My Own Thoughts

My husband and I stayed up till midnight, not because we needed to go shopping, but because, as empty nesters, we wanted an adventure. When we arrived at the mall at 12:15 and saw the lines of cars backed up trying to turn in, we decided to take a spin around the neighborhood and head [...]

xylophones and xrays experts and expats you yellow yawns yards youth young yodels yarns zingers (the orange/yellow ones) zoos, especially ones with trains you can ride around in zeros, easy to grade

V: violets violins, especially when they are fiddles violas volunteers Vues (Saturn Vues) views, out the window, of the world, of the sky and moon and trees… variables, so that not everything is the same variety (see above) W: windows willows weeping willows weeping cherries Wonderland Williams family warriors women wilderness welcomes winter whispers whistling [...]

T: thanks toes today tomorrow toilets trucks toys tea teal turquoise Tandy Thomas totes turtles truth U: umbrellas undies, especially lacy, frilly, feminine ones uncles, for me and my boys unicycles and memories associated with them universities, esp. mine and those my sons attend umber USA USAirForce USArmy USNavy USMarines USCoastGuard unicorns, and books about [...]

I can honestly say that I don’t love grading papers, but I don’t think most people do. However, when I was reviewing the papers to see what students might think of their improvement over the class period, I don’t think they will see it. Many people did the best on the first essay (which I [...]

I am thankful for Ron, my amazing husband. Also, other Rs: roses rain romance romance novels running restaurants return policies Romanian children roofs (or rooves, as I prefer, despite the incorrectness) roll-ups, from when my kids were little S: me, Suzi suitcases sandwiches Serenity sunshine swords solos Saturn the Son soda pop silence sleep students [...]

Remo Savisaar is an amazing photographer. His landscapes are amazing and his birds are even more stunning. An example of landscapes:

P: people popcorn porcupines, since they are so amazing partners palaces pink, especially hot and neon purple, any shade, though royal purple is my favorite of the purples posies poems poetry poets passion participation principles portability promises, especially those which are kept pumpkins and pumpkin cheesecake made by Bolivia paint paintings painters pals pen pals [...]

N: noodles noggins noise names Northern Lights Nellie Bly notions, particularly the actual word Nancy O: onions Oreos Orion oranges outside oolong only children okra, but only because my daddy loves it oceans, because they are beautiful orgasms olives, because the B-berry family adore them

L love laughter learning loneliness, because it teaches how much joy there is in others M my sons, especially my son M marriage, especially to my beloved husband mothers, especially mine who is now dancing in Heaven miracles mercy make-believe, because we can create marveling, because we should never lose our ability to be amazed [...]

an inexpensive homemade bath/hand scrub that everyone liked so much they requested more. I make it myself for everyday use, and it is great for gardeners’ hands. Use either coarse cane sugar or regular brown sugar, mix in almond or grapeseed oil (I use almond) until you get the desired scrub consistency, then add peppermint [...]

Immigrants. Indians (both American and not, since I am related to both). Israel. Illness, since it often draws us closer to God. Italics. Ink, because how would I write? Illustrations, both verbal and visual. Itemized deductions. Income. Yes, income. J Jesus. J middle name of oldest son. January, when my husband was born and also [...]

Thank you, God, for: G God. Grace, yours and my niece. Growth Good times Grandparents H My Haston family. Householders, even though most are gone. Heaven, because I know that is where my momma is. Holding hands, because that is so incredibly wonderful. Hats, because they are fun. Home, heart, and houses, although I am [...]

I am very grateful for: E my oldest son, E everything God has graciously given me over my lifetime eating ears to hear everybody I know and love F fall, even when the trees are blooming not turning, like they are here frontiers to conquer (educational or otherwise) friends family folks I know and love [...]

C (Third day of November) Christ my children courage Christmas celebrations in general chicken tenders church church friends chapel (Fourth day of November) D Davises Deverkas Delonys dog darkness doorbells dancing debonair darling (R just won’t work for every day of the month!)

I’ve missed several things already in November (even though it is only the second day). One thing I missed was the deadline for a conference. The other thing was my annual Thanksgiving “Thank you, God” list. I can’t fix the conference, but I can catch up on my thanks list. I am grateful for: A [...]