Thankful Thursday | counting down
This week, I am thankful:
that today is my last residency meeting
I am thrilled about this! All we have is a little graduation meeting next month, and then I'm truly done with nursing residency.
Woohoo!
that I am nearly done with my class overlap
On July 12th, the overlap ceases to exist, and I am so relieved.
I had an end-of-class group project due this week in one class, and an 8-10 page paper due in the other one, so I am glad to see the back end of this week's schoolwork!
that I have only six weeks left of full-time nursing
We are going to be counting down each week, so prepare yourselves. 😉
August 23rd is the start of my part-time work life, so after this week, I just have six weeks left to go!
I can do this.
for some cooler temperatures
the terrible heat wave has passed, so it is not as beastly hot outside now. Thank goodness!
for my car
You guys, I still feel a happy little grin spreading over my face when I walk out to a parking lot or parking garage and see my car.
I still can't believe it's mine!
that dairy doesn't bother me
I was eating some yogurt the other day and thinking how happy I am that dairy doesn't bother my digestive system.
I hate drinking milk (blech) but I would miss so many other dairy products if I were lactose intolerant.
Like...CHEESE.
I'm glad I don't need to live a cheese-less life. 😉
for my good health
Working at a hospital is a constant reminder that good health and mobility are not to be taken for granted.
Sometimes, I've taken care of patients who can't walk because they got polio before the vaccine was available, and I think about how terrifying that time must have been for parents and children, and how thankful I am that my children and I were born after the vaccine was invented.
Random fact: the last known wild poliovirus case in the U.S. was in 1979, a year after I was born. But it still is endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and active in a number of other countries. And since we live in an era of travel, it can still spread. Here's an interesting site that lists polio-free countries along with those that have ongoing polio.
Also: apparently, the last living woman using an iron lung just passed away at the end of June this year. And this NBC article has a cute picture of her as a kid in the iron lung.
Woo. I really went on a tangent there. Ha. Long story short, I'm super glad that I can walk, and super grateful I didn't get polio!
for my little house
I know I say this all the time, but my goodness, I love my rental house. It is such a cozy spot for Zoe and me, and I love that it is in a peaceful little neighborhood.
Six weeks to go! I'm cheering you on, Kristen - you can do this!
Thankfuls:
1. I'm so thankful I finished paying back my parents. It took a while but steady payments got it done, and now I can use future money for savings. And, of course, I'm immensely thankful to my parents for loaning me the money and supporting me in the first place!
2. I'm in agreement with you about the polio vaccine, and vaccines in general. My grandparents lost numerous siblings to things such as measles, diphtheria and other illnesses we have mostly managed to eradicate or at least lower the risks of since developing vaccines.
3. I'm happy to be home for summer! There was a long queue at passport control but when I mentioned my flight was soon (we had only just got the gate information!), an officer let those of us on that flight into a different line. I am thankful to that officer, and thankful to be home now, catching up with my friends and family and cats!
4. I am thankful to my friend for letting me stay in her apartment and look after her cat. It was very pleasant, apart from when I accidentally set off the smoke alarm - also thankful it was only smoke from cooking and not a fire! It took a while for the cat to forgive me 😉 I also saw another friend and we went swimming nearby and enjoyed a thermos of tea afterwards 🙂
5. I'm thankful just to be home, sitting in the garden, enjoying the sunshine, drinking lemonade and reading my book! I am about to see my friend, and her cats, and it's just so lovely to be here.
So happy for you, Sophie! That all sounds great-enjoy your time. Amy
Thank you! 🙂
Thankful:
-- That I could watch our street's annual July 4th morning parade from our deck as I was unable to walk in it this year. Neighbors, guests and kids come together to bike, walk, enjoy a fire truck, socialize, have pastries and juice at one house, coffee at another, and even a cocktail bar at another.
-- For a family get-together with my niece and her young family who are in town
-- For a difficult and sad conversation with my sister that ended well for both of us
-- For continued progress in physical therapy
-- For trees that did not come down during what seems like a daily run of scary storms
-- For electricity that stayed on, most importantly the AC!
Oh, I LOVE that! A parade sort of like an old-fashioned progressive dinner! FUN!
Yay - you can cross something off your list!
Empty schedules* are much underrated. *Empty but for the recurring things, such as work, and household chores.
I've been feeling sad and down due to "the world" lately, but I will not dwell on that. I've been trying to focus on what I have to be thankful for. That is quite a lot, and there is much that has just fall into my lap, with no effort on my behalf.
My thankfuls this week:
-that temperatures are back to agreeable
-that I inherited low blood pressure from the maternal line, not the high blood pressure of the paternal line
-that I enjoy a clean house more than I abhor the cleaning
-that my garden and house plants are doing so well. I am beginning to think I have green thumbs
-that our kids have such supportive and solid friendships
-that I will meet with my cousins in a few weeks
I am thankful, every day, that I am retired. That I could retire. It’s been just over a year since I did, and I still count my blessings every day!
YES! Retirement is the absolute BEST! I don't know how I ever had time to work! I'm really enjoying life, and I'm glad you are, too.
Now that you’re coming up on finishing your first year as a nurse, how are you feeling? They say the first year is the hardest…
I’m starting an ADN program Aug 24 at my local community college. Second career. And just started in a caregiver role for adults with disabilities. Nothing feels natural… yet. Give me some hope! (PS you’ve been such an inspiration for my journey so far. I see you doing all the things and it gives me a real life example to see it’s possible and that maybe I can do it too!)
As someone who had to switch careers in midlife, I am praying for you. My pastor told me that when we start something new, such as a career or schooling, there is a very steep learning curve at first. But then it will level out and things will be much better. You can do this! Hang in there! I'm sure you will be a blessing to those you care for.
Fru-gal Lisa, thank you for the words from your pastor. I started a new job a month ago and needed this bit of reassurance.
Hi, Julie - I went to school to earn an engineering degree at 39, after getting laid off. It was hard, and scary, and there were moments that were frankly humbling. But it gave me a solid career, and I love knowing more about how the world works! I found tht being older did make it harder to learn new things than it was when i was younger, but being more mature made it much, much easier to be organized and to just do all the things that needed to be done. My mantra was just: keep showing up. By which I meant: Go to all the classes, be fully present, read the instructions, be all in.
You can do this!
Go Kristen! The end is in sight!
Thankfuls:
- For A/C. Even though the extreme heat is over for now, our area is still hot and humid for a couple months in summer. A/C makes it bearable and I feel for those who don’t have it.
- We have been getting some RAIN! Afternoon/evening storms have given us much needed rain, but according to our local news, we still need about 20” to be out of drought conditions.
- The power outage resulting from one strong storm was at night and only lasted a couple hrs.
- For time spent with family over the past couple of weeks. It’s so fun to see how each grandchild is developing their own personality and interests.
Wow re: the iron lung article. Thank you for sharing that, Kristen!
I remain ever thankful for our castle and garden. We've a 1/4 acre and a small house, which means an easy half of that 1/4 acre is now vegetables and flowers. This morning, I'll be harvesting green beans, zucchini, kohlrabi, and cucumbers; last night, I made the first pickles of the season (we keep just eating the cucumbers :P) with fresh dill. Last night, too, my husband asked me to join him outside when he got home from work so we could admire the front flower beds together. So much beauty gifted from friends and neighbors. <3
I am thankful for you and your blog and your bravery in sharing with us!! It has been a privilege to be on this journey with you and to see how far you’ve come and how hard you’ve worked! By the way, my neighbor has your exact car and when I walk by it it makes me smile! Keep up the good work. We’re all proud of you!
This week I am thankful for:
The ability to clear my schedule. Today I'll be doing an airport drop off and pick up. In the time span between I'll do a quick Costco run. Toilet paper and a few other essential items.
I'm thankful that my fiance reminded me to go with the flow after we got detoured last week. We ended up having a lovely lunch and a quick walk to break up the trip.
I'm thankful for my mother. She's decided that she wants us to enjoy our inheritance now, and paid for the family vacation. We just paid for our food and fuel. We are ticking off things she always wanted to do, but put off doing for a variety of reasons.
My therapist, we had a great session. I'm preparing myself for a difficult discussion with a long time friend and she's helped me clarify my thoughts.
Thankfull for cooler weather as I really cannot bare the heat.
Hey, My Mom is also Ada : ) You don't hear this name much anymore. And Im with you. The heat makes me feel sick. I hate it.
This week, I'm extremely thankful that as of next Monday, CF and I will no longer be solely responsible for the chaos at NDN1's house. The estate sale/cleanout guy came over yesterday to collect a house key and make some notes before he starts work. Phew!
A. Marie, I'm so relieved for you. What an ordeal. I hope you do something to celebrate!
A.Marie, You and the other Caring Friend deserve a front row seat in Heaven for all you've done for your neighbor. May God bless you richly for your good works!
You are so near relief from your intense schedule!
I clearly remember standing in line with my Mom and brother to get the polio vaccine administered on a sugar cube when it first became available so I must have been 6 to 8. For me at the time it was just another routine medical thing we did so my parents did a good job of not sharing their valid fears and I wasn’t aware of anyone who got it but what a terrible disease .I truly don’t understand why the resistance to vaccines has increased as they are such a gift from science.
I am thankful that my little family are all healthy at the moment and able and willing to access preventative healthcare.
As retirees our summer is quiet this year and I am thankful that is by choice.
That quiet summer is a good reminder to be thankful that we have choices in what food we eat, a safe neighborhood for taking walks and a sweet dog to walk, and so much more.
I was born the year the Salk vaccine came out, and my sibs and I got those shots (annually, as I recall) until the Sabin vaccine came out (the "three sugar cubes and you're done" method), to our delight. We were all for anything that (a) didn't involve getting shots and (b) did involve eating sugar cubes!
Yes, I remember the sugar cubes! The whole town went to the junior high cafeteria to get them, because everyone still remembered how horrible a disease that polio was! I used to cover health and medicine for a newspaper, and one thing I recall from my reporting years is this: the polio virus is still active. Someone can carry the virus without showing symptoms, and shed the virus in a public place. It lingers in the air for a while. If you happen to then go to that place, you could pick up the virus. Without coming into direct contact with the carrier. If you are not vaccinated, you could then get polio. There is no good treatment for polio, only prevention via the vaccine. Do NOT let anyone, esp. a controversial public official, tell you that it is OK not to get a polio vaccine (or booster, if one is warranted.) This is not a matter of politics; it's a matter of public health. Yours and your loved ones'!
Important to remember: the polio virus is still out there. Yes, people can still get it. Our community had a case of polio involving a person who came here from Mexico, where they were not vaccinated, and it caused a very scary situation.
Yes to sugar cubes making kids happy to get a vaccine lol. I looked up the dates of that vaccination push and I was more likely 10 or 11. If we got the shots earlier I wasn't aware what it was for.
I got my polio vaccine with the sugar cubes as well and it was delivered by the local health departments (s) and we had to go to the middle school to get it. I remember standing in a line on the blacktop waiting to go into the cafeteria
I am thankful today for:
Social security. I wouldn't have much of a life without it.
Deep friendships. Casual friendships are fine -- we need all kinds -- but having a friend to whom you can say anything and can trust implicitly is priceless.
The spirit of generosity. It is amazing. I see it every day, in so many variations. People want to help. It's so inspiring.
Modern medicine. What terrible things people endured in the past, when medicine was was mostly hocus-pocus! The progress that has been made is truly astonishing.
Coffee. I look forward to my cup every morning. How sad that it's become so expensive.
Beth W, I’m also grateful for Social Security! All my adult life it was hammered into me from various sources not to rely on it. My hub and I shaped our lives accordingly. BUT THEN, a cascade of events has us living on SS as our only source of income with our retirement funds depleted I’m grateful my hub made a good amount of money and our SS combined lets us so far hold our own. I’m grateful for this blog and seeing how others live frugally.
I am so sorry that you are in this situation, Sue. It could happen to any of us, for sure. I am holding out until I can start drawing Social Security next May, using my savings and as you say, being inspired by Kristen's blog and all those who comment here. Take good care-Amy
You're so close to a less busy time! What a relief that will be 🙂
I'm grateful for:
Alone time with boy #1 yesterday. He found chanterelles on his own (a first for him) and we found grocery bags full of golden oyster mushrooms on a hike together.
The possibility of boy #3 getting into a special math program. He has always loved math so much, my hope is that this program could fuel that love and possibly help us figure out career options. At the very least he's enjoying the application process.
That we close on our old house next week! The end is in sight!
For OralIvy which has shortened the duration of so many poison ivy rashes for us this summer.
For my bread maker and the boy who enjoys using it.
That must be so much fun finding mushrooms!
Also, congrats on closing on your house!
We have friends who golden oysters from our property. And our adjacent neighbors also allow them to harvest on their property as do a couple of other neighbors. Does your son eat the mushrooms he finds/harvests? Our friends' child enjoys the hunt and is a good spotter but does not eat them!
Oh! I'd not heard about OralIvy! I'll have to look into that!!! When I was a kid I got annual shots to prevent poison ivy (worked like a charm, too), but they stopped making the serum. So I had to suffer with it after that.
I am so grateful that everything is finding a place in the River House where nothing is standard size ( There was a crooked house . . . .) Days of searching have produced a cutlery organizer for the drawer; drawer organizers for plates and bowls next to dishwasher ( no overhead cabinets in that area); a quilt holder as a towel rack; an two seat cushions for my island banquette.
I am grateful for the hospital that will begin my husband's prostate cancer radiation today. It is one of the best in the country. Billions don't have access to quality medical care. Ours is 20 miles away.
I am grateful for the brilliant pink crepe myrtles outside my window. God's art on display.
Gotta throw in . . . coffee and Chobani Vanilla Creamer.
In no particular order, thankful for tea, my friend who is a therapist specializing in balance disorders who is helping me through my vertigo issues, for my job, for my family, and for my cats.
I have vertigo too. It is no fun. Good luck with therapy. Mine comes and goes. I am truly happy when it goes.
I'll echo the thanks for vaccines! Even for comparatively minor diseases like chickenpox - I have scars on my face from having chickenpox. It was the same year that the vaccines came out, but I hadn't gotten the shot yet - although my mother has often told me that she wishes she had!
(Some folks where I live are skeptical of vaccines, but I'm the opposite because I'd be OK with more! Last year I caught hand-foot-and-mouth from a child and lost 2 toenails - I would've rather had a vaccine if one existed!!)
The vaccine came out 6 months AFTER my youngest had chicken pox! Nice if us had a chance - LOL! I hadn't caught it when I was a child, then got it from my son, who got it at day care. Chicken pox as an adult is NOT a good thing. The kids barely itched; I had terrible blisters literally EVERYWHERE.
I'm thankful you are starting to see some ease in your hectic schedule.
I'm especially grateful this week for the little bit of rain we have had, which is helping to tame the forest fire raging in our county and clearing the air of smoke.
For free library books and audio books. I have been reading a lot lately and enjoying it so much.
For the lovely new turquoise paint in my bedroom. I smile every time I see it.
For fresh carrots from the garden -- so delicious.
OHH on the Iron Lung comment, if you haven't you TOTALLY need to read Replaceable You by Mary Roach, she tried to sleep in an Iron Lung herself for the book! It may have been Ms. Lilards but I can't remember and as I listened to the book via library I can't check.
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/10/nx-s1-5602080/replacement-human-anatomy-iron-lung
it's SUCH a great book!
Kristen, I'm so glad that you're at the Countdown point for your summer classes and work shifts! The end is in sight.
Thankfuls:
I made it home in time yesterday when my car transmission gave out. I was about a mile from home when the fluid unexpectedly drained out of my transmission, and by the time I got home the engine was smoking. But I was able to position it well for the tow truck that took it away later in the evening. {{Sigh}}
That my son's new student orientation at college went well last week. He's off for his freshman year in a few weeks, and it was nice to see him be so excited on campus.
The thrifting gods blessed me yesterday. I have put on weight in the last two years (due to surgery and other health related issues including menopause) and haven't felt comfortable in my clothes lately. Clothes were 50% off at my favorite thrift store. I bought 5 items and didn't pay more than $3 for any item.
For good health insurance and health care. I know I am fortunate for this and do not take it for granted.
For this community. The Commentariat is a constant source of great ideas, encouragement, and support.
I'm a fan of counting down! We have a white board in the mud room counting down all kinds of things.
We survived July 4th without brush fires.
We had three nights of aurora borealis showing off.
Cool mornings for our sunrise yoga.
Kitty cuddles. Itty bitty tree frogs. Crazy dog rodeo with goats and sheep.
Aurora borealis, lucky you! 🙂
Thankfuls:
* For air conditioning. Our area will be hot and humid for a few more months and I don't think I could sleep without A/C at home. The HVAC unit at my office is not functioning properly and it is 80 degrees in my office which makes me very grumpy.
* The court approved me to be the administrator for my brother's estate. I did not want the job, but no one else, including his wife, would take on the responsibility. Now the real work begins.
* My daughter and her family got pictures done last week. I'm so happy to have this stage in their lives documented. Love seeing the action shots of grandson since he spent most of the photo shoot running around!
* It has been one year since I went part time at work. I still love being off every Friday and am thankful that we have been able to easily handle my decrease in salary.
* The coneflowers and black-eyed Susans are in full bloom in our flower bed. They are so beautiful and I love seeing the bees and butterflies enjoying them too.
Like Mary, I'm thankful for retirement. Many people do not have comfortable situations in retirement, so I don't take it for granted.
Husband is mowing the lawn as I type. As we are aging, there are things that we are no longer able to do. He loves to mow and I'm thankful that he can still enjoy it.
Phone call from my sweet daughter yesterday.
Coffee date yesterday with two friends who are new to each other. They are now friends.
My husband and I hope to one day retire in a comfortable situation too and to enjoy the simple life 🙂
So glad that you’re able to do that and appreciate it!
This week I am thankful for a trip to the pool yesterday. This was our first time going this year, and I’m not sure we went at all last year. If we did, it was only a couple of times because I just had so little energy. I’m glad I’m beginning to feel like myself again little by little.
Love hearing your encouraging updates, Becca!
thankful for you, my kids and that hubby is trying to find a solution to the moving to Irvington problem. That my primary gave ne the latest and greatest new med for acid reflux. I hope it works. Despite having 22 scripts on file with my pharmacy, I am considered fairly healthy. That seems crazy to me. Luckily cause the hubby has excellent insurance they are all free to me.
Glad the one class has ended so you can just concentrate on the remaining one, Six weeks is not long! Then you can semi-relax.
1. I'm happy that my roof is paid for and also that I've made the fourth and final payment on this year's property tax. More wiggle room in my finances!
2. My regular dentist's office staff is submitting more info to MetLife Dental Insurance so that maybe, just maybe, the misers at MetLife will pay more toward my treatment and that I won't have to pay as much out of pocket. So nice of the ladies to go to bat for me!
3. The bag sale at the thrift store that bagged me a whole lot of slacks and jeans and pants for a mere ten bucks. I got so many that I haven't worn them all yet! Most are my favorite brand and all are my correct size.
4. The customer who told me she always tries to come through my line because I cheer her up so much.
5. My friend who mows my lawn and does repairs around my house. He saw a problem and fixed it without my telling him to, and now my sliding glass door closes so much better! And he plays with Snuggles, who loves the roughhousing with him.
Your friend sounds like such a blessing!
I see some celebrating coming your way!
I’m thankful for …
- Family Time: The chance to celebrate the 4th of July together with my husband and girls. In our 10 years in this home, he has only been able to spend the 4th with us a couple of times so it meant a lot that he got to spend the day with us.
- The Beauty of God’s Creation: While watering my friend’s garden, I got to taste sweet, fresh strawberries and raspberries, admire the beautiful flowers and the bountiful garden.
- Windy and Rainy Days: It’s been hot lately and we’re forecasted to be in the 100s for the high this weekend so any wind or rain is much appreciated and welcomed!
- A Full Fridge: We are so blessed to have a generous community supporting us through the free summer park lunches and leftovers from the food pantry.
- God’s Word: I am incredibly grateful for Scripture and the deep ways it continues to impress upon my heart.
GOSH, the polio list and article. How quickly people forget. Thank you for the interesting links and reminding us.
This week I'm thankful:
* that we didn't have any damage to our home when a storm blew through over the weekend. We were without power for a while, but we only had one branch from our many, many trees come down. We saw a number of large trees that were uprooted (one a mile from our house) and have friends who had significant damage to their homes. But everyone was safe.
* that we were able to get a generator and didn't lose any food.
* that our yard is so peaceful.
* for time with a friend this week. A couple of weeks ago we were commenting how we hadn't spent more than 3 minutes together in a long time, but we're both taking care of snacks for drama camp this week, so we get to hang out 3 hours a day for 5 days! She's lovely and it's nice to catch up.
* for our friendship with our old neighbors. We had them over for dinner last night and I'm glad that our friendship has lasted even though we're not right next door anymore.
A tidbit to add to your polio "tangent." (I'm 73.) The first boy I ever dated got polio years later. He was married (not to me) with 2 children and went camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota. There he came down with a case of polio. He grew up in the wilds of Alaska and was never vaccinated. His children were, however, and one was still in diapers. It's assumed that's how he was exposed. He became a paraplegic and in his mid-30s died of cancer. That would have been in the 80s, so I'm pretty sure he contracted it in the 70s. Such a sad story and such a remarkable man.
Congratulations! Graduation is in sight! I am so pleased for you. This week I am thankful for
Plumbers who come promptly.
Phone message systems.
Beautiful produce at my favorite local market.
My happy husband.
My healthy little cat, who is recovering from feral nightmares with help from the vet.
I’m thankful for ongoing good health for my husband and me. We each have more frequent eye exams, dental visits, etc, but our wonderful medical teams are keeping us strong and at our ages, we’re so very grateful!
Thankful we are able to do regular walking in good weather, Tai Chi at home, lifting weights and doing recumbent bike at home. And of course, we’re still doing a lot of dancing.
So glad we have so many new folks coming to an upcoming group dance class/ party our instructor is teaching. Dancing is SO fun and has many benefits.
I’m so relieved and grateful to the Lord for His kindness toward me in that my mammogram and EBCD screenings were benign and normal ( except for scarring from surgeries,etc).
I’m 5 1/2 years a survivor now.
I’m thankful that my husband is able to work only 3 days each week now. He’s easing into retirement. So far, so wonderful!
So glad all your scans were normal!
I am grateful my parents vaccinated me, too.
I remember when I was about 4 years old, my parents took me to a local Catholic school that had a big gymnasium. We waited in line along with hundreds of people in order to go into the gym, and each person chose a little cup from a table with a sugar cube that carried the oral polio vaccine. I wanted another one (which of course, my parents refused). People were so grateful to get the polio vaccine and avoid the horrible disease. I'm sad now when I see people refusing to vaccinate their children from preventable diseases because of pseudoscience and political rhetoric. We will see more deaths and horrible neurological sequelae as fewer and fewer people get vaccinated.
I am VERY thankful that DS#3's scheduled appointment with an endocrinologist (originally for August) got moved up to this week (pro tip: always ask to be put on the cancellation list!), so that the doctor drew labs that showed he was in acute kidney failure. He's in the hospital now receiving treatment, and we're hoping beyond hope that this third hospital visit (in a different hospital, in another city) will lead to some answers and proper treatment.
I am so sorry. Wishing your son a full and speedy recovery. Prayers and virtual hugs coming your way.
Oh my goodness! I hope everything turns out ok for him!
Goodness gracious, your poor boy! He just can't catch a break.
Hoping with you too that this third hospital helps him.
Oh Karen, I'm so sorry this is happening. May your son finally get the care he needs and deserves.
So very proud of you, Kristen! Praying for strength for you. I feel the same way about my Ford Escape (2022, purchased in early 2024). I drove a 2004 Toyota Camry for 8 years that was given to me by friends, and when I then gave it away, it had over 260,000 miles!
Thankful today for library books (especially finding Maggie O'Farrell's Land on the new shelf yesterday apparently just waiting for me to come along), air conditioning, a lovely saltwater pool in my community that is often vacant in the evenings, for a free month of Fubo that has allowed me to watch pretty much all the Wimbledon matches I want to see, and that my 86 year old mom got hearing aids recently and is doing so well with them. Makes life much easier for both of us!
And bonus, also a frugal thing-found a Down Uniqlo jacket for my mom in great condition at my favorite thrift store today for $7.99!! The price right now for that jacket on their website is $79.90!!!
I understand the hassle of overlapping classes and working full time. I'm a teacher, and I taught full time while completing my masters degree. I was so glad when that was over and I only (only!) had to teach full time!
Congratulations on being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Always thankful for vaccines!
I am thankful for many of the things you cited--and for getting adjusted to hearing aids and corrective lifts in my shoes to aid walking. 😉 I am grateful you took the time to enumerate them! Congratulations on all you have been accomplishing!
6 weeks- you're almost down to counting it in one hand- woo hoo!
1. I am thankful for for gentle touch medical staff. I had a procedure about a week ago and it was physically as pleasant as I could hope for. Today my stitches are set to come out and I am not nervous, because I know they will be gentle.
2. Baby wipes! Since I can't get my bandages wet, I've been relying on baby wipes and a saline wash + cloths for that area.
3. Pigeons. I know this may be controversial, but they just sound so nice. I've also seen many really pretty pigeons- so different than the grey and white ones I knew growing up.
4. Tailors. I can do basic repairs and have made some complicated patterns, but some alterations just are out of my wheelhouse. Tailors tend to be small businesses, too, and I love supporting them.
5. Book exchanges (and libraries). There's also a non-profit nearby that has a whole book room and the prices are amazing. I don't think second hand (or 4th or 5th) books need to be expensive.
Thankful for:
1. The time to hang out with my teen son. But mostly, that he wants to spend time with me.
2. AC and the means to pay my electricity bill. The heat has been unrelenting.
3. Family close by, even when it’s not perfect. 😉
4. My almost updated kitchen with a dishwasher. Woohoo!
5. A healthy mind and body.
Honestly, I could go on for pages about all the big and small blessings in my life. So grateful.
My dad visited his classmate and the classmate's year older brother at a hospital when both were in an iron lung. Polio killed both of them (Bulbar polio). Ten or eleven of the children in the family had polio. While it didn't kill one of the kids at the time, it eventually did. The family was quarantined for a period of time - just think of the uproar if that happened today. Suffice it to say my dad is pro-vaccine to this day.
We lost power for 28 hours last week. We fired up the generator but better half had to drive a ways to buy more fuel as the closest towns also lost power.
Glad we had major tree trimming done before the power outage storm hit.
Dad continues to live alone and is doing well.
We had no food loss during the power outage.
Love the blue glass instrument.
I was so intrigued with the polio map and iron lung news story that I forgot to come back and comment! Very interesting and thanks for sharing.
I'm thankful
- For more rain this week which fills up our cistern.
- For my favorite annual FREE work conference this week, even though it is a long drive (3.5 hrs).
- For my raffle prize from that conference, a paid membership tier for a teacher blogger whose podcasts I love. Her mindset and ideas are like a magnet for my soul. Like the FG but for my career haha.
- That my shingles rash broke out one day before I had a scheduled doc appt so it was seamless to get antiviral meds.
- That I still have some time on summer break to keep recovering, catching up with friends/family, and gearing up for the coming school year.
I am so grateful for 5 weeks of summer holidays after an eventful, happy, successful and busy year of teaching (which also means lots of time for reading and having time for being in the moment).
I am thankful for a week of hiking in the Alps with my husband, our 17-year-old daughter and our 23-year-old son who still likes spending time with us although he has a busy work and private life himself.
So glad your schedule is lightening up!
Congratulations, Kristen, on achieving another milestone! PROGRESS! YAY!
Here's my Thankful Thursday list:
1. I'm thankful that our house is FINALLY getting the repairs needed after our 110-tulip poplar smashed our pickup truck, our little car, and a corner of our roof THERE AGO.
2. I'm thankful that our homeowners insurance fully covered the raccoon removal and remediation of the attic damage perpetrated by said raccoon as a result of the hole made in our roof by the previously-mentioned tulip tree.
3. I'm thankful we could afford to replace the pickup truck.
4. This is a terrible thing to say, but also kind of funny: I'm thankful the little car got smashed by the tree. It was a terrible LEMON of a car and I heartily LOATHED it!
5. I'm thankful the tree fell in a northwesterly direction instead of directly north - it would have made the house completely unliveable. (I think about this CONSTANTLY.)
Can you tell we're kind of fixated on the tree incident right now? LOL!
That was supposed to read our 110-FOOT tulip poplar. Brain fade!
THREE MONTHS AGO. Now I KNOW I didn't leave that out when I wrote it. Ugh.
I am so thankful that I finally have two weeks off work. It's been a bit full on since Christmas. I am thankful that we can afford to rent a remote cabin in the mountains without INTERNET. I am thankful that my local charity shop has a good selection of novels I could get for the trip.