Oh mama!

I love my mommy! So much!

Sorry, A, I'm talking about my biological mommy this time, love ya!
Anyway! im keeping this quick! Because I really need sleep!

Tonight, when I got home from worship practice at 9:00, I was absolutely famished and in a very bad mood because of it! My mom, who goes to bed at like... 8:30 most nights, graciously stayed up a little later so that she could make me some food while I moped on the counter.
Not only am I super super thankful for my mom, I am also inspired by her in some ways.
I hope that when I have a family, that I will have the determination to keep my own life going and the patience for my children's lives as well.

I love my mom!

Goodnight!
J

SO Thankful!

One of the very first blog entries I did (it might have even been Jan. 1) was about a dear friend of my husband's and mine that found out some bad news and I was thankful for how well he was taking it.  That bad news was prostate cancer and since Jan. 1 he has gone through radiation and all the other things oncologists put their patients through.  Today he told us that he got the all clear from his doctor.  The cancer is gone and he is feeling great.  Thank God!!!  I am very thankful for that good news today.
A.

So you're a smooth talker...

Just kidding.
Lately, I realized something- I really am bad at blogging, and I don't just mean -like- blogging every day, but I'm just not good at it!
But that is okay!

Anyway, today I am thankful for something a little bit weird, but hey! That's what this blog is all about!

On our way to YC, T and I had a talk about one of our passions- longboarding...
Well, I don't know if T is passionate about longboarding, but I sure am!
In case you don't know, longboarding is a lot like skateboarding, only the surface of the board is shaped like a surf board, and longer.

Anyway, T and I realized that once you start longboarding, you learn to appreciate a smooth, well paved road that runs downhill and has low traffic at prime times of the day. Prime times being between 7 and 10 at night. Longboards were made for downhill runs- in fact, longboards were invented by the Hawaiian surfers for the times in the year when the waves were bad! Also, you start to remember these roads, and maybe even fall in love with them, or make a point to go to them often.

So there! A smooth, downhill road, with low traffic is all that it took to inspire me today!
Goodnight!
J

Through Good and Through Bad

We had a cultural event at school yesterday.  There was a group of aboriginal dancers who came to put on a performance for us.  I'm quite a nag when it comes to performances.  I insist that my students give the performers the utmost respect.  I figure when someone has put hours or days or even weeks into putting together a show, they deserve to have a quiet audience that shows appreciation appropriately. 

Anyway, when one of my students decided to continually whisper to his friends during the dance, I kicked him off the bench he was sitting on and made him sit on the floor.  Now here's the part I thought was pretty cool (I hope he doesn't read this!).  As soon as he was demoted from "good view/ king of the castle" bench seating to the floor, one of his friends slid off the bench and joined him on the floor.  Then another one did and eventually there were four friends sitting on the floor, supporting their dethroned chum.  They weren't talking, they were watching (as much as they could from their lowly position) with great respect.  I had to walk away a bit so they wouldn't see me smiling.  I have to admire friends who stick with their amigos through thick and thin.  It's a true sign of friendship when your bfs not only support you when everything is rosy and fun, but also when it involves getting into uncomfortable situations just to show you have their back.  You have to love seeing friendship in action!  A.
(Good to have you back, J.  Missed you!)

So!
As you people may (or may not) know, I have been gone for the past week!
Good excuse? No, but I was grounded from my computer and my phone- so it was a sort of problem.
If you're wondering: I ran away from home after an argument with my dad... so yeah.
Then there was YC - a huge youth conference (hence the YC) in Edmonton, where I still didn't have any way to blog, so there is my lame-o excuse.

Today, I am thankful for a lot of things.
I am thankful for advil, because I am going through some severe back problems this week.
And I am really thankful for the beautiful weather we've been having.
I am thankful for the people who comment on how dark my skin is getting (hey, I am a ginger! Tanning is no easy task [I'm lying, I actually tan pretty well] hahaha)
And I am thankful just for plain happiness that is in the air lately.

But what I really want to get across is this:
I am really thankful for YC.
If you aren't familiar with it- it means Youth Conference (duh) and it is a huge Christian event with a lot of huge concerts, powerful speakers, really loud music, and good, good times. The really cool thing about YC is how drastically it can change your view on faith, religion, and God. Every year there is a sort of theme about YC- like a certain point that they want to get across and this year, it was "Surrender." It was powerful! When you look around the stadium, and see 14999 other people, just like yourself, along with bands from around the world, you can't help but marvel at God and His plan- it's kind of magical.

Well...
Hasta Mañana!
J

Good pain

I am a distance runner.  I run steady and I get the job done but no one would be able to say that I "run like the wind!". 
Today at track practice, we were missing a student for one of the relay teams so I volunteered to take his place.  Did I mention I'm a distance runner?  Not only did I have to help the team out by running as fast as I could, I also had to prove myself as a teacher that I could sprint as fast or faster than the students.  My quads were not happy with me!  I was hobbling for quite awhile after practice. 
I'm happy to say that I did quite well in the practice race, helped my team finish in a very good time and I didn't embarrass myself.  Unless you count the fact that running two practice relay sections turned me into a cripple!  (I'm fine now, thanks for asking.  It was only tightened up for an hour or less). 
It really does feel good to use muscles that aren't used to being used and to be reminded of the capability those muscles have.  It's a good hurt :)  A.

I'm Tired

So I'll explain myself tomorrow.

J

Together Again :)

My family was very disjointed this weekend.  My husband and son were on a weekend fishing trip and as mentioned before, my daughter was away at a youth conference.  My men are home now (had a great time, thank-you very much for asking), and my daugher(s) are just hours away from being home safe and sound as well.  I like it when everyone is home where they should be.  It's not good when a family isn't together.  I'm thankful to have my family home where they belong!  A.

Extreme Yard Makeover

We bought our flowers and bedding plants about three weeks ago, maybe four.  We've kept them in our heated greenhouse all this time because of fear of frost and snow (a very real fear, I might add).  I've finally been given the go ahead to get all the pots out and plant the flower beds.  It took me hours today to get everything planted and watered but what a difference it makes!  It now officially looks like summer in our yard.  Some of the flowers had started blooming already in their small pots so the flower beds already look like they've been established for some time.  When I drive in the driveway and see all the greenery with splashes of colour instead of just dirt beds, it makes me happy!  And being happy makes me thankful.  And thus - today's blog!!  A.

Great Opportunities

My daughters (T and J) are away for the weekend at a huge youth retreat.  There will be thousands of youth there (like 15,000 or more) with some big name bands, big name speakers, and big time fun.  I'm going to miss my girls very much but I'm also thankful that they get this chance to be a part of this huge event.  Have a great time girls!  A.

Crabby Clouds

Bet you'll read this post with a title like that, right?  I'm sitting at my kitchen table looking at the evening sky and there is a beautiful array of clouds in all kinds of shapes scattered through the sky.  One in particular looks just like a crab, scurrying across the sand.   I must be in a tropical kind of mood because another one looks like that kind of fish with the sword-type snout.  Sword fish?  Ah, it doesn't matter, by the time I've decided what one cloud looks like, it's changed into something else anyway.  I'm thankful for ever-changing clouds and the pictures they bring to my very sleepy mind.  A.

Liquid Sunshine

I wonder what J's excuse for not blogging all week is this time.  She's overused the whole "we didn't have internet" excuse, don't you think?

Today I am thankful for rain, and the stopping of rain.  Our spring has come on slowly and coldly (yes, coldly is a word - I just said so!).  Therefore, the leaves are taking their sweet time coming out completely and the grass was starting to turn brown instead of green.  But (big but!) we have had rain for the last two days.  A beautiful, light, constant, rain.  The perfect kind of rain that soaks right into the soil and brightens everything up.  In two days, our world has gone from quite dull to bright and vibrant.  It's amazing what moisture does to green up the environment! 
As I'm writing this and the sun has set, it looks like the sky is clearing up so I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be sunny.  I'm thankful for the rain and the vibrancy it brings, but one can only handle so much liquid before you need the sun again!  Thanks for the rain, bring on the sun :)
A.

Garden Time!

This will truly be a once a year post.  For one in the north can only plant a garden once a year - it's a short growing season! 
We have a small garden but we love it dearly.  We plant enough beans, peas and carrots that we can munch on them all fall and still have enough to freeze a bit for the winter.  The lettuce gets used up as soon as it matures and the kids will eat the onion tops raw (gasp!) as soon as they have ripened (do onions ripen?).  Potatoes always do well and last us until Christmas usually.  That's about all we have in our garden.  Oh yes, we're trying broccoli and cabbage again this year.  The cabbage did alright last year but the broccoli all got eaten by deer. 
It's always a bit of an adventure to see what will survive and mature into the "fruit of our labour".  I enjoyed putting our garden in today and can't wait to start eating our fresh produce.  I'm sure I'll blog about the first of each plant we eat - wait for it to come in the near future!  A.

Passing on Childhood Memories

We did the catwalk tonight!  Remember the catwalk?  No?  Oh, you must not have been there with me that day many, many years ago when I was just a kid. 
There is a bridge that crosses a fairly large river not too far from our town.  It's a very high bridge and under the bridge is a catwalk - a narrow, metal walkway that you can traverse from one end to the other.  You are right under the vehicles and way too far away from the raging, freezing river below.  Every time a vehicle drives over you, the whole bridge shudders and the sound from the vehicle is amplified so you can't even hear yourself think. 
My dad took me across the catwalk when I was a kid and for some reason, I hadn't gotten around to continuing the tradition with my own children until tonight.   It was a lot of fun to see it again through their eyes and experience it now as an adult (it's a lot scarier as an adult!!!).  I wonder what else I'm forgetting to expose them to?  A.

First Campfire of the Season

Today was a very beautiful day.  We had snow yesterday so pretty much anything would make today beautiful in comparison but it really was a blue sky/ sun shining/ not too windy - kind of day.  So we celebrated by having some people over for our first campfire of the year.  We grilled some pork chops and sat around the campfire until it just got too cold to stay out any more.  Somehow visiting around a fire is so much more natural and enjoyable than visiting around a living room.  It was a good evening and I'm thankful for it.  A.

Sunsets

The sunset tonight was spectacular.  I'm thankful for beautiful, amazing sunsets.  A.

Hey! Optimism!

Today, I thought about blogging about Tim Horton's chicken noodle soup, but then realized that many more things that turned my sick day around, so here it goes.
1. Tim Horton's chicken noodle soup. Hey! I can't forget the soup that started it all! I don't think I ever actually believed that soup could make you feel better when you're sick, until today, that is.
2. Talking. Talking is a good thing. Long periods of talking about everything is probably really good for your mental health. Or... so says I.
3. Baths! Today, over the chicken noodle soup that started it all, A suggested that I have a bubble bath because, hey, that's what everyone should do when they're sick! Now, I must admit, my bath was severely bubble-deficient, but it was still pretty nice. Very warm, very relaxing, very pleasant.
4. Happy songs. In fact, a whole playlist of them! And listening to them! In the bath! Sunny, happy music brings out the sunny, happy side in all of us!

Now, what do you get when you take all of these things and you mix them together?
A better day, of course!
I guess a little optimism goes a long way!
Tomorrow will be a good day, so I'm going to rest up for it!
Goodnight!
J

Seasons

I told J. I would blog about Tim Horton's new amazing lemonade but I decided there wasn't much more I could say than "yummy" so I'll blog about something else.

On our way home from a sister's shopping trip in a different city today, my sister remarked how wonderful it is to have seasons.  She commented on how people in the tropics never get to appreciate new leaves coming out because they have greenery year round.  We appreciate the warmer weather, the hotter sun and the new growth sprouting because we haven't had any of those things for an eternity.  I hadn't ever really thought that we have anything over the tropics but I would have to say that we have a better appreciation for seasons.  Doing without for a season really makes you more appreciative when you "get" again. 

And now I am going to bed.  Shopping hard all day really tires a girl out!  Night :)  A.

Teamwork!

Today was a rather interesting day!

I think that I was a little too over-excited yesterday about my medicine, which seemed to have a negative side effect that may or may not include some nasty karma.
Here is a little story:
This morning, when I went to take some cold medicine, I sincerely meant to grab a DayQuil, but somehow managed to take a NyQuil instead. If you aren't a frequent drug user, then I'll tell you that DayQuil is the non-drowsy version of NyQuil, and NyQuil will knock-you-out, eh, pretty hard-core.
So upon arriving at school and realizing my mistake, it was a little too late to do anything. My first period, gym class, was a helluvagoodtime because today we started choreographing dances. While trying not to fall asleep/pass out/hallucinate/laugh hysterically, my group and I still managed to get some work done, which was pretty decent. I have a love/hate relationship with group projects though. I love teamwork and group hugs and high-fives and all those peppy-jock things, but I don't like awkward leadership faiscos where no one really knows what to do. Thankfully, my group held together, and also dealt with my drug-induced-craziness for the whole class.
Atta be, team!
J

2nd Chances

A couple years ago, we gave the kids permission to grow their own garden but they had to find their own space to do it.  They got very busy cutting down weeds and building their own raised bed for their garden.  That's where the enthusiasm died.  They ended up harvesting a few onions I think.  How they lived through all the weeds I'll never know.
I came home a couple days ago to the boys busy setting up their raised bed again.  They were chopping up dirt, hauling new dirt with the wheelbarrow and generally working their butts off getting this little garden ready.  This time they are just going to put some pumpkin plants in it.  Good plan!  I'm proud of them for taking on this big job again even though the last time didn't turn out so well.  I don't know if they'll do any better this time but at least they are giving it a great effort.  I'll let you know in fall if we have a bumper crop of pumpkins!  A.

drugs!

I have a confession to make:
When it comes to sickness, I am a wuss.

I seriously hate being sick, so much.
I hate missing school.
I hate having to get someone to cover your shift.
I hate headaches.
I hate it when it hurts to move your eyes.
I hate how moving your body becomes an ache.
I hate stuffy noses.
I love drugs.

I am thankful for my advil, my nyquil, my cold FX and my multi-vitamins, but alas, no orange juice in the house, how unfortunate.
Holy carpe diem!
I just used the word 'alas'.
I really must be sick!
Goodnight!
J

This Blog

When I've had a long day with a long list of things to do and I just want to go to bed but that long list is still not done, I'm thankful that I've made a commitment to find something in my day that is good and worth being thankful for.  (I'm thankful for run-on sentences too).  It's a good thing that someone will nag me if I don't post something tonight so no matter how tired I am, nor how many things I still have to accomplish before I can call it a day, I will find something to be thankful for and let you all know about it.  Today - this blog!  A.
(Coffee Thursday night, J?)

The First Popsicle Of The Year!

If my title didn't give it away, I'll let you know now that today I am thankful for that first popsicle of the year. I freakin' love popsicles. A lot. And since I haven't had one in like, 8 months, it felt pretty nice to gently devour one like a- I don't know- a starved velociraptor today.
I don't really have much to say (which is pretty seldom), except that I advise everyone to go out and eat a popsicle today (or tomorrow, if it's the middle of the night where you are - wait no, go get one right now, no matter where you are!)
Goood day people!
J

Bone Crackers Who Don't Crack Necks

My back has been out for about three weeks and I finally had a chance to see the chiropractor today.  My back has pretty much fixed itself in this time period but I still have painful twinges where I know I have to be careful or it will get worse.  So I thought it was time to see the "bone cracker".  My husband used to call chiropractors that because when this science first started, all experts seemed to believe that the only way to fix the body was to push until bones made a cracking/popping sound.  My husband's first chiropractor would crack his neck every time he visited, regardless of what was wrong.  My husband's little toe might have been out and he would get his neck cracked.  I hated that!  When I was finally convinced to start seeing a chiropractor (about once every year or two - only when I really need to), I found someone new who didn't believe that every adjustment needed bone cracking.  Today he massaged me gently (and then not so gently), manipulated some muscles (that's the not-so-gentle part) and did some firm pushing as I took deep breaths in and out.  No bone cracking, no manipulating my neck.  Then he gave me some stretches to do to strengthen the problem area and I was done.  Now that's progress in science!  It makes me thankful to not have any bones cracked.  A.

Back In Time!

You know what I love?
Well maybe you do, but probably not.
Well, maybe you know that I love blue Gatorade and pineapple and running and boys, but that is not what I am talking about! I love it when you randomly hear that old song from your youth- well, I am still a youth really, so that song from your early childhood, the one that brings back oh so many memories. I can recall a time in the third grade when every single day my best friend and I would go directly to my house after school, and listen to a certain song, over and over and over again while we played Neopets on the computer- or something like that. That song is ten years old now, which is not actually that old, but ten years is two thirds of my life, so I consider it kind of old. It makes me so happy to hear it again! I, in fact, replayed it over and over and over again today on my iPod- for old times sake, of course, and it was really nice.
Also, in the spirit of old times today, my grandma came over for Mother's Day, and brought with her some very very elderly photo albums. It was so awesome to see pictures of my mom, my grandma and even my late and great grandmother -who I had never even met- all when they were eight years old!
So, this post was actually going to be about old music, but I guess we can broaden that spectrum to old things. Old is good.

Good night!
J

Surfing - Northern Style!

I got a present today - for no apparent reason.  I guess my kids just love me :)  I got a paddle board!!!  I'm very excited to use it.  For those of you who aren't up on your surfing lingo, a paddle board is a large surf board meant for standing up on and paddling like a canoe.  It's quite wide so it's fairly stable.  I had to try it out immediately so even though the ice has only been off the lake a few days, we brought my board down and I got first turn.  I must admit that I didn't fully commit to this experience.  I went on fully clothed so needless to say I didn't try anything drastic.  I stayed really close to shore and worked on my stability and paddle handling.  (FYI - the water was pretty chilly on my feet!  I was very inspired to not fall in!).  But it was so much fun!!!  I can totally see myself using this board a lot this summer.  I am thankful for my children and their totally amazing gift to me today.  Surf's up!  A.

Dogs With Personality Complex's

Our dog is a large mixed breed (german shepherd, akita, springer spaniel).  Between the spaniel and the akita, she has a lot of hair.  A lot of hair!  We live on an acreage with most of it left wild so our dog is constantly getting tangled and mixed up with thistles and thorn bushes.  We try brushing her as much as possible but it's painful for her and very time consuming.  So I decided to become a pet groomer yesterday!  I took a pair of scissors and started hacking.  The main problem always seems to be in the posterior area so that's where I focused my grooming.  She would only lie down on one side for me yesterday so she only got half a hair cut.  She looked so hilarious but as long as we told her what a pretty dog she was, that mutt would wag her tail and hop about like the proudest dog on earth.  The rest of the family wouldn't stop bugging me today to finish the job so I convinced her to lie down on her other side and proceeded to complete my work of art.  The first time I cut her hair a couple years ago, she was so mortified and walked around with her tail covering her butt and her head down.  Since then we've learned to tell her what a pretty dog she is and no matter how ridiculous she looks walking away, she is the happiest dog alive.  So if you see my dog around and happen to notice my extremely professional grooming job, please just tell her that she's a pretty dog and save us the cost of a dog shrink.  Thanks!  A.

Second homes and adopted families

I am a very lucky person.
(Oh wait, before I begin, let it be known that this is yesterday's post)
I am so lucky.
Why?
Because I have like 5 families.
4 of them are adopted, yes, but they still count!
Yesterday, for example (when this post was supposed to be written) I went to sleepover at one of my bestest friend's house, their new house, where they had just moved in.
I hadn't seen it yet, and when I stepped in, the first thing her dad said was, "Welcome to your new second home!"

How awesome is that!?

Her mom then took me on a tour of the kitchen, and showed me where to find everything, in the case that I ever wanted to go to their house for lunch, because they live so close to the high school.

I find it kind of amazing that people can be so... Giving? Generous? Loving, even!

I'm so thankful for my "adopted" families. So, so, thankful.
J

Consignment Stores

I know I've blogged about "experienced clothing" before but today it's the store that sells that used clothing that I'm thankful for.
I'm assuming my sister doesn't read this blog and if she does, she had better stop right now.  Step away from the computer, L.!!!
It's my sister's birthday on Sunday (I know, birthday and Mother's Day on the same day - kind of a rip off).  I want to do my part to make it a special birthday for her so I wanted to get her something really nice.  She really does enjoy brand name clothing (she wouldn't admit that but she really does) but there is no way I can afford to get her a nice piece of brand name clothing.  No way unless I bought it used, which is what I did! 
There is a really cute consignment store in town that sells only top name brand clothing (jewellery, purses, shoes, etc) that is in brand new condition.  You can find the best deals there!  Whenever my daughter decides she needs a certain brand of jeans or hoodie, that's where we go. 
You may be shocked that I would buy a used piece of clothing for a birthday present but I think it's a win/ win situation.  My sister gets a really cute top that would normally cost well over $100 and it's guaranteed not to shrink or stretch because it's already been washed. 
I'm thankful for the person who realized that there are those clothing snobs out there who will only wear "this season's" clothing and are then happy to get rid of it for a fraction of the price they paid for it.  What a brilliant idea to let those of us who couldn't care less what season of clothing we are wearing come and buy it for that reduced price.  Happy Birthday L!  I hope you like it because there is a no return policy at this store :)
A.

I like to move it, move it!

As I'm sitting here, on the floor of the living room, I'm thinking about how much physical activity I got today. I got a lot. An hour of gym, hour of yoga, a 5k run, and an hour of walking my dog- oh, and the 30 minutes where I snuck out of English class to play ultimate frisbee, yeah, you could say I was fairly active today! So!
I'm thankful for those moments of high energy euphoria, from the endorphin rush, to the feeling of ecstasy you get when you destroy in ultimate frisbee!
I love the feeling when your mind is yelling "STOP!" but your body is like "no!!" and you just feel indestructible.
It's a good feeling!

Guess I'll sleep well tonight!
J

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

My son came up to me after school today, threw some tissue flowers at me and said, "here - these are for you."  I've never said I'm thankful for my son's sentimentality!  What I am thankful for is his teacher who happens to be a male teacher with not much of an artistic flair.  He gets his art taught by the prep teacher.  Somehow he managed to find a pattern for some really cute tissue flowers which they put together with pipe cleaners and made for Mother's Day.  I think it's pretty special that this teacher would recognize that moms appreciate the sentiment, no matter how little, when given (so thoughtfully as with my son) by one's child.  Kudo's for teachers who step out and attempt something new for the benefit of someone else.  Thank-you Mr. K.  (Next you can maybe work on the delivery of the flowers?)
A.

You are my sunshine!!

Here's a quick post (I'm on my iPhone again)

Today, I'm thankful for that moment when you wake up and the sun is glowing through your window. Your whole room look like some beautiful tropical rainbow paradise and it is so wonderful! This particular event happened to me today, and even though I got outside and realized how bad the wind was, I was still thankful for the lively sun.

Ttyt!
J

Team Work

First of all - what look do I give you, J?  The one I gave you tonight when you texted me your evening's encounters?  Did you predict that look too?  It is a good thing you're cute!

Okay - on to today's thankful topic.  I am part of a committee at school which is responsible for planning for the year.  We have a district guy who is supposed to be in charge of our committee but he hasn't made any of our meetings yet this year.  The three of us who have taken it over have accomplished great things (not bragging - just the truth!).  We had another meeting this afternoon that he was able to attend.  It made me realize how cohesive our little team has been.  We make decisions and click like a well oiled machine.  Our thought processes are the same and we operate in a similar high pace method.  Having an "intruder" join us today really revealed all this.  I'm thankful for my teammates and the amazing things we accomplish together.  A.

Boys.

Well, I can almost positively say that I can accurately guess the exact expression on A's face the moment she read the title of this post.
-Woah, that was a lot of big words!-

But, if I am correct, it was one of those, "Are you serious!? You better be glad you're cute!" looks that I receive, eh, a little too often.

But hey, I can't help it if I am thankful for boys, because I am, and being thankful is what this blog is all about!

I really, really am thankful for them.

In fact, so thankful, that they deserve both yesterday's post, and today's (a.k.a. my internet was down again.)

I have a feeling that I would be getting "The Look" again right now if this were a factual conversation with A...

But, A! I have some wonderful things to tell you about a certain boy... oh yeah, you know which one! *wink, wink*

Anyway, that is all I have to say!
J

Neighbours

Have I blogged about being thankful for great neighbours yet?  If so, too bad - here I go again!

A good neighbour leaves surveying posts out for the neighbourhood kids to use as swords.  A good neighbour not only asks how you are doing but also how your dog is doing (whole other story - involves a dog fight between two neighbourhood dogs!).  A good neighbour keeps up with all the gossip and lets you know what's going on in the area.  A good neighbour shows up out of the blue with a tractor and rototiller and turns up your garden just because he had the tractor going anyway.  A good neighbour supports every fundraiser your kids are in. 

There are many other reasons why I am thankful for our great neighbours but before I make you too jealous and cause you to buy the one house that's for sale in our neighbourhood, I'll just say we have the best neighbours and I'm thankful for them.  A.

Green

Today I'm thankful for the colour green.  New spring grass starting to turn colour, green leaf buds poking through, green tulip plants emerging from the earth, green pistachio muffins that look really nasty but actually taste amazing, lime green clothing that I would never wear but looks so amazing on others, green bananas that will only hold their colour another day or so before turning yellow.  It's not easy being green, but that must be what makes it such a special colour!  A.

Hulk! Smash!

So, here's a quick post:

Tonight, I went to the cinema with one of my favorite families.
We saw The Avengers.

I must admit, I try really hard not to advertise stuff on this blog, but that movie was amazing.

However, good movies are not what I'm thankful for. (As much as I love them, I often find it difficult to sit down in the dark for so long).

Tonight, I'm thankful for spending time laughing with my friends, which happened not only in the theatre, but at church as well! I seriously don't know how I would go on without my friends sometimes, and thus, for them, I am evermore thankful.
J

Those Who Just Can't Wait

Where we live, the ice is still not off the lake.  We went down to the lake yesterday to watch the ice flows.  The bulk of the lake was still covered in ice but there was open water all around the edges.  Today, with the warmer weather and strong winds, the ice receded quite a bit so there was even more water exposed on each end of the lake.  Some people just can't wait for the ice to be off completely before they hit the water - we saw a boat cruising around and around the small section of open water near our house.  But that's not the funny part yet!  He had a wake boarder behind him!!!  They were driving right past the edge of the ice that was still there.  If the wake boarder was really talented, he could have surfed right over the wake onto the ice flow.  Who knows, maybe he did after we left!  Even though I shake my head at people who would brave frigid water just to get in a ski, they also make me smile.  And smiling makes me thankful.  So the impatient wake boarder today made me thankful.  Wherever you are (probably soaking in a hot tub trying to thaw out), thank-you!  A.

Reaching Ridiculous Goals

I set a goal, nay - more of a challenge, for myself.  I decided that I would catch a ride into town this morning and run home (remember, those of you who pay attention, I live in the country - the area outside of city limits). 
Now that might not sound like much of a challenge knowing that I am passionate about running and do so on a very regular basis.  But it was a bit of a ridiculous challenge for myself at this particular time because I have been having pretty severe back spasms for some unknown reason and I have the mother of all blisters on my foot right now from wearing the wrong pair of shoes (totally different story altogether.  Not one you'll ever hear because I'm not at all thankful for it!).
But our vehicle is not working right now and if I stayed in town until my ride went back out to the country, I'd be in town for the bulk of the day.  So it was partly out of necessity and partly out of stubborness that I decided to pack my running clothes and get myself home on my own power.
I'm thankful to let you know that my back handled the run just fine and although my blister might have ballooned out just a bit more, it didn't bother me at all during the run.  Sometimes setting challenges for ourselves can backfire but I'm thankful that today's challenge was successful and quite enjoyable.  Just like a good challenge should be :)
A.

Experienced Items

I love used things.  I get absolutely thrilled over receiving a bag of hand-me-down clothes.  They are already worn in and fit the way they will fit forever.  I like used furniture with it's unique wear and tear.  Each bump and scrape tells a story.  Even a used vehicle has an appeal to me.  You don't need to worry about keeping it immaculate and fretting about grocery cart collisions.

Today we picked up a used dresser.  It was actually in fine shape - just a few marks.  We paid a fraction of the price we would have for a new one and it's perfectly usable.  We got to meet a man who was hobbling from a most unfortunate surgery (which we heard about in complete and intricate detail) and we visited an apartment building we have never been in before (and hope to never visit again!).  It's really quite an experience going to buy furniture from someone you've never met before.  We just took part of his history and moved it into our house.  I think, in a weird kind of way, that's kind of grandiose.  A.

WHAT!

So you know what I love?

Seeing teachers out of school.

Why?

To remind me that not ALL teachers are evil soulless monsters of damnation.

Just kidding!

I think...

But! Seeing a teacher outside of school reminds us that teachers have lives and loves other than teaching! Sometimes it's hard to think of a teacher as anything other than a teacher until you get to know them better. I, in fact, came to know a teacher quite recently, as something quite different than what everyone assumed he was... if that makes sense...

Let's just say that it was a school trip, where he was drunk and confessed how he pees in the pool.

And yes, we have it on video.

So, my official challenge to every student-reader out there is to get to know one of your teachers really, really well, so that you know them as a person.

(One of my friend's teachers offered to take her to the movies today, which is weird, so not quite that close, okay?)

3!

2!

1!

GOOOOO!

Love y'all!
J

Ah! I'm being attacked by a group of little MONSTERS!

Tonight, was a good night.
A really really good night.
Why, you ask?
Because I had the wonderful opportunity to babysit with my little sister.
The little sister part sucked.
But the babysitting didn't.
Why, you ask again?
Because we were babysitting at the PAC meeting.
Parent Advisory Counsil... or something like that...
I truly HATE PAC, but that isn't important.
So we had a huge group of kids running around the gym; sliding on scooters, skipping around, stage diving (onto safety mats, of course) and attacking me and suffocating me in a large rainbow parachute!
It was bliss!
I think that there are few things I love more than little kids, and I mean FEW.
They are so amazing. They are full of life and energy and imagination and it is WONDERFUL.
So there, little kids!
How can you not love such wonderful little creatures?

Oh. I like boys too. I like them a lot.

La-la!
J

Part time work

I've been working full time this week.  What a drag!  Who works full time?  Why would anyone chose to work full time?!  It takes up a whole week of just working!  Normally I work three days a week but my partner and I switched some days so she could take a trip with her family.  So I get to work two whole solid weeks.  Two!  Full time!  Without any days off!
While it may appear on the surface that I am whining and complaining, what I am really doing is being thankful that usually I get to work part time.  I get days to do grocery shopping and other errands.  I get days to do my marking and planning.  It's true that you aren't really thankful for what you have until it's taken away.  I'm very, very thankful for my part time job and can't wait to get it back :)
A.
(almost forgot.  J - too much information.  Seriously!)

Well, Everyone Has Their Special Talents...

Today, while drinking a hot chocolate at a Starbucks table with A, we realized that I have a very special talent.
An unfortunate talent, but a talent nonetheless.
I happen to be very good at stalking.
Let me qualify this with a few points.

•A is also a stalker- and she has even helped me.
•There are two types of stalkers:
-The kind that follows you to scare you, or because they are psychotic.
-The kind that follows you for informational purposes, as in a Private Investigator.
•I am a type two stalker. So it's totally fine.

I feel as though I have discovered yet another possible job opportunity, that's a pretty good feeling. Heck! If I start young I could become really good at it, I could be a world renowned P.I. How cool would that be!?

So I'm thankful for my bizarre (and useful) talents!

Everybody get out and do the creep! Release your inner stalker!
Hehe 8)
J

No Walls

Today at soccer (yes, now I'm a soccer mom.  Will it never end!?), I ran into an old friend.  We see each other in the distance often but rarely have time to visit.  Tonight we had the whole game to walk laps around the field together and catch up.  She's the kind of person who tells it like it is.  No pretenses, no fakery, no "sugar coating" anything.  You know that what M. says, she means.  She's a very open person who will actually tell you how she is if you ask her!  I appreciate that in people.  I should be more like that (make me accountable to that, J.).  I'm thankful today for people who have no walls up, who are honest and true and live their lives openly for all to see.  Tear down those walls!  A.

Hey I Heard You Were A Wild One!

Oh oh oh-oh!

Today, was a crazy day.
Carazay!
Waking up was a rush.
Getting ready was a rush.
Phys. Ed. was a rush (the good kind of rush, the euphoria rush)
School was... boring.
Rushing to work.
Rushing home.
Rushing to youth group.
Running home. (Another good rush)
Rush through dinner, rush into the shower.
Shower sllllllloooooowwwwwwwwwlllllllyyyyyyyy.
Rush to dry my hair.
Rush to brush my teeth.
Blog.

I love this.

A lot of people hate a hectic life style, but I kind of... well, don't!
I feel like if I didn't live a hectic lifestyle, that I would simply be going backwards- where I do not want to go! I'm thankful, however, that my friends and family can cope with my craziness, and not hate me for it.

Anyway!
Let's bounce!
J

P.S.
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
'Tis a visitor,' I muttered, 'Rapping at my chamber door,'
'Only this, and nothing more.'

Friends

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping

My intro has absolutely nothing to do with my thankful post today.  It just seemed to come to me!  I'm tired and the reminder that I had to write this post before bedtime came tapping on the door of my brain.  Go figure!

Today I'm thankful for friends.  Friends who give me a hug without knowing that I really, really needed one.  Friends who bring my a London Fog to work just because I mentioned I enjoy Fogs.  Friends who ask me how the Famine went because they know how important it was to me.  Friends who remember something I said over a week ago and bring it up.  Friends who save newspaper clippings and bring them to me because my two daughers have their picture in it.

It's good to have friends and I'm so very, evermore thankful for them today.  A.