thankful thursday

It's been a looong time since I've posted a Thankful Thursday, but I was reminded of it this week. My dear husband is teaching a Sunday morning adult Bible class based on the book, Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows. Every few weeks, we are given a new soul training exercise to work on as we strive to understand God through the Jesus narrative. Previous exercises have included getting more sleep and taking time to be quiet. This week's assignment was to start a running list of things for which we're thankful, so it seems like the perfect time to resurrect this old blog series. Some of the things are obvious, some are not. Some are more important than others, and I list them in no particular order. Remembering to be thankful each day is an important discipline that keeps me grounded. So here's what I've got so far.

healthy baby. supportive husband. conversation partner. peanut butter/banana sandwiches. daily hot showers. changing seasons. internet. loving church family. intergenerational wednesday night class. laughter. tears. honesty. balance. carson's smile. digital camera. getting to see my parents tomorrow. god's creativity. thoughtful budgeting. hand-me-downs. peace.

thankful

Thankful.

Life. Love.

People. Places.

Family. Friends.

Texas. Tennessee.

Men. Women.

Children. Grown-Ups.

Relationships. Communication.

Old. New.

Creativity. Variety.

Winter. Summer.

Spring. Fall.

Predictability. Routine.

Church. School.

1^st grade. 6^th grade.

Computer. Phone.

Camera. Crafts.

TV. Music.

Fancy. Simple.

Sun. Snow.

Leaves. Flowers.

Food. Beverage.

Work. Relaxation.

Movement. Stillness.

Forgiveness. Memories.

Curiosity. Confidence.

Learning. Understanding.

Talking. Listening.

Smelling. Tasting.

Seeing. Hearing.

Touching. Hugging.

God. Jesus.

Thankful.

Well this is an easy one! I'm thankful for Jenny and Pink Armchair Designs for my adorable new blog look! She is so sweet and talented! Use the link on the right side and check out more of her fun designs. She's starting a full fledged blog designing business in a couple of months! Thanks Jenny!!!

two words: SPRING BREAK!!!!

I am thankful for my Mama and Daddy! They are wonderful! They have always been loving, supportive, and encouraging! On Monday they will celebrate 29 years of marriage. They love each other, take care of each other, and have fun spending time together. Their marriage has been a great example to Keith and I for the past 4.3 years! Thank y'all for all that you mean to us! We love you and hope you have a happy anniversary!

Funny...anyone who knows my dad knows how much he hates wearing ties, and I just realized that I chose three tie pics and it wasn't on purpose:)

I'm thankful for SNOW!!! Twice in one week--woohoo!! It has been sooo pretty and so much fun to get excited about it and with my students...we even had a snow ball fight at school...is that allowed;)

I am thankful for being able to chillax! A cutie fourth grader taught me this new word at church a while back..."a combination of chillin' out and relaxin'," she said. I just thought she made it up! I didn't know it was something other people said, until I heard an adult say it the other day! What a fun word...I am a fan of made up words:) and this is a good one. I really appreciate being able to chillax from time to time. I LOVE a good hot bubble bath! (Something Keith does not understand...he doesn't think it sounds fun and thinks of it as lying in a pool of your own filth!) But, what do you do...different strokes for different folks...and for the record...I'm really not all that filthy:) I also chillax by reading blogs and curling up on the couch with my favorite blanket watching some sort of TV drama that I can get totally into. By the way, Stars Hollow in my last post is the town in Gillmore Girls, for those of you who aren't fans! Keith typically chillaxes by playing on the computer...protrade or figuring out how to do new things on excel...his chillaxing requires too much thinking for me! I mean, I like to think and all, but not while trying to chillax! How do you chillax?

I'm so thankful to have wonderful parents-in-law. They are here hanging out with us for a few days, and it has been such a blessing! They are sweet, encouraging, fun, and are great examples to us. We love y'all!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I am thankful to love and be loved!

It should be a fun day at school with games, art, pink, red, hearts, candy, and lots of sweet cards from my kids. Then, Keith is in class tonight, so I'm having a Valentine's Day date with my sweet sister!

Recently, two communites that are very close to my heart experienced destructive fires and tornados. My friends and family are okay, and for that I am so thankful!

Our chuch family in Maryneal had serious fires rage into town last week. One dear friend of ours was in a wreck; he has some injures and will have a long recovery, but overall the damage and injuries were not nearly as bad as they could have been.

Then, this week severe tornadoes attacked Jackson, TN where Keith's parents live, but they are okay. Many homes and businesses were destroyed and people were injured. The Jackson community is in my prayers as they come together and support one another.

Since I'm about to go enjoy it....this evening I'm thankful for my comfy bed and snuggly husband! I hope you all have a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is FRIDAY, and it will be even more fun than usual, because it's the 100th Day of School! We elementary people look for any reason to celebrate...speaking of....that's another thing to be thankful for:) I have a job where we can change up the routine every now and then, just for fun!

Introducing

If any of you had Willard Tate at ACU, you probably remember making thankful lists each morning. Per WIllard's inspiration, for five years now I've had my students write "Thankful Thursday" journals. I talk to them about what it means to be thankful and encourage them to try and think of something different to be thankful for each week. However, I haven't always taken time to join them in this exercise of thanksgiving, so I decided to make "Thankful Thursdays" a part of my journal too:) Each week I'll try to think of something different to be thankful for. I have so much to be thankful for. I think this will be a good reminder each week!

Today I am very thankful to have a working heater. We are under a winter weather advisory and have freezing temperatures and sleet right now!! Yikes! I am so thankful to have a warm house with a heater, an electric blanket for tonight, and maybe even some hot cocoa in a little while:) It is easy for me to take something like being able to warm up when I'm cold for granted, until I talk to a precious child at school whose family does not have a working heater during a really cold week like this one. I pray that those sweet babies are able to cuddle up and stay warm tonight...sometimes I wish I could bring them home with me. I hope you're all doing well and staying warm!