I’m reading a book right now called The Minivan Years: Celebrating the Hectic Joys of Motherhood. It has very strong religious overtones, which is challenging to me as a reader. (The author is involved with “Focus on the Family”) There are still some wonderful nuggets in there, even for a heathen family.

The author’s family has a tradition at dinner time of taking turns saying the High and Low of their days. Growing up at my Mom & step-dad’s house, we held hands and take turns saying what they are thankful for each day before dinner. We had tried this concept as “Best and Worst” when BG and MG were very little, and it didn’t work because of their ages. We did High/Low last night at dinner, and it was wonderful and somewhat surprising – BG’s high was watching a puppy’s birth on YouTube! I’m hoping to continue the idea.

I have had some highs and lows myself in the past 24 hours…

• High: Finding out that my Lyme doctor is a quoted reference on the Wikipedia Lyme Page
• Low: Watching LG’s face get all puffy and red with cellulitis, and freaking out about it after MG was hospitalized for it 4 years ago. (totally different situation, but still)
• High: Being offered a Spring-release book on Lyme, co-authored by my doctor, published by Amacom Books.
• Low: Being hit with a very achy Chronic Lyme day when the girls are needing a lot of attention. Pain = Grouchy around here.
• High: Having GameWright offer us some new game releases for review. Woot!
• Low: Telling the children no over and over again. They wanted this pet, and this one, no – that one! All of which were well out of our price range and/or ate mice. I am always sad when I have to say no due to finances. Not so sad about the mice eating, though.
• High: Realizing that I understood the css as I was revamping a blog template. Wow, have I learned a lot! To think I started blogging in 2001 to teach myself html…
• High: Cuddling with my girls today. BG took a short nap with her head on my shoulder. At one point they were all snuggled in bed with me as we were searching for something online. I’m so grateful for kids who are still snuggly at 9!

I love it when there are more highs than lows! I’d love to hear other dinnertime traditions – we eat together every night, but sometimes dinner can drag… or our talkers can chatter the whole time without eating…