Elena 
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Outside my window…
Nature Realm – Akron, OH
I am thinking…
about how much fun these two are going to have in the coming decades!! What will it be like to have an aunt that is only 8 years older than you?
Actually, I sort of know that- my mom was 8 years younger than my Aunt Dot and even so, mom looked up to her and spoke to her frequently over the phone and even got perturbed with her at times – a little like sisters.
So maybe that is how it will be for Rosie and this baby.
I am thankful…
that the new little family seems to be managing well. The baby is gaining weight and mom is almost fully recovered. The maternal grandma who lives with all of them is also thriving. So I think their household is finding its own way. While I do miss having Gabe at home and I really miss the senior year that is just not going to happen, at least not the way I envisioned it, I’m glad he is stepping up and taking responsibility.
In the kitchen…
I am still struggling here. I’ve been reading through this book but haven’t attempted to make anything yet. It seems that I will need to stock my kitchen with a lot more things before I attempt to do so and that’s going to be expensive! Still, I have tried a few things. Tonight I made hamburgers, but I made a lot of substitutions since I don’t have everything I need yet, or the time to make my own barbecue sauce, for example.
I am wearing…
Black workout pants, black shirt and my new Christmas fleece I bought for $1 at the thrift store.
I am creating…
some very meaningful prayer time with my kids in the morning. We are doing either the rosary or praying for the dead with this book
I also bought some Gregorian Masses for my Uncle – he’s been on my mind so much these past couple of weeks. His certificate came today. May he rest in peace
I am going…
to work out in my basement tomorrow. Got in a 2 mile walk in 40 minutes this afternoon.
I am reading…
I am hoping…
- That I can be on good terms with all of my sons.
- That the young women my sons give their hearts to won’t break them.
- To get a meeting scheduled for my homeschool group.
- To get my head around some quick recipes on this new diet venture.
- Hit some fitness goals this week.
- that I can endure all of the things I am called to endure – through Christ who strengthens me.
I am looking forward to…
- Getting some more eBay sales before Christmas.
- Nailing down the rest of my Christmas shopping.
- Two big Christmas concerts coming up.
From the Learning Rooms
Rosie made this lantern last week for the Feast of St. Martin of Tours. We lit it today to honor my late uncle.
- American Literature short stories for Noah via Bob Jones Press
- Spelling program per Dr. Holinga for all three kids.
- Instacert for History and start American History part 2 for Noah. American History course from For Such a Time as This.
- Noah finished up Easy Grammar. Now I have to check his work and give a test! We can start the Literature portion of For Such a Time as This next week.
- Runkle Geography for Izzy. Learning the countries in Europe.
- Apologia Science – Physical for Noah and Izzy. Creation science Botany for Rosie
- Noah doing Geometry with Mr. D. Izzy and Rosie doing Saxon math with me. Rosie just moved up to her 3rd grade math book. Izzy almost done with 8/7.
- Billy Budd for literature with Izzy and Noah
- Latin for Homeschoolers for Noah
- English from the Roots Up for Izzy.
- Diane Craft reading program for Izzy. She is about to start the very last Merrill Reader. I am so happy with the improvement that she has made since we started this program.
- Little House on the Prairie and Prairie Primer for Izzy.
- Pathway readers for Rosie and the Wand for Language arts. Rosie too has graduated to Busy Times!
I am learning…
that the balance of bacteria in the body is very important to health. In trying to wean off of probiotics when my ulcerative colitis seemed under control, I set off something else in my lady parts – something I didn’t even consider before. So now I am taking a local antibiotic for a few days, back on probiotics and eating a yogurt with as many live bacteria as I can find – I even ordered a yogurt maker! I’m determined to fix this all if I can!
and it is also on my mind that on May 8 of next year, I will be the same age as my Uncle when he passed away one month shy of his 55th birthday.
I am pondering…
the Gregorian masses for my Uncle. Uncle was a sweet man – really more like a big kid in lots of ways. I remember helping him milk the cows, and playing catch behind the barn while talking for hours. I remember when he finally graduated from high school and was taking classes in junior college while struggling to find his way. And I remember how shocking it was when he died suddenly at the age of 54. I hope that these masses will assist him on his way to heaven.
A photo I am sharing…
