The Simple Woman's Daybook!

FOR TODAY...October 24th, 2009

Outside my window...the sun is shining, the sky's are blue, the trees are turning colors and the pool is filling up. We will be joining the polar bear club very soon!

I am thinking...it has been months since I have blogged, but hope to have time to start doing it again.

I am thankful for...my JOB. I love teaching, my students are precious, and I feel very blessed. I have faith God put me right where he wanted me.

From the kitchen...the kitchen is quiet. Richard went to Brookshires to get us some sweet rolls for breakfast.

I am wearing...this is probably too much information, but only my tee shirt and panties. The girls slept in my room and I crept out very quietly and early this morning, and haven't bothered to add to my sleeping attire.

I am creating...a dream backyard....LOVING IT!

I am going...to host Thanksgiving at our house this year. This is my favorite holiday to host and this is the first year in many that we have been able to do it. I have already starting preparing for the day.

I am reading...many different "how to organize your classroom" books.

I am hoping...to take a bike ride with the girls today!

I am hearing...Kirstin is up and watching Saturday morning cartoons in the living room, I am sitting at the kitchen table listening to my praise music as I type on the computer.

Around the house...my house is surprising clean and peaceful. Richard hired a cleaning lady when I went back to work to lighten my load, so my weekends are spent doing anything besides cleaning. This is a huge blessing. She came on Tuesday so all is nice still. Just some laundry to catch up on.

One of my favorite things...the smell of fires and it's almost time for those here in Texas!

A few plans for the rest of the week....Just hang and enjoy my family today, school next week, chiropractor appointment, trick or treating next weekend.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...this is one of the walls in my classroom. My family and friends pulled together to put it into place less than 48 hours before school started. I still have a hard time believing I am a kindergarten teacher.

Click here http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ to read more blogs by others.

I'm OK!

It's been quite a while since I have last blogged. I have added some "generic" entries where I have to just fill in the blanks, but I thought it was time to add an update on just our daily lives.

Life is good. I was driving home from school today and it was just beautiful outside. We received some much needed rain and the temps dropped and it didn't feel like a sauna anymore. I had my window down and my hair blowing. I had some great summer music on the radio and it just got me thinking how blessed I am. I have my health, my husband, my girls, and my family. I have friends, a home, and a community we love! I have the opportunity to go to school to follow my dreams. I have a husband that respects me and daughters who want to do things with me. Again, Life is good!

I have been thinking alot lately about who I am. Not just, Amy Burrow, but really looking at who I am inside. I can happily say that I am OK with me. I have not always been this way. I have had days that I longed to be someone else, have something else, do something different, or just wanted more...it's selfish and basically it's sinful. Lately I think God is working on me and giving me steps to learn to be happy and content. I used to hate the fact that I am shy in unfamiliar places, but truthfully, who isn't? Some people just handle it better, it's ok for me to take a while to open up. God gives me the people he wants me to be with and around. I am ok with the fact that I am not competitive, I really don't care if the girls (or me) for that sake are on the "winning team". As long as fun is the goal, all is well. I am ok with the fact that I have been going to school for over a year and don't have a job yet. I know with all my heart that God has something planned for me and I might have to wait a year. I'm so OK with where I am right now and that is such an amazing feeling!

Simple Woman's Daybook!

TODAY July 8th, 2009

Outside my window...It is dark and quiet beside the faint sound of someone shooting a gun of in the distance. It's actually a nice evening in Texas, not blazing hot like it's been lately.

I am thinking...that I ate too much today. We went to the movies and splurged on candy and popcorn and went to eat dinner at the local Mexican food joint with some new friends.

I am thankful for...home alarms! Gives me a feeling of security on those nights when Richard is working late or is not home.

From the kitchen...sits some household goods that were purchased at Target today that needs to be put away, a gallon of fresh sun tea, a half eaten cake and some other small junk. The kitchen counters are a gathering place.

I am wearing...Cutoff shorts and a tee shirt.

I am creating...trying to create a CD with all my pictures on it, but haven't succeeded as of yet.

I am going...to pick Alex up from camp tomorrow and hug on her, she is something else special to me.

I am reading...still doing my frazzled female bible study.

I am hoping...to get called for an interview soon.

I am hearing...Wizards of Waverly Place in the living room playing on TV and the hum of the AC, all else is QUIET!

Around the house...are 4 tired and leaning towards cranky people. We have had a great day, but are all tired tonight.

One of my favorite things...is spending time doing things with my girls. We don't do the movies much but went today and had fun. They are so appreciative and always tell us thank you for doing things.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Pick Alex up tomorrow, get her unpacked and repacked on Thursday, Splash Kingdom on Friday, then take the three of them to the airport on Saturday. I start my classes on Monday so the girls are leaving for a week. Richard will also start the reserves this weekend, so I have NO idea what I am going to do Saturday night and Sunday as my whole family will be GONE.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This was taken a few weeks ago at Hurricane Harbour in Arlington. We had such a great time, the only thing missing was Richard, but thankfully him working allows us to do these road trips and adventures.

The Simple Woman's Daybook!

FOR TODAY ...June 29th, 2009 Monday Morning

Outside my window...the sun is shining, and it looks lovely. The news said we had a slight cool front moving through today and it was only going to get up to about 95 degrees. Ummm, not thinking that qualifies as "cool" but I'll take it since it's not triple digits.

I am thinking...that this is the first week since school got out that we have not had activities and I am going to enjoy just hanging around the house today.

I am thankful for...Richard, he is just awesome. He starts the Air Force Reserves next month and I am SO proud of him.

From the kitchen...my kitchen is a mess. The dinner dishes are still out from last night dirty, the trash was emptied yesterday without a new bag going in, so there is junk sitting on the counter waiting for the bag to be replaced, mail that needs to be gone through and a wide array of randome things that need to be put away.

I am wearing...a teeshirt and panties, nice huh? Since I am the only one up, I haven't bothered to add the shorts to the mix yet. I will when I am done blogging.

I am creating...NOTHING!!!!!

I am going...to find Alex a one piece swimming suit for camp and this is harder than one might think.

I am reading...The Frazzled Female.

I am hoping...to find a desk very soon for my house, one that both Richard and I agree on and one that is not too costly.

I am hearing...the hum of the AC and my music playing softly in the background.

Around the house...it is quiet. The girls are all still sleeping, Richard is at work and I have the house to myself.

One of my favorite things...is family, probably my most favorite thing in life.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Barbara and the kids might come by today and hang out for a while, probably go and get some groceries, and then just hang out today and I'm not even thinking past today to make plans for the remainder of the week.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This was taken this weekend. This is Richard and his grandparents and the girls. Three generations of the Lovelace family. Can't beat memories like this!

Happy Birthday Beki

Today is my sisters birthday. I wish I was there celebrating with her, but miles, schedules, and the high cost of airfare to the west coast is not allowing that. She will be with me in thought all day today, as she usually is everyday. My sister and I have always been extremely close. I really don't remember ever fighting growing up. She is older, nicer, and way more level headed than me, but we always seem to have good times when were together and can have marathon phone calls when not together. For those of you that don't know, she is an incredible mom, she has 7 kids from 18 years old to 2 months old, she homeschools, helps with running the home and school, and is a great friend, daughter,aunt, wife and sister. Here is one of my favorite pictures of us, I know I have posted it before, but it always makes me laugh when I see it.

The Link

I think I did this correctly, here is the link to view the vacation pics..... there are a lot, beware. LOL!

http://picasaweb.google.com/alxrynn/Florida2009#slideshow/5348311611079931810

Jackson's New Do

As promised for my sister especially here are pictures of Jackson.

Terrific Tuesday

A beautiful Tuesday morning in East Texas. The girls are off to camp and Richard is off to work. I just got back taking Jackson to get a summer haircut. He will come back hopefully feeling much better. The place I took him too was interesting to say the least. You could purchase extra services while your dog was enjoying his spa day. This to me is comical. Ok, so here are some of the extras: 10 minutes of a ball or frisbee toss is $5, A 15 minute nature hike is $7, Storytime for 30 minutes is $10, (ok do they really read a book to a dog?), here is the best option Movie and a popcorn for one hour is $20.00. Is popcorn and a movie really necessary for a dog? They also have a drop in daycare and group play on Saturday's from 8-6 for $15.95 a day. Why pay that, I just let Jackson run the hood and he plays with Charly and Honey up the road for FREE....the most comical thing about all this is that I'm sure many dog lovers pay for these "perks" and services for their loved pooches. Oh well, I am a cheap skate and my precious pooch is simply getting a shave. I'll be sure and post a picture of him when I pick him up.
I have a fairly quiet day today. I have a few gifts to go buy and get in the mail today. One will be late as that birthday already passed, if I am efficient enough , the other two will make it on time. Hopefully Richard will be off early and we can go grab some lunch together, I really miss our lunch dates. Alex just called had me laughing. She told the waiter at breakfast she was from "Deep in the heart of Texas". She has her daddy's personality and she is such a beautiful spirit. If she only knew how much those deep in the heart were missing her....I am posting a few pictures of the girls enjoying bathtime the other night. I had asked Kali to run the bath water for me and add some bubbles, she added half the bottle, these pictures are taken after I bathed and there were still TONS of bubbles. They had a great time swimming in the tub....

"Kali, where did you go?"

"Here I am silly"

The were not ducking down or leaning over, the bubbles were really that high their little bodies. They had me laughing so hard that night being silly in the tub. I truly think being a mom is the biggest blessing God has given me after being a wife to Richard!

The Simple Woman's Daybook!

FOR TODAY June 15th, wow, is it really the middle of June already?

Outside my window...it is hot and sunny. The sky's are blue and bright.

I am thinking...about Kirstin and Kali and wondering how much fun they must be having right now at their first day of DayCamp. They are there with a friend and were SO excited this morning. We might have to make this an annual tradition.

I am thankful for...friends both old and new.

From the kitchen...are a few bags from Home Depot to be put away, and a bunch of bills and paperwork that needs to be sorted through. I REALLY need a desk so I can have a dedicated work area.

I am wearing...denim shorts and a teeshirt appropriately saying "Summer of Love" across the front. Because, I LOVE SUMMER!

I am creating...new relationships.

I am going...to anxiously pick my girls up at 4:30 ready to hear all about their days.

I am reading...the Frazzled Female. I am no longer doing the bible Study on Daniel by Beth Moore, I just felt the intensity and the timing were not right at this time in my life.

I am hoping...to work it out to see my sister this summer. I really want to take the girls also, but with airfare I am thinking the Walkers will have to be entertain just one Burrow and not the whole clan.

I am hearing...my praise play list is playing right now. Music is the way I am closest to God and I LOVE when my music just plays and I can sing along or listen intently. Today I am just listening and not singing.

Around the house...is peacefulness. I am the only one home and it feels nice to have a moment to just me even though I am missing every one of my family members.

One of my favorite things...is lunch dates with Richard. We haven't had one in quite some time but I am hoping for one very soon. Maybe even this week. Maybe even tomorrow!

A few plans for the rest of the week...Tomorrow Jackson is going to the groomers and getting a summer cut, he is shedding EVERYWHERE. I am intending on painting my mantle, shopping for draperies, and finally on Thursday a road trip to the big D to pick Alex up. We will have some time to catch up on the way home with just the two of us!

Here is picture thought I am sharing....
Kirstin, Kali and Courtney on the last day of school. These three are pretty much inseparable right now and I am loving it. With them, three is NOT a crowd (well most of the time). We are neighbors now and they are loving it. They have attended VBS together, Day Camp together, had sleepovers and many afternoons of swimming. She is a blessing to my girls!

It's been awhile!

It has been a very busy two weeks. We left for Florida the day after school was out. We had a great time and enjoyed being with family and friends. I went a little excessive on the pictures and took 522. I will am going to post a few on my blog and then later add a link if anyone wants to look at all of them. I think the best evening was wiffle ball on the beach. We played with the kids and adults and I truely think the adults had a more fun than the kiddos. We swam, rode bikes, layed out, ate, ate some more and ate some more. This week we came home and I worked VBS at another church in town and Kirstin and Kali attended it. We had a great time and met some new people. Alex stayed in Florida and will be home on Thursday. She is having a great time being spoiled by her Mimi and Papaw and making memories that she will cherish.
Lunch at Sharky's in Panama City Beach with Stephanie and Jeremy, Ben and Andrea, and us.

My three blessings from God.

Alex and I enjoying the tandem. This was another highlight of the trip

All the women at the toga party....

The 'little' girls playing in a local splash park.

Mary, Maddie, Kirstin and Kali on the boardwalk up to our house.

Stephanie and I attempting to make a pyramid with the girls.

Andrea's brother and sis in law, Jeremy and Stephanie

Richard and I. This day was the calmest of the waters. They were amazing

Papaw teaching Kirstin to fish. However, no fish were harmed (or even caught) during the lesson.

Kali fishing also, again no fish were caught here. BUMMER!

Maddie playing in the sand.

This was taken the morning leaving in Moss Point Mississippi. These are all the kids that went with us. We had 10 kids and 10 adults and 2 dogs traveling with us. It was quite a sight!

OK, so these are just a few of the pics and there are hundreds more. I didn't even post pics of everyone that went, but again, I will add the link later and you can view the rest IF you want.