Thankful Thursday | finding the silver lining
A reader recently send me Jason Mraz's "Look for the Good" song, and since that's one of my life themes, I gave it a listen.
One of the lyrics says, "If there's a silver lining, you still have to find it", and I like that point. Silver linings aren't always obvious; you often have to do some hunting to find them.
And maybe that's where we get tripped up sometimes; we think the silver linings will jump right out at us. Nope; it's totally normal for it to require work.
But the good news I repeatedly stress is: the more you hunt for silver linings, the better you get at it! Your brain gets more proficient at what it repeatedly does, so you might as well train it to get good at silver-lining-hunting. 🙂
And on that note, this week I'm thankful:
that I can stay in school
Despite the fact that I will be doing life on my own in the future, I will still be able to stay in school.
I have money set aside for nursing school (I started saving for this quite a few years ago), and I will be able to support myself by blogging while I'm in school.
So, I do not have to set aside my dream of becoming an R.N., and I'm so thankful for that.
that my developmental psych class does not look like it will be hard
I'm taking chemistry, microbiology, and developmental psych this semester.
The chemistry and microbiology are not going to be terribly easy, so I am very, very thankful that at least the developmental psych workload seems manageable.
Prior to this, I've only taken science classes, and I gotta say, a non-science class feels so much easier! Whew.
that Zoe likes both of her classes
She's doing dual enrollment during her last year of high school, so she and I are both at college together. 😉 So far, she likes both of her professors, and I'm so happy about that.
A good professor makes a world of difference.
that Lisey's return to school is going well
She really likes living here with Zoe and me (ok, the cat is a big draw as well!), so she's opting to stay here and do the long commute to school every day.
If she gets weary of the drive, she can always move back in with my aunt and uncle, but for now, this is what she wants to do.
So far, it's going well, and her classmates are so happy to have her back.
for a little break in the heat and humidity
I am so thrilled to feel some crisp air! The heat and humidity will be back in a few days (boo!), but a little respite is awesome.
And regardless, I know there's only about one more month of humidity to deal with; October usually brings some nice dry air.
that my piano is now tuned
It had fallen out of tune after being moved/adjusting to the air in a different home, but my tuner finally was able to make it out here yesterday.
I'm delighted that it's back to sounding lovely again.
And I am endlessly grateful to have my piano here with me!
that I was able to rent a home, not an apartment
If I'd rented an apartment, I'd probably have a lot less space, and I don't even know if I'd have been able to fit my piano.
Plus, I'd feel a little bad about playing the piano in an apartment building; I know the sound would carry to neighboring apartments, and that might be annoying for other residents.
And since I have a house, I've got outdoor space to work on projects. Painting furniture would be much harder in an apartment.
that the other rentals didn't work out
When I was walking the other day, I went past a townhouse I'd tried to rent. I didn't get that one (someone submitted an application an hour before I did!), but looking back now, I am so thankful I didn't get it.
The townhouse was fine, but my current home has a lot more space inside and outside, and it is way more conducive to having Lisey here with us.
(at the time I was house hunting, I wasn't sure she was going to move back here!)
When I look back at all the other rentals I tried to get, I can see reasons that each of them was not as good as this one.
So in retrospect, I am very thankful!
First time commenter:
As a college professor, I LOVE your enthusiasm for school. Some of my favorite students are the non-traditional (aka older) ones. They are motivated and a delight to have in class. Good for you!!
@Jane, So happy to hear this! My husband was 42 when he started back in college. In one of his first few classes, a professor made a negative comment about non-traditional students. After my husband demonstrated his strong work ethic and commitment to learning, she ate her words, and my husband became her prize pupil. 🙂
My goodness, I can't believe the professor said that! All of my professors have been lovely to work with, despite the fact that I am usually the oldest person in the class, and most of my classmates could be my children. Ha.
@Jane, I teach part time as well and I agree that the most hardworking and focused students are non-traditional. They always do well in my courses. Have a great semester!
It's because we are so motivated, I think!
Also: we have fully-developed prefrontal cortexes. 😉
Another college instructor here who loves working with non-traditional students (we call them adult learners).
1. Bad thing: being so sick this summer I've only been to the beach twice and I live on the beach. Don't have the energy to climb the dune.
Silver lining: seeing whales every single day now while sitting in my favorite chair.
2. Bad thing: son having a hard time finding another job--his first company was busted by the SEC.
Silver lining: he's around to help with cleaning, shopping, pets.
3. Bad thing: eviction dragging on.
Silver lining: I can't think of any! Sorry.
4. Bad thing: end of summer.
Silver lining: I took off two days for a five day weekend to savor it and I will go to the beach today.
@Rose,
Eviction silver lining: you will be able to share your experience with others and they will hopefully not have to go through this same headache?
@Becca, I don't know how. This guy is one in a million. Thank goodness. These two stories are similar, although he's never been my roommate. They're all sociopaths. I probably will get an article out of it.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/jamison-bachman-worst-roommate-ever.html
https://www.thecut.com/article/kate-gladstone-roommate-west-village-nyc.html
Bad thing: my piano and some of my precious objects have been in a storage unit for so long.
Silver lining: the storage unit is now so expensive I have to make room for everything in my house, and I will have my piano back. It's really my daughter's piano and she plays it much better than I do. It's an antique Bechstein so it's going to need some serious tuning when I get it back.
And maybe several tunings! If it's way, way out, it sometimes can't be brought back all the way in one sitting.
@Rose,
Maybe your article is your silver lining.
Is that a Yamaha U3? I have the same piano! I looooove it so much. Thanks for the reminder- I need to call and schedule a tuning for mine, too. 🙂 I am thankful my kids went back to school today!! Just waved goodbye to them 5 minutes ago. Summer was great but I think we all really need to get back to a consistent routine. Good luck with your semester! I’m a nurse too. 🙂 I remember taking one semester from hell right before starting nursing school that was four classes, Physiology, Anatomy, Bacteriology and a Child Development course all at the same time, for a full 18 credits. It was awfulllll. I remember being so grateful for that child development class which was comparatively super light!
I actually have a Weinbach piano, but I have noooo idea what the exact model is!
Thankful for 2 healthy animals. The dogs both went to a vet that we had to find after moving, and they are both healthy and it didn't break the bank. The senior dog has some skin issues, but the vet told us how to fix that. The puppy is trying our patience, of course. And he is young, so I see a lot of crate training in the future. He is getting used to use as we are to him.
That we were able to exchange the fridge/freezer that we purchased. We were so excited to find what I was looking for that we didn't even check before putting the item in the car. It turned out to be a refrigerator/freezer combo rather than the freezer I wanted. So back to the store husband had to go. The freezer is now plugged in and getting use with all the batch cooking we are doing.
Thankful that it only costs $50. to fill the gas tank in my car and not $75. like it used to at the beginning of summer.
Thankful for nature's bounty that our neighbor has been sharing with us. And thankful for the food on our table all week.
Thankful that I got to see an old friend this past weekend and his family. His son got married and we had a wonderful time wishing them well. It is nice to connect with old friends.
That is quite an achievement - despite major changes in your life and a loss in income to still being able to go to school and support your children. Bravo!
Is Zoe going to a regular school now with no more home schooling? How lovely that Lisey is contemplating staying with you in the near future.
I wish you all the best!
I'm thankful for cooler nights. I had windows open much of yesterday and I have them open again this morning.
I'm thankful for the multitudes of ways to use overripe bananas. I made Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip muffins this morning and threw the smelly peels away.
I'm thankful that some foods that bother me if I eat them frequently I can tolerate occasionally. I had an egg sandwich today but can't eat eggs very often.
I'm thankful for good things happening for friends. One friend had both her children (with spouses and kid(s)) move back to our area, from the Midwest, recently. Another friend was finally able to have a hip replacement surgery and feels, and looks, like a new person.
I'm thankful for a visit with a friend that moved to FL six months ago. She made a brief stop in the Baltimore area on her way to ME.
I'm thankful we can afford to have work done on our fireplace/chimney. The house is 64 years old and needs some work done.
I'm thankful that my Celtic skin, though not lovely, was fine when I went for my annual skin check. I only have to go once a year and it is a quick appointment.
@K D,
Skin checks are soooo important....great job being proactive. A blonde haired, blue eyed nurse where I work had skin cancer (melanoma) removed from her arm a few years ago (she's doing just fine since, thankfully). I remember her saying the doctor told her that with her blonde hair and blue eyes, it was more a matter of "when" than "if" she would get skin cancer. I, also, get skin checks every year (though not of Celtic or Nordic background - I've had several severe sunburns as a kid, and have fair skin), with good news so far.
@K D, My brother died from Melanoma - fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyed - and I make it a priority to go to the dermatologist once a year. I've had 3 basal cell skin cancers removed so far at age 61. Fair skin, blue eyed, dark brown hair that is now white. A few blistering sunburns when I was a kid/teenager.
As I noted in my FFT on Tuesday, my FFT is also my Thankful Thursday for this week. I will add only that I am thankful for Kristen and the entire Frugal Girl community. You all have become an important part of my life, and I thank you.
Great post today- don't we all need the reminder that even in challenge, there's opportunity, but not necessarily ones that leap out with flashing lights. I too am facing life changes, some by choice, some by chance, some determined by others. It's up to me to find how to make these all work.
So glad you are able to continue your education. The world will be blessed to have you as an RN one day soon.
This week I am thankful:
1. Hubby and I have recovered 95% from Covid after three weeks. No hospitalizations, no major issues, just a lingering cough that will eventually go away.
2. This weekend will be cooler and drier, I am not a fan of heat and humidity either, it really saps your energy.
3. A good cup of tea and the wonderful husband who is always willing to make one for me.
4. The mini fan someone gave me that runs off the USB port on my computer. It has been keeping me cool while I work at home.
5. A coupon that came in time to get a good deal on some t-shirts my husband needed to replace. We were waiting for a deal and lo and behold, it arrived!
@AnnieH,
That Covid cough can linger so long but it does eventually go away. (My husband and I tried so many things to sleep through the night while that cough lingered: humidifier, Vic's vapor rub, cough drops, cough syrup . . . and one day the cough was gone.)
@Rebekah in SoCal,
Yup, been trying all that and tincture of mullein as well. They all definitely help get us through the night. It is fading slowly, but surely though.
Regarding your rental, God always knows what he's doing, right?
Yep. It's just hard to see at the time!
I so look forward to reading your posts everyday and loooove your pictures! It is inspiring to see how your girls have grown up so much and picked their own paths in life. Also, keep up the good work. I think you are and inspiration to many of us that read this blog!
What I am thankful for:
Thankful for my old Kia Optima. She keeps running even at 324,000 miles and a 44 mile commute each way to work everyday. I bought it during cash for clunkers, so that is how old it is:)
Thankful my husband is gracious enough to run my two boys up to our state fair tonight after school. Neither one of us are really into going to the fair and our boys have never been. I typically do not get home until 5 pm and it's an 1 1/2 drive one way. So, this way they get to go and experience it for themselves and I can have a night off. I am probably going to read a new to me book that I ordered off ebay:)
Have a great day!
@Jackie, We have a Honda Fit that we bought during the cash for clunkers program, too, haha! And it's still going strong!
@Brooke, That's awesome:)
Oooh, have a wonderful night of alone time!
I’m so thankful that I stuck with the challenges I encountered while completing my nursing prerequisites and going to nursing school (started ADN program at age 38). It was one of the best decisions I ever made and has led to a lot of personal and intellectual growth (as well as financial stability for my family). There were surprises: I planned to go into Labor and Delivery/Mom-Baby but found I did not enjoy the hospital environment. However that led me to the prevention and education focused areas of community health, and then public health, which I love! I took Microbiology 15 or 16 years ago and remember dreading it ..and was then surprised to discover that it was fascinating (a good professor really does help). I hope you like it too. I really enjoy hearing about your nursing journey.
I am so lucky to have a great microbio professor; only two classes in, I can tell she is really, really good at her job.
1. We are still having issues with our son transitioning to first grade at a new school. It is very difficult. I am thankful however for the glimmers of improvement that I see in him, new mercies every morning & a husband who lets me vent. Motherhood is a sanctifying experience.
2. Thankful that I have all of the seeds that I need to plant my fall garden. Gardening is a lot of work but it also reduces our grocery expenses, lets us eat fresh produce year round, and it is a great blessing to my mental health.
3. Thankful that we are beginning to see cooler temperatures. The humidity is still going but not nearly as bad as it was several weeks back. Also the light in changing which is a sure sign of fall & it is lovely.
4. Autumn decorations in my home, pumpkin candles lit, yummy dinners in the evening studded with laughter and homework.
5. Coffee.
I remember developmental psych (although it was, gulp, 20+ years ago)! I think I had to take it as an undergrad and grad student. I hope you find it helpful and a break from your more challenging courses!
This week I'm thankful:
- That our new home is coming together. The neighbors are lovely, the location is incredible, and we have a good amount of space.
- That we have 2 small outdoor decks that face tress and shrubs. For now, it's mostly still very hot in Florida, but we can still enjoy the beautiful outdoor space, and as it gets cooler, we'll enjoy it even more. I'm happy to say that no one near us is polluting the air in the outdoor space, so we are thrilled.
- For my dad's nurse. Dad has taken a steep dive in his well-being over the last 2 weeks, and his nurse is looking out for him and seeking the best care at every turn. Dad will most likely start palliative care (and potentially hospice) within the next week, but I trust his nurse's opinion that it's best for him. And given what I've been hearing, I agree 100%.
- That our visit with my in-laws went well. My husband and I are currently in a different mindset than his parents about some issues, and I'm happy to say that they respected our choices and were really quite lovely about it.
- That we had some money (that came from my parents) to treat my in-laws to some experiences while they were here. We aren't often able to do that, so this was a treat.
Isn't hindsight a good thing? You were so disappointed to miss some of those rentals, and now you are so glad you did! I had wondered if nursing school was going to be put on hold; I'm glad to hear it won't have to be.
1. I'm thankful for the safe drive home through a bad thunderstorm yesterday. It was pretty wild out there for a while.
2. I'm thankful that the three deer about to cross the road I live on spotted me driving toward them before I spotted them, and stopped to wait.
3. I'm still thankful for A/C and thankful that we are another week closer to autumn. My apologies to those of you who live in colder climates and aren't feeling the joy I'm feeling about it.
4. I'm thankful that my dermatologist appointment went well this week. After having three skin cancers removed in the last few years, I'm always happily surprised when we find nothing.
5. I'm thankful that some of the staff at my husband's nursing home have figured out how to work best with him. He loves lighthearted teasing and back and forth, and some of them have learned to do it well with him. He still doesn't like being there, but the staff members who make him laugh, and laugh at his dry humor make his days brighter. I was there when one woman genuinely laughed out loud when she asked him where he wanted his insulin injection and he answered, "In your arm."
@JD, that #5 story about the insulin reminds me of an old story from DH's family about the time my MIL was trying to give DH's younger brother some yucky medicine and there was absolutely no way he would take it--in food, beverages, or anything else. Finally, she asked him in exasperation, "Is there ANYTHING I can put this medicine in for you?" The brother replied, "Yes. Put it in [DH]."
And, seriously, I'm glad to hear what you say about the staff learning to work with your DH. This is great news.
@JD, oh my goodness, your #5 is hilarious. It reminds me of a recent experience when I was in with a patient and was checking his orientation. I asked him where we were right now and his response (not meaning to be offensive here, folks!) was, "This side of hell". That earned a belly laugh from me. 🙂 Your husband sounds like so much fun--even in a difficult circumstance, he has maintained his humor.
When I saw your 1st day of school pictures on Instagram, I noticed how much more confident you look in the year 2 picture than you did in the 1st year. While I know your life has been turned upside down, you are handling it all so beautifully.
I'm thankful that my dental implant placement procedure is over and went well. I had bad experiences with dentist when I was growing up so I still have major anxiety for dental procedures.
I'm thankful that we have the money to cover the cost of the implant because my dental insurance pays nothing towards it and it is expensive.
I'm thankful for my DH who took wonderful care of me after my dental procedure. He picked up my prescriptions, made me soup for dinner, picked up my favorite ice cream, and washed my bedding. I love fresh sheets and I love that he knows that makes me happy.
I'm thankful that I can take a day off and enjoy a four day holiday weekend.
I'm thankful that I was able to make dinner to take to both kids this week. I got to visit with them when I dropped it off and it made me happy to help them out when they are both so busy and stressed out.
I think you are right; I probably FEEL more confident this year than I did last year!
@Beverly, @Kristen,
I agree! I noticed that too!
Gratitude is EVERYTHING! We can be so disappointed when things don't seem to work out, but it usually ends up to our benefit. When things are seen in a new or different light, we feel the gratitude/relief. We move forward with a positive attitude! Silver linings ARE there!
This week, I’m thankful …
1) For asthma meds! My son ended up with Covid this week and now has the dreaded cough of illness + asthma. I’m very thankful to have asthma treatments to use at home, plus a nearby hospital that can assist if additional treatment is needed.
2) That the rest of my household had Covid just a month ago. I know it’s possible to get Covid again, especially if this is a different variant, but our recent infection plus vaccinations make it less likely we’ll get really sick.
3) For the means to plan ahead. I already had some extra canned goods, water, etc. in our basement, but the seemingly constant tragedies around the world reminded me to refresh our emergency travel packs. My son has a large number of food allergies and would likely not be able to eat any food charitable groups would be handing out. He needs safe (and lightweight) food and extra medications that we can just grab and go.
My list sounds a bit full of doom and gloom this week, but really I’m thankful for ways to feel some control in less than ideal situations!
Thankfuls:
--That my children destroy t-shirts regularly, so I can cut them up for nose-blowing cloths. 🙂 The allergies right now seem to be off the charts.
--I had my annual BLT the other day with the only Cherokee Purple tomato I've managed to get out of the garden so far, and it was gloriously drippy and delicious. Bonus thankfuls that I found enough lettuce that hadn't bolted, I had one more jar of Duke's mayonnaise left (better than Hellman's, but WOAH expensive now), and that I regularly make sourdough bread. This all adds up to the perfect BLT. But only once a year. Sandwiches are not the best for me digestion-wise, so it has to be worth it.
--That our bus route is WAY shorter this year, since the kids last year that lived farthest either moved or are getting to school another way. It could change at any time, but for now, I am truly thankful to only have a fifteen-minute bus ride on either end of my work day, rather than an hour on either end.
--That my eldest son is so much more relaxed about football this year. Last year's season was continuous anxiety and confusion. Now that he knows how to play better, and knows the other boys already, I don't have to talk him down from a ledge every night. Dare I say he's even having fun this year? Yes. And that makes it much less stressful for me.
--For Riesen chocolate caramels. Hooray for a company that hasn't been bought out by Hershey's or Mars, and therefore still produces high-quality chocolate.
Oh wow, I bet that once-a-year BLT must be an AMAZING experience for you.
Well, I am thankful for your blog! LOL
It is a reminder that God's knitting patterns turn out better than we initially imagine!
I am thank for for this good day, in the words of e.e. cummings remembering HE did not die and leave me in charge.
This week I am thankful for the wonderful wedding we attended of two loving and lovely gentlemen, for the warmth and happiness of all their family and friends that were gathered there and for the spirit of celebration, in church and at the wedding feast. It has warmed my heart all week.
@J NL, congratulations to your newlywed friends!
So very thankful for my family, including extended family members. Just returned from a trip visiting family far away. Our two sons and their families joined us. Many relatives in the host city went all out to welcome us and treat us. That goes also for several friends who live there. It was divine to be treated to so much fun and good food. It’s love in action. We see them all too rarely.
Yay for a wonderful trip!
This week I am thankful for …
My nose waking me up this weekend! I woke up in the middle of the night to an awful smell. I did a quick walk around the house and found that one of our gas burners had been on for hours! I quickly woke up my family and opened all the windows in the house. It took a few hours to air out the house. I hate to think of what would happen if I didn’t wake up when I did.
Finally cutting down the cherry tree. We were able to get the last of it in the yard clippings bin. I was sad to see a tree come down, but it was mostly dead and looked so sad.
Spending time with extended family this weekend. My dad’s dad passed away in January and this weekend we placed his ashes at the base of an apple tree on the farm that has been in the family for generations. We shared stories and a meal in the church that side of the family has been attending since the 1800s.
The flexibility to work from home, yet again! I don’t have childcare this week so I’m able to spend this last week of summer vacation with my son before he heads off to middle school while still getting all my work done.
@Geneva,
After my mom mistakenly left the gas stove on, I got the X-Sense 10-Year Battery Combination Smoke Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector, as suggested from my fire dept captain cousin. It is not hardwired and easy to install. Glad you are all safe!
Oh, thank goodness your gas situation turned out ok.
I'm thankful that my daughter doesn't hate school and is excited to be back in school. I had a lot of ... issues ... with school (mostly the teachers and the other students as well as some other stuff like this. I was always a weird kid so there was always a sort of target on my back.
I'm thankful we got to go to the nearby fairs this summer and that several relatives were there whom I don't get to see often. I'm sad at how most of my relatives are aging quite rapidly and unfortunately I never really had any cousins my own age and thus never got close to the one I did have. My daughter luckily doesn't have this issue and seems to be doing well with all her cousins.
I'm thankful for the cooler weather although I'm not ready to give up on summer just yet. Even though winter is a few months away I always get a little melancholy this time of year.
I have a milestone birthday coming up this autumn and while I'm not happy about it per se (and if someone gives me an "Over the Hill" anything they will get an imaginary swift kick to the chops inside my brain 😉 ) but I think about how there are a lot of people I knew who will never see this milestone.
I'm just mostly thankful to be here, I guess. It beats the alternative.
@Battra92, I don't know what milestone you are approaching, but I have found both my 40s and my 50s to be very enjoyable .... youth is wasted on the young. 🙂
Also, normal is boring. Weird kids grow up to be interesting adults.
@Battra92,
I am happier and more at ease now with myself at 57 than I was at 47 or 37 for that matter. I feel the same inside, but more tolerant towards my own oddities and more inclined to give myself what I need to thrive. I hope your upcoming milestone will do the same for you.
@Kris, "Weird kids grow up to be interesting adults."
I'm interesting but not many are interested. 😛
I'm thankful that the work day is about to start and it is time to face (and fix) a mistake I discovered late yesterday. I don't like having stuff like this hang over my head and am glad it will be done soon.
I am thankful for a long weekend to rest and do some research.
I am thankful that I work from home. It will be well over 105 for the next week and I don't have to climb into a hot car after work.
I am thankful that our Costco is almost fixed. They've been repairing the gas pumps and the Costco gas station has had 30 minute lines (pumps closed) for the last five months. I'm glad that soon I will be able to buy cheaper gas when we go to Costco.
For the unexpected additional year with my ill mother, which is drawing to an end, and that I have the financial and work flexibility to visit her again.
Sending much love your way.
@WilliamB,
What a nice and rare gift you and she both received.
1. I'm thankful for a new job that I started earlier this summer that affords me the opportunity to work from home and have access to an insurance that will cover another surgery on my leg at the hospital I want to receive care from. Bonus that my new co-workers are awesome, supportive, and seem to genuinely care about my physical and mental well-being. Since leaving my old job I've realized how toxic the environment was and I think I'm still "de-toxing" or may have some sort of PTSD from it.
2. I feel so lucky to have a top orthopedic hospital within reasonable driving distance that has experts I'm confident have the ability to fix my broken tibia bone. Surgery #3 in about a month!
3. My favorite part of the day is right after dinner when my husband and I sit out on the patio together. I get to watch the sun go down, relax in my $30 walmart hammock, listen to the sounds in my backyard and just breathe. I've had to add a blanket as the sun goes down earlier and the mosquitos are relentless, but I'm going to hang on to the feeling of being grounded and relaxed for as long as I can!
Oh wow, three surgeries. Yikes. I hope this one makes a big difference to you!
I'm so with you about the science classes versus non-science. I have a college degree in physical rehabilitation that asked for biology and physiology, etc, and this was HARD! Now that I'm doing a bachelor in social work, no ""sciency" stuff, I find it less challenging.
My 5 for this week :
* Very (very!) happy that both my girls had a good back-to-school day and that my oldest (who started grade 7 at a new school and struggles with a host of challenges, namely ADD, autism (asperger), anxiety and depression) actually made connections with a couple girls in her class so far and had lunch with one of them yesterday!
* That we have this little ball of pure love in the form of a 3 months old/3 pounds Morkie at home. She is soooo adorable and we are all head over heels for her. And I'm thankful that my husband works from home at the moment, which makes it convenient to care for her during the day.
* That I, too, can go back to school at my age (41 and 3/4!). I keep mentioning it, but I don't want to take it for granted. A lot of stuff has to align right to be able to switch career after 40 (supportive partner, finances, kids, other job, time, mental sharpness, physical capacity, etc)
* I started "Young Sheldon" on Netflix yesterday (I know, I know, I'm so late to the party...) and I'm really enjoying it so far. I was a BIG fan of Big Bang Theory (still am), so it's nice to reconnect with one of the protagonist and his family. And I was happy to find out that there is many more seasons out there.
* To be almost done with my 2 weeks of full-time work (1.5 day to go), then I'll be off for 3 weeks because of school. My body needs it. Cannot wait to switch to a job that does not require of me to stretch, lift and transfer heavy people!
One of the challenges of the physical sciences compared to the social sciences is that chemistry, biology, physics, etc., have a vocabulary that is not made up of common words. Most of the definitions are new to the learners and have to be studied at length and are applied to concepts we haven't considered before. Social sciences often use language we use every day with situations we might recognized, so it doesn't seem as hard.
The challenge for many students is that the language of social sciences is still as precise as that of the physical sciences, but students don't necessarily take the time to learn it. Words like "compromise," "collaborate," "interpersonal," "developmental," "racism," and so on need to be used exactly in studying the discipline.
The advantage for older learners is that they/we might be more attuned to the importance of using precise language. And we often have more life experiences or imagination to provide examples of the theories being taught. Having read more good literature, whether fiction or non-fiction, gives us stories to draw on as well.
I completely agree about the advantages of being an older learner. I know there are some downsides, but I think having more life experiences makes it easier to have real-life things to tie the learning to. Like...taking developmental psych as a mom of four older kids gives me an advantage. I have lived through all the developmental stages many times over as a mom!
So happy that Lisey is back. You must be thrilled.
Oh yes! Zoe and I have been so happy to have her here.
I'm grateful for the frugal content you share in this blog where you don't buy tons of cheap junk and share links to encourage mindless shopping with your readers.
When I went through a heartbreak, I found this quote to be helpful- "not everything you lose is a loss." I had to work hard to stay in the present willingly as a sound/ smell/word/ song/ haircut/ touch/ store visit would trigger painful memory where I wanted to stay because that's the only way I could be with that person. Habits are wonderful slaves but terrible masters, so you'll need to work hard so you don't crave and fall for painful certainty and can learn to embrace exciting uncertainty.
I'm thankful for being able to identify God's blessings and for sending them my way.
@Farhana, How insightfully you wrote this!
1. I had two hard call shifts back to back, but the nurses I work with are stellar and we all support each other.
2. This weekend is going to be social, and since I worked last weekend, I'm really looking forward to it.
3. My daughter slept through the night for the last two nights. Definitely worth being grateful for!!
4. My husband made a double-batch of tomato sauce. I'm grateful that his foresight made last night's dinner easier.
5. We also had a break from the humidity! Such a relief. It takes me 1.5 hours by foot to take baby to daycare and for me to get to work. It's much more pleasant when it isn't sticky out.
I hope you enjoy developmental psychology. It was one of my favourite courses in undergrad. Such a pleasure to learn about, and not too many technical details to memorize.
I am so, so glad that you are going to be able to stay on your nursing path. Becoming an RN is probably the best thing that I have ever done, it has allowed me to have the life I want. I can't think of another job that allows you the flexbility and options, you get to make it what you want to be.
My Thankful Thursday
1. I am unbelievably thankful for central A/C. Southern CA is supposed to have an extreme heat wave this weekend and the high is 109F +. I am so happy to be able to keep my house cool.
2. The overtime I worked last rotation. My husband and I have both agreed to keep the A/C running continuously (we have an older, 2 story house and our bedroom is upstairs), and just accept the cost. This is one of the time where a little extra room in the budget helps immensely.
3. Free tomatillos, tomatoes and figs. My medic partner is working at Burning Man this week, so she told me to take everything from her garden before she left and it got sunburned. I am going to repay her with some salsa verde I will can.
4. My medic partner. I work with a golden retriever of a human being and she is delightful. We had the toughest call of our partnership this week and it really emphasized how lucky I am to have a partner that I know has my back 100% of the time and I genuinely enjoy as a human.
5. Living in LA. Which I also hate (as natives will relate). But I love having so many super cool opportunities available to me, with usually little cost. My best friend was able to score cheap Hollywood Bowl tickets for Saturday, so now I am seeing John Williams conduct the LA Phil with a picnic dinner (also a frugal win) for very little.
That is encouraging to hear about the RN...thank you!
I'm grateful for a stellar neighbor coming to my rescue with his backhoe when my steer died yesterday. He worked a 12 hour shift and then spent 2 more hours working on my farm...blessing!
I helped another neighbor with concrete work for 4 hours of back breaking fun.
Another friend offered up her green bean patch and I picked 5 gallons of beans to can today. All of this happened in one very big day!
I found a neuter clinic to take a 5ish month old kitten that "showed up" in the barn last week. With regular feedings and love he is a sweet addition to our furry population.
Kristen, you will love microbiology, and I'm not just saying that because I got my first degree in mb, my second degree BSN, RN, CCRN, CERN, CWCN, finished when I was in my early 40's. I love following your journey thru nursing school!
So far, I definitely prefer Anatomy and Physiology to microbiology...mainly because I just love things that are so directly tied to the body. I also prefer things I can see and touch without a microscope.
But I do have a really, really good microbio professor, so that's gonna help.
I am thankful my nephew got a new job and sounds like he is thriving! He has struggled a lot in the past but recently got a job with a mechanic and he wants to eventually be a mechanic so that is wonderful for him. He should be able to move all his senior year classes to the morning and go to work in the afternoons throughout the year as well. I am so happy he is learning new skills and has positive things going for him.
I am thankful for the weather. It has been ridiculously nice out lately.
Thankful my husband got some free tickets to a baseball game with some coworkers. He has been pretty busy with work and life lately so I’m glad he had a night to himself.
Grateful my father in law’s move to a senior apartment went smoothly and his house sold for over asking. This was an answer to lots of prayers and should be a much better and safer situation for him.
Thankful for farmers market vegetables. The big, deep red, sweet, juicy tomatoes of summer are so much better than the grocery store ones and we only get them a few weeks a year. We ate little sweet carrots, mini cucumbers, fresh tomatoes, and sweet corn all week long.
Yes to summer tomatoes. And also: PEACHES. Oh, so good.
@Becca, I'm happy for your nephew. We urgently need skilled tradespeople--mechanics, plumbers, electricians, masons, etc.--and not enough young folks are entering the trades.
I know this will sound ridiculous but I am so very thankful for a goldish-yellow throw pillow I found at Walmart yesterday. It adds a cheerful pop of color to our living room couch. And it coordinates with some of my watercolors that have goldish-yellow flowers in them.
I’m very grateful for some time with my daughter these past few weeks. With all the focus on my son’s wedding last month ( and many months leading up to it), it’s been good for my daughter and me to connect through conversations and activities not related to the wedding. My daughter and I are enjoying doing some baking and art projects together on days she has off from work. Those times together provide comfortable settings for conversation.
I’m thankful for all that you share, Kristen, and for so many of your writings which offer messages of hope and spark ideas for how to keep going in difficult situations, how to move forward one step at a time.
Aww, well, YOU are an important part of this community. I am so glad you are here. 🙂 And: a belated happy birthday to you, since I missed saying that on Tuesday.
Thankful for:
1. Neighbor 1 who gave me 101 quail eggs. They got carried away this spring and brought home several dozen quail hens and are now buried under their eggs. They literally cannot give them away fast enough. My hens are slowing down this year and I am down to three hens so I am thankful for quail eggs. I did have to buy special quail egg scissors to break into those fibrous and tiny shells but they were only $6 for three pair. My husband loves eggs so they are one of our main sources of protein. I am paying them back with leeks when I harvest them.
2. Neighbor 2 who heard that the husband is going to take an appliance in for repair and proposed that they share the cost of renting a trailer with us so that they can take their large riding lawn mower to the same fix it shop.
3. That we have a fix it shop run by an old grizzled guy who can fix anything and works out of this huge shed that is so crammed it is a wonder he can find anything. He is a miracle worker and I don't think there are many of these sorts of fix it places around anymore. Now if only we had a cobbler in town.
4. CORN!! For the first time in 40 years of gardening in northern Alaska I have harvested full sized ears of corn. I had to grow them in my greenhouse and take the roof off part way through the season for them to keep growing but I am thrilled. I know I have mentioned my CORN before but I continue to be thankful and contine to eat it almost every night. We have been close to frost a few nights (and it did frost a few miles away) so it will soon be over but I have eaten almost all of it now, so let it snow! I am so happy my husband does not really care for corn or raspberries because they have been expecially abundant this year and they are all mine!
5. That the northern lights are coming out again now that we have some darkness at night and they have been spectacular. We still have sunlight until 9 pm but we are losing 7 minutes a day so soon we will have many hours to watch them.
6. That I have lost some weight. When I have periods where I am in the wheelchair I gain weight. Less activity plus eating more because I feel sorry for myself results in excess pounds very quickly. The last month has been a good one physically, with only a few bad days, so the pounds are back off. I admire people with limited mobility who manage to stay at a good weight but not enough to switch my coping mechanism from cheezy pizzas to counting calories.
@Lindsey, especially, not expecially. When will I learn to proof read??
Yay for your corn! And for a good month of physical mobility!
Isn't it wonderful how God sometimes keeps us from getting something other than his best? Your comment about the town house reminded me of something that happened to us many years ago - we sold our small house much quicker than we'd thought. We tried to buy five different houses and every.single.one. fell through. God, what's going on here?? With only days to go before our closing, we found a rental house. But only a few months later, my husband was given a promotion and transfer to another city. His company bought out our lease and we did not have to worry about selling a house!
We've had a rough summer and I have tried to find the silver linings and be thankful in all circumstances. Sometimes that's very hard, but it's good to have your reminder.
Oh wow, yes, what a good situation to NOT have to own a house. What a mercy.
As we get ready to head back to Africa, I'm thankful for:
- Precious time with our families
-Our kids enjoying youth group.
- Our lovely little house we have here in the US to live in.
- In all the changes, God is the same.
Kristen ..... I'm sure you miss your other house, but in looking at your current decorating, it somehow seems much more free and expressive to me--maybe a silver lining is that you feel like you can branch out and try new things? It's so lovely and homey!
Thankful for beautiful weather on my daughter's day off from school today. We enjoyed a very nice hike at our local state park and got to sit by Lake Michigan for a good amount of time. Included in that is thankfulness for quality time with my 16 year old, which lends itself to good conversation.
Thankful that my son's second year of college seems to be going well so far.
Thankful that I had a mild case of covid .... that so many people felt concerned about me (which I felt kinda silly about, considering that it's been such a non-event) ... and that I'll be done with quarantine in time for my friend's visit this weekend. Hooray!
Aww, thank you! My main decorating theme has been Cheap Or Free Items. Ha. So that could be why it looks rather expressive...it's not at all cookie-cutter!
Such a good perspective!
Here are my silver linings:
1. My daughter had a car accident (not her fault). SL: other driver was ticketed, our insurance is making it easy, body shop working quickly, I get to see her at school for a quick visit to drop off the car.
2. Younger daughter finding college food repetitive and bland. SL: she’s celiac and while food is not all that, she says it is easy and it has been safe for her so far! That’s HUGE!! Also so far that’s her only complaint so far. She’s settling in well and still excited to be there!
3. I have been working a lot of extra hours SL: I like my job and I think I will be all caught up on Tuesday.
Kristen I just thought about the possibility of you applying for scholarships for students returning to school. I know the local women's club in my area awards scholarships to women returning to school, specifically in STEM fields. Maybe there are similar opportunities in your area? Best of luck this semester!
This week I am thankful to be over and done with my first colonoscopy and have the all clear for another 10 years. TMI?!
Yes! I haven't applied for any scholarships so far because I've only been in school part-time. But starting next fall, I will be full-time so I should be able to apply for some scholarships prior to that semester.
Your home looks so nice and so reflects your personality. And you look so happy and confident in this year's school photo!
Thank you!
So true about having to do a little work to find those silver linings. They aren't always obvious. I am really thankful today that my application to transfer to another (new) hospital was approved and I will be back on weekends, leaving me 5 days off in a row to figure out this new single life. {I feel as though life has been on pause for the last 13 months.} I'm thankful I have my health which is HUGE, and I am doing all of the things I know to do to keep myself well. I'm thankful for my tiny grocery budget which has taught me discipline and how to be creative with meals. And every day, I am thankful for my cool comfy bed in my quiet home - such a place of solace and respite for me.
I wonder if you would be interested in applying for a PEO grant when you get closer to completing your academic program? You can google PEO International and see the ways in which they support educational opportunities for women. One of their projects is specifically focused on helping women who have had a break in education and now are pursuing degrees or certifications. They are always looking for good candidates to help.
Oh, thank you for this info!
@Kristen, for a PCE grant you have to have a PEO chapter sponsor you (which means they meet you/interview you and they do some administrative paperwork too). Currently the maximum grant is $3000 - it is given at the end of a program /certification (to help with completion). There are many PEO chapters -I am sure there are some near you. I can help connect you to one.
Also, PEO does loans (low interest, not predatory) for women in the second half of their curriculum (meaning they want you to be committed to completing a degree vs just starting a program). Loans are available for grad school too. They must be paid back in 6 years from graduation (unless that has changed since my daughter got one). PEO is a great resource for women who are furthering their education. Your daughter(s) would probably be eligible at some point too.
A little late to the game today, but I'm thankful that--
*2020 Jody bought most of the consumable school books she would need for the next 12 years because I didn't have time to plan ahead for the start of the school year, but I had the stuff I needed anyway. Plus prices have gone up so much!
*despite not having my normal amount of planning done, I was able to wing it the first week of our homeschool.
*our son seems to be adjusting to his first year of college.
*we missed storms with big hail on our trip to take him to college. We felt like storm chasers out there in Iowa-- except we were trying to get away!
*my youngest son's lazy eye continues to improve a little at a time.
*my face is improving a tiny bit at a time. It's easier to measure progress from week to week instead of day to day. Two Sundays ago at church I could listen to the organ but NOT sing (without my ear being too sensitive). Last Sunday, the ear could handle organ AND singing (even it was a little more quietly than usual).
I love your perspective. Glad you still get to go to school to be an RN.
I’m composing my thankful list 36 hours before leaving to a new home in a new state. It’s been a hard several years here but I have so many memories and people that I will treasure from my time here:
1. All the nurses, techs, and chaplains that have sat with my son over his many hospitalizations in this city. The veil between life and death, physical and spiritual is very thin in hospitals and those who care for patients in this context see people in such a vulnerable state and have a tremendous influence. By all statistics my son should have died so many times over, and because of God’s hand and many medical professionals he is flourishing today. He’s my miracle boy, and he wouldn’t be here without all those hospital staff.
2. Our babysitter who cared for my children and taught me how to parent better along the way. She agreed to learn new medical skills despite being old enough she could have decided it wasn’t worth the energy. She was the only non-tribe person we entrusted with our kids and gave my husband and I the only breaks we got for about 3 years.
3. Our family’s tribe that became family: stand-in parents for me and grandparents for my kids; three families that shared homes, meals, hand-me-downs, inside jokes, and viruses because of the frequency with which we saw them.
4. The strangers who showered love on my family while our son was going through intense physical and mental health challenges. We’ve received words of encouragement while shopping, cookies at our front door, offers of extra supplies, surprise meals/gift cards, and even hugs (by people who read the moment well-a talent, to be sure). Their words/actions sustained us.
Very sad we need to put dad in a facility, if he would only cooperate, stay in his wheel chair etc. Thankful that my brother went to school with someone who now runs a local assisted facility and we really loved the place so at 100 years and 3 months dad will go to a home. He has in home care but it is not enough. At least he will have 24 hour care there.
Thankful I have a boss who is really cool about last minute I need the day off due to above situation.