1. I grab the chance to walk to the mall and back to get the thing done and still get some air and a boost of energy.
2. As I get out of the building at 6 p.m. I have a warm car waiting for me. And a piece of my Mom’s apple pie.
3. Jay’s tooth is out. We are now waiting for the tooth fairy. She has it all figured out already, but she is still very much excited.

1. I find the perfect flowers for my Mom's birthday at the local florist shop.
2. Jay's piano playing at the music school production is perfect, just perfect.
3. Rob's e-mail in my inbox, a nice update.

1. Then I pull out a skirt and a blouse hidden away in a box, and they are exactly what Jay wanted. A few moments later she twirls in front of the mirror, all dressed up.
2. I sit down on Em’s bed and try to concentrate on her exercise. I still feel very much agitated inside but I am more than thankful to have to put my mind to English verbs and adjectives, because my mind likes that. And my feelings will follow.
3. We lie on the big bed, and I wrap my arms around my big girl, with papers scattered all around.

1. A berry smootie.
2. I find the doll. Saint Nicolaus will make someone happy.
3. I see her coming down the hallway with a big smile on her face. She hands me something wrapped in a paper napkin, a left-over from her cooking class. It’s still warm, smells delicious and it’s for her big sister.

1. I am about to check for my car’s service when I see it right in front of me, with my Mom in the driver’s seat. Good timing.
2. A glass jar of green tea on my office desk.
3. I listen to them talk in Jay’s room, while I am folding the clothes. A sense of relief because Em is home, too.

1. Instead of agonizing over cooking and serving a big lunch I take it super easy.
2. I have no good excuse to not go. So I just grab my gear and get in the car. And by the time I get to the school gym I am ready.
3. Em comes to my bedroom for a chat before going upstairs.

1. Suddenly I feel like I should call my friend that I haven’t spoken to in over one year. She answers the phone and says she has just been thinking of me while sitting at the table and having a tangerine.
2. I see she has indeed cleared her room of all the gadgets to work on her history.
3. Jay copies a long story of hers from her notebook to a sheet of paper. It is a long process but she is eager to do it because her story will be displayed in the school hall for others to read.

1. My girls enjoying Sunday lunch that I have put so much time, effort and love in.
2. I walk as fast as I can. Chasing the sun. Looking for spring flowers that have popped out of the ground, confused by the high late Autumn temperatures. Breathing. Struggling, then enjoying again. Within less than 2 hours I reach the top of the hill, my leg hurts, but I am very pleased.
3. Before bedtime we do some crafting again, Jay and I. She uses a lot of glitter. I help her with cutting and leave working on my own card this time.

1. I am surprised to hear that Jay wants to attend the travelogue about Vietnam, too. She listens and watches the slides attentively for over 90 minutes. At home both girls are thrilled to have a bite before bedtime. No wonder, after seeing so many slides of exotic colorful dishes...
2. Not succeeding to log-in makes me really nervous. But l have one more day before the deadline to solve the matter.
3. At 11 p.m. I feel too tired to do anything but sleep. I push myself to get my hair washed, and that is a good thing.

1. My Mom drops by my office just before noon. We have a quick lunch together.
2. A letter in my mailbox. Not a bill, not an advertisement. A hand-written letter.
3. The feeling of playfulness from laughing so hard during the comedy at the local theatre lingers.

1. I have a quick lunch with an old friend. He shares about his plans to go trekking to Nepal next year. It is nice to hear about someone else’s goals and excitement.
2. Em is not happy with her grade at history class and whatever suggestion I make just irritates her. After a while I hear her singing in her room, and then she downstairs with a smile on her face to share the news about a great chance of her opening this year’s school annual talent show.
3. We spend some time at the bookstore, Jay and I. There are books and boxes and diaries and hand-made pottery that I would like to have, but I look and enjoy and end up with just a calendar and a pen.

1. At lunchtime I take a cab downtown to the open market to buy some goat milk products. I even have a few minutes to stop at the bookstore. Thirty minutes of pure luxury.
2. I have lunch waiting for me when I walk through the door. Vegetable barley soup and apple & curd strudel. I am so lucky. Thank you, Mom.
3. After her music theory Jay decides to walk down to her piano teacher’s office to talk about rescheduling her Monday classes. I feel a little uncertain about leaving it up to a 8-yo to discuss it over, but when she comes back with details about how she has it all under control now, I know it was the right thing to do. She is such a big girl already.