Birthday Boys.

February 28, 2017
Day 170

Today was Shane's birthday. So thankful for my brother.

Today was Casey's birthday. So thankful for my Casey boy.

We had a celebration dinner tonight. Steak and potatoes. A meal fit for two guys who love steak and potatoes. Complete with gravy. Gravy made from a roux of flour and Kerrygold butter. It was, in a word, glorious.

There was birthday cake and ice cream and candles to blow out.

There were expressions of love and adoration for the birthday boys.

It was fun to cook with my sister. We haven't cooked together in such a long time.

It was fun to see my parents and my brother and Emily on a Tuesday night. Usually, we have to wait for Sundays.

It rained today.

It was grayish this afternoon and that made me happy.

The trees look pretty at night when it rains and the light from the streetlamps shine behind them. They look like wet spider webs or veins.

I finished reading The Magician's Nephew to my students today. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I love when I can see and hear my students thinking.

For nighttime.

Thankful. 

Chicken Soup.

February 27, 2017
Day 169

Every night I pray that angels would stand guard over my kids. Tobin has told me twice that he had a dream that angels were flying around him. Once when he got sick this past Christmas, and then this morning.

For soup and a sandwich for dinner. Fun fact: I wish I could swim in chicken soup.

I came home to a clean kitchen. My husband is a sweet, sweet husband.

Today was a good day at school.

It was cold today. I am so happy with the cold and the cloudy and the gray.

I love bedtime. By 7:30, I'm so ready for bed.

For my students.

For haircuts in the bathroom. I've been cutting Matt's hair since we were 18.

For tomorrow.

Thankful. 

Birthday Cake

February 26, 2017
Day 168

I spent today with my favorite people.

The bare trees look lovely against the sunset.

Winter sunsets beat summer sunsets. Hands down. I'll tell you why: There are more clouds in the winter. Clouds are the key to a good sunset. The lighting is better between 4 and 6 in the winter. During the summer, the sky is just one giant haze of yellowish light between 4 and 6. The trees look better during a winter sunset. They look like they really enjoy all those colors. Winter sunsets make me happy to be alive.

My husband is laying in bed next to me.

Dogs are sleeping.

Babies are sleeping.

We got to celebrate Casey's and Shane's birthday today. It's always fun to celebrate the people you love.

Tomorrow is Monday. Mondays are fresh and new and they hold many possibilities. They signify a fresh start. A second chance. An opportunity. I love a good Monday morning.

We had birthday cake today. Birthday cake is far superior to regular cake.

Thankful. 

BLT's.

February 25, 2017
Day 167

For rain.

For a rainy afternoon that turned into a glorious sunset.

For BLT's with soup for lunch.

For our warm home.

For good news!

For Casey. For Casey's birthday.

For birthday candles.

For snoring dogs.

For a quiet evening spent with family

Today was good.

February 25, 2017
Day 166

     The past few days have been hard. I've been dealing with anxiety and fear and doubt and panic. But today? Today was good. Today was smooth sailing. Today was an ice cold drink of water on the hottest day. Today was a brisk and glorious morning with puffy white clouds and the bluest sky. Today was the first day of summer vacation at the beach. Today was lying in a hammock with a cold beer, a warm sun, and a cool breeze blowing the glowing green leaves. Today was fall leaves crunching under my feet. Today was a big bowl of ice cream.

     Today was good. And I am so thankful. I'm thankful for breath in my lungs. For step in my feet. For today and for good. Thankful that for today, the today and the good were one in the same.

Strawberry Licorice.

February 23, 2017
Day 165

Hot showers.

Delicious dinners.

Friday.

The upcoming weekend.

Strawberry licorice.

The way Tobin's lips look when he talks.

My bed.

My husband.

My sister.

My family.

The sweetest puppy eyes ever.

Odette.

Black olives.

Time to sleep.

Thankful.

Woodpecker.

February 22, 2017
Day 164

For music.

For good days at work.

For dinner made by my sister.

For the funny things the kids do.

For dogs sleeping in my room.

For the face Higbee just gave me when I looked under the bed to see what he was chewing and it was his ball.

For delicious treats from Trader Joe's.

For tulips poking through the soil.

For the woodpecker I hear every morning when I take the pups for a walk.

For the pink sky this morning.

For the pink sky tonight that faded into purple and deep purple and blue and red and orange.

For time to sleep.

Thankful.