Saturday, February 29, 2020

Family and friend.

February 29, 2020
Day 1,249


     Today, I am thankful for my cousin, Lauren. It's her birthday today. I'm glad she gets a real day to celebrate her birthday this year. I'm thankful for our conversations. I'm thankful for our friendship. We've been like sisters from a very young age. I love that I can tell her anything, and she doesn't judge me. She just loves me. She's an amazing person, and I am so thankful to call her both my family and my friend.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Casey and Shane.

February 28, 2020
Day 1,248

Thankful:

for Casey's birthday; he's 10!

Shane's birthday; he's 27.

Saturdays at home.

cold days.

time to be at home and relax with my family.

big windows so I can see the woods.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Seven things on a Thursday.

February 27, 2020
Day 1,247

Thankful:

that I get to be at home with my babies tomorrow.

that my babies are feeling better.

that Matt didn't catch the flu from me or the kids.

I don't have to set the alarm for tomorrow morning.

that I don't have a schedule for tomorrow.

a good day at home with my babes.

this day off has me looking forward to summer vacation.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Drenched.

February 26, 2020
Day 1,246

     Tonight, I am thankful for our home. For warm walls and comfy beds. For a fridge full of food and for my family to share it with. I'm thankful for things to write about. I'm thankful for my job and for students to spend my days with. I'm thankful for all the good, all the lovely, and all the beautiful. I don't derserve it, but my life is just drenched with blessings. God is good to me.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Medicine.

February 25, 2020
Day 1,245

Thankful for:

medicine.

my husband.

my babies.

our home.

the woods.

our crunchy gravel driveway.

the ability to take care of my family.

food to cook for my family.

time to work.

time to rest.

fun things coming up soon.


Monday, February 24, 2020

Sunrise.

February 24, 2020
Day 1,244

Thankful for:

Matt.

Adelyn.

Tobin.

Higbee.

the most beautiful sunrise this morning; it was pink and red and yellow and blue and purple and so many other colors.

medicine for Tobin.

the ability to care for him.

oils that came in the mail today.

vitamins to take and give my kids.

people to pray for Tobin when he's sick.

the time I was able to spend in his room with him singing to him.

time to sleep.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Fun Sunday.

February 23, 2020
Day 1,243

Thankful for:

a fun Sunday with my family.

chips and salsa on the deck.

chairs to sit around and talk in.

the kids playing in the woods.

time to play with babies.


Saturday, February 22, 2020

This busy Saturday coming to a close.

February 22, 2020
Day 1,242

Thankful for:

Saturday nights at home.

this busy, busy Saturday coming to a close.

God keeping us safe from almost getting into an accident on 66.

a sweet visit with Matt's grandparents.

Matt loving me even when I'm stressed.

my kids loving me even when I'm stressed.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Friday nights.

February 21, 2020
Day 1,242

Thankful for:

Friday nights.

time to watch TV on the couch.

late bedtime.

late wake time the next morning.

kisses and hugs from my babies.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

So many things to be thankful for.

February 20, 2020
Day 1,241

Thankful for:

Thankful Thursdays at school. I love hearing about all the ways that God is blessing other people.

students who teach me things.

students who force me to be a better teacher.

Adelyn and Tobin who teach me how to love more deeply every day.

Matt who teaches me what it means to love unselfishly.

Higbee who loves me so much he jumps up to kiss me when I come home.

so many things to be thankful for.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Walks in the woods.

February 19, 2020
Day 1,240

Thankful for:

Wednesdays.

walks in the woods.

Higbee.

my family.

kisses and hugs from my babies.

hugs from my husband.

the way Matt loves me.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Monday, February 17, 2020

Long, long walk.

February 17, 2020
Day 1,238

Thankful for:

early shopping trips to Costco and Wegman's.

running into Mario at Wegman's.

donuts for the kids.

listening to music in the car.

time to grade papers and listen to music.

watching Higbee sleep in the sun.

taking a long, long walk with my kids and Higbee.

the feeling of accomplishment.

the start of a new week tomorrow.

the feeling of the keyboard under my fingers; all the letters of the alphabet to make up the words that say, "I'm thankful."

movies.

a messy, but organized kitchen.

lunches, drinks, and coffee prepped and waiting for tomorrow morning.

time to read two, good, long books to my kids tonight in bed.

our home; I love this house. I'm so thankful to God for it.

this life; it's sweet. I don't deserve all this goodness.

tomorrow is a new day.

thankful for things to be happy about; to be thankful for; to write about.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

A grand day with grand people.

February 16, 2020
Day 1,237

Thankful for:

Sunday dinners.

my family.

we have 14 people at our family dinners now.

my dad; he makes the BEST food out of regular food, out of bad food, even.

Sunday mornings at home in the woods.

Matt.

my children.

sitting around laughing with my favorite people.

dreaming of vacation with my dad on our walk to the playground with the kids.

dreaming of coffee drinking, deck sitting, sunrise gazing, and sunset watching summer days.

realizing that maybe I don't HATE summer after all.

I'm glad that for now it's still cold.

a grand day with grand people.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

20 years.

February 15, 2020
Day 1,236

     This day, 20 years ago, Matt and I became an "us." February 15th is our dating anniversary. I've been with him 20 years; without him for 17. Being with my love for longer than I've been without him in life makes me marvel at how good God is to me. He gave me the gift of Matt. I am so thankful. He is the greatest. He loves me how I need to be loved.

Friday, February 14, 2020

Valentine.

February 14, 2020
Day 1,235

Thankful for:

Valentine's Day.

chocolates.

special gifts from sweet kids.

an exciting day at school for my students.

a three day weekend coming up soon.

being able to come home after work and kiss my Valentine.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

I don't deserve them.

February 13, 2020
Day 1,234

Thankful for:

Thursdays at school.

looking forward to a long, three day weekend.

easy dinners.

my children.

our home.

Higbee.

the many joys of my life; I don't deserve them.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Crunchy driveway.

February 12, 2020
Day 1,233

Thankful for:

Wednesdays.

cool air.

beautiful sunset on the drive home.

my home.

driving down my crunchy driveway after a long day.

coming home to the best husband in the world.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Rainy Tuesday.

February 11, 2020
Day 1,232

Thankful for:

rainy Tuesdays.

sweaters.

a delicious sandwich for lunch.

the way chips crunch when you chew them.

my children.

my husband.

our bed.

our home.

coffee.

a large mug of tea.

my sweet students.

books.

great discussions in our classroom.

Higbee.

the way he runs over to me when he hears me bite an apple; he likes me to share it with him.

hearing Matt help Tobin with his homework.

reading to my children in bed.

a good Tuesday.

hearing good news about my friend.

Monday, February 10, 2020

Sweaters and rain.

February 10, 2020
Day 1,231

Thankful for:

Mondays.

rainy days.

cozy sweaters.

glasses.

grocery shopping trips after school.

cookies for the kids; it makes them so happy.

the deli meat lady giving my kids a free piece of cheese and meat.

seeing an old student at the store; catching up with her.

a rainy week ahead.

my bed, a show, and a mug of tea.

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Dear Friend,

February 9, 2020
Day 1,230

My dear friend,

I've been writing and erasing now for a while. I'm not sure what to say, so I'm going to follow this advice:

"All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." -Ernest Hemingway.

Here are the truest sentences I know:

1. I love you.

2. I'm sorry if I haven't been there for you enough.

3. I'm sorry that you're hurting.

4. Drinking won't heal your wounds.

5. I'm praying for you; it's the only thing I can do right now.

6. You need help.

7. I don't know how to help; neither does anyone else.

8. Your wife and daughter need you.

9. Your family needs you.

10. Your dog needs you.

11. Matt and I need you.

12. Please stop hurting yourself.

13. Life is beautiful, and you're missing it.

14. You think what you're doing is living, but it's not. It's not even surviving. It's just...not dying.

15. I'm thankful to call you my friend.

16. I want to be friends for a long, long time.

17. I want our kids to be friends.

18. Please think about your wife and your daughter.

19. Your wife loves you so much.

20. Your daughter will love you so much. She already loves the sound of your voice, I'm sure.

21. Thank you for being my friend.

22. Thank you for helping me when I've gone through hard times.

23. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you.

24. Thank you for many long phone calls when we were both having trouble sleeping.

25. Thank you for loving me.

26. Thank you for making me get on a plane and go someplace beautiful.

27. Thank you for buying ice cream when you came over after River died.

28. Thank you for making homemade pasta.

29. I'm sorry that I haven't said thank you enough.

30. Please, my dear friend, please get help.

31. Please go for treatment.

32. Please have an open mind.

33. The hard things we go through in life make us stronger.

34. I know you can do this.

35. Please don't be sad.

36. I'm rooting for you; so is everyone else that loves you.

37. Matt and I will come and visit you.

38. You are strong enough to beat this.

39. You have such a good heart.

40. Live; make the choice to live.

Tonight, I'm thankful for you, my dear friend. I'm thankful to know you and call you one of my best friends. I'm thankful that tomorrow is a new day. And you have the power to make that day count.

You matter to me. I love you.

Love, Christen

Saturday, February 8, 2020

It was a fine day.

February 8, 2020
Day 1,229

This was a very nice day.
I cleaned in the morning.
Tobin had a playdate with a friend.
Adelyn and I had a mommy/daughter date.
We went to McKay's and bought books.
Then we went to Panera for soup.
We read our books while we ate soup quietly.
Then we went to Kohl's to pick out new earrings.
Then we came home and had an easy dinner and went to bed early.

It was a fine day.
And I'm very thankful for it.

Friday, February 7, 2020

Today is Friday.

February 7, 2020
Day 1,228

Thankful:

because today is Friday.

for pizza for dinner.

movie nights with my husband.

quiet nights spent at home.

my bed.

time to be home.

time to be with my family.

two whole days ahead to be with my family.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Thankful because...

February 6, 2020
Day 1,227

Thankful because:

tomorrow is Friday.

I like Thursdays.

I love driving home after work.

I love my job.

I love my home.

I love my family.

life is so beautiful.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Surprise Corned Beef and Cabbage.

February 5, 2020
Day 1,226

     Today, the kids and I came home after school and walked into a wonderful surprise. Matt made us dinner tonight. This is such a lovely surprise because Matt never makes dinner. He's not really a cook, but he made the most delicious corned beef and cabbage meal ever! It was such a wonderful gift to us. I'm so thankful for my husband. He's the best man I know. He loves me and our family with everything in him. He protects us and takes care of us and surprises us. I'm so thankful and proud to call him mine. God knew I needed him.

     Tonight, I am so thankful for my love, Matt. I'm thankful for the way he loves us. I'm thankful that while we were at school today, Matt went to the store and purchased ingredients like fresh parsley, and came home and chopped onions. I'm thankful that he thought about us and cares about us so much that he would spend a day off blessing us.

     I'm thankful for this space to be thankful every day. Thankful for my family. For our home. And for this lovely life that we share. I don't deserve such love and beauty.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Yearbook Meeting.

February 4, 2020
Day 1,225

Thankful for:

Tuesdays.

a yearbook meeting; it's fun making the yearbook for our little school.

Patty.

my husband.

my children.

special cookies.

cold weather coming soon.

time to go to bed and sleep.

my students.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Mondays.

February 3, 2020
Day 1,224

Thankful for:

Mondays.

fresh, new weeks at work.

my students.

reading time.

my family.

my babies.

being caught up at work.

Sunday, February 2, 2020

The good things in this hard day.

February 2, 2020
Day 1,223

     Today was a hard day. But I'm thankful for my husband. I'm thankful for friends. I'm thankful for my kids. My family. My friend, Jason and his wife. For dogs. For the Superbowl...even though I hate football. Thankful for chili. For cookie bars. Thankful for naps on the couch. Thankful for a good afternoon and evening with my family. Thankful for my home. It's all cleaned up and ready to be enjoyed by just us.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Jenga.

February 1, 2020
Day 1,222

Thankful for:

Ryker's birthday party.

burgers and hot dogs.

homemade pasta.

time with people I love.

party decorations.

party favors.

balloons.

games with my grandma, Jason, and my kids.

Jenga.

time to sleep.