• all-school worship in chapel, with a lot of movement!
• parents and teachers helping to fill in for my absent aide
• talking through ideas with my mentor
• #7 donut
• husband making dinner for the 2nd night in a row, and prepping for tomorrow's meal - what would I do without him?
• helping a friend so that she can (hopefully) sleep better tonight
• support for my initiatives

• a special kindergarten aide that was quick to fill in where needed
• a student briefly falling asleep on his desk - not so cute in high school, but totally adorable in 2nd grade! 
• 19 once upon a times - the beginnings of fairy tales
• a silly text message that made me smile
• enjoying a few rare after-school moments-of-silence-without-interruption in my classroom
• dinner prepared by my husband
• a brisk walk on a warm night - gotta love Indian summers!
• free trial on Hulu Plus
• a new season of the Amazing Race - how did we miss that last night?!

• a cousin who asked to come to church with us again!
• a motivating message about money
• enjoying our Sabbath together, taking a few hours to go apple picking!
• a scenic drive to Warwick, NY -- more leaves changing colors as we headed north
• crisp and delicious apples
• blue skies, beautiful views from the high point of the orchard
• warm cider donuts
• listening to him sing along in the car

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

• sleeping in, not waking up to an alarm
• 2 new windows in our bedroom
• being productive, getting a head start on the many days of sub plans I have to write before the upcoming family wedding
• catching up with cousins from Boston
• out for dinner with our grandparents
• a mom who misses me - stopping in to visit with my parents and brothers, laughing so hard that we have tears in our eyes

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

coming home to a dozen roses, just because he loves me

• eggs for breakfast on a weekday
• a parent that is willing to come to school not once, but twice to help out in various ways
• playing games with students during well-earned free time
• grading papers and easing head-aches in the company of 2 amazing teachers
• getting take-out
• all members of a.j.e.less designs together again! doing our thing ... making cards while we share life's stories
• planning for another house party in November
• seeing the early morning hours on the clock as we drink wine, eat ice cream, and never stop talking

• "Hinds' Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard
• students working quietly when my principal decided to stop in - perfect timing!
• successful first day of centers
• all families making an appearance at back to school night, listening as students gave tours of our classroom
• 2nd grade faces scrolling on the screen
• positive feedback from students' parents, just what I needed after a day of feeling weary and "not good enough"
• coming home to dinner and tomorrow's lunch made by my loving hubby
• a recent dessert favorite - mixing up a shake!

• rain holding out until after my brother's soccer game, watching from the sidelines with family
• an aide who is willing to stay late to get the job done
• no student letters going home today
• sweet compliments from students and parents
• doodles on their spelling tests that bring joy in the midst of grading
• larger photos on the facebook newsfeed -- it's the little things, right?

• typed student paragraphs about kindness, getting help to make it happen
• laughing with colleagues in the faculty room
• meeting in the same spot this time! after-school Starbucks drinks and quality conversation with a friend
• tails wagging when I walked in the door
• evening stroll with my husband

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

• so many willing parent volunteers
• discovering that all of my family was in the same place at the same time
• listening to moving 9/11 testimonies
• confirming my new jewelry order
• his arm around me at the end of another day

• relaxing morning in my sweats
• chocolate chip pancakes
• feeling the sunshine on my face
• well-done and meaningful EC Community Celebration/Convocation Service
• performances that give me the chills
• seeing familiar, friendly faces
• checking more wedding tasks off the list
• programs looking great
• my husband's paper - done!
• celebrating with strawberry smoothies

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

• a change of scenery for a week
• two lovable black labs
• laundry on the same floor
• enough food to last, no need for grocery shopping
• finishing up last week's design project
• guilty pleasure: mac 'n cheese
• beautiful soon-to-be-autumn morning, perfect for a walk with my husband
• pizza with the boys
• furniture shopping with my brother/new neighbor
• no glitches with the printer