2011, So Far

The year is about half done, and here's what I've done with 2011 so far:
I finished my jean quilt.
I decided I don't like quilting.
I've read 52 books so far this year, 25 new and 27 re-reads.
I've got far too many books in my TBR (To Be Read) pile, both physically on on my Nook.
I'm caught up on my daily Bible reading. I have a Bible-reading plan to read the entire Bible in one year. Each day of the week is from a different section: Epistles, History, Law, Psalms, Gospels, Prophecy, and Poetry. That way you don't get bogged down reading just one thing.
Claire's memory work is going very well.
I'm baking lots of bread.
Since I almost burned out the motor on my stand mixer, I now knead my bread by hand instead of machine.
I signed a contract at Cannon Valley for the next school year (yay)!

Here's what I still want to accomplish this year:
Potty-train Natalie
Read 100 books total
Be in the habit of exercising each day
Read the entire Bible
Make boppy pillows for Natalie, Evelyn, and Carly
Work on Claire's reading ability
Paint the bathroom
Put shelving up in the laundry room
Have $5,000 in my savings account at the end of the year

I'm working on most of these. Of course, the ones involving my daughters are entirely outside of my control, but they're goals nonetheless.
We'll see where I'm at come December!

Thoughts for Friday

1. I could really get used to this 4-day work week, 3-day weekend schedule. I'm working shorter hours this summer, and Claire and Natalie are totally enjoying having me around more :). We've done a lot more activities just around the house since summer started. It gets really hot up in their room in the summer time, so sleepouts on the sunporch are very common. I spread out an old sleeping bag, cover it with an old sheet, and voila! A comfy, cool bed for them.
2. I am enjoying Claire's memory work probably just as much as she is. It's good for my brain to have to remember her verses as well as she can! I'm also hoping Natalie is absorbing some of the memory work, too. Not necessarily each verse, but the idea of learning from the Bible. I've always wished I knew more Bible verses, so I guess we're all learning together!
3. Last weekend most of my high school friends got together for our 2nd annual girls' weekend. I wonder if we'll still call it a "girls' weekend" when we're all grandmothers? It speaks well of our friendship that we can go a year without being together and still pick up our friendship as though no time has passed. I think I'll try to get in touch with my girlfriends more often this year.
4. Can we please be done with Anthony Weiner jokes? The whole thing is icky.
5. I have learned so much in my first year as a school secretary. Cannon Valley is starting some online classes this year, and among them are religion classes. I've asked if I can test-drive those and see what they're like. I've never had any religion classes, except Sunday School and confirmation class, and I've learned this year that I've got an awful lot to learn. So I'll be able to learn some more this fall.
6. My dog's tail drives me nuts. It's like a fur-covered bullwhip. I'm surprised it hasn't drawn blood yet. Although, the day after my family and I got back from our vacation to the Black Hills, Brinkley (who had stayed at Mom & Dad's house) got some sort of injury at the tip of her tail and it was bleeding. Brinkley's tail rarely stops moving when she's awake, plus she was happy to see us after 4 days. So we have to hope that no one shines a blacklight around Mom & Dad's house, because Brinkley wagged blood until we noticed and I shoved her back in the kennel.

This Week

Claire is learning her 9th Bible verse this week. It is:

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Learning some more Bible

We didn't have a new verse last week. It was kind of crazy with vacation and Claire's dance recital.
We're back on track this week. Claire's new verse is:
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice!
Alair learned this one for school, too, and when Claire and I were going over the verse at Mom & Dad's, Alair was helping Claire learn it, too.
Claire is so enthusiastic about her memory work. She's eager each week when I pick out her new verse. I'm working with her to not get overly frustrated when it takes her awhile to learn the whole verse. Even Natalie listens to Claire say her verses and says to me, "Bible?" So I don't think it will be a problem when Natalie gets a little older for her to start learning the verses, too.

Psalm 46:1

Here's Claire's lesson for this week, learned with great enthusiasm :)

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength; an ever-present help in trouble.