Howdy 2009! Lots of Gladness!

Hey, howdy, and hi,

Sure hope your first Monday of the new year holds at least one thing for which you are exceedingly glad. Here's my 10 for the week:

10. Glad for routine. Now, I will miss my kids when they go back to school, as it's been relatively pleasant in terms of sniping and grouching. Still...we all need a purpose, and for them, right now school fills that. David only goes to school for part of the day 2x a week, but still, he has a routine, and therefore, so do I.

9. Glad that Big is leaving for Shanghai for a looong time tomorrow. Not really, but if he has to go, and he does, I want him to go and get back. No use waiting. If you're led, please pray that he and his luggage arrive safely together tomorrow late in the evening.

8. Glad for the aroma of the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies I just pulled out of the oven for treats for lunches and/or after dinner for this week. I'm posting on Sunday night (at least for some of this), so it's about 7. Drama and Dad are playing Guitar Hero. David is playing some StarWars computer game, and I'm doing laundry, baking , and blogging. Good thing all my tasks are within about 10 steps of each other. Insert guffaw here.

7. Glad for post-Christmas clean up. Well, I should clarify: I'm never glad for clean up and the effort required in doing so. However, I do like that our house is a bit more sterile looking tidy; and because it's not totally overwhelmed with clutter, I'm inspired to do some short-term, cheap home projects. Probably painting this room or that will be tackled first. It's a bit overwhelming though because our house is about 18, and thus everything is looking a bit shabby. Original carpet. Not original paint, but still needs a good coat and kick in the pants. As flylady says, "baby steps". So baby steps it shall be.

6. Glad I got to break in my spankin' new Bible at church today. Do you write in your Bibles? I do. I know some friends think that's akin to sacrilege, but I can't help myself. I like to write corresponding verses in the margins or underline and, basically use it as a textbook.

5. Glad for a date night with Big last night. We only went to our town center--about 5 minutes away--so the kids watched themselves for 2 hours. We paid them $2/hour each with a minimum of $5. They're babysitting "themselves". Mostly, we do this so they don't fight. We'll see how this works out. At 10.5 and 12.5, with a neighbor home, our quick distance, and cell phones, I just wasn't too worried. Heck, at 12, I had a 40+ hour week babysitting job in the summer. I try to remember that. Still, the world is different, too. Big and I had some loverly Thai food and then a s.m.a.l.l.(ish) dessert at our favorite local coffee house. This one doesn't count on my coffee house fast, does it Mer? Since it was a date and all? :)

4. Glad for New Years Eve with these kiddos. Our kids have known each other since ages 1 and 3, respectively, so it was a fun time. Drama Girl is absolutely in heaven when sandwiched between R and M. And David? Well...he tolerates well, and usually sneaks back to hone his skillz with the Force on the computer.

3. Glad for Joanne's Frugal Housewife series. For heaven's sake, I'm clipping coupons, going on a month-long Target fast, and (other than when on dates, it seems) am also taking a coffee house/latte stand fast, as well. My Lord, is the world still spinning on its axis?????

2. Glad for our trip to the library and the gym as a family today. I got 2 authors I haven't read before--really goin' rogue, huh? And...I'm glad we got to work out. I was about to squeeze David's little head from off his neck because I was so thoroughly tired of hearing him either a) complain about working out or b) micromanage his working out (verbally) so that he did the least possible amount of exercise necessary to qualify for exercising at all. However, after a good sweat, God gave me the perspective I needed: He doesn't have to like it; he just has to do it. Much like me, I suppose. Eww. Don't like that one.

Lastly...

Are you ready for this?

1. I'm so glad I'm not a male wiener dog in deep snow. Sooo not fair.

Poor Murphy...