3640

3640. Tonight, when I read the kids their story before bed, Bethany leaned back on Jonathan. He sat behind her with his arms around her, holding her as they listened to the story.

3639. A great walk on a warm night at the end of November.

3638. A new route to cut some of the boredom.

3637. And it has more street lights too.

3636. An easy day school day with Lainee.

3635. Getting a compliment from someone on how my hair looked on Sunday!

3634. An e-mail from a friend with whom I've lost touch.

3633. Got a volunteer from my Sunday school class to work on ALL the pieces that I had ready to be sewn for the quilt.

3632. Chicken for dinner that I didn't, for once, realize was undercooked just before I wanted to serve it.

3631. Playing a fun game with the kids in nursery tonight.

3630

3630. The repairman came yesterday to work on our refrigerator. We don't need a new fridge.

3629. But figuring that out required that he unload the entire freezer and a good part of the fridge. So, I took that opportunity to clean out the refrigerator. It actually makes me feel good to see the inside of the freezer/refrigerator.

3628. Getting grocery shopping done in the morning, with the kids, without major incident.

3627. Getting to the point in my life where losing a stuffed animal in the grocery store is not considered a major incident.

3626. And getting to the point in my depression where it doesn't feel like the world is going to end when I think of going grocery shopping with my kids.

3625. Buying fabric with Vonnie tonight for the quilt our Sunday school class is making. This quilt is going to be CUTE!

3624. Cutting some of the pieces for the quilt and realizing that there are a lot of pieces I can send home with our class memebers to work on.

3623. Tomato salad.

3622. Jonathan fell asleep in the floor of the family room today. With no shirt on. Odd, but funny.

3621. I resisted the urge to go get ice cream tonight.

3620. Walking around the neighborhood last night with my family and looking at all of the Christmas lights.

3619. Jonathan was just staring at this one display. He was just mesmerized.

3618. Washed all the bed sheets today. I love the feeling of clean sheets. It isn't something I feel very often!

3617. Story time.

3616. Glue sticks. They keep Bethany entertained like nothing else.

3615

3615. Today I taught Jonathan that orange juice comes from oranges. (He thought "they" put the orange juice in the orange.) I set him straight, then I squeezed him some fresh orange juice to prove it. He thought it was the coolest thing in the world.

3614. Watching old videos of the kids. Are those MY kids?

3613. Watching Bethany dance to the music at Burger King.

3612. Hearing about how good Bethany was in the nursery.

3611. A nap.

3610. Not eating too much today.

3609. Good scriptures from Hebrews 13 that we discussed in Sunday school today.

3608. Found the pink marker.

3607. A chat on the phone with a mom getting ready to bring their daughter home from China.

3606. Sweats.

3605

3605. Being with family on Thanksgiving.

3604. The kids taking a "field trip" (as Lainee called it) on the "alligator" (as Jonathan called it.) Translated, this means that their cousin, Ami, took the younger cousins for a ride on the Gator out to the woods and through the corn field.

3603. Thinking of a few good, practical gifts for people who are asking what to buy the kids for Christmas.

3602. Getting laundry done.

3601. Paul organized the garage today.

3600. And mowed the lawn.

3599. And cleaned up the front yard.

3598. Being home for a long weekend without much planned except for hanging out with the family.

3597. Taking a walk with the family yesterday.

3596. Panera bread from our neighbors.

3595. Beautiful weather for the last three days.

3594. The kids being able to play outside.

3593. Paul took the kids to the museum while I was away on Wednesday.

3592. Kids who act silly.

3591. Watching Bethany and Jonathan play together today.

3590. Getting the vinyl fence fixed. Finally.

3589. I managed to cut Bethany's bangs while she was in the tub last night. They have been in her eyes for months, but she fights me whenever I have tried to cut them. She looks so beautiful with her hair out of her eyes. I just love it!

3588. Went to the library yesterday and got a bunch of books for the next three or four weeks of school. Lainee went with me and she tried to help me find books. I guess it was her first lesson in using the Dewey Decimal System.

3587. Six week teacher loans from the library.

3586. Reading books to Jonathan.

3585. A good walk on the tread mill at the hotel.

3584. A good walk outside last night.

3583. The whirlpool at the hotel.

3582. Eating a candy bar without having to share with the kids... and I not having to hide from them to do it!

3581. Chocolate frosting.

3580. Spending an entire Thanksgiving day with the knowledge that God has blessed me with AT LEAST 3579 specific things for which to be thankful.

3579

3579. A husband who is like, "sure, go ahead and take a WHOLE day to yourself. Get a hotel. Do whatever you want. I'll take the kids. Love you, see you tomorrow."

3578. Graeter's.

3577. I found exactly what I had in mind for Jonathan for Christmas at Big Lots. Right gift. Right price.

3576. I wanted to browse around a pottery store that I'd heard about, but I wasn't sure where it was. I directed my car in the general vicinity, and found it without even having to turn myself around.

3575. Then I spent somewhere around an hour in there looking around at all different stuff.

3574. And I found a butter dish, which we've been needing.

3573. I also found little tins that I can use to put fudge in for the kids' AWANA teachers.

3572. Chicken.

3571. Getting most of the Christmas shopping done.

3570. Breakfast at Hardee's.

3569. Getting my hair cut.

3568

3568. Story time.

3567. Video of the kids. Bethany is too funny.

3566. The boy fell asleep before we even got home from church tonight.

3565. Church tonight.

3564. A girl at church who is pregnant with twins found out she is having a boy and a girl.

3563. Babies who wake up in the middle of the night crying and are soothed simply by having their mom hold them.

3562. I didn't cook dinner tonight.

3561. Bethany's response to the question, "do you want to eat fish sticks." It's this extremely excited "yeah, yeah, yeah!" coupled with some sort of dancing/jiggling type of movement.

3560. Addie celebrated her birthday today. And her husband made sure we all celebrated it with her.

3559. Boomama is moving to a new house that she's excited about. I'm excited for her.

3558

3558. Getting the grocery shopping done with all three kids in tow.

3557. Crystal-clear view of Orion on my walk tonight.

3556. New determination to exercise.

3555. Legs that work.

3554. A warm house on a cold night.

3553. Sitting with Jonathan on the couch tonight, telling him how, when he was a baby, he and I used to fall asleep in that exact spot after he'd eaten breakfast.

3552. The libary's online card catalog.

3551. A surprise instant message from Betsy. I haven't talked to her in a long time. She said she'd been thinking about me!

3550. Bethany fell asleep in my arms tonight.

3549. All three kids dancing around the kitchen this evening - Lainee wearing roller skates, Bethany wearing a pair of Lainee's shoes, and Jonathan just being his energetic self.

3548. Knowing that something I've done has blessed someone else.

3547. More clothes handed to us for Bethany.

3546. have some cupcakes for the kids to make on Thanksgiving that look like turkeys. When I was looking for all of the stuff for them today, I thought I would have a hard time finding one of the things that the recipe says to use. It was a special kind of cookie. Well, I walked about 3 feet into the cookie aisle at the grocery store, and it was the very first one I saw. This was a great help b/c the kids were with me and I did not need to spend fifteen minutes looking for those cookies!

3545

The unseen blessings:
3545. The times when God has not allowed Satan to tempt me because He knows it isn't what's best for me.

3544. The times when God has allowed Satan to test me because He knows it will develop my character.

3543. When I do stupid things in the car because I am not paying enough attention, but no one else is around for me to crash into.

3542. When I get exactly what I need.

3541. Not getting exactly what I deserve.

3540. When I don't get what I want because it isn't what's best for me.

3539. God, standing by.

3538. When God directs my decisions that end up keeping me from unknown pain or hardship.

3537. Angels in the heavenlies battling on my behalf.

3536. Prayers of strangers answered in my life.

3535

3535. Werther's candies.

3534. Pumpkin pie.

3533. A really, really long nap this afternoon. I missed almost the entire OSU/Michigan game. (All four hours of it.)

3532. Hanging out at a kids' party chatting with the adults.

3531. A phone call from Helen.

3530. Getting ahead with lesson plans and, because of that, being able to prepare things that are a little more creative.

3529. Our scanner.

3528. My Omnigrid. I didn't figure it out until I only had three more pages to laminate, but it sure makes the application of Contact paper much easier.

3527. Seeing friends, even if it is only briefly.

3536. Watching my kids play bingo. Jonathan won once. :)

3525

Paul took Lainee out for their first date tonight (3509.) This left me with Jonathan and Bethany for the evening. I had promised Jonathan earlier in the day that we would get some butterscotch candies this evening. None of my kids have ever eaten butterscotch before, but Lainee decided to try. She really liked it, so Jonathan wanted one too. Unfortunately there was only one in the Halloween stash, and Lainee got it. Hence the promise.

While we were out tonight, we also had to buy a present for a party that the kids will be attending tomorrow. (I am thankful that I didn't miss it (3510) because I'd totally forgotten about it until Wednesday, when I actually thought I'd missed it.) Anyway, Bethany, Jonathan, and I went looking for a gift. While we were in the store, Jonathan reminded me that we needed to stop somewhere for butterscotch candy. Noted. I found a nice gift for a good price at Half Priced Books (3511.)

We also stopped at the second-hand store to see if I could find a winter coat for Lainee.

After that, we went to the mall for dinner. Then I stopped quickly to get some ice cream for the ride home. When I returned to the car, I gave the kids their ice cream and told them we were heading home. "But MOM," Jonathan said, "what about Clara's gift?" Apparently he didn't realize that I'd actually bought one, so I told him it was sitting in the front seat. "But what about Lainee's coat?" he asked. I explained that I didn't find one I liked, so I never bought one.

Nothing more was said. We went home.

As I pulled into the driveway, I remembered. We never stopped for butterscotch. Jonathan never said a word. He worried about Clara's present and Lainee's coat, but didn't think about the butterscotch I'd promised him (3512.)

I apologized for forgetting. He sweetly accepted my apology, and sincerely believes me that we'll get some tomorrow - after all, I promised him... again! (3513.)

When I got the kids out of the car, I almost fell over laughing at Bethany, who was COVERED with her Reese's cup sundae from Friendlies. ALL. OVER. HER. FACE. On her coat. In her coat. Down her shirt. There was a time this would have upset me. Tonight, I laughed (3514.)

So I gave the two younger ones a bath (3515.) I don't know why clean kids is such a blessing to me. It just really makes me feel good to know they are all clean!

Later, I told Paul all about what we did this evening. He told me that his sister was bringing winter coats to our Thanksgiving get-together that her kids had outgrown (3516.) So, I guess it is a good thing that I didn't buy one (3517.)

At bed time, Jonathan wanted to sing from one of his song books instead of read a story. All five of us were sitting on Lainee's bed singing "Jesus Loves the Little Children," "Kum ba yah," "This Light of Mine," and others. We all had a great time doing that (3518.)

After the kids were in bed, I planned for the next two weeks of school (3519.) This means I don't have to worry about it this weekend. Or next weekend either! The plans include some games that I think Lainee will enjoy (3520.)

Lainee earned her first ticket towards her gold fish today (3521.)

The house was trashed today. I got a bunch picked up (3522.)

Lainee was excited when I handed her a brand new shirt to put on for her date with Paul. She had no idea I'd bought it. It was pink. With rhinestones. She was very excited (3523.)

Both Paul and Lainee had a good time on their date (3524.)

And I had a great time with Bethany and Jonathan. They were really good (3525.)

3508

3508. The. Collard. Greens.

3507. Family time.

3506. Beth Moore, getting ON IT in today's Bible study.

3505. I have been thinking of a certain ministry role I'd like to take on at church. Stephanie brought up a way of fulfilling that role that I had not even thought of.

3504. Made a big batch of split pea soup with ham.

3503. Ate lunch outside at the picnic table today. Probably the last time we'll do that until spring.

3502. Played a rhyming game with Jonathan and Lainee today. They seemed to enjoy it.

3501. I feel like I am slowly gaining perspective on how to approach ministry and homeschooling.

3500. Here's the thing: God's got my back and it frees me up from worrying about myself and lets me put others first. (Not that I have mastered that in practice, mind you, but I get it conceptually.)

3499. Lainee was too cute as she concentrated on reading her sight words today. She gets a sticker if we review them all and gets them all right. The sticker is a small step towards the gold fish.

3498. And let me just say, regarding the motivation the child has to concentrate... Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.

3497

3497. The ground beef I was going to use for dinner was bad when I got it out of the refrigerator. Somehow, God enabled me to think FAST, which I am not good at when it comes to food prep, and I ended up making some very tasty ham on the fly. Actually, on the stove.

3496. Then I baked the portion of the ham that I didn't use, and now I have a hambone for some pea soup. I think I may have stumbled upon a new method for making several meals out of a ham without having to buy the stuff that is precooked.

3495. Ribbon on clearance.

3494. A cookie from Jonathan's AWANA teacher. It was yummy.

3493. Lainee, who, for her AWANA class, needs to know the first 8 books of the New Testament in order, could be heard reciting "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Act. Roman. First Corinthians. Second Corinthians." during different times of the day. The one that blessed me most was when I heard her in the bathroom reciting the books as she used the toilet.

3492. The word families -ill and -ell? No problemo for the darling Miss Lainee.

3491. Once again, I finished all five of my lessons for tomorrow's study this evening.

3490. But this time, it was at Dunkin Donuts.

3489. Our neighbor girl ate dinner with us tonight.

3488. Finally remembering to work on scripture with Lainee during school, and figuring out a way to do it that will motivate her.

3487. Finding that several of the scriptures that I had already listed for her to learn contain many words she is already able to read.

3486. Tweezers.

3485

3485. A fruit smoothie made with pineapple.

3484. Describing to the kids what the Holy Spirit does in our hearts by running around the bedroom shouting "Happy! Joy! Loving!" Lainee looked at me like she was thrilled to see me doing this.

3483. Walking.

3482. I didn't have to bundle up. The weather was perfect. Slightly SLIGHTLY drizzly. I was not too hot or too cold.

3481. The squash soup recipe I found is really good.

3480. Chicken.

3479. Hearing Bethany talk to herself after we've put her down for bed.

3478. She let me cradle her tonight. She stared right up at me.

3477. Have discussed a motivational plan for Lainee's schooling with Paul. There may be a goldfish in our future.

3476. Today was a good day of lessons. She wasn't really crabby, and she seemed willing to cooperate.

3475. The kids painted happily for about an hour this morning. I was able to get some work done.

3474. Hot fudge sundaes.

3473. Jonathan says "thank you" when I do things for him.

3472

3472. Fuji apples.

3471. Tuna fixed with sweet pickle relish.

3470. Paul didn't have to stay really late at the deacon meeting tonight.

3469. Getting a lot of laundry done.

3468. A good buy on a sweatsuit that I have been wanting.

3467. A coupon for $5 off of a gift card at the grocery store. I think I'll be buying a gift card soon...

3466. Homemade cranberry nut bread.

3465. Dinner tonight was delicious. (Even if I do say so myself.)

3464. Some good sales at the grocery store. A pound of butter for $1.50...

3463. Bethany saw me cutting an apple today and said "apple."

3462. The back issue of a quilt magazine that I needed arrived in the mail today.

3461

3461. Dinner with Bill and Cindy.

3460. Paul told Lainee she could not get ice cream tonight. At first, I was bummed because I knew I'd have some whining to deal with if I decided to get ice cream. Then I remembered how tight my pants are and decided that not having ice cream was a good thing.

3459. Going to church.

3458. Talking with the ladies in Sunday school about the real life stuff that we struggle with.

3457. Hot wings.

3456. God is making it clearer to me how I can serve by doing some of the things I like to do.

3455. Chris sang a great song this morning.

3454. Andrea and Rachel sang a great song this evening.

3453. I got to take a nap this afternoon.

3452. A hot cup of green tea.

3451. There are a million things that I feel like I could do. Sometimes that excites me. Sometimes that overwhelms me. But it occurs to me that, regardless of how I feel about it, having those possibilities in front of me is a blessing.

3450. At the same time, I am learning about my need to pare down all the things I do and focus on doing a few things well.

3449

3449. Going to the wedding of two great people who love God and are perfect for each other. Good time.

3448. Finding something decent for everyone to wear to this wedding.

3447. Good cake. With coffee.

3446. I totally forgot to post this when it happened, but last month I celebrated my 15th spiritual birthday.

3445. Dancing with Bethany.

3444. Watching her try to do the chicken dance.

3443. Yesterday, I had forgotten that I needed to return a movie to the store. God reminded me, and I didn't have to pay a late fee.

3442. I really wanted some tea today, but I thought my supply of tea bags had run out. When I looked in my container, I saw that there was one left. I was so pleased, because I REALLY wanted that tea.

3441

3441. A great time at the metropark today. The kids got to learn about all things raccoon and even went on a hike to find 'coon tracks.

3440. Finding the metropark,which I'd never been to. This would include being allowed to drive on a road that had just been closed... the very road that the entrance was on.

3439. Having a chance to serve.

3438. And bringing Lainee with me to do it. She did a LOT tonight - she worked hard. I am proud of her for being such a great helper.

3437. I was also thankful that people who were working with me were happy to include her by giving her jobs that were just right for a five-year-old.

3436. Great spaghetti sauce at the dinner at church tonight. So good, in fact, that I ate it without spaghetti.

3435. Getting to take some of that sauce home with me.

3434. A piece of moist cake with chocolate frosting and a hot cup of coffee.

3433. People ate up all of the dessert I made.

3432. Tylenol.

3431. A very comfortable bed to sleep in.

3430. Got the family portrait today that I have been waiting to display in my living room. It's of my side of the family and includes Paul and the kids.

3429

3429. Found the missing phonics card. I knew God would provide. I was just waiting for the day I could post "we found it" on the blessings list.

3428. Great friends to laugh with.

3427. Bearing burdens with those same friends.

3426. The Qs took the kids tonight so I could go to scrapbooking while Paul had conferences.

3425. Little babies falling asleep in your arms, allowing for unlimited and unhindered kisses and snuggles.

3424. Life.

3423. Husbands (well, actually I only have ONE) who build forts out of blankets in the living room and let the kids sleep in them.

3422. Unleashing creativity.

3421. Raking leaves. I do not know why I like to rake leaves, but I do.

(And I do not know why my computer will not let me type apostrophes without going bonkers.)

3420. Fried chicken.

3419. Good coffee.

3418. Lainee read the word "brick" all by herself.

3417

3417. Left-overs for dinner means I don't have to cook.

3416. Had our final visit from our social worker today for Bethany's last post-placement report.

3415. Laughing with Lainee through a funny book that she read to me.

3414. A trip to Dunkin Donuts with the kids. While eating our treats, Lainee asked, "Mom, do they do parties here?" THAT'S MY GIRL!!!

3413. And that chocolate kreme (it pains me to type that) donut was deelishus.

3412. The kids were totally cracking each other up on the drive home.

3411. Bathing all of them.

3410. Then watching the three of them try to put on the most riduculous puppet show I have ever seen. Funny. But ridiculous. (Lainee kept leaning behind Bethany, who herself was supposed to be a puppeteer, so that she could say Bethany's "lines" for her, making it seem like Bethany was actually the one talking. I think that is funny.)

3409. Making progress on re-stitching the 15 rows I had to pull out of the blanket I am crocheting.

3408. A sale at JoAnn. com on some stuff I need.

3407. And free shipping.

3406. And they charge tax, which means I don't have to remember it come tax time.

3405. Good lessons with Lainee today.

3404. The quiet that is my house after 10 pm.

3403. The gambling issue didn't pass.

3402

3402. My son prayed for new couches tonight. I have no idea why. But he has been refusing to pray pretty frequently, so I am thrilled that he picked the couches to pray about. Because I'd love new couches.

3401. The kids and I left the house at about 9:45 this morning so I could vote and drop off the van to get the oil changed. We then walked to the library. And no one complained, even though it was drizzly out. I think they just thought it was fun to be walking downtown.

3400. After story time at the library, we walked over a block to a local eatery and had lunch. Then we walked back to pick up the van.

3399. When we got home, the kids found an old cassette tape. I don't even remember seeing it before today. But it was all energitic praise music, to be used when exercising, I guess. We cranked up the stereo and danced around for a good twenty minutes.

3398. It was fun to watch Bethany imitate my dance moves.

3397. Lainee's reading lesson was short today. This is good because Bethany got up from her nap early.

3396. We went to the mall this evening to check out their new play area. The kids just ran around and climbed, slid, crawled all over the place. None of the new "equipment" really does anything. So it was just the kids entertaining themselves rather than being entertained. I like that. I also like that it is free.

3395. I live in a country where I can vote.

3394. Double fudge cookies.

3393. I was expecting my husband home late today. He got home early.

3392. Found something at the grocery store last night that has been there all along, but I never really noticed it. It's a less concentrated version of the "shout" stain remover that I have been using. I don't know why I started using the more concentrated stuff, but I did. And I guess because it worked, I just kept using it. Anyway, it occurred to me that I am spending a small fortune on stain removal. So I bought the other stuff. (The bottle was bigger AND cheaper.) It seems to work well. Glad I finally wised up.

3391. Making things. Even just THINKING about making things.

3390. My favorite pasta dish for dinner. And lots of left overs.

3389

3389. Paul was home today and helped out around the house.

3388. He did Lainee's reading lesson with her too.

3387. I was able to go to the library and pick up what I hope are the last two books for my reading goal.

3386. I called to make an appointment to see the doctor, and they said they had an opening for this afternoon. How nice that Paul was home so that I could say "sure" and get it out of the way.

3385. I had to make some photocopies of photos for Bethany's last post-placement report. I kept picking up the pages to look at the photos. Made me feel really good.

3384. Some sort of energy bar that Paul brought home from the race. It was yummy.

3383. A chicken philly sandwich for dinner.

3382. My favorite canned tomatoes were on sale this week AS WELL AS the pasta that I like to eat them with.

3381. Resisting the temptation to eat things when I am not hungry. Not that I do this very often. But I did it tonight, twice. So that is indeed a blessing.

3380. Raking the leaves and cutting back the plants today. Lainee, Bethany, and Paul helped. The girls really go into it.

3379. Beautiful weather today.

3378. Sitting in the library with Lainee in the "tent" that I barely fit into, reading a book with her.

3377

3377. A great Sunday school class this morning.

3376. Getting excited about an opportunity that our class has to minister to someone.

3375. I managed to get Jonathan's shirt, socks, and shoes on him while he was sleeping, but without waking him up. He didn't get enough nap in before we had to leave to take Lainee to kids choir. So I am glad that he didn't wake up.

3374. Kids who choose apples over french fries at McDonald's.

3373. That Asian chicken salad from McD's. Yummy.

3372. Paul was gone this weekend, but this morning we managed to get everyone dressed (with hair and teeth brushed) and out the door for church with plenty of time to spare. And I didn't scream at anyone.

3371. Paul was able to finish the marathon without any pain in his foot. When he left here, it sounded like he was just going to be a spectator. But he ran! YAY!

3370. A movie rental to watch all by myself.

3369. Twice.

3368

3368. A play date with some friends that got us through until the afternoon.

3367. The nice, adult conversation that the mommies were able to have.

3366. Getting to go over to Ami and Steve's house and let the kids play this evening.

3365. Being able to talk to Ami right at a time that I really needed someone to talk to!

3364. Bethany figured out how to get down their stairs on her bottom. It was obvious she really liked doing it too.

3363. Chocolate milk.

3362. Animal crackers.

3361. All the kids had baths tonight.

3360. And all of them got their teeth brushed before bed too.

3359. Not being a single mom.

3358. Got some cabinets cleaned out.

3357. And the kitchen floor mopped.

3356. Lainee vacuumed the family room today.

3355. Another nap.

3354. Tomato salad.

3353. Bethany fell asleep in my arms this afternoon.

3352

3352. A party where I could take the kids and they were entertained without me having to drag them somewhere and/or do all the entertaining myself.

3351. Ice cream cake.

3350. Bethany spent some time with some other people that she knew at the party.

3349. The kids, once in bed, fell asleep pretty quickly.

3348. Lainee was already asleep when Paul called and left a message on the machine. I was putting Bethany in bed at the time, so I couldn't answer the phone. If Lainee had been awake, I know she would have heard it and gone nutso because she missed her chance to talk to Paul.

3347. The vacuum cleaner didn't seem quite right yesterday. I played around with it today and, though I didn't find anything wrong with it, whatever I did seems to have taken care of the problem.

3346. Safety in the car.

3345. I was able to catch a nap today.

3344. Laughing with Lainee.

3343

3343. A lovely dinner out with my beau.

3342. And we went because the neighbors called and said "we are taking your children so you two can to out." So, how's that for a lil blessin'?

3341. The prophecy we learned about in the Daniel study today made me want to jump out of my seat and yell, "GLORY!"

3340. We (the family) made a fun (and funny) video clip for a friend who is collecting people on video to give to mutual friends for their wedding gift. Good laughs. Good laughs.

3339. Someone in my extended family thinking about doing missions. YaHOOO!

3338. Running around in the maze Lainee made by raking a path through the leaves in our yard. I kept yelling, "this is a-MAZE-ing!"

3337. Libraries.

3336. Bethany gets so excited to see Mary Lou. I love Mary Lou... and so do my kids.

3335. Knowing that people pray for me.

3334. A warm coat on a cold day.

3333. My health.

3332. Paul's health.

3331. My kids' health.

3330. We got more books from my mom for the kids.

3329

3329. Finished another book. 10 down, 2 to go.

3328. Figured out what was wrong with the speakers on the desktop that was making it impossible to hear any sound.

3327. Hearing Lainee master one of her memory verses for AWANA tonight.

3326. I have been carrying around a book every time I went to church, hoping to give it to someone, but that someone hadn't been to church for a long time. I'd contemplated just taking the book out of my bag. Thankfully, I did not do this, because that person ended up being at church tonight. Yay! I finally got to give that book to him!

3325. Got all five of my lessons for the Daniel study done this evening, thanks in no part to my disciplined lifestyle, but completely to my husband, who took the kids home after church and put them in bed so I could go sit at a coffee place and do my lessons. (And I think that is the longest sentence I have ever written. Wait, I don't even think it IS a sentence. But it is a blessing, so it stands!)

3324. The great benefit of doing all five of the lessons in a row is that there were no breaks in the material that would have likely made me forget something.

3323. Bethany playing with her brother and sister today, not even mindful of where I was.

3322. That Lainee child. Smart little girl. Smarter, probably, than I give her credit for.

3321. Seeing how biblical prophecy that was uttered thousands of years ago has come to pass.

3320. The life lost to Christ is won. What a life-altering blessing that is.

3319. The smell of ginger.