Having said that, there were many bright spots this month.
As I said earlier, my older daughter had major surgery this month. This required us to travel from our home outside of Houston to see a specialist at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia.
I had seen The Hate U Give all over Instagram this summer and knew it was important for me to read. I have been putting it off, though. I knew the topic would weigh heavily on me. What I didn't expect was how amazing the storytelling would be.
This book hooks you right away. It's not a contrived story that only exists to to say it's a book about an important an issue. I hate those books. This is a story. And it is amazing. If it doesn't change your thinking or open your eyes or confirm your experiences, then I don't know what to tell you.
"Can we stop by the post office to mail off our spit?"
Weirdest thing I have said in a long time. My husband and I have talked about doing 23 and Me for a long time, and now I am anxiously awaiting our results!!
As soon as I saw this t-shirt, I knew I had to have it. #storyofmylife Heads up on the women's sizing-I needed an XL. I'm usually a medium occasionally a large in women's fit. The XL fits nicely, but it is in no way loose on me. This is juniors' sizing disguised as women's sizing.
We have a dry home. Houston has been pounded by Hurricane Harvey. The devastation we have seen even within 2 miles of our own home is heartbreaking. I am filled with gratitude for a safe, dry home to be in and heartbroken for the devastation the grows daily surrounding me.
As an educator my heart hurts because I know teachers and students lost their second home as well-their classrooms. Knowing that school insurance policies do not cover "personal property" (basically everything in your classroom not provided by your school), many teachers will have lost years worth of investments in their students' education. The Donor's Choose fundraiser was one of the first that I donated to.