Savings

Outside my window...sunny but windy. Crisp and cool.

I am thinking...we started setting aside a little of our pocket money to save for vacation. In just one month I’m at $180 which is surprising. It will be nice to take a vacation knowing it was paid in advance. It took us a year to pay for Europe.

I am hoping...that we will have enough staff this week. The usual. I have the pre-work blues.

I am thankful for... good preaching.

From the kitchen... Atlantic salmon, corn on the cob, and Greek pasta salad.

I am hearing...the dishwasher.

I am wearing...jeans, a red t-shirt and a navy pullover.

I am reading...Michal by Jill Eileen Smith.

Around the house...my white miniature roses have bounced back and have flowered again, in spite of me and my gardening (cough) skills.

One of my favourite things....live theatre. Henry the Fifth was amazing, except we didn’t have great seats. I went into it not knowing anything about it. It was good. It was neither for or against war, but about war.

Some plans for the week....work four nights. I’m tired already. I also have to stay behind for an hour after one of them for my evaluation to talk about my goals. Blah, blah, blah. I have it written up already, but really, that’s cutting in to my precious few hours of sleep. No plans for the weekend except to hit SEND on the synopsis I wrote. I need to review it once before I ship it.

 

Shakespeare

Outside my window...a sunny day.  Hang on, summer! Don’t go!

I am thinking...so now that the Separatists were elected in Quebec, how long before the next referendum, A.K.A. Never-end-um?

I am hoping...to purchase some books for background research for my talks next May. I also have to get going on my synopsis. Isn’t it ironic that I have no self-control when it comes to procrastinating about writing about self-control?

I am thankful for...a Pastor who isn’t afraid to preach on difficult subjects. Yesterday he read from Proverbs 5 and preached about sex. You can hear it at faith-baptist.ca

From the kitchen...veggie quiche, homemade tomato basil soup and salad. I try to do a meatless meal at least once a week, more now while my daughter who is a vegetarian is still at home for a month.

I am hearing...the dishwasher.

I am wearing...grey yoga pants and a blue top. I just took the dog for a walk and am heading to the shower.

I am reading...Magdalene by Angela Hunt.

Around the house...our daughter and her fiancé did their engagement photo shoot yesterday, one month before the wedding. I guess as long as it’s before and not after. I can’t wait to see them. She is also looking into a few job prospects.

One of my favourite things....seeing  friends or relatives I haven’t seen in years.

Some plans for the week...work three nights. I’m mostly worried about Monday night since we only have two nurses booked and at least 18 patients, which would be unsafe. I hate this new normal. Next Saturday we are planning to go to Stratford for some live theatre. The four of us are going to see Henry the Fifth, which I’ve never seen or read. We need to drive back that night for church the next day, and there is a Providential dinner on Sunday.

Public Speaking

Outside my window...a sunny day.  I had a nice walk with the dog this morning.

I am thinking...I received a positive response about my proposal for speaking at the Ladies’ Retreat next May. I will be the main speaker. I’ll  have three, one hour sessions in which to present my topic on one of the Fruits of the Spirit, Self-Control. I will be focusing on self-control in relation to speech, possessions and our thought life. I have to pull my thoughts together and write a synopsis of how I will be presenting it and the main points I’ll cover, within a month.

I am hoping...to find time to write the synopsis with my daughter’s wedding approaching within a month.

I am thankful for...how the wedding shower turned out. I had a few mishaps with my carrot cake looking like a meatloaf (I substituted a vanilla cake for it) and two pans of burned scones (which had to be replaced). No one was any the wiser and my last minute tears were all for nothing. She is not a fan of being the centre of attention, but I think she appreciated having her family and friends there and they really did shower her with gifts.

From the kitchen...spaghetti and meat sauce.

I am hearing...crickets, if you can believe it. And the washer and dryer.

I am wearing...black capris, a black sleeveless print top, while I still can.

I am reading...Speak Up with Confidence by Carol J. Kent. Considering how painfully shy I was growing up, I can’t tell you how huge a step it was for me to offer to do public speaking. I consider myself a writer, but not a speaker. I’m used to my twelve or so Women of Faith, but 80 women will be a challenge for me. My only consolation is that I know about 90% of them, so I will feel I’m among friends. I will also need much prayer to take this step of faith and personal growth.

Around the house...we had two house guests overnight, so we did our bed and breakfast routine. My youngest started her third year at university. My youngest is bringing her gifts to her fiance’s apartment, and my husband and I are working.

One of my favourite things....coffee. Just the thing when I wake up.

Some plans for the week...work four nights. I’m tired just thinking about it. Oh well, a few more weeks and I’ll be off for the wedding. My husband and I are planning to go out for dinner on Friday to a local Greek restaurant.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Outside my window...rain. Fitting for my first night back from vacation.

I am thinking...It was a good two weeks off. Great weather and very relaxing.

I am hoping...we can get my daughter’s friend to see Kody. He needs a dog whisperer. It’s our last hope.

I am thankful for... being prepped for the wedding, with my clothes, shoes and accessories. I just need to decide on a hairstyle.

From the kitchen...chicken stir-fry and rice.

I am hearing...thunder and lightning. The poor dog is so scared.

I am wearing...navy capris, a navy print top.

I am reading...Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews. It is based on the life of Job. I disagree that they have him as a contemporary and friend of Jacob and his sons, since it is believed he was pre-patriarchal, even before Abraham.

Around the house...we are back at work this week. I hope the staffing issues aren’t as bad. If we have to float to other units every week, I’m going to play the seniority card.

One of my favourite things....planning parties.

Some plans for the week...work three nights. Scramble to prep for my daughter’s bridal shower on Saturday afternoon. It’s an English tea party theme and I even brought a fascinator for the pictures. There’s not much prep time, but the whole family is helping. We are expecting 29 people. Standing room only, I guess.