Thankful Thursday | another scholarship!
This week, I am thankful:
that Lisey got a tool scholarship at school
She applied for this months ago, and she just recently found out that she was one of the people chosen for it.
This means that she only has to buy a few tools for her time at aviation mechanic school, so yay!
And since some aviation mechanic jobs do not require you to buy your own tools, it's nice to be able to wait until after school and then buy exactly what you actually need for your job.
for a no-cavity checkup
I had to have my every-six-month cleaning this week, and I am very happy to say that I have no cavities.
This is a happy thing because:
a) having a dental filling is zero fun
b) dental fillings cost money
for good dental care
I don't love going to the dentist.
In fact, I kind of hate it.
But I feel very thankful to live in a time when dental care is so good; it has most definitely not been this way for a lot of history.
I really like having a full mouth of healthy teeth.
There are quite a few fillings in the back of that mouth! Hyperemesis is responsible for a whole slew of 'em.
for my anatomy and physiology professor
She is miles better than my biology professor, and I am so thankful.
And as proof that she is awesome, she sent out a survey asking us all for our feedback about how she could be even more helpful.
(I honestly couldn't think of anything!)
Last semester, class sessions felt like a complete waste of time, but this semester, I feel like I am actually benefitting from attending the class.
that we are able to be in person part-time
My class is hybrid, so we are only in-person one day a week. But I am super grateful for that day because it means we can do labs in person and use the body part models that are in the classroom.
my physical textbook
I know I'm repeating this from last week but MY WORD I love having a paper textbook. It's so much easier to flip back and forth to review information this way.
So, so worth the money for me.
for changing seasons
October is almost here and it looks like the 90 degree days are truly behind us. Yay!
for my education
I am currently reading The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks (lots of you recommended it and my goodness it is such a good book!)
There is a whole heck of a lot to say about this whole true story, but as I was reading it, I thought about what a privilege it is to have access to an education. Henrietta barely got to stay in school through sixth grade, if memory serves me right, and a lot of her family members got even fewer years of school.
Without an education, everything in life is harder.
And with an education, many things are easier.
for progress in medicine
I've been binge-listening to the archives of the Sawbones podcast, a medical podcast that's mostly about missteps in history (but with some modern stuff mixed in as well).
I know that current medicine has its faults, but my goodness, we have made a whole ton of progress in the last 100 years.
And compared with the ancient past, we have made even more progress.
Sometimes the medical ideas in the past are hilariously wrong-headed; in one episode, the doctors were treating a Swiss patient who had a case of nostalgia (a.k.a. homesickness) and they put him up high on a ladder, based on the idea that he just needed an altitude adjustment.
That seriously hit my funny bone.
(Spoiler alert: this treatment did not, in fact, cure his nostalgia.)
for all the interesting things I've done in my 43 years
The other day as I was writing a blog post over on Kristen Prompted, I was looking through old photos and I just had this feeling of thankfulness wash over me as I thought about all the things I have gotten to do in my lifetime.
For instance, I've done a fair bit of traveling, I've had a bunch of varied work experiences, I've homeschooled for years, raised kids, done a bunch of volunteering, helped people in various ways, played lots of music, and now I'm going back to college myself.
Hopefully, there's still a lot of years until I kick the bucket, but I feel like I have already lived a very full life and I am grateful.
I am thankful for modern technology, both medical and communications. My husband had a medical test/procedure on Monday. The results were good, he does not have what they feared. It was wonderful to be able to share the news with so many friends and family members by text. I have a couple "older" friends that don't text and I was able to email them from the hospital and call a third. I am thankful for my husband's good health, the diagnostics and treatments available, the wonderful medical staff, and the support of so many.
I am thankful my annual physical went well. My primary care doctor said I am "boring", in a good way. He was having a tough day so hopefully I was a bit of a respite. I was able to get a flu shot while I was there and it only took a couple of minutes.
I am thankful for modern dentistry as well. I don't appreciate the dentist that bought the practice from our long time dentist last year but at least we have someone to use regularly.
I am thankful we're having rain rather than a drought. I wish there was an easy way to share some of our abundance.
I am thankful for this blog. I don't read many regularly but this one continues to be worthwhile.
@K D,
YES! We are thankful for the gift of yourself, Kristen!
Aww, you guys! Thank you.
-That God doesn't change no matter how many times our plans change.
-That no matter where I am or who I'm with God is with me.
-Running water and a working solar electric system.
-Friends, some of whom I'll get to see soon.
That's a wonderful point, Kristen. I've had a lot of very interesting jobs, wrote a couple of books, got married, had my kids, traveled (although not enough!), have had wonderful friendships, collected antiques, bought my dream house, have been published widely, have had wonderful dogs, volunteered, gave fabulous presents (very important to me!), studied extremely interesting things, supported my kids when they were struggling, and on and on. I've had a very interesting life.
Just walking out the door this morning made me thankful. It was actually in the 60's, instead of being the sticky, humid 70's. Finally! Unfortunately, it will get hot again before fall is over, but the long straight grind of high heat and humidity is broken for this year.
Beyond that, I'm thankful:
1. First, that after many years of driving east to work in the morning and west to go home for my old job, squinting each way, I'm now driving west in the morning and east to go home. Second, that means I now get to see things like I did this morning; the long, low, thin cloud stretched like a scarf wrapped across the sky's shoulders in colors of peach, pink and lavender, with a bright white "brooch" made of the waning full moon pinned above it. I like God's accessorizing.
2. For the lovely compliment a family member gave about my late mother this weekend at the funeral I attended.
3. For the birthday of my daughter yesterday. She's funny, a hardworking type A, generous, an excellent partner to her fiancé and a great daughter, mother and step-mother.
4. For the old family photos one of my cousins was handing out while we were gathered for the funeral. There were a lot of laughs caused by those photos.
5. For the rain that passed through yesterday, bringing the cool front and the most vivid rainbow I think I've ever seen.
@JD, I am thankful for your writing - "the long, low, thin cloud stretched like a scarf wrapped across the sky’s shoulders in colors of peach, pink and lavender, with a bright white “brooch” made of the waning full moon pinned above it" - wow!
@JD, A beautiful and inspiring list!
@MB in MN,
Thanks! It really made me think exactly of that.
An outstanding book about medical malpractice is Destiny of the Empire by Candice
Millard, how mental illness and medical malpractice took the life of President Garfield
while an invention by Alexander Graham Bell that could have saved him was ignored.
By the way, after you have read this book you may become a Candice Millard fan. She has written two other books that make little-known historic events absolutely fascinating.
@Mary, thank you for suggesting this book. It sounds very intriguing. FYI when I did a search just now to request it from my library, I saw that the name of the book is actually ‘Destiny of the Republic’, not Empire. I can’t wait to read it!
@Steph,
My bad - you are correct about the title. Her Churchill book has Empire in
the title. Enjoy the book.
I am really thankful for a great dentist and a terrific family doctor too. And a wonderful veterinarian, who always lays out the costs when a more detailed diagnosis is needed.
Especially thankful for our wonderful sister-in-law, who is coming to visit in a couple of weeks.
I'm also thankful for the neighborhood we live in, which is compact and woodsy and we see so much wildlife even though it's technically an urban neighborhood. Yesterday morning I stopped my car two houses up from ours to let a young possum ramble across the street. He or she was probably checking out the outdoor cat food buffets! 🙂
I’m thankful for my grandparents, they were a big part of my childhood (both my parents worked full time since I was born and so they took care of me) and I feel so fortunate at my age to still have both of them and that my kids will know them. We just celebrated my grandpa’s 96th birthday!
I’m grateful for library books and children’s books. As a kid every week my mom would take us and while we chose what we wanted, she would always pick out a big stack of picture books. Even when I was older and reading chapter books, I still loved reading the stack of picture books. Now I’ve been getting a giant stack of library books for my kids and I’m still excited to read all of them!
Grateful for my buy nothing group, I’ve been on a bit of a decluttering streak this week and it’s so nice to find a new home for everything rather than throwing it in the trash. I’ve also met a couple neighbors who live on my street through this group which has been another nice bonus.
Grateful for vacations, we haven’t had many in the last couple years, so I really appreciate them now. We are going away for a long weekend and the fun of looking up places to go or things to do where we are staying is almost as fun as actually going, plus I’m really looking forward to the 2 days off of work.
Grateful for this blog, I really enjoy this community and it’s become part of my daily morning routine to read posts and comments. It’s all so positive and helpful so thanks to Kristen and everyone here!
Thankful that I have reached my 30th anniversary at my job. This has a couple of thankful meanings:
a) Thankful that I have been at this job half of my life (I turned 60 this year). Only 7 more years to go before retirement!
b) Thankful that I have worked longer at this job than my dad did at his lifetime job; he worked for 28 years at IBM which people say is good. That was before they started "downsizing" people in the 80's. I have survived several downsizings at this company.
c) Thankful that I made it by the 3 final warnings I received in the lifetime of this job, and that I have been able to turn these warnings around and was not fired. Some managers are worse than others.
d) Thankful that I have a wonderful boss that sees potential and will work with you to make sure you reach your potential. Previous bosses were not always that way.
e) Thankful for all the people I have met in my tenure. I started in an office and have been telecommuting for almost 18 years, all while on several different teams. Each time I have met some wonderful people that have helped me grow and learn what is needed at all different positions. Some people have even become life long friends.
f) Thankful that I am employed. At this time in my life, I could easily be unemployed and searching for my next paycheck. I show up every day and do my best and feel appreciated (somewhat).
1. For our first fall temperatures. How lovely to wake up to a high, sunny clear blue sky and 55 degrees this morning! Gosh I love the fall!!
2. For coffee - man I have really needed it this week.
3. For the blessing of being able to buy a new family car at half the interest rate that we had previously. It will serve our family for many, many years to come and as an added bonus is beautiful.
4. For fall scented candles - pumpkin and autumn leaves.
5. For the Hope we hold and Pastors and leaders that remind us and teach us and invite us to cleave tightly to that hope. For books - I just finished the Invisible Bridge and it was incredible but so difficult to read at times. For the joy of our son's laughter - he laughs often and it is impossible to be unhappy when the giggles come over him....what a gift.
Happy Thursday!
1 - we've almost got the house completely set up
2 - Ds came home and tried door dash here and made over $100 in 4 hours! Even better than his college town
3 - being back in a regular groove and routine
4 - Instagram, most of my accounts are animal related and they bring me joy
5 - My Kindle and the books I can download from my library. I am an avid reader so its nice to have an unlimited selection
1) I'll echo Jennifer. My Kindle, & the books I can download from the library. I've had a really stressful month or so at work, and disconnecting by reading after dinner is such a treat.
2) That my 14 y.o. went for a quick walk around the block with me last night. I love that time together, just chatting & catching up.
3) I drive my 15 y.o. to soccer practice three nights a week. I learn so much about his life in the car. We have a no phone rule (for the driver always ;-), but for the passengers as well), & he is full of information about what he's learning in class (currently, the French revolution), his classmates, his teachers, girls (!), friends, etc.
4) On a related note, a friends mom picks him up after practice a few days/week. She doesn't speak any English & he doesn't speak any Mandarin, but I love that they are both comfortable with the silence together. I'm also grateful that she saves me an extra trip.
5) My kids play for different soccer teams/clubs. They are both playing in a tournament this weekend, and have somehow been matched against each other. (The teams are different ages & wildly different skill level, so this is ...puzzling.) I've been really stressed about how the younger one might feel. Turns out, they are both excited about it, think it's amusing, and no one is stressed except me. I'm grateful that they both handle adversity well, & no one gets too caught up in "winning".
If you like science books, have you read The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould? He was the premier explainer of biology until his death; this book is about all the ways, unconscious and deliberate, that science was misused and abused to justify existing power structures (such as misogyny and bigotry).
@WilliamB, DH had all of Gould's books. And those are among the ones I'm keeping (see my comment below).
@WilliamB and @A. Marie,
Great recommendation, especially as described. I’ve already secured The Blue Sword. I had read The Chalice by McKinley so was already a fan. Thanks!
I have not! I will add it to my list.
My thankfulness has centered on health issues these last months. Finally had the day surgery (non-heart related) that I’d had to put off due to danger if I had it done before valve replacement. I truly hope that the body overhauls are done and only need “oil changes and tire rotations” from now on.
Thankful that it’s easier to get up and down and around today.
Thankful my electrician got my new porch lights put up. He’d told me it would probably be 3 weeks (very trusted and busy electrician in my area) but he got here sooner. Glad to have those boxes out of my entryway.
I’m thankful for living, I’m thankful each day (second, minute, hour).
Stuck in bed with vertigo today..... Im grateful for
* a laptop to keep me company
* Many library books to keep me company
* Kids that are old enought to take care of themselves and catch the school bus in the morning so I can stay in bed
*Not being stressed out if I have to miss work tommorow (money in the bank, being easily replaced)
* Good coworkers
I needed this. I have not been especially thankful. Another school year of COVID teaching and learning ongoing ( year 3). Very tough times. No continuity in my days. Revolving door of absent, sick, quarantining, moving to homebound and returning students! No ones fault.
I am thankful for the vaccine. I feel safer doing my job.
I am thankful for cute and soft masks. School year #3
I am thankful for my pets to bring comfort when weary.
I am thankful that my son got to email from the depths of a nuclear sub this week.
This week I'm thankful for
- good dental care. I had my 6 month checkup yesterday and I have a cavity. While not fun, I'm glad to have a good dentist and good insurance so I can have it taken care of
- for telemedicine benefit at my job. I was able to call yesterday and get prescriptions for the sinus infection caused by my ragweed allergy
- for cooler weather. It was a beautiful morning with sunshine and 54 degrees
- the suspension of visitation at Mom's nursing home has finally been lifted after several months
- the painting being done at the college house we bought for our son. I'm so relieved that it's finally under contract and we'll make enough on the sale to cover all the mortgage we paid while he was in college
@Beverly, I hope you and your mom can have many nice visits now. You both need them!
Thankful that my husband and I were able to take a 5 day trip and had absolutely beautiful weather. We were so active hiking in state parks, county parks, near lakes, and scenic overlooks all within 3 hours from our home. There is so much beauty in this land of ours!
Also thankful that my son returned safely from a road trip he took with a friend. He did a lot of driving on his trip and I was worried, but he had a good time and returned home safely.
Thankful that my sister is coming for a visit this weekend. I have not seen her in 2 years, so it will be a great reunion!
Thankful for the beautiful day that we are having today! The pumpkins, the mums, the other flowers still hanging on, the changing leaves…..I just cannot get over the beauty of it all.
Thankful too for the medical professionals who are working so hard, as always, to keep us safe. They are so appreciated by me and most people I know. I hope things get better soon and they get a much needed break.
That’s fabulous news about Lisey’s scholarship!
I’m thankful for my little granddaughters coming to spend the day today. They will be a welcome respite from trying to find a new place to rent in a .01% vacancy rental market, which is very stressful.
I’m thankful Delta didn’t come along until the vaccine was in place.
Also that they are making progress with the vaccine for 5-12 year olds.
I’m grateful we will have two cars this year! I felt super shut-in the past few years (pre-covid, I mean. EVERYONE felt shut-in last year!)
I’m thankful we do occasionally see a nice place even if we don’t get it, like happened yesterday. It proves they do exist, and if we can’t get one in time, we’ll move somewhere temporarily until we find a good place. While I do not want that - who would? - I’m grateful for my sister’s eminently practical advice to pack for two moves and label the boxes in such a way that I won’t have to open them all in the temporary place, only stuff we need in the short term. If we don’t have to move twice it won’t hurt to have done that, and if we do it will have been extremely helpful. Yay for smart, practical sisters!
Thankful for the people around me, as usual. This week's honorees:
(1) DH's and my favorite local secondhand-book dealer, who paid a rare house call yesterday evening to look over those of DH's books that I don't intend to keep. He took about half of them (a very high percentage, as he's quite selective) and gave me $200 cash and $100 in store credit. (There are a couple of big-ticket items in his shop I've been hankering after.) And we took a few minutes to chat; it turns out that he has two relatives in institutional care, and we exchanged our sympathies re: all the issues involved in such care at the moment.
(2) DH's former real estate partner/one of our best friends, who is doing one last run to the county dump this weekend (he's cleaning out his house prior to selling it and moving out of state) and has offered to let me throw some things onto the trailer. He stopped by yesterday to see what I had, and as we were standing in DH's classic "man cave" garage/workshop, I remarked wistfully that I wished DH had had a few more years to enjoy it. This got us into a quiet, reflective conversation about both of us losing our spouses too soon (his wife died of cancer the same day I took DH to the nursing home). A sad train of thought, but at the same time, the talk did us both good.
@A. Marie, friends with whom to share your pain and your joy are one of lives greatest blessing
@Bee, oh dear — auto correct — life’s greatest blessings
I am thankful for my body being healthy. The other day at the gym an elderly gentleman asked me if I was a dancer (I am not) while I was doing my stretching after my workout. He said I just looked “so free.” He clearly had limited range of motion from arthritis and it made me realize how lucky I am that my body just does what I want it to do when I tell it to.
Thankful for my education also. I went to a school that really emphasized research, and I took two classes where the focus was evaluating medical research literature. It was exhausting at the time, but in an age where all of medicine and science is made political and misinformation is so rampant being able to somewhat navigate the original literature is quite useful.
Thankful for a year home with my 3 year old before he starts preschool and we have another baby. Having some special time just the two of us is wonderful.
Thankful for the mom’s group at my church. I hadn’t done it for the last year and a half with covid, and it just started up again and I didn’t even realize how much I’d missed it.
Thankful my parents live close and we get to see them often.
-I am thankful for this post. This this has been a hot, stress filled week for me. I’m grateful for someone else pointing out the good. That’s usually me but I’m having a rough time doing it as of late.
-i am thankful for a 90 degree day today, not 100! And cooler temps in the forecast.
-i am thankful for the people who surprise me with their good attitudes in unexpected places, like the return line at Costco.
- i am thankful for a a hardworking husband and job opportunities even though I haven’t worked in 14 years! Scary to put yourself back out there!
-i am thankful for my family and extended family. We all have different opionions these days but still seem to be able to put family first. Mostly 🙂
-it’s felt heavy in my house of late, but I am grateful for the little bubbles of good that pop up in random places when I’m willing to open my eyes and see them.
I am also thankful for medicine and the related discoveries. My young daughter is a type 1 diabetic and would not survive without insulin!
Thankful that my dog is getting more confident when dogs pass him while walking. We had a lot of training and he now at least looks up to me for direction.
That our basement is dry again after very heavy rain.
I found an expensive fancy dress for the grand baby for .99 and she loved it.
I guess in a way thankful that the deer ate some of my hosta beds to the ground. I won't have much cleanup.
I also found some LeapFrog games at Goodwill in new condition for only a couple of dollars. They will be birthday and Christmas gifts for the baby. I don't buy her a lot as other grandma does I instead put money in her 529. So it balances out nicely.
This week I'm thankful:
* that I didn't break my coffee mug yesterday! It belonged to my grandma and I dropped it against a glass bowl while washing it yesterday. I'm so so thankful that it is still in one piece.
* that it seems as though our "health insurance denying coverage" situation is being resolved. The place where we're taking our child is being very helpful in all of this and it means the world to me.
* that our Community Bible Study class is meeting again. It was still great to meet over Zoom last year, but conversation is so much easier in-person.
* for second-hand clothes! It's been cold here the last 2 days, so we pulled out the next size of winter clothes for my kids. They're pretty much all hand-me-downs or yard sale finds. I can't imagine the cost if we had to buy all brand-new clothes for 3 kids.
* for tea. I love coffee but can't drink it all day long. Yesterday as I was trying to think of something warm to drink I found 2 boxes of tea in my cupboard. Yay! Perfect for these cold, rainy days.
Since you mentioned a book - I have read (listened to) Educated and Unorthodox since you talked about them a couple weeks ago. Oh my goodness! So well done and such eye openers in terms of what still goes on in our world. Those women are both just a few years older than my son. Is The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks also a true story?
After reading the 2 books above I switched to a fiction love story - and it seems so sub par. Not sure if it's because the memoirs were written from first person experience or what. The current book just sounds like "He said a", "She said b".
Thankful for books, good recommendations, and the ability to keep learning even when the subject is rather sad.
@Cindy, Yes, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is also a true story, and just as fascinating (maybe moreso) as Educated and Unorthodox. It's also sad, as you see just how much the odds are stacked against some people, and how much our systems are built to take advantage of people. If you're enjoying memoirs, I also really enjoyed Inheritance by Dani Shapiro. It's her journey of taking a DNA test and learning that the man who raised her isn't her birth father. Very well-written.
@Heather, Thank you so much for that info! Looks like I have a couple more book on my to-read list.
I'm thankful lately for:
Public parks. After my daughter got home from school yesterday she promptly did her homework (which was like 3 exercises on either side of one sheet of paper) and so I took her to the public park that's in our neighborhood. She met up with two kids from her school (though not the same class) and she had a fun time playing on the swings and the
Little Free Libraries. We have one of these in our neighborhood and my daughter got some new books while we were out to the park. We need to drop some of her old books off the next time we go by it.
That we know what my daughter is allergic to and are taking steps to rectify that.
That I'm being productive in work. I hate when my work just seems like meaningless paperwork and meetings. I love working when I see the output of my labor (if that makes sense.)
I'm not a fan of winter but Autumn I am okay with. I dislike the lack of sunlight but I am thankful that I'm home for a lot more of it and I have windows near my desk at home.
Thankful for my cat, who currently is sleeping on my computer chair while I kneel to type this. Why? Because I can't bear to disturb his cuteness by dislodging him!
For the septic worker who unplugged the line from our main bathroom to our septic system today .... in the rain. He was pleasant and professional and was at our house to fix our problem within 3 hours of me calling!
Also thankful for tubs/sinks/toilets that drain like they are designed to do.
Thankful for driver's ed teachers who deal with the early days of OTR driving (so I don't have to!).
For a good trip to visit my son at university last weekend--it was sooo good to see my boy and we had delightful weather for getting outside to do fun things!
For my friend and her son visiting this weekend from out of town.
Hooray for Lisey! My son recently got a surprise $1000 grant for college--it's such a blessing to get those financial gifts, isn't it?
@Kris, hilarious about catering to the cat. We do the same thing here. They rule. If one of us has a cat on our lap yet needs something from another room, we are allowed to ask the other to go get it because we are COL. (Cat on lap.) The two of them should be wearing crowns.
@Anne, I'm reading this with my COL. Maybe I need to borrow your acronym. We also ask for others to grab things for us so as to not dislodge His Royal Highness.
I am so thankful for thankful Thursday. It has been a hard week and I’m so glad to read some good news.
The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks was a really interesting book. It helped me understand research with cell lines better. And wow, the way her family was afraid of John Hopkins. It helps me understand a lot of the immigrants in my ESOL classes and think of creative ways to help them find good information.
Yay for teeth and tools and teachers that teach!!!
Yes! The distrust of the medical community is very understandable, given the context.
1. For the weather change. We finally had a dusting of snow and the days are getting shorter. I love the hushed world that snow and more darkness bring. Years ago we lived in a part of Alaska where the sun goes down in November and does not come up again until about mid January and I hated it when it showed up again. I know many of your readers are sun lovers but, honestly, 24 hours of it makes me twitchy.
2. For running water. In my 20s I lived without water or electricity, in a cabin with an outhouse. Now I am very, very thankful not to have to haul my water. I was reminded of the joys of running water when our water had to be shut off for 24 hours this week to track down a leak (which turned out to be on the city's property, so no cost to us to fix it).
3. The northern lights. They have been spectacular this week.
4. For the severely colorblind husband, who nevertheless sat on the front porch with me at 2 am while I watched them dancing away in the sky.
5. For the same husband making me laugh hysterically when I told him he did not need to sit out there with me and he said in all seriousness that women are kidnapped all the time so he was going to stick around. Yes, there are legions of no-good-nicks out there, just searching for old, crabby, often wheelchair bound women to spirit off for nefarious purposes. And especially in Fairbanks, Alaska. I'm still laughing. He is proof positive that love really is blind.
@Lindsey, that is adorable.
@Lindsey, your #4 and 5 brought tears to my eyes. I actually copied and emailed them to myself to save in my email folder that I read when I need my eyes to tear up because of my dry eyes condition. Ha! (Also made me laugh!) Thank you.
1. For a beautiful Fall day today.
2. For my crock pot. My energy level seriously goes down through the day to the point that sometimes I’m too tired to cook dinner but putting something in the crock pot in the morning is immensely helpful as a solution for this. I have the most energy in the morning so this works for me. And there are so many good things to cook in there, especially this time of year.
3. Listening to my daughter play the piano.
4. My son reading to me.
5. Pumpkins everywhere. I love them.
I am thankful for…
1. The grace of a stage 1 pancreatic cancer diagnosis at age 49. Stage 1 means I have a better than average chance of beating this cancer. 6 months, a year from now? Maybe not.
2. Living within a 30 minute drive to world-class, cutting-edge medical facilities who have kept all the steps of my treatment moving right along so that no time is lost in this battle. The medical professionals who have guided me every step of the way, making sure that I was ‘handed off’ to the next step properly. So far I’ve had a gastroenterologist, a surgical gastroenterologist, an oncology surgeon, two medical oncology doctors, (one of which is overseeing the chemo) and there’s a radiation oncologist in the future. There’s a lot of room for slipping down the cracks, but the medical team hasn’t let it happen.
3. My family. They have been my rocks, my supporters, my cheerleaders, my “ok enough with the whining- let’s do what we gotta do to beat this thing” people, my chauffeurs. They have been everything. I couldn’t face this path without them. I wish everyone had this kind of love & support when facing hard roads.
4. My friends. My wonderful tribe has sent me so many positive messages, energies and prayers, all while responding to my requests. Sometimes a lift to a medical test, sometimes a request for downtime. They simply ask - what do you need? They’ve taken time out of their own lives to come and visit- for 15 minutes, for 4 days. ‘If you need me, I’m here. Just say the word.’
5. For pets…who don’t ask questions or expect logical conversations. They just sit with you and love you, regardless of your state of mind, your attire, or anything else.
@Kt, sending love and prayers.
I'm so glad they caught it early! Much love to you, and I am so impressed with how you are counting your blessings.
@Kt, sending my very best wishes to you, your loved ones and your medical team during this journey.
@Kt,
I have a friend who has survived it for over 10 years and is still going well! Here's praying for your best possible outcome and peace in the process.
@Kt, Thoughts and prayers for you and kudos to your amazing support team.
@Kt, hugs and prayers.
That's wonderful and such a blessing that Lisey got another scholarship!
I'm thankful ...
1) That my husband is a wonderful father to our 3 girls. They really adore him and love playing with him.
2) To live in a safe neighborhood. I can freely walk and bike ride with my girls and not have to worry much.
3) For the sights of fall like the yellow leaves falling from the trees, bright orange pumpkins decorated in front of our neighbors' houses and the apples trees filled with abundance.
4) For taste buds so I can enjoy yummy foods. Been eating lots of dumplings lately. Really been loving the crispy shells and the nice sauce to dunk them in.
5) That I can find almost anything or any answer online. Everything is at the touch of my fingers.
?? Some Questions ??? since I’m somewhat new (Started a month ago but have been following for a couple years now. Love your blog :)) to commenting here. 1. Is there a way to edit your own comments later after you post them (Sometimes wanting to add more or change something I wrote) and 2. How would you know if someone commented on your comment without having to scroll though and find your’s or continuously looking back? Do I need to set up an account here for that or would I get an email notification. Thanks in advance!
Unfortunately, there is not a way to edit comments. My apologies; I know that can be frustrating when you see a typo after you submit!
I can look into comment notifications; I just switched my theme to a new one recently, and so the option to subscribe to comments may have disappeared.
@Kristen, I would like to subscribe to comments also please.
Wow, great news about the scholarship! Yay for money that she/you didn't have to earn, first.
1. I am thankful to have had a very very rare day with my newly college graduated daughter today. She drove from her home in the big city so that we could go shoe shopping in my very small town (believe it or not, we have a PRIMO shoe store, with another decent one a block away). After high-school and University taking their toll on her wardrobe, plus COVID classes online ensuring she didn't need new clothes, suddenly she is looking for employment in the real world, and requires grownup shoes and clothes.
2. Thankful that she found a cute pair of shoes that have personality yet are professional. Then we went to store # 2 and she got a ROCKING pair of doc-martin style boots that are all flocked and flowery velvet. GORGEOUS shoes. I, of course, ended up with some sandals and boots that were seriously on sale, which meant that I am
3. Thankful that I keep myself up to date with the programs at these stores. I had purchased enough that we got another $43 off the cost of the new shoes, so everyone saved even more.
4. Thankful Maggie needed a chest of drawers, and we found a lovely solid wood one at my local thrift store; since we came to town in my truck we could pick it up, too!. The woman who runs it knows me and got all excited because she had a
5. 4 wheeled walker for me! in excellent shape. I am getting a new hip on Monday and need one - the Red Cross doesn't lend the 4 wheelers, but my buddy saved it for me!
6. Thankful that my daughter returned a phone call during our errands and was ****** GIVEN A JOB OFFER ****** for the company she really wants to work for (and the first/only company she has applied to since school ended mid August). Decent salary, not doing exactly what she wants to do but a foot in the door - and we both know they want HER, are just putting her in a job opening until they can manufacture the job that better utilizes her education, skills and talents. It is a bus ride away from her new living arrangements, and eventually she will be able to do at least some of her work at home. SOOOOO exciting! Benefits and stock options, even!
7. Grateful that AA has online meetings, as I will be able to attend even when I am homebound after my surgery. I have just reached my 2 years of sobriety and know that the fellowship is central to me staying well and clear headed. In addition, I need the joy and laughter that the groups bring me!
8 Thankful the biopsy I had taken a week ago came back all clear!!!
9. thankful for Canadian Medical care. I don't pay for any of the surgery, hospital care, meds while I am there, nor for the equipment I am borrowing from the Red Cross, nor for 3 physiotherapy appointments at the hospital afterwards. I didn't pay for the hospital visit for the unrelated biopsy last week, either.
@ecoteri, your comments are brimming with optimism - so great. Special congrats on 2 years of sobriety! Huge milestone. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery!
Oh, such congratulations on two years sober. Yay you!!
I am thankful for the start of Fall! I love a new season and in my faith we believe that the regular changing of the seasons is a sign to remind us of the faithfulness of God.
I am thankful that my small group Bible study is running for another few months. I know that the ladies are very busy but I am glad to be able to meet with them a bit longer.
That I found pork shoulder on sale. It's maybe my favorite cut of meat for it's versatility and I always feel rich when I have some in the freezer, especially when it was cheap.
That hiking weather has begun again. It is pleasant to have a nice hike without having to wake up at 6:00 am to beat the heat.
I am thankful for my little apartment. It is easy to clean and the kitchen is just big enough that I can cook without having to use the table as extra counter space.
Thankful for a full week of seeing my students, the covid cases are far and few between right now and we're all getting in the groove of safety/hygiene protocols.
Thankful for the joy of students loving learning together.
Thankful for my quiet back porch and comfortable weather.
Thankful for food prep that is making my life easier.
Coffee!