3 things you're grateful for that start with the letter W
1. Water (And seeing as we had a dishwasher disaster this week, I'm especially thankful for running water in the house. Our dishwasher wouldn't stop leaking, and kept spilling onto the floor. We had to turn the water off to the entire house to get it to stop. As we later learned, that's because the shutoff valve is behind the dishwasher. Which is... kind of useless in a situation like that! So... yes. Water.)
2. Wisdom
3. Writing
(Mon 3/13) - 3 Supportive People You're Grateful For
1. My family, in general
2. I did this one back when the topic was teachers, but it's worth repeating. Plus, I'll share the full story this time, since you're used to essays rather than short answers from me by now...
Dr. Hamblin was one of my English professors at SEMO (who just lost their "Play-In" game in March Madness... *sigh*) I'm not even sure I knew he had his doctorate then, because we all just called him Professor Hamblin. (And I use both in this story.) I had Dr. Hamblin for one of my English classes, and really liked him. I was an education major, and due to field experience and student teaching the last two semesters, we were encouraged to take our "Senior Seminar" class a year early.
So I was looking for a class that would fit my schedule, and found one taught by Prof. Hamblin on Sports and Literature. Well, let's see here... I enjoy sports (mostly Cardinals baseball, but I digress), I like reading, I knew I liked Dr. Hamblin, and it fit my schedule.
That class was team taught by Dr. Hamblin and Professor Azuma. One of the first days of class, I stayed behind to tell Dr. Hamblin that I technically didn't meet the pre-reqs for the class, due to taking it as a Junior. I told him, and he said, "Allison, I know you. You'll be fine." Then he turned to Prof. Azuma and said, "Have you met Allison? I've had her in class before and she's a good writer." I just stood there in complete shock. A college English professor had just called ME a good writer, and to another professor!
I had always thought my good grades in English and on writing assignments were due to being a "good student" in general, and never separated out being a good writer.
Well, shortly before this "God encounter" I had written up what I now call my "life story" for a collection of stories about songs that had a significant impact on you. My story was not selected for that book, but after Dr. Hamblin's comment, I thought I should find a place for this piece, even if it was just online. Through an online search, I found a website called FaithWriters where you could post things, and they also had a weekly writing contest.
Long story short...ish...
Thanks to that website, I have found a joy in writing (but I haven't submitted anything in a few years... way too long!) and also met one of my best friends and so many other amazing people. That story did eventually get published, along with a few others, and I've had the absolute privilege of letting Dr. Hamblin know just how much that one statement meant to me, and I've able to give him a couple of the books where I've had my stories published. And now... thanks to FB, I get to stay in contact with him on a regular basis.
3. My church family
(Tues 3/14) - 3 Random March 14th Holiday Things You're Grateful For
1. It's also one of my best childhood friend's birthday
2. Since the area code for St. Louis is 314, it's also St. Louis Day
3. 3.1415926....
I'm joking, I'm joking! it's really y'all....all y'all! We have a good bunch of people in these forums, mostly; and even though we squabble over some seriously petty things, we are a pretty supportive bunch....
Um, sunshine...without it, I get gloomy. 
Eksmama for tomorrow! Thinking of you, my friend.
and one day perhaps in Champ's honor a rescue
Dad and I are on a tighter budget but like, dear you, are ever thankful to be able to still get what we truly need. We are blessed indeed.
