Happiness Challenge & Some Monday Motivation

Oops! It's a 2-fer this morning because I forgot to post over the weekend.

Day 25

Sitting in the "new" cuddle chair with Colton. Daisy took over the arm rest beside me, so Colton got his stuffed dog and put it on the arm rest beside him. I'd say the chair's a success.

Day 26

Dinner out at a new (to us) restaurant with friends is always a happy time.

I want to leave you with some little thoughts to begin the week.

• As students across the country begin another school year, pray for them. Pray they have a safe place to learn, lessons that excite them and stir their desire to learn. Pray they are safe from bullies and that they are not bullies, themselves. 
• Pray for the teachers. Pray they are still excited about teaching. Pray they are coming into the schools refreshed and eager to help shape who the next generation becomes. Pray they are involved with their students and paying attention to the little things, that they will not hesitate if they suspect abuse, neglect, or see bullying. Pray they have wisdom to help and also that they, themselves, are protected.
• Pray for the school counselors. They are dealing with issues most of us had never seen back in our day. The world is a much harder place for today's children and teens. Pray these counselors are compassionate, but not enablers. Pray they have wisdom.
• Pray for all the support staff that hums along in the background to keep the schools running. The secretaries, the aides, the custodians, the nurses, the coaches, and the bus drivers.
• Just cover it all. We've seen so many terrible things in the news in recent years. School administrators, teachers, students, and parents are all struggling with how to deal with and handle these situations and how far to go in preventing them. Pray that our schools are safe havens.
• Pray for the students who feel marginalized or bullied. Pray they reach out or that someone recognizes they are at risk before it's too late.
• Pray for the parents, who send their children to school every morning. Pray they are reasonable when dealing with those whose care they are releasing their children into. Pray they will be involved at the schools, working along side the staff to make them safe, healthy, and happy.
• Pray for the drivers on the roadways. Pray that they stay off their phones and are alert and paying attention. Pray that no driver runs the stop lights on a school bus. 

Children in today's world probably spend more time with those people I mentioned above than with their parents so school is a big, big deal. 

Rise and shine and get out there and make this a good week! Choose to be happy. Choose to make a difference. Choose to love.