Thankful Thursday | a fuzzy tummy
This week, I am thankful:
for Chiquita's fuzzy tummy
Zoe took this picture of her the other night, and I think it is so cute!
Also, her short back legs make me giggle.
for my car
Sorry, not sorry, I am still in car heaven. Hehe.
I still feel almost like I need to pinch myself to believe this is mine! I've never had such a nice car, and I am still amazed that it belongs to me.
No matter how many comments I get on my Instagram post about my car, saying, "It's just a Civic." (they trickle in here and there!), my joy cannot be smushed. 😉
that I only have one more residency class
We have a last class at the beginning of July, and then we all graduate from residency in August.
The residency classes are not hard, but on those weeks, I have to be at the hospital an extra day, and depending on how the work shifts are arranged, it can feel like a lot at once.
Soo, I will be thrilled to be done. We are so close!
for my co-workers
I know I say this a lot, but I love the people I work with: my fellow nurses, the techs, the case managers, the director, the cleaners, the supply stockers...and also the doctors. 😉
Sometimes I know nurse/doctor relations are strained, but I feel like we have a great nurse/doctor rapport on my unit, and I am grateful.
How fortunate I am to have landed in such a great spot for my first nursing job. 🙂
for this rental house
I was remembering how terrible it was to try to apply for rentals four years ago, since I had only my self-employment income (complicated to prove on an application!)
What a mercy it was to find this house, which is rented out by private owners, not a big company.
If I ever need to rent again, it will be simple to apply because I have my W-2 nursing income. But back in 2022, I was riding the struggle bus, trying repeatedly and unsuccessfully to find a rental.
So, I guess this is two thankfuls: for this rental, and now also for my normal job with easy-to-prove income.
for beautiful surroundings
I am grateful to live in a place where green spaces are so easily accessible.
for sparkling water
I try to minimize my sugar intake, and a can of sparkling water is a nice little fix when I get the urge to have a drink that is slightly more interesting than water.
And the Aldi store brand is very affordable, so, a double win. I do think my favorite sparkling water is the Trader Joe's Blackberry Vanilla flavor, but I don't find myself at TJs as often as Aldi.
So the Belle Vie is usually what I have in my pantry. 🙂
for the feeling of being the policyholder
You know how when you call and give a doctor's office your insurance info, they ask who the policyholder is?
For most of my life, it has not been me.
But now, I have real insurance through my nursing job, and I feel so delighted when I answer this insurance question with, "Me. I'm the policyholder."
It's like a happy little reminder that I did this. I changed my life. I went to school, I started a new career, and I take care of me. Independently!
I am happy for all the good things happening in your life. You so deserve them!
One small thing I can thoroughly enjoy is watching the not quite-baby sparrows being fed by their parents. They are out of the nest, sitting on ledges and branches, and are begging for food by fluttering their wings in a particular way. That is the stage where we need our dear old cat indoors, because the little birds are not nimble and quick enough yet to escape a seasoned hunter.
This week I helped prepare our annual company BBQ. I really enjoyed taking active part in this day. I much prefer the bustle of helping out to just eating. I don't eat or drink much, and I normally find a 2,5 hour BBQ a very long stretch, to be honest. If you have something to do, you also circulate more and run into more people to chat with.
Sandra Boynton will never leave me. The first thing I thought when I saw your post title was from the book "Horns to Toes and In Between": "And we have a fuzzy tummy that we all like to pat, and a little belly button in the middle of that." Cue me tickling the belly button of whatever child was sitting on my lap while I read. I can also recite the entirety of "Let's Dance, Little Pookie," which has come in handy when I'm in charge of preschoolers who need to be entertained. Every kid likes the Pookie Dance.
So, thanks for my brain that never lets go of songs and rhymes, I guess.
Being influenced by some of yours here:
1) We don't have to worry about health insurance (in the UK, thank you free NHS healthcare)
2) Living so close to the sea, we have been down several times this week dolphin spotting, I could stare out to sea for hours
3) The potatoes and carrots from our back garden, we don't have much growing space but it's more than many and we enjoy it
4) My 'staff' discount at the charity shop I volunteer at, makes replenishing my daughter's wardrobe a lot cheaper
5) A working car, after struggling with maintaining an old car for a long time I've had my new (to me) Ford for a year now and have only had one unexpected expense (a bust tyre)
Longtime reader but first time I've participated in this...
1. So grateful that my son and his boys (7 & 3) are here this week. They've had a tough year, and it's been nice to have them here.
2. For so much family time this week. I've had my son and grandsons visiting, but I have also spent extra time with my other children and grandchildren this week. I love it when we can all be together.
3. A day at the beach! There is no therapy like beach therapy
What lovely pictures of Chiquita!
I am trying to get into the habit of drinking sparkling water but I read a comment once that it's like drinking static and I always think of that lol. I managed to mostly break my soda habit but every now and then I have one.
Thankfuls:
1. My trip to Switzerland! It was so stunning. The surroundings were glorious and I was lucky with the weather; the forecast said there would be clouds and rain but the sun was out every day. I hiked around the mountains, swam in the lakes and enjoyed exploring Zurich and Lucerne. I went to Heidi Land for my childhood self and hiked up the mountain there. I nearly turned back a few times because it was a long and steep walk but I'm glad I persevered. The hotel I stayed at was lovely and, despite a couple of travel hiccups, I was able to get where I needed to go thanks to other trains. I nearly didn't go on this trip and I'm so thankful that I did!
2. When I got back I was feeling pretty grimy from travel so I went to the beach and had a quick swim. I'm thankful to live near the sea!
3. I have a dentist appointment later - not so happy about that but thankful to have access to dental care. Like Joy, I am also thankful for universal healthcare (this doesn't cover the dentist for me but it does cover doctor's appointments).
4. I'm excited about seeing a friend tomorrow who I haven't seen for a while.
5. I'm thankful for modern appliances. I had a big bag of laundry from my trip and it was a relief just to toss it in the washing machine. Laundry is annoying to do but it's a lot less annoying than it would have been prior to washing machines!
*Jen, not Joy!