Read

I am grateful that I can read.

I think of some of my students' parents and how many times I have heard that they were poor readers, did poorly in school or never liked to read. It saddens me that those people have never got lost in a book, found something new about themselves because of a book or discovered something new because of a book.

Reading is knowledge.

Heather

I am grateful for my friend Heather.  Today is her birthday and yes, she is a bit older than me now (hee-hee) and it is so funny to think back to when she turned 16 before me...I was bummed out (even though she took forever to get her drivers license and I got mine the day of my birthday!), when she turned 18 before me and I was bummer and of course she turned 21 before me and I couldn't go out with her...but somewhere, as time passed, it turned into "she is older than me...hee hee".  But anyway, I am grateful for her on many levels.  She too (like Jamie) is a history-keeper-friend.  She has been on this life path with me since pre-school.  (Yes, preschool) and it was been a bumpy path...she is a great listener.  It has been a wild and crazy path...she is a kick in the butt and F-U-N!  It has been an emotional path...she is up until the wee hours of the morning giving sound advice.  It has been a long path, many years...and she is still around, willing to be my friend and always, always kind, sweet and nice.  I love that she was there for the birth of my second child (Jamie was there for the first) and I love that her kids and my kids will grow up together.  She is a wonderful mom with so much patience she makes me look and sound like Mommy Dearest!  HA! 

Happy Birthday Heather...you are one of a kind!

This Path

I am grateful I am on this path of change. It feels good and is needed. As I approach the month of March it is amazing to thinkthis has been going on for two months now.

I am grateful for my friends and family...their words of encouragement and support has been so valuable.

Jamie

I am grateful for my friend Jamie. We have been friends since the 4th grade, have been through thick and thin, good and bad, pretty and ugly, weddings, babies and well...life. She is a history keeper friend and a wonderful person. She is a great mom to two great kids.

Happy Birthday Mighty Mouse! There is no one I could see Elvira with except you! A-ohh-papa-moow-moow...high-ho-silver...HA!

Doctors

Zac had his well-check today and I am grateful for his caring and professional doctor. She is knowledgable and helpful. I like knowing how he is doing on a grander scale (percentiles and such) but I also like that she sees many babies, toddles and kids a day...she is a professional.

I am grateful he is a growing, healthy and happy toddler (my baby).

Organize

I am grateful that I enjoy organizing my things...more specifically my things at work.  I have a student teacher right now and it is nice that I have the time to get into my file cabinets and organize them, rename files and just do some (early) spring cleaning.  It feels great!

Time

I am grateful I am taking the time to exercise, time to spend with my family, taking the time to eat right, taking time enjoy the present that I am in, the now.

One Mile

I am grateful that I was able to jog a mile today...no stopping and feeling great.  I am so grateful for my friend Melissa who took the time to go with me. Thanks! 

Walking

I am grateful that I can walk around in the sun, with my baby in his stroller with my friend Amy.  We can be unpredictable and enjoy the day however we please. 

I am soooo looking forward to more sun and warm weather!

The Sunny Side of Life

I am grateful for people who look at the sunny side od life...and pass that along to others. It is catchy and fun to be around them.

I love songs, poems, articles and the such that talk about the sun, brightness and shining...it makes me feel good!

I'm gonna soak up the sun....S. Crow

Snores

I am grateful for the gentle snores of my two boys. It reminds me that they sleep peacefully and sleep well at night. It is also a bit sweet and cute.

(Notice the non-mention of the husband snores...I don't really mind them, but they are not so "cute")

Sweet Dreams!

Writing

I am grateful that I learned how to write...over the years I have had many journals, diaries, and the such. It is nice to know that I have learned to be a writer. Now that CJ is a bit older I can see that he too has become a writer. He is confident in his writing and enjoys it too.

Game

I am grateful my family like to play games.
We enjoy board games, card games and dice games.
We like to compete, laugh, joke around, razz each other and enjoy the thrill of the game.

Tonight was Mexican Train (forgot to mention Domino games, too) the last time I played with CJ was when I was pg with Zac...in fact we mwntioned, "this could be the last time we play Mexican Train for a while..." A few days later Zac was born and now 18 months later I get to get back to the game(s).

What do you like to play?

A Whole Day

I am grateful for a regular, whole day filled with doing stuff with my family, being at home, staying busy and just enjoying a regular, normal day.

Love

I am grateful for love.
I am grateful I can feel it from those around me.
I am grateful that I am able to give it freely.
I am grateful for the love all around me.

Love makes the world go 'round.
All you need is love.
Love lifts us up where we belong.

Happy Valentine's Day

Cleaning

I am grateful I know how to clean.  I know what it means to have a clean house, clean car, clean clothes, clean children...cleanliness is important in our daily lives.  It keeps us...well, clean...but also fresh. 

There is something therapeutic about cleaning.  Sweeping, wiping down, mopping, taking out the old and seeing things all fresh and like-new that revives the old.  It makes me feel like I not only care about myself and surroundings but that I care about the "thing" that I am cleaning.  It feels good. 

Now having said that it is possible you will stop by my house one day and it won't be clean, you might see me out-and-about I have will have not showered or you might see my car dirty...that is life happening.  It happens and there is usally a schedule (in my head) as to when things are needing to be cleaned. I am so over caring how others may view my cleanliness (or lack of).  I know when it will be clean...eventually. 
And when it does happen...oh it feels so good! 

Parents (Part Deux)

I am grateful for friends' parents.  It has been fun getting to know my friends' parents over the years.  They are fun, insightful, generous, kind and are ready to offer advice from their many years of wisdom. 

I think back to my younger years...elementary school, jr. high, high school and college, I remember meeting parents of my friends.  It was always exciting to see the simularities and differences.  Of course not until I was older (and a parent myself) did I realize that they were all pretty much the same...doing the best they could in the 1970's.  Just like when I get together with my friends who have kids...we are pretty much doing things the same...just 40 years later!  It is a amazing how over time things stay so much the same.

Parents

I am grateful for nice parents.  For parents that are wanting to take the time to talk about their children and their successes and their progress.  I really enjoy talking to parents (of my students).  They often tell me things about their child that I know, but from their perspective it comes as a surprise sometimes.  I like parent/teacher conferences (scheduled and impromtu).  It makes me feel more conected to my students. 

Decompress

I am grateful for my family and friends that allow me to decompress. They are patient, offer sound advice, are kind and thoughtful. Thanks! I am truly grateful for you!

Change

I am grateful that I am allowing change to happen. I can learn and grow from my failures and come out on the other side. In the midst of the storm I rarely feel the calmness, there is no eye of the storm for me, there is the calm after....sometimes a lonnng time after. Time does heal all wounds and change is good. I am grateful for the change that is happening now. I am present in the change and it feels good and right. The future is on the horizon, but it is dependent on the present. I need to be in the present and live daily.

Pushing Forward

I am grateful that I have the energy, support, desire and will to push forward.  There have been some good days, great days, proud days, suck-the-life-out-of-days, loving days, starting over days...and yet here we are...still at it. 

Pushing forward. 
It is possible. 
And I am grateful for the opportunity to
live
laugh
love.

Quick Kisses

When it is time for Zac to go to bed we have a little routine...like most families. He gives everyone a kiss goodnight, a hug too if you are lucky, pj's are on, sippy-cup of milk, blanket, and his two favorite books (Goodnight Moon and Is Your Mama a Llama). I read, he listens and wiggles about. When the books are done I turn off the light and we snuggle down for some sleep. Usually it takes about (on a quick night) 5 minutes for him to fall asleep. He wiggles about some more, puts his buns in my face, flips around and plays with my hair until he is settled then...right when he gets settled and you think he is asleep...he comes up and gives me a quick kiss. It is so sweet and wet and loving and mis-aimed, but it is the best kiss of the day. (If I could remember to blog in the am, I would write about good-morning hugs)

I am grateful for the quick kisses...ahhh!

My Son

Cj is such a great kid, son and a person with a huge heart. He is always willing to help and loves hanging with his family.

I am so very grateful for my oldest son.

'80's Movies

I am grateful for movies from my teenage years. What a trip to watch them as an adult. To see what I thought was cool, the parts I enjoyed as a teen are not the same ones that I enjoy now...and not to mention watching the movie through the eyes of an adult having lived some part of the movie. What a trip.

What movie did I watch to bring about such nastalgia?

Hint: After the opening credits, and before the movie starts David Bowie song lyrics are posted.

Meatloaf

I am grateful for my mom's cooking.  She makes the best meatloaf.  It is comfort food that makes me remember cold nights on the farm, coming up from working in the barn and smelling the aromas from the kitchen.  We usually ate together as a family.  My mom would have the table set (with cloth napkins), all the food in serving dishes and everything piping hot and homemade.  Yum.  I feel lucky now-a-days when we get a chance to sit down as a family 1-2 times a week.  Meatloaf dinner around the farmtable...those are some good memories.

Former Teachers

I am grateful for all the former teachers that I have had...they have helped shape my life, made me think deeply (some more than others) and taught me how they thought was best.  I am grateful they did what they did to make me who I am today. 

Have you thanked a teacher lately?

Busy

I am grateful that I stay busy.  I like being busy, with something to do, someone to see, something to fix, somewhere to go...it keeps my life interesting. 

Sleep

I am grateful I have a roof over my head, heat, food, water and love...but tonight I am really grateful for my nice, warm and cozy bed! Added bonus...sleeping baby smelling so sweet and breathing his little noises in my ear. Not to mention his tiny feet a nd hands so close to nuzzle and kiss.