The One With a Slice of Gratitude #slice2014

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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You won't read this until Tuesday but I'm writing this at 10:03 p.m. on Monday night. I'm home...finally. At 7:30 this morning, I was at a preschool to help students get off the busses and into their classrooms. One of the staff members passed away last week - unexpectedly and tragically - and today was the funeral. It was sad to be there but I was glad to support and do what I could to make sure the students were well taken care of when so many staff were out of the building to attend the funeral. 

I talked with one of the students while her class ate breakfast. She had cereal, a banana and veggie straws in front of her but wouldn't eat. The students were all deaf or heard of hearing so I was signing with them. This one student was amazed that I knew sign language. She was completely adorable, smiling at me and signing back to me. It was heart-breaking to think that the woman who normally worked with her will never help her off the bus again, will never sit at breakfast and talk with her again, will never walk down the hall and into class with her again.

Just as I was leaving home to go to this school, Peanut and Little Bean woke up. I gave them each a hug and then I had to be off. I didn't get home until after nine with after-school meetings and the Board of Education meeting. My babies are already in bed. The house is quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator and music playing up in the kids' bedroom. I'm ready to shut my laptop, turn off the light, stop the song that is on repeat, and climb under the covers myself. 

I'm so thankful that my babies are safe and sound and snuggled in bed. I barely got to see them today but I'm so grateful to know that I have family I can count on to take care of them when I have to be at work early and/or late. Most of all, I'm grateful for every second I get to spend with them and watch them grow up. My post this week is a little slice of gratitude. There's so much to be thankful for but this little slice seems like enough right now.