My Cup Runneth Over

It's November, and most people (where I am from, at least) are celebrating Thanksgiving soon. A significant amount of people have been making Facebook statuses about what they are thankful for every day. I didn't participate in that trend because 87% of my friends would ignore it, 10% would read it and grumble about it, and only about 3% would enjoy what I had to say.

While completing an activity with some of my students, though, I realized that I have quite a lot to be thankful for, and I should express this. Some of what I am thankful for is people, and they need to know how grateful I am towards them. So, instead of posting something on Facebook for people to skip over, I am writing about it on here. You all choose to read my posts, so I don't feel as bad. The following are some of the prompts that I used with my class.

What does being thankful mean: It means knowing that your life is better because of something, and appreciating it.

What opportunities are you thankful for: So many. Going to college, participating in band and going on all those fantastic trips, working with the Upward Bound program, just to name a few.

Something about myself I am thankful for: Being tender-hearted.

A person I am grateful for because they inspire me: P!nk and Miranda Lambert (so what I don't know them personally.)

Someone who always makes me smile: My kids. All of them. All 300+ of them.

An adventure I am grateful I had the opportunity to experience: Being a military girlfriend. That was definitely an adventure..

Something I am thankful for about my neighborhood or community: That this is a safe, small-town  community.

Something I am thankful for about school: It made me a little less naive.

Someone I really appreciate because they support and encourage me: My family. They have always told me that I could do anything I set my mind to, and I feel that they mean it. 

Something alive I am thankful for: Flowers. They don't really serve a purpose, but they are good for the soul. The prettiest bouquet of flowers I ever got was a mix of yellow flowers: roses, daisies, sunflowers, and lilies.

Friends I am thankful for: Too many to name, honestly. A list of those I talk to on a daily-ish basis would include Chrissy, Trevor, Ryan, David, James, Steven, Brad, Mark, Joshua, Adam. (I have a lot of male friends, huh.)

Someone younger than me that I am thankful for: My little girl, Emma.

Someone older than me that I am thankful for: My Mama

Something invisible I am thankful for: Laughter

I am thankful I learned how to: Be patient. (After all, I hear it's a virtue. lol)

An activity I am grateful for:  Swimming. Being in the water (ocean, lake, pool, doesn't matter) is my happy place

Someone who teaches me I am thankful for: Ramona Garcia and Mr. Maurice Dean Jasper.

Something I am thankful for that is:
       - Square: My Bachelor's Degree
       - Round: The ring my daughter Faith gave me.
       - Triangle: Awkward Pillow
       - Rectangle: My work badge. It means that I have a job, and I am thankful for that.

Something I am thankful for that uses technology: Medicine. Modern medicine is a fantastic thing. I've had a lot of injuries, and I am always thankful for the doctors and nurses who have all this technology to help. (Lung surgeries, cracked ribs, cracked sternum, bruised tailbone, concussions, broken fingers, broken ankle, asphalt burns, all kinds of stuff!)  

Something I am thankful for that is:
       - Blue: My Mama's ring
       -Orange:My orange dress. I feel pretty every time I wear it.
       - Red: The ladybug I received after surgery. His name is Francis.
       - Green: My Grandma's apron. 
       - Yellow: The sun. The brighter is beams, the happier I am.

An animal I am thankful for: Flutter-bies. (aka Butterflies).

Someone I really appreciate because they spend time with me:Once again, too many to name. My family and my close friends have always been there for me.

Something about my home I am thankful for: It is always filled with love and laughter.

Something I could not live without: Music

Something in nature I am grateful for: The changing of seasons. I love that I live in an area where I get to experience all four seasons (although Winter could be a little shorter and I'd be happy.)

Something you cannot touch you are thankful for: Prayer

Something I am thankful someone did for me: For all those who served, are serving, and will serve in the military to keep me free and safe.

Sounds I am thankful for: All of them. Several important people in my life are part of the Deaf Community, so I'm thankful that I have the ability to hear.

A sight I am grateful for: Children running towards me with outstretched arms and smiles.