Saturday evening thoughts

It is 8:15 on a warm Saturday evening. Ella is sleeping, and Chad is sick, watching t.v. The cats are stretched out on the floor next to me and I am going to post, then maybe finish up documenting another month of Ella's life in her scrapbook. I got some new pictures today. Isn't she precious! I LOVE this child. You cannot prepare yourself for the depth of love that you feel for your child. She is crawling all over- and pulling herself up on anything that comes in her path. She has sustained a rather large bruise on her forehead from two falls in the kitchen floor. Other than that, she is doing great. I am so glad to be with her during these days of discovery. I hope I can help it to be a fun thing for her. My mom gave me a calendar and one of the quotes for this week was: Children require guidance and sympathy for more than instruction. I will try to remember that. I had a great conversation with a dear friend today while we enjoyed iced tea and strawberries, dipped in sour cream and brown sugar (TRY IT-- delicious!). It was so nice. This is a friend who has taught me the value of listening and caring for people, despite my inability to relate, by experience, to what they tell me. People want to be heard; They want to be cared about. That is true. If you listen with empathy, people will like to be around you. Now, I have decided that I will go to bed instead of scrapbook. I am teaching preschool at church tomorrow. I am little nervous, I have not taught children that age before. It will be fine. I will learn tomorrow and be more prepared for the next time I teach. Tonight I am thankful for: 1. A healthy clear mind. 2. Clean water to drink. 3. My family, Chad and Ella.