A November Daybook

Outside my window....the last of the leaves are falling to the ground one by one. I need to get out there and clean up the yard before the rain starts up again. The skies are gray and the tree branches are gently flowing in the breeze.

Listening to...Just prior to sitting down to write this I was finished up a Phil Vischer podcast episode. I also got a new For King and Country cd last week that I've been listening to. I love getting new music.

Reading...This past week the girls and I finished our current read-aloud, The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop. We loved it and are looking forward to starting The Battle for the Castle. I also finished reading And the Mountains Echoed by Kahled Hosseini this morning. Now I need to finish Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Ten Ways to Destroy the Imaginiation of Your Child by Anothony Esolen.

Thinking About....Advent. It will soon be upon us and I've got to carve out some time to make plans. I want to spend my time and energy on things that matter. I've got some new ideas this year (thank you pinterest!) and am eager to start preparing.

Thankful for....I love that here in the US we have Thanksgiving this month. I know that stores (and even many people) move right from Halloween into Christmas, but I'm thankful for Thanksgiving. As much as I'm looking forward to advent and Christmas, I love celebrating Thanksgiving and am thankful not to be already surrounded by Christmas decorations in my home.

Praying for....My heart is heavy for the people of central Illinois this morning. After the terrible, devastating tornadoes that ripped through my home town and surrounding communities yesterday, my heart is heavy. So much destruction and devastation. I'm thankful that my family and friends are safe and were spared.

Also...the people of the Philippines who are still reeling from the devastation and destruction of typhoon Haiyan.

Also...my friend Aimee who is in the midst of chemo treatments - fighting breast cancer.

Also...friends and family members who are going through some tough stuff.

Planning....Advent! I'm abandoning some of what didn't work last year and am excited to try some new things. I'll be reading The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp and the girls and I will follow an advent reading plan that uses The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones.

In the Kitchen...pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies and pumpkin cheesecake!

Celebrating...This week I get an overnight getaway with my man in the city. Although we didn't plan it this way, it happens to fall on our 20th anniversary of being together! 20 years of being a couple (big smile)

A couple photos from my weekend...a little paintball shooting with this girl

and then a walk with this girl....