Rivers of Thankfulness

Saturday, June 7, 2025

A good day with family.

June 7, 2025

Day 3,118

Thankful for:

Breakfast with Patty and Heidi.

Breakfast food.

A walk with Cheyenne, Remy, and Shane.

Getting to see my family.

Good food.

Hummingbirds.

Dogs.

Getting to hug and hold my nieces and nephews.

Going to bed and not having to set an alarm for the next day.

Friday, June 6, 2025

A good last day.

June 6, 2025

Day 3,117

Thankful for:

A good last day of school.

Tears.

Hugs.

Declarations of love and friendship.

A time to celebrate my friend, Melissa.

Sweet students.

Rain.

Little gifts and cards from students and school families.

I picked up some pizza for dinner, but I had 30 minutes to wait. Since Effie's was right next door to the pizza place, and there was literally no one in line, I decided to get ice cream and eat dessert before dinner. It was the right choice.

Pizza for dinner.

A long, hot bath.

Time to sleep.

Rain in the forecast.

Lunch with friends tomorrow.

Things to look forward to.

Higbee is literally so so excited to see me when I get home. He makes me feel so special.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Little list.

June 5, 2025

Day 3,116

Thankful for:

Help.

Friends who care, listen, and help.

Family members who care, listen, and help.

Prayers.

Panera for lunch.

So much laughter with my family.

Playing games together.

Comfort shows.

Bed.

Time to rest.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Time to sleep.

June 4, 2025

Day 3,115

Thankful for:

Friends.

Family.

Good advice.

People who help me.

The end of a long day.

A late night dinner with Lorrie and Mike.

Tacos.

Time to sleep.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Them.

June 3, 2025

Day 3,114

This was a hard and busy day. There were annoying things. There were things that made me doubt myself. There were things that made me question what I'm even doing taking on the job of principal of a school for next year.

But God is good to me. He gave me these gifts on a day when I was doubting everything.

1. I got an email out of the blue from an old student. These are the words to that email:

Dear Mrs. Sanderson,

Hi how is St Micheals doing? I'm in eight grade now and I'm excited for high school next year. _____ will be a senior and I will be a freshman. I just finished part of my Spanish final and i would just like to say thank for actually caring about your job while teaching me and all of my teachers at St Micheals actually cared and that means something. None of my teachers here at _____ care about whether i learn or get it or not or even how imp doing as a person. So thank you and all the staff at St. Michelas for giving me a wonderful education in my elementary school years.

Your former student,

_________________

2. I finally looked through a bunch of teacher's appreciation cards I received. Here are the words of one of my favorite cards:

"Thank you Mrs. Sanderson. Thanks for helping me when my emotions get over me. Without you, I would not make it."

It's not about me. It's not about whether I'm perfect or have all the answers. It's not about the clothes or shoes I wear. It's not about how I look. It's not about how well spoken I am. It's not about how much I know.

It's.

Not.

About.

Me.

It's about them. It's about showing students I care about them. It's about showing students they matter to me. It's about loving them.

That is it.

And that is everything.

Next year, I'll keep this word in my mind: them. Always them.