"I've been putting mustard in my mac and cheese since 3rd grade... Think anyone will notice if I wear my morph suit tonight?" 100 Things I Love

One of my favorite and oldest traditions is to be intentional about being thankful. Today I got a letter that had this quote written on the envelope, "I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness... It's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude," from Brene Brown. In honor of Brene and my friend Fitzie who first introduced me to list making here are the 100 things I'm thankful for today. 

1. texts from Johnna cheering me on
2. Rend Collective wisdom
3. secretly delivering letters
4. finishing a project
5. after school snacks
6. visits from my 8th grade girls during the day
7. lunch with Brandi and Haley
8. having Smoon as one of my best friends and checking in with each other
9. reminiscing with Ellyn and Liz about cookie dough chunks and other traditions
10. letters from CILT girls telling me about their life
11. changing into Nike shorts and Chacos after school
12. heart to hearts with Kcraig and doing life together
13. Ellyn's joy when she gets to do a pyramid or the human knot
14. Lorelai, Luke, Rory and Logan
15. ABC shows are back on Thursdays
16. pretending I'm friends with Jen Hatmaker, Glennon Doyle Melton and Shauna Niequist
17. spicy, sweet, chili Doritos's at lunch every day
18. 2nd period prep
19. the friendship bracelet stockpile growing for next summer
20. what I'm learning from The Purpose Driven Life
21. texts or emails with pictures of Lincoln and Redford
22. vanilla latte in the morning and Diet Coke in the afternoon
23. how much Katrina inspires me to be authentic in my faith and my life
24. Kathryn Garrett's laughter
25. how Rachel Phillips makes her dreams come true
26. hugs from Liz Huston and Kaylee
27. dinner dates and adventures with Maddie
28. Camp T Field Trip (one week away!)
29. reuniting with my fav Mr. Hodgin and catching up on life
30. "Ryan, did you used to be in Straight No Chaser?"
31. Keep Exploring mindset
32. the Home Team
33. Monday mornings with my 8th grade girls
34. being intentional with Wilderness girls about loving God together
35. "God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure I spend time loving you and loving other people - because that’s what life is all about. I don’t want to waste this day."
36. FitBit steps all day every day
37. Ben Rector dance parties
38. flipping over the next quote on my daily calendar when I get to school every morning
39. mornings when you can sleep in without an alarm
40. when your friend remembers something important about your life and asks how it's going
41. "Community is more than just fitting someone into your schedule."
42. No Pants Wednesday 
43. meal questions
44. scrunchies taking over 
45. anticipation
46. playing, "Remember when..."
47. being part of something bigger than yourself
48. people who are authentic-- especially when it makes their weird shine
49. quac and Chiptopia
50. countdowns till the CILT Reunion
51. sticker collections on water bottles
52. #tecumsehtuesday posts on Insta every single week
53. Mike Lang's Tecumseh Tales and Newsletters
54. all of the articles and videos in The Salon
55. my friendship bracelet covered backpack
56. how excited people get when new FBC shirts arrive
57. being real life friends with Katie Smelko
58. PITS
59. John Balmat's unwavering positivity and humor
60. dancing with Paige Walters
61. how often Claire wears her best friend necklace and friendship bracelet necklace to school
62. the new 80's Varsity FBC shirts
63. cards that are so good you want to hang them up
64. crafting days with best friends
65. dream days with best friends
66. when I actually allow myself to do nothing and it's good
67. efficiency
68. opening up an envelope of Happy Mail and having so many new cards to write
69. the Longhouse Porch
70. spending the most time in the Party Room
71. making weird things cool
72. knowing every word at a concert
73. when kids wave from the court/field
74. reunion hugs with kids like Alice, Erin and Nikki
75. running around a YL camp as soon as you arrive
76. backpack days
77. "All I wanna do is make stuff and love people."
78. how excited CILTs get to make their wooden nametag
79. Mallory Myer's heart
80. knowing you'll be friends with someone forever
81. how Shub still hasn't grown out of being ridiculous
82. running during Empire with a pack of kids and feeling like you're on the promo video
83. finding the Empire key when you're all by yourself and sneaking back to your kingdom
84. passing period walks around school
85. starting the morning by reading Purpose Driven Life and thinking back on it all day long
86. a Patagonia that you just never want to take off
87. experiences like Wilderness and CILTs that can't be explained in words
88. singing in the Green Cathedral and Hope's Dimnent Chapel
89. when people get an email or an answered call from Bob Goff and it makes them feel so pumped about life
90. my friendship rock from Smoon that has been in my car for years
91. the monologues at the start and end of Grey's Anatomy
92. Hannah and Alaina's friendship that taught me so much about love and whimsy
93. getting to teach little siblings like Lucy and Audrey and Luke
94. "Brown is, after all, everyone's most flattering color."
95. the hype of the DC 8th grade trip
96. devouring a book in a day and then sharing it with a friend 
97. "Today is worth celebrating."
98. quotes as blog titles
99. daily pics with Ellyn
100. spending my prep period in gym playing