Thankful Thursdays: March 21!

Oh goodness, gracious, I'm actually getting around to posting a Thankful Thursday post this week.
Here's all the things I'm most thankful for this week:

Choir.
Ya'll know, I love to sing.  I may not be especially talented in this area, but it is a passion for me all the same.  And being part of the Good Shepherd UMC choir has been one of the highlights of my year.  This Sunday, GSUMC attendees are in for a special treat.  We've got a couple of our best songs lined up, plus two beautiful solos.  We had practice last night, and it felt like we throwing up beautiful wall of sound.  Do you know what that means?  I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but just trust me, it's beautiful.

My experience with Down Syndrome (aka Natalie)
Today, March 21, is World Down Syndrome Day.   The day when we celebrate that little something extra (i.e. the third chromosome on the 21st pair of chromosomes, hence 3/21 as a celebration date) that gives us our friends with Down Syndrome.  I never knew anyone with Down Syndrome before Natalie came along, and I've learned so much just the past two and half years.  I can't wait to watch her grow and see what she continues to teach me.


My little sister is moving to Charlotte.
Mandy's been gone from the Carolinas for three years to a foreign land called "Mississippi."  She is moving back this summer, and I'm so excited for her to come home.

Spring
Although the weather's been having a hard time deciding what season it wants to be, the few glorious days of spring we've had thus far make me feel like I'm living life in Technicolor.  Now, if it would just stick around...

They've made a movie about life as an admissions counselor.
In a previous life of mine, I was an admissions counselor for almost four years.  It's definitely one of those jobs that has a whole sub-culture. I'm curious to see if Admission nails it or not.

Three of my favorite people have become bloggers in recent weeks. Let me introduce you:
My dad, the director of talent management for a hospital system, has worked in HR, training and employee development for more than 25 years. His blog, All About the Buzz, is full of helpful tips, interesting factoids and inspiring quotes for managers.  Over the course of his blogs, he's showing us how customers benefit when employees are engaged and appreciated and how best to engage and appreciate employees. www.allaboutthebuzz.net.

The other two blogs are book journal blogs by friends of mine.  

JMo's Year in Books allows us to follow along with Jenna's book selections for the year.  I love it because I'm nosy and love to know what she's reading or thinking about reading.  Plus, I'm very opinionated when it comes to books, so I get to voice my opinions about what she has read or she should be reading next in the comments. 

The YA Wordsmith is written by the one person I know who reads more books than I do, my friend Nicole.  Also, she is even more addicted to young adult fiction than I am. Some of the best books I've read in the past 8 months (cough...Fault in Our Stars...cough) were recommendations from Nicole. So the fact that she is now sharing her insightful reviews via the worldwide web is a big bonus for you folk who don't have the luxury of casually chatting about books with her over the top of your cubicle, like I can and do.  Her blog helps me shape my "to-read" list.

That's all for now.  What are you thankful for this week?? Shout it from the rooftops! Or leave it in the comments section below, if that's more practical for you.