7 Quick Takes Friday Volume I

1. I have decided to follow in the footsteps of fellow bloggers and post a 7 quick thoughts/posts every Friday. Someday I may figure out how to get the links and logo on the posts, but for now this format will do.

2. Last weekend Nick and I played the Ungame during an in-house date night.  The object of the game is to improve listening and communication skills. It works.   We played the Couples version.  Each person picks a card and answers the question on the card.  The other person may not react or comment on anything the person says.  This helps you to truly listen and not think about what you are going to say in response to that person.  The only time you get to ask a question or make a comment is when you pick a "Question or Comment" card.  It was truly an intimate and fun time and I hope we will do it again soon.  It proved to me that even after 15 years of marriage we still have things to learn about each other.  I never knew Nick had a fantasy of being able to drive across country and visit various places.

3. Last week I was berating myself for not completing my "To Do" list every day.  I felt like a failure at gettting the house organized and clean.  I was  assuming Nick was frustrated with me too.  However, during the Ungame Nick picked a "Question/Comment" card and asked me "Do you think you are getting enough rest while the kids are at school?"  My fears were banished and my heart melted.  Thank you God for my wonderful husband!

4. William went on his first Kindergarten Field Trip today. They visited Cox Farm.  The photo above shows what fun he had.  William was grouped with one of his best friends in his class and his friend's Mom took the picture.  They had a perfect Fall weather day for the trip.  William said his favorite was the slide that came out of a volcano.

5. This morning Kayla was really tired and exclaimed that it wasn't fair that I got to sit around and rest all day while SHE had to go to Third Grade and had NO rest time during the day.  My secret is out!  I sit around and eat bon bons all day and watch soap operas!  NOT.  After suggesting that if she was tired she could go to bed earlier, I told her I already did my time in Third Grade and also taught it.  I wonder if  I stop doing laundry, housework, and grocery shopping if she'll get the clue that I do not "sit around and rest all day."

6. I've been suffering from an acute case of plantar fasciitis.  I bought new shoes, put in new insoles, been doing the stretches, and icing my feet, but I still have flair ups so painful I can barely walk by the end of the day.  Anyone have any suggestions?  I want to start a walking/running program but can't until this flare up dies down.

7. I am so happy the dry Fall weather has arrived, and praying it is here to stay for awhile.  I love the fact that the kids come home from school and want to play outside.  This afternoon Kayla and William went out to play and I found them raking leaves and pine needles in our front yard.  Let's hear it for free labor! 

I hope everyone enjoys your weekend! 

Daybook August 9, 2011

Some of the blogs I read use this format for journaling.  I thought I'd give it a try.

Outside My Window...
        It's a cloudy day, and looks like it may rain.  We need the rain.  The grass is getting brown.  I hope the heat and humidity break soon.

I am Listening To:
       Kayla and William playing in the other room.  After a rocky start, they are getting along for the moment.  I'm not sure what they are playing, but I hear the words "fire" and "explosion" every now and then.
       The dryer is fluffing up a load, and soon the washing machine will be humming.  Even before I thought this would be a rainy day I had planned on it being an indoor kind of day to get things done around the house.

I am Wearing:
       Blue capri sweats and a white t-shirt.  No makeup. I just washed my face and put lotion on this morning.  I'm cleaning today, so I didn't see the point of putting on makeup.

I am so Grateful for:
      * Sleeping in!  Now that swim team is over, we are enjoying sleeping later in the morning.  William is usually the first up, and often comes up and starts asking me questions about our day, or making requests- before I even open my eyes.  I feel annoyed about getting woken up this way, until I look at the clock and realize it is 8AM and I actually got to sleep in.  Today Ryan slept until almost 10AM.
     *Air conditioning and swimming pools- the only way to beat the heat and humidity in Northern VA.
     *Catching up with friends.  Yesterday I had a nice long phone conversation with my good friend, Sara Ham, who is in England.  Talking with her always lifts my spirits.  I am looking forward to the day we can share a cup of tea and some chocolate and talk in person while our children play together.
I also had the chance to visit with a neighbor who has a daughter Kayla's age.  They invited us to their pool.  We don't see each other often because our girls go to different schools and are involved in different activities.  It's nice to have a friendship that can pick up where it left off and the girls reconnected like they hadn't missed a beat. 

I'm Pondering:
      last week's Gospel reading of Peter walking on the water to Jesus and being distracted by the storm.  The phrase "Jesus reached out and caught Peter." hit me.  I had always pictured Peter only taking a few steps before he became fearful and took his eyes of Jesus and began to sink in the water.  However, if it says Jesus reached out and caught Peter, it means that Peter was only an arms length away from Peter.  He was so close to reaching Jesus!  Why did he let the fear overcome him when he was only a few steps away?  I'm pondering what this means to my walk of faith.  How often in prayer I am conversing with Jesus, and allow something to distract me.  I wonder what grace or revelation I missed by allowing fear and distraction to enter my life.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus.  I am so grateful for the times Jesus has reached out to keep me from drowning.

I am Thinking:
     about what life will be like when all three children are in school.  I'm am both looking forward to it, and a little sad that summer is almost over.  It seems like one moment I am ready for the peace and quiet the school year will bring, and the next moment I want to savor all the time I have with each of my children.  I enjoy being with my children, it is all the other stuff that distracts me from spending quality time with them that stresses me out.  I really want to focus on organizing and simplifying my household and life so that I can enjoy the time I will have with them before and after school this year.

One of my favorite things:
      my children's smile and laughter.  William has his friend, Joseph, over this morning.  I love listening to their imaginative play and the way they enjoy each other's company.  Yesterday it was special to see the way Kayla reunited with her friend Kiara. She was in her element sharing her love of swimming with a friend who also loves the water.  They made up a game where they were color changing fairies that changed color depending on what mood they were in or activity they were doing.
     Ryan spent the afternoon making a Transformers out of his Legos.  He designed and built Optimus Prime himself.  I love his creativity and the pride he gets when what he imagines in his head becomes reality in his lego creation.

 I am hoping and praying:
     * for Nick, who may have to cut our vacation to the farm short in order to travel for work. He is feeling the pull between his desire to be present to his family and his work responsibilities.  I am trying to be as supportive as I can, but am really disappointed at the idea of a shorter vacation and having to be a single mom the first week of school.
    *for my Mom's back. Lord, please ease her pain and heal her.
    *for my friend, Monica,- for her health, peace, and comfort in grieving the loss of her husband.
    *for all the youth traveling for World Youth Day
    * for all the college students who are heading back to school, especially for my nieces, Amber and Shelby, who are starting college this Fall.
    * for healing for those who were hurt by the recent scandals in the Church.
    *for the military and all military families who sacrifice so much.
    *for our Country. God Bless America- we need all the help we can get right now!
    *for all those who have asked for my prayers or are in need of prayers.

I am Reading:
    * Just finished The Locket  by Richard Paul Evans for Book Club.  It was nice to read an uplifiting story.
     *The Help.  This book has been highly recommended by many people.  I am reading it in hopes of seeing the movie.  I love the book so far.  However, I am beginning to crave grits, bacon, fried eggs, biscuits, peach cobbler, and other Southern Comfort food.

Around the House: 
     Laundry needs to get done.  School supplies are bought, but need to be labeled.  My desk needs some serious attention.  I really have to get a handle on the paper clutter.  The house is a mess, but the kids are playing happily . I just remind them from time to time to clean something up before they get anything new out.  Creativity and messiness seem to go hand in hand. It's a price I'm willing to pay.
     




         

Keep your eye on the Prize

     Kayla swam in her last A meet of the season yesterday.  She only had one race, 25m breast stroke. Nick  told Kayla to swim fast by imagining he was chasing her.  I gave her the idea that she should imagine a shark is in the water behind her and she had to swim to escape being eaten.  Kayla laughed at both of our ideas, but came up with a far superior motive to swim her fastest time yet. 
      While waiting for her event to be called, Kayla was constantly complaining of the heat, whining about being hungry (she had eaten, she just wanted candy from the concession stand), and was teasing her brothers.  Annoyed with her behavior, and concerned that her mind wasn't on the race, I made sure I was able to talk to her right before her event.  I gave her a big hug and told her to remember who she was swimming for. "God", Kayla replied.  I encouraged her to say a prayer and gave her a kiss.  Kayla not only swam her fastest time, but she got first place too!  Beaming with pride, we hugged and congratulated Kayla on doing so well.  Nick told her it must have been his idea of chasing her that made her swim so fast.  I joked that it was my idea of thinking of a shark attack that helped.  Kayla replied that she used her own idea.  She told me that she imagined that the devil was behind her and Jesus was waiting for her at the other end of the pool.  She  said she just swam as fast as she could to get away from the devil and to get to Jesus.  Humbled and shocked, I congratulated her on coming up with the perfect motivation for swimming her best! 
      Kayla's idea has stuck with me.  Isn't that how we should approach life?  Not that we are always swimming away from evil or temptations, but that we need to keep our eyes on the ultimate prize, eternal life with our Heavenly Father.  Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, " ...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus...."  How many times during the day I get so bogged down by the details of life, that I forget that everything I do, no matter how insignificant, needs to be for His glory, and can be an opportunity to practice and grow in virtue!  Kayla's idea reminds me to keep my focus Eternal.  As St. Paul said to the Phillipians, "....but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. (Philliapians 3:13).