Today I am thankful for...

...the US Veterans. The men and women who stand up and fight for our country and help us remain a free country.

Today I am thankful for...

...my son Tyler.

Tyler is a very sensitive young man, very much like me. I can see myself in him in so many ways. His feelings get hurt very easily and he will cry at the drop of a hat. My husband and I have tried so hard to toughen him up so that he doesn't cry over the little things in front of his peers...so far it has not happened. Unfortunately I am sure he will learn not to cry in front of his peers the hard way...which of course will make him cry even more. He easily makes friends and wants to be part of the group.

He has big beautiful green eyes...the one trait that I wished while pregnant that he would get from me.

He is caring, honest, gets good grades, and from what I hear a very good boy in school.

He is also not like me in so many ways. He loves sports and is a very good soccer player. He looks very much like my husband and his metabolisim is just like my husbands which is a very good thing that he didn't get from me.

Tyler is a very unique boy and I look forward to watching him grow up and become all that he wants to be. May all your dreams come true, son!

Today I am thankful for...

...the fact that it is Saturday and I didn't have to wake up at 5:20 a.m. like I have to Monday through Friday for work. Today I woke up a little after 7, it was wonderful to say the least. Not having to turn the alarm off and jump in the shower, make and pack lunches, get myself and the kids dressed and out the door by 6:45 a.m. Tomorrow will be another morning of sleeping past 5:20 a.m. and I can't wait!

Now I am off to shower and get some laundry done so we can go to Tyler's soccer game and then off to Eric's race. The rat race still continues but not so early. :0)

Today I am thankful for...

...quiet time. I believe I found my key to happiness today. I am a second grade teacher. There are 29 students in my classroom. The classroom that I teach in is a co-teach/inclusion classroom. Let me explain that to you. I have my own homeroom classlist of 16 students. My co-teacher has 14 students on her homeroom list. Because we are an inclusion classroom, meaning the students who have an IEP for learning disabilities, there is an inclusion teacher that comes in for literacy and math time. I have a student teacher. My co-teacher has a practicum student, she needs 90 hours in a semester. Is any of this becoming clear? Let me continue. I leave school after picking up oldest ds from aftercare. Go to the daycare to pick up youngest ds. Cook dinner for the family, dh gets home. So when do I get quiet time??? Pretty much never.

Today my student teacher left early as well as the co-teacher. I was alone working away in my classroom by myself. Ahhhh, bliss. I turned on the radio and cranked out my work. I didn't have to talk to anyone, I wasn't in a hurry to rush home to run one of my boys here and there. I really enjoyed the time, I felt like I accomplished something and was at peace with myself when I left.

Got home with my 2 boys today and didn't yell and scream at them because I was stressed out. Actually cooked dinner without stressing over what to have. It was fantastic and I feel like a better mother and wife because of it.

Now if only every day could happen like this one...

Today I am thankful for...

...my wonderful husband who stepped up to the plate for me tonight. I ended up with a terrible headache late this afternoon. I got home and let the kids play on the Wii (something else I could be thankful for today) while I went and laid down in my bed just holding my head. DH called on his way home from work just like he does everday. I told him that I wouldn't be able to make dinner tonight that my head just hurt too bad. He immediately said what do you want me to bring home? Yea! He ended up bringing home McDonald's, something that would make the kids happy and I really didn't care just wanted something to eat.

Today I am thankful for...

...hmmm...today is a tough one for me. I am down in the dumps today. I had someone ask me how my son was and I was able to answer her, then I stood there continuing to work on what I was working on and we kept talking, well wouldn't you know it but the tears started to well up. Then one of my student's parents walked up over heard the conversation and asked what was going on. I was able to tell her even though by this point the tears were coming down my face. She told me everything would be fine and she would pray for me. Then one of my very close friends walked through the door and just walked over to me and gave me a hug. She didn't say anything, just gave me a hug.

So today I am thankful for my friends and all those around me that do care and give me the daily support that I need to get through tough days.

Today I am thankful for...

...the right to vote! After work today I took my 7 year old to go vote with me today. Even if my candidate doesn't win I at least made a choice to vote. I am pround to be an American!

August 26, 1920, the United States Secretary of State signed the Anthony Amendment into law, just in time for women to vote in the fall presidential elections.