Counting My Blessings

There's a really old song, sung by both Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney in "White Christmas" in 1954, Google tells me, called "Counting My Blessings".  I'm too tired tonight to figure out how to get it to play here, but I will someday.  For now, here's a clip and the lyrics.

http://s0.ilike.com/play#Bing+Crosby:Count+Your+Blessings+(Instead+of+Sheep):7011349:m667431


When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings


And that's what I'm doing tonight, counting my blessings.  The economy is in the tank, money is tight, and everyone I know is struggling on some level, but I am so grateful tonight for our comfortable home, and for the wonderful children and husband and dogs (not necessarily in that order) who share it with me.  I talked about missing blog posts, and I guess this one is going to be a mishmash of many of the things I've been thinking about.

Monkey at his "new" desk in his reading corner

Dolly's new desk, complete with computer (thanks Dad)

Caveman's new desk and chair

Fridays the kids are supposed to get their rooms picked up and ready to vacuum, and this week as we were working on it I was just amazed at how they're growing up and how good it feels to have their rooms growing up with them.  We didn't have any yelling or fighting about getting it done (!!!) and as I was vacuuming I was able to see the progress we've made in getting fall clothes out, closets cleaned (or at least partially emptied) and things squared away for another week.   I've been on a Goodwill kick lately, dropping off old things AND picking up things that are new to us.  Wardrobe items, decorative items, and things to stash for Christmas and birthday gifts, have all been hauled home in the last couple of months.  Both Dolly and Caveman have new desks and chairs for their homework and art projects, which means Monkey inherited the little one that's just his size from big brother.  All three are thrilled and spending a lot more time with their projects.  Monkey is showing interest in writing, which he never has before, and coloring as well.  

Caveman has a new nickname because of his other new room addition: the bookcase and lamp UNDER his loft bed.  I laugh, because he's made himself the perfect little man-cave and refuses to sleep ON his bed anymore.  He's got his comfy mat, quilt, light, and bookshelf, and I'm seeing a similarity to his bookworm mom that I haven't seen before.  I don't think I'd want to come out, either.

My supposedly missing blog episode "Blondes and Birds" episode is all about Dolly and her quest for a pet of her own.  She loves the dogs, but they're not hers.  She started wanting guinea pigs, but the space requirement to do it right was a little prohibitive-plus, what are herding dogs going to do with guinea pigs (or rabbits)?  Herd them, of course, and that's not going to turn out well.  So she started researching budgerigars, or parakeets for those of us who aren't going the scientific route.  She started saving her money and reading everything she could get her hands on about them.  The library had several kids books, plus the ones she got from the adult section, PLUS the interlibrary-loan books.  Last summer just before our vacation she bought the biggest cage she could find, and made sure it was horizontal, best for parakeets.  Last month, she got her birds.  With her own money.  I was so impressed with her dedication and self-control.  She bought a few smaller items along the way, but the bulk of that allowance went right into the bird fund, every week.  There have  been dramatic moments, like when she tried to put the birds in the cage the first day and one escaped into the bathroom (hence the name Rubber Ducky), and the morning she woke up to a dead bird (RIP Dovey) but a responsible bird owner, she is!  She even has a little vacuum for cleaning up the food they toss out, and she's really enjoying this whole process.  It's funny to hear her spouting random bits of bird-lore, too.

So many things to be grateful for, so many wonderful blessings.  And now I'm going to go enjoy the blessing of an electric blanket on a crisp fall evening.  Good night and all my love to my dear friends and family who are reading this (I hope) and who are among my dearest blessings!