Thursday Gratitudes October 15, 2009

It’s ridiculous how easy it is go astray when my focus ain’t right.  –”Crazy Girls” by Bethany Joy Galeotti

 

<<A green smoothie this morning…for the first time in many weeks…>>

<<Time with Scripture this morning…for the first time in many weeks…>>

<<Today at our staff development meeting, we heard a fantastic woman from Arkansas speak about “workshopping” in the classroom…and I loved it…crapola…>>

<<A hilarious comment from a fellow teacher about the “hiney flu”…you know…write down H-one-N-one…get it?  HINI flu?  Haha!…Is it just me that thinks the term is funny?…Is it less funny when I explain it?…>>

<<Clean Sheet Day!!!  (Don’t you celebrate this holiday every so often at your house?)>>

<<”It’s a small world!” experiences>>

<<The beginning of a deeper friendship with an acquaintance>>

<<No school tomorrow…for kids or teachers!>>

<<Discovering like-minded people in the world>>

 

That’s ten gratitudes…because I couldn’t narrow it down to five!  I think this “habit-forming” idea is working!

Tuesday Gratitudes October 13, 2009

How long do you want to be loved?  Is forever enough?  Cause I’m never, never giving you up.  –”Lullaby” by Dixie Chicks

<<Homebirth stories.  (Watch this video, made by my bloggy friend Sara.)  They remind me where my heart is, and who I am and want to be, and why I’m on this planet.>>

<<A clean kitchen.>>

<<A sleeping dog, curled up in his bed.>>

<<A night to go to bed early.>>

<<Peace.>>

Sunday Gratitudes October 11, 2009

Don’t give up on me, I’m about to come alive.  –”I’m About to Come Alive” by Train

 

<<FAMILY.  More than words can express.  Sometimes I feel like this adulthood thing is just temporary, that it won’t be long until we’re all under one roof again.  Even though that’s just about the craziest thought I’ve ever had…>>

<<”There was not any sin that was hidden from his sight.”  –Pastor Phil>>

<<”So when that moment comes, and you need to make a committment to press on in the midst of hard times, I want to encourage you with these words.  Don’t you ever, ever, let it slow you down.  Don’t give up hope.  And don’t stop fighting.”  –Nick Jonas>>

<<Apples.  Hundreds of apples.  Apples underfoot and overhead.  More apples than the entire family could consume in a year.>>

<<Hand lotion.  It is definitely the time of year to be thankful for hand lotion!>>

Wednesday Gratitudes October 7, 2009

I don’t know what it is, but I just don’t fit.  –”Paranoid” by Jonas Brothers

<<Sunshine.>>

<<Yet another opportunity that presented itself today!>>

<<Friends who encourage even the craziest schemes.>>

<<Sleep….wish I could sleep in this weekend…wish I could get in a habit of getting my ass in bed before midnight…>>

<<…and on that note…I’m also very, very thankful for coffee!>>

Monday Gratitudes October 5, 2009

They love to tell you, stay inside the lines.  But something’s better on the other side.  –”No Such Thing” by John Mayer

 

<<My coteacher was gone today.>>

<<A couple of new opportunities…>>

<<…and the people that God places in our lives to show us opportunities.>>

<<Things…songs, people, foods…that grow on you over time.>>

<<Ultimate frisbee.>>

Saturday Gratitudes October 4, 2009

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes.  It brought me back to life.  –”3×5″ by John Mayer

<<Room For Squares by John Mayer.  As much as I have loved his last two albums, I never listened to this older one.  I finally bought it today, and it is fantastic.  Speaking of which…>>

<<The music section of Half Price Books.>>

<<Cathedralfest spaghetti & meatballs.  Yum!>>

<<I’m still thankful for Lucky Charms.  (It was a big box that was on sale, I’ll be thankful for them for awhile!)>>

<<And I’m still thankful for my friend and his gentlemanly ways.>>

 

(I really enjoy keeping my ears open for song lyrics to put with these gratitude posts!)

(Hmm…I have been grateful for pickles, ice cream, Lucky Charms, spaghetti…really, is this supposed to be about food?) 

Friday Gratitudes October 2, 2009

Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?  –”How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox Twenty

 

<<free college volleyball tickets.  lots of fun!>>

<<a friend who is a true gentleman.>>

<<sleeping in tomorrow morning.  i’ve said it before, it won’t always be this way.  during this season of life i should be selfishly hording my sleep, because (God willing) someday my time won’t be all mine.  so tonight and tomorrow morning, i’m selfishly hording my sleep time!>>

<<episodes of t.v. shows online.  this weekend i may just get caught up on grey’s and one tree hill!>>

<<matchbox twenty.  from “3 a.m.” (woo-hoo, sarah and i finally get a radio in our room!)….to “back 2 good” (it feels like this song was written just for me and *first love* as we fall apart)…. all the way to “how far we’ve come,” (i don’t know what’s happening to the world, but as long as i can escape into a great song, everything will be okay)….their songs are part of the patchwork of my life.>>

Thursday Gratitudes October 1, 2009

A heart is not a home, without the one who gets you through the storm.  –”Before the Storm,” Jonas Brothers

 

Just one gratitude tonight…

<<<<I have suddenly been blessed with the ability to see the big picture.  I often cannot.  It is a challenge, because suddenly seeing the big picture is quite overwhelming.  In a school year, for example, I tend to just focus on the task at hand, and by the end of the year it all comes out just fine.  At this moment, I can see what I need to do tomorrow, and next week, and next month, and what the kids’ progress needs to look like by May.  It is overwhelming to be able to see it, but be used to seeing only what I can do right now.  It’s so easy to forget that this huge task that I can see doesn’t have to be done in a week.  It’s suddenly difficult to just take care of today.  Same with life issues.  I may be making big decisions, but for the moment I still have to go to work and clean my apartment and walk my dog.  I’m not used to needing to intentionally focus on those things.  I’m not used to those things seeming less important than the big picture.

All that being said, it is a blessing.  If I can find my balance, and not let it overwhelm me…then I can use it.  “The big picture” is something I usually have to rely on other people for, and it is a blessing to have it at my disposal.>>>>

Wednesday Gratitudes September 30, 2009

May Your birth make me live again.  May Your death make me free again.  May Your life make me sing again Your song of love.  –”Your Song of Love,” written by Robert Fabing, SJ

<<holy water…nothing magical about it, but something beautiful about it always being there>>

<<a six-year-old who asked me out of the blue: “has the united states ever fought a war against itself?”  seriously???  do not pass go, do not collect $500, go straight to junior high!>>

<<facebook.>>

<<supportive colleagues>>

<<lucky charms.  best cereal ever.  bedtime snack, anyone?>>

Monday Gratitudes September 28, 2009

Turn right, into my arms.  Turn right, you won’t be alone.  You might fall off this track sometime.  Hope to see you at the finish line.  –”Turn Right” by Jonas Brothers

<<….public library….songs that seem to be about God, even though they probably aren’t….moments when God puts Himself front and center, even if the people involved didn’t mean to….two promising ideas that have presented themselves over the past couple of days….Megan….>>