Happy Monday, Journeyer!
As is the way with back-to-school, last week seems like a whirlwind gone by.
Extra work hours trying to organize student seat assignments, assemble student rosters and pour over the data to become as familiar with the new names and faces as quickly as possible…
Toss in a few counseling appointments and several writing prompts to add to the first three I hadn’t finished editing…
Top it all off with the first cold of the season, right on cue after a week of new and virile germ exposure…
I woke with a scratchy throat Thursday morning and during the closing on the house we had helped a long-time friend buy I was swatting a runny nose, sneezing, and sucking air through my mouth…
There went the rest of the weekend…
Last week’s weather was brutally hot until a major thunder storm arrived Saturday night to blow out the heat and bring in the cool.
I went from shorts and sleeveless tops all week to socks, sweatpants, and a sweatshirt on Sunday.
Amidst all this, of course, were many quiet happy moments, the sort of fleeting events that we might forget about if we aren’t practicing the art of happy…
It’s one of my mantras: “Just like the proverbial shit happens, happy happens. ™ “
Once again my students rose to the occasion of doing a beautiful job, despite being overcrowded in unseasonably warm temps.
My office took notice earlier this year and made changes to our headcount, which is sort of bittersweet given the fact that the students they removed from my roster were those students who were completely out of control two-and-a-half-years ago. We’ve made so much progress together that I am super sad to see them go…
Yet I am happy for the reprieve in numbers…
Now that daybreak is coming a little earlier, I’ve seen several fiery sunrises and one morning spotted a doe and two fawn pausing to drink from a stream… That stretch of road is a glorious image with the hillside backdrop and the winding landscape. Sadly, there’s not a conducive place to pull over for a photo, so you’ll just have to use your imagination!
I helped a friend with an event he was hosting on Saturday and spent Sunday catching up on the writings for the Grief Diaries anthology series I’m involved in. I’m honored to be working alongside the energetic visionary, Lynda Cheldelin Fell and thrilled to be co-authoring one of the books, Grief Diaries: The Loss of a Child. If you know anyone who might want to contribute to any of the twelve anthologies she’s spearheading, head on over to the Grief Diaries website for more information.
I’ve been watering my surprise mum plants every day and can’t hardly wait to see what colors emerge!
To commemorate the cooler fall weather, I pulled out the fall centerpieces and the harvest door wreaths, and I rolled out the autumn doormats. Nothing like a little fresh color and change of scenery to brighten your mood!
We closed on that house! It officially belongs to our friends and I couldn’t be happier to have helped facilitate something for some very special people.
We are going to buy a new stove for our house and I’m super stoked because we purchased a double oven unit. Because it doesn’t have the bottom drawer storage we had to rearrange a few cupboards. I must say I was glad to finally have an excuse to whittle down the enormous collection of drinking bottles we’ve amassed over the years!
How many beverage bottles does one family need?!
Beauty was thrilled to rediscover this little mug we brought back for her from our Paris trip. Warren always called her Grumpy because of her penchant for that “grumpy face…” though sometimes when she was younger he’d call her Thumper because of the way she’d stomp off when she was unhappy about something. Ahh, those little family episodes that only later become fond memories…
Warren and I also went on a leisurely ride through the woods with Beauty and a friend she brought up for us to meet. Check out these breathtaking views, Journeyer! The sheer magnificence is enough to wash away every fiber of stress.
A neighbor’s pond
Warren has always dreamed of putting a pond and a retirement home on this knob on our land
Big Guy is alive and doing well as evidenced by a reply to my text message last week. In case you missed it…when my youngest failed to reply to a text I sent a few weeks back, I followed up two days later with another message: “Are you still alive?”
His reply? “No I died a few days ago.”
“Well, that explains why you didn’t respond to my message from a couple days ago. Ha ha. Glad to see your spirit has been revived.”
“Sorry about that…” he replied.
Ahhh, the headaches and humor in parenting… Another one for the story books!
I also found out that Fave has not only guaranteed a spot at the Olympic Trials, he will also be attending a second international meet in Russia, which fulfills his final eligibility requirement that makes him one of the potential competitors in the 2016 games! We’re one step closer to seeing him fulfill that lifelong dream of his!!!
Warren and I enjoyed numerous long hot tub soaks beneath starlit skies. The songs of the cicadas, crickets, and tree frogs are like a lullaby that sets the stage for sleep every night.
Lastly, I am thrilled beyond measure to present to you the official logo for The Five Facets Philosophy on Healing. Isn’t she a beaut?! The artist knows her stuff, Journeyer, and managed to capture every element I imagined for the brand and then some.
Hot or cold, I am blessed to be surrounded by such natural beauty and to be in the company of such intrinsically beautiful people.
What about you, Journeyer? What moment(s) cooled you off, warmed your week, your toes, your heart, or brought a smile to your face? I love hearing from you and reading about those moments that feed your happy organ! Please spread a little joy and share a little something in a comment below.
Until we meet again, yours in hope, healing, and happiness,
