31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 25: Warmth

You are reading that correctly. 4 degrees.

This image, courtesy of my bestie juNxtaposition, is a legit representation of what the weather has been like lately here in Pittsburgh.

It was this number that prompted the 2 weather delays (I gave thanks for these in a post earlier this week) that many schools in the area had this week.

Despite the frigid temperatures, I remain snuggled safely and warmly in my cozy bungalow (largely thanks to my purchase of a brandy-new furnace last year!). I definitely take this luxury for granted: I know that there are many people (in my city, sadly) that are without the warmth and comfort of a good furnace in a safe home.

I have the joy of being blessed with warmth in my home as well as in my heart. Each day I awake in my cloud-like bed and head off to my amazing job where my students warm my spirit all day. That is a LOT to be thankful for.

What warms your heart on a cold day?

"The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money."-   Thomas Jefferson

31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 22: Snow Delays

Yesterday was a teacher in-service day. It's one of those miracle days where we as educators have the chance to sit down and get some work done. Really, it's the one day of the quarter that we don't have to bring a ton of work home to do.

At the end of the day, our principal made the regular announcements...but with a special added twist.

After working hard all day, getting over 100 progress reports and 3 IEPs written, this was nothing short of music to my ears:

"...and, staff, we have a 2 hour delay tomorrow."

The heavens parted. Angels sang. Beams of bright white light shone down upon my school. 

The reality is, it's only 2 hours. Actually, for me, it's one hour because the faculty and staff report an hour earlier than the students. That really doesn't matter, though, because it's the novelty of the time that counts.

That extra hour of sleep is the sweetest hour I will ever have, and on top of that I have ANOTHER hour at work where I can get work done! Just imagine...I can organize my files, finally make those copies I've been needing, clean out my bottom drawer...

On a grander scale, what I am really honoring here is the concept of "found time". The snow delay is really a reminder of how precious time is. The day doesn't get any longer, yet it is "found time". It shows us what a precious gift time is.

Even if you didn't have a snow delay today, I invite you to take a moment and relish in time. Steal a moment and enjoy it's gifts...there are only so many afforded to us so we need to make the most of what we've got!

What would YOU do with an extra 2 hours?

"Getting an inch of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery."  -Bill Watterson