Happy Homemaker Monday July 14 2014

Good morning! We went camping this weekend. It was a 5+ hour drive and we had 8 teenagers with us, which meant both my husband and I had to drive in separate cars. I am still recovering! It was a nice few days though, we had gorgeous weather, and it did wonders to renew my spirit. So it was all worth it. Plus I loved the questioning looks when people saw us with all of those kids!

So now it is on to Happy Homemaker Monday! I love to participate because I love taking the time to put some perspective in my life, look at the small but beautiful things around me, and appreciate them all. Thank you, Sandra at Diary of a Stay At Home Mom, for bringing this meme to us. See her for more Happy Homemaker Monday!

As I Look Outside My Window
I am not sitting in my usual spot at the kitchen table, so my back is turned from my sliding glass doors, lol. As I look outside my front window I see an empty, overturned recycling bin, which means they have already picked up (must have been while I was in the shower because I did not hear them). I also see lots of green from the trees across the street and the pinks and purples from our hanging flower basket on our front porch. I love all of the green, it makes me feel so blessed to live on this beautiful planet in this beautiful country.

Right Now I Am
Thinking about breakfast! I just came downstairs and haven't had anything but water so far and I am starting to feel it! But I am content to sit here for a little while longer in the quiet morning. I have just one child home with me this week - my daughter, and she is guaranteed to sleep in for a long time.

Thinking and Pondering
Do you know what is a beautiful state? New York. We often think of the city when we hear that name, but there is so much more to it than just the city! And the rest of the state is so different. It has a lot of what I enjoy in New England: lots of trees and hills. But it also has a lot of flat land and rolling hills. The finger lakes are beautiful, and Niagara Falls is simply breathtaking. It is a perfect place to camp.

On My Bedside Table
Oh, it is getting a little messy. Last night I had my two Kindles, some books, and a few other things. I just finished reading The Round House by Louis Erdrich and really enjoyed it. Now it is on to La Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.

On My TV This Week
Nothing planned.

Listening To
The hum of the air conditioner, which is drowning out the sound of the washing machine.

On the Menu for This Week
There is only three of us home this week. My oldest son is on a road trip with his band, heading to Michigan to record. My other two sons are working at a boy scout camp. We spent a lot of money feeding 8-10 teenagers for a few days, so we are going to eat up the odds and ends in our freezer to save some money this week. I will have to buy produce and milk, but that's about it. Tonight we will have pasta with leftover sausage from the camping trip. Tomorrow night, however, my daughter is having a sleepover birthday party which probably means pizza.

On My To Do List
Clean, clean, clean! I have more teenagers coming over tomorrow night. The floors are dirty from campers coming and going... so it is vacuuming, floor mopping, and bathroom cleaning today and tomorrow, and a necessary trip to the store for groceries and party supplies.

Happening This Week
It is a week of errands - dentist appointment for me tomorrow, daughter's sleepover, dog's vet checkup, cat's vet checkup, some bookkeeping work.

My Simple Pleasure
This summer I have really enjoyed reading about different cultures. Opposites Attack was a cute romance set in France. There was so much talk about the food (it even included recipes) and the French countryside, it made me want to go and visit. The Round House was about crime and revenge, but it was also about North Dakota Native Americans and their culture and mistreatment by the government. Now I am reading La Lacuna and that takes place in Mexico. I feel a bit like I am getting to travel to different places, and learning a lot along the way.

Looking Around the House
I see some clean things that need to be put away: a pile of towels that go downstairs, a pile of plastic containers that need to be put in a cabinet, but that requires some sorting out, which is why I haven't done it yet! Two cans of baked beans that were not used on our trip that need to go downstairs in the storage pantry. And lots of water bottles also left over from camping that will not fit in our fridge.

From the Camera
Meanwhile, while we were camping, my oldest was living his dream. His band was selected to play at Warped Tour (if you have teenagers, you may know what this is). When the tour comes to an area, they select some local bands to play, and his was one of them. That means playing for a LOT of people. He said it went well and they played better than ever. It is not my dream for him, but he is his own person and I have to let him be. Part of being a mom. Still, I am happy for him because I know it meant a lot.

Prayer List

My kids, which includes all of those you see above.

Bible Verse

2 John 1:5-6: And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we found from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, that ye shall walk in it."

Can you imagine what this world would be like if everyone made this a priority in their lives? I am trying. This needs to be a priority for me too. In general I think I follow this, but on a daily basis, I need lots of improvement.

Have a great week!