"Prayer does not change God, but . . .

. . . it changes him who prays." -Søren Kierkegaard
I'm thankful for:

1. the kids waking super early and their grumpy attitudes. Normally this is the start of a bad day, but today it gave me the opportunity to read my bible and pray that instead of trying to control my children that God would help me to guide them.
   
2. dear friends who worry when they don't hear from me for a while
   
3. feeling refreshed from our time in Tucson
4. the house next to us is sold!
   
5. Christian's desire to create something for show and share
   
6. Thomas' happy demeanor in spite of the itchy hives. What is it today? Bananas?
   
7. the first real laugh from Thomas
   
8. having a pizza party picnic watching Mary Poppins
   
9. long phone calls with great friends. Thanks Melissa!
10. a low-key freelance gig, perfect for my limited free time
    

"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. . .

. . . They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies." -Rudolph Giuliani
I'm thankful for:

1. having the opportunity to go to Tucson overnight at the last minute
   
2. being able to spend the whole week with Jeff
   
3. the love the kids have for Grandma & Grandpa
   
4. relatively good behavior from the C's in spite of a sleep deficit
   
5. marked improvement from Thomas in behavior and sleep
   
6. Mary Kay joining in on the tea party
   
7. Thomas making big strides (ha ha! pun intended) on the army crawl
   
8. having in-laws that I feel comfortable talking openly with
   
9. all 3 kids falling asleep fairly quickly on the car ride back from Tucson
   
10. a safe drive back from Tucson
    

"Mother love is the fuel that . . .

. . . enables a normal human being to do the impossible." -Marion C. Garretty
I'm thankful for:

1. a great phone call with my sister last night and the closer we've come through the years
   
2. my bible study. I am so sad it is ending for the summer, but I have learned so much from the study of Genesis through Community Bible Study
   
3. a greater understanding of the Lord's timing and lessons in patience
   
4. a beautiful springtime here in the desert where we usually are sweltering long before now
   
5. Thomas sleeping at Bible Study - something he's never done before without being held
   
6. Thomas sleeping on his own this afternoon too! Maybe we're turning a corner!
7. Christian singing in front of bible study. Ok, well, standing there and looking a bit like Eeyore, but he was up there nonetheless.
   
8. Christian's preschool helper telling me how much he's grown and how he knows all the songs and motions for their upcoming show
   
9. Clara's desire to do things by herself and the determination she has to keep trying until she's figured it out
   
10. Thomas is like another child. So happy and rested. Squeals of joys resounding instead of screams of irritation.
    

It's so great to find that one special person . . .

. . . you want to annoy for the rest of your life. -Rita Rudner
I'm thankful for:

1. getting to see a breathtaking Arizona sunrise this morning
   
2. running 3 miles to start my day
   
3. Jeff's trip to El Paso getting canceled this week!!
   
4. Thomas taking a 2 1/2 hour nap this afternoon and not having his usual screaming time tonight!
   
5. Clara putting Thomas' clothes away on her own initiative (is she really just 2 years old?!)
   
6. going to the store and bank by my self!
   
7. getting our sprinkler issue corrected without cost to us
   
8. Jeff playing with the kids outside
   
9. the balance Jeff gives me in all parts of life
10. being able to eat marshmallows to satisfy my sweet tooth!
    

Most of the food allergies die under garlic and onion. -Martin H. Fischer

I'm thankful for:

1. having self control
2. becoming more self aware. It does help to talk myself down out of anger when I realize it is because I'm trying to control a situation that cannot be controlled
   
3. having a sense of humor that I can laugh at my children even if what they're doing is wrong
   
4. sitting near other noisy children at church so I can at least pretend my children were not the only loud ones
   
5. Christian's desire to spend time with his Grandma & Grandpa, & calling Grandma to talk to her about it
   
6. taking a much needed nap today
   
7. the kids bringing me flowers after their walk with Daddy
   
8. Thomas not scratching much today
   
9. hope that eliminating all legumes will make a huge difference for Thomas
   
10. making yummy chicken tortilla soup and enough to last me several meals
    

It will be interesting to see if the kids read this when they grow up.

. . . It's not that I don't have a lot to be thankful for with each of them, but Thomas' allergies consume so much of my time right now that I cannot help but be thankful for each little piece of progress in his life. Praise God for the wisdom he has given me lately and I wait with anticipation to see how eliminating beans from my diet changes his quality of life.
I'm thankful for:

1. Isaac being here and the joy he brought to the kids
   
2. Thomas slept without crying, woke for a few minutes but then miraculously went back to sleep this morning's nap, (he usually sleeps about 30 minutes if at all)
   
3. celebrating new life at a baby shower this afternoon - not to mention having some time away just me and T
   
4. Thomas behavior was spectacular at the baby shower
   
5. preparing a nice dinner for company coming over
   
6. spending a great evening with Taun and Nick
   
7. celebrating Taun's birthday with her
   
8. Taun and Nick playing with the C's
   
9. no fussy time for Thomas tonight because he enjoyed the company of Taun and Nick so much
10. Thomas going to sleep all day with no crying!!!
    

"Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is . . .

. . . too small to be made into a burden." -Corrie ten Boom, Clippings from My Notebook
I'm thankful for:

1. recognizing that I have not been consistent in expecting immediate obedience, evidenced by the lack of cooperation from my children this morning to get out the door quickly
   
2. squeezing in a trip to the grocery store early this morning
3. not totally losing my mind in order to keep on our tight schedule
   
4. getting the hang of holding Clara over a public toilet with minimal touching (yuck) and holding Thomas at the same time without dropping either of them. Thank goodness for handicapped stalls that will hold all 4 of us!
   
5. Scott going out of his way to do a last minute synthetic oil change for us
   
6. Harmony taking pictures of Thomas
7. Thomas smiling nicely for pictures in spite of being super tired
   
8. Jennie keeping the kids for me while I took Thomas for his photos
9. I found a new one! Beans!!! I figured out the pattern and then put some refried beans on Thomas' skin. Wala! A hive! Hurray! One step closer to fixing this kid.
   
10. Jeff's coming home tonight and Isaac is spending the night. The kids are SOOO excited!