I really enjoyed that.

'Enjoy' is a word Randy says we Hoosiers use more than anyone else. We enjoy everything, from worship to a good meal to a TV show. "I enjoyed that" is what we say.

Count how many times you say 'enjoy' in a day and let me know. Here's what I enjoy these days.

My son's laugh. My daughter's dancing around the house when she's feeling happy. My husband's dry humor and thoughtfulness. The kindness of my mom coming to spend two weeks with my kids so Randy and I can go to Israel.

Gordon Ramsay, a foul-mouthed British chef/TV star. I enjoy watching him solve problems each week, even though he does it with more bleeps than I can count. I also enjoy watching him with his kids, loving them and teaching them. How Clean Is Your House and Kim and Aggie, the hosts. Watching Survivorman and Man vs. Wild on Friday nights with my family. The Dog Whisperer. Our dog, Kitty, rolling on her back trying to kill a small basketball.

The exercise ball my friend, Marie, gave me.

My laptop computer. A little sun after days of gray. Lake-effect snow that covers the gray/black slush. A cup of warm vanilla cafe when I'm freezing. The little space heater Shirley gave me for my office.

Typing. I really enjoy typing. It's very satisfying.

Peach Fresca.

Sleeping.

You know, it's pretty funny how many good things there are to enjoy. I get so grumpy and out-of-sorts sometimes I don't even notice. Other than Randy and the kids, and possibly the sleeping, I could live without all these things. But I am going to savor every one of them. Enjoy them. I guess there are worse things to say than 'I enjoyed that.'

Good Day

These are the golden days, I know. Quiet Saturdays, sleeping in. First frost sparkling in the morning sun. Maia up early to watch TV, James asleep on the bedroom floor (that's another story!). Kitty curled up in her place. Randy stretched out in blissful unawareness.

These are the golden days. It won't be long before band contests and sports and school activities wake us early for long days on the run or the road. All too soon, friends and social events trump family most of the time. My friend Kim reminds me, as she sends her oldest off to college, that the day of separation comes sooner than later.

We are all four healthy, and we are here. So this morning, I'm delighting in the gift of a golden day.

Randy Gibson, Ph.D.

Today, my husband, Randy, receives his Ph.D. from Purdue University. When I think back over the last decade (really!), I feel a rush of pride in his achievement and gratitude to all who supported him. According to statistics, he shouldn't have finished. He did everything wrong, from leaving the area (for my work) to working full time in another profession to having kids. I'm sure there were many times he was ready to pack it in. There were certainly times I was ready for him to admit defeat. After all, his dissertation took him away from us, his family, on a regular basis as he read and typed in the basement office after work.

Despite the challenges, his dissertation turned out to be a blessing. There were pieces of it that blew me away, and one philosopher's thought in particular ('death is not a problem to be solved') and Randy's way of working that out brought some rather dramatic healing to my thought processes.

So thank you, Jesus! Thank you, family. Thank you, Purdue profs. Thank you. Where we go from here, only God knows. That's ok. Here is a wonderful place to be.