Inspiring and Motivating

I am grateful for inspiring colleagues.  I like that when I talk with them they get me all fired up and motivated in ways that I have never thought...I brainstorm, a little plan and then we are off on a new adventure. 

I like the anticipation. 
The newness.
The unexpected that is just around the corner.

Bring it on new project...I am ready. 
My mind is ready. 

Full speed ahead.

Engage!

Kisses and Hugs

I am so very grateful for the kisses and hugs I get from my boys.

Hugs from glad, sad, joy, scared...whatever! I love them. Full of love, arms wrapped around me and "the" squeeze, with eyes shut tight and a little hrmph!

Those sweet kisses on my cheek from my oldest, sometimes on my arm but not the wherever kkisses from my 19 month old, but all the same...wet, precisely planted, sweet and always full of love!

XOXOXO

Warmth

I am grateful for warmth I feel in the warm clothes I am able to have and wear, my warm house, warm blankets while snuggled on the couch, warm food in my belly, warm shower and of course warm hugs from my boys.

I wish everyone could feel warmth in some way.

Cozy.

Star Wars

I am grateful for the movie Star Wars. (I know, you now think I am crazy and a bit dumb for being grateful to a movie), but really...it has held my interest since 1978, started many conversations regarding the big and small issues and theories of the storyline and of course I never grow tired of watching the movies.

Use the force...

OSU

I am grateful for the friends I met during my years at OSU.

These friendships were built while I was exploring, discovering, learning and finding my path in the big-adult world.

Go BEAVS!

Peanut-Butter Bar

I am grateful for my sister's ability to make a great peanut-butter bar. She made some for my mom's birthday dinner and not only were they yummy, sweet and tasty...they instantly transported me to circa 1978 school cafeteria lunchroom! It was always a treat when the lunch-ladies made them.

Yum-Yum!

Use Your Words

I am grateful that my baby boy has words to use now...instead of the uh, ah, oh, ug and many others that were part of his vocabulary before "words". 

He is sick right now and the use of his words is coming in handy. 

Feel better soon little guy. 

Support

I am grateful for the supports in my life. Family and friends alike support me in numerous (countless really) ways...health, life, love, kids, career and everything in-be-tween! My life feels better because of my supports!

Gracias!

Wall-E

I am grateful there are people who still enjoy making movies like this....it is great!

Dirt

I am grateful for dirt. I like moving it, arranging it and of course planting in it! Good thing too because I helped my sister fill her two garden beds with 2 half yards of e-compost today! Busy!

Happy Birthday X2

I am grateful for my mom and today is her birthday. She is out having fun in sunny, southern CA with her HS friends and cousins...but we have continued to call and keep connected. I do miss her. She jokingly reminded me that, "No, I can't watch the kids today. I am in CA." Yeah, I remembered.

I have a great mom. She is so full of life and energy. She is always willing to help out with whatever and give advice (again on whatever) and I love the relationship she has with my boys. All of them...hubby included. She is a fun mom.

Today is also Tramaine's birthday; my sister's roommate and great friend. He has been in our lives for about 10 years and lately we have gotten to know him even more. He is fun and always so encouraging. He is kind and helpful too. He is the one who passed on the Couch to 5K article to me. That puts him on a pretty high pedestal in my book! Thanks a bunch Tramaine!

Happy Birthday you two!

Saturday Market

I am grateful for our Saturday Market.  It is just a short walk from my house.  I love to get out and walk there with my kids and/or friends with kids!  Today I met up with some friends then traded off for my sister and all the cousins (Taylor, Cole with CJ and Zac) and then with Hayley to deliver carnival donation letters for our school.  It turned into quite the busy day.  All out in the sun and having fun. 

I bought some peas, lettuce and broccoli plants.  All ready for the ground. 
Yeah! 

Happy First Day of Spring!

Spring Break

I am grateful that I am teacher. 

I love Spring Break.
(I love Winter Break and Summer Break too...but Spring, ahhhh...fresh, new, alive and ready!)

Anticipation

I am grateful for the things to come...a bit of anticipation.  Or as from the Rocky Horror Picture Show...annnnn-tiiiiiiiii-ciiiiiiiii-pation!  It is exciting to think of the future as bright and full of life.  I know that there are bad days (and I have had a few this year already) but when the mood is good...well life is good and the prospect of that is yet to come is exciting.  Planning for the future seems good and fun and new...not bothersome and weighty. 

I like the feeling of getting ready. 
Planning.
Preparing.

Ready. 
Set. 
Go.

My Son Who Enjoys Soccer

I am grateful for CJ and his love of soccer.  (As he is sitting here on my lap as I type at my mom's) I enjoy watching him play soccer, hear his stories of how he plays soccer at recess and the post-game talk a few times a week.  He has played soccer with some of the same group of boys since Kinder!  It is really quite amazing.  I am so proud of him.

Time

I am grateful for the time to work out, be with my family, work and just be.....I know it sounds crazy to be grateful for time, when it feels or seems that sometimes there is not enough time in the day, but setting priorities differently...well amazingly enough that means more time.

I guess I should be grateful for the ability to notice I have time.

Doing It

I am grateful for my ability to stick with it and keep on doing it! I like the direction I am headed in and I am grateful that I am trusting myself.

Attitude Adjustment

I am grateful for my oldest son CJ and his willigness to take a chance and allow himself to have an attitude adjustment.

He didn't want to do something...ending up getting all worked up about it but then after some time he came around, changed his attitude and then said to me....that shouldn't have taken that long!

I am grateful for my son!

Viento

Wind in Spanish AND the name of a winery our friends own. I am grateful for Rich and Robin...their time, talent and friendship as winemaker and fellow teacher are priceless.

Small Town

I am grateful I live in a small town.  I like the feel of seeing and talking with people that I have known for decades.  I like that I know their kids and they know mine.  I like that we went to school together.  I like that it feels like home all over my little hometown. 

I am grateful for my Home Sweet Home.

Soup

I am grateful I know how to make soup on this cold, wet, blustery night. Yum-yum!

2.5

I am grateful I can run 2.5 miles! I felt great and am on my way to the 5K.

Bethany

I am grateful for my friend Bethany and today she is 40! She is both of my son's godmother and she is a great friend!

Bethany is a great mom, friend and wonderful listener! I am looking forward to the next 40 with her!

Happy Birthday Bethany!

Harry Potter

I have written about this before (or at least it feels like it) but I am really grateful for my son's love of reading.  He has read the whole HP series one time...Dad read book one to him and he read book two to his Dad, but then he was off and going for the next five on his own.  As soon as he put book seven down he wanted to pick it up and read it again!  We encouraged him to read some other books, some other genre of book would be great, right?  And I thought that finishing book seven and not really understanding everything would be just OK this time around and he could re-read book seven when he got older and understand more, but be ready to understand more.  Well, he is now re-reading from book one...time will tell, but I think he will be through book seven by the end of the summer! 

Mom's New Path

I am grateful for my mom's ability to see the positive and find a new path.  She has recently gone through some occupational changes and is bouncing back beautifully...I should say stepping forward beautifully.  It is quite amazing to see her strength and determination.  She is a survivor, but more than that she is hopeful. 

Blue Skies

I am grateful for the blue skies...it makes me look up and around.  Walking, driving, jogging, sitting...I tend to look down or out.  But with blue skies... WOW!  I just have to look up! And that gives me a whole new perspective on things.  Good, positve perspective and that is nice. 

Friday

I am grateful for the end of the week...Friday.  I do like Mondays too, but I am relieved to have ended a week of work, looking back at all we accomplished during the school week.  I like the anticipation of a wonderful weekend to come...even when there are plans, something usually comes up and we end up busier than usual. Busy is good.  I like busy-non-work-busy. 

Healthy and Fit Friends

I am so grateful that I have healthy and fit friends that push me to go farther and are a model for where I want to be...in the near future! 

Health

I am grateful I am healthy. I am carrying too much weight right now, but for the most part I have good working parts.

Rotary

I am grateful for Rotary Club. I was an exchange student in 87-88 in Bogota, Colombia. It was the most influential year of my life...it really framed my future.

Now 20 years later I get to be on the Youth Exchange Committee, interviewing youth exchange hopefuls.

Full circle....and I am grateful.

Comfort

I am grateful for the comfort of my friends and family. I am grateful for the warmth of their love and support.