Simple Woman

Outside my window…

I am thinking…
a lot about St. Monica – whose feast day we celebrated last week. She was such a strong supporter and prayer warrior for her son, Augustine. He eventually became a great saint and a doctor of the church. I admire her tenacity and determination and I am trying to step up to the challenge of praying for my children, especially my adult son. I wonder though, if Monica ever felt a profound loneliness. I certainly do, although maybe loneliness isn’t the exact word.

Last week I was listening to an old Mother Angelica show on the radio and she mentioned visiting a woman in the nursing home who had given birth to 11 children – none of whom had been to visit her in 5 years! I wondered, what this would had done or didn’t do for her children that they would avoid her like that? But maybe she didn’t do or not do anything. Maybe that is just the way things are. I know as a mother, as a couple and as a family, a lot of our time, energy and resources went into our firstborn child. That child now lives 24/7 with another family. No engagement, no wedding to signal the next phase of life. No Sunday dinner, e-mails, phone calls (although his dad did get a text that he wouldn’t be coming for Sunday dinner). The idea is so foreign to me. I always, always talked to my mom at least once a week and the last few years of her life practically every day! And by the letters I have found, there was a profound communication going with my mom and her mom. So maybe it’s just a woman thing. Maybe the communication between mother and daughter does not carry with mothers and sons.

So all that is left is to pray like Monica.

I am thankful …
for homeschooling and how it forces me to focus on my other children and what is ahead for them.

From the learning rooms…
Preparing for homeschooling next week with the Organized Mom Superset I bought a few years ago – still a great tool! I do not intend to officially start homeschooling until after next week. We schooled a lot through the summer and officially stopped on August 12. I think we can take a full month off and still be okay.

From the kitchen…
Another reason i am feeling a little lonely is that my husband has been working up to 80 hours a week. Tonight I am luring him home with steak and sauteed mushrooms – his favorite. And I told him about it too! I expect to see him around 6!

I am wearing…
gray sweat pants, a teal blue T.

I am creating…
some plans for next week.  I also have to set an agenda for our homeschool meeting tomorrow night. Such fun.

I am going…
shoe shopping – soccer shoes for Noah – dress shoes for Izzy.

I am reading…
Cut your Grocery Bill in Half with America’s Cheapest Family.


I am hoping…
to spend a lot of time this year getting Noah ready for high school.  If I have any kid who has the potential do get academic scholarships – he’s the one! I am hoping to see both Izzy and Noah do well at the cross country meet this week.  Last week Noah set a personal best!

I am looking forward to…
this Friday being over with – I have to play the flute for the wedding at 5:00, then stick around for one wedding rehearsal and then run the second wedding rehearsal at 7:30.  I’m sort of over doing weddings (although I have quite a few more to do before the end of the year!)

One of my favorite things…
Lake Michigan

Around the house…
getting my  clean classroom in order and organizing my books. I have one last load of mom’s books to look at too. I need to get those into their proper places.

Pictures I am sharing:
One of my first shots of the new cross country season!

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