Thanksgiving

Day 27

I've already said it, but I am so thankful for our incredible children

They are troopers.

They help me.  They make me laugh.

I am proud of them beyond imagination.

I love that they love Jesus and are figuring out their relationship with him.

I love that they are open and honest with me.

I love that they are kind to others.

They are considerate and caring.

All of that 

AND...

They helped me decorate for Christmas.

They found specific tubs, 

helped hang lights out in the freezing cold,

Helped arrange a Christmas village,

Tied off bows to wreaths while I held the bows in place....

I could go one, but I will stop.

They did all this without a grumble!

When I was their age, I might not have been so helpful or considerate.

I'm so lucky to be their momma.

Day 28

Thanksgiving Day 2013

Today I am thankful for memories.

As we drove to my in laws home for the day, 

I thought about  past Thanksgivings.

We have lost a few family members in the last few years,

And I am grateful for memories of holidays with them.

I laughed as I remembered that Daddy would have told us 

"Happy Turkey Day" when we arrived.

Cory threw in that he would also have 

hidden a spider in the mashed potatoes and a big fat rat in a deer stand, 

popped someone with a wet tea towel, 

and shot rubber bands at us.

Memories of my daddy are not the only ones, 

but they are the first to come to my mind today.

Life changed so much after he passed.

I can't explain it, nor could I if I tried.

So today, I'm also thankful for the opportunities to make new memories.

Each day is another opportunity to do just that.

We spent our Thanksgiving day watching the parade, 

being with family,

Eating yummy food, 

making bracelets, 

reading books, 

ad comparing,

 cooking and cleaning, 

and a bit of shopping.

I believe we made a few memories.

Thanksgiving.

It was delicious.

#blessedbeyondmeasure

Thankful days 25 and 26

Day 25

I'm thankful for Monday night football.

I don't watch it.

I don't have cable, so THE right game in not usually on our basic tv.

Mr. LOVES it!!

He goes out with friends every Monday.

I don't mind that he goes.

While he is out, I do the normal mom things...

Clean up dinner, laundry, homework....

This week, Mr. brought the Christmas decorations out of the attic for me.

While he was gone, the kids and I put up the tree.

Phase 1 is finished.

Tree and lights.

Tomorrow...decorations.

I love getting things all festive for the holidays.

Tonight's Monday night football was my favorite in a long time.

I'm thankful that Mr. saw my need for something fun

And took the time to help me before he left.

Day 26

Today I am thankful for supportive parents in my classroom.

Today we had our own feast, and they supplied everything.

They came to visit with the kids. 

They helped me pass out food.

It was loud.

It was crazy.

It was just like a regular family gathering.

I'm a lucky teacher to have the support of parents.

Thankful days 21-24

Day 21

I'm very thankful for my job.

Not only does it pay the bills, but also...

I get to be with little people throughout the school year. 

Most importantly, though, I get to be at home with my own two kids when they are off from school.  

I work with some pretty amazing people. 

They are supportive.

They make me laugh. 

They make going to work fun! 

My work friends are like family.

Day 22

T.G.I.F!!

'Nuff said.

Day 23

I'm thankful for friends.

Today I got to go do a little shopping with a school friend and her babies.

This evening our family attended a gathering of friends.

There's nothing like an evening of stories, food, and lots of laughing.

Next weekend, the same group of friends will gather again for a "friends Thanksgiving."

Friends are the family you choose.

What a blessing!  

Day 24

I am thankful for our home.

It isn't big or fancy by any means.

It does keep us safe from weather.  

It keeps us cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Tonight, I am especially thankful for a wood-burning fireplace.

I love the hiss of damp wood,

The crackle and popping noises that come from the wood, 

The roar of the flames.

I am thankful for the warmth on a cold November night.

Blessings are delicious.

Day 20

Day 20

 

Today I am thankful for little 5-year old children.

I always said that I would like to be a stay at home mom.

Well...that's not really in the cards for me.

Being at school with 22 little people is the next best thing. 

Even though I'm not their momma,

I get cuddles, snuggles, hugs, and lovies.

I get an occasional kiss on the cheek.

I get lots of notes and pictures.

I get invited to LOTS of birthday parties and dinners.

The little trinkets and tokens of love are so special and thoughtful.

Every morning we have announcements.

We hear about our behavior phrase of the day,

 say the Pledge of Allegiance and the Bulldog Code of Conduct,

 hear about birthdays and special accomplishments, etc.

At the end of our announcement time, our counselor always ends with

"Have a great day, Bulldogs!"

THIS CLASS...being the sweet little people they are...always replies with ,"We will."

It melts my heart and brings a smile to my face every. single. time.

There are times when someone just out out nowhere says, "Thank you Mrs. Schmidt."

When I ask why I am being thanked, the responses have been so sweet. 

 For example, once it was "because you told us good job." 

 Another time it was "because you let us stay outside a little longer."

They are thankful for the little things.  I love that.

  Isn't that what it's all about?

I've taught the same things year after year as far as behavior and manners are concerned.

I don't know why this group has taken it a step further, but they have.

I'm really proud of them.

These little people make me want to be a better person.

I want to be MORE appreciative of the things I have,

 the people around me,

and of the little things for which I've always thought I was thankful.

 

I am a very lucky teacher to be able to teach children to read, write, spell, add, and subtract.

I'm lucky to be able to teach them about being a member of a little community.

I'm lucky to have the opportunity to watch them grow and learn and succeed.

I'm SO lucky to be able to see them struggle and then understand and then celebrate together!

I'm lucky that it just wasn't in the cards for me to be a stay at home momma.

 

Thankfulness is Delicious!!!!

 

"Everyone is trying to accomplish something BIG,

 not realizing that life is made up of little things."

-Frank A. Clark

 

Frank is on to something here....

It is all about the little things.

Happy Wednesday my friends.

 

 

 



Thankful Days 14-20

Oops!  Where did that week go? 

I'm quite behind, so I will try to catch up on my list.

Day 14

I am so thankful for rare homework-free nights.

I can't begin to describe how freeing it is 

when we leave school knowing that we can just have a night to relax.  

Day 15

Warm pajamas and slippers.

They are my best friends when I get home these days.

They are definitely on my thankful list.

My big fluffy blanket is right there with them.

Tis the season!

Day 16

We took the kids to Silver Dollar City today.

It was beautiful!!

The weather was in the 60s.  

It was a perfect day for being outside making memories.

We even stopped riding rides long enough to watch a production of a Christmas Carol.

It was great!

We would go watch it again. 

Day 17

A day of rest.

(Okay...in reality it was a day of work.)

The boys went to the pond to cut firewood.

Courtney and I stayed home to do chores.  

We got everything done, 

and there's a plan for the Christmas tree to be decorated this weekend.

Weekdays are not conducive to housework.

Oh well.

It was still nice to just get things done 

and have some family time this evening.

Day 18

I'm so thankful for "happy day!"  

Cory and I started dating on June 18,

Every month, we tell each other "Happy day" on the 18th.

It's goofy, but sweet.

It might be our only tradition that we have kept.  

Day 19

Oh my!

  I'm so thankful for technology that helps my kids with homework.

Period.  The end.

Thankfulness is contagious.

It's delicious.

#feelingthankful

Day 12 and Day 13

Day 12

I am thankful for quirky dates like November 12, 2013.

It's fun to see kids' eyes light up 

when they realize that they get to write the date in numerical order.  

(11/12/13). 

Little things....they're delicious.

Day 13

Today I am thankful for grilled pineapple and pork steaks.  

Those grill marks on the golden pineapple are so pretty.  

Seriously....it's the little things. 

Tonight's dinner....it looks delicious.  

Day 11

Day 11

 

I am thankful for Veterans.

Their sacrifices are more than I can name. 

I am proud that many of our relatives are Veterans.

They have fought for our country to protect the freedoms which our Consittution defined.

They give me another reason to be proud to be an American.

 

 

Freedom is delicious.

Thank a Veteran today, my friends.

Our country would be so different today with out them.