Something Cute to Check Out

Not only is this a give away for a very cute bag (which also, most importantly to me, looks very functional!), but it's a blog of a friend/cousin (my husband's) that's definitely worth getting to know.

http://thecourageofcarsen.blogspot.com/2012/01/thirty-one-giveaway.html?showComment=1326574029159#c8261846149051702845

Frighteningly Thankful

The past week or so we've been following the disappearance of a teacher from the town where my sister and my brother-in-law live. Today at lunch our news announced that the disappearance has been ruled a "death" and that there are suspects in questioning. As I sat down, fairly squeamishly at that point, to eat my lukewarm hotdish, I was struck by how thankful I can be that I can sit today with my girls and eat lukewarm hotdish. The late teacher was out walking or running in the early morning hours one Saturday morning; how many times have I done that same thing myself? I'm trained as a counselor, so I'm pretty good at "empathic thinking" and can put myself into her shoes more quickly than I probably should. Having a history degree lets me be pretty decent at coming up with possible stories of how things happened, how she felt, etc. After a shudder, I attempted the lukewarm hotdish again and let thankfulness wash over me. Thankfulness for simply being alive today. Hence, number 62 is pretty straightforward even today where I miss my family more than usual. Continuing to be thankful for,

#62. Being alive