Lord's Day Daybook | Your Morning Basket

Outside my Window

The sun is just coming up through the trees. I am starting this post before Mass, but will soon have to take a break and get everyone ready, so will likely finish it after. And of course I am noticing my windows are a bit dirty. Outside with the hose is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, don’t you think?

I am Thankful For

Friends. I have been blessed by good friends and benefit from their example. God is good.

I am Thinking About

My house and household. How to run it, how to clean it, what should go, what should stay. Repurposing, purging, practical, pretty.

From the Schoolroom

We start tomorrow! And by start, I mean dip our toes in a bit and get them wet. I did not go out and buy lots of celebratory items this year for the first day. No new pencils, trinkets, or books. I just didn’t want to add to the clutter. I am thinking donuts instead. Up early, start early. Finish mid-morning and then off for a donut treat. Right now I am planning on Morning Time, math, handwriting, and a bit of reading for tomorrow to get us started.

From the Kitchen

I bought Mystie’s book Simplified Dinners and am going to give it a try for the month of August. What I like best about it so far is that it uses all the normal ingredients I already have in my pantry. There are very few things on the list that I need to go buy.

I am Creating

A mountain of empty storage containers. This purge is going well. I have a pile of donations taller than two of my children ready to go out the door tomorrow. A smaller, but still significant, pile of garbage. Twenty items listed on eBay and more on the local Facebook buy and sell site. There is much more to go, but I am definitely making progress.

I am Reading

Still working on A Mother’s Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul.

I am Praying

For Sarah. Those babies are here! Now the real work begins. For God’s blessings on our school year.

I am Listening To

The kids yell and play upstairs. Except they keep coming down here. And I really want to implement a quiet time each afternoon, but I really don’t want anyone to nap. It gets ugly around here when people nap. They stay up past my bedtime and fight going to sleep at night. But I would really love some quiet in the afternoon, and it is going to be hard, hard to get. Anyone got any tips (ie. a magic pill to make it all happen with three kids, two bedrooms, and not a lot of work on my part.)

Clicking Around

Julian Fellowes on “advantage” to Matthew’s Death. (SPOILERS – but nothing too revealing) Downton Abbey will be back in about three months!
Six Homeschooling Misconceptions Erased
Snack Time with the Saints – Simple and doable.

Around the House

It’s not clean. There’s much less clutter, but I can’t clean the house for cleaning the house, kwim? But Matt is hanging new blinds this afternoon (told you it would be after Mass). And every time I think of going out to clean those windows another thunderstorm pops up.

One of My Favorite Things

Headphones and Pandora (yes, that’s two, but I am not in the mood to quibble). I sent the big kids to their rooms, but the one who won’t stop talking is still in the living room and won’t.stop.talking. Ugh. The earphones also help block out the sounds of the dog licking — which drives me bananas. Anyone else? Matt thinks I am insane, but I swear that dog follows me around the house just to sit and lick within earshot.

Plans for the Week

Well I meant to start school, but now Olivia has a runny nose and John is especially fussy. I am wondering if everyone is getting sick. Other than that we have physical therapy for Olivia’s gait. She still leans towards the toes when walking, and a dentist appointment for the big two. All of that is on Monday, though. The rest of the week is pretty open.

Pam

Pam is the author of The Your Morning Basket Guide and Plan Your Year: Homeschool Planning for Purpose and Peace. She also is the host of three popular podcasts -- The Homeschool Snapshots Podcast, Your Morning Basket, and The Homeschool Solutions Show. She lives in the Deep South with her husband and three kids, where she is the go-to lady for great curriculum recommendations or a just a pep talk on a rough day.