Beyond the Attitude of Gratitude

Brad is the Grampa who gives books.  He loves giving books, and I love collecting them for him to pass on.  Last week, he sent out two Valentine packages to his grandchildren in Indy and N.C.

We got a short and thoughtful thank you message on facebook from his daughter-in-law, and his daughter sent us photos and videos of her kids opening and enjoying the little treats we sent.

Here's her youngest with a lolly...a rare treat!

We delighted in every word, snapshot, and voice on the video.  In fact, we still giggle over some of the images many days later.  It was simply touching to receive a thank you.  How nice to know the things we provided, little as they were, were appreciated.  It felt good to send the gifts, but it was a wonder to be thanked for them.

Yesterday, thinking of these pictures, I thought of God.  There's a saying floating around out there encouraging us to develop an "attitude of gratitude."  Good idea.  But beyond that, acting on this is key.  I wonder how God feels when I, His daughter, thank Him. when I truly and deeply express my gratitude through prayer for everything, every little thing, in my life.  This is one gift I can give back to God, my thanks.  I hope he finds it valuable. 

I'm not saying thanking Him more will lead to more blessings, but I do believe thanking Him as a loving practice will help me recognize more of what He has done for me--what He continues to do for me because He deeply loves me.

This morning, as I drove and prayed, I found myself not asking for anything but just acknowledging my many gifts from Him. The list was long and easy to create, and some things on it made me giggle--laughter is something to be thankful for--and I hope He smiled along with me.

Beyond praising Him, I can't think of anything more important than thanking God for the blessings He bestows on me.  With this gratitude comes the awareness of joy, and He will use that awareness to carry me through anything I may face.

"Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Day Sixteen

I am writing my 30 Days of Thankful on facebook because I just didn't think I could post here each day of November.

This one, though, calls for a post there and here.

Day 16 of Thankful: Medical research scientists.
I am thankful for people like Lisa Baker Guerrero who work each day to eradicate the diseases that damage and take lives.
All cancers WILL end.
Heart disease will dissipate as we continue to learn from experts how to better take care of ourselves.
Alzheimer's will be beaten down.
Depression will be seen as a sickness, not a state of mind, and be treated as such. 

These are the illnesses that have deeply touched my family and friends.

Feel free to add your own.

Feel free to pray for these dedicated folks.

Thanks Be

(I share this format poem every year at this time with my students.

This is my 2011 version.)

Thanks Be

I am thankful for Mac and Milk, 

for mornings and marriage, 

for movies and music and memories.

I am thankful for red geraniums and black shoes, 

and gold walls and champagne blankets.

For Brad and books, 

for church and chocolate, 

for family and faith, 

I am thankful.

30 Days...

I have seen two really great November blog challenges out there, but I am choosing to do neither.  One is a post a day.  The other is a 30 days of thankfulness challenge.

This month is a crazy one, beginning with this week of teaching and daily parent teacher conferences, then there's next week start of our after school tutoring program (for which I tutor), two union meetings, Veterans' Day, American Education Week, and the special projects involved in those.  To commit to posting here daily would be too much. We get a week off for Thanksgiving, but that causes the month to be crammed into three weeks, and it's busy.  (I am not complaining!)

I love this little blog, but life is out there, you know?

So I've decided to 1) be more intentional about leaving blog comments, and 2) I'll be posting my 30 days of thanks as my facebook status.

Be my friend there?  Hang in here if I'm posting sporadically?

I am always thankful for you, perhaps I need to tell you that more often.

Piecey

 See below for what's up with these cookies, 

but they're like these I made for Thanksgiving last year...

So I haven't joined Friday Fragments lately, but yesterday I decided to make it a goal.  Ta da.  I'm publishing my Friday Fragments on Saturday...

**************

Stepped out of my comfort zone twice in the last 48 hours.

One, I tried out for a musical at my former church even though I don't sing or dance.  I wasn't nervous until I crossed the threshold, and then I was a basket case.  We'll see what happens...

Two, I went to my first IT committee meeting (instructional technology).  This attendance was forced on me, but still I did okay.  There are some tech geeks (jealous) on the committee (including two brilliant HS girls), but I think the director also wants some less than tech savvy folks. He's got one in me.

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This past week, a young teacher at work said to me, "You do EVERYTHING, you are amazing."  This was a "just in passing" comment.  She's so kind, I was flattered but more than a little confused, so I asked her to tell me what "everything"  meant.  Really, it was nothing stellar.  Just to clarify, I am not amazing and I don't do everything.  (I'm really good at sitting on my buns; sure wish I could find more time for that.)

However two things came from this comment:  One, me counting all the ways I'm not amazing and mentally marking off the things I don't know how to/can't do.  Two, the memory of one of Brad's daughters-in-law telling me I'm a know-it-all.  Allowing all these thoughts in hurt me.  Why did I do that to myself?  For Pete's sake, a sweet young teacher complimented me, shouldn't I just accept it and not question it?

I did go to her later to see if it was a good thing, I told her about the know-it-all comment to let her know I wasn't fishing for more compliments.  So now she knows how insecure I am.

 ************

Confession:  I am a sucker for thank you notes.  I think it's important to send them.  I got the nicest one from my friend Helen's daughter this week.  A few weeks ago, I went to a baby shower for her, and she sent a cute, thoughtful, addressed-by-her-note.  

I need to send out some thanks.  As I've written recently, I don't do it enough.

************

Opened my mouth in a different work meeting this week, and now I find myself having to read a book I was only thinking about reading, implement the practice, and then teach others.

Right now, the only perk I see to this is that I don't have to buy the book as my principal is buying it for me.

*************

My class is a group of young ones this year but I think we're beginning to grow on us. This is the last week of the quarter, and I'm hoping we do some fun things to take a break, and I know we're going to start on our first service project.  Deadlines to meet?  Sure.  Fun to have? Absolutely!

(Science unit to wrap up, science quiz, writing to publish, compost bin to assemble, art for the too blank walls, witches hat birthday treat, Operation Christmas Child begins...and for me lots of grading and report cards!)

************

Best thing about this week, my son came home from LSU for a short visit.  We've managed to see quite a bit of him between his friend time.  (And we've seen his friends too.  Bonus!)

Thanks Mrs. 4444!

Thank You

Who could you, should you, might you write a thank you note to today?

That's my question this week.  That's my goal for this day.

To write at least one.  Even though I'm busy.  Even though I'm tired.

Because the nice things people do matter, and they should know.

Incredibly inexhaustably thankful...

This is a lovey dovey post.  It is all 100% truth, and it needs to be said.

I am thankful for so many people in my life.  Here are a few that have warmed my heart this week.


Mrs. K. for volunteering to be my "copy mom."  She will save me an hour and a half each week working with that blasted machine.  She will also force me to stay organized.  I must be organized for her, and the benefit is, when I'm organized for her my week goes more smoothly.  I'm getting there!

Mrs. M. for making my class valance!  Yes, I could do it (trusty seam ripper at the ready), but I'm thinking she'll do it better and faster than I would (especially since there are 25 things on my to do list before this project.)


My fourth grade team Brad and Betsy.  We are solid and supportive, and I love them.

My friend AB for allowing Brad and me a getaway to Bill's Bay.  Oh, what a lovely weekend.

My gal Megan, well, just for being my friend.  We only run into each other in the hall from time to time, but you matter to me Girl.

My Avon lady.  Yes, I'm serious.

Helen for picking up the Josh Wilson tickets.  Something so special to look forward to this weekend.

Dwija for praising teachers in a sweet little way in her post yesterday.

Class parents for acknowledging how nice it is to get email updates from their child's teacher.  A little feedback goes a long way.

Mac for calling me as he and his friends drove home to update us on wildfire and then rain dangers on the road (TX to LA) on Sunday.

My coworkers who have expressed such faith in me as their new BEA rep, even though my head is spinning, and I'm concerned I won't serve them well.

One of my tutoring moms who paid me "vacation pay" for a week.  

Pam for always sharing a tired smile.

And speaking of tired...this school year has worn me down already.  Going back to school is always an adjustment, and this year has been harder than the past few.  Much harder.  Brad, my home Brad, my truly better half, has stepped up doing even more around the house than he usually does.  That's a huge statement because he does at least 95% of the house tasks all the time.

He has grocery shopped, done the laundry, bought things for my lunches, helped me pack my lunches, watered my flowers, cut fresh fruit for my dinner and lunches, made dinner, run for dinner, returned my library books, picked up an Avon catalog for me, made the bed, tucked me in each night (seriously), rubbed my neck, listened to my stories, listened to my frustrations, rubbed my neck, carried my books and all to the car each morning, put up with me hitting the snooze too many times, has not mentioned how much my roots need touching up and more. 

He is, like everyone on this list, truly a gift from God.  And I am counting my blessings, and I am falling asleep...

Thankful

Today is the day He has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

What are you thankful for today?

Whoops, I forgot! I won!

A few weeks back, Mrs. 4444 had a giveaway for a 8 x 10 Easy Canvas Prints canvas.  I've been joking (okay, so I'm not joking) about hating clutter, but one decorative accessory I love is family photographs, and since we had just had our anniversary photos (coincidentally our 4th) taken, I entered.  I didn't give it another thought until the lovely Mrs. contacted me to tell me I won!

Once Brad and I selected a photo, I went to the site, uploaded it, followed the "design" steps, and our canvas was ordered. I've ordered regular snapshots from photo prints sites, and I have to say Easy Canvas Prints was the most user friendly photo site I've used. It took less than five minutes.

Here's the canvas, we love it!

We hope to hang it in our bedroom, but we're waiting until after the room gets painted this fall.  For now it sits on the dresser.

Make note of the top edge of the canvas. The photo is extended around the edges, it's not cropped to fit and then folded or wrapped over, so the edge looks nice and finished.  The colors of the day and the photo were captured perfectly.

Doing this "review" wasn't a condition of winning.  I'm thankful to Mrs. 4444 and to Megan at Easy Canvas Prints, and I wanted to extend that thanks here.

I have considered ordering more canvases, and so I've dug a bit on their facebook page where I see they run special promotions--right now 50% off.  Makes it all the more tempting...I may choose a wedding pic to group with this one.  Thinking here, you know me and decorating--it takes me a while and a few opinions to decide!

Thankful Thursday

     Last Thursday, my cell phone rang while I was teaching science.  I teach the "sound" unit, and my kids thought it was funny to hear the sound of my cell phone through the doors of the cabinet in which I toss my purse.  I wondered who called, everyone knows I can't answer my phone while teaching, usually it's off, so I checked at plan time.  It was Mac.
     He was calling me to tell me he had gotten a job with the LSU libraries as a graduate assistant.  He was delighted, and the joy in voice was apparent as I listened to the recorded message he'd left me (much better than finding out via facebook).  This job pays a salary, it pays his tuition, AND it's in his desired field--he's going to be learning more about archiving.

     I remain so thankful for this call, for this opportunity for him. The struggles that brought him to this place have passed, and my prayers have been answered with a YES!  Thank you God.
     I wonder if Hill library is on this game...

     If not, it should be!

Other things to be thankful for:

• Reasonable parents (my students' not my own)
• A repaired classroom mic system (avoiding vocal damage)
• Science going well and almost wrapped up for the year
• A prayer request from a friend, the chance to pray
• I cannot lie, blog followers
• Dinner plans to look forward to
• Girlfriend afternoon on Saturday
• Days shy of celebrating four years of a great marriage
• A new denim jacket--promised
• The husband who works hard to fix up our home
• Books, always books
• Days touched by breaths of spring
• Good health!
• God with us 

What are you thankful for?

Thankful I AM Thankful...

     I'm thankful for so many things every day, but on Thursdays, I stop to make a list of whatever hits me at the moment...Here's what's on my mind during these moments:

• My Dose friends
• Sarah's test results (the illness has not spread)
• Pilfered black hoodie  (Okay he left it behind, but it was more fun to think I was stealing it...)
• LSU's Mardi Gras break--Mac's home!
• Helen's gift of a ticket
• Comprehensive health insurance
• My doctors
• My GREAT and capable guest teacher--during testing week!  (I'd gulp for effect here, but it would hurt!)
• Humor tho' exhausted: mohawk hair (perhaps a photo soon...)
• My tomatoes--haven't killed 'em yet:

• Spring training baseball scores
• A positive attitude about the weather--it IS only March
• My surprise via USPS from Kimberly:

(More on this soon!)

• The awareness that this too shall pass (rash from meds, sore froat, pressure in ears, fever!)
• The perspective that there are so many people who deal with much worse
• Jon Stewart (no relation) and his support for those of us who feel beaten down and the 58,000 likes this received on facebook 
• Laughter, such a gift!
• Being able to reach out to friends via the 'Net, send sub plans via the 'Net, research meds via the 'Net
• Knowing that God is always listening, always present, ALWAYS.

Thanks God!

For..

friends who read

friends who write

a husband who loves my (just learning how to) cooking

Mac
rest

people who make me laugh

my bed

my ol' reliable car

my job

my team of coworkers

my grade level team

my laptop

the excitement of learning new things

music

patience

perspective

moments with You and You alone

life

loss and the gifts that remain

Thankful Friday

I am thankful for:

• great health insurance
• the availability of doctors
• a husband who takes even better care of me when I'm feeling punky than he does the rest of the time--and that's saying A LOT!
• the knowledge that this too shall pass
• youtube (knitting lessons on the Web!)
• friends' blogs
• friends' generosity
• pasta salad
• a sweet group of 20 tensomethings to spend my days with
• scripture
• the delete button
• discernment
• Helen
• cookies
• my couch
• my bed
• a February thaw
• acceptance of snow
• education 
• my rights as a U.S. citizen
• a reliable car
• learning to cast on (sort of...)
• perspective
• having time to pray for my "enemies"
• a softened heart
  

There's so much more than this

I am thankful for...

a patient knitting teacher/good friend.

my reading students (afterschool) 

my classroom students (what sweethearts they've been lately)

those moments when the kid in them shines through

time in the car to pray

auto mechanics

a warm bed

my team of teachers at school (love 4th!)

the man across the desk from me

a boy who grew into a man too quickly

the messages at church

living in a nation where I can freely attend church services

red nail polish

blue jeans

silver earrings

smiles in return

chocolate

multi-vitamins with iron

hugs

realizations 

friends who pray

Steadfastly Thankful For...

• a husband who cooks dinner and unpacks my lunch bag each night
• a son who checks in just to say hi
• a church whose weekly message stays with me all week
• the 'Net that allows me to keep in touch with people I value
• purple pens for grading papers (many, many papers)!

Thankful Still

I'm thankful for...

• friends who ask me to pray for them
• friends who pray for me
• a good bed that helps Brad's back
• a safe, warm home
• the awareness that even though money is tight right now, we are going to be okay
• the clarity I received through prayer and subsequent conversations with Brad regarding some family "stuff"
• peace
• drivers who truly share the road
• new, true friends on facebok

Still thanking on Thursdays

• Gee
• Oh
• Dee
• His measureless and abiding love for me, even though I don't deserve it.
• My class this week has been full of niceness
• My at risk after school readers have been so sweet and funny, we laugh and work so hard, and they are growing, and they like staying after to READ!
• I'm looking forward to hanging with my Dose of Fiber girls on the weekend, and fixing this...

To read the beginning of this list, click here.  To read more of this, come back next week.

Thankful

     My friend Tina started a Winter Babes Club on facebook a couple of years ago.  I took part in it then, skipped last year, but this year I'm gung ho.  There are 40 things on the to-do list that invite "babes"  to embrace winter, and since it's my least favorite season, I think I need this positive kick in the pants!

     #27 is:  "Create a Thankfulness list that you can add to throughout the winter."

      So I'm starting it here and adding to it each Thursday from here on out.  

• Brad
• a strong marriage
• Mac
• the blessing of being a mom
• job security
• my blog readers
• good books
• knitting
• a patient knitting teacher
• friends who want to lift me up by doing goofy things like this club
• a warm bed
• a roof over our head
• the finances to keep it there, for now
• perspective
• the gift of having Vicki as a friend, even for too short a time
• the people Vic brought into my life
• the promise of Salvation
• my students
• my students' parents
• co-workers who are supportive and ALWAYS ready to listen
• co-workers who will tell me when I'm wrong
• great teaching at church each weekend
• facebook friends who are willing to keep in touch with me the only way I have time to--on-line!
• the ability to sift out and avoid drama
• a God who teaches me daily that if I want to see change, I have to change

More to come...

Thoughtful

     Last week, I wrote about feeling tired.  All. The. Time.  I was so touched by the comments and suggestions left on this blog and on facebook where my posts are also published.  I also received some sweet emails.  I really was overwhelmed by the care you showed.  Thank you.
Two changes I'm making:

1)  Back on vitamins. We'll see how I do this time.  One friend told me B complex helps restore energy, so I added those to the mix.  And I'm back on some other heart healthy supplements (not pictured) too.  So when I make my lunch every night, I "lay" out one of each of these pills.  That just may tire me out!

2)  More protein.  I'm adding a hard boiled egg and/or cashews (unsalted) to my snack/lunch bag. 

    And I'm committed to continue to exercise.  I am reasoning that a half hour each day on the treadmill is more essential to my health than an "extra" 30 minutes of sleep.  So far my less logical side is winning, and I'm actually getting up at 5:30 each morning to get this done.  Wouldn't logic dictate more sleep?  Yeah, I thought so...

We get healed...

But it was our sins that did that to him,
   that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
   Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
   We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
   on him, on him. 

Isaiah 53:5, The Message