Ending on a grateful note

Sorry to go silent ~ a cold and a bit of the November funk hit me hard but I did want to end the month and start the new giving thanks:

1. Weather continued to be warm enough to get the bulk of the raking done while the kids played outside and the wonderful pen Dr Daddy built in the back saved me so much bagging and moved us a step closer to starting to compost.
2. Wonderful friends of ours lent us a beautiful cradle when we were expecting Elisabeth; we have now been able to pay that forward and pass that cradle onto another wonderful couple now expecting their first baby.
3. The chance to get together with extended family; giving my kids more cousin time which they so enjoy and me time with my sisters which I also really cherish.  Traffic was tough both heading south and heading home but never awful and the kids continue to be good travelers.
4. Currently everyone is healthy and excited for the month ahead!

Giving thanks for pie and a generous helping of whipped cream

Advent wreath is out, candles in the window and wreath hung on the door.

Happy Advent! Happy December!

Quick Takes #218: Reasons to give thanks

Focusing on giving thanks and seeing the good amidst the ugliness that seems to fill my airwaves.

1. I'm thankful for Dr Daddy taking the lead on pumpkin carving!  One thing off my plate and they turned out amazing!!
2. Kids had a good Halloween; really enjoyed their school parades and had fun trick-or-treating. As I wrote earlier their costumes were completely their choice and I'm so glad I went with it. In retrospect Liam and Lisbeth's different take on ninja teaches me much about their personalities; samurai versus stealth.
3. Getting estimates and dealing with contractors are among my least favorite things to do but I pushed myself to some long standing jobs done and have been rewarded by finding landscapers and mechanics who were honest and helpful. 
4. Elisabeth has recently been reaching her nightly book chapter to 3-4 and while getting her going in the morning is a struggle I am so happy that she has found a series of books she loves reading so much.
5. Dr Daddy finding work he enjoys and deems important, and being recognized for his contributions.  His hours are crazy long and that doesn't look to be getting any better anytime soon but am so happy to see him getting the recognition he deserves!
6. Caitlin's preschool offered lunch and soccer one day a week this past month which she really enjoyed and I got a chance to breath and reboot as there was time to linger over a cup of coffee and read a whole chapter and even did some scrapbooking.
7. The weather has been treading sunny and warm which makes the less the lovely tasks of raking all the leaves more pleasant as does watching Caitie's joy as she leaps into the piles of leaves I've raked.

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Open Book: November 2016

The Life You Save by Paul Elie is a look at American Catholicism in the twentieth century by telling the story of Dorothy Day,  Thomas Merton, Flannery O'Connor and Walker Percy.  A really interesting read and one I'm enjoying. With the exception of O'Connor they were all converts and it is really interesting to see how their coming to faith influences how they lived it out and sought to share their faith with those around them. Also fascinating the role writing and being a writer played in their life and how they saw their vocation from God.  A very dense book packed with information I'm finding it hard to jump in and out a couple pages at a time but am hoping for a nice chunk of time soon to really marinate and better absorb all this book has to offer. Am currently only a third of the way through, and will write again when I've finished.

Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery; MMD recently pointed out that this trilogy was on sale and while I'm sure I've read this in the past given how much I love the Anne of Green Gable series I honestly couldn't remember the story and so am reading the books about the orphan girl name Emily sent to live with two maiden aunts at New Moon.  Emily Climbs is the second of the series and I'm sensing the coming-of-age book in this series which is a period in a young girl's life that Montgomery writes about so well.

Please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book.