to 900 and beyond!

859. husband who takes the trash out
860. cold slush on my sore throat
861. inspiring computer desktop background (the Grand Tetons in the Fall)
862. the smell of fall outside
863. student who makes progress!
864. a favorite family spot (Weston Bend State Park)
865. not having to cook dinner after a full day outside
866. standing in a small town, quiet church
867. hearing a squirrel eating his nut in the tree
868. sitting on a bench, reading in the park
869. sun peeking up over the horizon as I drive to school
870. picnic under a lovely fall tree
871. KFC picnic
872. before and after pictures of a garden
873. pulling vines out of a garden
874. seeing progress
875. old houses with history
876. cupcakes with filling in the middle
877. sidewalk cafe, reading magazines, "people and dog watching"
878. old stairs that creak when you walk on them
879. rest when wearied
880. shaving an inspirational source with a friend
881. talking on the phone or in person with a friend versus text, facebook, or email
882. husband filling my car with gas
883. kitchen sink dripping to the rhythm of the music
884. neighbor running across the parking lot to help with a heavy load
885. "stockinged" feet in bed at night
886. using different voices when reading a story
887. sleeping baby
888. outstretched arms of a baby
889. Halloween oreos
890. wise and aptly spoken words from a friend
891. skittering of the leaves on the sidewalk
892. child looking up from his work long enough to say "I love you, Mrs. G"
893. child practicing independently what I've shown them
894. child with tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth in concentration
895. lesson plans done in record time
896. little girls playing "wedding" in their backyard
897. kids jumping in the leaves
898.changing clothes after school
899. hearing a friend's familiar voice
900. seeing a "mommy to be's" growing baby belly
901. organic produce delivered to my door

Where did my favorite month go?

It's no secret that October is my favorite month...at least as far as "non-school related" items are concerned (the yummy smells, the changing season, it's now our anniversary month, the world just seems at it's best then, etc...). But good grief Charlie Brown, as far as school is concerned, good luck staying sane :) This would explain my pictorial absence as of recently. So here goes in order to catch myself up...

Week of Oct. 22


# 1-4 Went to Parkville on a Saturday and just sat under a tree at English Landing Park. It was lovely. I read a book that wasn't school related just for fun!


#5 pretty tree at St. Therese Church and School#6- I made Pecan Bars (pretty much like pecan pie in a delightful little square)
#7 Made chocolate chip pumpkin cookies#8 Joey looking especially adorable-keeping the blanket warm :)

#9 Joey inspects the grocery bags when I get home from the grocery store. We call him "Inspector #37."
Week of Oct. 29
#10 My friend Brooke told me about this...but make sure you throw it out before 2 weeks (it got all squishy and leaked gross pumpkin juices all over my husband. Yuck!)
#11 Went to see the the little monkey pants at MNU-she was in the Homecoming Court. It was fun times! #12 Pumpkin Pie Dip (very yummy with apple slices-especially Granny Smith, gingersnaps, or pretzel sticks)

#13 I made butternut-carrot squash soup, put it in a bread bowl, and put roasted pumpkin seeds on top! (This was a day I didn't have school so I actually had some time :)
#14 Bob gives it 2 thumbs up!
#15 Went home to Bolivar, came down with strep throat, and saw my girls Katie and Tara in their Halloween costume finery:) I can't believe how fast they're growing up!

Week of Nov. 5
#15 -17 Some favorite fall cards I made...#18-19 Bob sent me flowers at school for our 13 month anniversary...just to surprise me:) It was very thoughtful and made my day! My kids made sure they "oohed" and "aahed" appropriately :)

video-my sister in the homecoming court and her escort Taylor (they were hilarious...I would expect no less).

Have your (wedding) cake and eat it too...

So this is way overdue, but here are a few "snapshots" from the past (almost) month.

Week of Sept. 24



#1-3 I love decorating for seasons...but obviously this one is my favorite! #4 The moon and "cotton-candy pink" sky as i was leaving for school one morning


Week of Oct. 1

#5 Okay, I admit I'm ridiculous, but joey the cat really looks so innocent and sweet here... (By looking, you wouldn't think he's be capable of eating a stryofoam plate or attacking my aloe plant)
#6-10 I love my drive to and from school...true, it would be nice if I lived 10 minutes from school (when I Bolivar I lived 5 minutes and that was a little too close). I love the fields, the mist in the mornings, and shadows on the country roads on my way home.

Week of Oct. 8
#11 stir fry I made-Bob loves bell peppers, hence the abundance!

#12-13 Our anniversary weekend-we ate at Lidia's near Union Station-I highly recommend it!
#14 Went to English Landing Park in Parkville on Sunday ... love that place! Some of my more vibrant childhood memories are from here.#15 The secret to a great tasting top-tier of your wedding cake a year later is to get people in charge of your cake table who will wrap the cake in 10-15 layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil. It seriously was as good as the first time...a year ago! Yum-chocolate and raspberry!

Week of Oct. 15#16-17 I arranged some flowers (use the word "arranged" very loosely) for my friend Sasha who just had a baby and wanted to bring her some fall festiveness. I kept one for us (and Joey ate some of the leaves while I was gone). Silly, silly animal. I think he threw it up later, but don't feel bad for him.




#18-19 We went to the pumpkin patch (in Gardner, KS) and it was fun times. It's a little funny going to a place with all of these really cute families and I feel a little out of place-just the two of us, but it's still so much fun! Maybe we'll be a cute family like that one day (I'll point and say "Look at that cute baby!" and my husband will say something like "Yeah, but we don't want one...they spit up and make big messes." ).
#20 Joey mesmerized by the water in the sink...it doesn't take much for him to be entertained.

thankful part 3

A few thoughts this week on things to be thankful for...

I must say if you really want to be inspired about simple but incredible things, you need to read this blog. I must read this blog.
Stop. Do not pass go. Do not collect 100 dollars. Go now. Read it. You can come back to mine later. This lady is a much better writer than I will ever even hope to be. She has a gift.

Anywho, if I had a list of women who greatly inspire me and I think we'd be great friends (pardon the phrase, but "soul sisters" comes to mind): Ann Voskamp (the author of the aforementioned blog-go read it if you haven't yet) and Sara Groves would be at the very tip top of my list.

Without further adieu...my list

21. a newly discovered harmony in a well loved song (if you know me well enough, you know i love singing harmonies...especially with my sister)
22. walking through a neighborhood in twilight...it's almost like all of the houses are "tucking themselves in" for the night. It's a pleasant feeling.
23. Pumpkin flavored and spiced everything is back...hallajujah!
24. mist and fog slowly moving across a field in the morning as I meet with the Son for my day. It's one of those things that a picture really wouldn't do justice to.
25.having a "theme" song as I drive to work: right now my sound track consists of some "oldies but goodies" (Bethany Dillon "You're all I need" and Shawn McDonald to name a few) For some reason having a specific morning mix just makes going to school and facing a rather daunting day a lot easier. And reminds me of the Jesus inside of me.

Until I think of more thankful things....

thankful continued...

You thought I forgot, didn't you? Here is my list continued...I am focused on living a thankful life...with an attitude of "If this is the worst thing that happens this week, it will be a good week." and "It could be better, it could be worse" as one of my beloved mentors Sherrie Bayer says:)

11. fall! It is definitely my favorite season! Hello loveliness! I just decorated our apartment "fallishly" this week and it makes me giddy! Fall makes me think of goodness, goldenness, and comfort.
12. after a bout with pink eye, I am thankful for eyes to see. I woke up one morning and literally couldn't open my eyes without pain. Thus, I am thankful I can see and with the invention of contacts not have to wear glasses most days.
13. the smell of fresh cut grass
14. rainy saturdays or sundays (just one per weekend please :)
15. my hilarious principal...she cracks me up
16. Joey the cat follows me around our apartment when I am cleaning...it's highly entertaining watching him cock his head this way and that as he "inspects" my work. How great to have a kitty who enjoys being my assistant.
17. Baking...I love mixing things in a bowl, using our new Cuisinart mixer (not Kitchen aide, mind you), and eating cookie dough!
18. My awesome co-workers...
19. My workout buddies ... you know who you are!
20. our belated honey moon cruise that I am very excited about (in December to the Bahamas)Who wants to watch Joey for us? :)