You can find The Simple Woman here

My Hearts' Haven Daybook

Thanksgiving Day 2008

November 27, 2008

Outside My Window............a sunny and almost warm Thanksgiving Day........about 53*

Brings back happy memories of playing football on Thanksgiving Day in the street with my grandpa, dad, uncles and cousins...........in Los Angeles, where we often had turkey days in the 60*s

I am thinking........I am going to have whipping cream be standard fare in my house, but ONLY for November and December......starting NOW. It can really make a cup of tea be dessert! :)

I just don't want a daily tablespoon of fat throughout the year.......holidays and cold weather is a good enough reason to give in. :)

Moderation in all things

One of my life mottoes. I think I found it in the Bible last summer.....but I cannot find it now..........anyone know where it comes from???

I am thankful for.............good friends............I spent a lovely day on Sunday with Maria and her EIGHT children and Gloria and her SIX children. Between the three of us........we have given birth to TWENTY kids, aged 2 months to 20 years.

Is this cool, or what? I am also thankful now Maria and Gloria know each other better.......and I can stop saying "my friend Maria with the 8 kids" and "my friend Gloria from San Francisco"

We were together to celebrate the births of their latest little men.

From the kitchen.........pumpkin bread leftover from the weekend's "baby shower" and yummy carrot cake form Matthew's 18th birthday celebration yesterday.......Louise made it!

.......on Monday, Gloria whipped up something quite yummy for dinner........and with short notice and a small amount of chicken sausage. It was rigatoni with olive oil, garlic, sundried tomatoes, spinach and the sausage. She is such a natural in the kitchen! My kids LOVE her cooking..................as do I!

We will do what we can today to prepare for our Thanksgiving meal TOMORROW. I am scheduled as a nurse today in OB..............so, we did not want the big feast today without my presence......or help! :)

We will have homemade tamales for dinner tonight..........with other supportive dishes, like Spanish rice.

Yikes........Micki just called. I am no longer on call for the afternoon...........I AM working. Please pray for me!

I am wearing........a light blue short-sleeved nightgown with yellow flowers and an old Nevada-Reno sweatshirt.

I am creating........an incredibly tall mountain of dirty laundry. Of course, I have big helpers with that creation! I could never do it alone. :)

I am going...........to burst with happiness for TWO pieces of exciting news I have got recently........announcements will be made soon........and no, it is not MY news. :)

I am reading.........The Last Battle, by CS Lewis to the little boys, the local newspaper and I have just read the preface in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and I read aloud The Seven Silly Eaters to Maria and Gloria on Sunday..........as it was their baby shower gift.

I am hoping.............to find that elusive nap. I offered Gloria to hold her wee Benedict sometime this week, while he and I nap. :)

I am hearing.........absolute silence, except for the hum of the computer. It is 9:20am and only Maddelyn is awake yet. Everyone is EXHAUSTED from the past week. I only wish MY body would allow me to sleep in.

I have to go wake the boys, including an extra: Walter, as John is taking them on a Thanksgiving hike today.

I am wondering.......I am not right now..........too tired to wonder :)

Around the house.......my picture books all over the place........Gloria's girls are really into the books this visit..........all four of them!

Now Showing..........well, we finally saw Pixar's Wall-E. We are not sure what the inspiration for such a strange movie was. As a family, we did not much prefer it. I am very curious how children feel about it.........Monarch of the Glen, next 2 discs are awaiting our ability to watch.

In the schoolroom.........

In the middle of set building and tech week and the play performances.......we have kept up some math: Fractions, skip counting by twos, fives and tens and mulitplication.

Maddelyn is reading Old Squire's Farm, a book Anne and Matthew loved.......and one I picked up from the Conservative Book Club once a long, long time ago. I need to read it, I guess. Sarah still has A Struggle for a Continent by Marrin and got on the treadmill a few times this week. Good for her!

Piano-Voice-eeeeendless singing here :)

Three play performances (Yes, Frances, I have it on DVD!)

One of my favorite things.........lullabies.........whipping cream in tea.........memories of my grandparents.......the ocean. oh. it says ONE of my favorite things. sorry. I lost my self-control.

Signs of the seasons......freezing nights........warm days.....of 53* is warm :) .......scraping windows in the morning............sweating with an all-day fire. Pumpkin bread!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...........
last Monday ........violin for Maddelyn, voice at college for three, strike the set from the play, piano group lesson in the evening..........dinner with Gloria and John (G Family) at my house

last Tuesday........Matthew has a physical as part of the application for being a foreign exchange student.........he has American Literature in the afternoon.....visit with G family all day

Wed.......voice for three......spend day with G Family......celebrate Matthew's 18th birthday with a babreque and good friends

Thursday (today)......I am second nurse first half of Thanksgiving Day......and first nurse the second half of the day.........spend day with G family........boys hike with John

Friday....we will share a Thanksgiving meal on this day with the G Family since I might work on Thanksgiving Day.......boys will go shooting with John

Saturday......it is supposed to be 63* and John wants to go on an all day hike with whoever wants to go

Sunday.........mass and then Anne and Matthew start tech week for their play at the college........and.......

BREAKING NEWS: I just found out yesterday that my sister Teresa and her husband and her youngest, Kaydance, are coming for an overnight visit this day! YAY!

somewhere in this week: un-grow that mountain of laundry............and search for that nap!

Special prayer requests on my mind this week......................for two people I know who have recently been told they are going on the transplant list (heart, a little boy and lungs, a homeschooling dad).......continued prayers for my friend whose son needs help with special needs......for the play the kids are doing......for Sabine's little Michaelman..........for a local friend whose father is dying of brain cancer......for the family and friends of a Catholic homeschooling mom in San Diego who died this week..........for my co-worker whose daughter died last week in a car accident.........for special private intentions

St. Gerard's List..........
Sherry & Stacy, Shawna's sis, are due any week now................and then there's Lissa, Alice, Bridget, Gloria (a different one!) and my patient in labor today.......it seems I always work on Thanksgiving day whenever I am scheduled.....I am hoping this birth will be less memorable than others have (they were high risk and scary!)

I am currently scrapbooking...........let's not go there. Just maybe Gloria & I can pull our stuff out.....instead of always trying to clean up a meal or prepare a meal :)

Here is picture thought I am sharing........

Sadie, our Alpha Female Golden Retriever, up close, taken last week an a very chilly day.

Expressive eyes?

God bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, chari

Haven Heartbeats

Kids say the darndest things............





Maddelyn just came in and said: Malachy is kind of funny.





I ask why......





....she says.....





.....that he said.........

You have rootbeer eyes.

Is that cute or what???

Well, she does! :)

Maddelyn, 13, and her newest cousin, Jaylen Reeves, born on September 14, 2008.

Now showing............the kids open their show today! Pray for them!

Have a beautiful day!

Love, Chari

Cute Pumpkin Snowman

My friend Frances recently brought this post to my attention.

It has a sweet pumpkin snowman.

We recycle most of our pumpkins by eating them............in fact, I am hoping to make some pumpkin bread today or tomorrow........mmmmm!

The rest of the blog is fun to peruse, too!

Thanks, Frances, for your recommendation.......hope to see you at the show......and tomorrow, too!

Love, chari

Why do I think I have suddenly gone from second nurse tomorrow, to first???

Well, let's see..............there are only ten of us. Plus, 2 supervisors who are OB capable.

The one working tonight, hurt her back.......so, the first nurse for tomorrow is now tonight's night nurse. That's two.

........because, the other night nurse was sick, again, and unavailable. That's three.

Of three regular day shift RN's.........one is in Arkansas, one is on medical leave for her back, still.....and the third has to take one of those required classes and exams that I had to take last September, because she missed it........because she was jet-lagged from her recent return from Jolly Ol' England. That makes six.

Of the ten, four are supplementals......which means we do not have regular shifts.

One is in San Diego for Thanksgiving holidays with her daughter-in-law, because her husband is in Iraq (my friend's son......please pray for him and his separated family!)..........another has a very impressive head cold.........I am not sure where the other RN is, but she also works a regular position at another hospital......so, maybe she is there?

That makes nine.

Plus, my supervisor is in Poland right now........and something was up with the other one....therefore........

.......if you do the math, that leaves only one.

Now do you see why I think it may be ME?

Please pray for my day......my patients......the doctors.....and my kids!

Thanks!

And, you, my friends, and relatives, have a blessed day!!

Love,

Chari

PS.........do not expect any Daybook next Monday.....I will try........but it may be too hard to do with company, get-togethers & three shows in one weekend!

Sudden update!!! Just before I went to bed, I tried calling OB one more time.........and found out that the RN out with back problems returns to work tomorrow for the first time since mid-September! YAY!!!! This makes me so happy........since it is having this full-time nurse out that has had me squeaking by as the first nurse. I would much rather be her second........we have fun working together! And, I rest easier in her expertise. :)

Even though she will be there......I do expect there is a good chance I may be working tomorrow.........

A very good night!

Hearts' Haven Daybook 2008

You can find The Simple Woman here

My Hearts' Haven Daybook

November 15, 2008


Since I need to work a 12 hour shift tomorrow (Sunday)...which is really more like 14 hours......I thought I would write my daybook today.....

Saturday afternoon, then.........



Outside the Charter School Window........the day is gorgeous...and SO warm, I am wearing short sleeves! OH, and no leggings! :)

Tomorrow is supposed to be about 70* Too bad I am indoors all day :(
I am thinking........I really wish I could take a nap....I have wanted one all week....and even planned one for today......still a bit of time left...just maybe. The only time I could get all week was for ten minutes....waiting for Mattew and Garrett at piano. I fell so deep asleep...they had to coax me awake!

Hmmm.......there are two couches behind me.......I will have to take that into consideration. :)


I am thankful for.......my amazing and creative oldest son...and his "team". He drew the plans...and they helped him to build a stage and a set. Pictures...eventually! I am SO proud of them....only aged 7 to 17 years old.....very sweet. :)


From the kitchen.........Well, I actually have boneless chicken breasts cooking in the crock pot. Not sure who I am feeding tonight.......but, I think we are going to cook up some basmati rice and cut up some veggies...squashes, broccoli, onions, waterchestnuts, celery, carrots from the garden (still!)...and put up a stir fry with the chicken...for the meat-eaters.

In case anyone wonders why I say "meat-eaters".......it is because my two oldest girls have been vegans for two years or so........and those of us who are NOT vegans.....are MEAT-EATERS. :) Family label, you know.

The funny thing is.......while we did not eat much meat in the first place....our family mostly eats vegetarian these days, thanks to having vegans in the house. The rest of us are not inspired to give up butter or cheese. Yet.

I am wearing........a black knit skirt, a nice short-sleeved knit shirt in burgundy.......and an old UNR sweatsirt.......and socks! No leggings! As I mentioned above.

I am creating........peace of mind? I hope.....as I look toward a day of work tomorrow....full of intervention??? I sure hope not! Please pray for me, my patient, and my doctor. Ugh.

I am going........to see The Nutcracker with Malachy tonight! I am almost too tired to be excited....but I will be when I get there! :) It starts in exactly 3 hours!

I am reading.........Finishing up mater et magistra so I can lend it to Shawna before Gloria gets here, so she can read it, too. I know they will both enjoy it very much. We, little boys and I, are about four chapters into The Last Battle by CS Lewis......from the Narnia series, which we started exactly one year ago when I asked Willa what chapter book to read first aloud to Malachy........and she said, Narnia, of course. Good choice, my friend....in helping someone who knows these things...but is sometimes too sleepy to remember. :)

I am hoping.............my day goes extremely well tomorrow....and without stress. Does anyone see a theme here???? :)

I am hearing......drilling........hammering.......Zaric laughing.......lots of chattering........footsteps....Kelly's keys....Gavin's entertaining thoughts....as a handful of kids tear out the insides of old Reader's Digest books for a prop. I PROMISE, I would ONLY let them tear up Reader's Digests, nothing else!


I am wondering.......when my next nap will come along.........oh, there's another theme going in this daybook. :) I KNOW it is NOT tomorrow! :)


Around the house.......I meant to write last week that I would be using this place to admit where my clutter problems were......the ones that won't go away. Not the casual "we live in this house every day all day long" kind of clutter.......but, the stuff that just keeps sitting.....and sitting. I KNOW it needs to go........it pains me to walk past it.......or add to it. I was able to keep those surfaces clean once. I am going reclaim those sites.

Last night and today.......I reclaimed the Hope Chest in my room........and started on the short dresser in my room. Somehow, my goal is to get that short dresser cleared by the next Daybook.
....anyone have a surface they would like to challenge with me?? Pick ONE spot in your house.......you have till next Monday.......leave a comment if you feel challenged...and let me know what it is.......and come back when you get it done! We could keep doing this till all of the clutter spots are gone on surfaces...and then move into other, hidden areas.

Now Showing ........we are still enjoying the second season of Monarch of the Glen....from Netflix....That might be it. Oh, a few of the kids watched Princess Bride with visiting friends that had never seen it.

In the schoolroom.........

Greek Myths, French and Indian wars


Fractions, skip counting by twos, fives and tens, geometry, algebra


Maddelyn is reading a biography of Georgette Heyer, Sarah still has A Struggle for a Continent by Marrin......Book Two in the Box Car Children set (Garrett)


Matthew is studying economics......chemistry via Wile's book.......Ancient Greek history......American Government........well, maybe he is mostly building a stage and set.......with a little geometry and American Lit thrown in.


Piano-Voice-eeeeendless singing here :)

Collecting props......from a "haunted house" no less! :)


One of my favorite things........a very satisfying nap.........and being just the right nurse for my patient's needs. Trying to stick with the theme...... :)

Signs of the seasons..........Pumpkin Spice Tea from Stash.....with whipping cream and fructose. Enjoy a cuppa with me??? You are welcome anytime!


A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...........

Let's start with: Three hours each day of dress rehearsals........

Monday craziness ......the last Monday for Malachy and I to hang out with Louise & Miranda and share a dinner??...as Monday rehearsals will be ending

Tuesday........I teach childbirth class this night.....last one until Januaury 6th! Yay!


Wed.....hmmm......Nap? :) Meet with Shelly, our charter school facilitator, for monthly meeting


Thursday......I am second RN this day....unless someone decides not to work.......

Friday....final dress rehearsal for the charter school play

Saturday......two shows at the charter school....AND the G familiy arrives for a week long visit from San Francisco


Sunday......one charter school show......the final.........and, I hope, finally, we will have the double baby shower for Maria and Gloria!!!


Special prayer requests on my mind this week...........for a nine year old boy who lost his 37yo mother two weeks ago to a heart attack........he is trying so hard to be brave :(..........for an elderly couple who attends mass with us.......they are both having serious heart trouble..........for the plays the kids are doing.......for my mother.......and my sister's health.......for special private intentions.......for the physical well-being of my husband and ALL of our husbands....for college and vocational planning AND financing!


St. Gerard's List...............Lissa, Alice, Bridget, Gloria (a different one!), Sherry, a local friend & Stacy, Shawna's sis, due in December, and all of my patients


I am currently scrapbooking..........none since last time.......hopefully on Monday with Louise

Here is picture thought I am sharing........

I LOVED this playhouse...........a redwood playhouse in my backyard, given to me by my great-aunt and uncle.......real door and real windows. This is about 1968. I am 4 yo and standing in the door. My dad and my 2 yo sister, Teresa, are in the window. Moving away from that home meant leaving behind a "real" family life......and my playhouse. I grieved over leaving that wonderful playhouse. And, over the divorce in my family. Boy, I loved that playhouse.

Addendum to this post:

I am here at work fine-tuning this post on my second break. All I have to say is the prayers really worked........even if you did not know you were praying for me! ;)

I have had a wonderful day.......there are only 2 hours left........no crazy labor or c-section for our patient.......she delivered wonderfully last night, Thank You, God! Thus, I have had a great day caring for two couplets......even if I did miss the nice weather.

Also, Malachy and I enjoyed The Nutcracker, of course.........though we did have a problem with our seats....someone was sitting in them! Malachy loved buying himself a nutcracker of his own.



One more addendum:
An hour and a half later, exactly at the change of shift..........a woman unexpectedly walked into OB, without any of our local doctors caring for her pregnancy......and gave birth to...........TWINS!!! All are doing well.......but what a shocking ending to a perfectly easy-going day!


God bless!


Love, Chari

Disappointed over the election results???

AND, you love to see nature pictures in Australia???


Well........who would ever think to put gorgeous holiday photos and a journal entry about disappointment over a US election together???

You have to see my sweet friend Anne's blog.


WOW, it SO works!


I love what she wrote.........I love her photos......I love Anne!


Thank you, Anne, for caring so much about US and for praying for US.

We really appreciate you, and all of our Aussie friends, for their prayers. Don't stop! :)


Blessings from the US, in cozy Northern California!

~C~

MY HEARTS' HAVEN DAYBOOK 2008

You can find The Simple Woman here

My Hearts' Haven Daybook

November 10, 2008

Sunday afternoon........and a day late, of course!

Outside My Window.......It was a partly sunny/partly cloudy day today......it is dark now........with just a few drops of rain..........it felt almost warm.....till the breeze with the chill got to you. Brrr. A November day for sure.

I am thinking........wow........this week was not as bad as I thought it was going to be! The next four weeks could be nutty, though..........since it will include two tech-weeks (that's the final week of dress rehearsals, etc, before a play is performed).......and a week with Gloria and family (that is NOT a stress........just more on our plate..............and we are SO VERY EXCITED to have them here for a whole week.......finally!).........plus regular every week requirements, too. Oh, and the holiday of Thanksgiving.......and Matthew's birthday.........EIGHTEEN YEARS!!!



I am thankful for.............great and amazing friends.........I know I always say it, but I am in such awe of the wonderful people God has ordained to be my friends. WOW. You know who you are....THANK YOU.



From the kitchen.........well, it was to be leftover lentil chili and salad......but when I added four more boys to the dinner mix, I decided to throw a Costco lasagne in the oven.............we will have salad and steamed veggies of some kind.............and apple cake the neighbor sent over.


I am wearing........a black knit skirt, a nice, short-sleeved knit shirt in dark blue.......and an old UNR sweatsirt.......and socks!



I am creating........a notebook........to organize and keep track of getting two kids into college and possibly a foreign exchange program.........lots of info to hang on to!

I am going...........this time I am really going to finally pick a color for painting my bathroom. Today is my deadline choice for paint. I will give Marty the paint chip tonight so he can go buy it this week........really! PS: I really did pick!

I am reading.........I FINALLY finished CS Lewis' The Four Loves! Yes!! And I read Fetal Heart Monitoring Principles & Practices....AND passed the test to receive my 18.5 CEUs............we finished The Magician's Nephew, also by Lewis, and we have 1.5 chapters into The Last Battle, by Lewis. I am having fun with voices for Shift and Puzzle........voices I have never used before.

And, a couple of pages of Saint Augustine's Confessions.........have you read all of it, Willa??? :)


I am also enjoying mater et magistra! It is the BEST issue ever, I think, in all the history of the magazine....through all its names. I cannot wait to share it!




I am hoping.............things in our country do not go as bad as they could. And, I DO HOPE......becuase I know God is in charge.....here is the verse circluating around these days.......I love it!





Michele brought it to our attention on her blog........and it was brought up in a local homeschool email list. ..........from the Douay-Rheims Bible, my favorite bible:

Proverbs 19:21

There are many thoughts in the heart of a man:

but the will of the Lord shall stand firm.

This is quite comforting........no matter what is happening on earth. :)





And as Shawna said in response to this verse: What a relief!



I am hearing......let's see.........last week I had to buy a couple of books from Amazon for the double baby shower......so, I threw in a CD......please don't laugh.......it was this. It was cheap (under $8 and the reviews were 100% glowing).....it is a bit more rock-pop than I expected.......but, I am listening to it to get used to it......and I am finding I do like it..........but I really wanted to hear Donny's ballad voice. :) ....there is one song that annoys me and I skip it usually. I do prefer Josh Groban's CD more.........I guess this time last year I was listening it, since I had just purchased it at Starbuck's on a trip we were taking. Now, I do not listen to Christmas music out of the season usually........but with a new CD, I like to get used to it. Plus, most of Josh Groban's stuff is not straight Christmas.

I am also hearing the girls singing....as usual......and the boys, all three of mine, plus three of Maria's.......and Patty's one.....are all in the garage building a stage for the upcoming play they are in.....only two weeks!!........so, I hear boys' voices and the saw and the drills. I am so proud of them.......they are building a whole stage.......with no adult help. Very cool.



I am wondering.......if Gloria & I can really do all of the things we would like to accomplish while she visits....... :)

Around the house.......gosh, is anyone tired of hearing: there is a little clutter...but we could clean up pretty fast if we need???? The bottom line is this: We LIVE in our house....EVERYDAY.......almost ALL DAY LONG. It LOOKS lived in....it IS lived in. So, I will try not to say anything about the general clutter anymore...unless it gets cleaned up and then it gets cluttered again. :) That is what happened last week....Marty came home and said: "Wow, it is really clean around here. Is your dad coming?" I had noticed it was really clean before his comment....but no one really remembers doing it. :) Plus.......I have NEVER cleaned my house for my dad in 23 years of marriage......EVER....he is not one of those people you try to "impress" :) Yet, marty always says that...it has always bugged me....and now, the kids are bugged by it, too......their response was funny. And, we mean "bugged" in a very mild way........we laugh it off.

Now Showing..........Bollywood/Hollywood, just for the girls and I. We think it is the similarities and looks to their Lebanese side of the family that makes us enjoy it well.......since we have spent two days watching an autistic little boy, there have been a couple of more movies than usual.......he has his favorites.......so we interspersed movies and serious play and outside time.........so, he and Malachy enjoyed The Incredibles, The Waterhorse, and The Bee Movie......we watched Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. It is advertised as a "thriller".......the kids laugh at that. It is not very suspenseful......but, it is fun to watch Jimmy Stewart act...........sometimes Matthew's acting is so like him. We like to watch for similarities.

....we are also now into the second season of Monarch of the Glen....from Netflix....so far, the second season is more family friendly......but, still....it is not for the whole family till you preview it. It is hilarous at times.........in that Scottish sense of humor kind of way. We like the second season much better......the actors seem to have got their character studies figured out.



In the schoolroom.........

Greek Myths, French and Indian wars

Fractions, skip counting by twos, fives and tens, geometry, algebra, finding the area.....

Maddelyn finished reading Plato, Sarah still has A Struggle for a Continent by Marrin but finished Boston Jane....the third book......Book Two in The Box Car children set (Garrett)

Matthew is studying economics......chemistry via Wile's book.......Ancient Greek history......American Government........etc

The girls went to see The Secret Garden, the musical, this weekend thanks to Kathy......who treated in honor of Anne's birthday last month. They also took their friend Sierra, the oldest of Maria's children. They had a great time.

Piano-Voice-eeeeendless singing here :)

Maddelyn is on the violin.....has had six lessons, I think

Malachy is getting piano lessons from Anne now.............his repertoire is enlarging rapidly........Ode to Joy......London Bridges........Muffin Man.........Empty Chairs, Empty Tables, from Les Miserables.......and now Christmas songs: Silent Night........We Three Kings......and he is trying new pieces on his own. He is quite good for his age with his finger dexterity. I am grateful for free lessons in the home. :) He is so responsive to Anne...........and he is always at the piano.........even to the point of trying to kick others off when they practice............Maddelyn does not take to this very kindly, as you can imagine. :)

Stage & set building............There is a kind man who is lending most of the stuff for their set........the props. He has everything they could ever want.........

One of my favorite things.........a really yummy tri-tip. Yep, I am an admitted meat-eater. Not frequently.........but I DO love a good steak!

Signs of the seasons............leaves all over the ground, everywhere. A chill in the air.....a lovely fire in the woodstove.........leggings :)



A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...........

Monday craziness .......a bit different than usual........as there are no classes at the college for Veteran's Day, we only need to drive back and forth between home and one town, not TWO .......while kids rehearse, Garrett, Malachy and I will hang out with Louise & Miranda and share a dinner

Tuesday........lotsa math in the morning.......then we have our new homeschool group play in the afternoon and I teach childbirth classes at night

Wed.......usual crazy Wednesday, rehearsals, classes..........get more stuff to make stage happen

Thursday......I work in morning and early afternoon doing anteparetum interviews........this is whereby I meet pregnant moms due in about a month at our facility.....and get all of the nursing paperwork done ahead of time that I can.......this really helps the nurses out....and the patients love it.....rehearsals........classes

Friday....not sure yet.......two possiblities: the girls have Sierra over for sewing and a movie.......or, Louise & Miranda have just invited us to join them at a tea shop located north of us

Saturday......not sure....but we will need to get the chicken coop cleaned out while the weather is dry and not too cold......I just gave our twenty-plus chickens, including five roosters away to a man who really wants them. We will order new chickies in the early spring......and start over again.

Oh! Marty says we can afford for me to take Malachy to see The Nutcracker this Saturday, performed by the Eugene Ballet Company. I am SO very excited!

Sunday.......I have to work because they are desperate for a nurse........I will be first nurse, yet again......pray for me!!

Special prayer requests on my mind this week.....for a group of local friends in India to help a Christian mission......for our government.........for two people I know who have recently been told they are going on the transplant list (heart, a little boy and lungs, a homeschooling dad).......continued prayers for my friend whose son needs help with special needs......for the plays the kids are doing...........for special private intentions.

St. Gerard's List....................Elizabeth is home with her wee lass, Sarah Anne, born five weeks early........Deo gratias

Let's not forget .......Lissa, Alice, Bridget, Gloria (a different one!), Sherry, a local friend & Stacy, Shawna's sis, due in December, and all of my patients.......esp one who is pregnant after losing a baby to SIDS.

I am currently scrapbooking...........hmmmm, I have TALKED about scrapbooking. That's it. Louise and I are going to try to meet on Monday evenings to scrap, since both of our husbands are playing volleyball on that night. Maybe we will start right after Thanksgiving???

Here is picture thought I am sharing........

Taken at the Getty Villa in September, my five Greek gods pose for a foto.

Sarah-15.5

Garrett-11.5

Maddelyn-13.5

Malachy-6.9

Matthew-17.8

Belated blessings, on this Monday (NOT!),

Love,

chari

Haven Heartbeats

Hey, there!

I am back in to town. I just spent the last two days in a classroom in a distant city for Intermediate Fetal Heart Monitoring & Principles. It was a good class...though it could be a bit boring......reviewing a lot of info we already know. For the most part, it was nice to review and to have comraderie with our two sister hospitals was fun....and sharing chocolate was good, too. :)

....by far the best part, was spending time with my friend Debbie. It was a 2.5 hour round trip each day.........and we sat together, so we got a lot of time in. Debbie is a co-worker in OB........she was my walking buddy for about two years......we had the best walks, exploring our meadows and woods........and, she was my labor support when I gave birth to Malachy 7 years ago. Last year, Debbie moved about half an hour north of us........so, I definitely see her less. Visiting was a real treat!

Tomorrow is the day for the post-poned double baby shower for Maria & Gloria........and guess what??? Gloria's wee babe still is not feeling well.......so, they will not be up this weekend......and so, she will miss her baby shower. Again. I do not think I will post-pone it. Again. I will just collect Gloria's gifts and save them for her eventual arrival....and I will invite those ladies back again for a small tea party when Gloria is here.

Which brings me to the good news.....since Gloria & John could not make it up these last two weekends.........they will come up the Saturday before Thanksgiving.....and stay for 8 days. Now THAT makes all of us very happy! And, she and I are going to be scrapbooking.......and the girls are hoping to sew with Gloria, too. Oh, and as that is the weekend of the kids' show....they will get to see the show, they thought they would be missing. The kids are very happy about this!

In the meantime.....I am going to spend this day making yummy cheesecake, my favorite dessert for baby showers ever since I went to the shower Shawna gave for Felicia. In fact, it was the first time I ever actually liked cheesecake. Now I love it, of course! :).........and cleaning up the house to receive company tomorrow morning for the baby shower for Maria.......and, throwing a bit of school in, too.

Our weather has been rainy....and it snowed on Wednesday while we were gone for the day........so that yesterday, we saw Mount Shasta with a clear blue sky background, completely covered in snow................it had been so long without snow, that it was a wonderful shock to see it again. Debbie said: There's the mountain we know! When i get to the other computer, i will try to post a photo. Remind me to do a before and after photo of Mount Shasta.

Now, off to face the day.......with finally a good night's sleep!!

Love and blessings to you this day!

Chari

Another Novena for the Election

My friend Alice sent this out on her novena email list:

This Novena to the Sacred Heart was said daily by St. Padre Pio for all those who asked for his prayers.

Please consider offering it once on November 3rd (or 4th) or nine times (nine consecutive hours) for our nation and for the outcome of the election.

Please click here for novena prayer:

http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/heart/sh_novena.htm

Here it is below:

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

I. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...... (here name your request)


Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father....Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.


II. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of.......(here name your request)


Our Father...Hail Mary....Glory Be To the Father....Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.


III. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away." Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of.....(here name your request)


Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father...Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.


O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.


Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.


-- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

PRAY!!

~~

MY HEARTS' HAVEN DAYBOOK 2008

You can find The Simple Woman here

My Hearts' Haven Daybook

November 2, 2008

On Sunday afternoon.....

Outside My Window.......gray clouds........snow on the mountains after our big three days of rain and wind.

I just checked out the ten day forecast.........looks like we could get some snow this week..........gee.

Matthew took Maddelyn, Garrett and Malachy for an afternoon walk to "our" meadow. It is not our property.......but it is behind our house. The kids have grown up there......and it is "theirs" as far as they are concerned. You know what I mean, Willa, don't you?

I am thinking........I am SO avoiding tomorrow........because tomorrow brings a crazy Monday...........followed by not one day of rest until.................I don't know when.........maybe two weeks from now???!!! ugh.......sigh. God grant me grace........and peace.......and rest!! :)

I am thankful for.............my strong husband, who drives safe............so safe I can just close my eyes and sleep for the whole ride..........in order to avoid the sea (car) sickness that was coming on! And, for keeping our finances so well, even when it is hard.

And, to Louise, for the gift of Lindt's Lindor Truffles: Limited Edition Dark Peppermint.....my very own package! I did not really care for the first taste........but now, I am used to them........and one a day every day or so is nice. Thanks, my friend!!

From the kitchen.........Anne has just made "snobby joes".........a vegan replica of sloppy joes......made from lentils. Also, she has garbanzo beans boiling for humus, for the week's meals. I hope to go try a new recipe with the last of our squash. I LOVE that the two older girls love to try new recipes.

I am wearing........a purple velvet dress...........a nice hand-me-down from Louise a few years back. I like to wear it to Mass in the cold months........keeps me warm, especially with my leggings, too. :)

I am creating........some sense of order...........but only a sense......wouldn't want it all to be going smooth around here. What would I do without chaos???? :)

I am going...........to finish cleaning my bathroom........and to finally pick a color for painting it. Today is my deadline choice for paint. I will give Marty the paint chip tonight so he can go buy it this week.

I am reading.........just 23 pages from the end of CS Lewis' The Four Loves......... Yeah, well, I did not get very far..................distracted by the weekly local newspaper and the local election coverage...........and Fetal Heart Monitoring Principles & Practices........also,
The Magician's Nephew, also by Lewis, to the wee folk in my house.....only FOUR chapters till we can start the last book in the series. yay!

Oh, I have been reading a paragraph or so of Saint Augustine's Confessions most evenings. That is about all my brain can handle late at night.............plus, I need to re-read some of the paragraphs a couple of times, so I "get" them. I had no idea one of his famous quotes was going to show up in the first paragraph......one I have always loved. Oh, you want to know the quote??? Let me see if I can find it.

Nos fecisti ad te et inquietum est cor nostrum donec requiescat in te.

Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord,

and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.

Saint Augustine

I am hoping.............I do not feel ill during the election evening.......I have been praying for peace.............but, I almost feel like I am just practicing denial.....psyching myself out..............it is strange how physically ill I felt during the time the election results were coming in over the last 4 elections. Having the Internet for minute by minute update is still so odd to me, even after 12 years of using it. We have no TV news to watch..........so, this is how we will find out our news.

I am hearing......the soundtrack of the Broadway show "Hairspray" on my computer...........fun sixties' rhythms........and water running from the faucet outside my bathroom window..........I wonder what they are doing???? And, the quiet wheeze of a slow train going by out back.

UPDATE: Ha, ha, ha..........it took over half an hour for me to figure out what was going on with the outside faucet. It turns out my friend Kathy's son was there in the backyard. He is autistic.....and his favorite thing to do here is to fill up my watering can and water things. Took me by surprise. I had no idea he was here.

I am wondering.......last week, I wrote: "why in the world did I sign up to take another class and exam??? More studying to do, but thankfully, in a topic I hope I am WAY more familiar with! It is a class on Advanced Fetal Monitoring, to be taken the first week in November."

Well.......now that I have the $130 book for my FREE (ha!) class........I find it is exactly the same book I used to study for the Fetal Heart Monitoring Certification exam I took 2.5 years ago. I sure hope I do not have to repeat that same exam........ugh. It was a weird exam. Very strange questions. Not all of us passed it.......but, I did! And, since I did so............I now have to take at least 15 educational units (CEUs) every 3 years to keep up the certification. This class will provide me with over 18 units FREE.......please pray I pass! At least I know the material............I will only have to skim and re-memorize a bit. And, I get to spend two days with my old walking buddy and colleague, Debbie. We get to go out of town for two days to take the class. Oh, and I guess it is an "intermediate" class, not advanced.

Around the house.......scattered clutter......easily pick-up........and lots of clean laundry......

HEY! That's what I wrote last week!!! :) But, some of the clutter is different :) I plan to finish this and then go and clean up, so I will be ready for my company at the end of the week.

Now Showing..........Iron Man.......I am the only one who watched this. I kind of liked it. I am so not a comic book person........though I grew up on free outdated copies of comics my grandpa gave me from the grocery he managed. But, I liked this. There is one scene I will leave out for the kids if they ever see it..........The Reduced Shakespeare Company's The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged).......it was kind of funny............but, the jokes were occasionally offensive, so, not for the youngins......but, neither is all of Shakespeare :) .........Disney's The Fox and the Hound for the little guys. Doesn't that movie just hit you hard?

In the schoolroom.........

Greek Myths, French and Indian wars

Fractions, skip counting by twos, fives and tens, tally marks, geometry, algebra

Garrett and Malachy are in their new Math-U-See books, Gamma & Alpha, respectively. I think they will both zip through these books...........even though the Hearts' Haven children are notoriously "behind" in math..............they already know this math, just from real life.

SAT prep........OVER, for now............just the wait and see how it all came out.

Learning lines........looks like almost everyone is off-book (that means they no longer need their scripts for their lines in the plays).......we have two plays going on here...............four oldest in one play at the charter school..........and the two oldest at the college play.......can't wait for the time consuming plays to be over :).......also.....I am excited to see the finished products.......they look promising!

Reading a book about Plato (Maddelyn), Struggle for a Continent by Marrin, Boston Jane (Sarah)......Book Two in the Box Car children set (Garrett), Go, Dog, Go (Malachy)

Matthew is studying Nathaniel Hawthorne for American Lit................kind of cool, having visited his neighborhood last year..........also economics......and Ancient Grrek history

Home Ec: ALWAYS :) it is a way of life here...............HAS to be!

Piano-Voice-eeeeendless singing here :)

One of my favorite things.........a day to go no where...........I LOVE to travel and explore...........but I am also a homebody! Twisted? :)

Signs of the seasons............RAIN & WIND!

And, a repeat from last week:

pumpkin bread for the baby shower??? I hope I remember!

The garden is now empty.........and the chickens are let loose to finish up the garden......they go nuts and can mow it down to the ground quite quickly....they are very impressive! :)

We are winterizing the property.......not quite ready.....but ready enough, if we must be.

Soups and chilis!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...........I have to repeat some of last week..........due to the fact that Gloria's wee lasses were ill last week and we delayed the baby shower by one week. WOW what a blessing that turned out to be for my household. Next week will be a much better choice.

Monday craziness ................
Tuesday........I work in the am for a few hours......and I teach childbirth classes at night
Wed.......Fetal heart monitoring class
Thursday......Fetal heart monitoring class
Friday, clean some more and bake two cheesecakes........mmmmm........for a double baby shower at my house on......
Saturday morning for Gloria & Maria

........hang for a few days with the G family

..........clean house sometime.....not sure when I can fit it in..........because Gloria and John will on their way up for their first visit since July 4th

Special prayer requests on my mind this week.............for the election..........for a group of local friends in India to help a Christian mission......for our government.........for two people I know who have recently been told they are going on the transplant list (heart, a little boy and lungs, a homeschooling dad).......continued prayers for my friend whose son needs help with special needs......for the plays the kids are doing......Continued prayers for Sabine's little Michael............for special private intentions.

St. Gerard's List..........Elizabeth , still on bedrest.......NOT!!! Elizabeth delivered her little Sarah Anne five weeks early...............gee, those names look familiar in this house. :)

Sarah is having pre-maturity issues with her breathing......so, please pray!!

Let's not forget .......Lissa, Alice, Bridget, Gloria (a different one!), Sherry, a local friend & Stacy, Shawna's sis, due in December and all of my patients.......esp one who is pregnant after losing a baby to SIDS.

I am currently scrapbooking...........Louise and I met last Monday to do some scrapbooking.......we had a fun, but busy day together......with dinner and playing, etc. It was almost too busy to scrap :) But, it WAS fun. I DID get the first page of my SSA completed.......and started the second and third pages. I plan to use the computer a lot to make this album.........so, I guess it will be slow going.................since I have a hard time getting to my PC to do things like that. I also have decided to try to use my Power Layout kit from Creative Memories, to put together about 15-30 pages at a time, so I can make my plans with the big picture in mind...........no pun intended. :)

Here is picture thought I am sharing........

The last of the summer's squash.

Many blessings to you.........see you soon!

Chari

Our Lady of Perpetual Help........

Pray for us!!

I thought Our Lady of Perpetual Help would be a good novena for the happenings in America right now........as well as the effects of it on all of us and our families. Please join along with us, asking Our Blessed Mother to intercede with God for us, for our country.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

O MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, grant that I may ever invoke Thy most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying.

O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let Thy name henceforth be ever on my lips.

Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on Thee, for, in all my temptations, in all my needs, I shall never cease to call on Thee, ever repeating Thy sacred name, Mary, Mary.

O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fill my soul when I utter Thy sacred name, or even only think of Thee.

I thank God for having given Thee, for my good, so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name.

But I will not be content with merely uttering Thy name; let my hope for Thee prompt me ever to hail Thee, MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP.

All I really want to say about this election......

I recently received an email from Catholic Culture.org

I hope they will not mind if I print just the beginning of the message......because really, it is the MOST important part.

"Every week, Dr. Jeff Mirus shares his wit and wisdom with over 20,000 people through his email messages."

You can sign up at the link below. I cannot find his whole letter on the website. That's okay.......this is the part I wanted to write about..........

So, here are his words:

10/31/2008 - The Quest for Holiness

~~~This is my last Insights message before Election Day in America, so I'll leave you with one final thought: Voting is part of the quest for holiness.


As Christians we are called to be a special leaven in the social order. Every aspect of our public lives should be an occasion of grace. Every decision should be made for love of God....~~~~~

***************************

Please think about God,

your soul,

the souls of others....

...the souls of babies, murdered daily....

.....think about obeying God

and His Commandments....

..is your vote pleasing or offensive to God?......

...think about YOUR final judgment before God....

......before you cast your ballot this week.

Prayerfully yours.......

~\C/~