Thankful Thursday | not a juror yet
This week, I am thankful:
that my jury duty got officially postponed!
I submitted the paperwork they asked for, and I got a letter saying I am officially excused until next June. Whew.
I am very grateful I don't have to deal with this until after nursing school.
that I passed all my competency skills
I thought for sure I had accidentally skipped over one of my safety med checks, but apparently, I didn't (or they gave me grace!) because I passed all my skills on the first try.
So now I am completely past all the high-stakes stuff and can move on to the more normal assignments and exams.
that I got a good cantaloupe
Remember how I made it through a rather flavorless one recently?
Well, my Hungry Harvest box sent me a very delicious cantaloupe last week, so that has compensated nicely for the boring one I bought before (which was not from Hungry Harvest).
that the first day of mental health clinicals went better than I expected
I went into this rotation mainly feeling worried that I was ill-equipped to be helpful to these patients. But the first day went a lot more smoothly than I imagined it would, and I am thankful.
Also I am grateful that the patients there were so willing to talk to me, since I am just a student!
for the lovely weather this week
YOU GUYS. Some cool, dry air moved in and oh my word, I am so happy about it!
My windows are open, it's been down to the 60s at nighttime, and I am a happy camper.
It will get humid again sometime this month I know, but for now, I am soaking in the lovely air. Ahhhhhhh.
that the yellow jacket didn't sting me
I walked to school earlier this week, and on my way back, a yellow jacket landed on my hand.
Did I scream? MAYBE.
I am just a little traumatized from the horrors of my previous few yellow jacket stings.
Luckily, no one else was around to hear me scream. 😉
for sunrises and sunsets
When it's nice weather out, I like to chase the sun!
I got to see the sun set last night at a park.
And I saw it rise out across the water (obviously at a different spot!) this morning.
Yay!
that I'm still finding time to exercise during school
Yesterday I had mental health clinicals for the first part of the day, and the start time is early enough to preclude any pre-clinical exercising! Then I came home and did paperwork.
And then I headed out for a walk in the woods.
Today I have labs at school until 3:00 pm, but I did roll out of bed this morning in time to get in a three-mile walk to go see the sunrise.
And I will probably get in a weights workout after labs are over today.
I prefer to get all my exercising done first thing in the morning, but as long as I am flexible in my thinking about when it can get done, I think I can keep this up even with the different-every-week schedule of nursing school.
The cantaloupe conundrum is real!! I no longer trust myself to pick out one!! So glad you got a good one. I continue to admire your nursing school journey. Happy for the future patients you will bless!!
@Plaidkaren,
I pick cantaloupes by smelling the skin. No fragrance, no flavor. This usually works.
@Cynthia, I do this too.
@Cynthia, yep. Smells like nothing, tastes like nothing.
Thankful, as Kristen is, for the current spell of cool, dry weather. (Unfortunately, we're predicted to get another drown-out on Saturday, but I'm planning for that.)
Thankful for being on the cusp between summer and fall produce seasons. I'm off to the Thursday farmers' market at the Regional Market as soon as I finish this.
And thankful, as I so often am, for my friend Mr. Fix-It and for my yard guy/snowblowing wizard, hereafter to be called "King James." Mr. Fix-It performed yet another miracle on my garage door opener yesterday; King James came by to mow the lawn while Mr. Fix-It was here, and I discovered that they know each other slightly; and, at my invitation, they both took enough tools out of the donation pile in the garage that I can probably skip a run to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore this fall!
This week I am mostly thankful that I PASSED MY MATH EXAM. That takes care of my math pre-requisite, so no math class for me! Next I'm going take the Bio proficiency exam; this could be harder (most definitely will be harder) but if I can manage it that will mean I can take Chem (due to getting the math prereq out of the way) and Pharmacology next term with my son, so we can study together!
YAYYY! I'm cheering for you!
@Karen A., Hooray! Such a time and money saver.
@Karen A., Wow! How wonderful!
@kristin@going country, Indeed! The proficiency tests are free (thanks to a grant the college gets), and even better, I got a B! I "only" needed a C to pass, but a B is better for my GPA.
@Karen A.,
Congrats on passing the math exam! Hoping the Bio proficiency test goes well, too.
@Karen A.,
Well done. Woot! Woot!
Thank you for the pretty sunrise and sunset pictures.
1. I am thankful for the life of my first cousin who just died and who was the self-appointed cousin-information-hub starting after the loss of our parents' generation. If it wasn't for him, the cousins would have so easily lost touch, since we now live from coast to coast and north border to south border. He was the third oldest of my paternal cousins and I'm one of the younger cousins, so I've known him all my life.
Folks, I'm trying not to be down on Thankful Thursday, but I've lost my husband, 2 long-time brothers-in-law and a first cousin in six months. However, I can still be thankful for having had them in my life, and it helps a little.
2. On that note, I am truly thankful for the pamphlets on living through grief that are being sent to me by my Stephen Minister. It's a small series of pamphlets designed to walk one through the grief process over time, and I got the first one recently. It was really, really good and I am looking forward to the next one even as I review this one again upon this latest death.
3. On a happier note, I am grateful for the fun visit I had with my sister. She is back home but we are planning more adventures.
4. I am thankful that if my phone just had to fall out of my back jeans pocket (how?) at a restaurant, it was at the one where my teen granddaughter works. She found it in the booth seat as she was wiping off our table and called my sister's phone to tell us she had it. When I got it back, my phone's photos included a short series of hilarious funny face selfies she had taken and waited for me to find.
5. I am thankful for slightly cooler weather. It's not autumn weather yet, but the humid 95-98F temps of this weekend have dropped to a more bearable level. It's not time to open my windows yet, but it gives me hope that the day will come, hopefully sooner than it did last year.
@JD, You have been remarkably upbeat in your comments here, but I know that's not indicative of your real-life experience. Praying you will find peace in your grief sooner rather than later.
@JD, I'm so sorry for all the losses you have recently had. That's a lot.
Aww, JD, that is so so much loss in these last six months. And it is 100% ok to acknowledge that here.
As I always say, there is room for both. Life has a lot of pain, and it also has a lot of joys. To be truthful and honest is to acknowledge the co-existence of those things.
Sending you so much love as you work through the grief.
@JD,
I didn’t realize how many losses you’ve endured and in such a short time. Thinking of you with love. I know from your attitude in general that you oriented positively and I hope that will help you through the grief. Most of all, take care of yourself.
@JD,
Wishing you strength in your losses - hugs!
@JD, I'm glad you've been able to enjoy some moments of fun and enjoyment in the midst of your very heavy 6 months - I know that kind of attitude takes cultivation and energy (at least for me), so that makes your thankfulness even more meaningful.
@JD,
I’m so, so sorry for your losses.
Kathy
@JD, So Sorry for your loss(es). <3 Cousins are like bonus fun siblings. How wonderful & kind of your cousin stepping up & taking over the family update communications. Hopefully another cousin will be willing to step up to fill in that role.
And how comforting to know that you have a minister that has (physical) resources available to help you through this grief process.
May your heart be filled with love of the memories of your loved ones who are no longer here with you. <3
@JD, that's a lot of hard stuff. Thank you for showing us how to find little pieces of gratitude in difficult seasons.
@JD, I'm so sorry for what has become your "quadruple whammy" of loss this year. But bless that granddaughter of yours, both for finding your phone and for doing her best to make her grandmother laugh. And bless you and keep you as you make your way through all of this.
@JD, Your perspective on all the downs you've experienced is so positive, I wish I had the power to reframe negatives as well as you do! Here's wishing you more ups than downs in your future!
@JD,
My thoughts are with you. Wishing you peace.
@JD, I'm so sorry for your losses.
@JD, I had no idea you were living with all this loss in six months. It is remarkable that you can still find things to be thankful for, in the face of such sorrow. I am sorry you have been experiencing all this.
@JD,
You have had so much happen in such a short time, but have managed to keep going, and finding gratitude and joy in spite of it all. I hope the grief pamphlets continue to help as you find your way forward. My teenage son leaves me funny selfies on my phone all the time, but it never fails to make me laugh....your granddaughter wanted to make you smile, too. Hugs to you.
@JD, I feel deeply sad that you have lost so many loved ones in such a short time. I’m sorry for your losses. I’m praying you have peace and comfort as you navigate all of this grief.
That's key with exercise and making time to do it in busy periods where schedules are regularly changing: take the opportunity, even if it's not your ideal time or there isn't very long. Better a 30 min jog than a 30 min not-jog, is my attitude!
@Caro,
Agreed. And my PT mentioned that I could split up my sets of resistance exercises, which was a lightbulb to getting them all in each day.
I dislike exercising after the morning, too, but I'm sometimes surprised by how good I feel running at different times of day. As long as it's not too hot, of course. 🙂
--Like you, I am so thankful for cooler weather so I can sleep better. Also, the slightly shorter days help with that.
--For all the sunflowers that are lining the roads this time of year. It's been a good year for them, and it's so cheery seeing thousands of sunflowers on my long drives.
--For the flowers in my garden. I can't spend a lot of time and effort on flowers because I only have so much of each, and I focus on vegetables. However, one son's teacher sent home zinnias last year for Mother's Day and I got a packet of wildflower seeds during Teacher Appreciation week in the spring, so now I have zinnias and cosmos with no effort by me (other than watering, but that's not too hard since I put the flowers right in with my vegetables).
--That my youngest son's new teacher seems unfazed by the fact that he wants to move all. the. time. His last teacher was pretty old-school and didn't really like kids standing or moving around the classroom, so it's nice that this teacher understands his need to be physically engaged in order to be mentally focused. As long as it's not too distracting to the rest of the class, of course.
--For my daughter's good friend, and the opportunity to easily have her come play after school. They're a year apart in age, which means they're not in the same class this year. This has been hard for my daughter, but it worked out that her friend can just come home with us any school day and her mom picks her up a couple of hours later on her way past from picking up friend's brother from football practice. This has made both girls very happy.
Agreed on the heat! This is why I don't mind so much doing afternoon exercising during the school year; the afternoon weather is still tolerable as compared to July.
@kristin@going country,
You might want to get a 504 plan for your son if being allowed to move helps him learn. Have it writing for future reference if needed. It's not a guarantee that everything will work smoothly ( case in point, my high school) , but it gives a starting point.
@mbmom11,
My high schooler, I meant. One of the reasons why I'm not writing anything thankful today!
Maybe next week.
It’s been a rough few months. I often feel like I’m on a roller coaster. One day I am traveling along smoothly enjoying the ride and the next day, I’m plummeting 10 stories with my heart in my stomach. Such is life and this too shall pass — I hope. I’m hoping that these few moments of reflection buoy my spirit.
I am thankful for my beautiful granddaughter who turns one this weekend. Of course, my son and DIL are having a big party, because that is what my son does. I am looking forward to this.
I am thankful that my daughter is feeling well enough to travel after her surgery in July. She will be joining us for birthday festivities.
My husband had a high-stress job for years, but I always had a lot of flexibility. That meant that the bulk of life duties fell on me. I managed the money, our meals, the kids, the animals, and household. Over the last couple of years, DH has been able to take on some of these chores again. I’m thankful for a bit of a reprieve. I was really getting burned out.
I’m thankful for my extended family, who during a recent crisis lent us their support and their love. I’m especially thankful for my sister-in-law. She is such a wonderful friend.
Of course, I’m always thankful for Rescue Pup and Calico Kitty. They bring me much happiness.
Wishing everyone a week filled with blessings.
Sending you love, Bee. You have for sure had a lot of ups and downs, even just from what I know by reading your posts here.
@Bee,
Your strength and endurance during tough times inspires me. Wishing you well.
@Bee, Love from here too, and I hope your granddaughter's party is one big joyful time for you this weekend.
@Bee,
Take care!
@Bee, Hoping your granddaughters birthday is wonderful & you get to enjoy every minute with your family. 🙂
@Bee, I know it's been a rocky year for you thus far. But I wish you all the best for the year to come, and beyond.
@A. Marie, @ Regina, @JNL, @Suz, @Erika JS, @Kristen
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. I am thankful for those today.
Beautiful views make me feel like I am a door opening outwards and letting in air. I love your pictures!
This week I am thankful for good colleagues looking out for each other
For getting some tasks done that were weighing on me
For going to the gym at the beginning of the week, when it was less humid than this week on my usual day
For finding my late mother's favourite apples on a farmer's market. I cannot find them every year and they are not "fashionable". The smell and taste take me back to my childhood
For our choir rehearsals that have resumed. I was flat out after our first rehearsal, large groups of people wear me out more now than when I was younger. I need to get used to them again after summer break.
@JNL, My husband was just reminiscing about a bag of apples he brought home one weekend, many years ago, from a small roadside stand somewhere in rural Virginia. Those apples were SO GOOD but they were not a common type, and we have since forgotten what their name was, so we haven't been able to find them again. They've attained a mythical status for us now (not sure anything would measure up to the dream taste, even if we somehow remembered the name : )
What kind was your mother's favorite apple?
@Suz,
It was James Grieve. She would use it for apple sauce andbeat it just like that!
There is even a Malus association for the preservation of rare types of apples in Nl. They do determination of bring your own apples in our local library once every so many years, in the hopes to find old trees that still bear fruit.
@Suz, many years ago, I used to get apples in rural Virginia and our favorites were Jonagold, Winesap, and Staymen. I recently asked my favorite fruit stand lady to see if she can get me some of those and she didn't recognize any of those apples. There are always new varieties coming on the market. Thankfully, pretty much any fresh apple is going to be good.
@Book Club Elaine, we loved Staymen and Winesap too! And you're right, they'll all be tasty. I would equally enjoy a new discovery.
@JNL, thanks for reminding me of the phantom taste of an unusual variety of apple - I have some road travel coming up; now I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for roadside stands and farmers markets.
@JNL, Now I'm having memories of going to MacQueen's Orchard in Holland, Ohio--we went at least once, if not twice, every fall--and getting the most delicious McIntosh apples. I don't see those in the supermarket, probably because they don't ship well, but they were my favorite--those and Jonathons. And their apple fritters were SO good. Maybe I need to talk DH into a road trip next fall!
@Book Club Elaine,
A local fruit farm (conveniently close to me) raises and sells Jonagold, Winesap, and Stayman apples every year....also Macintosh, Honey Crisp, Jonathan's, sometimes Paula Red (one of my favorites!), and a few more varieties I'm not thinking of right now. Their apple cider, and apple cider donuts, are local favorites - for good reason. 🙂
Yay! for the new semester stuff being out of the way, Kristen.
Yesterday while doing some house cleaning, I thanked Past Me for putting in a year and a half to declutter and organize our house because it's now so easy to clean. There are still a few things that need fine-tuning, but almost everything works much better.
Also thankful that my tiny garden was so abundantly productive, that my sweet older dog has recovered from throwing her back out, for a peaceful neighborhood, and my sweet husband and son.
I'm so thankful for good health.
I'm thankful for cooler weather.
I'm thankful for time with friends.
I'm thankful for this blog, for you Kristen and all of the members.
I'm thankful for another day.
It's been a whirlwind lately. We moved my daughter onto campus (incoming freshman) a week ago today and I am thankful that it went smoothly, or as smoothly as those kinds of events are. Thankful she is making friends. Grateful for the technology that allows us to do video calls with both of our college kids.
My college roommate was visiting my area over the weekend--very grateful for our ongoing friendship, for our nice visit, and for the gorgeous weather.
I feel like the main attributes to helping a person through mental health issues are kindness and empathy. I think you are perfect.
I am thankful it is September, my favorite month. Also looking forward to going to our fair this year, thankful for community.
I sense a theme running through this morning’s posts!
I, too, am extremely thankful for the change in the weather, for overnight lows in the 50s and 60s that cool the whole house and daytime highs in the 80s instead of the 100s. What a difference that makes in every way.
I, too, am thankful for early morning walks through nature (sometimes too much nature depending on what the hawks and coyotes were up to overnight).
Thankful for a super energetic dog who gets me out of the house at (or before) the crack of dawn for a round of frisbee before our very brisk walk.
I, too, have been losing family members over these past several years but am thankful for the next generation that is stepping up to the plate with love and grace and goodwill.
I woke up this morning with this prayer on my lips: thank You for this day. No idea why exactly, maybe one of those dreams that you have just as you wake up? Anyway, I figure I should make this my thankful mantra for the day.
I gained soo many insights reading yesterday’s posts and I’m therefore to Kristen and the whole Commentariat for the great discussion. So often, these kinds of personal comments make me feel less weird ha.
Very thankful for my wonderful family and especially my sweet DH who cares about us all and shows it.
1. Being able to pay credit cards in person.
2. Nice local bank tellers who don't ask impossible questions like the PNC call center operators do. (But I'm still going to close my accounts.)
3. Retirement pensions.
4. Getting substitute teacher jobs.
5. Credit unions!!!!
The weather has been fabulous here as well (PA). September is my favorite month!!
Even when you start working as a nurse, it’s pretty common to get excuses from jury duty because you are “critical need”. That is, unless you would like to serve as a juror!
I’m very thankful that my son seems very happy as he starts his Freshman year of college. He really likes his classes, his professors, his roommate, and he’s finding his niche. It’s only been 3 weeks, but I’m going to remain optimistic.
I love the photos from your walk. And congratulations on passing your clinicals.
I'm grateful for good neighbors who are also good friends.
For the bounty my garden is producing right now.
For my two sweet, funny dogs.
For lovely fall weather.
For the cousins I correspond with.
Have you tried a Hami melon? They are orangish yellow on the inside, and are now my favorite melon. So sweet! They sell them at our Costco. My husband is from Iran & says they have a different name in Iran, but are very popular there. If you get a chance to try one, don't miss it!
I'm SO thankful that DS17 has been engaged in the college application process, and we got two applications completed yesterday, as well as all of the SAT & AP test scores sent to his colleges. We're about a month ahead of where DS18 & I were last year, and it feels so good to feel a little more experienced/qualified this go round.
I've been going to a gym class since I was laid off (~6 months ago) & it's 90% women & for the most part, everyone is very friendly & I'm getting to know some of the other women. It's been lovely.
Still incredibly grateful that I've had this time in my life to creatively ponder next steps & not feel tremendous pressure to job search. I have been job searching, but I have the flexibility to apply for jobs I'm interested in & are different than what I've done before, vs needing to jump straight into something. It's pushed me into new & uncomfortable places (I'm not used to this much self discovery! I like to just get things done & be productive every day!), but I know it's really good for me.
Also so grateful that DS18 & his GF eat dinner with us regularly, and that we had everyone around the table last night, before DS17 left for soccer practice. These days are incredibly fleeting, and I try to appreciate all of them.
Thankful that when my DH is out of town, my kids call to see if I want to have dinner with them. I don't always take them up on this, but I'm thankful they think of me.
Thankful that my dog seems to be feeling better this past week and has a little pep.
Thankful that the pool being built down the road is almost done and the tree trimming by the powerlines is almost done. The noise the past 2 weeks has been about more than I can take! Loud noise makes me anxious, and this has been allll day, for weeks.
I also am thankful for the much cooler temps and less humidity.
Thankful that although some days I wake up feeling like I was hit by a truck (today), that I still have the ability to get up and move and try to move some of the stiffness and pain out. I feel like I have a lot of aches and pains that need to be fixed (need an ankle surgery for a tendon, my shoulder hurts, etc), but because I can't come off the blood thinners at all for now because of my aneurysm/brain stuff, all of these other things are on hold for the past year. Naproxen used to help them, but I can't take the naproxen with the aspirin regimen. So, I just get up and try to keep moving and that helps a lot.
I kind of laugh when you say that you are grateful that patients talk to you because you are only a student. Patients talk to you because you are nice & you take time to listen to them, which us not always the case in many professional settings. And people see that you genuinely care. 🙂
Thankful for the warm weather. <3 This 40s overnight I am not ready for. Another 80s day, but I will be taking many breaks inside because if my allergies.
Thankful for Kleenex with lotion! I got grass mowed yesterday & needless to say I spent a lot time with tissues during & afterwards. At least my nose is not clown red & extremely sore, just light red.
Thankful for our (old) house that keeps us safe from the weather elements (yes allergies) as everyone (including rescue dogs) having allergy problems right now & inside helps make us feel (a little) better. 🙂
Thankful teen is doing well in college class. Encouraging teen to stay longer & get additional work completed as it is available & still coming easily. Amd that high school class is relatively easy, just a little time consuming.
Thankful teen getting more comfortable driving alone. Weather has been good so teen gaining knowledge of different routes easily to memory for if/when weather not good & needs to take slower way to/from destinations.
Thankful for 0% intrest for 1 year on new wheels/rims & tires on teen vehicle. Also got instant $80 saving off wheels/rims & $80 mail in rebate for tires. Which makes tires $10 more per tire than brand of tires currently on vehicle (but don't make anymore--always my luck). After closer inspection I realized better to do all at once & be safe than some here & there which makes me a little nervous as teen new driver & don't want problems with tires in winter months, plus 0% intrest when done all at once helps ease the cost a little.
Thankful my dad & partner/lady friend made it back to Florida safely, even though feeling sick when left. Though concerned that getting worse since arriving home. Neighbor across street was not feeling well either for few weeks while dad here visiting & they spent time together. Covid19 & West Nile virus are surging in Michigan right now, but could be his medical condition (also) so hoping my dad gets to doctor soon if doesn't start to get better soon. Thankful he has good team of doctors that are close by his home that take good care of him.
Thankful for Kristen's blog. As always, a safe place to learn & share with others.
Have a great weekend.
@Regina,
I can relate to the tissues. Big ragweed sufferer here. Late August an all of September are rough for me. And my DH. He wore a mask for mowing two years before the pandemic masks happened. It helps him enormously.
@Regina, my sweet little dachshund who had a huge number of food and environmental allergies was violently allergic to ragweed. The end of summer was so hard on her until we found a veterinary allergist who compounded allergy shots for her. The last two years of her little life were so much more comfortable.
I hear you on the tires. The size my car needs has largely been discontinued -- auto companies have done away with tiny, eco-box cars -- and the last quote I got was shocking.
I'm thankful ...
1) For the extra push from God to give back to others and take care of myself more.
2) That my kids are all uniquely and wonderfully made. They each have interests and talents that are different to each other.
5) Warm snuggles with my kids on the couch in the mornings after they wake up and before they head to school.
4) Nice walk around the neighborhood this morning. Loving the cooler temps.
5) Friendly smiles and hugs from people I know or meet.
—Coffeepot Fire yesterday at 12,700 acres, so I am thankful for the 1400 people working to contain it BUT NOT THANKFUL IT WAS ALLOWED TO GET FROM A SINGLE COLUMN OF SMOKE TO THIS SIZE.
—for 25% containment (yesterday) BUT NOT THANKFUL THAT IT CROSSED THE RIVER AND RACED UP THE BANK TO CROSS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO OUR CABIN COMMUNITY.
(Please excuse me for shouting. This fire situation, 3 out of 5 years now, is so upsetting.)
—for the 2-week use of a continuous glucose monitor to understand what works and what doesn't to keep my blood sugar in the right range (BUT I LOVE FIG NEWTONS—HOW CAN THEY BE SO TERRIBLE?? sigh)
—for the continued tone of civility on this blog, a respite from the contentious internet places, where we can listen and try to understand differing opinions.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Fig Newtons are practically health food, right? Fruit...grain..no chocolate...I loved those as a kid. I, too, can no longer enjoy those; I feel your pain!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, YES YES YES to "for the continued tone of civility on this blog, a respite from the contentious internet places, where we can listen and try to understand differing opinions"!!!!!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I wish you and the other members of your cabin community safety from the fire--and a quick end to the fire!
@Karen A., I don't usually buy Fig Newtons but found them in my neighbor's cabin when we closed it for him and I knew they'd be no good if left there all winter. So, I was thrilled to have them, but now I know they will have to be a v e r y occasional treat. At least dark chocolate doesn't spike my glucose! (That could go on next week's thankfuls.)
@Book Club Elaine, it is a treat to hear what other people think without it devolving into name-calling, a rare thing.
@A. Marie, thank you. You continue to be a voice of reason and kindness on the Commentariat and I appreciate you.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
“Chewy, chewy, rich and gooey inside, Golden flaky tender cakey outside. Put the inside in the outside, is it good? Darn tootin’! Doin’ the big Fig Newton (Here’s the tricky part) The big Fig Newton (One more time) The big Fig Newton!”
My mom made my sister into the Big (sister wasn't) Fig Newton for Halloween.
@Selena,
Oh my gosh, I remember that advertising song! Lol!
I too am thankful for cooler weather.
I am thankful that we live close to DD and get to see darling grandson often. We got to keep him twice over the holiday weekend.
I'm thankful that we finally got the request for repairs form from the buyers and 90% of it can be fixed without a huge price tag. But the buyers want the jets in the almost 40-year-old tub to work. We will have plumber and electrician look at it, but no way can we find parts if they are needed to solve the problem. Also, thankful that while it is a high priority for the buyer, it not working is not going to cause them to back out of the deal.
I'm thankful that our realtor scheduled her handyman to come out tomorrow to give us an estimate for the repairs. We only have 3 weeks to get repairs done and finding someone that can fix it all in that short time frame was stressing me out.
I'm thankful that the seeded yellow watermelon we bought at the farmer's market was delicious. 6-month-old darling grandson got to try some and agreed it was tasty.
I need to work on getting up earlier to see sunrises!
1. I am thankful that I didn't lose stamina after taking a running break. I wasn't able to go running during wisdom teeth recovery so I took about ten days out, but I ran for 25 minutes today. I'm also thankful that I can run for 25 minutes in general!
2. I had two Danish exams last week and am thankful that I passed them both!
3. I am thankful for great weather this week.
4. I am thankful for a phonecall from my friend back home.
5. I am thankful for gaining more confidence this year.
Kristen, you look very angelic with the glory rays on your face.
Thankful for the safe trip, 220 miles round trip yesterday. Came back last night and only saw one deer, a doe, that stayed on her side of the road while I drove past. Thankful to attend an event with some family members. Going back to spend the weekend but my "little" brother won't be able to go with me. I told him today that we will have to get together sometime as I already had a bunch of fun stuff to tell him. We really do have a good time together. I enjoy the rest of my family, too. But the relationship between me, the oldest of six, and my brother, the baby, is pretty special.
Thankful for the good memories of my sister who past five years ago today of ALS, I was a bit in the doldrums last week, but not quite as much today.
Also thankful for the good sleeping weather and balmy days.
Very thankful for oral flea and tick medicine. Molly and I have been fighting the invasion for two weeks, with two baths, essential oil spray, combing, brushing and picking, vacuuming.. One hour after receiving the pill, the fleas were just falling off!
Thankful, that on Tuesday, I was to be able to do some cleaning. I still need some help with a deep clean. This is a case of good enough is good enough for now.
@Chrissy, I forgot to add that for a few years, I felt like I was drawn for jury duty an unusual number of times. I never had to serve because I was in a full time nursing. Each time I remained "in the poo[," the trial was switched to just needing a judge to give the verdict.
School started this week!
We celebrated my parents’ 46th wedding anniversary this past weekend.
Future plans – it’s fun to have something to look forward to.
Cooler weather so I can walk our senior dog.
Our state offers free school breakfast and lunch to all students.
My gratitude: our offer was accepted for a house!! So, so grateful we won't have to secure a rental for the interim of selling our current house and buying another. Since this offer was accepted before we put ours on the market, we'll have enough time to move all the critters in (The cats are already upset that we're moving. Well, the smarter one is. She's shown her distaste by rolling around in the litter box. I tell her, "poop or get off the pot", but she doesn't listen.)
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, Yay! Speaking as someone who's sold a house, packed everything up, moved clear across the country, set up camp in a rental, then bought a house, packed everything up again and moved ... again! I understand your gratitude. Even if the cats don't.
This morning, I am grateful for my successful pack "shake down" in prep for my 14 night through pack at the Tahoe Rim Trail.
I set up my new ultralight tent (11 ozs) using my hiking poles for a pole. It worked well . I learned to put my new blow up pad inside my sleeping bag or I am chasing it every night. Cooking was a breeze with my prepackaged servings and the total weight of the backpack ( 28 pounds) was not over whelming.)
Before I even started this shakedown I was about to be shut down. The campground and the mountain I was all set to do was over run by middle school children. I LOVE that teachers are taking kids out in to real life. I do NOT love to be around them when I am focusing on important tech things for this big adventure. I would end up being their teacher all night ( PTSD from 35 years of teaching.) I had to change plans when Tahoe is usually booked for months in advanced.
I did the most logical things and teared up with a pity party for about an hour.
Next, I remembered I have a Reserve.gov app. I found one of the few campground in Tahoe basin available. I booked it, reorganized and started my day again.
I realized from this that I am anxious and fearful about this adventure but I am also very capable.
@mary ann, Whew! I think I speak (post) for everyone when I say we are all incredibly impressed with this undertaking and eagerly anticipating your report(s).
@mary ann, this is a Big Dang Deal! Are you going solo??
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I am going with my Sister in Law and Brother in Law. My college buddy is doing us the last five nights.
@mary ann,
This is quite exciting! Please keep us in the loop.
Well done, Kristen on passing your competency exams! Even when you feel very prepared, you just never know what they are going to throw at you.
On this thankful Thursday, I am grateful for my three wonderful children, who are all traveling or flying home for my mother’s funeral services tomorrow. We don’t get to see them often enough, and to have them together is a rare treat for which I am grateful.
I am thankful for having had my mother for 88 years. The last three years were not the best, but still, she was here and she recognized us and her grandchildren too.
I’m beyond grateful that we were able to keep her right in her home where she wanted to be until she passed. My sister and I are both nurses and we were very comfortable in that role. We knew for sure she was going to a far better place and would finally be at peace with dad beside her.
I am SO happy that the weather for the past couple of weeks has been so comfortable with blue skies, active birds in the feeders, and just so much peace and beauty around us. It has been a less than stellar summer, so I welcome the next season.
I pass my sympathies to all on this page who have lost loved ones this past year. There seems to have been a lot of deaths amongst us, and I hope that all of you are coping as best you can.
@Brenda D, I'm so sorry about your mother--but glad that you and your sister were able to care for her at home, and that your family will all be gathering for the funeral.
@Brenda D, What a blessing and comfort you and your sister were to your mother. I'm sorry for your loss, and glad you'll have your family around you soon.
@Brenda D,
I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. You and your sister did a kind, loving thing, taking care of her in her home as she wanted....not an easy task. I know you will enjoy having your family around you.
@Brenda D, understand about last years not being the best and dad took care of my mom at home until she passed. Took too long for her to pass IMHO but I'd never say that to dad.
If not relation passing, it is long time friends. One thing when expected, another when not expected. But life goes on and we remember the good times.
1. Well folks, the hubby has cancer. Again. My top item of thankfulness is that the PET scan he had reveals no other cancer in his body except for what appears to be a contained melanoma on his left ear. I am praising God that his lymph nodes, sinuses, brain, lungs, etc. are all cancer free.
2. Cooler, dryer air. Definitely not in the high 90's and that is so lovely. Fall is coming and I am so excited for it.
3. People to help through the heaviness of life like my therapist, my church family, friends that are family, good doctors, the lady that comes to clean my house once a month, a good friend who cares for my son when we need a break. Being a full time caretaker to an elderly person with advancing dementia is tough but then add caring for a husband with cancer and raising an 8 yr old and the volume gets turned up really quickly. And don't forget your full time job, keeping the house clean, everyone fed, paying the bills, etc... Without the angels mentioned above I would drown.
4. All the little things that bring me joy in the midst of chaos like an open sunroof, coffee, the antics of my two boxers, fall candles, clean laundry fresh out of the dryer, hot baths, prayer, and good country music. I could go on and on here but these are just some that are refreshing me lately.
5. When we go through hard things it sometimes reveals to us things/relationships that we might have thought were an issue, but we disregarded them as being something else because we were focused elsewhere or just chalked it up to one excuse or another. There is truly nothing like a rough time to reveal who can be counted upon, trusted, leaned on and is truly there for you in life. For this clear view and perspective I am so very grateful.
@Angie,
I hope your husband has a kind medical team that cures him swiftly!
@Angie, thankfulness in the middle of life circumstances not of our choosing is a truly wonderful thing. I'm thankful that you wrote this!
@Angie, I'm sorry about your DH's cancer recurrence, but thank goodness it's contained to that one area.
And your #5 really rang a bell with me. Although my DH's and my true friends were there for us throughout DH's Alzheimer's ordeal, a fair number of other folks weren't. When the going gets tough, those who are tough alongside you get going--and the others head for the hills. 🙁
@Angie,
My prayers are with you and your family for this to be over for good now. Your plate is extra full. So sorry and so glad of your support people. You’re clearly strong. You got this.
@Angie, Glad that your husband's cancer is so contained. My husband had cancer years ago and still has periodic screenings and I always come away amazed at the various scanning devices, especially those PET scans.
@A. Marie,
You stated that perfectly. My sister in law (my DH's sister) ran for the hills (she and her husband) when my mother in law started having problems with advancing dementia. Four+ years later, my hubby wants nothing to do with her.
@Angie,
Oh my....I'm sorry to hear of your DH's cancer, but glad it's contained, and hoping there is an "easy" treatment (or treatment plan) for it.
You have a lot on your plate, and I totally agree that times like this let you know who's really there for you. Reach out to those people and take care of yourself as best you can.
@A. Marie, my mother's sister-in -laws were very good about staying in touch during her long struggle with dementia, but all her friends and her church abandoned her and did not even attend her funeral. God bless my aunts and cousins for being there that day, but I am still bitterly angry with the others.
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about the cancer. And I am also glad that it seems to be limited to one spot. I hope treatment is smooth, speedy, and effective.
@Ruby, it really wasn't much of a church was it? And they really weren't much of a friend were they? That is how I look at it. Remember karma is a bitch with impeccable timing.
This week I'm thankful for the ways the Lord is being generous and taking care of us. There have been so many lately.
I'm thankful for encouragement from a friend. Something she said to me last week has made a big impact on my days and I appreciate it.
I'm thankful for a good first day of work. I'm going to be working every Thursday during school now and I was a little nervous when I first got there today, but everything was fine.
I'm also thankful for cooler weather this week, though in my case it comes with rain and higher humidity. We really needed the rain, so I'm not complaining.
Thankful for yesterday's discussion of introversion, extroversion, and loneliness. I didn't comment, but I enjoyed reading so many different perspectives. It makes me feel a little less strange, as an introvert who needs very little socializing, yet still gets lonely sometimes.
And I'm thankful for the delicious, soft, gluten-and-dairy-free rolls I've been eating for the last couple of days. I had avoided buying them because of the cost and not wanting to be disappointed again, but I am so glad I finally tried them. Likewise, the chocolate chip cookies I bought are definitely worth the expense.
You always seem surprised to have passed stuff when your readers would be stunned if you did not pass and with flying colors!
Thankful for:
1. (I also posted this on Katy's blog) our local food bank. Just today I realized that teachers can request 15 boxes at a time from the food bank of what are called bone builder boxes, each packed for a family and full of high protein shelf stable stuff like canned tuna, canned salmon, peanut butter and so on, as well as a recipe page for how to use the canned salmon, since a lot of folks are unfamiliar with how to use that form of salmon. It hurts my heart to think of kids coming from homes where they need this from the schools. They are given no questions asked and the teachers can ask for as many replacements as they need.
2. NIGHT TIME is back! We actually are going to bed in the dark and we are losing 6 minutes or more a day of daylight.
3. the smells of fall. We had our first frost the other night so you can now smell things dying, like leaves I mean.
4. electricity. We had a power outage, which reminded me of how many things we have that would be impossible without electricity. I forget to be thankful for its existence.
5. the husband, always the husband. I came home from my volunteer hours at the food bank to find that he had dug up a tilted raised bed and made it level. He turned 75 recently but apparently had been working on it for several days as his strength allowed, counting on my general obliviousness to my surroundings to miss the work in progress. (I ask you, how could I have missed all my nasturtiums yanked out of the front yard planter, but I did.) He knows things that are not level sort of drive me crazy.
6. the dogs, even though the Great Dane puppy stole a two pound bag of lemons off the counter in the middle of the night, dragged them out to the backyard through the dog door, and chewed them up. What dog likes lemons?!
@Lindsey, re: your #6, I'm going to imagine what Clobber Paws would have said: "When life gives you lemons and you can't make lemonade with your clobber paws, chew them up!" (And at least he'll have lemony fresh breath for the next few days...)
And re: your #5, well, you have a treasure, you know it, and I don't have to tell you how to appreciate him. (My own DH would have turned 75 this past April.)
@A. Marie, My grandmother, a wonderful woman, sometimes comes to me in my dreams and it is a comfort to me. If that sort of thing would be a comfort to you, I hope that your DH visits you in the night.
UUughghg I remember my mental health clinical.I was in one of the few hospitals in the Midwest that was still doing electroshock therapy, in their basement! It was bad. Psychiatric nursing was not my interest or my strong suit but I made it through.Luckily there are nurses who are excellent at mental health nursing and went into that specialty. I always knew I wanted Labor and Delivery and pediatrics!!!
Glad for all your other news..passing all those initial tests is out of the way now!!!
Chiming in late here to say congrats, Kristen, on passing your required skills tests for this semester! Proud of you as you continue to plow through nursing school like a rock star 🙂
While it may sound trite, I'm thankful the feral (dumped) cat is still going strong almost 28 months after he first appeared. I have not-safe-for-posting feelings/actions for those who dump/mistreat/neglect animals. No "cat protective services" for them.
As to jury duty, better half has found that that self-employed people as well as college kiddos don't get push back for deferring until a better time. In my state, once you get "so old", you can "get out of the prospective pool". Which used to *only* be registered voters but has since changed. First time I got summoned - March mind you - a number of people had lame excuses for serving. The judge asked them "would you prefer to be summoned in June, July, or August?". It was truly amazing how many people decided they could serve in March.
That first time I served, in no way was it a jury of the defendants peers. 10 of the 12 jurors as well as the two alternates were age 65 or over. Of the two of us under age 65, one woman was in her 40s, I was 25.
Fall/winter is coming. And coming fast.
Hi, Kristen, I love your blog so much but I'm a fairly new reader. Have you ever written a post about how you did your kids Halloween costumes? It seems like you always had cool costumes but somehow I can't imagine you going to the Halloween Adevnture store and buying full price costumes each year... what have been your frugal hacks?
I am thankful that….
1) I GOT THREE JOB OFFERS!!!! Well, two and a half. One is a multiple interview situation but they will probably definitely (maybe?) hire me.
I was laid off at the end of June and searching for work as an older woman with a huge career gap and very little work experience has been downright demoralizing.
2) My husband really wants me to take the lowest paid lowest hour most interesting position even though it is literally half the salary and it’s not like we’re allergic to money or anything.
3) Because I’m still out of work at the moment, I get to chaperone my younger son’s field trip today, which I have never been able to do for him before due to work.
4) It is a beautiful day!!!
Yayyyyyy! So happy for you!
Lots of grateful feelings today but I will only list a few.
For my child’s grandparents, she is SO loved
For the different perks my job gives me
For the fact that parsnips are in season again YAY
For getting to eat out with a friend (and being able to afford that)
For the friends baby looking up at me and smiling and chuckling (is there anything better than a baby smiling at you??)
All the cucumber,tomato, potato, basil and parsley harvested. Muskmelon and watermelon too. Lots of corn. Mmmmm.