Thankful Thursday | Biology: done
New here? Thankful Thursday is our weekly community opportunity to hunt for the good in our lives. It's free! It could perk up your day! And you get better at this if you practice, so I'd love for you to join in the comments.
This week, I am thankful:
that I'm done with biology!
I took my two final exams this week and I am D O N E.
Whew.
I'm happy to say that I got a solid A in the class, despite having a very inexperienced professor.
So I think if I could get an A under these circumstances, I'm gonna make it through nursing school just fine.
And I'm pretty excited about all the free time I will have over the summer. Woohoo!
that test scores are so immediate
The last time I was in college was in 1997, and things have changed so much since then. One thing I like about now: usually when I take a quiz or an exam, I get to see my score right away.
And I got to see my final grade right away when I finished the class. Back in 1996/1997, I had to give my professor a self-addressed, stamped envelope if I wanted to get my class grade with any sort of speed!
So, I appreciate the immediacy of the current setup.
that Sonia got a job
She's going to be working at a clothing store (is anyone surprised??) and I think it'll be a great fit for her fashion-loving self.
I think she's going to have fun getting dressed up for work every shift too.
I love that Lisey is working at a lumber yard this summer and Sonia is working at a clothing store; these girls are such opposites, and I love that they are each doing something that fits their personalities.
that our freezer part is not too expensive
It needs a $100 board, which is not bad at all as appliance parts go.
that Zoe is getting vaccinated this week
And once she's vaccinated, that'll be 5/5 for our household occupants, cat excluded. 🙂
(I know vaccination is a topic we do not all agree on, and that's ok. You are welcome here either way.)
that virus numbers are so much better here now
All of our metrics have been moving in a really positive direction, and restrictions are getting lifted. Yay for a trend toward normalcy!
for this beautiful peony bloom
This is a relatively new peony plant from Aldi; I planted four a year or two ago and most of them do not have any buds on them this year.
(Peonies require patience since they don't bloom for a couple of years after planting!)
But this one has a big bloom on it, and I think it is so beautiful.
I do have one other peony plant that I bought at Aldi years and years ago; that one reliably produces multiple flowers every year.
So I know my other non-flowering ones will come through for me eventually too.
that I've been able to give away almost everything from my cousin's house
I was busy helping her declutter before she had her baby, and we tackled her basement the last time, so I came home with a van full of random things.
And I have found homes for almost everything! The internet is amazing for matching items with people who want them, and I find it very satisfying to be a matchmaker of sorts.
(It's not that I'm opposed to donating to charities; it's just that I often have items that would not make for good merchandise for Goodwill but could be used by someone who specifically needs them. For instance, I had a bunch of old darkroom equipment from my cousin; that would be a tough sell at Goodwill! But someone on Facebook wanted it.)
for my first watermelon of 2021
The first watermelon of the year is never objectively the best one.
But after a winter of no watermelon, it tastes so good!
And honestly, as spring watermelons go, this one was surprisingly delicious.
(Did I cover that watermelon half with my handy-dandy silicone lid? Why, yes, yes I did!)
that Sonia is almost ready for once-a-month allergy shots
In about six weeks, she starts on year four, which means that she only has to go once a month.
This is a huge improvement from the beginning of this adventure when she had to go in twice a week for shots.
After year four, she wants to start all over again for her cat/dog allergies, which is a testament to how much she loves animals.
(Unfortunately, there was not a way to fit her cat/dog allergy shots into the same serum as her pollen allergy shots.)
A last-day-of-school-themed thankful list:
--For an extraordinarily dedicated staff and a small-enough school that we could be physically in school all year and still follow our state's COVID requirements.
--For my sons' teachers. Two of the boys had teacher changes in the middle of the year, and while I liked their previous teachers, the two new ones are really exceptional.
--For the ability to say "no, thanks," when the school asked if I wanted to work full-time next year.
--And lastly, that it will be awhile until I have to wake my daughter up so we can all get on the bus on the days I work. She's in a weird sleep phase where she wants to sleep in until like 7:30 a.m., but if I wake her up earlier, she'll conk out in the middle of the day, then not go to sleep until 9 p.m. (or later, ugh). This does not work with my own bedtime of 8:30 p.m. 🙂
-I'm thankful for having the time to enjoy my family. I sat at my daughter's soccer practice this week, and simply enjoyed watching those children laugh and play. Joy is so lovely.
-I'm thankful for the lilacs blooming.
-I'm thankful my son is helping me mix paint and apply it to my beehive.
-I'm thankful that the same son's driving is improving; it makes for a more enjoyable drive.
-I'm thankful I've been able to conquer my laziness a few evenings this week to prepare better for school; being prepared means more is accomplished.
-I'm thankful for a lovely walk with friends last evening followed by a very un-keto-friendly ice cream cone.
Jody, are you a bee keeper? I think that is an interesting pursuit.
Hmmm. Beekeeper-wanna-be? My son and I bought two packages of bees last year. One of the hives is still alive 🙂 My husband order bees for me (since the one that died was mine), and they're due to arrive soon. I think I'm not doing the best job of actually _keeping_ the bees 🙂
I have learned so much from my son who is the one who really has the passion for it.
Thankful List
1. My class is DONE and I passed. I agree, knowing immediately your grade is pretty awesome.
2. Our gardens are all planted and started to bloom. We've already gotten 3 pints of strawberries from the fruit/veggie gardens!
3. This weather! I love this warmer weather.
4. For bike rides w/my family.
5. That my bible study class has started after a month long hiatus.
6. A good checkup at the doctors office.
Thank you for this. It has been a tough week for some of those I love, but this always makes me feel lighter.
* I’m thankful for calico kitty who is asleep on my lap as I write this. My son found her 13 years ago, and her eyes were barely open. I bootle fed her. She thinks that I’m the mama kitty.
* I’m thankful for this especially delicious cup of coffee that I’m having this morning.
* I’m thankful that this Saturday’s Semi-annual Vintage Market is actually happening, and I will once again be selling there. There is a fine line between reseller and hoarder. I was in danger of crossing it.
* I am so thankful after a brutally hot week at the beginning of May, the weather has been beautiful. It’s still hot but not unbearably so.
* I am thankful for cell phones. My son who lives on the other side of the country has been going through a rough patch. It has been good that we can talk when he needs me.
Wishing everyone peace and good health.
I hope things ease up for your son soon!
My parents had a bit of a scare with a fire near them but luckily the fire was contained and did not spread to their property. They did have to smell a lot of smoke and there's some ash everywhere.
That my wife and I will get to have a date night this week as my MIL will be taking our daughter overnight. The last time we got a date together was March 2020 (and it was probably 2018 the time before that.)
Thankful that I'm not house hunting. I hear of so many people who are frustrated because of the costs and the scarcity of property on the market etc. I'm also thankful that I'm not renting. Also, outside of our door project, I'm glad we have no major construction to deal with.
I'm thankful we got to attend church in person for the first time in a while. We weren't staying home because of Covid or anything like that, though. We stayed home because my daughter was having a rough patch where she couldn't sit still long enough. Well she did behave and it was nice to have in-person service again. We're also more or less at full capacity again too, which is great seeing people.
I should conclude with the fact that everything pales in comparison to the fact that masks are going away here! I know some people want to wear them forever and I feel sorry for them but I am taking my vaccinated self everywhere and showing my ugly mug to the world so they will just have to deal.
I totally feel you on the house hunting; I keep thinking how thankful I am to already have a house!
Mask mandates are starting to be lifted here, but every business I've gone to has still had their mask policy in place, so I still haven't gotten to experience a maskless shopping experience. I'm sure it will feel super weird at first.
I know here so far Target, Walmart and Costco are lifting theirs. Of course kids still have to be covered (at least in theory.) My daughter has been the biggest complainer about them and I can't blame her.
But back to the house side of things, some people like my sister have just resigned the fact that she's stuck in her tiny apartment for the time being unless she moves and gets a new job. No new houses are getting put up and a lot of people fled the city to her area so there's just no supply of housing.
1. SO THANKFUL that my hubby made another trip around the sun. Aging is a privilege.
2. Thankful that my youngest age 20 got a good summer job and his second shot.
3. Thankful for beautiful sunshine and very green grass. Not scorched yet.
4. Thankful for gainful employment.
5. Thankful for this kind and smart blog community!
It was A WEEK, but as always, plenty to be grateful for:
1) We received a full price offer on our vacation house, within a week of listing
2) The buyers are purchasing the house "turn key", which means we don't have to figure out what to do with all of the furnishings, towels, plates, small appliances, etc. It's all included in the house.
3) That we are in the home stretch for school. This first year of high school has been a challenge for my oldest son, and for us, as we figure out how to best help & support him.
4) That my son tried out for & received three offers from soccer clubs to join. He's switching clubs, after 7 years with the same club. I'm very happy for him that he was able to figure out that his current club wasn't a good fit, take risks to try something new, and then have several options to choose from. I'm someone who really avoids change/risk, so I was pleased to see him embrace this
5) That I'm going to see my mom & sister today. I'm flying to Portland, and then we are heading to our vacation house for one last hurrah, and to do a few things to prep it for sale.
1. Technology that has allowed me to keep up with a friend I haven't seen in over 10 years.
2. Going grocery shopping in a store I haven't been in since 2019. I know exactly where everything in this store is, and it has everything we need, but it's in an area I don't frequent. I was right next to it for something else yesterday, so I decided to run in a do my shopping.
3. School is almost done. My brain is done with pandemic schooling.
4. A husband who is willing and eager to help.
Following a long solo car trip, I am thankful, so very thankful, for modern transportation to keep us safe and moving:
For roads that curve and tilt using properties of physics to keep cars on the road at fast speeds.
For car features of turn signal lights, air conditioning, windshield wipers, adjustable seats, and, though I didn't need it this time, my favorite of rear defrost.
For rest areas. (The signs in Illinois announce they have "vending." The ones in Minnesota say "snacks." Sounds like some elderly ladies are going to be there to hand out brownies).
That somebody figured out that cloverleaf interchanges are theoretically interesting and practically horrible as a way to merge traffic, as I don't think many more are being built.
For satellite radio-- I personally can contact a satellite to listen to oldies music! What next-- a man on the moon?
That I was only honked at once, on the narrow and fast interstate in Saint Paul, and I sincerely apologize here again for drifting out of my lane.
Amen to the horrible cloverleaf interchanges! As someone who lives close to two major interstates, I can attest to the fact that they are an engineering nightmare. While our county averages two interstate accidents per day, one particular cloverleaf is notorious for at least one accident a week. I hold my breath when I pass it and am eternally grateful for drivers who actually know what yield means.
I had not driven outside of Alaska until I was in my 50s; I didn't get a driver's license until I was 30 and after I married, I loved being toted around by someone else. I ended up in Washington State, having to drive back to a hotel after dropping my husband off at the airport. I was enjoying the drive, and feeling happy at all the people honking at my new yellow pickup we had just purchased the day before, although I was puzzled why so many of them felt compelled to give me the finger. I am not sure how long it was before I looked down and realized I was driving 35 miles an hour on the I-5.
I'm thankful that after 14 months I was finally able to visit my mom in person in her assisted living facility. Seniors have lost as much if not more than the rest of society during the pandemic and they're also some of the last to be allowed to return to even the smallest privileges of normalcy.
I am thankful for so many things this week....
1. We are all fully vaccinated in my house and it was a surreal experience shopping in Costco without a mask this past Saturday and not having a panic attack about it. I must admit I am still not fond of closed in spaces but I am putting my toe in the water prayerfully!
2. For a lovely primary care doctor - the first one I have ever actually liked! My blood pressure is down so I wont have to take medication thanks to him and he is scheduling me for an iron infusion to combat the anemia I am suffering with. I am so grateful for this and the promise of having more energy and less symptoms soon!
3. For a restorative vacation time with my family over the past week. We were on the beach for a solid week and it was bliss. I returned home and have been walking for exercise and just generally feeling more positive.
4. For my family finally being able to return to church. This was amazing. In person worship, in person preaching, seeing all of our friends. So lovely I can't even put it into words.
5. For my garden. I love to see all the seeds, plants and flowers emerging from the soil and growing...it is exciting. I am looking forward to the summer harvests, canning and the season in general.
6. And lastly finding out this morning that my son will be able to attend summer day camp 4 days a week. We originally were told that he could not attend because the school could not secure staffing needs but thank God that changed! He needs the routine and Mom needs some quiet in the house so she can work - win, win!
Have a wonderful week everyone!
1. A very, very interesting job which I might accept turned up out of the blue.
2. Beautiful weather yesterday (and today!) and I'm lucky to live where I do.
3. I thanked a WWII veteran for his service yesterday at the park. A privilege.
4. My children are almost finished with school for the year, and my son is graduating.
5. Watching my scent-hound dogs go insane sniffing a tree that my son photographed a raccoon on last night!
6. Cheese. I love you, cheese. I want to marry you, cheese.
Oh my gosh, I love cheese too. There are so many interesting flavors. And they are all good with crackers.
Good luck with the job opportunity!
Cheese is life!!!
We had what looks to be the same fridge/freezer, and had to replace the board, and that lasted maybe another year before we ended up having to replace the whole thing! Good luck with yours!!! Luckily we found an identical fridge/freezer to the one we bought 12 years ago except this one weighs less and has LED lights instead.
Oh no, really? That's such a short time. Did the board fail again?
I am grateful for all the wonderful gratitude comments, I look forward to reading them every week.
I am grateful for this most beautiful spring day, it is exquisitely comfortable, clear and fresh, I love every minute I am outside in it.
I am grateful for a talented, skilled dentist who is taking care of my root canal today.
I am grateful that I get to teach every day and I am grateful that I will get to break away from teaching this summer to rest, heal and refresh.
I am grateful for my wonderful lawn and flower bed, and the husband that loves weeding and mowing and watering it! He is obsessed and finds everything related to caring for our little landscape rewarding and fascinating. It is fun to see how much relaxation he gets out of this.
I am grateful for my daughter (fully vaccinated) starting her first paid, professional work and dipping her toe back into the dating scene--brave girl. The sound of her voice full of optimism and excitement is something I've missed during this year and a half when everything was on hold.
I am grateful for the work I've put in all these years that have made me an experienced and effective teacher, if not for that experience I don't know how I would have gotten through this past year and a half. Had I been just starting out, or experiencing burnout, I doubt I would have stayed in the teaching profession.
Coffee.
I have some mixed blessings today.
1. My husband leaves the rehab facility today, and since it was not a good place and he was unhappy, that's good. However, they did very little actual therapy, and I don't feel that he has improved much at all. I'm not sure what he will be able to do for himself at home. Still, he's out of there at least!
2. My two test appointments yesterday afternoon were quick and easy, but my bone density scan came back with somewhat negative news. On the other hand, the tech said my other test results looked good from what she saw.
3. Not mixed -- the teens who do my mowing for me did a good job with a small yard project I gave them, and they did it totally unsupervised.
4. We were paid in cash for something at work (which never happens) and my boss handed me $3,200 in cash and asked me to deposit it, and just now went on to lunch. It's a good feeling to be trusted.
5. I'm thankful for a lot of flowers in the yard. Summer heat will soon bring an end to a lot of blooming, but right now, much is in bloom. This is not spring bloom - that's already gone, but early summer bloom is pretty good, too. Mid to late summer -- not so much!
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about the rehab issues. Sigh. And so sorry about your bone density issues; my parents both have bone density problems, so I am feeling a little doomed on that front.
I'm lifting weights and trying to eat well, but I'm not sure how much good it will do!
My daughter is in year 2 of allergy shots. She gets 4 shots every time: 1 for cats, 1 for trees, 1 for birch trees (don’t know why that’s not in with the others) and 1 for weeds/grasses. It has been interesting to see how it works. I am thankful that she started these when she did because she is almost 20 and has taken herself to shots except the first couple. At college the student health center administers them so it has been not too bad. I think she’s at every 3 weeks now. The only tricky part is getting to the right point before she leaves for school because they require her to get the first dose of a new level in the office.
I forgot my thankful items! I am feeling a lot of gratitude this week. My son graduated from college on Saturday. I am so thankful the university managed an in person outdoors ceremony. They did 8 separate ceremonies to keep the numbers manageable. The weather was fantastic for our ceremony and it was just lovely to be able to cheer these kids on who finished college in such a stressful time. I am also thankful that we managed to figure out the food situation for my 2 celiac daughters on this trip. University is in rural Ohio and the celiac is new for us. We ended up eating at some fabulous restaurants in Cincinnati that accommodated our needs. I am so thankful that there are restaurants that are safe for them with good food and great service.
We found out a few days prior to the ceremony that my son has a grad school offer that will include full tuition plus a living expense stipend. I am thankful for the wonderful opportunity that this is for him, particularly as the economy recovers from Covid. He worked really hard in college, and it is nice that is paying off for grad school. We are just waiting for the official paperwork to be finalized before we sign a lease for the fall.
My youngest wrapped up her water polo season yesterday. It was not a winning season but I am thankful for it because it was some social interaction and exercise for her. She played well and her skills were valued by her coaches. She is getting her 2nd vaccine on Saturday, and I am thankful for that too!
I am thankful that my middle kid made it home safely and will be here for the summer and has employment as a nanny. She's not worked much this last year due to Covid, so it will be nice that she can go back to school with more spending money.
Finally, I am thankful for a new opportunity in my work and that my husband is supportive of me taking on the challenge.
I am thankful that most people are still masked indoors everywhere I have been this week. I am happy to continue to mask despite being fully vaccinated.
I am grateful for our first cantaloupe of the season. I just cut it and it is delicious. I also bought a watermelon and look forward to eating that (though the cutting is always a bit of a chore.
I am thankful that work on painting the exterior of our house started yesterday. Even stuff that will not be painted (vinyl railings, the underside of the gutters) was washed and looks so much better. A pleasant surprise.
I am grateful for air conditioning which we turned on yesterday.
I am thankful for new shoes for walking. They are actually Nike running shoes but they are so comfortable. I am going to throw away the "old person" shoes I bought a few months ago, as they are not comfortable and did not wear well.
I am grateful for a chance to catch up with a friend at an outdoor takeout lunch yesterday. We both enjoy Thai food and it is not something I've ever cooked.
I am thankful that I spotted an oriole at outdoor yoga the other day. I have lived in the Baltimore area for almost 30 years and had only seen them stuffed in a museum. Keeping an eye on the bird disrupted a few poses but it was worth it.
This is a good exercise for me this week, since I was pretty ill and not able to get around without my wheelchair. It is less the need for the chair than the fear that I will never be able to walk again. I fear my poor husband had to listen to a constant litany of complaining from me.
Thankful for:
1. my husband, who in 38 years had never shamed me for being chronically ill or expressed any resentment of the extra load he must carry because of that.
2. my pound hound, who uncharacteristically spent the days lying next to my chair to keep me company. He is usually a whirling dervish.
3. my friend, who happened to stop by and when she found out I was not well came by every day to move my seedlings out of the garage into the sun. (It is too cold at night for them to be planted outside yet.) My husband would do it but he is not a gardener and would not know how much to water them, as the amounts change depending on that day's sun and wind.
4. the guy who designed my kitchen when we did some renovations, making it easy for me to prepare food from my wheelchair. My husband is not a cook and I enjoy it; some days it is the only way I feel like I am carrying part of the load in our marriage.
5. that our chokecherry tree is in bloom. It rewards me twice a year, once with heavenly smelling flowers in the spring and then again in the fall by giving us berries that are rubbish for eating but make great jelly and syrup.
I'm so sorry to hear you had a tough week! Like you, I always find this exercise to be most helpful when life is feeling particularly rough.
It is so sweet that your dog kept you company. Our cat does that sometimes when one of us is under the weather, like when Lisey got her wisdom teeth out. She stayed right by Lisey's side.
Lindsey, You were in my prayers last night after I read your thankful post. I have been there, also with a wonderful husband, but sad that I couldn’t do more. Your thankfulness lifted me up too.
And Kristen is right, this weekly exercise is deeply helpful at the worst of times. Good luck to you!
I really needed this reminder today, thank you!
-I’m thankful for the beautiful stretch of weather, winters are long here and I’ll take 80’s and sunshine in May.
-For my friend who came over to visit and asked if I would like him to tidy up my indoor plants. I literally almost cried because it had been bothering me so much that I hadn’t been able to do it myself and my husband wouldn’t have known what to do. My plants now look better than ever!
-For good people who do nice things for others just because. A vendor my husband works with through his job heard about my broken leg and sent 2 huge boxes of prepared meals from Omaha Steaks to our house. So very thoughtful and it will help relieve some stress of getting meals on the table.
-I’m very thankful to have started PT and actually leave my house a couple times a week. Everyone is so friendly and funny and they make it a great atmosphere. I’m still in a boot and walking with a walker, but I know they will push me when I need it!
-For the UPS, FedEx and postal workers who keep delivering heavy packages to my house!
I hope you are doing well and your injury is healing.
Kudos to Lisey and Sonia -- and you guys for raising such independent young women who are not afraid to follow their passions! And Congrats on your solid A!!
Thankful for Friday tomorrow and 3 more weeks of school. Not sure how everything will get done but it will.
Um, really thankful for Friday 🙂
When summer break is so close you can almost taste it....
Oh my gosh, yessssss . . . .
My heart is thankful for:
- my amazing, beautiful, bright, spirited, healthy children
- that my daughter's three friends actually came to her birthday party. We've been so disconnected from everything and everyone for the last year, I was afraid they would decide they had moved on. But they came and she felt so happy.
- for our central air. The weather has been in the 90s this week and it makes me so miserable. If we didn't have central air I would be a total crank 24/7. I keep it at 77 but compared to the outside temperature it feels like a refrigerator (in a good way!).
- for the big bin of summer hand-me-downs I unpacked for my three year old. Not only are they frugal, they bring back sweet memories of when my older girls wore them. <3 *sigh*
- for my crockpot. I love putting things in there in the morning and having it ready at dinner time! What is it about the dinner hour that makes it so hard to get stuff done with kids around??
I got home a little while ago from the first (and last) school band concert that both my kids played in. Super thankful for being able to attend a live concert! What a joy to see all the excited kids (and parents). I can't believe how well they played--I'm thankful for their amazing, fun, energetic band teacher who persevered through this past year. Thankful for the many neat friends both of my kids have made in their band classes. Thankful for the opportunity the band teacher was able to take to recognize the outgoing seniors (my son is one of them).
Along similar lines, we were able to attend an awards ceremony this past Sunday for the senior class. My son received scholarships--while they won't cover the cost of college, we are grateful for the financial help and for the honor of him being awarded the scholarships. Mostly I'm thankful that we are starting to be able to participate in some normal activities--with it being my son's senior year, it is his last opportunity to do these things.
There's shots for cat/dog allergies?!? Cool!
My 5 thankfulls are:
- Long week for us here in Quebec, Canada. Yay for 4 days off for me (next shift is wednesday)
- That my shouder is already much better today, after hurting it 2 days ago
- That I have a backyard to hang out in, and a portable gazebo to shield me from the sun while I read my free-from-the-library books on my lounge chair (so... backyard, gazebo, chair and books)
- That some restrictions will be lifted starting next week, and that in a month we will be allowed again to have people over in our home (with limitations, but still!). Already planning a game night with friends!
- That my daughter is feeling so much better at the moment (she tends to have depressive/anxious episodes, but she's been feeling good for the past 3 weeks)
Your peony bud is beautiful! Those are my favorite flowers. Our property had a number of peony bushes when we moved in (thankful for that!) and I just bought one from Aldi this spring. Good to know that it'll be a couple of years.
I'm thankful:
* that we slept well last night! We haven't put in our window a/c unit upstairs (our room is the only one upstairs) and it was 84 when we went to bed. I figured I might have to bail for the basement, but I actually got a good night of sleep. We have one set of sheets that make things feel cooler and I'm thankful for that!! The rest of the house now has central air and we will probably put the window unit in upstairs this weekend.
* that my 7yo is starting to read on her own quite a bit. Earlier this week she read an entire chapter book start to finish in one sitting. We read a lot together and I've wondered if my kids will enjoy reading on their own when they can. I'm glad to see my oldest enjoying it!!
* that our new-ish neighbors are nice. They moved in 6-7 months ago and are by far the most social neighbors we've had. That has been a big shift for us (the guy on the other side of us has said maybe 3 words to us in all of our 6 years here and avoids making eye contact) and it's been neat to have neighborly neighbors.