When the moon hits your eye like a biga pizza pie . . .

. . . that's amore!
I'm thankful for:

1. being able to be there for a friend in need
   
2. 11 years since our first date in Venice, Italy
   
3. dancing in the kitchen with Jeff to That's Amore
   
4. our Sunday morning pancake breakfast tradition
   
5. enjoying lunch with our church family
   
6. a nice nap
   
7. Jeff being able to rest his back and not worry about having to drive today
8. Thomas enjoying his first time watching Baby Signing Times
   
9. playing tickle monster with the kids
10. a pretty good day overall
    

"Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but . . .

. . . through being the right mate." -Barnett R. Brickner
I'm thankful for:

1. going to Kohl's by myself this morning
   
2. saving money. I like saving money!
   
3. being lazy and letting my dishes pile up a bit
   
4. Clara whispering me awake after my nap - so sweet!
   
5. the Hahne's watching our children while we went out on a date (with Thomas, too, of course)
   
6. finding a couch and rug for our house
   
7. slowly getting our house a little bit more together
   
8. the kids having a great time at the Hahne's and playing so nicely together!
   
9. Thomas behaving like a champ, as always, while we dragged him all over to get a couch
   
10. enjoying a wonderful time together and feeling refreshed from the time together
    

"Madness need not be all breakdown. . .

. . . It may also be break-through." -R.D. Laing, The Politics of Experience
I'm thankful for:

1. this strangely cool, cloudy day
   
2. happy squeaks coming from Thomas' bedroom this morning
   
3. handling discipline mostly with love and without anger
4. putting Thomas down for a nap without socks on his hands this morning
   
5. getting things done on "the list"
   
6. recognizing that the changes in Thomas are absolutely a miracle!
7. Jeff coming home tonight and not traveling at all next week!
8. Thomas eczema and skin worsening later in the day, only for the reminder of how great he's been and having hope for permanent change
9. Christian wanting to pray for "the red spots on Thomas' face to go away"
   
10. Jeff being able and available to help a friend load their moving truck
    

"People who do not understand themselves have a craving for understanding." -Wilhelm Stekel

I'm thankful for:

1. seeing the end of a beautiful sunrise this morning
   
2. a cooler than usual day out in the desert
   
3. Thomas trying soy formula in his cereal with no noticeable problems
   
4. surviving the zoo in the heat today (cooler or not, it's still pretty dang hot!)
   
5. finding at least one animal to entertain us (orangatans). The rest were hiding in the shade.
   
6. the kids memory of the zoo as a great time even if it didn't seem they were having fun there
   
7. Christian being brave on the merry-go-round
   
8. Thomas eating a snow cone - finally something he can eat out! And he loved every bite!
   
9. enjoying some wrestle time with the kids
10. Thomas' love for his siblings - it is so sweet!
    

"Depressed? Of course we're all depressed.

. . . We've been so quickly, violently, and irreconcilably plucked from nature, from physical labor, from kinship and village mentality, from every natural and primordial anti-depressant. The further society "progresses," the grander the scale of imbalance. Just as fluoride is put in water to prevent dental caries, we'll soon find government mandating Prozac in our water to prevent mental caries." -M. Robin D'Antan
I'm thankful for:

1. running 5k in 29 minutes this morning!
   
2. seeing quail, rabbits, jackrabbits and other little critters to start my day
3. making plans for the zoo tomorrow
4. getting some things done around here
5. the kids having some nice playtime together
6. cooking pork chops for the first time ever
7. 3 out of 4 liking the pork chops
8. the kids silly antics in the pool tonight
9. being humbled. I never thought I'd have these issues and my pride has gotten in the way of me getting help. Now I have the opportunity to stop relying on myself to solve all my problems.
   
10. confidence that God is going to use these experiences not just to grow me but so that I may minister to other people having these same issues once I get through this.
    

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,

. . . in accordance with the riches of God's grace -Ephesians 1:7
I'm thankful for:

1. getting to spend some time with Amanda, D', and their kids
   
2. trying a soy latte for the first time to see how Thomas handles it. Oh, Starbucks! How I have missed you!
   
3. Thomas pulling up to standing on Jack's train table. He's getting so big!
   
4. a long overdue talk with my friend Krista
   
5. phone calls with so many dear friends today
6. not losing my temper with the kids when they misbehaved so much while I was on the phone
   
7. 3 kids playing boats together
   
8. Thomas eating so well lately
   
9. Jeff coming home and cleaning up the kitchen for me
   
10. the fact that I do regret when I lose my temper and seek forgiveness
    

"Some people regard discipline as a chore. . .

. . . For me it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly." -Julie Andrews
I'm thankful for:

1. running 5k in under 30 minutes (about 1 1/2 minutes faster than the first time I ran 5k)
   
2. going to the store minus one child this morning
   
3. our leather couch, because I would bet it was easier to clean up poop off of that than a cloth couch
   
4. setting up my new Franklin Covey and getting a few things crossed off of the list
   
5. Christian's growing desire to read and write more
   
6. enjoying a conversation with the kids about classical music and the different emotions each song can invoke
7. Jeff being around for a good part of the week
   
8. trying a new recipe - not bad!
   
9. the lessons I'm learning in selflessness and flexibility
   
10. seeing a week of improvement with Thomas and even with his itchiness today seeing it can and will go away