Thankful Thursday | green!
This week, I am thankful:
for the green that's spreading through the trees
I know this happens every spring, but my goodness, every year I am amazed at just how quickly the trees go from bare and brown to having a visible green tinge to being decidedly green.
I love to watch this!
for a lovely day yesterday
The weather was perfect (70s and sunny!). I had an OB lecture all morning, and once I got home, I went for a walk in the lovely sunshine.
Then I lifted some weights, showered, and ate my lunch on my front steps.
While I ate, I watched the bumblebees, who are currently obsessed with a bush in front on my house, and I texted with Sonia (she's currently house/dogsitting for someone who has a waterfront house. Lucky girl!)
Next, I ran some errands (which included seeing Zoe at her job), played my piano just for fun, had a phone call with Lisey, baked some enchiladas for dinner, and then had my divorce support group meeting.
Nothing about the day was terribly remarkable, but it was pleasant in so many ways, and I am thankful to have days like this. 🙂
that I used my my whole rotisserie chicken
A big chicken from Sam's Club is a lot for Zoe and me, but I used it up in a lot of different ways, and now the bones are in the freezer waiting to be made into broth at some point.
that I am just not grossed out by very much
I watched a wound dressing change on one of my med surg clinical days, and oh, this poor patient. It was a really awful wound that I will not describe here, and I felt terrible for the patient's pain.
However, I didn't feel the slightest bit grossed out or faint or anything of the sort. I seriously could have eaten a sandwich while observing, that's how not-queasy I felt.
This felt like pretty good confirmation that I'm gonna be fine in a nursing career. 😉
for kind words from my clinical instructor
This was my last week of med-surg clinicals (OB starts next week!) and at the end-of-clinical meeting with my med surg instructor, she said a bunch of encouraging things to me, and I almost cried.
Every time along the way, when I get encouragement from my professors or instructors, I react that way, and I think it's because I faced some really tough challenges trying to get going on this educational path.
Those challenges make this encouragement particularly touching...I feel seen by people in the field (my instructors) and their validation feels so so good.
that I get to do OB lab with a friend of mine
One of my friends from my lab group in semester one is in my OB lab group today (we have a 5-hour lab), and she and I are both so happy we are assigned to be together.
We are in different groups/sections this semester, so we've barely seen each other!
for all the interesting things to see in the woods
I know I say this repeatedly, but I never cease to be interested in seeing all the sights the woods have to offer.
Check out this hollow tree that fell over! I spied it from the path and took a little detour to go inspect it more closely. 😉
So interesting to think it was just a hollow tube standing up for so long.
Here's my hand for size reference.
for camouflaged cats
Zoe sent this picture of Shelley to our group chat, with the words, "spot the cat".
And then I sent this one with the same caption. 😉
They're so sneaky.
Thankfuls:
--That I got the courage to tell our school secretary/sub scheduler that I wouldn't sub until the end of the school year unless she really had no one else. I've been subbing a LOT this year. I don't love it, I just do it to help out our (very) small staff. I felt guilty telling her that, because I know it makes it harder for her. But I only have eleven more days off from work when my kids will be at school, and having that time at home alone--well, alone with my husband, who works at home--was important to me.
--That we only have five more weeks of school after this. We are all very, very ready for summer break.
--For our new track coach. He's a young guy who grew up relatively locally, and is just a really nice guy. Also very intelligent and sort of intense in the same way my sons are, so they get along very well. I hear their traveling conversations in the school Suburban on the way to meets are something else. The last one ranged from Reagan's presidency to ancient Rome to macronutrients. 🙂
--For the money to buy a new(er) vehicle. With all the driving I do now, I wanted to get something smaller than our 12-passenger van. Also something with much lower mileage. None of our vehicles currently have less than 160,000 miles on them. So I'm getting an older low-mileage Honda Pilot that, barring very bad luck, I will drive at least until my kids all leave the house in 12 or so years. Needing a car that will hold six people--and can handle the rough roads we often drive on--limits our options and makes it pretty expensive, but I can afford it right now. And I will feel much more comfortable with my excessive driving, both physically and mentally.
--For a group of very nice kids and parents at my son's First Communion class this year. We're the only ones in the class from our village. The rest are from a village/school/church about twenty miles away that is still our parish. I didn't know any of them very well, so it was nice to meet and get to know them, as our children will inevitably end of playing together on our combined sports teams, etc., in the future. There has historically been some tension between the two communities, which I have so far avoided as a non-local, and am glad to continue to avoid by getting to know the families from the other village.
@kristin @ going country, thumbs up to a Honda!!
@kristin @ going country,
We're a Toyota family, but my BFF just "gave up" her Honda Pilot that she drove for many years and many, many miles. She didn't want to give it up, but was in one of those "it would cost more to fix it than it's worth" situations. Yay for a new-to-you car! Also yay for protecting your kid-free time as much as your conscience will allow. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, I get twitchy about our vehicles when the mileage gets high. Like you, in this part of Alaska things can be very far apart and the roads are full of frost heaves, and there are no gas stations for miles. Also, cell reception can be iffy. I start spending my trip obsessing about what I would do in the case of a breakdown. At some point, you just have to get a more reliable vehicle. One time we had a truck that broke down on me twice, both times when my husband was out of town. The third time it happened, he was out of town again but, luckily I was in town and not the boonies. While waiting for the tow truck I called him in the village and told him he had two choices---I could buy a new(er) vehicle today or wait until he got home to buy it. I was done with nursing things along. It can be very frightening to have a breakdown at 30 below, in the dark, and especially when a leg brace makes walking on ice and snow treacherous. (And the poor tow truck driver had to give me a boost on my behind because I could not get into his truck without his help and he refused to leave me alone at that temperature.)
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Yup. At one point when I was a teenager, we had four Hondas in our household. And we've had a Pilot for the past seven years. They're the perfect option for us, since they fit our entire family of six with some cargo room if we fold down some of the back seats, and they have all-wheel or four-wheel drive. Out with the old Pilot, and in with the new!
@Lindsey, Yes, I have the same sorts of conversations with my husband. He is unphased by breaking down. That's why he drives ancient old 90s trucks. I am . . . phased. 🙂 Especially when I'm driving 60 miles in the dark on a tiny two-lane road with no other traffic.
@kristin @ going country, we are a three Honda family. My husband had a short and expensive detour into Nissan land, but he is now securely a Honda guy.
@Lindsey, I didn't get twitchy at 240K miles on my Honda, better half was my issue. Height/bad knees/age + manual = I took one for the team. It found a very, very good home until some yo-yo rear-ended it.. sigh. Upside is high prices of used cars during the pandemic resulted in a very much larger insurance settlement. The day it is just me, I will likely have another manual transmission, I truly miss it. Hard to break many decades of shifting but I've coped.
@Selena, and yes it was a Honda.
@kristin @ going country, Ugh. UNFAZED/FAZED. What happened to my proofreader eyes?!
@kristin @ going country,
Probably spell check… it is always correcting incorrectly.
Today I'm thankful for the memory of a hollowed out tree. My family's home backed up to woods, and I could "cook" for hours in that hollowed out tree as a little girl. I chopped many dandelions and used a stick to stir them into that soupy mess. I must admit that I typically called my concoction Witches Brew! Every house on our short hill was filled with my cousins. What a blessed childhood!
@Angie, there are also good witches. 😉
-Thankful for tulips that are blooming in succession in my yard. So encouraging.
-Thankful for the perennials that are coming up even though they were planted in the extreme heat when purchased on a deep discount!
-Thankful for seedlings that are popping up under my grow lights.
-Thankful to have new garden territory to plot out after having two small trees removed-one was hollow like Kristin photographed.
-Thankful for friends, family and a sweet cat who also is my sidekick when outdoors.
It's great that your instructors see your hard work & confirmation that you are where you belong. 🙂
Thankful for getting gas Tuesday after work $3.49 because yesterday morning gas was $3.79 at same station.
Thankful for neighbor selling me their cement block garden bed corners (now complete raised garden) for $10 for 8 pieces. I paid 2/$5 on sale at Lowe's last summer so I offered $20 but wanted $10. I told neighbor would give some strawberry when start growing. Looking forward to putting together this last raised garden bed with archways to grow pumpkins & watermelons. Have seen 3 different people do similar design with success.
Thankful for my boss who has been very busy but still has good sense of humor. He is so overwhelmed but I have been encouraging him to take time to get rest & make sure to eat because has become so worn out can barely function some days while at work, which does no good.
Thankful only 5 more days of tax season. Last few weeks I've been stopping to get 2 donuts/$1.98 at grocery store before work & yesterday when I stopped they went up to $2.58 (30% increase) from 2 days ago when I last purchased.
Thankful that my replacement garbage can showed up yesterday morning before I went to work & was able to get garbage into & put for pick up before garbage man came.
Thankful teen got out table & chairs to put outside yesterday afternoon. I had mentioned it would be good because teen commented about not having anywhere to sit while outside. When I got home we decided to get out few more outside items & arranged nicely. Unfortunately it looks like I have to replace umbrella (broke more & have repaired) but otherwise just need sprucing up after rain bath today. 🙂
Thankful I saw a big bumblebee last night flying over ground cover flowers/weeds. Teen has not mowed or weed wacked yet & I am working (slowly) on transplanting perennials from multiple areas to one large flower bed. Definitely getting some more pollinator flowers. I'm hoping to get the big flower bed completed this year.
Have good day!
- trees in bloom on our walk
- one teen had a nice afternoon visit with Grandma
- one teen had a fun time at the university's German Day
- I took the time to swim
- block of time to work this am
Thankful for JASNA BFF and her visit, as always.
Thankful, again, for our eclipse party. Even if the eclipse itself was sort of underwhelming here, we all had fun. It was particularly good to get some neighbors out to it who don't get out a lot.
And thankful, believe it or not, for the seven deer (including a six-point buck) who sashayed through my yard while BFF and I were eating dinner Sunday evening. This was the first time she'd actually seen deer here; she got some great photos, and I was able to point to them and say, "Look! We do too have a deer problem!"
@A. Marie, One of the things I loved about the eclipse was that it was a fun, unifying thing for people to experience together. Nothing where one side was against another, just everyone coming together to enjoy something amazing. Absolutely beautiful!
I love that little orange tree plant. It just exudes happiness.
I'm thankful for access to medical care and that my arm probably just has a pulled/strain tendon and isn't broken, but I would be more thankful if I could use it properly!
I'm thankful for the good amount of rain we got last night as we recently put some sod down where we removed trees and it needed rain.
I'm thankful that it is almost summer! I love spring, but the slower pace of summer is really great.
Although my current yard is small, I am thankful that I can get out and work in the flower beds and things like that.
And I'm very thankful for my pets. My old frenchie is having some health issues and we see the vet this morning. I'm trying to just be thankful for all the days I have with her.
@Marlena, Funnily, I feel the same way about Kristen’s orange tree plant. And about Chiquita. Photos of them both always put a smile on my face.
In fact, I’ve asked for an orange or lemon tree plant for the next gift-giving occasion.
No chance to have a kitty here but one out of two ain’t bad.
This week I'm thankful for:
- baby snuggles with my grandson. He is growing so fast and I'm so thankful that I get to see him multiple times a week.
- the lovely azaleas blooming in my yard
- the severe weather forecasted for us yesterday ended up just being a lot of rain
- my DH who is always helpful and supportive. I forgot to bring something to work and he graciously offered to drop it off to me.
- the weekend weather forecast of sunshine. After several days of gray skies and rain, I'm ready for some sunshine.
I am thankful for all your updates and photos reminding me of the grandeur in simple pleasures-- the hollow tree photo -- well, that is a good picture of how the times can drain us. Is it ok to share it, and give FG credit?
oxoxoxox
Yep, go for it!
The wound/sandwich thing reminds me of my father. One day, he took a bunch of NYPD rookies with him to investigate an apartment with an awful smell. You guessed, there was a decaying body inside, which my dad always said is the worst smell imaginable. While the rookies tried their best not to retch or faint, my dad pulled out a liverwurst sandwich and began munching on it.
Today I'm thankful for:
My dad. He had a million funny stories and he was just so great.
Rescue Pup and New Pup: I will meet New Pup later today, but Rescue Pup makes me smile every day. I texted Son: "How is it going today?" He replied, "Great! Because in just a few hours he's your problem."
That I finally buckled down, styled the cottage for pictures and took the pictures. Yay! One enormous problem off my back. Now I just have to Photoshop the pictures, write listing copy, and list for rental.
A lovely day yesterday, although it's looking pretty cloudy now. Oh well, my plants can all use the rain, I guess.
@Rose, I have had to attend two autopsies in the past. Dead and reeking bodies do not make me wretch, but a liverwurst sandwich would. My boarding school served those regularly for lunch and if I never see another one, it will be too soon! For those meals I starved.
@Rose,
That's a great story from your dad. Like Kristen, I can see (photos, in my case) of horrific wounds my patients have, and then eat lunch. Smells, on the other hand, like those rookies endured....no way. I'd be retching and vomiting right next to them.
On another topic, I'll bet your cottage is super cute. Fingers crossed you get a great tenant.
@Liz B., it is. When I've finished photoshopping maybe Kristen would like them for a post sometime. Warning: cute puppies might be involved.
@Rose,
I would love to see photos! Cute puppers will only add to the overall cozy feel. 🙂
@Rose, it could be a follow-up to your Meet-A-Reader. I'd love to see the cottage too!
@Lindsey, I expected you to scrape off/remove said "worst" so at least you could eat bread.
My husband, daughter and I attended an "admitted students" day at a university that my daughter has been seriously considering. The day must have been successful, because she has decided to go there! Thankful that a decision has been made. It's been a long road. She considered her options in depth, and while I was impatient at times, wanting her to make up her mind, ultimately I'm glad that she put so much thought into an important decision. Also thankful for the substantial financial package she is being offered (it's a private university .... 'nuff said).
In other news, I'm thankful for the sunshine and pleasant (but not hot) temperatures that have allowed me to get in the year's first bike ride, yard work, and viewing the eclipse. It's always amazing to me how much weather can affect my outlook.
@Kris, I so feel this! I was hoping we'd be at a similar place after our admitted student day on Saturday, but my son is still deciding. Congrats to your daughter, and to you, for having that decision made!
This week I am thankful:
*for warm weather! I was outside Tuesday for a lovely walk along the canal. The bluebells were pretty, but we also saw several other kinds of wildflowers and reptiles. I've never felt kinship with snakes, but I do now since I love basking in the sunshine after being cooped up inside most of the time.
*that my husband made it back safely from a conference. I miss him when he's gone.
*for babies. I have several friends who are expecting, and a few of them have had so many miscarriages. These pregnancies are healthy so far, and I"m so happy for them.
*for music. Even music made by learning musicians. My youngest son pulled out the dulcimer yesterday and is learning a few things. (I don't play dulcimer; we bought one plus some books so the kids could teach themselves if they wanted to.)
*for ordinary. It feels ordinary around here lately. You know that part in 1995 P&P where time is passing and (I think) Mary is practicing the piano and maybe other people are picking flowers or something? Lately when I hear the children practicing piano in the basement, it just feels like that. It feels normal, with time passing pleasantly.
@Jody S., is your dulcimer a hammered dulcimer or an Appalachian dulcimer? Inquiring minds want to know. (I've had a go at both types, but my complete lack of musical talent was a handicap.)
And, yes, I recall the P&P 1995 interlude you mention. Imagine how much "ordinary time" they had around the house in Jane Austen's day; the smartphone generation probably couldn't even get their minds around it. And JA herself used to practice the piano in the mornings--possibly as a sort of "warm-up" for her writing days.
@A. Marie, Appalachian. It's kind of funny because you'd think he should have a go at some good mountain music. But he likes figuring out his favorite Lutheran hymns.
I think I told the story about going to a single First Aid and CPR class and the instructor having no time for my weak stomach for gore and blood and bodily fluids. So I'm thankful I generally don't need to deal with that.
Here are some things I am thankful for.
I had a bit of a round rash that was painful and itchy. I was told that it was probably ringworm (which I learned is more like Athlete's Foot and not an actual worm or parasite) and a quick application of some Dollar Tree Athlete's foot medication seemed to clear it up quickly.
For working from home days. It's nice to be able to be on a meeting (no camera) and be folding towels or something productive here as well. The gas savings are also nice. I suspect this situation won't last forever but I hope it lasts for a while longer.
Thankful that the weather is nicer. We went from snow to no jacket within a week's time.
That I have good backups of my data. I had a hardware failure and was able to get a new drive and all files restored within a few hours. There are two types of people: Those who backup their data and those who haven't had a catastrophic loss ... yet.
For vacation planning. Our daughter has been asking to go back to Hershey and that area and we wouldn't mind going as well so we are going to plan for that.
I spotted the cats and they are adorable.
Well, I’m not too thankful to be without power, but after that powerful front came through last night, I am indeed without it. But I will try to be thankful anyway.
1. First, a neighbor across the road and back in the woods, whom I have not met, had a fire Tuesday evening and all kinds of emergency vehicles came. I’m thankful because it was their camper, not their house, and the fire was contained instead of lighting the house or surrounding woods.
2. I’m thankful for a good annual checkup and always thankful for my pleasant, soft-spoken female primary care doctor who listens and takes a holistic approach to medicine.
3. I’m thankful for being able to get my car worked on today, which is why I’m still at home without power. They think it just needs spark plugs, fingers crossed. I’m thankful the mechanic cheerfully gave me a ride home so I don’t have to wait in the shop.
4. I’m thankful for the assistance and encouragement my widowed sister has been getting from so many. The memorial service is this weekend.
5. I’m thankful for the quiet breathing sounds of my sleeping dogs, who are enjoying having me here on a work day. They look so peaceful.
Thankful for-
Safe travels eclipse day. Traffic was heavy but we did not see any accidents nor people being mean to each other.
For the patience of the cashier at the truck stop in MI. She appeared to be the only cashier there doing multiple jobs and not losing her cool! It was super busy.
For the couple of sunny 70 degree days.
For my new computer at work, mine was 13 years old and so slow.
For the work lunch we are having today. I don't need to bring a lunch! Yay!
For my co-workers they are fun and funny.
For my grands, they are so enjoyable. On the way to our house they did not have any Goldfish in the car and the oldest proclaimed, that's ok mom grandma will have them. Yes, she will.
It’s been quite a week! I’m thankful for many things:
• My 6-month old grandchild had a severe case of croup which required an emergency room visit in the middle of the night for a breathing treatment and a steroid shot. I am thankful she is doing better. I’m thankful for modern medicine. And I’m thankful that I live nearby and could help them in their time of need. The first time one of your children is really sick; it is terrifying.
• I’m thankful that my neighbor who has been on the lung transplant list for two years received new Lungs on Friday. She is doing remarkably well. This is nothing short of a miracle. Once again, I’m thankful for modern medicine.
• I’m thankful that it’s going to rain today. Now I don’t have to turn on the sprinklers and the air will be cleared of pollen and such.
• I am thank you for rescue pup who went with me to watch my older grandchild in the middle of the night when my son and DIL to the baby to the ER. She curled up next to me and shared my worry.
Wishing everyone peace, good health, and prosperity.
@Bee,
Exciting news about your neighbor! Transplant surgery is miraculous. And I hope your grandchild is feeling better.
@Bee, I will be praying for your neighbor the transplant recipient and also for the family of the donor. This reminds us all to pray for all the patients everywhere and for all who have lost a loved one, esp. those who are loving enough to sign consent for organ donation.
Oh, I also will be praying for the grandbaby and for sick children everywhere, as well.
@Fru-gal Lisa and @Liz B,
Thank you, prayers are so appreciated.
@Bee, YEA for your neighbor with new lungs! I have a close friend who waited 3 years for a pair of lungs; it will be 3 years in May since she got them, and she is doing very well.
Thankful for the vast blue cloudless New Mexico sky that greeted me when I walked out the door this morning, and the sight of 6 hot air balloons drifting right over the house. The dog? Was not so thankful. Dogs + hot air balloons = not a good combination.
@JDinNM,
We have a hot air balloon business not far from my house, and it's always delightful to see them in the air! My dog is also not a fan, however.
@Liz B.,
Let me clarify - the hot air balloon business is *not mine*, lol. But it's not far from my home. 🙂
Thankful for-
Getting connected, finally, to an Elder Care lawyer who, I believe, presented a reasonable next step.
Husband's increase in PD medication seems to help in at least a couple ways.
Sun & warmer temperatures!
Awesomeness of the eclipse. We were in 98% totality.
Cabinet maker is supposed to be working on our cabinets - he is the hold-up on progress in shouse but had a huge turnover in his shop.
Love that you are getting so much positive feedback from your instructors. Well done!
Thankful for:
-This period of "funemployment" in my life, which corresponds to the end of DS18's senior year, and DS17's junior year. I've really appreciated the time to help DS18 with college decisions, and the flexibility to attend DS17's tennis matches.
-My workout studio. It's a splurge, but I absolutely love the classes, the challenge of the workouts, and the schedule that gets me going in the morning. Not having a schedule has been a big adjustment at this phase, so the workout classes have been so helpful.
-That I'm a person who sees the value in the big & the small changes. DH is a lovely, lovely individual, but he focuses mostly on big picture financial things. Which, we absolutely need to focus on. I also think about those things, but take pleasure in a $10 eBay sale, or saving a neighbor $20 by giving them what they need via Buy Nothing, or what have you. I think that gives me more moments to appreciate, which I personally enjoy.
-For some truly gorgeous weather. It's supposed to rain again this weekend, but the past few days have been so lovely.
-For our back patio area. We would have never put in a pool, but all of the houses in our neighborhood have one, so when we bought it, it was here. Sitting by the pool & reading for 20 minutes on a beautiful day makes me feel like I'm on vacation.
@Hawaii Planner, Um ... You ARE on vacation, right? There's nothing better than that space between jobs when there's nothing work-related you could be doing even if you wanted to be doing something work-related. Relax! Enjoy! Laugh!
Thankful for:
- catching up with an old friend while visiting Victoria on Vancouver Island earlier this week
- enjoying all the Cherry Blossom trees and flowers in bloom in Victoria after a long and brutal prairie winter
- that my very shy and anxious cat survived a pet sitter coming in daily while I was away and is seemingly unscathed from a few stressful days
- that I had uneventful flights to and from with no delays
- to be home and sleeping in my own bed
Kristen's wound non-description was enough to make me feel slightly queasy; we need iron-stomachs like hers in the medical field.
There are many things to be thankful for as I try to keep a good attitude and pay attention to the good things. (The bad things are so dang loud sometimes!)
1. A friend sent me to shoes that might work for my feet (barefoot-type shoes on Hike Shoes); not as comfy for all day as Crocs, but it is nice to have another option
2. Got the Total Gym out, cleaned up, found the booklets, and can use it now that walking is a problem (trying to be thankful when I feel sad and resentful)
3. It's not hot yet! All it takes is one hot day and the green goes away in a week.
4. Lilacs, lavender, freeway daisies, dutch iris all in bloom, along with wildflowers, all in my yard, all stunningly gorgeous.
5. Commentariat member Rose and I are making a plan to work together on a project—I'm trying to keep it in perspective and not count my chickens before they hatch. (Very excited about this!)
Isn't it funny how people vary with queasiness?
I did get your email-I will write you back!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, d00d--you know Imma make it happen. 🙂
@Rose, yes indeedy you will! I have complete confidence in you, O Wise and Resourceful One.
@Kristen, thank you. Your realness and responsiveness keeps us all coming back. (Must be weird to have hundreds—thousands? —of people you've never met feel as if you are our real life friend!)
I do consider you guys to be friends. 🙂 And it doesn't even feel weird to me because I've been in this situation for so long. This summer will mark 16 years of blogging!
Kristen, I am like that too. When navigating really stressful situations, a kind word from someone who really understands can just break the dam for me.
Thankful today for sunshine, green grass, a joyful rescue pup -- she has really bloomed in personality since getting out of the animal shelter, my sweet family, and for physical therapy going really well so that I feel much better.
Chiquita is perfectly colored to be camouflaged right there! Haha! 🙂
Thankful!
Three beautiful days of spring sunshine in a row.
The eclipse went well for my students and I.
My VERY SORE KNEE is getting BETTER slowly.
My military child’s stuff finally got to them after a long delay after new orders and a move.
My herbs are starting to sprout.
Only seven more Mondays til retirement. And yes I finally started counting down…
Kristen you are on the right path for you and YOU MATTER!
@Stephanie, Seven more Mondays! Fun! As I read the line about your students, I thought, "She's about to retire, right?" Yes! I'm glad you got to do something fun like that in your last spring of teaching.
Took me longer to find Chiquita than Shelley in the pictures 🙂
You deserve a thoroughly good week!
This weeks thankfuls:
That I got to go on a work trip, meeting many colleagues and customers. That trust me and appreciate my work. And that the trip will end tomorrow and I will be at home again with my human and feline family members-
Yesterday was a long rough day, so I went to bed listing the things I was grateful for. Here’s what I remember…
That I had the spare tire when I got a flat! And that we have AAA 🙂
That my mil’s lumpectomy was successful and went better than expected. So grateful!
That my daughter is healthy.
That my mom, who is house hunting, will be able to move closer to us shortly, lord willing.
That although my son’s coach is a real “gem” my son is learning some valuable life lessons.
That my nieces are in town, yay!
For a new friend, those have been hard to come by.
That my son started his first job, at in n out! How’d that happen???
And that said son also got his license last week and my need to drive everywhere is letting up 🙂
That I am loved.
That it was a beautiful day.
• My little Peace Lilly is finally spouting a flower. I saved the poor thing from a previous job when I was laid off during Covid. It had been neglected during my time there and I knew it would only be worse with the office closing so I took it home with me since no one knew who it belonged to. I’ve babied it for years but this is the first flower she has shared.
• I’m still in love with the view from the back of our house. I love waking up and seeing woods each morning and our eating area off the kitchen gets the most beautiful sunset views each night.
• We’ve had a string of warm sunny days – it feels like spring!
• My husband started a text chain with my son and I dedicated to “dad jokes.” I send eyeroll emojis but I love that he started it and that my son shares jokes as well.
I am so thankful for a friend who offered to babysit (for free!) so that we could have a movie date. (And he knew we wanted to see "Dune" which is a long movie.)
I am thankful that our daughter did NOT have hand, foot and mouth. She was sent home on Friday with a suspicious rash but she is healthy.
I am so thankful for vaccinations. The shots are not fun but I love that our daughter is protected from diseases that used to kill babies.
I am thankful that we can walk to downtown. It is fun to be able to have restaurants and a coffee shop that we can walk to.
I am thankful for some warm weather.
Yay for no HFM!!
@Rebekah in SoCal, My children not-so-fondly remember HFM as the worst sickness they've ever experienced.
How nice that you were able to connect with all three of your daughters yesterday even though you're all adults with your own busy lives. That really is lovely!
I'm thankful that my new job is going well. It seems that the folks I work with are smart, want to do a good job and aren't super intense. My kind of people!
Thankful that I had a good day yesterday too. I went for a long morning walk after a long time and it was so nice! It was sunny but cool in the shade, I saw a cute coyote (in the distance) chilling on a grassy hill, a gigantic Bernese Mountain dog that is our neighborhood celebrity (this dog is awesome), and smelled the lovely blooming flowers.
I'm thankful that the day and that morning walk set me up for success - I checked off around 10 things on my to-do list, including decluttering my desk and getting it set up for work. Now i just need to dust everything and sweep/mop the floor.
Thankful that my tween is still a snuggly person sometimes. Every so often her little baby self peeks through her big girl-ness and in that moment, I'm mush.
Thankful that breakfasts and lunches for the family have been easy this week.
@CrunchyCake,
I love big dogs and I cannot lie.....
I'll bet that Bernese Mountain dog is a looker and a local celebrity. Hubby and I came *thisclose* to getting a Greater Swiss Mountain dog shortly after we got married, but their relatively short life span deterred us (mostly me, who gets very, very attached to our animals). They are gorgeous.
I am so glad the instructor took time to talk to you. It is good to see the right kind of people go into the field of nursing.
I am thankful that someone had morel mushrooms for sale at a "reasonable" price.
Some may gasp, but these were $30.00 a quart, very fresh and just the size I like. Since I have no access to the place I used to look, and who am I kidding? the energy, it is worth the price to me. The young lady said she and her husband are banking the funds to build a house and I can get behind that! I did not get any last year and spring without them is just not the same. They are going for as much as $50.00 a pound.
While out, even though it's a little chilly, I noted the sky to be brilliant blue and it enhanced the blue in the Virginia bluebells in my yard. Also made the yellow violas and pansies pop!
Thankful to get my CPR certification renewed yesterday. I noticed that the course has been very streamlined.
I am thankful that I was able to join the church this past Sunday I've been attending the past few months. It became necessary to leave the one I had attended for over 40 years. Many of the members had moved from the same church to this one plus I've gotten to know quite a few other members.
I am also thankful that I do not have a queasy stomach with wounds and body elimination products. That said, I can jump in to emergency medical situations, but once it's over, I fall apart. It's NOT my favorite brand of nursing.
@Chrissy, not quite morel season here but getting close. And you are right, nothing beats them. We usually luck out when we can harvest morels and asparagus. Add a bit of bacon to make such a delicious treat.
You get to start OB next week! Whoo hoo!!
This week I'm thankful:
* that I had almost nothing scheduled for today. I hurt my back yesterday and I'm thankful that I didn't have to cancel anything and was able to take time today to care for my body.
* for the friend I serve with on Wednesday nights that prayed over me and gave me lots of tips for things that will help (they have been helping!)
* for my husband who went to the store at 9pm to get me some meds, offered to help with whatever I need tonight, and has been super helpful.
And for some not-back-pain-related ones...
* that I was able to get a fair amount of planting done in the first part of this week ahead of today's rain.
* that someone was kind and turned in my phone when I left it at the store on Tuesday and for the ways that technology helped me find it. When my bluetooth earbuds didn't connect at the house, I knew my phone had been left somewhere. We had been to 4 stores that morning and I wasn't sure where I lost it, but when I parked at Dollar Tree - it reconnected to my van and started playing music!
* for friends I can talk to about parenting things.
* that my husband is supportive of me continuing my big volunteer role for next year. It's a substantial amount of time and next year all of our kids will be in school for the first time, so we don't quite know what the year will look like. But I'm thankful that he's supportive of me using my skills and time in this way that I'm loving.
- We got all our wedding photos and they look so great!! I've already framed a few, and several more are coming in the mail. Which means...
- My home office is really coming together in a way that suits my personality and is conducive to productive work. I like the paint, the furniture, the shelving and books I've put in, and I'm excited to finish it off with more photos that make me happy! Husband did a lot of work in getting the shelving perfect 🙂
- We had a great weekend with my college roommate and her partner, we hiked, camped in a trailer, ate a lot of good food, toured our old campus. It was awesome.
- I hit two work milestones! I have emailed over 200 individuals for book queries, and my first general interest (instead of scholarly) book was successfully peer reviewed.
- I started weight lifting a few weeks ago and just bumped up from 5lbs to 10lbs on each arm for bicep curls and shoulder presses.
Yay for beautiful photos!
And good job with the arms; I've been pretty good about not skipping arm day this semester and I am slowly increasing my weights too. 🙂
I also cry when someone really sees and acknowledges me...
I was thinking the same thing about the trees in my backyard. Overnight they leaf out and its just amazing to realize! And speaking of camo cats, I once spent a frantic hour searching and calling for my old lady calico kitty only to find her sitting on a dining chair that was pushed in. She looked at me like "what". I'm thankful today for:
*the fix-it/painter here working diligently on the repairs. My house is going to look so good and problem areas will no longer be a problem and I have the funds to cover it.
*the chance to witness the eclipse, totality and all. A spiritual experience that made me cry - in a good way.
*time off to putsey around my house, listening to music, cooking, organizing. I am a homebody at heart.
*a better cup of coffee this morning thanks to Starbucks Verona ground and some International Delight Pistachio Latte creamer. Such a great combo. (: Usually I am very cost conscious about the coffee I buy, but now and then I buy a premium brand.
Happy Thursday!
Kristen, so glad you are getting the affirmation you deserve on your way to your RN. there’s no question, you will make an excellent nurse.
Thankful for a good friend and a two-plus hour coffee chat, for siblings with whom I FT every week, that our three adult children get along with each other and with us - I never take this for granted, for a cool enough night that with windows open the house got cool enough that it will stay cool most of today, and for peanut butter and jelly because sometimes that just hits the spot.
So very thankful for a patient husband. Clobber Paws could be the cow who jumped over the moon in that nursery rhyme. He jumped our four foot fence, so the husband extended it to five feet. Then six feet...and last night we watched him take a running start and sail over that. He is over 165 pounds now and over six feet long. I have no idea how he manages to get that high and stay airborne long enough for his entire length to clear the fence. None of our other giant breeds could even jump the four foot fence. I was pretty frustrated but all the husband said was, "Well, he's a dog and not doing it maliciously," as he went off to Home Depot for more extension fencing.
Thankful for the neighbors on either side who, instead of being annoyed when he lands in their yards, are amused and bring him home or call us to come get him. They watch his antics with amusement, not irritation.
That Houndini, who used to be the escape artist, only followed Clobber Paws once. He is now too old to care about romps that take him far from his Tempupedic dog bed. He is a rescue that we thought was about five but he is suddenly aging quite fast so must have been older.
That the snow that was forecast never materialized. Our driveway is finally bare and that makes my life on bad body days much easier. We have had snow since September and as usual about this time of year, I am weary of the ice that results from the snow.
That Clobber Paws snatched the pork roast off the top of the stove and ate it. Neither of us likes pork unless it has been turned into sausage but we were not about to get rid of expensive meat (from our moving friend) so I took it out determined to find a recipe. I went to the bathroom and came back to see the last of it being swallowed. The perfect no-guilt solution. It was my fault as I know he can reach anything on the stove or counters, and while he is being trained he is only 9 and a half months old so just a puppy. Puppies are gonna' do what puppies do.
I just realized most thankfuls this week have to do with our dog. It is like having a newborn, your world revolves around them for a time. Good thing we like him.
@Lindsey, Are you sure he's a dog?
@Lindsey, My friend's Chihuahua could climb a five foot fence. Some dogs/breeds are jumpers and some aren't. My scent hounds are tunnelers, sigh.
Haha, I love that Clobber Paws saved you from having to eat the pork!
@Lindsey, our tiny cattle dog mix -- she weighs only 14 pounds @ 18 months old -- can jump like a deer. It's pretty terrifying what she can get into when I take eyes off her. DH got used to our tribe of dachshunds, who could not escape the backyard, and is lackadaisical about not watching her when she's out there. I fret about her like she's a toddler.
@Lindsey, you forgot to put "The husband, always the husband"! (But you are thankful this week for his patience.)
Was there anything inside that tree? That's so cool!!!
I am thankful for my supportive husband who endures having to hear about my challenging class this year.
I am thankful that my assistant principal is supportive even when other professionals are not so much.
I am thankful that I have so many years of experience working with kids and have lots of strategies up my sleeve-I'm going through 'em all this year! Now, if only I could clone myself...
I am thankful that there are now only 43 more days with my students, which is maybe enough time still to teach a few more things, but also not so much time left that I can just get through it.
Most importantly perhaps, I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday and that is my favorite day of the week.
I am thankful that I have spent 35 years as a teacher with the opportunity to really change students day with a positive comment Teachers have a special power which they can use for good or evil. I was by no means a saint but I can that say everyday I showed up with the intent giving positive service to the world. I remember a student came back to me 6 years later with a note and a handmade gift. In the note she told me she would never forget me telling her to remember to value herself above all else because she would always be "enough" in a world that likes to tells women they never enough. I have no idea when or if or how I would have said that. I hope maybe she understood it by my modeling. But however she picked it up, it is one highlight of my career. Let me tell you , few kids come back to thank me that I taught them about the missions of California or how to do long division.
@mary ann, a fourth-grade teacher! I LOVED learning about the missions.
I'm so happy for your joy at nursing school. What a privilege it is to watch your joy and contentedness through this blog.
I'm thankful
-for making it through today. It was a 12 hour day just with work stuff, and those 12 hours were filled to the brim, so much so that I didn't eat lunch until 6pm. Hats off to all the nurses out there because I know that 14 hour days are normal for you. That takes stamina and drive I don't think I have.
-for the sun and warmth we had today. And for the rain showers that showed off some neat rainbows. and for the long days--such an improvement over winter days for sure.
-for peaceful quiet right now with my dog licking my cold toes and not having anything terribly pressing right this minute.
-that my son's power chair is finally back and better than ever with new modifications
-for the hard sleep I'm hopeful I'll get tonight.
I bet you will sleep SO WELL tonight. You deserve it. 🙂
I'm so glad your instructor told you those encouraging things.....she likely notices and appreciates all of your hard work and dedication to your studies and clinicals. And OB is next! You're rocking it.
My thankfuls........
....thankful we have a great, reasonable carpet cleaning guy. We have off white wall to wall carpet throughout the house (not our choice, and it's way down the list of house projects to be replaced), and it constantly looks awful. James makes it look brand new.
.....for a sunny day for the eclipse. We've had clouds and rain every day for the rest of this week, so Monday's weather was a gift.
......for tulips blooming in my yard.
......for a good cup of coffee every morning (I have several brands of dark roast, including Aldi, that I like).
.....for work friends who are amazing bakers. Maybe not good for my waistline, but the occasional homemade treat is always welcome.
.....for a good camera, and a hubby who encourages me to get outside and use it. Outside in nature clicking away (or sometimes not) is my happy place.
Thank you for your encouragement!
1. That the irises are blooming in my yard, and so are the roses. Some of the irises are bulbs from my grandmother's estate, and that makes them especially dear to me. Outside my yard, the wildflowers are making the fields into carpets of color all over our county. Besides the bluebonnets, there are Indian Blankets and goldenrod and today I even saw a hill dotted with primroses. Oh, if only springtime would last all year! I'm hoping Heaven will have lots of springtime blossoms all the time.
2. This week's rain didn't start until the 100% eclipse was finished, and we got a real good soaking over the next couple of days. Very much needed in this drought-prone land! And it was all after the tourists had left for home, so hopefully they didn't get any bad weather during their trip.
3. . I have worked every day this week: when school was out, I worked at the store. (I may have already mentioned I got to see the eclipse from the parking lot bc we had very few customers when it happened.) After the school holiday on Eclipse Day, I got assigned 4 substitute teaching jobs including two gigs at 2 different elementary schools that were both a long way from my house. Those report times are 7:20, and I was able to get to both schools on time. Friday's job will be at the high school and I don't have to report until after 8 a.m.--much nicer!
4. It was a standardized testing day at one of the schools, and I was given a very delicious boxed lunch today, from one of the nicest delis in town....where I rarely eat due to their high prices. Free lunch! This was provided to all the regular teachers and they included me in the order. Much better than the plain old baloney sandwich I packed....which will be tomorrow's meal.
5. After school, I visited my 2 friends' bookstore, which is sadly having to close. I was going to buy some books instead of using my store credits, but they wouldn't hear of it. So I got a stack of summer reading books. I think I had many more books than I have credit for, but I've always brought them my (disposable plastic) grocery bags (they reuse them for their customers), and they were giving me credit for that! They said they are going to be OK despite having to close their business, both of them have already gotten jobs and an offer from someone to buy anything they haven't sold by closing time on the last day, so I am thankful they are landing on their feet. Still sad the store is closing, though.
6. I got my check to the IRS mailed so my taxes will be paid by next week's deadline.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I'm so glad that so many people had decent weather for the eclipse. A friend of mine is an astrophysicist in Houlton, Maine, the last part of the US with totality, and he's been preparing for this for at least two years. Fortunately the weather was perfect. He was interviewed live on NBC News on the day, in fact. (If anyone cares enough, Google houlton nbc eclipse or something similar.) I was very happy for him.
“Seriously could have eaten a sandwich while observing”—you are hilarious! I’m so glad it’s going well 🙂
Of course, I'm assuming we are setting aside the obvious hygienic problems of eating a sandwich during a wound dressing change. lol
Kristen, what I love about the "greening" is how MANY shades of green there are!!!
Yes! I agree.
This week in a guided journal I made a thankful list. Here are a couple highlights:
-All the resources/knowledge about so many subjects readily available to regular people.
-SO MUCH support/love coming my way.
-Living in a home surrounded by nature.
-Loving language/being bilingual.
-A few specific students who I've taught who I KNOW I made a positive difference in their lives, whether big or small.
You are going to be a beautiful nurse. Compassions kind and thoughtful. ❤️
@Caroline Rose, that should say compassionate!