Things I've Learned/Been Reminded of Lately.

-Don't jump to conclusions when I walk into the bathroom to help wipe a hiney and my son is standing there in the process of lifting up the seat instead of sitting on it. Although I think he got off to play around, he might really just be trying to get on the seat because he accidentally sat down on the bare toilette. Don't scold without knowing the facts. In his words, 'I didn't recognize that the seat wasn't down, Mommy!'. Sometimes you just really gotta go and don't have time for trivial things like toilette seats.

-Listening to 'I Don't Need Anything but You' from the new Annie movie can make me cry even when I'm not hormonal. Adoption is so important not only because of my son, but also because I've been informally adopted by so many, myself. Shared history and values are important, but blood is a technicality. (The soundtrack is a new favorite, so I'm reminded often.)

-A good husband is invaluable. If you have one, thank God every day and get over his issues because lots of women have real losers, and that could have been you. (Friend going through divorce.)

-Kids will get REALLY excited about Kleenex box tops. (Boys at church.)

-Never, ever, trust a company/doctor's office/agency when they say they'll call you back. Especially when it's important. (Medical equipment company, pediatrician's office, eye doctor.)

-Doing what we want 'as long as it doesn't hurt anyone' is as low a standard as we can aim for. I WILL aspire to much more than that. (Andy Stanley.)

-I am a powerful person. I don't HAVE to do anything. I choose to do things because I want to do them or because I want to avoid consequences. Saying I HAVE to do something is just an excuse to be miserable and blame it on other people. It's weak and unfitting for a child of God. (Stephen Covey. Also, personal experience)

-I'm FAR more ignorant about history and holidays than I even thought. Until the book I'm currently reading, I had never heard of Juneteenth. (Boaz Brown, soon to be reviewed.)

-The Daredevil movie was even worse than people said it was. The show, on the other hand… graphic violence, but otherwise fan.tas.tic.

- Stop worrying over what was missed yesterday, and remember that every day is chockfull of limitless opportunity to do good. Opportunities may change, but it's not like we can run out of chances to do amazing things. Well, not until we die. We just have to do the best we can with what's set before us now. (John Ortberg. Also, the song 'Opportunity' from the movie Annie.)

-The shower won't clean itself. But closing the curtain is almost as good.