All I've Got

Outside my window:

i can hear the wind begin to awaken and play outside the way it did so recklessly yesterday, and little drops of water are pouncing to the ground.



I am listening to:

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand



I am wearing:

Barefoot in a pair of boot cut jeans and form fitting black T.



I am thankful for:

The quiet the house is currently experiencing. Two children at school, the other amusing herself, equals a mommy enjoying the peace.



I am pondering:

The words of MLK: "True altruism is more than the capacity to pity; it is the capacity to sympathize. Pity may represent little more than the impersonal concern which prompts the mailing of a check, but true sympathy is the personal concern which demands the giving of one's soul."



I am reading:

or re-reading I should say, Outlander. Nana bought me the whole series for Christmas, minus the 7th book that just came out in hardback. Of course I was so excited I ran out and bought it, only to hide it from myself until i reread the entire series.



From the kitchen:

Trying Shephard's pie tonight. It's a new recipe from my Clean Eating magazine (which I LOVE.) The awesomeness of that is I wouldn't need to go to the store.



I am thinking:

that I am very frustated Blogger let's me Cut, but not paste! I just lost a whole segment of my post! and that maybe i should close my living room window now that the wind is blowing rain sideways.



I am creating:

a music video for Svetlana and Bibi. It was a Christmas present, really. They understand that it will be late.



On my ipod:

The same thing that I was just listening to. Duh.



Towards a Real Education:

Always trying to improve my grade in the crach course of parenting. Determined that William is a Hyper-Sensitive child, which doesn't get a lot of attention compared to autism or asperger's, but definately requires special handling techniques. Jumped into the library's parenting section for help on dealing with him. Also reading up on sibling conflict, tattling, and rivalry. We need help!



Toward rhythm and beauty:

hmm. maybe my life is offbeat and ugly, but I can't think of anything that would qualify to go here, lol.



To live the Gospel:

rededicating myself to reading spiritually fulfilling works at least 10 mn a day



I am hoping and praying:

for my mother to have peace, now that Greg has passed.



In the garden:

planning for spring! David is making me a raised bed garden. Oh, how i've wanted a raised bed garden! Lots of ideas to throw down on paper. It's going to be so much fun.



Around the house:

rejoicing in the beauty and simplicity of a clean house! (downstairs at least)



On keeping home:

refocusing my kitchen on clean eating. Last night our plates were 1/4 protein (baked chicken), 1/4 grain (rice), and 1/2 vegetables (broccoli and succotash). The perfect formula!



One of my favorite things:

down time



A few plans for the rest of the week:

Costco, commissary, return shoes to payless, spend birthday money, return Old Navy shirt, develop photos at Target, buy Ali-gator a birthday present.



A picture thought I'm sharing:

I want me some of this weather back!

Can it really be another year? I don't think I'm quite ready for this. Since I don't know what to be ready for, I'm sure it really doesn't matter. I begin each year with a sense of anticipation, as if this is the year that "will be it." What it is, I never really discover. Somehow I sense it represents the full realization of my potential; the year I "get it", the year I "do it", the year that "it" occurs. As each year passes I become more and more convinced that waiting for some thing to happen is a ridiculous way to live a life - as if life were living me, instead of the other way around. This is the year, the month, the day, and the moment that I actively live my life - with intent, full of purpose, carrying grace in my pocket, a smile on my face, and a prayer in my heart.
Happy New Year. Happy New Day.