Thankful Thursday (S&T 11/24)

As it goes, I'm going to post some things I'm thankful for on this Thanksgiving. I mentioned that I was following along with The Balanced Life's 30 Days of Gratitude and I have, indeed, been writing down 3 things I'm grateful for each day.

My biggest gratitude goes toward this deployment being over and, fingers crossed, life just resuming to normal in many regards. Life won't always be easy or perfect because that's not how life works, but it will be rounded out in a way that it hasn't been for the last year.

This is the list of what I've been writing down. It goes in order, starting November 1st, but the items/people/things are specific to each day. They are random and some are funny. But it's really easy to tell what kind of day I was having by looking back at the 3 things for that day.

Coffee
Cool breezes
Boots
Teacher friends
Shameless (new episodes while I grade papers)
Good mail days
Clear skin
Showing up on time
Podcasts
Friday nights
Hot chocolate
Puppy snuggles
Kindess of strangers
Friendship
Enjoying a book
Not having to go anywhere
Good audiobooks
Skype
Chick-fil-a
Kids who kind of listen to me
Working ahead at school
Coworkers who are friends
Nice parents (of students)
Sweet potato fries
{insert name of particular student}
{insert name of particular student}
Neighbors
The end of Girls on the Run
{insert name of friend}
{insert name of friend}
Professional development days
Fridays
Veterans
Girls on the Run is officially over
Pandora
Pilates
Puppy playdates
Email
Clean sheets
Tomorrow Scott comes home (I wrote this 3 times)
Today Scott comes home (I wrote this 3 times)
Peace
Deep breathing
Days off
Scott (I wrote this twice)
Christmas cards
Podcasts
When the dogs go hunting (I get to relax)
Text message support
Saturdays
Coffee
Sleeping in
Hallmark Christmas movies
Clean floors
Pumpkin cookies
Shameless (starting the series from the beginning with Scott)
Christmas decorations
The ability to help others (I saw a homeless dog so I bought him/her a bag of food...Scott said "most people give that guy cash, you did it the smart way"...because I had time, I was able to spend 30 minutes driving to Target and back again to drop it off...which leads to the next item on the list...)
Time off
Jett and Scout (The other day, Jett ran off while I was walking the dogs and I was so worried about the little ginger...I pushed the vibrate button so much that he ran back to the house and was apparently clawing at all the doors, wanting to be let in, but I was still in the field with Scout. All's well that ends well.)

What are you particularly grateful for? If you're in the U.S., Happy Thanksgiving! If not, it's almost Friday :)

It's OK 9/13 and Thankful Thursday

It's okay that when my students thought "a lot" should be one word ("alot"), I showed them The Alot from Hyperbole and a Half.

For real.  Brought it up on the projector and read it to them.  I scrolled past the beer can part quickly.  I think only the kid in the first row noticed it.

They LOVED it.  I'm going to print that picture and we're going to color "alots" to remind us that they don't exist.  (Their idea, not mine.)

It's okay that I will wear this coat every day until November.

...probably with a scarf.

It's relatively okay, and kind of amusing frankly, that Levi Johnston's kid was born at the hospital half a mile from my house yesterday.

And that is my claim to fame.

It's okay that I won a giveaway for only the second time ever last week!

Allie from A Day in A Joyful Life sent me this fun package of her favorite things.  Thanks Allie!

It's okay that this is the perfect time to mention I will be co-hosting The Great Pumpkin Swap with Allie in October.  Who wants to sign up for a swap of fall favorites?  Hats, candy, candles, decor.  I'm excited and a bit nervous to organize a swap!  You guys have to help me by participating.  No one likes to be the new kid on the block.

Thank goodness Allie is talented enough to create a button/image.  As I am not.

It's okay that when I was 20 years old, I thought Taylor Swift was a genius.  While I think she's probably a decent person, I just cannot get behind her music anymore.

Source: someecards.com via Kristin on Pinterest

I'm thankful for my husband.  I enjoy the way he emphasizes the "seriously".  

If that's not reassuring, I don't know what is.

It's OK and Thankful Thursday 9/6

It's okay that I don't wish to speak of politics.  I support the military.  That's all I have to say about politics.

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Vampire.  I'd trust vampire.

It's okay that I don't like pumpkin spice lattes.  Or pumpkin pie.  I'll eat pumpkin in cookie form.  And that's about it.


It's also okay that I don't have a whole lot of creativity poppin' through today.  So I leave you with...

...ice cream I made yesterday.  Recipe coming next week.  Best flavor I've made so far.


Also, Thankful Thursday.  Go say "hi" to Ryan at her (brand-new!) blog, Loved and Lovely.

I'm thankful that the windstorms hitting southcentral Alaska these past few days have kindly overlooked my development.  I mean it.  Thanks, mother nature.  Much appreciated.
I am thankful that my husband booked us a 7 day Carnival cruise..I'm thankful he took care of it ALL.  Including flights.  And I'm thankful I have a superb substitute lined up to take charge of my kiddos for 2 weeks.  

Oh, and I found out when we'll be moving/PCS-ing!  

Thankful Thursday, indeed.

It's OK 8/29 and Thankful Thursday

It's okay that I found another person in Alaska who thinks Danskos are ugly.  WIN.  Vindication, you are mine.

It's okay that I stocked up on disposable coffee cups.  So I can use my new coffee cozy every chance I get. Environmentally-friendly, I am not.

It's okay that it's finally, finally the last week of August: The never-ending month.
Even if that does mean "winter is coming".

Source: 4.asset.soup.io via Kristin on Pinterest

It's okay that I fully expect my parents to clean my house while I'm at work.  I used to have to do that while they were at work.

It's okay that I think I've lost interest in Facebook.  If I see one more "Good luck on the first day of school!!" status, I'm gonna lose it.

I do love me a good Facebook fight though.  Maybe it was a good idea to let the uneducated join on in?  After all, they haven't figured out the "private message" feature yet.

Source: themetapicture.com via Kristin on Pinterest

It's okay that 2 separate individuals found my blog by this google search.

Oh, and it's okay that this is why I'm not going to a concert at the Alaska State Fair.

What are the chances that, if I'm out of doors, the sun will be shining?  

Those are not good odds, my friends.  

And now.  Thankful Thursday @The Ramblings of Mrs. Hargraves
I'm so thankful for each and every one of you reading this post.  I can say that I would not be making it through this season of my life without you, blog friends.  There's no way.  I can't even comprehend it.  So thanks for being you.  :)
The smile on my face as I check my emails and scroll through my Twitter feed makes me feel like I belong to a community bigger than any I've been part of before.  It's so great to know I'm not alone.

My husband thanks you too.  You keep his sarcastic and overdramatic wife from losing her mind.

It's OK 8/23 and Thankful Thursday

I so wanted to wear wedges with this.  I've only got a few precious weeks of warm weather left!  But these boots just looked too good with this dress.  Boots always win.

Dress: F21 //  Boots: JCP  //  Sweater:  Macy's

It's okay that I was right.

These woods are full of moose lying in wait to eat me.

Good thing my eagle eyes spotted this thing from 100 yards away.  Me and my lawn mower scurried back up to the garage awfully quickly.

It's okay that this little exchange made me laugh out loud.

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Oh, and it's totally not okay that I had just finished ranting about my name-misspelling-issue on here on Tuesday, when I was handed this envelope at work:

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Thankful Thursday at The Ramblings of Mrs. Hargraves
I'm thankful that a fellow teacher guilted me into pilates on Tuesday night.
I'm thankful that, even though the lawn mower was making some "I'm dying" sounds, it got me through the mowing last night.
I'm thankful for the sunshine because that means "extra recess".  The only thing getting me through the afternoons, folks.
And I am so thankful that, if I must live in Alaska (and apparently I must), I'm glad I live in the cheapest, busiest part of the state.  Go check out Angi's post on groceries.  She lives in Sitka.  (You know..where "The Proposal" supposedly took place?)

It's OK 8/16 and Thankful Thursday

It's okay that Scott has finally been promoted to Captain!  We've been waiting for this forever.  There's a wait list for engineering officers to be promoted.  Captain Darhower just has a nice ring to it.  And he's not a teacher.  I had to spell out my name for parents at Open House last night.  And one asked of its origin.  My response?  "It's my husband's name.  I ain't no German." Just kidding.  I answered with an impressive, "I dunno".

It's okay that I found a new show to watch: Justified.  Watching Timothy Olyphant wear a cowboy hat is certainly not a chore.  (Note:  If you don't like the theme song, I don't like you.)

It's okay that Hoyt is moving to Alaska.  Maybe Jason will visit us him.  Him.  I meant him.

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It's okay that THIS is going down today.

I keep the blinds closed, lest they be mesmerized by the view.

Thankful Thursday @The Ramblings of Mrs. Hargraves I'm so thankful that Scott has been promoted.  This was the boost of morale he and I have been needing when it comes to the army. I'm thankful I have a t.v. in my classroom.  Yes, indeedio.  I watched some Dexter in there this week whilst I was labeling desks and books  (I'm not your average 4th grade teacher). I'm thankful that I was able to pick up an extra job for the month of August.  More work now, more vacation money later.  (It's not real work.  I'm coordinating field trips for the state fair.  I lost the ability to do real work when I took on the role of "wife".  I'm spoiled.)

It's OK 8/9 and Thankful Thursday

It's okay that I keep signing up for blog swaps.  I like picking out the goodies and I certainly like getting the goodies.  It's the middle man (Mr. Post Office) that needs to be cut out.
My latest swap partner, Caitlin, sent me some super cute stuff through Linny's Vault's Summertime Swap.

That frame went straight onto my desk at school.  Thanks Caitlin!

It's okay that you are probably sick of listening to me whine about running.  

It's been the only cardio I could fit in this week.

(The world is becoming a scary place.)

Here's my new trick.

Turbo Kick music is naturally divided into intervals.

So I run the 2 min. segments and walk the 1 min. ones.  I've been doing about 40 minutes a day. (fine.. 30 minutes..)

And hating every. single. second.

It's not that I hurt or I can't breathe or anything is really wrong. 

Just hate it.

It's okay that I have about 6 recipe posts that either need to be finished or need to be created, photographed, etc.  

You're not here for food, right?  You're here for my sparkling personality (obviously). 

It's okay that beginning tomorrow I will no longer be available 24/7 via social media.  I have this thing (called "job") that I must return to from 8 to 4 everyday.  And while I'm supremely jealous of those of you who can blog, tweet, or even email from your place of employment, I cannot.  It's ALL blocked.  

Not that I would have the time.  I barely have time to eat an apple during "lunch break".  

It's okay, and makes me feel SO much better, to know that I'm not the only one who does this when I see someone I know in a public place.

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Judging by your comments on Tuesday, it's good to know I'm not alone, y'all.  

(I seriously tried to do it in the hallway at school the other day.  Too late.  Kid saw me.)

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And Thankful Thursday @The Ramblings of Mrs. Hargraves...

I'm thankful that it's almost mid-August. 

I'm thankful I have one more weekend to pick up my clothes/clean my house/clean my car get my act together before school starts.

I'm thankful for my husband's job.  Though it is, perhaps, the most inconvenient job on the planet.

While we're on the topic, I'm thankful that my husband pays the bills and keeps the budget straight.  If I had to do it, there'd be a "Target" column and a pile of bills that I'd forget to pay.

3 Link-ups for Thursday

Too many link-ups, too little time.

1.  Kate @Daffodils, a fellow Army wife, is hosting an Appetizer Link-Up.  Why, I eat appetizers in place of meals!  So I thought I'd join on up.

This is my go-to appetizer when I need to take something or when I'm having people over (let's just pretend...) There's a reason that I don't make it for just myself..


Jalapeño Popper Dip.  

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2. 
It's OK...

It's okay to just give up and sleep underneath the nest of clean clothing on your bed.  (I'd include a picture, but that'd just be embarrassing.  For my mom.  Not for me.)

It's okay that I'm having a crappy week and that's just the way it is.

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It's okay to be horrified that Facebook "friends" think it's appropriate to tell the world when they'll be trying to have a baby.   Note:  Your FB wall isn't a private conversation.  I don't want to see that stuff.

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It's okay that I unfollow whiners.  "Really?  Your boyfriend has been gone for 2 weeks?!  Whatever shall you do with yourself..."  I don't need to see that stuff either.

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Glad you're on my side, Jason..
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Thirdly.
Thankful Thursday at The Ramblings of Mrs. Hargraves.

I'm thankful that it. is. AUGUST.
I'm thankful Danskos are coming back into season since fall is fast approaching.  Saw some at the checkout in Fred Meyer yesterday!  Why am I thankful for this?  I get a little chuckle out of it every time I see someone wearing those dumb shoes.
Since this is a long, crappy week, let's just say that I'm thankful I'm not a Hatfield or a McCoy.  I've been reading The Coffin Quilt.

I'm thankful I made it to August without buying new clothes.  Yes, it was two whole weeks.  I shall celebrate by buying new clothes. 'Twill be a busy weekend.

It's OK 7/26 and Thankful Thursday

It's okay that I finally got the giant crack in my windshield fixed.  For free.  By the guys who like to hang out at the gas stations on base.


Monday, after many offers of "Can I take a look at that?  It'll only take a minute!", I finally let them fix it.

They seemed so happy to fix it.  Made me feel like I was doing my part and all.

via

It's okay that the Anchorage Daily News is dumb.

The Anchorage Daily News screwed up their own ad, in their own paper. 

It's okay that Debra Morgan is my hero.

Source: Uploaded by user via Kristin on Pinterest

It's okay that I laughed and cried my way through this.  Really.  Tears of laughter and sadness at the same time.

It's okay that we've all got the same struggles.

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I'm starting to depress myself.  Maybe I'll go buy some Oreos.

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Perhaps, Jason, perhaps.


Thankfulness today?  Well, let's just say that I'm "thankful" I'm so committed to this link-up at The Ramblings of Mrs. Hargraves because, while I have everything in the world to be thankful for, I'm really working hard at dredging some stuff up this week.*

I'm thankful I've got 2 more weeks to sit here and dread the start of school.  Because I'm thankful I have a job to go to.  I'm thankful that the Turbokick instructors have been letting me lead a bit.  It's like student-teaching and is improving my confidence.  I'm thankful I'm finally seeing some of those awesome "cut" marks on my abs.  Six-pack, I'm coming for you.  I'm thankful that my purse has arrived.  Very speedy, Macy's, very speedy.
Oh, and I'm thankful for ice cream.  I bought some yesterday for the first time in weeks.  I'm not sure how I stayed away from it for so long.

Well, except for the Dairy Queen and Coldstone I had last week.

*If you're new here (Hi!), my husband is currently deployed to Afghanistan.  And I'm bored and lonely in Alaska.