Thankful Thursday | a little December snow!
New here? Thankful Thursday is something we’ve been doing in these COVID times; a (frugal and free) exercise to help us hunt for the good that is in our lives and in the world, even in the midst of a pandemic.
Today, I am thankful:
for the beautiful snow that fell yesterday
We don't get tons of snow here, which means that I am primed to appreciate its beauty when it does fall.
I totally get that people who stare at it all winter grow weary of it, but for me, snow is a beautiful anomaly.
for our funny Christmas tree
And for Lisey, whose crazy idea this was. 🙂
for the cute and funny things Lisey loves
I love the way that Lisey embraces the things she loves regardless of how old she is or where she is.
Like, the way she wears Sesame Street socks to work at Valvoline.
Or the way she handed out colorful and cute bunny pens to her co-workers. Thanks to Lisey, there are cute bunny heads peeking out of the pockets of black auto-mechanic uniforms at two Valvoline locations.
I think some people might be a little afraid to let that side of themselves show, especially working in such a male-dominated environment.
But Lisey shows up with her work-hard-get-dirty side while also showing up with her "here's a cute purple bunny pen" side.
that Sonia can register for biology now
She had to take a math test to qualify to take a science class, and she did that yesterday. So, now she can tackle a science class in the spring semester!
that my kitchen drawer isn't squeaking anymore
A little spray of WD-40 on the one wheel took care of the problem.
Embarrassingly enough, I let it be squeaky for a good two weeks before I dug out the WD-40.
On the upside, after two weeks of hearing it squeak, the silence is now extremely blissful.
for the beautiful parts of my neighborhood
There are definitely some not-picturesque parts, but at the same time, there are a lot of beautiful parts too.
As with most things in life, it's a mix.
The horses live in a beautiful field next to a house that has partially-finished siding and peeling Tyvek (it's been that way for at least 15 years!) and the front yard houses around 12 vehiclesLi in various states of repair.
And the water view from the wooded path on our morning walk is lovely, but the cinder block wall by the water is pretty broken down and it has graffiti on it.
Anyway. I'm thankful for the beautiful parts!
for the fun our cat's advent calendar is
We've been making her work for her treats by putting them into the various empty spots.
And now she has been sticking her nose into Lisey's advent calendar as well, hoping to find some delicious salmon/sweet potato treats. 😉
for the bright sunshine today
Yesterday was pretty dark because of the snow/sleet/rain storm, so I'm especially thankful for the cheerful sunshine we have today.
I am thankful that I was able to walk with two different friends this week, before the snow/sleet/whatever hit yesterday. I also have a Zoom meeting with a group today. I was able to go to an outdoor yoga class on Sunday as well. All good for the body and soul.
I am grateful that the skinny Christmas tree we ordered is perfect for our living room. We plan to use it for many years.
I am thankful for the ability to clear the frozen stuff in our driveway and sidewalk. It will take some more sun and heat before the frozen stuff will come up.
I am grateful that a friend told me about a county park, in another county, that was worth visiting. We made a trip there on Sunday and there was a wonderful path along the river bank. It was level, barely populated and a gorgeous day.
I am thankful that I don't have to pull off Christmas for children this year. I only have adults to buy for and they will be happy with mostly gift cards.
I am grateful for this blog and for Thankfulness Thursdays.
I love your cat!! She looks so silky and soft, I just want to cuddle her! Our cat is a ragdoll breed (mostly) so her fur is completely different: longer and not so silky. I love her cuddles also but I do prefer shorter-haired cats! <3
She is pretty soft! But some of the cats we take care of at the cat rescue are even softer and we are always amazed.
For the last day of school before the Christmas break today, and thus the end in sight of all the baking, wrapping, remembering that comes with all the end-of-semester festivities. It's fun, but man, it is exhausting.
I can't believe it is the week before Christmas in the year that has seemed never ending. I am grateful that my family and I have made it to this season mostly unscathed in a time of such distress for so many. We aren't taking any little thing for granted this year and cherishing time together and the simplicity of the holidays all the more.
I am thankful for my son who was a 5 yr old rock star at the dentist for his second tooth extraction in just over a month this past Tuesday. Being born with cleft lip, even though we repaired it at 3 months old, has lingering effects. He keeps such a sunny disposition and is brave. I'm so thankful for his outlook on things.
I am thankful for our warm and cozy home. It isn't much by many standards but I love the land we sit on and the warmth of our home. Yummy smells from the kitchen, a fire burning, candle glowing. the tree lit so beautifully. Home is a lovely place.
I am thankful that my mother in law who has COPD & is on oxygen has not contracted COVid even though she was exposed.
I am thankful for leftovers in the fridge for tonight's dinner.
Stay safe friends!
I'm thankful that our grown daughter is coming over to bake Christmas goodies with me this weekend. She said it doesn't feel like Christmas yet because we have not enjoyed this annual tradition yet this year.
I'm thankful that my employer is treats me so well and has been so understanding about a medical issue I'm dealing with this week.
I'm thankful for my amazing husband of 33 years. He's so supportive and has been my rock as we deal with my Mom's severe Alzheimer's and Lewy Body dementia.
I'm thankful that our son passed all his college classes this semester. He suffers from severe anxiety and depression and gets so stressed out by school. One more class and he'll finally be done!
I'm thankful for the beautiful sunshine today, we've had a lot of gray rainy days this week. The sun's reflection on the lake was stunning as I pulled into work this morning.
Have fun baking cookies with your daughter!
1.) That my wife and daughter have received a lot of Christmas cards and it makes them happy. I've received one this year as well so that was unexpected.
2.) IKEA wrapping paper we got last year and never used. I've never purchased good wrapping paper before but OMG is wrapping so much easier with good wrapping paper!
3.) That my wife puts up with some of the things I throw at her. It must be love!
4.) That I have all next week off of work!
5.) I got recognized at work for some issues I was able to solve.
I have never even thought about buying wrapping paper at Ikea! Is theirs really sturdy or something?
I like all the exclamation marks in your comment today. 🙂
I didn't even notice I was using exclamation points.
I don't know if I can describe Ikea's wrapping paper properly but basically it feels something similar to freezer paper while the wrapping paper I normally buy feels like a weird waxy plastic that never does what I want it to. Most of my wrapping jobs can be best described as "Well, it's what's inside that counts." So I was pleasantly surprised at how well the wrapping was on some presents I did last night.
I want to say we bought it on clearance or something early this year (in what will probably be my last Ikea trip until the masks go away.) but luckily we won't need to use it all.
Most of my wrapping jobs can be best described as “Well, it’s what’s inside that counts.”
Aha, totally relate! Sometimes people think that the kids did the present wrapping, so....
Ah, I wondered if you got snow!
I drove home last night in a thick mist hanging in the air, like driving through a cloud, as darkness fell. I'm thankful that I got home safely without any incident.
I'm thankful, especially on wet and/or chilly mornings, that we have a fenced back yard and a pet door leading into it. I hear the pet door flap-flap as the dog takes herself out and back inside, and I smile.
I'm thankful that my church is having in-person Christmas Eve services. They are limiting attendance via registration, and we will sit apart and be masked, but a Christmas Eve service is a large part of my Christmas observance, and I'm so grateful they are having it. We will have four services on Christmas Eve and one on Christmas Day, to try to fit everyone in who wants to attend. We also will have a quiet healing service on the 23rd just for those who are grieving or feeling depressed during this holiday and can't handle a full-out service. Our rector and the associate priests will be so tired after this; I am grateful for their dedication as well.
I am thankful for a solid, small but comfortable house. We spent the first 20 years of our marriage living in single-wide mobile homes. I don't want to ever forget to be grateful for our house.
I'm thankful for this blog.
I'm thankful that pandemics don't last forever.
Your last one...yes. I try to remind myself of that regularly. This really stinks, but life will not be this way forever.
Thankful to have a job. And that my boss cares enough to get me the proper equipment to perform my job.
Extremely thankful that my husband was rewarded for working extremely hard this year. He works a physically and mentally demanding job and is always available and can do any part of any of the jobs. He comes home exhausted and I am glad they said thank you. Sometimes you have to wonder!!!
Thankful that I am done shopping, shipping and creating. Haven't sold any of my crafts yet, but there is still 1 more week for those last minute shoppers. Maybe I'll get rid of some of them. I am moving on to my next project now.
Thankful that my family is well. I can't visit them, but love that technology lets me visit with them. And that no-one has gotten very sick. Knock on wood.
I'm thankful for....
1. My family having Covid (fairly mild cases) very early on during the pandemic, which has made this year a lot less stressful for us than for others.
2. Being financially able to have our local vet come to the house to put our beloved elderly dog down in peace. He hated getting into the car and the vet's office was a nightmare for him. It was heartbreaking for us, but seeing him at peace did help a little.
3. Not being impacted financially by Covid. We lost everything in 2009, and I still have financial PTSD. I fear that I will end up being the old woman with a used ball of tinfoil under my sink.
4. For my parents being healthy, even though they are climbing the walls at their house. We are able to Facetime with them, although they still need to work on their camera angles. Mostly we see my Mom's neck and Dad's left ear.
5. The internet - I can't imagine going through these crazy times without access to online shopping, the digital library, and the blogs I read.
Internet stranger **HUGS** on the loss of your dog. At least he was able to pass peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.
Oh, I hear you! I have often thought how much harder the pandemic would be without the internet.
And I am so sorry about your dog.
Also sending condolences on the loss of your dog. It is so very hard when they get on in years. You were kind to him when he needed it the most.
Good for Lisey on loving what she loves! I also work in a very male field (computer engineer in a steel mill) and struggle with this. Partially it’s to avoid furthering stereotypes (I’m the woman so I’ll organize the holiday lunch) and partially because I don’t want to be outright dismissed. I’ve opened up over the years and have been met with mostly positive experiences. However, I’m still working on figuring out the female equivalent of button-down tops! Ha! (Yes I know they make women’s button down shirts, but I don’t generally care for them).
My job is in its busiest time of the year and I'm feeling overwhelmed by it. But ...
1. I have a steady job and it's (almost always) enjoyable. My coworkers make me laugh.
2. I have health benefits from it, so my family can see a doctor when we need to.
3. I can be kind to people and keep a sense of humor, even when I feel like I'm getting buried with work.
4. This is just a season. It'll pass and the craziness will subside (I keep reminding myself of this).
I had to visit the ER a few weeks ago, and the bill finally arrived yesterday. While I hate having to tap savings for it, I'm deeply grateful that past frugality means we have savings to rely on. I'm likewise thankful that our insurance absorbed the brunt of it--paying three digits is better than paying four!!! No further complications have arisen from said medical adventure, for which I'm equally thankful. I'd like to maintain my status as the low-maintenance one between the two of us! 😛
My son and his wife were vaccinated yesterday, so the worry over constant exposure is flying away.
Our bloodwork came out normal and the clinic where they took our blood was super safe and efficient.
We received a delicious fruit and nut tray in the mail as a gift.
Grocery delivery in an hour!
Washer is not broken--tiny leak seems to have been a fluke.
Grateful as always that we all have jobs and have stayed healthy. Especially grateful that my job has a mandatory week of break Christmas week. Grateful that out trip to the veterinary ER for our middle dog, who was having a severe allergy attack, had a good outcome and was not horribly expensive. Extremely grateful that 2020 will soon be in the rearview mirror!
Thankful for the gorgeous snowfall with all the excitement before its’ arrival, its’ quiet beauty in the evening and the exercise it brought to me this a.m.
Pictures of my daughter digging out all by herself - officially an upstater now!
Having a day off from school-no in person and no remote learning today—yippee!
The simple pleasure of decluttering old camping gear knowing it will be put to good use by someone else.
Good health.
Coffee
My daughter has made similar little cardboard traps for stashing kibbles for the cat--so funny to watch him try to figure them out.
Speaking of which .... grateful for our fluffy and cuddly lap cat. For having at least some strands of Christmas lights that work. For the tikka masala chicken recipe from Budget Bytes which is cooking (and smelling oh so good) in our crockpot right now. For gift cards to Barnes and Noble as well as McDonald's which allowed my kids and me to have a fun and free get-out-of-the-house excursion today. For everyone's outdoor light displays this year (even though it means I can't find what I need to replace some of my burned out lights!) which bring smiles to all of us.
1 thankful for finding a great stoneware tall pedestal bowl like the stuff you collect. This is old and crazed. 4 dollars. I had a whole bunch but the shelf fell and it all broke years ago. 2. Thankful for thrift stores like one we found yesterday that all profit goes to aids patients and it houses a free pharmacy. 3. Found ornaments 4 for a dollar. 4. Ate at mcdonalds. 5. Big trip to aldis...got all christmas food for 28 dollars except 9.00 wings at kroger and 1.00 bar b que sauce dollar tree. Having wrapping party this week and opening party xmas morn
Wow, your Aldi's haul is wonderful!
I adore your tree!
What a handsome tuxedo kitty you have!!!!
This is a difficult exercise this week. Things have not been going smoothly, and I feel sad for numerous reasons. However, this is the time that gratitude is most important. It heals the heart.
I am so thankful for my warm, safe home. I grateful for my dear husband. I love my rescue pup and calico kitty. I am thankful that I have access to wonderful health care. I’m so glad that my sister lives nearby.
So thankful that the shoemaker's was still open (most businesses had to close due to new Corona restrictions here)! And that I can afford to have my boots repaired again. I can't wait to have warm feet!
Thankful for my boyfriend who takes care of much at home and especially of dinners, including making sure I get a veggie side dish.
Thankful for Christmas decorations that brighten up December
Thankful that my family lives relatively close so we can see my parents for Christmas (no international travel needed which would be a problem quarantine wise)
Thankful for Christmas vacation starting soon and being able to be off work for two weeks.
Love Lisey's attitude -- how charming she is! -- and that she embraces so many aspects of her life with such joy and humor. I bet they love her at work 😉
1. Thankful for . . . Vacation starts NOW! Break through January 11!
2. I guess I am sort of thankful to be IN school, even though I have my doubts and concerns about the wisdom of sending us all back under the "small cohort" rubric, ie, severe special ed. is a small group and therefore there is not danger of infection. Well, we all wear masks, and shields or googles, even though the kids don't. But, yeah -- I think I AM thankful to spend time with them, even during COVID. It cheers us up to see them everyday.
3. I cannot fly home to see my mom in assisted living or my brother but I am thankful they are well and that I will save money for a trip in the spring (hopefully!) Miss them!
4. I cannot fly to NY to see my daughter, either, but I am thankful she is well, and happy, and working and I will see her as soon as I can!!! Miss my girl!
5. Thankful that husband and I can relax and maybe take some hikes and little daytrip around the southland.
They do love her there! I think they will be sad to see her go one day.
For sure!! 🙂
I'm thankful that we were able to get a new washing machine delivered today. We weren't sure if the winter weather would interfere, and we'd already had delays trying to find a drain pan to fit a strangely shaped space (and the larger size washers that are the norm now). After a couple of weeks with no washer, I'm delighted to be doing laundry!
I'm also thankful for the crazy long life of our old workhorse washer - 22 years with only one repair. That was one solid, hard working machine!
Like Kristen, I appreciate the picturesque areas of our neighborhood as I've been walking more. I really enjoy all the birds, and we've even seen bald eagles. Like a lot of other people, we've seen more wildlife in general. I got a kick out of seeing how amazed a young boy was this morning when a fox ran by into the woods - it made his day (maybe especially because he'd seen it and his big brother missed it : )
Your attitude has made me smile. Years ago our neighbour had a crane in to lift a wrecked four wheel drive into his front yard. It is an eye sore and worse still it impedes my vision when I leave our yard. But for years I keep trying hard to ignore it...Last night someone asked when would it be removed. I made him laugh by telling the enquirer that the neighbour had placed a not for sale sign on the monstrosity.
As for now we have had rain. This means our garden is greener and the weather cooler. So welcome in our drought filled climate. We have a dryer audit is working over time as my children bring their washing. Dried towels are much much softer then those dried on the line outside. A simple luxury. Except for a few small things the big shopping for Christmas is done. Yipppppppeeeeee. My granddaughter's emerging language makes me smile. Sticky take, bam baids, pwesent and sequins make my days much happier.
Oh wow, a crane! That really is an unusual lawn ornament.
1. The pumpkin pie I made for Thanksgiving was not as good others I've made and we were a bit disappointed. My husband wanted one for his birthday tomorrow so I had a chance to try again. We had a bit of filling leftover which I cooked on the side and we tasted that tonight, much better!
2. We were able to get our groceries delivered before the storm hit as we were running low on milk. Many thanks to the hardworking folks who got it done!
3. The maintenance folks in our building complex who take care of so many things with a smile. They make living here a pleasure.
4. The warm slippers I was able to buy recently. The floors get really chilly from drafts we can't really do much more about and these new slippers are toasty!
5. How quiet the city gets when it snows. It was nice to get break from traffic and construction sounds for a while.
Everything pales beside having a warm house today; for that I am very thankful. It was 30 below zero and a wind brought it down to 55 below wind chill. When I lived in the villages, the various 24 hour programs were instructed to leave their front doors unlocked when it got frigid so that people could shelter inside the hallways if they did not want to go into the service area (so active alcoholics could still shelter inside even at the alcohol treatment house). In towns that small, homelessness is due to addiction or mental illness but none of that mattered when the cold hit. I realize a large city cannot do that but I always liked that no one was cold, even if all they had was a mattress and a blanket in a warm hallway.
I can't imagine weather that cold! I'm glad you are safe and warm.
And it's very sweet that the villages are trying to keep everyone warm as well.
I'm thankful that my first grader made it through the whole first semester of school without missing a single day!! Heading into this COVID fall, I did not expect that.
I'm thankful for the times I had to take walks with my two littler kids this fall/winter. They're done with walking outside in 30 degrees at 8am, so my exercise life will have to shift again, but we had some really fun times doing it while we could.
I'm thankful for coffee.
I'm thankful that I finally found a Christmas ornament for my 2 year-old daughter. She loves books so much that she usually has 4 in the car with her and 15 in her crib when she goes to bed and last night I found an Eric Carle "Very Hungry Caterpillar" ornament. I've been looking in stores for a while and selections are getting low, so I'm really happy about this find!
Thankful I have such a fun and kind boss, I think they broke the mold after they made her.
Our local thru the park light show was such a hit it caused 2 days of traffic jams. We were able to get a night without any traffic as it was only for employees and family.
Love the blue tree I had a pink one. I have 4 trees up, most are under 4' my fiber optic is my favorite.
We are hopeful that covid #s will stay low enough for the grand baby to visit. We have not seen her in 2 months and I made cookie dough so we can make cookies with her. She is a year so limited making but fun non the less.
Here is to a brighter 2021!
* Very thankful we will be allowed to visit the in-laws during Christmas time
* Thankful for a great public library that actually orders my books suggestions!
* Thankful for the technology that allows my husband to work from home
* Thankful to be a health care worker, a.k.a not worried about losing my job du to Covid closures
* Thankful for my relative health and the health of my loved ones.
Have a blessed day!
So, So Thankful for my nephew and his wife finding that their son (he's 8) can be a bone marrow donor for their daughter (she's 10).
I can't imagine all that is going on for them. They have two younger children as well.
And So, So Thankful they have a big support network of family and friends for the next challenging months, and are in a location with excellent health care.
Oh wow. A bone marrow transplant is so hard for the patient and their family, but that is such good news that a sibling can donate! Here's to wholeness and healing on the other side for them!
I wish them the best of luck!
So good to be reminded that there are often 2 perspectives with beauty and brokenness.
Thankful today for:
-sunshine (oh how special it is this time of year!)
-snowman and snowball fights
-warm coat, hat, gloves, etc.
-kitchen full of new groceries
-90% of gift wrapping/mailing done
-only 2 more days of work for 2020
-Christmas lights and decorations
-Christmas letters and gifts & the relationships in them
-only 2 more days of homeschool for 2020
-quiet (really rare, but soothing to my soul)
-
Thankful for:
- a financial gift from my parents toward a new dryer
- that my husband got the vaccine at work today
- MasterChef Junior tonight with our daughter
- date night after Master Chef
- got to see a friend today and catch up
- baby and toddler sleeping right now!
- baby slept 8.5 hours straight last night
- lots of books to read
- got the house cleaned this morning
- husband will be working from home most of the next two weeks
- mowed two parts of our very big yard
- laying in bed under a very comfy new blanket
- Christmas shopping is done
- had steak salad, a fajita, and chocolate chips for lunch
- we seem to be coming out of the newborn stage and getting into the rhythm
- Noom has been a great addition to my post-baby experience of losing the baby weight. Enjoyable, informative, and helpful.
- I am glad that I still enjoy hanging out with my husband each night and always look forward to him coming home.
- for our three kids and maybe/maybe not having our family be complete. There were times when I didn’t know if we would have more than one.
Catching up to Thursday
I went out to help with the car clearing and some shoveling/clearing. I think the cars were cleared off 4x yesterday--I did it once. Daughter and son-in-law did it the other 3x.
The grandchildren came over in the snowy afternoon to help decorate my Christmas tree. And daughter was able to get gifts wrapped. We had popcorn. We did a 12-days of Christmas and a Paw Patrol math game after. And had popcorn.
Monday the ladies and I were able to get in our Monday morning work. Hopefully the trails we want to do next Monday will be walkable. One lady said it will be fun to see how long we can continue the Monday walks.
My middle grandchild turned 6 the other day. With Covid we treated him to a birthday week. He has enjoyed himself but a couple of his presents did not last past 2 days (poor quality). My husband and I decided to replace one of them as a Christmas present and the store had one left. I did a pick up at Target. I did a cursory look at the item in the bag. When I showed it to my husband at home I saw there was another item in the bag. I don't know if Target is giving little gifts at pick up or a mistake was made--it was a holiday pack with Ghiradelli chocolate chips and recipes.
We buy Hess trucks for the grandsons every year + 1. Well, I forgot to give it to my son-in-law for toys for tots. A local woman organizes help for local families throughout the year. I asked if she could use it. One of the boys in a family she is gathering items for had a Hess truck on his list.
You captured something magical in your photos of the water and the walkway. Beauty is really all about perspective.
Thank you for this post. 🙂
I am thankful for:
* a cozy, peaceful life
* consistent internet! We have never had so many Zoom visits in our life!
* the ability to see loved ones' faces on screen
* being safe and well
* having enough to eat, even some lovely treats like chocolate almonds
Big hugs to you all...
I am thankful for the fog outside. We almost never have fog. We live in a very dry place and so, fog is out of the norm...when it DOES happen I sit and the window and say, "ooooh! look at the fog!" Haha.
I am also thankful for our cozy home, especially this year. It's big enough, but not too big, and we are warm and happy in it.
Finally, I'm thankful for cooking skills. I've experimented with so many recipes this year! It's been fun and we've definitely learned a few new cooking methods, like one-pot pastas!
I am thankful for all I have and that I don’t need more.
1. All of the books I’ve read this year (42 so far!) that have either taught me something or been a nice escape for my mind
2. My youngest daughter has an incredible memory and I love to hear all of the little things she’s remembered from the past
3. Insurance just approved my oldest daughter for a cochlear implant which we will be a huge blessing for her
4. The joy of driving around and looking at Christmas lights.
5. Baking Christmas cookies and delivering to friends.
6. The ability to continue working from home which has given me so much more time with my family.
Oh I get goose bumps thinking about your daughter's cochlear implant. My son got his 18 years ago. It is a blessing every day. I pray she does well with it.
I wear BAHA implants. Grateful for those
1. All of the books I’ve read/listened to this year (134 so far!) that have been a nice escape for my mind
2. My mother and father are here and my mother who has early onset Alzheimers can still make conversation pretty well, and my father had to have open heart surgery are doing better.
3. My grandmother is doing better since she fell at 92 she is still a ball full of energy.
4. The joy of driving around and looking at Christmas lights.
5. Making Christmas candy and sewing projects and delivering to friends.
6. The ability to change careers in the mist of the pandemic to a KitchenGardenCoach which I am very thankful. Before I dealt with relationships and it was draining for me.
7. Our children.
8. Our fur babies
9. For a loving husband of 30 years.
10. For the gift of life itself and all that has been set in my path to live, learn and love.
Thankful for a negative fast result Covid test, even though the circumstances surrounding it were very frustrating.
Thankful for some time off now even though I am sick and the time is unpaid. Sinus infections and ear infections are not conducive to a great work experience.
Very thankful for a warm house as our highs have been in the low 40's if that for a month.
Grateful for my Percy Cat who is almost 14 years old and crazy as a kitten.
Very grateful for a full freezer, refrigerator, and pantry while I deal with being sick.
I am. in awe of Lisey and her ability to be who she wants to be - even if it is contradictory to others. Even if it seems silly. I wish I had her courage.
You probably do have all the courage you need! Go be your best you!
A bit late, but it's been a long, hard week, so I should do this.
-my 94 year old grandmother's case of covid seems to be mild and she hasn't needed to be hospitalized, just even more lonely than ever.
-there's plenty of food in the house after starting two food delivery services. They weren't taking new customers in the spring, so we went awhile on pantry stashes and it's nice to have fresh food again. I'm still getting used to giving up the control of picking my own groceries, and sometimes getting errors and substitutions, but it's better than the anxiety of going to the grocery store.
-all of my Christmas shopping is done even though some of it didn't ship in time for an early Christmas with my stepdaughter, so we will have to wait until New Years. With both of us doing virtual school, we wouldn't have had enough time anyway, but I was still so disappointed by that last late package that STILL hasn't arrived. BUT, I'm thankful that I can order everything online and have it shipped here even if there are delays.
-gravity. I'm reading the books that the Expanse TV series is based on (I recommend both if you like science fiction), and I think I would find low g living very annoying. Who wants to drink coffee and wine in a "bulb?" And let's not even imagine using the bathroom. Thanks for your help, gravity!
-my new drivers license came in the mail in only one week when they told me it could take 6 weeks, AND I didn't even hate my picture! Can't even see the mask marks!
-the usual stuff: warm house, electricity, family, etc.
I do feel a little better. Thanks, Kristen!
1. My four kids- even though we are together alllll the time, I am so glad I get to spend this time with them.
2. Our church - and the ability to watch online. It’s been over 8 months since we’ve worshiped with them and thankful we are still able to be connected
3. Savings- my husband was laid off 2 weeks ago and we have savings to keep us afloat
4. A nice side walked neighborhood- all the stress from above has helped me remember that a good walk is cheap therapy.
5. Christmas gifts are bought and traditions are still fun even if we are worried about finances
That is a wonderful picture of Lisey with the cat!
I'm thankful that our Christmas tree is decorated, and that my grandson and I got to put up our Christmas village together. I'm thankful my friend got her parcel from me for Christmas, even if I did have to pay double what was already a large amount in order to get it to her on time, because she lives alone and it's very important that she has gifts to open on the day, especially this year. I'm thankful to live in a country with universal health care as my spouse will be getting a hip replacement in the new year. I'm thankful for the richness and opportunities that facing my unconscious, internalized racism as a white, middle-class Canadian have brought. I'm very thankful for you Kristen, and your lovely blog with its beautiful online community!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!
I am so glad this community is a blessing to you!