November 15

I am grateful tonight to have been home from work before 8pm.  I am grateful that the children are in bed before 9.  I am grateful to have a few hours with my husband before he takes off for Chicago.  I am exceedingly grateful for his amazing backrubs.

I'm also really tired.

And I know this is a gratitude journal but sometimes I am less grateful, and more... just tired.

My daughter has not been a fan of sleep recently, and gym days sure start early, and conference days sure are long.  And it would be easy, oh so easy, to slip into a litany of complaints, a rhapsody on the busyness of life these days..

Its nights like this when I need gratitude the most.

I am grateful for the sunshine today, for the chance to walk outside a bit in that sunshine, even if it was just to run a  book across the street to Orchard.

I am grateful for my friends at Orchard, for warm greetings and quick, easy conversations born of familiarity and shared suffering history.

I am grateful for the hugs from my children this afternoon, for the way their little voices ring out their greetings when I get home.

I am grateful that my son is popular with the kids in kindergarten-- so reports Nat, telling the tale of tablefuls of children calling out to him as they passed the after-care room on their way to the book fair this afternoon.  In spite of his sweetly oblivious nature, the other children like him.  May it always be this way for him.

I am grateful that he is learning-- more every day-- sponging up the instruction from those 6 hours a day at school.  Telling time, reading some sight words, adding plus-ones and plus-twos in his head, writing his own words... amazing and exciting and sometimes I just have to kiss the top of his head.  A lot.

I am grateful for the sunshine of my daughter during the day.  Difficult as bedtimes can be, interrupted as the nights continually are- she is unfailingly adorable, affectionate, hilarious.  I am grateful for the presence of this unique and joyful little soul in my life.

I am grateful that my dog has a clean bill of health from the vet today.  Well, except for the fleas.  And I am grateful that there is frontline to deal with those.

I am grateful that tomorrow is Friday.