Good Energy

I am grateful for the good energy whenever I enter a room...sometimes there is negativity hanging in the air from a previous meeting, maybe I bring the bad mojo to the room or maybe others have had such a rotten day that they bring it with them...whatever it is, whenever there is good energy milling around, I embrace it and ride the positive energy wave.

Less Stress

As deadlines approach the stress builds and then as the deadline is upon me I realize that not everything I thought has to get done right then!  I am so grateful for the people in my life (namely my husband) who reminds me as each deadline approaches that 1)being a procrastinating and a perfectionist don't always jive and 2)everything will be OK.

New Start...Again

It is going to be a new start...again for more than one member of our family.  ` it is going to be tough, but we can do it together and I am grateful we have each other.

Jogging Friends

I am so grateful (and very proud) of my jogging friends.  It really does take a village, network, community to make things happen!

For Other Avenues

I am so very grateful I have other avenues that spark my interest both intellectually and emotionally.  It makes me happy I don't have to put all my eggs in one basket.

Sunny Saturday

This gorgeous, beautiful and bright sunny Saturday might be the last shot of pure sunshine, blue skies and warm breeze...for like 6 months!  (not even kidding)

Grateful for this beautiful day!

Relax

Time to relax after a very long and very stressful week!  I am grateful my family is home and we are snuggled in for the night. 

Ready For Another Week

I am grateful for the time spent preparing for next week...it feels good to be ready a week early. 

Birthday Parties

I love them, they are fun and it is fun celebrating another year of life.  I am so very grateful for birthdays!

Back to School Night

Love it, love it, love it!  I am so grateful for all the parents that take the time to visit the classrooms, see what their children are doing and be involved.  Thank you! 

Another Monday

I do love Mondays and I am grateful for another week of work. 

New Direction

It sure is nice to have a partner when we are heading into a new direction.  The partner I speak of this time is at work and we are heading up a committee together.

After a very productive meeting we are off in a semi-new direction together.  I am grateful for her.  She is kind, brilliant and trustworthy.  It is going to be a great year!

Full Circle

Today was our oldest first football game.  He played the game at the same stadium where his father played over 20 years ago.  We sat in the stands (running around after the 2 year old!) and watched our 10 year old tackle, block and run. 

I am grateful to have the opportunity to see him play. 

Field of Dreams

Tonight I went a listened about an organization that raises funds for children and families in Africa.  They are missionaries and my cousin is part of this orgainzation. It was interesting to listen to their testimony, watch the video and be moved by the change they are making in the world. 

My oldest son went with me for the dinner and presentation.

I was in awe the entire two hours at his ability to pay attention, be kind and sweet to everyone and his huge heart.  He too was moved by this organization. 

I am grateful my son has such a giving and pure heart.

With a Grain of Salt

I am not sure where this saying came from but it got me thinking...what if that saying was never around?  What would we be taking "it" with?  Maybe we would all be more grateful for what we have without the grain of salt.  Just a thought.

A Little Rain with No Sun

I think it might be around for a few days and I am grateful for it...the rain is watering my garden and not the hose.

Warm Summer Evening

I think this might be the last day of a real summer evening.  I think the rain is coming.  I think that my tan is going to fade fast.  I think that walking downtown in my shorts and tank top is not going to happen again for a few more months (OK, maybe like 8 more months!).  And I think know I am very grateful for the evening spent walking downtown on this last warm summer evening. 

Happy Birthday Taylor

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, sweet, kind, sassy, smart and athletic niece.  I can't believe it has been 14 years ago that I first got to see your sweet face for the first time. 

Love you! 

Rajmah

I am grateful for my friend Brian for many reasons...but most recently I am grateful for always making my favorite dinner for me when we come for a visit, Rajmah. 

Now I am passing that recipe on to many others.  Love it! 

A Walk with My Mom

I am grateful for the sunny, cool and beautiful September morning and the walk I took with my mom.

Out with the Crowd

The first Friday of the year, we are at the local pub, enjoying each other's company and laughing, relaxing and decompressing after a long and very compacted 4-day week.  Here is to another fabulous year! 

Into the Swing

Third day in and all is going well (so far)...I am very grateful to be teaching another year.

Teaching Starts NOW

I am grateful that the first day of school is over, now I can get on to teaching the kids, loving the kids and the nervousness (for the both of us...) is over now!

Audrey

I am so incredibly grateful for my college friend Audrey (Oddball).  Here is a list of all things that make her wonderful:
-she is funny
-she is extremely smart
-she is well versed in a variety of subjects
-she is an excellent writer
-she is a great mother
-she is real
-she is organized
-she loves bucket margaritas and frothy daiquiris
-she believes in karma
-she believes in me
-she is a fabulous friend
-she can listen and give great advice while parenting two children
...there are many more reasons why I love this woman and am so very grateful for her friendship these past 20 years, but I love (love) that she is the only person who would understand this:

Pink robe, pepperoni...here, here and here, relaxing, Saved by the Bell, I just think you are cool, just 5 more pounds (that will just about kill her), MARK....MARK, Dude, don't turn around...it is the police, it was a sloppy kiss, Love You Just the Way You Are and of course...doctored up mac and cheese.

I love ya man! 

READY!

I am so very grateful I am ready for back-to-school! Bring it on little kiddos...I am ready for ya! 

Shopping

I am not necessarily grateful for shopping...but I am grateful for my mom and all the back-to-school shopping we have done over the years.  It is always a treat! 

Repeating Gratefuls

Is it OK to repeat things I am grateful for?  I think so. 

I have made a daily commitment to make posts that reflect on why I am grateful.  Some days I have many reasons to be grateful other days I am grasping to find just one tiny thing and then on other days I find myself grateful for things I have been grateful for in the past. 

So today...I am grateful for this blog.  I like that I am having to think about things I am grateful for on a daily basis and I like that I am being purposeful about it!  But what I really like is that being grateful makes me happy.  It makes me look on the sunny side of life and that to me is...well happy.

Kame

Love, love, love our local Japanese restaurant!  I am so grateful for their friendliness, yummy and oh-so perfect cuisine and of course the fabulous atmosphere!  Not to mention...going to Kame with friends and/or family...what a great time (always!)

New Faces

I am grateful for the new faces that are going to walk into my classroom this year!  It is going to be a big, fun and very busy year! 

Encouragement

I am grateful for the encouragement my friends provide...after a long (really long) day getting my classroom ready, attending meetings, making piles all over my desk and making more than one To-Do list...it is wonderful to hear a few words of encouragement...it keeps me going!