February 18

Today, Hart made me stop at the grocery store. I hate grocery shopping, and I especially hate grocery shopping on Saturday afternoons. However, I was rewarded for my shopping bravery by finding red bell peppers on sale.

I'm grateful the price of bells finally went down. I'm also grateful that I don't usually have to do the grocery shopping.

February 17

I'm grateful that Robert Shaw recorded the Messiah in 1966, before I was even a twinkle in my mother's eye. The sound is pure glory. I'm also grateful that I'm not paid to take pictures because today I would have gone hungry.

February 16

It was rather startling this evening as I pulled up into my mother's foothills driveway and was greeted by a small herd of Bambis munching on last fall's leftover apples. The deer, however, were distinctly unstartled. The most attention I received from the five of them was a slightly annoyed backward glance as they moseyed off down the cul-de-sac.

I'm grateful tonight that there were apples on the tree and a foot and a half of snow on the ground and that I happened to be picking my mother up at just the right time to share their living space so closely.

February 15

Early this evening I find myself on the inside of a less-than-optimally-lit gym, excited to watch my son show off all his knowledge at the RadKids graduation ceremony. I snap a shot or two, look at the LCD and realize this isn't going to work. My itty-bitty top-of-the-camera flash won't reach to the end of the gym and I know that even if I could actually hold the camera still enough, those kids sure as heck aren't going to be statues.

And then I remember that Hart used to have to take photos from the inside of darkened gyms all the time when he was a photographer for the newspaper. What do I do? I ask him. RTFM on ISO speed, he replies.

ISO at 1600 worked. Graduation, however, didn't happen. The police cancelled the event on account of the blizzard all of the parents had already driven through.

Tonight, I'm grateful for Hart's free advice.

February 14

I'm grateful that my pantry was stocked well enough tonight to provide for a last minute batch of chocolate chip cookies.

February 13

We finally dragged ourselves back into the house tonight at 8:15 p.m., after an exhausting day. I'm grateful that I had the forethought to have my kids prepare their valentines after they came home from Unca Pat's on Sunday evening while I was at choir practice because it means they can go to bed now and so can I.

.   .   .

Oh, who am I kidding? I'm grateful they were so excited about making their valentines that THEY decided to do them without my supervision. My forethought and planning had absolutely nothing to do with this little serendipitous circumstance (and yes, those skull valentines were handmade by Luke).

February 12

My dad loves to tell this story: When I was almost two years old, he decided to adopt me. Mom and dad took me to the courthouse, but just before they were due to stand before the judge, I decided to throw an extreme temper tantrum. He says my screams reverberated off the bathroom walls throughout the entire building. The judge asked him, "Are you SURE you want to adopt this child?"

Today, I'm grateful for another birthday for my dad. And I hope there are many, many more. I love you Dad!