A Thousand Thanks

My next-to-last post mentioned a Blog-a-Day challenge...thankfully, I didn't take up that challenge because I would already be behind!

But here is my first thankfulness post of 2011, on the last day of the month. Yesterday in church, the September baby pointed out that it was already January 30 and he couldn't believe that we were already that far into 2011. The Good Doctor said yes, the year is 1/12 over and what had we accomplished? I riposted with a smart-alecky comment that I consider it a daily victory that we are all still alive and living together. But, I will admit (just not to TGD) that the question did make me think a bit.

It hasn't been sensationally or tragically bad, but we've had a rocky month...perhaps rocky isn't even really the mot juste..."less easy than I'm comfortable with" is probably about as strong as I can pitch it, if I must tell the absolute truth (and, since this is the Internet and everything you read here is the absolute truth, I suppose I must). Really, not even anything has happened about which I could say, "We'll laugh about this later." Just sort of plodding uncomfortably along.

The September Baby has Osgood-Schlatter Disease, which is not really a disease, but I love to say it because it sounds so exotic and awful. Basically, his knee hurts because his bones are growing faster than his muscles can keep up. It hurts badly and makes soccer less fun for him than I wish it were. We joke that it's because he drinks so incredibly much milk.

The February Baby is having a tough start to the year because we (and when I say "we," I don't mean we...I mean The Good Doctor) have decided that it is time that The FB start to make a concerted effort to get, and keep, his grades up.

The May Baby is, as usual, completely fine. Harassed by her brothers and missing her best friend, who has been absent from school because of mono, she keeps reminding me of the things on her list that she didn't get for Christmas, i.e. a horse and a violin. She gets blisters on her feet from wearing the high heels that her aunt (The Cool One) gave her for Christmas.

We've been busy and stressed with away soccer games and too many tests and too many days off (you know, having a short school week isn't fun at all any more...the teachers simply have to cram a week's worth of work into four, or even three, days) and too much stuff and too much laundry and cataract video-making and disappointments about land we can't buy and reports of my children being ugly to others on the playground at Wednesday night church.

So, where does the thankfulness come in?

Well, I am thankful, damn it. For...

139. Shampoo and conditioner that does what it says.
140. Dave Bruno and his book The 100 Thing Challenge.
141. Some cold weather...real winter in South Mississippi.
142. A date with The Good Doctor to see The King's Speech.
143. My iPad
144. Tuesday mornings
145. Three applications to take to PCS.
146. Jack Kennedy and United Christian Ministries.
147. Reminders that all the complaining I did in the first of this post is merely petulance and that, as I tell my children, if that's the worst thing you can come up with, you've got an extremely cushy life.
148. The boys getting to duck hunt with Grandaddy.
149. The years of farming my Daddy had, and this email he sent to me last week, after the auction of his equipment:

Subj: End of Quofaloma Partners

In March of 1977 Dixon C. Peaster, first cousin of my father James R. Peaster Jr., died of a sudden heart attack. Uncle Sonny and I rented Quofaloma Plantation from Stacia Peaster. I was the active manager and Partner until about 1996. Then I formed Quofaloma Partners with y'all until 2009. In early 2009 your mother and I formed Roseneath Partners and farmed until Dec. 2010. We rented the equipment from Quofaloma partners. TodayJan. 20th 2011 it all ended. I loved farming and I am very thankful to our loving heavenly father for allowing me to farm Quofaloma and Eden for 35 crops. Our God blessed and prospered us through this time. Today Dewitt auction company sold all of our equipment. It took about two and one half hours to sell the results of 35 years of farming. Jeff Dewitt and I have been loyal friends for 40 years. The auction was a success. It pays to have late model John Deere equipment. Y'all will be getting a nice check in about two weeks. This has been a very emotional time for me. I dearly loved farming.  Laura Lee thank you for your sweet note today and for your prayers. I did not go to the sale today. Too many memories. I love you both so very much. Good night from your your earthly father. Remember to fear God and love the Lord Jesus Christ all of your days.