::faithful

Praying for

• a friend who found out last week that her husband has cancer.  Praying for strength for them, for knowledge and understanding from their doctors, and for healing and recovery.
• a friend who is putting down the cigarettes. Forever amen!
• a daughter who is homesick.  Praying for some peace this week, for smiles and a few easier days in her classes.
• for Jen, as this round of the leukemia battle with a trial drug is exceptionally difficult.
• for Judy Darling – Please pray for Judy to continue to regain her strength and then some as she prepares to start chemo if a few weeks.

• healing for The Architect!
• a visit with my parents!
• veggie lasagna!
• banana bread!

::healthy

Sleep will continue to be a priority this week. We’re heading in to the busy time of year, and I need all the extra energy I can muster!

::creative

Painting on DirtBike’s room begins this week.  We’ll start prepping and taping tonight.  He’s inviting friends over on Saturday for the official paint flinging.  Promises to be fun!

The Architect is using his down time to upgrade his bike.  New frame, new parts.  I suggested a Batman chain guard, just in case he decides to fall on the bike again in the future.  He just rolled his eyes…

The Great Knitting Project is halfway finished.  It’s been enjoyable to hold and work on  these past few chilly days.

::delicious

• Vegetable Lasagna
• White Chicken Chili, Cornbread
• Ravioli with Roasted Butternut Squash (didn’t happen last week)
• Chicken Curry
• Hoagies
• Pot Roast with Mashed Potatoes,
• Cajun Shrimp with Garlic Grits and Spinach

::fun

DirtBike’s Birthday!  Paint Throwing!

::looking ahead

Wrapping up some projects this week at work, starting new ones.  A hair cut – the first in many months.  Sad, I know, but every time I had one scheduled, something more important came up and I needed to cancel.

Linking up at Suscipio – come join us!

::faithful

Praying for

• The Tatum Family…the funeral was Saturday, a day of tears and sorrow.  Please pray for Tammy and her young daughters as they face the coming days with heavy hearts.
• Judy Darling – her masectomy was successful and recovery is happening fast.  Please pray for Judy to continue to regain her strength and then some as she prepares to start chemo if a few weeks.

• rain! rain!  It started raining Friday morning and didn’t stop until late yesterday afternoon.  Aaaahhhh…..
• York Peppermint Patties
• Zataran’s dirty rice mix and gumbo starter
• cooler temperatures
• blue skies
• The Architect getting to head south to Aggieland to see his sister!  They have been missing each other. 

::healthy

A few bike rides this week, still more veggies at the dinner table, and getting some sleep this week.  I’ve informed the resident men that I am going on strike every day at 9:00 pm and sitting down on my bed to relax, read and then go to sleep.  There will be no proofreading last minute assignments, no emergency loads of laundry, no trips to WalMart for whatever it is that you need for school in the morning and forgot to tell me about last week.  There will be no dishes washed by me,either, because the BOYS will be doing them!  Oh yeah!

::creative

We’re updating DirtBike’s bedroom.  He’s ready to retire the little boy G.I Joe Army Guy theme.  Most of yesterday was spent clearing and purging.   I could not believe the stuff I found hidden in the dark recesses of the closet and slipped behind the bed:  smashed lunch remains, moldering in plastic baggies, because it was too much effort to empty the lunchbox in the kitchen;  disassembled clocks, watches and toys, because he wanted to see how they worked; dog biscuits, because….he didn’t know why those were stacked behind the books on the book case; a pile – a PILE, I tell you! – of dirty socks, most of which were actually his.

AND!!  The Architect’s next engineering class project is to build a trebuchet!!!  I am SO excited about this.  Unfortunately, it will be a small one for class, BUT…we’ll have access to PLANS, so we can build a huge one later!  I have aspirations of launching pumpkins and watermelons from the back deck…

::delicious

I’m yearning for hot meals, and the temperatures are cooperating, so I’m cooking this week.

• Steak, Garlic Potatoes, Green Beans and Salad
• Taco Salad
• Stuffed Peppers, Spinach Salad
• Potato Soup, Grilled Turkey Sandwiches
• Roasted Chicken, Peas
• Fish Tacos
• Ravioli with roasted Butternut Squash

::fun

This week, not so much.  Just ordinary life, which we will enjoy just as much as fun.

::looking ahead

Preparing for Fall Festival fundraiser next weekend, a race for the Architect, many little things at work than need attention, planning ahead for the holidays, delivering meals to sick friends, keeping up with DirtBike’s studies, making sure he’s not falling behind.  (DirtBike has dyslexia and an uncertain measure of ADD, both of which make school extremely difficult. Extra coaching for organizational skills is a constant in our lives, as well as an occasional flick on his forehead to remind him to pay attention to the book in front of him!)

Linking up at Suscipio – come join us!

::faithful

Praying for

• The Tatum Family…my coworker Tommy Tatum died yesterday evening after complications from surgery.  Please hold his wife and daughters up in prayer.
• The Rodriguez Family…my friend Katy lost her husband last week. They had just celebrated their 25th anniversary at mass a few weeks ago.  Please remember Katy and their four children.
• My sister and brother in law, for safe travels to Europe

• My own family, that they are healthy and strong
• opportunities for play this past weekend instead of doing nothing but chores.  Yes, I rode my bicycle over that!!  Managed it just great, thank you, then promptly clipped a tree a half mile down the trail and went flying into the brush. *sigh*

::healthy

A few bike rides this week, [more] veggies at the dinner table, getting hydrated because it’s hot again!

::creative

I set aside my scarf to work on knitting a Christmas present for my Mom. It’s so pretty!  If you’re reading this, Mom, that’s all the clues you’re getting.  It’s knitted and pretty.

DirtBike is almost finished that V-22 model for his history fair project.  Mercy.  I’ll never understand how a boy can be so messy when it comes to his room and belongings, but can paint the finest, tiniest details that are perfectly neat, authentic and impressive!

The Architect has been working on a popsicle stick crane for his Engineering class.  This is version 2.0…his team is hoping to support many equivalent tons of weight today.

This is so Clever!!  And practical!!  And  it’s recycled!!  Off road biking is fun, but really, REALLY hard on innertubes.  (The Architect has gone “tubeless” for racing.)  I saw this and I would like to make one. It’s a rubber computer bag, made from recycled bike tubes.  The only issue would  be finding a commercial strength machine that could sew easily through the tubes.

::delicious

It’s hot again.  (Hello?  Weather Maker?  It’s officially autumn now. Please, can we cool off a bit?  Thanking you in advance…)

• Moroccan Chicken over Couscous and Broccoli
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Coleslaw
• Fish Tacos with Black Beans and Guacamole
• Hamburgers with Grilled Zucchini
• Leftovers (yeah!)
• Bean Burritos, Roasted Corn Salad
• Pizzas on the Grill, Spinach Salad

::fun

Okay.  One of my kids – can’t remember which one – sent this to me, and I have giggled every time I look at it.

::looking ahead