A request for my small band of readers

The End

Here it is, the day I've been procrastinating about for a week, the last post.

My 365 days are well over and with minimal bobbling I met the challenge of posting something to be thankful about everyday.  I decided early on that I didn't need to post 365 unique things to be thankful about.  I probably would have quit that.   My daily posts seem to outline a daily life and routine of work and children, church and music, family, and the beauty of the world around me.  For all of it I am deeply grateful. 

Today, and everyday, I am thankful for a life that is grounded in faith.  I am thankful for the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the Christ.  I am thankful that the Spirit kindled faith within me.  I am thankful for faithful, loving parents who set me on the path of faith.  Without the gift of faith any thankfulness is me talking to myself.  With faith it is a prayer and a conversation with God, Most High, the Creator of the universe.

Many of you have entered the conversation and left comments.  I have enjoyed your participation.  In closing this blog I would like to ask a favor of all who have read along and followed, whether you have posted or not.  I am setting my comments to "anyone" so anyone who reads regularly can post without the hoops of accounts, passwords, and goofy words to type.

Please post something that you've been thankful for as part of this culminating post.  After a couple weeks I'll change the comments setting and by then may have figured out what the next blog might look like. 

Thank you!  I'm am thankful for you.

Lori

331, 332, 333, 334.....

Continuing in Thankfulness 

I've got my counting straightened out through October.  I'm pretty sure this will be the last count through and I can wrap it up!

It's been fun romping through the year.  I seem to stick to about 10 topics and have variations on similar thankfulnesses.  But, that's a year in a life.

On the way to Dad's place.

Continuing in Thankfulness
Beautiful day-nice day for a drive.  That's a light fog/haze over the Antelope Valley.   It was thicker on this side of the mountains and didn't make for good photos. 

Autumn continues.

Continuing in Thankfulness

 

I spotted some roses from the kitchen window.  This year's temperate December weather has them putting on a show.   As soon as I came out the door, though, this greeted me:

Fallen leaves for tromping through,

Mine, all mine!

Even having dropped so many leaves 

I was still under a yellow canopy.

Leaves of every color.

Flower show!

Who needs a vase?

The unpost

Continuing in Thankfulness

Can't not post....must put in placeholder.

I can't seem to end this incarnation of blog until I fix my numbering so I'm posting but not this evening.

Bones and Knitting

400 posts!!!!!  Continuing inThankfulness with another 24 post in there on this and that.  Quite a few Wordles in the early months.

I am thankful for watching my favorite show, Bones, with another fan and knitter.  We had a pleasant evening and converted one of her friends to fandom.

Pt

Continuing in Thankfulness

Hopefully I'll find the time this weekend to finish walking through my numbering and post my last post.  I'm ready.

Today I'm thankful for physical therapy.  I'm feeling like my shoulder is feeling stronger after about 3 weeks of work.  (tendonitis)

Good choir this evening, nice day with 4 year olds at work, it's been a lovely fall day.

Kids meals

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful for Burger King's Zhu Zhu pet kids meal toy.  I have two in my speech area toy basket.  Sometimes a special toy is the only way to entice a child into working with me.   Thanks to the 'King I have a cool tool to help me that.

Zhu Zhu toys

Just right

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful for another lovely autumn day.  The weather was pleasantly cool without being warm or too cold.  The kids worked hard today, bell choir was productive tonight, an altogether lovely day.

Helpful

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful for a helpful teen.  A bell ringing friend used his truck, time, and younger brother to empty my storage unit and haul it all to my patio and garage.  Let the weeding begin.

We had quite a weather day with clouds coming in, blustery winds, and rain this evening.   Sometime before that I wandered out back to enjoy my December roses and the pretty colors of the trees.

Looking Like Christmas

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful to have finished those necklace scarves!  I am also thankful for a few decorations on the front porch that make it feel more like Christmas is coming.   I had big plans for errands but a migraine nixed that plans.  Yay for meds!

Beautiful Wreath from Sis and B-i-l

 Fun on the Porch

I'm not finished rechecking the numbers yet.  Good through May!  I must have a bit of thankfulness left.

Just about there.

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful for the work week's end.  I have a few things to get done this weekend and I'm ready to get crackin'.  Number one is finishing the necklace scarves that a friend knitted up this summer so we can sell them in the bell choir sale this Sunday!

I'm up to post 64 in my second round of correcting my numbering.  I'm pretty sure I've covered all my skipped posts and goofy numbering but I'd like to straighten it out.  Then I'll decide when to change over to a new blog.  I think I have a culminating post in mind for this blog but we'll have to see how that turns out tomorrow.

Creativity

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful for creativity.   One of the aspects of my job is using creativity to solve the puzzle of figuring out what a student needs and how to change that need into a strength or at least not a point of weakness.

A gift of the Creator, well nurtured by Mom, is my enjoyment of creating by crafting with fibers and fabrics.  I worked on a project this evening to personalize an apron so I can carry what I need to recess and lunch with the children and not have my hands full of sunglasses, tissues, wipes, and keys.   It's not finished but here are some photos:

 Ms Bee's Apron

Autumn in my front yard.

God's Creativity.

Classroom Creativity

Wreath!

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful for Christmas wreaths!  That are delivered!  That are a gift from Sis and BiL!  That smell fresh and piney!   Ho Ho Ho!

Photo tomorrow when there's daylight.

Tomorrow did not have enough daylight, maybe the next day.

This evening's sunset:

Mindful

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful for reminders.  I like sticky notes, e-mail, and phone calls-and the people who make them.  Right now I have a sticky note to take care of.  Earlier today a friend called asked for some materials I have and reminded me of others I needed to deliver.   I am grateful.  I may or may not have remembered either but now I will.  Yay!

One Year

Day 365, um, no.  I've gone through the blog twice and I don't know why 365 days do not equal a year but they do not.  Maybe some summer day I'll browse through it all again. 

I am thankful for frost on the grass, warm sweaters, driving gloves, and socks.   Most of the year I am not thankful for socks but to all things there is a season.   Today was a crisp and cool fall day.

If I get the numbering right this might be the one year mark for Folding Thankfulness!  I owe myself several posts so I'll keep going for a few more days!

More Evidence of the Season

Continuing in Thankfulness

I am thankful for the chill in the air, the recent rains, good travel, and anticipating days of work and days of vacation to come.

Front yard and back yard:

These roses are amazingly plump for end of season roses.  They fill my hand.  Must be the recent rains.

Crafty

Day 365

I wandered back through the days and found at least 8 counting errors.  I think I'll be fixing them!  I also found two placeholder posts so I owe myself two more days of thankfulness, lol!  Update:  I've recounted a couple times and I'm calling today 365!  I do owe myself a couple posts.

I am thankful for a peaceful day of craft fair and arts and crafts store shopping.  I found a couple of gift items and a fun tree of jingle bells that Sis pointed out.   She and I had another companionable day together.  Then I had a nice drive home.  I didn't beat the storm but it wasn't wet until I got into the valley.  The clouds and mountains make for a pretty drive.  I don't think any of my front seat photos came out.

One

Day 364

I am thankful for the companionship of family.  We shopped a little, had a picnic at a winery, saw miniature donkeys and a zebra-donkey hybrid, a zonkey!  Later Sis and I went to the craft store to look for a coordinating yarn and I came home with none!  Shocking.   After a wonderful dinner some of us watched Avatar, my first viewing and everyone elses 2nd or 3rd.

It was all easy, kind, loving, and companionable.  I love that there is no stress, no strife, no arguing, no drama.  What a wonderful blessing this family of mine is.  I am continuing in thankfulness for the parents who raised us all, for the marvelous spouses, for friends who have become like family, for my brothers and sisters who will always be my first home no matter where life finds us.

Two. Family

Day 363

I am thankful for family.  We enjoy each other quite a bit.  Today was a day of good cooking, playing board games, and card games, and chatting all the while.  I miss those who couldn't come and hope for good days to visit soon.

Three. Thanksgiving eve.

Day 362

I am thankful for a day of ups and downs.  I had a busy, disjointed day but there were so many small joys and fun moments.  Here are some of them:  A student brought cookies to share.  The children sang instead of acting shy when we took the turkey song on the road.  Flowers for a friend's birthday were half off.  Shopped for a pair of pants and got a blouse free.  Went to church cranky, found thankfulness and learned a thing or two while I was there.  What a great day.  Reminder to self:  don't skip dinner on Wednesdays. 

Finished mitts:

Four. Seasons

Day 361

I am thankful for seasons.  I love the changes between the seasons, the changes in the landscape, the relief that comes from leaving behind heat or cold.  I take delight in the new buds, flowering trees and plants, summer shade, and autumn colors.   Delight leads to praise for God the Creator.

Today brought an early winter storm, fast moving changes, and in late afternoon this rainbow.  A friend and I marveled and wondered what Noah's face might have looked like when he and his family saw the first rainbow.

Five. Making Music, Making More

Day 360

I am thankful for music.  More specifically I am thankful for opportunities to participate in making music.  Ringing in the bell choir at church brings me joy in the ringing and the hearing of the sounds of the bells, the amazing experience of 12-14 people using the same instrument,  a circle of friends who by the very nature of the instrument need each other.  We make music and mistakes together.  We laugh and weep together.  We pray together every week.  We are focused and we are distractable.  We are a bell choir.

I am also thankful for the adult vocal choir who has changed it's name from "Sr. Choir" to "Celebration Choir".  There's never been a "Jr. Choir" and I think as we get older together we needed young people not to think you have to be over 50 to join.

Singing with a group, having a director who inspires and teaches, being blessed with a vocal coach who can direct when needed is more than I ever thought singing in a choir could be.  Individually, unless we had taken lessons, there was no training among us.  With the dedication of our leaders and patience of our accompanist we have each grown in our vocal and musical skills.   We have learned to listen to each others' voices and tune ourselves to those around us.

That listening and tuning defines our group as a mini-congregation or very large family as well as a choir.  We sing together, we pray together, we play together, and we take a trip together every year (retreat).   But, when all is said and sung the glory of being in a choir is hearing our voices together making music to the Most High God.   To have the words of our anthems soak into our hearts is to memorize scripture and pray with our song.   "He who sings prays twice."  (commonly attributed to St. Augustine)

Six. Friends

Day 359

I am thankful for friends.  I am so thankful for a friend who has known me for 25 years.  Our conversations just pick up right where they left off.   It is good to be with someone who knows me so well.  I am also thankful for choir friends.  These are the people who pray with me and for me, those whose needs I know well enough to remember them throughout the week.   I am thankful for internet friends and acquaintances who enrich my life.  I am thankful for colleagues who have become friends even when we move to new schools and don't see each other much we manage to stay connected.  I am thankful for family friends who become extended family to us.  For the love, the prayers, the companionship, the conversations, the sounding boards, for everything a friend brings I am grateful.

Here is one of my friends, a 25 years long friendship:

 Snow level in the local mountains was

3500 feet last night.  Looks like just 

a dusting.

Seven. Blessed to work.

Day 358

I am thankful for work.  I'm thankful for the entire journey starting with parents who put me through college and encouraged me to keep figuring it out.  I thankful for the work that I'm suited for, that lights me up, that provides a life.  I am blessed.

 A little knitting this week:

November roses on a rainy day:

 Autumn leaves in the front yard:

 Reflection of a favorite house ornament:

Eight! Yarny goodness.

Day 357

I am thankful for yarn.  I'm even more thankful for Provocraft's Knifty Knitters knitting looms.  I learned a new hobby at a time when I needed something simple to keep myself occupied.   My loom collection has grown to include many sizes and gauges.  My yarn stash occasionally gets out of hand but I'm better at not buying yarn because it's there, or there and on sale, but buying yarn to suit a project.  I get a great deal of joy from making things for other people and for myself.  

Because of yarn and looms I've connected to a whole new group of friends and acquaintances at Ravelry.  I've found designers of loom knit patterns, people who like the same types of patterns and yarns that I like, an entire group of special ed. professionals who are kind, creative, and supportive, and opportunities to use this craft to give to others.  (Hats for Hunger)  There are even groups at Ravelry for fans of TV shows and, yes, I've found the group for Bones.

Eight!  Eight more days of folding thankfulness daily.

Nine. Reading is like breathing.

Day 356

I am thankful for reading, for books.  Hardbacks, paperbacks, and e-books are all fine with me.  I like science fiction, adventure, mystery, fantasy, some non-fiction, biography, devotional material and children's books.  Reading is my go to activity when there is free time to be had.  The world isn't right unless I have the next book lined up and ready to read.  I think the anticipation of a good book is a big part of my enjoyment of reading. 

Nine!  Nine more days of thankfulness!

Ten. Diversions

Day 355

I am thankful for tv shows, knitting, websites, books, kindle, radio programs, and all manner of entertainments.  It's part of how our culture is so rich, so wealthy.  It's part of how we can be so distracted and unproductive.

Ten!  I have 10 more days to write what I'm thankful for each day.  I am sure thankfulness will continue.  I have no idea what will happen blogwise after that but I suspect that once I think of a new name the blogging will continue...just not something that requires me to post everyday.

Rumblings

Day 354

I am thankful for sick days, chicken soup, naps, and knitting.  Everything I need for a day of tummy rumblings.

Preparations begin

Day 353

I am thankful for one last sister hug before work and her drive home, for great days at work, and for the evening bell rehearsal that reminds me the celebration of the birth of our Savior will be here soon.

Great weekend

Day 352

I am thankful for good teaching at church, a great visit with Sis, and finally being able to see my niece compete in gymnastics.  State finals! 

Collection

Day 351

I am thankful for a visit from Sis!  We drove out to the Fruit Depot, then to the grocery, and had dinner out.   When we came home we sorted most of my cookie cutter collection into two giant apothecary jars and six giant canning jars (decorative).   Now I can see my collection and it's contained and won't get dusty.  Yay!

Shrinking to do list

Day 350

I am thankful to be feeling better. My cold is almost gone.  Maybe now I'll get some sleep.  Sadly, though, my other assistant is now coughing.  I hope her cold passes quickly.

I've whittled my knitting "to do" list down to two projects, I think, lol.  Sis's scarf is still not revealing which size loom is going to work.  I'm slightly frustrated but in a relaxed way, it will come.

Veteran's Day

Day 349

I am thankful for a day off, for the sacrifice and service of our veterans and their families, and for dinner, knitting and Bones with a friend.  It was a lovely evening.

2nd evening, 2nd hat!

Wednesday, November 10

Day 348

Oh dear, I did it again.  This time I didn't fall asleep but I was knitting a hat for a cancer patient who is a dear friend to my brother.

I am thankful for the chance to knit hats for her.  I had forgotten what fun it is to whip out a hat in an evening and I had a happy romp through my yarns looking for just the right one.  I had several picked out but then remembered an even better yarn and went back to find it. 

I skipped choir because I'm having end of the cold stealth coughing-the kind that sneaks up on you when you aren't ready and makes you hack your head off for a few minutes.  I hope there is less for Thursday evening as I'm looking forward to seeing a friend.

Autumn at School

Tuesday, November 9

Oh my, fell asleep so early I forgot to blog!  So for yesterday...

Day 347

I am thankful for cool autumn air, trees turning color, a house that is cool when I get home, and wearing socks to bed.  Delightful!

Cool

Day 346

I am thankful for making it through at work.   I've got the cold, at least half the class has post cold coughing, and one assistant was out with the cold and possibly ear infection.  We have such good kids that the day went well.  Good kids and a fabulous assistant will make any day go well. 

On the fine side of life we had an honest to goodness autumn day.  By 6 p.m. it was 55*F outside and I wore a sweater.  I've worn my lightweight, short sleeve sweaters in the morning but not an honest to goodness, keep you warm sweater.  Delightful!

Finishing projects

Day 345

I am thankful for time to get projects done.  I finished the blue scarf/shawlette today.  I finished the premie hats for a colleague a couple days ago but hadn't taken pictures until tonight.

I think it's perfect!

Couldn't stop at two. 

Howling wind

Day 345

I am thankful for a change in the weather.  It kept me in instead of trying to get any errands done.  Good to stay in when you have a bad cold.   We had lots of wild wind.  I had to take several wind chimes down.   Along with the wind came a bit of a dust storm.  No need to be out in that!  At some point it must have rained just a bit.  When I went outside to check things out after sunset the top of the car was wet but there wasn't much evidence of rain on the ground. 

I'm going to go be thankful for a nebulizer now-ensuring good breathing for night.  :*)

Conveniences

Day 343

I am thankful for all the places that have what you need and want.  It's especially apparent when you're not feeling good-how richly blessed we are to have grocery stores that are so convenient, pharmacies on every corner-some that deliver if you wish, we even have pre-made foods that are mostly healthy.   It's an embarrassment of wealth and abundance.  

On top of everything else we change our clocks this weekend and gain an hour of sleep!

A good day

Day 342

I am thankful for dinner with a dear friend.  We had a yummy dinner and a great chat.  A bit of knitting and a bit of putting stickers on foam fish caps off a good day.

Positive change.

Day 341

I am thankful for good lab results.  In May my triglycerides were off the chart high.  Today, after 6 months of lots of flax and making changes to how I eat, my triglycerides were high but less than half what they were in May.  I have a ways to go to get all the numbers better but this was great to see.

Gettin' it done.

Day 340

I am thankful for cooperative children.  I was assessing a student's language and speech skills and Mom was generous enough to bring him two days in a row.  He and I worked hard and got everything done in two hours.  Whew.  I'm happy I don't have to do that every week.

Ring Out!

Day 339

I am thankful for one more new experience in the new chapel at church.  We held our bell rehearsal in the chapel this evening.  I thought the experience would be more spectacular but I learned that the person ringing the bell is not going to be the person benefiting from the acoustics.   I did notice, though, that the bells sound like bells again.  Our bells sound great!  The muffliness of ringing in an acoustically dead space is gone.  A greater benefit to the bell ringers is that we could hear each other.  I could hear every part and every bell.   It took a while but we were noticing when we were off, when key changes were rough (and why), who had the melody, that cool run in the lower trebles, the "let vibrate" undercurrent of the bass to the treble melody and harmony.   We're able to hear when one part overwhelms another and even better-we can fix it!   My reaction was much more subtle than when we first, second, and third time sang in the chapel but no less deep in it's impact.   Joy multiplied.

Reformation

Day 338

I am thankful for the power of Worship.  I am joyfully surprised by moments when I am deeply moved during the Service of the Word.  It being Reformation Sunday the service was filled with familiar hymns.  We heard A Mighty Fortress on the organ and sang it as a hymn and as a choir anthem.   As a festival Sunday we had choir, orchestra, a processional and a recessional.  If that wasn't enough the sermon was fully inspired with much to hear.

It was the words of the hymns and of the liturgy that touched me today.  That and being in the new chapel.  I could hear the congregation speaking with one voice.  The entire experience was a testament to meeting God in worship, the faithfulness of the congregation in building, the leadership of our staff, and the power of architecture.  It's not that the building is beautiful.  I'm not so sure if it is or it isn't.  But, I am sure it's designed to inspire and unite those who come and join the service.

Outside, the newest addition:

I've never seen this on a church before and I'm not quite sure I understand it.   It's called a crown of thorns.  Yes, I understand the symbolism but I don't understand it's place on the building.

Saturday, October 30

Day 337

I am thankful for a day with time to sing, time to knit, and time to do a little work.  Recycling is gathered, rehearsal is accomplished, and the shawl I'm working on is another length longer.  I'm also thankful that my Sis noticed there was no post for today.   I must have forgotten the final step since I remember writing something along these lines from yesterday!

Not a big deal

Day 336

I am thankful for night time "aha" moments.  I was seriously annoyed with the night time hot flashes and waking up all the time.   I remembered at some point last night that I used to get up to check on Mom in the middle of the night and fall right back into bed and go to sleep.  If I can do that I can flip off a blanket and go back to sleep.  It doesn't have to be a big deal. 

I woke up once early after I went to bed.  I turned on the fan and went back to sleep.  I know I woke up during the night but I didn't stress about it.  I didn't really wake fully until 5 a.m.  I felt so much more rested!

Tick-a-Dee!

Day 335

I am thankful for cute little kids in Halloween costumes.  We had trick or treat today at school with our three year olds.  Best pronunciation "TickaDee" with "Dit Dee" coming in a close 2nd.  We have very polite children with lots of "Dah Du" to the person giving the treats (thank you).

Doing it all over again tomorrow with 4 year olds!

Autumn

Day 334

I am thankful for the changing of the seasons.  We had a lovely early fall day yet my camera stayed hidden.   It's been cool in the morning and pleasant in the afternoons.

We rehearsed in the new chapel this evening.  It is a glorious place to sing.  We're having to relearn some techniques and are hunting around for our softer dynamics.  We can have such a wider range of dynamics and techniques in this beautiful building.

Enough time

Day 333

I am thankful for oversleeping and not being late for work.  I love that we start 40 minutes later than last year.  I can make my coffee and drink it, too.

Connecting

Day 332

I am thankful for the opportunity to pray.  Sometimes I'm not sure how to pray but God's Word tells that even then the Spirit prays for us.  There is awe, in the oldest sense of the word, in connecting with the God of Creation personally and powerfully.

Busy hands

Day 331

I am thankful for knitting time.  I have not mastered the "big" projects.  I'm making what I hoped would be a prayer shawl for a friend but I think wide scarf is a better description at 10 1/2 inches wide.  But, it is a step closer to a big project.   Another small project presented itself this last week.  A colleague gave birth to premie twins.  I'm going to make a two sets of hats, no booties.

I'm not thrilled with this yarn so I went hunting in my stash for something softer.   Might take a few days to get the small project done.  

Halfway!  This is one skein of Lion Brand Homespun yarn in Montana Sky blue:

Long sleep

Day 330

I am thankful for sleeping in!  I managed to sleep until 9 a.m. today.   ahhhhhhhh.   I am also thankful for my dear sih's surgery going so well and her continuing return to health.

A moment

Day 329

I am thankful for our special moments of hearing God.  Whether it's leaning on God when we lose a loved one to death, preparing for surgery, or making ready for a routine day we slip from a moment of normalcy to a moment with God and we move forward changed.

Zip

Day 328

I am so thankful for the speedy manner in which my dear sil is scheduled to be in surgery.   Prayers for calm hearts and minds, good surgery, skilled hands, relief of pain, and positive outcome will be ongoing through out my day tomorrow.

Remembering, in faith

Day 327

I am thankful for songs that are hard to sing.  We are revisiting "On Faith Alone".   I'm making it through the first page and coming back in about page 8 or 9.   It will always be Mom's anthem to me.   It is such a testimony to a life of faith.   I couldn't not remember Mom's life of faith if I tried.

The things you learn

Day 326

I am thankful for staff meetings.   Well, ok, today's staff meeting.  I can't say I'm thankful for all of them.  We were discussing student success and how all children can learn at a high level and how teachers working together can make this happen.   There was a question I had difficulty with, "can all children learn at a high level?"  Well, I have to answer that with a strong No.  But that's not the way the discussion went.  There had been a part of the presentation that talked about who is included in "all" and some of my former students would have to have been excluded but no one was talking about that.

As the discussion continued I felt very anxious and was thinking a lot about my previous assignment.  I realized how that position was a soul killer for me.  I realized today that the knowledge that my students were not going to be successful in their lives and that many of them had very little in the way of safety nets did not make me a better teacher.   My emotions colored everything I did and not always in a good and beneficial way.

So, I am thankful to have the change to work that suits me, my heart and my soul.  I am grateful that there are special ed. teachers who can do my previous job and be energized and joyful in the work.  

Listen to the rain

Day 325

I am thankful for the rain.  We're working on learning about our senses in our current unit.  One of the storybooks is about listening to the rain.  We managed to get eight 4 year olds to tip toe quietly outside when it started raining to listen to the drops hitting the ground.  Then we walked to the covered walkway and listened to the rain falling from the roof into tiny puddles along the sidewalk.  Then we discovered that if you let the rain falling from the roof splat into your hand it makes yet another sound.  Such fun.   I love my job.

It's Autumn!

Day 324

I am thankful for a day to rest.  I felt like we were in someone else's church today but we'll get used to the new digs.  I've had a little sinus infection but I think it got bigger today.  I've been more tired and dizzy.  Doc tomorrow.  I'm thankful for that, too.

It's cooler today and a storm system is blowing through.   It feels like Autumn.  The neighbors are starting to put up Halloween decorations.   Leaves are blowing off trees.   And, sadly, it's getting dark earlier.  With the cloud cover it felt more like December than October. 

Early today:

Really cool clouds this afternoon:

The loss of a love

Day 323

I am thankful for the life of a friend's husband.  He recently died and the memorial service was this morning.  He had been in his life a navy sonar operator, a pastor, and a special ed. teacher, a husband, and a father.   His passion was to pray for people and specifically to pray people to a close walk with our Savior.   My friend is bereft and feels lost.  Her family and friends are close but she's having such a hard time.  I'm glad her husband loved her so well.   I pray for her peace and comfort.

Boron, not the town

Day 322

I am thankful for searches on the internet.  Being the age I am....I'm getting hot flashes.  I learned that phyto-estrogens, flax seed, and boron rich foods can help.  Since I already drink soy milk and have family history of breast cancer I don't want to add more phyto-estrogens so I'm going to work on flax seed and boron rich foods.  I've somewhat inconsistently been adding ground flax seed at breakfast so I'm partway there.  Foods rich in boron include raisins, dried apricots, and avocados.  I like all of those so hopefully in the 1-2 months of adding these to my diet I'll have fewer hot flashes.  Range/dosage to add can be between 1 mg and 6 mg/day. 

An additional benefit of boron is that it plays well with calcium and magnesium to build strong bones and that it helps with osteoarthritis.   Also, it is well tolerated and side effects were difficult to find.   Am I just a font of information today?

Update: Sis reminds me that Vitamin D taken in the afternoon can help with night sweats.  Thanks!

It's about relationships

Day 321

I am thankful for building relationships with both children and colleagues.   One of my kids didn't want to come to my table so I went to hers this morning.  We had a couple other "moments" throughout the day.   She's pretty much ignored that I'm in her world so this was a fun development.

This afternoon I had fun helping develop an IEP with a newish special ed. person.  I'm so glad I can share what I know rather than let it collect under my hair.

More newness

Day 320

I am thankful for acoustics.  New experiences at church keep on coming.  We have a music room!  It's very, very tall and surfaces are all hard.  'Cept for us!   We sound amazing in there, hehehe.

Pieces in place.

Day 319

I am thankful for thinking time.  Nothing critical but I'm still learning parts of my job and it was good to have time at either end of the work day to think, hunt through paperwork and computer files, and put another piece in place.

Sloggy

Day 318

I am thankful for reruns.    It's been a sloggy day all the way around and I came home this evening to a rerun of the most recent Bones episode.  Yay!

First Sunday in the "big church"

Dad 317

I am thankful for baby holding.  I have a friend who brings her Grandbaby to church when she can.  I usually wrangle a bit of holding.  He's one of those babies who cuddles right in.   Fun to hold.  Happy to return him to Grandma.

We had our first service in our new Worship building today.  The seats were set for 840 and we had at least 100 standing.  The choir gave up seats so people could come forward and participate.  That was a blessing.  The hall and door area where we were standing had fabulous air flow and we were less hot in our cotton/polyester choir shirts.  Singing went well, service went off with no visible hitches.

Skyward

Day 316

I am thankful for the new buildings at church.  We sing a choir anthem that has a line, "we need no tower rising skyward, no house of wood or glass or stone."  It's true, we, the people of God, do not need these things.  We are his church, the people.  But, there is something good for the spirit in a building that lets your voice and your spirit soar skyward.  We are truly and richly blessed with song and a marvelous space in which to sing.

Reconnecting

Day 315

I am thankful for reconnecting with an old friend.  I went to a workshop today and also attending was one of the directors of special ed. in our county.  She and I began our careers in side by side classrooms that for several months were missing a wall between them.  We didn't have much time to chat but discovered that we now live just a few miles from each other. 

Echo of spring, this rose was a gift from my brother and his kids to Mom on Mother's Day a few years ago.  

The county seal, photo taken from the highest tier of the parking lot of the County Schools building: