Day 18 of Thanks

Today was one of those days; it started well but evolved into a fiasco. Somehow though I was able to keep a good attitude about it all. Maybe perspective is one of the blessings of expressing gratitude.

1. My friend Emily. Emily is such a good person. She is so kind, giving, and patient. She handles her three boys so well. I don't think I've ever heard her say a bad thing about anyone. Whenever Piper stays with her, she makes Piper feel at home at her house; Piper would never leave if she had the option. (Who am I kidding? I feel at home at her house and never want to leave.) I want to be more like her but she also makes me feel good about who I already am. I'm grateful that we live near her and her family at this point in our lives; she has become such a great friend. Also tonight Emily saved my bacon. I had clogged my garbage disposal with potato peels (I should've listened to my mother-in-law.) Emily held down the sink plug while I plunged (Emily and I are also kindred spirits in that neither of us have partaken in the Twilight phenomenon, nor do we plan to.)

2. A sense of humor. Piper hid behind the couch and got into a bottle of lotion. She spread it all over her face and got it into her hair. She came to me asking for a tissue. She's lucky that I could laugh about it and that she didn't get into too much trouble. Now we'll have to see if it comes out of the couch fabric; she wiped her hands on the back of the couch.

3. My washer and dryer. Simon had THE epic diaper leak to end diaper leaks this evening right before friends were coming for dinner. Thankfully his mustard-colored shirt is now back to its original white.

4. Piper went outside tonight in the dark in her PJs and socks chasing a friend, without telling anyone. We heard the back door open and we looked outside for them. I yelled for her and she ran away toward the street. She told me that she was being sneaky because she wanted to play basketball outside. So I am grateful that she was found quickly and that she wasn't hurt. We had to have a little chat after that.

5. Commercials. That might sound funny but I really like the new GAP holiday cheer and the smiley/frowny face American Express ads. They're so fun and clever.