June 24

I'm grateful for summer afternoon gin and tonics. Especially when they're made by someone else.

June 23

I took Luke and Ruth to church for the very first time two years ago. I was nervous as we walked in, and of course we picked a seat at the very back of the sanctuary. My original plan was to "church-shop" until I found a good fit. First Presbyterian was the first church on my grocery list, but after hearing Pastor Dave's sermon that day, it was the only church on the list.

His sense of humor kept me entertained, but his ability to make people feel loved and welcome kept me coming back.

Our church will be experiencing some major changes in the next few months. Pastor Dave and his family will be leaving and there will be a huge hole left in the community and our hearts. But I know that where ever they end up, they will touch a lot of lives and bring the people they meet closer to God.

I'm grateful for the love Dave and his family has given us. They will be missed.

June 22

They had her write a letter in support of him receiving the International Order of Job's Daughters's Key of Excellence award. But unbeknownst to her, they had him write a letter in support of her for the same award.

And tonight, both of these amazing adult supporters of Bethel 12 received it. I'm grateful that Bethel 12 counted Nancy and Richard among their members all of these years. They would have gone dark without them.

Congratulations Richard and Nancy, on receiving the Key of Excellence!

June 21

I knew a day would come when I would be forced to figure out yet another way to creatively interpret my self-imposed Snapshot Gratitude rules (the snapshots of snapshots for birthdays of loved ones was my first creative interpretation).

So I present my first "banked" gratitude (still shot on June 21 in accordance with the rules, but the gratefulness of the situtation is about 10 days old).

The day after brewing his batch of stout, Hart decided to play hookey and work around the house instead of in the office. I'm grateful he did, because the yeast went absolutely crazy and bubbled out of the carboy for most of the afternoon. If he hadn't been home to quickly catch the fermenting beer in a bucket, we would have had an entire kitchen floor coated in sticky stout.

June 20

I'm grateful for our Chuckit! ball thrower. Not only can you throw the ball really, really far, but you don't have to bend down or touch the slimy wet thing, ever.

June 19

I'm grateful for sit-down family dinners, especially the kind that involve Hart's killer spaghetti recipe.

June 18

Girls rule.

I'm grateful this afternoon for little girl playdates. With the dress-ups and the feather boas, they are pure entertainment.