- perfect weather for being active outdoors
- renting old-school bikes and cruising around Central Park
- the colors of autumn all around us
- laughing so hard that we couldn't keep pedaling
- inviting the neighbors for dinner
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011
- more than one round of our favorite game
- surprise! a sparkly clean car
- browsing (dreaming) in IKEA
- enjoying every meal together
- mouth-watering cheesecake
- a care-free Saturday with our soul friends
- conversations of all kinds
- the way they pray for one another and those in need
- one final conference, good reports to give
- "A Bug's Life"
- seeing how a once hard task is now a feasible one for so many
- coming home to a clean house, my husband knows me well!
- filling the kitchen with the smell of chocolate chip cookies
- waiting for great friends to arrive!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011
- their excitement to explore God's creation
- the rain holding off
- finding and collecting critters of all kinds -- worms, ants, salamanders, even a slug!
- hands and eyes glued to a fish tank full of creepy crawlers
- family dinner - with something for everyone
- an "I missed you" hug from mom
- her braiding my hair
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2011
- a vent in the bathroom
- cuddling with my husband on the couch after a "go-go-go" kind of day
- new episodes
- friends through life's up and downs, knowing we can pick up right where we left off even if life takes us on different paths
- warm pumpkin drink at Starbucks
- orange envelopes in the mailbox
- no coats needed, enjoying the last of the 70 degree days!
- students showing compassion, seeing their eagerness to help children with cancer by striving for excellence and even donating their own money to St. Jude's Children's Hospital
- e-mails that make me feel closer to far-away friends
- encouraging words to ease my doubts
- my Tuesday night reprieve from school work, allowing my mind to be creative in a different way
- time to talk, discuss, vent, give advice, and lament with a friend who understands
- praying for help to "not sweat the small stuff"
- an amazingly helpful sister-in-law! did our grocery shopping, made us dinner and dessert
- creating a thanks and giving trees bulletin board
- making fun weekend plans
- a husband who loves me in spite of everything
- being warm with a coat on, loving the sunshine
- breaking out my journal again, a God who forgives and sees me for who I can be
- ignoring the alarm, staying warm under the covers
- my Calvin sweatshirt
- "what are you doing today?" phone calls, spending unexpected time with a wonderful friend
- a $3 desk chair, soon to be transformed
- craft time with good company, teaching her to make ornaments
- completing 2 orders already!
- his return
- "falling back," an extra hour
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011
- a "magnificent teacher"
- 18 conferences completed, a weight off my shoulders
- leaving school before noon, spending the rest of the day with A & E
- friends and family who support our passion for crafting
- a gracious host
- successful a.j.e.less designs open house
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011
- being home together, even if getting our individual work done
- thinking Christmas (cards), designing my own
- our routine of holding hands to pray after dinner
- being there for him, his being there for me
- timely conferences
- a recovery drink with co-workers
- an aide that stayed all day
- lights and heat in all school campuses
- getting assessments in before conferences
- just one day of school for the week
- insulation in our home, a caring grandfather
- hard eucharisteo: holes in the ceiling, walking in to a mess
- a husband with tickets in hand, telling me not to worry, he will handle it
- coming home after a long day, looking forward to watching an episode of my favorite show with my favorite person
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011
- accomplishing tasks at the bottom of the list
- helping a friend in her time of need
- snow melting, temps rising
- looking through pictures, deciding what will look good on the wall
- a delayed phone call, an excuse to "do it later"
- freshly baked banana bread
- having dinner ready when he came home
- time for crafting
