thanks for the memories

Monday, December 30, 2013

The Simple Woman's Daybook 30 December 2013

 
Outside my window...it is a very gloomy day.  Thank God that we had an awesome visit from Aunt ReNee', Caiti, and Erin to brighten it up.
 
I am thinking...the love that exists between members of my family and the way that it is demonstrated.
 
I am thankful for...the love and support of a husband who leaves home and work to help care for my mother.
 
From the kitchen...tuna steaks, rice, broccoli, and a large green salad are all on the menu tonight.
 
I am wearing...jeans and a brown tee shirt.
 
I am going...to be working like an elf in Santa's workshop trying to get MK's birthday gift done so I can ship it in time for the big day. (probably won't happen but hey I can try)
 
I am reading...nothing!  There is too much to do and far too much to pay attention to for me to get lost in a book.
 
I am hoping....that MK has the best birthday yet.  Have I mentioned that she is the sweetest daughter a woman could have?
 
I am hearing...Johnny Mathis singing in the livingroom, Doug out in the garage working on some project, and the blue jays out back fighting over their quota of sunflower seeds.
 
Around the house...things are quiet, far too quiet!  I either need a toddler or a puppy to liven things up.
 
One of my favorite things...working beside the man that I married and knowing that what we are doing is what we should be doing.
 
A few plans for the rest of the week....finish MK's gift and ship it, work on a commission, mass for the holy day, lots of the usual home and household tasks, and just generally see to the responsibilities of my state in life.
 
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
 
The peace and joy of Christmas spent with the ones that you love cannot be over emphasized.

Monday, December 23, 2013

The Simple Woman's Daybook 23 December 2013

 
Outside my window...it is dark.  Though I usually do this post first thing in the morning today I didn't get that chance. 
 
I am thinking...about family and all that the word and concept means to me.
 
I am thankful for...the man that sleeps beside me every night, who stands beside me in all of the trials of life, who not only vowed to love me but who really does.
 
From the kitchen...there will be plenty of good things to be had by all who come to this house during the Christmas season.
 
I am wearing...sweats and a tee shirt.
 
I am going...to go to bed soon and sleep like Santa does before his big night.
 
I am reading...not a thing.  I finished the book by Father Delp and haven't even thought of starting anything new yet.
 
I am hoping...that somehow my mother manages to have a happy Christmas.  Even though she doesn't seem to understand what is going on she can still get some happiness out of the time with family if she lets herself.
 
I am hearing...the sound of the program that Doug and mom are watching on the TV, the water running in the ice maker in the kitchen, and an airplane taking off from the airport that is not far from here.
 
Around the house...everything is ready for the celebration of the Christmas season to commence.
 
One of my favorite thing...the sights and smells that are associated with the celebration of Christmas and the times that the family has all been together.
 
A few plans for the rest of the week....making merry and seeing to it that the birth of Christ is well and truly commemorated in this house.
 
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
 
Our Christmas tree.  Small by Kraeger family standards but it is the best we can do this year.

Monday, December 16, 2013

The Simple Woman's Daybook 16 December 2013


Outside my window...once again the south teases  me and presents me with a very heavy frost.  Although snow is not my favorite form of precipitation  at  this  time  of year  it would  be nice to wake up and suddenly have a couple of  inches  on  the  ground.

I am  thinking...about the role that prayer  and faith in God plays in  our lives.  Acts  of piety must be real and sincere  I  have decided  (actually I knew it all along  but  it has been brought home to me that this is a true thing).  Satan will find whatever means he can to work his wiles on all of us.

I am  thankful for...churches that have masses  late in the evening on  a Sunday,  husbands who  love unconditionally and completely, and phones with GPS!

From the kitchen...leftovers will  be on the menu.  This cook is recovering from  a weekend long bout of the two bucket disease and cannot imagine doing any cooking  yet.

I am wearing...sweats.  My sweet man let me sleep in this  morning so it is a  slow start for all of  us.

I am going...to  ship  our a couple of packages, take mom to the doctor, and finish up a couple  of projects today.

I am reading...Father Delp.  I am way behind where I should be in the book but  getting so much out of what he has to say!

I am  hoping...so many things  I  can even put into words  here.   When  all  else fails hope, my  friends  is all  we have!

I am  hearing...the sounds my mother  makes when she is  eating and actually likes what I have  put in front of her, an airplane taking  of from  the little regional  airport outside the development where we live, and the dogs  next  door barking  because the  school  bus  has stopped  up on the next  street.

Around the house...there is a waiting air.  I have done my best to gradually decorate and prepare for the coming of Christ at  Christmas   The stable that my dad built is out and waits the presence  of the holy couple, the tree is  set  up and  sports an angel willing to proclaim  "Peace on Earth  to men of  good will!"

One of my favorite things...sitting of an evening in my husband's arms enjoying the silence  and warmth  of the home that we have made.

A few  plans for  the rest  of the week...somehow I have to get some baking done  (we will observe our Christmas traditions!), get the house clean, and finish the decorating  all while taking care of mom and seeing to it that she doesn't go behind me undoing all  that I have  done.


Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you.....






Sunday, December 8, 2013

The Simple Woman's Daybook 9 December 2013

 
Outside my window...it is dark.  Doug and Mom are in bed and I am taking some quiet time to myself to look at pics of home and think about those who are far away.
 
I am thinking...about those who populate my life.  The family that I enjoy here in the South and the family that I left behind in the north.  How I miss my other mamas back in Verona and my dear daughters in Vernon.  I never knew that the need for a hug from my grandbabies could become something physical and so strong that it aches where my heart ought to be.
 
I am thankful for...the man that God has blessed me with.  There is no way that I could make this journey without the love of both God and my dear husband.
 
From the kitchen...we enjoyed chicken done with citrus fruit and rosemary in the crockpot along with mashed potatoes, squash and corn.  Tomorrow I think I will do something simple like meatloaf.
 
I am wearing...flannel jammies.
 
I am going...to bed as soon as I am done here.
 
I am reading...Father Alfred Delp.  His writings are so interesting and timely that I think it may take me longer than this season of Advent to get through this whole book.
 
I am hoping...that my mother wakes up in a better frame of mind tomorrow than she did today.
 
I am hearing...the sound of the furnace warming the house, the cars going by on the highway outside of the neighborhood, and the dog next door barking at something or other.
 
Around the house...there is a waiting presence.  Ever since we moved in here this house has whispered to me that it is waiting but for what I do not know.
 
One of my favorite things...the hush that comes when the fog settles in around here and the rain starts to fall.
 
A few plans for the rest of the week...tomorrow we have to go to the holy day mass at noon.  Mom has PT twice this week along with visits from the nurse.  Tomorrow is Doug's birthday and I am planning on taking him out in the evening.  Wednesday will be the internment of my father's ashes.  That makes for a busy week for all of us.
 
Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...

My dear sweet daughter riding Rocco.
 
 

Monday, December 2, 2013

The Simple Woman's Daybook 2 December 2013


Outside my window...the sun is trying to shine.  According to the weather prognosticators today is supposed  to be warm and sunny.  Time will tell.

I am thinking...how the seasons of life and of the year, at least in my case, bear no resemblance to each other.  I think that I am supposed to be in the autumn of my life, translate slowining down.   That however doesn't seem to be the case in my life.  Things seem to be getting more and more hectic as the days go on.  I can  only surmise that God feels I need to be more active rather than less so.  Brings to mind that song from The Sound of Music.  You know the lyrics:  " Perhaps I had a wicked childhood...."

I am thankful for...a husband who gets up in the night with his mother-in-law so I can sleep, who installs drawer and cupboard latches so she will be safe, and who holds me when I cry just because I need to.

From the kitchen...spaghetti and meatballs tonight.  Uncle John  is coming in from Texas and this sister know it is one of his favs!

I am wearing...a burgundy linen jumper and a white tee.

I am going...to take Mom out for a pedicure today.  I am interested in seeing her reaction to that procedure.  I for one am looking forward  to that pampering.

I am reading...Father Alfred Delp's  Advent of the Heart.

I am  hoping...that my mother shows some recognition when my brother shows up.  It is something of a shock when she acts like they are total strangers to her.  

I am hearing...Doug working to install the latches on  the drawers  in the kitchen, the dryer working on its first load of the day, and some Christmas music playing in the background.

Around the house...everything is clean and neat (ok the floors need attention but I can get past  that) which makes me feel like I can turn my attention to other more diverting pasttimes.

One of my favorite things...Christmas music.  I admit it. I  could listen to it  all  year.   I refrain only for the sake of my family.  

A few  plans for the rest of the week...live each and every day as if I am going to meet my maker tomorrow.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with  you...


Yesterday was the first day of the Advent season.  Let us all spend the next 22 days preparing our hearts for the coming of the Savior of the world.  The only way to adequately make way for his coming is by emptying ourselves of the world so that there is plenty of room for the divine.