In giving a nod to optimists, I find they can sometimes crowd out a bit of the pessimism that sometimes speaks too loudly in my mind. So, even though I have my own little golf course inside my house because everywhere the water went the boards have all buckled, and even though I can't chew on one side of my mouth because the other night part of my filling came out, and even though all the kids are sleeping in our room because of the flood so it was our bed that Eva accidentally peed in (she's really been doing fantastic with the whole potty-training thing), and even though the furnace upstairs isn't working and we've all been huddling and snuggling under our blankets, it occurred to me, probably when Naki pointed it out to me, that I could possibly turn on the heater downstairs, that heated most of the house instead of everyone walking around complaining about being cold. Oh. I guess he was right. So, I've really loved hearing everyone walking around this morning, sniffing and smelling and then oohing and ahhhing because they just love the first whiff of the heater. In Malia's words, "I love that smell! It smells just like your blow dryer, Mom." Thanks everyone, for being such troopers and taking all of this chaos in stride. All you optimists really help balance out the pessimist in me.

There really should be a picture of Naki in this post, too. Since he is and has always been my eternal optimist. Thanks, Babe. For all you've been doing to keep everyone around here feeling happy and loved. Here's to optimism!