Relaxing Weekend

It was a beautiful and sunny weekend, maybe even the last of the 80 degrees we will see this fall, and we spent the weekend as a family, enjoying each other.

I am grateful for my wonderful family.

Colleagues as Friends

I have found that in the past 14 years of teaching that having friends at work does "work". 

Today that was exemplified as Amy was reviewing me as I taught a lesson on topic sentences to my 3rd graders.  Her transparent approach from every aspect was welcome and refreshing.  She has a no-nonsense style while delivering the good and the needs improving parts of my lesson.  She was calm, quick and her feedback was timely and on-point. 

 You are knowledgeable, kind and an exemplary friend.

Thank you friend.

Unexpected Gratefulness

Sometimes it comes in large doses; somethinn totally out of the blue and sometimes it comes in a tiny little dose that you don't even notice, either way, appreciating people, things, life, nature, emotions and this rollercoaster ride of life is what it is all about, right? 

Today, I am grateful because I got to watch my 4-year wake up.  He slowly opened his eyes, started to focus, looked at me, smiled and then said, "I want to snuggle with you." and life was good. 

W.W.A.D?

Since my friend Audrey has taken it upon herself to get me debt free...all I need to do in any financial situation is call out What Would Audrey Do?  call her, text her...anything and she will set me straight on the correct financial path! 

I love ya man! 

I am very grateful for her willingness to open herself up and share, help me out to provide great insight to a culture, financial culture, that has been foreign to me for decades!

Friends' Children

I love them.  I love how much they love my kids.  I love making them breakfast, lunch...watching them play, jump on the trampoline, laugh and share their lives with our family.

These are the long friendships that will be a foundation for my children and the standard at which all other friendship will be measured.  These friendships are deep and loving and accepting. 

Time is a good thing.  Time has been on their side.

Quiet Work Time

I appreciate and am very grateful for the quiet time at work to get things done. 

Decompress

It is nice to not be involved in everything that is going on around the world, the town, the block, the family...and well even the house. 

It was nice to just to nothing today. 

Redhouse

My mom watches my Zac a few days a week.  She always has a great story to tell me. 

On the way back from his favorite place, "Big Trucks" he saw where his Auntie and cousin work and go to school (repsectively) and saw where he had been helping with the Garden Club and told Mimi, "Look, that is where I helped Cole-Cole, in the red house."  Mimi said, "Yes, you did help with the Garden Club...in the greenhouse."

Love that kid.  Love my mom for all her support and love!

Las Molcajetes

Yummy.
Friends.
Laughs.

Chips and Salsa.
Didn't have to cook or clean up.

Enough said.

Quiet Time

It was nice to be home.
It was nice to read a magazine.
It was nice to spend time with my family on a chilly winter's night.

I am grateful for the time spend, cozy with my family.

(We totally forgot about a baseball meeting for our oldest!) 

Love

It makes the world go 'round.
All you need is love.
I am love.
Love is all around me.

How do you show love?

Brother

Happy birthday to my one and only big brother.  I am very grateful for all the lessons he has taught me over the years.

Healing

It happens gradually.  It happens as soon as I allow it to happen. 

I am grateful for the people in my life that remind me that it is OK to be hurt, to have scars and to heal.

Open Wound

Hurts.
Painful.
Might leave a scar.

Grateful for the reminder that change sometimes hurts.

Hurt

It is had to see how I can be grateful when hurt.  There is a lesson to be learned when the wound heals. 

I am grateful for learning experiences.  I just with they didn't hurt so much.

Jessica

New friend.
New perspective.
New laughs.

I am grateful for new people in my life.

And I like that we both like to eat and drink!

Smartboard

It is a great tool for my classroom.  It is fun and exciting to learn new things. 

I am grateful for the training and for the trainer. 

Color

I am grateful for my hairdresser!  She is talented, smart, funny and always provides a very relaxing environment in which to get my color done! 

Thanks Pammie!

Tutor

I enjoy tutoring my 3rd grade friend.  She loves learning and is very enthusiastic.  It makes my evenings two nights a week a little more exciting. 

Thanks kiddo!

Super Bowl

Fun times.
Great friends.
Wonderful food.

Grateful for it all.

(I think the Giants won....)

iphone

Not that I am exactly grateful for an iphone...I am grateful that my husband and I both have one and that it is fun and exciting to have something new to play with and talk about...and talk on. 

Meatloaf

My mom really knows how to make some good dinners.  My favorite is her meatloaf with some mashed potatoes.  Yum! 

Groundhog

Shadow and he went back for another six weeks of winter. 

I like the cold; not a very big fan of all the rain. 

I am grateful for the winter because it means that spring is next!

First of Feb

It came and went like any other day...but it is hard to believe that the month of Feb has started.  January is over and a new month is on its way and I got to see and live it all.  For that...I am grateful.

One Smart Kid

After a rather rough day...after school I see and talk to a former student of mine...I even get a little wise-crack in and guess what?  He made me laugh!  Turned my whole afternoon around.  Then during the staff meeting a fellow teacher-friend presented (fabulously) on writing.  Her presentation was information and spot-on with keeping us all engaged.  She was inspiring.  Then...I went and got a new haircut!  Can you say bangs? 

I am grateful for a day that got unexpectedly turned around. 

Monday

I really do love Mondays.  It makes me happy that a new week is starting and new things to be learned.  I am grateful for my wonderful job that makes me love Mondays!

Helper at Work

My son helped me at work.  I think he secretly wants to be a teacher when he grows up...wait, he already is a teacher!  I am so grateful for his time, talents and willingness to help me out on a dark, cold night in my classroom!

Sick

While I am not grateful that I am sick and missing out on a playdate with some great friends...I am grateful that I got to chat with my sister for a long time (she came over to visit the pooch) and I am grateful that my body can fight off infection...eventually, right?

Clean House

Enough said...it makes me happy.  I love looking around my house and seeing all the things I am grateful for and loving my warm, cozy home.

My Oldest

He makes me smile.  His hugs make me feel warm. 

I am grateful the the young man he is growing into being...

Almost a Week

Here it is a week from this date and I am going back to post about things I am grateful for...I am grateful for the "options" button on posting; now I can back-post and I really don't feel that guilty. 

I am still grateful...not matter if I post the exact day or save up my gratefulness for a week long post.

All of Me

One song that makes up both smile and cry.

One FB post with a utube video that made it all better.

Normal

After talking with friends over the weekend about love, marriage, sex, friends, work, play, kids, recipes...you name it!  I came to realize that there is no "norm" in normal. 

Normal means we are all unique. 

I am grateful for my normal.

Expectations

Upon return from the beach my expectations were high...would the house be clean?  Would I be able to park in the garage?  Would the family be in a good mood? 

None of this matters as I walked in the house (after my third trip from the car in the pouring rain) and saw my boys. 

Their eyes.
Their smiles.
Their love for me. 
Happy that I had returned safely.

Love.

Talking and Driving

On the way over to the beach yesterday I drove through some wind, rain, sleet, gusts of wind, darkness and cold.  I was on the phone pretty much the whole time with my long-time friend Heather. 

It was the best drive to the beach...this year! 

I am grateful for friends who like to talk on the phone as much as I do...or at least pick up the phone when I call and talk to me as I drive. 

Thanks friend.

Newby

I taught at Newby for four years and during those years I met (and re-met) some women who I consider some of my closest friends.  Today we set off for our 18th trip together since 2003. 

I am grateful for each and everyone of those women. 

They are teacher friends that teach me and allow me to learn.

Thank you!

Mrs. Nelson is Missing

She was gone today.  She took a much needed vacation. 

Mrs. Viola Swamp took over. 

I am grateful for them both. 

Taking It All In

Sometimes it takes a few steps (or a few dozen) steps back to survey the whole situation...then I can see that a new direction needs to be forged; steps in a new direction lead to change.  Is change always good?  I am not sure.  Sometimes it takes trying that change for a bit to find out the truth. 

But first, I need to take it all in.  I need to be grateful for what is before me and what I have been through.

Sadness

I am grateful I have the ability to cry in a situation that calls for crying and being sad...just as I am able to smile and laugh.  One needs the other to survive.

Martin Luther King, Jr

My family and I are grateful for all that you did.

Thank you.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

20+ Years of Friendship

I am very grateful the friendship of Beth and her entire family.  It is nice to know that talking, listening, sharing ideas and learning new things is not old or boring or anything but fabulous after 20+ years. 

Love ya!

Leaves

The leaves that fall from the tree, that I blow to the street, that get racked into piles then taken to the recyling center...I am grateful for the time spent with my family outside and with nature.  Beautiful.

Listening and Venting

I have some great friends who are really great at listening and some great friends who are great at venting...then I have some really fabulous friends who are great at listening to me vent.

I am grateful for all my friends.

Imagination

I am so very grateful for the imagination of my 3-year old.  He is funny.  Thinks outside the box.  Has a mind of his own.  He is forever talking.  Did I mention that I love that kid? 

3rd Grade PenPal

That is how I met her.  We are still friends (there were many years in-bwtween) here at 40-years old.  We shared a cup of tea and I learned of her new beau.  Good friend.  Honest friend.  I am grateful for those types of friends.

Reflective

I am grateful for my reflective friends...it allows me to be reflective. 

The Second Time Around

Watching fun Pixar and Disney movies with CJ 11 and even 5 years ago was a blast...watching those same movies with Zac and seeing the wonder and excitement on his face is just as fun the second time around. 

I am so grateful for my boys.

Health

Our friend's daughter has not been well these past few weeks (surgeries, PICU) and today she just got home today.  I am truly grateful for the health of my children.  The love and support that came to this family was awesome.  Her mom posted that it was like we were all "storming heaven" to get Gracie well again. 

I have heard of some other friends of friends that have had brushes with death, children's severe illnesses and even a close friend's death in the last month.  It is all so very near and yet so removed when going about your daily chores, routines...well, life. 

My friend posted that she really gets the idea now that, "Life is what happens when you are making plans."

I am grateful for life.

Sharing

These never seems enough time to do all the sharing that is needed in a very short visit.  I guess that is a good thing though, right?  Then that means that we will just have to meet up again to share some more...

Thanks Audrey and family for a very fun Saturday afternoon with kids, cars and cheeseburgers!

New Beginnings

I am so grateful for all my friends that have started or who are starting in some very new directions this year.  It is very excited to be "on the shore" watching and supporting them as they are navigating their way some very rough waters. 

Power Rangers

While being grateful for the Power Rangers is not exactly where this post is going...I am grateful for my husband taking the time to watch it with both my boys.  When CJ was 3-5 years old he believed he was the Red Ranger.  Carlos watched almost every episode with him...all the different types.  Now, fast forward a few years and here is my hubby again watching (and loving) the Power Rangers all over again with Zac.  The Power Rangers are not quite too horrible...but they are fighting for good over evil.  That has to count for something. 

Go. Go.  Go Power Rangers!

Husband

My best friend.
The father of our children.
The person who I choose to spend the rest of my life with.

I am grateful for my husband.

Students

After break it is always a bit crazed upon return to a classroom full of students.  Will they be eager to learn?  Will they be asleep?  Will I remember all their names?  The answer is "yes"! 

So, today I am grateful for the return to work.  The return to routine.  The return to doing what I love doing. 

Happy New Year! 

Helper

My son helped so much in my classroom today. He was so thoughtful, careful and saved me so much time. I am very grateful for him! Thank you CJ!

Happy New Year

I remember perfectly sitting at my mom's house in late December of 2009, setting up this blog.  I was so excited to start blogging.  I had so many things to share and I wanted to be gradeful everyday for the big, medicum and small things in my life. 

It worked.  2010 was a fantastic year for my family and I.  I was running regularly...3-4 times a week for the whole year.  When I was blogging about being grateful more and more, each and everyday, it sunk in my head and into my heart more and more.  It really made sense to me.

I stopped blogging about the same time as I stopped running in 2011.  I think I need both of them.

So, here I am at almost ten at night on New Year's Day of 2112 reading the blogs from over a year ago and making a new choice and new decision. I will start blogging today, again for 365 days.  I like it.  I need it.