Today I'm thankful for...

1. The flashlight app on my Droid. I heard something fall out of the van and hit the pavement when I opened my door. I had no idea what it was and I couldn't see anything in the dark. I quickly pulled up my flashlight app and soon the whole parking lot was lit up! I discovered Sydney's sparkly pink water bottle had fallen out and rolled behind the tire of the SUV next to us. Using my "flashlight" I sprawled out on my belly [on the nasty pavement] and grabbed the cup. If you don't have a flashlight app, you should really get one. Bobby used his a few weeks ago at the movie theater (we went to see "Sherlock Holmes" which, by the way, was awesome)- some guy dropped his keys in the dark theater and couldn't find him. Bobby's flashlight app saved the day! It's also cool because it has different light settings- one that flashes like police car lights, another one that changes colors when you swipe the screen and yet another that changes the color and brightness of a light bulb when you swipe the right way. When not in use for practical reasons, the colorful, blinkie lights are always good entertainment. Anyways, you should really get the app. It's great.

2. All the moms and their daughters who spent their Saturday morning with me and the other young women church leaders. We served them breakfast and had a little "kick off the year" event, called New Beginnings. It was wonderful to have everyone together and to have some bonding time. I love the young women at church and I hope this year will be wonderful and happy for them!

3. Sydney and Lillian's "deer hunts" with Daddy. Last night we got home after dark, and during the drive Sydney wanted look for deer. She often makes this request when we drive through a particular part of Fairmount Park at night that is usually heavily populated with deer. Being the good dad that he is, Bobby drove around a little bit and pointed the headlights across a few fields, but we didn't see any deer. Sydney was so disappointed (and tired) that she was in tears by the time we got home. To make up for it, Bobby took the girls to Valley Forge National Park this morning (while I was at New Beginnings with Liam) to hunt for more deer. There are usually a ton of deer in the park. Unfortunately they didn't find a lot of deer today, but they did see one big group of about six deer. Both Lillian and Sydney were very excited to tell me about it when they got home, especially how they got to eat lots and lots of goldfish crackers (Sydney calls them "go-fish cackers") and gummy treats in the van while they searched.

4. Male bonding time. As I'm typing this, Bobby and Liam are laying on the couch together. Bobby is making [not so masculine] baby sounds and funny faces that are making Liam smile and squeal in delight. Bobby is smiling and laughing just as much. My boys are so cute!!