The Simple Woman's Daybook {Entry 2}

{Linked to The Simple Woman's Daybook} 

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...is cold gray, ushering in the coming winter.

I am thinking...about my little star and still wondering when she will come.

I am thankful...I spent some special time with my boys yesterday and today.  Soon our lives will be in quite the upheaval and I would regret not spending this precious time with them.

From the learning rooms...we visited the library for the first time in a few months.  Reading, puzzle-making, educational computer games, and puppets felt so fulfilling to do.  The wonder in their eyes told me so.

In the kitchen...leftover desserts like strawberry layer cake, apple pie, and four tubs of ice cream with one serving left.

I am wearing...a cream shirt with dark green embroidery...one of the few maternity blouses in which I still feel like a princess.

I am creating...ideas and plans for our new home.  Things like how we will make our home more holy {scriptures in the rooms, pictures of Christ and the temples in every room, habits of gratitude, etc.}

I am going...to the doctor at 4:15.  I hope that she comes as a result of this visit. :)

I am wondering...how my emotions can surge from one end of the spectrum to the other in only a matter of seconds.  One minute I will feel all butterflies inside thinking of how magical it will be to hold my little girl and the next minute my stomach is plummeting rock bottom like a dip in a roller coaster contemplating how long it may be before she comes.

I am reading...well, re-reading my handwritten notes on creating a quiet place where I can breathe and meditate and ponder and relax.

I am hoping...to implement the strategies I have recorded to aid in this whimsical whirlwind of childbirth, Thanksgiving, moving, and Christmas.

I am looking forward to...the pain that will come with labor.  Every hard contraction I anticipate knowing that I will finally be on my way to receiving an angel.

I am hearing...a beautiful song in my head that reminds me of my little star.

Around the house...I walk and pace, trying to urge contractions.

I am pondering...on Proverbs 3:5-7 today and for this whole week..."Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

One of my favorite things...counting the graces, the gifts, the mercies from heaven as I await a miracle.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Wait patiently for our little one.  Spend time with my sons.  Spend time with my husband.  Trust in the Lord.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

Grow.

"On Fridays around these parts we stop, drop, and write.
For fun, for love of the sound of words, for play, for delight, for joy and celebration at the art of communication.
For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.
Won’t you join us?
Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking."
~The Gypsy Mama



Grow.

It's a hope.  It's a longing.  It's a yearning desire for me right now.  I want a few things in my life to grow: 
*my contractions--could you maybe come five minutes apart and just a titch stronger?
*my little baby--oh sweet, glittering star, grow so you'll be ready to enter this world.
*my heart--will you open even wider than you already are to encompass this new little one in the blanket of love?
*my time--will you crescendo to allow all of the extra new baby to-do's fit in our schedule?
*my boys--might you wake up tomorrow with new wisdom shining from your eyes--wisdom to understand that Mommy has to share her time and her heart with another now.
*my faith--may you keep growing and growing and growing, never stopping, always increasing in strength with each new faith-challenging-building experience.

The Simple Woman's Daybook {Entry 1}

{Linked to The Simple Woman's Daybook}

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...I cannot see, for I am living in a basement.  But I hear the cars go driving past...sounds much like the ocean waves.

I am thinking...about my little girl.  She is coming so soon and my heart yearns for her.

I am thankful...for quiet mornings and a routine that works.  It is a blessed thing to begin a day right by spending time with the Lord, writing praise, recording a journal entry, organizing and planning my day, and blogging.

From the learning rooms...we are focusing on the letter K, the number 11, and all things Fall.  We are also striving to develop kindness and peacemaking skills.  Last night we learned of obedience and all repeated in loud voices, "I will be obedient!"

In the kitchen...awaits apple cinnamon cheerios and minty-marshmallow hot chocolate.

I am wearing...old jeans and a striped green, blue, yellow, and white shirt that has lived with me through three pregnancies.  Topped with a soft white sweater.

I am creating...a sweet baby.  She is growing and I am growing too.  Not just physically, but in other ways too.  My heartstrings are lengthening.  My patience is increasing.  My love for her and my sweet boys is flourishing.  My life is widening to welcome her in.

I am going...shopping today.  To buy cans of food storage.  Christmas gifts for extended family.  Thank you cards for a lovely baby shower.  Gifts for the hostesses.  Christmas decor.  Washcloths and towels for our new home.

I am wondering...if I will have time to complete everything I want to do before my little grace comes.  She's coming soon and there's still oh so much to do on my to-do list.

I am reading...the Book of Mormon.  Issued a challenge in August to begin and complete the reading by the end of the year, I have been soaring through the pages, and the messages have been surging inside of me...changing me.  Making me more.  And full of grace.

I am hoping...that the labor and delivery goes smoothly and though I wonder, I know it will.  Because of a sweet blessing from a loving husband promising that it would be so.

I am looking forward to...holding my little girl for the first time.  Looking into her eyes and seeing heaven shining through.  Feeling her newborn fingers and kissing her cherubic cheek on that blessed day when she comes.

I am hearing...Tate's little voice talking to himself.  How I wish I could bottle up his tone and inflection and pronunciation.  His voice is angelic.

Around the house...remnants of things to move to our Farmhouse Cottage along with a scattering of pink baby things folded and ready for Sweet Pea.

I am pondering...on the grace of God.  His mercy, His kindness and long-suffering.  His deliverance of me from so many things.  How He is leading my life through green grass and springs of cool water.  How He is so good.  And so merciful.  My very best friend.  My Father.

One of my favorite things...is waking up in the morning these days.  I lie still in the lightening darkness and ponder on the excitement and plans of the day.  I run through my head the happiness awaiting me and picture the faces of my two sweet boys, while imagining the face of my sweet little girl.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Packing the hospital and diaper bags

Typing more recipes and weekly shopping lists

Organizing everything into an album

Blogging

Imagining my baby

Journaling

Planning a romantic date night for my sweetheart

Scrawling the mercies the Lord is bestowing daily

Preschool

Reading to little ones

Walking and dancing and shopping

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

{This is how I feel.  In a heavenly mist, on a path of red and orange strewn leaves.  Almost to a bench where I can rest and take in my surroundings.  Waiting in this lovely Autumn for my little girl to be in my arms.}

My Very Own Autumn

Last month at this time I was completely and utterly dreading Autumn...not because I dislike the beautiful leaves and crisp air, but simply because I am a summer girl who loves warmth and sunshine...not to mention how awful it is to look ahead apprehensively for a stressfully busy Christmas season and then even worse, the winter blues that descend upon me with a terrific crash in January.

So I've pondered a lot on what I can do about my seasonal mood swings and I determined to ask my dear, sweet friend Savanah for some wisdom in this regard.

With her usual insight, she replied with some ideas that changed my whole outlook on the months of September, October, November, and December.

1.  Try to find things that are beautiful amidst the dreary winter.  Like watch the sunrise make the freshly fallen snow sparkle.  Or wear a black pair of gloves and catch the snowflakes on them.  The black makes it so that you can see each individual snowflake beautifully and you can admire their each unique shape.  I find that when we make a conscious effort to look for the good in everything then we find it.  So make it a goal to each day find one thing new that you can enjoy about winter.

2.  Make a goal for the end of each month.  Have something exciting and fun to look forward to.  Like a pedicure or lunch out with your grandma or something.  If you have something fun to look forward to, than the months won't seem to drag on too slowly.

3.  Try wearing bright colors.  Even when everyone else is wearing the seasons dark and drab color scheme, try wearing spring colors to lift your spirits.  You could also try adding bright colors to your home decor for the winter season to try and brighten your home.

4.  Learn something new.  I thought that a fun hobby would be to learn to crochet cute winter hats.  My mom made some last winter that had an adorable flower on the side, they were so stylish for a homemade hat.  Those might be fun to learn to make in order to lighten up a winter day!

5.  Make memorable winter moments.  Make a snowman with your boys or curl up in a big blanket with a cup of hot chocolate, warm popcorn, an old movie and your little family.

And finally....today I found a wonderful idea in the Ensign.  There was an article about a mom who memorized "The Living Christ" and then tried to help her family memorize it.  I know that our kids are too young for that just yet, but what if you tried to work on memorizing a part of it each day.  It will uplift your spirits, invite the Holy Ghost into your home and no doubt prepare you for the Christmas season.  Before you know it, winter will be half over and you won't even have had time to think about it!!

And so because of her inspiration, my Autumn has become something different this year.  It's not just a time to notice the dropping temperatures or dread the foreboding winter.

It's a time of change.  And of preparation.

It's a time to settle down and make home a comfortable haven for soon wintry days.

It's a time to put away the summer and put on the fall...including soft sweaters. (Of course, I'm going to continue wearing summer colors on occasion. ;)

It's a time to stop and pause and look how far this year has taken me...and how far I still have to go in order to reach my goals and become the person I want to be before the end of December.

It's a time to recommit to pushed aside projects and procrastinated ideas.

It's a time to make apple pie and pumpkin spice bread.

And cinnamon rolls...we had those last night.

And last week when the boys and I drove down to my Mom's, I glanced off to my right to see a little bunch of fiery red trees clustered on the side of a mountain.

It was a sign to me that Autumn is officially here...and surprisingly, that thought did not make me cringe or even sigh.

I smiled.

When winter comes along, I will be ready with Savanah's tricks up my sleeve.

"Come what may, and love it!" as Elder Wirthlin would say.

I guess my goal for September can be checked off.

I am LOVING Autumn.