Love List, 2

I did one of these before, and as I was driving around today, another one seemed to materialize. This one has been rolling around in my head for a little while, also, but I seemed to be able to actually find a few words for it this morning.

Today's list is basically why I love my life.

• I, clearly, have a fantastic family. I'm mostly referring to husband and child at this point, for clarification. I could write a whole lot about why I love them. Most of the time I take them for granted, but I think that we all do. I kind of think that's why we have family...at least I feel comfortable in the fact that my family is stable (albeit mildly dysfunctional) enough to be able to take them for granted. I think that I love that.
• Speaking of family, I consider myself quite lucky to have parents, a sibling, parents-in-law, and siblings-in-law with whom I communicate and have a pretty decent relationship. I know that these things fluctuate with stages of life, but I think that we're all in a pretty good one now, and that's pretty cool.
  
• I love that I'm able to step back from the chaos for moments (and I do really mean moments) each day and appreciate the wonder that is motherhood. I have to say that I have amazed myself at the things that I have been able to do in the past 2 1/2 years, and I feel certain that I will continue to impress myself, with some inspiration from a little boy. Don't get me wrong, I've screwed some stuff up, too. But, you know, so goes life.
  
• I've said it before, and I will say it again: I have got a freakin' amazing, kick-ass job. Holy crap. Where else do you get to go to work every day and hang out with at least 100 cool people? Well, maybe 80 cool people and 20 lame ones, give or take a handful on any given day. However you slice it, I am damned lucky, and I know it. And, as of June 21, my work obligations cease until August 28. Yeah. Teaching rocks.
  
• Speaking of the kick-ass-itude of my job, my students (past and present) are similarly amazing. Seriously. I should probably give Facebook a nod on this one, since it has allowed us to reconnect and communicate easily. But, my former students have done some amazing things and are some pretty amazing people. And, it warms my heart to know that I've been a part of their lives. I don't, by any means, feel responsible for the cool people that they've grown into (not that they weren't cool in high school, but growing up has a way of increasing your coolness). But, it's really an honor to be a thought from time to time.
• I think that I might finally be at peace with where we live. It's taken me a while (almost 20 years?) to warm to New Hampshire, but I think that it might be home. Although I will always be a mid-westerner at heart, I can at least appreciate the benefits that New Hampshire has brought to our lives. It is a fabulous location with pretty good weather. We have jobs. We own our home (although, we'd like to own a different home, but that's a whole other situation). We're safe. The schools and communities are good and strong. Not too shabby. I'll take it.
• And, I love that I can find a moment from time to time to breathe and just reflect on how truly blessed I am. It's not always easy, but it's something that I hope that I can share.

What do you love?