Attitude of Gratitude

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-15T15:49:00.008-07:00

Here we are at Salmon Creek Beach in California, August 2010.

Dear Family and Friends--

I hope you'll forgive me for this short-cut method of newsletter-distribution, but I figure if you've gone as far as to get online and read this, you must be one of those folks who genuinely care about our family, thus you won't mind that I have taken such drastic sanity-preserving measures this season, in fact, you'll be glad I did!

So, with no further fanfare, here's a little news about us:

Amber (20) is a junior at SUU in Cedar City, majoring in creative writing and minoring in vocal performance. She's aiming for a study-abroad in London this summer and is still the book-and-movie-trivia buff of the family.

Shannon (18) graduated high school a year early and started BYU this fall. She's aiming to be done with her Sociology degree in record time, hoping all the hard work distracts her a little from missing her missionary boyfriend.

Emma (14) is enduring high school with a 4.0, missing her broken camera, toting a sketchbook everywhere, and picks up after everyone in the house even more than mom does.

Adam (12) is Dad's right-hand man on every project. A typical 12-year-old boy: works on merit badges, tries to avoid homework, eats a lot, sleeps more than ever, and wants a cell phone in his stocking.....

Bridget (11) is Mom's right-hand man, I mean, GIRL! Super responsible and the best helper around, she's gonna be a great mom someday. She is reading the Harry Potter series like mad, hoping to finish volume 7 in time for the midnight movie premier next July. I'm confident she'll make it!

Joey (7) is a sensitive little fellow who wants to be in on all the action no matter what it is! He loves reading, keeps insisting he's "not a little kid anymore," and is so cute that his school teacher compares him to a "little Brad Pitt."

James (5) can't get enough of playing with the posse of little boys around the neighborhood. They are double-, triple-, and quadruple-trouble (but they're so cute, they get away with a lot). Hits the pillow and falls instantly asleep each night.

Julia (2) Those big blue eyes and long brown curls keep us all wrapped around her little finger, even when the terrible-two attitude shines forth loud and strong! She's gotta be a tough cookie to hold her own in this crazy family. So far, so good.

Norman: got released from our ward bishopric and put into the singles' ward bishopric the very next week. It's opening up a whole new social scene for our family; all 5 of our daughters are engaged (I'm kidding!). He's busy with his job, and there's never a dull moment at home, so sneaking away for lunch-hour rock-climbing and early morning runs keep him going strong: he ran 2 marathons this year.

Ingrid: decided to carve out an hour for reading each day, to renew her brain that has been dormant for too long-- it's a joy and a stretch, and it doesn't always happen, but she's not giving up! Keeping up with all of the kids and household stuff takes the other 23 hours of the day. 2010 highlights include lots of hiking this summer (2 new local peaks!), reading "Les Miserables," and a running half-marathon.

Thanks for taking the extra effort to find our newsletter and hear about all our goings-on. We love and cherish each of our family and friends, and hope you enjoy--with us--the season for its real reason: the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sending lots of love,
from The Sorensen Family

P.S. Here's wishing you a Happy New Year, too!

After Shannon's graduation in May

In San Francisco in August

Rhubarb

2010-06-15T11:48:00.004-06:00

Today I am thankful for many things related to this rhubarb. First, that it was growing in Amber's backyard while she was living down in Cedar going to school. I am thankful that I SAW it growing there, thankful that the owners told her she could take what was growing in the backyard (because they don't take it or use it [refer back to last fall and all those apples I posted about]), and I am thankful Amber had a super sharp knife handy (despite all her stuff being packed up to move home) with which I could harvest this!

I am also thankful that it has survived happily, bagged up in the back of my fridge, for 6 weeks now, waiting til I could bake a pie. Well, I have ZERO time for baking non-essentials this week, so I chopped it up and froze it. But the last thing for which I am thankful is that the rhubarb I harvested yielded exactly the amount I would need to bake 1 pie, AND make 1 batch of one of my most favorite summer-time treats: berry-rhubarb ice cream. It is the BEST! But for now, to the freezer with you, 7 cups of sliced rhubarb! I'll be seeing YOU later!

The Eiffel Tower?

2010-05-22T21:10:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful that Alexandre Eiffel does my dishes. Or someone with his architectural abilities anyway. So when I come home and see the drying dishes stacked on the counter, I get a smile on my face.

Bananarama

2010-05-22T21:06:00.002-06:00

Today (well yesterday) I was thankful to find bananas for 20 cents a pound, which is about half of what I usually pay. So I stocked up. 40 lbs. $8.00. 8 gallon-size baggies full of smoothie-ready bananas in my freezer. We're ready for summer! Did you know that a frozen banana can be a fabulous base for a smoothie, adding creaminess and texture similar to adding ice cream, but of course, much more healthy? Yep, I'm going bananas! Come along!

Snow

2010-02-20T08:00:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful for the little skiff of snow that fell during the wee hours of this morning and made everything look pretty again.

Cutie Pie

2010-02-17T16:42:00.003-07:00

I am thankful for this little cutie-pie, and my favorite window that great picture-taking light comes in.

Good food!

2010-02-17T16:38:00.003-07:00

I am thankful for good food, especially THIS, our traditional Valentines Day breakfast. (I was pleased that Valentines Day was on a Sunday this year, so we had time to enjoy our breakfast and not be rushed, the way we would have been if it had been a school day. Also, it made the wake-up-and-get-it-all-ready hour not so awfully early.) We often have waffles with berries and cream, but I think pancakes are a little more popular at our house, so I went with pancakes this time. Whole wheat, from scratch, of course. Mmm-mmm good!

Amaryllis

2010-02-16T17:33:00.003-07:00

I am thankful for this lovely amaryllis that we have witnessed come to life, starting as a small bud and growing at a surprising rate into a beautiful bloom, just in time for Valentines Day. Thanks to my sister Candace for giving it to me!

All in a day's work

2010-02-12T12:22:00.004-07:00

Today I am thankful for our Team Sorensen and the hard workers they are. We stacked 2 cords of wood. Whew! Great job, kids!

No snow

2010-02-11T15:51:00.004-07:00

Today, for this moment, I am thankful that there is no snow. So kids can get on some skates and get out and have some fun and sunshine. Cold sunshine (there is a cruel north wind), but sunshine nevertheless. I am also thankful that I saved the rollerblades that Amber used to wear.

Deals!

2010-02-05T12:47:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful for Plato's Closet and the chance to score sweet deals on good things! I have wished for a pair of galoshes many times over this wet and slushy winter-- check! Also, my favorite shoes from "the good old days" (whatever those are-- THESE are the good NEW days!) were red high-top Chucks. Well, check that too! Grand total: $25. Love it!

Lemon water

2010-02-01T11:20:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful for my yummy lemon water, that the lemons were fresh and free, and that I have my favorite big glasses to drink the water from. I like lining up 4 pint glasses, each with varying amounts of ice, squirting some lemon juice in each, and having my water intake pre-measured for the day. I drink the water in each glass once the ice has melted; and being that there is more ice in each successive glass, theoretically it can last me all day. If it doesn't, well, I can make more! I love lemon water. It makes my mouth feel clean, can cure my munchies, and is good for me! What are you thankful for today?

Wipers

2010-01-21T08:30:00.003-07:00

I am thankful for windshield wipers. How would we drive in this gorgeous weather without them?

One amazing girl

2010-01-21T07:16:00.003-07:00

I am thankful that I have a daughter who keeps track of things and helps me to be as fair as possible as a mom. She's a great girl. I love her tons. She is the most driven, self-motivated person I think I have ever met. She has a plan for her life and is working non-stop to make it happen. She gives me very little to worry about, and for a 17-year-old, how many parents can say they are grateful for that? Shan, you are amazing.

Drama!

2010-01-20T22:51:00.003-07:00

I am thankful that I have learned to avoid Facebook comment-drama by keeping my mouth shut most of the time. Once in awhile I simply must interject my nosey opinion about things, but for the most part, I sure enjoy Facebook most when I can just see what my friends are up to and not get involved in heated debates. I still have a lot to learn here, but I am thankful for my progress.

Volunteers

2010-01-19T07:05:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful that the teenagers volunteered to do the dishes after a big family dinner with our friends! Thanks, S & C!

Broken Dishwasher

2010-01-18T12:51:00.004-07:00

Sounds ridiculous, I know, but I am thankful that our dishwasher is broken. I have rediscovered the joy of washing dishes by hand. It reminds me of when Norm and I were first married, and I am loving that the big kids aren't holding it over the little kids' heads all the time: "When I was your age, we were doing dishes BY HAND!" Now the little kids are learning to do dishes by hand too. There is just something so satisfying about a sink full of sudsy water, and of course the singing that goes along with the washing is something I will surely miss when the kids are all grown up.

Good People, and Good Council

2010-01-17T09:05:00.005-07:00

I am thankful someone was found alive! And that there are so many good people in the world, going to Haiti and helping, each in their own way: doctors, search and rescue workers, etc. I sometimes wish I could just drop everything and go help.... but it is not to be. I am thankful my life is what it is, that we are blessed and safe and healthy, and I am thankful for council to be prepared, in case the day comes when we are not so blessed or safe or healthy.

Example

2010-01-16T11:20:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful that, although spreading out my child-bearing over 18 years has its challenges, it also has its benefits. One thing that came to mind is that I like to nurse my babies for what some people consider a long time, a year and a half, or more. My older children will have grown up seeing this, and will hopefully follow that example. I was only 8 when my mom had her last baby, so many things about baby-rearing I was not able to learn by example, just because I was quite young. I hope that my older children will be able to learn some good things from watching me mother my little ones. I also hope they will let the bad things I do slide right thru their memories and be forgotten!

Color!

2010-01-15T17:43:00.003-07:00

I am thankful I learned how to change the colors of my blog-- the black was just really getting me down. Winter is "blah" enough without having to look at a black blog all the time. I am thankful there is supposed to be a storm coming early next week. Winter needs to hit her "refresh" button.

Bacon?

2010-01-15T15:24:00.003-07:00

Today I am thankful that, although Adam picked bacon to have for his special birthday breakfast, and I had to fry bacon in my kitchen (never! bacon is for camping breakfasts only!), it does mean I get to have this:

for lunch! A BLT with real bacon. I only eat something like this about once a year. Usually right around the time of Adam's birthday. Hm. It was delicious!

2010-01-13T15:19:00.002-07:00

I am thankful for the temple. There is peace to be found, work to be done, and joy as a result. I need that!

Errors!

2010-01-11T14:17:00.003-07:00

Not errors, but FINDING errors! Today I found an error on a utility bill that I had not caught before. There had been a billing mistake on the part of the utility company. It resulted in a credit of hundreds of dollars to our account! I am thankful the mistake was theirs and not mine. I am grateful we caught it and that we benefit!

Sunday Dinner Dishes

2010-01-10T18:52:00.002-07:00

I am grateful for the fun new tradition of singing together as we do the Sunday dinner dishes. Usually it's showtunes, but you never know.

It turned out OK!

2009-11-10T11:46:00.004-07:00

Today I am thankful that my bread loaves turned out OK. I haven't made bread except for once since last spring, and I have gotten out of practice. I also made some white loaves today, for Julia (we ate one tho!), and they came out OK too. Yum! I love that I know how to do this! I also am thankful for the little finger prints in the loaves, that Julia made when the bread was rising. Little finger prints. So cute.

Curls

2009-11-09T11:46:00.002-07:00

Today (everyday!) I am thankful for the cute head of golden brown curls that Julia has. These are not likely to last, I'm afraid. I think they are just baby curls that she will eventually outgrow. So, for today, I make sure to savor them, run my fingers through them, brush them (but not too vigorously!), and smell the sweet baby-hair smell. This is one thing I really feel compelled to be thankful for, since I know it is fleeting and won't be back to enjoy again next year, like other things will. LOVE THESE CURLS!

Emma and her cookies

2009-11-09T11:44:00.003-07:00

I am thankful that Emma likes to bake cookies. Since we ALL love to eat them, everyone wins! Thank you, Emma!

Clear windshields...

2009-11-09T09:12:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful for my son Adam and that I taught him to turn on the car and the defroster and the heater so that when we run out the door to drive to school, the car is not only toasty warm, but the ice on the windshield is gone, and I can drive right on past all those folks scraping their windshields in the cold freezing morning! Thanks, Adam! (Sorry there is no picture. I can wait two more weeks to remember to take a picture, but then I'd be the absentee blogger I swore I'd never be, so, there ya have it for today.)

More apple goodness

2009-10-18T16:09:00.002-06:00

I think I mentioned that there would be more yummy apple bounty later on, after I made juice a few weeks ago. Well, here is some more: apple pie, apple cake, and bottled apple juice to enjoy later this fall. Details on the story of the juice will be "a whole 'nother post."

Focaccia!

2009-10-14T18:32:00.002-06:00

I wanted some yummy bread to go with tonight's soup. I am thankful I found this fast and easy recipe online.
It turned out great!

Wherewithal

2009-10-10T12:21:00.003-06:00

I am thankful I had the wherewithal last night to put half my huge salad in a to-go box before pouring the dressing on it, so then I could bring it home and enjoy it again today! Yum!

Staying Home

2009-10-08T11:52:00.002-06:00

Today is am thankful for my good husband, who has always been such a good provider for our family and made it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mom to our kids. I have never had to work, our whole marriage. Life is good. I am able to stay home and love the kids, and be here for them, and create a HOME, and watch them eat chicken nuggets for lunch:

Abundance!

2009-10-07T14:55:00.004-06:00

Today I am thankful for the 50 lbs. of apples Amber picked for me from the trees that grow at her house, where she lives while away at college.

And also thankful for some skills and equipment I have, in order to make that box of apples turn into this:

4 quarts of applesauce, 1 gallon plus 1 pint f fresh juice, and still some left to make pies with (more posts about that later).
Hooray for fall and apples!

No words needed

2009-10-05T13:16:00.003-06:00

My daughter

2009-10-05T11:28:00.003-06:00

I am thankful for Amber who went out to the trees that grow behind her house, and picked me this:

So now I can make some yummy stuff to eat later this year. I'll post some pics of the goods once they are finished.

Bounty from the Garden

2009-10-05T11:23:00.003-06:00

I am thankful for weather forecasting, so I can harvest my veggies before they freeze, so I can make yummy stuff for us to enjoy during the winter, like this salsa:

Simple Kindness

2009-10-05T11:22:00.003-06:00

Today I am grateful that my daughter is so sweet to fill up the sugar canister when it is empty. A simple act, but so very appreciated! Thank you, Bridget!

Convection Oven

2009-09-02T15:25:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful for my convection oven, that can hold two sheets of cookies at once. One sheet of cookies does not feed my family, we need two sheets. This oven can do it! Thanks Lila T. for choosing this oven way back when it was your kitchen!

Sunflowers

2009-08-21T16:38:00.004-06:00

Today I am grateful that my sunflowers have grown. I have never planted them before, and as I poked those little seeds in the ground, I was a bit doubtful they would really grow to be the size it said on the package. But, the miracle of life, seeds, plus water and sunshine, ...... WOW! It works!

Here is James showing the seedlings that have just sprouted:

Here he is a month later. The stems are up to his chest.

Here are the sunflowers with James, 2 months after the last picture.

I've loved watching this process!

Good Deeds

2009-08-05T17:58:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful that the Boy Scouts program teaches my son to do a good deed every day. I am even more thankful that he is the kind of boy who will actually do it, like when he saw this trash can blown over in the storm and about to lose its contents all over the street. Atta boy!

Modern Medicine

2009-07-29T18:45:00.004-06:00

I am usually not one to tout the wonders of modern medicine; I prefer to let my body do the healing on its own and not interfere with something that someone thought up that they think is superior to nature's way. HOWEVER! Today, after fighting a headache all yesterday afternoon, hoping to sleep it away last night, and waking up STILL WITH IT this morning, I am super thankful for good ol' Excedrin, which can kick an almost-migraine in 30 minutes. My day was doable, thanks to Excedrin.

Tomato Sandwiches

2009-07-24T14:14:00.002-06:00

Today I had my first tomato sandwich with vine-ripe tomatoes from our garden. I am so thankful for the difference between store-bought tomatoes and home-grown tomatoes. I would never ever make a tomato sandwich with a store-bought tomato. These ones are so good, I doubled up on the tomatoes in the sandwich. It was a mess to eat, however, it was worth every drippy, finger-lickin' bite!

Cheating

2009-07-20T11:17:00.001-06:00

I am thankful that sometimes it is OK to cheat at Scrabble.

Sunday Dinner

2009-07-20T11:13:00.002-06:00

I am thankful for Sunday dinners with the family. Great food, both for the body, and for the soul. Good times, talking, laughing, eating, and lingering around the table. Sometimes we get lucky and have Grandpa or other relatives or friends join us. Sometimes it is "just us," and that's 10! Sometimes we are around the table, and sometimes we eat outside if the weather is lovely. Sunday dinners cannot be beat!

Friends

2009-07-20T11:10:00.002-06:00

I am thankful for the sweetness and enduring quality of THIS friendship. Do you remember your first childhood friend? Did you share all kinds of secrets, stay up late just talking, and feel like there would never be a friend as perfect as this one? Did the friendship last into grade school and then junior high? If it did, you have an idea of how sweet and precious this friendship is. I am so grateful.

My Bed

2009-07-20T09:08:00.002-06:00

I am thankful for my bed. I am thankful for my nice mattress, my memory foam topper, my down comforter, my cool clean sheets, my romantic canopy, and the way it looks so crisp when I put all white sheets and pillowcases on it. In the winter I am thankful for flannel sheets and the extra down comforter we stuff into the duvet cover. And in the summer, I am thankful for the way the pillows are cool on the backside.

Organization

2009-07-15T16:21:00.002-06:00

Today I am grateful for my organized baking cupboard. Not only am I grateful for the items in it, and the cupboard itself, but even more so, I am grateful for my daughter who made it this way. She can really kick some clutter butt when she puts her mind to it. I love that she tackled this project for me. Baking treats for the kids, or having the kids bake their own treats, is so much easier when you can see and reach what you need. Thank you, Amber!!

(I should have taken a "before" picture. It was bad, I tell ya. Next time I will.)

My backyard

2009-07-06T22:37:00.003-06:00

Maybe I have posted about my backyard before, but I really am thankful for it. There are a lot of elements that I am thankful for, and you can see many of them in this picture. My hammock, for instance, and me in it! The tree fort that the kids love to play in, and the pool. The garden, and my hubby working in it (you can see his white shirt beyond the pool, camouflaged in the strings of the hammock), the swing with Bridget on it, and the hummingbird feeder (hanging in the tree). Lots of things to love here. Lots to be grateful for!

Lookie here!

2009-07-06T22:35:00.002-06:00

Do you see what I see? Red tomatoes hiding in my plant! I am grateful they are ripening, because I really do love me a good tomato sandwich, or a lovely and delicious caprese salad. Coming soon!

Fabric Softener

2009-07-01T15:56:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful for fabric softener. My sister helped me fold laundry once and remarked that my towels weren't very soft. She asked if I used fabric softener and when I said no, she told me I ought to try it. Uh, YEAH! Big difference! Now I have big piles of soft fluffy white towels! I love their smell, too: clean, and a little bit bleach-y. Makes me want to take a bath and wrap up in one of these! Even my cleaning rags are soft. Gotta love it.

My baby

2009-07-01T10:56:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful for the amazing year I have had as the mother of this oh-so-sweet baby girl. Yesterday was her first birthday, and I took this picture of the two of us. I am thankful to have a photo of us together, since we are always together, yet I always seem to be only behind the camera. I held my arm out and snapped this pic of us both. I'll remember this day forever: Julia played in the yard, discovering the hose trickling, and she spent a nice hour eating a leisurely lunch and learning to say the word "cracker." She likes her crackers with hummus! What a treasure the day was, and what a treasure this sweet baby girl is. Bye bye, infancy. Here's to growing up!

The Pool

2009-07-01T08:56:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful for the pool. It can keep a whole slew of kids happy for hours. Plain and simple.

Sweet peas

2009-06-26T09:07:00.003-06:00

All this cool rainy June weather has been a boon to our pea crop. The plants are so happy, enjoying perfect pea-producing weather! They are growing like crazy! I love that we can stroll around the garden and munch pea pods as we pull a weed here or there, observe the growth of the plants, and chat. And the kids like to hop out of the pool and be right near the garden, to pick some peas for a little snack while they swim!

My capable husband

2009-06-26T09:04:00.002-06:00

This is only one example of my capable husband's capabilities: Last Saturday he made new screens for our windows. Now we can open the windows to cool off, and enjoy the soul-reviving delights of a cool breeze, without worrying about bugs coming in! I am certain there will be more posts in the future about my capable husbands abilities! He's awesome!

Blueberries

2009-06-26T08:52:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful for blueberries. They take boring frozen waffles to a whole new level. A little all-fruit jam and a big handful of blueberries ..... Mmmmm, I'll be satisfied all morning! Satisfied 2 ways: nutritionally, and visually!

The Hammock

2009-06-17T20:19:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful for my hammock. It was my Mothers Day gift from my husband. I am thankful it is there waiting for me when I have 5 minutes to escape. I like to lay and look up into the trees and let my mind clear out. It's almost as if the breeze can blow my cares away, or at least blow them into an orderly pile I can deal with, the way it blows old leaves into little piles that are easily swept up.

Peonies

2009-06-12T16:31:00.003-06:00

My sister brought me some peonies today. She sure has a way with words when it comes to describing peonies, this is what she said:

"Loving the peony for me is trusting in the disorderly order of nature. They are beautifully messy and at the same time perfectly put together. It's a calm crazy."

Good, huh? The other good thing is that I get to enjoy them on my kitchen counter for a few days. Believe me, I am super thankful!

Not what it seems...

2009-06-11T11:33:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful for something unseen. It is my own growth and progress as a mom, that makes it so I don't freak out when I see things like this:

A lemon, stabbed thru with a bunch of jumbo push-pins. A decade ago, I would've been mad at the waste of the lemon, and the sticky push-pins. Today I am able to smile about the creativity and joy of my 3 year old boy, and celebrate the "space ship" with him!

I am thankful I can grow and learn and change for the better. I hope my kids can forgive me for the naive and uneducated parent I started out as.

Sharing

2009-06-10T10:51:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful that my son has learned that joy of sharing. When there were 4 kids and only 3 popsicles, he chose the kindest response. I love you, Joey.

Creative Kids

2009-06-09T11:50:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful that my kids like to dress up in costumes and put on plays for me. They stay busy for hours while they prepare everything, and entertain me and make me proud! I am thankful they do not need a TV or a Playstation to keep them occupied on long summer days.

Do you see what I see?

2009-06-05T15:41:00.003-06:00

I call this "Mom's Summer Survival Kit." Can you see what is hiding on the top shelf? When I saw the great price WalMart had on big boxes of my favorite treat, it was easy to justify buying some. (It's especially low compared to movie theater prices, which I just paid on Tuesday night!) So, today I am thankful for yummy treats and low prices. Oh, and a freezer to hide them in! Shhhhh......

Sleeping Beauty

2009-06-03T19:05:00.002-06:00

'Nuff said.

Making a Difference

2009-06-01T15:16:00.003-06:00

Today I am grateful for this kid who is making a difference. June 1 is the 2-year anniversary of the beginning of "The No Cussing Club," which is why I chose to share this with you today. The video was taken a couple weeks ago at an event I attended to honor mothers just before Mothers Day. It is of McKay Hatch from California who started the No Cussing Club. McKay talks in the video about his experience starting the club, and how his mother helped him and inspired him. To learn more about the No Cussing Club, click here. McKay is making a difference. I am thankful for people like him who reach outside their comfort zones to make the world a better place.

A Little Miracle

2009-05-31T16:54:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful that for the first time in about 3 months, my 3-year old son James was well-behaved in church and did not have to be taken out to the hallway on account of his being very disruptive and loud. He sat and looked quietly at books with his older brother, and then drew some pictures with a pencil and paper. He only had to go out once, and that was to use the bathroom. I owe a big debt of gratitude to my son Adam as well, for being the extra pair of helping hands I needed to keep James happy and quiet. Adam had been helping James by being his special buddy all morning, and they were happy to sit together during the meeting and be quiet and nice to each other. If any of you have seen the 3-ring circus James and I have been putting on down on the front row of the chapel each week, then you know what a nice little miracle today was for me.

Learning to Read

2009-05-29T15:21:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful that Joey is learning to read. He can read to himself at bedtime. He can read to his little brother at bedtime. And at other times, too! He can read! My dad taught me to read at a very young age, then he took me to the library and told me, "Anything you want to learn, you can find out about in a book." And my thirst remains unquenched.

Siblings

2009-05-28T11:20:00.003-06:00

Today, I am thankful for siblings. Especially sweet older siblings who take time to play with and teach younger siblings. Here is Am teaching James some ABC's and his name. I love moments like these.

Happy Sunny Kiddos

2009-05-27T17:39:00.000-06:00

Today I am thankful for the first day of kids in the wading pool and eating otter pops. I love that the weather is perfect, not too cool and not too warm. I love that the grass is green and soft under bare feet, and I love that the otter pops are ready in the freezer. There are some things about this afternoon that I am not thankful for, but I am keeping myself focused on the positive.

Deliciously Delightful Roses

2009-05-26T11:06:00.000-06:00

Today I am grateful for my next-door neighbor's blooming roses. I do not have roses in my yard, so I make up excuses to walk past her yard and bury my nose in her deliciously fragrant roses. There is no scent on earth to compare with roses--I cannot describe it. If you have smelled roses, you know just what I mean. If you, for some reason, have never smelled roses, go find some QUICK, and inhale deeply.

2009-04-09T16:59:00.000-06:00

The first post. Minimalist.

I am grateful for modern technology that makes things like this possible.

The end, for now.