Thankful Thursday | last one for January!
New here? Thankful Thursday is a practice we started here in 2020; an exercise to help us hunt for the good even in the midst of very tough times.
This week, I am thankful:
for the eggs from my sister-in-law
She and my brother have chickens now, and they are at the happy point of having enough to share. Yay!
that we caught an $867 fraudulent charge
I was checking an account and noticed a large pending charge that I did not recognize (from a luxury UK website!)
Sure enough, it was a fraudulent one, through Mr. FG's PayPal account.
Happily, they issued a quick refund once he contacted them.
And he's got two-factor authentication set up now.
that I was able to help out Zoe's tutorial
They needed some help with the website, which is set up on WordPress.
Since I've been using WordPress since, oh, 2008, I was able to figure out how to use the their theme and help get it updated for the next school year.
It's nice when you have skills that happen to match up with a volunteer need!
that Sonia and I might be able to get vaccinated
We're still waiting for confirmation, but she and I might be able to get vaccinated through the cat rescue that we volunteer with. Here's hoping!
that we have so many good medical care options here
Whenever we need a specialist of some sort, we can always find one that's not a very far drive.
for my warm house
We had such a cold walk this morning, mainly because the wind chill was pretty bad out there. So now I am especially thankful to now be inside my warm house!
that I don't live in an especially windy area
I know some areas of the country are often very windy, and I appreciate that it's not like that here. Wind makes cold so much more miserable.
that the sun came out
The wind this morning, combined with the clouds, made for pretty depressing walking weather. But the sun has come out now, and I see blue sky!
that my appliances continue to work
This week, Zoe said, "Mom, none of our appliances have broken for a while. At least a couple of weeks now!"
Ha.
Our spate of appliance issues is making all of us thankful for even a short-ish period of them all working.
that the new dishwasher fixed the bad kitchen smell
We had been concerned that there was possibly a vent issue in the wall (that's happened before!), but since the smell disappeared once we got the new dishwasher, it seems clear that the terrible smell was due to our very old dishwasher not draining properly.
This is a huge relief. Yay! A new dishwasher is a much simpler fix than ripping out walls and replacing pipes.
And it is also less expensive.
that it's almost February
February is only four weeks long and then comes March. And March always feels like the tip of spring to me.
Plus, daylight saving time starts in March, which means it'll suddenly be light at dinnertime.
Things are gonna look up soon!
that sunset is almost at 5:30 pm
By the time I write another Thankful Thursday post, the sunset will officially be happening after 5:30 pm.
This feels like a significant improvement over our December sunset times, and the extra daylight each day makes me happy.
again...for the ability to hope
I've mentioned this in previous Thankful Thursday posts, and my last two items reminded me of it. What a mercy it is that we have the ability to look forward and be cheered by the prospect of what we see and anticipate!
- That I was able to speak with my doctor about some issues I'm having.
- That I've been able to watch one of my favorite shows a bit lately, so that's been nice.
- That I'm eating some good food for dinner tonight and tomorrow (actually our recent menu has been great.)
- Rye bread with caraway seeds in it. Sometimes it's the little things, I guess.
- That my daughter wants to spend time with me. I know this won't last so I'll take advantage of it now.
- More daylight is good for me.
I, too, am thankful for my warm house. I do live in a windy place, and it does make the winter cold much worse. It's especially chilling to be out in it earlier in the morning to hang laundry, which is what I was doing this morning. I hate wearing gloves to do anything that requires any dexterity, like hanging laundry, so I just freeze my hands and then come inside to camp out by the woodstove.
Thankful for the woodstove.
And for the woman we bought our wood from in the fall, who included two bigs tubs of kindling with our delivery. That kindling makes it so much easier to start the fire in the morning.
Thankful for the weekend. For me it starts today, since I only work Mondays and Wednesdays, and for the rest of my family, it starts tomorrow. Still thankful and always will be for four-day school weeks.
Thankful for my son's new teacher this semester, who is full of ideas and enthusiasm and creativity. I subbed for her one day, and it confirmed for me that I would NOT be a good classroom teacher. And so I am very, very thankful for those who are.
1) I received a free dozen of farm fresh eggs from a friend this week, too. 2) Also thankful for a warm house. 3) Several members of our church family are faithful to scoop the snow from my front stoop and sidewalks. Yesterday, the car got cleaned off, too! 4) After a difficult fall (which everyone has had) that included having COVID, I am beginning to feel like myself again!
Thankful for the snow we got yesterday. I know that's not a popular thing with many people, but we typically get a lot of snow and can do fun things outside when we do. Cold drizzly weather is much more miserable for me.
My siblings and I are now allowed limited in person visits with my mom who is in assisted living under hospice care. It's been a long journey to get to this point. I'm writing this from her room while she naps. I was able to bring treats for her and she enjoyed them. It's nice to be able to do something for her that brings her pleasure and also just to chat with her.
I'm glad you and your siblings can visit your mom now.
It's hard to not be able to visit. We couldn't visit our son at all for 2.5 months (he is in a group home) and it was so hard.
I'm rejoicing with you.
-Last Thursday my son broke his arm st school. Thankfully the hospital is 3 blocks away from the school, no wait in ER. And its a green stick fracture so he should be good to go in a month. Thankful for health care in Canada in and out in 2 hours with a peds ortho consultation and $0
-one of our kitties wasn't feeling well. Off to the vet and after some meds seems to be feeling much better today.
- for a woodstove to make our house feel so much cozier in the cold.
-for our super (so far) mild winter. For us it hasn't been very cold at all.
-that my husband and I both have jobs we enjoy
-for the beauty of the snow and hoar frost. The past couple of days have been super frosty turning everything into a glittery crystalline piece of beauty. So much better than the dull browns and greens we usually have this time of year
-The school year is half way done!
I've recently been very unhappy with my refrigerator. I've always loved the side by side arrangement, but now I'm trying to grocery shop a lot less and the freezer is so limited for stocking up on anything. So I have started dreaming of a new refrigerator with the big freezer drawer at the bottom. Will it actually hold more? I'm not sure.
We have the money to buy one, but this refrigerator is running just fine and my cheap side rebels at moving on to get a new one. On the other hand, quality of life counts for something. We're in our 70s, if not now, when?
In the end I decided to mention all this to my husband and after thinking about it, he said, the refrigerator section isn't the problem, we need more freezer space. So we decided to buy a small freezer which is a fraction of the cost of a new refrigerator.
All of this is a long winded way to say that I am thankful for a second brain in the household. Other people can look at the same problem and come up with a solution that hadn't even occurred to you. It's nice.
I'm very thankful my son, who lives in a group home, was able to get his first Covid vaccine yesterday, as did the other 3 guys who reside with him, and are older than he by 25-30 years. Also grateful the staff can also get the vaccine now.
We pray this will open life up to start becoming more normal for him and for all those with disabilities . Our son hasn't been able to attend his day program since March of '20. We're hopeful he'll be able to return to that by the end of this year.
Hooray for the vaccination for your son . I'm sure that's a load off your mind.
1. That my 8 year old and 6 year old are playing together much more peacefully now. We had a long period of them constantly fighting like cats and dogs.
2. For my stick vac. It's a very cheap one but I love love love it! It makes it so quick and easy to keep my kitchen and hallway clean. It definitely gets multiple uses per day.
3. For our easy to clean couch. We've had this old couch 13 years and it gets more than its fair share of spills and stains with all the kids. But it's such a stain resistant fabric the stains come right off.
4. For the winter activities we can still enjoy. Winter is my second favorite season (after fall!) and I really enjoy the months following Christmas/New Years. We still want to ice skate, sled again, ski, etc. Plus we really get into the minor holidays, like Groundhog Day, St. Patrick's Day, etc. And in March it's maple syrup time around here!
5. That my husband is so understanding of the fact that I'm an extreme introvert and that one evening a week I need to get out of the house by myself.
I am thankful
for my warm lunch on this cold day ( leftovers are always yummy).
That I have a job I enjoy
That I'm getting my second COVID vaccine tonight
For my amazing husband who will take care of dinner for him and the kids before his virtual college class starts so I can get my vaccine tonight.
For time to rest this upcoming weekend in my warm house.
Ooh! A second vaccine. Wonderful!
That’s a lovely list Kristen!
I’m thankful that that I’m one step closer to selling my home and moving state; that the internet continues to work so I can deal with most of my moving tasks online; for the physical strength to do my own packing; for the donation centers where I can pass along my surplus belongings; for the lovely Texas sunshine and cool temperatures; for the helpful customer service person who patiently helped me with my tax software download issues; for my late husband’s fortitude and patience while preparing me to file our complicated 2 country taxes even though he was terminally ill; for a personality that enjoys the logistical challenges of moving state; and lastly, continued good health.
Linda, you brought tears to my eyes. I'm sorry for the loss of your husband but grateful you had such a lovely marriage.
I have never participated in a Thankful Thursday post before. I have so much to be thankful for, so here is my small list:
- The virtual school program offered at my son's school. It is organized, engaging and full of 2nd grade learning.
- The bright, sunny day in my neck of the woods. The sky is bright blue and clear.
- My neighbor's two tall pine trees. I see them every time I look out my office window. They are lovely and calming.
Oh, I am delighted to have you participate!
More people I know have received at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine this week. I am in my 60s but healthy and able to stay home so I am in the last group in my state/county. That is a blessing and a curse.
For a house with central HVAC. How wonderful it is to live in this day and age with well sealed houses (no wind, insects, etc) and abundant heat.
That I have a couple friends that will walk me me even in cold weather. I am meeting one early tomorrow. It will require bundling up but fresh air and exercise combined with a walking partner will make it worth while. My sister in the upper Midwest was walking on ice when I talked to her the other day. That brings perspective. Also, I have been able to get outside to walk every day for the past several months.
I am thankful that a friend is able to avoid neck surgery for now. Different doctors have expressed different opinions but she is started on a much less invasive course of action for now.
I am grateful that even though I can't always get what I want grocery wise (availability issues) that we have plenty of (mostly healthy) food in the house. I have a counter depth side-by-side refrigerator in my kitchen but also an older refrigerator in the basement.
That for about $3/day we have electricity that powers so many things.
That the USPS seems to slowly be digging through their backlog of mail. I am still missing auto insurance renewal paperwork but it is being sent a second time and is not due for three weeks.
Thankful for:
Our dentist and his staff, not for the first time. DH had a cleaning/checkup today, and both the hygienist and the dentist did their utmost to make both of us comfortable (including letting me stay in the exam room masked the whole time, which is huge).
The fact that DH has no major issues requiring a return soon. Given that he's no longer a fan of brushing or flossing (the aides and I do our best, but it ain't what it used to be), this is also huge.
The fact that we're now gaining daylight in our part of Upstate NY by over 2 minutes a day. I'm no more of a fan of limited winter daylight than Kristen is. I know that Lindsey thrives on the Alaskan winter light conditions, and I admire her fortitude, but I don't share it.
And my favorite sister-in-law, the widow of DH's oldest brother. I think she heard my gears grinding in my latest email to her, and has offered to set up a phone call for a frank conversation. Given that she is a master's-level psychotherapist, and that I have been considering reaching out for professional help lately, this is huge as well.
Oh wow, what a blessing your sister-in-law can be to you. Yay! I hope that your phone call with her is helpful. Getting outside support when you are in a long-term stressful situation can be extremely helpful.
And yay for your daylight for you too. We can rejoice together each day here on the east coast. 🙂
I thought of you and Kristen the other day when Barrow got the first sighting of the sun after 64 days of darkness. When we lived there, we got so used to the 24 hour of darkness that we'd forget how weird it was to others. We brought my father in law up for the holidays one year and he kept saying, "Why did you bring me up when I can't see anything?!" Between the dark and the fact that we would listen to the radio in the morning to see if the polar bears were in town looking for a meal (which sometimes meant getting to work late if they were near our jobs), he refused to leave the house.
My belated sympathies to your FIL, Lindsey. At least we don't yet have polar bears here--although I am expecting Eastern black bears here any day now. It'd be the only common Eastern mammal we haven't yet seen.
For my husband persevering and repairing a leak in the shower.
For finally sleeping well.
For big, warm sweaters now that the deepest part of winter is here.
For our three rescue dogs, who are so loving and funny and who all love to snuggle.
For my sweet sister-in-law, who I miss so much and who called for a long chat on Sunday.
1. Thankful for carbon monoxide detectors. Last night the husband must have accidentally hit the key chain auto start on our vehicle when he was emptying his pockets at bedtime. The garage is connected to the house so hours later enough exhaust had seeped into the house that the alarm near our bedroom went off, waking us up. This is the first time we’ve had this happen with the auto start, so husband has stopped keeping the keys in his packet after he parks the car in the garage. He put up a hook and they go there as soon as he walks into the house. Auto starts were a miracle invention to me when I was working a regular job because I could start the car from my office window and go out to a drivable car. Before that, I used to have to sit in my car at 30 or 40 or 50 below, waiting for the engine to warm up and the window to defrost before I actually started driving.
2. Thankful for fix-it types who post on You Tube. After I had bragged a few weeks ago about our Bosch dishwasher never having a problem, it did. Found a fix on You Tube that took about 4 minutes. Years ago we would have called a repair person.
3. Thankful that no-knead bread became a thing years ago because it makes it so easy to take five minutes to set up the dough the night before and bake it in the morning.
4. Thankful for nurses that go, literally, the extra mile. Many, if not most, of our villages have no road access and there are nurses who are taking the vaccine to them by flying into the larger hub towns and then going by snow machine from village to village to administer the vaccine. The 1918 flu epidemic nearly wiped out a lot of our villages, and the memory of those losses has not faded so vaccine compliance rates are high. And in case anyone has not heard the stories from their grandparents of losing their own parents in 1918, the Native health consortiums and the state have run excellent ads with elders urging people to get the vaccine.
5. Thankful for our trusty furnace during these very cold temps. Our local newscast shows the high and low temps for today since they began recording, and when I see that people in the 1930s enduring 62 below zero when they were heating by wood (and often had outhouses) I want to go hug our furnace.
Wow, thankful you guys are safe! Makes me go check our batteries.
Also, I'm so with you on #5 - I just re-read The Long Winter (Laura Ingalls Wilder) and it makes my bones freeze just to read it while I hear our wind outside (which puts our wind chills maaaybe in the teens, so it totally doesn't even compare). Regardless, I'm thankful for our heaters too!
Your wind comment made me chuckle... The first week I lived in Indiana my cheeks got wind-burned on the walk from my car to my office. It was shocking.
My thankful list...
* My daughter's school had to go to remote learning because of COVID but I'm thankful that it's only for a week and I'm really thankful that she's been able to handle the disappointment pretty well. And we're 2 days in with no tears! Or at least no real tears. That's a huge remote learning win.
* I'm thankful for my new curtains. They are noise reducing curtains and with 3 little kids in an echo-y dining room, it may be one of the best purchases I've made as a parent. (That's probably an exaggeration, I'm just super happy about it right now.) They're also pretty and I'm not skilled at decorating, so I'm excited about finding something that I actually love.
* I'm thankful for free video chat services so my kids can have great relationships with their grandparents on the other side of the world.
I am thankful today for my 3 furry critters that keep me company all day every day. Living alone (without other humans) can be lonely at times but my dogs and cat provide constant love and I am so grateful for them.
For my fancy Dyson stick vacuum. With above mentioned critters in my 112 year old house with all wood floors, I vacuum the entire house daily. This vacuum brings me so much joy!
My local library. I am so glad that the library is doing pickups and I can get my hands on new to me books on a regular basis. I probably read a book every day or two, so having access to the library again is really something to be thankful for.
For my job that allows me to continue to work safely at home. I am immune-compromised and have really not been going anywhere the past 10 months or so aside from medical appointments or vet appointments for the fur kids. I am so so thankful that I can work from home and stay safe while helping others stay safe as well.
Bagels. Thank you to whomever originally thought of boiling and then baking dough and making it into circles bc holy moly I love bagels and I am so grateful for my neighborhood bagel spot that I can walk to in the morning when the weather permits.
I am so with you on the sunset! I cannot wait for spring and it is coming nearer every day now. So thankful for that.
I am thankful for my youngest daughter's ease with online school. She's a junior in HS and hasn't missed a beat. She is an introvert so that certainly helps. I know a lot of kids are really struggling both with the school work and the lack of social interaction. I think she might struggle more when she goes back to the classroom.
I'm thankful for a new administration being in place. I didn't realize what a load of unconscious stress was winging around my brain. Having qualified people who believe in following the science in important jobs is a load off of my mind.
I'm thankful for grocery workers and the technology that allows for app based product selection and delivery/curb-side pickup. I used it in especially busy times pre-Covid, but now my celiac daughter w/o a car at college uses it weekly plus I use it when I can't shop at less busy times.
I am thankful for my husband who really tries to share the household load equally with me. We both have our strengths and try to divvy things up accordingly, but we're both willing to chip in when the other is super busy.
I am thankful I was able to setup a twice weekly walk with my girlfriend/neighbor. I really need the exercise and have trouble getting out of the house on the other days, but having plans with her has gotten me going!
Hi everyone,
First time commenter on a Thankful Thursday post, but long time reader. After a challenging week (I have had to remind myself many times that I can only control my own behaviour and choices, and not those of my extended family!), I thought it maybe would be a good week to try posting some things I am thankful for to help balance out the week.
1. I am thankful that I live in a place where we get blue skies, and usually lots of sun, with cold cold days. Can you tell I live in Canada? It refreshes me to step outside into the cold air, with the sun beaming in my face, and the blue sky like no other. I would struggle if winter was predominantly grey and rainy.
2. That I am close to finishing a sweater that I have been working on for a while, I finally seem to have gotten off of "Sleeve Island" and am chugging onto finishing the sleeves (always a challenge...it's like "Second Sock Syndrome"!).
3. That our first year of homeschooling is going well. With little experience with teaching, I am glad that things are falling into place. I do worry about the kids not engaging with peers, but I try to remind myself that this is the year to hold each other close and stay safe. We can pick up again with others when it is safe to do so.
4. That my two cats are super big lovebugs who always find me in the evenings and give me a good cuddle while we watch a bit of TV. Also! I am grateful for watching older TV shows these days (we are currently watching Frasier...Niles is my spirit animal!). We don't have much time to watch TV, but it feels like a small luxury to watch an episode or two with my husband at night, and escape from the real world for a while.
Thanks again, and have a good week everyone!
Rebecca
I suspect that you don't live in Ontario. I think they get as much cloud cover as we do in Michigan.
I'm halfway through a throw blanket. Update us on your sweater. That might keep me motivated to keep up with my knitting.
Hi Kris,
I do in fact live in Ontario! We do have some cloudy winter days, but we have a lot of spectacularly blue sky days. At least where we are, we get plenty of lovely winter sunshine, which just can't be beat (at least for me, perhaps it's just a crazy Canuck thing ;).
I'll definitely keep you updated on my sweater, thanks for the suggestion! I'm about midway through the first sleeve, so fingers crossed I'll finish it soon and get to enjoy it this winter.
Ditto for your blanket, I'd love to hear about it - maybe I need a knitting accountability partner, haha!
Check out the Winter land Three Stitch blanket at mamainastitch.com to see my pattern, although my colors are different. I'm sure you are more skilled than I am but I'm enjoying having a project to work on.
I guess Ontario is a big province and I shouldn't make assumptions!
Hi Kris,
That's a lovely blanket! It looks so cozy and a perfect project for the wintertime. Thanks for sharing the pattern!
I'm working on the Tild sweater (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tild), in a similar colour to the first picture. I'd love to be finished with it soon so that I can enjoy it!
And yes, Ontario is pretty large! And if you're in Michigan, then you'd be experiencing what winter is like more in Southern Ontario, which can be more grey and a bit milder (at least, that's my experience when visiting Toronto). I am in Eastern Ontario, where we get a lot more snow and the temperatures are a lot colder too - today it was -26 degrees celcius (-15 degrees farenheit, I think?). I have similar weather here to that of the Lake Effect in Syracuse and upper New York, if that helps with location and/or weather intensity.
Good luck with your knitting, I hope you get to snuggle up in it soon!
I live in Ontario too! And I'm working on Saltwater Mittens.
Long time reader of this blog.
I'm grateful for:
- being able to walk outside everyday
- for my job that I can do from home
- for my wonderful neighbourhood that has everything I need in walking distance
- for my community of friends
Hi to both of my Canadian neighbors. Rebecca, the sweater looks like a beautiful and classic pattern (and actually doesn't look *too* difficult but I'm not in the mental place to try something like that right now. There is something to be said for repetition with knitting projects!). Jess, I've only ever made mittens on 2 needles. I have an aversion to dpns. But I admire those who are skilled at it.
I live very near Lake Michigan so yes, our winters are milder than Rebecca's. Normally we get a lot of lake effect snow but this year is a dud. Which has me totally bummed--I wanna go snowshoeing!! There's still time ....
One of the things I absolutely love about the internet is getting to "meet" people who live a long distance from me. Hearing about other people's lives and experiences is endlessly fascinating.
I'm thankful for technology to be able to connect with friends and family during this long pandemic.
I signed up for a free class on establishing good habits. It was such a positive and motivating class and I'm going on two days of making my bed. Sounds like a little thing, but it is making me happy and feels like a gateway to so many good things! I'm grateful for the class and new positive habits.
I'm grateful for my airpods. I wouldn't have spent the money myself, but I won them in a drawing at work. I love listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and talking on the phone hands free while getting things done around my house.
I am thankful that somehow, sometime, somewhere, people created things I would never have even thought of as necessary, let alone figured out how to make them:
Cheese.
Bacon.
Chocolate.
Soap.
These things bring me joy.
I'm thankful for the snow. Its melting already, but watching it fall was so peaceful. Plus I got to work from home today because of the snow.
I'm thankful for the thrill I get when I combine a BOGO with coupons. Its the little things...
I'm thankful today for health insurance.
I'm thankful for my thoughtful grown children who Facetime me when their kids do something cute, or just to say hi.
I'm thankful that even though DH and I disagree vehemently on politics, we have found a way to still enjoy each other's company and love each other.
On that same note, I'm thankful for a mentor who shared a quote from A River Runs Through it, which I now hold close to my heart: "You can love completely without complete understanding".
Just a big kudos to you for finding a way to be married to someone who has such a different opinion than you on such a big topic. That is awesome, and inspiring, given some of the political discourse lately.
1. Dinner is in the crockpot right now. Unfortunately I'm not super organized about planning dinners ahead of time, so crockpot days feel great.
2. I've been having some foot pain which has been preventing me from going on my daily walks. Last week I saw a specialist who recommended several things. I've made my first few physical therapy appointments, have started taking the vitamins he recommended, and have begun researching more supportive shoes. As always, I'm thankful for doctors and health insurance.
3. Today was a work-at-home day. I was able to go to an online training class this morning from my living room, in sweatpants.
4. I'm really grateful for people who answer the phones at companies, medical facilities, and other places I have to call, who are kind. What a lovely difference that makes to the conversation.
This week I am thankful for a dear friend who got married and got his first covid shot this week. I talked to him on the phone while he waited for thirty minutes afterwards and we were talking about how lucky he felt to get the shot and my husband walked in and said "oh, tell him I said congratulations!" I relayed the message, and said "he says congrats on getting the shot!" My husband said "um...actually...I meant the wedding..." Haha! We got a good laugh out of that.
I am also thankful for a planning day tomorrow and a training next week. As much as I love the kids in my class, it is very nice to have a little bit of time to reflect on my practice and refine my techniques, especially since so much of what I am doing is new and/or just very hard right now.
Finally, I too, am thankful for fresh eggs! My parents' chickens hadn't been laying for a couple months, so I had been buying eggs from hungry harvest, but today my mom surprised me with 2 dozen eggs because they are back to laying! Hurray for the end of the Persephone Days, and I'm looking forward to all the new growth that will come ever so gradually over the next few months.
Thankful for many things this week:
-We moved out of the most restrictive COVID lock down tier. While I don't plan to do anything differently, it's a huge benefit for some businesses.
-For neighbors that randomly leave citrus fruit on our porch. We live in an area that used to be an orchard, and limes, lemons & all types of oranges grow well here. I'm a person the neighbors know enjoy limes & lemon in particular, and we don't have mature trees. Whenever they have bounty, they drop it off. It's so lovely.
-For eBay, giving me an opportunity to find someone who wants to buy what I'm selling. And, the place where I drop off packages is a 1 mile round trip from my house, so also great for exercise.
-For our elliptical. We bought it during COVID, and it's a huge benefit during rainy days. We all use it to get 45 minutes of exercise.
-For my local Buy Nothing group. I love being able to give things away, and although I rarely pick things up, the one time I did was incredibly useful - someone gave me 20+ mailing envelopes. Perfect for eBay sales.
Thank you for this post today.
I will be honest, I don't normally comment on these posts, but I have been feeling particularly miserable lately. My job has been incredibly stressful and it just no longer brings me joy after 15 years. It's hard to admit, as I have been so dedicated to my job and the patients I serve for so long.
So, thinking of some things to be thankful for will be helpful!
1. That even though my job is stressful, I at least have one. And it offers a pension and great health insurance.
2. We are paying off our mortgage this week. I guess another reason to be thankful for my job, as without it this would not be possible
3. My children. Being a parent isn't always rainbows and butterflies, but my babies are so beautiful and happy.
Thankful for my son making dinner tonight. It was a new recipe using ingredients we had. There is enough for us tonight and another day. There was also enough to gift two single servings to two friends.
Thankful for the patience and wisdom of my husband as he has guided his sister and her partner in their separation.
Thankful for the awesome young woman who works with me. She has come into my life for a reason and I think we both think we are blessed by the other’s presence.
Thankful I live in a place where the sun always shines. It’s cold here in the winter but we call it a dry cold that doesn’t seep in your bones if you dress right
Thankful I found you all. What a lovely inviting community.
Thanks for that last one! Reading that simple yet very significant reminder has been exactly what I've been needing lately. 🙂
Many parts of Australia have experienced heatwaves and too much water. We have had cooler temperatures and very little rain.
My granddaughter makes me smile.
Air-conditioning is so wonderful.
Sleep is wonderful too.
I don't know where you live but given your age and that of your daughter and no apparent underlying health conditions, I'm wondering how you can get a vaccine when so many front-line folks, older folks, those with underlying health conditions can NOT get.
This points to the ongoing major issues with how the virus is being distributed, or, NOT.
I live in a major East Coast city, am over 70, have serious health conditions, have not been outside my apartment door (only once for flu shot) since last March. I and friends in similar situations have been online for weeks since we were OKd for shots but can't get them.
I hope whatever state you live in is ensuring that others whose work and/or health condition ensures that a vaccine (for both shots) is available and easily accessible.
And I hope you would NOT get the vaccine if your state was NOT ensuring the safety of others who are more in jeopardy. If you live in a small community, which it sounds like, and they have "extra" vaccine that cannot be used otherwise, then, yes, go for it.
Sorry, but this is very very hard for those of us who have great need but can't get the vaccine, to read something like this. We have tons of front-line workers, exposed every day, who can't get vaccines.
This is not your fault, but the ball has been dropped (the problem carrying over since the last administration who refused to acknowledge the need or even address it, and had no real plan in last months. Yes, this IS political.) and the new administration has only had 9 days to undo/fix what was a year in the making.
It seems that each state is doing their own thing and so many people are falling through the cracks. If it helps, I've read that WM and Sam's will soon be able to dispense vaccinations. What's crazy is that in FL, they are dispensing vaccinations to people by the thousands a day.
I feel your frustration - dh is only 60, but has had a strome, a septuple heart bypass last summer and is diabetic. He rarely leaves the house and is going stir crazy. I'm hopeful he will be approved soon.
I hope you can get a vaccine soon!
Sonia and I will not be skipping in line; it's just that once the more vulnerable populations have been vaccinated, vets/animal rescues and related services will be in one of the groups down the line. But definitely not before healthcare workers, older people, and people with pre-existing conditions.
Thankful -
That our neighbor cleared the snow off of our driveway. We had about 2 inches. We supply the snow blower, he supplies the manpower.
That we have a gas fireplace to supply extra warmth on these cold days we’ve had lately.
That my doctor visit went well, & he is addressing my blood pressure issue.
That even though I have some health issues, they are manageable.
That I am retired from my profession, & I have the time to care for my husband, who is disabled, myself & our home. I can also help others when they have a need.
I laughed at your wind comment. We used to live on the coast of SC and has wind all the time and I loved it. Watching it move the trees, ripples on our pond were just poetry in motion to me.
We moved to the mountains of NC two years ago and it's even windier here. I love the howl of it and it's actually very soothing to me.
Different strokes, right?
Warm wind would not bother me nearly as much! I welcome the moving air when it's spring/summer/fall. But winter wind can make it so bitterly cold.
Getting caught up on all the posts with Friday's email. (I do miss your older platforms way of doing email notifications but I will take you any way I can get you!!!) So in Wednesday's post comments I learned something about Battra92 which I found so funny because he has been such a regular commenter in the many (many) years I've been reading your blog and that user name is certainly memorable!
And today I can add that you should definitely take advantage of the vaccine at any time it is offered to you. I work in healthcare and just got my second dose on Wednesday. I can say a) plan for a day of nothing after the 2nd shot, it can really make you feel awful and b) just remember, the vaccine does not give you immunity. A coworker got her 2nd dose and then tested positive days later because of an unexpected visitor bringing the virus into her home.
Now I'm off to read how much you spent this week which always makes me smile because it seems like my boys never stop eating and we go through SO MUCH GROCERIES!!
I keep hearing that about the second shot being so much worse than the first.
It'll be totally worth it, though, in my opinion. Bring it on!
Funny thing, though .... I got my second shot a week ago and had purposely planned for a quiet day the next day and .... nothing. I felt better than I did after the first shot. But yes, many people I know of are struggling with shot #2. And if you already had covid and then get the shot, it can really knock the stuffing out of you.
I haven't worked with a lot of covid patients but I will add my two cents and say .... it can be absolutely devastating and a day or two of feeling yucky is nothing compared to what so many undergo (and still deal with months later). Yes, I'm putting in a plug to get.the.vaccine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am thankful for the group of walkers I meet up with on Mondays. It started as an idea with our new Sr. Center director. The regulars and I expanded the walk to nearby towns, check out area scenery and trails. It was 19 deg. when I left the house for this week's 4+ milewalk (and 28 when I got back into the car). (Today, Friday, it was 10 deg. when I got up. It made it up to 21 deg. today)
Thankful for the time I spent with the grandchildren Thursday. I care for the littlest one (2 yrs) and live in the in law with the 6 and 9 yr old next door. The 3 of them went out for about an hour to play in the snow and slide down the driveway. The little one loves being outside and I have to drag him in because he gets wet and his mitts get all wet, just falling in the snow. At Christmas I bought the ATK children's cooking program for the grandkids. This week we did pierogis with the kids. And that was our afternoon snack.
Thankful that I have been able to attend the kundalini yoga class for the 2nd week in a row.
Thankful that I am frugal enough so that when I had the appliance repairman for our oven that I could pay the bill. 30 min. is not inexpensive but the oven was not always lighting. And I don't think I am prepared to play with a gas stove.
Auto insurance is paid. I utilized the credit card for points, and now I have paid the credit card. I budget the amount throughout the year so I am ready to pay in full to get a discount and also not pay an added monthly fee.
I am grateful for the previous administration taking Covid very seriously from the very beginning. They received some hateful comments from some politicians and news/media people but have proven to be right. I'm grateful they were able to get a vaccine underway and out so very quickly. I don't know any other administration that has responded as quickly to such an emergency.
I am grateful for our governor who has been on top of things all along and never allowed himself to be intimidated by lesser brains. We have the vaccine and it is going out in record numbers to the people that need it most.
I am not grateful for all the governors that are doing such a bad job of getting out the vaccine that people are coming from all over the country to try and get their vaccines here because it is impossible to get it in their home states. I feel very badly for them.
I am grateful for cold weather. We don't get very much but it is something I enjoy.
I am thankful that the grocery stores are pretty much back to normal.
Although I am extremely grateful for your blog and several others, I am really tired of the political sniping. The above is an example in reverse of what gets posted. The author can ask for nothing political but it will get put in slyly in anther post about something else. It is always the opposite of my political views and the people posting really don't seem to care that they are offending a lot of people. This has been going on for months and I have remained silent out of respect. I thought it would be over after the swearing in of the new administration but I was wrong.
I'm sorry but I've just had enough. Its not just here. It's other sites as well. I guess you got the glory of me hitting my absolute ceiling on this.
Please feel free to not post this.
Thank you Kristin.
BTW, I apologize if I have offended you or anyone on this blog that has not done this.
Amen and Amen. I'm exhausted by all the political comments too. I'm actually appalled by the vaccine comments too. This addresses reasons why.
https://informedchoicewa.org/news/fast-facts-on-covid-19-vaccine-concerns/
I've read Kristen's blog since all her kids were little. Liked that nothing was controversial here. Safe space. I'm heartbroken over all the political talk. (Registered Independent, Christian, and disappointed with both big parties. Thought it was a mix last administration as Fauci and and Birx had massive daily briefings. )
Amen to that. Disappointed. Always the opposite of my views. Still continue to pray and trust, as that is all I can do. Thanks for speaking up.
I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling frustrated. I do try to keep my comments limited to things that are not super-political, but things that are more bi-partisan.
(For instance, the Covid vaccine is a bi-partisan effort. And there has been bi-partisan condemnation of the Capitol invasion. And racism is not a left or right issue, though how we deal with it can definitely get into the political arena.)
I am always unsure of how much to moderate comments and also what I write. You feel the way you do, obviously, and just last week, someone wrote me an email telling me that a conservative reader's political comments here felt over the line to her. And a third reader wrote to berate me for not speaking up about politics more. So, readers from all political sides are feeling frustrated, and all parties probably struggle to see how the others could be feeling the way they do.
I do want this to be a place that is welcoming to a variety of people, and I do want us all to be able to be kind to each other and show love to each other, even when we disagree.
"I am grateful for the previous administration taking Covid very seriously from the very beginning. :"
That has been proven to be FALSE
A friend took me with her to visit her horse and give her horse some TLC. Loved it!
We adopted a Goldendoodle puppy yesterday because the family who had her found themselves allergic to her. We named her Sunday because my daughters prayed for her. The Lord provided her in an amazing way. We do feel so sad the other family is grieving their loss and their unfortunate allergy.
I am grateful for my husband working hard. It is his busy season at work right now and he logs in to work from home for several hours after working all day and putting the kiddos to bed with me each night.
I am grateful I didn’t have to drive to work in the snow last night! We have enjoyed a lazy weekend and played outside in the snow for a long time. Snow is so enjoyable when you don’t have to get up early to shovel and drive to work.
Grateful for our zoo pass. We go during the week when it’s cold and have pretty much the whole zoo to ourselves. This time we saw the elephants eating up close and it was amazing.
Grateful for our cars running well during the cold. I hate to risk jinxing myself but they are very old so it’s always something to be thankful for.
Grateful we have no major food allergies or intolerances and that my husband and kids aren’t picky eaters. I was just reading a post from a woman who is dealing with dietary restrictions AND super picky family and it sounds exhausting. I love to cook but that would ruin the fun pretty quickly.
While I'm happy for you and your daughter about the vaccine, I can't hide my surprise. I really don't understand how the vaccines distribution works in this world of ours, but here in Ontario Canada many of us health care workers in direct contact with patients are still not vaccinated because we are not receiving doses anymore, and some lucky ones that have received their 1st dose are still waiting for their 2nd one 35 days later.... This sucks. Anywho, don't take it for granted if you (anyone) have access to the vaccine, you are in the lucky ones! 🙂
Now, for my 5 things to be grateful for:
- I am healthy and my family is also healthy
- I have a steady job with a good enought income to be able to work part-time instead of full-time
- Free activities offered through Eventbrite on the comfort of my own home (check it out, it's pretty amazing!)
- That my public library is still open for curbside pick-ups despite almost everything else being closed down
- To have a supportive husband
Well, who knows when a vaccine will be available for us! We are just on a registration list, and that's not a guarantee whatsoever! The counties here have to get through vaccinating healthcare workers and other more essential/at-risk people first before they move down the line to people who work with animals.
I hope you can get your dose soon!