Graduation

My student teacher from this winter graduation yesterday.  She now holds a BA and will soon hold her teaching license.  I am so very proud of her.  I am again reminded of the importance of graduating from high school (first of all) and then pursuing a college education.  So many more opportunities are available to those with diplomas. 

I am grateful for my parents, family, friends and myself for continuing my education post high school and more recently (2005...well 5 years ago recently) to my masters degree. 

It is on the calender for me to apply to a doctorial program in 2012.  Time will tell.

Catering

I am grateful for the ability to put together some food in a pretty manner and have fun preparing it all for someone or for people who I care for...I enjoy catering!

Wingman

I am grateful the the patience, kindness and level-headiness of my friend Bethany as we traveled across the pass in 6 inches of snow in the middle of the night, tired and anxious and then even more tired with some harder driving. 

"You can be my wingman anytime!"

Suds and Suds

I am grateful for my friend Cara and MT Beth for the creativity, musical talent and wilingness to go forth and pursue their dreams.  They truly are an inspiration. 

Just watching them perform their self directed, self written and self produced musical production...I was inpired to think about the things I want to do rather than the things I should or have to do...

Dream and little Dream

Planned and Ready

I am grateful for the time my husband and kids give me, guilt free to go in and plan on Sunday afternoons.  I get it done and am ready and planned and able to go home on time everyday, knowing and planned and ready for the next day.  It makes Mondays so much better.

CJ's Friends

For just about eight years we thought CJ was going to be an only child. For about four of those years CJ was old enough to understand what only child meant and he too thought he was going to be an only child.

We changed our minds.

Thinking back to when CJ was Zac's age he had a ton a friends. He was always being invited somewhere to do something and as he got older he just got busier and busier. He still is busy to this day. I love his friends. They are good for him and he is good to them. I hope these core group he has now will last his lifetime. They are great kids.

I am grateful for CJ's friends.

Two Hours

I am grateful I had two uninterrupted hours today at the beach!  I sat in the sun, read a book and took a quick nap. 

Perfect.

Teacher Friends

I am very grateful for my teacher friends.  They are so supportive professionally and personally.  I enjoy going to work because I love teaching but I also enjoy going to work because I like the people I work with daily. 

A Quiet House

I am so grateful at the end of the day for a quiet, peaceful and restful house.

Ahhh, it is good to be home.

Just Fitting

I am grateful for a bra that fits. I have been fitted and currently own a few that fit perfectly and make me feel great!

A Regular Day

It seemed regular enough, normal and nothing out of the ordinary.

Coffee, breakfast, teaching, meeting, pick up kids, clean house, laundry, dinner, bedtimes...fairly routine.

I am grateful for some ordinary and routine somedays. It helps keep the balance.

Not Making Dinner

Eating dinner at a friend's house is the best!
No planning.
No prepping.
No cooking.
Help with clean-up.

Great food and company.

Yummy and fun...thanks Kari and X.

In the Garden

I am so grateful for the sunny weather and my oldest who kept an eye on my youngest so my front flower bed could take some shape.

I am so ready for more days like this....sunny and beautiful!

Pulling Through

I am so grateful my baby can pull through physically and we all made it mentally. It was a tough 24 hours and we are pulling through.

Just Grateful

Today I am grateful for so much! Family and friends for their support, doctors that know what they are doing, nurses who are kind, EMT who was compassionate and of course my husband who was strong and my son who was loving.

My youngest was in the ER today with a fever induced seizure. He is now sleeping next to me and on the mend...it was scary, surreal and nothing I ever want to repeat.

I am so very grateful for so many...on so many levels.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

I like them and enjoy the time with my students' parents and even sometimes their family.

I am grateful for the time to get to know the whole student.

Opportunities

I am grateful there are always opportunities onb the horizon.

A Nice Day for a Walk

This evening the sun was shining, there were no clouds in the sky and there was a slight breeze. It was a gorgeous day. It was a bit chilly too!

We packed up the kids and dog and went for a nice walk.

I am grateful the warm weather is on the way and very grateful for the walk this evening! We were out until 8 o'clock and it was still light outside!

Here comes the sun!

Bad Days

I am grateful for the bad days because it makes me ponder, think and reflect on how to turn the bad into the good.

Eventually.

Family

I am grateful for my family in so many ways, but today as I ran across the finish line of my first 5K it truly would not have been possible if not for my husband watching the kids, making dinner and providing tons of support as I have been training the past 11 weeks...my kids, understanding of my time away from them and for the huge hugs when I return, for my mom who always says yes to watching the kids and making an occasional dinner or two ot three and for my sister...who ran with me, pushed me, encouraged me and supported me!

Here is to more 5K's and maybe even a 10K in the future!

Step Dad

I am grateful for my stepdad and all that he did in raising me and teaching me. He was just in town and it was good to see him.

BBQ

I am grateful for a husband who makes a yummy BBQ meal!

No Need to Bolt

I am grateful that I am staying in my life...my life that is full of crazy at times, so busy that I can't see straight and also so full of love, warmth and compassion that bolting and going to my past does not seem possible.

I don't want to be unhealthy anymore. Not for my kids and not for me.

Learning

Today I went to a Math conference with some fellow teachers. It was a great time talking, reflecting, gossiping, strategizing and just enjoying each other's company in the car ride to and from the conference....not to mention that the conference itself was informative and will prove to be very useful. Taking stuff away from a conference and applying it directly into the classroom is always a bit of a challenge, but I an hopeful this time!

I love learning new things!

Happy Gene

Somebody once told me I have the "happy gene"...I am so grateful for this person because they noticed AND chose to tell me! That makes it really great!

Sniffs, Sneezes and Watery Eyes

I am not grateful I have allergies, but I am grateful these seasonal allergies don't run my life, I don't have to get shots and they are a temp situation! THAT I am grateful for!

Lazy

I am grateful I can be or allow myself to be a bit lazy. Taking a nap yesterday and watching a movie last night and today too...felt a bit lazy. I should be working in the garden, writing my sylabus, going for a walk, but really, it just felt good to unwind and relax and well, be a bit lazy.

Hummingbirds

I am grateful for hummingbirds.  They remind me of my grandma and all the hummingbird feeders she had attached to her windows.  I remember how much she loved watching them and filling their feeders. 

My mom now has feeded attached to her windows, right by the computer where I type. She even put one down low for my youngest to walk up to the window and wait and watch for a hummingbird.

Now, as my oldest is waiting to use the computer a hummingbird comes up to the window and takes a drink...gray chest, bright pink head and brown wings.  Gorgeous!

God Parents

I am grateful for my kids' god parents. They are sweet, kind, loving, supportive and fun! They love our kids as if they were their own and it shows in all that they do.

Thanks Steve and "Beflaney"!

Yummy and Prepared Dinner

Simply put I am grateful my mom had a warm and tasty dinner all ready and prepared for my family tonight.

Perfect timing!