With or Without Sugar?

This morning, I was afraid there was a serious problem: my coffee did not taste right.

No, stop laughing. Coffee is serious.

I looked at it. Pale with cream, warming the spoon from the sugar I knew I'd put in, it looked fine.

I tried another sip. Bleh!

I wanted to cry. I wasn't sure I could handle one more thing gone wrong this morning.

Then it struck me. I hadn't stirred. One thing after another had needed my attention, and I had neglected something so basic to the experience of coffee.

The sugar was there the whole time. I just hadn't brought it up to where I needed it.

Then it struck me. I hadn't prayed. One thing after another had needed my attention, and I had neglected something so basic to the experience of life.

The coffee's now gone, but God is near.

Bathroom Remodel

I'm so happy with all of the progress we've made.

I LOVE the new flooring.

The new baseboards, faucet, sink, vanity, mirror, towel ring, toilet paper holder, and toilet are so nice.

Taking the closet door off and painting and wallpapering that space makes a world of difference in how much wider the room feels.

(Josh says, "Hi!")

We even made custom baskets for the shelves!

Nana made the curtains. Papa picked out the wood blinds. I found the shower curtains cheap at Sears and Garden Ridge.

The wallpaper was on clearance at Lowes, and I love it. I promise the pink isn't nearly as pink in person. It's more of a red, like in this picture.

There are just a few little things like caulking left to do. I've got some little canvases I'm going to paint and hang on the wall above the toilet, and we're looking for something to go to the right of the mirror to balance the space, but it's so nice to have it mostly done. It started out feeling much too cramped in a lovely but boring shade of cream with damaged cream and gold linoleum.

Now it's my favorite room in the house.

Grateful

The surgery went well. Now, we just wait on the pathology report. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

I understand the most wonderful and freeing thing now:

God never gives us more than HE can handle.

Entrusted is such a wonderful place to be.

Need prayers.

I'm having a ?tumor?/ suspicious bump under my nose removed next Thursday. Please pray that the surgery goes well and that Jack and I survive the two days of being unable to breastfeed with minimal misery. Thanks.

Gratitude # 11-20

I've been really remiss in updating this blog. I liked blogging because it was a good warm-up for working on my novel, and I really need to kick working on my novel into high gear. I was hoping to have finished it by the end of February... Yah, not so successful on that.
So, without further ado, I present...

Jackson Cole

11. I am grateful for Baby Jack.

12. I am grateful that I'm grateful for Baby Jack, because originally, I was rather dismayed that the next few years would not be proceeding as I had thought they should.

13. I am grateful that Jack was born healthy, weighing in at eleven and a half pounds!

14. I am grateful that the labor was only 2.5 hours and the delivery went pretty much according to plan. (Yay for midwives and birthcenters!)

15. I am grateful that Jack is an easy, smiley baby.

16. I am grateful that his siblings love him enough to fight over getting to spend time with him.

17. I am grateful that he likes to cuddle and be worn in my carriers.

18. I am grateful that he either sleeps or smiles through Mass.

19. I am grateful for baby smiles.

20. I'm grateful for friends with whom to share the things for which I'm grateful.

41 weeks and counting...

Gratitude

I've had three people now suggest that I keep a record of things I'm grateful for, so I'm going to give it a try. I really like this quote from John Milton that I found on Ann Voskamp's Gratitude Community blog page: "Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendental moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world." I think that's very true, so here goes...

I am grateful for:

1. Music and its mood-altering properties.
2. Calendars. I really love calendars.
3. English toffee-flavored instant cappuccino.
4. The ability to recheck library materials online.
5. Comfortable clothing.
6. Jewel-toned colors.
7. Hand-held yahtzee.
8. Trash can liners.
9. Lilac-scented air freshener.
10. Eavesdropping on a little boy's conversation with an imaginary friend.