Hearts' Haven Daybook 2008

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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