I'm back!
I am ready to give thanks to the Lord for this wonderful week!
I was able to accomplish quite a bit at work and at home.
Here is what I accomplished, and give God "thanks" for:

• Consistency in the classroom: I have a new student I am working with each morning, as well as the other boys and girl I help out with. This little girl is diagnosed with autism as well, although she is higher functioning (academically, verbally and socially) than the other boys with the same label. She is a delight....but....she needs consistency with who works with her. I am now able to work with her almost 1:1 every morning and she is making great progress. (the person who was assigned to her as been moved to a different school...I am staying until June at least so....this was a direct answer to prayer!). She tends to be disruptive with whining, crying, yelling out of turn...inappropriate for the classroom kindergarten setting. Her peers who are typical learners understand that she is just learning how to be patient and wait her turn to answer, etc. They are wonderful with her. And so I thank God for the chance to teach this little girl and the opportunities I have to pray for her and her family....it is tough for them...they have 3 daughters. The other 2 have no learning problems. This diagnoses was hard for them but they are handling it well and for that I am thankful as well!

• Tasks completed!
  

1. I have dusted/vacuumed/polished the family room until it gleams! The sliding glass doors leading to the deck are all "windexed" and the spring/summer valance is up on the decorative pole. The deck has been swept off and the family room furniture has been rearranged to the summer arrangement. That room is done!
2. The master bedroom closet has been totally rearranged; old, out of date clothing has been donated to our local charity, the winter boots/pumps/clogs have been cleaned and put away; the heavy wool sweaters/pants have been stored in the trunk and winter purses have been cleaned and stored.
3. My youngest daughter's closet has been cleaned out. Clothing has been rearranged...all her winter clothing is put away or put aside for my neice. She has some new spring clothes and shoes in her closet and is awaiting a trip to LLBean for some new hiking boots...that will happen next week!
4. The garage has been swept out and 3 out of 4 bikes have been cleaned, inspected and tires pumped. 2 have been out already (Courtney and Claire went biking after homework on Wednesday!)

• Subway Restaurant: yup, you are reading this correctly. I am thankful for subs! My husband came home 2 hours early yesterday as he had had a dr's appt in mid-afternoon and it didn't make sense to drive back to work (it's a 35 min commute to the west). So...he came home but I was in the midst of finishing up the family room. He volunteered to go get subs for dinner if I drove the teen to her small group later that evening. What a trade-off! So..I am thankful I didn't have to cook dinner after a busy day at work and cleaning at home; I am thankful that he spent the time reading with my youngest while I drove our teen to her life::group meeting and I am thankful that there were not alot of dishes to load into the dishwasher that nite!

• for the beautiful spring weather here in NYS....we live in the capital region.. .the good ole Northeast, where spring tends to arrive s-l-o-w-l-y! Now, in upstate NY, they still have snow on the ground. But down here, our snow has been gone for about a month...however, we had lots of cold, windy days the last 2 weeks. It is finally in the 60's, sunny, and mild enough to have a couple of windows open letting the fresh, spring air blow through the house. The sun is wonderful and hopefully we will get to hike next week!

That is about it for this week. I am always amazed at what I can find to be thankful for that goes beyond the "good health, food, security, family, church, and friends list".

It is good to give thanks unto the Lord!

What are you thankful for today??