For Today:  August 14, 2025                                                          

Looking out my window...

it's a bit cooler today after a heat wave.

I am hoping...

my mom can have her knee surgery as scheduled, and that all goes well. We will be praying, and I'm sure she'll have a quick recovery! 

I am thinking...

about all the jobs I've had throughout my life. Here is a list I came up with:

Teenage Years:

Babysitting (lots!)

Making wooden boxes for fancy cookies at my Grandfather's Boxshop

 Hitchiner Manufacturing Co - cleaning offices 

Scarborough Potpourri Co -tying bows on sachets

Paralyzed Veterans of America-assembly line work

Sunoco-pumping gas/stocking shelves

Adult Years:

Staining Houses for painting Co.

Landscaping-raking leaves

Waitressing at a small cafe called Mrs.Garlands

Nanny for the owners of Stoneyfield Yogurt (newborn and 2 year old)

Cleaning offices, churches, houses

ServePro-detail cleaning after fires/soot damage

Selling Discovery Toys and Usborne Books (Home parties)

Home organizing/decluttering

Home Health Aide/ LNA

*But my most important job has been mother and homemaker. :)

One of my favorite things...

are the special movies and shows that Sid and I watch together. We saw Freakier Friday at the theater this week.

I am thankful...

 for all the help at the property this past weekend. Dan, my Dad, Charles and Isaiah were able to clear some trees and brush. Christian and I did weeding and errands. It was in the 90's and humid, but we all did ok. Here we are having pizza for lunch!

I am creating...

a life that's not reliant on stimulation from external sources. I'm getting away from being on my phone all the time, and pursuing activities that are peaceful, thoughtful  and life-giving. We get so used to algorithms directing us to what we learn and think about, it takes being deliberate to stop it. The problem for me is there's a lot of downtime at my job and it's easy to reach for my phone to pass the time. I need to remember to bring things to read and projects to work on.

I am listening to...

some old playlists I have on Spotify, songs from Third Day, Matt Redman, Josh Baldwin and Zach Williams, and Shane and Shane.

I am reading...

 a novel called A Tale of Two Sides by John Phillip Ryan. 

I am watching...

movies with Dan. Last night we watched Patriot Games with Harrison Ford, something Dan had never seen, but I knew he'd like it.  

In my kitchen...

I made meatloaf for dinner last night. For lunches I've been having turkey,cheese and veggies on coconut wraps. These wraps only have organic coconut meat, coconut water, and coconut oil, so they are a super healthy bread substitute. They taste so good, and don't crumble or break, but they are expensive, so I need to learn how to make, or find a cheaper version.

A quote...

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." -Albert Einstein 

A moment from a few months ago:

Dan and I with his stepmom, Marianna

For Today:  August 6, 2025                                                          

Looking out my window...

it's a warm, hazy summer day.  I pushed Bev around the neighborhood in her wheelchair this morning, and she enjoyed looking at the flowers.

I am hoping...

to be moved into our new home really soon. I spoke to Camelot today and they estimate that the house will be delivered the first week of September. Everything is falling into place!

Dan is talking to the guy who dug our septic and well. He's now preparing the ground for the slab for the manufactured house to be put on. 

I am thinking...

about how the new neighbors we've met so far seem really nice. 

One of my favorite things...

is being with all of my kids on a beautiful summer day. 

I am thankful...

that we were able to have a lake day at my grandfather's camp. All of my kids were there, Dan's son Scott, and Erin and the grandkids. It was a fun day swimming at the lake, eating pizza, playing lawn games, and hanging out at the camp.

 

I am creating...

memories with my husband. I love him so much! After spending time at the property, we went out for dinner at a local restaurant called the Salt Hill Pub. We celebrated the good report that Dan got from the oncologist. 

I am listening to...

 different podcasts about nutrition. On a drive to the property Dan and I listened to Dr.Josh Axe talk about food in the Bible and why God gave the Israelites the food laws that he did, and how today we can follow some of the principles and guidelines. 

I am reading...

 a book called A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken. It's a story of a wonderful couple who were very much in love. They became friends with C.S. Lewis and other Christians at Oxford, and through many conversations with them, eventually came to faith in Christ. 

I am watching...

a 1997 movie with Dan called Conspiracy theory with Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts.  I saw it when it came out, but it's been so many years I didn't remember how it ended. We really like the actors, and I thought it was a great movie! 

In my kitchen...

 we've made chicken stirfry, steak, salad, corn on the cob, and gluten-free blueberry muffins. Sid and I went out for breakfast the other day at the Hilltop Cafe here in Wilton. It's great because it's mostly fresh organic food. I had a delicious veggie sandwich on sourdough and we ate in their outdoor seating.  

A quote...

A moment from this week