Thankful Tueseday

1. Last week someone from the pulmonologist's office called to schedule Oliver's next appointment, and I said I didn't think it was necessary. I think he's really turned a corner. He''s still more prone to having a cough than his siblings, but it doesn't seem to progress too "serious" these days (thank the Lord!). I even have stopped using the nebulizer because it didn't seem to be helping, and skipping the nebulizer didn't cause his symptoms to get any worse. Here's to hoping and praying Oliver can avoid being hospitalized in 2017.

2. The kids enjoyed the eight Halloween events we went to over a period of five days - at Weis grocery store, McCann school of business, the library, four churches, and trick or treating. They ended up with 17+ pounds of candy between the three of them. Last night Nadia went as the Pilgrim (she wore that costume 4 of the 5 nights), Ian went as Luigi (2nd time), and Oliver went as Mike (from Monsters University). Paul joined us. I had taken the kids to 7 of the 8 events. Paul took them to one by himself and joined us for trick or treating. The kids gave him some bags of Middlesworth sour cream and onion chips (one of his favorite kinds of chips) and also some peanut butter cups (his favorite candy). It's fun to see all the different costumes that people wear. Last night a Christian puppet ministry put on some puppet shows outside, and they were also giving kids rides around the block and giving out free hot dogs, popcorn, and donuts. We walked around visiting houses for about 90 minutes.

3. I have enjoyed the Bible study on Hosea. Tonight was the last night. They will be starting other studies in January, and I hope to join again.

4. This morning I asked Oliver if he liked trick or treating last night, and he said, "I really like museums, Mommy." I was not expecting that reply, but it was music to my ears. My four year old loves museums! He then went on to talk about how much he liked the planetarium show we saw in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago.

5. Paul and his parents were able to see Nadia's game on Saturday - first time they saw her play this fall. Paul was also able to see a second game of Ian's. I am equally grateful that soccer is over for 2016. It was also nice that Paul's parents got the kids lunch at McDonald's and played with the kids for a couple of hours at our house on Saturday.

6. We had fun carving pumpkins on Saturday, and it was special that Pop Pop helped with the project.

7. I had taken a week off from Facebook, but I was glad I reactivated my account because through it I learned that a local library had made arrangements for a free bus trip to Harrisburg - through a grant they will be providing transportation, tour of the capitol, lunch, and tickets to see the Nutcracker ballet! I signed Nadia and myself up, and Paul's parents have agreed to watch the boys that Saturday. I am really looking forward to a Mommy/daughter day with Nadia - that is a rare treat. I had looked into taking her to the Nutcracker last year but didn't because of the cost. It is such a gift to be able to go for free!

8. The trees are so beautiful! Since the weather didn't cooperate on Sunday, I had the kids put on Sunday clothes for a few minutes yesterday so I could get my annual "fall leaves portraits" of each of them. In addition to beautiful trees, I am thankful for my three precious children and my camera, which is definitely one of my most favorite possessions that I own (since it enables me to preserve images of my three beloved children).

9. Jesus is the King of the universe no matter who becomes the President of the USA. As it says in Proverbs 21, "The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases."

10. As I type this at 9:40 pm, Paul just went out to work on the door. He is motivated to finish it this evening because our home is being appraised tomorrow morning. I am grateful that something else will be crossed off the "to do" list.

11. I am not really into candles, but many years the soccer team has done a Yankee Candle fundraiser. I look through the catalog to find one of the cheapest things I can buy (and am grateful my kids have only one fundraiser a year and the only other person I show the catalog to is Paul's mom who graciously buys a few things so I don't have to go to others and solicit their purchases). Well I have decided I really like having one of their fragrance spheres in two of our bathrooms. I don't know exactly why but those bathrooms had been stinky places lately although I clean the bathrooms once a week. The price in the fundraising catalog is naturally higher, but since I found I loved them (and they sadly only last 1-2 months each), I found a good bargain an got some for $2.50 each (less than half of what I paid through the soccer team). It's so nice to have our bathrooms smelling nice again.

12. I don't do my CVS couponing trips as regularly as I used to, but I still go now and then and am always grateful for

the bargains when I do. I went last Friday and got 20 items (six boxes of cereal, three 12 packs of Coke for Paul, four bags of fun size candy bars, six 2 liters of Pepsi, and a box of granola bars) and paid about $25 total. Three of the bags of candy were used at our church's trunk or treat. I kept the fourth bag at home because it was filled with what currently is my most favorite kind of candy (also a favorite of Nadia) - Milky Way Simply Caramel. Yumm! Hopefully a little bit of chocolate hasn't sabotaged my diet. As of the last time I checked I had lost 5 pounds.

13. Ian and Nadia continue to make progress on learning their multiplication tables. We are working on the six times table this week, and we already did the ten times table, which means after this we only have three left to learn.

14. Ian loves practicing the piano! I am so happy that he enjoys it and is making good progress. Nadia is very happy that she is now allowed to use the pedal sometimes.

15. We finished Mara, Daughter of the Nile. It was an exciting book to read, but I purposefully picked a couple of lighter/shorter ones (Miss Hickory is the one we're reading right now) before we start our last one that is set in ancient Egypt (Golden Goblet).

16. Nadia and Ian were well behaved when sitting alone in church on Sunday morning. I need to remember not to take that for granted, as I am sure there are many 6 and 8 year olds who would struggle to behave in that scenario. I am thankful they both do a great job in the morning worship service. At this time next year I'll be teaching Oliver how to do the same.