Thankful Tuesday

1. I'm so grateful for the 71 years of life God granted my mother and for the knowledge that she is in Glory, and I will be reunited with her some day.

2. The five of us enjoyed going to dinner at Applebee's last Wednesday.

3. Ian and Oliver enjoyed spending Saturday at Grandma and Pop Pop's house.

4. Nadia and I enjoyed our girl's day of shopping, lunch at Subway, and seeing the movie Beauty and the Beast on Saturday.

5. Ian and Nadia enjoyed the Upward Basketball award program on Saturday night.

6. All three kids sang in the kids' choir in both services on Sunday, and Ian did a great job on his brief solo.

7. Yvonne gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Wesley Jayden on Friday night. We look forward to meeting our new nephew/cousin this summer!

8. It usually takes me almost an entire year to get enough Coke points for a canvas from Shutterfly, but thanks to codes from Paul's parents and also some trades I made on Facebook with a couple of ladies, I was able to earn enough points on Monday to redeem for a Coke canvas. I just made it under the wire as the last day of entering Coke points is tomorrow. Whew. Now to decide what picture I will pick for the canvas. Hmm...

9. I got a hair cut on Saturday! I was long overdue for one (had been almost 4 months), and I had to try a new hairstylist, but I am pleased with what she did. Whew. That is a relief as over the years I have had plenty of haircuts I didn't like.

10. I love the $1 matching sweaters I got the kids and myself. I wanted to take some photos on Sunday afternoon when the temps were in the 40's and the sky was blue (and the time was right as far as the location of the sun in the sky), but Nadia said, "let's wait until tomorrow." Well I wish I had pressed the issue because it was

cloudy all day on Monday, but I gave it a whirl anyhow. I like the pics I got although a blue sky would have been even better. Oliver's size 4T sweater is snug so it is not going to fit him next year. The sweaters Ian and Nadia were wearing were a little big on them. Ian's would have fit Nadia perfectly. I plan to take more pics in future years with these sweaters once Oliver grows big enough to wear the one Ian was wearing yesterday as I got another one for Ian to wear (I bought 4 sweaters for my 3 kids). It was a very well spent $5, in my opinion!

10. Since Nadia had softball practice yesterday (on the blacktop since the field was still covered with snow), the boys played on the playground. Normally they'll have soccer practice while she has softball, but their soccer practices haven't started yet due to the snow. I don't usually take them to a playground when there is snow on the ground, but we came prepared with snow pants, coats, and boots (although Oliver forgot his gloves). They had fun during her practice. Hopefully it will be warmer by the time they

have their next practice (on Thursday).

11. I am still ever so thankful for my camera and lenses and for my three beautiful children whom I love to photograph. Nadia asked me yesterday if I could teach her how to be a photographer. Sure!!! When I look back at my pictures I wish my learning curve had been quicker, but better late than never!

12. Yesterday one of my aunts called me twice to check on me to see how I was doing since it was my mom's birthday. I was really touched by that. She has really been there for me over the past eight months since my mom passed. I have greatly appreciated her listening ear and love. Similarly, my siblings and I have had more contact with each other over the past 15 months. Uncle Maurice is going to be a guest speaker for our social studies unit on Ancient Greece (he is getting his master's in art history and archaeology in Texas and is doing his thesis on Ephesus).