Thankful Thursday

This has been another tough week, but today was spectacular. I so, SO needed a good day, and today was that day. I am truly blessed and have so much to be thankful for.

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord, and the fact that He loves me 110% of the time
• my family and friends
• the fact that my close friends truly are some of the loves of my life...so blessed to have them
• my health, and the health of my loved ones
• a roof over my head, clean running water, food in my fridge, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, a dependable car, my phone, my computer, the appliances and gadgets and doodads that make my life easier
• my washer and dryer
• my job, my sweet coworkers, and my 27 schoolbabies who made me smile so big today
• my wonderful teammate Sarah and the news that her kidney transplant surgery is a success...please pray that Sarah's father-in-law can tolerate her kidney and that they both recover quickly
• the fact that, Lord willing, my dear Laura Allyson and Randolph will be parents tomorrow...literally can't wait to see pictures of little Allie Grace!
• enough money to take care of my needs, and some big changes in how I choose to spend what's left over
• a fun girls night out at the Alabama Theatre with Kira and Byrne last Saturday
• the serious attitude adjustment God gave me today...much-needed
• getting to see so many of my former students today...the biggest surprise was the sweet, beautiful former-3rd-graders-now-9th-graders who showed up at my classroom door this afternoon...I love getting to see how my old students are doing!
• a hilarious, highly successful auction with my class this afternoon...they're buying items with the "money" that they've earned this semester doing their classroom jobs...getting a glimpse of their buying skills/money sense put a huge smile on my face
• the fact that my students LOVED their whiteboards and hot chocolate today...I'm glad they were so excited about their present from me
• the gorgeous sunset this evening...I wish Sears wasn't all up in my picture, but such is life
• 
• a wonderful class Christmas party on Tuesday
• an early dismissal day tomorrow :)
• pretty new nail polish from Angie...planning to paint my nails as soon as I'm done writing this
• thoughtful gifts from students and their parents, and a very unexpected (& totally appreciated!) gift from Randy today...I love my 5th grade team
• some great talks with Mom this week
• the opportunity to serve coffee at four Christmas services...I'm loving my new "job"
• being literate, a great meeting with Mr. L. this week, and the opportunity to surprise my friends there with homemade peppermint bark
• the Christmas music CDs that Mr. L. and my fellow tutor Ross made for me...Mr. L.'s CD is titled "Black Christmas" and I'm not sure that I've ever smiled so much about a CD :)
• Christmas music on Pandora...Celtic Holidays has been rocking my world lately
• my near-daily texts with Carrie...even though I see her every day, her texts always make me smile...she's hilarious
• great music that makes me look forward to my jogs...I'm not going to admit how many times I listened to this one during my workout yesterday
  
• a nice break from work RIGHT around the corner :)
• new traditions
• fun goodies from my Secret Santa...Penny, thanks bunches for taking such good care of me! Love you!
• my essential oils...thanks again, Emily!
• the new opportunities that 2014 is bringing
• weather that's my kind of cold...cool enough during the day for long sleeves, and cold enough at night for flannel PJs...any colder than that isn't really necessary, thanks
• hope 
• peace and contentment

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord, and the moving & shaking that's going on in my life these days...sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it, but I'm stepping out on faith and letting Him lead
• my family and friends and loved ones
• my health, and the health of my loved ones
• a roof over my head, central heat in my little home, hot showers, clean running water, food in my fridge, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, appliances and gadgets and doodads that make my life easier
• my washer and dryer
• coats, gloves, and scarves that keep me warm
• living in a place where the cold weather never lasts long...I love cold weather as long as I'm nice and warm and cozy...if I'm not, forget about it!
• my job, my supportive coworkers, and the 27 little people that I spend more time with than I do with anybody else in my life
• getting to hold a darling baby kangaroo at school today...pictures to come
• enough money to take care of my needs
• some big changes in how I choose to spend my money
• a fun girls night at the Jarrell ranch last Sunday
• my Auburn Tigers headed to their 2nd national championship in 3 years...I'm so proud of them I could just bust!!!
• friends who love me and let me know that I'm loved
• getting to surprise my secret Santa with some fun goodies this week :)
• happy memories
• Christmas cards in the mail every day
• my new essential oils and diffuser...I'm having the best time experimenting with them...thanks a million billion for hooking me up, Emily!!!
• sweet Byrne and Ashley ending my decade-long streak of going to church by myself...so thankful that I have them to go to church with now
• a rough week...makes me thankful for all the other weeks that were (and will be) lovely and fun
• being literate, and a great study session with Mr. L. this week
• this video, which reminds me how spoiled I actually am, and how mindful I want to be to look out for others instead of myself 
• being a part of the 5th grade team, and the way everyone banded together to provide a coworker and her family three baskets full of "we love you" treats
• all my friends who are growing or raising babies...I'm in awe of them and the amazing job they're doing
• an easy, uneventful week of morning duty
• Lauren's "Healthy Thru The Holidays" challenge...it's been so fun to check in with the other girls on the team every day
• fun plans the next two weekends
• getting in a short jog today
• http://www.faithit.com/ ...if you've never visited, there's plenty there to make you smile
• my Christmas tree
• all the many, many things I get to do by myself now because that'll make me appreciate NOT doing things by myself someday
• my tidy little home
• the smell of cinnamon
• peace and contentment 

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!