Life of INTENTION is busy.

I feel like a real slacker this month. At least I have an extra day!

Working hard and playing hard makes the rest of the day fly by.

I have subbed many days this month and last and am now hosting my MIL this week. I'll have another busy week coming up then a breather with spring break. Hoping I have time to do some INTENTIONAL spring cleaning during that time.

Promise I'll write something meaningful soon.

Ash Wednesday. No ashes here.

Today is Ash Wednesday. I ordered, and intended to eat, a burger for lunch. Ordered it medium and got it rare. Didn't eat it. Told my friend it was a sign from God that I was skipping my Ash Wednesday lesson. She disagreed. I love her for that. She also let me eat some of her chicken.

So we continue on the quest for a new church home. We have attended Crosspoint a couple more times and tonight the boys went to youth group there. They came out talking and smiling and begging, yes BEGGING, to return next week! WOW. I am humbled. I am happy. I am hopeful.

I am planning to attend a "What we believe" at the church on Sunday night. I have some questions. They will surely have answers. We'll see if we are in alignment. I want to know if it is a good fit. It feels good but obviously I need to look more closely. This is a big decision. As it should be.

Working on this BIG ROCK with such INTENTION has been very challenging personally. Lots of questions to myself about me questioning so much. Lots of thinking on my part about how I thought it was okay to stick around in the Catholic church so long when I have long held fundamental beliefs that differ from catechism. Obviously these things take time. My faith is important. Fostering faith with my family is important. I am glad in my heart. I am hopeful. I believe.

SLACKER!

I was talking about myself don't worry. I haven't blogged in 10 days! I have thought about it many many times but just haven't taken the action. My INTENTION has been other places I guess. Sadly, I must admit that one of those places has been my DVR. It was almost full again and I had to spend some time watching Extreme Home Makeover's final episode and get caught up on the oh so terrible Private Practice. There is so much I don't like about that show but somehow I get sucked in and watch. Ugh!

I have also been working a bunch lately! I have worked three-four days each week this month. It's going to pay off really well but not until April. That is REALLY far off. It does take a lot out of me to work that much but it has been fun at the same time. I have spent some time in second grade where I haven't been all year. These are the kids I had when I subbed a bunch in Kindergarten two years ago. They are all so much BIGGER and wiser now. It's been fun. I also spent a little time in music, PE, 1st grade and 5th grade. I am taking a break though. I have to. I have COMPANY COMING!

My mother-in-law Carolyn, SIL Mary Sue, BIL Rick and his mom Pat are coming for a visit next week. I have some cleaing and straightening to do before they arrive as well as some meeting this week. While they are here I will stay home to host Carolyn and help her with some baking that she plans to do for us while she is here. We haven't had company since my parents were here last August so I should probably dust the guest room.

I have also taken some time in the last week to work on a scrapbook about ME! It is the 10 Things kit and I am slowly but surely filling it in with tid bits, fact, feelings and goals. I need to find some photos to go with all of my words but that will come.  I am going to get the chance to be even more creative in a couple of weeks. I passed along an email to Fred about a Stamping Up! stamp retreat that I wanted to attend and he got the hint. He also shared the link with Troy so Sabrina and I are going to attend together and CREATE for 24 hours. Well, we'll sleep for a few of those hours in our HOTEL room. I am excited to spend time with my friend and meet some new people too. It should be a creatively productive time that I will look forward to with much anticipation.

This is a sneak peak of something that we will be creating!

Well the week ahead looks promising. It's got to be good since Monday is a holiday! I have a PTA president's lunch that I will attend on Tuesday. I enjoy the time to connect and share and learn about PTA and the district. Wednesday evening the boys are going to try out the youth program at the church we have been visiting the last couple of months. I am excited for them. Youth group was such a HUGE part of my growing up and I want them to have that safe haven in faith and the good influence of other kids who believe the same. Thursday Will has baseball practice then Friday we will get ready for our company. The crew arrives on Saturday evening.

So, nothing too strenuous and a few things FUN FUN FUN!

Prayers

Seems like there are so many people in need of prayers these days. People I know and love, people I see on the news, people who I know exist but I don't know their whole story. I don't need to know. They still need my prayers.

My prayer journal is a wonderful place to write names of specific people, many are often repeated, and write praises for answered prayers. It keeps me focused and allows me to look back and see progress and maybe see where I need to be more specific. Not that God needs to answers all of my requests. Obviously, He know better than I what I need in my life. He knows if my prayer for success needs to happen just that way or if failure is necessary for the next success to be that much sweeter. He will heal in his own time. He will see the reason for the journey.

Prayer can be as simple as my list written on a piece of paper or in a journal. It can be a meditation on one thing. Prayer can be time spent with soft music and candle light, inviting God into your life to walk through each day with you.

Light a candle or light a dozen. Set a peaceful mood.

A few years ago I prayed to God for a refrigerator repair man. (I was looking back on old posts today.)  Tonight I will pray for healed hips and recovery from diseases. I will pray in thanksgiving for school guidance counselors. I will ask for patience and guidance as I sub in 2nd grade tomorrow. I will pray for safety for travelers, especially for those related to me. I'll pray for families trying to have babies. I will pray for children who are in need of families. I will pray for hospice patients and their care givers. I will pray for my sweet neighbors who have been married for 50 years, that they enjoy each other for many many more. And I will pray for you. I hope that you will do the same for me.

Things here are looking up!

Not that we were on the down side or anything. Just a comment that things are going good here at the Baker house.

Fred just bought a new gun safe yesterday. He was able to get a SUPER GREAT deal on it with some "connections" through our Liberty Mutual agent. It will be delivered later in the week. He spent some time today rearranging his office to make room for it. It should be a nice addition to his space. He was also able to wrap up our federal taxes and submit those today. It'll be nice to get that refund direct deposited to our account in just a few days. We have done direct deposit the last few years and it usually shows up in less than a week!

Nic spent Friday and Saturday performing with his advanced theater class in their one act version of Harvey. He did an excellent job playing Dr. Chumley, looking quite distinguished in his white lab coat and again in a fedora and trench coat. I was pretty amazed that he could walk so tall on stage. The play received a superior rating in the contest yesterday. All of the kids did so well. The lead actor won Best Actor of the Day, Dr. Sanderson won an Honorable Mention medal, a lighting tech won an award and Nic won an All-Star Actor award. It's a neat medal that is engraved and everything! So proud. So very proud!

William continues to do great things in band. The beginner band students had two rehearsals last week to prepare for their first concert this Tuesday. He reported that they sounded great together and I heard similar news from other students and the director. He did comment on the fact that the trombones behind him are loud but hopefully he will get used to that. He's used to playing in a room with just saxophones and sometimes they combine with the french horns.  Can't wait to hear the three pieces on Tuesday.

We have a couple of meetings this week about high school class selection. I am in a bit of denial about being the mother of a high school student. I realize that even with denial Nic will proceed to this milestone in his life but I just can't believe we are there, or here, as the case may be.

Okay, I'm off to watch the last few minutes of the Super Bowl. I do not care who wins I just want to see Indianapolis host this great party. Lots of FB posts this week with photos and tales of the week. I was able to talk to Denise tonight and she put it all in perspective as we talked about what streets different events were being held on. Sounded as great from her as everyone else is saying. Such a completely different experience that we had in Dallas last year. Snow and ice and spread out venues were awful in comparison to location location location in Indy as well as surprisingly mild January weather. Way to go Indy!