It's Friday!

This morning didn't start out too bad; guess it could've been worse.  My alarm has seen it's last day.  It went off  30 minutes before I'm due for work!  Not good.  I usually get up at 5:30 to get ready to be at the hospital at 7:00 and drink a cup of  steamy coffee before starting pt. rounding and nursing care.  Coffee is my jump start in the mornings.  This morning my alarm went off at 6:30 instead.  Oh well....sigh.....that's life sometimes.

Busy, busy, busy.  It feels like a Friday.  It's also the feast day of  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, which incidentally,  I buy the curriculum from the The Seton Catholic Home Study School.  

The day passed quickly for me.  It snowed some around town but it quickly melted away.  My kids were warm and happy at home.  At least that's what my youngest daughter told me on the phone when she called me at work to see how my day was going.  "Great", I told her.

It's time for bed.  My daughter, Mary, will be going out of town with our homeschool basketball team, the 'Lady Hawks' tomorrow.  Melinda will be spending the day with her father; and Jacob will be working tomorrow in the evening.  His work schedule changed a little.  Time to go bed.

I'll be thinking about this song as I drift off to sleep because it has such a 'slumber' quality.  Not because I'm feeling blue; I'm really not.  I just love the song.  I first heard it when I watched a movie starring Loretta Young.  The movie is called 'Mother Is A Freshman'.  Prayers before retiring.

Home and Family

Today was so busy and yet so nice!  The minute I woke it couldn't have been busier!  Everyday that I'm off from work is always the same.  I start my coffee percolator going,  feed all the pets, start my laundry and go around the house picking up dirty socks, shoes thrown about, pieces of paper here and there, etc.  But it feels so good to be home with my children.  I can't remember a time since they were all born that I didn't feel this way.  I've always been aware of time and  how fast it flies.  

It took about two hours to get the house straightened out, while my daughters were sleeping in their beds.  My son, Jacob went to work early this morning; about 8:00 am.  I made up his bed, swept his floor and dusted where it needed.

  

Then off I went to do errands; something else that's the story of my life.  I'm forever running errands.  Went to the bread store and loaded up on bread for about 6-8 weeks.  Paid 4 bills!  Bought groceries;  money is tight so we don't get to eat out but maybe once a month. Thank you Lord! I know we're better for it.

After I got home, from the bread store, my daughters and I went to St. Vincent de Paul to look around!  The first Thursday of every month, you can fill up a large grocery sack to the brim for $7.00.  The three of us got something.  I have two new pairs of flannel pajamas, Mary has a new jacket and  a couple of t-shirts, and lastly, Melinda has a new jacket and a very pretty shirt.  We couldn't stop beaming when we left.  We love shopping at St. Vincents and consignment stores and vintage shops.  You can find so many wonderful and useful things for practically nothing.  Almost every stick of furniture in my home was purchased at a consignment store.  

Our home isn't fancy at all;  but it's clean, warm, cozy and filled with alot of love and a spiritual light which burns brightly with devotion to God.  Today was a great day to be together with my family.  Hot dogs and chips was our supper this evening.  Baths have been taken.  The outdoor Christmas lights are on again tonight.  We'll take them down after the Feast of the Epiphany. Prayers before retiring.

The Simple Woman's Daybook Entry

For Today

Outside my Window...it's nightfall.  The temperature has dropped.  I have my outdoor Christmas lights on.  They're bright red and trimming the front of my house;  so pretty! The neighbors have theirs on as well.  

I am thinking...about the bills that I have to pay tomorrow.  I tell myself, all the time, that my children and I will be all right.

I am thankful......for my faith, my kids, for the roof over our head, my life, my job.

In the kitchen...there's leftover gingerbread cake on the kitchen counter.  There'll be some for breakfast in the morning.

I am wearing... faded blue jeans, a yellow calico blouse that I sewed up last summer.  Hair in a ponytail, glasses perched on my nose~forever falling forward with me constantly pushing them back in place.  White cotton socks on;  refuse to walk barefoot inside the house or anywhere.  

I am creating...a grocery list of things we need for the house.

I am going...to bed in little while; starting to get sleepy.

I am wondering...what this new year will bring.  

I am reading...'Rooted In Love',  by Donna Marie Cooper O'Boyle;  I absolutely enjoy all of her books.  They thoroughly lift me up spiritually.

I am hoping...to get in some sewing and knitting tomorrow.  

I am looking forward to...some very enjoyable reading this year.  I have a huge stack of books that I want to catch up on.  Can't wait!!

I am learning...to accept people and certain matters in my life for what they really are and to accept myself for what I really am.  I'm committed to my faith and children; and I'm very very old-fashioned.  I've  been called a huge  'square' and I'm not embaressed about it. I'm glad.

Around the house...my oldest son has already retired to bed.  He has to get up and go to work early in the morning.  My daughters are watching a little television before going to bed.  Our five cats are all put up for the evening.  (Patrick~sleeps in the garage.  Clare, Margaret, Bernadette and Jingles sleep in one of our spare bathrooms.  Sadie (our pooch) is asleep in her little bed.  The christmas tree is glittering with lights; the house feels so cozy and warm!

A few plans for the rest of the week...a trip to St.Vincent de Paul tomorrow.  My daughters and I enjoy rummaging through the clothes and books they have.  We have the best time there.  Have to work this coming weekend at the hospital.  Prayers and rosaries to be said.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Miserere Mei, Deus ~ Have Mercy Upon Me O God

Latin music has such a profound effect on me.  It has the ability to force me to stop whatever I'm doing;  I clasp my hands fervently in prayer.  I feel like I'm in a trance and I cannot move.  Oftentimes, during Mass, when the Ave Maria is sung. I can feel my eyes become wet with tears.  This is Psalm 51 set to music which has the same effect on me.  

PSALM 51

HAVE MERCY UPON me, O God, according to thy loving kindness:  according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:  that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:  and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:  wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:  and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

For thou desirest not sacrafice; else would I give it:  thou delightest not in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:  a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion:  build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering:  then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

First Vespers of All Saint's Day

I'm feeling so rejuvenated after being off for several days from work.  My job is so fulfilling; but I'm also a huge homebody.  No cooked breakfast this morning.  Cereal w/milk.  Long talks with my daughters about nothing and everything.  At the same time, fleeting thoughts are running through my brain on what to do first today.  After the house is put to order, do I put together a batch of pie dough to make some pies for this evening?  Or should I go ahead and finish up that batch of lovely holiday aprons that I've been working on? Orrr...work on sewing Jacob some more 'work' pants?  What shall it be?  I guess maybe all of it.  Yes... but first I'll take Miss Sadie, our dog, outside this morning.

Finally the Fall season  seems to really be here!  The air even smells as well as feels like Autumn.  So many projects to be finished.  My youngest daughter has had her costume for this evening finished.

My daughters modeling some of my holiday aprons that I sewed up.

Our Miss Sadie!

Feast Day of St. Luke

What better way to celebrate this Feast Day of St. Luke by having an extraordinarily ordinary day of simple light housekeeping, sewing up much need items for the kitchen (aprons, tea towels, pot holders, etc.) and tending to my children.  As my daughters and I go about our day, there is much talk between us about the saints and how they lived their lives.  Simply and with  much heart and devotion through prayer for the Virgin Mary and our Lord.

I did bake a lovely berry pie, which we enjoyed; to celebrate this saint, who wrote a major portion of the New Testament; he addressed the connection between the life of Christ and that of the Church.  

I will remember this saint this evening in my prayers before I retire to bed. 

Fabric

I had been feeling blue, here lately, and one thing that really cheers me up is going to Hancocks; a fabric store.  I just love looking at fabrics.  White is my favorite color; although it's not really a color, is it?  But anyways I also love calicos.  It reminds me of  my grandmother, vintage, retro stuff which also appeals to me.  My daughter and I went through every fabric aisle and examined, touched bolts and bolts of cloth along with about 2-3 dozen other female customers of all ages.  We then plopped down in front of the pattern books and flipped through pages of Butterick patterns.  They're on sale today for 97cents each.  Can't beat that price!  We came home with about a dozen patterns.

The first thing Melinda made was a pink velvet bag lined with some lavender calico print to carry her cell phone in.  I'm taking much longer; I got on internet to check out my favorite sewing blogs and  I discovered a site last night called 'Spoonflower'.  You create your own design; then upload onto their site and they print the fabric with your design out for you for a fee.  Very very interesting.  My creation ideas will have to wait, though, because of my budget.  In the meantime, I will be happy with what stash of material I've got and sew together some lovely shirts.

I'm glad that simple things cheer me up whenever I feel downcast.  I have my coffeepot going just about all the time here, at home. The house is nice and cool; outside is somewhere between 105-109 degrees of dry unbearable heat.  When is the fall weather going to come?  I'm so ready.  So ready for my favorite time of the year.  The holidays are just around the corner.

So here I am just making a small note; so thankful that I can even buy the patterns to begin with.  Money has been so tight.  But we're not without food, clothing or shelter. Bills~ well, they'll always be there.   My daughters and I are all abuzz about sewing and dressing up ourselves as well as our home.  Time to make more aprons, potholders (our present ones are so worn out.)

Rosary tonight.