soup making and soup prep

After working all day on my writing project research I boiled a whole 5lb chicken for the meat (future casseroles) and soup broth. Then I peeled chopped and boiled potatoes. Thursday DV I am going to make the potatoes and leek soup mix and use the boiled potatoes with potato water + chicken soup broth + chicken meat for an ultra packed soup 🍲 

10 Days in the State of Georgia

We visited 2 of my Husband’s siblings and his parents ❤️ we also saw our wedding godkids. 

I am doing fine but understandably tired!

Will try to write more soon! Busy days 😊

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

Sunday

We had a beautiful Sunday.  A friend and her kids came.  We went shopping for groceries after. 

I have had a difficulty sleeping but keep hoping for better 🙏 

My work on my writing project continues. 

Next week we have family visiting so olif I don't write, that's why. 

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

A very full Monday

I had my first online class for my writing project today. It went really well. It is exactly what I need and I am so grateful to God for this. 

I had a second meeting tonight and then took a walk and then got ready to leave. 

We were at a dinner for a friend's son's birthday today and that was really nice.

So yesterday was church and seeing our candledesk man at his retirement home then nap and then I went to a baby  shower for my goddaughter. 

So I am really peopled out! So tomorrow will be a clean house day and rest and do a little. 

All the while I keep going back to thinking about the class I had....

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

A Saturday of Joy

Our friend Photini visited us! We had brunch!  I got an egg coddler made in England at Tea and Sympathy. 😊🥚

We went to vespers. I got some groceries. After dinner I made koek. I think I over baked it  ... 

We have a busy week coming up. 

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

progress through a completed journal

Well. I accomplished something, for me anyway, I filled up an entire notebook on the 1991 book St Silouan the Athonite by St Sophrony.  

So in typical fashion I took these pictures and then started a new notebook! I am currently on page 441. I think it goes to page 503.

It's really good but wow it makes you think.... by which I mean both actual thinking but really more than that. It makes you look at your life, begin to see how what St Silouan (whose writings are the second half of the book) is saying is true....

When I read this sort of thing I feel like what is *actually* happening and why it is happening is finally being said.  It's always a relief, sometimes startling and in the end very encouraging. 

I am really glad I get to read this. It's a great treasure.

Well, other than this, I am tired. My goodness it took me forever just to read ten or so pages. If I am at the library I get more done. But I also wrote about 2 pages single spaced on my writing project so that's good. 

Well. I hope that I get to the library next week.  I am actually going to NYC briefly tomorrow but not to my library. 

Thanks God for His mercy! May the Lord have mercy on us still 🙏 

Goals in process

I got a smoothie. ✔️

My dishes are done ✔️ 

My kitchen counters are clean ✔️

I sent an important letter out ✔️

Letter was well received ✔️

I am DV gaining another goddaughter 💐

I read the mystery 📖 book ✔️

I rested ✔️

Ironically I struggled with Thanksgiving even though so much was done. 

Really hoping my throat improves. 

For now I must cultivate thanksgiving...

Lord have mercy!

New goal continued: Rest

Saturday I got to see our priest and his Matushka who retired this year. It was the first time I saw them this year where I was not sick, manic or having/recovering from memory loss. 

So that was deeply special and beautiful. 

Sunday morning liturgy was a blessing!

Afterwards we had a parish picnic!

A special lovely time!! 

On Saturday I learned of an educational opportunity for me to have some one on one tutorials regarding a big part of my research for my writing project. I start DV next week! I am thrilled that God has granted this to me. 

It also means that I am "more busy" and need to be careful that I do not get unbalanced in terms of activity versus rest. I have failed with this before and must be careful. 

I am still having a sore throat (right lymph gland tobe exact). I did a video consult today about it. I will keep resting.  Tomorrow here's my plan:

I have not read this one (or not in many years). Looking forward to "vegging"...

 

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

Ps: updated to add that my c-test was negative 

So onward! 🙏❤️

The last few days

Wednesday sunny ~ Feast of the Holy Cross 

I was so happy about going to NYC and felt well so made plans to return Thursday.

I did return. It's my personal favourite schedule, Tuesday and Thursday NYC.

I have a hard time keeping everything straight though and forgot that we are going out on Saturday. 

So, I am a bit run down again. I am quite certain that I am not physically fully recovered from this past year. Last year I was preparing for hammer toe surgery. The recovery took a while + I was not as active so I lost strength. And then January-March happened. I was so very sick physically and then lost my memory. It was the most acute painful agonizing time I have gone through.  I have no idea the amount of depletion I have experienced. I just know that it is significant. 

So today I am doing a lot of resting. 

And trying to accept things as they are. 

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

Thanks to God ... NYC happened

I made it to NYC! I woke up in the middle of the night and was wondering if I would be able to go. So thankful that I was able to!

I read 70 pages of St Silouan the Athonite. On page 381 now. It is a 500 page book 📖 and I am taking notes usually from every page. So it takes me a while. It's that sort of book. Thoughtful, packed with wisdom.... I am using it for my writing project and am seeing lots of things that connect to it. So I make notes about that as well. I am also learning a lot personally from this book.

I am very thankful that I had a day to spend reading it! If I am home I get distracted by other things so a full day (10 to 5) reading was a real blessing. 

We have DV church tomorrow. I would love to go back to NYC Thursday but we shall see. 

I do hope finishing my reading 📚 of this book in the next week.  

It's a deep book but also very beautiful. 

My library NYC days are some of my favourite days. 

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

Bread

Baked my favourite fruit and nut bread! We enjoyed it for breakfast!

I am hoping to go to NYC tomorrow but will see.  I am hoping to make good progress on the St Silouan book.

I have a lunch pretty much packed for tomorrow. 

May God have mercy on us 🙏