Thankful Thursday | I'm the problem
I woke up this morning, thinking I had already scheduled this post to be published and I have only just now realized my error. Ha. Sooo, we're getting a late start, but better late than never.
This week, I am thankful:
that I was able to work ahead pretty far
The individual workload for this class is really not too bad so far; in fact, I got through week four out of eight. Yay!
So, that means I only have group work left to do for those weeks.
that the sun has returned
We had some very needed rain, but we went about a week without seeing the sun at all. It's back today!
for a really good cantaloupe
Remember my recent one that required some expectation-adjusting?
Well, my next one was deliciously juicy, and I ate the entire thing all by myself in 24 hours.
So good.
for the joy of a mowed yard (that I did not mow)
I'm still kinda flying high on the thrill of hiring out my lawn mowing. 😉 It feels downright luxurious. Ahhhhh.
God bless my lawn guy!
that I am feeling a little more hopeful
After having a little crash-out over my BSN extension, I'm happy to say that I am feeling more peaceful about it now.
Part of that is because I'm currently in an easier class with less work (yay!), which means I feel much less behind (yay!), which means I have a little more margin (yay!)
This is a more tolerable way to live, so I'm at least gonna feel decent until this class is over.
And by the time this class is over, I'll be nearly at my one-year mark, which is when I can reduce my shifts.
I'm gonna make it!
for my lovely, peaceful bedroom
I've been at this house for four years now, but I still somehow feel a frequent and fresh sense of delight in having my own room.
Maybe one day I will share a bedroom again, but for the moment, I am so happy to have a space that is just mine.
Sometimes, on a slow morning after a string of work shifts, I just lie there on my back, noticing and appreciating how beautiful the experience is.
The peace is priceless. 🙂
I have to agree about the bedroom. In light of Events, your reason is different than mine — for ten years we shared our room with babies and toddlers and it's simply nice to have a space to go close the door, goodbye everybodeeee.
This morning I am particularly thankful for skilled, kind phlebotomists. We had to take DS#3 in for blood tests today; he is a hard stick, as they say, partly because he still has fluid in his tissues from all the IVs during his hospital stay, also because he sadly inherited my deep and wobbly veins. But these ladies were highly recommended by another team at a different location, and BOY did they do a good job. Also DS has learned to breathe deeply and slowly to help his blood actually come out through the tubes.
I'm also thankful that DS#3's energy seems to be increasing; given that he struggles with anemia and has had multiple infections, the fact that he hasn't wanted to nap two days running is a good sign. He's been asking to do more PT which is good as well.
Thankful for DS#2, who is really working hard to help care for his brother, and DH, who takes night shifts because I do not function well at all with broken sleep.
Yay for a easier blood draw!
I hope he keeps improving.
Karen and DS#3,
Prayers for a speedy and complete recovery coming your way. Keep on keepin' on!
I am thankful for the positive news that I received at my ortho appointment. My broken knee is starting to heal after five weeks. Although I need to wear my full-leg immobilizer for at least another month, PT starts in a week and recovery should be complete in two more months. Yay!
I am seconding your yay! Wonderful news!
MB in MN, Also praying for your speedy and complete recovery. Hang in there! Hopefully you'll be Dancin' with the Stars in no time at all.
Woohoo for advancing to PT!
Yay for a place of peace and a lighter classwork load, Kristen! So happy for you!
I'm still gauging whether my summer grad class will be on the light or heavy end...
Thankful that all of our kids are home this week and doing ok in life. It was a little unexpected (two of the three are technically adults now) and it definitely brings some extra "energy" (and vehicle logistics and dishes, lol) to the home, but it's also a time to cherish!
Thankful for a super fun night of volleyball that included one of my kids- he's gotten to be a really amazing player!
Thankful for the current work/school/life balance! It was pretty nuts this past spring, but I feel a little lighter lately.
Thankful for the really great group of FG readers- you guys are awesome! I enjoy reading everyone's comments- hearing different perspectives and stories from peoples' lives.
Thankful for healthy & tasty food - looking forward to build your own taco bowls for dinner tonight after work 🙂 One son's girlfriend will be there as well. Glad they want to join us!
Love your perspectives and glad to know you, too! Enjoy those tacos with your people around you.
thankful for you. that my zozo is doing well. that she had her sshaped for her prom next fri and she looks GREAT. never f e4al bad when you ake a mistake. that's why they have erasers on pencils.
I'm sure Zozo will be the Belle of the Ball at her prom! Wish I could see her all dolled up in her prom gown. When I taught full time, one of my favorite extra duties was to chaperone the prom. It was so fantastic to see those teens, who usually wore blue jeans and T-shirts, to look like real-life Prince Charmings and Cinderellas in their tuxedos and sparkling formals. All of them were gorgeous! It always made me tear up because I saw my seniors all grown up... and knew they'd soon graduate and go off and I wouldn't get to see them in school again...usually not ever again, since most of them moved away.
Yes! to the sun. We needed the rain badly, but going a week without sun is a tough thing. This week I am thankful:
*for time to be with friends.
*for the video my son sent to me. He saw two baby raccoons on a hike.
*for end in sight (of a very busy season).
*for the smell of the smoker cooking our supper and the smell of the coffee in my mug.
*for the 4 baby chicks the broody hen hatched this past week.
*for the wildflowers in the field. My youngest picked such a beautiful bouquet for me this week.
*for a delicious chocolate chip cookie at the soccer party last evening, for silly children and a loving husband, that my dad is doing well, for my sewing machine (just looking at its vintage coolness makes me happy), for my husband who is right now calling Verizon to get our phone line (landline) fixed (this is particularly vexing because it always happens when we get a lot of rain and they ALWAYS want us to jump through the hoops), that my son calls more now that college is out, for friends/parishioners who take care of us and the property, and for God and joyful song.
I'm very happy that you have your own bedroom, and totally agreed on the peace. I love living alone for that reason.
Thankfuls:
1. I had fun with a friend at a carnival this weekend. I was very on the fence about going but I knew she really wanted to, so I went, and I'm glad I did. She was very happy that I came and the carnival was a lot of fun! I don't think I'd have had as good a time if I'd gone by myself (honestly, I would have skipped it if she wasn't there) but it was fun going together. I also enjoyed a swim afterwards.
2. I'm thankful that I booked a long weekend in Switzerland. I was also on the fence about that but things have been a bit heavy lately and I had enough money to take a small trip, so I went for it and am very much looking forward to going!
3. I'm thankful that I've got back into running. I ran twice this week and today was pretty warm (for here), but I still managed to run up a hill at the end and had a luscious swim afterwards. I am, as always, thankful to live by the sea.
4. I went to the gym yesterday. Thankful that I motivated myself to go, not thankful that I locked myself out...but am thankful that I previously left a spare key with a caretaker and he was able to come over and let me in!
5. I enjoyed the final episode of The Testaments last night (and the cameo from Margaret Atwood!). The showrunners took it in a different way from the book, which I usually dislike, but they did so in a very interesting way and, on the whole, I think it was an excellent adaptation. I am already excited for S2!
*A lighter workload with no shows planned (reading about Kristen’s shifts and classes makes me shudder)
*Interesting commission jobs: 2 pencil, one oil paint
*People I’ve met through this blog who have become almost-real-life friends (exchanging email and occasional snail mail)
*Library books—paper and through the Libby app
*sold 3 paintings within the first week of having my work at the resort near the cabin!
Oh! Three painting sales is amazing. Yay!
Well, one cannot always feel chipper. You are bouncing back from your BSN near-crash pretty quickly though!
This week I am particularly thankful that my husband and I are handling empty-nesthood so well. We are slowly settling into a confortable and relaxed routine together, and I really appreciate that.
And the times when we meet up with our kids are extra special.
Peace is priceless. Yes, ma'am!!! Simply taking a moment to enjoy whatever (at that moment) is giving you peace is the key. 'The house is quiet' ahhh. 'The house is filled with joyous chaos, chatter, and laughter' ahhh. A good life is filled with those pauses of appreciation.
Kristen, I think we all know by now not to panic if a post doesn't show up first thing in the morning! No apologies necessary.
I'm thankful beyond words that NDN1's nephew's brief visit went so well. NDN1 recognized him right away on Tuesday afternoon (something both CF and I were a bit worried about); I then walked him and her around the assisted living facility and introduced him to all the staff members I could find. He took NDN1 to lunch yesterday and breakfast this morning at her favorite Panera. (He's departing late this morning.)
Also, he, CF, and I had a very productive session yesterday morning at the lawyer's office. And we three had a long session at the house after lunch yesterday and came to some preliminary decisions about how to proceed. There were one or two awkward moments (this was probably inevitable, since CF and I barely know him), but we're both glad to have gotten to know him better--and very glad that we're all working together well so far. And I was especially glad to be able to put some old family photos and documents into his hands, since he turns out to have an interest in family genealogy, and NDN1's father is the grandparent he knows the least about.
so glad it went well. i knew it would yay.
I'm thankful for the rain we had earlier in the week.
For baby birds -- we have at least three of our birdhouses occupied, and the parents are busy caring for the fledglings.
That my garden is flourishing. I was able to share lettuce with our next-door neighbors and I'm eating fresh salad every day.
For the gift of a couple of slow weeks to relax and catch our breath before things get busy again.
I love your bedroom too! It looks like such a haven, like a personalized hotel room haha. I feel that way about my home's location and outdoor space. We live in the woods and I walk on my front porch and think wow, some people have to pay good Air B&B money to get this type of experience that I can enjoy daily! My dad will visit this summer and it's his one request, to spend time sitting on my porch.
Also thankful:
- for the mental untangling that begins to occur on summer break.
- For more free time to play video games, swim, work on summer-level home organization and decluttering, etc.
- For visits with friends and my mom this week.
- For good sleep last night.
Yes! I sometimes think my room feels like a hotel room.
Except when I have piles of laundry on the floor. Ha.
Your home retreat sounds lovely! Enjoy your summer break- hope it's thoroughly refreshing!
I always lived alone, but vacation a lot with my sister. And afterwards enjoy beeing alone again.
At the moment I enjoy every shaded place and little breeze I can get as it is very hot in the Netherlands this week.
Bonus for being in school longer: more student symphony tickets!
I agree with the serene bedroom. I changed out my winter down for the summer and put on the linen duvet.
Such good news, Karen A., so glad for your son improving.
MB in MN you are still on my healing list. After I recovered, I invested in a purple brand seat cushion that I use to kneel on.
A.Marie I am so glad your meeting w/ndn's nephew went well.
We got the first cutting of hay in the barn, most everyone else got rained on.
I'm thankful today that we managed to find my daughter an apartment near her new university where she's pursuing her master's degree. Pickings are slim this late, but we found one that met her needs in a quiet neighborhood. I'm also thankful my son is letting her crash at his place for 2 weeks as the reason the apartment was available is due to occupancy date being after classes start.
I'm also thankful that my PT for my knee replacement is going well. I've been feeling so good about it, I bought some hand weights and resistance bands to start some upper body work as well. Gyms intimidate me in my current overweight out of shape state, and I've been pleased with how much I can do at home with some videos.
I'm really thankful for fruit at Costco. Cherries, berries, peaches are all really good right now and make eating well enjoyable!
Your bedroom looks so tranquil and pretty! You deserve a beautiful retreat like that, especially after all you've been through the past several years.
My thankfuls:
I got another day off, three days in a row, as my reward for working the holiday weekend. It's really more like 4 days off because I don't work until 5 p.m. tomorrow. I'm using the time to re-arrange the den/office and I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Cleaning off the rolltop desk, I found Snuggles' papers from when I got him from the pound. When I adopted him, he weighed 45 pounds. Now he's up to 61 pounds. He may be a full-blooded Rottie after all!
I'm also thankful for the cool breezy weather.
And for animal companionship: Last night I sat outside and combed Snuggles' coat with the shedding blade. He had handfuls of shedded fur by the time we finished. He loved the attention, snuggled with me as always, and I resolve to do this daily.
For empty garbage cans and recycling cans. Mine were full and very heavy from cleaning out the garage. I'm talking big 96 gallon cans that you roll to the curb! The garbage collectors came by yesterday and picked everything up. (Our usual day is Monday but because of the holiday they came by Wednesday.) Now, I'm starting again and have almost half of one recycling can filled with old papers and such. The next garbage pickup is Monday, less than a week away, and I know the cans will be full again. (Although I am donating items, such as books and school supplies, that others can use.) My spring cleaning may be a month or two late, but it's getting done.
For a reorganized closet hall area, yesterday's big project. Done and done!
snuggles is a great name. we almost named our buddy snuggles. but he came with the name buddy and he knew it so we kept it. fur babies are the best.
The pound employees named my dog Snuggles. But after meeting him, I knew why.
The name absolutely fits him.
And I think it is hysterical that a great big Rottweiler would be named Snuggles!
So Snuggles it is!
Chiquita came with her name too, and we just kept it. 🙂
Mr Mittens came with his name too and it fits him. Such a crazy cat (actually only a little over a year old so still kittenish) and so lovable/loving.
My Betty cat came with her name from the local Humane Association. But as DH and I were incapable of giving any of our six cats and two dogs a simple name, we extended this into Betty Crocker's Butterscotch Pudding (in honor of her lovely orange and white fur). And if you think that's bad, here's the full "American Mutt Club" name our second dog eventually wound up with: Percolate Briskly Rama Llama Ding Dong Bebop Braveheart I Want It All Death to Osama Bin Laden Dog. Dinger for short. 😛
Grateful for the rain mostly because we had so little snow this winter which usually leads to a bad fire season (the rain will help with that)
Grateful that I have 9 months til I retire
Grateful that my job pays well and is not mentally challenging (physically is another story)
Grateful that I have lost over 60 pounds, have more energy, and am continuing to lose weight.
Grateful for a change in job duties that allows me to move around a lot which has seriously reduced my back, neck, and arm pain.