Perspective

I am technically 28 minutes into Tuesday, which means I am 28 minutes late for Gratitude Monday (so now you know Matt is out of town for the night). In my defense, I have been TRYING to work on this post for two days now but my computer is acting like the dinosaur it is (either that, or with only .2% free space left on the hard drive, squeaking in the cracks between the gazillions of photos I take but never print, it is giving up on me.) I have a ton of photos that I would like to add to this post, but hey. I am about sick to death of trying to convince this thing to upload photos at all, let alone QUICKLY.

My oven died over the weekend. I churned out two loaves of bread, two pizzas and later finished the dough to make shortbread with cheesecake filling when it conked out. The pigs ended up getting the shortbread dough. Not a good time, just days before Thanksgiving, for a stove to conk out on me-for the record. Maybe having our first "own" Thanksgiving will have to wait until next year? *sniff* I always liked you, stove. Now? Not so much.

I was counting up change from the change jar, expecting a call from the billing department at the hospital after playing phone tag all morning long. Judah was crying. Andrew was talking to me, making me lose count over and over on those beastly pennies, so I started to count really loud and obnoxiously so as to say-"Get it? Trying to concentrate, Panda. Shut 'yer yap for a minute!" The phone rings-but no worries- they can just leave a message.

Only wait---the answering machine never came on....

and Adele? She is being quiet. TOO quiet. After a few minutes I turn around and what do you know? She answered the phone for me. The caller got to hear my impatient counting, Andrew yacking, Judah crying, and the heavy breathing of a toddler for who knows how many minutes. I was so mortified, I just hung up. So-if that was you on the phone-sorry. Oh wait-is that Social Services knocking on my door!?

Oh and that billing department? They told me that last bill was just for the midwife appointments, but THIS huge, gigantic, swallow-your-tongue it's so outrageous bill is for the actual DELIVERY. (That, may I remind you, only lasted SEVEN MINUTES after arriving at the hospital and which had NO midwives/doctors PRESENT) Oh-wonderful. Thank you SO very much.


Just one of those days.

Not the worst, but barely making it to mediocre. I say-the perfect time to count your blessings. A few more (with too few photos) just in time.

Even though Matt is gone, I am thankful it is only for one blessed night.

Even though my computer is filled right up to not-working-well status, I am thankful for all the cuteness it holds.

Even though I was embarrassed by who-knows-who hearing who-knows-what, I am thankful I was/am able to be HOME, experiencing every moment (even the unpleasant ones) with my children.

Even though another bill is just what I wanted!!!! and we had to wipe out our savings to pay it, I am thankful we've saved enough to pay it in full and so, we got a $750.00 discount for paying up front. I miss that little nest egg already, but the chick we got out of it was worth it.

Even though my oven broke right before I had to put a turkey in it, I am thankful we can crash the Thanksgiving parties of nearby relatives.

It's all good.

And a few more, because it is easy to get on a roll once the gratitude comes:

~ knit afghans

~ for this expression: HIS, not mine.


~ carrots and ranch dressing

~ friends who bring bread by

~ homemade toothpaste

~ book recommendations



~ a blanket of well wishes. (Thank you, Thank you! We love it! And you *will* be getting a card that says so sometime this century!)

~smothering love and a patient brother


~ polka dot sheets

~piles of quarters, all lined up

~ the satisfaction of a good yawn.

Speaking of which, good night.



# 690-705 gifts spoken.