Thankful Thursday | little pockets
I came across this quote a little while ago and I cannot for the life of me find the source. If you know, let me know!
I liked the quote immediately because it matches what I so often say: thankfulness is not a state of pretending nothing bad is going on. The bad, the hard, the heavy things are all real!
But still, there are always joys and mercies to be found as well, and when you make a habit of hunting for those and noticing them, you have a little more wherewithal to handle the hard and heavy things.
I'll start with my joys and then you can share yours too.
This week, I am thankful:
for the fun I am having with my co-workers
Do we love sitting in classes all day? No. But we do get to eat lunch together and take breaks together, and we have a light-hearted time together when we are working on skills.
If I was with unfriendly people, this orientation process would be SO MUCH WORSE.
that my buddy Brittany is with me
One of my study buddies is working in the emergency department, but the other one, Brittany, is gonna be on my same unit, so we are orienting together. 🙂
that August has been so temperate
Usually I think of August as the hottest and most miserable month of the year. But so far, it has been far more tolerable than June and July.
I actually don't see a single day in the 90s in the forecast, so I guess we got our August heat out of the way early!
This is making me a very happy camper.
that my first nurse paycheck comes next week
Exactly a week from today, we will get our first nurse paychecks. And those will reflect our big raises, going from tech pay to nurse pay. Woohoo!
that I don't have a sit-at-a-desk job
Sitting through orientation has reminded me that I would very much not appreciate a desk job. This amount of sitting is driving me nuts.
I know 12-hour shifts are tiring (I have worked a lot of them as a tech!), but I definitely prefer them to these hours of sitting, sitting, sitting.
for my comfy bed
I love my bed, I love my bedroom, and I still can hardly believe it's mine and mine alone. I'm a fan. 🙂
that packing lunches isn't hard for me
For most of my adult life, I've eaten lunch at my house. But also for most of my adult life, I packed a lunch for...someone else.
All those years of practice are paying off now, because I am pretty good at packing lunches for myself. 😉
for cats and boxes
I got Chiquita a new toy, which she does like.
But she is also a big fan of the box.
Even though the box is awfully small. 😉
that I have a three-day weekend coming up
Friday was reserved for unit orientation, but since I already work on my unit, I don't need to get a tour of the supply rooms and such. 😉
And that's how I'm ending up with a three-day weekend!
What are you thankful for this week?
P.S. A bonus (un-bonus?): we did not get our EKG exams back yesterday and apparently it might be another week or so because the person who grades them went on vacation. BOO. So we will all have to wait to see how that exam went for me.
This is my fourth week, so I guess this becoming a habit 🙂
This week I am thankful for
- cooler weather. Being a woman of a certain age I struggle enough with my own internal thermostat being wonky without the unusually high temperatures here in England. I think we have just had our 4th heatwave?!?!?
- fabulous work colleagues who are always supportive and generous with passing on their knowledge
- my allotment 🙂 It makes me happy just to be outside getting some fresh air while I try to knock it into shape. I do not love the weeding, but I know the end result will be worth it.
Also, I have had a huge amount of blueberries and French beans already from the little patch that I dug over in June.
- we have a 3-day weekend as Monday is a Bank Holiday. I have volunteered to bake some cupcakes for our hospital fete, so that will keep my busy and happy on Sunday
- family and friends, always. Without their love and support life would be extremely hard
@Stacey in UK, Great to have you here! I'm British and know all about those weather fluctuations 😉
@Stacey in UK, as an anglophile, I love reading your thankfuls. I always smile when I read about Bank Holidays; when DH and i were honeymooning in Ireland, on our last day there we were puzzled as to why all the shops were closed, and the streets were empty, and DH joked that maybe the Rapture had come? Then we saw a sign that said "Bank Holiday" and all was made clear!
@Stacey in UK,
I hear you on the part about internal thermostats!
I found that if I drank soy milk every day, it made the hot flashes go away. If I skipped drinking soy milk for a few days, by the third day, I'd start getting hot flashes again. Happily, after a few years, they pretty much went away on their own. I only get them on rare occasions now....extremely hot weather being one trigger.
My favorite was chocolate soy milk, but I've noticed it isn't on the store shelves anymore. It seems to have vanished since the pandemic. But I'm in Texas and the grocery stores may be different where you are.
Meanwhile, my friend Jo Ellen always calls them "power surges" instead of "hot flashes." She said that sounds more positive! LOL!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I love that she calls them power surges! And thanks for the tip about soy milk - I'll have a look when I next go food shopping
@Fru-gal Lisa,
When DH got prostate cancer, they gave him a testosterone blocker (which made him feel like death so he refused to take any more of it, but that's another story) and the blocker gave him hot flashes, which is a common side effect. He was shocked. He'd always heard about them, knew I had endured them for a while, but still, there was no way to know how they felt until then. He had the utmost sympathy for anyone going through them after that.
I actually like desk jobs - call me crazy! But I also like being out in nature after work 🙂
1. I'm thankful for a mostly great trip to Stockholm. I have never been there before and travelled by train (I missed the one I had booked but won't focus on that in a thankful post lol!). It was so interesting seeing the beautiful countryside as I travelled up the country! Stockholm itself is lovely (the Gamla Stan area was the inspiration for the town in Kiki's Delivery Service) and I went to four fascinating museums, an outdoor screening of 10 Things I Hate About You (which was free!) and an art nouveau spa!
2. I'm thankful for the kind people who helped me out more than once with directions when my phone randomly glitched.
3. I'm thankful for the helpful people at the hotel who lent my kettle for my room.
4. I'm thankful that I got to ride an old-fashioned tram with wooden seats inside. It was so cool!
5. I'm thankful that the weather mostly stayed dry (and got warm and sunny towards the end!) In general, I'm thankful that I had the means to take the trip and the public transport meant it was a straightforward journey 🙂
@Sophie in Denmark, I also like my desk job. I can't imagine being on my feet all day! I can get up and walk around whenever needed.
I am so grateful there are lots of people who love desk jobs! We need people who can do that kind of thing just as much as we need people who can be on their feet all day. 🙂
@Sophie in Denmark, I've done both desk and floor jobs, (as I call them). I spent the first 15 years of my career managing in retail. On my feet, at least 8 to 10 hours per day, 5 days a week. Although I liked the exercise, it's very hard on your joints and back over a long period of time, especially if arthritis runs in the family.
For the last 25 years I've had a desk job. I like it but I try to make a point of moving throughout the day or else my joints get stiff. I've been told by many physical therapists that "motion is lotion for your joints". They are right, the longer I sit the stiffer I get. Even though it's hard to get moving sometimes, I always feel better afterwards. I also try to take walks on my days off, as well as doing some stretching each day.
@AnnieH, I always go out for fresh air at lunchtime! I try and go to the gym after work but I really need to get back into the habit after a summer break. Fortunately I live near a beach, so I often go swimming.
@AnnieH,
My orthopedic surgeon has said the same thing about "motion is lotion". Also "ice is nice". 🙂
This week I am thankful:
*that I am home. We've been gone for a week. We drove, drove, drove to take son#2 to his first away college. It is also his brother's college, and they are roommates again! Driving from Maryland to Minnesota and back isn't fun, but it's over.
*that son #2, despite a few scheduling bumps, seems to be adjusting well. Yesterday after his first literature class, he called, and before he said more than "hello," I heard the smile in his voice. "I am SO glad I transferred here!"
*that our younger children had time at their grandparents' house while we travelled.
*that son #3 was willing to stay home and help my father and take care of the animals. He had a small animal emergency (one kitten hurt his leg), but he handled it well.
*that my husband's local (to his parents' house) siblings make time to come see us when we are in Ohio. Family is great.
*for a chance to hold my (relatively) new nephew for the first time. For the chance to listen to my 5-year-old niece's cuteness.
I’m thankful that my son made the soccer team! He was rejected the previous two years, but he said, “If I don’t try out, I definitely won’t make it.” I just stared at him. Who is this suddenly wise and mature person in my 13 year old’s body? Then I found 2 rotting cucumbers rolling around loose in his backpack. The unevenness of child development always surprises me.
I’m thankful it’s the school team, so he can go from school to aftercare to practice back to aftercare if necessary.
I’m thankful for the generosity of stay at home moms with minivans who have been so supportive in helping with transportation to games in previous school sport endeavors.
I’m thankful for time spent catching up with an old friend at breakfast on Monday.
I’m thankful that the paperclip fix is continuing to do the trick on my 8 year old work laptop as there is no funding for a new one. The tech guy showed me how to do it, which is good because they just laid off 13 IT people, so it’s going to take a whole lot longer to get help.
@Tarynkay, Oh man, the last part of your first paragraph was so on point. I have these interactions daily. Like, child, WHY are there two cucumbers just rotting in your backpack? But also, I am not surprised, because you are you.
@Tarynkay, I'm happy your son made the soccer team. I've seen the devastation our daughter felt when she didn't make the JV team in high school.
I had to laugh about the cucumbers in his backpack. I found all kind of things in our son's backpack and pockets over the years.
@Tarynkay,
Like Kristin, I smiled at the story of your son. Sometimes teens seem wise beyond their years and sometimes they seem like - kids. Even now, I wonder how my adult offspring have missed bits of information. I am thankful that I am still here to help them when they need a little help and direction.
@Tarynkay, The only reason that the cucumber thing isn't relatable to me is, for some reason, my son is veggie obsessed and recently ate an ENTIRE English Cucumber on his own. He's 4!
@kristin @ going country, I have just cleaned out THREE rotting cucumbers in my fridge!!
@Tarynkay, We used to raise chickens and dispatched the older, no longer laying eggs, ones for meat. One year we did 35 and invited a young male relative to join us since he was interested at that point in farming. His mother said that about two weeks later she found several dead chicken heads he had stuffed into his pockets, apparently to show (as in gross out) siblings but he forgot.
I cannot imagine how that smelled!
Chiquita really amuses me! I’m thankful for my own entertaining cats, as well as my entertaining family members. I’m also thankful for a supportive work environment.
Chiquita knows if she sits, it fits!
I'm thankful:
* my husband has made good progress on the bathroom renovations, and that he loves this sort of challenge.
*the weather has cooled.
* my first class day went well. I have enough students to make the class interesting but not so many that grading is hard.
Can I take back my thankful from last week that school has started for the kids? The stress has started already !
--That today is the last day of the first week of school. The first week is always draining and the kids are exhausted by the end of it.
--For our four-day weeks. It's been a battle against our state education department for years now to keep our four-day schedule, but our administration has so far been successful.
--That I am not exhausted this first week of school, because I haven't been there. 🙂 One of the best things about not working is that I am not so tired at the end of my work day that I have a hard time dealing with my own children and their needs as school begins. In previous years, it was so hard to get home after dealing with children all day and then need to help my own kids with the million and one requests for supplies, signatures, homework, etc., to say nothing of all of them just wanting to talk about their day at the same time. I am a homebody and an introvert, and the afternoons and evenings after a day of being out of my house were actually the most difficult part for me, because I have plenty of people in my own home who deserve more than I was able to give them after giving to other people all day.
--For a very nice morning yesterday with my husband. We've never really done the date night thing or whatever, and that isn't an issue for us, but yesterday we went to the morning Mass in one of the villages near us and then to the coffee shop there. We've lived here seven years and never been to that coffee shop, which is only open for a few hours in the morning. My husband got a cup of coffee and a piece of homemade pineapple upside down cake for three dollars, so I'm pretty sure he'll want to go back. 🙂 We also found out what the building next to the coffee shop is now: a combination junk store and woodworking shop. Most of the stuff in the store really was junk, but my husband spent a few dollars on a framed photo of some kind of Russian helicopter (eldest son identified it, but I can't remember what it actually was, other than a Russian attack helicopter) for my sons. They were thrilled. All in all, an unexpectedly fun morning, made possible, again, by my not working. And my husband having a flexible schedule. And the children being at school. 🙂
--For the cucumbers I got from a former co-worker that will shortly become pickles. My cucumbers were mostly eaten by the grasshoppers, and the few I'm getting are inedibly bitter. She wouldn't let me pay her, but she did say she'd take some pickles in exchange. Done.
@kristin @ going country,
I'm going to try canning pickles for the first time this coming weekend. I bought 6 cucumber plants in the spring (I really only wanted 1-2, and probably should have given away the rest, but oh well), and after a slow start, they are growing and producing! Wish me luck, and if you have any words of wisdom, please share. 🙂
@Liz B., I always make refrigerator dills:
https://going-country.blogspot.com/2022/10/tt-refrigerator-dill-pickles.html
Just today I tried actually canning pickles (hot water bath for ten minutes) for the first time with the same recipe, but with a grape leaf added to each jar. I had read that the grape leaf has tannins which keep the pickles from getting soft. I was skeptical of this, but it actually worked! So, if you have grape leaves around, you can try that, too.
@kristin @ going country,
Good coworkers are essential! I once worked in what they call a toxic workplace, so I know. I'm glad you have good ones. 🙂
I'm thankful:
--For cooler weather coming our way! Woot!
--That I got onto the waiting list for the nursing program! The wait (some say) is 2-4 semesters, but that's fine. I can get some online courses knocked out in the meantime and work on getting all my documentation together.
--That I wasn't afraid to be a bit of a squeaky wheel. After my advisor sent my file to the nursing department she said I should call them if I hadn't gotten my official letter in a week. Well, I hadn't, so I did. They had been holding off on doing any audits because they're now requiring the HESI test and not the TEAS--and none of the HESI scores were getting through to their department for some reason. But I took the TEAS last year, so the secretary, after sighing a bit, said she'd do my letter and add me to the group.
--That DS#2 got some good news yesterday! Huge sigh of relief.
--That 3 out of 4 of the boys are willing to learn to ride the tandem bike. DH wanted to get a tandem bike to teach them how to ride, and so far they've been willing to hop on. DS#4, who was the most tentative, rode with us down to the park yesterday to play tennis, and said he was "less scared" about it. 😀 The others are also interested in eventually learning to ride on their own and bike to work, etc.
Woohooo for being on the nursing school list!!
I was just about to write in my gratitude journal about:
*its payday! From a job I love, with hours I want, at the hospital I chose and co-workers that I get along with (:
*for getting to have dinner with my oldest son on Friday. I have not seen him in person since DECEMBER.
*for having most of my Christmas shopping done - this is easy when you only buy for 4 people. Having a jump on it means I will have mental space and funds to do creative things.
*for two new pair of walking shorts that I am faithfully using every day and for the nice weather we've been having in the early mornings.
And this morning I think "well, I don't really have anything to complain about" and that, in itself, is a great feeling!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, So glad you got to see your son. Mine lives about 5hrs away & I really start missing him if I don’t see his face after a month or so!
Today, I'm thankful...
...for yesterday's good rain (just in case anyone couldn't tell from my comment yesterday). 🙂
...for JASNA BFF, whose visit was joyful as always. And for the development of such a close friendship relatively late in both our lives. (We didn't meet until we were in our 50s and were assigned as roommates on the JASNA 2009 tour of England.)
...and for JASNA Panera, for her generosity and for her talents as a raconteur. She had BFF and me in stitches most of last Saturday afternoon.
Love the quote and your comments with it!
1. The dental visit went better than expected yesterday. I got a new filling in that tooth.
2. Got my flu shot out of the way yesterday. Had to go to another drug store to get it this soon. Also, this year's vaccine didn't burn or hurt when going into my arm --- all I felt was the needle prick. This morning, I'm not sore at all.
3. Bumped into a guy who installs flooring, speaks English, and charges less than the other flooring guy. Maybe I can get my bedroom done after all!
4. Ollie Outlet 10 percent off coupons. Goodwill 20 percent off coupons. Discounts in general.
5. That (finally!) they took the leftover big metal roof panels out of my yard.
- We are in drought and everything is very crispy outside. I’m so happy for the rainstorm we had a couple nights ago. Also happy, it was a moderate amount of rain and nothing crazy.
- My dermatologist takes blood pressure as part of the visit. My blood pressure was usually low at 90/58. I’m glad they check those things because I had no idea. I can now make some medication adjustments and get an at home BP monitor to keep track of my numbers.
- We have 70s in the forecast next week!
- I made a mistake driving and almost got into an accident. I’m very grateful I did not!
I'm thankful that 3 months after the tornado damaged our roof, the roofer started today replacing it.
I'm thankful I get to see our grandson often and he's now old enough to give Nana hugs and kisses.
I'm thankful that we enjoyed a lovely beach vacation and that our son came with us. Bonus is that our son didn't get sunburned at this trip, which might be the first time ever he's gone to the beach and not gotten sunburned.
I'm thankful DH saw yet another specialist to try to diagnose his illness and was prescribed a new medication to try to address his symptoms.
I'm thankful that I had a meeting with the president of our company to express my concerns about an issue at work. He was very supportive and gave me good advice on ways to fix things and offered to step in if things don't resolve. One of the reasons I love working for a smaller company is that I know that I can always go talk with him.
This week, I am thankful for the cooler weather. What a relief to not have to have either AC or the fans on all the time.
That August is drawing to a close and soon it will be September. I endure the summer and live for the fall, although it doesn't really get fall like here until the end of October.
That we have the option of multiple food/supermarket delivery services. It doesn't drive down prices, but you can almost always find what you need.
I am thankful that Amazon Fresh has had good pricing on many of the items on my weekly shopping list. I am truly thankful that most fruits and vegetables are the loss leaders (to get you in the store) at the only food store close enough for my aide to shop daily as needed (and very appreciative of the $2.5o to $3.00 lettuce that is soo good.
I am thankful that that I have so many options (free) to watch a lot online. Also that my paid membership in Kindle Unlimited has proven to be well worth the money in terms of fast access to a wide variety of books. (More than is available at the library, and on demand with no wait although there is a maximum to have out at any one time.) A trip to the library to pick up books when they are available and return costs more than the monthly fee for Kindle Unlimited. So it really saves money as well as time.
That our local government rep sponsors a Free Food for Seniors promotion for 12 weeks each summer. It's actually $10, every two weeks for a bag of fresh produce and fruit (you don't know what till you pick it up.) from local farmers. I trade with a friend for things I would not use. It comes with info on how to store and a bunch of recipes for how to use. You get quite a variety and it's definitely a lot cheaper than what you'd pay for the equivalent at our local food stores.
I am thankful for one friend in particular who herself has had some serious health issues. As she puts it, we can talk and really "get" what the other is going through. We share our frustrations in dealing with the medical system and also strategies for dealing with the situation so it doesn't get the better of us. You can't talk to some people about how you are really feeling physically and the challenges on a daily basis. So having someone that most of the time we can just "code" our chats because we're living it. It helps to have someone who has been through the fire you've been through.
I am thankful for the many people online who do an excellent job of sharing current information (well researched and fact checked) on the political situation in this country. I am heartened that not everyone just takes whatever someone says as factual when it isn't. I am thankful for Leigh of Politics Girl, a fantastic and informative Web site. It's positive, informational, motivational and much needed. I wish she would run for office.
I am grateful that despite those who refuse to obey the rule of law and the Constitution, others are fighting to maintain our democracy.
Honestly, I wish you would include a way for us to say what worries us the most these days. I feel like everyone online has to be so positive and not express our serious concerns. It just feels limiting. And unrealistic. And let's face it, the economy is a big part of being "frugal." And there is so much change going on that is horrific and problematic.
You can be very grateful and appreciative and also be mad, frustrated, disgusted, fearful and more about what is going on in this country. And what is happening to our fellow citizens around the world. It is hard to maintain joy at times knowing of the suffering of others. (And no, the solution is NOT to stop listening to the news. It's to do what one can no matter how small to help turn the tide.)
I am thankful for the various folks who post the many humerous dog, cat and other animal videos online. I need something to make me smile and laugh and oh, how they do that. (Including seeing the lovely Chiquita here!)
I am thankful to have discovered a handful of smart, funny (and not lewd or obscene or gross) comedians, male and female online who manage to leave you smiling and feeling better even when they address serious issues. It's a gift.
I am grateful that we have videos of the amazing Robin Williams. OMG. There has never been anyone except perhaps George Carlin, with such humor and intelligence. It is sheer fun to watch him in action. What a unique talent and gift but what a price he paid for it. Still, we celebrate what he left us.
I am grateful to belong to a community of health advocates that are working to keep our state government aware of our needs and our concerns. It's a tough battle but what a wonderful group of people to be working with.
I am grateful that so far, there are still a few major media outlets that have not caved to pressure to change how news is covered. I won't say more because I'll just get myself worked up about the owners of these companies and how they sold out and folded with lawsuits. Same for the universities.
I am grateful that there are those in this country who are continuing to fight to maintain our rights as citizens and women, in particular. They are paying a heavy price.
@Irena, I agree that there are lots of things to be concerned about in the political landscape, but I also really appreciate that Kristen keeps this corner of the internet positive and pleasant. There are plenty of other places to go online to dwell on the negative, if that's what one is looking for.
@Irena,
Agreed about much of what you mention, including Robin Williams. He was brilliantly funny.
I hear you, and I understand wanting a place to talk about frustrations and worries. I really do. The challenge is that it's really tough to handle political discussions online in a way that maintains civility, and it ends up being a lot of work for the person doing the moderating.
Unless, of course, the internet area is an echo chamber made up of people who all essentially agree with each other, and that is not true of the community here.
If someone says they are concerned about the children who are starving in Gaza (which does not seem particularly controversial to me), there will be others arguing back that the images are fake and children aren't really starving and what about the hungry children here in the U.S. and on and on it goes until it devolves into a whole mess. I see it ALL the time, all over the internet.
I know there are people who have the energy and time (and desire!) to host discussions of this sort, but I am not one of them.
I have sometimes had to put people on moderation and weigh each of their comments to decide if I should approve them or not, and figure out whether or not they will contribute to good of the community, and that's exhausting even with just one person. I can't imagine trying to do this at scale!
So, all of that is to say: I can't see a way to make this work without burning me out.
@Irena, I appreciate that Kristen keeps this site politics free. There are a lot of us here that have disagreeing views as far as that goes and we need to have a place where we can still feel loved by each other.
@Kristen, Appreciate you SO very much!!
1. Our August has NOT been like Kristen's, it's been very hot, so I'm thankful for whatever bit of relief is coming with the predicted cool front.
2. I'm thankful for my co-worker's wedding. That sounds a little odd, but he was without a girlfriend for several years and was disconsolate about it, about to give up. He's very likable, so we all felt for him. Lo and behold, a sweet girl appeared, they hit it off, and their marriage is this weekend.
3. I'm thankful to be getting at least some of the grapes on my vines. It's a fight with the crows, squirrels and smaller birds again, just like with the figs, plus last year, some disease ruined the entire grape crop. It looks better this year after I sprayed an organic disease control, and I've picked about a quart so far.
4. I'm thankful for the okra pods appearing on my still small okra plants.
5. I'm thankful that I found the perfect Christmas gift for a teen-aged great-nephew obsessed with all things Japanese, and I offer thanks to Battra92 for the idea - Japanese notebooks! I got the Kokuyo Campus style and also got a Kokuyo pencil and extra paper for him. The great-nephew is a doodler and scribbler, so he keeps notebooks at hand.
(Okay, so I got myself a notebook, too.)
Chiquita always makes me smile.
This week I am thankful for:
-- a renewed faith in humanity. I'm a stay-close-to-home person typically, but in the last week or so, I traveled a bit by train (to D.C. and NYC) and despite the bleak news hitting us in the face everyday, I found the people I came across in my travels delightful and helpful and lovely.
-- slightly cooler weather
-- dogs. Between my own dogs and dog-sitting lately, they've been bringing me a lot of joy.
-- for this comment section. Truly. I don't comment often, but I read them most days, and I love it when I see lots of replies to someone, either welcoming them, or with help, or encouragement, or whatever. What a kind place this is. I'm grateful.
Kristen, will you share your plans for your first big paycheck? Will there be a treat for yourself? Bills and savings? Will you start saving for something new?
Thankful that...
*I got to see friends from college at a baby shower over the weekend.
*That we've hosted neighbor kids 2x this week to play in the splash pad with our kids. I love that our kids are growing up with friends close by.
*For snuggling up and reading a chapter of a book each night with my older daughter and sneaking in extra reading throughout the day because she wants to finish the book!
I am one of the fortunate (unfortunate?) few who have a desk job. And I used to not have the strength for anything. But now that I am closer to retirement and I am exercising constantly, sitting here is not too bad because I am strength training. Extremely boring since there is no work to do, but not too bad scoping out the internet where I can. And I work at home and they pay for my internet.
And on that note, I am glad I have not been let go after almost 34 years sitting at a desk at this company. I've come close on 3 occasions, but 2 of them were from the same boss who had a beef with me and my personality. But I'm still here and she is not, so there's that! (Sorry if that sounds exciting, but this is where Karma came to play with her management style.)
Thankful that my physical journey is going well. I finally hit 25 lbs lost and was able to lift 145 lbs at the gym this morning. It took me 2 months to lose that 5 lbs to get to 25, but I finally did it. And my coach wanted me to keep putting more weight on, but 145 lbs was enough. I'll keep trying tho!
Thankful that husband and I will be taking a big trip next year to celebrate retirement and him turning 70. And it will be just the 2 of us. I kept asking him why and he kept answering "why not." And I thought about it and yes, we are very compatable, so it should be fun.
Thankful that our harvest is going well. The corn is good and the tomatoes and cucumbers are plentiful. I am bringing some to my sister's this weekend.
I was struggling to find a fifth thing to be thankful for and I just got an email about the compensation transition that is happening in Sept. The company is doing away with yearly bonuses in February and only going to Merit raises. Which stinks, but since they are transitioning to this new practice, they are giving us raises and transition bonuses in Sept to get to the industry average. I am getting more than I hoped, so I will call that a win in my book!
Thankful than dh is doing so much better with his walking. We haven't ventured outside the house yet but in a week or two maybe.
Thankful that our 5 week month didn't beat us financially and we were actually able to put a few dollars into savings.
Thankful that I'm at an age that not leaving the house for a week doesn't bother me. Five years ago and I would be miserable.
Thankful for a part-time WFH job coming up in November. THAT will be such a stress reliever as far as finances go.
Today I'm thankful for peaches -- it's peach season here and I am enjoying all I can.
That I'm getting together with friends this weekend.
That the cake I baked for the get-together actually looks nice (I am not a professional cake decorator.)
For health. I have my annual checkup today, but there are no real problems to report.
That my husband and my dogs are also healthy.
I am in California for the first time with my kids and am thankful they have the chance to visit many of my family members they have never seen before. In particular, I have one cousin who has suffered severe mental illness and who I hadnt seen in probably 20 years because she refused to see anyone. This visit she reached out and came over and it was lovely to see her with my boys. I was worried they would be afraid of her bc her appearance and attire is…unusual, but they were friendly and very curious and she was happy to answer all of their questions and was very kind to them. I dont know if I will see her again so I am very thankful for the visit.
@Ally,
Hugs to you! I am glad you got to meet with your cousin.
This week I am thankful for:
1. Definitely the cooler weather. Hot flashes and heat waves make for a very cranky AnnieH!
2. I am starting to see the light at the end of my busy season tunnel. I enjoy my work and colleagues, but I am looking forward to my vacation from it all later this year.
3. The person who had the idea to start a Little Free Library in our office. It's nice to share good books. I've been exposed to titles I may not have thought to read.
4. That my husband is on board with picnicking in the park more often instead of going to local restaurants. He wasn't initially keen on the idea, but we made it work in a way he enjoyed and is willing to do again.
5. The rain the trees around here needed.
I am thankful that my son safely drove a U Haul truck from South Carolina to Chicago. Navigating a truck in downtown Chicago sounds terrifying!
I’m thankful that my husband - sober for eight years - is able to help other family members consistently.
I’m thankful I seem to be winning the war on “bracket creep” avoiding significant weight regain after losing 17 pounds two years ago.
I’m thankful that I am beginning to feel I can make changes in my schedule and life in general. (All my life, if I was annoyed by something, I just put up with it.)
Our burgeoning fig tree, which so far has managed to escape various four legged predators.
I am thankful....
That my genetic blood test for genetic abnormalities for our baby came back as low risk which is the best that we can hope for.
That the wound site where my husband's ear was amputated last year after a skin cancer diagnoses has finally healed enough that we were able to schedule the surgery to have the wound closed with skin/tissue from his arm.
That the scheduled surgery can be done in September so my husband has plenty of healing time before our daughter will be born.
That August weather in Georgia has been so uncharacteristically mild. We have only had a handful of days that temps have reached 90 or 91. It has been mostly cloudy and in the 80's - still high humidity given the rain but I will take 80 with humidity over 100 with humidity ANY DAY.
That we were all well enough to attend my great niece's 1 yr old birthday party this past Saturday. She is so sweet, just beautiful and growing so fast! What a joy to get to play with her and love on her and buy her toys :-). Time flies!
This Thankful Thursday exercise forces me to stop focusing on the hard stuff for a pair of minutes. THANK YOU!
1. A mild summer (although 107 is the predicted high today and we have an outdoor memorial service to attend at 3:30 in the afternoon—ARE YOU KIDDING?? Nope.)
2. A new medical office in our little town so that I can get my A1C tested without scheduling it a month or two or three and learn if this infernal intermittent fasting is doing the trick to release me from the dreaded pre-diabetes category.
3. A tall stack of library books (well, phooey, turns out I have read 2 already, but that still leaves 4)
4. My dear Texas friends are in California 3-1/2 hours from me and we got to spend 3 days together!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
Yay! It's great to spend time with good friends.
I am so thankful for nights in the sixties lately. I love open window sleeping and hearing the birds in the morning.
Yeah for 3 day weekend! Are you planning a mini trip somewhere?
I'm so glad that you are in a good place, exactly where you belong. 🙂
Thankful that teen is physically ok from deer accident recently. Thank God it was daylight or things might have been different/worse. We had multiple deer by roads looking to cross in various places yesterday during daytime which is unusual.
Thankful we have the money to get teen vehicle fixed. Though it has been a less than pleasant experience. This is not my first experience getting vehicles repaired after accident but this particular situation has been more difficult. Unfortunately I am going to give a bad review for a junk yard we have gotten parts from for years. But the new generation owners does not do business same way & not happy with how situation turned out. Hoping last parts needed will arrive soon.
Thankful my dad is feeling somewhat better. Unfortunately we have not spent as much time as would have liked to, but they visited other people also & was able to get a few things done.
Thankful for rescue dogs--always.
Thankful for cooler weather (65* yesterday & today high) only because I have cooking & baking I need to do, which will warm house up a little & not have to have AC on. Need to make breads/desserts/snacks with fruit need to use. Will give some to my dad before he heads back to Florida before holiday weekend. He says the food tastes different in Florida & not as good. So I try to stock him up to take food back with them.
Thankful I was able to help a neighbor that just had shoulder surgery & will be off work for a little while. There were extra produce boxes at monthly pick up & I was able to get one for neighbor.
Thankful for Kristen & her blog where we can all learn & share with each other. 🙂
Have a good weekend. <3
This week I am thankful:
* for my new kitchen that I love so much!
* that all of the back-to-school prep is almost done. There are a couple of things that got lost in the move, but my daughter's sports physical form is ready to pick up from the doctor and everything else is coming along... just in the nick of time.
* that my kids have been home during the contracted-out portions of the construction for the addition to our new home. Today they're putting roof trusses on and I'm thankful that my kids get to watch all of these cool things. If the timing of the construction had been when we originally anticipated, they would have been in school. As it stands, we're nearing the time when my FIL and husband will take over.
* that I've been able to walk my dog more.
* that both of the kids that are playing soccer have a friend on their team.
*that the first month or so of living with my in-laws has gone so smoothly. Praise. The. Lord.
I'm on Team Chiquita. Boxes are fabulous! Even though I, personally, don't fit in any of them. But it looks like some are a challenge for Chiquita as well.
For my dear friends who make me feel seen and known.
For my nieces, I am an only child raised away from family. I will always be grateful for the family I have now, they may be younger than I am but the sure do fill my heart with joy!
For my kids. They are not perfect but they are perfectly part of our silly family.
For my husband. Again, not perfect. But he is keeping a good attitude and working SO hard during a very difficult time at work.
For my dog and cat 🙂
For air conditioning! We haven’t always had it, so I KNOW how bad it can be. I was 9 mo pregnant in September during a heatwave. That will make me eternally grateful for the ac we have now: my ankles….. oof. I’m also glad my ankles are normal now lol
I am thankful (vehicle-themed):
1. for a trusted mechanic;
2. that my car (2010) only just now needed its first essential mechanical repair;
3. that we had the money to pay for said repair;
4. for safe travels for my husband and me, as we were traveling separately this week; and
5. for a good first week of classes (I teach).
Thankful that my dad's DVT continues to get smaller.
I also am thankful that it hasn't been nearly as warm as it was in July. My grass is recovering, and I can go outside without wilting!
Thankful that the neighbors have an adorable dog that is slowly starting to warm up to me. Her name is Buckets, and she trots over daily for a treat (with her owners' permission). She's a long-haired dachshund that tends to roam our yard. We had to have our dog put down right before we moved to this house, so I am thankful for a daily tail wag and seeing her.
Same note...thankful for the neighbors I have now. They are kind, quiet...all around good neighbors. After the last people we lived by, this is appreciated even more!
Thankful that my fig trees are currently covered in figs!
I'm feeling so thankful this week . . .
-That I got good news from my scan on Monday. My oncologist is now pushing my next scan to six months. I am cautiously optimistic. My breast cancer was growing very quickly before I started chemo, and so I can't help but think that if some cells had escaped before surgery, we would be seeing some small lump somewhere by now. You just never know with breast cancer, which is the scary part. But part of being hopeful is taking one step at a time even though you don't actually know what will happen next.
-That a job I missed out on has been relisted with a slightly changed title and job description. I interviewed for it the first time it was listed, and the interview went well, but I heard through the grapevine that I didn't make the cut because people with a little more clout in my field were interviewing. Well, here we are a few months later and all the big-clouters turned them down. I immediately applied to the new listing and emailed the recruiter, who actually emailed me back! I have been in this game long enough to know that unless you are under consideration for a position, you will not get a word out of a recruiter. So I am taking it as a good sign.
-That we jumped over another big hurdle this week for our daughter. Our daughter is special needs, and, boy, I had no idea how much time and money and energy it takes to give a special needs kid an education that is at all comparable to that of abled children. We fight and we fight. And we try something new. Then we fight and fight and fight. We are now trying to get her IEP team to place her in a program that we can't afford without the school system. You would have thought we asked them to fly her to the moon! But we made it through the meeting, and we will keep fighting.
-That I just prepped part of dinner tonight. It is a small thing compared with the other three, but this being the first week of school, every evening has been rushed and the kids are tired. In an effort to get into a groove, I just pre-cooked part of the dinner that I will then assemble and throw in the oven at 5:30. That should make our evening a bit smoother, and we will get these poor tired little people in the bed earlier tonight.
Yay for a good scan!!
@Amanda in VA,
Hang in there as you advocate for your daughter! I know how defeated one can feel after those IEP meetings. Good luck getting her the placement that will help her thrive.
And congratulations on the good scan! From another survivor.
one little pocket of joy for me is that I found all the forms I need to file taxes for 2022, 2023, and 2024. I'm retiring in February 2027 and want to have all my ducks (financial and otherwise) in a row well before that.
Today is the first day of a 6 day 90+degree heat surge, will be on fire watch tomorrow. Set up my camper down by the pond for cooler nighttime rest.
Finished the driveway fence project. Every muscle hurts!
The boards are primered, will start painting soon.
The plums are perfect right now, so yummy.
Picked 3, five gal buckets of mixed variety tomatoes this morning, will process into sauce. Thankful for my outdoor kitchen.
@Kristen Probably not ultimate source of quote… but perhaps this Instagram account is where you encountered it https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLqrPulJiQA/
Thankful for
Productive days
Cooler nights
Preparations for a short trip
Cat pranks
Homemade grapejuice (so early in the year!)
@JNL, Tell me more about the cat pranks!
Ooh I think I may have found the source of the quote: have a look for @stacieswift who has a Substack called staciessmalljoys
@Jennifer C-L, and has a website stacieswift.com. She’s an illustrator and has art prints, books, etc. with a joyful sense of color and design
Thankful we had a great vacation in West Virginia (it's our third visit there--such a pretty, pretty state!) and enjoyed cooler temps than we have been having in Michigan; thankful that my body allows me to do the hiking that I love to do on vacay; and that our daughter could join us. Grateful for kitty cats who were glad for our return, and for my home. It's fun to stay in a rental, but be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. 🙂
That is so funny you went south for cooler temps!
I am particularly grateful for:
- our dog's successful eye surgery and smooth recovery so far
- the annual pontoon ride with childhood friends on the lake where our parents had cabins
- all the fresh herbs in our container garden for cooking and baking
- the weekly outings with my sister, sometimes more often than that. She's now one of my best friends.
Chiquita is so cute in that little box!
This week I am thankful for:
1) an impromptu visit from my husband's cousin. We used to live near each other, but the years have taken us apart geographically. He is currently moving back to CA from OR and asked my husband if he could stay with us along his driving route this week. He's been through a rough time this year, so I am thankful to provide a safe (and hopefully) fun space for him to land temporarily along his way.
2) that one of my sons is on the mend. He caught a nasty virus over the weekend and missed 2 days of school this week, which was tough as he just started high school last week. Thankfully, he's better now and back at it, sports and all.
3) So many hiking partners. This week alone I will hike/walk with 3 different friends. This is my favorite type of exercise - outdoors, hiking, in nature, with friends! I have been able to maintain a 3-day/week hiking schedule this summer (with the exception of a couple of weeks), but several of my hiking buddies are teachers, so school starting pushed our hikes to the weekends. Happy to have some other flexible-work/retired/shift-work friends to meet up with during the week!
4) Simple meals instead of eating out. We were really scrambling on Tuesday to come up with a dinner idea and ultimately landed on a menagerie that included: deviled eggs, a salad, and blueberry muffins. We call this a "misc" (miscellaneous) dinner at our home.
5) I'm excitedly eyeing the temperature on my weather app as we have a cool spell beginning tomorrow. It's been over 90 degrees for the past two days, and we don't have air conditioning, so the lower temperatures will be very much welcomed.
Last to the party again today as I rested in view of working tonight.
Thankful to have gotten my yard mowed yesterday by my young friend. His Dad came with and worked on my newer lawn mower that quit working soon after I got it about (four?) years ago. It will be good to have that mower working as it is self-propelled and mulches as it cuts. The housing on the this one is wearing out. I am amazed at how effortless an 18y/o makes it look cutting the yard, getting it done in an hour when it takes me a good two and I have to stop in the middle for a break. I will say that center of gravity and age are the main differences, but I also trim closer and stop to cut out tree sprouts, etc.
Thankful for the cooler nights.
Thankful I was able to pack the new to me china and get ready to take to the basement. Not to worry. I do use my dishes, just don't have the space upstairs for all of it. Also thankful that the teapot I purchased on eBay matched perfectly in color to the tea set I purchased at the flea market. It will probably be a gift.
Thankful Molly seems to be feeling better and has had an upswing in her energy level. I was so afraid that she was going to die last Sunday.
This has been a busy week, but it's been busy in good things:
- a big job my husband is finishing. It's been a ton of work, but it should be finished soon and he'll get paid. Thankful he has work.
- My daughter started art classes on college campus and she loves it!
- My son started Taekwondo and is already obsessed with it.
- Both kids started back homeschooling this week.
- youth group started back
- I'm Thankful the skunk on our porch didn't spray Nacho, our cat. He was just sitting there watching the skunk eat his food!!
@Katy @ Practical Walk, Nacho is a wise cat!
Wow a lot has changed around here!! For no particular reason I haven’t popped on to your blog in a while. The last time I was on here I think you had just been accepted to nursing school!! I am wagering that was like 2021? So in any event, it’s amazing to come on here and you are getting your first paycheck! It feels like a time lapsed video for me.
Now I’m wondering if I should go back and read all the posts from the last 4 years to catch up. 😉
Aww, welcome back! I did prereqs in 2021 and 2022, and then in the fall of 2023 I started the nursing program, which I just graduated from in May of this year (2025).
I just started my new RN job and I'm also starting my RN to BSN classes this week. 🙂
@Kristen, thank you for the update I’m so happy for you that you accomplished what you set out to do! I AM going to at least spot read some of the older posts. I’m glad to have “found” you again and excited to see you get settled in your new gig!