Gratitude on a Saturday

I’m thankful I can and do contribute something positive to the community. I haven’t always been able to so. When the twins were newborns and I was struggling in other aspects of my life, I couldn’t be a liaison between the classroom teacher and the students in any of my kiddo’s classes. Even more recently, last year, when my eldest was in one of Denver’s youth orchestras, finding time to volunteer for the non-profit was daunting. I barely met the required hours at the eleventh hour.

Now, we’re about a third of the way through the academic year, and I’m feeling pretty good about where I am, for a change. I’m pretty stoked.

Without further ado, here’s my gratitude list for the week:

• As a room parent at the kiddos’ school, I was able to get some parents of children with birthdays to bring goodies to the November birthday party celebration, last minute. That was a win.
• I spent 20-minutes of one-on-one time with one of the kiddos at the school Thanksgiving lunch. It was such a focused, enjoyable, delightful time, just to be with my child.
• Two of my kiddos participated in the school Spelling Bee and did their best.
• I surprised those two kiddos token gifts for giving their hand at the Spelling Bee. That was a joy to do. They weren’t expecting it, and I wanted to know that putting forth their best effort mattered the most.
• I was able to find a hard copy of the third Hunger Games book, Mockingjay, for only $3.50. It was a ‘like new’ used copy. Happy dance for good deals.
• One of my kiddos has been into unicorns lately, and I found Unicorn Snot lip gloss. Fun stuff.
• I provided a listening ear to an individual who was vulnerable and transparent me about isolating and deprecating circumstances, who felt heard.
• I found a substitute for peanut butter that is nut-free and gluten-free.
• I voted. It’s a privilege I don’t want to take for granted.
• Jan patiently worked on rhythm with me on Mozart’s “Venite, inginocchiatevi!” from Le nozze di Figaro, even though I just wasn’t getting it.