Thankful Thursday | I filed my taxes!
This week, I am thankful:
that my taxes are filed. Whew.
I was pretty darn last-minute this year, but hey, as long as it's in before the deadline, that's what counts.
And next year, my CPA will do my blog taxes, so, yay!
that Sonia's taxes are so easy
I helped her file, and I was reminded, yet again, how simple taxes are when you are young, not self-employed, and own basically no assets. Heh.
Tax filing takes about 20 minutes under such circumstances.
My taxes are not the 20-minute type. 😉
for kitty snuggles
Zoe and I had some 9 month old kittens at the shelter during our rescue shift last night, and they were so sweet and snuggly!
An armful of purring kitten is a very good thing indeed.
Also, we thought this cat had such beautiful eyes!
for a very warm day yesterday
I wore shorts for, I think, the first time this year.
that today is exam ⅝
Once I finish this morning's exam, I only have two more regular exams, plus a cumulative final, and then I will have made it through all of Anatomy and Physiology. Sweet.
This works out to about four exams in about four weeks' time, sooo...yikes.
But I remember that the last few weeks of A&P 1 were kind of nuts, and I did make it out with an A. So I have faith I'll be ok this time too.
that I got invited to be a supplemental instructor
My community college invites some students to offer paid supplemental instruction to science students in a future semester. I'm not quite sure how you get on the list to be invited, but I think this is a compliment.
(At any rate, I'm taking it as one.)
I don't know that I have the space in my life to add this job to my schedule next semester, but I will attend the informative meeting to at least see what it involves.
that I can help out my dad with lifting things
Obviously, I am still QUITE indebted to my parents, since I've been living with them since January!
But while I've been here, I've been able to help my dad with loading wood for his stove, and with moving things in and out of the house for a project he's working on (new built-ins for the TV they just bought).
My mom is happy to not be the lifting partner in such situations. And I am happy to do something to contribute around here. 🙂
for a warm fire made by my dad
So. Marriage therapy is happening over Zoom, and for privacy's sake, I hop on the Zoom call in my dad's garage/workshop.
I sit at his garage desk with my laptop, and before the appointments, he always makes a fire in the wood stove in there so that I stay nice and toasty.
And I feel loved because of this. 🙂
for all the tiny green tree leaves
An interesting thing about being in my parents' neighborhood for springtime is that the trees turn green sooner.
Oak trees are super slow to get their leaves, and the neighborhood where my own house is is pretty much entirely oaks. But here, there are a lot of other kinds of trees, and they are getting their leaves so quickly!
And you know I love to see the green.
You have great parents, and it’s wonderful that you appreciate them so. I remember my dad once said, (I was in my 30’s at the time). “You know when you quit worrying about your children? Never.” And I thought he is right because I still worry about my 40 yo.
I’m thankful for all the lessons from my parents. They were my biggest supporters and never quit encouraging and helping me.
Today I’m thankful to becoming less attached to things. I never had a problem getting rid of stuff but these last few years I’ve ramped it up.
That I decided to call an aunt and offer her pictures of her mother, father and grandmother. I was going to pass these on to grandkids because they didn’t know them. I will send e copies to them. But my aunt has fond memories and lost pictures years ago. We also talked about my mom, her sister. It was very nice to talk to someone who knew her.
I’m thankful to be up early and enjoying the quite with coffee. And reading your pleasant site, just finished reading yesterday’s post. I found myself thinking I’m really blessed not to have to do things I don’t enjoy.
The fires made by your dad are one of the sweetest things I've ever heard. And that is not a word I use often.
Good luck with the rest of your exams!
Thankful . . .
--The asparagus is starting! And the one hen that persistently escapes incarceration doesn't seem to be bothering with it.
--I'm subbed yesterday and will be again today for the 2-3 grade teacher (combined grades at tiny schools), and these seem to be two extremely hectic days schedule-wise. But! I'm subbing because the teacher went to help out her sister-in-law, who just had her third child via C-section. So in an indirect way, I'm helping a new mom with young kids. I was that mom more than once, and I know how important that help is. So I'm happy to sub, even though managing a classroom all day is not my favorite.
--As always, for a husband with a flexible schedule that can accomodate unexpected days of childcare for our daughter (or any of the boys who get sick on days I work).
--That I found a book in our school library that my oldest son liked enough he asked me to find the first (the one in our library is a sequel). He's run through almost all the books that interest him in our tiny library, so any time I find one he really enjoys, it feels like winning a small lottery.
--For the tiny convenience store in the village that had the two bags of marshmallows I needed to make the Rice Krispie treats I promised for today's spring party in the elementary school. I forgot to put them on the list when my husband went to a town. Usually that means we just don't have whatever I forgot, but the village store is pretty good about keeping non-perishables on hand. Things like dairy are much more hit and miss, for obvious reasons of distance and perishability.
Not only does the fire keep me warm, it's also a good place to deposit the piles of used Kleenex that inevitably result from one of these sessions. 😉
Yay for Rice Krispie treats. They are so easy and always so well-received. I don't know that I've ever met a person who dislikes them!
@Kristen,
Now you have. I can't stand them!
A true milestone for me. Ha.
@JD,
I do not like them either, although, I can tolerate them. ☺
@Kristen, I won’t waste calories on them either.
As a vegetarian, I don't eat Rice Krispie treats because marshmallows contain gelatin, which is derived from animal parts. Although there are gelatin-free marshmallow substitutes on the market, I don't partake. S'mores are off the menu for the same reason.
@MB in MN, we don't eat them for the same reason, but I do buy the Dandee marshmallows that are vegan, so I may give it a try one day.
@Kristen, I feel like there's a metaphor there about burning our tears in purifying flames and letting the ashes carry away the pain. Or maybe just tissues in a woodstove so they don't have to be hauled to a dump. 🙂
That is much more positive than, say, a metaphor that has to do with your life going up in flames. Or your life being a dumpster fire.
I'll go with the purifying idea. 🙂
@Kristen, I don’t like marshmallow, so I don’t like them either!
@kristin @ going country, Ash is, (or was), a major ingredient in soap. I recall an Ash Wednesday sermon that pointed out how cleansing could come from mourning.
I'm thankful for the green of spring. The grass is so green and in many yards studded with violets. The bulbs are gorgeous. I always think the daffodils are lovely and then the tulips open and the color variety is stunning. It's just such a wonderful time of year.
I'm thankful for our local Trolley Trail. It takes us from our suburb to the next one, mostly through the woods. I walked it last Friday with a friend and yesterday with another friend. On Friday we stopped to buy bread at the bread store. Yesterday we got ice cream before walking back. Of course I am thankful for my friends.
I'm thankful that a week after a medical procedure my SIL is recuperating well and already feeling that it has made a difference.
I'm thankful that a SIL had good reports after medical scans and that another SIL had few side effects from her Covid booster.
I'm thankful for windows that can be cleaned from inside the house.
I'm thankful my geographically dispersed siblings and I will get together in a couple of months.
Your dad (and parents) sound very special and sweet! I am thankful that today is opening day for our new Aldi!! After moving from Michigan to Alabama last year, I have dearly missed my Aldi. They have been building one for what seems like forever in the next town over, so I have literally been counting down the days!
Ooooh, that is very exciting news! Yay! Enjoy the affordable groceries.
Work being somewhat flexible lately and letting me work on what I need to as well as to take some personal time. Also for my boss who is telling people to stop assigning stuff to me that I don't do.
That my daughter just had a cold; not anything serious. I have no data to back it up but I am convinced that we ruined a lot of our immune systems over the past two years and now people are getting sick left and right with colds and such and they don't really know how to function.
For garbage pickup. It would suck if I had to go to the dump.
For good pens and pencils. I don't think I will ever leave paper behind and I hope the world doesn't either.
@Battra92, I agree that our immune systems aren't quite up to snuff. Our family just had piggyback viruses, the second of which was Flu A, and I forgot what it means to be sick. That said, our complex medical kiddo did better with both viruses than he's ever done (no respiratory support during flu! Just fluids!) with anything, so I guess it depends a bit on the person.
So nice that you and your dad are able to show your love to each other in tangible ways!
I am going to dig deep today. I have Covid for the 1st time and am feeling a bit miserable and not too thankful at the moment.
I am thankful I am vaxxed and boosted. While I feel miserable, I’m not layering on anxiety about severe Covid as I believed in science enough ti get the shots!
I am thankful I got sick after (during?) our last college visit so my youngest daughter was able to see all her choices in person.
I am thankful my husband has not contracted my Covid so far. He’s undergoing chemo so this is huge.
While I had to cancel Easter plans including a visit from one of my college kids which makes me sad, I am thankful I have my family and that we’ll be together again soon.
I am thankful my employer values my contributions, is doing well financially and was more generous than usual with merit this year as a result. That’s been a real bright spot in an otherwise crappy week.
@Susan, I'm following your excellent example and doing some deep digging today. I just got a call from DH's nursing home: DH has just tested positive for COVID. (Our area is currently leading the nation in yet another new variant; see https://www.syracuse.com/coronavirus/2022/04/cny-had-first-outbreak-in-us-of-new-covid-strains-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont.html). And I only just visited DH yesterday. So I have just called the Bestest Neighbors and canceled my participation in Dr. BN's Seder tomorrow night. But:
DH was physically healthy and triple-vaxxed going into this, so I'm hoping he'll come through it OK. No symptoms other than a mild fever and "not acting like himself," as per his ward supervisor. I did notice on yesterday's visit that his mood/affect were somewhat off, though he did seem glad at intervals to see me.
I'm *very* glad that I found out about this in time to spare other participants in the Seder unnecessary risk. Dr. BN and one guest are over 80, and another guest is severely immunocompromised.
And I'm even more thankful than before that my friends and relatives have been so generous with their spare test kits. I expect to be testing frequently over the next several days.
Susan, hang tough, as I'm trying to do.
Oh man, I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope and pray that he gets through this smoothly, and that you do too. Hugs to you.
@A. Marie,
I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope he does well and that you stay free and clear of it. I pray he handles any illness/quarantine as well as possible.
Susan, I hope you are better soon! I got Omicron in January (vaxxed and boosted), and I definitely felt sick for a few days, but it didn't took long to see some improvement. I did feel tired for a while, and the cough lingered the longest.
@A. Marie, I hope your husband recovers quickly and that you are spared!
Our college visit was o one of your neighboring states so I perhaps have that variant!
@Kristen, thank you! Every day this week has been a little worse so I’m hoping I hit the upswing soon!
My dad would do this sort of thing for me if I needed it, it’s so lovely and special to feel so comforted by your dad.
I’m thankful that a chance meeting with an old colleague on my drive has led to a new job!! I’m going to be working 2 days a week, term time only, at the local VI Form College in the library there. I shall continue to work on the farm 3 or 4 days a week as well. I’m really excited for the extra ££ in the budget as well as working with books, heaven!!
Thankful that I can host both my parents and in-laws for Easter Sunday lunch and my eldest will be home from Uni too. Currently writing this in the back of our car as we are driving back from Scotland where he’s at Uni. I’m nestled up against his American football shoulder pads and helmet with zero space to move any limbs except my hands, hence my ability to type, just!!! Only just under 5 hours to go …. 🙂 🙂
Thankful that I packed snacks and drinks for the drive up yesterday and that I booked the hotel eons ago at a very cheap rate. We are planning to have a KFC on the journey home, it’s a family tradition I’m happy to spend money on.
Thankful for this blog and being able to read about everyone’s lives, adventures and experiences across the world, long May you continue Kristen!
@Joanne in the U.K., Your description of your present location made me laugh (and also maybe wince a little). Here's hoping the rest of the drive passes relatively quickly. You're a good mom. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, thank you Kristin!
Ok, I'm feeling squished just reading your description of your seating situation!!
I hope you get lots of chances to stretch your legs soon.
The thing about your dad making it warm for you wrecked me. You are so very blessed and lucky to have your parents during this time. I will try to be the same type of combo mom/dad for my kids in the future. I filed my taxes, too! First time in almost 40 years. And I helped my youngest over the phone as best I could, too. I am learning to do all kinds of things I never even considered, so I am thankful for my persistence and enough intellect to figure things out, even in stressful times!
Also? Each day I think, I'm really thankful for my clean and cozy home with this cup of good coffee in front of me. (: Then I start my day.
https://cannaryfamily.blogspot.com/2022/04/somewhere-to-read.html
LOVE the metal desk in your Dad's garage. Midcentury sweet. My parents have the bigger version in their office, which is now a pantry since they are long retired. I've been using this behemoth to do my work during my extended stays with them and thankful for it.
I'm thankful for my garden. I've been spending my spring break peeling back the overgrowth of the past two years and finding that most of it is still there despite my neglect. I think it's going to very possible for me to have a no-spend garden year while still enjoying it plenty.
Congratulations on being chosen to be a supplemental instructor to science students! That is a major compliment and well deserved I’m sure. I hope the logistics all work out so you can do it.
@Shirley, ditto! If it DOES work out in your schedule, you'd be an awesome instructor.
I think it's quite a compliment to be invited to be a supplemental instructor!
Your thanksgivings about your dad remind me of my dad. It's so great that he and your mom are there for you! My dad had all girls, so we helped him lift the heavy things, fish the electric cord through walls, find the leak in the tire, castrate the young male pigs, stretch the fence wire and hold the sheets of plywood over our heads while he screwed them in place. He did so much for so many people- his wife and kids, siblings, parents, in-laws and total strangers - that he deserved all the help he could get. I'm so thankful for his good example, and thankful that I got the good DIY experiences with him. Although I don't plan to help castrate pigs ever again :).
I'm thankful that I finally located the emergency call-button pendant from the assisted living facility that my husband accidentally wore to the hospital and which I took off of him for safekeeping, then misplaced it myself later. I would have had to pay to replace it if I hadn't found it.
I'm thankful that the stitches on my little skin cancer removal are to come out today. They itch!
I'm thankful that homemade laundry detergent works well for me, after seeing how many people it does NOT work for, yesterday. I always just use white vinegar as my fabric softener, so I spend much less on that, too. I had no idea how lucky I am that this works for me - wow.
I'm thankful for the strong possibility that a family member may get to come spend a long weekend with me before long. Due to my husband's issues, I haven't had a visitor like that in almost five years.
I am thankful for all the beautiful bluebonnets and other wildflowers in big and small areas.
I am thankful that not only the right very troublesome kidney stone but the left one passed, too, and no damage to kidneys noted on ultrasound. This means no surgical procedure to remove necessary.
I am thankful that my tax bill this year was a little less.
I am thankful the storms and brief hail didn’t damage my baby garden vegetable plants.
I am thankful that for this special time of year. He is Risen-yes He is risen indeed!
I’m sure you will get through A&P with flying colors again. I think back on those days in college and give a little shiver and glad they are past! I loved my 43 years in nursing but glad those years are past and am loving these nearly 8 yrs of retirement. I think I can add this to my thankful list.
Good morning,
We did our taxes a lot later than normal this year as well. I thought we were going to have to pay in, so I put it off. Luckily we didn't have to pay in, so yay!
I almost started crying when you wrote about your dad starting the fire, so you would be warm while on your zoom meeting. I love their kindness:) You are very blessed and I'm sure that you pass that on to your children as well. Have a great day and blessed Easter!
My dad takes good care of me. 🙂 And so does my mom. I am blessed!
It is wonderful how the little things people do for you, can make you feel loved real big!
This week I am thankful that we are all slowly getting better. Also that my digidiet was easy to keep up ( more easy than a food diet, for sure) and that I was able to read in spite of my headaches.
And Very thankful, that our kiddo who moved out is now also nearly finished with cleaning out his bedroom. He was a near-hoarder and we've had to be very patient. It is not just going through stuff, but also through painful times in the past. I am proud of him!
I am thankful for friends today and for stepping out of my comfort zone a little bit. Yesterday was National Scrabble Day and I went to a friend's for dinner and a round of Scrabble. I don't normally go out in the evenings, but I'm so glad I did! We had a lovely time. So I'm thankful for friendships, especially the long-lasting ones.
I'm also thankful for Netflix. It's introduced us to shows from around the world and we've found so many thought-provoking and beautiful ones to enjoy.
Thankful it's starting to warm up again after a few days of below-freezing nights. Everything is turning green and blooming!
I'm thankful that today I can be cozy and introverted.
@Julie from GJ,
You gave me a wonderful memory of a volunteer organization I belong to that had a fundraising scrabble event every spring. It was so much fun and you could organize a table of four or just sign up and be put with other people. Always a fun afternoon in the early spring.
I'm thankful for my own dad. He's been gone six years, and he was the wisecracking type, not the sincere type, usually, but he loved us kids so much and was so proud of us. And he'd've done anything to help us, too. He came over once (two hours away) and asked me, "Where's the car?" My car was not in the driveway. It was repossessed! (Of course my car was repoed during my divorce.) He couldn't stop snort-laughing as I discovered it was repoed. But he spent all day with me (or so it seemed) tracking down where the car was and insisted on paying the ridiculous impound fee. Oy!
I am also thankful for my snuggly armload of kitten. He and I are re-watching a TV show before its season premiere next week. Well, I'm re-watching. Gus (kitten) has never seen the show before.
And the usual: I'm so lucky to live as a middle class person in the United States. People in China in slave labor camps, people starving in Afghanistan, and of course Ukraine, would love to be as lucky as I am, stupid bills, messy house, tiresome chores and all.
@Rose, amen, sister!
Try not to give Gus any spoilers. 😉
You are such a pleasant person Kristen and when speaking of your parents show the love, honour and respect you have for them. You bless each other❤️
I’m in an area that appears to have dodged a historical blizzard.There is still today to play out but it appears to not have been as destructive as first reported. As a result most of my city has shut down for a 5 day weekend. We have had such cold temperatures and snow this year that I think we all are so thankful for the opportunity to stay home!!
I’m also thankful for modern technology. My daughters and I have messages and threads of conversation almost daily. I’m grateful for the pictures and comments especially from the people away. Our celebration this weekend will have one sibling propped up on a screen as we talk and share stories.
I am thankful I made it through another week of family stress due to health issues with our grown son.
I am grateful for my supportive friends who keep me on track with coffee dates,calls,texts and love.
I am grateful for my steady husband who is navigating our family through a crisis time with such love and stamina.
I am grateful for my own good health.
I am grateful for art and music and their ability to keep me elevated,Books too!!
Hugs to you, and I hope for better news on the health front for you guys soon.
I am also grateful for loving and supportive parents! I am grateful for a walk on the beach this morning and the soft light, grateful for a conversation with a friend and grateful for a safe place to live.
@Sophie, I have a new thankful addition! My mum is coming to see me in a few weeks 🙂
What wonderful grounded thankfulnesses you have this week!
Yes, being asked to be a supplemental instructor is a compliment. Probably, (if it is like places I worked where we could nominate students to be tutors), you were nominated by your instructor, based on personality and work ethic and perceived ability, aside from high grades. An instructor would not nominate someone they wouldn't want to work with! Go, you!
I am thankful I got our taxes done fairly quickly, (thank you H&R Block online), and thankful for what those taxes pay for.
And now as a reward I get to go buy pansies and probably will find some other plants irresistible as well. My eyes are bigger than my garden of pots.
Aww, well, if that's the case at my school then I do feel highly complimented. My instructor is such a good teacher, and very experienced.
@Heidi Louise, I LOVE pansies. My statutory favorite flower is lily of the valley, but my head gets turned easily. Ha! Pansies are just so sweet and pretty.
@Kristen, If you think far into the future, nursing schools ALWAYS are hiring instructors. You have a teacherly disposition and perhaps you may use that for the advantage of future students.
But finishing A&P is the current task.
Funny enough, I was just saying to Zoe yesterday that perhaps when my body gets too old to handle nursing, I could become a nursing instructor! I do like helping people learn things, and if I did this later on in life, with nursing experience under my belt, I could probably be very helpful to new students.
@Rose, They must be related to my favorite violets, which I have for free all over my yard, though pansies are certainly more outgoing and vibrant.
I don't know if I can add this to yesterday's list of "frugal things I have tried and abandoned", since I never actually hired a spraying company to do the work for me, but I have abandoned the idea of keeping not-grass out of my lawn. I would go after thistles or poison ivy, yet otherwise, what grows there grows there. Violets, clover, other grasses, those little wispy pink bells, creeping charley, moss, and dandelions are all out there, and if they survive the high-set lawn mower, they can stay.
@Heidi Louise, I used to have a sweet little patch of white violets that grew near the stream on my old property. I don't seem to get violets here by the ocean. But yeah, I let nature rip, generally. Big ol' morning glories growing wild in the hedge? Go for it, folks, I don't care. Feed the bees, we're all good.
and yeah, they're all part of the Viola genus.
@Heidi Louise,
I prefer a more "diverse" lawn. It's prettier in spring and the bees love it. I let it get a bit taller between mows too. I figure it's better for the environment and less work for me, not to mention cheaper since I use the mower less.
I’m thankful for the gym. I really love working out and getting stronger.
I’m thankful for a husband who makes me laugh.
I’m thankful for slow little moments with my kids at home.
I’m thankful for two days of really warm pleasant weather this week.
I’m thankful for my parent‘a health. They are on vacation enjoying themselves and they worked so hard to get where they are I’m grateful they can enjoy their retirement.
1. SPRING-the weather, the flowers, Easter celebrations-all of it!
2. That we completed our garden prep bed relatively quickly this year (thanks to established beds and good winter prep).
3. For my awesome co-workers-a great, supportive group of ladies!
4. The Easter Lilies my son's friend gave me "just because".
5. That I can help friends with their gardens (spreading the gardening love)
Thankful, Flu edition:
-for modern medicine that alleviates the worst of flu symptoms and helps prevent pneumonia
-for flexibility of husband's work allowing him to be home while I stayed at the hospital with son, and then while I was sick
-friends who brought us meals
-video messaging that allowed me to stay connected to kids at home
-JK Rowling who wrote a long series that kept my mind occupied while staying in the hospital with my son. He slept a lot, so I read a lot (the last 3 books of the Harry Potter series in under a week.)
@Kaitlin, hope you feel better! I reread Harry Potter every year. It never gets old for me.
Thankful I'm finally getting my mojo back after my procedure last week. Thankful for my supportive husband who didn't bat an eye at what seemed like to me to be an excessive amount of time I spent sleeping, but instead kept the home fires burning. Thankful for the smell of bread baking right now. For the little hints of green I am finally seeing outside. And for my spoiled rotten cat who makes me smile multiple times a day.
I absolutely love the comment, "And I feel loved by this." Maybe that could be a new segment when things come up! <3
I am thankful that the skill I bring to my family is patience and willingness to get things done. I WILL stay on the phone with insurance to unravel a detail. I WILL ensure that our bill is credited. I will call a box office and see if we can change tickets to accommodate another kiddo. I will DO these things.
Kristen, I am thankful for your blog. Something to look forward to over lunch break.
1) Also grateful for my parents, who are flying in today to help me out with the teens. They are my teens favorite people, which is saying a lot, because teens can be hard to please. 🙂
2) Grateful for a flexible company. My office mate (we share a tiny office) has COVID, and I was immediately able to move to WFH, and given free tests. All is well, but love the flex & support.
3) Grateful for leftovers, which there are just really days where they get food on the table ahead of soccer practice, or whatever, and it's just really a game changer on busy days.
4) For carpools! So appreciative of my village
5) For my teen, learning to drive. It's going to be a journey, but seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of having another person help with all of the driving going on at our house.
I had a very conflicted relationship with my father, who championed my every academic achievement at a time when men, especially Eastern European fathers right out of Fiddler on the Roof (accent included) often did not have high aspirations for their daughters. But at the same time, he always reminded me that he had wanted his first born to be a son. I could not win, although trying led me to a doctorate. But your story about your dad reminded me of one of my father's most endearing traits, which was that he would buy grapes and raspberries for me whenever I was ill. And when we were desperately poor, when I was a kid, this was no small thing. After I left home and would come to visit, there were always grapes and raspberries waiting for me. One time when my husband was telling my father how ill I was, my father shouted over the phone, "Well, did you bring home grapes and raspberries?" (My father always shouted when talking to my husband, as if shouting would make his accent easier to understand; it did not.) I was in the hospital, and what does the husband bring on his next visit? Grapes and raspberries. So thank you for reminding me of a sweet memory of my cantankerous father.
Thankful for:
1. taxes being finished and submitted yesterday.
2. daffodils showing up at the grocery store. They do not grow this far north, plus we still have below freezing temps many days and nights, so I buy them at the store to remind myself that spring will eventually come.
3. that Lent is almost over so I can go back to the occasional Coke and chocolate. I am not even religious, but my family and then my boarding school always followed that tradition and I have kept it up. Weird, I know.
4. that my sister, for no reason, sent me a small McDonalds gift card with a note saying, "Have a few fish sandwiches on me." I showed the card to my husband and he said, "Yes, your love language is McDonalds fish, I know."
5. That I am actually enjoying the latest book one of my writer friends published. That is not always the case so it will be nice to be able to tell her I loved it. Luckily she accepts it when I don't like one of her books.
@Lindsey, What a lovely gift of grapes and raspberries!
(Or McDonald's fish).
@Lindsey,
I love that story about your dad. It really illustrates the idea that people show love in different ways.
Ok, I seriously love this story about your dad with the grapes and raspberries. It's so cute!! I like how he's all, "Listen here, young husband. OBVIOUSLY grapes and raspberries are the antidote to her illness."
@Kristen, yes, that was a really great story about her (Lindsay’s) Dad- nice style of writing. I enjoy your writing so much, Kristen! The offer for you to be a tutor is a significant honor!
When I was reading this, my mind went immediately to “how perfect! Kristen seems like a great, natural teacher! She could teach nursing students, if she does follow that path, or she could teach something else to pretty much anyone!”
While I thoroughly enjoyed winter, I am so excited for spring! The ice is almost out of the lake, the loons are back and the pussy willows are blooming. Also, the furnace hasn't been running as much. HOOO rah.
I love being around my family; I missed that so much when we lived overseas. I hung out at my brother's house while my car was in the shop today and it was a completely ordinary, nothing-special visit...but it was great because I really appreciate the ordinary.
I love Easter; I love the Lenten season and the reminder of all Christ has done for us. He is risen!
Your parents sound like true gems, and the love you have for them shines through in your posts.
I’m thankful for the arbour my son finally finished. Sometimes it seems like projects are at the ‘accumulated all the pieces’ stage forever! But he came home from school yesterday and banged it together and it looks great. I was reminded that I need to focus on my son’s many other attributes (like carpentry and physical work) and not get fixated on his grades, which are fair to middling at best.
I’m thankful for my six year old neighbour who is a joy to watch grow up. We spent a happy half hour on the couch, going through some old books I had from my boys, and he happily announced he’d like to take them all home. So he did!
Happy Easter All!
I'm thankful for nice weather - or rather the memory of nice weather. It's currently freezing, snowy and so windy here it feels like the house is going to lift off like in the Wizard of Oz. Can't wait for spring to stick around!
That's really sweet of your dad. I'm curious about the car in the background. Is that a 1930s something? Cool car.
Today I'm thankful that tax season is almost over, except for all the clients on extension. After today the pressure is off for awhile. Since this is probably/possibly my last tax season, I'm more reflective than ususal. I've had (mostly) the nicest people for clients through the years, and for that I am extremely grateful.
Happy Easter/Passover weekend!
Yep. I believe it's a 1936, and he's restoring it.
I am grateful that a good friend is unexpectedly coming to my city this weekend and we will have coffee together! I haven’t seen her since well before covid.
While we are suddenly dealing with Shae’s possible impending job loss, I’m thankful that I’m getting a couple of new students. Every little bit will help.
I’m glad to have two cars again, because tomorrow we are lending one for a week to someone we care about who is in need. We have been helped a lot over recent months, and I’m happy to have the ability to pay it forward.
I’m so grateful for my beautiful and loving daughter. She brightens my world!
Im thankful for a pair of friends who live in a town near us. (They are friends, they’re not our friends.) They have huge gardens, and each year they sell offshoot plants for a super reasonable price. Today we got about 13 plants for $50 for our new garden, which is a great deal.
I’m glad you have your parents and your girls, Kristen, and that you all hold each other close. It makes the hard things in life a bit more bearable.
1. I’m thankful that you have family to hold you up when you need it, it’s so wonderful to see, and now we don’t have to worry about you as much 😉
2. I’m thankful for the gift of a spider plant in a beautiful pot from a neighbor in our buy nothing group. I kept one plant alive through the 2years of the pandemic so far, so I am so very excited to now have two! The joy I feel when I see these two plants is ridiculous.
3. Im thankful for the community our tiny local gym has created. I have been dealing with an injury for a while and have been bowled over by kind offers of help and support from “tough guys”
4. I’m thankful that my niece sends me messages on Facebook messenger to tell me she loves me, and all the other things going on in first grade, with all the wonderful creative spelling of a six year old.
5. I’m thankful that we have been good savers, so when a larger than usual tax bill hit this year, we can cover it. (Also thankful for the good earnings year that created the higher bill!)