Thankful Thursday | no 90s for meeeee
This week, I am thankful:
that I see zero days with highs in the 90s right now
I know that this could change, but my current 10-day forecast has only highs in the 80s.
Yay!!
that I have three days off
I was feeling pretty beat after working a bunch of shifts, but a day off yesterday did wonders for me.
I did get some things done (and I went for a walk and did a workout), but all of that was much less tiring than a hospital shift. 😉
I feel more like Regular Kristen now instead of Tired Kristen.
that this job is optional for me right now
I did pick up enough shifts to be more than full-time this past week, but I am very lucky that I do not have to work full-time hours at the hospital every week.
And I am also very grateful that I just need to work two shifts a month during the school semesters. I can pick up more shifts if I want to, but the two shifts/month is just the minimum requirement. My main focus will be getting through school, so I am thankful I don't have to work very much!
for my healthy body
I am grateful for a body that can do things like....work long shifts, do workouts, walk on the rocks by the water, and so much more.
for summer beauty
As we have previously discussed, I do not like summer weather.
But even when the air is terrible, I can still appreciate the beautiful sights that summer offers.
I don't stop and stare for long, though, because then I get too many bug bites.
I am thankful that summer will be over soon.
You know what I really wanna do? WEAR A HOODIE.
That's definitely going into a Thankful Thursday post when it happens. 😉
that my job is air-conditioned
Summer is a good time to work quite a few hours because the weather outside is not at all appealing to me; however, the air inside the hospital is relatively cool.
Sooo, it's a good place to spend summer days.
(Unless a patient has turned their thermostat up super high, in which case I sweat in the time it takes to do vital signs!)
that I get to talk to Lisey so often
I never take for granted the affordability of long-distance phone calls because I can remember when just calling someone a county or two away was expensive.
How wonderful it is that my Hawaii girl and I can talk as much as we want without ever worrying about the cost.
that I got some of my decluttering done yesterday
You know how I put a whole-house declutter on my little bucket list? I got some of it knocked out yesterday (mostly my clothes and jewelry) and I feel goooooood.
Now I gotta make a Goodwill trip!
Not thankful but thankful: our eldest cat passed away at 13 and we are all sad and out of sorts this week. But we are thankful for all the joy and fun and play and cuddles we had in those years. And we have not only pictures but also some audio fragments of his purr and meow and I've listened to those. We have another cat, that is also very sweet and seems to settle well, fortunately. It is a comfort because the house seems weird and empty.
I'm now slowly back to the mode where I can muster the energy to tick things of my summer bucket list. It has been very good weather - sunny and warm, but not scorchingly hot. A good temperature to do some garden/garden furniture chores.
@JNL,
I'm sorry your cat passed away. I'm thankful you have 13 wonderful years.
@JNL,
I am sorry for the loss of your kitty and the little hole it has left in your heart.
@JNL, sending virtual hugs. I know how hard it is to lose a cat.
@JNL, I'm so sorry about the loss of your cat. They are special friends <3
@JNL, sorry for the loss of your kitty. (((hugs)))
@JNL, I am so sorry. I am glad you are able to hear his purr. Our fur babies definitely leave a hole in our hearts and lives when they go.
@JNL, Oh, hugs to you. It's so hard to lose a furry friend. But you gave him a wonderful life and he was loved.
@JNL, I add my condolences to everyone else's on the loss of your senior cat. My Betty is at least 12.5 years old now (no one knows for sure), and although she's in good health for her age (and, I must admit, her weight), I know I'm going to be a wet mess when she goes.
@JNL, Thinking of you on the loss of your sweet kitty.
Awww, I'm sad for you about your kitty. Sending love.
@JNL,
I am so sorry to read about the loss of your cat. I know all too well how empty and weird the house feels after a loss like that, as I lost my 16.5 year old kitty back in May. So glad you have photos and audio of his purr and meow.
@JNL, awwww, losing a pet is so hard, I'm sorry for the loss of your cat
Thanks for your kind thoughts everyone!
JNL
So lucky- AmVets comes right to my front door to pick up things I’m donating. In fact I have 3 boxes out there now. We’ve had a lot of rain but no flooding where I live. The ber months are coming- I just love fall.
I too am thankful for the weather forecast. I am not thrilled by the forecast of two days of rain but I know it is good for the parched land. Even if I have to walk in the rain I will not melt and a warm rain is much more pleasant than a cold rain.
I am thankful for summer produce such as peaches and cantaloupe. I am also thankful for frozen berries, they are so easy.
I am thankful our daughter lives close to us and I see her quickly on her work from home days as well as other times.
I am thankful for Freecycle. I give a lot of things away and this week I also picked up a big box of Mad magazines for DH.
@K D,
My DH would be over the moon if I gave him a box of Mad Magazines!
@K D, Our freecycle died down, but there is a FB group that is similar. But it just isn't the same. Freecycle just seemed to be easier.
@K D, Mad magazines. There's a (good) flash from the past.
--I'm right there with you being thankful for a cool down. I was at work yesterday, sorting books in an un-air-conditioned back room, and sweat was literally dripping down my back. So gross. But it's going to only be about 80 degrees for a couple of days before it gets back into the 90s, so I can do all my baking and everything tomorrow before it gets hot again. And before school/work starts again on Monday. 🙁
--Also there with you being grateful for a body that works. I was just saying a little prayer of thanks for that last night. I don't take any medications and haven't been to a doctor in years. Everything works. I can run, garden, lift heavy things . . . So thankful for that.
--Relatedly, thankful to have had parents who have always been healthy, and still are in their mid-70s. Not only does it mean they are still active and independent, but I learned from them the importance of good food and exercise. I'm not as extreme about it as they are--both my parents did triathlons into their 60s--but I have always known what to do to stay healthy. Not everyone has that kind of example to learn from, I know.
--That my husband works from home and so can be here with the kids when I have to be at work for teacher in-service meetings all week.
--That the kids are old enough that he can actually work now when he's home with them. 🙂
--For the younger staff coming to work at our school. We have three new teachers this year, all in their 20s, who were hired on to replace a few teachers who will be retiring next year. While I will miss those teachers that have been there since my family has been here, it's really nice to have new ideas and new energy on staff.
@kristin@going country, Oh, and an even bigger school-related one! SO thankful that the five-day week has been avoided for this year! A judge granted a temporary restraining order against our state education department's attempt to force all the four-day schools to adopt a five-day-a-week calendar. We have longer days (7:45-4), so the same number of instructional hours; we just don't have school on Fridays. YAY.
@kristin@going country, Hurrah! Good for that judge. Hard enough on you guys starting so early in August, five days a week would be rude!
@kristin@going country, our kids go to school 7 hours a day 5 days a week & our days in school increased last year, strarted earlier & went later in year with less holidays & school service days. This year is even less days off & started even earlier but do get out a little earlier.
For us (Michigan) a lot of schools do not have air conditioning in whole school & summer (July & August) gets hot. But changed law that used to be start school after Labor day, but was changed few years ago. 🙁
@Regina, I never understood why school can't start the day after Labor Day and end the Friday before Memorial Day. My rural school had no A/C in the "old" part of the school but the "new" did (one building, K-12). Of course the office had A/C as did the library. These were the days of no computers. BUT the windows did open in the "old" section and were open a lot. What I can't remember is if they told us to do the right thing if a tornado (close them/keep them closed) or not. When I was in first grade, an EF4 (F4 at the time) hit a town not all that far away:
" it hit the school just as students were getting on the buses to go home.[4] Just before 4 p.m. CDT, the tornado reached the school. Twelve buses, already filled with elementary- and middle-school students, were tossed about. Several of the students were tossed into adjacent fields and killed.[4] A bus driver was killed as well. Shortly after the passing of the tornado, faculty and some of the stronger students used the fireproof doors of the high school as stretchers to carry the injured into the cafeteria, the severely injured into the library, and the dead into the gymnasium. Four hundred cars (three hundred new cars and 100 employee cars) were destroyed at the Chrysler plant in town. A school bus driving south of Harvard was thrown into power lines and torn in half. The driver and students survived by sheltering in a ditch."
"A total of 24 people were killed with 13 of the dead at the high school".
Suffice it to say any horsing around during tornado drills was not tolerated.
Thankful for the bees and butterflies in our garden. Watching them never gets old. We also have a monarch caterpillar munching about.
Thankful for our new rug. The old one was scratchy and literally falling apart and was very dirty. It was a cheap internet one. We got a really nice wool Persian rug this time with a nice rug pad underneath and it is so soft and whispy and comfortable and pretty and not covered in stains from small boys.
Thankful for three more weeks of summer. It has been flying by way too fast but I still get three more weeks before the kiddos go back to school.
Thankful for fresh garden tomatoes. They are so much tastier than the store bought ones!
Thankful for black coffee in the morning before anyone else in the house has woken up. It is one of my favorite times of the day. All quiet except for the birds singing and a warm cup in my hands.
This week I'm thankful:
*for the rain. It might be too much, but not enough is so crispy.
*the tomatoes my friend gave from her garden. BLT's in the summer are so good, but our tomatoes aren't ready yet.
*that our soft start for school went sort of okay. That I'm okay with having a soft start and with it going sort of okay.
*for ripe local peaches.
*for another week with eldest college boy.
Thankful:
For the inch or more of rain we got the other day. Greened everything up. And for the cooler, less humid weather that we're having now.
That DS#2 is willing to study with me and even carpool to the TEAS test next week. For a supportive DH.
For DS#1's continued healing; every day a little improvement.
For Clark, who remains hilarious and whose weirdo feline antics smooth the rough edges of life.
My 15 year old daughter wears a hoodie all summer long. It's a teen thing I don't understand. LOL
@Tammy, Like a security blanket. It's protective.
@Rose, yes, this. When I worked in university housing, the freshman kids moved in in July, our hottest month, and were wearing hoodies, the portable security blanket. They'd complain to maintenance that their rooms were too hot and maintenance would complain to me that the room was 66 degrees F and the kids were bundled up in hoodies and quilts. By December, when they'd settled in, they were trying to wear all their summer clothes and freezing half to death. Then the parents would complain that their kids were constantly sick. It made me clutch my forehead every time the phone rang.
@Tammy, I tend to wear an open cardigan sweater year round. Been that way since, yeah, high school almost 50 years ago!
I imagine there are times when a shift at the hospital can be exhausting mentally, physically, and even emotionally. I’m glad you are going to have 3 days of rest.
I am thankful that I will be spending part of today babysitting for the Grands. In other words, I’ll spend a few hours playing and eating popsicles.
I am thankful that I slept really well last night.
I’m thankful that Tropical Storm Debby brought some much needed rain. We had very little rain in May and June.
I’m thankful that my new HVAC is in. Today’s high temperature will be 95 and humidity is currently at 89%. That can be a bit uncomfortable.
I am also thankful that summer is nearly over. In about a month, the worst will be behind us. The sea breezes should kick in and the sun will lose its intensity.
Wishing everyone the blessings of peace, good health and prosperity.
@Bee, I'm glad that you can actually rejoice in the rain that Debby brought. That's a lot better than having to take a rowboat down the street!
@A. Marie,
Unfortunately, my fellow Floridains on the Gulf Coast have had a different experience. The torrential rains combined with storm surge have caused significant flooding. My heart goes out to them.
I am thankful that we live near my extended family. We lived away from family for 12 years and there are so many things that are just easier. Borrowing lawn mowers for example.
I am thankful for the farmers markets in my area. Big, little, or just seeling their over abundance of yellow squash.
I am thankful for the super discount I got at a local farmers market. 3 quarts of strawberries and 1 of peach for $4. They are now jam.
I am thankful for breakfast with good friends. Going for coffee too.
I am thankful for my local library. I have been trying to improve my mending skills and found the perfect book. I was having trouble using my usual Youtube videos.
So many things to be thankful for...!
1. That Hurricane Debby came in as a category 1 instead of a 3. That the storm surge seems to have hit a lot of Steinhatchee more lightly this time, at least from what our local paper said. It said there was water lapping at many doors, flooding roads and yards, and displacing people and things, but not the complete inundation as they had last year.
2. That I have tree limbs down and a flooded garden, but nothing worse.
3. That my power was back on by Monday night - our temps are running in the high 90's with the usual humidity and the heat index is supposed to be 110 today. Also, I'm feeling very sorry for the 6,000+ people in the storm-affected counties who still don't have power.
4. For the fun long weekend we had in Orange Beach in spite of the ominous warnings about Debby the whole time we were there. For two girls, 19 and 18, who were perfectly happy to spend a long weekend with 3 adult women whose greatest desire was to relax and get some rest.
5. For my new book of devotions that I found in my church's bookstore. So far, I am really liking it.
@JD, I'm so glad to hear that Debby's effects on your area weren't as bad as Idalia's last year. (Goodness sakes, you've had enough to deal with this year!) And I'm delighted that you all enjoyed the family weekend despite the storm warnings.
I am thankful for my new job as school nurse. I am also very thankful that we finally got power back after 6 days.
Enjoy your days off and the peasant weather! I am thankful for -
1. The really clear information I got from a phone call regarding how to change health plans once open season arrives. We have Medicare and federal employee coverage and don’t want to mess this up but since moving are having trouble finding doctors who take our current plan.
2. Our pup who continues to be the sweetest and friendliest dog I have ever had.
3. That we are able and willing to tackle home and yard maintenance.
4. That there is fun street art and lots of Little Free Libraries within walking distance plus a good county library system.
5. That we finally feel settled in 15 months after moving to be close to our younger son and his family. Also very thankful for all the Grand-girl hugs and playtime we now get regularly.
@Juhli, I know it was an innocent typo, but your "peasant weather" made me chuckle. Until it cooled off a few days ago, every time I'd come in from a gardening session in the heat, I looked as if I'd been in some "peasant weather."
@A. Marie, I too have experienced lots of peasant weather in the past LOL
Thankful for
Crossing off some of my bucket list this week.
My former CSA guy has fresh redcurrants on his farmer's market stand. Maybe I'll make jelly out of them.
Fresh corn, fresh veg, broccoli sprouts and tomatoes. Mmm, yum.
The beauty of my area in high summer: the ocean. Walking dunes. A downtown with several preserved windmills, a pond surrounded with flag iris and with swans and ducks, an ancient farm, and best of all, a graveyard going back to the 1600s.
My pack of comedy hounds.
@Rose, Thanks for the word picture of your area in summer. It was like taking a mini-vacation to imagine what all that looks like!
@Fru-gal Lisa, https://aaqeastend.com/contents/east-hampton-village-centennial-1920-2020/
Some pictures. I've written about the mills in the area--you would think they were primitive things, but they're not. They were always improving the technology. One big problem was that the mills tended to burn down--until they figured out how to slow the sails in high winds, that is. Obviously wooden pieces rubbing together quickly in high winds often started fires. (I love our mills.)
What a beautiful place you live in!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I agree! And, pssst... Rose probably has red currant jelly.
@Rose, I had to stop looking at the photos because I felt like crying, either from the beauty or envy that you live in such a place. Thank you for sharing, I think. (Yes, exaggerating here, but wow.)
There's a reason rich folks like it here. Heh.
@Rose, and of course, Kristen, Jana, Lisa, et al are invited for a visit. It's almost like I have this guest cottage in back people can stay in. The only problem is that it's a giant schlep from anywhere. Oh well, can't have everything I guess.
I am also thankful for a healthy body!
1. To add to that, I'm echoing a thankful from last week in that I'm thankful to have built stamina and can run longer distances. Although I am annoyed that exercise works lol.
2. I'm thankful that I was able to get some cute storage boxes. One store had sold out but I found some in a sale in a different branch.
3. I'm thankful that I was able to find some other things I needed (such as icepacks) before getting my teeth out.
4. I'm thankful to have found a book I wanted in a sweet little independent bookshop.
5. I'm thankful that tomorrow is Friday!
I'm grateful that my mental health is in a really good position this week. A few months back I had some set backs in my struggle with anxiety, but I've been making several changes lately (daily walks, increased water intake, daily strength training or yoga, regular gratitude practice, documenting joy by taking pictures of things I enjoy doing throughout the day, no alcohol, seeing a therapist every few weeks) that I think are making a marked improvement! And I'm grateful for the time, the bandwidth, and the able body to make these daily changes, because I know there are many people who are stretched too thin for self care.
Being able to talk with Lisey is such a blessing. When I lived in Belgium, at about Lisey's age, I got to talk to my mom about once a week for 5 minutes...and that was crazy expensive. By the time I got letters from her, the information was old news.
I'm thankful that where I live, Debbie hasn't been as bad as they thought. Where I used to live is getting tons of water...praying for all of them.
Thankful for the past week of most everyone here being home and working from home and having that as an option.
Thankful that for right now my old frenchie is having some health issues, but has good moments each day of play and enjoyment.
Thankful my mom is doing better and had a great checkup with her pacemaker at the cardiologist after months of complications with it.
Thankful for the closeness I have with my adult kids. One texted me this week with some issues he's having. I'm thankful they still let me help.
Long time reader - but I do not comment much. However this is a big thankful day.
Thankful that my employee dependent tuition benefit for my son's next semester was finally processed. The paperwork was lost in the mail and the office had moved/changed phone numbers on campus. DS spent a few days worried we would have to pay the remaining almost $10,000 - but finally he found the new phone number and sent the paperwork in an email. Now he owes $800 and we are splitting it with him.
Thankful that my daughter decided we should have a "tea party" breakfast because I made scones. Pretty dishes make even breakfast fun. And the scones came out really well.
Thankful that there was a sale on New York strip steaks at the store. Last night's dinner is only frugal when compared to all four of us going out to eat. But my husband grilled the steaks outside and did an amazing job - better than a restaurant. I made sides and my daughter made homemade bread and everyone was in a good mood.
Oh man, what a big relief on the tuition front. Yay!!!
@Denise, what great news about employee dependent tuition benefit!
Yes, exactly! Five minutes once a week does not feel like enough!
1) After weeks of traveling (&, lots of fun, but tiring), grateful for a peaceful week at home.
2) Feeling really positive that we made progress on dS17's college applications.
3) I am also happy that we are avoiding the 90s this week (so far). Woohoo for cooler days.
4) I'm dealing with an injury (gluteal tendinopathy), but super grateful I am now seeing a PT, and she has a plan to get me back to my normal workouts by November. Also, generally grateful that while i'm frustrated right now, I also recognize how lucky I am to be able to move my body even with this injury, and how much my body does for me regularly.
5) For garden tomatoes & other treats. It feels so different when you pick things out of your garden for dinner!
Hats off to you for doing three in a row! I remember when I worked bedside, my last shift was pretty much fueled by caffeine and determination. It did make that first morning off so much better though.
This week I am thankful for:
1. Having a reliable car- I am going to be honest, I usually HATE my work car. But I have a lot of driving to do this weekend due to some family events, so I am really thankful that I have a car that is reliable enough to do 1,000 miles of driving over the course of this weekend.
2. Tomatoes- Summer has finally hit my tomato plants and it is glorious. I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with and have be reveling in the bruschetta bounty
3. A calm husband- We are in the process of closing on a large property near where I work (Yay!) but the stress of house buying often gets to me. Having a partner that is just always calm and collected to my emotional hurricane is amazing.
4. Overtime- Having a job that lets me pickup a few shifts here and there and my husband's engineering job paying overtime (which is unheard of), is making me so thankful. Especially knowing we have a fixer upper.
5. Memes- Social media can be a destructive cancer that does more harm than good, but sometimes I just need to see a dumb meme that my friend sent me to make day a little better.
• Last weekend a small group of us took a trip to celebrate our friend’s 40th birthday AND her successful cancer battle! It is truly a gift to celebrate someone’s life WITH them.
• We still have three weeks left of summer vacation! I know my son is excited to have a few more weeks of freedom and I’m really enjoying having someone to eat lunch with on my work from home days.
• We have a peaceful home.
• We have some fun things coming up before the end of the year.
Oh, I have a HUGE one: 1. I had my diagnostic mammogram yesterday. It was prompted by a knot I felt in my breast, the one that got bruised real bad in last year's car wreck. Turns out this is what they call an "oil cyst," and it was caused by the bruising I suffered in the wreck; they say it's harmless. Neither breast has any cancer. I can't tell you how relieved I am. Thank You, God, for answered prayers!
2. The yard man, after many weeks of delay, FINALLY came over and took a chain and pulled the dead tree down. He sawed the trunk into sections and then left. I've been able to take my big clippers (bought from a thrift store for $5, and the manager sharpened them for me), cut off the branches and leaves and put them in the yard waste trash cans. The sections of trunk may be more difficult to dispose of, but the guy promises to come haul them off. (Yeah, right. He never said when.) I'll drag the smaller logs out front and hope that a passer-by will pick them up for firewood.
3. I didn't have to work yesterday so I got to go to "Faith and Fiction" (church book club). We had a terrific discussion about the assigned chapters of "To Kill A Mockingbird." Next week, we'll finish the book.
4. The handyman is suffering no ill effects, except for soreness, from those 5 bee stings he suffered the other day. He didn't answer his phone this past weekend and I thought OMG, he's in the hospital with a heart attack from those stings. But no, he'd left his cell phone in his car. Whew!
5. My new refrigerator is running OK. Ditto, the air conditioner: we got up to over 100 degrees yesterday and today is forecast to be even hotter.
Oh, I just went into the front yard -- and I have a number 6:
6. My "Mister Lincoln" rose has a nice red bloom on it! Even in this summer heat! Another rose bush has one little bitty bloom and another bud. Can't wait to show my friend M., who helped me plant them!
@Fru-gal Lisa, Such great news that your mammogram showed the knot is harmless. Glad you got it checked out so now you won't have to worry about it.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
You must be so relieved that your cyst is benign. That is a scary thing to go through. I’m so happy for you that all is well.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Thank God for the good news on your mammogram! Hopefully they put a marker in near the cyst so that know for future already know about.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I remember the relief I felt when I had a cyst that turned out to be benign--especially since my family has a long history of breast cancer. I rejoice with you in your result.
YAYYYYY for a clear mammogram!
@Kristen, and waiting for the day that a less punitive/demeaning test replaces mammograms OR they start testing for penile/testicular cancer using the same equipment. Thoroughly heartened for the women doing testing to use menstrual blood to check for cervical cancer instead of the - well I'd best not type my description of the current punitive test.
Thankful that I get to see not only my two children, but our goddaughter as well this weekend! So looking forward to having all "my kids" home for a bit.
Thankful for the chance to see a local baseball game with friends and that the weather was perfect!
Thankful for good healthcare and that it doesn't take forever to get an appointment. I know that both are a tremendous blessing.
Thankful for my job and coworkers. I work in a very positive environment. I try not to ever take it for granted.
Thankful that our area is also experiencing a slight cool-down. Summer is so much more enjoyable if you can be outside.
Thankful that our daughter, son in law and granddaughter are safe with us on the beach in NC. We didn't seem to get hit too bad like other places and the storm really didn't hit until last night. The house we rented seems pretty steady and is not right on the beach.
Thankful that we are making the best of our vacation and getting to enjoy family. And no fighting!!!! or disagreements between mother and daughter. LOL
Haha, yay for no fighting!
I'm thankful our daughter can stop taking blood pressure medicine. She has always been incredibly healthy but had high blood pressure after her c-section.
I'm thankful we live close to both our kids, and that I was able to help out with the grandbaby while our SIL was on business travel. Nana loves getting baby snuggles.
I'm thankful that the realtor had photographs done yesterday so we can finally put the house on the market. We have worked so hard for the last two months moving and getting the house ready to sell. I'm looking forward to the day it sells, and we can be mortgage free again.
I'm thankful for my 2010 Honda Pilot. She has been a workhorse for us, making countless trips moving stuff to the new house. Unfortunately, her check engine light came on over the weekend. Fingers crossed it will turn out to be nothing major at the service call on Monday.
I'm thankful that our son is excited about going back to school and working towards becoming an art teacher. He struggles with anxiety and depression so it's wonderful to see him happy about what his future holds.
@Beverly, I share your hope that your Pilot's check engine light indicates nothing major. I took my Element (also class of 2010) to my shop yesterday for state inspection, oil change, and 29-point check. Unfortunately, it needed a set of new rear struts before it would pass inspection--and although the exhaust system passed the inspection, the shop folks tell me it's rusting out and should be replaced in the near future. (Thank you [NOT!], Central NY winters and salty roads.) So I'm awaiting a quote on that.
Ah, well, my good juicy rationalizations are (1) that I'm still spending less than the payments for a new car would be, and (2) they don't make them like the Element any more. (In fact, they don't make the Element any more, period.)
@Beverly, may it just be an oxygen sensor (what mine was in one of the Accords I owned). Wasn't an expensive fix, relatively speaking. All repairs/maintenance cost money.
Thankful for our churches 3 day revival this week. Such a refreshing, joyous, hopeful, encouraging time with the Lord.
Thankful for a new gym and new workouts that are allowing me to exercise without being in pain and exhausted afterwards. Am I sore? Of course I am but that is normal when lifting heavy weights. I have my eyes set on my goal and I am going to get there.
Thankful that I get to parent alongside my very best friend. It is not for the faint of heart and I am so grateful to have his support as we walk this journey.
Thankful this week especially for coffee and a daily energy drink as we have had late nights at church and I have needed a little extra boost to make it through.
Thankful for my Pastor and his family who love our congregation so very well. During all the chaos of our world right now I am especially grateful for their leadership and genuine love for us.
Thankful for a lovely lunch with friends this week, that my big super-fluffy kitty is so nice about me grooming her, that our mostly grown puppy is feeling better after a few days of being "off" due to the heat -- she's little with a dark coat and will not eat if she's too hot. Especially for DH, who has been straightening out all the details involved in changing banks, with Original Bank being not helpful. I don't think it's deliberate of Original Bank so much as trying to run the company with not enough employees who also are mostly recent hires and do not know the nitty-gritty.
@Ruby, changing banks is pain - even IF the "new" bank account has been in place for a while. While the place to change ACH/auto debit payments was buried on a few of the sites, I've got them all changed. Waiting for the last direct deposit (social security) to hit the new bank then it is adios. Their "exciting new" products are nothing but a fee grab from working folks.
How cute picture of Chaquita peeking around corner of bathroom. 🙂
Thankful the rain has finally stopped for awhile. The ground is so saturated that in the middle of first day the rain water started coming up through the sump pump hole in the basement where the water goes out. Rain barrels are overflowing & could have filled again easily. But the rain did good job of cleaning vehicles that needed a bath. 😉
Thankful for 2 Ace hardware coupons that allowed me to get few more metal garden trellises, main open area completely covered.
Thankful for teen who almost completed firewood shed (need to get roof put on) who also landscaped around it so it looks nice. 🙂
Thankful for neighbor with listening ear to share own experience that went through similar situations happening.
Thankful turned air conditioner off & opened windows & doors few days while rained.
Thankful election night recieving of ballots went smoothly (my first time experience in that role) & I was home by midnight. 🙂
Have a great weekend everyone! 🙂
Kristen, I’m so happy for your new work life, and its benefits, and your (newish) happy home life, including freedom and how good rest and homely activities feel after three shifts.
I am thankful for the peacefulness in our family, in our home, and in this lovely town.
Thankful for a recent 9-day visit from DS1 and his dear family, including our active 5-year-old granddaughter. She is creative to the max, painting and drawing, making up games with us involving her stuffies and dolls—even doing my PT exercises with me. She’s never ever bored and everything interests her. We have a fabulous lay ground in town that includes a three-story castle, a library with daily kid activities, and lots of hiking trails, and she is there for all of them.
The chaos was such fun and the peacefulness now that they had to leave is also to be savored.
Thankful that three health scans all turned out to be nothing burgers but also the attentiveness of the doctors in this area. My PCP called me herself with results, and the hospital called me immediately after my mammogram to bring me back for a deeper check (just dense tissue).
There is something very comforting about homely activities as a mode of resting!
I understand your hoodie thing... I'm feeling kind of tired of wearing shorts and am looking forward to wearing jeans! We head to Michigan's U.P. next week and I should definitely be able to get some jeans/hoodie time in up there.
This week I'm thankful:
* for our church community. We have a family that we're friends with and they are going through something Very Hard. And though we can't change the circumstances, I'm glad that they don't have to be alone.
* that my 2-week babysitting job is going so well. The kids aren't tired of each other yet and are still having a blast! Also, she likes to eat the dill pickles that I canned and that makes me happy.
* that I was able to get some calendaring/planning done this morning. I didn't get quite as much accomplished as I'd hoped, but I made a good dent and lifts a little weight.
* that our forecast for next week looks fantastic! Since we tent camp, having nice weather is a huge plus.
* for time with a friend on Saturday. She currently lives in France and I don't get to see her often, but we got to be together for about an hour on Saturday! It was so nice!!
I'm thankful for a cool front coming tomorrow which should keep temperatures below 100 for the weekend.
I'm also thankful for grocery delivery and online shopping in general. I've never enjoyed shopping, and it is so nice to be able to get it done in the comfort of my home and have things brought to my door.
And I'm thankful that my cat's annual checkup is over and it went reasonably well. We had to medicate him because he gets so stressed at the vet's.
@Elizabeth M, Oh, I forgot to mention - I'm so thankful for all the green outside. Often, by this time in the summer, most of the grass and other plants have turned brown and crispy in the heat, but this year we've had slightly cooler temps and enough rain to keep things growing and even a few flowers blooming.
Another thanks for cooler weather. I was miserable last week, and felt so completely unproductive. We have window a/c units in all the bedrooms so thankfully we were fine at night, but we have one a/c unit cooling our entire first floor and it was not up for handling last week's heat and humidity. By Sunday we were at 86 degrees in our living room. This week feels amazing.
I have two weeks of summer left until in-service, and I'm thankful that I like my job:
- We have great students and I'm really excited about getting to spend my days with them again.
- We have wonderful parents. I needed to get seven parents to sign up to spend three days volunteering as full-time unpaid kitchen help at a camp we take the 7-12 grade students to week before school starts, and within 24 hours I had 6 of the slots filled. This is my first year coordinating the camp, and I really thought recruiting volunteers would be much harder!
- I have fantastic colleagues who I genuinely enjoy spending time with.
I'm thankful for my kids getting older. I know some people are really wistful about the baby stage, but that has never been me. My youngest was 10 this summer, and along with her I have two teens and a 20 year old. I love it. This week we've been having a lot of fun just hanging out the watching the Olympics together. And I'm so thankful that they enjoy each other's company so much.
I am thankful for hand-me-down baby clothes (even when I feel like I'm drowning in them).
I am thankful for my morning coffee.
I am thankful for a day in the 90s! (It feels good after the hundreds.)
I am thankful that our kid is healthy. (I don't love it when she is sick but it also really complicates our lives when she can't go to daycare.)
1. We have had the past seven weeks with my sister in law and her kids living nearby. My kids had a cousin summer, with a few years worth of quality time crammed in. They move to England in a couple days and we will miss them so much.
2. We should be missing the worst of Hurricane Debby, although there will be some local flooding probably.
3. We had a wonderful vacation which was a welcome break from some difficult issues going on
4. Two different neighbors took care of our animals and pool while we were away which was very generous of them
5. Coffee, my own bed, showers, my husband and kids
Working lots of hours is exhausting. Kudos to you for getting a workout in on top of work!
Thankful:
-a place that is my own without a single memory in it involving a person who hurt me deeply.
-Wi-Fi. For a few days I had no contact with the outside world from my house because I had no cell reception and I couldn’t get Wi-Fi running because I couldn’t troubleshoot anything without leaving the house. So much better now.
-my dog. He’s too old to hear well enough to be a protector but he still makes me feel safe. And loved.
-coffee. Tired Kaitlin has successfully staged a coup.
@Kaitlin, glad to hear good new for you. 🙂 Keep looking forward & enjoy making your new place your new home with good memories to come.
You're doing great!
I'm a little late to the main party today, but I've been commenting steadily as I read others' TTs.
Even though the Element needed some work yesterday and is going to need more (see my comment to @Beverly above), I'm thankful for a 15-year-old vehicle that's worth the work, and for a garage I trust.
I'm also thankful for my neighbor on the other side of my next-door neighbor (NDN), who is definitely mellowing with age. He has the reputation of being a complete crabcake, which, to be honest, was accurate for a long time. But I think his opinion of me began to improve a few years ago, and we're quite good friends today. He's taken to bringing me all his and his partner's deposit bottles and cans (one reason for my recent high totals!); they were the hosts of the excellent New Year's and 4th of July parties that NDN and I have attended this year; and he just brought me three ears of sweet corn.
And I'm thankful for the recent rain, even though the remnants of Debby may bring us a lot more this weekend than we actually need. I enjoy my garden a lot more when I don't have to spend 30-60 minutes a day watering it.
An abbreviated list of thankfulness:
1. A safe drive to Oregon
2. Audio books to keep me alert on long drives
3. My sister
4. Her family
5. Her friends
6. The beauty and comfortable temperatures in Oregon
This week, I'm thankful...
* you're having nice weather. SE Texas is trying to kill me;
* that the A/C in my office was repaired (even if I actually need a sweater sometimes);
* that my supervisor freed up some funds to reduce my teaching load;
* that I have two incredible assistants who help me get stuff done and manage my ADHD;
* the cute little puppy friend who comes to work and gives us cuddles when we feel like screaming.
Thankful for:
* an amazing staycation (vacation at home) with hubby while the kids are at camp for 6 days. I love spending time with him, it's always a treat
* my Buy Nothing group. It's very active, I get to give a lot and receive some, which makes me feel good (loving a good decluttering!)
* My little dog seems ok. She ate a chicken bone 9 days ago (by mistake) and we were monitoring since but she was A-ok. Except yesterday she had bloody stools, which made me panic. I called the vet, who said to switch her to a bland diet and keep an eye. And since then she's been fine, ouff!!
* Camp just group emailed us about kids in my child group having lice. Nooooooo!!!! But they said if they didn't email us directly before, then it's because they didn't find lice in my child hairs. I am so very much hoping for this to be true and stay true. Been there and very much done with that, please!
* a cosy, quiet, big enought house in a safe neighborhood. And with a paid mortage too.
My fall decluttering has started. Yayyyy
Love your grandkitty!
1. Thankful to be alive. Thirty six years ago today, when I was 36 so half a lifetime ago, I was having experimental open heart surgery to try and correct my birth defect. My brother had already died of the defect, so I had no choice but I was still terrified. In fact, I was so hysterical that they offered to cancel the surgery until I was calmer. However, luckily for me, my insurance was going to change at the end of August so I needed to do the surgery before that. Even after the only somewhat successful surgery, they told me I would be lucky to be alive at 50 and here I am 72!
2. Thankful for the husband, who did not sign on for what turned out to be a chronically ill wife, yet still has never for one moment acted like I am a burden. After 41 years he still goes out of his way to try and make my life better, more comfortable, easier...This is going to sound weird but he had cancer before I got so ill and I am glad I had the opportunity to care for him so it has not all been one-sided. (Although it took five surgeries, he ended up cured while I only got somewhat better.)
3. Thankful for some nighttime finally returning.
4. Thankful that not one appliance has fallen apart this week. Everything has worked like it is supposed to.
5. Thankful for fresh garden produce. Our season is so short that the appearance of a large tomato is sort of a miracle.
@Lindsey, Your thankfulness for these extra years was very touching and honest. What a blessing.
Many have expressed their thankfulness for coffee. I like coffee, but black tea is my choice over that. I usually have chai latte, which I'm very thankful for but after sleeping long I needed to start with harder stuff. And with sugar, thank you.
Thankful my Molly dog is giving me a reprieve. Sunday morning when I came home from work, I let her out and I went to check the garden, letting her wander about the yard. I'm not sure what happened, but she came to me unable to bear weight on her front left paw. We had some dog pain medicine left from December so she took that and after a couple of hours of trying to get comfortable and even crying (I sat w her on the floor until my left leg went to sleep) she slept good for at least three hours and awoke and was able bear weight. A sucker for "snake oil," we are trying the mushroom concoction touted by many starting this morning. She has a very large lipoma on her left side and on one of her legs plus, I think we're dealing w fleas. She also takes Cosequin which has been very helpful in keeping her mobile. Y'all love your cats, I like cats that approach me first. But, I love my dog.
Thankful for the cool down in weather and the shower we had this day. I really need to mow and this gave me a good excuse to not. Also means I don't have to water my friend's flowers and veggies (while she's at her Dad's) and my own.
Thankful for fresh produce and herbs. I used to be a two to three tomato a day consumer when they are in season, but GERD put a slowdown to that. I do relish them when I can. I planted cucumber seeds second week in June and already harvested some last week!. This particular variety is absent the burping quality most have and I'm thankful for that. I also like embellishing everyday items with the fresh herbs-parsley, basil, chives and a little lovage.
I am thankful that one out of two dresses I ordered actually fits and looks nice. The other one has a neckline that will fit around my waist. At 4' 10" it is difficult for me to find a dress that works w/o remaking or hemming.
I'm always so grateful for the weekly reminders to think about our blessings, thank you for keeping this a part of your blog! I don't always comment, but I always read and enjoy hearing the good others are finding.
In no particular order, some things I'm grateful for:
1. Cooler days too. Our downstairs AC went out yesterday and it's completely bearable in the house. It should be fixed soon, but even a day or two earlier would have been really hard.
2. For how my oldest son stepped up in beautiful ways this summer when we needed him. He was already planning a pretty "adult" summer: working 40+ hours a week interning, doing freelance handyman job nights and weekends, and taking an extra summer class (Physics 2 for engineers, Oy!). But instead, when my FIL died unexpectedly several weeks ago, he moved straight in with my MIL at her request. No hesitation, he even volunteered. His summer evenings and weekends were spent with her and homework, instead of with friends. He did it cheerfully and graciously. It's definitely not the way most college guys would want spend tbeir break, but he did it well and is now back at college on a volunteer team helping with new student orientation.
3. For the church merger that happened by unanimous vote. My in-laws' church was tiny and mostly physically existing by their giving and efforts. My MIL decided to move to another local body that can support her well in her bereavement. This has domino-ed into her former church merging with a fledgling congregation that needs a bigger space. It's a win everywhere, and we're all excited to see it happen. She's flourishing in her new church too, and it's so exciting to see her joy there.
4. That the financial affairs of my in-laws are slowly creeping into a better place, thanks to the super hard work of my husband and sons. They're liquidating over 30 acres of old heavy equipment to meet debts and gets bills down closer to my MIL's monthly income, and it truly feels like eating an elephant one bite at a time. But, they're getting closer day by day.
5. That I was able to tackle some much-needed paperwork for my kids' schooling today, and things look better than I thought grade-wise. We homeschool and processing final grades went on the back burner after my FIL's injury and death. I'm tight on checking their work as we go and don't let them proceed to new concepts with anything much lower than a B just because I know they can totally do it, but I was thinking some final grades would be a bit lower. It's nice to be wrong about that. Their summer classes turned into mechanic 101 as they've been getting old machinery running again to sell. Whew!
6. My daughter loves to read a create. Without her brothers here a lot this summer, she's been a bit at loose ends, but she's been having fun reading and trying out different crafts and such. That wouldn't have been possible last summer.
Thankful for a work supplied lunch yesterday, any time I don't have to cook I am thankful for.
For a lunch meeting that made me laugh for an hour. My boss says such off the wall remarks and is very funny.
For the mosquito control truck who drove in our back yard to treat. We can actually go outside now.
Hoping for strength to deal with annoying comments my brother makes in texts. Got to buy a cup of strength.
For my grands. I am so lucky they are in my life. I wish I could see them more.