. We started the day off with Mass, and then I went to confession. Then my mom took us shopping and to lunch. (I felt a little guilty breaking my shopping fast, but my mom assured me that I had dispensation since this was gift from her and my dad to me.)
:-)
Dave came home from work with a balloon, a chocolate cake (yes, I indulged. It’s tough having a birthday during Lent year after year), and delicious Indian food. The girls gave me their presents handpicked by them during a Saturday morning errand with Daddy, and they helped me blow out my candles. Madeline made me a card that included some “poetry” she’d written. I’m not sure who was happier with the celebration – me or my girls.
Oh, and for an affirmation junkie like myself it sure was nice to receive so many phone calls, emails and Facebook birthday wishes and not to mention, old-fashioned snail mail cards. Thank you, thank you to everyone for making my birthday a special one!
On the homeschooling front…
I’ve started planning for next year. We’ve had a few minor bumps this year mostly involving me doubting my ability to homeschool my kids (while staying sane), but we’re starting to get in to the groove. There are some days when I still feel exasperated or insecure, but there are many more days when I think to myself, “I love this,” and I realize what a gift it is to be my children’s primary teacher.
Around the house…
Purging feels good. I’ve only got 13 of my 40 Bags for 40 days, so there’s more work to be done.
Here’s a look at my meal plans for the rest of the week:
Tuesday
Chicken noodle soup leftovers and whole wheat banana bread (I haven’t gotten around to posting this one; I’ll add it to my growing online recipe bank one of these days.)
Wednesday
Yogurt marinated chicken with roasted asparagus (sprinkle asaparagus with olive oil and Kosher salt and roast at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes)
Thursday
Turkey gumbo from this cookbook
Friday
Daddy On-Call Quiche (since Daddy won’t be home for dinner) and crockpot applesauce
On wholeness…
Spiritually, I’m trying to spend at least five minutes listening to God. Confession was good, too. I always forget what a gift confession is until I find myself casting my cares, my sins, and and fears on God’s broad shoulders. I never feel lighter than after a good confession.
Mentally, I’m striving to carve out time to write without sacrificing sleep. I’m also reading before bed every night as a way to unwind.
Physically, I’ve been aiming to walk outside on most days now that the weather has been better. The sunshine and movement are like Prozac for the soul.
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri and The Handbook for Catholic Moms by Lisa Hendey
My two-year-old is really in to Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow (probably because of my recent birthday). Charlotte Zolotow is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite children’s authors. She uses imagery and lyrical language to tell stories that capture my children’s attention and heart. (If you have daughters, you must read Big Sister and Little Sister. Madeline loves to take care of her baby sisters like the big sister in this book, and Rachel has recognized the times when her big sister might need some care from her, too. The book is a wonderful primer on empathy within the family.)
Our spring menu. Bring on the asparagus! I love the nifty Locavore App that tells you what else is in season and available at your nearby farmers’ markets.
For a friend who is concerned about her little girl and the bruises that keep popping up on her skin.
For continued healing for my dear mama.
For my daughter’s godmother who is preparing for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and will be marrying her beloved in April in New York City. (We’ll be headed to the Big Apple, too, since I’m a bridesmaid, and Madeline will be filling the role of flower girl.)
To live the Liturgy…
I’m planning for the Feast of Saint Joseph. Any ideas for crafts targeted at little ones (ages 3-5)? I’ll be teaching my co-op that day and always like to incorporate a hands-on activity. Comments are closed for Lent, but you can email me at kmwicker [at] gmail [dot] com.
The theme of my Lent this year seems to be disconnecting from all those things (think: Internet) that are distracting me from living a full and in-the-moment life of goodness and reconnecting with the only Source of Wisdom and Love there is and ever shall be.
I have a lot of thoughts on this, and I’m scribbling down notes and plan to write about it after Lent.
Until then, read this and this. So many of us are constantly weighing the pros and cons of the connected world we live in. It’s a difficult balancing act to use technology enough that it keeps you in the loop and allows you to connect with people you never would have met otherwise and not allowing it to enslave you.
Hearing Mary Elizabeth say, “Mama.” You’d think hearing those words tumble from my baby’s mouth would have lost some its magic since she’s my third chatterbox. But when she recently started crying for me and reached her arms and said, “Mama,” my eyes teared up and my heart soared.
“Every time you meet another human being you have an opportunity. It’s a chance at holiness. For you will do one of two things. Either you will build him up, or you will tear him down. Either you will acknowledge that he is, or you will make him sorry that he is– sorry at least that he is there, in front of you. You will create, or you will destroy. And the things you dignify or deny are God’s own property. They are made, each one of them, in His own image.
There are no useless, minor meetings. There are no dead-end jobs. There are no pointless lives. Swallow your sorrows, forget your grievances and all the hurt your poor life has sustained. Turn your face truly to the human before you and let him for one pure moment, shine. Think him important, and he will suspect that his is fashioned of God.”
~from Familia training materials
My priority this week is to continue to catch up on sleep. I have to tackle a freelance deadline as well as wrap up another chapter of my book.
We’ll be enjoying the beginnings of spring, too. Several nature walks are on this week’s agenda.
I really need to work on Mary Elizabeth’s diet. :-)
Comments are closed for Lent.