So, I'll begin I suppose.

Today was a "Friday" for us as we have the day off tomorrow as a scheduled bad weather replacement day. I am so looking forward to a 3-day weekend.

My oldest son turned 24 today. Oh, this is freaky. I just looked at the time and this is exactly the time he was born. What are the odds of that!? Anyway, we all went out for supper and dessert tonight and had a really nice time. He moved into his own apartment last weekend, so this has been a big week for him--for all of us actually.

It was a good day for me. My mood has been up and optimistic. I had a great day with my students. They are so funny sometimes. I was bribed with food and beverage offers from 2 different students in my last class today. One was wanting to go get a cup of coffee before class started and said he would bring me a smoothie if I let him go to the coffee bar. (Yes, our school actually has a coffee bar in our library.) I told him I couldn't support his caffeine addiction, but I appreciated the offer. The other is in love with the cafeteria's chocolate chip cookies, and comes to class with at least 6 every day. He was amused with my ability to spot a chocolate chip cookie from across the room the other day, and has started bringing me one everyday. Our running joke is that he gets an A in my class for feeding my chocolate addiction. We have fun in that class; they all have such great senses of humor.

My middle school son's church confirmation is coming up next month. Last night parents met with our pastor to talk about the service. Come to find out, our youth minister (the one who lost his son at Christmas to complications of the flu) is going on sabbatical for a few months at the recommendation of his therapist. Therefore, he will not be officiating at the confirmation service. Our pastor wanted to get our feedback about whether to go on with the service as planned or whether to postpone the service until he returns from his sabbatical. He has been their teacher and mentor through these last 3 years of confirmation preparation, so it was certainly something we needed to consider from all angles. We've decided to go on as planned, but we'll need to help more with preparation, stole making, faith statement discussions, etc. since our senior pastor is stretched thin while our other minister is away. It will all work out fine.

It struck me how fortunate we are to be in a church that understands and respects the mental health needs of its members and so openly, and without stigma, discusses these issues as the family of faith we are. It is a church that strongly values relationship with God and with each other. Such wondeful modeling for our children.