Thankful Thursday | a catch-up
I missed last week's Thankful Thursday post because I'd just gotten back from our wedding trip, and I'd just taken Sonia to the ER.
So I have lots to say by now!
This week, I'm thankful:
that we got home from our trip just in time for Sonia's asthma attack last week
That would have been much more difficult to deal with from afar, given that she's a minor!
that ambulances are free in my county
Our ambulances and paramedics are paid for with our taxes, and I am thankful for that.
That's not exactly free, of course, but you know what I mean. There's no bill after an ambulance ride here, and I am thankful.
that we live near emergency help
An advantage of suburbia is that help:
a) is located nearby
and
b) can get here quickly.
If you're too rural, help is far away. And if you live in a congested city area, even nearby help could take a while.
So, suburbia is a good place to be when you can't breathe well.
for my new sister-in-law
She is such a good fit for my adventure-loving brother, and she is just a delightful person all-around.
(My dad says that if you don't like her, there's probably something wrong with you!)
I am so thankful to have her in our family.
for God's faithfulness to my brother and his wife
When people get married in their 40s, there is a long, circuitous path leading up to the marriage, and I feel thankful that God brought them together.
We sang a song about God's faithfulness during the ceremony, and I had to stop singing a few times because otherwise, I was going to burst into tears and ruin my makeup. Heh.
for my sister-in-law's family
She comes from a family of Egyptian immigrants, and they were so fun to talk to. Much of her family was born in Egypt (and some in Gaza and Syria) and it was really interesting to hear their stories.
So often, I take our American religious freedoms for granted, and talking to my sister-in-law's family reminded me to be thankful!
(Her family left Egypt because it was not a safe place for people who converted to Christianity.)
for the way different cultures meld through marriage
During the dancing, as my brother and his wife were held overhead on chairs by the wedding-goers (not a typical American wedding experience for me!*), I watched and thought about how beautiful it was to see different people groups come together in a family.
*edit: several Jewish readers pointed out that American Jewish weddings also have this tradition. And I'm sure other groups in America do too. I just hadn't experienced it before; apologies for the clumsy wording.
And I felt...I'm struggling to find the word...maybe honored to get to experience the way another culture celebrates a wedding. It was such contagious joy!
It was the most fun wedding I've ever been to!
I also thought about how beautiful it is that people groups from the opposite sides of the globe can share a faith in Jesus.
that every single one of my June posts is updated
Over the course of the past month, I have manually gone through every post I've ever published in June!
(Which is no small task because I have been blogging since 2008.)
Anyway.
I got all the June posts done, just in time for the month's end.
And I plan to tackle all the July posts next, and so on and so on, which means in a year, I'll be done.
This means I am only 1/12 done with this project, but hey, 1/12 is better than 0/12.
(I am doing this because new web accessibility standards require, among other things, that every photo on a site comes with a text description included in the code for people who use screen readers. I applaud this change and also: it is a LOT of work for a one-person operation like myself.)
that my posts have comment links now
I hired a great WordPress guy on Fiverr and he added comment links to all the posts. Yay!
So now when you visit the homepage, you can see a comment count for each post, and there's a link that takes you straight to the comments.
for cool showers
It's been hot here, though not as hot as in the Pacific Northwest. Still, the heat is enough to make me very thankful for a cool shower after exercise.
for cool (ish) mornings
Yesterday afternoon we had a heat index of 106° F, but at 6:00 am, the temperature outside was tolerable for walking.
So, I am thankful for the relative cool of the morning.
What are you thankful for this week?
P.S. I know some of you are still experiencing comment issues; out of order comments, or duplicate comments. Most readers have been able to fix this by clearing their history/browser cache, or by trying a different browser. If you try that and the comment issues persist, can you email me a screenshot of what you see? That will help the support team try to figure this out.
RAIN! So, so thankful for the rain we got over the last few days. Not only to ease the terrible drought so the plants will grow and our animals (and everyone else's--this is where your supermarket beef starts) can eat, but also to lessen the danger of fire. I never again want to see a wildfire as close to our house as last summer's was.
For our remarkably kind and generous neighbors. The one who owns the giant, fenced-in pasture right across the road from us stopped to let us know he wasn't going to be putting any cows or bulls in there until February, so we could put our horse over there to graze until then. This saves us a LOT of money, because otherwise the horse is mostly in the smaller, grass-free paddock by our house and has to eat a lot of hay. There's even a windmill-supplied water tank, so we don't even have to water him.
This will make it much easier when my husband leaves for New York with our middle son. I am very thankful my eldest son will be here, because he is perfectly capable of not only doing all the animal chores, moving sheep, etc., but is also competent with a gun. I don't like guns myself, and am not experienced with them, but it makes me feel much better to have someone here who is, in the event of a rattlesnake or a sheep that gets fatally wounded by a coyote or something.
Thankful my children are all old enough that I can leave for the day for a dentist's appointment (it's 100 miles away, so it really is for the day) without having to haul them along with me. The three-year-old won't be happy about my absence, but Daddy's, um, "relaxed" style of parenting (I call it spoiling) will win her over in the end, as it has her brothers. 🙂
1. I'm thankful that the minor bug my son is fighting right now came AFTER youth camp! I'd been specifically praying that it would work out for all of the plans last week to come together - 2 kids went to youth camp and 2 went to grandparents so that my husband and I could run away for a couple days. It's our first time in 2 years and was such a gift for us and the kiddos.
2. For the wonderful variety in fresh fruits and veggies this time of year! We're so enjoying the tasty garden treats and it makes it easier to bypass the less healthy options.
3. Free, fairly easy-to-access resources to make teaching/learning difficult and potentially boring subjects easier. I remember juuussst enough chemistry and physics from college to be no help to my high schooler, but YouTube, the web and the library to the rescue!
4. For my mom teaching me how to crochet at age 8. I still love to do it, connected with both grandmothers through it, and find it relaxing and creatively energizing at the same time. It's very portable and requires few supplies, isn't messy, and is one of the few things I can still do as a busy mom (mainly riding in the car). I make mostly baby items and hats for our local mission and crisis pregnancy center, and it's so satisfying.
5. Our church is going back to one main service next week!!!!! It's been split up into 3 services, then 2 to allow for Covid distancing, and I'm grateful for the in-person option instead of just livestream, but I can't wait to be with the body all together. It's been a good reminder of what a gift it is to freely meet with like-minded folks, and how much encouragement we get from being around each other physically!
I appreciate the comment link and count. Since this is such an active community, I often come back to read comments after I read your post. I was missing that and was happy to see the comment count was back. I was also surprised to see one of my comments was duplicated so thanks for the explanation. I think most of us who don't blog have little understanding of the mechanics of blogging so I, for one, appreciate your occasional explanations.
In no particular order...
1. A bumper crop of black and red raspberries. This means I should have a good number of jars of jam with this year's crop. Last year wasn't a prolific, so I'm doubly grateful for this year's crop.
2. The new HVAC I had installed last year. My old system really struggled and with the high temps we've had the past week, it's likely it wouldn't have made it. Although the cost to have the new one installed last year was a huge bite, I'm so grateful to have a reliable system in place.
3. Speaking of high temps...a cool front moved in late last night and it's raining today (which we needed), but the temps are cool enough (and oddly enough, humidity is bearable) to open the windows and let the house air out. I love having the windows open when the weather cooperates.
4. Amazing work partners. My supervisor is out for three weeks paternity leave (congrats to him and his wife on a healthy baby boy!), so many of his responsibilities have fallen on my shoulders. My work partners are amazing--providing support, information and guidance so we can get done what needs to be done while he's out. I love the people I work with and this is just another way that we all work so well together and support each other.
5. Upcoming four day weekend. Not sure what I'll do during my time off, but I'm looking forward to having it available!
6. Great friends, IRL and online. I belong to a few very supportive and encouraging groups on FB and I love reading and hearing about their support, advice and encouragement. Since the pandemic restrictions have begun to lift, I've been able to meet up with some friends face-to-face. It's good to finally see friends again.
I'd be pulling my hair out with the tech issues you are having, Kristen, so kudos to you for your calm approach. And the wedding pictures were beautiful--thanks for sharing!
I know many of you are wishing for rain, but we were experiencing crazy amounts of rain last week, so I'm thankful that the rain has decided to cease and desist.
Thankful for a good college orientation trip last week and that my son made some connections with other students and the new music director! Also thankful that he signed up for the campus Christian ministry group--I'm quickly approaching the time when he will start to make his own road to faith and I'm trusting that God will put good influences in his path.
Thankful for my friend from church. She has faithfully connected with me all along the way during my mom's declining health and death and I treasure her good listening ear and that her quirky sense of fun mirrors mine.
I had a combination of a migraine plus a vertigo episode last weekend and felt awful. Thankful that I feel better and that, through my work/contact with other therapists who are more skilled at treating vertigo than I am, I was able to self-treat (after Googling the technique--couldn't quite remember all of it!) so I would feel better.
I really appreciate that all of you are being patient with my current tech problems. I feel bad that the user experience here has been so buggy.
On the other hand, I am at least thankful that the new theme and such have helped my site to pass Google's new standards! The tech issues just need to be worked out, as the comment system on this theme seems to have a lot of random bugs.
For Thankful Thursday. It is needed this week.
For air conditioning and the ability to pay to use it. Between the heat and humidity I feel for those that live without it.
That my husband is excited to go back to his office next week after all these months of working from home. It was a privilege but he is excited to be going back in person. I am happy for him and glad that he does not have a long commute and that summer traffic seems to be lighter most of the time.
I am thankful for summer fruit. I bought cherries, a cantaloupe, and a watermelon this morning. They are best this time of year.
I am grateful for friends and family and the modern technology that allows easy contact. I remember when it was expensive to call long distance. Now it's cheap and yet I use it less than I should sometimes.
I am thankful the cicadas are gone. They inflicted a lot of damage to trees and shrubs. It was fine while they were here but I'm happy they're gone.
I am grateful we have a long weekend coming up.
I really need a Thankful Thursday this week. I'm in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho) and am feeling very sorry for myself because we have over three weeks of 100+ degree days, and our weather people keep telling us "its a dry heat". Hot is hot 🙁
1. Air conditioning and a very well insulated house. A few years ago we had additional insulation pumped into our attic, boy was that money well spent!
2. Our 25 year old daughter relocated to another state for a really big job. We moved her stuff , helped her unpack and she is doing really well. Her leadership has already told her that she is doing an excellent job. As a parent I'm so proud.
3. Slow and steady weight loss. I've been tracking my calories and walking 15 miles a week. I weigh in on the 1st of each month. From 1/1 to 7/1 I've lost 38 pounds and feel so much healthier. My goal is to lose 50 pounds this year.
Walking is such a great form of exercise; you can do it almost all year round, in most types of weather, and you don't often get injured while walking.
Your new SIL is lovely! That dress! And that song gets me EVERY SINGLE TIME. We sang it in church this past week, and I had to wipe away a tear. Actually, right now, I have an Etsy order in for a print of "Your goodness is running after me." to hang in our home as a constant reminder.
Congratulations again! I'm sure your new sister is just as delighted and blessed to be part of your family as you are to have her!
One other thing I'm thankful for this week....this song by Steffany Gretzinger. Music moves me in ways that words cannot and this one is beautiful and speaks to my soul.
https://youtu.be/-fpUvEKd91w
Jewish brides, grooms, bar and bat mitzvahs are held up on chairs to celebrate, as well.
Thankful for my new job and that we're not sweltering here.
@Rose, Yep...I was thinking that, too, since we're Jewish. Congrats on your new job!
I guess I should have said it's not a common feature in Protestant evangelical weddings. I've never been to a Jewish wedding!
Wow !! What a beautiful wedding and such an awesome addition to your family. You do have a lot to be thankful for, for sure !!
I need to do a "thankful catchup" since lately I've been focusing a lot on what I don't have, rather than what I do have. So, as Kristen would say, I need to flex those thankful muscles...
I'm thankful for:
1. The fact that my husband and I have jobs we like, pay well, that my husband has good benefits, and that we were able to work at home during the pandemic and able to save some money.
2. That our son is enjoying college, doing well in his coursework, and loves the internship that he's doing this summer--mostly remote, but some onsite work near where his girlfriend's family lives. And for the fact that my son has a nice girlfriend (we love her) and has made some really nice friends in college--and we had a house full of them last weekend. 🙂
3. That we have 2 healthy, happy cats--we adopted a second cat during the pandemic...and that they get along well, at least most of the time (except when they're bickering...LOL).
4. That we have a nice home--not a huge one, but certainly big enough for our family of 3 and that we have a big backyard, screened-in porch (my favorite room in the house 🙂 ) and we just put in a gas fireplace a few months ago...and thankfully had a few cool/cold weeks to enjoy it. Before that, we had only made 2 fires in the fireplace over the past 20 years. We do have a lot of painting to do and some wall patching that's long overdue--but we'll tackle that in the fall.
5. That we're able to see family again this year after a long year of Zooming during the pandemic. We've had my parents over for meals, had my parents and brother and his family over Memorial Day, are visiting my mother-in-law who we have barely seen in a few years, and are back to doing our annual beach week. In-person visits, and hugs, feel especially wonderful as we get back to normal.
6. For tennis--and the fact that I was still able to play throughout most of the pandemic (except for a few weeks when even the tennis courts were shut down)--and for the nice group of ladies I've met at our tennis club that I've been playing regular doubles matches with.
7. For good friends--including a good friend across the street that I was able to see throughout the pandemic...including some pretty chilly happy hour visits outside in the cold.
Sonia really wants us to get a second cat, but I keep being hesitant because, what if the next cat isn't as well-behaved as our current cat? Our cat is very good about not scratching things up, like our leather furniture.
@Kristen, Yep--I thought the very same thing. Our first cat was extremely well behaved and our second one is a little younger (still an adult) and we had to remind her at first not to scratch and she learned quickly. So, so far (knock wood!) so good. Also...I saw that you said your cat is on the chunky side...our first one was, too, until we got the second cat...now her weight is perfect since she is doing a lot more running and playing.
@Kristen, We had our cats from kittens onwards. They can go in the yard (they are chipped ofcourse) and they only scratch outdoors. We never clip their nails so they never feel the need to "sharpen up"again either. They do scratch some trees though and one veranda post (we tied an old branch to it so now they scratch the branch). This is sufficient for their natural instincts to mark their territory with scratches.
The only time when they accidentally cratched a couch, was when they were 7 months or so and just in a clumsey period in between being kitten and young adult. They would just jump, miss and try to find a hold! This was when they were chasing each other, so we played with them a lot so they could spend their energies in a controlled way.
Our cats are now 9 and 10 and I dread the day we will have to miss them. They have helped our kids through many hard times and heartaches!
I love how you and Sonia are helping out at the animal shelter!
Your new sister-in-law looks absolutely lovely! And I have to say, those bridesmaid dresses look wonderful--an unusual thing in my experience. Thank you for sharing your experience and photos. Today I am grateful for good health and cooler weather. I'm also happy that my company will likely adopt a hybrid work schedule that will allow some WFH days.
We all got to pick our own style as long as the color was the same, which meant that we could all choose a cut that was flattering for each of us, even the pregnant bridesmaid!
@Kristen, this so reminds me of our bridesmaid dresses back in the day when I was in weddings. They were always pastels, usually pink, soft green, yellow, stuff like that. It was been an adjustment for me to see bridesmaids wearing black, but it's a very sophisticated look and I think shows women have come a long way.
That's true; was it the 70s and early 80s when that light yellow bridesmaid dress color was very popular?
And then at some point it seems like jewel tones became popular.
I've really been struggling with my thought processes the last couple of weeks, so I definitely want to participate today.
I am thankful that I have a job. I have had a job. I wasn't wondering if/when I would get unemployment. Also in the past year, I received a 5.00 raise.
I am thankful that my family is healthy. I believe one of my boys has early spring allergies, but nothing that we have had to treat at this point.
I am thankful that our van is almost paid off. We pay through our bank, so I will contact the lender soon, so we know exactly what we owe. We will then have two paid off vehicles!
I am thankful that my husband's work hours have increased. His hours were cut to 19-26 a week when the state was shut down. He did qualify for underemployment, and he was able to homeschool our first grader! But now he is working, and our son will be going back to school (which we have mixed feelings about).
I am thankful that now that I focused on just a few things to be thankful for, I am feeling "better".
I am so glad this exercise helped. I've been in your shoes a lot of times; discouraged, but a little better after some thankfulness.
Those are lovely pictures of the wedding. I'll bet it was really fun! And I know you are so, so glad that you were home for Sonia when she needed treatment.
I'm thankful for:
1. My continued safety as I drive through some pretty heavy downpours on my way home from work lately. The worst rains always seem to come at 5 - 5:30 p.m.
2. Finding peaches for 79 cents a pound. I'm hoping to plant a peach tree, now that there is supposed to be one with very low chilling hours that will produce in Florida, but in the meantime, I have to buy peaches, because they are one of my favorite fruits.
3. Memories of my late father, who would be turning 103 next week. In the fifties, when I was born, some people thought nothing of asking him, sometimes right in front of us kids, if he hadn't wanted to keep trying for a boy. I remember my dad always answering proudly (and with a little "how dare you ask that?" in his tone) that he was very happy to have girls and didn't need to try for a boy. He didn't think we were less capable than boys, and had us helping him with repairs, wiring, painting, livestock and carpentry, and we are the better and wiser for it.
4. For finding two little vintage Tupperware cups for super cheap at a thrift store. I have three cups that I bought decades ago, and the younger grandkids like to use them when visiting. Since we added #4 to that younger bunch of kids last year, I needed at least one more cup!
5. That the VA is going to see if my husband can have additional therapy at a therapy center, where they have the equipment he needs. His few home therapy visits didn't improve him at all; the home visitation therapists can't bring any equipment with them and were allowed very little time to work with him.
@JD, it's so nice to hear that your dad responded that way to those questions. We have received so many of the same. I can't believe how insensitive these questions can be. When we had only three daughters, I received those questions all the time. Made me quite indignant. Our girls are an incredible gift, and no we don't feel a pressing need for a boy, thankyouverymuch. (We adore our son, of course. But we would have been equally thrilled over a fourth girl.)
Thank you for this exercise Kristen - it is so needed & I am very grateful. I loved the wedding pictures and the song even more. We sing that frequently at church and I always cry all of my makeup off!
I am thankful for access to healthcare this week as it allowed me to get to the doctor to get steroids and an antibiotic for the mad sinus infection that I have. Modern medicine is such a blessing!
I am thankful for my Mom and husband who are so gracious to step in when I am feeling poorly and handle caring for my son, cooking dinner, and all the other 'Mom' stuff.
We were able to get my son signed up for swim lessons at a much smaller price tag. This is a huge blessing as it will save us money but also because he will get to swim with some friends in a nearby neighborhood pool instead of a facility pool.
For my dog who is such a comfort to me when I am not feeling well and a terrific family member all the rest of the time. She is happiest when we are all together and that just makes me smile all over.
Quite a lot of thankfulness in my household right now for prayers answered that I could not even speak out to myself or anyone else. 'All my life He has been faithful.'
Happy Thursday everyone!
Thankful that I have a job that will allow me to work from home most days of the week. In all honesty, I am going to start looking for a new job because I don't think this one is a good fit for me, but I am thankful to be employed.
For my kids - we've been hearing about some kids with some serious issues behaving in ways that would make my heart hurt as a parent. I'm thankful that (for now), mine are happy and behaving in a way that is good for them (which is also good for me!)
That it's July. It's my birthday month. I love the summer but this year I've been stressed, tired and mentally burnt out. Haven't been able to enjoy summertime like I'd like. We're going on vacation next week, it's opportunity to reset, the year is half over with an entire half year ahead to finish it off great.
1. I am so embarrassingly bad at technology that I seldom try to do ANYTHING new. But with some encouragement I managed to download a picture of me from a reunion and edit it and put it on my homepage, which has been faceless for years. I know it sounds incredibly simple, and it was, but I'm still so proud of myself. And lots of people commented.
2. We live in an incredibly hot climate which makes our patio useless for certain months of the year, but we realized we could sit out on the patio early in the morning and enjoy our coffee. It's been so nice since I have put many, many hours into my flower garden.
3. And the biggest one of all. We have, unfortunately, been estranged from a son for some years now and gave up on a relationship with his daughters. Recently, we got an email from the ten year old saying she wanted to hang out with us and her dad was fine with it. We are still ironing out some details of the meet up, but part of the weight has been lifted off my heart.
Your number three!!! Yay!!!! I am so thrilled for you.
@Anne, I can imagine how wonderful this is! Praying that all the relationships are healed.
@Anne,
I feel happy for your number three! May it go perfectly!
@Anne,
#3 - What a WONDERFUL blessing!!! I am thrilled for you. Enjoy every minute no matter what the logistics are!!
That wedding sounds like it was full of joy and delight. It is so neat to see cultures blend together and get to experience someone else's culture. Hopefully you get to do that more as you spend time with your new SIL!
Thankful Thursday: Surgery week edition
1. Daughter's (probably last for this issue) surgery went really well with no surprises! It was even the predicted length, which was a relief.
2. My daughter will have a less-finicky, higher tech hearing aid before school starts, thanks to this surgery, which means she'll hear better!
3. Friends have showered us with meals this week so we don't have to cook at all, giving us a little extra time for snuggles and sleep
4. Friends came over and helped with our flower beds which had (rightfully) received notice from the HOA that they were in need of attention. The uncharacteristically hard freeze before we moved in killed much of our bushes and trees, but the grass that had already taken over the bed didn't die with it. I can't wait to see what the beds will look like once we fix them up properly.
5. It's a long weekend coming up! We might even get to go out for a little bit for some fun activty!
I am thankful: 1. That the days are getting shorter again. I cannot express how much I dread the 24 hours of daylight we have every summer, and what a relief it is to tune into the weather report every night and hear the announcer tell us how many minutes of sun we are losing each day. (I watch the local news just for that segment!)
2. For cherries and watermelon. Expensive but worth it.
3. For a good memory. Last night I was thinking with great pleasure about a previous event, and realized that my trip down memory lane was giving me almost as much joy as the original experience.
4. For my lilac trees. They fade all too soon, but in the meantime they make every minute in the backyard a sensory thrill. I bring them indoors, too.
5. That the day my husband said we needed an oil change, I was offered a mystery shop for one. Free oil change plus paid a small amount to do it.
1. Finding Yardley English Lavender soap on sale. It's such a refreshing fragrance on a hot day!
2. The heat wave here and on the West Coast broke. It was scary to hear from folks who don't normally need air conditioning so they don't have it, as they suffered through it.
3. I don't have to share my new workspace at the office with someone since it's only designed for one person. I am most efficient and effective with fewer distractions and this will allow for that.
4. My space is by a window and I can keep my plants with me. They make the office feel more homey and bring in a touch of nature.
5. Our city budget was kind to the libraries here. Libraries were a lifeline for a lot of people during the worst days of the pandemic.
Yes, when it's hot here, we do at least have A/C! I feel so bad for the people without A/C when a heat wave hits.
1. Grateful that my 3 year old had his first dentist appointment yesterday and it went very well! I have a vivid memory of my own first dentist appointment, that involved screaming, crying and hiding under a chair in the waiting room. Happy to say that was not his experience! He was very good about letting them clean and check his teeth and seemed interested by all the new stuff to see.
2. Grateful that my parents are watching our dog when we go on vacation next week. He’s old and doesn’t like other dogs so a lot of dog boarding places that do playgroups and such don’t work for him, plus he’s just more comfortable in a home than a kennel.
@LB, Happy for your son! When my son was that age, the prevailing dental message in children's books and TV was "There's nothing to be afraid of." That is counter-productive. Rather than just explaining, "Here's what dentists do," (like truck drivers or grocers), it introduced the idea that there might be something to be afraid of.
@Heidi Louise, exactly! We watched a very helpful Daniel tigers neighborhood episode that showed exactly what happens during a dental visit.
@LB,
Yay!! It's such a relief to have a kid handle the dentist well!! We'll have to check out that Daniel Tiger episode before I take my 3yo this fall.
Grateful I am 2 weeks further along with healing from surgery!
Grateful I have health care and am young enough to handle the stress of the procedure both financially and physically.
Grateful for the loving care and attention from husband and daughter at my lowest point and the kindness of friends supporting us with meals and short visits.
Grateful for air conditioning and pillows, allowing me to stay comfortable.
Grateful that I can savor a cup of coffee once again and grateful for light meals that are so delightful.
I am VERY grateful that our horrible heat dome/wave thing is over (I live in Portland Oregon). This weekend it was 109, 111, and 115 recorded at my house. EWWW. Something like only 40% of Portlanders have A/C so this was particularly brutal. It was definitely a tough, long few days. But I am so thankful that it's behind us. Additionally, I am so thankful for all the local mutual aid groups that were out in force providing water and food and cooling stations to our houseless neighbors. To say it was brutal would be an understatement.
I am very thankful for my wonderfully supportive family. I live alone in the city (which I really love) but occasionally I get lonely and just want to hug someone! My dogs don't see to want to participate hehe. My parents live about 45 minutes away and have been out of town but were able to stop by yesterday for a quick visit. I was in tears hugging them. It just did my heart so much good to hug them.
I am thankful for my garden. This is my first year with a garden and it is such a learning process but I am loving it! This morning I prepped/froze the last of the snap peas (stupid heat wave killed the plants) and pulled a dozen or so little tomatoes. I am so pleased to be able to grow at least some of my own food!
Loved this post. Thank you for all the positivity!
1. For a long lunch and chat with a friend today.
2. For a couple of days spent this week with my mom visiting some childhood friends and family members I haven’t seen in a long time.
3. That my family is feeling better now. We most likely had just regular colds last week but felt yucky for a few days. But now everyone is ok.
4. That today is July 1 and a local fast-food chain does fresh watermelon milkshakes during the months of July and August so I will be able to indulge in one of my favorite treats.
5. A very cool find at a second hand shop-I am a nurse and I collect old nursing textbooks dating all the way back to the 1930s and I found a great Red Cross Nursing handbook from 1951 this week. It is a small thing but fun to luck up and add one to my collection.
@Toni, Ooo, CookOut in North Carolina did fresh watermelon milkshakes and it was my favorite thing. I moved away 13 years ago and still miss them.
@Angel, yes!! I live in NC and it is Cook-out! I got my first one of the season last night lol. I always look forward to them all year! A simple
thing that makes me happy. 🙂
Sounds like such a wonderful time for your family!
This week I'm thankful:
*for my garden. This year I've really grown to love gardening (even weeding!) and the sight of baby green beans this morning filled me with hope.
*that we got to celebrate my youngest child's birthday. She turned 3 yesterday and is such a joy. It was an easy family celebration at home and it was wonderful. I love the joy that a simple Dollar Tree pack of balloons brings to kids. I'll try to stay in the thankful mode and not burst into tears over being done with babies and toddlers. 😉
*that potty training is going super well! It's one of my least favorite parenting things and she's making it really easy on me. I'm grateful!!
*for our big backyard and that it's mostly lined with trees on both sides. It makes a great place for the kids to play and gives a little bit of feeling like we live in the country even though we live in town.
Those wedding photos are stunning!
That no one was injured in a severe storm that hit our part of the county with many snapped power poles & trees. First time in quite awhile they put a warning out way in advance for that beast.
We were without power for over a day but we have whole house generator so we were good, we threw a hose over to our neighbor as they have no water when power is out. We are lucky we have such nice neighbors and we are always happy to help them.
Thankful the trees that fell in our yard were way in back so no hurry to clean them up.
Produce is starting to come out of the garden.
My schedule changed at work so I leave an hour early the days I am in office, the difference in traffic between 4 pm and 5 pm is surprising. No cars at all when I leave at 4.
your sister in law looked beautiful and you and the bridesmaids did as well. love the color of dresses and flowers