Thursday was my first grandchild's thirteenth birthday.  It is so hard to believe that the time has gone so quickly!!  I so well remember the joy that accompanied the advent of my FIRST grandbaby.  There's just nothing like it.  And now Philip is taller than me!  And his voice has already changed, just recently, to the deeper voice of a young man rather than a child.  This is exciting, but also just a little sad.  How fast the years flew by!!
Jenny and I went over and ate dinner with him, his special-request birthday dinner of meat loaf and mashed potatoes, and sang Happy Birthday and had cake.
Friday, after a long day (and a long, hard week) of working, I did nothing but vegetate.  I think I even took a nap!  Saturday we had a birthday party for niece Caroline at Babyland General over in Cleveland.  Such a beautiful place!  Jenny and I rode with Joy and her three, plus Lily.  We had a great time, and I made some fairly decent pictures.  If I take a couple hundred photos, I usually get a few really good ones.  I also took some on Thursday at Julie's, and got several good ones.
Photography is another passion I have.  If only there was a reasonable way to earn a living doing something I love doing!!  I love photography, and particularly saving and restoring old media in a digital format in order to preserve for future generations.  And speaking of future generations, genealogy is another passion.  Several years ago I had the bright idea of creating a business, offering the preservation and restoration of old media - photographs, slides, negatives,  record albums, old home movies, and the like - but I lacked the fortitude (and some needed capital) to get it off the ground.  Now there are several business out there that offer these services - other people making a living off of my great idea.
Today is Sunday, the Lord's Day.  And here I am, at home, playing on my computer.  I did, at least, begin the day with three chapters in Genesis and my daily devotional readings.  I made the decision not to go to church out of fear, and out of plain laziness.  I could have gone to a local church (I didn't want to drive too far, as I am needing gas in the car, and currently have only $11 in my checking account).  My two biggest fears for the future are the lack of money and the lack of intimate companionship.  I miss that so much.  I don't have even a friend that is close enough to share deepest, darkest secrets with.  I have felt so lost without that sense of belonging, of home. 
As for my "gratitude attitude" - today, I am thankful for family.  I am incredibly blessed, and I realize this even in the midst of my depression.  I am literally surrounded by loving family, and I LOVE IT!!!!!  I get to talk to Joseph almost whenever I want, which is such a treat after the long months he was over in Afghanistan.  I am hearing from Josh once a week, and he is doing so great in the faith-based dorm!!  SO THANKFUL for that!!  And the other five I get to see fairly often (of course, I see Jenny every day!).   And having all FOURTEEN of my grandbabies nearby is an amazing blessing.  So many families are separated by distance, or by misunderstandings or grievances.  I also have both my parents, and all three siblings nearby, and we enjoy a good relationship and see each other fairly often.  This is a blessing and a privilege for which I am so thankful.