Simple Woman

Outside my window…
Beautiful! The boys and Mr. Pete came back from Steubenville refreshed and in love with the Lord. They had a great weekend!

Mr. Pete driving the big van 2 hours down to the youth retreat. That has got to take some of his purgatory time away!

I am thinking…
that 21 years ago today, I gave birth to my first child, Calvin. It was life changing, it was amazing, and I am very grateful and honored to have this young man in my life.

But I will also remember it as one of the worst and most degrading days of my entire life, and after going through the childbirth experience the typical American Hospital way, it took me a year before I was recovered enough to have a normal marriage again, and three more years before we conceived Sam.

I read on some forums even today that it doesn’t matter how a baby gets here and that there is more to motherhood than pregnancy and childbirth. And while the latter is certainly true, I do think it matters a great deal how a baby gets here and whether or not the mother feels safe, secure and relaxed instead of belittled, patronized and frightened.

I’ll do everything in my power to try to spare my daughters-in-law from what I experienced, but I vow with certainty to protect my daughters.

I am thankful …
for my 21 years as Calvin’s mom
and I am grateful Sam, Gabe and Mr. Pete came back safe and sound. 

From the learning rooms…
Everyone does math and reading.  Izzy, Noah and Rosie and I are reading next set of Melissa Wiley’s Little house series. We have two more states to cover this week and some history.And I am pushing Sam hard on American History 2 for CLEP. Sam also has to do his first in-car for driver’s ed this week, rehearse with his piano teacher, perform with his rock band on Friday, play Catholic mass Saturday and then play at the Lutheran church on Sunday!  Tell me again how isolated homeschoolers are? LOL!!

From the kitchen…
I’m trying some recipes from the Campbell’s Kitchen for summer recipes!

I am wearing…
Black capris, black T

I am creating…
sausage and rice for dinner tonight.  It’s turkey sausage which is surprisingly low in fat but very flavorful!

I am going…
to try to do a FIRM workout everyday this week.  To this point I have been managing two to three times a week with a walk thrown in.  It’s time to ramp it up.

I am reading…
A Simple Guide to the Spiritual Life which is a good read by the way.
I also read Gut Check: Confronting Love, Work, and Manhood in Your Twenties for Calvin’s birthday. I’ll be reviewing it later.  AWESOME read!

I am hoping…
to see Sam and Gabe perform this week  

I am hearing…
the humm of the air conditioner.

Around the house…
would it be possible to finish this last pile of stuff from Mom… sigh…

A picture I am sharing:  

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