Successes, Sleeping In & Sentiment

1. It was nice to get the few things done that I did in the past two days. I have a list to go, but seeing some of it checked off makes me feel good.

2. Today was the kids' fall break, as well as tomorrow. That means we all slept in today. It was nice.

3. When I came out from taking my shower this morning, I discovered Chad sitting on our bed with a lock box that he has kept over the years. I never really thought about what was in it. He brought to me as I brushed my hair. Inside it was all the notes and letters I had given him when we were dating. It was fun to read how silly I was in them...and young...and naive. Best of all was the fact that he kept them.

Clarity, Comfort, & Crisp

1. Knowing you did the right thing, and although hard, praying for a comfort to come in the midst of the turmoil.

2. And it does....

3. The fresh feeling of clean, cool bed sheets at night that smell inviting and feel crisp.

Peace, Purity, & Pretending

1. The quietness and calm that comes when all the children are fresh from a bath and contentedly watching Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin cartoon before bedtime.

2. The innocense of the way their minds work...the giggles over small things...

3. Listening to them play together and wishing my imagination worked like theirs does.

Smells, Smiles, & Smooches

1. The fresh smell of a child after his nightly bath, all warm and ready to snuggle.

2. The smile a cup of home made hot chocolate brings to the faces of my children.

3. The lip smacking smooches I get as my little ones run off to bed.

Perspective, Parenting, Prayer

1. Getting a fresh outlook just at the right time.

2. Feeling a new life grow inside you. Realizing it's the last time and feeling humbled for being chosen to bear the gift.

3. Being able to pray at any time, any place, in the middle of any event - and KNOWING without a shadow of a doubt you were heard.