Gratitude #15

15. Today I am thankful for my good health. Especially in the last year, every member of my immediate family suffered or even still suffers from various mild-to-serious problems with their health. Even my blood is cleaner than it should be for my eating habits and level of activity (just had my first real "checkup" in 7 years - it always got pushed to the side while we were overseas).

Gratitude #14

14. I am ever so thankful for the library. So many books! All for free! Since we've moved into our house in August I have been to the library at least once a week. More often than not it is in the company of Zoltan, who is also developing a love of the place. The pile of library books threatens to take over the living room and Terry is threatening to impose a borrowing limit. I just got out a Russian novel I currently have no hope of getting through (I could have back in May, according to my Russia teacher who recommended this author). Yes, Russian novels in my sort-of-suburban neighborhood!

The best part is when we go back overseas I'll still be able to use their e-book lending. I am giddy thinking about it. I may even let Terry convince me to put the majority of our books in storage rather than schlep them around the world just in case I run out of reading material.

Gratitude #13

13. Today I am grateful for the glimpses I occasionally get of the good people the kids will turn out to be. Terry was sick on the couch last night. Zoltan lovingly drew two blankets over him, then brought out a magazine (Hi-5) and his (Zoltan's) second favorite lovey - the most favorite stays in bed or he'd have brought that one. Then he kissed Terry on the forehead. It made my heart grow three sizes bigger.

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitude #12

12. I am thankful for the endorphins that rush through me when I go for a good run (well, I'm just getting back into things, "good" is 2 miles). I am finally back into it regularly enough that I feel grouchy when it's been too many days. I love how the human body can let us know what's good for us when we pay attention to it!

Renovation Update

Finally the spackle is done enough that it is time for the primer.  In this case we are using white paint since we have a full 5 gallon bucket of it already.  Once the first coat or two of paint is on the wall then we will assess how much more spackle is required before going on to the final paint and eventually the ceiling and floor.  For now there is some progress.

Gratitude #11

11. In honor of Veteran's Day I am thankful for everyone who has, willingly or not (hello, draft!), physically or diplomatically, worked to keep our country and the people within it safe from outside threats. I am equally thankful for those who work to ensure the freedoms of each individual within our country, always remembering that it isn't "freedom" if it tramples someone else's rights.

Gratitude #10

10. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to stay home with my children, and also to work part time. If anyone had said 7 years ago this would be my life I would be shocked and horrified. And yet as trite as it sounds, having children really does change everything. I wouldn't want to have missed all this wonderful time (well, from birth to 6 months I could do without, but apparently that is exactly the time children don't fare too well without a mama). The linked piece is that I am grateful to have worked part time for 3 of the 6 years I've been home with the kids. They had a chance to bond with other (wonderful, fabulous, almost better than me) caregivers and later to play with other children all day. My schedule let me be away from them fewer than 30 hours each week so my role as primary was pretty cemented. But having "adult time" is also important for my mental and emotional health, so it was a perfect balance. If only every job had the part-time options!

Gratitude #9

9. I am so grateful for my husband. We are truly a team in every good sense of the word. I know he has my back and I have his. He is still the only adult I want to talk to every single day, and I still DO want to talk to him every single day. Together we have produced my favorite two small beings in the world, who alternately sass me and beg me to hold them, often within the same 60 seconds. And I wouldn't want anything else.

Gratitude #8

Today I am thankful for seasons. Between Malta and Russia I had forgotten how much I love having four distinct seasons, each of which lasts longer than 2 weeks. As a New Englander there is definitely something missing in my life if the leaves don't turn vibrant red, golden yellow, crisp orange. I wish we'd been taking more photos this year!