Thankful Thursday

1. We had a very rough start on Friday at homeschool gym class, but Ian *finally* decided to stop crying and had a blast playing various games with a basketball. Hoping and praying that tomorrow he'll do well right from the start. I have no idea why he has decided he should cry and go through separation issues with this class considering he never does anything like that when I take him to Soul Patrol (kid's choir), AWANA, or Sunday School. Being a parent definitely helps keep you humble!

2. Paul has TWO more phone interviews scheduled for tomorrow -one with Indiana University Southeast and a second one with the University of Tampa (to teach different classes than the one he interviewed for last week). It is very encouraging that he is starting to receive these invitations. Now we are praying that at least one of them will translate to an invitation to interview on campus!

3. On Saturday we went shopping as a family. First we went to Toys 'R Us so that Nadia could exchange one of her Christmas gifts. Between a 20% off coupon, the money from the return, and her tooth fairy money, she was able to buy a set of Frozen walkie talkies. Between a $5 off coupon and the $5 Ian received for his birthday, Ian was able to buy a small Lego set. At Sears Paul used some of his Sears gift card he received for his birthday to buy himself a new pair of sweatpants and a new pair of jeans. His only pair of jeans developed a big hole in the knee while we were in the Poconos.

4. I have found a Sunday School class I really, really like. I honestly can't recall the last time I liked a Sunday School class this much. It's been more than 10 years. Bruce Rehm is an excellent teacher. He teaches history at the Christian school. Right now we are studying Colossians. The pastor is going through the book of Galatians, and each Sunday a member of the congregation (who is a veterinarian) is reciting a chapter from memory right before the sermon. She did an outstanding job of reciting 1:1-2:10 in a very expressive manner. This Sunday School class is during the second service so we have switched to attending the first service. It doesn't effect Oliver as he's in "The Circus" for both services either way, but now Paul is bringing the kids at 8:45 (I am there at 8:25). Nadia, Ian, and I go to Sunday School during the second service, and Paul goes home after the first service. This plan works better because when I attended Sunday School during the first service it meant that the kids had to sit unattended in the Sanctuary from 8:25-8:40ish while the choir was warming up and rehearsing.

5. Ian celebrated his first spiritual birthday on Tuesday! I am so grateful that Nadia and Ian are Christians. It is SO comforting to know I will spend eternity with them. Praying for their continued spiritual growth! We celebrated by singing to him (the spiritual birthday version of the song that my family sang when I was growing up), giving him one gift (the boat and figures of Jesus and the 12 disciples as seen above), and making him a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (his request).

6. Yvonne celebrated her 40th birthday yesterday. I am glad that I have a sibling also in her 40's now. Misery loves company. Just kidding. Other than having more trouble reading, I have no complaints about being in my 40's. Her birthday makes it very easy to remember Ian's spiritual birthday (unlike Nadia's spiritual birthday, which I can never remember).

7. We had a great time at the Children's Museum on Tuesday for their monthly $2 Tuesday! The special activities this time focused on lights and shadows. Next month it will be about Dr. Seuss.

8. I am wearing contacts again for the first time in a year and can read while wearing them for the first time in two years. YAY! I can't read evertthing, but what is too small for me to read with contacts on I just pass to Nadia and ask her to tell me what it says. It helps to have a child who can read! This happened yesterday with something that came in the mail that I couldn't read.

9. The kids *really* enjoyed eating their pirate and princess shaped pasta this week (Christmas gift from Aunt Millie). Ian thought it was the tastiest pasta *ever*, and this is quiet a statement coming from a kid who not that long ago didn't like ANY pasta. Ian and Oliver prefer theirs with spaghetti sauce on it, and Nadia prefers hers with cheese on it.

10. The kids are healing from their ice skating injuries. Nadia's black eye has totally gone away. Hopefully no one will be injured in class today!

11. The kids had fun playing in the snow yesterday! All the schools in our area had early dismissals yesterday. The gymnastics class wasn't cancelled, but everything at church was cancelled last night. I am very grateful that Paul's long night is on Wednesday nights this semester because being solely responsible for the kids for 15 hours straight is exhausting (Paul was gone from 5:30 am to 8:30pm). Normally the kids and I are at church on Wednesday night for at least two hours.

12. Last month's water bill was almost double what it usually is (it was almost $100!). I was VERY relieved that this month it was back to normal. Paul replaced some parts in one of the toilets as he thought it might be the culprit for our crazy water bill. I am grateful he knows how to do things like that because I sure don't! The sewer bill I got today was also our highest ever, but hopefully that was also from the same problem, and hopefully next month the sewer bill will also be back to normal.