Rules of the Roost

Feeling thankful for something in your life today, big or small?

A good hair day is always something to be thankful for, IMHO, especially during these summer months of sun, pool, and way too much humidity.

And I guess I shouldn't forget the usual biggies: Grace, health, family, three squares, and a roof that doesn't leak.

If you feel like shouting about your blessings today, go visit Mrs. Fussypants and her weekly Thursday Thanks linkup. Mr. Linky, unfortunately, left the party early today (what a stick in the mud!); you can still drop your permalink in the comment section for all of Mrs. Fussypants' fine readers to find.

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I love lists.

Really, it's like a sickness. I try not to make too many lists that start with TO DO because they end up ruling me rather than helping me. That's what happens when you're a recovering TypeA personality.

This, however, is one of my fave lists. It's travelled with us from our last kitchen to the current one; even if I finally get around to printing up a nicer version of this list to have framed, I'll still keep this one:

It's faded from the sun; let me recap them for you:

Thomas Family Rules

1. Speak to each other with love and respect.

1a. Uncle Meatball is always good looking! (added by my dear brother-in-law; he and my hubs Knute have a lifelong, ongoing, Who's Uglier? slam-your-brother competition).

2. Listen - with ears, eyes, heart.

3. Take care of each other - be the family God made us to be.

4. Remember our prayers of thanks; be a living prayer of love to others.

5. Help others: our family, our friends, our neighbors, anyone in need.

6. Share.

7. Hug first, discipline second.

8. Laugh at ourselves.

9. Learn from our mistakes.

10. Forgive each other and forgive ourselves.

11. No Touching! (also added by Uncle Meatball; he and Knute spent a good majority of their childhood breaking this rule when my MIL wasn't looking.)

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Today, I'm thankful I found this list a few weeks ago as I went through yet another half-unpacked box from our move last year.

I'm thankful that my kiddos, for the most part, live up to the Be Good expectations we have of them. Even when they do fall short, they recognize they've done wrong and are quick to make amends.

And I'm thankful that I'm part of a family filled with jokesters like Uncle Meatball, who, unknown to me, penned in his added rules three years ago and chuckled every time he was in our kitchen.

Touche, Uncle Meatball, touche!