Time to lay in my bed and sleep.

January 31, 2020
Day 1,221

Thankful for:

Friday nights.

time to relax.

time to sit with my family and watch a show.

Ryker's birthday party tomorrow.

time with family tomorrow.

time to clean my house.

time to lay in bed and sleep.

Thursdays are good days.

January 30, 2020
Day 1,220

Thankful for:

Thursdays at school. It's our extra long reading day.

books.

The Phantom Tollbooth. 

The Office. 

recess time.

lunch time.

friends at work.

"Thankful Thursdays"

Days when I leave work on time.

January 29, 2020
Day 1,219

Thankful for:

Wednesdays. Only two days left until the weekend.

easy dinners.

days when I leave work on time.

days when I can make easy dinners.

my family.

Tea in bed after a long day.

January 28, 2020
Day 1,218

Thankful for:

Tuesdays at school. I have two specials and I'm able to accomplish a lot.

A great PTO meeting.

pizza for dinner.

people who are willing to help.

tea in bed after a long day.

A feeling of accomplishment.

January 27, 2020
Day 1,217

Thankful for:

an extra day at home with all my loves.

lazy Higbee.

tacos.

a comfy couch to work on all day.

the feeling of being completely caught up on schoolwork.

the feeling of a fresh start tomorrow.

my husband.

my babies.

my home.

big, open windows.

a feeling of accomplishment after a long day of work.

A lovely Sunday.

January 26, 2020
Day 1,216

Thankful for:

a lovely Sunday.

tacos.

time with all the great loves of my life.

celebrating Sophia's birthday.

cake.

ice cream.

tea in bed with Patty and a weird show.

time to play outside.

metal detecting.

being able to be with our family. All of us together. It's been a long time.

Lazy Saturday.

January 25, 2020
Day 1,215

Thankful for:

a lazy day at Patty's after working the open house at our school.

movies.

deli meat sandwiches.

soup.

ice cream.

just being still and quiet with people I love.

time to hang out with Casey, Sophia, and Odette.

two more days at home with my loves.

Higbee being so, so happy to see me after school.

January 24, 2020
Day 1,214

Thankful for:

a half day at school.
soup.
sandwiches.
crotons and cheese.
Higbee being so, so happy to see me after school.
my babies wanting to hug me after a week of not touching me at all.
a long weekend ahead.
not having to clean the kitchen because I didn't have to cook dinner.
easy dinner nights.
The Office. 
big mugs of tea.
Patty; she's watching my kids for me tomorrow while I work.
my family.
phone calls with my mom.
my bed.
time to sleep.

Little paragraph of good stuff.

January 23, 2020
Day 1,213

     Thankful for the kind of co-workers that take one look at me and send me home. Thankful for time during the day to take a bath and take a nap. Thankful for baths and naps and time to relax. Thankful for an "early to bed" night. Thankful for TV. Thankful for my sleep aid app. Thankful for the weekend coming up.

Short list.

January 22, 2020
Day 1,212

Thankful for:

a good day back at work.
time to get things done.
coming back to an organized, neat classroom.
my students.
my family.
the feeling of getting back home to the woods after a long day.
the knowledge that my bed is waiting for me after a long day.

Loved, needed, and missed.

January 21, 2020
Day 1,211


     Thankful for an extra day to stay home and rest and recover. Thankful for my friend, Crystal, who is subbing for me. Thankful for how comfy and cozy my bed is. Thankful for time to be at home. Thankful that my fever is gone and I can go back to work tomorrow. I miss my students. Thankful for my sweet babies. They keep telling me how much they love me and miss me. They keep asking when they can hug me again. It's nice to be loved, needed, and missed.

List of the good things on flu: day 4.

January 20, 2020
Day 1,210

Thankful for:

my TV.
books.
my phone.
my family.
the knowledge that I'll be healed and well soon.
my dog.
my bed.
big windows.
blue sky.
trees waving in the wind.
music.

Flu. Day 3.

January 19, 2020
Day 1,209

Thankful for:

medicine.
juice.
time to sleep.
my sleep aid app.
movies.
the way the trees sway in the breeze.
big, open windows.
music.
my children's faces.
the fact that they are praying for me.
rice with lots of butter and stock.
a short walk outside to get some fresh air.
ice cream.
lotion.
lip balm.
essential oils.
Higbee. He seems to know I'm sick and doesn't leave my side for long.
phone calls with my sister and my mom.
people who love me.
Bible verses that give me hope and confidence when I'm feeling fearful and full of doubt.
showers that make me feel somewhat human again.

Flu. Day 2.

January 18, 2020
Day 1,208

Thankful for:

my family.
my Bible.
things to read.
things to watch on TV.
soup.
juice.
people who pray for me when I'm scared.
the knowledge that I'm not alone.
the knowledge that I will get better soon.
my comfortable bed.

Flu. Day 1.

January 17, 2020
Day 1,207

Thankful for:

a day off to rest and recover.
movies to watch.
my husband to take care of me and our kids.
my amazing children who are praying for me and thinking of me all the time.
couches and blankets.
my bed.
medicine to take my fever down.
soup.
juice.
people praying for me.

Being sick stinks, but here's the good I found about it:

January 16, 2020
Day 1,206

Thankful for:

soup and bagels.
medicine.
a day off to rest and recover tomorrow.
a comfortable house to rest in.
tea.
movies.
sweaters.
people who love me and call me to pray for me and wish me well.
Higbee.
Adelyn who did Tobin's homework with him tonight and put him and herself to bed for me.
a long weekend to rest.

Cold cup of tea.

January 15, 2020
Day 1,205

     This day was good. It was so foggy this morning. The woods are more lovely than I've ever seen them when it's foggy out. My children are healthy and happy. My husband was home relaxing with my sweet pup. I like the feeling of knowing my husband is home with Higbee just relaxing and cuddling and being cozy. I like the feeling of knowing that my loved ones are cozy. Thankful for kisses before work. And kisses after I returned home. Thankful for help in the kitchen. Thankful for dinner already prepped and ready from yesterday. Thankful for a good night of sleep last night. Looking forward to another good night of sleep tonight. Thankful for my cold cup of tea. I wasn't able to drink it in time because sometimes there are better things to do in the bedroom besides drink tea. Thankful for the possibility of a blank page every night. Thankful that each blog post I write represents not just another day of thankfulness, but another day of opportunity.

     Thankful for a beautiful Wednesday. Thankful I had it to enjoy.

End of a very good day.

January 14, 2020
Day 1, 204

Thankful for Tuesdays.
Thankful for that time of day when it's time to go to bed.
Thankful that I left work today right at 4 on the dot.
Thankful for a good dinner with my babies.
Thankful for their laughter.
Thankful for misty days.
Thankful for the way the woods look in the mist.
Thankful for texts from my husband.
Thankful for the end of a very good day.

Cilantro and turkey meatballs.

January 13, 2020
Day 1,203

Thankful for:

beds.
blankets.
turkey meatballs.
cilantro.
time to cuddle in bed with Tobin.
pecans.
hot tea.
kisses from my husband.
hugs and kisses from Addy and Tobin.
laughing at dinner with my family.
Higbee.
lavender.
a quick phone call with my mom.
Patty.
my students.
time to sleep and rest and be still and quiet.

Prison Mike.

January 12, 2020
Day 1,202

     Thankful for a day called Sunday. Thankful for time with family. Thankful for breakfast. Thankful for birthday cake. Thankful for my grandma. Thankful for quiet time at home. Thankful for a new day tomorrow morning. Thankful that with each new glorious morning, there are new dreams to chase and new opportunities to make realities. Thankful for the "prison Mike" episode on The Office.

It was a grand Saturday.

January 11, 2020
Day 1,201

     Thankful for a glorious day off with my family. Matt and I had a lovely day together. We spent a lot of time kissing and just being together. Thankful for his kisses and his hands and his love. Thankful for girls playing with barbies and dolls. Thankful for girls playing outside making mud pies. Thankful for dinner at Patty's house. Thankful for kisses from my son after he hadn't seen me for a day. Thankful for time spent just sitting around and talking. It was a grand Saturday.

Short list on a Friday night.

January 10, 2020
Day 1,200

Thankful for:

Friday night.
sleepovers.
not having to set the alarm for tomorrow morning.
a weekend home with my loves.
rain in the forecast.
time to crochet a blanket.
time with my husband.
time to be still and quiet.
time to pray.
time to listen to music.
time to sleep.
time to watch TV.

Simple things that make all the difference.

January 9, 2020
Day 1,199

     I am thankful for the way Tobin's breath smells. I am thankful for the way Adelyn feels when she hugs me. I am thankful to have food to pack for my kid's lunches. I am thankful to have a warm home to call ours. I am thankful for Higbee. I love his soft, warm fur. I love the way his face looks while he is cuddled up next to me in bed. I am thankful for the sound of my husband's voice. I am thankful for my mom and my sister. They are two of the strongest, most beautiful women that walk this earth. Thankful for Matt's mom and his sister. They are two of the strongest, most beautiful women that walk this earth. I'm thankful that I not only have one mom and one sister, but two moms and two sisters. I'm thankful for the sounds of my family sleeping and resting. I'm thankful that tomorrow is Friday. I am thankful that not every night has to be an award winning blog post. Some nights I can just write simple sentence after simple sentence about simple things that make all the difference in the world.

     Thankful for this beautiful life that I don't deserve.

The not knowing.

January 8, 2020
Day 1,198

     Sometimes I wonder if I will run out of words. I wonder if I will run out of things to write about. I wonder if anyone will read what I write. I wonder if that even matters. I wonder if my children will read my words one day. I wonder if I will ever be discovered by someone who thinks my words are worth publishing.

     I'm thankful for the wonder. I'm thankful for the not knowing. I'm thankful for the questions. It means I'm not living in a place of complacency.

     I'm thankful for a quiet Wednesday. For snow to play in. For warm soup to eat. For blankets to cuddle under. For babies to kiss. For a husband to cuddle with. For a dog to pet. For a home to live in. I don't deserve the goodness of this glorious Wednesday.

Grand, indeed.

January 7, 2020
Day 1,197

     Thankful for an early dismissal from school. Thankful for a snow day. Thankful for time to play in the snow with my children and my dog. Thankful for time to cook. Thankful for time to clean the kitchen. Thankful for time to sit and watch a movie. Thankful for an entire day off tomorrow. Thankful for the moon. For pink skies. For snowy streets and trees. For cold, cold air. For this lovely, wonderful gift of a day. It was grand, indeed.

Home. The place, the feeling, and the people.

January 6, 2020
Day 1,196

     Today was the first day back to school after two weeks off. It was a good day, but oh...how I missed home and the comfort of sleeping in, and cooking, and being still and quiet with all my loves. It felt foreign to be rushing about and attending meetings again. I love being home. I will always be thankful for the times I get to be home. I love the word home. It means my house. It means Matt. It means Adelyn, and Tobin, and Higbee. It means peace and quiet and fun and comfort. Thankful for a place called home. Thankful for the feeling of home. Thankful for the people I call home.

Pledge Rock

January 5, 2020
Day 1,195

     Today was the best day! Matt had to work, so it was just the kids and I by ourselves all day long. We didn't go anywhere and no one came to visit, but it was a great Sunday just the same. We had breakfast late because we all woke up late at 10:30. After breakfast, we played Nintendo. After Nintendo, we played hide and seek. Tobin is the master of hide and seek. After hide and seek, we went outside to play. I walked Higbee while they kids played on the net swing. Then, we took the wagon and went out into the woods and collected big rocks. It was so fun! It was a lot like collecting shells at the beach except that with collecting rocks, you need a wagon because rocks are a good deal heavier than shells. We piled them all up in a big pile in the front yard for now. Addy and I took about 30 minutes trying to get one huge rock into the wagon. That particular rock was named: Pledge Rock. The kids named it that as it was a part of their secret club. They agreed to let me move Pledge Rock from the woods to our front yard. Pledge Rock must have weighed 150 pounds. That thing was massive, and it was super hard to get into the wagon. We were so proud when we finally got it! After we collected rocks for a few hours, we all came in to get showers. After our showers, we had a late lunch. After lunch, it was more Nintendo. Followed by playtime for the kids and school prep for me. It's sad. I keep trying to spin it in a positive directions, but it's just sad that Christmas break is over. There is just no getting around that.

     I'm thankful for such a fun day with my babies. I'm thankful for the two weeks I had at home with my loves. I'm thankful for Higbee. I'm thankful for tea and apples. I'm thankful for a new, fresh start tomorrow. I'm going to make it a good day.

Strawberry Waterloo

January 4, 2020
Day 1,194

Thankful for:

birthday cakes with pink roses
birthday plates and napkins
sleepovers
video games
burrata cheese and pesto
deli meat sandwiches
strawberry waterloo
olives
messages from friends
medicine for when we're sick
vitamins
time with family
cuddling in bed with Matt
a glorious yellow sunset
the way it looks when the sky suddenly breaks from rain and bursts open with color
I have one more day off with my babies
not having to set my alarm for tomorrow

Muddy shoes and messy rooms.

January 3, 2020
Day 1,193

     This day was lovely. Patty and her kids came over. We had lunch. We napped. We watched TV. We talked. We had big mugs of tea paired with blister peanuts. We laughed. There were muddy shoes, messy rooms, and happy faces. It was good.

     I have the boys with me for the night and Addy is over spending the night at Phia's house for her birthday. I really miss kissing my girl goodnight.

     Thankful for a good day with my family. Thankful for two more days to be home with my loves. Thankful that I have a sleepy Tobin in bed with me for the night. Casey is in Tobin's bed. They just couldn't settle down to sleep. Thankful for Higbee. He loves me so sweetly. Thankful for texts from my husband. Thankful for new days every morning. Thankful for good things to eat for lunch tomorrow: chicken pesto soup and sandwiches. Thankful for my home. I want to be here all the time.

     Muddy shoes and messy rooms. That's where I want to live. In a world where mud and mess is not only okay, it's preferable to the stuffy staleness of a sterile like clean house. I don't envy those Pinterest and Instagram moms with their cleverly placed message boards amongst perfect arrangements of flowers sitting on weathered tables of pretty food. I would love for my house to look like that. But it can't. Because it's not me. Me is muddy shoes and messy rooms. And I'm okay with that.

Big list when I'm feeling down.

January 2, 2020
Day 1,192

Quiet days spent at home.
Time to sit on the couch and watch TV.
Time to read.
Time to crochet.
Time to make my children breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Time to play outside with my children.
Time to cuddle with Higbee.
Big rocks in the woods.
Big pots of soup with lots of garlic.
A large mug of coffee.
A large mug of tea.
Blister peanuts.
Higbee's eyes and ears.
Texts from my huband. Even when we're fighting, he'll send a text that says, "I love you."
The news that my nieces are feeling better from being sick for almost two weeks.
Sophia's birthday.
The fact that we still get to celebrate Christmas with my family.
Chocolate.
Ice cream.
Burrata cheese.
Olives.
Arrested Development.
Socks and sweaters.
Blankets.
Net swings.
Muddy hands.
Bowls of soup for dinner.
Reading books to my babies before bed.
Prayers before bed.
The tired look in Tobin and Addy's eyes at bedtime.
The way they smile when I kiss them goodnight.
Time to write.
The feel of our wood floors under my feet.
The smell of our home.
The feel of the carpet in my room under my feet.
Listening to music while I take a shower.
Three more days at home with my loves.
Foamy smiles when my kids brush their teeth.
Hearing my kids tell me they love me.
My husband snoring in bed next to me.
A quiet house.
The way the trees look at night.
The wildlife camera just waiting to take pictures of animals in the woods.
Nintendo competitions.
The kids trying to teach me how to play Playstation games.
The blue of the sky today.
The crunch of the gravel driveway under my feet.

Even when I'm feeling down, even when the day isn't perfect, there is always way more to be thankful for than there is to be down about.

Thankful.

Goose bump.

January 1, 2010
Day 1,191

     Today was lovely. Matt, the kids, and I went out to lunch at Sweetwater. We stopped by his mom and sister's house on the way home. We looked at old pictures. We ate some chocolate. We came home and set up Matt's new wildlife camera. We're excited to see what kind of pictures we get with it. We're hoping to see some bears and some coyotes and foxes. I know we'll see a ton of deer. I'm glad it was cold out again today. We had pot roast for dinner, and the whole family cuddled in bed to read a book before bed. I read a Bearenstain Bear book, and I did all the voices. My kids love when I do all the voices. Tobin said he wasn't feeling well after we all said bedtime prayers. He asked if I could lay with him. I'm always happy to cuddle my babies a bit extra. While we were laying in bed, he asked me about the goose egg on his forehead. He said, "How does a goose bump happen anyway?" I love him. I want him to stay young forever.

     Thankful for a good day with my family. Thankful that I have four more days off with them. Thankful for one more day with the Christmas decorations up. Thankful for the quiet of right now. Thankful for Higbee. Thankful for quiet nights and lazy days. Thankful for a great start to the new year.