March 27

We were sitting in the family room watching the A's opening game on TV this evening when Brady abruptly froze while eating a croissant. 

Once I figured out he was sitting completely still, I looked over at Adam and he too seemed puzzled. I started to ask Isaac --who'd been in the kitchen filling his water bottle-- if he knew why Brady was frozen, but it was then that I realized he too wasn't moving; he was standing with the bottle in one hand and the top in the other, staring into space.

It was very strange; they'd never spontaneously gone still.

I spent the next five minutes going back and forth between the boys, trying to get them to crack; saying funny things, blowing in their faces, that kind of thing. Eventually, (without moving, of course) Isaac called a truce (twice, since neither moved after the first attempt) and everything went back to normal as suddenly as the strangeness began.

I'm still not entirely sure what prompted the stand-off, but it provided a dose of unexpected entertainment for me. So today, I'm thankful for how much amusement my boys sometimes provide. They absolutely make life more interesting.

March 26

This morning I ordered a slice of pumpkin loaf to accompany my coffee at the Mother Ship. When Barista Sheila called my name, she held out not one but two pastry bags and explained that she'd accidentally broken the corner off of the first slice. Rather than throwing the damaged goods out, she gave me both the imperfect one and a fresh one.

Given my current cognizant-of-calories mindset, I knew I didn't want to eat both, but I took them anyway and settled contentedly into my corner.

When Terry showed up a few minutes later, she remarked that she'd been in a hurry and forgot a few things. Including her package of breakfast biscuits. I casually asked if she'd ordered food and when she said no, I plunked the bag containing the extra pumpkin loaf on her table. And then I explained what happened.

God had a plan for that extra slice of bread all along. And I'm thankful that I was given the opportunity to share my bounty with my friend.

March 25

I've been enjoying my foray into the New Testament. I finished with Romans yesterday and now I'm into 1 Corinthians. So I've been pondering the Word and thinking about God and how He moves in the world, but I haven't been so good about noticing His movements around me in recent days.

So I'm keeping this post simple.

I had a lovely time this evening with these two guys (and just these two because Isaac is at work). We camped out in the family room eating Chipotle while watching the first game of the new MLB season on Netflix. 

Simply put, everyday joys like these shared with our favorite people are blessings from God. And I am thankful for them.

March 24

Adam and I met for dinner tonight at Strizzi's downtown.

It was a good time overall: the restaurant was mostly empty, and it was a blessing to have some time to just sit together, eat, and catch up on the week's activities to date. So I'm thankful for the time, but I'm also thankful for something else in particular.

When I originally started this post, I wrote "my hunny bunch" instead of Adam. It's an affectionate nickname I use for him now and then. But I only just realized where I probably got it: I can remember my grandpa referring to my grandma as honey bunch sometimes, too. 

My grandparents were important people in my life when I was growing up, and I'm thankful for their involvement and influence in shaping who I am now. And I'm grateful that although they've both moved on to Heaven, bits and pieces of their influence continue to linger (and make me smile).

March 23

As Bible Study drew to a close this morning, we took turns praying aloud as we often do, but this time, the goal was to glorify God before sharing our petitions.

Rather than relying on my own thoughts, I immediately pulled out my phone and Googled "adoration psalms." And the first one that popped up was Psalm 145, so when it was my turn to speak, I read it.

The Psalms as a whole are some of the most beautiful poems I've ever read. The words cover the entire spectrum of human emotion, so there's one that can be applied to just about every experience we might have on this earth. From the greatest joys to the worst pain, the Psalms have us literally covered in prayer.

So for that gift, I am grateful.

March 22

Since we now have the hydroponic garden, I wasn't particularly prompt about planting seeds this year.

In fact, this one lonely spinach seedling is the only one I have thus far. I started it a few weeks ago as a test to see if it would fit in one of the slots on the hydroponic unit. (I think it does, though I haven't tried yet.)

My slacking aside, I still adore watching plants sprout. It amazes me to know that something as tiny and inconsequential-looking as a seed contains the building blocks necessary to grow into a full-sized, food-producing plant.

It's a gift to watch God's creation in action.

March 21

It's Saturday so naturally there was a game today. It was a warm, bright afternoon and I somehow missed a spot with the sunscreen so I'm currently nursing a big red blotch around one of my knees. The joys of spectatorhood!

Anyway, Brady got some (rather unexpected, based on what the coach had told him earlier in the week) quality time at first base. (That's him right there with his glove extended.) He's been struggling a bit at the plate -- today he went 0 for 2 with a walk -- but played solid defense as he usually does, including a Web Gem of a grab that snuffed out a rally by the other team. It was the kind of play that had parents from the other side calling out "great play, first base!" (Although he claims it wasn't that good of a play and he didn't hear anyone applauding the effort. Me? It happened so fast that I had no idea he'd actually caught the ball. Adam said it was entirely instinct.) Just as I started to lament that neither Adam nor I had been recording, one of the other dads approached us and said he had it on video and would we like him to text it to us? So that was an unexpected blessing.

Anyway, sunburn (and allergies) aside, it was fun to be out there watching Brady play. The days of high school sports are few and pass by at a feverish pace, so it's a blessing to be able to cheer for our favorite kids while we can.