Thankful Thursday | a Lisey birthday
This week, I am thankful:
for another birthday with Lisey
Since Lisey decided to live with me and commute to school for her last two semesters, this year has been an expected bonus year of having her around.
She graduates this spring, so this is probably the last year she will have a birthday at home, and it feels like a special gift because I thought that ship had already sailed!
(For the 2021-2022 school year, she lived with my aunt and uncle near her aviation mechanic school.)
This reminds me a little of what I wrote in this post about wistfulness over kids growing up...the part about seeing the abundance and not the lack, and feeling rich in Lisey-time, not poor.
I got a whole extra year of having my girl here with me, and I am endlessly grateful for that.
that my toe is better
I had a corn or a callus (not sure which!) in between two of my toes and man, it was making walking uncomfortable.
So, I got a pack of those little medicated patches, and they took care of the problem. Yay!
Funny enough, when I used the first couple of patches, I didn't see that there is a little medicated circle that goes under the band-aid-ish patch. Soo, I was just sticking a band-aid on my toe at first.
Whoops.
This is the kind of thing that happens when you are always doing things fast. Sometimes you miss steps. 😉
for morning water droplets after overnight rain
I really, really love going for walks after a rainstorm because the water droplets make everything so much more interesting and beautiful.
Isn't it just so amazing to see how the droplets cling to a vertical surface?
for the beauty of bare trees
Of course, I am excited about the arrival of spring leaves. You know I love me some green sights!
But the other night I pulled into my driveway, and when I got out and looked up at the moon between the bare branches, I thought about how beautiful that is too.
my little basil seedlings
I am always excited to see them pop up from the soil.
for the cat
You didn't think I was going to forget, did you??
She's on the list every week. 😉
I am thankful that my son from Vienna came to Stuttgart with his wife and the two kids for 9 days. My daughter in law is from the Ukraine and so Alina and Veronika had so much fun with the kids and I am very thankful that my flat is spacey enough to house that many people.
I am so thankful that my youngest son bothered to travel all the way from the North to the South to be with us. It was his decision. I did not ask or expected him to do so and that makes me extra happy that it seems worthwhile for him to meet his brothers and family.
I am thankful that for the last couple of weeks it was rather rainy and cool. I loathe those hot and dry summers and every single drop of rain is very appreciated and important.
As temperatures are rather cool all my tulips, daffodils and hyacinths on the balcony are in much longer bloom than last year. So pretty, it makes me happy every time I see them. I moved the pots close to the door so that I can enjoy them also from inside.
I am thankful for my dog. So friendly, cuddly and funny.
This week and next week again I get to pick up the weekly farmshare of a friend who is travelling. I am very grateful for the high quality organic vegetables and eggs for free.
My ears are clogged and need to be taken care of. So grateful that all it takes is one phone call to make the appointment with a doctor of my choice and no worry about insurance, receipts, reimbursements etc as so often described on this blog. I am thankful for our health system.
Wishing everybody a nice day!
Oh, yay for all the family visiting! Wonderful!
@Lea, I am so happy that your family had a nice visit, but I'm so sad that your in-laws are from Ukraine and are having their country torn apart by the Russian invaders. Not to get into politics, but it's just horrible to see that happening on the news. Please let them know that the folks here in Texas are praying for their country and all those who are defending it.
I am thankful for:
>The librarian who acknowledged a tricky situation in getting a new card by saying:
This is stressful and I am going to make it less stressful for you. Blessings on her!
>For the doctor who ended an email by asking me how I was doing?
This is something they don't even do in person anymore! She's also the doctor who said that if I was having pain, I should contact her and NOT wait for an appointment. OMG.
Rare.
>For the practice that my gastroenterologist belongs to. It sponsors various online events with relevant topics presented by key professionals in the subject matter. I attended one on Wednesday that was a virtual course in the latest research in the brain-gut connection. It was beyond relevant. Learned more in one evening that helped me deal with some ongoing issues. Terrific presenters. Best: It's all recorded and free online at youtube for future reference.
>The superintendent in my building who is extremely helpful in dealing with everyday issues such as getting packages and mail up to me (I'm in a wheelchair and I can't do this for myself).
>Always, for my home health aide (been with me almost 9 years), who looks out for me and is a true stress reliever and problem solver. She's smart, hardworking and a true blessing. I literally could not survive without her. At the least, I'd be stressed 24/7 without her.
>The amount of information online about various medical/health issues. Yes, one has to sift through a lot of junk but legit sources have very helpful information.
>The men and women who comment on various articles and offer inspiration, insight and hope. (Forget the trolls)
>Our local NextDoor community. Where, thankfully, you can hear folks bring up issues as well as make upbeat comments. The toxic positivity folks are always trying to put down neighbors who bring up relevant and important issues. Life is both light and shadow and we need to know what DOES NOT work as well as what does. How else can we improve and make positive change?
>To Acorn TV and BritBox, online streaming services, who offer up my favorite Brit, Australian shows and more.
>To local supermarket delivery services. Now that amazon has instituted high fees if you buy less than $150 at a pop, where deliveries with tips could come close to $20 or 20 to 25% of an order, they are more and more essential
I just have to say, I think you are the first person I've ever heard say they are thankful for NextDoor. Haha!
On my NextDoor, the big problem is that people are always complaining about things that really do not matter that much...being petty and rude and passive-aggressive. But if yours is populated by people trying to bring about positive change by pointing out problems, I think that's way better!
@Kristen, This is interesting, my brother and I call ND Facebooks mean brother. I report posts so ofter on ND they have asked me several times to be a mod.
@Kristen, have to agree with this. I had to unsubscribe from NextDoor. Too stressful to read.
The email notifications go to my junk folder. Every now and then I take a peek in there and I'm always like, "AAAAAH! That's why I don't read Next Door!!"
Ugh-often.
@Kristen, I'm not even signed up for NextDoor. I used to be, but it got too toxic. I realized half the people posting weren't even right in my neighborhood, so I wasn't learning anything about my area.
@Irena, I find ND in our area to be a mixed bag. Some of the posts are extremely important. Others are silly. Some are annoying. I opened it up one morning and there was a photo of a big pile of dog poop with a post asking everyone to pick up after their dog(s).
@Irena, wow, your positive attitude amidst your many life challenges is both inspiring and humbling. I'm so pleased for you that you have a kind and responsive doctor.
@Irena, good medical is such a blessing. May you continue to have good experiences.
@Irena, I, too, am thankful for my NextDoor community. Maybe it depends on who lives next door? Or maybe how you curate your feed? My posts are full of videos of mother bobcats and their babies frolicking in peoples' courtyards and playing in their ponds, beautiful photographs of our incredible landscape and night skies, young people looking for jobs and old people giving them leads and recommendations, an incredible number of rescue organizations posting about their needs and people posting back offering to foster or buy pet food or pay vet bills, dog trainers offering tips about how to exercise your hyperactive dog (check out HurriK9 on you tube), our Village police posting weekly crime updates ("There weren't any. Have a great week!"). Our Fire Department took charge all through the pandemic and alerted us to vaccination clinics and actually began administering the vaccines themselves. The Police and Fire departments and local community organizations run drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas food and toy drives and collect backpacks and school supplies for our elementary school. I guess it depends on where you live.
Wow. I need to move to your area! My NextDoor has mostly crabby, petty people.
@Kristen, I had to unsubscribe to the emails because the toxic ignorance was riling me up, but will drop in occasionally to see what the current needs are at the Episcopal church food pantry. The folks who run it make it super easy for the community to give to it.
@Irena,
Next Door in my area in northern NJ is a very mixed bag. As others have mentioned, often petty and rude. And entitled. And toxic, often. This is an area well-supplied with supermarkets and yet people complain that some brand of something is missing from some supermarket. The worst thing, I think, is when people see a stranger on the street and post that on ND because a stranger frightens them and they feel threatened. They don’t ask the stranger if they’re lost, they post it on social media and people respond that they should call the police. When I say that I find this attitude terrifying and that we have a relatively low crime rate here, I’m told I have my head in the sand, it just takes one etc.
On the other hand, people are very helpful if your dog is lost or you need an electrician. And sometimes people post beautiful photos, just to share.q
@Jennifer G,
"Good medical is such a blessing." Truer words were never spoken.
Irena, So glad your doctors are doing so well for you. And your building super and home health care worker, too. The librarian! I think you are the sort of person who attracts kind people. Wishing you all the best.
We are moving 400 miles at the end of the week to our new home just 3 miles from our younger son and his family. I am very thankful that they really want us nearby, that we will get to be hands on grandparents to a 6 year old and newborn, that we can afford to do this and are healthy enough to do so. I’m also thankful that our older son and DIL are totally supportive of this move. That is not to say it has been or will be easy.
Like so many others I am thankful for our pet- a 1 year old happy go lucky pup. I am always thankful for books, new glasses that have improved my vision so much, access to healthy food, loving family and friends plus kind neighbors.
Ohhhh, that'll be so fun to be by your grandkids. Yay!
Hmm. This week...here goes.
*I am really thankful I can offer a safe and comfy place for Son #2 to be at this time in his life. He is going through some things and I did not expect I would get extra mothering in for him, but that is exactly what is happening. He and I are keeping each other company and staying afloat.
*I am thankful that the job I am in now is not the job I will be in by the middle of April. Its an understatement to say its been stressful.
*I am thankful for my tiny coffee pot and really good coffee to get every morning started right.
*I am thankful to have fields and fields of bluebonnets to look on every morning during my commute to work. They are so pretty!
*Lastly, thankful for good nights' sleep most nights which greatly improves my general outlook on starting my day. Good sleep is highly under-rated!
Love that cat peeking out - Happy Birthday to Lisey (:
@gina, Love the seas of bluebonnets in Austin!
Today I am thankful:
*that the temperatures haven't been so low that our broken furnace hasn't been a major problem. It's only been a little chilly.
*my children are just as nerdy as I am. My college boy asked if I would read over a paper. He put a little unbelievably trite and gag-worthy nugget in-- just for my "benefit". When I was reading it aloud with him (over the phone) and got to his little "gift," I flipped out, and he cracked up.
*for a hug from a little girl from church who had previously avoided me like the plague.
*that I don't sleep every night as horribly as I did last night!
*for the dancing daffodils.
*for my husband. This morning he rubbed my feet and listened while I tried to out-do his weird dream telling with my own.
*for my youngest son's latest "trick"-- he'll suddenly go into slow motion mode (complete with sound effects) and then suddenly kick back into regular mode. It's always so unexpected and funny.
*for the sons who cleaned out the chicken coop this week. Willingly. Also for their vivid descriptions of how stinky it was.
I am thankful I slept in this morning. I'm normally up early but I've been a bit tired lately. It felt good to sleep until almost 6:30. I'm thankful I did not need to be up early.
I'm thankful for the march of spring, the light, the leafing of trees and shrubs, the flowering trees and bulbs, the pansies people have planted.
I'm thankful for a well functioning body and mind. The older you get the less you take it for granted.
I'm thankful for my in-laws. They are a good bunch of people. We don't see them often given the geographic distance between us but we stay connected via texts and phone calls and we will visit them this spring.
I'm thankful for this weekly exercise.
Neither of my sons have lived with me for quite a few years. One is in the same city as me and the other an hour and a half away. But we manage to celebrate their birthdays every year. So don't give up on that idea.
Well, Lisey is interviewing for jobs in places like...Hawaii! So it might be a little tough to see her on her birthday.
Although perhaps we could go visit HER for her birthday. 😉
@Kristen, I love that . . . it's so hard to see our children leave, but a testament to our parenting that they feel confident enough to do so.
@Kristen,
I’ve always believed that birthdays were as much for the mother as the child. It may be one of the most significant days in a mother’s life, because her life changes forever on that day. So save those points and go visit Lisey for her birthday — especially if it is in Hawaii. 🙂
Well, the good news is that probably she will have some flight benefits to extend to family members. Sooo....I probably can fly to see her wherever she is!
@Kristen, sounds like a good plan!
@Bee, my husband used to call his mother on HIS birthday and sing "Happy Birthday To You" to her! He said SHE'S the one who worked hard and gave birth on that day, and he was just the passenger - LOL!
@ I sent a "Thank you for being the mother of my friend" card to a friend's mother on his birthday or on mother's day/can't remember which. I do remember that she cried and was very touched. I tried to write things in a note about him that she wouldn't necessarily know, as they lived some hours apart.
So happy birthday to the older child and to the parents on that day!
Happy Birthday, Lisey!
Thankful for:
1. Chance to visit extended family this week.
2. A much-needed spring break (I'm a teacher).
3. A career that sometimes makes my brain want to explode, but more often, gives me purpose and fulfillment and joy.
4. Hosting a dog which has livened up our home this week while petsitting.
5. My brain, the ability to learn more about it, what it needs, and how to support brain health long-term with my lifestyle and choices.
@Heather Mar, I am counting down the days to our spring break (starts Friday). This is my first almost full year teaching (I started 2 months after the school year). I am so excited and thankful to have a paid break! To plan and rest.
I’m thankful I didn’t destroy my back yesterday when I was digging holes for my new cherry trees! Hopefully, next year I’ll be thankful for their pink and white blossoms.
@JenRR, Yesterday was the first decent weather day for me to work in the yard for months. Yikes! am I sore.
Thankful for my amazing Birthday week last week and no, nothing frugal at all!
First we hosted 35 people for St. Patrick's Day and all had a great time and arrived home safely. I always worry when we host family events about people arriving home safely.
A few days later, I drove 6 hours to my daughter's house and went to a Bruce Springsteen concert. What fun us old people, including Bruce, had!
Then on Friday, I got to pick up my granddaughter from school because of a half day and spend the afternoon and evening with her. My daughter and son in law had tickets to see a play, so it all worked out that I came for the weekend!
Saturday the weather was crazy in Western NY with a lot of wind and people without electricity. We went to a Maple Festival with a pancake breakfast and they had the barn running on a generator. Needless to say, it was too dangerous to go out to the sugar shack. But we supported the owners and the church hosting the breakfast by attending.
Then I made it home safely after saying my goodbyes. I truly was thankful and made sure that I said thank you to everyone that made my week brighter. I wasn't really happy to come back to work, but I was happy knowing that I had a wonderful week.
@Maureen,
It sounds like you had a wonderful few days filled with fun, love and family. Blessings indeed!
I’m glad you had this extra year with Lisey. What a gift to treasure!
I’m thankful for:
-hints of spring: melting snow, visible grass next to roadways, longer days.
-my daughter’s enthusiasm for the American Girl Kirsten. It’s been fun to read the books together and explore Swedish life in America.
-friends who are willing to come visit at a moments notice.
-snuggles from my youngest. He is mildly sick, and the snuggles he needed after school yesterday were precious. The days of littleness are numbered and I want to savor every minute.
Happy Birthday Lisey.
How great that you got to celebrate Lisey's birthday at your house! When I started celebrating my birthdays at my student dorm that felt so natural to me - I never gave it a moment's thought that my parents might feel whistful about that. Now I never feel more complete than when my husband and I have all kids at home plus my brother and BiL. It ticks all my animal instinct "keeping the herd together" boxes.
This week I am thankful
-For wind and sunshine
-For good health
-For the box I keep, with lovely notes from my kids from elementary school onwards
-For knowing my kids still love me, even now I don't have to tuck them in at night
-For computer glasses
-For colleagues who recognize me for my talents
-For my talents, that I work to cultivate but that I was "just" born with all the same
-For feeling moments of serenity in a period of upheaval
@J NL, I second being thankful for my computer glasses. They have also become my sewing glasses, playing board game glasses, and household maintenance glasses. It is amazing how many things you do that are that distance away.
@Teresa,
Singing too!
@Teresa, also great as piano playing glasses! They're DEFINITELY multi-purpose!
I am grateful for our couple friends who invited us to go swimming with them and then the kiddos played together afterwards. It’s nice for them to get together and roughhouse and play. I am also grateful their rec center only costs $3 a person. This seems so reasonable for an afternoon of swimming!
I am grateful for the grocery store near us. They always have awesome deals and it is nice to be able to get lots of produce and meat at a really discounted price.
I am grateful for longer days. We have been able to do evening walks as a family and that seems to make bedtime go much smoother.
I am thankful for the cabinets we had installed in our office/multipurpose room. They provide a ton of storage and make the room look so much bigger and cleaner than when it was just random bins everywhere.
I am thankful for spring break! I love having both kiddos home all week to play and go on adventures.
Happy birthday to Lisey!
I guess I'm an oddball because I find trees with bare branches to be so beautiful and majestic. It's like they are a sign from God that even in the hardest of times, you can stand strong and display your beauty to the world.
This week's thankful list
- I'm thankful to have flexible hours at work. If I wake up really early, I can go into the office and then get off early.
- I'm thankful for glorious sunrise I got to see on my way to work this morning.
- I'm thankful that we found a buyer for one of Mom's hoarder houses and the offer is for the house "as-is" so we don't have to finish cleaning out all the things. DH and I have spent so many hours packing things up and giving them away, and we're tired.
- I'm thankful that our kids live close to us, and we get to see them on a regular basis.
- I'm thankful that our son has applied to go back to school since that art degree is not paying the bills.
@Beverly, I have a son who attended a prestigious art school and is quite talented. However, when he had been out of school for just a few years, he found that he was unhappy with his career choice.
He bounced around for a bit and went back to school. He is now a field scientist and has just entered graduate school. He’s still broke, but he is so happy!
I hope this for your son too. Well just the happiness part.
@Beverly, love your thoughts about bare branches. I prefer the leafy green of spring and summer (and autumn colors) but I have noticed that it's easier for me to watch the comings and goings of the birds and squirrels. 🙂
@Bee, I'm waiting for that knowledge to hit my daughter. Either that or she can date Larry Gagosian, pick one.
@Beverly, how many hoarder houses do you have to deal with? Just the thought of "only" one almost gives me hives!
Art degrees might be useful for something, but trade schools are much more practical. (My art degree is from U-Figure-it-Out). If he is a hands-on kind of artist, perhaps your son could head into welding and apply for one of Mike Rowe's Work Ethic scholarships. (Not advice; just a frugal tip)
@Bee, Our son was very determined to not listen to Mom's advise about his undergraduate degree, but he is slowly coming around to being more mindful of what kind of work he could find rewarding. I hope he finds the happiness you son has found.
@Central Calif. Artist, We are dealing with THREE hoarder houses, and they are all so full of that it is literally impossible to walk through them. My brother "inherited" Mom's hoarding habits so he helped fill all these houses with junk (well, I think it's junk, he thinks it's treasures). Thankfully, my brother wants the other two hoarder houses when I settle the estate so I shouldn't have to deal with them because they do make my skin crawl when I go inside them.
@Beverly, holy guacamole. You are a Warrior!
This week I am thankful for...
- overall good health
- for the upcoming Easter holidays: I am looking forward to spending time with my niece and nephews
- my garden - I can't wait to start gardening
- for the place where I live: it feels like home and there is so much to do and see. I don't have enough time to try all the cafés and restaurants
- a reliable car. My brother sold me his car (at a good price) over a year ago and there have been no problems yet. My previous car was rather high maintenance...
- my brother's phone calls: He seems to remember he has a sister more often lately ;-).
1. Thankful for the white blooms
Covering my azaleas right now.
2. For the last few days of sunshine without any rain.
3. For an upcoming trip to relax and enjoy. Sunshine and warmer weather…yes please!
4. Consistency pays off…I have no shorts or bathing suits that fit me. Such a great problem to have!
5. Peace that passes all understanding.
Happy Birthday Lisey!
I'm thankful that my son is all done with the work they needed him to do out in Utah and, if he's lucky, may get to come home a day early! He's so ready to not be traveling and we've missed him.
It's been...a week, between mice in the kitchen (we caught two!), a kid not handling having the week off school very well, some worrisome health issues....I am thankful that my husband and I are working as a team.
Thankful the weather has been warming up enough for us to go on bike rides.
You know, I don't even get so much as a text from my mom on my birthday so it's nice to see how you are cherishing that time together. Of course there is no rule that says you can't celebrate birthdays together but yeah, they just kinda stop happening.
But for my thankful notes of the week:
That the "No screen time close to bed time" rule we had to implement has been going okay. We've had some struggles with our daughter as some of her friends seemingly get unlimited time on tablets, game consoles, TVs etc. We've definitely seen better bedtimes because of it.
To get to take a short little vacation with just my wife and I. It wasn't without issues (medical stuff) but it was nice to be away from work and being responsible.
For being able to find time to play some games again. I've been playing both video and board games. My daughter really enjoys playing Carcassonne and I recommend it to everyone.
That we live in an era of genetic testing so my wife and I can hopefully finally figure out why we have had so much trouble having more than one child. We've lost at least two (1 suspected and 2 confirmed) and we're hitting the age wall hard now so this may be the last chance. Still, nice that we can at least take it to the end.
@Battra92, I hadn't thought of introducing Carcassonne to my kids yet. It was in the rotation of what my husband and I played before we had kids. Thanks for mentioning it.
I wish you the best on your medical journey and pray that you'll be able to find answers soon.
@Battra92,
I can feel your unhappiness about your mother not acknowledging your birthday right through the screen. This is not the first time you have indicated that you feel neglected or left out by family or “friends” on special occasions, which of course makes our heart hurt tremendously.
Please remember that texts and phone calls go both ways, it is always worth trying to reach out (while of course guarding our heart from disappointment). If the results are not what you wish several times over, then it is time to move on! Expose yourself to new people through activities and interests you have always wanted to pursue, sometimes it is through following our true passions and being our most authentic selves that we finally find “our people” or our “chosen family”. Sometimes it takes longer than we would like, keep putting yourself out there, it’s worth it!
Finally, acknowledge that your family of origin just may not be the idyllic one you would wish, and let go of the past, and any future expectations. As I frequently remind my sister who is often disappointed by my parents “you can’t get blood from a stone” Since I have zero expectations, I often find I am okay (not pleased but okay) with whatever interactions they can offer. Parents are just people, and often imperfect people.
Finally, it seems you have a good relationship with your wife and daughter. THIS. Dwell in the present. Make the family you wish you had had growing up. Invest in these relationships. It has helped me tremendously. You will not regret it.
Take from this what you will, you are not alone in this, hugs to you through the screen
@Battra92, I am sorry for your losses and hope you find helpful information. And thank you for the Carcassonne recommendation. I had never heard of it and know that a family member will love it.
Happy Birthday to Lisey!
Thankfuls:
- that my library book finally came in, there were 5 holds before me with at least 3 weeks on each, so I have been very patiently waiting.
- Handcream. I wash my hands a lot and so they dry out a lot.
- On that same note, I buy an "all-over moisture stick" from my drugstore, I use it specifically as a lipbalm and I LOVE this stuff so much.
- that I tested negative for Covid yesterday. But that still does not explain why I was short of breath. Thanks to ASA, as it lifted the 2 day headache and fatigue.
- for my BFF, I have known her since high school, she keeps me (for the most part) sane. I will love her for forever and a day. She will always be on my thankful list.
My thankfulness is for my dear husband and wonderful sons. Hopeful that a hard appointment today for my DH goes well.
I was thinking yesterday how grateful I am that the group of kids we have in the elementary right now are VERY active. Recess always involves running games--various forms of tag or keep-away or flag football (which I guess is kind of like both keep-away and tag). Whatever form it takes, they just run for fifteen minutes straight, three times a day. Makes me tired to watch. 🙂 And then they have P.E. for an hour two days a week. We had a couple of kids join our school this year who were quite overweight and sedentary, and they are much healthier now. Because to play at our school means running. It's nice to see.
@kristin @ going country, Yay to your school for lots of recess time! Children, especially elementary age, need frequent breaks to counteract all of the sitting still time.
I always love seeing how much you appreciate your cat. I remember when you were considering adding a cat to your family. You really agonized over it! I’m so glad to see how much joy she brings to your lives. I can’t imagine life without a cat.
@Cheryl, I have a decorative sign in my house that says "Life is better with a cat". One time we tried to be catless for about 3 months, and just couldn't do it.
@Central Calif. Artist, my 15 & 19 year old cats passed away in 2018. I had them since they were kittens, and I though I would take break of at least a few months before getting new cats. Yeah, that lasted about 10 days. Haha.
Today started out hectic - my first thought was to pop over here and remember there are things to be thankful for.
Thank you for being here with us, Kristen!
So very thankful for:
Daughters who have taken such good care of me since having a bi-lateral Monday. Also Hubs.
Friends who have prayed and called/texted.
Medical where we are staying through the school year. Everyone we have been served by has been excellent.
A smaller living space to take care of.
That I feel so much better 4th day after. Just being able to give your body time to recuperate & God's amazing blessings are wonderful.
Happy birthday to Lisey! Being able to spend time with adult children is so special.
I am so sorry you had to have that surgery, but I am delighted you are feeling better now.
@Kristen, feel blessed that I was able to make an informed decision that I'm convinced was the best one for me. Thank you for your blog, even though I seldom comment I always read and get encouragement from both you & all the community.
Oh, Happy Birthday to Lisey!! And happy for your joy of an extra year with her.
Happy birthday, Lisey! Like you, I'm trying to avoid the temptation to obsess about how much time left I have with the boys living at home (16 & 17), & instead make the most of our time together. They are definitely increasingly busy, unavailable for predictable dinner schedules, and just not around as much. I miss them, but remind myself that this is a necessary process for all of us, so they are prepared to leave home at some point in the near future.
1) Grateful we are supposed to have 10 days without rain. We've needed the rain, but it's incredibly disruptive to our schedule due to the kids sports (not to mention the power outages, wind damage, etc). I'm going to do my best to enjoy each of those sunny days.
2) That we get to see my BFFs daughter next weekend. We are doing a college tour, and she is going to show us around her college. Very happy we will get to see her, as well as get the inside scoop at her college.
3) I've arranged for a meal service for next week, which was 75% off (and, earned me $30 in gift cards, making it close to free). I'm so burned out on meal planning, & this feels like a fabulous mini break. I'm prepping for several different dietary restrictions, and this particular service allows each individual dinner to be different, and it's already made. So looking forward to the break. A coworker loves the food, so hopefully it will be good.
4) I work for a company that does an amazing job of celebrating Womens History Month. I always learn a lot, and two of my coworkers are quite senior, and were hosts/guest speakers for a couple of the events, which made it even more engaging.
5) For good friends. I caught up with a friend on Friday night, and it was SO nice to have someone to share things with, laugh with, and just enjoy time together with another sounding board.
Happy birthday to Lisey! Her sweatshirt is awesome. 🙂
Man, I need a dose of thankfulness today. I'm going on about 4 hours of sleep due to taking care of a sick kid (the third one to go down this week) and it's been one cancelled fun activity after another this week. Today's was probably the hardest as it was the biggest fun for my daughter and not something she'll be able to do again.
So, this week I'm thankful:
* for the return of our favorite and most awesome mailman. He went MIA around September and I assumed we would never see him again. I'm glad that he's safe and that he's back to his regular route.
* for grocery pickup and a decent pantry. The groceries I got on Saturday night were only supposed to last me until Monday or Tuesday, but they've had to last longer. We've made it (we've eaten a lot of apples in the last 2 days) and I've put in one of my two grocery orders to pick up tonight. The coffee creamer's almost gone, so we aren't waiting another day.
* that my two kids who are over being sick have played so well together this morning. It's let me chill and drink coffee and order groceries in peace.
* that we're supposed to have nice weather today and I should be able to work outside for a bit this afternoon.
* oh, ha. And something I've been thankful for repeatedly this week was that my first kid got sick as we were about to walk out the door to go to the pool. As hard as it was to have all 4 of us in swimsuits ready to go and then have to cancel with our friends, we have shut down a pool for puking in it more than once and I'm SO glad he didn't get sick AT the pool. There's always a silver lining, right?
I just got off the phone with our vet. Our cat has been picking at his food and losing weight, so she did labs yesterday, and she suspects that something is going on with his liver. After quite a bit of discussion, we are opting to move ahead with getting an ultrasound and a needle biopsy, but not full surgery. My heart is sad right now.
With that being said, I'm thankful for a kind and thorough vet who answers my questions and who helped me weigh the pros and cons of our options.
Thankful for the 14+ years we have had so far with our sweet boy. He's been an absolute gem and has greatly enriched our lives.
Thankful for my husband, who called me back when I couldn't reach him and listened sympathetically. He adores our hairy beast and this is hard for him, too.
Um. Let's see. Thankful for sunny skies today. And for tea.
Aww, your poor little guy. I hope the vet can figure it out.
@Kristen, thank you!
I'm thankful to be alive in this era. I think from time to time that it would be nice to live without some of the things we have, like constant electronic everything, and all the sports and volunteer and whatever obligations. But then I also think that I would have to work way too hard at the dreaded cooking without a microwave, or walk outside to use the outhouse, or have no choice but to compound my own toothpaste/laundry soap/whitewash instead of buy Crest/Tide/paint (or spray paint!) and I change my mind.
Happy birthday to Lisey and happy future Hawaii travels to the fam. 🙂
Happy Birthday to Lisey!
1. I'm thankful that my car checked out fine during its oil change; no problems were found. And I'm thankful for the free shuttle service so I don't have to wait there or arrange rides from co-workers.
2. I'm thankful for the little cool shot we got last night. We are speeding all too fast into the misery of summer, so this temporary little drop in temperature is a delightful interlude.
3. I'm grateful for my 24-year-old microwave that keeps chugging along. It faithfully heated my breakfast plate of already prepared meat and veggies this morning, making it so easy to get in a good breakfast without taking a lot of time.
4. I'm grateful for my two funny dogs and how they amuse me with their very different personalities. I'm grateful that they get along so very well.
5. I'm thankful for a comfortable bed. It was hard to leave it this morning!
Happy birthday, Lisey!
I am thankful for the similar bonus time I have had with my adult kids, and that they want to spend time with me.
I am really thankful to have been able to travel for my mom's big birthday. I have missed it many times as we live on different continents.
I am thankful that my magnolia tree blooms stayed on the tree for the two weeks I was away. It looked like they were about to bloom when I left, but a prolonged cold weather kept them fresh. It was a nice welcome home.
I am thankful for my job that provides with both flexibility and a good income.
I am thankful that my husband is such a good cook and enjoys cooking. We have so many great meals all the time, something I actually missed when I was away and ate out in restaurants.
So thankful for warm weather today and the good possibility to buy some pansy plants and put them in my front porch pots. The weather has fluctuated in our neck of the woods so much this spring! On the same vein the tete a tete daffodils are nodding their bright little heads and the Lenten roses are stunning.
I vacillate from British tea to chai latte morning to morning but am thankful for them both.
Thankful for the bird pairs that sing to each other. I enjoy the cardinals, the mourning doves, and the chirpy sparrows.
This one is odd. I am thankful for Terro ant bait. I am a bug lover at heart, but I have trouble putting up with ants that invade MY space and this year in the most unlikely places. My internet was off the other night so I checked the router and found a nest being built in and under it and (don't laugh, I'll explain) the VCR. I set out some Terro and then vacuumed and then also found them under and going into an aloe plant ("aloe little ones"). About the VCR, I have a perfectly adequate Zenith Console TV from before remote control days and cable/Dish days. I was able to rig the VCR to at least change channels with the remote and when cable came along, was able to hand wire it in. I no longer use the VCR, and the remote died from a leaky battery so I change channels on the cable box. It's really not that unhandy. I don't watch TV enough to warrant a new one and if there's something I desperately want to see, I can use the laptop. I guess I am thankful for the TV that has worked so well for all of these years! And as a bonus is a frugal win all of the way around as it was given to me!
@Chrissy, I love how you are able to keep it working for what you need.
I felt thankful for nothing today. I'm tired and weak and just fed up of it all. I had to force myself to think of my five thankful things and then I outdid myself. So here are my 10 thankful things.
1. Thankful for friends who included dd#2 in their family holiday to Florida (Universal/Disney).
2. Thankful for dd#1 having an awesome employer who is allowing her whatever personal time she needs to spend at home.
3. Thankful for my small rural/chemo hospital who have now dealt with two emergency room visits without having to send me to my bigger centre.
4. Thankful for the kindness and care shown to me by the above little hospital.
5. Thankful for the very early signs of spring (it did snow here last night), I have crocuses and snow drops poking through. And the sun (always the sun) and the river which I tend to refer to as my river. She feels like my river.
6. Thankful for clinical trials and the brilliant minds that run them, for giving patients like me a glimmer of hope.
7. Thankful for my cats who love on me even when I don't feel like being loved on.
8. Thankful for my family (always).
9. Thankful for the various health care teams that support me.
10. Thankful for soup and shakes.
That's it for me. Thank you, Kristin, for helping me out of my funk. And everyone who replied, I read them all.
@Leann, Sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I hope it passes quickly.
@Leann, So awful about your health. I am glad you have a supportive family and a competent rural/chemo hospital. I hope things get easier for you.
@Leann, Good luck with your health challenges! Your list is very inspirational.
@Leann, Oh, man, I feel your pain. And share your luck with kind and good medical teams and hospitals. Good luck to you.
@Leann, I think of you often and wish you better days. Your posts always put things in perspective for me.
Happy Birthday, Lisey!
The local plane club likes to perform stalls over our fields. When I'm outside working they fly by and tip their wings in hello. sweet.
Thankful for great friends, picking up from where we left off three years ago. Priceless.
Good weather-ish. Spring is going to stay one of these days.
OMG dark chocolate find yesterday at my scratch and dent store. 16 lbs of equal exchange organic chocolate minis for a ridiculous price (1 cent per piece).
The best neighbors in the world.
The crazy aussie dog and 5 cats who are as excited about Spring as I am.
1. Beautiful Walking Weather
2. Spring Orchids Blooming
3. 2023 Garden & Wildflower Festival
4. Learned how to embroider
5. Dinner at Friends home
1. One of my cats just caught a wood rat! (Way to go, Tucker, you hunter extraordinaire!)
2. Found Husband's favorite discontinued hiking shoes on eBay and my offer was accepted.
3. Found turquoise Crocs in my size on eBay and my offer was accepted! (TURQUOISE!!)
4. Two friends from high school came over yesterday and I took them for a walk in the super green, wildflower laden land above my house.
5. It rained yet again last night. Such a blessing to have it rain at night; such a blessing to have it rain any time, in spite of the recent flooding.
6. Saturday is supposed to be sunny, a fabulous thing for our favorite neighbor girl's outdoor wedding. Redbud, lupine, fruit trees are all in bloom, and there is low snow on the surrounding mountains. . . couldn't possibly be any better.
I am thankful for my morning coffee.
I am thankful for more rain (which makes for soft ground).
I am thankful that I had four days of good energy in a row last week! I was able to make a lot of progress on our backyard.
I am thankful that my family continues to be in good health in 2023.
I am thankful for the many birds that visit our backyard. It is so fun to watch them build nests and hunt for food.
nice picture! (the leaves)
This week :
* Having a small group of friends from work that I also see outside of work once a month for girls night.
* Having access to services online that I could not have access to otherwise, exemple my upcoming appointment with a nutritionnist specilizing in eating disorders. We don't have that were I live
* Having a spacious room that fits a King size bed.
* Great teachers at my girls schools
* To live where guns are not allowed/controlled. I DON'T want to start a debate on this! Being Canadian I just don't get it (the guns everywhere) and it scares me.
The Thursday Thankful list always makes me smile! Here is my list:
Health insurance - I had an eyelid lift last week, and there won't be much out of pocket cost for me. This was medically necessary because my drooping eyelids blocked 50-70% of my vision. So now (well, after the swelling and bruising go away) I'll see better AND look better (a nice bonus).
My husband - we've been working on replacing a piece of rotten wood in the cabin of my 36-year-old sailboat and he's doing most of the real work. He helps me launch it and maintain it, but HE DOESN'T SAIL! He does it all for me.
Being retired - I honestly don't know how I ever had time to work full time and raise kids, too. I tell people I'm doing all the things I put off for 40 years. Retirement is The Bomb.
Having no debt - we've worked hard to get that way. No mortgage, no car payments, so our income is freed up for other (FUN) things.
Our Ring doorbell - kind of a funny thing to be thankful for, I know. I can't even figure out WHY, but there you have it. We LOVE it - LOL!
Our CATS! Ha! We are down to two, brothers from the same litter. They are so entertaining and big cuddlebugs. They make us happy!
Does Lisey have to take any kind of certifying exam when she finishes school?
Is she starting job hunting yet? How is the market for airplane mechanics? Does she hope to work on small private planes or commercial airliners?
Yep, she's got another exam to pass. Yep, she's job hunting and interviewing. The market is really good for her! Airlines come to her school all the time to look for people to hire, so she will definitely have no problem getting a job.
She's gonna go commercial!
@Kristen, my relative was kind of randomly assigned to be an airplane mechanic in the military as a very young man who didn’t know what he wanted to do or be, except that he was not willing to actually fight or kill, but wanted to serve our country. It worked out well for him! He can fix and/or maintain almost anything! After his service, he repaired planes for several different airlines, small and large. And now, after retirement, he fixes machines and vehicles of all sorts!
Thankful:
1. That the husband's urology appointment had a positive outcome. With his cancer history, I am always waiting for bad news.
2. That my husband understands that my coping mechanism when faced with something that might not turn out well is to run through the worst possible scenarios over and over. That way, if the worst does happen, I will have a sort of plan in my mind instead of falling apart when I most need to be strong. This means he has to listen to me articulate the fears and coping plans and he does so without complaining. I am so thankful for his patient ear.
3. That we are still seeing Sumo oranges in the store!
4. that I am done taking an antibiotic that was making we feel wretched.
5. That the surgeries in November and February left me feeling better than I have in literally years. I am still astonished each day.
6. that we can have a dog and chickens because they provide endless amusement. I would not do well living in one of those communities that had lots of rules about what you can and can't do, not that Alaska has many of those. Too many non-conformers who come here to run away from places that seem restrictive.
@Lindsey, hooray for your husband's good appointment! I would probably have a similar coping mechanism to you.
As tired as I am of snow, I am thankful that there will not be a drought in my area this year. And I am thankful I found someone to come shovel the snow for me when it gets to be too much. Last year, I looked and looked and found no one.
I am thankful for the sunshine that came out and melted all the snow that fell last night and thankful I made it to work safely on icy roads for what feels like the millionth time this winter.
I am thankful for old friends who show up just when I need them to.
I am thankful for a $500 employee retention check coming my way, which will help me pay for spring property clean up and weed control.
I am thankful for a new vet that seems very invested in figuring out why my cat has been sick. And I am thankful I had the money in savings to pay for the tests my cat needs.
Happy birthday Lisey!
- we had a very spendy March, most of it was not frivolous, so I am thankful that my husband was willing to take an opportunity for an overtime shift, and that my Rover requests have been increasing in frequency from a slow winter.
- sunshine! Blooming daffodils and the kids playing outside a lot!
- women's Bible study at my church, learning a lot
- the bridge on our road reopened, ahead of schedule even!
- my FIL's fall (at home, alone) did not result in any serious injury... Mostly just to his pride
I’m so glad to know that you appreciate the beauty of bare trees as well as leafy green ones. My favorite seasons are autumn and winter. We have woods behind our house and I love, love, love when all the leaves have fallen and we can see all the way down to our creek and up the hill behind us. We can see the deer as they come up to be fed, and we can watch the squirrels play and the birds search for food, along with the occasional fox, coyote or turkeys. That’s our best entertainment. I kind of get anxious when everything begins to green up. It makes me sad to know that soon our wonderful view will be impenetrable.
Thankful for sick days. I needed one today.
For warmer weather.
My flexible schedule this week. I needed the rest.
Probate approved my dads estate so we can get back to work on fixing/emptying his house. We have put over 100 hours in cleaning it out. SO.MUCH.STUFF I think we are around 33% done.
Looking forward to when it is in the past.
I am thankful to be on spring break! Good grief, do I need it this year!
@Becca,
Oh, and happy birthday, Lisey!
Happy Birthday, Ms. Lisey! Happy landings into your new career! You are going to have a great future ahead of you -- airplane mechanics are in short supply, I'm told, and they are needed everywhere! So my first thankful item is that I'm thankful that our society has young women (and young men) willing to branch out and try their hands at new careers where they are needed.
I'm also thankful for spring. Driving by the roadsides, I see the vacant city lots and rural pastures transformed into fragrant fields of violet-and-white bluebonnets. Because they are legumes, Texas' state flower doesn't grow in well-kept gardens, but instead beautifies the most neglected spaces, magically transforming weedy areas into landlocked oceans of blooms. In my backyard, I have blooms of red and pink roses and Dutch irises bursting forth with color and joy.
The rain today is going to help. Although not a drought-buster, I'm thankful for each raindrop we get. Also thankful no bad storms swept through.
For friends who invite me out to dinner, and the fellowship we share. Twice this week!
For workers who take care of us. I had drainage problems and the plumber came out and took care of things. He had to come back, since the total fix required part of the yard to be dug up and and underground pipe patched/replaced. I wasn't expecting it to be done by today, but got home from work and was pleasantly surprised. His wife is about to have their baby any minute now, yet he came out and finished installing the pipe.
Finally, for snuggly comforts such as flannel nighties (my grandma's term for nightgowns), hot tea and thick quilts/comforters when it gets chilly.
I showed your comment to Lisey. 🙂
I just found out that my neice is engaged which is so fabulous! She's been with this young man for at least 3 years and knew him a long time ago in college.
Thankful that I got my colonoscopy done yesterday. Still catching up on the missing sleep.
Always thankful for my husband. He took out chicken for supper, cooked it and cleaned up afterwards. I was taking a nap to catch up on lost sleep.
Grateful for the ability to take a nap when I need it.
Five things I'm thankful for this week:
1. My mom is coming tomorrow...81 and still a going concern - and do-it-your-selfer from the old farm days. We have several projects in mind - doors for the shelving in the hallway is top of the list.
2. How wonderful it feels to be decluttering and painting. The kitchen is done a lovely fern colour.
3. Moved along a lot of John Deere trinkets this week. Used some of the proceeds for paint and a hair cut today! Glad to have that shagginess taken care of. Amazing how much a fresh hair cut can lift a person's spirits. I wait much to long between cuts.
4. Found a 5 gallon fish tank at a thrift store for $12.50 - it came with lots of accessories. I've been filling it and will let water sit for about a week. We have well water, so no chlorine to deal with.
5. Very thankful the snow is going down. It will be almost a month before planting can be done yet. I did see 2 motorcycles and convertible with the top down - sure signs of spring.
I also love looking at the orange sunset sky through bare branches. So beautiful!