Day 1,800.

September 30, 2021

Day 1,800

Thankful for:

Armando. Today is his birthday and I'm so glad to call him: family. 

Tomorrow is Friday. 

Matt. I don't deserve him. He loves me so madly. 

Walks with Matt and Higbee. Today, Tobin joined us. 

Cool air. The need for a jacket. 

A big pot of soup for dinner. Chicken soup soothes the body, mind, and soul. 

Perfect Strangers. It makes me laugh. 

Tea and blister peanuts. 

Time to lay in bed and sleep. 

Wednesday List.

September 29, 2021

Day 1,799

     Thankful for: 

The way Matt comes outside to help me in the house when I come home. 

He gives me hugs and kisses. 

Matt cleaned the kitchen for me so I didn't have to when I came home. 

A walk with Higbee and Matt. 

Tomorrow is Thursday. 

Lunches are prepped for tomorrow. 

Matt came upstairs just to give me a kiss. 

Matt made me tea and got me a tiny bowl of peanuts. 

The cool air. 

The blue sky. 

Perfect Strangers. 

Time to sleep. 

A very short list for a very long day.

September 28, 2021

Day 1,798

Thankful for: 

A quiet evening at home. 

Roasted vegetables. 

Texts from Matt. 

Adelyn and Tobin. 

Higbee. 

Things to be thankful for. 

A prayer of faith.

September 27, 2021

Day 1,797

     Adelyn was sick today. When I told Tobin that Adelyn would be staying home from school today, Tobin was immediately distraught. He got out of bed and mumbled to himself, "Poor Addy." Then he said to me, "Take my hands," and he prayed for his sister. It was a prayer of faith spoken by a mighty little heart. 

     I do. not. deserve. my children. They are incredible beings. I ask myself all the time what I ever did to be gifted with such love as theirs. 

     Tonight, I am thankful for: 

My children. They are my greatest gifts. 

My husband. He loves me madly. I love his face and his smile and his hands and how fiercely he loves me and our children. 

My home. 

My family. 

Food to eat. 

A place to sleep. 

Clothes to wear. 

Love.  

Quiet rainbow moments at home.

September 26, 2021

Day 1,796

"You have a traitor there, Aslan," said the Witch. Of course everyone present knew that she meant Edmund. But Edmund had got past thinking about himself after all he'd been through and after the talk he'd had that morning. He just went on looking at Aslan. It didn't seem to matter what the Witch said."

     I have this quote hanging in my dining room. These words are the very definition of what it means to follow Jesus. It doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter what anyone says about you. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks about you. You keep your eyes fixed on Christ, and everything else fades into the background. 

     Thankful for beautiful words. Thankful for C.S. Lewis and the beautiful picture of Christ he painted with his words. Thankful for Aslan. Thankful for quiet rainbow moments at home. 

  

Firepit night.

September 25, 2021

Day 1,795

Thankful for: 

Time at home with my family. 

Matt; He makes me smile every day. 

Sweet Frog with Steph and Mario. 

A firepit night with Steph, Mario, and Matt's mama. 

Good food. 

Sangria. 

Chips and hot dogs. 

Marshmallows roasting on an open fire. 

Spiders making webs. 

A brand new headlamp just for me; Matt bought it for me. 

Having to wear a sweatshirt because it's cool outside. 

Panera for dinner.

September 24, 2021

Day 1,794

Thankful for: 

A glorious day. The cool air. The cool breeze. The warm sunshine. The very blue sky. It's fall and it's glorious. 

Panera for dinner. Sandwiches make me so very happy. So does soup. 

Extra recess time for my students. 

Laying in bed with my babies. Grading papers. Drinking tea. Laughing at Everybody Loves Raymond.

Not having to set the alarm for tomorrow. 

Watching Higbee run around with the kids. 

Texts from Matt. 

Adelyn offered to help me grade papers. 

Tobin and Adelyn carry my bags for me. 

A day called Friday. 

Couldn't sleep.

September 23, 2021

Day 1,793

Thankful for: 

My husband. He loves me so much. He came down to check on me tonight while I was working and he told me that he couldn't sleep without me. It's so wonderful to be loved so madly. 

Tomorrow is Friday. 

I'm excited to be home tomorrow night with my children.

I'm excited to go to bed tomorrow night and not set my alarm for the next morning. 

Roasted potatoes for lunch tomorrow. 

A very good Thursday. 

Patty and Heidi. 

Cool air. 

The beautiful sky today. The clouds were perfect. The blue was very blue and crisp. 

Fall leaves. 

Walking Higbee with Matt. 

Spaghetti squash.

September 22, 2021

Day 1,792

Thankful for: 

Spaghetti squash with Rao's sauce and fresh basil. 

A delicious salad for lunch. 

Rain. All day rain. I needed a good rainy day. 

Having Tobin and Sophia in class with me. I love teaching them. 

Students to call mine this year. 

The feeling of driving home after a long day. 

My friend, Heidi. She always gives me good advice. 

Matt made dinner tonight for the kids and himself. It was a wonderful surprise. 

Cool weather coming. I'm excited to step outside and feel cold air on my skin. 

The feeling of my bed when I'm tired. It's so very comfortable. 

Lunches are made for tomorrow. 

Tomorrow is Thursday. 

Going to bed to sleep for many, many hours. 

Four things on a Tuesday.

September 21, 2021

Day 1,791

Thankful for: 

A good day at work. 

My husband and dog waiting at home. 

The feeling of going to bed after a long day. 

My family and the love we share. 

Squash.

September 20, 2021

Day 1,790

Thankful for: 

A great dentist appointment. No cavities and no more dentist for 6 months makes me very happy. 

Spaghetti squash with Rao's sauce. It's so good and fallish and warm. It makes me very happy, and it makes me even more happy that Adelyn loves it now too. 

Studying with Adelyn and Tobin. 

Reading with Adelyn and Tobin. 

Matt sent me a text today that said, "Hey baby girl!" It made me smile. 

A sandwich for dinner: Ezekial bread, smoked turkey breast, guacamole, and red onions. 

The Office. 

Harry Potter. 

Catching up with my friend, Lorrie. 

Walking with Matt and Higbee. 

The way Adelyn hair smells when she hugs me. It's always cool and soft, and it smells of coconut and lavender. 

When Higbee's happy because of a walk. 

Sundays and bacon and cuddling.

September 19, 2021

Day 1,789

Thankful for: 

A very good Sunday. 

Time in my classroom to get ready for the week. 

Finishing school work at home in front of the TV with The Office and a mug of tea. 

Bacon. My house smells like bacon now and I love it. 

Blister peanuts. 

Walks with Matt and Higbee. 

Cuddling in bed with Matt. 

The feeling of being done with all my school work and ready for the week ahead. 

Homemade bread. 

Cuddling with Adelyn and Tobin. 

A clean kitchen. 

A clean home. 

The feeling of being home. 

Three new shirts. 

Finding presents for Tobin for his birthday; I love planning parties. 

Time to lay in bed and read Harry Potter. 

The feeling of going to bed in the 8 o'clock hour. 

Family dinner.

September 18, 2021

Day 1,788

Thankful for: 

Saturday. 

Bread rising for a family dinner. 

Armando came over to help Matt cut up the tree that fell. 

Time to clean my beautiful home. 

A family dinner. Time with family is time well spent. 

Oliver was blowing us kisses when it was time for them to leave. 

My husband. He cuddled me and made me feel so loved today. 

My babies. I love to hug them and look at their beautiful faces. 

One more day off tomorrow. 

My parents and Adelyn helped me grade papers yesterday. 

The feeling of going to bed after a long day. 

A day called Friday.

September 17, 2021

Day 1,787

     Thankful for: 

A day called Friday. 

Wonderful students. 

Time with Tobin, Patty, and Sophia. 

Dinner at Panera. 

Shopping for gifts for Higbee at Petsmart with Tobin, Sophia, and Patty. 

Seeing all the animals at Cabela's. 

A new little stuffed coyote for Tobin. 

Coming home to the best home in the world. 

Protection.

September 16, 2021

Day 1,786

     Literally every single day, I pray that God would protect our home. Tonight, a huge branch from a tree behind our house fell, and God protected our home. Our house is safe and we are safe. I feel very thankful for the blessing of this home and the blessing of God's protection. 

     I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful that my husband is thoughtful and kind and cleans the kitchen for me. I'm thankful that my children are amazing and sweet and fun. They make my days worth it. I'm thankful for my students. I'm thankful for my job. I'm thankful for Higbee. I'm thankful that tomorrow is Friday. I can't wait to be home with the great loves of my life. 

Short little lists.

September 15, 2021

Day 1,785

Thankful for: 

Homemade soup. 

The feeling of being home. 

My children; they amaze me. 

Tea and blister peanuts. 

Short little lists of things to be thankful for. 

Texts that make me blush.

September 14, 2021

Day 1,784

Thankful for: 

A good day at school. 

The feeling of getting a lot done. 

Sweet students to call mine. 

Adelyn and Tobin; the way they love me overwhelms me. 

Coming home to a clean kitchen. 

Chocolate chip scones, blueberry scones, and lavender shortbread all waiting to go to school tomorrow. 

Making pretty parties. 

Tomorrow is Wednesday. 

The Office. 

Texts that make me smile and blush from Matt. 

Matt waiting up for me at home. 

The kids sneaking down to hug me when they're supposed to be in bed sleeping. 

A fun day planned for tomorrow. 

Baking makes me happy. 

Having a window at school; this is the first year I've had one at our new building. I like to look outside during the day. 

Fall is coming. 

Being able to go up to bed and sleep after a long day. 

Owl hooting.

September 13, 2021

Day 1,783

Thankful for: 

My husband. He came and got my car and took it to get a tire fixed while I was at work today. He lays in bed and talks to me. He's always giving me lots of hugs and kisses. He tells me I'm pretty. He wants to be close with me. He helps me with housework. 

Matt and I heard an owl hooting when we took Higbee out tonight. It was so cool to hear an owl hooting in our woods. I want very badly to find the owl in our woods and observe him. 

My children. They are beautiful souls. They make every day full of life and happiness and joy. 

An easy dinner. I like easy dinner nights. I like big dinner nights, too. But easy dinner nights are good for school nights. 

Fresh groceries. 

Time to lay in bed and sleep. 

Candles in our room.

September 12, 2021

Day 1,782

     Thankful for a good Sunday. Here are the things that made me happy today: 

Apples and peanut butter. 

Hot tea. 

A stack of graded papers. 

Thank you notes addressed and stamped and ready to go out. 

Roasted vegetables. 

Matt and Adelyn and Tobin and Higbee. 

The Office. 

Books. 

Laughter from my children. 

The feeling of a new week ahead of me. 

I *think* this is the last hot week. I'm very glad for that. 

Spiders. It means that fall is really upon us. 

Leaves turning yellow and brown. 

Plans to play with Higbee and train him with his e-collar tomorrow with Matt. 

Plans to walk before and after school this week. 

Matt put the candles in our room on the charger. I love that he did that because it shows how much he thinks about us. He thinks about us so much that he wants to make our room a pretty place for me. 

Matt is off tomorrow. I love going off to school when I know that Matt is home with Higbee all day. 

The smell of cookies fresh from the oven. Matt made me bake them. Oh, Matt. 

Answered prayers. 

A lovely dinner out to eat.

September 11, 2021

Day 1,781

Thankful for: 

A lovely brunch at Matt's uncle's house in DC. 

Catching up with family. 

Cupcakes from a delicious bakery. 

A lovely dinner out with my family. 

Bread and butter. 

A delicious salad. 

Chips and hot spinach and artichoke dip. 

Dessert. 

A coffee. 

A lovely night spent in bed with my husband. 

Family. 

Seven things to be thankful for this Friday.

September 10, 2021

Day 1,780

Thankful for: 

A day called Friday. 

Two days off from work ahead of me. 

Fresh, hot pizzas and breadsticks for dinner for the kids. 

The feeling of sitting on the couch and watching a show and not having to do anything at all. 

The feeling of going to bed after having tidied up a bit. 

Family. 

Cousins playing together. 

The feeling of home.

September 9, 2021

Day 1,779

Thankful for: 

The end of a long day. 

The feeling of home. 

Walking with Matt and Higbee. 

Homemade chicken and rice soup.

Hot tea. 

The feeling of going up to bed for the night. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I'm reading through the whole series and it's amazing. 

The Matrix 4 preview. Can. not. wait. 

Tomorrow is Friday. I'm so, so ready for the weekend. 

Beeswax candles in my Himalayan salt rock candle holder. I crave the smell of those two together. 

Tobin watching football with Matt. 

A good Thursday. 

A list of all the good things.

September 8, 2021

Day 1,778

Here are the things that made this day good: 

Getting out the door on time this morning. 

The kids helping me out by filling water bottles, carrying bags, getting cereal. 

Today is Wednesday which means this week is almost halfway over. 

A very sweet group of students to call mine this year. 

Having lunch with my friend, Heidi. 

A bag of new clothes from Heidi. 

Coming home to Higbee. 

Texts from Matt. 

Being able to buy lots of books for our kids. 

Watching First Kid with Adelyn and Tobin. 

Laughing with my kids. 

A quick and easy dinner of chicken and rice. 

Time to read to my babies in bed. 

Tomorrow is Thursday, and the next day is Friday. 

Feeling very tired; I think it will help me sleep better. 

Out of my league.

September 7, 2021

Day 1,777

     Thankful today and every day for Matt. He loves me. No question. I know that he will always love me. It's a good feeling knowing that I'm married to someone who will stay with me for as long as we live. He chooses to make his home with me and to love me. It's a good feeling knowing that he will take care of me and that I'm safe with him. It's a good feeling knowing that he loves our babies and takes good care of them. He reads to them, he cuddles them, he smiles and laughs with them. Matt always says that he can't believe that I'm his. He says, "I married out of my league." I think it's quite the opposite. I married out of my league and I'm the lucky one to have such a great man to call mine. 

A paragraph of thanks.

September 6, 2021

Day 1,776

     Thankful for a long, lovely Monday. Thankful for blue skies, for the green of the forest, and for the crunch of my driveway. Thankful for a fawn and its mother grazing in our yard. Thankful for time at Target and Petsmart with Adelyn. Thankful for a new dog toy for Higbee. Thankful that Adelyn was able to get something fun that she's been wanting for herself. Thankful for The Office. Thankful for hot tea. Thankful for my husband who loves me so much. Thankful for my beautiful babies who love me so much. Thankful for Higbee who loves me so much. Thankful for our amazing home. There is literally no. other. place. I'd rather be. Thankful for vegetables roasting in the oven. Thankful for a short week at school coming up. Thankful for things to be thankful for. 

Rainy, dreary day.

September 5, 2021

Day 1,775

Thankful for: 

A good Sunday. 

A rainy, dreary day. I LOVE dreary days. 

Time with family. 

My husband; I love the way he loves me. 

My babies; I love to hold them close. 

My nieces and nephews; I love to love them. 

Roasted vegetables with olives and pecans. 

Another day off with family tomorrow. 

Four things on a Saturday.

September 4, 2021

Day 1,774

Thankful for: 

A good day spent at home with family. 

Roasted vegetables. 

Time with Patty, Armando, and their kids. 

Two more days off. 

Nine things to be thankful for.

September 3, 2021

Day 1,773

Thanful for: 

Time to visit Matt's grandparents. 

Being able to help Matt's grandparents with things they needed help with. 

Time to visit with my mom. 

A lovely salad from Silver Diner. 

Time to visit with my mom, my dad, and my brother. 

Coming home to the best family ever. 

Homemade soup. 

Going to bed and not having to set my alarm. 

Three more days off ahead of me. 

Cookies at Wegman's.

September 2, 2021

Day 1,772

Thankful for: 

Toast for dinner. 

I'm off tomorrow. 

A gorgeous day with glorious weather. 

The feeling and energy of the day before an extra long weekend. 

Tea and blister peanuts. 

Time to rest. 

My husband; being near him makes me feel better. 

Adelyn and Tobin. They make my heart happy and full. 

Cookies at Wegman's after school with Patty and her kids. 

Four days off ahead of me. 

Five things on a Wednesday.

September 1, 2021

Day 1,771

Thankful for: 

Homemade chicken soup. 

"Sanderson Surprise." It's one of our favorite dinners. 

Tobin giving me lots of hugs and telling me that he loves being in my class. 

Adelyn asked me to be her maid of honor in her wedding when she grows up. 

A quiet night.