"Let's think about it, Mama."

Justin and I have this little bedtime ritual. It started a few weeks ago. He'd been having a hard time. Just seemed so angry at everyone and everything. So, one night, as I lay down beside him, I said, "I feel happy when I hug my kids. What makes you feel happy?" And that was the start.

So now, every night, we read a book with the girls (or "the sisters" as he calls them), we say our prayers, and we sing our special songs. Then Justin will scoot down into his bed, pat the space on his pillow that he's left for me, and say, "Let's think about it, Mama." Which means he wants to take turns talking about what makes us happy.

Sometimes we're happy for little things like chocolate or new books. Sometimes we're happy for behaviors, like sharing toys or holding hands when we cross the street. That first night, one of the many things Justin said was, "I feel happy when Mama and Papa came to my "Big House" in Russia... and now we're a family."

Wow. I feel happy about that one too, buddy.