Monday Daybook/3-26

Outside my window:
It is perfect and sunny and welcome after a grey weekend.
I am thinking:
of sports schedules and carpools and dinner plans and laundry...Monday thoughts.
I am thankful:
for the amazing weather that God had given us this winter and how he has spared me the dreaded treadmill since I have been able to run outside all winter long.
In the kitchen:
it's a mess since I over-filled the waffle iron this morning.  This is why I should stick with Eggos.
I am wearing:
running shorts and shirt, knee bands(I'm old), running shoes, Texas Longhorn hat.
I am going:
to run, run, run today in this beautiful weather along with all that Monday stuff. 
I am wondering:
about how I am supposed to know when God wants me to reach out to help someone or when the best help is to just step away and pray.  A leader at Community Bible Study talked about how we are sheep, ultimately following the lead of our Good Shepherd.  She pointed out that sheep are not weight bearing animals and we are not to carry those whom He has not called us to carry.  You might be sensing that I'm a bit on the co-dependent side here...you would be right.  Please pray for me :) 
I am reading:
Finished Lonesome Dove and I reckon I was inconsolable near the end and cried like a baby.  Now continuing to read the Gospel of John which I've been studying since September with Community Bible Study and a book my mom sent me, Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  The copyright is 1955 and it is unbelieveable how much it applies to me and most moms I know today.  This is going to have me thinking for awhile.
On my IPod:
Third Day, Third Day and more Third Day.  We went to their concert last week and if you can find them in your area, RUN!  It is amazing to watch my boys sing along to songs with words that don't make me cringe.  Also on my IPod: the song, Jesus Rides the Subway, by Trevor Morgan who opened for them.  If I was an experienced blogger, you would be able to just click on this and it would bring you to ITunes to get that song, but I already told you I have no idea what I'm doing, so just go over there yourself and find that song.  You will love it.
I am hoping:
that Joe will be healthy this week because I don't feel like teaching the binomial square pattern or anything similar like I had to last week when he was home sick for three days.  Algebra was not enjoyable at 14 and it's not enjoyable now. (oh, and I hope he's healthy because I love him and all, too.)
I am looking forward to:
being the "Mystery Reader" for Drew's first grade class tomorrow.  He is still young enough to be happy to see me at school.
I am pondering:
How much I keep reminding myself to "be present" with my children with all the noise in my head.  I am with them a lot, but am I really with them?  Then I read this from Gift from the Sea:  "For it is not physical solitude that actually separates one from other men, not physical isolation, but spiritual isolation.  It is not the desert island nor the stony wilderness that cuts you from the people you love.  It is the wilderness in the mind, the desert wastes in the heart through which one wanders lost and a stranger."
I've got a lot more to read in this one...she's on to something.
I am praying:
for many and for God's guidance on what is helpful and what is me trying to do His job.
One of my favorite things:
Watching my husband laugh hysterically, barely able to breathe, with 3 of his best friends from elementary/middle school this weekend at dinner. Women are known to have good, lasting, meaningful friendships, and men? Not so much. But these men are stuck to each other for life and the joy they find in each other is a blessing to watch. Beneath their laughter and making fun of each other is deep love and respect that has grown as they have grown from little boys, to crazy teens, to husbands and fathers. The wives and I are baffled that they made it through some of their experiences. They have cheated death together with their antics in high school and college, have stood for each other in weddings and consoled each other in grief. Happy husband...always a favorite thing.
A favorite quote for today:
From Lonesome Dove, when a Texas Ranger, dying in Montana, after driving cattle all the way there from Texas, tries to convince his partner to bring his body back to Texas to bury him:
"...we had our happiness in Texas.  It was my best happiness.  If you're too lazy to take me to Texas, then just throw me out the window and be done with it."
Amen, sir.
A few plans for the week:
I'm so excited to get to visit with my friend Sarah from high school this week.  She is coming to DC with her son and I'll get to see her for the first time in a long, long time.  In fact, I was trying to decide what to wear since I think we'll be going on a tour of the White House.  Last time we hung out, I'm pretty sure I was wearing either my Rockwall High School cheerleader uniform or my Guess overalls with a hot pink shirt with blue paisleys on it and we were listening to the Purple Rain cassette.  Perhaps not the best choices for the White House?
A peek into my day:
Is this too much?  Maybe I'll rethink it before they get home from school.


Daybook idea from http://www.thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/