Thankful Thursday | a volunteer
This week, I am thankful:
that I got to do my first nursing volunteer job
Brittany and I have big plans for volunteering as nurses (like, we might join a Mercy Ship down the road), but we started small with our first volunteer gig: a community health clinic where we gave vaccines (free of charge).
Look, I have my first official nursing volunteer shirt! 🙂
for the reprieve from the heat and humidity
I am very sorry to say that we are back in the 90s again today (Why yes, I am shaking my fist at the sky!), and that the humidity is tagging along. But for a few days, the air outside was pleasant, and I am grateful.
Also, I keep reminding myself that it is September...we can only have so many more days in the 90s. MAYBE this is the last one.
that I am 37.5% done with this class
This is how you know I'm getting desperate...I'm calculating percentages with decimal points to cheer myself up. Ha.
I am starting to feel like I may pass away from writing too much...maybe it would be called death by typing?
(I kid, I kid. I know this will not kill me. It just feels like it sometimes.)
I long for the days of yore (nursing school), when I was learning medical concepts. 😉
Anyway, I am 37.5% done with this class, and next week, I will be 50% done. Yay!
that there is life after school
I was texting with Elisabeth (from Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist) this week, and I told her that I almost forget there is a type of life where you're not in school.
I started my journey back in the spring of 2021, so it has been a very long time since I felt free of school. Plus, prior to that, I'd been homeschooling since 2004.
So, my life has not been school-free for a crazy long time.
I have to remind myself: this is not going to last forever. The end is actually in sight. After I graduate next May, I will actually be out of school! There will be no assignments hanging over my head.
I can hardly imagine what that will be like.
for the cats
First, here's Shelley watching me leave for the gym (a little blurry because I took it through the door glass).
And here's Chiquita, being everywhere.
that someone else wanted my coffee mix
I bought this mix on a whim, and I decided I do not like it. It wasn't good hot, and it wasn't good cold. It was just oddly bitter. Bleah.
I offered it on one of my local free groups, though, and someone was thrilled to pick it up, because it's her favorite drink.
I'm glad someone else can use it! She must enjoy bitter coffee. Ha.
for the strength in my upper body
I am so glad my rotator cuff injury is better! It's much easier to do things in the gym now, and I am noticing that lifting everyday items is easier too.
Whew!
that I can go to bed as early as I want to
I'm four and a half years into sleeping on my own, and it still feels so luxurious that I can simply go to bed when I choose.
I typically turn in around 9:00-9:30, whether or not I am working, because I think it's just easier to stay on the early schedule all the time.
I love going to bed early! 🙂
Yay to both on volunteering! Especially since it is a way that you both see yourselves contributing to your community.
Yesterday's "windfall" exercise was very entertaining, and also made me reevaluate how I spend my time (and money) as a non-millionaire. It did not make me feel envious but rather very rich, in that I have my needs met even if I do not have each and every of my wants covered 😉
This week's thankfuls:
-- that I enjoy my job
-- that I enjoy working with other people, at work and at home (DIY project not yet finished)
-- that I generally enjoy cooking and trying out new dishes
-- that I see the larger picture and can then concentrate on the smaller steps
-- that I will have my quarterly massage in October
-- that we will have a vacation shortly, in a cottage near a swimming pond
-- that I will be able to take a rest from the present business. I start yawning at 2pm and then with difficulty stretch my waking hours until 9pm. Normally I would go to bed at 10, but I am just no longer able to! Holiday needed indeed, counting down.
Sounds lovely! Enjoy your vacation!
The vacation sounds lovely!
Chiquita looks like she's comfortable anywhere!
I understand about the counting. On a long drive by myself this weekend, I was doing that with hours. " Okay, half hour in, this is 1/12 done. A hour in, only 5 more of these..." Hopefully the next class is more interesting to you!
Thankful:
*My drive of 6+ hours each way went smoothly. I've haven't done that kind of drive in years.
*I spent the weekend snuggling my granddaughter while my daughter worked. My son-in-law took care of a lot of chores.
*my daughter and her husband are great parents , and the baby just perfect.
*my husband and sons handled the home front with no trouble.
*I have a job that I like doing. Sometimes I feel I should have not worked this year, but I can do it well and my students will benefit.
I think when you are as fluffy as Chiquita is, every spot in the house is a comfy bed. 😉
That reflection in your window IS beautiful!
- I say this with the most care possible bc I know everyone's journey is different, but I'm grateful not to have children. DH and I decided not to. For us, it continues to be a fantastic decision as life keeps unfolding.
- I rearranged my most hectic class's seating and (for this week) it's been working out great! They are able to focus better which helps ME focus better 😅
- For A/C, and that I work on "the cold side" of the building.
- For the cat currently on my lap.
- For Labor Day. A nice holiday with low expectations.
I'm on the fence about having children, but I'm thankful that I feel like my life will be good with or without them (I also hope this doesn't sound insensitive in any way). Maybe it will happen, maybe not, but I have a good life either way 🙂
i can say that i am so grateful for my children. i adore them and am so proud and happy i have them. since i was five years old i wanted to be a mom and never thought it would happen. there are so many ways to create a family. surrogacy. adoption, IVF. If it's not for you no one should judge you for your feelings.
Yes, thank you Anita! I can tell you love your family so much.
Does not sound insensitive and sounds like a healthy mindset for your outlook on life!
Heather, the Commentariat had a long discussion when I did my "Meet a Reader" interview back in 2022 and described myself and DH as childless "by both choice and chance." The general consensus was that (a) each of us should do what works for us when it comes to children, and (b) no one should criticize others for their choices.
A woman should not have a child/children for any other reason than she wants to raise/parent a child(ren). And you don't have to give birth to do so. I think that mindset is far too like women who are more in love with getting married than being married.
My sibling does not have children and asked our mother if she'd be disappointed if she didn't have children. Mom's response was "don't have children for me". I've read too many horror stories of mothers hounding their child(ren) that SHE deserves a grandchild(ren). Again, IMHO, she does not.
It is a minimal almost 19 year commitment (and as one who could not wait for labor, not every woman loves being pregnant).
Thank you, dear! Well-stated. Yet another reason I love the Commentariat and keep coming back here. I remember enjoying that post and learning more of your story 💛
I think the no-children decision sounds like it has been absolutely the correct one for you. And that is what matters.
I am grateful when I work on the cooler side of our unit too!
I never wanted to have kids when I was a kid growing up, and continued to feel this way....until I spent time with my youngest sister's first daughter when she was about 2 or 3. Oh my. DH and I had decided not to have any kids, and now I had changed my mind! Luckily, he had changed his mind, too, and we adopted our son several years after that. I have zero regrets, but I fully support everyone's right to decide for themselves to have kids or not. Life can be full and happy whatever one chooses. 🙂
Definitely! So glad it worked out for you and DH to evolve together on the matter.
The volunteering is fantastic!
Thankfuls:
1. I'm thankful to my friend for asking me to look after her cat and letting me stay in the apartment. It was a favour for both of us! I'm also thankful that I was able to meet up with another friend who lives nearby. I'm also thankful that the cat didn't mind me being there and sat next to me (which apparently is rare behaviour for him!).
2. I'm thankful that the cycling class went well. I was anxious about cycling again, as I hadn't ridden a bike in a couple of years, but it came back almost instantly. I'm not sure if I'll be braving the roads anytime soon but I feel more confident!
3. My yoga class was cancelled at the last minute. I'm not thankful for that, but as I was already in the gym I did a strength training workout, which I missed last week due to feeling under the weather. I saw a beautiful rainbow as I left the gym.
4. I'm trying not to eat added sugar this month so last night I made a banana bread without sugar, and it turned out pretty well! I'm also thankful to no longer feel like my head is full of sand, which is how I felt the first week 😉
5. I've been rewatching My So-Called Life, as I always do around this time of year, and while I'm sad it only had one season, I'm thankful for those perfect episodes. We had a time!
Just wanted to pop in and thank you for volunteering. There are so many in our country that have medical and dental needs. I come from a small family with 2 nurses so I know that yours is a labor of love and compassion. I also second the ability of going to bed whenever you like. Quite luxurious, isn't it!
The simplest but best luxury, yes!
When I am tired I go to bed and no one stops me. I don't see the problem here.
That is because you probably don't live with someone who is selfish and controlling. 😉
Sorry. I guess my comment was unfeeling, but I didn't mean it to b. The hubby has his controlling moments though. I don't have my 90 dollar a month storage unit that would get rid of 90% of the clutter. He said "I'll throw stuff out." 3 years later I am still waiting for that. I am waiting fr one in our building not a block away though.
No, no, I didn't take offense. I was just explaining why this freedom is such a new experience for me. 🙂
I am grateful for my amazing hubby. In many ways we are exactly opposite. He wants to use 10 words in a day, I say 100 before I drink my first cup of coffee. I am a reader. He has read 2 books in his life. He would do anything I ask - fdrive 100 miles to change a battery; take my mom to the dentist if I am away; carry kayaks to the waters edge and then disappear on a girl's weekend. He renovated this beautiful 1912 house for me becuase he doesn't have the words to tell me how much he loves me. He tells anybody who asks WHY? that anybody who lives with him for 25 years can live in any house she wants.
Sometimes I get so mad at his practical bluntness ( sixth gen farmer) that I have to physically leave the house. I plot all kinds of ways to start a new glamorous life in some big city. Sometimes I even have to use my IHG credit card points to spend the night in a hotel to which I have mindlessly driven because I have inherited the tendency to blackout rages that have plagued generations of my family. (I have learned that I am responsible for my anger and do not allow myself to just explode on other people.) When I have cooled off, Hubby always accepts his part of the conflict. He never fails to remind me how grateful he is for me. He tries to improve our marriage through his behavior. I do the same. I am so lucky.
Thankful:
* Our daughter and SIL moved last month and we have finally gotten the old house, yard and garage cleaned out of their stuff. It has taken DD, SIL, DH, me and SIL's parents to get it done since SIL refused to pay a mover. Have been worried about the stress of the move since DD is pregnant, working, and has a 2-year-old.
* DH and I are going on vacation next week. We are looking forward to getting away and the weather being much cooler than the 90-degree forecast at home.
* Our son's best friend is going to dog sit for us while we're on vacation. We much prefer for her to be at home instead of being boarded for a week.
* I coordinated a company community volunteer day for ShowerUp this weekend. It's nice to see the company and employees helping out with such a great organization.
* Tomorrow is grandparents day at daycare, which we always enjoy. Some of the children won't have any grandparents attend, which makes me a little sad. Our grandson will have all 4 of his grandparents attending. We're blessed to all live close to one another.
to have 4 grandparents is such a gift. i came into the world minus maternal dad, and paternal dad was gone when i was six months. maternal grandmother when i was 10,
and paternal grandmother when i was 13. my mom when i was 19 and my dad when i was 62. but i appreciate my kids sooo much.
I also love going to bed early, and I'm thankful on your behalf.
Being someone that is not home, which is relaxing and rejuvenating. Even having to take my dog for a walk at 6 am doesn't feel awful.
For looking forward to reading yesterday's post and answers. Ironic that yesterday was the day I didn't have time to read FG.
that is too funny. thank you for suggesting what became yesterday's post.
"I love going to bed early." Made me smile. I feel the same way. There are so many benefits. The quiet in the morning. The fact that if pre-peri-menopausal hormonays wake you up at 3 you have a cushion for sleeping a bit longer. The productivity with an extended morning block. The sunrise. And early morning coffee tastes better than just about any time of the day. So many good things about early-birding it!! : )
Yes! I feel way better when I go to bed early. 🙂
My best friend and her husband met on a Mercy Ship!
Oh, I love that! It makes sense that it is possible; at minimum, you both like to volunteer, you both like to help others, and you have some interest in medicine.
Today I feel super grateful for a full night's sleep last night! All is takes is one or two nights off to keep you from feeling your best. Also:
*the money to pay a professional to hang a new light in the garage
*daughter coming for lunch today!
*time off from my job to relax AND get things done
*writing skillz that have helped me process so much through journaling lately (its like the floodgates are OPEN)
*a working sprinkler system - hopefully my grass can begin to recover!
Love the Mercy Ships mention and idea! I've interacted with their US tech guys a couple times over the years on behind the scenes technology pieces. And my co-worker's sister and her family are serving onboard Mercy Ships right now. I think it would be a great possibility for you!
I also love to go to bed early, although it really isn't early. It is just the right number of hours of sleep (7.5-8) that I need to wake up refreshed and not tired.
Add me to the "Love going to bed early" club. I turned in at 7 pm yesterday because I'd had a rough day--and I actually slept through without waking up again at midnight. Loud cheers.
Thankful also for the high-pressure system that's moving through here after a muggy, rainy day yesterday.
And thankful that NDN1's assisted living facility is hosting a "Meet and Greet" on Sunday afternoon with residents of our local SPCA. NDN1 should absolutely love this, and I'll make sure she's well provided with dog and cat treats!
how lovely that animals are visiting. that should be lots of fun.
Magical rainbow kitty showing off her true colors.
Sunrise yoga with my neighbors. *I know our dry days are numbered.
An upcoming day trip with a dear friend to walk the beach. Cannot wait!
Super thankful to a major construction tool company who answered my call for string bags (like book bags) for our kids pantry program. They sent enough for our program to share with 4 other communities. I wrote to 160 companies for swag bags. There is a 17% increase over last year's need.
Time to go fill the wood shed. Have a lovely day, everyone!
Retirement! I didn't really plan to retire this early, and money is tight until SS next year, but I am still so thankful for it.
Thankful to be down the street from my 86 year old mom.
Thankful for the new-to-me book club and the sweet independent bookshop I discovered recently.
Thankful for a/c in my car and home.
Thankful that the end is in sight for our 5 month summer!
Love the photos of Chiquita with the rainbows!
I can tell you're antsy about school....senioritis, we used to call it in high school. But it won't be long until you go from 37 1/2% to 100% complete. When I graduated college, for a long time I kept getting a nagging feeling there was still something I hadn't done. Every night starting at 5:30 or 6, I kept thinking there was something important I still needed to do. Finally I realized what it was: studying! I no longer had to hit the books, but I had a muscle memory (brain memory?) around study time because I'd hit the books starting around that time every evening. And I'd done that habitually for many years, since 4th grade or so, every school night, until I got my bachelor's degree. It took a couple of years for that uneasy feeling to go away.
---I have a big thankful this week: I got a letter from the IRS saying I don't owe them any more money. I was afraid they'd make me pay another thousand bucks. But they say I owe them zero dollars.....until next tax year, that is.
--Today I got rid of that stupid Spectrum internet service that didn't work. The Astound installers came by and I now have their internet, WiFi and landline service. Already it is lots better!!!!!!!!!!!!
---When a new employee didn't show up, another cashier stayed on the job until closing time so I would not have to be the lone cashier on a very busy evening.
--Plexaderm. It really works and I look younger.
--Jimmy Kimmel is back on his show. (But I still miss Colbert.)
My guy who is doing the flooring came over today to take measurements. Next step is dropping off samples for me to choose from. I'm still considering some sort of a short term storage pod for the big stuff. A lot of the smaller stuff will get shoved into the kitchen/office/laundry room because those floors are already done.
Redeemed a small Amazon gift card. I have almost 500 in Amazon gift cards.
Eating a lovely turkey breast sub sandwich from Subway and drinking a "saint james" organic brewed tea (passion fruit and peach. Low sugar and it's quite good).
Off to bed soon.
I wanted children until I was about 45. Then that old biological clock just stopped. I'm 66 now and I love kids that aren't mine.
thankful for you, that we got shelley and chiquita photos. what a treat. that hubby made it through ok. endoscopy and colonoscopy in one day today. thank g-d. the peeps at the hospital were mostly kind. that zozo likes her classes and is being responsible with her work. that she has no debt (so far) paying for school. that noah had an ok day at school and got his omni card (free transportation for students). his old one stopped working at the end of august. super grateful beyond belief that he is not at school in IRVINGTON.
teaching and nursing are such noble professions and you rock at both. you don't appreciate how wonderful you are but we at the commentariat do!!!!!!
I don't get the PSL coffee thing except that they must be loaded with sugar to taste halfway decent. I make my own pumpkin spice (1 tsp Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground Ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cloves--or multiples thereof) and it's really delicious but has a bitter edge. It works well in baked goods but it's terrible in coffee.
But here's a really good Mocha dupe you can make with ingredients you have at home--this is from Morgan Eckstroth who has a video blog on YouTube called "Morgan Drinks Coffee". I think she calls it a "Simplified Mocha".
INGREDIENTS
-About 2 tsp honey (15 g)
-1 tsp cocoa powder (more or less to taste)
-1 pinch salt
- double shot espresso. I make an espresso-like coffee with an AeroPress*, you can use instant espresso or very strong coffee if you don't have a way to make true espresso.
DIRECTIONS
Mix the honey, cocoa and salt. At first it will be hard to get them incorporated but keep stirring and suddenly it will become a thick chocolatey syrup. Pour the hot espresso over this mixture and stir well. Now you can choose to make it iced or serve it hot.
ICED
To serve it iced, put the coffee and chocolate mixture with about 100 g of ice (maybe half a cup) in a container with a cover (she used a cocktail shaker, lacking one, I use a 10 oz wide mouth thermos). Add milk of your choice to taste. Put the cover on and give it a good shake.
HOT
To serve it hot, add hot water and milk of choice to taste. The milk can be steamed, foamed, heated or cold--your preference.
It's really delicious--better than many coffee shop mochas, and a fraction of the price.
*An AeroPress coffee maker (about $40) has been my frugal answer to an espresso machine. It doesn't make true espresso, but it makes delicious coffee and it's very versatile with hundreds of "recipes" out in the wild. I use a cheap, pre-ground decaf coffee and I still get great coffee.
Kristen, I am thrilled that you can now go to bed when you choose.
I am also thankful for wonderful neighbors who are kind, generous, almost always quiet, and welcoming. Recent activities include a coffee get-together, book group, National Night Out, pontoon ride and neighborhood bonfire. If my husband dies first, I know I would be well taken care of here.
I am also thankful that I got old enough to give MYSELF permission to just go to bed early! I PREFER early morning hours and keeping a routine sleep schedule helps me have my best energy.Bed at 9-9:30, up at5-30.A wonderful schedule for me!!!When I was younger I would force myself to stay up late !(Fear of missing out??) I LOVE my early bed/early to rise routine now!
Very thankful for cooler mornings and evenings her in Phoenix. Bike rides much easier now!
I am so thankful for my pantry.I’ve been slowly stocking up.It helps a lot, with prices in the grocery just soaring.Also grateful for my farm box of fresh veggies every 2 weeks for a good price.Farm fresh, local produce. YAY!!
Hey,you! MAY WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT! Holiday time is coming up..you’ll be busy decorating your home and your nursing unit, continuing to care for your patients,being with your girls and family here and there.. and then,on to Spring, and another GRADUATION!!!!!!
When we lived in West Africa my husband and a friend had dental work done by a Mercy Ship clinic. it wasn't on the ship itself, bit a clinic they had started or something. We were very thankful for the dental help!!