Thankful Thursday | no weekends for meeee!
This week, I am thankful:
that I got a better clinical assignment for semester 2
Last semester I asked for weekdays, daytime hours, and a location near to my house, and I received evenings and weekends, at the furthest location from my house.
NUTS.
But this semester, I'm not on weekends! I'm so super happy about that.
Also, I got into the hospital that is nearest to my house; it's only a 10-minute drive.
I do have the 1:00-8:30 pm hours, which is not as good as the 7:00 am-3:30 pm hours, but that's ok. I got ⅔ of the things I asked for!
There's another time slot that ends at 11:30 pm and I am just grateful I didn't end up in that one. I know sometimes as a nurse I will have to work odd hours, but whenever I don't have to be up until 11:30 pm, I am appreciative.
that my mammogram is done for another year
I had my yearly mammogram yesterday and I am grateful it's over, with a clear report.
I know a mammogram isn't the worst medical procedure ever, but it is pretty uncomfortable, and I am always happy to have it in my rearview mirror.
for these lovely little pink flowers
I think this is a kind of sedum that I got from Aldi eons ago. It's impossible to kill, so it did survive for years at my other house, where it lived in rather dark conditions.
But now that it's here with me in my sunny front window, it's been regularly blooming, and I love to see it!
for the wonderful things about walking in the cold
Ok, yes, the scenery IS better when things are green.
But there are lovely things about winter walking too.
Like:
- there are no spider webs to walk through
- it's not hot and sticky and miserable out
- the paths are never overgrown
- more sunlight gets through to the woods
- there are no bugs to bite me
As I was walking yesterday in 30-degree weather, I was actually thinking about how much I prefer this over walking in July.
Mainly it's because of this: you can never get undressed enough to compensate for July weather, but you CAN bundle up enough to compensate for January weather.
for 1,168 miles of walking in 2023
I came very, very close to averaging 100 miles/month, and I am endlessly grateful for a body healthy enough to get outside for all those miles.
for two snuggly cats
Even though our two cats are vastly different from each other, they do both like to cuddle.
This one just happens to get up to more mischief in between cuddle sessions.
Sometimes when Lisey calls here she says, "How many crimes has Chiquita committed today?"
And there is always something to report.
Something I'm looking forward to this year
Reader Rose suggested that this could be a fun thing to add to a Thankful Thursday post right about now, so here's one from me....I'm looking forward to my clinical labor and delivery rotation. BABIES!!!
And I am also looking forward to wrapping up the getting-unmarried process this year.
As always I like to see pictures of your lovely cats, lovely outdoors and lovely plants and/or funghi. And it is wonderful that your house is an environment that will make blossom all that lives in it 🙂
This week I am thankful for waterwork engineering, that keeps our feet dry and our tapwater clean. I had an opportunity of visiting a century old pumping station recently. It is still "under steam" if the water is too high for the modern stations to handle the water levels. I was impressed with the engines and really felt the safer for knowing it is still in working order. Quite a big part of our country is below sea level and or land reclaimed from the sea, so waterworks remain as important now as they were (in a different shape) in the middle ages.
And looking forward: we had an unseasonable temperature around Christmas but for the coming week frost has been forecasted. I cannot not help but feel excited! With a bit of luck, there will be outdoor skating for those that like to. I am more of a swimmer and the moment when you have to break the ice to go for your morning dip is magical. I look forward to hearing the wind sing below the ice, like the year before last.
@JNL, I have never heard wind sing below the ice, but it sounds lovely.
@JNL, I'm always reminded by your reports what an amazing nation The Netherlands is.
@JNL, you BREAK ICE TO SWIM?? Holy moly, you are tough. Really tough. Wow.
Haha, I noticed that too. Ice on the water would be a big nope for me!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
We are talking milimeters of ice only. Not like the viral clip from people in Finland. Now that IS tough!
@JNL, I love winter swimming too!
Thankful for the quiet stillness of dawn. Thankful for a healthy body and a rational mind. Looking forward to a new chapter focused on my own well being.
I see you have a hair tie ready for your kitty. Our cat's toy basket always has hair ties in it, they steal them from me.
I'm thankful that school is back in session, I missed my students.
Thankful for the winter break, allowing me to sleep in and wake up slowly for days.
Thankful that, while unexpected expenses came up, I could cover them with savings.
@MommaJo, my Betty likes to play floor hockey with my ponytail holders, so it seems to be a widespread cat habit.
Oh man, we have to be very careful with hair ties around Shelley because she eats them and then throws them up.
I don't know why she hasn't learned her lesson yet!
Although Chiquita commits many cat crimes, I will say that she does not eat ponytail holders at least. lol
@MommaJo, Just fyi…our vet said he has done multiple surgeries on cats that eat the rubber hair ties. ….
I am thankful that this is only a three day week for me. As expected, my students are struggling with adjusting back to the routine and so am I. I'm so tired, but tomorrow is Friday, and that is my absolute favorite day, so I'm looking forward to it.
@Becca, I love it when the first week back is a short week. I will be thankful for a three day week when my kids go back to school next week!
So many miles! That’s awesome! I really enjoy walking in winter. There is something delightful about the crunchy ground and brisk air that is magical. And if it’s cold and dry enough the sun in winter is extra special.
I’m thankful for a forest at my workplace that allows me to walk (usually only 5-10 minutes) on my “lunch break.” Even the short minutes outside help my nervous system reset. Sometimes my mornings are really crazy.
I’m thankful for being able to connect with each of my kids in a meaningful and laughter-filled way. The sudden transition of working full time as the family broke apart resulted in lots of stress and confusion and general edginess of everyone. Christmas break was a good reset and though we’ve only been back to the grind for 2 days, we’ve managed to have lots of fun in it.
I’m thankful for a terribly inefficient gas fireplace because it heats my living room (which only has electric) really well and for cheaper.
I’m super thankful for a close college friend reaching out to me after not having had any interactions with her for a few years. I had thought that this friendship (and others) were gone forever, but she reached out and we’ve picked up where we left off. What a sweet gift. And it’s giving me the courage to try to pick up where I left off with other friendships I neglected for too long.
@Kaitlin, This is a wonderfully upbeat post. Made me smile. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Aww, I love all of this for you!!
@Kaitlin, Love that your family was able to make those good memories and have that reset! That's great!!
@Kaitlin, Your post made my day. I hope, for 2024, continuing good things to come your way!
I am thankful that skin on the roof of the mouth regrows quickly. I burned it on Monday on a very hot potato and by Tuesday it did not hurt to eat though it still has not completely grown back.
I am thankful that I'll see a yoga buddy this morning. The class we both attended was cancelled about four months ago and we haven't seen each other since then. We will both try out a new Pilates class this morning. I am thankful for a body that allows me to attend things like that and the time and money to be able to access them.
I am thankful for Freecycle which helps me get no longer needed/wanted items out of the house.
I am thankful that this is a more regularly scheduled week. Friends that were busy with holiday visits/events are once again available.
Thankfuls:
--That my brother and one of his daughters made it here for a quick visit. He just planned this last week, and then he got sick and we got put under a winter storm warning for today. But he got better in time to travel yesterday, and the snow is supposed to just be during the day today. They came from Phoenix, and are very excited to play in the snow today.
--That the weather was lovely yesterday, which gave us time to get everything cleaned up and under cover before the storm today. And allowed my niece to ride the horse when she got here in the late afternoon. She was really looking forward to that, so I'm glad we got to do that before the snow.
--That my eldest son's feet have held up to working and walking a few miles of fence line every day this week. The recovery from his first foot surgery was much more difficult than we were expecting, and I know we all had moments of wondering if it was worth it. But he could not have been this active in September before his first surgery, so it was worth it. The other foot will be operated on in February, and we're all going to be glad when this is over with.
--For my husband's work cutting firewood for a couple of days, so we can keep the woodstove going all day.
--And for having older kids who can help. They're not old enough for the chainsaw work yet, but the oldest two can split, all of them can stack, and my youngest is the kindling gatherer. I HATE trying to start the woodstove in the morning without split wood and kindling, but after the effort of actually cutting the wood, my husband doesn't like to do the splitting and picking up of kindling. And now he doesn't have to, and I still have split wood and kindling. Hooray for my work crew. 🙂
@kristin @ going country,
Foot surgeries are the worst and seem to take forever to heal. You do have to think about how many moving parts a foot has and the amount of weight they handle with each step. Hubs broke his heel they a year later had to have surgery which wasn't fun at all.
This week I'm thankful:
*that I only have to finish 5 homeschool portfolios today instead of 6 because my high school senior is 18 already.
*that my oldest got back to school safely and that he was invited to friends' house for supper last night because the cafeteria isn't open yet.
*that our friend from church got home from his long hospital stay.
*for a big pot of vegetable beef soup. I think it is tied for my favorite meal ever; the other one is eggs, bacon, and toast from homemade bread.
*for the new-to-us piano. It sounds so much better, and the kids practice nearly all day.
This year I am looking forward to my 2nd son's graduation. I love homeschooling my children, but it is a LOT of work. Somehow homeschooling 5 seems a lot more manageable than 6.
Know what's gonna be weird this spring? I don't have to do ANY portfolios! It'll be my first spring since 2004 that I haven't had to do a report because I am done homeschooling.
You will be there one day!
@Kristen, I am hoping my children homeschool their children and live close by because I love the educating part! I could help them with the fun stuff and have none of the paper work to do 🙂
Today, I'm thankful that (a) today's somewhat heavier than expected snow shower did not prevent me from getting out for my usual morning walk (there's no ice underneath the snow); and (b) I have enough in the freezer and pantry (more than enough, actually) to get me through a January low-spend challenge.
And I'm looking forward to taking two trips in 2024, God willin' and the creek don't rise: (a) another early spring trip to see JASNA BFF in NYC; and (b) my first JASNA Annual General Meeting (North American conference) in 8 years, in October!!!
@A. Marie, your second (b) ... I'm hoping this year to get to a retreat with people I just never see, ever, and I so feel you on this!
@A. Marie, I just looked online, and it looks like Baltimore will be an upcoming one-- maybe I"ll have to join before then since it's not too far away for me!
I am thankful for the Holiday week. I went and visited my sister and her husband in Santa Fe and got there and back without any issues. And it was great to see them. I came home and still had some vacation/me time left.
I'm also thankful that my husband survived with the cat and dog. Both of them egg each other on, so sometimes it gets a little crazy!
Thankful that my daughter contacted us to meet for a New Year's Eve hike. We drove 2 hours and she drove an hour to a canal trail with a tunnel. I was with the littles, so we did 3 miles, while the adults and dog did 4. I really didn't think my granddaughter would make it that far, but she did. And it was nice to see them for a short while.
Thankful on Tuesday that I was not feeling 100% after work and went to bed at 7:30. I slept till 6:45 and it felt wonderful. Plus I couldn't seem to warm up, so I put on lots of covers and that made me feel really good and comfy.
Also thankful on Tuesday that my husband's procedure went well and we finally found out why he had his pain from 2 years ago. We were right to let him retire and leave his ultra-stressful job in Florida and move to WV. Now he can be on the mend, finally!
My something to look forward too this year is just to remind myself that life is good. I have family, friends, health and finally have money to save so I am good for now. I do remember the days of living paycheck to paycheck and robbing Peter to pay Paul, so have some fun money is a relief. I hope everyone can find the peace they need this year.
I'm weird, but I love the way trees look in the wintertime when they have lost all their leaves. There is something magical to me about the intricacy branches aren't evident when there are leaves.
I'm thankful that our new washing machine was delivered on time yesterday.
I'm thankful that when DH unhooked the old washer, and the cold-water valve broke that it did not leak or require us to shut off the water at the street.
I'm thankful for our plumber is coming this morning it fix the broken valve. DH has been so sick in the last six months, and I didn't want to add trying to fix it to his plate.
I'm thankful that my 2010 Pilot is still running fine even at 130,000 miles.
I'm thankful for good friends who are hosting a baby shower for our daughter.
@Beverly, your Pilot is a baby. My 1996 Accord has 249,000 miles. Keep on driving that baby!
@Beverly, My 2000 Acura EL is still being driven by a student in my neighborhood. I decided to try to unload it in 2019 when the brakes needed attention. I sold it for $1500 Canadian as is (tires alone were worth that), the student spent $1000 for the car to be safety checked and was thrilled to have a running car with no rust. Five years later still going strong!
I am thankful for a family that comes together in hard times. For my parents influence and guidance that lets us all love each other without bitterness or resentment in the same hard times.
I am thankful for the promise that a new year brings to build on previous years in an ever adapting and changing way. We all have potential for growth and to change that which is not serving us. Slow and steady. We are worth the effort.
I am thankful for community and friendships. That my body is healthy enough to move. That I enjoy running exponentially more than I ever thought I would.
I am thankful that I have had the guidance to let grief (and other emotions) move through you. To allow it its space to take up what it needs in a moment, but to not cling to it. To coexist as best as one can. That I have had things and people in my life that I loved enough to grieve them.
@ElbowGrease, this is lovely. I read it several times.
@ElbowGrease, you have imparted a lot of good wisdom here. Thank you!
@ElbowGrease, I keep coming back to this post; such words of wisdom, beautifully written. May you have an amazing new year
Thankful for: reconnecting with a dear pal yesterday. A cozy interior to relax in. Beauty all around me.
Looking forward to: beach days. I've missed you, beach! Meeting my new puppy. Having everything sorted out in my home and life! Well, I can dream, right? More energy, less pain.
I'm thankful for:
*a surprise gift in my mailbox yesterday. It was a hard day, so finding a thoughtful little gift from my oldest helped a lot.
*my sister, who sent me a hand-me-down, wonderfully warm, long winter coat. I want to walk more, and this coat will encourage that.
*online portals where I can get my lab results quickly.
*my med school daughter who has the knowledge to go over any atypical results and reassure me that they're not a problem. Now if my doctor would just get back to me....
*my child with special needs helped with a concession stand to raise money for the Special Olympics team. My son and I went to help, and the coach encouraged me to bring her, that she'd be fine,and she did a great job. She handed our orders, carried food to customers, and bossed the adults around when they weren't paying attention to what was needed. Her helicopter mom needs reminding sometimes about how much she can do.
My earlier attempt to comment seemed to disappear; please delete this if the first one came through.
Yay for a better clinical assignment! And yay for babies. Is labor and delivery the whole semester?
This year holds a lot of unknowns, although I suppose that is true of every year. My husband's job is rather up in the air at the moment so that is a little unnerving. However, still much to be thankful for.
-today is our 11th anniversary. It's not a perfect marriage but we keep choosing each other through the less than ideal times, as well as the happy times
-our middle daughter turned five yesterday. She is a gift.
- I asked for recessed lighting in the kitchen for Christmas, and it is amazing. So much light. No more guessing and squinting to see if the ground beef is still pink or not!!
- I'm thankful that I have some skills and ways to earn money if I should need to seek employment
- a sweet and generous friend opens her home once a month for a group of people to gather, and it was so nice to have that time together to sip coffee, munch donuts, and chat while all the kids play
Sadly, L&D is just a few weeks out of the semester. The rest is more med-surg type of work, I think. But that's ok...at least I get to do some L&D!
That plant blooming at your new place seems like something of a metaphor...
This week I have been consciously trying to redirect my thoughts to the thankful and here's what I have:
*thankful for my clean and soft and cozy bed. This morning I was remembering all the beds I have had in all the bedrooms I have lived in, and this one is a ten!
*thankful for my crock pot which was the source of a great pot of frugal and delicious navy beans and ham last night.
*I said no to a glass of wine and yes to a 30 minute walk yesterday under gloomy skies while listening to a podcast and I am thankful that I have the strength of mind to move forward in life exactly as I wish.
*Thankful for four days off each week, even though I love my job. I get much done around the the house!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, I had the same thought about Kristen's plant. And good for you for taking that walk!
Funny enough, I made an Instagram reel about how my jade plant has grown like crazy since I moved here, and I ended that reel with the phrase, "Maybe it's a metaphor." 🙂
Thankful that at this moment my immediate family all seems very healthy!
Thankful my younger son is enjoying his new job, and so thankful he is out of his last very toxic work environment.
This week I'm thankful that I work from home mostly. It's been a busy week and very cold week...working in my comfy clothes beats getting out in the cold and traffic ALL DAY LONG!
and I'm thankful for the wildlife that comes to our yard. We have 3 deer that visit each evening, a group of raccoons, a couple foxes, etc. Our cat is thankful for them also...he believes they come just for him to stalk them.
Woo-hoo to no late night shifts!
1. I'm thankful for safe travel for family who went various places over the holidays.
2. I'm thankful for warm merino socks on raw, chilly, wet days. (Bee, how's the weather over there?)
3. I'm thankful that there is a good possibility of my sister and I taking a few days to stay on Amelia Island, a place I have loved to visit ever since my husband rented the upstairs in an old "painted lady" house in Fernandina Beach for 9 years while working in Jax.
4. I'm thankful for the vegetable plants I have growing in my beds.
5. I'm thankful for the fact that I can do so much more outside now, in the winter, than I can in the summer.
I am thankful that my return to work after a bit of time off over the holidays has been pleasant and un-stressful, and for a job that is actually fun and interesting much of the time, with great colleagues all of the time!
In the UK that plant is called a Flaming Katie x
Thankful this week for:
1. Neighbors who put up & took down our outdoor Christmas lights. Our grandchildren were here for a few days at Christmas & we wanted the outside of our home to be as merry & bright as the inside.
2. Also thankful for our next door neighbor who makes sure our driveway & sidewalk is cleared of snow each winter. We supply the snow blower & he provides the labor on his property & ours.
3. Thankful that I was able to get in quickly at my local orthopedic urgent care. My arthritic knee has been slowly getting more painful over the last 4 weeks, despite using an orthopedic knee brace. I was able to get a cortisone shot & the pain is significantly less now.
4. Friends & acquaintances met through the Silver Sneakers exercise programs at my local YMCA & Senior Center. We visit before/after class & they are lovely people.
5. For having all my needs met. So many people everywhere have difficulty getting the basics of living, let alone anything extra. I have been blessed beyond measure in all areas of my life.
I’m thankful for a multitude of little blessings like this beautiful sunny, cool morning and my sweet rescue pup. But most of all, I am grateful for a new year. Although I realize January 4th isn’t really that different from December 28th, I am happy that 2023 has finally come to an end!
Fortunately nothing happened in 2023 that would negatively alter the course of my life, but it was the most aggravating year. It was filled with an abundance of little frustrations and difficulties that kept me in a bit of a tail spin. I felt like I could not catch my breath as I jumped from one problem to the next.
Good-bye and good riddance 2023! I’m looking forward to 2024. I love the feeling that the new year brings a fresh start. I love pushing the past into the past. I am thankful to have this period of looking forward with optimism — to see the endless possibilities. I’m even thankful for my 4 page to-do list.
May this be the happiest, most prosperous, and healthiest year for all of us.
You really have been through it in 2023! I hope 2024 has many less aggravations.
@Bee, little frustrations, piling up, are almost worse than one large-ish one (depending on what it is, of course) because you can’t rein them all in and deal.
I am looking forward to retiring after 30 years of teaching. I will have to work elsewhere and have no plan. I am also looking forward to a NON TEACHING job hunt. June 7 retirement day!
@Stephanie, I'm in no way projecting on your interests or situation, but when I was in junior high, my sweet and wonderful kindergarten classroom aide retired, and she became a greeter at Walmart just two miles from our elementary school. I swear she liked that job as much as kindergarten because she saw so many former students. And we liked it, too. 🙂 Congratulations on your next phase!
@Stephanie, I know of professionals who have gone to work for Trader Joe's after retiring. Lots of interaction with the public and cross training so no one is stuck in any one position.
Hooray for you all the high notes you hit — and for giving us the opportunity to chime with our notes of gratitude!
Today I am grateful for the Lord’s provision, and asking Him to meet the needs of seasoned citizens who are caring for, or being cared for —and those have prepared themselves— as you are doing, FG — to be His hands and feet.
xoxoxox
I am thankful I made the drive one and half hours away down and back for two medical appointments AFTER working all night. The driving in that town is a little hectic. We had a hoar frost that turned into foggy mist with the sun and was rather difficult on the eyes. If I'd just had to look at it without driving, I would have found it very beautiful and mystical. Driving home in the early afternoon was much easier, being overcast at the start and driving out of that into sunshine as I got home.
Thankful my mammogram is out of the way, too. I was late getting there and apologetic but the parking garage to this facility was a madhouse. Plus I had pulled off on the wrong exit when I clearly knew better and had to make a rather long adjustment. The Radiology Tech was so wonderful and the testing was only uncomfortable for a few seconds. I'm always glad that there are no pictures of the contortions my face makes while other regions are being contorted.
Second appointment was in the same building and I paid my last visit to my gyn-oncology Nurse Practitioner. She actually took time to visit with me about a myriad of things. There is nothing like having someone just sit and listen. I can write in bullet points, but my conversation is all over the place. I am very thankful I do not have to return.
I am very thankful for the good afternoon and night's rest after the short trip.
I am thankful I can finally get the laundry done today. After being sick and working some and OOT yesterday there is quite a pile. As I've said in the past, I actually like going to the laundromat and doing it all at once. May not be so after this.
This year I'm looking forward to getting rid of extra stuff. Things I don't use. I'm not likely to minimize, I find too much joy in pretty or unusual things and have thematic vignettes and collections.
I am also hoping to make my "landscape" a little more cohesive and English cottage garden like with native and pollinator friendly plantings and maintaining my "Natural Habitat Status."
When I saw the pink Kalanchoe in bloom and what you said about it, I agreed with JNL that you are in an environment to thrive and bloom!
Ohhh, Kalanchoe! That's right! I forgot the name.
Excellent medical personnel. Kristen, you are joining an august profession.
Came down with a bad cold the day after my crew of two DSs and their families left after a wonderful 9-day holiday visit. Over the weekend it grew to agonizing pain that was so bad that on New Year's Day my dear husband called Urgent Care, never expecting them to be open. They were. They nebulized me, took x-rays, sent me home with 3 scripts for a severe bronchial infection and orders to call my GP next day to loop them in.
So professional. So there for you! You will be a star, Kristen, among a group of people who care.
Aww, I am so sorry you got sick but I am delighted that good people were there to take care of you. Yay!
@Erika JS, that infection sounds awful. I'm glad you were in good hands.
@Kristen and A.Marie, Thank you so much. I’m still not quite upright but I knew my Thankfulness Thursday post was written!
Thankful Kristen is “regularly blooming” along with her beautiful and regularly blooming sedum! ;-}
Thankful for loving, supportive and thoughtful friends, family and neighbors. A double trifecta!
Thankful for excellent health care (and insurance to at least help pay for it).
Thankful for the kennel where I (very infrequently) board and (very frequently) groom my dog and the excellent care they take of her.
Thankful for the “We Love You!” discount the kennel put on my bill.
Thankful my best friend got her hip replacement surgery moved up to this coming Monday because she has been in a great deal of pain.
Thankful for a brand new year and some much needed time to reflect on what I would like to see changed from last year. It’s a long list…
Thankful -
My hip has calmed down a little & I only have 4.5 weeks before replacement.
Wonderful friends of many years who understand this season of life.
My daughters!
Good lawyers who can assist when you need to plan for the next few years.
The weather has been very nice for December so our shouse building is moving along.
That God provides, maybe not the way we anticipated, but He is always there.
@Jennifer G,
Hoping your upcoming hip surgery goes well. I'm 8 weeks out from my knee replacement, and the relief from constant pain is a blessing.
I’m thankful for the extra long winter break with my kids. I love having them around during the day, plus I don’t have to get up early, pack lunches, carpool, or deal with homework.
Congratulations on getting the clinicals you wanted! I have a friend whose first rotation was on a medical floor, and we all gently remind her of how much fun it was by celebrating "Suppository Tuesday." When do classes begin again?
I am thankful to have the day off from the retail job (school is not yet back in session), and to be pain free. Yesterday, I woke up and had a terrible pain in my lower back, radiating down to my hip. So bad that it hurt to walk or stand. Had to call in sick and go to the walk-in clinic. While there, I also told 'em about my upper respiratory crud that seemingly won't go away. The verdict: sciatica for the backside and who-knows-what for my sinuses. They tested me for flu and Covid and I currently don't have either, but the doc said I might have had one or both before. I'm taking Rx pain pills and antibiotics and feel OK today. Even though the upper respiratory symptoms are still there.
That I found a favorite old book of mine and read it on the couch last night, with the gas fireplace a-blazing. Ah! Very nice. Also nice is having my eyes "fixed" -- no more cataracts and no more nearsightedness.
Someone asked me about the ex-roommate, and it seems like another lifetime when she was here causing problems -- it's now in the far-distant past. After she moved out, I asked her to please not contact me anymore and she hasn't. But all those problems she caused are over, except for replacing the flooring. Very thankful for the calm and quiet, and the fact there are no more of her roaches crawling around now that I bug-bombed the house several times.
I'm already getting a lot of substitute teacher bookings, including a week-long gig as a second-grade teacher. (Pray it goes well; I usually teach older kids.)
I'm looking forward to a very prosperous and happy 2024, with many new, happy experiences and old and new friends to fill up my days. May this be the first of the BEST of all our lives!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I think substitute teachers are crazy-brave! Wow, I am full of admiration for you.
What is the favorite old book that you reread?
1. A stronger, healthier body that is carrying me through workouts so much better than it did one year ago.
2. Puzzles, coffee and lazy days in lounge wear. We all need these from time to time and I am working on not feeling guilty when I take time to rest my body and mind intentionally.
3. List making, planning, organizing, cleaning. Odd I know, but these things make my mind feel less cluttered and I find it easier to be productive.
4. Homemade chai tea. So good and such a comfort.
5. Snuggles with my kiddo and my pups. Soup for dinner. Hot showers and flannel pjs.
@Angie, your list totally resonates with me. I have a hard time not feeling guilty about intentional relaxation. For Christmas i was given a jar full of spices/ingredients for homemade chai.
That's funny that Lisey asks how many crimes has Chaiquita committed. Teen says something similar about one (older) rescue dogs who seems to think is in charge. 🙂
Thankful for-----
●HEAT & house. As I write this it is 27 degrees with feels like of 19. We are only expected to get up to few more degrees for high & it is not windy yet. I miss July weather.
●Internet & texting. I reached out/text to My 31 consultant who is about 1 hour away about my ordering issue. She tried but no help. I tried multiple times with same result. Finally after few days of leaving alone, I tried on last time & success! Yeah! My order accepted. My replacement Mother's day gift (dads partner wanted mine as gift) & items for upcoming event.
●really like informed delivery option from USPS that lets me know what incoming mail & packages arriving. I can track packages & see where are at (particular day)
●for sleeping in (still this week)...teen enjoying sleeping 12 hours while on break. So must be growing or fighting sickness/cold. Glad teen (& myself) can get extra rest to recharge before next week change into busier schedules
●looking forward to learning more about (upcoming) elections voting process. In my state new 2024 law allows 16 to register to vote, even though national voting age is 18. There is discussion about pushing hard to get this process into schools to get more registered to vote since schools already have all information/copies of documents needed. If have voter registration card then can vote (no matter age) & can not ask for ID (that is national law). With early elections (& absentee voting) upcoming I can see possible questions with this. Will find out (some) answers next week.
Thankful List:
* For a nice vacation around Christmas. Getting away from work was nice.
* For being home again.
* While I had to pay my property taxes already this year, at least I didn't have to pay a mortgage payment. Also my taxes are less than what a mortgage payment was.
* For not being sick. So many people I know had various illnesses (covid, flu, food poisoning etc.) and I've been fine.
What I look forward to in 2024:
* Getting to watch some of my backlog of TV shows and movies. My wife and I have started a new thing where we alternate movie picks.
* Maybe taking a few trips and spending good family time.
* Hopefully getting a new bed as mine is not so great. Still, it's lasted a long time.
I'm happy your divorce drama will be legally concluded.
I am ever so thankful today for the all-clear on a retake mammogram, which wound up being delayed for two and a half months after first one due to the imaging center falling victim to computer hacking. The ensuing mess was so not fun for anyone.
Thankful this week went better than last week.
That I only have to work tomorrow and have been off since the 22nd.
We have had black ice 2 days in a row, thankful I did not need to be on the roads.
The weather has been cold but not windy. So the dogs loved going to the park everyday.
Thankful my whole family was able to get together for Christmas. It is just so weird that 99% of my life Christmas was at my parents, this year I hosted, everything went ok, I was not exhausted afterward.
I have much to be grateful for. This is a health addition. After 18 months of a breast cancer journey, the oncologist gave me the all clear. She said to go live my life to the fullest and any way I want. What joy and relief.
I also got clearance from two other doctors yesterday. That's a total of eight doctors in the last couple of months. I've been very sick and never thought I'd see this day. Thank you, God
All of you have also helped carry me through.
All the best to everyone in the year ahead.
@Kathy M, Woohoo! Great to hear, Kathy!
@Kathy M, Congratulations!!
@Kathy M,
What wonderful thanksgivings you have! Congratulations!
@Kathy M, So happy to hear your news! That’s quite a thing to go through and an achievement when it’s over—and successfully.
@Kathy M, that's excellent news! What a relief for you and your loved ones.
"And there is always something to report." That's so funny! Chiquita is keeping it fun. 😉
This week I'm thankful:
* that the ground is semi-frozen. It's much nicer to play fetch with my dog in 27 degrees with a frozen ground than 39 degrees and a muddy ground. School days with short sunlight hours make it hard to get him the exercise he needs, so I'm really thankful for the frozen ground today!
* that my dentist was able to get me in this morning. I had to reschedule my appointment and that originally put me 3 months out, but someone cancelled and I was able to move into their spot.
* for the way Christmas break let me get ahead with some planning and prep work that will make the next 4 months a little smoother and less stressful.
* that school is back in session. We had a great Christmas break, but the timing of having my older two kids go back to school yesterday was just right.
* for my son's team placement for basketball. (It's his first year playing and he's 7, so this has nothing to do with skill-level.) His coach is a newer friend of mine that I'm really enjoying getting to know and God seems to be crossing our paths more frequently these days. There are a number of teams he could have been on, but I'm glad he's where he's at.
I don't know that I have one thing that I'm necessarily really looking forward to for this year. This will be a year of some change for us and I don't know exactly what that looks like yet, but I'm at peace with the not-knowing, and that's kind of a big deal since I love to know the plan. I'm holding my hands open and waiting. So I guess that at the moment I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out and what God has in store for us.
That flowering plant is lovely, and I agree with Gina who called it a metaphor.
I am thankful that all three of our adult children were here for Christmas, and that they all have full and busy lives which they have now returned to; thankful to be planning a belated anniversary celebration with my husband and that we have the resources for this; thankful that my least committed student let me know this morning that she would not be taking lessons moving forward (this is a good thing for both of us and I wish her well); thankful that my husband now wants to reduce calorie and carb consumption which makes it easier for me to do the same; and thankful for a slow return to professional obligations after a very full December.
Looking forward to opportunities to see family this year!
I am thankful that I had winter break from work for 5 days. Having a hard time finding much to look forward to in 2024 just yet.
I’m thankful for lots this week:
1. I reached a milestone weight loss of 40 lbs yesterday. I am thankful that I gave Noom a try last year as it has fit in my life so well and has been effective for me. I have another 40 lbs to go to meet my goal, and I am very thankful to be starting the year off with confidence I’ll get there.
2. I’m thankful my family has been supportive of my weight loss efforts, particularly my husband.
3. I’m thankful for the 9 days I had my family all together over the holidays. 2 of my kids are launched into adult life, and I’m struggling with them no longer having longer school breaks. I’m trying to look on the bright side here.
4. I’m thankful to have the means to visit my kids in the coming year to offset some of the face time we’ll miss due to the above.
5. I’m thankful for all the internet content creators like Kristen, Anne from Modern Mrs Darcy and all the recipe developers I follow. I enjoy the content and really appreciate the resources provided.
@Susan, congrats on the 1/2-way there weight loss.
I quit listening to Anne Bogel because it was making my To-Be-Read list way too long. She sure is fun, but I finally had to put on the brakes. (Can't spend my whole life living virtually, as fun as it is!)
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, she can certainly explode your TBR list!
I love hiking/walking, but July is my least favorite month to go out due to the reasons that you listed. Speaking of hiking, thankful for the Camelbak hydration pack that my thoughtful husband got me for Christmas .... for silly kitten antics (LOVE the "crimes committed" comment from Lisey--yup, so accurate), for time to do fun family activities, for a good visit with my in-laws last weekend, and for safe driving during that visit.
1. Had a lovely walk with friends, showing them my beautiful foothill area, getting to know them better.
2. The church fall and Christmas decorations are cleared of excess, organized and put away. . . so thankful for a crew that works together on the messes
3. Because there are 5 Tuesdays in January, I got an extra week at home before resuming drawing lessons down the hill.
4. Rain! We got RAIN! More is coming. . .!!
Looking forward in 2024 to preparing for a solo art show in the fall and to visiting 2 dear friends in Texas (each in a different Ft. Worth suburb) in April.
So happy for your good clinical news!! Free weekends (well,homework,study etc.. but no clinicals..!)
Starting the new year off quietly,simple meals, naps, just savoring the slow time. Thankful I can do that!!
Late to the party today... but I'll join in the thankfulness. I really enjoy reading everyone's uplifting comments! Happy for you, Kristen, on getting most of your hopes with re to clinicals!
-thankful for pleasant and supportive coworkers (11 hr push today in a aerospace lab setting, and all great attitudes)
-thankful for responsible teens (x3) that can handle more independence on days when I'm less available.
-thankful for leftovers in the fridge, so I didn't have to make dinner tonight.
-thankful that I work not-quite-full-time which allows for margin / sanity most days.
-thankful for this blog and the positivity that Kristen / this community exudes.
-oh, and thankful for the recent book recommendation from a fellow reader here (book was Unfollow, by Megan Phelps-Roper). It was well written and inspiring! Similar genre to Educated.
Chiquita has chosen a life of crime! lols
I saw on the news the UK is working on a fingerprint test for breast cancer. Guess someone finally woke up - likely a female. Except for STI testing, males get to skate when it comes to invasive, painful medical tests.
I'm thankful for:
- À Christmas gift card we used tonight to eat out.
- À Nice hôtel on our road trip
Looking forward to:
- I have something g heavy that's been weighing on me. I've been convicted of not trusting God with it. So I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out. Every time I start worrying about it, I want to stop and pray about it and I'm praying that God give us peace while we wait for knowing the next steps
I am thankful that it rained over night. Here in Arizona, that's not a common thing. I miss the greenery of the Illinois forests I grew up in. I'm thankful for a short week of work (2 mondays off in a row, woot!).
I am thankful that my husband is feeling better from some ungodly virus going around.
I am not thankful that I am now coming down with it.
I’m thankful for a warm toasty home with a pellet stove in the living room and a heat pump in the kitchen/dining room. We have used a minimal amount of heating oil, and that makes me happy!
I’m thankful that my daughter and family are now settled into their new home. They have moved so many times in the last 4 years and I hope they get to stay where they are for a while.
I’m thankful for hot tea and Ricola cough drops and Puffs ultra soft tissues. I will survive.
Thankful to be retired now and I don’t have to go out when it’s snowing.
Thankful for a nice long visit with a dear friend last Sunday. We both needed it, we live 15 miles apart but you would think we live on different continents! My goal for 2024 is to connect with friends! Near and far. It’s good for my heart.
I'm thankful to have gone home for Christmas and had a good break from work. I started a new job last year and it's been good but intense, so I really appreciated having a holiday and seeing my family.
I'm looking forward to my trip to New York in a few weeks!
I can feel your hopefulness in the coming year, and it is making me feel hopeful too! Thank you.
Today I am thankful:
-That most of my symptoms from the worst of my chemo are resolved. I no longer have days where it is hard to get out of bed all day. The nausea is finally gone. The overwhelm is lightening. The brain fog is lifting. My hair is even starting to grow back. I have two more rounds of the easier chemo, and I am counting down the days.
-For my providers. I've got a team of doctors and nurses that have been truly wonderful. I am very happy with my plan of care. I am also blown away by how many of these good folks have taken the time to get to know me and seem to genuinely care about me. It has given me a whole new appreciation for the medical profession.
-For access to medical leave. Despite my leave I signed up for a workshop that is taking place over this week and next. I just couldn't help myself. It's been great, but also feels like a lot. Navigating my doctor's appointments and chemo and getting to the sessions on time. My brain is in overdrive. I'm so glad that I am not usually balancing work and healing.
-For the winter weather. Chemo has thrown me into early menopause, and the hot flashes are like nothing I have ever experienced. We are trying different medicines to get me some relief. But sheesh. It is nothing like being able to step out into 40 degree weather when your body is suddenly an oven.
-For school starting back on Monday. I love my kids. I love being with my kids. But I also sure do love the quiet of the daytime while they are off doing their thing so that I can do my thing.
-For an email that might mean I am being considered for a dream job. It's still a long shot, but a long shot is still a shot.
This year I am looking forward to being cancer free and getting back to living life.
Getting unmarried. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t drag you down this coming semester and you get your equitable fair share. Also that with it comes the beginning of a new type of happiness in whatever form that may be.
Super thankful for a lovely ski trip that we made the best of, despite some unpredictability. Skiing is one of those strange sports that needs quite a bit of luck & good weather: good snow (but not too much, particularly when you're driving), clear skies but hopefully no ice, cold enough to not melt the snow, but not too cold. Anyway, Lake Tahoe didn't have nearly enough snow, and we'd planned to do ski in/out at Heavenly, but they are having a disastrously bad season, and their gondola isn't running. So, we made the best of it, and drove to a further out resort each day. It wasn't perfect, but endlessly grateful for time with the teens, doing something fun as a family. We capped off our three evenings with fun family dinners, and left early enough this morning (as planned) to avoid a big snow storm. They definitely need the snow, so glad it's coming, and we're home without having to drive through it!
For the year ahead, looking forward to being done with college applications & selections for one child, and also hoping to see my MIL again!