Gladitude Monday: Excessive Photo Style

Well, it's been a while since I up/down-loaded Mr. Camera. Thought I would combine that with a bit o' the gladitude, since often these moments are glad times for me. Other shots, of course, were taken with the express intention of sharing on the blog. I feel the need to say that lest any of you wonder about my mental health status after viewing pictures of plates and carpet.

10. Glad for our fine, furry friends and their Easter time toys. Are you going to try to take Annie's bunny from her? Actually, she'd probably be a better sport than Murphy. He may only have about 5 old, stinky teeth, but they're HIS, and so is his ducky.

9. Glad for Egg Dyeing and the other fun associated with Easter. Actually...other than going to church on Easter, this was about the only fun to be had since our brunch was cancelled and due to the up-ending of the house, I didn't decorate this year. Silly that not decorating and not having brunch really affected me this year. I didn't think it would be a big deal. But I missed them. That's why this set of ugly eggs is so special.

Don't you love the black eggs? Don't they look lovely for Easter morning? Actually, it's Bev's fault (for I am a blame-shifter). She had this glorious post about making her own dye for eggs, how you don't need no PAAS or some such...So the black egg is my attempt at purple. Of course it could be said that she didn't mention anything about purple in her post. Ahem. And actually, the yellow and orange turned out well, I think. I did a combo. I had green, pink, and blue from PAAS, and tried blood red, orange, yellow and purple on my own.

The egg dye-ers...

8. The carpet? She was installed on last Thursday. I think they did a nice job, and wanted to show you how yummy it feels. So...logic follows that I would make a handprint, right? So gladdy mc glad about this.

7. Glad about our "Blue Plate Special" lest you were thinking I was glad about the crumbs in the picture . I made this plate about 6 years ago, and it shows. However, it's a oft forgotten family tradition that we go "round-robin" with in making each member of the family feel special. I got the idea for the blue plate part of it from my favorite diner in Denver, called The Rocky Mountain Diner. I hope it's still open. It was right across from the courthouse. But I digress. Here are our "rules" should you think this is an idea worth doing:

a. The special person gets to say the evening prayer (this includes Daddy--wink)

b. The special person goes first in saying highs and lows of the day (something we do nightly), and if it's a weekend, they can choose to share week highlights).

c. Each person (picked by the special person in turn) shares at least one, but as many as they wish genuine compliments about that person. Of course since the speech therapist/bossy mc bosser in me never sleeps, I make sure that the compliments are: s.p.e.c.i.f.i.c. (Lord, I get tired of "he/she's funny".) and not back-handed in nature. This may be micromanaging. Guilty. But it's also a way to teach some positive communication skills.

d. The special person is served first (unless it's me, of course--I'm usually running)

6. Glad for the Tulip Festival. We went to welcome the gray whales back to the Puget Sound last weekend. There's a little festival in Langley, on Whidbey Island, so we did a first: headed out the door at 9 a.m., went to the bank for cash, and caught the 9:30 ferry to Whidbey. I cannot believe we were one hour door to island given that it was a Saturday a.m. I think we were the 3rd last car on the boat. Now, I say this entirely for my own self esteem--gray whales are solitary, so they are hard to see. Ahem. No, we didn't find any. But the watching was fun. For a while. So...we blew that popsicle stand and decided to drive off the island the long way (about a 3 hour tour, cue Gilligan) so we could see the tulips. See, I did have a point. And I got there. Tulips.

This shot taken from the car. These were literally the only tulips even mostly out at this time. Because we've been colder than normal, most of the flowers out were daffodils. For which we were indeed also glad.

6. Glad for Little Miss Annie. The kids go to bass and electric guitar lessons at Annie's house each week and her big brother J. teaches them wonderfully--plus...what a great mentor. He's in high school and a believer. Awesome. Annie has her own blog, so I'm okay sharing her name. :)

Anyway...my little friend just turned 6, and she's still recovering from a severe brain injury due to Addison's disease. This is a little known disease which affects the endocrine system. Unfortunately, despite having the best parents in the world, her Addison's got so severe (as it was undetected despite Mom's concerns about having a tan daughter--one of the side effects) that she seized herself into respiratory arrest 2 years ago. You can read her story here (in the sidebar). We are all waiting on God to heal Annie. And I know He will, in His timing. I don't know if it'll be here or in Heaven, but I believe He loves her and that she will be well someday. For now, we read Dr. Seuss together when the kids have a lesson. Or sometimes I sing to her. Or duck away as she throws a book or two at me. Yay for arm strength! I'm glad for this time that I can play with her, chat with her mom, and possibly even give her mom a second or 2 to start dinner.

5. Whew! Ran out of pictures. Glad about that. :) They're tedious to post. Hopefully not as tedious to view.

4. Glad it's Monday. I needed a new mercy in the worst way today. Had some not so bright parenting moments yesterday. We rallied, and God is always good. Unfortunately, I often step in His way.

3. Glad that next Saturday, we get to do a community service project for Big's work. All the offices in the corporation are doing a volunteer work day, and I'm glad of it. I believe we're doing yard clean up for an area psychiatric hospital. Yes, the kids are included, too.

2. Glad I get to look forward to a massage on Wed. My 40th present from Big is monthly massages. Me likey. Might take the edge of Mommy's moodiness. They'll likey. :)

1. Glad to be checking in with all my peeps over the blogosphere today. As Kellie says, you're real friends (I'm probably paraphrasing), despite the fact that I haven't met many of you.

Have a great week!