I beg prayers for my son, Adam. I learned today that he is in a hospital in Israel with a bleeding ulcer.  I trust that he is getting the best of care but as a mother my heart aches to be with him.  Those of you who believe in God please send up your prayers on Adam’s behalf for a speedy recovery.  Thank you.

The other day temps got up in the mid 90′s around here with high humidity.  Not the triple digits that the rest of the country is enjoying but pretty hot and muggy for us.  I had put Layn down for a nap in just his diaper thinking that he would be comfortable that way.  Apparantly not, sometime before he went to sleep he took his diaper off and then drifted off.

I guy just has to do what a guy has to do to stay cool.

Outside my window….the sun is shining, the birds are singing and it is already 69 degrees.  Looks like today is going to be a warm one.  What did I expect in the middle of summer anyway!

I am thinking…about silence.  There are all different kinds of silences.  There is the early morning silence when all of life seems to be waiting to begin the new day.  There is the silence in the middle of the night when you awaken and think that you have heard a sound that shouldn’t be there, that is an ominous silence.  The best silences are the ones that are shared between friends. The sillence of contentment and mutual understanding.

I am thankful for…the fact that God spared my husband’s life, brought Matthew through his surgery hail and hearty, and all of the other daily blessings that he bestows on me that I often fail to aknowledge.

From the schoolroom….MK will be hard at work studying while I am working my way through my summer reading list.

From the kitchen…leftovers from the delicious southern fried chicken that Melissa and Alex made for us yesterday.

I am wearing…shorts and a tank.

I am creating…a bubble of peace and tranquility.  I am creating a haven where my family feels content to come and escape from the pressures and cares of the outside world.

I am going…to the city to get some things to keep Matthew occupied in his convalescence then home to stay.

I am reading…Earnest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” 

I am hoping….to spend the bulk of today in pursuit of creativity.

I am hearing…Doug and MK talking about milking goats, Melissa making her first appearance of the day, and the coffee maker putting forth its life giving liquid. 

Around the house….I don’t even want to look.  Suffice to say that a good time was had by all.

One of my favorite things…sitting here, now, today.  Thinking about tomorrow and remembering yesterday while anticipating today.

A few plans for the rest of the week…cooking, cleaning, sewing, taking care of Matthew, and just being the person that I was created to be.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you…

Matthew and Layn chatting online with Matthew’s friend Veronica the day before his surgery.

When a person goes into the hospital in the 21st century they are now given very stylish gowns to wear.

Here is Matthew modeling the latest in pre-surgical garb.  You can’t see but it is equipped with the latest in warming technology.  It has a heating unit with a hose that connets to the gown and blows warm air onto the victim (patient).

The patient of the new millenium sits and chats with his friends while waiting for the call to come to the holding room prior to being taken into the surgical suite.

I am afraid that no improvements have been made in the post-surgical dopey look department.  Thankfully the area of pain managment is very effective but not too intelligent looking.

Home once again we see our patient comfortably reclining while enjoying every possible comfort.

Yesterday Mary-Kate hosted a bridal shower for Melissa.  This affair was planned and executed by her with no help from me and she did an exceptional job.  

She baked and decorated the cake, bought all the supplies and prepared all of the food and planned the games.  There was a nice mixture of the old and a few new surprises.

The guest of honor got to meet some old family friends. 

And some old family friends got to meet some new family members.

In spite of the heavy responsibility of being the hostess MK even got to play some of her own games.  I am very proud of you.  You did a great job MK!!!!

Outside my window…the birds are singing, the rooster is crowing, and the sun is making it’s daily appearance.  The sky is clear of any clouds and the humidity from yesterday seems to be gone for now.  Overall I would say it is shaping up to be an ideal day.

I am thinking…about pyrotechnics.  This is the weekend for them.

I am thankful for…my wonderful daughter.  She gave a lovely bridal shower for Melissa yesterday.  I am so proud of the way that she planned it and hosted the whole affair.

From the schoolroom….today is the first day of MK’s new semester. My grades are all posted, all A’s!!!!!! let the relaxing begin.

From the kitchen….something picnic-y I think. I am only limited by the ingredients in the house.

I am wearing….pj’s.  No one else is up or awake and I didn’t want to disturb the house to get dressed yet.

I am creating….serenity in a chaotic world.

I am going….I don’t know where.  There’s laundry to do today and I house to get into order then we will see about the rest of the day.

I am reading….Where There is Love There is God by Mother Teresa

I am hearing….the birds outside my window, the rooster crowing in the chicken coop, and a train in the distance. In the house here all is stillness.

Around the house…it waits.  The house is breathing that slow shallow nighttime breathing that tells me that it is still sleeping.  There is a waiting sensation in each room as if the spirit of the home is anticipating the waking of the family.

One of my favorite things…the pair of birds in the nest outside my window.  They are already busy going back and forth getting food for their young ones.

A few plans for the rest of the week….all the usual stuff plus some extras too.  Matthew is having surgery on Friday so I have to get a sub for my holy hour and make sure that all is in readiness for his homecoming from that.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you…