Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007

I didn’t start off the day very thankful. In fact, I haven’t been thankful most of the day but then I was reminded of an article I read in the LA Times the other day about a preacher who is exhorting his congregation to go 21 consecutive days without complaining. I don’t have my sights set that high but on the way home from the grocery store, I came up with quite a list of things to be thankful for.

I’m thankful that . . .

Jason and Brendan got out all their tantrums on Saturday when Peter left for Prague and have been quite lovely ever since.
Mom and Dad were home from Fresno on Sunday when my fever spiked so they could watch the boys while I slept all afternoon.
British Airways was threatening to go on strike so Peter changed his ticket to come home earlier.
Mom took Brendan to school yesterday and today so I could stay in my pajamas a little longer.
When I took Jason to Urgent Care with me, they said he just had a series of colds over the last two and a half weeks and nothing more. (Jason was even disappointed he didn’t get a shot.)
I found medicine that Jason will take – the thin strips that dissolve in his mouth. Usually it takes four hands to get medicine down him but I was actually able to do it on my own!
I am now on antibiotics for my turn of being sick.
A friend called to ask if Jason could come play for awhile this afternoon so I could have some time alone.
I could drive myself to the grocery store in the pouring rain instead of taking a bus.
Pringles were on sale.
Jason’s cold medicine was on sale too.
My van’s trunk flips up which kept me dry when I was loading my groceries.
By the time I got home, the rain was only a drizzle while I unloaded the groceries.
Peter met with his advisor in Prague who seems to think that Peter knows what he is doing.
Because it hurts to swallow and my appetite is less, I may actually lose a few pounds.
The boys had art class this afternoon for an hour and a half so I didn’t have to talk to anyone during that time which is lovely since my throat is still very sore.

Apparently, with this “no complaint” discipline, you are still allowed statements of fact, such as, “Peter is gone for a week and I am sick with a fever, earache, sore throat, and it is difficult to breathe deeply without coughing.” Wow, I feel another thankful thought coming on . . . I am thankful that I have a husband who wishes he could be home to nurse me back to health and take over parenting even though he can’t. OK, that’s enough thankfulness for awhile.