It's been a bit, but today I am thankful...

1) For the lesson given in Young Women yesterday about personal revelation. It touched my heart and reminded me of the things I should be doing to be closer to Hevently Father. 

2) For a hot bath. Yesterday I tweaked my back while helping the kids pick up toys and was in pain all day. After they were in bed, I soaked in the tub and it was heavenly. 

3) Werther's caramel chews, given to me in the hallway by a regular sub. It hit the spot and was a brief, tasty reprieve during a crazy Monday. 

4) An afternoon/evening with the kids at the park and our short but sweet family home evening lesson on reading the scriptures. We started a new scripture reading chart and Erich actually sat still,listened, and comprehended three verses of 1 Nephi. 

5) Lana's bursting new vocabulary. Some of my favorites: pelels-please, cany-candy, can can- can't. She lights up my days. 

I've been too lazy to turn on my computer, but I am thankful...

1) For the 30 minute dance party I had with my kids tonight after dinner. I told Erich if he'd help me clean up, he could decide what we'd do until it was Lana's bedtime. He chose to dance. And we had fun & got sweaty. My kids have moves!

2) For my choice to be patient, positive, and kind tonight. Not only did my conscience choice lead to a happier evening in my house for everybody involved, but it also showed me that life is generally better when one chooses their actions & attitudes wisely.

3) For Benjamin. He took me to a yummy sushi place on Saturday night for Mother's Day and got me some new perfume. Oh, and a new dryer. And those hugs. Also his smile, a fresh haircut, & his promptness in buying new windshield wipers for my car.

4) For my mom. I didn't jump on the Happy Mother's Day bandwaggon on social media--partly because I was, for some reason, a little grumpy--and I know I didn't need to post anything about how awesome my mom is. She tops the cake, for sure. She is for reals the most amazing, generous, supportive, and loving human being. And the cinnamon rolls she made for our Mother's Day brunch were TO.DIE.FOR.

5) For the sunshine today. I went outside with a group of students and I was amazed at how quickly my teacher burn out blahness dissipated while I soaked in some Vitamin D. I loved feeling it on my cheeks and toes.

I survived the Miserable Migraine of May and am thankful...

1) For a tasty teacher appreciation breakfast at work today. Strawberries? Mini muffins? Toast with Nutella? Great way to start any day!

2) For free Papa Murphy's pizza, again for teacher appreciation week. I joined a plethora of other teachers in line around 4pm and by 5:30, the kids and I had a delicious hot pizza. I also bought a tub of cookie dough, so after we ate, Erich helped me make some pretty yummy cookies!

3) That my students finished end of year high stakes standardized testing! 

4) There are now 3 selections of Dr. Pepper in the faculty lounge vending machine. Apparently, teachers at my school run on that stuff like cars run on fuel. 

5) For my new mantra,that I repeat multiple times a day....at home, at work, in traffic....Be Positive, Patient, & Kind...over and over and over again. 

Tonight I'm thinking backwards...

1) I'm thankful for my seemingly always messy house because it means I not only have a house, but I also have dishes, and clothes, and belongings, and toys (for the kids) and all of those things mean I am blessed. 

2) I'm thankful for bills in the mail because it means I am blessed with clean, running, warm water and lights by which to see, and a roof over my head, and a phone to communicate with, etc.

3) I'm grateful for my car that is slowly falling apart because it means I have a way to get from point A to point B. My kids and I can drive to grandmas, to the store, or to fun places like the park or the zoo. 

4) I'm grateful for a difficult, demanding, and challenging job because it means I have money to provide the basic necessities of life for my family. 

5) I'm thankful that my husband works long hours and usually doesn't get home before 9pm because it means he has a job that also helps provide for our family. We do not have every nice thing nor do we do very fancy things very often, but we are lucky to be employed. 

It's the weekend and I've been lazy, so I'll give you 10 tonight...

1. I am thankful for the beautiful weather we have had this weekend. I've enjoyed the sun and the warmth. The kids and I enjoyed dinner outside Friday and Saturday and it was lovely.
2. I'm thankful for my Fast Sunday experience. It's been a while and I actually took time to prepare and ponder. I didn't feel hungry like I often do and made it until dinner. I feel recharged and strengthened.
3. I'm grateful for my husband for taking the kids to his parents tonight while I stayed home...alone. I sat on the couch for about 3 hours, ate ice cream, and enjoyed some alone time. It was a much needed little break.
4. I'm grateful for the two littles' hugs and kisses. Lately, they've both been snotty kisses, but I still love them. They make me feel special and like I'm the best in the world, when most often I probably am not.
5. I'm thankful for a rare morning nap I took with Ben. We snuggled while Lana slept and Erich built a city out of blocks. The fan was on low and the sheets were cool and it was perfect...until a text message woke me up.
6. I am SO thankful for the words of President Monson. Today in YW we read and discussed a talk called "Believe, Obey, and Endure." The message was mostly for young girls, but so many of it can be applied to my life.
7. I'm grateful that tomorrow my students begin taking the last part of the end of year SAGE test. It means two things 1)The school year is wrapping up and 2)I can do something different and fun after and enjoy the last few weeks with students, most of whom I really have enjoyed this year.
8. I'm thankful for grocery shopping as a family. I hate grocery shopping. But when Ben goes with me, it's not so bad. And for some reason, the kids actually stay in the car cart for him.
9. I'm grateful for Dr. Pepper 10. I've got this really bad addiction to Dr. Pepper. I've tried keeping it to only one glass or can a day and sometime that is the only thing that gets me through.
10. I'm thankful for my YW presidency...their love, support, and service. I love each of them and am glad that I don't have to do it alone!

Happy new week!

Today I struggled to get dinner in the table, but I'm grateful....

1) That tomorrow is Friday. It's also our school Cinco de Mayo celebration, which means free authentic taco stand tacos for the teachers! 

2) For Lana Ruby, who twirled and twirled tonight when I put on her nightgown. It is ballet-attire inspired and has a bit of a tutu. She walked around the house saying "Cute!"

3) That Ben helped Erich clean his room this morning. It's not perfect but it's better than the tornado state it was left in last night. It also means I don't have to battle it out tonight. 

4) For the inspired words of Elder Bednar, whose conference talk I listened to this morning. It reminded me that I do not have to carry the burdens on up shoulders alone and that PB (President Bednar), as my roommates and I called him in college, is a stellar speaker....expressing things directly and firmly. 

5) For avocados. I had one for lunch and it was a.maze.ing. 

Today the sun shone and I'm thankful....

1) For my sweet Erich, who tries my patience hourly and causes me grief, but who I know loves me more than just about anything and makes me feel special beyond anything else in the history of ever. 

2) For a brood group of work colleagues who I can really call friends. We can be serious together and work together...or we can be silly and goofy and random. 

3) For my amazing mom, who helps in so many ways. Sometimes I think Lana loves her more than me ( which is ok...she's really that neat).

4) For texts like this from my friend, Tiffiney "I'll trade you the puppy backpack leash for half the bag of of chocolate chips." It's ok that that may not make sense to anyone else, but that girl is a blessing in more ways than one. 

5) For the sushi my Mr. brought home for me from Tempanyaki. Delicious.