Thankful Thursday | a $0 repair!
This week, I am thankful:
that my internet is all fixed, for free
I'd been having issues with it, and I thought I'd gotten it back up and running, but then it went down again.
A call to Verizon showed that my equipment was not even showing up virtually on their end, so they sent a tech out to look at it.
Apparently, my outside box was on the fritz, so he replaced the entire thing and now I am good to go!
And it cost me exactly $0. This is my favorite kind of repair. 😉
that my last exam went way better
You know how I got an 80% on the first med-surg exam?
Wellllllll, I studied so, so hard this time around, and I got a 100% on the second exam this week. Woohoo! My confidence is restored. 😉
(And my class grade is back up in the 90s again.)
Guys, I'm gonna make it through med-surg!
that the sun came out
I was so, so happy to see the sun streaming in my windows when I woke up yesterday.
And after a depressing string of cloudy, rainy days, I now see a bunch of sunshine in my upcoming forecast.
In other cheerful news, by this coming Saturday, the sun won't go down until 5:45 pm. Ohhhhh yesssss.
that we'll see green bits in less than a month
I know (from pictures I've taken in previous years) that in the first week or two of March, I will start to see tiny green leaves on some of the brush on the trails where I walk.
That's so soon! Like...in just a couple of weeks.
I love my trails year-round because even in the winter, there are interesting things to see.
But spring is an especially fun time to be on the trails because things change so quickly in March, April, and May.
Sooo, I'm looking forward to that.
that my PEO scholarship hit my account
Scholarships always require some slightly fussy paperwork, but this one is all done and the dollars are in my account. Yay!!
Incidentally, when I am working on scholarships and I hit that, "Oh man, I wanna quit this paperwork!" feeling, I remind myself that most other people probably feel like that too, and that's a very good reason to NOT quit.
I can be one of the few that hangs in there and gets to the end, and that increases my odds of receiving a scholarship. Lots of people apply to the easy ones; I figure that few people make it through the hard applications.
that Miss Shelley is in very good health
I took her in for a routine checkup this past week and the vet was surprised at how good she looks for being a 12.5-year-old cat. Yay!
I didn't ever own a cat before we adopted her, so I am never quite sure what to expect as the years go by. I do know the health of older cats can turn quickly, but I am happy that she's still in good health for the moment.
Hopefully, her good health will continue for a while, and she will turn out to be a long-lived cat.
that the math exam will be over after today
This morning, I have the every-semester medical math exam that we have to get 18/20 on to proceed in the semester.
This is not particularly challenging math for me, but still, since the stakes are so high, I will feel relieved when it's behind me.
And then after today, we don't have another exam until February 29th! That means a whole two weeks between exams.
That's good news, because a unit on cardiac care is coming up, and I hear that's a lot of hard material. So, I'm gonna get a head start on it.
that my furnace finally got cleaned
I had it scheduled for a cleaning, but somehow that appointment got cancelled and no one seemed to know why! But yesterday, the guy came out and got it all tidied up.
Soooo, hopefully that means there will be no more furnace drama for a nice, long while.
for good health
I'm thankful for a baseline of good health, but also I'm grateful that I haven't been sick with a cold, the flu, or Covid (which I did catch the previous two Januaries!)
Here's hoping my streak of good health will continue.
Great job on the test!
Thankful for few good nights of sleep. The past year has been rocky at night, so several nights of 7-8 hours of sleep was so nice.
Thankful that my niece finally went to doctors about symptoms. She has a unfortunate diagnosis, but with treatment should be fine. We also have a family member who is an expert in this disease - so she has an excellent resource on speeed-dial.
Thankful my son's teacher gave him a chance to redo assignments instead of giving him zeros. Son is a different kind of kid, and having someone understand that is nice.
Thankful for my husband- working hard to provide for us. Our anniversary is today- I need to bake a chocolate layer cake - his favorite- to celebrate.
Sunny days, cool breezes, and fuzzy cats round out the list.
@mbmom11, a good night's sleep makes all the difference some days! And so do patient teachers (:
@mbmom11, Happy Anniversary!!
@mbmom11, Happy anniversary. A good partner is such a blessing.
@mbmom11,
Happy anniversary! and hooray for patient teachers (I have a son who is neurodivergent, and has benefitted from kind and generous teachers; he has had a few who are not). Your niece having an expert on her illness on speed dial is a special kind of thankful!
I'm thankful that as far as Valentine's days go, mine wasn't too terribly out of control. A day that is supposed to be fun can be very difficult for four year olds with special needs, but I got them all through with only a few small hiccups. I am also thankful that my new student who will have some very significant needs will not start until next week. I'm also thankful for my sweet peeps at home who had little surprises waiting for me when I returned.
My husband's grandpa was able to die at home surrounded by his family.
My sister-in-law finished chemo and is officially in remission from a type that generally does not have a good success rate.
Over the phone appointments. My toddlers WIC requires appointments every 3 months. Thankfully every other one is able to be completed over the phone as he completely freaks the minute we walk in the building. Last time he ended up with a cut, a black eye, and me being told to watch for signs of a concussion. So thankful this one was done over the phone and they actually called when they were supposed to.
Decent dental cleanings for the kids. We've been having an awful time with getting my oldest to brush properly (or at all sometimes) so I was dreading it. He only came back with one small issue though and the toddlers teeth looked good from what they could tell (he freaked out so bad he started throwing up).
A week off from speech therapy for the toddler as she was gone to a conference. Things have been so hectic lately and my house is in such a mess right now (she comes to the house) I'm glad for one less thing off my plate even though I know he needs it.
Warmer weather. It's always nice to be able to spend time outside.
@Jess,
Oh, Mama! You've got a lot going on right now! Hang in there! I'm sending random internet stranger love!
@Becca, Agreed. Tough times are tough, but eventually you'll get a break.
@Jess, What a week (or rather, several weeks?). I hope things settle down a little for you soon.
@Jess,
I feel you on the teeth thing. My daughter with special needs had a broken tooth that was decaying ( she chewed on a lot of inappropriate things as a toddler- oral fixations are no joke!) And I took her to our usual great dentist. She screamed and hid and wouldnt sit in chair. Went to another dentist who was great with kids- my kid started screaming again at the sight of the chair so I had to sit in the chair and bear hug her. The dentist looked at her from across the room and gave us a referral to an oral surgeon in seconds.
Now we can manage tooth brushing once a day (maybe) . It is so hard when you're just trying to help them and they just can't understand.
And canceled appointments can be a gift at times!
Best wishes!
My daughter was absolutely terrible about teeth brushing, too. We did have a very lovely pediatric dentist who was so good with the children, but the only way I got her to sit in the chair was by letting her pinch me as hard as she wanted during the exam. Typing that out, it seems very weird, but it worked. Unfortunately, we live in an area without fluoridated water and my kids inherited my chalk-like teeth, and redheads naturally have more yellow teeth than other people, so let's just say our teeth are not our best features.
@Jess,
I'm happy to hear that your grandfather-in-law was able to die at home. That's a gift.
I'm sorry about some of the other things, though! I'd admire you for finding the silver linings.
@Jess, I echo what all the others have said. Hang in there.
@Jess, I am holding good thoughts for you to have your load lightened soon and for all the wonderful people around you who are helping to keep helping out.
Glad for your grandpa's loving family and peaceful passing.
@Jess, good grief, maybe your car could get a flat tire too. That's a lot of hard stuff at once and I commend you on your good attitude.
@Jess, sending you hugs.
Thanks everyone. I love this blog and all the people who comments. This community is one of the only places I'm aware of where people are always helpful and kind.
@Jess, You are a better woman than I, able to not just survive your current challenges but to find things to be thankful for! How wonderful that Grandpa was able to die at home, as he wanted.
@Jess, That's a lot of hard things. I hope there are people to support you, just as you are supporting others. I agree that dying as one wants to die is a powerful, loving thing.
@Jess,
That is, well, a LOT. I so admire that you can find gratitude amidst everything else going on. I'm glad your hubby's grandfather was able to have his home and family around him in his last days and hours. Hugs to you and your family.
@Rose,
My son has those same chalk-like teeth, inherited from his birth parents. We have found a wonderful dentist that specializes in working with neurodivergent kids, and she has been a Godsend. Unfortunately, he is not very good about tooth brushing or flossing.
@mbmom11,
I may very well be there one day. My toddler chews absolutely everything and I'm always afraid he's going to break a tooth.
I was thankful to see the sun and blue skies yesterday. The wind dried up the rain and snow we had on Tuesday.
I am thankful for a warm house and warm clothes for spending time outdoors.
I am thankful for our hike in the woods over the weekend. We walked on some rocky trails and came away unscathed. I am thankful we had hiking poles to make it safer.
I am thankful for DH and the way he honors me every day not just on Valentine's Day.
I am thankful the last of our tax information is available. I had been told it would be tomorrow.
@K D, I resisted using hiking poles for a long time .... they make a huge difference on rocky trails, don't they?
So many exams. Congratulations on the 100%, and good luck on the math one.
Thankfuls . . .
--For the friend of a friend of my MiL's (several degrees of separation, there) who has been the source of some lovely things for my daughter. It was from her that the old American Girl doll came, and now a beautiful little silver tea set is on its way from Boston. I guess this lady doesn't have grandchildren who will take these things (or rather, I gather her daughter-in-law didn't want them for her children), and so they have made their circuitous way to the middle of nowhere in New Mexico. I should see if I can get her address and send her a thank-you note, even though she has no idea who we are.
--For the snowstorms we have had that all drift right over my garden. There is so much moisture going into the soil, and I'm excited for spring planting.
--For the comment here that led me to telling all of my co-workers about the new historical American Girl doll from 1999. It was the source of much amusement and reminiscing a work on Monday, so thanks for that Heidi Louise!
--That my cowboy boots fit again. Apparently my feet were fat, and my (narrow, pointy-toed) boots from when I worked on a dude ranch in college didn't fit anymore. Not sure which of the 30 pounds I've lost were on my feet, but I guess some of them were. The boots were still in the back of my closet, and I almost randomly tried them on the other day, and I could get them on. And they didn't hurt. And they're the perfect height for the boot-cut jeans (big surprise, right?) that are just a liiiitle too long with flat shoes. Yay.
--That we now have older kids who can stay home by themselves for a few hours if both adults have to be somewhere, and at least one who can take care of his younger siblings. So convenient, given the increasing complexity of our out-of-home activities.
@kristin @ going country, I think it's that less weight means your feet spread less.
It hasn't made a bit of difference in my feet, which also swell at the drop of a hat. OK, my feet aren't my best feature either.
Light! Green! Yay! I noticed the light thing last evening because it was past time for me to make supper, but it felt too light to begin. Does that make sense? I'll have to start paying attention to the clock more.
This week I am thankful:
*that the sickness we have is annoying (my husband couldn't do church yesterday!), but it's not severe.
*for a funny little Valentine's tea party yesterday. We had all the Valentine's treats in the afternoon and a good Lenten meal of, as my 16yo says, mostly water (soup). This year's timing of Ash Wednesday felt weird, didn't it?
*that my college boy told me I could use his papers/handouts from his last semester in our little homeschool. That's coming in handy now because his professor had some fun activities and interesting information for Beowulf, and that's next in our high school studies. (The younger kids will read adaptations.) Plus, there were a few other Old English resources I'm excited to use.
*that my daughter made me a Valentine's greeting from Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett Darcy. She sent wishes for better health from Pemberley-- in poem form! (Yes, this is for you, A.Marie.) This truly delighted me. Several of her siblings also received literary greetings.
*for birds outside the back door. They delight me as I sit with my students at the dining room table. Birds visit the bird feeder in the morning and afternoon, and then, when our chickens are let out to range about in the afternoon, they hurry to scratch around under the bird feeder since the wild birds are such messy eaters. They are all so funny to watch.
*that it seems our FAFSA work is done. We had a couple of hiccups. We'll see how it works out.
*for healthy food, coffee, warm socks, dental floss, comfy blankets, sunshine, silly kids, my dad's new teeth (his dentures broke before Christmas!), and my husband's warm embraces.
@Jody S., I'm thankful that Mrs. Darcy (through her young amanuensis) took time out of her busy schedule to send you a Valentine. I mean, Mrs. D has a lot to do, what with managing Pemberley, driving Aunt Gardiner around the park, teaching Mr. D how to be laughed at, etc., etc.
@A. Marie, LOL! Indeed! My eldest is auditioning today for a Pride and Prejudice play at his college. He wants Darcy. I think Mr. Collins would be so much more fun to play if I were a guy. But all my kids think I would be a great Mrs. Bennett. If he gets in that play, I don't anything will keep me away from a road trip to Minnesota in a couple of months to see it.
@Jody S., well, it's hard to blame your son for his choice of roles. At his age, guys want to be chick magnets, not chick repellents.
Me, I'm probably too old to play even Mrs. Bennet at this point. But I have actually played Lady Catherine de Bourgh, in a short play based on a story I wrote about Lady C's early life.
@A. Marie, Are you guys aware of the vlog version The Lizzie Bennet Diaries?
@WilliamB, No, I'm not, but I don't do many video things. (Lol! That's what a vlog is, right? I'm so not up-to-date!)
@Jody S., Here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/LizzieBennet
On Shelleys age, I had a rescue cat that lived to be almost 23
Thankful for my vet once again. Both of my dogs were sick last week, one was better within 24 hours and the other was not. My vet was able to give me some meds without going into the vet and he is on the mend. Cost $11.
We are getting new kitchen flooring and I am thankful our old flooring was super easy to remove.
For the men's club who left us donuts on Monday.
Thankful I still have painting skills so I can get trim ready for the new floor. Removing the flooring and buying the trim ourselves saved some $$$.$$.
Ha ha I am thankful I don't have to deal with the salesmen on the flooring. Honestly he was difficult to work with. I am not sure how many people can go into a showroom and pick out flooring in 15 minutes. We took multiple samples home 3 days in a row, when we came back he threw up his arms and said "folks are we going to move forward in the next couple of days?". That should have been our sign to leave...
@Mar, That was a truly odd salesperson reaction to the normal course of events for floor selection!
@Mar,
Q: Folks are we going to move forward in the next couple of days?
A: Not with you we aren't.
@WilliamB,
Amen to that! I need to remember that line if I ever get a salesperson reaction like that. 🙂
So glad your testing, scholarship, Verizon, and furnace things went so well for you, and even happier to hear your kitty-cat is in good health.
I am thankful for the paycheck that just hit my bank account; that I may have found the right paint for my countertop mess (here I go yet again!); I got my driver's license renewed (and passed the required eye test--and got the "must wear corrective lenses" restriction taken off) before my birthday when it expired; still thankful and amazed that my doggie is back home after her misadventure the other week; and that I won a "free tune-up" for my AC system at the home expo.
So glad that you feel better about your scores and can rest a little easier. As a person who does medical coding, the cardiac section is hard, so glad to hear that you will be starting that section before everyone else. So many things to learn with that one!
This week I am thankful for longer days too. Today I got up at 7:00 and noticed that I can see in the house without the lights on because of the sun rising. That was nice.
I am also thankful for the sunshine. We have rain coming in next week, so I will enjoy the sunshine while I can. And when NE was getting snow, we had heavy rain all night long.
Also thankful that hubs was home this week and we started the dog training and did some painting around the house. We also crossed 2 things off the "honey do" list that have been listed for months and were way easier than expected.
Thankful that the car dealer has decided to install hitches again. For a while, they were not going to do it and I was disappointed so I didn't get one installed. We've used U-haul before and they ruined the mufflers on 2 cars. So I'm hoping that the dealer (stealer!) does a better job. Still pricy, but they sent me a $100. off coupon, so we'll try them this time. And I can complain about the workmanship since I have a warranty!
Congratulations on the test score Kristen! I knew you would bounce back after your less-than-desirable score last time.
Thankful for today being the third day in a row of sunshine! Sunny and cold I can do, but overcast and cold is so dismal.
We have an early blooming daffodil clump that has 22 blossoms on it! So pretty and have never had that many flowers on one clump.
I overdid a couple days ago with lifting something heavy and my back has been screaming at me. Thankful for my microwaveable bean bag heating pad!
We finally got the HVAC guy out and scheduled a vent/duct cleaning. Our house has been so dusty and we realized those vents have likely not been cleaned since way before we moved here!
100% Wow! That's great! Congrats.
I'm thankful my back is doing better...not 1005, but enough that I'm out and about this week. I have to drive 2 hours into my work office next week and was not looking forward to that with a bad back, but now I have hope!
Thankful my mom seems to have more energy and is doing better with some medication changes.
Thankful also for the green, but praying we don't get another frost. I have tulips coming up in the yard! In February!
I am thankful that between now and Easter we have nothing really going on...6 weeks of normal routine things with nothing really needing to be planned. Kicking off Easter (early this year) we have Easter, my son's birthday, my birthday, my daughter-in-law's birthday, Mother's Day and our wedding anniversary all in about 8 weeks. I have found an Easter dress already (on clearance at Ross for $16! throw in a little frugal drop there) so that chore is done. I feel like coming off the holidays and then we go directly into two other family birthdays/valentines/ etc that there is a never ending something to be done...I welcome the 6 week mental break for now til it starts again.
I am thankful for my house. I'm thankful for good neighbors. I am chanting this recently as a gratitude exercise because I am not happy with the location of my house and neighbors so close and this week they tore the whole neighborhood up putting in fiber internet and our neighbors got a puppy that cries or barks all day....I moved here from a larger property and have learned much about myself this year. I'm not a neighborhood/HOA gal. We will move soon, but so far the right house hasn't appeared on the market. So, I will keep chanting my gratitude chant til then because reality is I have it really well.
@Marlena, we're also having crews here tearing up yards for fiber optic! Our cat was astonished at first but is now ignoring the noise.
@Karen A., they set the truck up for the day right outside my office window in front of my house and ran a generator and some drilling machine ALL day...for 12 hours straight. I have an issue with noises causing anxiety...loud noises just raise my heartrate and make my skin crawl...the dog fussed at them all day...the same day we got a quote for a pool in the back yard and the hoops we have to jump through for that. Then I was told that my tree in the front yard intercepts sewer/water/gas/AND electric lines. But I have to go through 3 different groups for permission to have the tree taken down.
I'm over it.
Thankful that Kristen was able to pull up her grade average with the second exam (not that any of us were really worried she wouldn't); that her Internet, furnace, and scholarship issues have all worked out; and that Shelley is in tiptop shape for her age. (I don't think any of us are seriously worried about Chiquita's health, either.)
Thankful that Bailey dog's mom (my neighbor with the recently diagnosed ovarian cancer) has now had her first chemo infusion and actually feels a little better in the immediate aftermath. (She's been well warned that the unpleasant side effects will start arriving shortly, though.)
Thankful, as Kristen is, for some more blue sky and for increasing daylight. I can use all I can get.
And thankful as always for the Bestest Neighbors, who allowed me to chaperone them yesterday evening on their hot Valentine's date at our famous local hot dog stand (which is having a February BOGO special). I presented them with a package of After Eight mints that I bought off the clearance shelf at Price Chopper. So a frugal time was had by all.
This week I am happy about
That my dogs provide so much comedic value. Last night I heard weird animal noises coming from outside. The coonhound got up and bravely barked and growled, defending the house. The beagle, lying besided me on the sofa, let out a small "woof" now and then. Hey, don't get up, boy! The giant anaconda/hippo/saltwater crocodile outside can just kill us all as long as you don't have to get up.
Warmth! It's so cold out, but my furnace works. My fireplace, ditto.
How cute a collage I made to decorate the rental cottage turned out. (Boo: cannot find the most darling vintage embroidery I bought for it. Sigh. I keep telling myself it will turn up.)
That the new drug I'm taking is definitely helping.
That I am restarting my writing workshop this week.
@Rose, Great that your new medication is helping, and you can get back to your writing workshop! (And my dog has an inverse reaction to potential danger: chickens getting under the fence: nonstop ferocious barking. Rabid raccoon lurches around the backyard: meh, looks fine to her.)
@Rose, love the dog story.
@Anne, Later on I heard the rats trying to get through the doggie door. So did the beagle, who went over and growled fiercely. The coonhound kept snoozing. Maybe they take turns. "OK, you're on anaconda/hippo/saltwater crocodile/rat duty tonight." My friend who owns a pest control company on Long Island said she's seeing rats entering this year where they never have before. Great.
Also I can't stop thinking of that Stephen King short story in "Night Shift," of which I will spare anyone who hasn't read it.
I'm glad to see that life is chugging along for you in a very positive way! I had a 15 year old cat that was hard to let go of. She was also adopted and we think she may have been closer to 18 as we weren't sure of her exact age. (she was the thread eater, darn it) Today I am thankful for:
*the HSA funds I had to pay for my recent front lower teeth repair and new dental nightguard, which I am going to go pick up this morning
*my physical strength which has allowed me to do all of my own recent yardwork and walking 30 minutes each day - I can tell both are benefitting me
*having my boys here, which is a blessing for all of us. I know they will soon move on to their own apartments but I am thankful I can help them out. This house is sanctuary for me, and for them.
*curbside grocery pickup - saves me time and makes life easier on a day I have errands to run - like today!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, enjoy every single moment of your boys being there! I know they grow up and leave the nest and I'm happy for them...but there is no better feeling than when they are all home at the same time and we're all under one roof!
Great job, Kristen! And yay for a clean bill of health for Shelley.
I'm thankful we found the lost key fob for the new car. It would have been hundreds of dollars and an annoying trip to the dealer to get a new one. And in the process lots of cleaning got done in the search...in the end it had been left in the car all along.
Thankful the illness I had last week was NOT covid, and nobody else in the family caught it..so I'm thinking it was listeria or something, probably from raw kale, as I'm the only one who eats that. Cooked greens for me from now on. Woof.
Thankful the weather is perking up--or that we're so used to winter that 45 degrees now feels like walking weather--and my youngest is happy to go on walks and hikes with me. We like to fit it in during the school day, so it feels like recess.
Thankful for a lovely DH who texted me yesterday asking if I'd like to go to a bookstore that night. We don't really do Valentine's Day, but his idea of going to the Half Price Bookstore and getting a coffee was a nice surprise! I got some Agatha Christies for my collection, keeping with my Lenten vow to only buy used books, if at all, and read what I have (or library books). It was great to walk around and chat and plan our next big trip.
Congratulations on your test score!
I'm thankful that BFF's cataract surgery went well.
I'm thankful that I found an affordable newborn photographer. The first quote I got was for $1595! The one I hired is $350!
I'm thankful for the kindness of my coworkers. My boss brought me a giftbag filled with wonderful Nana gifts.
I'm thankful that Monday is a holiday and pregnant daughter asked me to spend the day with her. Will be nice to have some mother-daughter time before the baby arrives next Friday.
I'm thankful that we have a FSA to pay for DH's insulin pump supplies since the bill was over $800.
This week, I am thankful for:
* My weekly outing with my sister (we call it Adventure Club). We went to the spring flower show at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, a gem in the Twin Cities area.
* My husband arriving safely to his destination and without any airplane passenger drama, although the ride was so turbulent, the passengers broke out in applause upon landing.
* The several inches of snow that arrived overnight. While I don't personally love it, many businesses are hurting because of the lack of snow so far this season, so I'm thankful that they will see an uptick.
* My Buy Nothing group. Such a great way to give things away, get things, and build community.
* My Community Center. It's so nice to see people of all ages congregating and being active. The indoor walking track is my current favorite.
@MB in MN, I'm from MN, too. The overnight snow is pretty and I'm reminded that we didn't have to deal with it this year at all! Arboretum a huge yes.
@Connie, yes! I love how white and sparkly everything is in the winter wonderland.
Way to crush that test!
It's been a real test over the past week or so, but I love the act of remembering all of the things I'm grateful for. So, thank you for this forum!
1) Grateful that we got the time to have a fun dinner out with our teens to celebrate. It's hard to pin them down!
2) I planned senior night for the soccer team, which was an insane amount of work. Grateful it's done & it was super successful. And, they tied one of the top teams in our state, which was also awesome.
3) So very lucky that I have an awesome sister, helping me with a very challenging family situation. (Taking over financial management for a special needs aunt, now that my parents need/want to step back.) It's endlessly complicated, and I so appreciate having someone else to help.
4) I say this most weeks, but I feel so thankful for "previous me", who often cooks too much & then puts the leftovers in the freezer. Those leftovers are gifts to "current me", who is often busy with late meetings or schedule conflicts.
5) I have an autoimmune disease that is largely in remission. While things like long distance running can be more difficult for me than others, I feel so, so lucky that my body generally does what I want it to, and is as healthy as I could ever reasonably expect, given my situation.
Congratulations on the test and great news about Shelley!
I've been sick all week which I'm not very thankful for, but I AM thankful that my workplace is generous with sick leave!
I'm thankful that there is such a wide selection of English books in the library.
I'm thankful that I have good shows to watch in the evening.
I'm thankful for a friendly cat who lives nearby. He always says 'hi' with a loud meow when I go past!
I'm thankful for a long phonecall with my friend. There's something better about actually talking to someone rather than texting!
Way to go on the test! Know it's a relief.
New hip joint is getting better each day. Can now take a step without thinking about it.
The wonderful people in our new church who have helped with feeding us while I've been down.
Scripture - whenever I get down God seems to bring the perfect scripture I need to hear.
Longer days - sun makes me happy!
My daughters who have cared for me & checked on how I'm doing daily.
That's great about your second test, Kristen!
This week I'm thankful for:
1. I think it was last week I said I was thankful for my good neighbors. Well, I'll see that thankful and raise me one. The mower came for the first time in a while and left the back yard gate open. I was at work. My neighbor was working outside when he spotted my dogs in his yard. He was able to call and coax them back to my yard, get them through the open gate and close the gate securely behind them. I contacted the mower after my neighbor called me; the mower apologized.
2. I'm thankful that although my brother-in-law with Parkinson's tried to get out of bed at the facility recently, causing him to fall and hurt himself, it appears he will be fine. The hospital staff has been vigilant with testing and very kind to him.
3. I'm thankful I will get to have lunch at school with two grandchildren today during "Grandparents' week." I know they "coincidentally" combine grandparent week with the book sale, but I enjoy it anyway.
4. I'm thankful that when I returned my water heater and exchanged it, although there were the usual hiccups, the employees at the big box store were helpful, persistent in dealing with the problems, and efficient. Everyone from the cashier working returns, to the manager, to the floor employees were cheerful, quick to help, did everything for me and made sure I got every penny back on my purchase. My DD said she didn't think she'd ever seen customer service like that in ANY big box store before, and I agreed.
5. I'm thankful for Lent. It gives me reason to slow down, cut back and reflect on things. Plus, the quiet and solemnity of Lent contrasts beautifully with the brightness and splendor of Easter.
Absolutely also thankful for the sunshine these days. It’s so healing, inside the body and outside, melting snow and encouraging green shoots, as Kristen shows us.
Thankful for my dear DH who makes every day pleasant and productive but shines on Valentine’s Day with special thoughtful treats.
Undoubtedly connected to the above point, thankful for two DSs who are hardworking, caring family men. We are so proud of them.
Thankful for the encouragement that this blog allows us to give to members who are suffering or otherwise down at the moment.
My daughter is smack dab in the middle of filling out scholarship applications and is experiencing the "I want to be done with this" feelings--thanks for your encouragement to persevere.
Thankful for the medical staff who attended me in my EGD yesterday. Thankful to be a step closer to figuring out my symptoms.
Thankful to wake up to snow this morning! Yes, I'm an outlier .... but it's February in Michigan and we should still be getting snow. We need a little more for snowshoeing, but I'll take it.
Thankful for my hubby who uncomplainingly escorts me to medical appointments.
Thankful for midwinter break, which starts tomorrow. We could use some down time.
This week I am thankful:
• It finally snowed! We have had such a brown winter but this morning I woke up to a beautiful snowy landscape.
• I don’t have to drive to work today. The snow is beautiful but the roads are a mess. The next two days are my scheduled work from home days so I get to avoid the highways and the traffic.
• The painting at our new house is complete and the new carpet is being laid this week. We just have two more projects that need to be completed and we will be able to move in!
• I found two containers of my favorite coffee at Trader Joe’s yesterday– it is a seasonal flavor so I thought I had missed out for the year.
• I have two date nights with my husband this weekend – our delayed Valentines dinner date and a fundraiser that my husband looks forward to every year (it is with our local professional hockey team, I am not a sports person but I love watching my husband geek out over his favorite players)
I’m grateful for getting a flower from the downtown counsel when I was walking in the skyway yesterday. I was super surprised and I usually never get flowers from other people let alone strangers! It made me smile:) I’m also great full that apparently some glasses frames I’ve been wanting came back in stock at Target! I had ordered them end of December and it looked like they were discontinued or back ordered and they got them back in stock and called me even though they had already refunded me weeks ago because they thought they couldn’t get them.I’m glad they were thoughtful enough to call me when they randomly showed up after all this time. Looks like I’m finally going to get new glasses
My husband and I can definitely relate to your "I wanna quit this paperwork!" frustration. When we adopted our daughter internationally, we were in three different adoption programs over the course of three years. (I don 't want to frighten away any prospective adoptive parents - this is highly unusual, and was simply due to odd and unique circumstances at the time in two foreign countries.) Anyway, three different sets of paperwork from three different countries - it was mind-boggling. There were times when we had to convince ourselves we had the fortitude to continue. We did, and our "scholarship money" has been in our "account" for almost 24 years now. By the way, her adoption date fell on a Thursday in March 2000. So, I'm pretty sure that our Thankful Thursday predates yours!
@Mary ~ Reflections Around the Campfire,
Wow! You win the "getting through the paperwork without losing my mind" award. My husband and I adopted our son (here in the US) almost 14 years ago, and we thought there was a ton of paperwork....I can't even imagine *three* different country's worth! I wouldn't change a thing, though....our son is the light of our lives.
@Liz B., Yes, the blessings most definitely outweigh the angst, don't they?!
Congrats on the great test score and your scholarship!! Also, we had a cat that lived 19 years. Her health didn't start going downhill until the she was over 18. Hope Shelley and Chiquita both live long happy lives!
Thankful for the mild weather we have had this winter. Last year was a doozy, so I am especially thankful for this one. Thankful to be visiting our youngest in one week!! Thankful that my husband is in PT to help his back. Thankful that our doctor is not surgery happy, and is willing to try the least invasive options first. Thankful for our fur babies that bring us laughter every day. Thankful that today is my work "Friday". This week, for some reason, has felt incredibly LONG. Grateful for a weekend to try to catch up on all the things.
Thankful for:
•Kristen's good test results
•profuse daffodils blooming in my yard
•excellent service at a glass shop— one cat brought a quail into my painting workshop, released it, and it flew into a window, shattering it (the quail lived)
•more rain
•uninterrupted painting time with steady progress building up a body of work for a solo show in October
1. It seems that the stomach bug that visited our home is on its way out and for that I am beyond grateful. This visitor is never welcome but dealing with family illness when you are out of your home is even less appealing.
2. The sun is out and there is nothing like sunshine in February to make you long for Spring. I am enjoying music on Spotify with the sunroof open.
3. The laundry pile is shrinking. I will prevail!
4. We finally have a general contractor on board for the repairs to our home. Hooray! This means that there is light at the end of the tunnel 🙂
5. Azalea bushes for $1.25 each, gardens to plant, and the promise of a new, fresh season ahead.
I am thankful for a road trip to see family this weekend! Yay!
I’m thankful that even though I have a 14 year old car we’ll be going on said road trip in a rental car that is much newer. It’s like a car vacation 🙂
I’m grateful for kind people that support my mom as she struggles through a new phase that is heavy with grief.
I’m grateful that PMS comes to an end 🙂
I’m grateful for an Instagram reel that hit me right smack where i needed it. The gist was essentially “make the choice. There is no way to compare what will be worse or better. Do what you want and live without regret bc regret is mindless and you’ll never know” I probed summed it up terribly but that hit me hard! I am so very indecisive and we have a big decision about high school for my daughter coming up: to continue to homeschool or not. It feels monumental but it’s a decision that I’ll never know the other side of, and that’s kind of beautiful as I think about it now.
I love the thankful Thursday exercise and reading everyone's comments!
I'm thankful...
- for my oldest kid, my only boy, who turned 9 last weekend. He is fun to be around, still calls me "mommy" a lot (I know those days are limited) and gives great hugs.
- that I realized I needed an attitude change about a situation this week.
- that I was able to confront a loved one (hopefully gently) about something hurtful they said to me. 5-10 years ago, I wouldn't have said anything and it would've festered.
- for the 8" of snow we got on Tuesday!! My kids got a snow day, we're watching a black lab who joined in the fun, and it was a good day
Thankful for this blog and the way Kristen exemplifies joy, contentment in her life and circumstances. Thankful also for the commentariat that shares joys, needs, sorrows so we can commiserate and pray and send virtual hugs.
Thankful that my sister sent me a Valentine gift/early birthday gift. I was bemoaning on fb, that I need to prune the grapes, some bushes, cut down some bushes and cleanup after the very heavy snow we had a few weeks ago. Need to cut a split branch from the redbud tree. And get rid of a wicked invasive euonymus vine. "Nothing says love like a baby chain saw!" It came with two batteries, PPE, and extra chains. I am one of those girls that LOVES power tools!
Thankful for the early morning birds. When I got home from work yesterday and let my beloved Molly out the front door, I waited on the front stoop for her. The robins were indeed, bob bob bobbing along. And as if to celebrate the day, the pair of mourning doves made their presence known after returning from their winter home. I love to whistle (poorly) in response to the cardinals and hear them call back.
Thankful I was able to change a medical appointment. Two of my health care practitioners that have satellite clinics sent appointments for the exact same date, exact same time. I called the one that I thought would be more apt to change and didn't get that vibe from the receptionist. Called the second one and was easy peasy to change the date.
Congratulations of the exam score! What a relief.
Amazes me that you ever doubt how well you will do because the rest of us certainly don't doubt it!
Thankful for:
1. The 8 month old Dane we adopted from the shelter last week. He is such a gentle boy and adjusting well. The area between his eyes is wrinkly so he looks like a worried old man, which makes me love him even more.
2. I had some cold chicken, an avocado and some cherry tomatoes. I mixed them together with some homemade mayo and served it on challah. The husband and I loved it! I have been cooking for a lot of years and I am always thrilled to find an easy, fairly healthy meal that satisfies both of us.
3. During the day it has been warming up to the 20s above zero, so we can open the dog door. This saves A LOT of aggravation when you have an older dog and a young giant who has accidents because he is still learning his body's messages.
4. Sumo oranges.
5. The husband, always the husband, who did not blink at adding another dog to the household. We both traveled a lot in our jobs (flying tiny planes in often crappy weather) and were happy to do so because our salaries allowed us to retire quite early, but it meant we put off having dogs. Once we were able to spend our days at home, only picking up the occasional consulting contract, we jumped into dog owning with all four feet.
@Lindsey, did you do a meet the reader interview yet? If not, it sounds like you'd have some interesting things to share! 🙂
Your comment about the calculator lid reminded me about my engineering technology classes in my undergraduate days. We were allowed to use calculators, of course, but in some classes we could also take in one 3x5" card with formulas written on it! We crammed as much info onto that card as we could! The idea was that when we're working, we're not going to have to memorize formulas. You're not going to guess when you're designing a bracket to hold a part on a car!
--I'm thankful for my doctor. I've struggled with GI issues and in December went to the ER because I couldn't stop throwing up. They checked me out, blood work and scans, and gave me IV fluids with anti-nausea medicine. I did follow up with my doctor about a month later when I was still having a few issues, but I'm not sure I communicated to her how serious it was. Sunday night the same thing happened again and I did not want to go to the ER again. I waited until the doctor's office was open and luckily they got me in that morning. I got two bags of IV fluids with anti-nausea medicine, and we talked about what might be wrong. I'm following up again next week and I know we'll get to the bottom of this. I really like this doctor; she listens and explains things well when I have questions.
--I'm thankful to be feeling better and able to eat a little more normally again.
--I'm thankful that my doctor is close by and that I was able to drive myself there, although that might not have been a great idea.
--I'm thankful to find a new (to me) show on Hoopla to watch, called This is Going to Hurt. It's set in the OB-GYN area of a London hospital.
--I'm thankful to the person who mentioned Kanopy and Hoopla (and British shows) at the NCA blog. I have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of those free services from my library.
Congrats on the restoration of your confidence in exams. You've got this!!!
Way to go on trudging thru the paperwork for scholarships. Present and Future self will thank you. Carry on with a smile.
This morning, I had a beautiful rainbow in the back field. The sky behind it was an angry grey, the rainbow colors really popped!
I planted my plum tree and red gravenstein in the orchard. The promise of sun-kissed fruit is so exciting in the doldrums of cold rainy PNW.
My taxes are done and waiting for my appt with the accountant. Happy dance a la Snoopy.
Thanks to youtuber guy for showing me how to fix my dishwasher's filter system. Saving me a $150 service call.
Not frugal, but so fun...drove my mom around to the town's little libraries so she could share her books and perhaps find one or two to bring home. She also donated a bushel box of books to the senior estates private library.
This week I am thankful for:
1) Just happening to wake up early. My alarm didn't end up going off and my husbands didn't either. (I'm always paranoid that this will happen.) But we made it out the door on time.
2) That my daughter got a nap at daycare. She is a champion sleeper at home but hasn't figured out how to sleep in a room with crying babies. (Can you blame her?) Any day with a nap is a very good day.
3) I am thankful for my morning coffee (in my thrifted "Thankful" mug).
4) I am thankful that my husband values Valentine's day as less than I do. (He didn't even realize that it is the same day every year.) Ha!
5) I am thankful for free movies rented from the library. I'm revealing my age a bit but I love looking a a shelf and selecting movies instead of spending 30 minutes scrolling an app debating what to watch.
Congrats on the test! You are ACING your classes!
And speaking of Covid, my husband and I are both down with it at the moment. He tested positive Super Bowl Sunday (devastating day to be sick—for him, anyway, lol) and I followed with a positive result on Tuesday. I’m thankful for good home tests, medications, and my kids, who have checked in on us, and sent us Door Dash gift cards.
Despite being vaccinated and boostered, this is our second time to have it.
We are starting to feel better.
That's a lot of tests! I - and I'm sure all your other readers - are happy for your results success.
I am thankful for a big thing: I feel like my whole head and maybe even some of my shoulders are above water right now. It's been a long time since I could say that and I'm enjoying the feeling.
I am thankful for a medium thing: that PT exercises have such a fast effect. If I do them in the morning, my back and shoulders feel better in that afternoon. It's also a powerful incentive to do them every day since, appropos of a quick response, my back feels it if I skip a day. For the record I am a moderator so my goal is to do PT 5 days/week rather than 7.
I am thankful for a slew of smaller things:
- figuring out how to put a plant on my desk without risking knocking it over;
- roughly arranging another room in the house, which took a chunk of box/furniture moving and yet was less work than I thought; PS: my stuff is fully arranged, my roommate's stuff is in about the right place but not yet unpacked;
- turning a $5 plant purchase into 2 for $7; I'm digging getting free and cheap plants;
- Whole Foods taking back the herbs that weren't thriving despite my not having a receipt and paying in cash so we couldn't look up the transaction;
- for the outdoor manager at the nursery helping me get healthier herbs and also agreeing that the herbs looked a little worse for wear, for which he offered me half off;
- for free eggs and butter from Vital Farms, who far overcompensated me for moldy eggs and insisted on doing so despite my pointing this out;
- that I have a local yarn store and that the first stitch-and-bitch I went to was fun;
- for being able to see the top of my desk - all of it!
I'm thankful ...
1. Student-led conferences have wrapped up and were a positive experience.
2. For choir music to listen to
3. For several days of bright sunshine and cloudless blue skies
4. For wonderful volunteers who have made it possible for some of my students to enjoy extra opportunities
5. For an on-line learning opportunity tomorrow
6. For lengthening days
7. For simple art project that my students have really enjoyed
8. Quietness
9. For my bed
10. Good books
Thankfuls this week:
Flower bulbs showing their heads in the garden;
Good colleagues and work I like;
An unexpected phone call from a friend I had not spoke to for a year;
The prospect of the weekend ahead, with no plans. I will read all the thankfuls. I have no time today and I always find them inspiring. Even when I do not have time to list my thankfuls, I always feel them!
I'm thankful that the head cold I picked up on a recent out of town trip has run its course and though I'm not 100% yet I'm not as under the weather as I was last week.
I'm thankful my friend and I finally coordinated schedules so we could spend the afternoon together today.
PNW winter is nothing compared to Mid-Atlantic winter, still I'm thankful that my walks through the woods are already showing signs of spring.
More daylight hours always make me thankful.
Good job on your exams Kristen.
Here I am again, being thankful on a Monday. 😉
Today I am thankful . . .
-That it has been a whole week since I had a double mastectomy. I felt like I rounded the corner of the pain on Thursday. Since then I've been getting a little better every day. Chemo was the worst. Surgery was the second worst. Praise God I am past the worst parts of this journey and on the road to recovery.
-That I have so many things to look forward to in the near future. We're about to close on a commercial space, I'm going to my favorite conference next month, we are getting back to really traveling this summer, and I am sure my new boobs will look better than my old boobs. I just can't wait!
-That spring seems to be on the point of springing! When I was younger I really hated the cold, short days of winter. Somehow over the last few years I have started to experience those days as cozy and calm, which is a blessing in itself. But I have also become more in tune with the change of seasons. Something about the trees with their early buds and the angle of the sun. I just know one day soon I am going to look out and see the first flowers! The arrival of spring is a truly wonderful experience every year.
-For deodorant. It is a small thing, but one I have not been allowed since my surgery last week. I had no idea how sticky and uncomfortable armpits could get. Yuck.
-For my profession. I love being a historian. Being laid up for the last week has reminded me how much I itch to read and write and explore the past when I can't. I would never choose to have breast cancer, but I admit I did need a break from my work this year. Now I can't wait to get back to it.