Jared Might Not Accept Future Snow Shoveling Offers

I woke up early today and it was a day like any other day.  I read for a couple of hours before the others began to stir.  I gave some good morning hugs.  I was ready for my workout when Jared came downstairs.  We noticed the snow blocking the van.  I offered to shovel in exchange for breakfast.  For the next forty minutes, I picked away at the icy chunks left by the plow.  It was twenty five below.  And I decided that I am a winter embracing Viking and needn't wait for spring to get the dog I've always wanted.  Then I convinced Jared that a puppy would make a great Christmas present for "our children," fell in love with a photo on the animal shelter website, adopted a black lab hound mix whom we've named Josephine, or Jo for short, took five wriggling children to buy a leash and food and toys, and sang Daniel to sleep with the following ditty, "Jo, Jo, Jo is a dog, and Daniel is her boy."

In other words, today I tricked my husband, made a fifteen to twenty year commitment, got in over my head, and made the dreams of five children and their mama come true.