Thankful Thursday | 16 is not too old for snuggles
New here? Thankful Thursday is something we’ve been doing in these COVID times; an exercise to help us hunt for the good that is in our lives and in the world, even in the midst of a pandemic.
Before I get into the things I am thankful for, I just want to say that I am so sorry about the fire difficulties all of you out west are experiencing.
I was reading that some of your smoke has made it all the way over here to the east coast and that reminded me just how terrible things must be over there.
We are praying for relief for you all!
This week, I am thankful:
for snuggles with Sonia
She happened to be snuggling with me while I was writing this post. 😉
Sixteen is not too old to snuggle with your mom. 🙂
that my thumb doesn't hurt anymore
I mentioned recently that I got a pretty painful infection under my thumb fingernail, and I've also mentioned being grateful it had healed.
But I am still feeling grateful for that, so I thought I'd mention it again.
I went kayaking with Mr. FG recently, and I remembered how much it hurt last time I kayaked when I accidentally whacked my thumb with the paddle. And this time when I bumped my thumb, it didn't hurt at all!
Sometimes it's easy to take it for granted when things don't hurt. So. I'm keeping the gratefulness going for my pain-free thumb.
for the skills my physical therapist gave me
I would like to say that I have had no further issues with my neck (that would be a lie.)
But the good thing is that when my neck/shoulders bother me, I now know what to do about it! I have stretches and exercises that help, so I am able to get my muscles un-stuck here at home.
for the cooler weather
Most of the people I live with (everyone but Zoe) are feeling stabby about the change in temperatures, but I am fantastically pleased.
I wore leggings on our walk yesterday and I was very happy about it.
for the Snoopy Mr. FG brought me
Woodstock looks so comfy, snuggled up with Snoopy. <3
that we can pick up holds at the library
The libraries are not letting people come in now (apparently there were some incidents with library patrons being problematic toward library staff over mask rules. THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS. Sigh.)
So, that is sad. But I am very grateful that we can still put things on hold and pick them up curbside.
that my stove/oven has arrived!
It's in at the appliance store and it should be in my house by end of day today.
!!!!!!
I am extremely excited to have no broken glass on the top of my stove anymore.
I think I will promptly cook something that requires multiple burners.
(in case you have not read any of my posts in the last two months, I did something dumb and broke my stovetop.)
for mobile banking
I just really appreciate being able to deposit checks with my phone!
And it's so easy to check account balances and transfer money.
for the last peaches of the season
I am really savoring the box of bruised peaches I bought, especially because I know that they are probably the last local ones that I will get this year.
for Aldi's inexpensive, but fancy foods
I eat so much fancier than I did before I started shopping at Aldi.
Berries, smoked gouda, fresh pickles, prosciutto, cranberry goat cheese, sea scallops, Parmesan cheese wedges, German chocolate, chicken sausages...there are so many things that used to scream, "too expensive!" but are now affordable, thanks to Aldi.
If you have, as they say, wine taste on a beer budget, Aldi is a perfect place to shop. Because you can buy wine at beer prices there. 😉
(I don't like wine, but the concept holds true. I can buy smoked gouda on a Colby Jack budget. 😉 )
for my basil, parsley, and mint plants
My yard is awfully shady, but there's enough sun to successfully grow a few herbs.
The other day, I needed to make chimichurri sauce, and I didn't even have to go buy any herbs to do so. Happy dance!
What are you thankful for this week?
A little reminder: you totally do not have to be feeling happy or thankful to join in. I've written many of these Thankful Thursday posts while down in the dumps myself.
So, come sit with me on the discouraged-but-still-hunting-for-joy bench! I'm scooting over to make room for you because when we are discouraged or down, that's exactly when we need to be gratitude hunting. Make a list with me. 🙂
Such an amazingly wholesome and uplifting post! Something I definitely needed to read this morning.
Like you said - it really is way too easy to take the smaller things for granted.
Thank you for sharing
1. That my area has dodged another hurricane. We were in the path of Hurricane Sally and got no wind/rain. I'm sorry for the Florida panhandle.
2. That the rest of my family was able to evacuate safely to my in-laws.
3. That the car accident that the rest of my family was in while evacuated is only a logistical issue.
4. Work' s first concern was "Are they ok?"
5. Work immediately allowed me to leave to deal with the logistical issues/get the kids to bring them back for school next week as ours is in person and our vehicle will be in the shop all week. Partner must be online for work each day and can only make the 8 hour drive on the weekend.
6. That my oldest was given his classwork for the 3 days he's missing. School was cancelled Monday/Tuesday for Hurricane Sally.
7. Partner is able to work remotely for 3 weeks, by which time the vehicle should be fixed.
This week has been quite rough, but I do have several superficial and one important thing to be thankful for.
- the cup of tea my husband brings me every morning in bed. He used to do it every once in a while, but it became daily in the spring.
- our old printer died but we had money to replace it and the new one is better and really did set up in the 20 minutes I was promised.
- I was able to turn a small coat closet into a pantry that I've been wanting for the 7 years we've lived here.
- YouTube suggested I listen to Arvo Part's "Spiegel im Spiegel" and it is just the most beautiful and calming piece of music. Sometimes the algorithms are right.
- a new Aldi is opening about 5 minutes from my house in a couple weeks. Not having to drive an hour round trip will be wonderful.
- drs finally figured out my sister's seemingly random symptoms and she's having surgery in about 30 minutes that should drastically improve her life.
We're starting a character-building program thing for the kids at school this year, and during the overview of it, I saw that one of the related podcasts is about the importance of gratitude. I haven't listened to the podcast, but it totally made me think of this.
So, with that in mind:
Still thankful we're able to do in-person school.
Thankful for the teachers and staff at that school, who both teach my children and work with me. That would be a lot of family interaction with an unpleasant person if one happened to be there, but there are zero unpleasant people at the school.
Thankful the garden didn't freeze (all the way) last week, and I can still harvest tomatoes and green beans.
Thankful it's cooling down. Like you, I'm thrilled to be wearing a sweater when I get up in the morning. My husband is distinctly less thrilled. 🙂
Thankful that I have four children who are healthy in mind and body and don't require medical intervention for anything. Especially since doctors are so far away from us, it's a very big deal to have a family with no health issues.
Thankful for a friend who loans me books to read. Sometimes she gives me ones I wouldn't have necessarily chosen, but only because she wants to talk to someone about them, so I read them anyway. It's good for me to be stretched out of my well-read authors and genres sometimes, and every once in awhile, I actually enjoy one.
Your health gratitude hits home for me! I took good health for granted until our 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes one year ago next weekend. I failed to grasp how individuals and families managed life when life-saving medication and medical supervision is required. It's a challenge, but we are also grateful that this is manageable and she can live a healthy life, just a bit more difficult than others.
I'm thankful for this blog and this weekly post.
I'm thankful that the weather is good for outdoor gatherings, I have had several with friends this week and will get to celebrate a friend's birthday with another friend tomorrow (I'll pick up takeout and we'll eat outdoors).
I'm thankful that my wrist feels better today than it did yesterday, not great but better. I think I have tendonitis which should heal.
I'm thankful that out daughter lives not too far from us and that she has had extra time to see us this week since her significant other is away for a few days.
I'm grateful the grocery store seems almost back to normal. I noticed this morning that the one way arrows on the aisles have been removed.
I'm grateful that mask wearing in Maryland is mandated and widely adhered to.
Oh man, I hate those one way aisles. You forget one thing and then you sometimes end up needing to go up and down multiple aisles in order to get to the right spot.
Also: I don't think most people pay attention to the arrows anyway, so it starts to feel kind of pointless.
I don't think I saw anyone follow those intentionally. Most of the stores took them down when they realized it was just annoying people.
Cooler weather is so much more comfortable than blazing hot!
This week, I'm thankful for:
1)
. my husband is helping to homeschool our youngest. I work mornings two days away, and by the time I get home, a good portion of school work is already done! (My freshman is at school.)
2. We took time to go to a playground yesterday. We passed a lot of children (virtual learning is really accounting for about 40% of the students this trimester). And there was a 5 yo that my son played with. 🙂
3. I asked my boss if I can stay full time status until the end of the trimester. If we decide to send our youngest back to school, I'll go back to full time hours. If he stays home, I'll go down to part time. (We lose the health insurance if I am a part time employee.)
4. All the corn and tomatoes I was able to prep and freeze! This makes me feel so content. We have a bunch of tomatoes we have to pick today (frost warnings), but that means I have enough to make stewed tomatoes and spaghetti sauce!
5. I am loving my clothesline still, our chickens are laying eggs regularly, our meat freezer is half full and venison will be coming in about a month, our library forgave all fees, so I got some books to go along with our science, and I have today off from work.
1. Thankful that people in our area continue to support small farms...this summer alone, all 150 meat chickens we raised were reserved, bought, and paid for!
2. My daughter's school is offering full virtual. She has an autoimmune disease (T1D) and requires care from medically trained personnel. With the COVID craziness this year, we are keeping her home the first 9 weeks in hopes that the school gets into a routine and the teachers and nursing staff are less stressed.
3. For our emergency fund. We haven't had to use it, but we set a VERY loft goal before our son was born in June. We pinched and scraped and got 3 months of living expenses in savings. Now working towards 6 months.
4. Also thankful for the cooler weather. While it feels cold enough to turn the heat on in the mornings, it's still 70-80 by the afternoon here in Ohio.
I'm thankful for:
1. The cooler weather here in VA. I love it!
2. An apology after my feelings were hurt
3. A caring sister who lives across the country, but felt like she was right there when I needed her
4. My parents are still healthy although they are in their mid-70s. I am thankful for this every day, and I know that I'm in the best years of my life, knowing that my parents are with me, healthy, and I'm relatively healthy too.
5. My job. So many people are losing their jobs. Mine is holding on for now.
I'm thankful for this weekly post. It makes me take a moment to think about all the things for which I have to be thankful.
1. I'm thankful that the sofa we ordered the first of August from Costco.com was finally delivered. It got "lost" for a month shipping from Atlanta to Alabama.
2. I'm thankful that I got to see both kids and SIL over the weekend. It was wonderful to get to visit with them. And it was nice to have them there to help carry the new sofa upstairs since the delivery people were not allowed to come into our house because of Covid-19.
3. I am very thankful that our dog is home safely. She escaped from the yard yesterday and was picked up by animal control before we realized she was missing. I'm so grateful that animal control picked her up before something bad happened to her, they were so nice when my husband went to get her from "doggie jail", didn't shame us about her getting out, and didn't charge us the fine (which could have been $350!).
4. I am thankful that our weather is finally starting to cool off. I am very tired of 90+ degree weather.
5. I'm thankful for good health insurance. My husband showed me the receipt from picking up his 3-month insulin prescription and it said our insurance saved us over $3000. I don't know how people can afford to pay that much for it!
Things that made the top of my gratitude list for this week:
1. The cooler temps (especially during the night) and lack of humidity! I was able to actually get some yard work done yesterday without ill effects. (My body doesn't like the heat and hates the humidity and doesn't hesitate to let me know.)
2. A healthy summer. This is the first summer in many years when I haven't been doing physical therapy for a foot, or knee, or back or shoulder. (Oh, wow, that makes it sound like I'm falling apart...maybe I am?) It seems like every summer I'm doing PT for something, which makes gardening a serious challenge. Last summer, I got pneumonia in the middle of summer and it took about three months to fully recuperate, so gardening was out. This summer, it's been full speed ahead and I've gotten so much accomplished!
3. Still working from home, which I 100% love. It gives me flex time during the day (I can throw a load of tomatoes in the dehydrator during a break) and gives me back almost two hours in commute time every day. Not to mention, I'm still employed and able to do my job during these times.
4. My chickens are producing eggs like crazy. Including the chicks I added early spring, I'm getting five eggs per day. I've been handing many over the fence to my neighbor, but recently realized I could dehydrate eggs and they'd be shelf stable and perfect for baking or scrambled eggs when rehydrated. Guess what I'll be doing as soon as the tomatoes and peppers come out of the dehydrator?
5. Speaking of neighbors, one of my neighbors patched the header on my front porch. After I've spent the summer redoing the front porch (the stain! the paint! the new rails, and steps and floor...) and the cover on the one end of the header was the last piece I had remaining. But, it was too high for my comfort level, so he did the cover for me. SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE PORCH FINISHED!
Your porch must be looking so fresh and new now. Wonderful!
Thanks for the reminder! Here’s a quick list from my couch
1. I am thankful that even though our air quality is real bad (I live in Washington) we are nowhere near any fires! Praying for those that are.
2. Since we’re inside all day, I’m very thankful I’ve invested in so many LEGOs! The kids are getting really creative.
3. I am thankful to have just had another birthday! Another year lived
4. I am thankful my baby seems to be done teething (for now)!! Yay sleep.
5. I am really thankful for my new couch cover- so much cuter than looking at all the old stains, haha.
Teething is so rough for both babies and mamas. Yay for a break from that for you guys!
Kristen my son has had that same Snoopy since he was a baby and adores it. He generously shares it with me because we both love Snoopy. I hope that it makes your heart as happy as it makes ours!
On my Thankful List this week.....
1) I am thankful for my 4 yr old son, our only child, who put on a pair of pants this morning that he wore 30 days ago which are now two inches too short for him. He is healthy and growing way too fast but after we put another pair of pants on him in the next size up he hugged my neck and kissed my cheek and told me not to worry, no matter how big he gets, he will always be my baby. All of this without prompting soothed my heart. Man I love that kid!!
2) I am thankful for my husband. I Have been particularly grumpy this week having to endure less than pleasant side effects from a medication, cooped up in the house working, and an huge expense of buying a new washing machine after our less then 3 yr old Samsung unit died. The hubby is still putting up with me, doing his best to be understanding and patient although I know that isn't his strong suit. Marriage isn't always easy but I am so grateful that God brought the two of us together for the hard times and the good times.
3) I am thankful for my faith during these times. There are a lot of really awful things going on in the world right now. Challenges, sorrow & misery from the virus, hurricanes, fires, death. I am reminded over and over again that I have a greater hope and that is what sees me through this mess.
4) I am thankful that although we had to buy a new washing machine we were able to buy it in cash, on sale, and have it delivered to our home in 2 weeks.
5) I am thankful for my garden and the changing of the seasons. I am excited to plant fall veggies and greens and this hobby gives me an outlet and great joy. During these times it is so important to spend time in nature and connect ourselves with things that are still good and evidence of God's provision.
Have a wonderful week everyone!
1. For the lovely weather we have had this week. It has cooled down and given us a preview of Fall weather to look forward to. We are getting rain today but that’s ok as I enjoy an occasional rainy day.
2. Health and dental insurance. We have needed both recently so I am ever grateful that we have them.
3. Fun things to look forward to: pumpkin patches and apple picking.
4. Friends and family who check in on me.
5. The small simple pleasures in my life: hot tea, roasting marshmallows around the fire pit, cozy socks.
I discovered that no carryovers will be allowed this year due to a change in my employer's vacation policy for next year. This means I need to use an additional 18 days before the end of the year (beyond what I had already scheduled for the holidays). I am choosing to look at this as an opportunity for extended time off vs. being mad that I have to take it when I can't really go anywhere. It has been an exhausting year, and I could use the break!
I am thankful that I stopped to watch the ACM's last night. There was so much good music, more acoustic which I loved, and very little of the awkward banter than makes award shows suck.
I have 2 kids at colleges where the covid numbers are atrocious. I am thankful they've so far managed to stay healthy and have positive attitudes about what they are experiencing vs. ranting about how much everything stinks. They understand why professors may need to teach remotely as we have family members that are immunocompromised and at high risk.
I am thankful for all the bloggers who publish recipes online (including you Kristen)! This week I tried this (subbing siracha for the fancy peppers/peppercorns and cornstarch for the arrowroot) https://iheartumami.com/cumin-beef-stir-fry/. My family loved it, even those generally not fans of squash.
I am thankful for all the contractors out there who are so good at what they do. We are not good diy'ers, and this year we hired people to fix some problems on our paver patio and to replace our asphalt driveway with concrete. Both crews did such good work!
Mr. FG's vacation is probably not going to carry over either, so we are trying to figure out ways to use it up. It's hard to know what to do with the days in the midst of a pandemic!
I love thankful Thursdays.
1. I'm in the Florida Big Bend, which is the tail (eastern) end of the Panhandle. We have had amazing amounts of rain with Sally, but our yard drains well and has only one corner filled with water. Last night, around midnight, we had a tornado warning and had to take cover, but luckily all that happened was several hours without power. I'm very grateful that we are safe and that dedicated crews got the power back on in the wee hours of a rainy, windy night.
2. I'm thankful that our church has reached the point of calling a new rector and that he has accepted. Our search committee worked very hard and prayed a lot over this.
3. I'm thankful for the dogwood tree right outside my bedroom window, because it's yellowing leaves tell me fall is coming, even though we remain warm and humid.
4. I'm thankful that my second Misfits Market order arrived today as scheduled, after the fiasco of last time, when it was delayed by the carrier and the food was mostly ruined.
5. I'm grateful that September, the most active month for hurricanes, is half-way over. But...
6. I'm also very grateful for the daughter born in September, 30+ years ago. She still makes September sweet, storms or no storms.
Hi JD, We are practically neighbors, we are getting more of Sally today then we did yesterday when it was eerie and quiet. To me that was worse. Praying for all of you over that way.
Hi, neighbor! We have seen gray skies and a few sprinkles today, but yesterday, oh my! Our next worry is when all the water dumped in Georgia flows down here. Good luck to your area, and hang on - I hear another storm may be headed our way.
I've been wanting to try some alternatives to plastic wrap. I rarely use it, but still...
Lol. And I still didn't want to pay the prices for the others, but....
I found a large Bee's Wrap for 29¢ at Goodwill! It was in with the art supplies.
Thank you for thinking about the fires out here. Its horrible. My daughter works for Oregon Dept. of Forestry. She's been out on the fires almost everyday even though she's not a firefighter.
I'm thankful for all the the men and women out there on the front lines and grateful no fires are too close to us since she's getting married in three weeks.
I have to comment on one of your thankful issues and that is depositing checks by phone. I am a woman in my 70s, liberal arts major, who loves what technology has done for us, but hates learning anything new about it. I always seem to hit a dead end when people tell me how to do .......(fill in the blank.)
I also hate driving to the bank just to deposit some tiny check. But, to my utter amazement, I found out that depositing checks by phone is so incredibly easy, that even "I" can do it. One of the best things that has happened to me, well, this year. 😀 😀 😀 Love it, love it, love it.
Just had to comment.
Trying to figure out how to do that is actually one of the things on my to-do list today! I tried once but couldn't figure it out. I might just call and have them talk me through it. 🙂
It is truly magical, isn't it? I feel happy every single time I do a deposit.
I'm on the slightly-down-and-looking-for-joy bench this morning, as it happens.
On the whole I'm grateful for the same things. I don't know if this means I'm focused on the most important things (family healthy, job secure, can work from home (now down to 60% of the time), backyard, dog, etc) or if it means I can't find other things to be grateful for.
There are few today, which are well-timed:
- A coworker at my new division emailed to see if we'd both be at the office today, because she was looking forward to seeing me in person.
- The product I'm reviewing for a different coworker, is very well written and doesn't need a lot of changes; this not only makes me happy for itself but is a needed contrast to the paper I spent most of the day struggling with.
- Weather better, windows have been open for days.
Forgot one: that my income is secure enough that I can donate additional money to current causes, rather than having to donate less to my usual charities instead.
Well, welcome to the bench. There's lots of good company here. <3
Here's a funny one from last night, so I'm going to add it for this week: I realized that the mother of a child I know, is my brother's classmate's old girlfriend. We hung out back then, I think we're going to again. Even if we don't, it's a neat coincidence.
1. I'm thankful for another week of no air conditioning and no heat. I think the next couple of days may get really chilly in the house, but we'll make it until the next warm day.
2. It's time to put up my fall decorations! Decorating is not my strength, but I have really nice fall decorations.
3. I'm able to exercise most days again. After I drop my oldest off at school, I take the younger two on a mile walk in the double stroller. They're over the initial excitement of it, but have come to accept the 2 laps we make around the loop everyday. And we've started singing songs and practicing counting and spelling their names to make it more fun.
4. I'm thankful for my wonderful husband.
I love that your 16yo daughter will still snuggle with you. I have a 2.5yo who is way too busy to snuggle and has been like that since around 10 months! But someday hopefully he'll be more up for snuggling. He does sit nicely while we read books, though, so there's that!
I'm thankful for cooler temps that are still summerish during the day. We had one of the hottest, most humid summers on record here in Minnesota and it felt especially hot since I am pregnant. So I am thoroughly enjoying these cooler temps. I'm also thankful for our library - they are allowing grab and go pick-ups and I hope people comply with the mask policy so they can continue to do so. They have someone stationed at the front who gives out masks if you don't have one, though, so hopefully they turn people away who won't comply?? But Minneapolis is pretty liberal/progressive, especially the neighborhood I live in so hopefully it won't be a problem! It's just too bad that mask wearing has become politicized!
Thank you for your kind words about the wildfires in the West. The smoke has been very bad in the Seattle area. We haven't been able to open our windows so it is hot and stuffy inside. Most people here don't have air conditioning, so there is no way to cool things off. But things are supposed to improve over the next several days. So thankful for that! I look forward to opening the windows.
- My boss hired a new receptionist, and she is fabulous. She is a college student at home because of Covid, so her employment won't be long term, but we are going to appreciate her as long as she stays. Makes my life so much easier.
- I still have a bunch of tomatoes from my farm share. We probably won't get any more, so I am savoring these.
- My twin sisters have a milestone birthday today. We will do a socially distanced lunch with one, and have the other one on FaceTime because she lives far away. So happy we can celebrate together.
So so hoping the weather improves for you!
Although I have a multitude of things to be grateful for, they are sometimes hard to pull up when trying to write them done.
1. In the wee hours of the morning our family welcomed our newest member, a perfect, healthy little girl named Amity Jay. This makes the fourth great grandchild for my husband and me.
2. I am thankful that I’m am available to help out family members when help is needed. I retired from teaching last September, making me more accessible to my children and grandchildren. As I type this I am sitting with 2 of my grandchildren while their mother takes their sister to the doctor. Poor thing is covered in hives.
3. I am thankful we were able to provide the outdoor space for my youngest daughter’s beautiful wedding. The whole family pitched in and helped decorate our pool shelter for the reception. Our son even became legally ordained in order to perform the ceremony.
4. Being a former teacher, I know how hard our teachers are working to provide our students with an education. In our district, teachers are teaching both in person and virtually. They have actually doubled their work loads. I am very grateful for caring and hardworking teachers.
Congratulations on a new great grandchild!
I'm thankful for your first comment. I'm the mom of a 16 year old too. She's needed more snuggles than normal over the last 6 months, or at least what I thought was normal for 16 year olds. She's been especially cuddly since having 6 teeth pulled last week. Your comment is helping this mom realize it is ok, wonderful even, to snuggle with your mom.
It certainly is. My friend Kathleen Quiring from Becoming Peculiar was talking with me yesterday about how this means we make our kids feel safe. Which is a nice way to think of it...they want to snuggle you, because you represent safety and comfort. That's a pretty hefty compliment.
snuggling never goes out of style, I wish I could do snuggling with grandkids! not yet..
"scooting over to make room for you", thank you for that, it brought tears to my eyes...
There's always room on the thankfulness bench for everyone. It's an impossibly long bench. 🙂
You're describing your bench as one could describe God. Is that happenstance or is the parallel deliberate? It's rather nice, even to this agnostic.
Well, I didn't think of it that way on purpose. But probably what happened is that my faith influenced the way I thought of this and so the parallel was unintentional but related.
You know how if you go to a gathering where you feel a little awkward and out of place, but then someone pats the seat next to them and invites you to come sit down, and suddenly you feel like you are supposed to be there? That's how I hope people feel here. Come sit down and talk to me. There's room for you here! You belong.
I wish we could do that in real life for everyone here, but at least we can all do that virtually for each other. <3
that is so so lovely and thank you for that!
I'm Thankful for you Kristen for welcoming us week after week when we might be having less than stellar moments.
I'm Thankful for our basic needs still being met paying bills on time and a roof over our heads. I'm Thankful for food in the fridge even on those creative days when they look at you like what is that and you happily reply dinner . Blessings and Prayers for Y'all and have a safe and wonderful weekend.
1. Standing in line at the grocery store I actually witnessed a customer spit at the plexiglass protection for the cashier, yelling about Covid being a democratic conspiracy. It was heartening that several other people also saw the action and began loudly berating/shaming the offender and the guy apologized and quickly scuttled off. I was glad/thankful that spontaneous social pressure and an instinct to protect the poor clerk erupted so quickly and was so effective. Even if you don't believe in the pandemic, I cannot imagine mistreating some poor employee this way.
2. The days are getting shorter so the oppressive 24 hours a day of daylight are over for this year. Finally took off the foil that covers our bedroom windows from March to September.
3. My husband wanted to walk but I was not feeling well enough so I went with him in my wheelchair. We discovered a patch of high bush cranberries right next to the road so we managed to pick a quart quite quickly. Made a jar of pancake syrup from them (they are useless for eating). Have not had this syrup in years so very thankful.
4. About two seconds after saying, "Honey, this ladder is just fine, stop worrying" the step he was standing on broke off and he fell to the floor. My husband is older than I am, 72, and I am so thankful that all that was bruised was his ego. He once took a college acting class that taught the participants how to fall without hurting themselves and he has used those skills for the last 50 years. He threw out that old ladder that day---I refused to let him be frugal and fix the step himself. I am not a crier but I was so thankful he was okay and so mad at him for going on a ladder that I erupted into tears. That is probably what made him get rid of the ladder!
5. Thankful for just frost and no snow yet, so no ice on the ground.
What a charming picture of you and your daughter.
Lindsey, your ladder story hit home. Husband is 78 and after a lifetime of frugality, we now look at each other and say, "Let's hire somebody to do that."
1. That although the South Texas temperatures don’t feel like it, fall is here at my house! Decorated the porch yesterday, and the rest of the house will be done Saturday.
2. That all six of my grandkids (ages 4-11) live in my city.
3. That my retirement is coming quickly! October 2nd is my last day at work after 24 years there.
4. That I am able to pick my youngest grandson up from kindergarten each day, as his mom ( my youngest daughter) works until 5 pm.
5. That my husband’s COVID test was negative.
Congratulations on your retirement -- so awesome your grands are close enough to enough with your imminent leisure!!
No alcohol for sale at my Aldi. I believe state regs forbid it. Not that I want to buy any but ya know. 🙂
Also, my five year old has decided she doesn't like snuggling with me much at all. She will with my wife but not so much with dad. Once in a while it happens.
So let's see ...
1.) That we now have a babysitter who can come to our house and keep our kid occupied. She's not quite old enough to watch my daughter alone but she gives my wife some time to get work done and not have to occupy my kid.
2.) I got some good messages from the higher ups at work.
3.) That none of my home improvement projects had to be done this year since A) lumber has gone through the roof and B) contractors are out straight.
4.) I have some new sheets. Maybe someday I will be able to splurge on linen but for now, 100% cotton is the next best thing. Polyester and microfiber sheets can go to Hell!
5.) That it's German week at Aldi. I'm not really German (my great grandmother was Prussian) and I don't identify as German or anything but they do have a lot of good food and music.
Haha I felt that in my soul about the polyester and microfiber sheets. Completely agree. Good sheets are so wonderful.
Battra92, that's hard, isn't it? If your daughter is at all typical, that will change. And very happy you guys could find a mother's helper!
I am thankful we were able to adopt a puppy. She is so sweet and we just adore her. I am a little sleep deprived but it is worth it. I am thankful that our older dog is adjusting well to the puppy. I am thankful my son was able to take my daughter's car to work and do an oil change for her so that I could take a nap. I am grateful my daughter is doing college online this semester because numbers are going back up by us. I am thankful Hubby is still working from home. I am thankful that we are all healthy.
1. For the beautiful 2 days of rain we have had..I love sitting on my back porch while it rains and can still hear birds singing their praise songs.
2. That my daughter is through her first trimester of pregnancy and the morning sickness is easing up slightly.
3. I am thankful our insurance covers sessions with a nutritionist at 100% so I can get some guidance on healthier eating and living.
4. Thankful for my afternoon cup of tea while I read my Bible.
5. And it is taco Thursday
I’m thankful for ...
The large crop of peaches from my one little peach tree...it is small but mighty!
Cooler weather, which makes the smoke a little more bearable (on the west coast here and haven’t seen the sky for days)
My very handy adult son (who still likes a snuggle!) who has been working on my house doing odd jobs and repairing things.
My teenage son (15) who likes cuddles and back rubs, and will drape himself over my lap and demand some attention. Sort of like a dog!
The leftovers that are in the fridge, waiting for dinner tonight. Faster and cheaper than takeout.
Thank you for reminding me to be thankful for the cuddlers and sungglers in my life!
May I join you all on that bench? Been feeling up and down lately, my mom passed away last summer and her birthday is coming up. I hope Sonia never gets too old for snuggles. I'm in my fifties and would give anything to snuggle with my mom again.
I am thankful for:
1. All the things my mom taught me so I could take care of myself as she knew I would need to one day.
2. The cooler, less humid weather.
3. Funny animal videos that make me laugh out loud.
4. The good, sweet fresh corn we were able to enjoy this summer.
5. Needing to use up an extra week of saved vacation time before year end due to a change in policy. After my super-busy season it will be nice to have a break. Am extra grateful that I get any vacation time as I know a lot of people who aren't so lucky.
Hi Annie,I hope warm memories of your mom are comforting. The sadness comes in waves,doesn’t it? I think the memories are a way our loved ones communicate with us after they pass. I hope you have a restful vacation week!
Hi Madeline,
Yes, it does come in waves, sometimes triggered by a memory. Thank you for the kind words of support. It nice to have the kindness gifted from others to lean on.
Annie, some anniversaries can be very hard, Please remember that grief doesn't follow a schedule and even though there are typical patterns, nothing's wrong if your grief doesn't conform to them. Sending you distanced support in these hard times and may her memory be a blessing.
Thank you William. What you said is very true. I think it's hitting a bit harder now because of all the other sad things going on in the world and not being able to socialize in person as I normally would. I truly appreciate the support from you. Kristen really does have the kindest readers.
We’re in the same boat. My mother died a almost a year ago, and it feels like I am living through it all again. The sadness seems to grab hold at the most random times. I am sorry for your loss.
Hi Jody,
I am sorry for your loss as well. It does seem to come at the oddest moments and the stress of what we are all going through right now doesn't help. What does help is when others recognize that we all face loss and express their compassion as you did for me. Thank you for your kindness. I will send some loving-kindness your way when I meditate tonight.
I'm on the bench today. I have so much for which to be thankful, but today I'm having a hard time remembering that.
1. Migraines are becoming part of my routine life, and I am thankful that we have disposable income to get take-out and conveience foods to ease my load, and medications and supplements to help prevent and treat the headaches.
2. My husband was planning to hang out with a friend on Saturday and changed his mind. Said friend has since tested postive for Covid. We don't have to quarantine from my husband and our compromised son has been spared yet again from this virus.
3. I am waking up to cool mornings.
4. I have a sister and mom who answer our FaceTime calls every time we call, which is often. I get to see my family every 1-2 years, and as I get older I miss them more and more. Technology is pretty incredible that we can interact so much with people far away.
I am grateful for pain - free days & how to handle them as well. I've lived with chronic pain for about 20 yrs now & the last few weeks it's been well under control.
Thankful for a day of fun shopping.
Thankful for fall, my favorite season.
And thankful for a week off of work.
Grateful for autumn breezes in the morning and evenings.
Grateful our son still loves to visit us once a week and enjoy a nice dinner, a movie or game or a bike ride after we eat.
Grateful that there is progress being made on a Covid vaccine.
Grateful my friends continue to make our effort to stay close through Zoom meetings,facebook and telephone till we can meet up in person again.
Grateful for a supportive and loving husband.
Thank you, Kristen, I needed this! Recently I realized my usual optimism and equilibrium were no longer enough to handle the ongoing, increasing misery in our nation and world. I talked with friends, read helpful resources, and regrouped so that I feel better equipped for the seemingly inevitable "what next?". So I'm thankful for that. And I'm especially thankful for my new great-nephew and for those who exhibit and encourage the following traits so that he has a hopeful future: civility, unity, honesty, empathy, selflessness, kindness, respect, equality, generosity, integrity, and just plain decency.
Discouraged-but-still-hunting-for-joy EXACTLY!
Grateful that my 22 yo daughter is handling adulthood on her own very well, she seems to be working hard and thriving despite obstacles.
Grateful that new co-workers recognized my effort and talent in a new role at work.
Grateful for my home, a safe harbor
Grateful for my routines that are keeping me from spiraling out of control with anxiety.
Grateful for thoughtful, kind people on this post
I am grateful today is Thursday- I am done working for the week. lol
I am grateful we don't have a volleyball game tonight.. I am tired!
I am grateful for the break in the weather.. The humidity is almost non existent, the a/c is off and the temps are lovely!
I am grateful for that great Jimmy Johns coupon in my work email this week. I treated myself today and it was a very good sandwich- and I was starving!!
I am SO very grateful my kids are not young school aged kids during this pandemic crap cause I would lose my mind having them sent home from school for the sniffles...
Thank you for your post! I am really struggling today with unexpected expenses. We live in between two fires in CA, so the air quality isn't good (so we have to keep our windows shut), it's about 100 degrees and our A/C has been out since Sunday
Today I am grateful that our A/C was repaired, even though the cost doubled for what they charged for this previously. I'm not so happy when I'm hot and I wasn't baking anything and made simple dinners--so glad for cool air! (and I'm making your hamburger buns right now)
Thankful for your bun recipe. It is an easy recipe to follow and I'm able to use organic ingredients and make them cheaper than I can buy them. Better than that - they taste great and I know exactly what ingredients are in the buns.
I am so grateful that my daughter is able to make her Confirmation. This was scheduled to take place last May, but was postponed due to covid.
Because of covid, the Confirmation kids won't wear the regular gowns, so we have to buy something special. I am grateful that we have the money to pay for these unexpected expenses like the A/C and special clothes.
My adult son is a manager at a retail store and they moved him to a different store. He is really struggling and was even thinking about quitting, which made me very nervous when so many people don't have jobs right now. I am SO grateful that his boss and the boss above him are helping make the working conditions better. I felt so relieved and grateful when my son called and I could tell in his voice that he was okay. It furthers my faith that my son is being watched out for and it is a wonderful relief and reminder that all the solutions don't need to come from me. (as a parent)
I really do think there is something to this thankful post--thank you Kristen
Oh, so sorry for the fires and smoke -- I live in a similar place but YAY for AC getting fixed!! Those temps are no joke and if you can't open windows it is unthinkable -- so double yay!!
I so enjoyed reading this post. Thanks for sharing and being positive.
Thanks for this invite, will join ya on the bench:
-thankful for my daughter’s improved health and our access to vitamins/natural health living/God’s healing
-thankful for my husband’s day off
-thankful for acquaintances
-thankful for nature, and a new path we took tonight
-thankful for the body of Christ
* woke up with back pain yesterday. Working today and leaving tonight for a girls weekend.... Back pain still there, but I hope to be able to function anyways. So I'm grateful to not be stuck in bed right now!
* Grateful for a supportive husband
* Grateful to live in a province that is allowing my kids to attend school full time. I would have never even thought about that last year... Crazy times! Not taking this one for granted, it could be shut down again if cases rise.
* Grateful to be able to afford to work only part time (3 days/week) (*also, see number 2!)
* Grateful that I have a helping relationship with my neighbor friend : today hubby is babysitting her kids, and she is giving me a ride to work.
Have a great weekend!
I'm thankful that the first week of virtual school is almost over. I don't even have the words because I don't know how we are going to get through this intact. But I pray that God will make a way. I'm thankful for Misfits Market produce delivery that makes my store shopping a little lighter. I'm thankful for safe tree removal on my property this week. I'm thankful for people who are kind to each other and encourage each other.
Aw, cuddles from a daughter are fabulous -- may they never get too old 🙂 Yay new stove!
Thankful for:
It is only 98 degrees here today instead of 118 and the air is "only" unhealthy for sensitive folks. Am sending best hopes for everyone close to these fires. It has looked and smelled like a bombed out apocalypse here all week and we are relatively far away from them. My heart goes out to all of you struggling with the actual fires -- hoping for rain and containment and an end to this horrible time.
Thankful that my phone tracks my every step (who knew?) and this is encouraging me to walk more every day. A thankful sidebar: my knees aren't hurting too much at all -- very thankful.
Thankful that even though it is a messed up school year on line (and our system just got cyber-hacked for ransom -- pirates!) and we have lost a week and 1/2 of classes and so much work is piling up for progress reports, etc. and I can no longer access my school email where resides so much stuff I need -- wait, thankful? Why, yes, I am thankful to have my job and to work for folks who are trying to do the right thing. They had free meals up and running for needy (or basically any student or family member) since March and found devices and hot spots for every needy student to connect on line. Thankful to work for good people. 🙂
Thankful my mom is in a very good place that takes pandemic seriously and protects her and the other residents. She is pretty happy and healthy. Very thankful.
Thankful for my brother who manages her funds and has worked like a dog to take care of everything for her. He made it possible for her to be comfortable and unworried in her 93rd year. Sooo thankful!
Thankful for my marked down groceries -- they make me happy every time I cook a meal and figure the price per serving. I still love regular groceries, but marked-down is the bomb. Don't get me started on FREE food from VONs and Ralphs 🙂
Thankful that no one i know has caught the virus and let it stay that way!!
Oh!! SOOO thankful for the library putting books on hold and letting me pick them up -- highlight of the month. We also can't go in yet but I can order books -- Woot!!
Thankful that as I sit here this morning, we have the doors/windows open and it is not hot, humid or smoky (so sorry for our friends out west dealing with the fires/smoke). There is a breeze and I am almost chilly. 🙂
Thankful for my Misfits Market box that came yesterday with yummy produce for us.
Thankful for a trip to Aldi today - it is not in a super convenient location, so I don't go very often. But I stocked up on a some things that I like to get there.
Thankful for the fresh corn that we can still get from a local farm. And thankful that we were able to get fresh juicy wonderful peaches from them all summer long.
Thankful for all the blessings that I don't often stop to count!
You're the 2nd person I've seen on social media who has broken their glass cooktop.