Author: Lois Houston

I'm a sweet tea drinkin' southern gal who loves to cook, bake, crochet, and read. Check out my blog for posts about parenting, faith, books, crafts, planning, baking, cooking, and life in general.

Today: June 23, 2009

TODAY
June 23st, 2009

Outside my window… The grass is getting greener (and longer!) and the humidity is rising.

I am thinking... about how ironic it is that my toes are freezing when it is almost 90 outside (although much cooler inside)

I am thankful for… air conditioning
From the kitchen… I'm thinking takeout for dinner tonight, so nothing from the kitchen today.

I am wearing… comfy capris and a tshirt; standard work-from-home attire
I am creating… an interesting summer for my girls with lots of fun things to do.

I am going… to go see what the kids are up to upstairs – they sound like they are having more fun that I am down here.

I am reading… The Last Oracle

I am hoping… thatRob continues to work steadily through the summer and into the fall

I am hearing… the sounds of the girls playing "house" upstairs (ding dong!)
Around the house… there are small piles of stuff which need picking up before our company this weekend
One of my favorite things… air conditioning and a good book (preferably together)

A few plans for the rest of the week… trip to the pool (daily, I think) coffee with my friend Ann Marie, cropping with Robyn on Friday night and Shakespeare on Saturday (yeah!) 
Sounds like a good week to me!

Updates and new photos

Sorry, y’all… have been slack in the updates. It’s been a busy few months in the Houston household! Even though I am working from home, it seems like work never ends.  The line between ‘work’ and ‘home’ is non-existant and I tend to work until Rob says “Okay, honey, walk away and come and be with us now.”  Job is great, but there is a never-ending list of things to do and because it’s internationally-focused, I get emails and calls 24 hours a day. So, it’s hard when you want a clean inbox… there just never is one!

Anyway, here are some recent pictures:

Mary Beth’s 8th Birthday:

Hannah Montana joined us for the afternoon

Had a tree fall in the backyard…

a very big tree!

Updates and new photos

Sorry, y'all… have been slack in the updates. It's been a busy few months in the Houston household! Even though I am working from home, it seems like work never ends.  The line between 'work' and 'home' is non-existant and I tend to work until Rob says "Okay, honey, walk away and come and be with us now."  Job is great, but there is a never-ending list of things to do and because it's internationally-focused, I get emails and calls 24 hours a day. So, it's hard when you want a clean inbox… there just never is one!

Anyway, here are some recent pictures:

Mary Beth's 8th Birthday:

Hannah Montana joined us for the afternoon
















Had a tree fall in the backyard…

a very big tree!

Travelling and stress

Okay, so this week starts the big holiday travel season.
I love to travel. I do. Really.
It's the getting ready to travel part that stresses me out. I hate trying to figure out what to pack, what the weather might be
(what if it changes and an unexpected polar front hits? will I be prepared?)

It's ludicrous really. If I look at it from outside my own brain, it's really very silly.


And yet, I can't help myself. I find myself packing and trying to to account for every eventuality and do as the Boy Scouts – always be prepared.
And what is really sad is the fact that the more time I have to prepare for a trip, the worse I am. I pack, repack, unpack, and pack some more. I wash all the clothes in the house and then lay them out on the bed to analyze, reconfigure, and pack.

The sad thing is, I do this for everyone in my household.

So, you can imagine the size of our duffel bags when I'm done! It's crazy! A weekend trip may involve 6-7 outfits (multiple changes per day, just in case someone falls in a river or something) and a dozen pairs of underwear.

Is this OCD?
Who knows.

My family laughs at me and says we've never been anywhere where there were no stores to buy more things if we need them (as if!).
But, I will tell you this… I've learned it's really nice to have options. And to know when your kid dumps an entire drink in her lap as you drive down the highway that you've got it covered.


Call me crazy, maybe.

Or, call me a Boy Scout in disguise.



Travelling and stress

Okay, so this week starts the big holiday travel season.

I love to travel. I do. Really.

It’s the getting ready to travel part that stresses me out. I hate trying to figure out what to pack, what the weather might be

(what if it changes and an unexpected polar front hits? will I be prepared?)


It’s ludicrous really. If I look at it from outside my own brain, it’s really very silly.

And yet, I can’t help myself. I find myself packing and trying to to account for every eventuality and do as the Boy Scouts – always be prepared.

And what is really sad is the fact that the more time I have to prepare for a trip, the worse I am. I pack, repack, unpack, and pack some more. I wash all the clothes in the house and then lay them out on the bed to analyze, reconfigure, and pack.

The sad thing is, I do this for everyone in my household. So, you can imagine the size of our duffel bags when I’m done! It’s crazy! A weekend trip may involve 6-7 outfits (multiple changes per day, just in case someone falls in a river or something) and a dozen pairs of underwear.

Is this OCD?

Who knows.

My family laughs at me and says we’ve never been anywhere where there were no stores to buy more things if we need them (as if!).

But, I will tell you this… I’ve learned it’s really nice to have options. And to know when your kid dumps an entire drink in her lap as you drive down the highway that you’ve got it covered.

Call me crazy, maybe. Or, call me a Boy Scout in disguise.


Gratitude

With all the gloom and doom in the news these days, it’s often very easy to forget about all the things we have to be thankful for… Here are some of the things I am most thankful for today:

  • My healthy family… we had been told we most likely would not be able to have children. Now, we are blessed with two beautiful girls who are healthy, happy, and full of life.
  • My wonderful husband … who puts up with my idiosyncrasies, my hobbies, moods, and tantrums (yes, I am guilty of those)
  • My mom – who is my best friend. ’nuff said.
  • My extended family and friends – who I know would do anything for us… back at ya, guys.
  • My house – it’s like living in a treehouse, only with a neighborhood and swimming pool.
  • My job – I love, love, love the fact that I get to work at home all day and still get paid.
  • My country – we may have problems, but we have our freedom and a lot more luxuries than a lot of other folks
  • My health and happiness
  • My faith – I know where all this comes from, and I know who deserves all the credit. and it ain’t me.


What are YOU thankful for this year?


Gratitude

With all the gloom and doom in the news these days, it's often very easy to forget about all the things we have to be thankful for… Here are some of the things I am most thankful for today:


  • My healthy family… we had been told we most likely would not be able to have children. Now, we are blessed with two beautiful girls who are healthy, happy, and full of life.
  • My wonderful husband … who puts up with my idiosyncrasies, my hobbies, moods, and tantrums (yes, I am guilty of those)
  • My mom – who is my best friend. 'nuff said.
  • My extended family and friends – who I know would do anything for us… back at ya, guys.
  • My house – it's like living in a treehouse, only with a neighborhood and swimming pool.
  • My job – I love, love, love the fact that I get to work at home all day and still get paid.
  • My country – we may have problems, but we have our freedom and a lot more luxuries than a lot of other folks
  • My health and happiness
  • My faith – I know where all this comes from, and I know who deserves all the credit. and it ain't me.




What are YOU thankful for this year?



Top 5 things to do this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is fast approaching…


It can be a time of great fun, or great stress… depending on how you approach things. I usually enjoy Thanksgiving – we spend the week at my mom’s house and visit with family throughout our visit. This year, I am hoping to shake things up a little.
Here are my top 5 things I’d like to do this year:
5. Try something new for the menu.
I have found a new recipe I want to try. It’s for Colonial Corn Pudding – which evolved from the popular colonial Indian pudding, which was itself an adaptation of porridge. Anyway, it sounds yummy and decadent because it’s chock full of things I love.
4. Go for a walk every day.
I have been trying to get myself on a new regimen of walking and it has not been something I’ve been very good at maintaining. So, while I’m off, have the time, and am over-indulging in other areas, I think I’ll try to squeeze a nice walk in every day… Besides, the weather is usually perfect in Savannah this time of year.
3. Catch up with old friends, not just family.
I’m hoping to catch up with my old high school chums this year. We are planning an “After the Turkey is Gone Get Together” and are hoping to make it a yearly event. I can’t wait to see everyone – some people I haven’t seen in, well, I’m not going to confess how many years it’s been since graduation…let’s just say it’s a long time and leave it at that!
2. Live in the moment.
Life is too short to be spent wasting time worrying. I have recently been reawakened to this concept. It’s a hard one to live by, especially for me as I am a professional-grade worrier. But, I am trying hard to trust that God provides for us and our expression of faith is to trust that He will give us WHAT we need WHEN we need it.
I want to focus this year on savoring each moment, filing away the memories of this precious time.
1. Stay awake after the turkey dinner!
Let’s see if I can beat that l-tryptophan this year! I wonder…

Top 5 things to do this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is fast approaching…


It can be a time of great fun, or great stress… depending on how you approach things. I usually enjoy Thanksgiving – we spend the week at my mom’s house and visit with family throughout our visit. This year, I am hoping to shake things up a little.

Here are my top 5 things I’d like to do this year:



5. Try something new for the menu.
I have found a new recipe I want to try. It’s for Colonial Corn Pudding – which evolved from the popular colonial Indian pudding, which was itself an adaptation of porridge. Anyway, it sounds yummy and decadent because it’s chock full of things I love.


4. Go for a walk every day.
I have been trying to get myself on a new regimen of walking and it has not been something I’ve been very good at maintaining. So, while I’m off, have the time, and am over-indulging in other areas, I think I’ll try to squeeze a nice walk in every day… Besides, the weather is usually perfect in Savannah this time of year.

3. Catch up with old friends, not just family.
I’m hoping to catch up with my old high school chums this year. We are planning an “After the Turkey is Gone Get Together” and are hoping to make it a yearly event. I can’t wait to see everyone – some people I haven’t seen in, well, I’m not going to confess how many years it’s been since graduation…let’s just say it’s a long time and leave it at that!

2. Live in the moment.
Life is too short to be spent wasting time worrying. I have recently been reawakened to this concept. It’s a hard one to live by, especially for me as I am a professional-grade worrier. But, I am trying hard to trust that God provides for us and our expression of faith is to trust that He will give us WHAT we need WHEN we need it.
I want to focus this year on savoring each moment, filing away the memories of this precious time.

1. Stay awake after the turkey dinner!
Let’s see if I can beat that l-tryptophan this year! I wonder…


Top 5 things to do this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is fast approaching…


It can be a time of great fun, or great stress… depending on how you approach things. I usually enjoy Thanksgiving – we spend the week at my mom’s house and visit with family throughout our visit. This year, I am hoping to shake things up a little.

Here are my top 5 things I’d like to do this year:



5. Try something new for the menu.
I have found a new recipe I want to try. It’s for Colonial Corn Pudding – which evolved from the popular colonial Indian pudding, which was itself an adaptation of porridge. Anyway, it sounds yummy and decadent because it’s chock full of things I love.


4. Go for a walk every day.
I have been trying to get myself on a new regimen of walking and it has not been something I’ve been very good at maintaining. So, while I’m off, have the time, and am over-indulging in other areas, I think I’ll try to squeeze a nice walk in every day… Besides, the weather is usually perfect in Savannah this time of year.

3. Catch up with old friends, not just family.
I’m hoping to catch up with my old high school chums this year. We are planning an “After the Turkey is Gone Get Together” and are hoping to make it a yearly event. I can’t wait to see everyone – some people I haven’t seen in, well, I’m not going to confess how many years it’s been since graduation…let’s just say it’s a long time and leave it at that!

2. Live in the moment.
Life is too short to be spent wasting time worrying. I have recently been reawakened to this concept. It’s a hard one to live by, especially for me as I am a professional-grade worrier. But, I am trying hard to trust that God provides for us and our expression of faith is to trust that He will give us WHAT we need WHEN we need it.
I want to focus this year on savoring each moment, filing away the memories of this precious time.

1. Stay awake after the turkey dinner!
Let’s see if I can beat that l-tryptophan this year! I wonder…