30 days of thanks

For the past several years I have taken the month of November to write down one thing that I am thankful for for each day of the month. I love looking back at what I have written and re-counting all of my many blessings. Last year on my "day of thanks" day at school, (I deliver slips of paper to my students telling them why I am thankful for each of them) I took my list and shared it with my students and challenged them to do the same. I was amazed at the amount of students that decided to participate and even more blown away by those who shared their lists with me and how heartfelt they were. I decided since I can't share this with my students this year, I would share this with my children. So, tonight before bed, we each went around and told what we were thankful for today. Grace started and blew me away. After some careful consideration she said she was thankful for God, because he made everything for her. What an amazing way to start 30 days of thanks.
As for me...today I am thankful for my job. (You know, the one that I don't have right now). Norah and I went to my school this morning to attend the all school mass for All Saints Day. It was a wonderful reminder of what an awesome place I work and the awesome people that I work with. It is such a gift to be surrounded by people who constantly push you to be better...a better teacher, a better person, a better Catholic. When I was explaining to someone last week how I was taking a year leave of absence to be with my children her response made me think. She said it was powerful to see a school that follows their mission for both students and staff. The mission of our school is to..."develop the total person in a Catholic environment." I have always been thankful for this year off that my school has granted me so I could spend more time with my children, but I never stopped to think about the great gift of time for myself to develop as a total person.