Lovely, drizzly, cloudy, dreary day.

August 31, 2021

Day 1,770

     It was a lovely, drizzly, cloudy, dreary day. It made me long for the short, cold days of winter spent at home under blankets with the smell of fresh bread baking and chicken soup simmering. I want cold air on my skin. Here are the good things about this day: 

My family and our home. 

Sweet students. 

Patty and Heidi, two of my favorites ever work at the same place I work at.

Cava with Heidi. 

Driving home in the rain. 

Talking on the phone with Matt on the way home. 

Tomorrow is Wednesday, and the next day is Thursday, and the next day...I'm off! 

A FOUR day weekend coming up; I can't wait. 

Coming home to a clean home and kitchen. 

The feeling of going to bed after a very long day. 

Bubble and splash.

August 30, 2021

Day 1,769

     I'm feeling so thankful tonight. I pray a lot. I pray little prayers throughout each day asking God to take care of the people I love, to keep us safe, to keep us healthy. Today, when I was driving home, I realized that every single prayer I prayed today was answered. I prayed for God to keep Higbee safe; He did. I prayed for God to keep our home safe while it was storming; He did. I asked God to help Adelyn have a good check-up; she had a great appointment. I asked God to help me accomplish everything I needed to accomplish; I got so much done today. 

     This life is so wondrous and glorious; I don't deserve even an ounce of it, but God gifted me with it. I get to be married to Matt. I get to be a mama to Adelyn and Tobin. I get to be a dog mama to Higbee. I get to live in this beautiful house I'm in right now. I get to cook in it. I get to come home and sleep in it. I get to clean it. I get to walk in my own personal, private forest. We have food to eat, clothes to wear, people to love, air to breathe, step in our feet...it's all just too good and too much and too wonderful. 

     Sometimes, I feel a bubbling over. All the good and all the lovely is just so plentiful that it splashes over like a waterfall into every dreary corner of my life. I'm feeling that bubbling tonight. It feels good to bubble and splash again. 

     Thankful. 

Wonderful things in a lazy day.

August 29, 2021

Day 1,768

     Thankful for a lovely Sunday spent at home with all the great loves of my life. Thankful for so many wonderful things packed into this lazy day. There was: 

A hearty breakfast of oatmeal for the kids. 

Church online with the kids. 

Spelling study session. 

Time in bed with Matt. 

A nap on the couch. 

Family game time: Monopoly and Uno Attack. 

Walks with Higbee. 

A cloudy, overcast day. 

The sound of laundry being washed. Matt does all our laundry, and I know I'm one of the luckiest wives in the world that my husband does all of our laundry. 

Many kisses from Matt. 

Matt helped me clean up the kitchen from dinner. 

Matt took my car to get gas for me. 

Matt bought me a new nose ring. 

The best dinner: a mug of chicken broth, and a bowl of roasted potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, and red onions mixed with kalamata olives and pecans. Perfection. 

Rain in the forecast this week. 

Matt's mama. She called and told me that she bought both Adelyn and myself new glasses. She also bought me new contacts. She is ALWAYS taking care of the people she loves. 

Time to watch Dr. Quinn as a family. Matt and I decided to watch all of the episodes in order with the kids. It's a great show. 

     Thankful for a day called Sunday to spend at home.  

The sound of rain and thunder.

August 28, 2021

Day 1,767

Thankful for: 

A day called Saturday. 

A very clean kitchen. 

Higbee. 

Time with my babies. 

Time with my family. 

Roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and tomatoes for dinner topped with olives and pecans. 

Cantaloupe. 

Time to watch a rom com with my parents and my sister. 

Laughing together. 

The sound of rain and thunder when I'm cozy and safe in my home. 

Hearing about good things happening for my parents and my sister. 

The knowledge that me, and Matt, and the kids will all be home together tomorrow. 

Steak. 

The comfort of family being together. 

Friday feeling.

August 27, 2021

Day 1,766

     Thankful for a day called Friday. Thankful for the feeling of coming home and not having to return to work until Monday. Thankful for the feeling of being able to go to bed tonight and not having to set an alarm. Thankful for my family. Thankful for my bed. Thankful for the feeling of our wood floors under my tired feet. Thankful for the smells of home. Thankful for the feeling of home. Thankful for a place called home. Thankful for Matt, Adelyn, and Tobin; they are my homes away from home. 

     It was a good day, and I'm thankful for it. 

Thursday.

August 26, 2021

Day 1,765

     Thankful for Thursday because it's one day away from Friday. Thankful for rain. Thankful for fall coming soon because September and October and November are coming soon. Thankful for coming home to the best home and the best husband and the best dog. Thankful for the sweetest babies to call my own. Thankful that we get to have the night off together tomorrow and then for two more days after that. Thankful for spiders and spider webs. Thankful that Tobin rescues spiders from our basement and sets them free. Thankful for time to sing loud songs on the way home from school. Thankful for time to talk and laugh with my husband. Thankful for sweet students. Thankful for a good day. 

The promise of fall coming.

August 25, 2021

Day 1,764

Thankful for: 

Matt. 

Adelyn. 

Tobin. 

Higbee. 

Fresh groceries. 

Patty watching our kids while Matt and I went to closing for our refinance. 

Carrots, roasted potatoes, and pecans for dinner. It was a weird but tasty combination. 

Hot tea. 

Blister peanuts. 

The promise of fall coming; I can't wait to bake bread on a cool, crisp weekend for no other reason than to eat it. 

Sweet students. 

Rain. 

Driving in the rain; it gives me a chance to use the windshield wipers. 

Dr. Quinn. 

The Mirror has Two Faces. 

A little Tuesday list.

August 24, 2021

Day 1,763

Thankful for: 

A good Tuesday. 

Sweet students. 

A successful day at school. 

Adelyn and Tobin. 

Coming home to the best home in the world. 

Coming home to Matt. 

Coming home to Higbee. 

Roasted carrots and potatoes for dinner. 

First day of school for 2021-2022.

August 23, 2021

Day 1,762

     It was the first day of the 2021-2022 school year, and it was a good one. Thankful for sweet students. Thankful that I have Tobin and Sophia this year. Thankful for milkshakes after school with the kids. Thankful for an easy dinner. Thankful that we were all in bed by 8:30. Thankful for a sweet text from Matt this morning wishing me good luck for the first day. Thankful for the feeling of coming home to our house in the woods. Thankful for Higbee. Thankful that there are only four more days until the weekend. Thankful that I was able to make dinner, clean it up, clean up today's lunches, and prep tomorrow's lunches AND do homework with Tobin AND lay in bed and talk with Adelyn. Thankful for time to rest now. 

 

Adelyn's 11th Birthday Party!!!

August 22, 2021

Day 1,761

     Thankful for Adelyn. She's amazing, and our family would be lost without her. She makes everything beautiful and full of life. She's bright and cheerful and sunny and merry. She shines a bright light into all the dark places of my own life. And when you shine a light into dark places, they aren't dark anymore. 

     Thankful for Adelyn Bailey Sanderson. I'm thankful that God trusted me with the gift of her.