May 26

The weather cooperated and we managed to finally get those kids wet. Tonight I'm grateful for Em's wonderful company and Tasha's excellent burgers.

May 25

I'm grateful tonight for the little bit of Portuguese sunshine sent across the ocean to me by my wonderful friend, Jorge.

Jorge and I met last summer as we were working through the lessons in PhotoImpact International's Beginner's Workshop. His projects were always creative and stunning and I learned so much from studying them. A month or so after we both graduated, he produced a composite photo (9 photographs in all) of an incredible sunrise over a saltmarsh near his home. It blew everyone away and ended up in the gallery on the Ulead site.

A few weeks ago, I received a tube in the mail with a print of this beautiful photo rolled inside. I took it straight away to the best framer in town and today it was finally ready to pick up. Thank you so much for this incredible gift, Jorge! Portugal fits well in my house, don't you think?

May 24

Lost,
yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset,
two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes.
No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.

Horace Mann (1796-1859)

I'm grateful for Wednesday's golden hours.

May 23

Although it probably won't guarantee me the Best Mother of the Year Award, I'm grateful that chocolate cake helps ease disappointments.

When I picked up the kids from school today, I had to tell them that our dinner/swim date with friends had been postponed until Friday because of bad weather. Oh, they were not in a happy place at hearing that news! But the tears did ebb a bit when I told them at the grocery store to pick out any dessert they wanted.

We have so much leftover chocolate cake at my house. This is not necessarily something I am grateful for.

May 22

A fantastic thunder and lightning storm rolled through the valley just after lunchtime today. I was staring hard at my computer screen, searching for work I had misplaced, when suddenly there was a pop! and my data vanished, leaving only a tiny white dot in the middle of the screen.

Our emergency hall lights went on, but the power remained off to most of the city for over an hour. I was grateful when it was finally restored, but I'm more grateful that we have power at all. You don't miss something until it's missing!

May 21

It was a few days past her birthday, but we still managed to surprise her. The original plan was for all four of us kids to meet with our families at the ball diamond in her town and then caravan up to her house for afternoon burgers. Sadly, the youngest of us fell ill with the stomach flu and couldn't make it.

But she was so surprised at the party of 8 that appeared on her front step that she nearly cried. Of course, it could have been because we totally screwed her afternoon birding plans, but I don't think she minded. And then when her son surprised her with not one, but TWO plumeria leis flown in special from Maui, well, she was a teary mess. It was wonderful.

When I was little it used to scare me a bit, but now I'm grateful that she cries out of happiness. You know you've really touched her heart when you see those tears.