If you’ve been a regular reader here, you know that until recently I always had a Thankful Thursday post.  While I still share what I’m thankful for each week on the Facebook Page, I’ve decided not to stress about a weekly commitment here on the blog.

But this week, Mama Kat’s prompt to write about something you’re thankful for came at just the perfect time.

I’ve been dealing with sick kids.  The house is a mess.  (When is it not???)  No one seems to want to eat what I cook for dinner.  I’ve got a list of things I want/need done a mile long.

Everyone’s been tired, cranky.  I yelled at the four-year-old.  I mean really yelled.

It’s been a week of not feeling good enough, just trying to make it to the next day.  I’m struggling.

Tuesday was a low point.  And I went to bed dreading having to get up and do it all again the next day.  Having to face my parents when they came up as planned the next day.

And then, as I forced a smile on my face, and pretended everything was okay while they visited, my husband walked through the door.

In the middle of the day.

Totally unannounced.

My first thoughts?  Is he sick too?  Did something happen at work?

I jumped straight to the negative.  That’s where my mind has been focused lately.

I never thought that he’d just come home to surprise me, because he knew I’d had a rough couple days.

What am I thankful for?  My husband.

Sometimes I lock my feelings away, make the mistake of not opening up to him, not telling him what’s on my mind.  I make the mistake of thinking I’m alone in this.

And then he does something like this.

And I know he is there if I just reach out.

The post Thankful Thursday 11/21 first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

Giggling.

Pitter-pattering of feet racing across the kitchen floor.

The dog barking, as she chases her tail, excited by all the commotion.

The ding of the microwave, telling me that my mug of cocoa is ready.

These are the sounds that filled our house this morning.

A welcome difference to the past two mornings — both hectic.  Both full of “I know; I know!!!!!!!!”  “I don’t want to wear THIS coat!!!!”   “Wahhhh!”

For the laughter and the happy sounds this morning, I am thankful.

What sounds have filled your house today?

Shared over on Mama’s Losin’ It.

The post Morning Sounds first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

His hand squeezed my left index finger with all its might as we approached the building.  After the past week of, “I don’t want to go!” over and over, and knowing how nervous he gets when more than a couple other kids are around, I was fully prepared to stay in the classroom during this first day of church preschool.

His face looked so serious, like he was going to an execution instead of an hour-long period of stories and crafts.  I had promised him that if he tried it 2-3 times and still didn’t like it he wouldn’t have to go anymore.  And then we were there, in the doorway.  The teacher introduced herself, and one of her many teenage helpers.  And the next thing I knew, my preschooler was letting go of my finger, taking the hand of a tall boy named Will, and heading to the colorful rug to read a few books.

He didn’t even look back.

That was two weeks ago.

This week, when he came running out, he was smiling.   And then, so quietly, “I think I like it.”

I can’t begin to explain how much those 5 words mean to me, and to my husband.  We have watched him run, crying like he was injured, from the table when a group of 3 kids came to sit with him at a birthday party.  He has clung to my fingers, pinching  them in his anxiety, while we watched his big sister play in those indoor play areas.  Just last week when it looked like there would be more than 2 kids at library story time, he looked terrified and begged me to leave.

I know that a big part of his success at church preschool stems from the fact that there are so many teens who have volunteered to help.   With just 12 students and 6 teen helpers plus the teacher, he is getting that needed individualized attention from a “big person,” which makes him feel more confident.

There is no doubt about it, church preschool and those who volunteer there are at the top of things I am thankful for this week.

The post Thankful for Awesome Teen Helpers first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

Fall.

With temperatures still in the 90’s this past week, it is hard to believe it is here.

And while I am sad that the days of swimming, laughing, and having no particular place to be are over.  There are things I am looking forward to this fall.

1.  Cooler temperatures.  This last, sudden burst of heat has been miserable.

2.  Watching 2 daredevils jumping from the big rock out front into the crackling pile of leaves.

3.  Celebrating my kindergartner’s 6th birthday.  Last year it was a tea party theme…  I can’t wait to see what she asks for this year.

4.  Halloween.  Every year for Trick-or-Treat we head down to my parents’ house.  We walk the kids along the same streets I walked, then we head back for cocoa and spend the night.  On top of looking forward to this tradition, I am looking forward to helping my kids turn into whatever creature/item they challenge me with this year.

5.  Motorcycle class.  It’s one of the goals I have set for myself to achieve by 40.  All my gear has come in, and class is scheduled.  Here’s hoping I don’t have to test that gear!

6.  Watching my kids grow.  One’s in kindergarten.  Every day she learns so much, grows so much.  One started church preschool on Sundays.  (I could write a whole post about how amazing that is.)

I am thankful today that there is so much to look forward to this fall!

(Inspired by Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop prompt:   6 things you look forward to this Fall.

***

For over 2 years now I’ve written a Thankful Thursday post weekly.  Last week I lost track of days, and as I climbed into bed Wednesday night, I realized I wasn’t going to have time to write a post before our busy Thursday began.

Having just jotted down numerous commitments on the calendar for September, I’ve decided I need to give myself a break.  While Thankful Thursday may not happen every week here on the blog, I will still be celebrating it on the Facebook page each week.  I hope you will join me there in taking a moment to think about all there is to be thankful for in the world.

The post Looking Forward to Fall first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

How’s your summer bucket list?  Did you get it all knocked out?

When I saw this prompt from Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, I thought it would fit nicely into this week’s Thankful Thursday post.

What did not get accomplished this summer that you wish you had time for?

This year we put together a summer bucket list using Post-It Notes on our pantry door.  The kids had a blast putting up the colored sheets and thinking up things they’d like to do over the next few months.

This week I’m thankful that we were able to do most of the items on our list.

Several of our items were taken care of during our vacation:  we saw beautiful sunsets and Lightning McQueen, and my daughter and I met some of the Disney Princesses.

We had several picnics and trips to the park, along with a few trips to the zoo.  And the kids were tickled pink when Grandma and Grandpa spent the night one night.

But there is one thing we didn’t get to do that I wish we had….

We didn’t get to go camping.

Growing up we went camping all the time — at least a few times each year.  I remember setting up the tent, or sometimes sleeping in our big van (back then we didn’t have passenger seats, so there was plenty of room for sleeping bags).  I remember all the campfires, and making s’mores and fruit pies over the fire.

I want to start making those memories with my own children.

I want to show them how to set up the tent, tuck them into their own little sleeping bags, and fall asleep listening to the crickets.

So, I’m adding it to our fall to-do list…. After all, the cooler weather is better for those campfire moments anyway.  Right?

What’s something on your summer list that you still want to do?

Leave a comment below, and, if you have your own thankful post, be sure to link it up this week!

I am also linked with Black Tag Diaries, The Fontenot Four, and Reading List

The post Thankful Thursday — Summer Bucket List first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

This Thankful Thursday I will be dropping my daughter off at school for the first time.

Except for the two days my mom watched her while we were at the hospital having child number 2, it will be the longest time I’ve been away from her since she was a baby and I went back to work to finish the school year.

I am forever thankful I’ve had that time at home with my little girl.

And I am thankful for each of you stopping in this week.

Leave a comment letting me know what you are thankful for this week, or link up your own thankful post below!

The post Thankful Thursday — First Day of School first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.