Thankful Thursday | on Thanksgiving
When we started doing Thankful Thursdays back in 2020, I didn't really think about the fact that our American Thanksgiving holiday always falls on Thursdays.
But it IS rather convenient, because every year on Thanksgiving now, I can just write a regular ol' Thankful Thursday post.
I am very much of the opinion that what you do regularly matters more than what you do once in a while (something Gretchen Rubin often says).
And my Thankful Thursday habit meshes with that; while it is good to pause and be thankful once a year, what is even better is to spend every week hunting for things to be grateful for.
So! This week, I am thankful:
that I had an umbrella in my car
Most days at college, I only go to one building. But one day this week I needed to go back and forth and all over and it happened to be a day of steady rain and wind.
So, I felt very thankful that I happened to have an umbrella in my car! For a short trek, I usually skip an umbrella, but for this much walking, I was very grateful to have one.
for an upcoming weekend with no clinicals
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, I get a little break from weekend clinicals, which is very good. Because my dirty laundry is piled higher than it's probably ever been since I moved here. 😉
for the opportunity to care for patients
Last weekend was my first time doing real, on-site clinicals, and I felt thankful that there are people who are willing to let extremely green nursing students practice on them, waiting patiently while we bumble through our first efforts.
In fact, some of them even express gratitude for the work we students are doing.
But I'm the one who feels thankful! Doing things in real life rather than just in a SIM lab is so much better for learning purposes, so I am grateful for this opportunity.
for our two fuzzy companions
Zoe and I sure do love our four-legged housemates.
Even though this one is always begging for food.
And even though this one literally bounces off the walls.
She was running down the hall the other day, jumping ⅔ of the way up the door frame, and then launching off the doorframe with her back feet.
I don't know how she hasn't injured herself yet!
Zoe and I always say that if Chiquita was a person, she'd probably be diagnosed with ADHD. With an emphasis on the "hyperactive" part. 😉
for the extra sunshine coming through my windows
I know we are in a darker time of year here in the northern hemisphere, but interestingly, my house actually gets more sun during the daylight hours right now.
It's a combo of the trees being nearly leafless plus the change in the path of the sun. This means I get brilliant sunshine in my bedroom, and also more sunshine in my kitchen.
that I don't have any car loans
I know that's kinda random, but this week I was thinking about how glad I am I don't have a car loan to pay. Interest rates are so nuts right now!
that a police officer let me know my headlight bulb is out
I got pulled over (for only the second time in my life!) because the officer wanted to tell me that my front headlight was out.
I'm sort of surprised I didn't notice that it was a little darker on that side of my van...but I'm glad to know now. Time for some new bulbs!
I kinda wish my van had some way to tell me when light bulbs go out, because it sure would be nice to know if something like a brake light wasn't working.
(Ahhh, I just googled and discovered that newer cars DO tell you when a bulb is out! So when I buy my Civic one day, I will get bulb notifications. 😉 )
for friends who listen to my frustrations and heartbreaks
I have been riding the struggle bus lately, and I am thankful for friends who listen and encourage me and tell me my feelings make sense.
Sometimes that is precisely what you need.
that next year might be easier
I was thinking about how perhaps, by the time next Thanksgiving rolls around, some things in my life might be easier and more settled. Just as I typed that, I felt a little weight come off my chest, and I took a deep breath.
for all of you
Thank you for being here. Thank you for the encouragement you all send my way. I am so grateful!
Thankful for you and your sweet blog that I have read for many years. Have a wonderful day.
Happy Thanksgiving to all the US readers!
This week I am thankful that
-I live in a place and at a time to have right to vote freely,
-that my sibling who has been sectioned again seems to be doing fine under the circumstances,
-one can feel relief and sadness at the same time. Mixed feelings are tearing at your innards, but even when there is a lot of sorrow there can be a sprinkling of hope or comfort at the same time,
-although I hate to configure a new mobile I can happily study the manual of my sewing machine for an entire evening. There is hope for developing my technical skills yet,
-there is a season for everything under the sun.
@JNL, I didn't know what sectioned meant. I don't think it's a term we use in the US. My thoughts are with your sibling and you. It's so heartbreaking when loved ones are struggling.
I had to google it too. Love to you and yours, friend!
@JNL, I hope everything works out for you, your sibling, and your family.
@JNL,
I also had to look up what "sectioned" means. Sending you hugs, and hoping for the best for you, your sibling, and your family.
Kristen, you may be grateful for your readers, but I'll bet you a dime to a dollar that every one of your readers is grateful for the warm, welcoming, honest and helpful space you've built here for your community. Thank you for putting your genuine self out in the world. Those efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Wishing many Thanksgiving blessings for you, your family and all of my fellow "Kristen fans" and readers.
@Mary ~ Reflections Around the Campfire,
Well said! Agreed.
I am thankful that despite still being a little sick, I do not have pneumonia like I did in 2019. That year I spent the entirety of the Thanksgiving break in bed and then ended up in bed (and out of work) for almost three months. This year I am able to get up, take a few meds and make all the food. I'm so grateful.
I'm also thankful for a new wonderful team member at work. She is catching on so quickly and I couldn't be happier with her. I have a very needy class this year, and it has been really hard to not have consistent help. This new person is just what I have been praying for.
Finally, I am thankful for some tiny positive movement in a very hard family situation. It's still an impossibly sad situation that I have no control over, but it might be about to get a little better. We shall see.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who are observing today, and thank you to this community that is always so kind and supportive and especially to Kristen, for all your efforts curating it. You are very much appreciated.
This week I am thankful:
* for the fun of having little kids. Their smiles, the things they get excited about or laugh about, the kids books we get to read, they way they like to be helpers... It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but I feel like I've been noticing more of the little things this week.
* for stick-on felt. I'm not a fan of dress-up days for school, but stick-on felt sure makes costumes easier!
* that we're not travelling this year. I really like going to my in-laws' house in PA, but this fall has been extra full with some extra responsibilities I took on and I'm glad I don't have to travel right now. I'm also really looking forward to shopping with my mom on Friday! I have such fun memories of that from my growing up years.
* for our library. There are a few staff that are near and dear to our hearts and I'm thankful for the way they care for our family. The kids and I spent two hours at the library yesterday and it was delightful.
* for the way our school staff is encouraging my child's desire to be a librarian. After parent-teacher conferences, I feel like my daughter's teacher is being intentional to give her time and space to do helpful librarian-like things or help in the library. The reading coach and school librarian have both been helpful as well. It's such a thoughtful thing!
* for being settled in our community. Little things like being able to lend my roaster to a friend, having another friend send me a sweet card, a 20-minute phone call with a friend that's walking a hard path, the extra smiles just from running into people you know... I'm really thankful for this season.
* for you, Kristen. You have been an encouragement to me countless times. You have given me a space in this community to be able to share, geek out over frugal things, and grow into a better human. Your kindness is a blessing. Your realness is a blessing. Your faith is a blessing. The way you live your life with grace is a blessing. As you have days full of very-not-fun things that are very hard, know that you are loved and you are prayed over. I appreciate you and wish you all the best in the days to come.
@Ruth T, ditto on your last paragraph.
Aww, thank you for your kind words, Ruth. You are such a sweet person, and your community is lucky to have you!
@Ruth T, AMEN to your last paragraph!
Thankful beyond words to Kristen and to the entire Frugal Girl Commentariat, especially for the support you all have shown me on DH's passing. I often return to the June "An update from A. Marie" post and am comforted afresh by all the sweet comments there.
Thankful to my IRL friends and family, for similar support.
And thankful that I'm entering the holidays and the new year with greatly improved eyesight and good overall physical and mental health for my age.
@A. Marie, I know the first holiday season after a loved one's passing is often difficult. Sending you hugs and love and good thoughts today and throughout the coming weeks.
Oh, I am so glad the comments on that post still brings you comfort. Thinking of you on what is probably your first big holiday to navigate since the passing of your DH.
@A. Marie, Thinking of you today. I am glad you have neighbors who surround you with in-person support.
I'm echoing others, thankful for Kristen and this space. And I'm praying that your burden will lighten and the skies will clear sooner rather than later.
I'm thankful that my friend invited us to Thanksgiving with her and her family, and I'm thankful that this is a safe space for us.
I'm thankful that I'm in a much different place, emotionally and physically, than I was a year ago. Time heals, space heals, God heals. And I'm thankful for the PT exercises that I still do almost daily to continue to strengthen my body. My body has changed a lot in the past 5 years, but I'm thankful that it has sustained me and survived some really hard things.
Thankful for you, Kristen! I've been reading your blog for many, many years and it consistently brings a daily dose of encouragement. You really have fostered a lovely community here, thanks to your example of kindness and positivity (especially when life is tough)! Hope things are looking up for you again soon <3
I am thankful that I found a turkey- they are not easily available at this time of year in Norway (the stores get them in for Christmas when it is more popular). I will be cooking it this weekend.
I am thankful for physical good health.
Thankful for a steady job.
Had a huge dental bill yesterday, but thankful that I was able to pay.
My mother-in-law had a kitten--long-haired, bright orange, name of James--that used to swarm up the kitchen screen door in the summer and cling there on the screen. I'd look over and there would be James, just hanging out by the claws, four feet in the air. Funny cat.
Thankfuls on this most thankful of Thursdays . . .
--For my family. Always.
--For the two parsnips I will dig up today to roast for our meal, and the tomatoes in the salad, the parsley in the dressing, the squash for the pie, all of which I grew. It was a very small harvest this year, but I appreciate every bit of it precisely because of the bad year I had in the garden.
--That I can go to the store and buy whatever I want for our holiday meal without having to look (too hard) at the cost. I suspect the fact that I only buy ingredients instead of prepared anything helps with that, but I don't care if the cranberries are a dollar more a bag this year (just an example--I don't even know if they are), I can still buy them without worry.
--For the experience in the kitchen to put together a big holiday meal without a lot of stress. Well, there might have been a little stress yesterday while I was making the ridiculous recipe for lemon meringue pie (three pots on the stove at once just for the meringue!) requested by one child, but that's just because it was a new recipe and I don't really like baking enough to enjoy the challenge. The roasting of the turkey and the gravy and all the rest of it is no big deal to me, though. This is particularly helpful this year because . . .
-- We are having a guest for Thanksgiving for the first time. Our new priest is coming. My kids are excited. He's young(-ish) and likes to play basketball, so they're looking forward to playing with him on the little court next to the old schoolhouse down the road. He is in marked contrast to our last priest, who was nice enough, but very intense and socially awkward.
--For warm-enough weather that I can get those kids (and our guest) outside for most of the day. Holidays are rough with over-excited children if they can't get outside to run around and yell.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Kristen, and to everyone else, as well. I hope your day is just how you wish it to be.
Today I am thankful:
*for yesterday's conversation about tipping. I often have conflicting thoughts about many topics, and tipping is one of them. It was nice to see that I'm not the only one with conflicting thoughts. In a polarizing society, I think it's important to remember that not all situations have a clear right and wrong and to consider that somebody you disagree with may have been thoughtful (and conflicted) when making a difficult decision you disagree with.
*for turkey gravy. I hope mine turns out today.
*for lots of helpers in my baking endeavors.
*for my husband.
*for my second favorite man in bed, Mr. Woolie, our wool blanket who made his appearance two night ago.
*for that funny tree picture at the top of this post. For this post. For the She-Who-Posts.
*for my church family.
*for my cute inside shoes that still don't have grease stains.
*for leftovers for breakfast.
*that my weight is still on a downward trend.
*for rainbows in my kitchen from the prism in my window.
*for my God, Whose steadfast love endures forever!
@Jody S., LOL! No turkey gravy for me. No turkey either. The frozen turkey I received free from my sister was rancid! Turns out roasted chicken is just as good.
Today I am thankful to be home with my children and pets. I love them all so much.
I am thankful my mother is still alive. I am thankful I have made it through the year without falling apart. I am thankful for the memory of people I love.
I am thankful to get heat in my house yesterday, finally. Warmth and plenty is the order of the day. I am thankful for pressing on with redoing my home and the rental and how good it's finally looking. I am thankful for paid bills.
I am grateful to online communities such as this one and especially, this weekly gratitude.
I am thankful for my friends, old and new. I'm delighted to see old friends and to have made new ones this year. I am thankful to have met all the challenges this year creatively.
@Rose, so glad that your heating situation finally got repaired. Cold weather is not kind to the body. Our system has been showing its age of 43 years so we made the tough decision to replace it now before true winter sets in. Fortunately the wait time was only the weekend. Installed in a day, they were called back for a leak. Thankful for the HVAC folks for being nice people who had excellent details given to them by the project manager.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! May your hearts be light and your turkey moist.
One of my children, long ago, at a Thanksgiving gathering said, "It's a good thing I have this gravy because the turkey is so dry." Heh.
Riding the struggle bus, I love that expression. I am a regular on that bus recently...
But I also got lots and lots to be grateful for!
I would love to get off the struggle bus, but man, my stop is taking a long time to come around. One of these days we can get off!
@Maggie, I don't know if we can help you get off but we can certainly keep you company while you're here with us.
We are thankful for you, Kristen, and the space you give all these lovely people to come together. May next year be easier on you.
We have a teaching hospital here and the family practice I go to also trains young doctors. I am always happy to let them work on me.
I am thankful for my sweet family, for the two rescued dogs napping in our laps (the new pup has filled the hole in DH's heart left by the loss of his dog earlier this year), for a day of good rain to break the extreme drought here, and for the virus/allergy/sinus infection I've had for a month finally yielding to an onslaught of meds.
Thankful for your blog, Kristen!
I'm thankful for good public transport, particularly in bad weather.
Thankful for technology which enables me to to easily talk to friends and family back home.
Thankful for a cosy apartment!
Thankful for coffee!
It’s really amazing that someone going through such long and deep trials as you are, Kristen, can find the grace to create a space filled with lightness and comfort. It’s an innate kindness you have and nothing can stamp it out. This gives all of us the same confidence to endure things when we must.
Gretchen Rubin (whose podcast is one of my favorites) did come up with that useful phrase but you show us all the time how to carry it out.
I am most thankful for a family that loves each other and shows it. I mean my dear husband and wonderful two boys specifically because some in my wider family are the opposite of kind and have caused great misery. I am so, so lucky and want to appreciate them. This blog has taught me greater depths of appreciation, starting with Thankful Thursdays.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
Aww, Erika, you are just so persistently kind. Thank you for the encouragement you always give me!
I am thankful for my beautiful home, the ability to continue working, and my immediate family. Smaller things matter, too, just outside of the bigger ones. But the bigger ones are what keep me grounded lately. Littler ones might be: the timer on my beautiful bedroom Christmas tree that makes it function like sort of a nightlight, my crockpot which I use often (I see lots of soup in my future!), and my car that is safe and runs well, taking me to all of the places I need to go. (: Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm thankful for:
1) A light work week, even though I did get some holiday escalations just in time for the end of the day yesterday, when everyone was wrapping up. 😉
2) For deep conversations with DS17 on the way to the DMV this week. He isn't always in the mood for talking, but if the time is right & we happen to be together, he will really open up.
3) That DS17 got into enough colleges to have options he's happy to choose from. He's also very low key & not super stressed about the process. I feel like i'm going to have my hands full with DS16 next year, when we go through the same thing.
4) That DS16 is getting some play time on varsity soccer. He's a junior, and they have quite a good roster of seniors, so he wasn't expecting to play much this year.
5) For BN, which allows me to empty my house of stuff we don't need/want, and allows others to try things out without buying them, or fulfills a need or want on there side. I really enjoy the community.
If I were your patient, I'd feel so much better just from your positive attitude, caring presence and beautiful smile.
I'm thankful for
- my family, friends, neighbors and kind strangers.
- for you and this space of lovely readers
- for my work
- for the little things that God does for me as surprise blessings that only He knew
❤️
I am grateful for YOUR BLOG!! I need and count on upbeat,positive-vibe energies,especially as I start my day and I can always count on your blog AND your readers..the comments section is the kindness and most helpful of ANYTHING I read on the web!
I am so HAPPY to hear you are CARING FOR REAL PATIENTS!! As a retired RN I remember that feeling.. you are so on your way!! To a great career and some good life changes!
I am grateful that I managed to step off the struggle bus (mostly) after a couple of years caregiving after covid related things caused some illness in my family.It was a hard couple of years and this Thanksgiving is the first one in a while where we can go out to a beautiful restaurant as a family once again and enjoy some nice times.I guess I have learned,hard times don’t last but determined,faithful people DO.
I am grateful for my health, my family,for every good little thing that comes into my day, for friendships, sunrises, sunsets,good food on the table, for music and art, for Mothger Nature, and so much more.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Aww, I'm so glad this year is a better one for you. Yay!!
Love the nose by the way! 🙂
@JNL, oh, yes, I forgot to comment on that! Reminds me of a hike we did out west a few years ago--we saw a giant boulder that my family called "schnoz rock". And it's right by the eye on the birch tree. Perfect!
Isn't it such a funny type of fungus? I've never seen one that looks like that before!
Although I am spending today alone, I am thankful that I have adjusted to this situation. I used to be all upset about not having family and getting left out. ( The worst was the time my narcissistic cousin had invited me to go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving, only to call at 10:30 the night before and say he's gotten an invitation so too bad for me; he was so selfish, he didn't ask his daughter if she'd let me tag along. So I ate a tasteless chicken McNugget lunch at the McDonalds inside a Walmart, which was open that day, trying not to cry. And I later hung up on that cousin when he telephoned to whine about only getting to eat lunch and then having to leave right away -- so he wouldn't have to help his daughter and her family clean up afterward.)
Now, I no longer feel left out; I just treat Thanksgiving as another Saturday where I can relax, do laundry, and just chill. I used to accept others' invitations but it feels empty being there with so many strangers, most of whom say "let's get together sometime," and then when it never happens, it makes me feel even sadder when I remember them saying it. They are well-intentioned people, of course, but their lives are too busy for them to make room for one more and, well, it just feels weird.
I found out that at least 3 coworkers are also going to be alone, but that they are happy enough about it. All this is to say I'm happy about my attitude change. And the fact I have lots of food to munch on around the house.
I'm also glad that my friend from out of town stopped by and we had lunch yesterday. My city is half the distance between her and her relatives' home, so she has a long rest stop and a meal and we get to visit. It's our pre-holiday ritual, although she hosted her family at Easter and I didn't get to see her then. So it's been almost a year since we last saw another and I'm thrilled we've resumed our tradition.
I'm thankful I got to work a lot of hours at the store this week, and that I have three more long shifts. Glad to earn $ for the paint and flooring project. Which I'm also thankful for!
I'm thankful Kristen posted a post today and that I get to read everyone's writeups. It's the highlight of my mornings!
Happy Thursday, everyone!
@Fru-gal Lisa, When I lived overseas (in Kuwait and in Greece), our Thanksgiving was just another day. The first year was lonely, just my husband and two little kids, and two of my husband's Kuwaiti coworkers came for pumpkin pie (which they didn't understand)(pumpkin was treated as a vegetable there). Slowly I learned that the holiday, or any holiday really, is what you make of it. We began to invite lonely souls, and made a party of it -- some years we made chili instead of turkey -- there are always a few people who celebrate by themselves. Call your coworkers and have a meal together -- you learn new things about them, new traditions, and maybe even a few new things about yourself.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm thankful my son is home! He has to work at his campus job and will leave tomorrow, BUT his classes were canceled on Tuesday, so he came home a day earlier than expected. 🙂
Thankful for my silly but affectionate kittens.
For a fun day with my daughter yesterday.
For my husband who does the heavy lifting (i.e. most of the cooking) on holidays. I made cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie earlier this week, and he will do the rest.
For a sunshiny day! I also get more light in my house at this time of the year--I think it's a combination of the leaves being off the trees as well as the shift in the position of the earth relative to the sun--but whatever the reason, it's wonderful (although I DO notice more dust in my home now .... ).
Haha, that is so true about the dust. But I don't mind. A small price to pay for the sun!
Our car did signal our bulb was out. It cost $ 107. to fix.
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate.
@Connie, EEK!, you must have a Volvo!!
I think my van is just too old to have that feature! My next car probably will have that technology. 🙂
@Kristen, I say be thankful that your van doesn't have all that extra technology. The more fancy stuff on a car, the more often something breaks, and the more expensive it is to repair. My '96 Accord currently has a light on the dashboard letting me know the airbags don't work, another light letting me know the anti-lock braking system doesn't work, and I have to manually turn on the interior light when I open the door. BUT, none of these things keep the car from running, so I will just keep on a-goin'!
Happy Thanksgiving on a thankful Thursday! I am grateful (for spellcheck) when I spell Thursday right -- And for your last photo--passing it on with kudos to YOU!
Thankfuls, though I have been sitting on these for a few weeks:
- that my fall was not as "fateful" as it could have been: I was outside in the dark on my front concrete porch and tripped over the dog leash peg and went over backwards. I twisted sideways so that I would land on my left shoulder and arm. What saved me was that I landed in my HB's "garden bed of ferns" next to the porch. There is a tree stump in the middle and he had a few days before piled a mass of soil on top of said tree stump and in amongst the ferns; as I was lying there, my thoughts were "this is so soft, no pain, nothing broken, good, hopefully no spiders".
- As with Kristen, also for our 2 fuzzy companions: Senior cat (SC) 19 1/2 is still quite feisty despite being very ill, she has 10% kidney function and we have to give her fluids under the skin every 2 days. Thankful that HB is not squeamish with needles and does the subcutaneous injections (60mL of fluids) and thankful that SC knows the procedure now and no longer squirms.
- that HB got the stains out of my rain jacket. I took some of his electronics out to the garage and one piece had this white goopy glue stuff on it which transferred onto my jacket. I ran it through the wash, nothing. HB then used Acetone to remove the stains, then another wash and my (thrifted beautiful) rain jacket is as good as new.
- I was sick last week with some interesting symptoms. I thought for sure it was Covid, I did a test and it came back as Negative. So I am happy it wasn't covid. HB says I had a cold (without the runny nose) or I had a mild flu (without the fever). Don't know, but am feeling better now.
- I have found my holy grail comfortable bra!! Yes this is a big yet superficial thankful. I had previously bought one a few months ago, and having been loving it so much I went and bought 2 more as they had my size in stock, that does not ever happen!
- Bonus thankful to Kristen for her post recently on getting the dishes done at night before going to bed. I am trying for this every night and have mostly been successful. It is definitely nice to wake up to a clean kitchen and shiny sink.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the U.S.
Isn't it so nice to be greeted by a clean kitchen? I love that.
In a year from now life will be at least a little better & different. You will be further in your nursing career & your girls will be settled into college & other enjoying last year (?) of high school. Your unmarried journey will hopefully be finished & you can fully move forward (hopefully) without hassle (please remember your girls future college & insurance needs in your negotiations as it is important to have in place (if possible) for them). Kids can be on parents insurance until age 26 now, which is helpful.
Keep moving forward---you're doing great!
Thankful for---
● Being able to bake cookies with teen last weekend (at teen request) & just relax & take break
● Cooking Thanksgiving meal with teen (who wants ham after I got 2 turkeys--now in freezer) & watch Macy's Thanksgiving parade then The Dog Show afterwards, a tradition we have not done for few years & enjoy.
● all the leaves finally off trees, need to rake last ones (not too many) & get picked up before snow/ice
● going to teen high school drama musical play last weekend (Back to 80s) that teen wanted to go to (even with me). Was GREAT show!!! Teen had lots of friends (since childhood & new in high school) in play (lead & others). Hopefully drama club will perform this play in state competition because was incredible!! Audience joined in on song(s) & all ages enjoyed.
● Teen being able to relax over holiday break before going back to school & college for finals.
● my fridge, freezer & pantry are full & household items also. I will only need to get few items occasionally & not worry about making it to store or food prices. Will purchase additional holiday sale items to have on hand for baking (have not done much of yet & do lots during winter months) to end year.
● Christmas shopping done (ordering one December sale item for teen & still looking for nice gloves). Will need to get sewing machine out to adjust one rescue dogs matching pjs (at end of one size & beginning of next so will be little big).
● Sunshine we have had!!! I feel better with the sunshine & know days are limited on seeing sunshine, so definitely enjoying it.
Happy Thanksgiving!! 🙂
What a pleasant surprise to find us gathered this Thanksgiving Day! So thankful for friends here. Appreciated the comment about Kristen's "curating" the sight. Sounds softer than being the "Mayor" of our community which is more appropriate.
Thankful for my furry companion Molly, who had her holy de-shed at the doggie spa yesterday. She was quite fatigued after, which was good since I had worked the night before. I also had an eye appointment with a new doctor and business. I had become concerned that my former opthalmologist and business was more concerned about their annual cut of my vision insurance than my eye health. I am very happy that this doctor seems reasonable and because there was minimal prescription change in my vision it was not necessary to have the newest fashion in eyewear. Plus, she gave a name to the concerning changes I have seen. Thankful that I was able to get some sleep thru to this morning after that.
Thankful for today of quiet and can go about my own pace, that it is okay to be by myself and do a gargantuan pile of dishes, vacuum, and have a lovely (Schwan's) chicken pot pie for dinner. Our immediate family gathers a week from Saturday at my little home (to accommodate our various schedules) for a dinner and time together. (I have given a fleeting thought to take them all to the free luncheon given at the Cattleman's Symposium, just for kicks and grins, we are products of a farm family after all, and save myself the trouble of cooking. It is really a good dinner. I have been there in the past and taken advantage of the educational opportunities.)
Particularly thankful that Rose has some heat. I know it has been long coming.
Happy Thanksgiving!
@Chrissy, Oh thank you so much.
Thank you for your wonderful blog, Kristen. I look forward to reading it every day. Happy Thanksgiving!
I love your realism and honesty, especially when going through hard circumstances. We often forget to breathe and recognize how far we've come. Time marches on and during times of uncertainty it helps to remember that things can improve in a year.
I'm thankful that my sister has a cabin in the mountains only an hour and a half from my house where I can go almost any time I want. If it wasn't for this cabin I don't think I'd realistically be able to reach my kids to ski as early as I've been able to, and it's also such a beautiful place to spend a long weekend like this!
I'm grateful that my husband and I both got raises this year so we can do more of what makes us happy.
I'm very thankful for my pets. I just wish I had room for even more!
I'm thankful that my kids school is so willing to accommodate their special needs and doesn't make us feel bad about it like their old school did.
And I'm thankful that we're almost done paying our car loans, which also have very reasonable interest rates.
I am grateful for all of you, especially Kristen who makes it all possible and sets the tone for this community. May your day/week/year/life be full of love and gratitude.
I am thankful that yesterday was easier than the day before. (Tuesday wasn't a good day.)
I am thankful that my roommate seems to be getting better. (Although I keep in mind that he's felt better before, only to get worse again.)
I am thankful that my family's tradition does NOT include a homemade Thanksgiving meal. Today I'm going out with my father for omakase; the rest of the family is coming for brunch tomorrow, most of which I'm buying.
I am thankful that my new house is sunnier and feels more spacious than the old one.
I am grateful that the new house is mostly unpacked, meeting the deadline of family thanksgiving. I admit I'd hoped to have everything done but a very ill roommate pushed some things aside and I did get all the living spaces done. The basement and garage can wait.
I am thankful that Kirsten does Thankful Thursday because it did me good to think of some things to be thankful for.
Thankful for:
1. Pound Hound, who sat in the car for 25 minutes and never touched the groceries sitting in the back. How could we have forgotten they were back there when we got out of the car?
2. my lightweight wheelchair. Since I fractured a bone in my back, I have seldom left the house, but yesterday morning the husband loaded the chair in the car and made it impossible for me to refuse when he said, "Doing anything, even running errands, is better when you are by my side." I am an easy mark, so off we went. I would not have given in if I didn't have this wonderful piece of equipment.
3. this blog and also the Non-Consumer Advocate, which have given me support in being frugal and also have taught me new frugal tricks.
4. the money to buy all the Thanksgiving supplies I wanted, without having to decide between food and rent. When I was young the family was poor, and I remember some pretty meager meals.
5. my mushroom CSA. I love all the exotics we pick up every week but this week so many folks were out of town that we got double the usual mushrooms. It meant frying them up to put in the freezer for future uses, which was a pain on a day when I was doing prep work for today's cooking, but with the husband chopping and me frying, it was done in record time.
6. the husband, always the husband.
@Lindsey,
#2- oh, your husband is smooth! He's a keeper!
I’m thankful that my lecture today went well, and that I managed to get my message across to a room full of Ph.d. students.
I’m thankful for having friends I can text about my worries late at night, and still recieve loving and thoughtful answers.
I’m thankful for having a loving family
I’m thankful for having collegues I like spending time with
Happy Thanksgiving, Kristen!
Making your honey rolls now.
From the beginning reader!
So thankful for you!
I am extremely thankful that someone turned in my lost iphone to the Park Ranger! Unaware that I had not gotten it into my coat pocket, after taking a photo, while walking a dog on the trail.
It was 5 days gone before I got the call.
Note to others* turn on “find my” and also give permission to another you trust to find your phone
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Kristen and to all others on here.
1. My car told me that my tire(s)? which one needed air. My mechanic said to watch the right rear. The light went out when he fill the tires but came back on last weekend. I also needed an oil change and had a recall already on my new car. So Monday I called the dealership, the service man asked me when I would like to come in and I asked if there was anything open that day and there was. I was able to get the oil change, 6000 mile check, recall and the nail removed from the tire and the tire fixed.
2. My grandson came over Saturday to see if he could stay with me when his parents took his sister to her soccer game. So, he and I went to the food pantry to help them sort the load of food they have collected. Many people arrived after us to get the job done quickly.
3. My grandson came over on Sunday, again his sister had soccer; and we went to my neighbor's house to learn how to make a presentable pie. I asked and she graciously accepted to give me a lesson. I did two pies, one for us and one for the senior center. And yesterday I made a nice looking pie all by myself using her instructions.
I’m thankful
for my sister coming to visit.
For the support of so many people this year.
For a weekend to settle and recalibrate before the next round of busy.
For a south facing living room that brings so much cheer.
For the laughter of my children while playing with trusted grownups.
For cozy clothes.
For a dad that uses extensive knowledge to help me.
For coffee. It tastes even better on slow mornings.
For hope that a year from now things could be different. I hadn’t thought about that until you mentioned it Kristen!
I’m always encouraged by your Thankful Thursday posts.
I had a similar thought on Thursday evening. I have 6 month old twins- one nurses and the other will not so I have to pump for him. I ended up spending most of the holiday upstairs at my in-laws feeding the babies, pumping, bathing them and laying them down. It was a little discouraging, but I reminded myself this phase of life isn’t forever. Next year they will be older, I won’t be attached to a pump, or a rigid nap schedule. Of course there will be different challenges, but it wont be this difficult forever.
Oh, I bet this is such a busy phase of life for you.
I know you did not ask for advice, and maybe I'm projecting my life experiences here (and if that's the case, just ignore me!) But as I thought about you, upstairs, alone, doing the work with the babies, I felt a little pang for you. And I want you to know that if I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self this:
"Kristen, it is ok and reasonable to expect equivalent parental effort from your husband. He cannot breastfeed, but he is capable of doing most other parts of caring for babies and small children and it is not your job to protect him from the work of childcare. When neither parent is at work, such as on a holiday, there is no reason for one parent to be doing the bulk of the child/baby care. Children are the responsibility of their parents, not just their mom."
Sending you all the love in the world as you navigate mothering twins! And again, I know this response is unsolicited and I'm not gonna be remotely offended if you ignore it. 🙂
My cat Jerry runs and jumps off walls too, it's hilarious! Cats are the best.