Something to look forward to...

I got an e-mail today from a henna artist inviting me to do a gig with her in June! We have a connection through a family friend and she actually taught me how to do henna almost 10 years ago! This is extremely exciting for me...after a nightmarish experience teaching art at a summer program last year, The Bee and I decided I would NEVER AGAIN teach art in the summer! It was my 3rd year teaching the program at a school with dream-like art facilities (think 3+ sinks in every room as opposed to my sink-less classroom) and really generally nice kids. The main problem was that I had very large classes with huge age ranges...imagine classes of 30 students ages 6-15 in the same class...yes, kids entering first grade thrown in with kids entering 10th and all that's in between! Not sure why anyone would think that is a good idea!

The henna artist and I were in contact last year but I was unable to do the couple events she invited me to work due to my summer program and also a bit of traveling that I did. I was wondering if I had missed my opportunity because I had to decline more than once. I am thrilled and hope it works out! A part-time, event based summer job that is still art related but is not confined to a classroom with kids...sounds perfect!

Gratitude : Day 2

Working in a school and not being able to have my own children can be a challenge sometimes. I work with other people's offspring ALL DAY LONG. FIVE DAYS A WEEK. And I get to see lots of baby brothers and sisters at school events. However, the joy tends to outweigh the heartache. 

One of my favorite parts of being a teacher is hearing some of the things my students say. They are HILARIOUS and way more entertaining than any professional comedian (except for maybe Russell Brand, that guy can seriously crack me up!). Sometimes they are also wise or say just what I need to hear. For example, here is a conversation I had with one of my Kindergarten boys on a day when I was feeling very blue about my fertility situation:                              

Kindergartner: Mrs. Bird, do you have any kids?

Me: No, I don't have any kids.

Kindergartner: That's okay! Are you a wife?

Me (laughing): Yes, I am! Here we are on our wedding day! (showing a picture of The Bee and myself that sits on my desk)

Kindergartner: Oh! That is important! Do you know what that means?

Me: What?

Kindergartner: It means he knows how special you are and he decided to love you. And he knows you are a good painter so he wants to stay with you. You can have kids later.

I couldn't help but smile and scarcely avoided sweeping that 5-year-old up in my arms for a giant hug. Today I am thankful for the wisdom and humor of children.

Gratitude : Day 1

In celebration of Thanksgiving, I am going to try to post one thing that I am thankful for each day (or at least seven per week if not one a day...I am still not so hot at this blogging business). I figure the positive thoughts can't hurt anything and maybe taking the time to write about all the good things in life will help me see that I could have things a lot worse! 

Before I get to the good stuff: I am 15 dpo today and still no af. However, my bbt has dropped the last three days and this morning was even below the coverline. What gives? I just wish af would show up already as I don't want to waste a pregnancy test when my bbt chart is telling me that I am clearly not pregnant (again)! This is only my second full cycle of bbt charting and now I am really confused. Maybe I didn't even ovulate? That sounds like my luck! I also have my first cold of the season (which I am trying to kick in the pants by turning in early every night this week...I went to bed at 9:15 last night and it was fantastic!). Enough complaining (for now anyways, ha!). On to being thankful!

Today is my Grandma's 73rd birthday! I am actually thankful for 2 things today: my Grandma and PUPPIES! My Grandma is a retired nurse (she only retired 3 years ago!) and is one smart cookie! She can talk your ear off about health, politics, religion...the list goes on and on. She has been a great help to my Mom through my parents' recent divorce. Growing up, my sisters and I used to sleep over at her house for a week out of the summer and we always had so much fun! We watched movies all night, ate ice cream and popsicles to our hearts' content, played SKIP-BO (Grandma's fave!), listened to the old crooners (one time we all danced with brooms to Frank Sinatra), did cross-stitch and crafts and played with her dogs!

My Grandma has always had at least one dog. Usually she had 2 or three. Legend has it that my love for dogs began when my Grandma held me for the first time very shortly after birth. She was in the delivery room with my Mom and Dad when I made my grand entrance into this world and the first thing she said to me was, "Hello, I am Grandma. Grandma with the dogs." When I was 9 she gave us a puppy (he was the BEST dog I have ever met. Someday when The Bee and I get a dog it will be hard to compare!). Here she is with her current pups (who would sit on her lap all day if she let them):

Her black teacup poodles are 2 years old and she just got the little white teacup poodle about 3 weeks ago.  They are so sweet. Thank God for Grandmas and dogs:)