Gratitude is the heart's memory. -French Proverb

October is here!  I so love October.  As much as I love summer, there is just something about October.

I have gotten out of the habit of writing down the things I am grateful for so I am going to take the time tonight to hopefully kick-start that habit.

SO...here are the things today for which I am grateful.

October.  Crisp mornings, Turning leaves. Joe.

Ballet slippers. Peppermint Tea. Taelin.

Safe home. Warm blankets. Good books.

perspective: a way of regarding situations, facts, etc, and judging their relative importance

I have been thinking a lot about perspective this week.  I just finished the book I Am Malala which was an eye opening book for me in a lot of ways. I have also been reading the heartbreaking stories on Humans of New York (the best Facebook page ever) about the refugees in Europe right now. I also have a 6 year old that is convinced the world is out to get her because "peanut butter sandwiches make her head feel fuzzy." I also have a profession that I care deeply about but feel very lost in.  My brain is very tired.

It is hard for me to even truly imagine the constant fear many people around the world live in.  There is so much politically I don't understand about it.  When I compare some of the things I am reading about to the things that are causing me angst, I just want to let myself its not really that big of a deal in the larger scheme of things and I need to just get over it.  But I don't know how to do that.  

Judging the relative importance of a situation.  I don't really know how to do that. The bigger the world becomes to me the more I want to simplify my own small world.  It feels like it is the equivalent of burying my head in the sand but my locus of control is so small in so many situations that I just want to hunker down with the things that are in my control and shut the rest out.  

But that isn't really an option, is it.  I mean, I guess I could sell all my possessions and go live off the grid but that is highly unlikely.  It isn't really what I want.  So I guess I will continue to work on finding lunch for my daughter to take to school that doesn't make her head feel fuzzy.  I will continue to build relationships at work and figure out my role in it all.  And I guess in the moments that I get overwhelmed by the whole thing, I can hunker down for a bit with a cup of hot tea and a good book.  In fact, I think I am going to go and do exactly that.

Do something today that your future self will thank you for! ~Unknown

I was chatting with a good friend about the transitions that were happening for me this fall and she wisely reminded me that new beginnings are a great time to establish new habits.  She is a very wise friend.

I thought about the idea of new habits and realized what I really wanted to do was get back to blogging.  I really have missed it.  I decided to take a peek to see if I remember how it all works.  Turns out I do!

So, I am back.  I have revised my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days.  I think I am going to have to reset my complete date a little since I am have been ignoring it for so long.  I still have 84 things on my list so I think my new end date is going to be Dec 31, 2017.  That gives me 828 days (thank you google) to finish the 84 things left on my list.  84 things in 828 days.  Kind of has a nice ring to it.

There are a few things that are in the works that I will be able to check off rather quickly.  Fall has officially arrived and a fall bucket list with Taelin would be an easy one to tackle. I will be D-O-N-E with the classes I am taking by Thanksgiving.  I can start looking for some new recipes, pass on some books that I am done with and start writing gratitude posts every week.  I am already so happy to be here.

So, if you were a loyal reader that was wondering when the heck I was going to start blogging again, I am sorry I left you.  If you are a new reader, welcome to the ramblings.

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. ~Chinese Proverb

We have just finished the second full week of school.  It has been an interesting month as all three of us have needed to settle into a new routine.  Taelin loves, loves, loves her new school.  She is excited to go every day and comes home happy.  I could not be more pleased with our decision choose Heritage as her school.  She is just going to blossom!  She is struggling a bit with full days all week and has been really tired at the end of the day.  Add dance into the mix (which is happy has started back up) and she has a really full schedule.

I asked her today what her 5 most favorite things she has done at Heritage have been:

1. Art-They have been writing a ton and she loves illustrating all of her stories.  They also had the art teacher for the first time this week and she got to sketch in her art notebook that is "just like LaLa's!"

2. Math- Who knew my kid would love math!  She loves the small math group and the games they are learning to practice addition.  It is seriously the first thing she talks about when she gets in the car.

3. Reading- Man, this girl is SO motivated to read.  I have been really careful not to force the issue because I know she will be able to read when she is ready...and I think she is ready.  Her challenge is going to be that it doesn't come fast.  (I don't know where she gets that from.)

4. Morning Meeting- Every morning they start their day all together in a morning meeting.  When Joe and I did our visit last year, it was seriously the most magical thing.  I actually got teary while watching the class.  They talk about a quote and then write and then talk some more. I'm not surprised at all that it is one of her favorite parts of her day. It's amazing.

5. Missoula Children's Theater- This week they had a two hour theater workshop done by the Missoula Children's Theater.  They got to do a bunch of different things.  She learned about 'key gestures' and 'isolation' and got to practice in a couple of skit.  Not surprising to anyone...she loved it.


I am so excited to see what this year has in store for this great kid!

1st day of 1st grade!

Today was Taelin's first day at her new school Heritage.  She was SO excited for her first day and except for a few minutes when Joe was getting ready to leave, she was overjoyed to be going.  I had to be at a training at 7:30 so Joe did the drop off.  I was a little sad about it but Joe was excited.  He did a great job of taking pictures and capturing Taelin and all her personality!  

Heritage is a great little school that serves 1-8 graders.  They are multi-aged groups and the husband and wife teachers teach thematically.  For so many reasons, it is going to be a great little place for Taelin!  She made brownies for her teachers and was so proud of herself.

We got home and she was just plain exhausted.  She went to bed a whole hour early.  I am glad we only have 3 days and then a weekend so we can ease into the year a little bit.

We are so excited to see what this year holds!

"And suddenly you know...It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings."

This quote just SO fits how I am feeling tonight.  I am so hopeful for this week and the beginnings that our family is experiencing.  Every single one of us is venturing into something new.

The magic of beginnings.  I just love it. Instead of feeling anxious or nervous or doubtful, I am trusting in the magic of beginnings.  I am so grateful for this beginning I am starting.

Tonight was open house at my new school and I stood awkwardly at my office door kind of wondering why I was even there.  Kids were walking towards their new classroom with backpacks full of supplies and parents in tow. I smiled as they went by and watched as the office helped those that stopped for one reason or another.  A line started to form and a mother and 5 year old boy stood at the back of the line, close to my office.  I smiled and said hello and that was all it took.  He was the most excited a kid has even been to go to school.  He was literally bouncing with excitement when he told me he got to come to this school every day and be a kindergartner.  He told me he was so excited to meet new friends and see his classroom and play outside and then in mid-sentence he jumped towards me and gave me a hug.  He was so happy to be there.  And at that moment, I was too.  It was a little piece of magic.

transition: movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change:

Transition.  It is all around me right now.  I have started a new job at a new school.  Taelin is starting first grade at a new school in just a few days. Joe's job is in flux right now because his boss (who he really likes and respects) is moving.  There is a lot of change right now.  My first inclination would normally be to freak out and worry about it all..and I have done some of that.  But when I take a deep breath and think about it, it is really an exciting time.  Most of the changes that are coming our way have been chosen by us.  There is always the closing door and the people we leave behind but there are new doors opening every day and new people behind those doors.

One of my very wise friends reminded me that life transitions are a great place to start new habits and I have decided to embrace that idea.  As I am trying to figure out my new schedule (which includes Taelin's new schedule) I am realizing there are a lot of opportunities for creating new habits.  There are a few things I am contemplating in regards to what I want to make time for but I need to be realistic too.  I need to resist the urge of making a huge list of things I want to do because I know if I do that I will start out strong but will ultimately fail because it is just too much.  

So, to simplify things a little, I have decided that the new habit I would like to embrace is how I am making decisions about spending my time.  One of the biggest struggles I have is making my own health a priority.  Not only my physical health but my mental health as well.  So, I am going to start getting a little more selfish.  

Right now for example, there other things I could be doing.  Other things I need to be doing.  But first, I am writing, because it is good for my health.  Once I am done those things will still be there to do (and I will do them) but by first allowing myself the time write, I am starting to create the groove in my brain to establish a new habit that focuses of improving my health.  

You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the 

courage - pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically - to say "no" to other things.

 And the way to do that is to have a bigger "yes" burning inside. 

 -Stephen Covey