Walk like a...snowman!

THANKSgiving Day 14
 I noticed in some posts from years previous that I had labeled my posts each day like I did above, and I want to get back to that. It's a good reminder that THANKS is for GIVING. And it reminds me of my mission, so double reason to put it back up there!
Today I am thankful for the energy of teenagers, and the love for life that my students have. The past two days they have been so hyper and crazy that I've resorted to taking them outside during 7th period as a means to reign them in a little. It has been so much fun to watch them run and play, and to have them beg me to join them. On Thursday I ran with them a little, and couldn't help but smile as I started to run backwards and saw my banditry of chickadees chasing after me. (I may have had the M&Ms, but we can pretend they just really wanted me!) Today we played a mix-up of Simon Says and Red Light/Green Light. It was fun to see their willingness to play along with my commands and walk like zombies, float like leaves, or walk like a snowman. This is the kind of energy that they give me every day, and I love it! I feed off their energy-it is what keeps me going everyday. I am so thankful that I get to be part of that energy everyday!

You've got to pray just to make it today!

Day 13
Today I am thankful for the power of prayer, and for those who remind me of it. I was anticipating that today was going to be a terrible day, but after a conversation about the power of prayer I spent a little more time praying about it and a little less time worrying about it. Guess what-it was a good day! God loves us an hears our prayers. The things that matter to us matter to Him. He knows our hearts and our intentions. He knows what we need to hear and when we need to hear it. He can help others when we are powerless. Prayer can be our source of strength, and the tether that holds us tight when we feel like we're going to lose our grip at any moment. Prayer is the answer. I am grateful for that gentle reminder again in my life.

If I had to hide a body...

Day 12
 Today I am thankful to have a "person" in my life. For those of you who don't get the reference, let me give you a little background. I first heard this phrase on Grey's Anatomy. Christina and Meredith refer to each other as their "person," or the one you would call to help you hide a body. You can always count on this person, and it's like they are an appendage to you and not just another person. My "person" is my sister. (Please let it be noted, I am not in need of hiding any bodies...) Jolene gets me. And better yet, she accepts me. Just tonight we were talking about how this wasn't always so, and how we're both grateful for how far we've come over the years. Jolene is my best friend and confidant, and just being with her makes me whole. When we're together we can finish each other's...sandwiches. (Sorry, I couldn't resist!) I love that when I'm with Jolene I can laugh until I cry, drool all over (that was some good caramel!), try new things, cry over sappy things, cry over sad things, and just pour out my entire soul. Jolene and I are so similar in many ways, but also very different. She is the yin to my yang.
And for the record, I would call her if there was a body that needed to be hid! I love you, sister!

A little girl's first hero

Day 11
 I feel that I have a similar post each year on this day, but I just can't help it! Today's thankfulness is dedicated to my father. Many little girls look up to their fathers and consider them to be heroes. We imagine that our dads have superpowers that make them so much more special than any other dad out there. I was, and am, no exception to this rule. I have observed many such superpowers in my own father. Over the years I have come to learn that what I once saw as magical powers were a good work ethic and a determination to provide for his family. There is one magical superpower that my dad has that I cannot explain, which is his ability to read me and talk to my soul. It's pretty common knowledge that what my dad says holds a lot of weight with me. Somehow he always knows the right things to say, which I really appreciate.
 I love that my dad has instilled in me a sense of patriotism and a love for my country. I cannot participate in patriotic programs without becoming a little teary eyed, thinking about the great love that my dad has for his country. He is a superhero who risked his life to fight in an unpopular war, which only furthered his deep respect and love for his country. This is one of my favorite things about my dad.
There are so many other things that I could write about,but I will stop here. The important thing is that I am thankful for my dad each and everyday, and I love him so much!
Dad-thank you for all that you do for me! I can't ever fully express the depth of my gratitude and love, but hope that you know how I feel. I love you!

"You're my new BFF!"

Day 10
I had the opportunity this afternoon to attend a meeting of other Cluster teachers in my district. I remembered from last year that it had been a meeting that I appreciated, but nothing over the top. Today was ah-mazing! Now that I have a year under my belt as a teacher I am figuring out what questions I should be asking, and realizing more and more what I don't know. At the meeting today I got to ask my questions and have them answered by people who really know the answers. I mean, these people are in my same situation! We were grouped according to class type, so I was literally bumping elbows with people who do what I do every single day. I didn't have to explain how things work in my room because they get it. Explicitly. Today was the best meeting that I have been to all year! They asked at the end how helpful we thought the meeting was, how often we should have them, and then excused us to leave. Half an hour later we were still there! I was so grateful for the opportunity that I had to meet the other two teachers who share my same class (there were three of us from the middle school setting, and a good handful of elementary teachers) and we were able to exchange information. They showed me things that I didn't know about, and brought so much clarity to me! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and even better, I know that I am not alone in the world. There are people who are just an email or phone call away who really understand what my classroom is like. They share the same hopes, fears, and desires for their students. At one point I told my new friends that I just wanted to hug them and that they were my new BFFs. To sum it up, today I am thankful for the meeting that I attended, and for the opportunity that I had to meet my counterparts. It's amazing how much not feeling alone in the world can make a difference. I am thankful for the support that I receive as a teacher, and that my district is continually searching for ways to help us become the best teachers that we can be. Ahhh, I loved today!

We are family!

Day 9
 I am so thankful for my family! Today I had the opportunity to spend some time with my mom's side of the family, and my Uncle Jake is here visiting. Ever since I was a little girl I have looked up to him and he has always held a special place in my heart. (If we're being honest, when I was little I thought that I would marry him someday!) Getting to spend time with my family is the best. I love listening to my mom and Aunt Tina recount their crazy adventures, and I love to see the bond that they have. It's fun to hear the stories about my grandparents, or just to listen to everyone talk about "the good ol' days..." My favorite thing to do at family parties is to just sit back and listen, which is what I got to do tonight. I love family time, and I love my family!

Weekends are like Bookends

Day 8
 Weekends are like bookends: the purpose of a bookend (besides being decorative) is to hold your books upright, and offer some support to books struggling to stay upright on their own. Weekends do the same thing for me. They hold me steady and upright so that I can get through the week.
 I love my job and I pour every ounce of myself into it. By Friday I am wiped out, and I need a chance to recharge. For that reason I am so thankful for weekends! Today I got to sleep in and take it easy. I've done some reading, caught up on my laundry (along with my favorite TV shows) and got to watch a favorite classic movie with my roomie. My batteries are beginning to feel recharged, and tomorrow's Sabbath day worship with be the final boost that I need to get me ready for another week. I am so thankful for the support of my bookend-weekends!