March 21

It was a really nice day. I woke up in Missouri (where I went to sleep last night. With all that's going on right now, I didn't feel like facing the judgment I figured I'd get for not canceling the trip I'd been looking forward to for months) and spent the hours that ensued hanging out with Kathy.

A stay-at-home order hasn't yet been issued here (at least not as of this afternoon), so after breakfast we were able to check out some flooring stores and one cute little shop in town and take the walk from the high school to her soon-to-be new house before we headed back inside for a pair of movies (Forever Your Girl and Book Club) while we brushed each other's hair. Then I kept her up far too late for her taste by being chatty, but eh, I had a lot to say.

I adore her so I appreciate every minute we have together. So today, I'm grateful for that time.

March 20

I grew up with cats and have never been much of a dog person, but I have to say that petting a pooch can be an extremely soothing pastime.

(Nope, not my dog.)

So tonight as I head off to dreamland, I'm thankful for the provision of pets, who were given the power to offer up emotional support when we need it. And I'd say that now is a darn good time for a hefty dose of that.

March 19

After Adam finished working today, we went for our customary stroll around the neighborhood. There were a handful of people out and about, but in general, it was a fairly quiet walk under cloudy skies that seemed primed to paint a stunning sunset. (And, in fact, they did just that a little later on.)

It's always nice to get out and walk when I've been stuck inside all day long, and it's always doubly nice to walk with the person who knows me better than anyone else. Although it's not a blessing I appreciate as often as I should, it's a significant one indeed.

March 18

Apparently I haven't looked in Brady's mouth for a while, because I was genuinely surprised when I got a gander at his grin a few minutes ago and saw this:

This cute little muffin of mine has been missing his upper lefthand (facing him) front tooth for months now. Actually, it's probably been closer to a year. We waited and waited (and waited) for that tooth to break the gums, but it just didn't happen. I'd even started to wonder if it would need "help" from the dentist to make an appearance. But nope; just when I realized I'd stopped waiting for it, it showed up.

That tooth --like so many things in this human life we all lead-- moved at its own pace. It didn't show up when we thought it should nor did it show when common sense would say it should. It came when it was ready.

It's a good reminder to me that though it's difficult at times, patience is an essential component of a truly content life.

March 17

I confess: since it's been deemed a non-academic week while the teachers figure out how to facilitate online learning, I'm not making my kids do anything they don't feel like doing. (Blunt, but truth.) So that means that when I came downstairs this morning, Isaac and Brady were cheerfully playing one of their video games. As the noon hour approached, I told them that I expected them to get dressed today and they said okay. Here they are after the fact, after re-assuming video game play formation:

Yup. They changed into clean pairs of pajamas. Insert facepalm here.

I told Adam what they'd done when I went upstairs a little later, and he said he wasn't surprised because they'd asked me if they could just change into different ones and I said okay. I have no memory of that exchange, but apparently it happened. So voila, my boys spent the day in sleep clothes.

It's kind of ridiculous, but these are weird times, so tonight as I mull going off to bed, I'm thankful that I can look at them and at myself and laugh. Because laughing is way, way better than crying.

March 16

Oh, what a day. With the shelter-in-place order in effect for our county as of two hours from now, we can expect some serious monotony in the days and weeks to come. Add to that the truth that we're supposed to close on our new house on April 1st, my laptop died last night so I don't have a reliable computer, I'm going to have to reschedule a trip I've been looking forward to for months, and another very serious issue I can't go into publicly, I'm feeling worn out at best. So after a nice (well, not so nice but necessary) cry this afternoon, I came downstairs and made myself some coffee in this mug. (Because coffee makes things better, right?)

This is often the cup I choose when I'm feeling blue, partly because one of my favorite people gave it to me and using it makes me feel closer to her, and partly because, well, it's true! Purple glitter rocks.

So did the coffee boost work? Eh, sort of. I guess I'd say that it took the edge off. The thing is, I'd be totally justified in feeling defeated right now, but I'm not going to let the devil steal my joy. (Or at least not any more of it than I've already offered up on the altar of fear and disappointment.) I'm going to take this day at face value, be annoyed over the lousy things that are going on, and then pray, because at this point, underneath all of the frustration and sadness, I know that's really the only thing that's going to give me peace. And it's the only thing that has the power to change our circumstances in miraculous ways.

March 15

I was doing a little straightening in my room earlier today when I came across this.

It's one of those re-usable shopping bags. I can't remember precisely when I bought it, but I do remember that it tickled me pink when I saw it hanging by the checkout lane at Safeway. So it made me happy to see it again today, because I'm always happy to think about my Sunshine.