10 things to be thankful for

Frinton-on-Sea, Saturday.

So many things to be thankful for.  Many of them just little moments of grace, little occurences, small things, but big in the pursuit of contentment!
1. Year 5 being really good on the whole this afternoon.  I lost my voice on Monday afternoon with year 6 (grrr), and it's got steadily worse since then.  This afternoon, I was at total zero voice and they managed to behave, work well, etc for most of the lesson.
2.  Amusements.  I asked Choir to turn their benches round to 'face the audience' for our harvest assembly tomorrow.  They had NO idea, no insights about how that would work- they ended up moving every single bench then totally sitting on the wrong benches, could not work out for the life of them how they should be sitting facing another direction.  I and my lovely TA assistant were in hysterics, sniggering at them!  Sounds mean, but I gave clear directions and you know, they need to think for themselves some times. 
3.  Helpful children:  there are so many children that just want to help and be useful and it is refreshing to be assisted by such polite, considerate individuals!
4.  As we prepare for harvest assembly tomorrow, thinking of the farmers and those who provide my food and put it together- working so hard- it's something I couldn't do!
5.  Serendipitous lesson plans:  (unlike yesterday's lesson plans which finished me off) Luckily, my year 3 lesson plan that I had prepared for today involved them doing writing, playing their recorders and me not having to do so much talking (except for having to hiss, "LEFT HAND AT THE TOP OF THE RECORDER PLEASE.  LEFT HAND.  LEFT HAND. NO, SWAP HANDS.  PUT THAT ONE AT THE TOP.  YES, THAT ONE.  (5 minutes later) YOU'VE SWAPPED HANDS. THE ONE YOU DON'T WRITE WITH GOES AT THE TOP.  YES!!!! THAT'S IT! NOW STAY THERE.  DON'T MOVE IT.  (5minutes later) WHY IS YOUR OTHER HAND IN YOUR POCKET?" about a zillion times)
6.  PPA tomorrow morning!  Hallelujah!!!! (talkless time.  Except for the harvest assemblies x 2)
7.  The lovely walk along the sea I had on Saturday.  It really is a wonderful thing to do- so replenishing!
8.  My study group from church- they are very dear to me.
9.  My sister having returned safely from holiday (according to my mum anyway!)
10.  My new washingmachine!  Yep, mine broke at the start of August! (terrible I know! It says a lot about how many clothes I have.) and I finally had my new one fitted.  I bought it from a friend from church - she bought it for her Dad eight months ago and her Dad, who sadly has Alzheimers, has gone into a carehome. I was grateful for getting a nice washing machine and moreso it being one that was second hand (albeit newish!), and not to have to arrange for delivery etc as she arranged all that. The engineer was very kind and helpful too.  It was also nice to help her too, as she is in need of the money I think for his care.