There are two ways
to look for joy in this life...
wait and watch for it by the gate
or go down the road and find it.
Don't wait too long.


This reminds me of a little saying that was passed around when I was in middle school (they called it Jr. High then):

Don't make love by the garden gate
Love is blind
But the neighors ain't.

I really don't know why that one sprang to mind except that a gate is mentioned in the quote from my perpetual calendar and today is Valentine's Day.

I almost feel like today will be the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. I have no idea why I feel that way except that I do.

To counteract that let me count my blessings for this day:

* Thankfully I picked up some Valentine stuff back in January for the kids. I have goodie bags for them.
* ICCC came through again when they gave me so many of the recyclable goods- we also had enough plastic Folger's cans to make Valentine mailboxes for the kids.
* Thank God for the internet! I found valentines to print off of the computer to color and give the kids in case their parents forget to buy them.
* Samantha's mother sent juice and chips for today's party even though her child can not eat them.
* I had something red to wear that was clean in my closet to commemorate the day.
* Lavender bath salts
* Clean laundry- I washed a load of clothes last night.
* Electricity- I slept through the night and only got up once to go to the bathroom. It did not go off again!
* Friendship- just when I thought I had none, one appears.
* Ideas gleaned from the internet for lesson plans- I think I've got next week sown up. I just have a few things to buy on pay day.


Several hours later...

It was a hectic day at school. I was in my element. I'm a little tired of the "help" I get from my assistants. They are a little too helpful at times and overbearing. At other times I feel like I'm in the Black Hole and can't get them to hear me.

* Samantha had to be suctioned a couple of times today. She scared me a little bit. The first time both assistants were of help the rest of the time I was on my own. But we survived.
* I saw some things concerning Samantha that disturbed me. If I had had a listening ear to share the details with, I would have. For now I'm just going to pray about it.
* I out-stubborned (is that a word) Daniel. We went a few rounds in between me checking on the other kids. He gave Stephanie fits. In the end, he said he was sorry and I received a hug for the trouble.
* I spent some time with the other children. I felt pretty good about the Valentine's Day party. It was simple but it was enjoyable.

I took myself out on a date to see the movie The Bucket List. I grabbed a value meal from McDonald's and ate it on the way to Columbia. The theatre has something they call "Happy Hour" which comes between the Mattinee time and the evening show. Then on the way home I stopped and got ice cream. I guess it's not the same as the Valentine's Day date with a special person but it was. Does that make sense? I pretty much told myself that I love me with my actions. That's all that matters.