:)--Day 81

When I first started writing down positive thoughts as the behest of my therapist, I was writing down any small, happy moments I could think of (the sun is shining, etc.). That gets hard to do if you don't have somewhere you can write it down. Every once in a while, something one of the kids said or did comes to mind and makes me smile. I thought it was the funniest thing the other day when Noah grabs the cross around my neck and says "Apane." ???? He says it again. "Apane, Daddy." "Apane." I look at the cross... "Ohhhh, airplane." I correct him and tell him what it is, but he doesnt' care. It's still an airplane.

Colton has the best laugh, almost like it explodes out of him. He makes me laugh, even when I don't want to. I'm half watching the Tiger game and Colton starts rewinding it. "Watch this, Brian! (his friend that's staying over)." As the Tiger batter scoots out of the way, you see the ball hit the umpire. Brian chuckles. "Listen to what he says!" Mario Impemba (Tiger announcer): "Looks like he got hit in that spot that's not to comfortable to get hit in." Colton: "pppPPPPHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Brian starts cracking up too. I shoot Kim a knowing look and even she is smiling. He must have rewound it 5 or 6 times before I finally had to ask him to put it back on live tv.

If he knows something is funny to me, he'll repeat it often. If a conversation turns to the sun or planets, I know I'll be hearing his impression of Will Ferrell's impression of Harry Carey doing a space-themed talk show. Jeff Goldblum plays a scientist, Dr. Ken Wallar, in the skit.

Harry: "What's your favorite planet?"
Dr. Wallar: "Well, Harry, I really don't have a favorite. I find them all very fascinating. I think..."
Harry: "Mine's the sun! Always has been! I like it 'cause it's like the king of planets!"
Dr. Wallar: (Chuckling) "Actually, Harry, the sun is not a planet. It's a star."
Harry: "Planet or star, when that thing burns out we're all gonna be dead."

Somehow, Colton always does the impression spot on, and it makes me laugh everytime.

I haven't written all the times one of the kids draws me something and gives it to me. Gabrielle drew me a big heart, had colored it in, and in the middle it says "I wuv you, Daddy" She is so sweet. Last week, when her friend was over, they had created a little show for us. She was first up and had created a dance to sing on a Hanna Montana song. She's a pretty good dancer. She sang it as well. If she'd make a mistake, she'd start the song over. It took a while for her to finish, but it was very well done.

The picture Colton gave to me was a top down view of Coltonsville. It had five large buildings that comprised most of the picture which were drawn in a 3-d sort of way. I thought it was very imaginative.

One of the things I like most about Kim is her laugh or ability to make me laugh. Fortunately for us, this happens much more than the times we make each other angry. I've brought up many reasons why I turned to God and who helped me on that path, but she was a big part of it. She's a very selfless, sweet and intelligent woman who makes me want to be a better person. If she read this blog, I'd put all her other wonderful qualities I know she has, but, for now, I'll leave it at that. :)

Last week, with a grin on his face, Colton comes to me and makes a statement. "I don't want to get in trouble or anything, but when Mom goes to play bingo, she's always gone for three hours and never comes home with any money. What do you think she does?" I didn't like whatever he was insinuating, but I didn't get upset. I just told him his mother was one of the best people in the world. "She is??", he says, like she's in the Guinness Book of World's Record or something. Yes, I told him, and she'd be the last person that would be out doing something she didn't say she'd be doing. That was a good enough answer for him, and he went back to playing.

I added a couple more songs to the playlist. I'm not a huge fan of Steven Curtis Chapman's "Dive", but it came on the radio while I was thinking whether or not I should volunteer to help in Awana's. I thought "diving in" was a good answer. It's what I've been doing since I found the Lord, but now I could be affecting many more people, so I was a little hesitant. I'll talk about it this Sunday.

I added "In Better Hands" as well. I like it, and it also came on the radio while on my way to work. I was driving in a torrential downpour and Natalie Grant sings "It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down." Very well put. The rest of chorus is a perfect description of how I've felt the past few months as well:

It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground.
So take this heart of mine.
There's no doubt.
I'm in better hands now.

I'm in His hands now.
My whole family is in His hands now.
We're all in His hands.

Thank you, Jesus.