How Do I Love Thee?

Yes, I am still gratituding (most days). I am sure I will have plenty to share on Thursday. That being said, last week was a tough week. I can only hope this one will be better.  Please.  Pretty please?

So I have written several posts this past week. In my head.  Like "The Life of a Teacher". "Omaha Fun".  "Down and Out in Ozark Hills".  "Poster Child for Adoption". Yes. All of those.

But I settled on this one when one of my children, yet again, asked, "Do you really love me?"

So this is written to my children and husband.

Some tongue in cheek.

Some truth.

How Do I Love Thee?

Let Me Count Thy Ways...

• Even after a full day of watching volleyball games, I still go to the grocery store to buy food to cook for you all week.
• I clean the sink out any chance I have, just because I know you like it that way.
• I get the smallest shake with the leftover ice cream on shake night.
• I listen to endless dialogues about Star Wars characters.  Or at least I pretend to...
• I stay up until midnight cleaning, preparing food, etc.  Then I am up early in the morning to start the day, pack lunches, etc.  And I usually end up with about 10 minutes to get myself ready for the day.
• I am the last one to sit down to eat our pancake/bacon dinner. While you all are eating, I was at the griddle, flipping pancakes. And my bacon is cold by the time I sat down (to an empty table).
• I went to a volleyball tournament. On Valentine's Day.
• In fact, I spend many good hiking days watching volleyball games. Inside.
• I get up early on Sunday mornings (when I really would rather sleep) to make breakfast for everyone.
• I share my prized pistachios with you.
• I sit next to you with sports blaring on the t.v. just to spend time with you.
• I sit through countless music programs, choir concerts, school presentations, etc.
• I reach out to your teachers (without you ever knowing) when I know you are struggling or hurt or treated unfairly (or so you think).
• I watch you do the same trick on the trampoline thirty million times, oohing and ahhing every time.
• I note the things you notice or like or mention for possible future gift ideas.
• I huddle in the cold to watch you play soccer or baseball.
• I don't read books often because I know I will get lost in that world and forget about you.
• I go to Target late at night for that list minute friend birthday gift or a wardrobe crisis.
• I go to school earlier than I wish each day because you signed up for early morning activities.
• I leave school early each day though I know I could work there for hours (at night and on the weekend).
• I search for Coke bottles with your name on them.
• I sit through cartoons for Popcorn/Shake night.
• I spend a lot of time wrapping all those birthday gifts that will be open in 3 minutes.
• I stay up at night, holding your sick body, wishing I could take any and all illness away.
• I take family vacations instead of the extensive travel I would like to do.
• I read books, I pray, I talk to friends, all to find out how to be a better mom (and wife).

I know there are many more but I must head to bed.

How do you show love for your family?

Thankful Thursday Thoughts...

It was a long week. I really hoped to share some other thoughts this week but I should have known it was too ambitious a dream.  We had parent/teacher conferences this week (which means staying about 10 hours after hours then coming home to do home stuff throughout the week).  It was a challenging week as a parent.  It was a tiring week as a teacher (kids get a bit rowdy for Valentine's Day parties...).  But somehow I made it through.

And even in the midst of all the stress (and there was lots), I found some things for my gratitude journal...

• watching my daughter with her friends, all dressed for the semi-formal dance
• pizza night- no cooking!
• my camera
• holding my husband's hand
• sweet hugs from students as they leave for the day
• my reading room
• a drive through the Boston Mountains on a beautiful January day
• watching my daughter play her game (volleyball) with passion
• listening to the giggles of teenage girls in the backseat of my car
• a gas station off the exit right after the gas light comes on
• the breathtaking view of the University when we top the hill on I-49
• an "I love you" from my youngest child before I leave
• the smell of banana nut muffins drifting through the house
• the big yellow moon in the sky
• answered prayers during parent/teacher conferences
• a husband who picks up the kids from school so I can do conferences
• thinking about the beach
• a Sonic drink surprise from a friend
• sitting down after a very long day
• comfortable shoes
• new books from a book order
• a quick evening snooze
• a beautiful bright pink sunset at the end of a long week
• Valentines from my sweet students
• cooking dinner with my oldest child
• finishing my last parent/teacher conference for the week
• watching my students write
• an understanding e-mail from a friend

So I have a few things to be thankful for.  What about you?

Reba

Gratituding...

It was another busy week. (And next week will be even busier with parent-teacher conferences)  There were a lot of sad things this week (friends facing loss) that I could easily allow to consume me.  But even in the hard times, I must remember He is faithful.  There is much to be grateful for.

Things like...

• a husband who fills my car up with gas
• a chilled Ghirardelli dark chocolate square with sea salt caramel filling
• a friend who checks in on me
• a glass full of cold water
• laughter among friends
• getting seated at a restaurant much earlier than expected
• an evening out with my family
• a salted caramel cupcake
• a handwritten thank you for a dear friend
• Souper Bowl lunch with my colleagues
• lesson plans turned in early
• a cross country/track coach who encourages yet challenges my child
• a fluffy dachshund blanket on a cold night
• the weekend
• a car that lets me in on the busy interstate
• dress shopping with my daughter (and agreeing on a dress!)
• baked potato soup in a bread bowl on a cold night
• coming home to find my husband and youngest child watching Star Wars together
• dress shoes on sale
• a day of rest
• Razorback red
• watching the snow fall from the sky
• Super Bowl Sunday with my family
• watching my youngest speak loud and clear during his school performance
• a happy half-birthday wish from my sister
• friends who open up their hearts and homes to foster
• safe travels
• hitting 10,000 steps for the day
• an organized pantry
• former students who remember me
• sharing parenting struggles with my sister
• the brightness of a full moon
• reading a testimony that glorifies God, even in the sadness
• a sweet e-mail from the mother of a student
• thirty minute faculty meetings
• a good medical report for a good friend
• group text messages (with my "team")
• listening to my youngest read to me
• snow covered bushes
• cooking with my daughter
• a warm house on a cold day
• the prayers of our children

So...

What are you grateful for this week?

Reba

Looking Ahead...

Two posts in two days.  I am on a roll. :)

Here we are, the first month of 2015 is over.  All month long I have been posting goals for the year on Facebook. I thought it would be a good idea to share them all here, partially for me so I can remember what I am working on this year and partially for you to hold me accountable. Some are on-time goals while others are long-term. I know I won't do them perfectly (I have already missed or messed up some) but my hope is that I will continue to strive to do these things.  And when I fail (and I will), I will pick myself up and dust myself off and try again.

In 2015, I will try to...

• treasure each day. Time is precious (and fleeting). I want to live without regret, live in the here and now (even the messy parts), and treasure the days given to me.
• be strong enough to do real push-ups. (I am still working on this one. I can do a few but then have to switch back to "girlie" push-ups.)
• get back to blogging regularly. (I am off to a good start; let's see if I can keep it up)
• cut our weekly grocery bill in half. (I did fairly well in January. We will see if I can continue.)
• spend 15 minutes a day organizing my classroom. (Some days I get to this, others I don't. But I will continue to work on it.)
• make time for my family. (As in parents, sibling, grandmother)  Time is so stretched many days with the "busyness" of life but I MUST carve out time whether it is grabbing lunch with my mom or sending a text to my sister...
• declutter/simplify/organize our house.  I am by decluttering 15 minutes a day thanks to declutter 365 (I have done well until this last week but should get back on track this week)
• work out at least 200 minutes a week.
• make time for my God every day. I am trying for mornings but on days like today when that doesn't happen, we meet in the afternoon/evening...
• finish the common area upstairs. (Cheap but cute is the style I am going for...)
• truly make Sunday a day of rest. I am still working on what that looks like for me, but so far, I have truly dedicated it to a day of rest for me. More on that later.
• put my phone down more often. I can't totally disregard it but I have got to pay more attention to life than my screen!
• keep a gratitude journal all year. (I have really enjoyed doing this and look forward to sitting down with my journal each night.  I also have found that I look at the world a little differently when I search for "gratitudes".)
• walk 1250 miles this year.
• simplify my life through decluttering. (I am taking a hard look at things as I organize each day, and if I don't need them now or some time in the future, they are out of here!)
• listen. Really listen. To God, my husband, my kids, my friends, my students.
• involve my kids more in the planning and cooking of meals. (Starting in February)
• be more intentional in what I say and write.
• get my garage cleaned out and organized!
• take more pictures of everyday life (but not so many that I forget to LIVE that life...).
• start saying thank you more often. Not just to friends and family but to servers, store clerks, teachers, kind strangers.
• read more (for pleasure and for personal growth). I have a stack next to my bed, and I have four started right now with more to come. I just need to work on making time for it...
• learn how to make flour tortillas.
• declutter my e-mail inboxes (delete, unsubscribe, whatever is necessary).
• learn how to make good biscuits.
• start using a coupon or two. It isn't easy finding coupons for things we actually eat but there are some out there and I rarely ever use them!
• stop driving back by my house to make sure I put the garage door down. Not ONE time has it not been down.
• clean out our unused computer armoire to sell. (My husband will be SO happy when we actually do that...)
• continue my weekly dates with my main man.
• laugh more than I cry.
• forgive. Others and myself. Because they are going to fail over and over. And much to my chagrin, so will I.

So, what are your goals, dreams, hopes for the year?

Reba

Another Week, Another Gratitude

I really do plan on getting back to Thankful Thursdays (rather than Thankful Fridays which just doesn't sound the same).  And I really DON'T plan on only posting once a week.  It was just a week. Not a bad week.  In fact, it was a fairly good week. Just a busy one.

I don't want to just skip over sharing some gratitudes for the week, so here we go...

• Jamming to 80's music with my co-workers during our workout.
• God's word-finding that right verse at just the right moment
• Finding out one child was generous with a sibling (without prompting!)
• Playing with playdough with my youngest child
• Teachers who let me know when my child isn't feeling well or seems sad
• Airplanes that safely bring my love home
• Watching robins hop across the grass in search of food on a January afternoon
• Friends who encourage my children
• Hearing something good about my child from his teacher
• The way Marley rolls onto her back for a tummy rub
• Jean day!
• My favorite pond at sunset as a horse slowly walks behind it
• Finding an unopened bag of pistachios at the back of my pantry
• A child who does his/her chores without complaint
• The Lord's Supper
• My Bible Fellowship class
• Curling up with a good book
• Friends who deliver packages for me
• Walking laps with a good friend after school
• A day of sunshine after a cloudy day
• A trusty van with heated seats
• Laying on my exercise mat under the bright blue sky with the warm sun shining on my face (in January!)
• The funny things my kinderkids say
• My new dolphin necklace from Guatemala
• Beautiful flowers delivered to school
• Time alone with my oldest as we drive to and from church on a Wednesday night

So, how about you? What are you grateful for this week?

Reba

Thankful Thursday (Even Though It's Friday)

I had such good intentions of writing this post up last night. I really did.  I got to this page (the blank post) and pretty much fell asleep at the wheel. Or in this case, the computer. Hubby has been out of town the last couple of nights, so I have been the sole chauffeur, cook, disciplinarian, etc. on top of my daytime job.  I am wiped out. 

But even in my exhaustion, I have much to be grateful for.

Here are some highlights from my gratitude journal for this past week...

• The bare trees silhouetted against the endless blue sky, not a cloud to be seen
• Buds on the bare trees that remind me new life will come again
• Walking around the track after school, enjoying the 50 degree temperatures (in January!), enjoying the solitude after a busy day
• A stack of good books to read
• Answered prayer
• Fellowship with other Christian ladies
• Turning my alarm off on a Saturday morning
• Waking up next to my husband
• A meal with my mom and my kids
• My oldest child's sense of humor
• Doing my quiet time with a chocolate/peanut butter shake in one hand while the stinky dog gnaws her elk bone next to me
• Rocking a newborn baby as he sleeps
• Reaching 10,000 steps in a day
• Family game night
• My husband's fingers brushing against mine
• Pastel ribbons of light stretched across the sky as the sun rises
• Walking in the sunshine with a friend
• The American flag (and all it represents) silhouetted against the blue sky
• The whole family gathered around the table for dinner
• The brilliant colors of the sky as the sun sets
• Watching birds soar in the sky
• The soothing sound of our dishwasher cleaning our dirty dishes 
• The glowing lights of a cross sign peeking through the brush alongside the highway
• Finishing a puzzle with my daughter (even though we still can't find three pieces)
• The shimmering sight of the frost against the earth in the early morning
• A love note left by my sink, left by my husband before he went out of town
• A bottle of white sand representing a promise
• A mom who helps with the kids when my husband is gone
• Finding out about a couple of random acts of kindness performed by some of our children (with no fanfare)

So....
what are you grateful for this week?

Reba

Family Goal, Week 3...

I know, I know, my last post was a bit lengthy.

There was just so much to say, so many thoughts buzzing around in my mind. 

The thought of that whole day still makes me smile and warms my heart.

Because I was so touched by different acts of kindness this past weekend we experienced, I decided to incorporate that into our family goal for the week.

This is what is hanging on our refrigerator currently.

Cloud Family Word for 2015:

Considerate

Week 3 Rule:

We were blessed with a random act of kindness this weekend.  I am still smiling.  Make others smile this week with acts of kindness. Try to make at least one “random” (where they don’t know it is you) but do at least one kind act a day.  Be ready to share!

What I didn't realize was next week is a special week of kindness challenge at school. Our students (including two of my own kids) were given a list of ways to be kind to check off throughout the week to demonstrate kindness.

So I guess we are getting a head start. :) 

Oh, let me tell you that though I started the family goal to teach my own kids some life lessons, I do participate. And throughout the day, I try to remind myself of our goal to make sure I have something to share!

Yesterday the kids were off of school for MLK Jr. Day.  I did have school, but just meetings. And Hubs worked as usual. So we did all share a kind act at dinner, but it was all very minor since we were all pretty limited in who we saw for the day.  Tonight we shared again. I will not post what was shared because I am trying to show the kids that we don't do kind acts for compliments or glory.  But I will say that it was exciting and so touching to hear what everyone did today.  In fact, one brought me to tears.  I loved how excited everyone was to share too; I hope that those kind acts touch their hearts as much as they do the hearts of others.  I am already looking forward to tomorrow's share time!

More soon,

Reba