Thoughts

I am going into picture-withdrawal.  After leaving my camera at my sisters, I have missed lots of very special little moments in my life.  I thought I would jot down a few things, hoping it will suffice my need to blog our crazy-busy-days...

Outside my window... the perfect day.  I love that my lilac bush is still in bloom and as I sit here typing with my screened porch door open, I take the sweet scent in with every breath. 
I am thinking... that I need to do some reading.  I was talking to a sweet friend on the phone last night, sitting on the couch in my back room, and glanced at my bookshelf.  After hanging up, I scanned through some of my titles, realizing I have a lot of summer reading to do.  It's funny how a bookshelf is a direct tunnel to the soul of a person.  These are among the few I am looking forward to reading; some I've read, and some are still waiting:A Mom After God's Own Heart, Love and Respect, 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, Bringing Up Girls, 40 Things to do When You Turn 40, I'm Not You're Friend, I'm You're Parent, and of course my Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, Jodi Piccoult, and Twilight books. 
I am hoping... that Dad's surgery for his cancer was successful, and we will be able to look back on this in years to come, and say thank you, God, for letting us keep him for a while longer.  We are all on borrowed time and God has a plan for each of us, but Dad is an angel to so many people here on Earth, that he still has a lot to do down here.  :)
On my mind... looking back on the girls' school year, and wishing that schools didn't educate the student so that they conform to and master the curriculum, rather than tailoring the curriculum to suit the student.  there are too many tests...
Noticing that...  my moods and attitudes are greatly influenced by the people I talk to and the things I read.  This is no great revelation, I suppose, but I have been struck recently by how my optimism, pessimism, or anything in between, can be readily attributed to the most recent conversation I have.  A very good reason to be choosy. 
A few plans for the week... end of the year is always so busy... probably seems like little things to some, but it's the little things that make a big difference in helping out at school with the kiddos...  Art show, cooking class for Ellie at the Y, volunteer at Ellie's school for Safety Day, gently tell Emily before her overnight that one of her best friends is moving to Canada, my nephew's Baptism, attend Emily's Twisted Fairy Tale play where she stars as Slurping Beauty, Attend The Academy's "Singing in the Rain" Drama Club Musical, pictures for dance for girls, run the parachute with groups of 30 for two and a half hours at Emily's school.  And that is just next week, among other things, but you get the picture.  We are definitely ready for a more relaxed schedule this summer!
Around the house... the piles drive me crazy, but what do you do with them?!?
From the kitchen... Rob is on a black bean kick, and I don't know any recipes with black beans, but came across this one a a blog, and am excited to try it:
1 semi-ripe avocado, diced
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1 cup sweet corn, drained
juice from 2 lemons
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. chipotle chili pepper
dash Tabasco
Mis together, let the flavors blend for 15-30 minutes.  Yumicious!
Toward Fitness and Health... I can now officially say running isn't awful, and I actually look forward to getting a run in a couple times a week.  I find it to be my quiet time.  I must not be running enough, because I haven't lost a pound.
One of my favorite things... When Robby walks in the door after a long week, and the girls squeal with delight and they can't get enough of him, attacking his legs and belly with hugs.  sheer delight.