This week, I am thankful:
for the snow
We got a few inches of snow this past weekend and oooooh, my snow-loving heart was happy.

I went out for a walk it in and appreciated all the ways a coating of snow makes a winter world so much more beautiful.


Also: after I got back from my walk, a brilliant blue sky appeared and oh, I love the combo of a snowy world and a blue sky.

It was like this one day during my last ski trip at Lake Tahoe, and I thought the beauty was unbelievable.

Isn’t that mountain sky amazing?
for the indoor brightness from the snow
I say this every time it snows, I know. But I love, love, love how much brighter my indoor life is when there’s snow out.
All the light bounces off the snow and into my windows, and the normal shadowy areas become bright and cheerful.
LOVE.
for the joy of a hot shower
It’s been pretty chilly here this week, and I have been reminded of how very nice a hot shower feels after being outside in the cold (like after a morning walk).

But then I also remembered how much I appreciate a cool shower after a hot summer walk, and then I thought, ok, maybe I just really appreciate showers.
Or temperature regulation.
Ha.
Anyway. Yay for showers!
that my iron levels have improved
My red blood cells and my hemoglobin are in a normal range now! Woohoo!

post blood-draw
But my ferritin levels are still a little bit low; that’s the protein that stores iron. So, I’m supposed to keep supplementing for a bit to get those up high enough.
Still, this is good progress!
that Zoe and I finally got our Christmas tree
The trouble with living in a household where both members are college students is…that it’s hard to get any Christmas activities done until the semester is over.

All I have is a quick phone snapshot; I’ll take a better SLR photo at some point!
Better late than never, I say.
We have not had a tree topper ever since we moved here (I think I left my original one at my old house!), but Zoe and I picked out a rather silly cat angel topper, and we are waiting for it to arrive. 😉
for our cats
They both happened to do their woolly bear caterpillar pose this week.


that I got to start PT this week
I have known I have a rotator cuff issue and tendinitis since this summer. But I got so swamped with school and work, I never managed to get myself started with the prescribed PT.
But now that my horrible class is over, I have time! And my second PT session is today.
Here’s hoping I’ll be back to a state of better shoulder mobility soon.
that I got to see my friends graduate
I had many friends graduating from my nursing school last week, and I really wanted to cheer them on. But pinning ceremony tickets are extremely limited.
So, I asked if I could volunteer to help with the pinning ceremony (they always need people to do things like take tickets, give directions to the bathrooms and so on) and the professor in charge said yes. YAY!
I was so happy to see them walk, and I teared up, of course. 🙂

Barbara Smith
Thursday 18th of December 2025
well, I am always thankful for you and your quirky, lovely observations! I am thankful for life -- and God's faithfulness -- and that we can stay connected with each other in ways that 50 years ago we could not.
Isa
Thursday 18th of December 2025
* That my 13yo DD has a good head on her shoulder when it comes to boys. There's a friend of hers, 15 yo, pursuing her, buying her gifts, asking her out, etc. She is not interested in him that way (plus, I find him too old for her anyways), and she told him so. Repetitively. My husband might have to intervene soon
* A quiet neighbourhood
* External support for my 16 yo DD that is still hospitalized and not doing so well but still might get discharged soon
* Turning 45 in a couple weeks. Growing old is a privilege that I don't take for granted (My dad passed at 46)
* Having private insurances for psychotherapy
Beverly
Thursday 18th of December 2025
Kristen - glad you are able to start PT for your rotator cuff. Our daughter is a PT has seen many patients that tell her that they are there for their "rotar cup" instead of their rotator cuff, which makes me giggle. Thankfuls: - Today and Monday are my last days to work this year. - I am having lunch with a former co-worker today that I haven't seen in ages. Will be very nice to catch up in person. - I was able to get a doctor's appointment for this afternoon. - I am done with Christmas shopping, and almost all of the presents are wrapped and under the tree. - The wooden reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh had fallen over in the yard and I didn't have a chance to stand them up before work. Not sure who, but someone kindly stood them up while I was at work, which made me really happy.
Cindi
Thursday 18th of December 2025
Yay that your iron levels are better. Our snow here is mostly melted. I'm wishing for more soon. I'm thankful I finally got in to see the spine and pain specialist. He has me on new medication that is starting to help with my neck and shoulder pain. For choirs! One of the choirs I'm in had their big performances this past weekend and it was so wonderful. The other choir has their performances this Saturday and Christmas Eve. For Christmas cookies. I don't indulge much through the year, but give me a peanut butter blossom or frosted gingerbread tree and I am happy. I, too, am a huge fan of hot showers!
Kim B
Thursday 18th of December 2025
Beautiful snow/sky contrast!
Kim B
Thursday 18th of December 2025
AND I CAN FINALLY POST COMMENTS! Yay! ❤️❤️❤️