2853

2853. A box of clothes for Bethany from a family at church.

2852. I never have pop in the house, but I needed some for an experiment I was doing with the kids. I was trying to figure out when I could fit in a quick run to the store, when it just so happened that someone at church had some leftover pop that they were offering to anyone who wanted it. It was cola too, which is just what I needed.

2851. And they even came after me with it when I almost left church without it.

2850. I live in a safe neighborhood.

2849. I live in a country that is not ravaged by war.

2848. I finished another book. Without having to renew it... (!!!)

2847. I snuggled with Lainee this evening.

2846. I read Guess How Much I Love You to Jonathan tonight. Then, as we snuggled in the bed, we played "nut brown hare." It consisted of us making up big things to describe how much we love the other.

2845. Bethany was so animated when we went out tonight and I loved seeing that.

2844. Last night, I had no idea what to make for dinner. Then my in-laws called and asked if they could take us out.

2843. And then they paid for us to get into the soccer game to watch the team coached by Paul's brother.

2842. And Bethany actually ate some chicken nuggets instead of just fries for dinner. YAY!

2841. Today, when I asked Lainee what was most important in her life, she said, "My Bible."

2840. The rain held off so I could walk tonight.

2839. Chicken.

2838. Played a silly game on the floor of the living room tonight with the kids.

2837. Watching Jonathan smooch Bethany when he gives her a kiss goodnight.

2836. I am so glad that God's Word is true, and He doesn't change his mind about what He's said in it.

2835. Grapes.

2834. Biscuits and gravy.

2833. Lainee has been asking me to read her certain Bible stories.

2832. We were singing the B-I-B-L-E song the other day, and I got into a discussion with the kids about what it means to "stand upon the Word of God." We talked about it, then we read a story (about the blind beggar) and figured out a way we could stand upon that story... in that case it was simply asking God to work a healing for someone.

2831

2831. Fruit smoothies.

2830. Remembering to refrigerate Bethany's milk when she left it laying around last night. That's ONE sippy full that won't be wasted!

2829. Telling my husband I need to talk, and he just makes time.

2828. And the talking itself is a blessing too.

2827. Especially when it helps me to get my thoughts straight in my head, which it did tonight.

2826. And then him praying for me afterward.

2825. God has given me some wisdom lately about possible situations Satan might use to attack me. I think that is insanely cool that He does the "heads up" thing like that.

2824. Watching Lainee do cartwheels on the lawn today - over and over and over. Reminded me of ME when I was a kid. Paul and I just watched from the living room window and chuckled.

2823. Home made chicken noodle soup. It tasted so good.

2822. I read a peek-a-boo book to Bethany before bed tonight. I asked her if she could say "peek-a-boo." She said "pee-pee-boo." Cute, cute, CUTE!

2821. Lainee can't say "ridiculous." So I find it funny, whenever she gets frustrated with something and says "this is reedikleeus."

2820. Lainee many not like to work on her reading (hmmm, I wonder where she gets that from...) But OH MY, let that child measure something and it's like you are the best teacher EVAH!

2819. Got my lesson plans for this week done last night. Yeah, I'm behind. But I am so glad to have them done.

2818. And I am glad that as I was doing my lesson plans, God reminded me that I can ALTER things to suit Lainee's needs. That was a needed reminder.

2817. I got some time to work with Jonathan on a few letters and numbers today. That hasn't happened in a while.

2816. And I got some time to read a bit of my book today too.

2815. Paul suggested that we go to a marriage enrichment seminar next month. How cool is that?

2814

2814. Mashed cauliflower.

2813. Filling up the van for $1.98/gallon.

2812. Kix.

2811. Going to a bridal shower for a rock-solid Christian girl who is going to marry a rock-solid Christian guy.

2810. Good cake.

2809. With coffee.

2808. I was in charge of the games for the shower, but hadn't had time to work on them until this afternoon. I thought of something quickly, found the info I needed, and was able to print it off easily. YAY!

2807. Lainee remembered to give me the message that Karen gave her yesterday. Karen told Lainee "Tell your mom that I am praying for her!"

2806. Meatloaf.

2805. Bethany was manageable at the shower tonight, even though I wouldn't let her eat any "junk" until she finished her dinner (that I brought with us. Oh, yes I did.) I held firm. She did too. So, she ended up not eating any junk at all. Fine by me.

2804

2804. God's love is high, long, wide, deep. (Eph 3:18)

2803. I can know his love that surpasses knowledge. (Eph 3:19)

2802. He is able to do immeasurable more than I ask or imagine. (Eph 3:20)

2801. His power is at work withing ME! (Eph 3:20)

2800. Deena

2799. Libby

2798. Kristy

2797. Elisabeth

2796. Ami

2795. Andrea babysitting.

2794. Karen's prayers.

2793. Beth Moore

2792. Unselfish weeping.

2791. God's power.

2790. Safe travel to and from Beth Moore conference.

2789. Watching a movie in a hotel.

2788. While eating Chinese take-out.

2787. A group of people to talk to about what God is doing in my life.

2786. Bearing burdens.

2785. A refund for overpaid parking.

2784. Free coffee.

2783. A chicken philly.

2782. Breakfast casserole.

2781. Vouchers for prescription refills from the pharmacy such that I haven't paid a dime for my last two refills, and I won't pay for the next one either.

2780. Stuff I needed was on sale at the grocery store this week.

2779. Paul.

2778. Lainee.

2777. Jonathan.

2776. Bethany.

2775. Bethany singing the B-I-B-L-E song. It sounds like "B-I-B-I-B-I-B-I."

2774. Hearing Jonathan say "Cincinnati."

2773. A hot tub.

2772. A swimming pool - with no kids to watch.

2771. A pool workout.

2770. Laughing. Hard.

2769. Crying. Hard.

2768. Bagels: 4 for $1.

2767. Consistently exercising.

2766. Staying in a hotel that's all about service.

2765. Bennigan's "Death by Chocolate."

2764. No worries over Paul having the kids while I was gone.

2763. Finishing another book.

2762. Praise songs on my lips.

2761. The program feature of my coffee maker that lets me have hot water ready for my tea when I get up in the morning.

2760. Being loved by God like a mom would love her infant child. (times infinity.)

2759. Milky Way Midnight.

2758. Pears.

2757. Sleeping until 10 a.m.

2756. Staying up late with friends.

2755. Having people at home who miss you when you are gone.

2754. Getting some work done when you thought the day was a wash.

2753

2753. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Romans 8:26-27)

2752. Saving $15 on groceries yesterday.

2751. A sweet response to an e-mail from on online friend.

2750. A better day of homeschooling.

2749. Ice cream from Maggie Moo's.

2748. Patience from my family when I forgot to plug in the steamer and they had to wait for the broccoli to get done, even though dinner had already started.

2747. And then when the timer went off again, I realized that I never filled the steamer with water. So they waited even longer. Patiently.

2746. Cool, fall weather is upon us in the Buckeye State.

2745. Pumice stones.

2744. Seeing Bethany dance tonight.

2743. Bethany ate some meat tonight. Yay!

2742. Chicken salad lettuce wraps.

2741. Helen.

2740. Getting a few things done that are on the ever growing "to do" list.

2739. Paul grilled the steak for dinner. Not only did it taste good, but it also made things easier for me.

2738. Buy one, get one free groceries.

2737. Being silly in the store with the kids.

2736

2736. We sang "The Wheels on the Bus" the other day at story time. I had Bethany on my lap, and she really enjoyed it as I made her hands do all the motions. It was the first time I can think of that she's heard that song. Later that day, it just happened to come on while the kids were watching Barney. She ran to get me, all excited, because she recognized it. Now, it is a sure winner to entertain her. I especially like to watch her when she does the verse about the mommies who go "sh, sh, sh."

2735. Bethany likes to try to jump. I like watching that.

2734. One of the ladies in the nursery taught Bethany to hold up her finger when asked "how old are you?" It's cute.

2733. Watching Lainee as she "read" us a Bible story this evening. It was the familiar passage from Timothy chapter 2 where God was on the road to Nazareth with his disciples, Paul, James and John.

2732. A brisk walk every night for the last 5 nights.

2731. Not craving sugar as much.

Hmmm, you think those last two are related?

2730. Andrea happily agreed watch the kids for me this week when I leave for West Virginia.

2729. My kids love Andrea.

2728. And she and Chris sang a beautiful song this morning. Good stuff, those two together...

2727. Being invited to Melissa's favor-making party on Monday. (I can't go, but I am flattered that she asked.)

2726. My boy, happily explaining the poster that illustrated his Sunday school lesson. (He used the word "scroll.")

2725. Lainee, it seems, is quite the slugger. Paul has been teaching her to hit a ball, and she can hit it pretty well.

2724. Time alone to talk with God while I am out walking.

2723. Getting to pray with someone at church today.

2722. Reading and enjoying A Separate Peace again.

2721. Remembering to write things on my calendar.

2720. Getting two bags of clothes/shoes for Bethany from a friend at church today.

2719. Getting the major portion of this week's lesson plans done yesterday.

2718. Omelettes.

2717. A good nap.

2716

2716. Found a slew of stuff for Jonathan at the second-hand store. He really needed some warmer clothes.

2715. As I was driving to the store, I was making mental notes about what I needed to get for him. I thought to myself "he only has two pairs of pants that fit him." Then I thought about how blessed we are. He has two pairs of pants that fit him. And we were on our way to buy some more!

2714. Also a HUGE blessing, was that both Lainee and Jonathan found costumes for Halloween at the store. As we walked in the store, I told the kids that I'd buy them a costume if they found one they liked. Jonathan said, "I want Batman." I told him there might not be a Batman costume, but we'd look. Wouldn't you know that we found a Batman costume complete with cap and bat-mask in JUST HIS SIZE! Yahoo, God! That boy was so excited!

2713. We went out to the arboretum again tonight. Frog watching has become a big thing in our family. Tonight, Paul actually caught one! The kids were SO excited. But they screamed when they tried to touch it because it tried to jump out of Paul's hand... and almost made it!

2712. Tonight on my walk I could smell a wood fire burning somewhere. I love that smell wafting through cool fall air.

2711. I got a call today from a friend who was concerned that she'd said something that upset me. She didn't, but I still thought it was sweet.

2710. Bethany gave me the biggest, longest hug tonight.

2709. The kids were wiped out tonight and went to bed pretty quickly.

2708. Lainee read a book today.

2707. We planted bean seeds today so we can study plant development. The kids love to plant stuff.

2706. We also enjoyed tomato & cucumber salad this evening. It's one of our favorites, but this time it was better because the main ingredients came from our garden. (It took this long to get a tomato ripe enough at the same time that a cucumber was also ready.) It was very tasty.

2705. The neighbor kids have each been able to harvest a cucumber from our plants.

2704

2704. Three little kids who want to play in a sprinkler, even though it isn't that hot out.

2703. And even though Paul got home late and couldn't entertain the kids while I made dinner, I didn't have any problems. Because the sprinkler was entertaining them for me.

2702. Bethany in a bathing suit.

2701. English muffins.

2700. Putting an outfit on Bethany that Lainee wore when she was that age. Why do I like that so much? I don't know, but I do.

2699. Watching Bethany eat her Kix and yogurt this morning. The kid knows what she's doing with that spoon!

2698. Doing Lainee's lesson outside today.

2697. Scrapbooking on Tuesday night.

2696. Getting some time alone beforehand and have a quiet time, writing a letter, and eating some ice cream.

2695. Blueberry muffins.

2694. Learning about the prophecy that Daniel gave when he interpreted a dream for Nebuchadnezzar.

2693. Blueberry bagels.

2692. Colby-Jack cheese.

2691. Walking at night for the last two nights.

2690. Cooler weather.

2689. Friends, like Libby, who care enough to call when they think I might be down and encourage me.

2688. Shaking my sillies and wiggling my waggles out with my entire family.

2687. Singing "If You're Happy and You Know it" with the family tonight, where each person got two chances to make up a movement. For both of Bethany's turns, she pointed both of her index fingers and started shaking her hands. It was so cute.

2686. Jonathan says "GREAAAAAAT!" a lot.

2685. And he thanks me for things like buying them strawberry toothpaste.

2684. We put the kids to bed a little early tonight.

2683. Oh the excitement over dinner when you serve homemade waffles with POWDERED SUGAR on top.

2682. The smell of freshly cut grass.

2681. And never having to actually MAKE the freshly cut grass, because your husband has mowed the grass every single time. Yup. I've never mowed it once.

2680. The laughs that can be had when you mistake a mosquito for a tadpole.

2679. Being told that something I said, though hard to hear, was what someone needed in a situation she was struggling with. The glory goes to God there for sure, because on my own I'd never have much wisdom or insight.

2678. Thursday morning Bible study.

2677. Seeing Jonathan in his AWANA vest. Very cute.

2676. Seeing Lainee in her newest AWANA vest. She is one of the "big kids" now. And she was very proud of how she looked.

2675. Good theological conversation with Paul last night.

2674. That Paul doesn't teach stuff from Scripture that he's heard from someone else - only what he has determined from his own study of the Word. I like that muchly.

2673. My headache is gone.

2672. I accidentally did more than I'd planned to do for Lainee's math lesson yesterday. This was a good thing because today I didn't have to do her math lesson with her while I had the headache.

2671

2671. Realizing that the "tadpoles" were really mosquitoes before they started flying themselves all over my house.

2670. A great trip to the arboretum today.

2669. Got the M&M's that I didn't know I needed (until it was too late last night) after our trip to the arboretum. Lainee and Jonathan really liked the craft/snack that went with the lesson today. Couldn't have done it without the M&M's.

2668. Lainee is getting big and can be so helpful. I can asked her to do several small things today. She happily did them and it made things a little easier for me.

2667. Lainee has been requesting prayer at children's church for our neighbor's spider problem, and that the neighbors would come to church. She said that our family could me missionaries to them!

2666. Bethany slept through the night last night.

2665. And she didn't take a long nap today, so I am hoping she will sleep through tonight too.

2664. Praying for our missions team during our school day. Lainee seemed surprised by this, but happy to do it.

2663. Lainee began concocting a dessert this afternoon consisting of sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar, and those sugar crystal sprinkles. (She said she was making "sprinkledy pie.") I was able to help the kids (Jonathan eventually joined in) make some adjustments and it turned into a fruit crisp.

2662. Chipmunks.

2661. Frogs.

2660. Turtles.

2659. Caterpillars.

2658. And seeing your kids delight in seeing all of these things.

2657

2657. I don't have to agree with everything another Christian presents to me in a teaching situation.

2656. I can still be doing what is right in the eyes of God even if some other Christians don't approve, understand, or support me.

2655. We just got a bunch of visuals handed down to us from another homeschooler.

2654. God enables me, somehow, to not jump out of my skin and S.C.R.E.A.M. when I have a young child pulling at my legs and screaming.

2653. Eating dinner with Joel and Andrea. Then Melissa showed up.

2652. Andrea sang a beautiful song this evening at church. Her singing seems to bless me every time.

2651. Hearing my kids trying to sing the song that Paul has been practicing all week for his special music at church.

2650. Casting anxieties on God.

2649. Our church just sent a missions team to help rebuild two homes for Katrina victims.

2648. Taking my name off the mailing lists of all the catalogs I have been receiving.

2647. The iron fell on the kitchen floor twice last week. It still works.

2646. A nap.

2645. My kids' Sunday school teachers weren't late this morning, so I wasn't either.

2644. Last night Jonathan kept telling everyone that he was the coach. When I asked him what he was coaching, he named the local high school. So I asked him what sport it was, and he said something like "running children."

2643. Lainee asked me to take a different route home from church today so she could show me something. It ended up being a pink toilet sitting in someone's yard. She thought it was hilarious.

2642

2642. A birthday party with the kids.

2641. Seeing Zach get excited about the gift I picked out for him.

2640. Chatting with ladies at the party that I'd just met, and enjoying it.

2639. Ami's sister-in-law, Deanne, who is always fun to talk to at those parties.

2638. Seeing my son's mouth after he ate a cupcake topped with black frosting.

2637. The bonfire/hot dog roast/s'mores fest at the house of a couple from church.

2636. Talking with April about all the things we have in common that we struggle with.

2635. And how that conversation made it so much easier for me to see how God is working in my life to bring change to many of those things.

2634. And talking to Cheri for a while too.

2633. Paul had Bethany duty almost all night. She's in a very clingy stage, and it can try the patience. But he managed her, and I just got to talk with people.

2632. Eating s'mores. Without the marshmallow. Or the graham crackers.

2631. Getting my homeschooling bearings over these last two weeks.

2630. I don't have leukemia.

2629. And neither does anyone in my family.

2628. My husband cut up all the cucumbers and tomatoes for the cucumber and tomato salad that we took to the bonfire.

2627. God provided tadpoles for us, completely out of the blue, at the time we were going to be studying plant and animal development.

2626

2626. God worked out all the details for Linda's son to take a gym class at the YMCA. He even made it exactly the kind of class that Linda was looking for.

2625. Frog heaven at the arboretum this evening. Lainee spotted two on the sidewalk as we passed by. (It was getting dark, so things were hard to see.) One of them was BIG! A little girl caught one (of four) out of the pond as we were looking at them. Lainee got a really good look at it and laughed, and laughed. We also spotted three toads on the sidewalk. So fun.

2624. And I remembered to give credit to God (verbally, to Lainee) for the blessing of letting us see some of the animals He made.

2623. We don't have a yucky spider infestation like two of our neighbors across the street.

2622. Everyone ate at dinner time tonight.

2621. We went to the fire station today and had a blast. We got a tour and the kids left with red, plastic fire helmets. Jonathan L.O.V.E.D. watching the fire chief dress up in the boots, mask, tank, hat, etc. He played "fire chief" all day long.

2620. And the kids, who were explaining everything they learned to Paul at dinner tonight, couldn't WAIT to do a drill of our escape plan.

2619. The trip to the fire station had us off schedule for Lainee's schooling, but we seemed to get through all of it pretty quickly.

2618. I found a pair of black knit pants that fit oh-so nicely.

2617. Found a SERIOUS clearance deal tonight that I will likely be using as one of Paul's Christmas gifts.

2616. AND I remembered to point out to Lainee, who was with me at the time, how God had blessed us with finding that thing at such a good price. (And just to be clear - when I say "I remembered" it's really that God reminded me. Because, on my own, it's not something I'd think to say.)

2615

2615. Getting to see a movie - all by myself. There were only two other people in the theater.

2614. It was a late movie, so I didn't think I'd be able to update the blessings when I got home. But I got to the movie early enough that I was able to sit and list them before it even started.

2613. Cherry Coke.

2612. Linda called and we chatted for an hour today.

2611. Great time in Scripture with Lainee (and a little with Jonathan too.) Go provided the time and the opportunity just when I was realizing that I needed to be more purposeful about that. And Lainee had fun with it too!

2610. Another day of being alive.

2609. Beth Moore.

2608. The woman I asked to mentor/disciple me told me today that she would do it. Yahoo!

2607. Custard donuts at the Bible study this morning.

2606. Deana is doing Bible study with us. I like me some Deana.

2605. Dana brought her son, adopted from Guatemala, to meet us all at the study this morning. I teared up when I saw him. Praise God. Praise GOD!

2604. Lainee did a great job with 2 worksheets while I was in Bible study.

2603. Leftovers.

2602

2602. Laying on the floor with Lainee's head resting on me during some of our school time yesterday.

2601. The tomato salad tonight was SO GOOD!

2600. At the end of the day, I realized that I hadn't finished the laundry. So I folded the clothes in the dryer. Then, when I opened the washer to get the next load out, I saw that it was EMPTY! All I could think was, "YAY!"

2599. The kids all ate a good dinner tonight.

2598. Took the kids to a pet store today to see if the clerk could give me some tips for the tadpoles. They couldn't. But, we sure did have fun looking at all the animals.

2597. Lunch at the Chic-fil-a.

2596. And during that lunch, my kids couldn't have been any better behaved. Go, God!

2595. A package from mi madre with all manner of kid-pleasing items.

2594. The neighbor girl came to church again tonight and talks as if she is going to keep coming when AWANA starts next week.

2593. Jonathan fell asleep on the floor yesterday right in front of Lainee's desk during one of her lessons. It was cute.

2592. And it made for some laughter between Lainee and me, which was much needed at the time.

2591. I am not the sort of person who laughs often. Tonight, I laughed so hard I almost couldn't breathe. I was crying. It felt so good.

2590. Jesus is faithful as a son (as opposed to a servant) over God's house. (Hebrews 3:5-6)

2589. Raw cookie dough.

2588. Being my kids' teacher means that I get to learn new stuff too.

2587

2587. God has reminded me to be patient with the kids (during homeschooling) when my patience has been tried this week.

2586. O.R.E.O.S.

2585. Jonathan knows rhyming words. He gets it. Lainee so did not get that concept at his age. It makes me happy to see him being good at his own things and developing his mind.

2584. We got to share one of our cucumbers with one of the neighbor boys who asked if he could have one (citing that it was a healthy part of a balanced diet.) I let him pick the cucumber himself. I seriously think this was a big deal to him.

2583. Lainee is little miss problem solver. I was trying to collect some rain water, so I left a bucket out on the lawn during a storm tonight. Lainee suggested I hold the bucket under the "gutter" (AKA the downspout.) I had me a full bucket in about 2 minutes.

2582. We got to go to a double baby shower at church tonight.

2581. I took the girls with me, and Bethany was a peach. She mostly entertained herself instead of hanging all over me and whining (not that she has been doing much of that lately. aHEM!)

2580. I got another letter from my pen pal.

2579. The kids found Mrs. Q walking up the sidewalk just as we were getting ready to go down and visit her today. We all got to walk around the block with her.

2578. The experiment that we did today for homeschooling, (this would be the one that I could barely tear Lainee away from the blocks to go do:) Well, after it was over, Lainee happily announced, "Mom, I didn't know that was going to be FUN." Uh huh.

2577. Reading in Hebrews. I like Hebrews.

2576

I'm at it again today...

2576. I have never been homeless.

2575. I have never lived a single day in which I had to eat rice at every meal, unless I wanted to.

2574. I have medical insurance.

2573. I have electricity.

2572. I have all manner of clothing and shoes to keep me warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

2571. Every member of our family sleeps in a comfortable bed.

2570. I live in a house with more than one room.

2569. The farthest I have to walk to get clean water is to one of the two sinks in my house.

2568. I don't have to figure out how to care for my family on $2 a day.

2567. I have myriad items around me that exist solely for my entertainment.

2566. We have two cars.

2565. My children will not be one of the 30,000 who die a povery-related death every day.

2564. I have never gone without a meal that I didn't purposely miss.

2563. My in-laws just gave us money to buy shoes for our kids.

2562

2562. Smooth transition this morning as four out of the five of us started in new Sunday school classes.

2561. Being challenged to make the Word more of a priority in my life.

2560. Bethany ate a great dinner tonight. I think I have finally clued in that she understands when I tell her "no dessert until you eat some dinner."

2559. Writing letters to friends.

2558. Getting excited about spending a weekend away with some good friends.

2557. Paul left the house earlier than we did to go to the evening service tonight because he had to practice a song beforehand. I was not expecting him to return home, but he did. So we all got to go to church together, which I always like much better.

2556. We got a newspaper today. We don't have a subscription. But we got one, with all the coupons and circulars in it. And I was just thinking how it is so much easier to make my shopping list when I have the sale flyers beforehand...

2555. Paul cleaned up the kitchen today while I napped.

2554. We went to dinner at a friend's house last night and had a nice time.

2553. And the girls won all three games of Euchre.

2552. And we got to take home some of the lasagna that they served, and we had it for lunch today. I love not having to think of what to feed people after church on Sunday.

2551. We've needed new curtains in the living room for a long time. I found the curtains I wanted at Big Lots for seriously cheap. And the drapery hardware was on sale somewhere else.

2550. And I got them hung yesterday. Yay!

2549. My kids. I love them so much!

2548. Lainee has been so helpful and kind lately. Tonight she split her applesauce in exchange for half of Jonathan's corn, just because Jonathan saw her applesauce and decided that he no longer wanted the corn he ordered. And everyone was happy with that solution. YAY! PEACE AT DINNER TIME!!!

2547. Tonight it is cool outside. And there is the smell of burning wood in the air. And I LOVE THAT!

2546. The windows are open all over the house.

2545. Free crayons from restaurants.

2544. Green tea.

2543. Reading books to Bethany at bed time.

2542

2542. Dinner with my family tonight. Everyone ate happily and well. Everyone was in a good mood. How lovely!

2541. Not losing Bethany's snuggler in Big Lots.

2540. Not losing Jonathan's snuggler at the restaurant.

2539. Not losing "it" when Jonathan peed on the floor at Big Lots.

2538. Finding curtains at Big Lots, and not paying a lot of money for them.

2537. And curtain rods were on sale this week at another store.

2536. Seeing the curtains at Ami's house, and realizing that what she did would work great where I need curtains, and would be less expensive than what I had in mind.

2535. Getting some time to work on scrapbooks last night.

2534. Getting a lot done, but getting home at a reasonable hour.

2533. A good first week of homeschooling.

2532. Not spending so much time on the computer.

2531. Getting a bunch of the spots off the carpet in the living room.

2530. My mom chatting with the kids on the phone while I was vacuuming. Even from 700 miles away, she can help with my housework just by keeping my kids out of the way for a little while.

2529. Not turning on the TV first thing this morning.

2528. Dancing in the living room with the kids.

2527. Lainee starting to "get" the concept of more and fewer.

2526. Playing pick-up-sticks with the kids on the back porch.

2525. And seeing them be honest when they moved a stick.

2524. Salmon for dinner last night.

2523. New underwear.

2522. All the kids helped do laundry today.