Grateful Friday

...the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

1 Nephi 1;20

Yesterday morning, I woke up at 3:30.  I tried to go back to sleep, but I just know how to make my day harder.  I excel at it.

So I was extra tired and prayed, prayed, prayed for help for the day.

Every day, I am helped.  Every day I cannot deny the little ways that add up to Thelma surviving the day.  It is remarkable.

During my prep yesterday I went in Jamie's office and cried.  She listened to me and reassured me and then Maren came in and hugged me.  I am so grateful that I work with some of my honest to goodness friends.  They are these strong and resilient and good and kind women and they hold me up some days.

At lunch, when I was feeling like I still had a lot of day left to go, I saw that Enoch had sent me a reel on instagram.  It was a clip of a talk by Elder Holland and it was 100% what I needed in that moment.

Katie, the school counselor, offered to zhuzh my class charter for me after I told her I was terrible at graphic design.  I said yes please.  She created a nice poster and said she would order it from the print shop for me.  

In the afternoon I had recess duty and an aide said, "Why don't you let me cover your recess duty.  You go get a drink and sit down."

(This is to say I looked as bad as I felt apparently.)

I saw a text from Marie Louise during my sit down.  She was just checking in.  My friends are better than I deserve.

I checked in with Matt (who has been gone) about Melva volunteering in my classroom.  He thought it was a great idea and then we had a conversation about the little blessings we get that help us get through.  He itemized all the things I have in my favor.

(He didn't mention himself, but he makes my list.)

I talked to Braeden on my way home and besides him telling me to quit crying because I would go blind (true: herpes simplex in my eye, made worse by crying), he was as ever, a tremendous help to me.  He is wise and empathetic and what I need.

On my doorstep, there was a loaf of bread from Kneaders (still warm) and a jar of homemade jam from Ami, one of my ministering sisters.

So yes, I had a rough day.  Also, I had a day overflowing with blessings and help.