Thankfulness…

I have witnessed over the years various formations via degrees of social media outlets the “Thirty Days of Thankfulness.” I have enjoyed reading the various posts on occasion, and decided that I would try to do my own variation over the next few days. So, here is my first installment:

1) I am eternally grateful for the grace and mercy of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I am always humbled by His love for me.

2) I adore my husband. He is my absolute best friend( not because he gets my silly jokes, although that helps), but because he listens to my crazy rantings on a daily basis, calms my fears when my anxiety is at an all-time high, and appreciates my love for Pearl Jam, and all things circa 1985-1999. He is my lobster. If you don’t get this allusion…stop what you’re doing and watch all the Friends episodes you can. You can thank me later.

3) My family is great; we have had our ups and downs, but what family hasn’t? I know they have always been there for me and will continue to do so. Plus, I will forever be eternally grateful for their love and patience during my really awkward tween years. Thank you, Mom, for talking me out of that second perm….

4) My nephews and niece are pretty much amazing creatures. They are full of energy, questions, and laughter. I love watching them in action!

5) I love my job. Oh sure, there are days where I wish I could crawl underneath my bed and remain there for hours, even days, but most of the time, my days are filled with great colleagues, inquisitive, fun-loving students, and a challenging, complex subject that I truly enjoy teaching. I couldn’t ask for more…..except maybe a grading machine, an intravenous caffeine drip, or a mute button that works on students….. (that would be awesome!!!)

Stay tuned for installment two…..

~L

A Little Rest and Relaxation

“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” -Maya Angelou

I am a terrible blogger; yep, I admit it. It is something I really enjoy doing, but I don’t seem to make a priority. I am hoping that this is going to change soon. In my defense, this past school year has been CRAZY, and I’m hoping to shed some light on this in an upcoming post or two.

Secondly, since my last update, Clint and I have been on an intense, all-consuming, powerful, emotional roller-coaster with our fertility issues. Ten months have passed, and it is still a very, very raw subject, but with each passing day, we are healing.

So, as you can see, we have had more than our fair share to juggle, and dear reader, I must admit, we did not juggle it well. We failed. We hit rock bottom. We passed GO, and did NOT collect two hundred dollars. Not only did we have those two issues to juggle(crazy work schedules and crazy hormones), but we had major house repairs too. We needed a vacation…..STAT.

Fast-forward nine months later, and our wish was finally granted. We made plans to spend a long weekend in a quiet cabin; I have spent the past two days napping, reading( I was able to complete an ENTIRE novel, not just a chapter), writing, watching television, eating great food, and most importantly, TALKING to my husband. We have loved being able to catch up on each other’s lives, reminisce about days gone by, and daydream about the future. My daydream, of course, included some great shopping, and I’m even more thankful that my husband indulged me. It’s been heaven. I love that man. So, as I sit in front of the fire in our cabin, glass of Cabernet in hand, I think back to the Maya Angelou quote. Taking time to escape from the world and reality is important; in fact, it is essential. It’s similar to a bottle of a delicious, red wine, a basket full of dark chocolate, a great pair of heels, and a handbag to match…no, it is better than all of those things…it is priceless. Yep, priceless.