Morning Miracle

I love charts, lists, spreadsheets, forms and anything that makes it visually easier to see information. Nerd alert???
I'd say so.

Anyways. I've already pushed (MINT) on my reader (maybe, readers??) and to recap quickly, its an amazing FREE website that helps visually organize and budget your money. Its great.

So Subbing hasn't really been the greatest in the past 2 weeks...circumstances due to Thanksgiving, Teacher Convention, and maybe teachers are healthy??? I don't know. I just want to work. And last night I made a huge chart to compare subbing from last year to this year...and the numbers don't lie. I am not making millions by any stretch of the imagination. Its alarming actually how few days I get when I look at it on paper.

I'm not really encouraged and I am scared that I am going to have to walk away. We had a pretty big conversation about it last night and I went to sleep with a few sad tears in my eyes wondering what the future holds for me.

This morning I woke up sending emails, researching and trying to make something happen for myself. I sent a spur of the moment email out to my prayer warrior friends and SECONDS later...I was assigned work. SECONDS! LITERALLY!

I don't know what that means, but for today it encourages me. I want to sub more than anything. I wish I could send an email to every teacher and principal on PEI to tell them how MUCH I want this. I would do anything to have work every day of the week and would travel anywhere to make it happen. But for now I have to just do what I can.

So today I work.

Praying for work for tomorrow, but one day at a time.

Feelings...nothing more than...feelings!!!

I've always had a lot of feelings. Since Danny, I think I'm more aware of them, maybe just a bit more full of feelings too...love, frustration, joy, etc..hahaha you know what I'm sayin! Anyways, I don't really like reading blogs that complain, and fortunately none of the ones I read regularly do. I like reading people who have joy and look for good and are happy with their lives even though its not always perfect. Even now there are people popping in my head of those types that can at least "present to the world" a happy spin on things! Thank you to those few people.

I am not really feeling particularly joyful about not having full time employment in teaching. But every single time I start to complain (in my head or out loud) I am reminded by someone or by myself (the odd time) that I have so many things to be grateful for.

• every day I thank God for Dan. If he was all I had, I'd be the luckiest
• I am thankful for my families. I have brothers and sisters from both sides all within a 5 or 10 minute drive. If my prayers are answered my brother will move home from Toronto! Our two oldest siblings on both sides of our families are not as close in distance, but we still manage to see them and feel part of their lives. All of that to say. pretty lucky. VERY, in fact.
• But beyond that, I have a Home. I have a home I LOVE to be in. Its not perfect, done or even very well decorated but I love being home. Its my favorite place to be with Danny. We love the beach, We love our visits, We love to camp and (I) love our visits in town to the shops...but my favorite part of every day is the end of the day when Dan drives in the yard and is home for the night.
• Work: I do not have a full time job, but I have got to work in my field this year. I got to be part of lots of different classes and grades. I got to teach full time all summer in my own classroom, planning my own lessons for my own students. And since fall, (no---I did not have as may days as I WISH) but the fact that I had ANY days booked is a blessing. I am grateful and thankful and LOVE my job and work is FUN for me. I want to work. I pray for work and I am utterly thankful when I get work.
• PEI: You would not believe the colors, the beauty, the air, the scenes, the beauty, the people, the wonder of living here. Its the best place on earth. I love it. Did I mention how BEAUTIFUL it is in the FALL!!!
• Food: We love eating and preparing yummy meals! We have been given so much meat in the past few months by our dear friend Amanda who was moving and then Dans boss also gave us a ton of beef  as well. I spend too much on groceries but I am learning to be organized and generous with my food. I love to share and want to be as generous as so many have been to us. Both sides of our families are gifted with generous and kind siblings and parents who have extended the welcome to us so much in the past and I am learning to open my home and heart to others as well.
• Health: I have just discovered, or become self aware, that I am a bit of a hypochondriac. I hate even imagining anything wrong. I do not want or like being sick...duh...but I am also aware that there are so many things that could go wrong. Daily, all the time, every day there is some health concern or issue that someone in my life is dealing with. I hear about it through calls, emails and FB. There is so much pain and suffering around me sometimes it overwhelms me. And then I feel so thankful for what I have. I am not the picture of HEALTH but I can run and swim and climb and walk and enjoy my life. I am thankful for an active husband who is a great example to me too. We both could stand to lay off the sweets, of course, but all in all, I do feel like we are blessed with health.
• Friends: I have lived a life surrounded with good people. There has never really been a time that I have not been connected to good people. Friends are a blessing and the older I get the more I realize how precious those people are and how much more intentional it is to keep connections strong. I know I am not great at keeping in touch. I need to do this because  I want to keep my friends. I am inspired by my own mother who has 3 or 4 faithful friends that have prayed for eachothers kids for over 40 years! CAN YOU IMAGINE!!! that is crazy! I have recently been blessed and feel so much more connected by praying for my friends kids and hope to follow my moms example of a faithful prayer partner for their lives and see wonderful blessing by watching these kids grow up...even if some of them I have only ever seen in pictures.

I know there are many more. I love my life here. I am frustrated with my financial and work situation but beyond that there is blessing upon blessing when I really look for it. I am thankful even though sometimes it takes me awhile to get out of my slump.

Thanksgiving Adventures

Oh the colors of Fall! I love how they look! I love the fresh air and seeing trees in their glory days! I know Winter is coming, but we are still enjoying the cool, sunny Fall days! After stuffing our faces at a DELISH meal at Mom's we all agreed we needed a nature hike complete with TONS of photo shoots along the way! *Action/Blurry Shot Below*

Together at the new Ropes Course in Cornwall-Rise and Climb! So fun! We did this with Dan's sister and let me tell you, she is much braver and handles herself with much more grace and dignity! haha I only screamed once but I did falter a bit over one of the sections! Thank Goodness Dan was there to reach out a helping hand! But I had so much fun! My body was in achy pain for a few days after! But GOOD pain!

My cuddle bug! I love this guys hugs!