My Grab Bag of Thoughts

First, I was thinking this morning about fear of the unknown.  It seems obvious to me in starting a new job or moving to a new town.  But a new phase of life, being afraid of that because you don't know what it holds, that's kind of a new feeling.  I hate feeling uncomfortable and that's is just where the unknown puts me.

Second, teachers today are amazing.  Not all of them (heaven forbid I stereotype), but the vast diversity of personalities and backgrounds they deal with every day just blows my mind.  Then when you get a teach who just goes above and beyond or who just loves the messy faced little maniacs.  It just makes me smile and feel so thankful.  Cheers to Mrs. Carmen McAdams from back in my grade school days!

Third, raising a family today is expensive.  I feel fairly bare bones about it (I will admit to twice monthly pizza for all of us, and an unreasonable amount of chocolate and sugar), but no fancy trips, not a millions sports/activities and still....oh well.  It will be all worth it as long as I keep it all under control until the end, right?  Not sure when the end is.  Okay, that thought got morbid fast.

Fourth, I WANT TO GO TO THE BRITISH ISLES.  I did see some irony when I was lamenting it earlier.  Here, my ancestors sacrificed what little they had to come over here, and now I'm wanting several thousand so I can go back and hang out where they came from for a few weeks.

Fifth, got some zero drop shoes.  I'm a little excited (I've never been excited about shoes before) and am hoping once I get used to the way they utilize muscles differently, that I will have less pain and soreness in the wrong spots.  Save my poor little (11's) feet and ankles!!!  Alas, maybe by actually using my calf muscles when I run I can get toned calves. -shout out to Ja and Lucas

Sixth, and maybe coolest???, with all the bleh in the world today, I love finding people who are doing good from all backgrounds.  It makes me feel like the kind, good people aren't nearly as few as 'the internets' (ha) and the news would have you believe.  This lady (who I've thought the whole school year was a grandma to the kids she brought to preschool) has been bringing an extra child on her carpools.  I asked her if it was another grandchild.  She said that no, none of these were her grandchildren.  She said it was a ministry thing.  She explained that as her kids were growing up (4) she was a working mom and her husband worked and she missed all those firsts.  She was sad about that and prayed what she could do.  She said God told her she needed to just start over and get a newborn to watch for a single mom so she wouldn't miss those firsts this time around and she could help the mom by providing daycare for her.  She posted an ad and has now taken care of 2 sisters, from birth, for their mom.  Neat that she can help and that the girls are in a safe loving place while their mom provides for them.