i need some spare minutes. anyone?

It’s crunch week. At least that’s what it feels like. I’ve got many things on the docket and have what feels like not enough minutes to go around. I’m going to breathe deep and just keep moving — moving, moving, moving. {movie line, anyone?}

1} Apple pickin’ time. That was yesterday, on my day of rest, at my parents. My little sister, Abby, and I spent several hours driving my dad’s tractor through his orchard with a trailer full of eager kids and picking trees heavy with apples. Boxes and boxes and boxes and bags of apples. Blessings. But now, leaves me with work to do – good work. Thankful work.

2} I freeze apples. Really. I have one of those nifty apple peelers/corers that attaches to your counter. I’ll send the apples through that, and then slice them and then put either 4 or 8 cups in a bag. I’ll sprinkle a bit of lemon in there as well. Last year, before Samuel was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I’d prep half of the bags with cinnamon, sugar, and some flour so that I could just dump them out and use them in a crisp. This year? I’ll be adapting and using some gluten free flour. Then, I’ll put them in freezer safe bags or vacuum seal type bags, label them, and pop those apples into the freezer until that day in January when we’re all hungry for apple crisp or apple pie or apples ontop of a puff pancake. Or just apples.

3} On Tuesday I see my shoulder surgeon. You can cue ominous music from any movie of your choice. I don’t know if I’ll be having surgery or not — part of me just wants to have it so that I don’t have shoulder problems months down the road. No matter what, I’ll be getting to go to my physical therapy and will get to listen in on my regular shoulder work-out friends. 🙂 {I think I’ll have to take Hannah with me sometime so she can get pics} And please know that I tried to only use the right arm while I was picking apples.

4} Putting a picture of Samuel in while he was apple picking. I know how you all enjoy those. And yes, that is a lacrosse net. Which, in our family we’ll also use during apple picking time — for both picking and chucking the bad apples into my dad’s pond. And for keeping little boys, who are less than one month away from being two, entertained. Can you believe that? Two?

5} I’ve also got several fun reviews coming up — including one for that fab book that I referenced last week — and a neat post on Thursday with some friends of mine. We’re going to be writing about scheduling and planning and how we can honor God in the details. I’ll be writing about our schedule and a bit of my daily life. I know, I know, I know, you’re probably wondering how I do my life with my seven kids and blogging and being a wife, and teaching and so on. Let me tell you. It’s coffee. And God. Well, mainly and totally God, and then He blessed me with coffee to keep me going. The rest of my secrets? Will be written about on Thursday.

6} So now, I’m back to the spare minutes. Anyone have extra? Ha ha ha — Of course, I’m kidding. Here’s what I’m going to do — I’m going to sit back, drink my coffee, list everything out, and just start moving. I’m joyful and grateful for the busy moments of life. For the kids, and the schedules, and the homeschooling, and the funny mornings at the physical therapist, and for the time to write. Busy is good. With the right heart and lots of plans for apples.

Do you have big plans this week? Or are you clinging to the last days of summer?