Thankful Thursday | a tough/good month
August has been sort of a tough month for me.
But, as I always tell my kids (and you guys!) nothing is all good or all bad. Even in the midst of some tough stuff, I've been able to churn out weekly Thankful Thursday posts, full of honest things I am grateful for.
It would be easy to tell myself the story, "August was a terrible month."
That would only be partially true, though. Some hard things happened, yes.
But also some really good things happened (some of which I gotta wait to tell you about!)
Like almost every month in my life, it's been a mixture of good and bad, hard and easy.
That's one of the benefits of making these lists, I think. It turns my brain from the, "Everything is awful" story and helps me see what is actually true.
So!
This week, I am thankful:
for several cool days
You guys! The last two mornings I was actually a little chilly when I started my walk. That made me very, very happy.
Also: I slept with my windows open. That's an extremely happy-making thing.
I know that the heat and humidity will return (I can't count on consistent cool days until October, probably), but this little taste of fall sure did make me happy.
that I didn't get sick for Zoe's half-birthday
I mentioned last week that back in February, I got sick on Zoe's birthday. I don't think we even made a cake!
So to make up for it, on her half-birthday this past Friday, we did make a cake!
Her friend came over and the two of them decorated a pink cake, using Pinterest as inspiration.
And then we all had cake for breakfast the next morning. 🙂
The little flower characters Zoe made are so cute. 🙂
for cool enough weather for sanding
Sonia and I bought a storage chest on Facebook Marketplace, and I'm gonna paint it white to match her other furniture.
You don't NEED cool weather for sanding, but the weather yesterday made the sanding process so much more comfortable.
for a honeybee sighting
I see a lot of bumblebees and yellow jackets as I walk, but this week I saw some honeybees, and that made me happy.
that porcelain berries are at least beautiful
They are a terribly invasive species, but these berries are really, really beautiful. They remind me of little speckled easter eggs.
And they go through so many different shades of blue/purple.
Invasive species are never a good thing, but at least this one isn't ugly.
for neverending variety
I've been walking these paths and trails daily now, on a rotating basis, for over a year. And still, I am always finding new plants that I've never seen before.
These have such an interesting pattern!
that I get to talk to Lisey so often
Thank goodness for cell phones! I get to talk to her almost every day, and so in some ways, this move to Hawaii doesn't feel terribly different from when she lived with my aunt and uncle during aviation mechanic school. 🙂
that I found a cat brush Chiquita loves
I bought one from Petsmart initially, but the bristles were too far apart to do any good.
So, I added a different one to my Chewy order, and Chiquita LOVES it. She stretches out and purrs and lets me brush her all over.
This is gonna seriously cut down on any cat hair I have to clean up around here because the brush is full of hair whenever I brush her!
I like that the tips of the bristles have a little coating on them; it's a little more gentle than the brushes that have just bare metal ends.
Chiquita says it's 10/10.
Shelly has never liked being brushed but I'm gonna see if she changes her mind with this type of brush. Perhaps she will be a convert.
Some cats love brushing, other will pointedly tell you no! One cat I had loved being broomed- she'd lie out in the driveway and luxuriate in being brushed with a broom.
It's been hard for me this month. But there are good things Thankful for :
*the semester starting up- I work with awesome people and my students are really sweet (clueless at times but most are willing to try!).
*My sons" school has found a temporary home and will open after Labor day. (The school had massive rain damage in June due to some roof issues, and repairs won"t be done for a while.) This is just a few weeks later than the typical start time. It could have been worse.
*My current cats love to stay by me at night- when insomnia hits , it's nice to have company.
*Sharing word game results with family- a daily check-in helps us stay connected. And we are not competitive-most of the time 😉 .
@mbmom11, I love the mental picture of your cat being broomed. That's adorable, so thank you for sharing it this morning. 🙂
@mbmom11,
Would that word game be Wordle? I'm hooked on it, too!
@Fru-gal Lisa, it's wordle with some family, waffle with others, and don't wordle with one daughter. The 5-letter word craze is just what a bunch of word nerds wanted!
@mbmom11, Yes. If I'm not doing Wordle, I go on to Wordguessr. Which is the exact same game, only different colored squares. Plus you can play it over and over again, as many times as you like. Haven't tried waffle but I will look it up.
@mbmom11, I also love the image of your cat being broomed ! I used to have a wonderful big doofus of a chocolate lab who enjoyed being vacuumed with the hose attachment. It always made me laugh and he was so happy.
@Fru-gal Lisa, have you tried Wordscapes? A friend introduced me to it this summer and I'm hooked!
I too have had a good and bad month. So many of my friends are struggling with health crises in their families.
I am thankful for many days of lovely weather in the past week. Windows open, sitting outside with a friend or a book, it's all good.
I am thankful for texting. It makes keeping in touch easier when life is busy/overwhelming.
I am thankful for the abundance of summer produce. It is just so delicious.
I am thankful for the library and audio books. I just finished reading/listening to Horse by Geraldine Brooks and it is a masterpiece of a book. I recommend 10/10.
I am thankful for this weekly exercise. It makes me think everyday about how abundant my life is.
@K D, Thanks so much for the book recommendation. I just put a hold on it through the Libby app!
@K D, Also, Brooks's book, Year of Wonders, is so good—unforgettable.
@K D, thanks for the book recommendation. Geraldine Brooks is my favorite author and I have read everything she wrote. Didn't know about this book.
@Pauline in Upstate NY, So did I!
I'm sorry August has been so hard. I think I cope with life's hard things so much better because of the thankful things, too. This week I'm thankful:
*that my son and I made it back safely after dropping eldest off at college.
*that several of my children are so diligent and independent in their school work. (The ones who aren't are still too young to do things as independently.) This makes it easier for me. Not easy. But easier.
*for how excited my two youngest are to be playing soccer this fall.
*for my husband. This week we celebrate 20 years, and I am thankful that I can honestly use the word celebrate. This was a good life decision.
*for continued weight loss. Less than 5 pounds of baby weight to go. I've been looking at this goal for so long that it will be weird to set the next goal. And I'm also thankful that I feel confident that I will not only reach this goal but also any other goal I select with weight loss. It's a mind game for me.
*for my friend's dog who's staying at our house this week. She's a good dog, and my kids are enjoying her a lot.
*for the shower I'm about to take, the coffee I'm about to drink, for the air conditioning in my son's dorm (he didn't have it last year), for homegrown tomatoes and the sandwiches I make with them (they remind me so much of past summer lunches with my mother), for the therapy I will endure later today, for the funny things my children say, for the magnet poems/stories on my fridge, for learning how to make buttermilk, for seasonable weather, for Billy Joel (I'm really stuck on some of his tunes lately), for silly dreams that make me laugh when I wake up (silent laugh because otherwise I'd wake people up), for well water, and for completing the summer reading club challenge in time.
@Jody S., yes! For the shower I’m about to take and the coffee I’m about to it (and for the coffee espresso cheesecake that I won’t have with my coffee because healthy choices are good for me too!)
@Kaitlin, Hmmm. You are a strong woman, indeed!
Windows open at night is the best, even if it does cause swelling when I forget to take allergy meds!
Thankful Thursday, job edition
-for people who saw my skills and gifts back in April and kept pushing me to get back in the classroom
-for a job that puts me in the same building as my kids
-for staff who have been patient and and accommodating as we navigate lots of change in school placement for my high needs child
-for administration who loves kids and is respectful of my time. Every training has ended at least 30 minutes early.
-to my past self that learned my field well and kept reading because after a 12 year break, I can still hold my own.
-for being able to get back in the classroom and support myself and the kids. It is wonderful to have this fresh start and not be concerned about the future. (And yet, my brain still finds ways to be concerned about the future.)
@Kaitlin, Massive pat on the back. MASSIVE. Congratulations!
@Kaitlin, you should be proud.
I love the cake!!!
Although I’m exhausted, I’m thankful for all that the joy and activity this month has brought.
* My heart is full after a week-long visit with my cousin filled with wonderful conversations.
* I am grateful that I was able to fly round trip to see my cousin for $11.20 with my points. Best of all, all legs of the flight went smoothly and without delay.
* My younger son arrived safely back from Alaska where he works in the summer and is now back at school. The especially good news is he finally has his graduate funding figured out!
* I’m thankful that I was able to enjoy a quick visit with my daughter who lives out of state.
* I am thankful for my eldest son who lives nearby and is always there when I need him.
* I am thankful for Rescue Pup, coffee, a good night sleep, air conditioning and that this terribly hot summer will eventually end.
Wishing everyone peace, prosperity and good health.
I often feel that thankfuls work three times: once in good things taking place, once in sharing them, and once in making you more prone to notice future good/fortuitous things when the times are tough.
This week I am just thrilled with the weather. We have had a lot of rain this summer, but it is so green and fresh everywhere. And the temperature is fine - I've been living in shorts for three months on end.
I am thankful for my brilliant seamstress who will be making me (non -frugal because properly paid) trousers for the winter. I love to discuss shape and colour and details with her, it is so much fun.
I am thankful for my brother and brother-in-law's wedding anniversary later this month.
I am thankful for the clean water we can have our daily swim in.
@JNL, I'm a seamstress tho I don't sew for money--your investment in custom trousers will pay you back 100 fold. Clothes of good quality that fit well are the ones you will wear the most, look best in, enjoy, care for, and wear longer than the junk clothes from the fast fashion lane. In the final analysis, the initial cost may seem high, but the cost per wear is much lower. But satisfaction higher!
Just sayin.
@JNL,
I like that…
Needed this. Tough month for me too. I'm thankful that school is starting soon. Summer months are stressful here. I'm thankful for my health. I'm thankful for the little reminders that my grandma left, such as her favorite verse in Philippians, which instructs us to be anxious for nothing. Easier said than done, but a much-needed reminder. Thanks Kristen.
This week I am thankful for:
1. A good relationship with my sister.
2. Connecting with an old manager of mine who probably has some work for me.
3. Being invited to the local schmancy horse show and a party afterward, where I can do more networking and hopefully get more business.
4. Forcing myself to network. Of course I'd rather stay home and embroider (so soothing), but as I say to myself, you don't have to like it, you still have to do it.
5. I have my car back, we're scheduled for our first dog training tomorrow, bracing myself for the flooded basement appointment on Saturday, getting excited about the writing workshop and on we go.
@Rose, You mentioned yesterday that you were recently lying awake thinking of where you could hide something in your home. I happened to see a click-bait article about that subject and, among the obvious, (freezer? dropped ceiling? under mattress? fake books?), found one new one: Inside the vacuum cleaner dust bag.
@Heidi Louise, Ha! I only have bagless. Unless I buy a new one specifically....
I finally decided to open up my childhood teddy bear's belly and stuff it in there with lots of buble wrap. Hopefully with enough bubble wrap, Simon Le Bear wouldn't be too heavy. Then sew him back up. My mother made him in the first place so unpicking the stitches couldn't be that hard. I also thought about the ash pit in the fireplace. I bet people wouldn't know it existed.
@Rose,
Good for you re: networking. I'm the same way - not something I enjoy, and fortunately, don't have to do very often. My husband is a master at it. I hope the schmancy horse show yields some good contacts and work for you.
@Liz B., Thanks. I am not an outgoing person naturally. When I was a kid, my grandfather would yell at me to smile at strangers, such the guy pumping gas or a neighbor saying hi. I refused. He wanted me to be less grouchy, less introverted, less difficult. Good luck with that.
Actually about ten years ago at that horse show, Bruce Springsteen and I were the only ones watching some younger kids jump their ponies. (Boy, he's short.) I wish I'd gotten his autograph for a friend of mine. Oh well, didn't occur to me.
I like the reminder that not everything is bad or good. Thank you!
This week, I'm thankful for:
1. Getting a therapy appointment so quickly. I was expecting a wait of several months!
2. My always supportive and strong husband
3. That I get to speak to my mother and sister to frequently
4. That my teen daughter loves to spend time with her family and extended family
5. That I got to see my beautiful niece (she's been out of the country for a year!)
Very thankful my husband is feeling better after some really weird symptoms over the past month- we think they were related to a topical medication he was using
Also thankful for cool mornings! I can't usually turn off the AC in August but have a couple times this week!
That my two oldest had a great first day of school yesterday and were excited to go back today
That my husband and I get to have some time to ourselves this weekend at an event
That my kids get so excited over new library books
@JP, You folks are torturing me, telling us how you can sleep without AC on cool summer nights. Pls. send some of that cool weather to Central Texas!
But it is so great to hear that your youngsters like to read and are excited over their library books. Way to go, kids!
I like the pictures of the plants. Does anybody know the name of the second plant pictured? It is absolutely beautiful. Thank you
@Lea, the porcelain berry? or the sumac?
I think the one with the honeybee is also sumac.
@Rose,
the sumac. Thank you for telling me. I know sumac the spice. In Israel it is quite popular and I am using it here in Germany.
Now off to Google to learn about sumac!
Again, thank you.
@Lea, Za'atar is getting more popular here in the US, too. Sumac grows as a weed where I live and sorry to say, it's really not a very attractive plant, at least the variety we have! But ever since I was a kid, I've been interested in edible plants and foraging, and frequently wandered around with a book on local plant life, so I learned a lot of names.
Porcelain berry is also edible but it supposedly tastes gross, so I never tried it. Birds eat it which is why it's so invasive in the northeast. A pretty plant but a menace. I used to yank it out all the time at my previous house.
@Rose,
we share an interest/hobby! Me too I am known as walking nature with a book about plants in my hand.....and I am foraging as well whenever possible.
Right now I am on my yearly monthlong holiday in the Suisse Alps hiking and trying to learn as much as possible about the plants and wildlife here.
So thankful that I get to see this beauty and bounty every year!
@Lea, Oh lucky you! I've always wanted to go to Switzerland.
@Rose,
I was introduced to za'atar by a work friend who is originally from Egypt. Yumm.....she would spread it on pita bread (I think mixed with olive oil to make a spread?) and then maybe bake the pitas just a little? Not sure, but it was delicious.
@Rose, I let the porcelain berry vine grow on the ugly, rusty chainlink fence that separates our backyard from the utility line access corridor through the neighborhood because it completely covers it for free in a lush wall of green, but keep it pruned under control so it doesn't get any ideas about world domination.
Possibly because it's pruned, but we don't see berries on it. Or it could be too shady in that spot.
A quick thankful before JASNA BFF and I head out for the day: I'm so glad she's here. It hasn't been the easiest month for me either (with the next-door neighbor situation and so on), and her visit is both a diversion and a great comfort.
@A. Marie,
Have great fun!
@A. Marie,
I think I missed about the next door neighbor situation.....but I'm glad your JASNA bff is visiting! have fun!
The "nothing is all good or all bad" is something that I think of a lot and has been very helpful for me the last few years. Thank you for putting words to it.
This week I'm thankful:
* for air conditioning. Yesterday was crazy hot and today will be even worse. I'm so thankful for cool indoors!
* for time to get organized. I'm taking on a new role this year and my kids start school next week. Yesterday I was able to take an hour to work on calendaring, then in the afternoon a mom friend and I spent some more time calendaring. Everything is in and I feel much better heading into the school year!
* for a friend that is a close enough friend that we can do something like enjoy calendaring together. And I was thankful that our kids (plus our other friend's 3 kids - total of 9) played so nicely together yesterday to allow us to do that.
* for comfort in the space I'm in right now. I'm starting to work with a friend that I worked with before I had my third child (5 years ago) and she noticed the other day that I've chilled more since having the third kid and can roll with things easier. She's right!
* for this morning's rain. It's taking 'water the garden' off my To Do List.
Thankfulness exercises are good for all of us, I think. I know it's good for me.
1. As I mentioned in my Five Frugals, my younger daughter just gave me an iPhone 14 Pro. I'm so thankful for her generosity. And as always, I am thankful for my kids, daily.
2. Speaking of my kids, I'm thankful that 41 years ago this coming Sunday, I gave birth to my first baby, she of the previously mentioned yellow-green eyes (that on some days are just yellow). It was a long, hard delivery, but she was healthy in spite of the cord wrapped three times around her neck, and I'm so thankful for her.
3. I'm thankful that my long commute to and from work provides me with some interesting things to see on most days. The other day, I think - I'm still not completely positive - I saw a bear. I almost daily see a doe and her two fawns grazing at the same area on the grassy shoulder of the road. I have enjoyed seeing the fawns grow up. Today on the interstate I got behind a named yacht being pulled on a huge transport truck with an escort vehicle, and right next to it in the other lane was a car pulling a small jon boat on a little trailer. Being part of this frugal community, I pondered all sorts of thoughts about money and who was enjoying their boat/money the most.
4. I'm thankful for air conditioning. This will be an assumed thankful for me until, oh, about November. It is and has been abnormally hot here, as it has been elsewhere.
5. Thinking of Hilary, I'm thankful for a quiet hurricane season here in North Florida so far, although there is a lot of activity out there in the Atlantic right now. September into October is the worst time for hurricanes here, but we can get them anytime in the summer. I'm grateful that we have had just shy of three months, at least, with no real threats here.
I don’t usually comment on Thursdays but am feeling it today, so here goes. I am thankful that:
*the very large and terrifying forest fire affecting my mom’s city is abating, that her house is still standing, and she is able to move back in to it
*a friend with a chronic illness is getting some much-needed help
*my 15 year old dogs remain healthy and happy
*I have interesting and challenging employment
*I found a gym where I feel comfortable and am enjoying my slow path back to fitness
And also wanted to say how cute that 1/2 birthday cake is - great decorating!
--Air conditioning, for sure; I think that will be on a lot of lists today!
--The wonderful thunderstorm moving through just now, a nice respite from the heat and we collected a lot of rainwater which will come in very handy.
--Morning walks (when it's not raining!) with my husband.
--The changed homeschooling laws in our state, which relieves a lot of stress and anxiety for me after 18 years of homeschooling! (About 6 more years to go...)
--Library books and Inter Library Loans, the latter of which are free at my wonderful library.
Thank you for the Thankful Thursday posts and helping us all look for the bright spots among the hard days. I believe it really helps everyone to look for good and not always at the bad; I know it does to me.
I am also Thankful to come home from a 2 week trip to Europe and everything is status quo. The house is the same and the dog is extra loving. More weeds to get rid of, but I can handle that.
I am thankful that our family also all made it home safely and there were no issues. And that we are still family!!!
I am thankful to see all the families with young children getting ready for back to school. Some have even started already.
Thankful for the bounty from our garden. Can't wait to make some tomato sauce!
I am thankful I met a tough work deadline.
That my niece is expecting her second child -- a boy.
For the little bit of rain we have been receiving.
For fresh garden produce -- tomatoes!
For my two sweet dogs.
Lisey looks like a 21st Century Rosie the Riveter in that photo. So adorable! Glad she is doing well at Island Air.
And I've never seen a berry bush like that. Those berries really do look like Easter Eggs. Thanks for sharing.
August has been tough for me as well. Most days have been well over 100 degrees. When we get "cold fronts," we get excited that the high temps will "only" be in the upper 90s. No rain in 50 days. We are baking.
Thankful for air conditioning!
I'm thankful to be living alone again, just me and the dog, and to be getting my life back to normal. It's taking a while to make repairs and clean up what the bad roommate left damaged. She won't send anyone to get her things so the lawyer had me send her a certified letter with a deadline in it. After Labor Day, if the items are still here, I'm calling Salvation Army, 1-800-GET JUNK (or similar business) and/or the city solid waste dept. to come get them. (Very sad to have to do this, I know it sounds mean, but I've been taken advantage of and it's time to get my life, and my house, back in order.)
Thankful that school has started and I'm substitute teaching again. Great to be back! I've had assignments in special ed, usually in the lower grades, so I'm happy to have a day off today. Those kids have such energy!
Thankful to be able to barter for what I need. I physically can't mow the lawn anymore, but the yard man traded me 2 months of mowing for the lawn mower in my garage. He also knocked $20 off trimming the trees in exchange for a heavy duty outdoor extension cord. Every little bit helps.
Thankful for my health. The eyes are getting better every day, post cataract surgery, and I can read fine print a bit better than I could last week. But not being nearsighted anymore, being able to see far away after so many years of having blurry distant vision, that's a blessing I will never take for granted!
@Fru-gal Lisa, The Salvation Army probably won't come, since people use them as a free trash service. 1800 GOT JUNK is a good idea except remember you'll have to pay for it. Around here, the people who dump stuff out after evictions are the sheriff's department. Maybe ask your lawyer about that, too. So irksome.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
So sorry to hear about your roommate situation. I have never had to deal with anything like that, but have heard about how awful, terrible, and stressful that can be from Judge Judy episodes. ☺Wishing you the best of luck in your future roommates, if any, and am glad that you are able to get some help!
I'm also sorry you had some rough days this month. I do want to share, however, that your bravery here over the last year has been clear and apparent, even if you may not always see it, and it has helped me finally face some issues in my own life. (We're humans, and thus there are always issues it would seem.)
My five thankful things:
1) That my daughter returned home safely in spite of Tropical Storm Hilary. She had to cross home via the desert, where much of the storm's worst flooding occurred, and I was a bit of a nervous wreck until she called to let me know she was home and OK.
2) Long walks and carnitas burritos. My spouse and I regularly enjoy multi-hour 8-10 mile walks, which we often break up with a stop for a shared burrito at one of our favorite Mexican joints. A burrito is the epitome of comfort food for this California native, but I can only justify the calories, even when it's shared, by burning oodles of those calories first.
3) That a pair of black skinny jeans I've been hoping to fit into 'some day' finally occurred this week. I've been working hard to lose the 10 lbs I gained in my 50's, and as of this week they are finally gone. I was raised in an environment of 'thin is in' and it is a message I have simply never been able to shake in spite of many decades of effort.
4) That I narrowly avoided passing the above unfortunate messaging on to my own daughters. Instead I try to simply focus on the wonderful beings that they are, and never, ever mention any aspect of their physical forms. Oh the damage that parents can unknowingly inflict. 🙁
5) That my granddaughters are so excited to return to school. So many video calls to show me their new clothes and tell me about their new teachers. Makes my heart so very happy.
Every few months I get together for lunch with a friend and we do a couple of hours downloading current news and any life grievances. Yesterday was the day. Each of us has a middle-aged son who has made the decision to be estranged. It's quite painful as it seems all you hear about around you are dutiful, loving and generous adult children. It's some comfort to not be alone in our heartbreak.
My husband has always been my best friend since we married 40 years ago. We do all shopping, errands and Dr.s appointments together. I am so thankful.
@Anne,
My thoughts are with you Anne. My grown kids are close to me, but my closest sister cut me off for something she thinks I did (I didn't). I pray for you and your friend that your sons will re-think their decisions and that you will have peace whatever the outcome. I pray that for all of us here with estranged family members!
@Anne, You never know, Anne. Unfortunately my poor father died without seeing my brother again--there was no real estrangement, he just refused to answer our calls and begging for meetups--he was severely depressed. After Dad died my brother became part of the family again. He's still not the most reliable, but very different than before. I'm just sorry my father had to die to make my brother realize how short life is.
Unfortunately family estrangement seems to be more and more common. My daughter hasn't spoken to her father in ten years, and they were once very close.
@Rose, My older sister is estranged from most 0f the rest of us. It is very sad as I'm sure our mother would have wanted us all to get along much better. But she knows the door is open, and we can't force her to come back. We live in times that seem to encourage self pity and victim identities, and there has never been a time when all families got along famously for decades. I've noticed that people talk more about the relatives they are getting along with, and less about the estrangees. Not because they're not present in mind and heart, but because we are also conditioned to emphasize the positive. But it is sad. Maybe it would be helpful if we could think of families as biological accidents--and some individuals just don't want to be part of the group they were born to. May they find a family of friends.
@Anne, I feel your pain. I have one child, a middle-aged daughter, who is angry with me and has estranged herself from me only--and has included my only grandchild in the deal. It's now been 6 months since I've seen or heard my eight-year-old granddaughter, although my husband is still welcome to visit. I'm grateful my granddaughter still has one grandparent available (daughter is a solo parent), and that my husband gets to spend time with them, but yes, it hurts that I am excluded.
I pray for them both every day, and hope one day we will all be a family again.
1. My husband had 3 spots removed from the skin around his ear that was operated on last year after a stage 4 skin cancer diagnosis. I am beyond grateful that these spots all came back benign. The waiting to find out was less than wonderful but we literally shouted with relief when we got the news. God is good friends, all.the.time.
2. It is HOT in the south dear friends. This weekend temps will exceed 100 and with the humidity factored in the heat index is supposed to be somewhere around 115 I think. This will sound silly but I am thankful that there was a lovely candle sale and I will be in my house with the AC on, pumpkin spice iced coffee, and a fall candle burning.
3. I had my annual doctor's appointment and it was lovely to hear a positive report. 35 lbs down all of my bloodwork has improved, my cholesterol is down, tests are normal and I am grateful for a body that can heal itself even in its 40's. I still have not reached my goal but I am well on my way.
4. For quiet time to clear my head, pray and listen to worship music in the dark on my way to 530 boot camps. I take my me time any way I can get it and this is a lovely start to my mornings.
5. For peace in the midst of some hard things. God doesn't always call the qualified but he does equip the called and I am seeing him do that in this season of life. He gives me just enough for what is in front of me and in that I am abundantly blessed.
Happy Thursday friends!!
A friend of the family had a cat named Boris that liked to be vacuumed! That really cut down on pet hair floating around the house. Most cats I know would run from a vacuum, but not him.
This week I am thankful for:
1. The cooler, less humid days, enjoying them while I can.
2. That we have more people in my group at work this year, making our busy season a bit less stressful.
3. The little fan that plugs into my USB port and keeps me cool while I work.
4. A good cup of tea in the evenings, really helps me relax.
5. The grilled chicken breast from our local diner, so delicious!
August is almost over and then we can say, "Whew!"
Today I am thankful that our sweet younger dog, who has back problems (she is half dachshund), is recovering well from a flare-up and has been an angel about taking her medications. Also thankful for the amazing productivity of the cherry tomato plants in the container garden: I pick a handful three times a day, and the plants have been far healthier and less fussy to care for than the container-specific bush tomatoes. And as always, for my sweet family, a peaceful neighborhood, and much improved health.
I am thankful to be making steady progress on work projects. I have a "main job" and two side jobs and am trying to get caught up/ahead by the end of August or at least before the baby comes.
I am thankful that the pool extended it's hours into August and September. Lap swimming is the only exercise in which I don't feel pregnant.
I am thankful that the NST did not show I was having contractions! I think if the next NST is good maybe the doctor will let me start walking again.
I am thankful to have found childcare options.
I am thankful to be sleeping a little better.
Kristen, I wholeheartedly agree with your thankfulness for mobile phones and iPads. Our two sons each live states away but we have dinner together every Sunday via Zoom.
This is particularly important because one has a now 4-year-old and we have extra FaceTime visits during the week with her/her parents. Because we’ve been doing those since she was born, we get to see her at least twice weekly thereby never missing a stage she is in. In the electronic visits she shows off her dance moves, paints pictures while we chat, tells what’s going on in preschool, and much more.
Last week she pretended to read us a new favorite book she has 🙂
We have had a super difficult 18-ish months of teen growing-up issues, and sometimes I see stretches of many hours when it feels like we're close to being on the other side of that.
That's not all I'm thankful for, but it's the main thing, and such a relief. There is some relationship damage to figure out, but even if that takes three times as long, it will still be OK.
So I went to an online meetup this past weekend and it's weird but I feel like for the first time in years I have actual in person friends. I actually cannot remember the last time I had that kind of interaction. It has to have been pre-pandemic. I've hung out with my brother (which is always a mixed bag) and have hung out with my wife and her friends but never really me with *my* friends if that makes sense.
@Battra92, that's awesome! Glad to hear it!
Whew, this was a hard week. But there were good things, too.
1. I thought my daughter was getting a little warm one evening...but she woke up the next morning and was her usual happy self. No sick toddler, no missed work 🙂
2. My friend is coming over to swim with me tonight. Yay!
3. I am going on vacation this weekend. I'm nervous to be away from my daughter, but I'm looking forward to the vacation.
4. I have really kind and supportive colleagues. Work is very hard right now (emotionally, not practically,) but it's nice that we can support each other.
5. Because of the time/space constraints on my life right now, I can't really sew. But I have another hobby (knitting) that I can still do in the last 45 minutes before bed while Mr. B and I collapse on the couch and watch TV.
*that my mom's recovery from knee replacement surgery has gone smoothly so far.
*that Hurricane Hilary was not an issue for us and that it ended up providing a quiet day at home for our familiy.
*for my safe, comfortable home
*that my job doesn't require me to go in too often.
*that both of my kids are easing into the school year. My older one is dealing with a lot of changes and it's difficult but she's handling it like a champ. They're both amazing and I'm blessed to be their mom.
After reading all of todays's thankfuls up to this posting, I am thankful that August has not been so difficult for me as others. I do have the cyclical blues that the end of summer and returning to school brought me as a kid though I am 70. This past week has been hot as the dickens and I am grateful for my a/c although in the 100 degree weather, it has had trouble keeping up. It's still cooler in the house and less humid than outside.
I am thankful that my second visit with the ENT Dr. yesterday was more amicable than the first one. I was ready to give him a talkin' to but he must've gotten the memo from my internal medicine Dr. that shares the same office. No one likes a "know it all." (He had my diagnosis figured out before even talking to me!) nor does one like to feel a "waste of time." His tune was different yesterday.
I am thankful for impending vacation in two weeks, most of which is spent with family. I do hope I am more energetic by then, as thinking of prep sounds a little overwhelming at the moment. My SIL orders rodeo tickets for that vacation and when I picked them up today, she also gave me two big ham steaks that my brother told her to give me. He is generous, but I was still pleasantly surprised!
As always, I am thankful for my Molly. The heat has also been difficult for her. She continues to weaken some in her hind quarters but she does not indicate she is in pain. She is such a love bug dog!
I love these thankful posts!
I am thankful that we got a little rain a couple days ago along with an accompanying small respite from the heat (we are baking in South Texas), that someone close to me is finally taking steps to address their mental health, that I continue to be able to pursue my passion on a professional basis, that my husband and I are healthy in our 60s, and finally, while I am not thankful for the air conditioning issues we have been faced with over the past few weeks, I am thankful that we are in a financial position to take care of them promptly.
Love the cake!
Thankful that we had a good 10-day visit with my son between the ending of his out-of-state summer job and returning to college. We squeezed a lot of fun activities into that time frame. Also thankful that he had a safe trip yesterday.
Thankful that my daughter is slowly gaining confidence in her driving. We practiced backing into a parking space yesterday and that went better than I anticipated. Whew.
Thankful that the weather was somewhat cooperative today and I could take daughter and her friend to the beach at Lake Michigan for one last hurrah before school starts. It was super foggy--they hung out in the water and I sat on the beach. The wind was coming from the left and blew the dampness onto my hair so that the left side of my head was wet. However, we had the beach mostly to ourselves for much of the time.
Thankful for my sweet husband. My niece, who lives nearby with her family, texted yesterday to see if my son was still home and could remove a dead chipmunk that somehow got stuck in the joint between the garage door sections. My son had already left to return to college (my niece's husband was out of town for the night and she was home with two small sick kids and I think removing the dead rodent would have been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back) so I contacted my husband and he swung by after work and "rescued" the situation.
Thankful that the art center in the town north of me is having a smart phone photography class tonight. I think I snagged the last open spot in the class, and I'm super excited about it.
Thankful that my daughter's senior pictures turned out well and that she's making good progress with her college applications. There are a lot of things we need to tick off the to-do list, and she's making a dent in the list.
Zoe’s cake is adorable! And cake for breakfast is awesome! I’m glad you were able to celebrate Zoe’s half-birthday with her!
Our son and daughter were each born near Christmas but received by us through adoption on June 23 just 2 years apart from one another. Each year we would celebrate their actual birthdays but then we’d have a June 23 Happy Adoption Day celebration. It was like celebrating them twice each year. Now that they’re adults, we only celebrate their birthdays but those times are special.
Speaking of our kids, I’m thankful for them, the gifts they have been to our family, all the ways they have been maturing and how much joy they continue to bring us.
I’m thankful for your photography skills, Kristen. Sometimes I just stare at your nature photos and they calm my spirit.
I’m thankful for the change in temps. Fall is my favorite month and it seems to be “ right around the corner.” I feel like that’s s quote from a Frog and Toad story about Spring but I might be mistaken.
I’m thankful our son and his had a wonderful time away to celebrate their first wedding anniversary and I’m thankful, too, to be able to celebrate our grandson’s first birthday in a few weeks.
I’m thankful for good health, good friends and family. I’m thankful for our pup, Wally, who makes us laugh so much.
Oddly enough, I’m thankful for some ants we’ve been battling for a few days in our house. It’s a reminder to me that we hardly ever have any pests or critters in our house and for that I am truly grateful!!!
Thank you for posting that picture of the brush with the cat hair. Chiquita is so darn cute that I think I want a cat when I see her pics. But your brush pic brought me back to reality, lol. My little dog that does not shed is just fine being an only 4 legged child, lol.
I'm sorry August has been a rough month for you. Glad you can still find positive things in your life.
This week I'm thankful
- that our DD is out of her first trimester so we can finally share the news with everyone that our first grandbaby is due in February! She told us about the baby last month and it has been so hard not shouting the news from the rooftops because we are so excited!
- that my BFF, who makes quilts, is going to teach me how to make a baby quilt for the new grandbaby. Mom made baby quilts for all the babies in our family and all our friend's babies and DD is sad that she is no longer with us, so her baby won't have a quilt from Grandma. When cleaning out Mom's hoarder house, I found several containers of fabric squares Mom had cut out to make baby quilts with so I am going to use those to make the quilt so it will be from both me and Mom.
- that DH is feeling better after he stopped taking the statin. Thankful that the doctor is working to find a medication to reduce his cholesterol that doesn't have such horrible side effects for him.
- for air conditioning since high temperatures this week are over 100 degrees with heat index over 115 degrees. Also, thankful that DD has a whole house generator to run the air conditioning when their power went out earlier this week.
- that I'm happy with my new hair stylist. My long-term hair stylist retired, and I was very nervous about finding a new one so I'm thankful for the recommendation from my BFF.
I'm thankful that we got much needed rain from Hilary but no flooding at my house in Tucson, AZ
I'm thankful for all the free plastic pots for plants that were left curbside last week in the neighborhood for the semi annual bulk and brush pick up.
I'm thankful that my vet was able to help my 15 year old cat feel better after a bout of constipation and that it didn't cost an arm and a leg.
I'm thankful for solar panels that feed power back into the grid to offset the constant use of AC due to the heat.
I'm thankful for this blog and the wonderful inspiration provided by everyone here.
good/bad/mostly good
I hit my head pretty hard this past week...and actually forgot that I hit it until someone asked if I had because I was having weird symptoms (headache/ringing in the ears/sluggishness/etc). Then I remembered I HAD hit my head and still have a sore spot a week later. Saw the doc and got a scan, and fortunately no real damage...probably a light concussion and I should be better in another week or so.
We also had a break for one day from the extreme heat and I was able to catch up on yard work and all the things I have avoided in the heat.
Thankful daily for air conditioning.
Thankful that we moved a few months ago to near our boys. It's nice just having them stop in after work or on a weekend for no reason at all.
Also thankful that we a closer geographically to my parents. My mom has two small surgeries coming up and it is easy now to be able to go up and spend a day or two with her during recovery. Thankful that is an option. And I see them so much now! At least every other week or so. I'm close enough now they can make the trip to my house even.
Thankful I found a rug for dining room this week and that was the last of the big purchases needed for the new house.
Once, when I'd been on the job for just a couple of years, someone asked me how it was going. I said "Great. I like who I work with, I like who I work for, the work is interesting, and the people I support are cool." Then I paused and said "Crap. This means it's only going to get worse." OTOH, when a different role at the same employer was downright toxic from beginning to end, I could accurately predict that it would only get better.
I remember this often, when the day or the situation feel dire. The worse it is, the more likely it'll get better.
Love the cake!
Thankful for the scary wildfire in the neighboring town that affected 3 friends/households is under control and they are allowed back to their homes.
Thankful for safely getting the market steers to auction without major problems.
Thankful for apples, tomatoes and plums! I'm sounding a bit like Forest Gump: Apple butter, applesauce, Apple Cider, Apple cider vinegar, Frozen apple slices for fried apples later, Apple Cranberry Chutney...Dried apple slices Oh my!
Thankful for a well attended family reunion, so fun catching up with everyone.
Thankful for the pup, she "helped" me take my clothes off the clothesline...not that I asked her to help me...bless her heart. She makes me laugh all day long.
I brush all 6 of the barn cats. They wait for their turn. I mount large broom heads that I pick up at garage sales onto round posts in the corral, barn and a few in the fence line. They love brushing up on them.
I am looking forward to eventually hearing Kristen's happy news!
Thankfuls:
1. Rides–we live 1/4 mile off the highway that leads to the terrible road that leads to our cabin, so if I want to stay home a day or two longer than Husband, different neighbors heading up the hill swing by to pick me up. Then we can catch up, and I can come down the hill with Husband on his schedule the following week.
2. Great rain—Hurricane Hillary sent 3" of a gentle soaking rain, both up and down the hill, also bringing heat relief.
3. Free mini watermelons in this month’s produce give-away in town. Our town is so small that in order to justify sending the food to us, the food bank lets anyone in town benefit from the excess.
4. Library books—I keep ordering, and they keep arriving.
5. Classic country music, recently rediscovered—during the rainstorm, we sat inside and listened to the radio. Husband found a new station and we had great fun playing "name that tune". He also found two classic rock stations, and was much better than me at those songs. But wow, I remembered voices, songs, and words from 30-40 years ago!
*Grateful for :
- My depressive (down) mood lifted
- being well surrendered for my upcoming surgery
- Being able to get extra shifts at work when needed (yay seniority!)
- a good therapist for my DD
- My little cuttie pie Morkie (6 pounds dog) that loves to cuddle!
First of all, I love those Porcelain berries! Ive never seen them or even heard of them, but they're so pretty! That stinks that they're invasive!
On to the thankful things...
1. My brother in law, who has been fighting lymphoma for the past year, had a clear PET scan last week and is in full remission! PTL!
2. Our son has found a nice apartment to rent. It will be his first place of his own, and its in a nice area and near family, which makes my Mom heart happy!
3. We had a nice rain shower this morning. Its been getting reallly dry here again lately
4. My sister and her husband visited from Chicago last weekend, and we had a rally nice time
5. The heat and humidity are wanning. Our area is known for its humidity, and lately we have had some beautiful days which have been much more comfortable. It gives me energy to get out in my garden!
6. I have an abundance of tomatoes and peppers in my garden to make salsa. I give a lot of canned goods for gifts at Christmas time, or for hostess gifts, and its time to replenish my stock pile!
I'm thankful this week for:
* the sharing this community does, for blessings big and small
* my husband, whose classes begin again this week and who loves his students
* my advance planning in having school lunch ingredients easy to put together daily
* a new fitness class that is just right for me
* choir rehearsals starting up again. I love singing alto!
Hi, Kristen! I love your thankful Thursday blogs especially. They remind me of all the wonderful simple things in my life that I do not take enough notice of each day. I would like to start listing my dear late Dad's books on ebay and was wondering if you could put your tips for selling books on ebay into a printable format. I imagine that would be helpful for others, too. Your tips were so user friendly and very understandable for a non-techie like myself. Thank you for reading my post and considering doing this for readers like me. Have a wonderful weekend! Love to your kitties, too. I am a cat Mom to two special needs kitties, Max and Missy.
Liz from Chicago
I am thankful for cooler weather today. It was 97-99 degrees the last two days and humid as heck, but today it is 75 and overcast and much more pleasant.
I am thankful for air conditioning. Also for splash pads and pools which made the heat much more tolerable.
I am thankful for locally grown summer tomatoes. They taste so much better than the grocery store ones they are practically a different food.
Thankful for an upcoming weekend with absolutely no plans so we can just enjoy some time together as a family before school starts.
Thankful for a big box of fresh Michigan peaches. Peach fruit leather, peach cobbler, peach pie, peach muffins, peach syrup on pancakes, peach salsa. Mmmm.
Sure, I can do that! Edit: I just did. 🙂 Click here and then scroll all the way to the bottom for the printable. https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/how-to-sell-books-on-ebay/
I’m glad you get to talk to Lisey often.
When I went to Hawaii, I called my cell phone provider to see if there would be a charge to call home. He politely said, “ma’am, it is part of the United States.”
On July 7th I ran a red light hitting a very nice lady. She was getting married the next day. Yikes. We are all ok, air bags did not deploy, cars were drivable. I’ve never caused an accident in my 56 years. I’m just so upset with myself. My daughter and we’re just having a really nice conversation and I did not see the light change. I’m thankful for insurance and having that. She has now suing my insurance which is her right. My car is getting fixed. It started at 1500.00 worth of damage and is up to 7500.00. Thankful for people who can fix things. The past two months have been very hard on me too. I’m trying to look at the positive side but am worried about how much our insurance is going to go up.
So sorry to hear of this! But I'm so glad that you all are ok. Whew.
Those berries are so pretty! Would love to have some around my chain link fence! Fingers crossed for your first day of nursing school!
This week I am thankful that hubby's MRI and CT scan were clear and his PSA is so very low again. Next scans are in 6 months, so things are stabilizing. It was a year ago this week he had the tumor removed from his liver, PSA was doubling every couple of months, and he had to go to rehab after the surgery, so was away from home 3 1/2 weeks.
I am so happy to report my dog is now off all restrictions from her surgery! It's been 3 months since she tore two ligaments in her knee, and I have had to take her out on a leash to potty every time she needed it for the entire time, no matter the weather. Now I can just open the door to the yard and let her explore all the potential potty places without me!
I, too, am grateful for air conditioning. A friend of mine is going on her 3rd week without it in her apartment, and the loaner window units they have provided keep blowing her power. It just reminds me how much I take ours for granted!
Grateful for fresh tomato sandwiches! I generally eat maybe 3-4 slices of bread a month, but all bets are off when it's tomato sandwich season! I'm eating at least a loaf a week right now. lol
I'm grateful that the last dental bill is paid! Hubby had to have 10 teeth pulled and got the impressions done for both partials this week. They should be in in a couple of weeks, but we had to pay in advance, of course. That's over $5000.00 worth of work in his mouth this year and the savings account has taken a blow, but he will be able to eat better, and won't feel so embarrassed to be out among people again. He's very much an extrovert (unlike me), and this has been hard for him.
GOOD LUCK with school. you will be GREAT.