Samantha Pierce

It's taken me all day to think of something to be thankful for. It's been a rough week. Today I am thankful for/that: With the dishwasher still broken we're using less energy washing dishes by hand. The babysitter. Church elders. The sight of Sophia with a piece of bacon plastered across the bridge of her nose proudly declaring, "Nose!" (Sorry no pictures the kids broke the camera.) What are you thankful for?

Caption this.

One day late I am thankful for/that: Washable crayons. Orange oil to clean the non-washable crayons off of the wood work and furniture. Inspite of (or because of) the dishwasher being broken the kitchen has stayed cleaner longer than it usually does. Please pray that the part that should fix the dishwasher gets here soon. Despite our perversity, evilness, and bloody mindedness God still loves humanity enough to want to save us. What are you thankful for?

Today I am thankful for/that: "I could be finished in 2 years," says hubby to me after meeting with a dissertation coach yesterday. I intend holding him to it. This fall will make 9 years he's been in his program. Coffee! I'm enjoying a cup from my new french press (birthday present from my mother in law) as I type. I'm fairly certain now that Ethan can read. He read "good" as "God" while I was teaching him a new memory verse this week. He also read "them" as "the" and "of" as "for" which tells me that he recognises those words. I'm so excited! "Wow! Is beauful!" says Sophia. It seems to be one of her new sayings. Isaiah wrote the letter H on his chalk board yesterday and I'm pretty sure that he tried to sign H as well. Right now he's behind the couch with a copy of Sandra Boynton's Doggies: A counting and barking book saying, "Doggie" as he turns each page. The dishwa...

It's actually on a Friday this week. And now a selection from my cute kids collection. I call it, Puddle Jumper .

He's not exactly the Wicked Witch but ding dong he is dead. Like most of you I heard the news early this morning. (I was still in bed hoping that the kids would sleep a little bit longer.) Here's to hoping that we don't have a hydra on our hands. U.S. Air Raid Kills Terror Figure Zarqawi NPR.org, June 8, 2006 -- BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and kidnappings, has been killed in an air strike, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday, adding that his identity was confirmed by fingerprints and a look at his face. It was a major victory in the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the broader war on terror. Solemn Bush Hails 'Severe Blow' to Al-Qaida NPR.org, June 8, 2006 -- WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush said Thursday that the death of al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq is "a severe blow" to the al-Qaida terrorist network. The text of his speech in the Rose Garden this mo...

Today I am thankful for/that: I don't have allergies. Something else is causing my sinus infections. The family doctors are moving their practice into the city. No more long treks on the highway! Potty training has begun once again! I've gotten Isaiah to use the toilet three times now. He's going to take a lot more persuading than Ethan did to use the toilet though. Sophia has been demanding to use the potty. I let her sit on it but she didn't do anything. The boys are beginning to get used to sharing a room. Ethan didn't want to go to sleep with out Isaiah in the room last night. With the boys now sharing a room I have a bit less cleaning to do. My sewing machine. My friends who keep telling me that I'm loosing weight and the doctor's scale that finally agrees with them. What are you thankful for?

Does any one else get the feeling that politicians are trying to distract us from something ? Senate Debates Gay Marriage Ban By MARIA NEWMAN The president, speaking at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, said an amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman was necessary because too many "activist judges" had tried to overturn efforts by voters in several states to ban marriages or civil unions between same-sex partners. President Pushes Gay Marriage Amendment Bush Restates Position on Gay Marriage by David Greene All Things Considered, June 5, 2006 -- President Bush calls for an amendment banning gay marriage, saying marriage, as traditionally defined, "is the most fundamental institution of civilization." The president says he favors a constitutional amendment under Senate debate that would ban gay and lesbian couples from being married. Will Same-Sex Issue Prop Up Bush's Polls? Given the way that heterosexual folk treat...

This headline is a bit misleading. Eating Out Can Add to Obesity, FDA Report Says by Jim Zarroli Morning Edition, June 5, 2006 -- The Food and Drug Administration released a report Friday about the links between obesity and eating out at restaurants. The report says that no link has been proven but that people are more likely to eat more at restaurants because of the large portions and the convivial atmosphere. The restaurant industry is not happy about the report. It's not so much the eating out that will do you in but your eating habits . If you've got good eating habits you can probably eat out all you want. If not don't go fussing at restaurants for luring you out of your house to practise your bad habits.

Once again Frivolous Friday comes on a Saturday. See here for the story.

Today I am thankful for/that: The cold front that came into town last night dropping temperatures into the mid 70s. A yard to plant things in and for the kids to play in. Me: (speaking to Sophia) What's that? (pointing to the object in her hand) Sophia: ( after turning the object rightside up and rightside front) Iss a newmer sick! Me or Hubby: Isaiah what does Cookie Monster say? Isaiah: C ih oh cooie, ah goo eough oh me! C ih oh cooie, ah goo eough oh me! Oooooh cooie cooie cooie aht wi C! (sometimes followed by a big grin depending on the mood he's in.) I guess the message that cookies are a sometimes food hasn't filtered down to Isaiah yet. He seems to have trouble with consonant sounds but he's slowly getting better. We've seen him dancing the Cookie Monster doll around while singing this too. Ethan: May I have more please? This was the totally unprompted and unexpected response I got last night every time I stopped tickling Ethan. I had responded with m...