It's a Post with Some Pictures

So, I haven't posted in over a week which is pretty unusual for me.  I have been busy, same old, same old, I won't bore anyone with the details.  Life is moving fast and furious and I'm determined to enjoy these next crazy 6 weeks or so.  I'm having trouble pulling my thoughts into any coherency so let's do this Daybook Style...

Outside my window...it's cloudy and COOL!  I am in a hoody and sweat pants and drinking hot coffee and loving it!
I am thinking....too much!!  Way too much.  Oh, my poor brain.  I am in constant thought about so many things but in the last few days I am thinking/worrying about all that has to happen rehearsal wise in "A Christmas Story," for the show to be ready.  This is so completely NOT MY ROCK since I'm not the director but I'm having a really hard time dropping it.  I have spent much time in prayer and remembering the verse that says, "cast all  your cares upon HIM."  I can do not one thing about it and I have been assured by the people who are carrying the rock that it's going fine and will be great!
From the kitchen....does anybody remember when I used to make a weekly meal plan and make and serve wonderful, healthy, delicious meals for my family?  I remember those days with fondness.  That is so not happening these days.  I am pretty much rotating the same meals--pasta, beans (refried pintos and black beans and rice), quiche, frozen pizza, and occasionally a roasted vegetable.  It's pretty sad but it's true.  Now that we have some cooler weather I can add soups to that list.  I'm making one of our favorites, Vegetarian Borscht, for dinner tomorrow.  I did a 2 day meal plan this week.  I know today and tomorrow.  I'll figure out the rest of the week later and go back to the store.  I'm so European.

 I am reading...it took me over two weeks but I finally finished The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith who is really J.K. Rowling.  I was unimpressed which is the main reason it took me over two weeks to finish it.  I don't enjoy her adult novels.  They are full of bad language and the story isn't gripping enough for me to read past the language.  I started her other one, The Casual Vacancy, this summer but didn't finish it.  I felt like I had to finish this one though because someone had loaned it to me and they were excited for me to read it and I'm a major people pleaser so I read it even though I didn't like it.  After I finished that I read, Island of the Blue Dolphins in a matter of a day or two.  I had to read that for book club, I had read it before but didn't remember it very well.  It was good, and a fast read.  My next book is The Middlesteins.  I know nothing about it except for what I read on the front flap.  It caught my eye at the library though and sounded like a simple, mindless read.  I'm all about those these days.  I have a stack of other books I'm looking forward to reading including a book all about Franklin Graham's Operation Christmas Child.  I'm a huge fan of that ministry and eager to read about it.

 In our homeschool...school is going well, the girls stay very busy with their workload but both are doing well.  My big struggle is remembering and taking the time to teach them their math lessons each day.  School with Joe is always a challenge but overall he's doing well.  Nothing terribly exciting, just plugging through.

 I am hearing...Joe's video game in the background, he just got the Lego Avengers game and he is all about it!  Also, Hannah is thinking aloud and telling me everything that goes through her head.  I finally just told her to be quiet!  I can't type and listen.  My kids do this all day....they tell me everything and talk to me throughout the day.  Often I think that they are blessed to have grown up with their mom around all the time, ready to listen and share their lives.  And other times I think...SHUT UP!!!!  Keep at least one thought to yourself!!  Try it, it's not so bad.  :0)

 A few plans for the rest of the week....lots of school and driving kids to rehearsal with book club thrown in and some babysitting, a car wash, and an evening out with Julie and Debi at a Life's Choices banquet on Friday.  This week's rehearsals include Annie, Jr. for all three, FTC (Florida Theatre Conference) for Hannah, Christmas Tour (Christmas songs and dances), and A Christmas Story for Grace and Joe (two extra nights for Joe).  See why I'm busy?  In between all of this taxiing I am hoping to do some cleaning since I have company coming next weekend and I have cobwebs on my walls and in the corners and mold growing in the sink (just keeping it real).

 One of my favorite things...the fruit and cheese box at Starbucks.  I am in love with this which is so not good for a number of reasons...it's expensive ($5...but healthier than a value meal at McD's which is also $5) and I have a sensitivity to dairy and need to limit it.  I do okay as long as the only dairy I consume is in my coffee.  If I have much more dairy than that then I have more joint pain than usual.  Anyway, want to hear what's in the cheese box?  A wedge of brie (yum!!), a slice of gouda, a slice of cheddar, apple slices, crackers (which I don't like), and an almond/craisin mix.  The whole box makes a great meal.  I have bought all of those ingredients to make my own homemade fruit/cheese box but I really do not need to be eating the cheese!  Anyway, I plan to use some sectioned storage containers to make lunches like this for Grace and Joe during their long rehearsals this weekend.  It's a healthy, protein packed meal.

 For Halloween...all of the pictures in this post are from Halloween.  We met up at a friend's house and ate and then trick-or-treated for 2 hours!  Longest trick or treat ever.  Kids had a ball though and it was a fun night.

 On my iPod...I am loving a worship music mix tape I made (I like to call playlists mix tapes like in the 80s).  My favorite two songs are by Jason Castro (Only a Mountain) and Kari Jobe (Joyfully).  I've also included some Go Fish VBS songs that are old hymns re-made.  They are great.  In the car with the kids we've been listening to Christmas songs as they rehearse for Christmas Tour and Christmas pageant.  I made a mix tape (CD and playlist) titled "Christmas Events 2013."  Joe has to sing two songs for Christmas tour, Hannah has one, and Grace has one and then we have 3 for Christmas pageant at church, and Grace has one for Christmas pageant.  Fun times!

I hope you all have a blessed day...I'm off to tutor some Algebra!  Great way to start the week!