I am feeling grateful, y’all! I am feeling grateful for my family and my friends who filled my birthday with love and laughter. I am feeling grateful for my sister! She made a book I will treasure forever and a present that’s impacted my life tremendously. I am feeling grateful for my parents in particular as they took care of the kids on my birthday so I could set up for International Day. I am grateful that my school came together to make International Day a success. I am so grateful to my school brother Mr. K, my CCS sister Cherry, my amazing and wise partner teacher Zaree, Selfless and Dedicated Tutors, and the PTO! (not to mention all my awesome coworkers who took time to help plan, buy supplies for, set up, work, and clean up the event!!). I am also extremely grateful to the presenters and their families without whom there would be no International Day. And the dancers! They stole the show in their beautiful shirts. I am grateful to the generous and wonderful people who provided the main food (dumplings, sushi, sambusa, spanakopita and Baklava from the Greek church, and Ethiopian food!!). I am grateful for my supportive administration. I am grateful for my friends who kept me from total panic and calmed me down. I am grateful for the hugs from my kids.

And I am grateful that I got to go to the Greek festival Friday night to celebrate!

And we haven’t had Thanksgiving yet! I have to make it through two days of school first, with God’s Grace and Mercy. I subbed for Sunday School today, and we talked about faith. I am grateful for faith that helped me get things done, but now with a grateful heart, I have to persevere for two more days before break. God help us. We are grateful for what you have already done, Lord. In your perfect timing. Thank you!