• beautiful day for recess! didn't even mind having recess duty
• adorable note from a student (my favorite line: "Mrs. Beverly, you are so pritty. Nowunder Mr. Beverly marryed you.")
• a chill in the air, breaking out the socks and long sleeves
• seeing my husband all dressed up
• breaking out my scrapbook gear after too long a stretch

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

• the kids looking their best for picture day
• hair feeling healthy and a little less bulky again
• catching up with a friend on the phone, sharing some silly 2nd grade fill-in-the-blanks
• I am special because ... I am a reptile guy.
• I am special because ... I use mouthwash.
• My friends say I am ... cool. I say I am ... hansum.
• time for two episodes
• church bells, with an amazing sunset background

• 2nd graders helping one another
• making a delicious dinner for 3
• loving the new TV more now that it has a nicer stand
• accomplishing all of my grading even after taking a night off yesterday
• learning about readanybook.com
• seeing my husband for more than a 1/2 hour at the end of our night!

• sweet and straightforward compliments from students
• students completing work -- no left to dos!
• "hamburger paragraphs"
• decorating the hallways with their finished products
• the help of 2 aides for the day
• arrival of our new TV stand
• a good turn-out, complete with teachers, friends & family
• free jewelry
• way too much chocolate chip cannoli dip (thanks again for the recipe!)

• a real trooper! a tired student with a broken wrist toughing it out all day, even writing with his left hand
• a fellow teacher and friend willing to cover my recess duty on short notice
• being on the same page as my mentor, getting our grading done in the company of each other
• a night of silly TV and laughter with friends
• a good recommendation
• reading Sunday e-mails on Mondays, a pick-me-up at the start of a new week
• witnessing a cycle of love at Starbucks
• Woman #1 goes to pay and realizes she has misplaced her wallet, she begins to panic and wonder where it could be
• Woman #2 stands behind and offers to cover the cost for Woman #1
• Woman #1 politely declines as she is in a rush to leave the cafe and find her missing wallet
• Woman #1 searches her car and finds her lost treasure, comes inside to pay and tacks on the price of a gift card for Woman #2
• Woman #2 is pleasantly surprised when the daughter of Woman #1 delivers her gift of love
• Both women exchange thank-yous and that-was-so-kind-of-you's
• After both women have left, the baristas comment on this "cycle of love," obviously not a sight they see every day
• I leave with my pumpkin spice frappuccino (and way too many calories) and continue the cycle of love by sharing this beautiful story with you! What an inspiration to show God's love and grace, even in small ways, each day.

• remembering this day ten years ago:
• holding hands around the flag pole at ECHS and praying for those in harm's way
• running to my cousin's side to find relief, thankful my world-trade-center working family member was traveling on business at the time
• mom showing up at school to check on me, taking me out early so that we could be together when so many families were torn apart
• her arms around me as we watched the dark smoke billowing into the beautiful blue of a forever-changed skyline view
• our whole family searching for answers as we stared at the news, praying for strength, comfort, hope, and God to bring good in the midst of devastation
• and a few weeks later... seeing my mom's inspired idea and the work of many hands come together in an amazing "Concert of Hope" 

• continued prayers for those affected by such an unforgettable day
• a cousin coming to church with us, and loving it
• enjoying food and conversation with church family
• feeling the cool breeze of fall approaching as we walked to and from church
• all the info I need for creating wedding programs, including a free online template
• Skype date with a friend that will always be my "roomie" even if we never share a room again
• a movie that I have been waiting and waiting to see

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011

Grandpa's "pups"

• sticking to my goal of getting school work done on Saturday
• checking out new tile and cabinets downstairs, it's coming together!
• designing a beautiful family album
• family get-together at my cousin's engagement party
• little cousins who say whatever is on their mind and make us laugh
• cuddling on the couch and enjoying our big screen

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

• "Do Everything" by Steven Curtis Chapman, teaching the words of the chorus to my students (along with motions of course!)
• an extended break to end the work week, going to love Fridays
• fresh bread, trying a new recipe with my hubby - another success!
• finding simple and inexpensive wedding programs
• spending hours with a good friend whose time is hard to come by
• laughing and talking so much that I can't even finish my drink!

• learning more about my new group as they each shared their "Me Bag"
• a break in the rain! sunshine peeking through the clouds, making way for outdoor recess
• spotting blue skies as I left school
• a husband who loves to cook! his agreeing to make dinner so that I could take a walk, grade papers, talk with a friend, and ... relax
• putting my feet up
• more of my favorite show

• simple and straightforward 2nd grade prayers
• basement still dry despite another day of rain
• visiting a small friend, him taking my hand
• "bucket-filler" certificates
• a peaceful, longer-than-it-should-have-been lunch
• successful math centers, lots of correct answers!
• getting work done at school (even if it means staying late) so that I can enjoy down time at home
• inspirational stories that melt my heart