My Daybook: May 5th, 2014

Outside my window…
in the distance I can hear the busy street sounds of commuters heading to work, and a helicopter passing overhead, the garbage truck, suburban city noises. I (and Bella) are still in the City visiting our College children.

I am thankful…

• for my awesome husband and 17 & 14 year old sons who are manning the homefires and doing an awesome job.  I really can’t express how impressed I am with them all.  
• thankful also of our 12 & 9 year olds who are ‘stepping up to the plate’ and pitching in and helping.
• thankful for PC’s mother who is travelling all day today to spend a week+ to help keep those fires burning. The children will benefit from a Grandma’s love   

I am thinking…
of the benefits of exercise, regular sleep routine and good nutrition.  Oh my I’ve walked so much here in the City, I’m feeling better for it:) Still not moving the baby bump though, any suggestions for tightening the tummy muscles?

Learning all the time…
planning on attending a theology and history class this week at the College:) and Anna Maria tells me the College library has a huge selection of  GK Chesterton, so I’m off to borrow a volume or two.

Celebrating the liturgical year……
enjoying the rhythm of daily Mass, really enjoying it.  Only having one noisy baby instead of noisy baby and a few wriggly boys helps to concentrate.

From the kitchen…
Anna Maria (20) and I are sharing meal preparations.  Truly, cooking for three people is fun, like playing house, I can feel the creative juices flowing again.  How can I keep this enthusiasm when cooking for 10-12?  Can it translate?

I am creating…
memories, very special time with just our two oldest (and the baby).  So grateful to PC and the boys for making this possible.

I am working on…
balance and rhythm, that’s what it’s all about.

I am going…
to daily Mass this week, yeah! and concentrating on providing Bella with a regular rhythm, she’s a little sleep deprived at present.

I am hoping…
to be home for Mother’s Day, though if I’m still here that will be great too:)

I am praying…
for my children, lots of time to pray:)

I am pondering….
balance and rhythm, balance and rhythm.

I am reading…
I’ve been on a fiction binge for the last few years, truth is I’ve reached saturation point. Time for more depth, going to start with Chesterton.

I am listening to……
conversations, our children’s, those here and those back home. And talking to my darling PC too of course, highlight of each day!

I am hearing…
suburban city noises

I am struggling…
with sustained prayer during Mass.  For years I’ve prayed in snatched moments in between settling children, now I have less interruptions, sustained prayer doesn’t happen immediately.

Clicking around…
not really clicking around, checking my emails, feedly and that’s it.

Around the house…
our College children have a lovely little home, it has a warm feel to it.  Respecting it’s their place so I haven’t done much beyond washing up, though I did offer to organise their freezer and they’re keen for me to do so. Oh okay I did re-organise their pantry too but no ruffled feathers. It’s very strange not having a lot of housework to do.

One of my favorite things…
watching our boy play soccer in the Cardinal’s Cup yesterday, various Universities and Catholic groups soccer competition. Love the passion he brings to his sporting endeavours.  So blessed the match occurred whilst I was here:)

A few plans for this week…
nothing major; Daily Mass, a couple of College lectures, shopping for Carpenter’s upcoming birthday and a few other items, dinner with a brother. Mostly though ensuring Bella catches up on sleep.

A little peek at my day…
Leave you with a photo peek of yesterday.  Bella sitting on the lap of the Dominican Sisters (from Tennesee) who turned up to cheer at the Cardinals Cup. Sr Mary R had just been in Rome for the cannonization so I got to hear about that too:)