Thank You Nutrition Changes!

Growing up I was a notoriously horrible eater. Sour cream and onion pringles and brownies were my lunch in 6th grade, with a side of carrots or cucumbers of course. In high school, pizza and Doritos were the standard.

Due to some freak of nature, I've been blessed with a pretty decent body type (height-weight wise). Even after working in two bakeries (high school years and post graduate school), where I could eat anything I wanted on the job, I still managed to not become a human marshmallow of cellulite.

Little by little I've changed my diet.  Within two days of school ending last year, I opted to go gluten free. Everything improved for the better: digestion, mental clarity, recovery from trainings, sleep, and along the way I dropped 12 or so pounds in a very rapid manner (3 weeks or so).

Yet, steady and consistent improvements have not been my strength.  I've done a lot of delving into the whys, wheres, hows, beliefs, etc. and I'm making improving my nutrition my focus.

It's an early start, but one I know is attainable... each little step counts, and each understanding builds a healthier foundation for success!

Thank you body for sustaining me! Thank you for loving me even when I poured raw sugar down my hatch like it was no tomorrow! Thank you for allowing me to digest M&M and Coke breakfasts in 5th grade, and well... for hanging with me!

Here's to a better life... one morsel of loving food at a time!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You ABC Style!

A- apples and apple sauce

B- beginnings

C- carrots

D- ducks on the bay

E- E...sister!

F- family and friends

G- generosity

H- hemp powder

I- icey trails

J- JoJo's (local ice cream place)

K- kindness

L- laughter

M- Mom and all that she does!

N- nice neighbors (such a change..)

O- October and its fall leaves

P- pumpkin granola (baking in the oven right now!)

Q- questions (they always lead to solutions!)

R- rain coat (my income tax present many years ago, a pretty appley/avocadoey green!)

S- sounds of students working

T- tires that go round and take me places

U- understanding (such a gift!)

V- volunteering

W- windy days

X- xyst (it's a real thing!)

Y- yogurt (frozen or non)

Z- zippers (so much easier than snaps and buttons some days)

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You...for all that is!

Some time either late last night or early this morning, I realized... "I have a ton of stuff... look around and be grateful for it all."  While I have huge dreams, and ones I look forward to seeing become reality, I have a blessed life right now. 

My health is strong, my education is growing, my family is wonderful-supportive-wacky, my transportation is reliable and friendly, my faith is my rock and comfort zone, my job allows me to do what I love and many opportunities to learn, my home is a sanctuary (that needs to be spiffed up!), my friends are always there when true help and laughter are needed, and I have more "stuff" than I know what to do with (despite giving away easily 2/3 in the last year).

Of course there's more, but I'll end it here.

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Dream Encourager!

After school a friend asked me a question, about what I really want to do in life. I was a bit hesitant to open up, due to the nature of our relationship and the setting (in front of the library in school), so I requested a rain check for a non-professional setting.

As we loaded up her car with stuff I no longer need, but members of her church will gladly use, I felt it was the best time to share with her my dream, this long held vision in my heart.

Her response said it all, "Oh that's perfect!..." and on she went encouraging me!

To have the support from a person who I deeply value meant everything on a Friday (after a most long week, and exceptionally intense day).  To have her put words to my dream, providing a piece that was missing, was an infinite blessing!

Thank you, dream encourager, for your patience with me! Thank you for supporting me back when we first met, under somewhat rocky conditions! Thank you for a slice of light to help guide my vision! 

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Students!

This week my Level 2s have been writing skits based on injuries, with doctors, nurses, and solutions. For four days they have worked cohesively, creatively, and consistently! They have become very good friends with the dictionaries, taught me new words (atropellar- to run over), and have challenged themselves to excel at the highest levels. All the while, I'm not sure that they realize how hard they have been working!

Tomorrow they perform these pre-corrected skits, with props and other bits of imagination! I cannot wait!

Thank you Level 2s for showing me what is possible! Thank you for maintaining focus when Code Red Days have been all too frequent, and SOLs are next week! Thank you for continuing to encourage me to push myself a bit further!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Dear Journal!

15 cent journal.  Questions.  Prayers.  Solutions.  Growth patterns noted.  Ideas.  Hopes.  Comfort in written form.

Thank you dear friend journal for all of the great times!  Thank you for holding my dreams, cherishing my inner most thoughts, and supporting me!  Thank you for being a most relaxing part of life, and helping to keep me sane and soaring!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You J!

 That about sums up a great person that I work with, but one might add:  knows how to wrangle middle schoolers, maintains the "all effort, no excuses" perspective, is always looking to grow and improve, and a bunch more!

Last Friday I was itching for the weekend, and speaking my mind.  Today it was J's turn.  Within 3 lines I was doubled over, crying, and grateful to be on the listening end!  At the end I shared with her some major news, that I have only passed along to one other person.  Her response was, "Way to keep moving forward!"  It was just what I needed for reassurance!

Thank you J for all that you do, all who you are, and all that you strive to be! Thank you for being sunshine and stability for me and many others!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!