ow on earth did it get to be Friday night again? I'm absolutely beat tonight--been waking up at 3 or 4 or 5 a.m. Which is not good, in case you were wondering. Things are very decidedly un-Sweet Tea and Sunshine at 3 or 4 or 5 a.m. And the days feel quite long with lack of sleep (which makes no sense with the whole quickly-passing-time comment I started with, but there you have it). Whatever. Moving on. To gratefulness...

I am thankful for a clean house. Everything feels better with things tidy and put away. (Why it can't stay that way just baffles me...)

I am thankful for our hot tub. It's ready to roll for these cool evenings and mornings...

I am thankful for a sweet husband who helps me with my thankful list when I'm on the verge of a sleep coma. And who tells me how much he loves me, how beautiful I am to him... all that lovely stuff I certainly don't take for granted.

I'm thankful that my family is safe and sound and healthy.

I'm thankful that we haven't had a frost yet and that we are still getting produce from the garden.

I am thankful that I got offered a job this week. Well. More to the point, I'm thankful that I have time and energy to help husband out with a work-related project the next few weeks. (Husband suggested I put this one in here! Funny, isn't he?)

I am thankful that Seth set a personal best in cross country this week, and that he called to share the good news as we weren't able to be present to see this athletic feat.

I'm thankful for friends who call back when they hear me sounding a little "off" and take the time to ask how things are. I am thankful for all my friends, near and far. What a great bunch of humans I get to call my friends; I'm truly blessed.

I'm thankful that we had some good interviews this week (in our search for a new program manager for a local nonprofit I volunteer with).

I am thankful for all the fall flavors.

I'm thankful for the mellow weather. I was ready for the rain this week.

I'm thankful for early sunsets in the fall--I love an early Friday night to snuggle in with my man.

I'm thankful for this tradition. Even when I'm practically nodding off while doing it, it has been such a great habit these past couple of years--coming up on blog anniversary No. 2 here in a few weeks--and I'm proud that I haven't missed a Friday. As I've said before, some weeks it can feel a little thin in the gratefulness department on Tuesday, Wednesday... but by Friday when I sit down to think about it, there's no doubt that there's plenty to be thankful about, no matter what the week has held.

I am thankful for a sense of humor. I posted this video on Facebook today, but since all of you aren't necessarily Facebook friends (though I'm sure I'd say yes if you asked... AND I miss some of you who WERE friends but are taking a "Facebook break," which I TOTALLY respect), I thought I'd post it here as well. Pretty much encapsulates the hell that is competitive parenting, which luckily you learn to ignore pretty quickly. But for the minute or two before you learn to ignore, when you realize there are THOSE moms out there.... grrrrrr.



And the video below I'm posting just for the cute factor. Period. I am so proud of me for not having a bunny. Just sayin'. Because it seems like something I would have done by now, right? And then the dogs would have eaten it for mid-afternoon snack and I'd be sad and kicking myself for having gotten it in the first place... so, yes, be proud of me too.



Happy weekend. I sleep now. Please don't call before 10 a.m. tomorrow. Really. And probably don't call between noon and 3 p.m. too. (Just in case.) This definitely feels like a napping weekend. Maybe don't call at all. Send happy thoughts, though. Happy thoughts don't wake.