Happy Day

I was doing some reading of my own blog the other day. I'm a little worried that so many of my posts are about things. I'm afraid I seem like I'm all about the things and superficial stuff and food. (I blog a little too much about food.)

So, today. . .
some non-things that are making me happy.

In no particular order (and occasionally supplemented by pictures)

1. Seasons
Even though I can't stand shoveling snow or swatting mosquitoes, I love living somewhere that has distinct seasons. It keeps life interesting.


2. Personal touches
My Girl Scout cookies came in the mail with a cute note from my littlest (although she isn't so little anymore!) cousin.



3. Words
Kids picked their favorite quotes, cut letters and words out of magazines, and made this great bulletin board in one of my favorite classrooms. Love, love, love all the words.


4. A Tradition of Creating
I've been thinking a lot lately about why I enjoy making things so much. The best answer I can come up with is my grandma. We always made things together. . . cut-out cookies at Christmas when I was a kid, baskets when I was a little older, and sewing. The sewing together was my favorite. When she was alive, I so valued being able to make things together. Now, at least one of the reasons I make things is because it is a time that makes me still feel close to her.


5. Frie-Mily
I had lunch with Angie yesterday. I have some favorite things about being friends with Angie. I love the laughing -there's always lots of laughing. I love the straight talk - she tells it how it is. I love that we've grown-up together. We helped each other through college. We got married the same year. We bought houses at the same time. I'm so excited for the next step. . . helping Ang become a mom. Can't wait to meet The Warrior!

6. Learning
I love learning things. I love the moment where I "get it." More importantly, I love the moments where I can watch someone else "get it." One of my students is working so hard to be a better reader - really working hard. He is always carrying a book around with him. The latest choice is a collection of poetry by Tupac Shakur. It's so rewarding to watch him make each poem mean something, to really work through the ideas. He is even starting his own notebook of poetry. I think - after knowing him for two years - that he is finally starting to get that reading is about more than just knowing the words, and that writing is about more than just spelling something right. Guess it just took Tupac.

What non-things are making you happy?