Thankful Thursday | Guess what was wrong with my washer?
New here? Thankful Thursday is something we’ve been doing in these COVID times; a (frugal and free) exercise to help us hunt for the good that is in our lives and in the world, even in the midst of a pandemic.
This week, I am thankful:
that my washing machine is working again
The problem? a pair of socks that somehow made their way out of the tub and into the machine innards.
That's a quick and easy fix. Yay!
I am super grateful to have my washing machine up and running again.
that we get to return the gear case
I'd sent my appliance guy a video of my washing machine symptoms, and he'd made an educated guess that a new gear case was necessary.
He couldn't get out here for a few days, so to make things as efficient as possible, he had us order the part based on his educated guess.
That way we'd have if it we needed it.
But happily, we don't need it! Which means we can return it.
that the window job is done
As I was writing up the post about it, I was reminded of all the small jobs we had to do in relation to the window installation.
I'm so glad it's over and the room can just stay cleaned up now.
that I've been able to help my pregnant cousin
This is her second pregnancy and she's been pretty sick, like she was the first time.
During her first pregnancy, she lived hours away from me, so I couldn't do much other than text encouragement and sympathy.
But this time she lives 15 minutes away from me!
So I've been going over every other week or so to help with some household chores.
(This cousin is one of the twins I wrote about here.)
When I was pregnant and sick, it helped me so much when people pitched in with household chores or childcare, and I am delighted that I can do this for someone else.
that my girls are old enough for me to go help others
In the stage of life where I had four young kids, I couldn't really do a whole lot to go help other people. I'd have needed childcare help to be free to help!
But now that my kids are older, it's easy to leave them to manage themselves for an afternoon while I help someone else.
(Hopefully that's an encouragement to some of you who are in the thick of young kids right now.)
that everyone can serve others in their own unique way
I was chatting with Mr. FG about this on one of our recent takeout nights; I love that everyone can bring their own unique flavor to their service to others.
For instance, I am not particularly gifted in the fun and spontaneous arenas of life.
But I am really good at practical things. And I am good at working hard.
So, I can help my cousin out by washing dishes, folding laundry, organizing, and sweeping.
Someone who is good at fun could help out a pregnant mom by taking her other kids to the park, or making a fun craft with them.
Both things are helpful; they're just different flavors of help.
I am so thankful that you and I don't have to try to be someone else in order to help people. We just have to use the gifts we already have.
And this is good news for someone like me, who has un-flashy types of gifts. 😉
for my carpet cleaner
I got this years ago, when we had more carpet in our house, and it's really been great.
We don't use it tons now, since we just have three rooms with carpet, but it is still nice to have around, and it works great for steam cleaning car interiors.
I've been able to let other people borrow my cleaner too, and I used it very recently to do my pregnant cousin's main carpets (because I know that fresh, clean surfaces help when you are constantly queasy!)
that I'm almost done with Sonia's bookshelf
I got it sanded and primed on Tuesday, did several coats of paint on Wednesday, and will probably finish it up today.
But then I'm going to have to make Sonia patiently wait before putting things on the shelves because I want to make sure the paint is nice and hard.
Books can really stick to paint that is not fully cured and I don't want to undo all my work!
Related thankfulness item: I was able to remove three of the shelves, which makes for much easier sanding and painting.
You are not just practical and hard-working, but also thoughtful en kind. Those are inestimable gifts in my view.
This week, I am grateful that our eldest, who due to a condition is prone to frustration and impatience, has conquered difficult spells more quickly recently. It is better for him, and certainly easier on us, that he is developing more sense of proportion and humour to deal with life's disappointments and hardships.
I am also grateful that I have been able to support a cousin now that my aunt's health is declining. Both aunt and cousin are very dear to me.
Grateful that we got to be out of doors a lot. It is unsettlingly warm for the time of year - more like early autumn than verging on winter - so mixed feelings about that. At the same time, it is wonderful that we get to excercise outdoors still. We saw broad smiles on the faces of people cycling and talking walks.
I am especially grateful that my husband and I are enjoying each others company so much, even though we are so closely thrown together at the moment and have had to give up some hobbies temporarily due to covid.
Super Thankful that my husband is still going to work even though it's been 12 days in a row without a day off. He still comes home with a smile on his face even though he is super tired. He is looking forward to taking a week off in January after everyone else is done with their vacations through out the holidays and the end of the year.
Thankful that we are healthy and that we have the option to select our own health insurance.
Happy that I am in the mood to cook this week and we are mostly eating at home. We all know that feeling of not wanting to cook dinner. But it is so much healthier to eat at home too!
Thankful that my neighbor's gallbladder surgery was successful. He is an older gentleman, and the surgery is taking it's toll. Still praying that the medication changes make him feel better quickly. Glad he is home and the dog is super glad!
Thankful that we have money now to make urgent house repairs. We have stucco coming apart and it is letting water and there is a stain on our ceiling. UGH! But the guy is coming today to fix it
And thankful for wonderful content that is Frugal Girl. Enjoy reading about wonderful things and not people being miserable!
Goodness, does he work in a seasonally busy industry? It's so impressive that he's maintaining a cheerful attitude.
1. A new neighbor rang my doorbell last weekend. He had a box of masks, a box of antibacterial wipes, and a bottle of hand sanitizer to give to my family. He explained that someone at his job had ordered way too many of all three and that employees were trying to get rid of them because there was no room to store everything.
2. My doctor recommended I get a shingles shot and my insurance covered it. I wanted to hug the pharmacist when she told me that my portion was $0, but I restrained myself.
3. There's a light rain outside. I love it. I spent part of my quiet time this morning just looking out the window.
4. My workplace has a 6-week walking challenge that has about another week to go. It's really doing its job - I'm walking more than I usually do. I look forward to logging my steps every morning. The only "prize" is that I have a picture of a tree on the walking website that gets filled in with another leaf each day that I walk more than 6000 steps. Like my husband says, I'm a cheap date.
5. TV shows often take my mind off my worries. I'm slowly making my way through all the Twilight Zone episodes. I've lived my whole life hearing references to that show and now I'm finally watching it.
The Twilight Zone is one of my favorite shows! Each episode is so unique and thought-provoking.
The Twilight Zone is required viewing for anyone who likes thought provoking television. Just don't bother with any of the revivals.
Thankful that even though I was diagnosed with COVID the symptoms haven't been horrible (Have lost 5# due to nausea but that gives me a lot of room to eat over the holidays)
That we have a warm home and I can sleep each night in a comfortable bed.
That my church family has been so caring through this illness.
For a full freezer and stocked pantry.
That I will be virus free during the holidays and hopefully everyone else in my family will stay healthy.
I hope you feel better soon.
1. I am so, so thankful for my job. There's a lot to complain about (resident doctors are exempt from labour laws; we make less than minimum wage because we work so many hours; 26-hour shifts are deeply inhumane) but it's secure and it pays a living wage. Frankly, many lower-middle class and working-class families support themselves on what I make. My job allows my family choices that we wouldn't otherwise have (being a bit deliberately vague, but our income is about to drop), and I feel so, so lucky to be in this position.
2. I was a student until six months ago, so living more frugally than we do right now doesn't feel like a huge loss.
3. I...scratched up the car this week. Judging from the state of that pillar in the parking lot, lots of people have done the same thing! Still, it DOES NOT feel good. So I'm trying to find all the things I'm grateful for: My husband took the news well. The car isn't totaled. We can try to fix it ourselves. No one got hurt.
The hours you guys work are just crazy! I cannot imagine a 26 hour shift.
It's pretty awful. It's honestly a bad system: no one is getting ideal care at 2:00 a.m. when it's someone whose been a physician for one month and has been awake since 6:15 am the previous day. But alas, I'm not in a position to change things....yet!
I’m thankful for my rescue dog. She needs lots of exercise and keeps me moving, In her eyes, there is never a reason not to walk and play. Even today when North Florida is under a Tropical Storm Warning., we took our 2.5 mile morning walk in the wind and the rain. It’s invigorating!
I’m joyful that my eldest son received a huge promotion. There are few things that make me as happy as watching my children -even as adults — grow and succeed.
I’m thankful that my middle son’s dental surgery went well, and I was able to help him pay for this procedure.
I’m blessed with my dear husband who took care of me this week when I wasn’t feeling tip top.
I really need to work on a Thankful attitude and this exercise is still trying for me, but I am working on it.
1. I am thankful that the weather has continued to stay warm and we haven't had the need for our heat too often this month.
2. I am thankful that we had our work "holiday celebration" yesterday and was treated to lunch out. We needed to celebrate before our college student workers leave for the semester break.
3. I am thankful that the electricity company was at our house this morning trimming the trees around the power lines. This will hopefully keep any major issues from happening that would "fall on my dime"
I am so thankful that my and my husband's jobs have allowed us to transition to working from home pretty smoothly, and that we both work for a company that has been very flexible about childcare needs (we're not required to use video during remote meetings, people really don't care about background child noise as long as you're using your mute button responsibly, etc.).
I'm also glad for a list of other things right now, but that one is definitely at the top. So many of my loved ones have either lost their jobs, seen their business income drop sharply, or are faced with deciding between their own health (and the health of their family) and a paycheck.
Thankful for ...
1) So many people here who comment on things to be thankful for. It lifts my spirits.
2) For the lovely, unseasonably warm weather we had in west Michigan for several days.
3) Related to the above, SO thankful for the great weather we had Saturday. My daughter had a few friends over for an outdoor birthday party. I had visions of kids huddled around a bonfire in parkas and mittens but instead, it was a shirtsleeves and smiles afternoon.
4) An outdoor party meant that when the inevitable spills happened, I didn't have to clean anything up. Ha.
5) For pleasant window visits with my mom in her assisted living facility. I'm happy to linger longer when I'm not shivering.
Umm let's see ...
That I didn't break my wrist. I just badly bruised and sprained it. Luckily I was able to wait and go to the Urgent Care instead of the ER (costs much less and much less of an issue going there.)
That I was able to make it to the Asian grocery store and pick up a few essentials that I can't get at my local grocery stores (e.g. wonton wrappers, curry roux, oyster sauce etc.)
That as far as I know, Thanksgiving is still going on with my family.
OK this one I admit is a little stupid but whatever. Aldi this week had these little mini dutch ovens. You can't really use them for cooking as they hold maybe a cup. They are more decoration or maybe a butter dish or something like that. Highly impractical and really darn silly but it made me happy.
Ohh, the little pumpkin shaped dishes? I saw those at my Aldi this week!
Make individual custards in them! Bake apples - one apple to each tiny oven! Have fun with those cute little things, I say. If all they do is sit there and make you happy, though, that's certainly good enough.
That's an idea. Looking around online for ideas I've seen ones like it used as salt cellars, making crème brûlée, for a dip etc.
But yeah, it just looks nice too so I can always enjoy it just looking at it on my counter.
I don't know if this will be too cutesy for you but little dishes like that make a great little display for things like a hot cocoa station or coffee bar. You can fill them with little marshmallows, chocolate chips. or for a coffee bar maybe stirring spoons dipped in chocolate or cinnamon sticks for hot apple cider. I'm all about the things that fill you with joy - that is the good stuff in life 🙂
No this is the dutch oven shaped one.
https://www.aldi.us/en/weekly-specials/this-weeks-aldi-finds/this-weeks-aldi-finds-detail/ps/p/crofton-mini-ceramic-baking-dishes-1/
I have a little mini dish that I use to share either a 1 person amount of a casserole to bake or leftovers. I often take a meal to my aunt. I also share meals (mostly when it is a favorite for my mom or something new to try) with my parents regularly.
Ah - a cocquette! I love them. Sur La Table had them on sale so I bought a bunch. I use a white one as a sugar bowl and a blue one as a salt bowl. The rest are for individual desserts or suchlike. I'm having to restrain myself from buying one more so I can make mini-pies for my family for Thanksgiving. (That would be time-consuming, I don't have the time to do it, there's a reason we're buying the dinner instead of my making it, and we're already going to have two birthday cakes and at least one other pie.)
Celebrate those little happinesses, don't feel silly about them! $3 is quite a small purchase, it's less than a coffee at most shops.
Just as an FYI, doing an image search of cocquette gives very different results than some small pots.
I'm laughing out loud. I hadn't thought of that, but I'll bet that does get some interesting search results!
Try cocotte... it might work better.
Or, not much better.
1. Well, I’m thankful for learning new words from this blog!
2. Sunshine.
3. Having suitable weather and receiving instruction and motivation for prepping and painting a little doghouse before winter
4. Realizing that for me this year, I don’t have to “force” myself to celebrate holidays. In my heart, I will, but decorating 2 months early for Christmas or moaning about being alone, or over-spending to try to manufacture joy are things I’ll choose not to do.
5. A long phone call from a friend I’d been missing
I could write many more things I’m thankful for, too, and THAT itself is something for which I’m thankful.
ooh I'm tired; I read croquettes & started craving crumbed fried horse-doovers
This week I'm thankful for:
1) Rain in the forecast in northern California. I enjoy the sunshine as much as anyone else, but we desperately need the rain, and I remind myself that can me skiing this winter.
2) Heating in our house on cool days. I don't mind bundling up (and, we try to do that anyway for frugal & environmental reasons), but being able to afford & having access to heating means when it's too chilly even with layers to be comfortable, we can turn on the heat
3) That I took a risk. I'm a creature of habit, and got way out of my comfort zone by applying to volunteer at a non-profit that helps kids who are struggling. I've been working hard on taking small steps to invest in changes I want to see in myself (taking more risks being one) & I'll start my volunteer role in the next week. Hurrah!
4) That I have a lovely network at work. It's hard to build, but is so valuable to have others to talk to & commiserate with during challenging times. I truly enjoy these people & consider them friends & not just co-workers. I feel lucky to work with such a great group.
5) That we still have herbs growing & tomatoes (slowly) ripening. We're at the end of the growing season, so I will appreciate them while I can!
Whoa, how did the socks get sucked into the washer innards? The repair guy has gotten dimes out of the pump on ours, but never socks.
I am kind of struggling to be thankful today, so it's a "this happened, but ...." kind of happiness. I lost a beloved friend to cancer this week, but she lived full-on magnificently for a year and half and passed quickly and without much suffering, thanks to hospice. My wonderful rescue dog with the zillion allergies is sick again, despite the very expensive allergy treatment we embarked on, but she is still the sweetest, most patient, loving little dog. Everyone in my household is still well and working. Because my job involves dealing with people positive for Covid, no one in the family wants to come to my house for Thanksgiving. This is not a tragedy because I despise the hoopla and massive amount of work required, as the only daughter, to host family dinners. So I am secretly delighted that we can roast a chicken, eat what we like as sides and call it good. 😀
Man, I do not even know. My best guess is that someone had put too big of a load in there (one of my children is notorious for this), and when the washer spun, the sock got thrown up and over the edge of the tub.
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.
Ruby, perhaps you can renegotiate that bit about always having to host Thanksgiving because you are the only daughter. This is 2020, after all.
I would be resentful, too.
I remember envying people long ago: when I met my future mother-in-law, I envied her for having what I wanted, a house, a husband, a career. Security. It wasn't until much later that I realized she might have envied me for being a cute young college girl having fun with my boyfriend for the weekend.
I remember envying my next-door neighbors because their children were 8 and 10, while mine were a baby and a toddler. Their children didn't have to be watched all the time, while mine did. Again, it's possible my neighbor envied me for having adorable babies still.
Um, I'm not sure where these thoughts came from? I guess being at different stages of life.
Anyway I love your part about serving others through our own gifts. I'm always annoyed and resentful cleaning and sweeping because I hate it so much; I'd much rather be doing something fun and creative. Maybe I'll stop being annoyed with myself for hating cleaning so much.
If it helps, I always look at cleaning and organizing as a way to take time to appreciate the house and its contents which provides a home for me. I've worked hard for my house and all that it holds! I lived in poverty growing up and raising my daughters, and now to have a house that I've purchased (not rental finally!) makes me appreciate how far I've come. The process of keeping it clean is providing my appreciation for my hard work.
That is a freaking awesome solution to the washing machine problem!!
Thankfulness abounds: For a man with dementia who worked out a deal with God to beat it this morning ... for our daughter whose 11th birthday is today ... for our one and only niece whose 1st birthday was yesterday ... for my garden, its seemingly endless supply of ripening tomatoes, and my grandma's canners ... for newspapers ... for coffee.
Thankful for discovering that all my new, scarey health symptoms were caused by a New heart Medication that I do not need. Now discontinued and I am feeling so much better--talk about the cure worse than the disease!
Thankful for all the leaves down and raked.
Thankful that my 98 year-old MIL is well and safe in El Paso of all dangerous places.
Thankful for my loving, caring husband.
Oh, I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better. Excellent. And what a lovely, simple solution.
Thankful for: ( having to think HARD because I have Covid mental exhaustion)
1. We currently have three older but paid for cars. Yes two of three needed some work but we had money saved.
2. Thankful for my paycheck during Covid.
3. Thankful for my sweet pets to bring joy and snuggles during major STAY AT HOME months.
4. Thankful for those that wear a mask.
5. Thankful that my Xmas shopping is done. ( I do not buy a ton but I enjoy the process: need. Want. Read. Wear!)
I'm thankful that Eta has downgraded and the storm surge warning for my county has been downgraded as well.
I'm thankful that my family remains well, and we are looking forward to Thanksgiving together.
I'm grateful for the kind wishes from friends and family sent to my husband on Veterans' Day.
I'm thankful for our nice neighbor who gifted us yet again with cleaned, filleted fish.
I'm very grateful that although my husband and his late sister's husband are polar opposites politically, they can converse on the phone happily for a long time and end each call with "Love you, brother."
Thankful...
- for the pay raise I will receive as of January. I had been a little frustrated at work lately (lots of work and some rather unpleasant projects). Yesterday my manager approached me and broke the good news to me. It was unexpected as the salary reviews usually take place in February (in our company) and the raise is also higher than expected. I am feeling much more motivated and valued today :-).
- that my gyn appointment got postponed (I know, postponed doesn't mean cancelled, but I was really not in the mood today).
- for the lovely cat calender that a friend mailed me. I had proof-read her thesis and she wanted to thank me with a surprise :-).
Are we ever in the mood for gyn appointments??
Probably no one in the history of ever has been sad at a gyn postponement.
It's been a week, at least in my head, so this is a good exercise for today. Today I am thankful for...
- a positive email from my sister
- seeing a friend who was in town for work
- mountain biking and the ride I was able to do yesterday
- time alone to process my feelings sometimes
- clients and a job that I mostly enjoy doing and the fact that I get to do it from home
- a great spouse
- cuddly kitties
- The Masters is on this week!
- A super comfy bed
I desperately needed this exercise today. Because my husband works at our local hospital, and COVID cases are on the rise, he's on mandatory overtime... which has completely cut into our Thanksgiving plans and time with family. I'm a negative nancy today...
1) I'm thankful he has a job with insurance that is far better priced than what my company offers. For him to have the three of us on a plan, it's about $430. For me to have the 3 of us, it's $1,100. BIG difference there.
2) I'm thankful that with mandatory overtime comes a slightly larger paycheck. So we can expect a slight boost in finances, just in time for Christmas.
3) I'm grateful that, even though this is cutting into holiday time, we still will have nearly 3 days with family we don't see often.
4) I'm thankful that I bought a new car earlier this year, and that we have the means to drive the 6 hours to see the family, AND have room for the 2 stepkids, 1 bio kid, my husband, me and our luggage.
5) I'm thankful we're all healthy enough to travel within the state to see family, and that they are healthy enough to have us. I hem and haw about whether we should even be going, but it's between two counties with mask mandates, we aren't planning on stopping except at rest stops and to get gas. It's a family-visit... so no other stores are required!
For my job. I have been able to work from home seamlessly and without issue from my employer and they are very understanding about the need to take care of ourselves and our families during this time. This is priceless and has allowed me to take care of my husband through two surgeries this year and my little guy had two teeth extracted.
For the fact that my husband and I are both still employed and we can give to others in our community that are in need.
For wonderful sales at the grocery store today that allowed me to be able to purchase a cartful of groceries to bless another family with at a very minimal cost.
For the opportunity I have as a parent to teach my son to love and serve others in this season.
For a forecast full of sunny days ahead and cooler temperatures. I am grateful for rain but 98% humidity is tough midway through November. I'm looking forward to highs in the 60's and sunny breezes.
For Charlie Brown and Christmas music and Christmas decorations and cookbooks of family holiday recipes that fill me with joy and make it easier to get through the days.
Most definitely #1 gratitude. My spouse and I and our granddaughter and her family have recovered from a “ mild” case of Covid.
Oh, wonderful! I'm so glad you guys have recovered.
My gratitude this week:
I had a telemed video check in with my sleep dr (just the yearly check in). So lovely not to have to take off work and drive and wait in the office, then drive home afterwards. I sat in my comfy recliner and did the visit in a fraction of the time. I took a 15-minute break from my (tele) work, instead of having to use sick-leave time. Grateful for the tele-visit, working from home with a flexible schedule and my doc and I discussed some strategies to deal with my nightly congestion (which seems to have worked so far--knock on wood).
This past week's weather as been BEAUTIFUL--temps unseasonably warm, plenty of sunshine and just lovely. It's raining now (but we need the rain) and turned cooler, but it was lovely to have the time we did, especially considering it's November.
My kids and I decided it's safer for everyone if we don't do Thanksgiving together this year. Not good, as Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of all of us, but with my granddaughter being in child care, my daughter working in the medical field, and my other grandchildren in (part time in-person) school, we all felt it was best not to risk our health. Still, I'm grateful that we all manage to keep in daily touch with each other through our group texts, videos and pics. They can really save the day sometimes and keeps us all feeling connected when we're apart.
Very thankful this Thursday for:
(1) Our dentist and his staff, who, of all the health care professionals DH and I see, work with us the most compassionately to accommodate DH's dementia. Just got home from taking DH for the second of two appointments for a crown, and we got through this better than I'd dared to hope, thanks to everybody's help.
(2) The friend of a friend who is a ward supervisor at one of our local senior complexes, and who is doing what she can to help me get DH wait-listed for residential care there. Of course, COVID is complicating this situation enormously (is there a situation that COVID *doesn't* complicate?). But we are moving toward the time when DH is going to need this care, and I don't want to delay getting him into the queue.
This is so smart of you to be proactive about care for your DH.
And I am so glad the crown appointments have gone well!
Prayers for a good housing solution for your husband and for endurance for you in this marathon. My dad had dementia and mom cared for him until the last 6 months of his life. Such a hard place to be.
My first time trying this, but here goes...
1. Thankful that warmer weather motivated me to take both cars for oil changes & washes/vacuuming. Both are now ready for winter.
2. Thankful that my husband has been released by his doctor and weekly appointments are no more.
3. Thankful that in spite of our basement fridge biting the dust last week, we still have a full kitchen fridge & pantry.
4. Thankful that hubby can now walk on both feet using a walker.
5. Also hubby tried driving for the 1st time in a year and had no issues with it. For now he is practicing around our neighborhood.
LDA, thanks for commenting! It sounds like you and your husband have had a rough go of it. Hugs.
I am thankful that my friend's washing machine was easy to fix and she could return the pricy part she didn't need.
I am thankful that a (different) friend, whose politics do not align with mine, was not unpleasant about the outcome of the presidential election. I would have been surprised if she had been and I'm happy that she was true to herself.
I am thankful for a full freezer and long experience in cooking and meal design. This means I can usually pull together a meal quickly even if Plan A did not survive its first encounter with reality.
I am thankful that the dude who bought my canning supplies was not only not a flake (there seem to be many flakes on Craigslist) but also good company. I miss random pleasant interactions with strangers.
Wait, what? Your friend had the exact same situation as me with a washer?
It must be going around!
Haha! I'm pretty sure he was talking about you, Kristen. 😉
Get a load of this guy bragging about having friends! 😉
That my husband made gorgeous floating shelves in the living room where I can display my Dad's collection of antique books
That my Dad passed on his books to me, and more importantly he passed on a love of reading
That my DH (semi-retired) found a fun, challenging, and well-paying part-time job he really enjoys
That I have a stable job that I can do from home
That we have two weddings coming up in the next 15 months in our family!
Most importantly, that my daughters have found wonderful partners to marry
Yes, that is an encouragement for me as I'm in the thick of having little kids and needing childcare if I were to go help with a lot of areas of need. I'm thankful that God has been faithful to provide opportunities to serve and bless others with my little kids at home, even if there are certain areas of service that I would like to participate in but can't in this stage of life.
I'm thankful that we've had unusually awesome weather for the last week or so. It's felt more like mid-September than early November. Even as the cold weather hit yesterday, the wind is gone today and the sun is back out and it's quite lovely!!
I'm thankful (once again) that my daughter's school is open and hasn't had any temporary shutdowns yet. This is true of only 2 of 13 schools in our county - my daughter's and the one where my mom works.
I'm thankful that our library is open. Children's picture books are so much easier to pick out in person and I love that we can go every week and browse. I'm also thankful that in the last year or so they increased the limit of items you can check out because our count today is 71. 🙂
I'm thankful for the people we interact with at Aldi and the library and the smiles and kindness they share.
I'm thankful that it's turkey season! I love filling my freezer with turkeys to make throughout the year and I got my first one last night - a 23 pound turkey for less than $7. It felt good.
As a pregnant mom who is struggling with hip pain, I can tell you your help is much appreciated by your cousin. I am so grateful for my Mom and my friends who have been taking care of me. My mom watches my kids while I have my ob appointments and I come home to clean floors and kitchen every time. My friend has graciously been bringing me a weekly dinner to help me stay off my feet. I am so grateful for their help in the non-flashy things.
For perfect coffee this morning. We ran out of cream on Saturday, and I broke the glass part of my french press coffee maker the next day. So all this week, I've been drinking milky coffee with some grounds in from making it in a big Pyrex and straining it through a not-fine-enough strainer. But we got cream yesterday and my replacement glass thing arrived, so this morning, perfect coffee. Finally.
Coffee with milk instead of cream is just sad. I feel you there!
I haven’t been commenting at all since I just had my fourth baby and my days are way busier now, but I have some unexpected quiet time right now so making a thankful list sounds nice!
1. I’m unceasingly thankful for my children. My husband and I were told by an infertility specialist that we would never have kids. Somehow now we have four amazing little ones that we conceived naturally. I have no idea why we have been so amazingly blessed, but my heart is full.
2. On the flip side, I’m thankful for the time of infertility we went through. We had to let go of our dream of having biological kids, and open ourselves up to a new path (adoption). Although the journey didn’t end up there, when we ended up unexpectedly pregnant, the time of letting go was a milestone in my life, and it made me much more empathetic toward women who face infertility.
3. My husband and I no longer argue about money. It used to be such a sore spot for us (he’s a type A saver, I’m a live-in-the-moment spender). But thank God we have come to wonderful compromises that make us both happy.
4. My seven week old passed his hearing test today at the neonatal audiologist. He failed the hospital hearing screen at birth so there was a question of hearing loss but apparently he has normal hearing!
5. Thankful for an 8 year old who still cuddles with me when we’re sitting on the couch, hugs me goodbye, and holds my hand. Savouring each moment. <3
6. Thankful for my husband still working from home. His job lends itself very well to working remotely, he loves being home with us during the day (the kids are homeschooled), and we love having him here.
7. A reliable income, a comfortable house, safe neighbourhood, food in the fridge, some money in the bank, a good vehicle, health insurance, I could go on and on. It’s easy to forget how good we have it compared to so many... just the “ordinary” things are amazing blessings.
Ohh, yay for your new little one!!
What a beautiful blessing to have four children! And how wonderful your youngest passed the hearing test! Our daughter passed her second or third post discharge neonatal hearing test, which should have been enough to see an ENT, but that's not what happened. Now, 6 years later, we are still walking the road of hearing loss, trying to get back as much of it as we can.
Oh my, I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that.
🙁 I wish you and your daughter well.
I’m thankful for...
The birds that visit my back garden that are so fun to watch, and it is satisfying to identify a new one that appears in the mix.
My son’s kind and understanding English teacher who helped him pull through the grade 10 course when he was struggling to get work done on line and on time. He will now pass the course...phew.
Good sleep...I have been sleeping well the past few weeks and have been turning off the light at 9 pm and doing so much better. No more late nights reading until all hours!
Good Sleep! That is such a good reminder. Thank you! I was NOT sleeping well a few weeks ago, it was a long haul of insomnia. For now, I am sleeping well and am now grateful for that! I am also grateful for a full fridge, independent kiddos, and good coffee. OH! and the neighborhood kiddos who are littering the street with bikes, scooters, and skateboards while they play outside. It's the best kind of noise pollution and litter on the sidewalk. Covid has really brought all the kids out on our street and as a homeschool family, I'll be eternally grateful for this time, especially for my kiddos. They really don't know how lucky they are.
One of the best things someone did for me when I was so ill was to take over keeping track of insurance paperwork, sometimes doing phone fighting to get things covered. As it happens I am good at that sort of thing, too, but had not considered using that talent as a gift for an ill person. Since getting well, I have done this for one other person and it made me feel so good to be able to do something, anything, when I am not able to do traditionally helpful things like cleaning or running errands.
Thankful for:
1. Temperatures that are back to below zero so it will stop snowing. By the end of the storm last week, we had 21 inches at our part of town so I am happy for 17 below.
2. Thrilled our friend's teen still needs phys ed credits as part of Covid home schooling so he came over again, this time to put up our Christmas lights and hand shovel a path so our oil delivery guy doesn't have to drag his hose through snow. He was here for four hours and is not allowed to be paid or he won't get credit.
3. All my appliances are functioning, which I did not appreciate until reading your (and readers') various posts about the things falling apart in so many of your homes.
4. The chickens continue to eat our organic leftovers and reward us with eggs every single day. It saves me carrying things like cabbage cores and egg shells across the snowy yard to the compost heap. They don't get everything, since I save things like leek tops in the freezer for making stock but cabbage is too strong for that.
5. That my husband will eat anything I make without complaint. Honestly, some of my meals turn out like bad science projects but he is committed to not wasting food money so will scrape off burned parts or smother things in catchup or salsa instead of throwing food out.
Oh yes, that would be an amazing skill to offer to a sick person and their family! I can imagine that people dealing with illnesses do not have the mental energy to deal with insurance companies too.
I'm thankful for our new home office. Although, we did spend a bit of money on it. We are much more comfortable working from home. I was frugal in some of the "home shopping" decorating, I feel like the expense is worth the comfort of our daily work lives.
I'm grateful that our freezer and fridge are full of healthy and homemade food.
I'm thankful for a house full of food, a healthy family, and a job that is still virtual (at least for now).
I am thankful that my husband is such a good partner, for the great weather we had this week, for 2 healthy kids, and for coffee.
I am so very thankful for healthy family! We have had some *contact with contact* but no direct exposure at the kids school and my husband has managed to stay healthy at work, where as the IT guy he is in everyone's space!
Thankful for the people who bought our inflatable hot tub! lol We truly enjoyed it for 3 years but this past season we hardly used it.. So we posted it online and made back a third of what I paid for it! This also clears up that corner of the basement where it took up precious room!
Good customer service at Target! They have a good discount on bath towels and we desperately need new ones so I snagged an order of bath sheets at the local store and then towels are being delivered. I picked up my online order, untagged and washed them right away.. only to realize when I folded them 2/5 were the smaller ones!!! Online the stores looked sold out so I got someone on the phone and he found the 2 I paid for on the shelf and put them aside for me. When I arrived they already knew my story, brought me my larger ones and took the freshly washed ones back- no drama, no questions it was so nice!
Thankful my family eats what I prepare.. tonight I made chicken and cheese enchiladas and red rice and it was.. pretty just ok.. i was not thrilled with it.. but they ate it and no one complained!
I am thankful for the insurance benefits my workplace offers, including being able to enroll in an HSA to help with our out of pocket medical/dds expenses.
I am thankful for a partner that shares the workload at home, we play to each other's strength, like you described above, Kristen.
I am thankful for being healthy so far despite the rising cases, washing hands, staying socially distant and masks work!
I am thankful for practicing minimalism, it makes me calm.
I am thankful for my morning coffee, enjoying it slowly is one of my favorite parts of the day.
1. Access to a specialist for my son after waiting 3 years for an appointment. And now that we're in the door at this new clinic, we have access to several other specialists we'd had trouble finding. Finally we are on a path that will get him the care he needs in order to walk.
2. Family who is letting us live with them while we get care for my son. My parents are generous people, and I think they are enjoying us being here, and we are certainly enjoying being here.
3. Online/homeschool blend that allows us to pick up and travel. The pandemic caused us to make this choice, and even though I didn't realize it then, it has allowed us to pursue care for my son without compromising my kids' education.
4. The giggles of my daughter as she reads words. It's like she's seeing a whole new magical world. I don't think it will ever get old.
Thankful for...
* My daughters feeling comfortable enough with me to share their troubles, even if it makes my heart sink. Also very grateful that despite some troubles in the friendships department, they DO have friends.
* It's almost weekend. I'm not feeling it this week (work) and I'm happy it's almost over.
* Being able to visit family this weekend. We are banned from having visitors (covid) in my city, but they are not so we are able to visit them
* A supportive husband.
* Having access to the public pool through an online reservation system. Spaces are limited, but I've been lucky so far to be able to go 3 times a week.
I hear you on your first bullet point!
Kirsten: I love your insight about using our particular strengths to help out - I’m definitely a fun and games helper
What carpet cleaner do you have? Any brands to recommend, stay away from?
Mine is made by Hoover. Of course, the exact model is no longer available, but this one looks similar: https://amzn.to/35qSuY0
I am strangely enough thankful for the bout of food poisoning I'm currently enduring.
Why be thankful for food poisoning? One, it gave me some time off work which I needed to recharge my batteries. 2) One friend took two buses from her house and two buses back home to give me yogurt, probiotics, and bread. 3) A second friend brought over homemade chicken soup and popsicles. 4) The whole experience made me slow down and engage in self-care which I am normally bad at.
2) the furnace that while it needs replaced and is malfunctioning is still WORKING. Our highs have been in the low 40s so having a warm house has been wonderful.
3) A working vehicle to get me back and forth to work.
4) A job that I like and that is necessary (USPS)
Cheers to you and all the varied workers at the USPS!
"As long as there are postmen, life will have zest." William James
1. I’m thankful I’ve been able to help care for my mother-in-law who recently broke her arm. I have been going to her house twice a week to wash and style her hair.
2. I’m thankful I am able to drive my grandchildren to school and keep them off the bus.
3. Last Friday after driving for approximately 15 to 20 miles, my cell was found on the trunk of my car. I am so thankful it did not fall off my car and break.
4. I’m thankful I am able to sew, paint,and various other crafty things so I can make most of my Christmas gifts.