Twenty Second Day Of Forty Days of Gratitude

Another cold morning but we now have the heat on upstairs. The last several days we've kept warm using an electric blanket because Darryl wants to save money on our electric bill. Today was our first full day of heat so it was a bit easier to get out of bed this morning.

Another reason it was easier to get out of bed this morning was because the clocks had been turned back an hour. This mean I actually slept in until 6:50 am. Trust me, if you knew me that's pretty late. Usually the dogs have me up by then.

Sundays are usually my date with deals and today was no different. We were able to get some really good deals at CVS, Walgreens, and Kroger. My favorite part was stocking up on Annie's Macaroni and Cheese. I love Macaroni and Cheese and I remember when I used to buy Kraft Mac and Cheese for two for a dollar. Today I was able to buy Annie's Organic Macaroni and Cheese for only 49 cents. Ah the good old days. I was also excited about buying Blue Diamond Almond Milk for only 99 cents a half a gallon. What a great deal.

Our trip to Kroger today gave me my moment of gratitude. We bought a $300 gift card to donate to a local pantry so they could purchase turkey. Right now turkey is only 69 cents a pound and they should be able to get a few more turkeys than they thought originally.

Things may not be as good for us as they were a few years ago but I still feel blessed that we both have a job. I feel that it's important for us to help others who are hurting.

I am also blessed because my son Dan called me. He called because he felt I was the "thrifty store expert". Imagine that. He has a friend who lives in Atlanta who was looking for a thrift store so Dan called me to see if I knew of any good ones. I really don't know much about Atlanta. Darryl really doesn't like going there much so there is still much of Atlanta that I haven't seen. I couldn't help him but he thanked me anyway and told me that he loved me very much. Now who wouldn't feel grateful to have such a wonderful son love her?

Day 21 Of Forty Days of Gratitude

It was one of those cold days that autumn will throw your way to remind you that winter is on it's way. The temperature this morning was only 40 degrees and I could see my breath as I called out to my dog as we took an early morning walk. I watched as my warm breath became became misty tendrils in the dark morning sky and then evaporated. I wanted to crawl back into bed beneath the warm electric blanket curled up next to my husband. Instead I warmed up some tea and had some cookies for breakfast.

I know. I know. Cookies for breakfast are not healthy and they will not help you lose weight but they truly were calling my name.

I turned on my computer and began working on my blog. I was a woman on a mission because companies were counting on me to do a product review and I still had to get my shopping guide ready. The house was quiet and the dogs were lying by my feet.

I let Darryl sleep in despite the fact that we had lots of errands to run. I loved the fact that I didn't have to rush anywhere. On the agenda for today was a stop at Lowes, Bath and Body, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart. Little did I realize that little pleasures awaited me at every turn today.

Our first stop was Lowes. It turns out that the appliances for my new kitchen were all on sale. We took advantage of that sale and after we paid for my new stove and dishwasher we had to run to get a couple of filters for our heater.

Then I heard my name and I turned around. There was a former student whom I had taken a special interest in years ago when he was in my class. He was living with his Grandmother because his father had abandoned the family years ago and his mother had died. I noticed that he was slacking off in class because he wanted to be a bit of a class clown.

At first he thought I was picking on him but after I spoke to his Grandmother she realized that I had his best interests at heart. By the end of that year he was enrolled in college and I felt his life was on track.

Today I found out that he wound up not finishing the classes he had been taking and was out of school for now. He was thinking about going back to school to be a teacher. He said he wanted to be a history teacher and I told him about a program that allows people to get an education degree and agree to work in struggling schools to work off their college loans. I suggested that he ask the financial aid officer about the program.

We spoke a little longer and then he mentioned that if he was going to be a teacher he wanted to teach like I did because he felt that students learn better when the book isn't being rammed down your throat. He said he liked how really excited I was about what I taught and he wants to teach history because he's excited about that. I would say that our conversation is one that many teachers hope to have and for me it was definitely a moment of gratitude.

After Lowes Darryl took me out to eat at Chili's. I know he really didn't want to go but I was in the mood for soup and I wanted to try their all your can eat soup and salad. I didn't realize that it came with salsa and chips. I ordered their Potato Soup and at the last minute Darryl decided to order the same item. Let's just say that happiness is Chilis potato soup on a cold day. Darryl must have told me four times that this was the best potato soup he has ever had.

After we finished lunch we headed over to Walgreens with a Register Reward for $6 that we had to spend or lose. That's when I noticed the candy was 75% off. We bought four pounds of candy for $6. All we paid was the tax. This was an unexpected little surprise.

One of the things I was excited about going to Bath and Body Works this weekend because of a sale they were having. You could buy three Bath and Body Works signature body washes and/or lotions and you would get three free. In addition to that I had a coupon for $10 off $30. I was able to bring the price down to $23.01. I had two gift cards that I had won earlier this year and each of them had a few dollars left on them. I used them to bring my total down to $3.43. How's that for a great deal? I was sooooo excited.

We had $8 to spend at Rite Aid from some Up Rewards that were going to expire. Darryl was able to purchase a couple of things he wanted.

From there we headed over to Walmart where we discovered that everything Halloween had been marked down 90%. I wound up getting some great Halloween stuff all for under $6. That certainly was a treat.

The last little surprise had arrived in the mail when we were gone. It was coupons for free hot dogs and free Oscar Meyer cold cuts from Kroger. I love free so I really was happy to see those coupons.

So as you can see despite today's chilly beginning there was so much to be grateful for today.

Day 20 Of Forty Days Of Gratitude

Today I am grateful to know that I helped a young person make a positive change in his life.

I have a young man in my class who is dealing with incredibly difficult challenges. His parents are both dying. I don't want to get into the specifics in order to protect the young man's privacy.

He was going to another school last year and he was a basketball star there. If you googled his name you would see that he is a very talented young man. He moved here and for various reasons he is not eligible to play basketball. This is sad because I believe for him, basketball was his lifeline through trying times.

He's been spinning out of control with his behavior and associating with people who are going to drag him down.

In the beginning of the year he felt that I hated him because I gave him D-Hall for being late. I would also get on him when he wasn't' doing his work. He felt that Mrs. F hated him because she'd tell him not to run in the hall.

That has all changed now and he sees me as more of an ally who is trying to help him graduate. Today I showed him that he was passing but if he completed his test his grade would go up higher. He said he would and I hope he does.

I then told him how Mrs. F and I were in his corner cheering him on and that we were so proud of him but that in the end it's going to be all about him. He is going to be the second person in his family to graduate and I told him that life was a lot like basketball. It didn't matter who was cheering him on in the sidelines because in the end it's him and only him who can take a shot. His talent and skill will help him through but he's got to put forth the same kind of effort he would on the court.

He looked down and said, "You're right." I asked him about the people he chose for his team and he said, "I've gotten rid of some of those people who were pulling me down." I told him I was very proud of him and he asked if I would write his mom and note about that. I did.

Day 18 Of Forty Days of Gratitude

You might be surprised when I express what I am grateful for today. You may just think, oh she's probably gloating about the election results. After all, this was the biggest shift in the legislature in 70 years. Imagine that. The Republicans retook the House and they barely missed taking over the Senate.

Ah but that's not really what I'm grateful for today. Today I got to see that my words can save a life. That is powerful and frightening.

I have one young lady who is often absent from class. She's at the point that if she missed two more days she will have failed for the semester. When she was out for three days recently I asked her why she was out and she said she had a migraine. I asked her if her doctor had diagnosed her as having migraines and what she takes for them.

I asked because I used to suffer migraines and before I was diagnosed I had to undergo some tests.

She told me that she had never seen a doctor and I asked her why. She shrugged her shoulders. I told her that she should see a doctor to make sure that she actually is having migraines and that it isn't something that could be potentially worse like blood clots or high blood pressure.

She was out from school again yesterday but today she came to class with a doctor's note. Turns out she has very high blood pressure and she had no clue. The doctor is starting her one treatment. I am so thankful that she took my suggestion and that she went to see a doctor.

I am also thankful that I could make a difference in the way a coworker was feeling. She was very upset about something someone said to her and when we talked she told me how much she appreciated me for hearing her out and letting her get it all off her chest.

I simply told her the truth, that she was an amazing woman and that she doesn't often recognize that in herself. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to speak.

Day For Of Forty Days Of Gratitude

Today was the day that the Tech Department finally came to fix my room. I can now use my smart board and it will make it easier to teach new skills.

I was also thrilled to realize that I am a paid member of Quia. I've been thinking about joining but I haven't done it because it costs $50 per year. I asked the school if they would pay it and they told me to submit a purchase order. I did just that and I don't remember receiving word that my membership had actually been paid.

This will really make things so much easier for me. Thank goodness. I really am grateful for this. Quia is a site that lets you give students tests online as well as play games like Rags to Riches or Jeopardy with their vocabulary. I am very grateful that my students will now have access to this site.

After school today we had to watch a DVD that was made in conjunction to the Dr. Ruby Payne book on poverty that we read. She talked about how many people who win the lottery are broke five years later. She was using this in her discussion of how money does not necessarily make you rich. She then said "And you thought God wasn't answering your prayers." Then she laughed.

I decided to do some quick research about lottery winners and here's what I have discovered.

Winning $15,000 a year for 20 years - no major effect on your life

Winning $80,000 a year for 20 years - would affect your labor force participation, automobile expenditures, the value of the home you own,and your savings.

According to a recent study by Guido W. Imbens, Donald B. Rubin, and
Bruce Sacerdote:

“Winning $15,000 a year for 20 years would not have a major effect on your life. However, if you instead won $80,000 a year for 20 years, it would affect your labor force participation, automobile expenditures, the value of the home you own, and your savings.

The survey gives a uniquely historic insight into the lives of Lottery winners over the last five years. I have summarized the article.

55% - are happier after winning
43% - no affect on happiness
2% - are less happy

“The happiness of the winner is not affected by the size of his or her win.”

“Winning the Lottery appears to have very little impact on the winners’ perception of their social class or their political persuasion.”


According to Dr. H. Roy Kaplan author of several books on lottery winners, “winning the lottery doesn't change people's lives as much as is imagined.

“You can catapult people from one economic status to another overnight, but a lifetime of beliefs and experiences change more slowly.

People who were outgoing and gregarious before winning took it in stride," Kaplan said. "People who were shy and withdrawn before winning became suspicious and paranoid.

Most lottery winners keep their jobs, but find their relationship with co-workers changed. Most are inundated with requests for money, both from friends and strangers.

Money doesn't change a person's level of happiness, said Kennon Sheldon, a psychologist at the University of Missouri at Columbia. "We consistently find that people who say money is most important to them are (the unhappiest)," Sheldon said.”

I just thought that was interesting so I thought I'd share.