Thankful Thursday | Thank YOU
You guys, thank you so very much for all your kind comments yesterday. Whenever I write a post like that, I have a tiny bit of hesitation...like, "What if I'm the only one who has struggles like this? What if I'm being dramatic?"
But then when you guys respond, I am reminded that human struggles are pretty universal. So, thank you for reminding me of that.
And thank you for offering encouragement to me; your words buoy my spirits in a very real way, and I am grateful. I did not manage to respond to all the comments, but please know that I read and absorbed each one!
This week, I am thankful:
that Sonia is coming over to join us today
We're going to have a girly and low-key Thanksgiving together, and I think it will be fun. We're going to watch Grease (I've never seen it before, actually! But Lisey says I will like it.) and have a big breakfast-for-dinner spread.
that it's 2022 and not 2021
I was thinking back to this time last year, and all that has happened in the last 365 days, and then I felt so grateful that I have already survived almost this whole year.
You know how there are some years that you look at and think, "Whew, I'm glad I don't have to do that over again!"? This is one for me. 😉
for a warm day yesterday
It has been rather not-warm of late:
But we had a warm day yesterday! I had no school, so I took myself out to the taco truck at lunchtime and I felt SO GOOD sitting there in the sunshine waiting for my tacos.
that someone cleaned off the trails
I visited one of my trails that's a short drive away, and this particular set of trails is little hard to follow if the path is obscured by leaves. So I was happy to see that someone had cleared most of the trails of leaves. Yay!
Funny story: one time I did get a little bit lost on these trails (which is an anomaly because I almost NEVER get lost). Luckily, a man came down the trail and he had two cats with him, one in a front pack and one in a back pack.
I figured this was a sign that he was probably a decent person (either that, or it was a very clever Good Person™ disguise), so I asked him for directions and he got me unstuck.
Apparently he takes his cats on this trail regularly for the purpose of letting them frolic in the ravine (!!)
This could never happen with our cat because she is too terrified to even walk out our front door. 😉
that my parents emphasized effort over intelligence
In my developmental psychology class, we were talking about what messages we heard about intelligence as we were growing up.
And I shared that my parents didn't really talk about intelligence a whole lot; I don't know if they said it outright, but I definitely know I got the impression that success in school (and other endeavors) was largely a matter of hard work, not innate intelligence.
I appreciate this perspective because intelligence is sort of fixed; you can't do much about that, so a focus on intelligence would have made me feel a little less empowered.
Also: intelligence is of little use without good work habits, so I'm grateful to have had those instilled in me. Work habits matter no matter what your innate level of intelligence is!
that there are only two more weeks of classes!
I am super happy that the finish line is near; this means there's only two more week's worth of microbiology and chemistry information that I have to tackle and absorb.
that some of my microbio is feeling more relevant
Some of these last few modules have been more interesting to me because they are more related to the human body (which is my main science interest!)
For instance, we recently learned about infectious microbes, microbe remediation, and anti-microbial drugs. The drug part in particular felt valuable to me because I know in nursing school, I'm going to need to learn tons of drug names.
So, I figure if I do a really good job of learning these antibiotics, anti-fungals, anti-virals, and anti-parasitic drugs, I'll be grateful to my past self once I'm in pharmacology classes.
It's like an investment in Future Kristen. 😉
that I found some half and half
MY GOODNESS it is hard to find cream-related products around here right now. I wanted some half and half for soup and I came up dry at three grocery stores.
But then it occured to me to try 7-11 and amazingly, they had half and half. Yay!
Hopefully the cream supply problem will get worked out after Thanksgiving.
What are you thankful for today?
(Isn't it nice that Thankful Thursday always lands on Thanksgiving Day?)
Thankful on this day of thanks for everyone and everything that's kept me sane for the past several years:
Kristen, this blog, and all the commenters.
The Bestest Neighbors and my other wonderful neighbors.
My JASNA and grad school BFFs.
My other JASNA friends across the continent.
My far-flung siblings and other friends.
The two caregiver forums on alzconnected.org. (There is absolutely no situation involving Alzheimer's that my fellow commenters there haven't faced.)
And last but certainly not least, the supervisor and staff on DH's ward, who do their best every day in one of the most difficult types of nursing I can imagine. (I've made a donation to the nursing home's "employee fund" to show my appreciation.)
@A. Marie, I need to tell you this. My eldest (the one who is alone at college for Thanksgiving) was talking on the phone last evening with my husband. I kept butting into the conversation from the kitchen. My husband asked him if there was anything he wanted for Christmas, and I jokingly asked if he wanted the complete works of Jane Austen. His reply, "You mean like the one that's sitting on my desk right now?" What?! It seems he checked out a volume with all of her works from his college's library! You know that made me feel so very good. I guess he'll be spending Thanksgiving with Jane.
@Jody S., if your son can't be home for Thanksgiving, that's the next best thing!
Ohhh, I understand about your fellow forum members. That is how I feel about my fellow support group members; they UNDERSTAND so quickly when I share what I'm going through. It takes almost no explaining and they really, really get it.
I am so glad you have people like that with you as you navigate this situation and the grief that goes along with it.
And I'm glad you are here; you are an important part of our community!
Not only does Thankful Thursday always land on Thanksgiving, but sometimes Thanksgiving lands on my birthday, as well 😉
I'm so full of thanks today. I'm thankful for:
*Kristen. Thank you for not making me feel like a nosy stranger who is worried about another stranger. And for creating a community I wish I had more time to participate in.
*Slow but stead improvement with my face.
*Kids who love pumpkin pie and writing. Okay, the ones who are old enough like to write.
*My husband and dad who do almost all of the grocery shopping.
*My son in college who couldn't come home for Thanksgiving because it's too far away (I'm not crying yet.). He remembered to buy veggies (baby carrots) when his roomie drove him to the store to stock up on dorm food for the long weekend without an open cafeteria.
*For the digitized super-8 (?) video my cousin sent to me of Christmas when I was 1-year-old. I'll probably make time to watch that today because a very young version of my mother is in it, and I'm missing her today.
*For our outside cat. She doesn't even have a name. She used to be a great huntress, but she seems to have slowed in that department. (She's 11-ish.) She always greets me in the morning by sitting in the kitchen window to tell me it's time for breakfast.
*For the beautiful view, coffee with cream, more friends than I've ever had before, music, yarn creations, drawing of airplanes, deer stories, the piano in our basement that has learned how to be played, a boy who makes tents over his bed so he can have the light on a little longer to color, and the lip balm that I've lost because I know someday I'll find it and enjoy the moment.
I'm so delighted that your face continues to improve. Yay!!
I often feel we just blunder through life to the best of our knowledge. And as our youngest said a while back: "I often have to remind myself that my parents are also just living their lives for the first time and have to find out how to deal with the rough parts". This observation made me happy, not only because it was wise 🙂 but also because I felt that we could probe our way together, on a more equal footing.
Today I am thankful for
Our dear, wise and funny children, who have also thankfully passed the stage where we need to brush their teeth, drive them to their sports practise and function as their external memory
My former sister-in-law who is still a great friend and feels like family
Nice crisp cold so I can air my woolen sweaters
Enjoying my job and feeling appreciated
Peace and plenty in my neck of the woods
@J NL, I laughed right out loud at the idea of functioning as my children's external memory, because it is such a very accurate description of my current role. Also the driving to sports. Boo.
It always strikes me what a good relationship you seem to have with your daughters. It’s sounds so loving and fun. I hope I will have that kind of bond with my daughter when she grows up. Any tips are appreciated! 😀
Aww. Well, of course, we have our ups and downs...the mid-teen years have been a little rough with some of them. Also, you can be the most awesome mom in the world and sometimes that does not guarantee a great relationship with a kid.
That said, I think the things that have probably helped the most with my girls are: being patient, kind, gentle, and consistently THERE for them. And it's not just that there will be meals or clean clothes...they know I will be there when they need help, encouragement, empathy, or a listening ear (I'm listed in Lisey's phone as "Mom HELLLLLLLP". lol)
I think they also know I will be there with enthusiasm when they want to share a success or a joy or something they've made. I want to be their biggest cheerleader!
And because I care about them, I initiate a lot with them; sending them songs or memes or cute things I know they will like, asking them about things that are going on in their lives, asking follow-up questions, telling them funny things that I think will interest them, and so on.
Also: you are probably years away from this situation, but I think it helps a lot to warmly embrace your children's significant others. None of them have been permanent so far (obviously no one is married! lol), but I really love to welcome the significant others as part of the family and help them feel loved for as long as they are with us.
@Kristen, thank you so much for taking the time to write this out. Very appreciated!
Possibly controversial opinion: Grease 2 is better than the first one. Both are great, though! And I have to note I was SHOCKED the first time I watched either one in its original form. When I was a kid, I only saw the ones that were edited for TV. The unedited ones have a LOT of innuendo.
Thankfuls:
--For yesterday, which was the first day in weeks that neither my husband nor I had to get in the car to go anywhere. Yes, I have reached that stage of my life, and yes, I hate it. Yesterday was a much-needed slow day.
--For my children, all of them healthy, bright, and (usually) happy.
--For the youngest boy, who just woke up in a state of great excitement for Thanksgiving and asked, "Can I have a hug because it's a holiday?" (I do hug them on non-holidays, for the record. 🙂 He followed that up with, "I wouldn't have made it this far without you." I couldn't help laughing at that, although it was sincere.
--For my husband, who has been working hard in his home office for the past three days to finish up in time for the holiday today, but still went out yesterday and dug the potatoes for me so we could have them for today's feast.
--For the extremely heavy wool blanket made by a now-closed woolen mill in Minnesota that was gifted to us by my MiL's friend for our wedding. I finally switched from our lighter wool blanket to the heavy one, and I'm sleeping better now. I think I was sort of low-key cold and it was waking me up too early in the morning.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and most especially to you, Kristen.
@kristin @ going country, I didn't know that there was a sequel to Grease. I always liked the songs but the story line, not so much.
Hahaha, I love what your little guy said to you. So cute!
@kristin @ going country, My heart just melted. . . and it wasn't because of the wool blanket thing. Happy Thanksgiving.
@kristin @ going country, I didn't know there was a Grease sequel.
@Kris, Yup. Michelle Pfeiffer's first big role.
I'm thankful for the real connections to other people that I have managed to accumulate in my lifetime. I don't take it for granted that people care about me, and I'm thankful for the chance to care about them too.
I'm also thankful for my family. They amuse me almost as much as they annoy me. 😉 Seriously, though...I guess they're alright.
I'm thankful for a houseful of food and for my refrigerator Jenga skills.
I'm thankful for my phone which is a magical rectangle of information at my fingertips-everything from work emails to pumpkin pie recipes.
Finally, I'm thankful for good health and remembering Thanksgiving 2019 three years ago when I was bedridden with pneumonia-maybe it was COVID then or maybe just bacterial but it was the sickest I've ever been and I'm so glad I'm not sick this year and that I'm still around to make too much food today!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!!!
Happy cooking, Becca! I'm grateful for you and all the fun comments you add to the community here.
@Kristen,
Thanks! And since I'm not the normal cook in the house, my WIS WWA post this week will be filled with amusing cooking stories...here's a little teaser: making your own "can-shaped" cranberry sauce that doesn't have high fructose corn syrup in it is a process...a messy one...and it involves digging discarded cans of pinto beans out of your recycling bin at 1:30 in the morning and washing them...
Wow, making can-shaped cranberry sauce is so extra. I look forward to hearing about it!
@Becca, are you sure you don't mean Tetris skills? Jenga seems to be more the pulling out skill. Where Tetris is the putting in skill. I loved your analogy either way.
@Ginger Bruce,
Well...um...it's definitely a little of both...
@Ginger Bruce, @Becca, I just laughed out loud, realizing that I, too, do a little of Tetris and a lot of Jenga. I am avoiding doing a LOT of Jenga emptying my fridge as there are some experiments back there, time for a serious emptying of unused condiments. And I am Canadian so don't do Thanksgiving at this time!
I could sit here and read these comments all day long! What a great way to start Thanksgiving Day! Kristen I think I can speak for us all when I say we're so thankful for YOU! What a wonderful community you've put together here. I'm so glad you and your girls are having Thanksgiving together.
I am always grateful for our sweet kitties (one of whom is sitting in the kitchen sink patiently waiting for me to turn on the faucet) and the joy they bring us.
I'm grateful for food in the pantry and the freezer, for football to watch, for nice weather that means we can get a bike ride in today too...and for a very quiet Thanksgiving Day, for healthy friends and family, for my successful little business, and for my very wise and patient spouse.
And finally for the sweet potato pie I made last night 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Thank you, Julie. <3
@Julie from GJ, some international friends of mine called football “American hand egg” and I thought that was a hilarious description, so now I’m trying to pass it on.
I was also thinking that it's nice that Thankful Thursday arrives on Thanksgiving this year.
Thankful that my son is home from college for the weekend and we all get to hang out together, that we don't have to travel (I love my in-laws but I don't love the eight hour drive to their home--we'll do that at Christmas break this year), for the lovely sunshine today, for my fluffy and personable cat, for my friends ..... my list could go on and on so I'll stop now. 🙂
Thankful:
For a quiet holiday for three!
That my SeAttle son is not deployed right now ( soon tho!)
For my two pets. We laugh about something they do every day.
For sunshine and mild temps today.
For extended family friends and supportive coworkers.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
You have a fabulous list of thankful things. And, love your girly Thanksgiving plans!
1) Grateful for catching up with old friends at a high school soccer game yesterday. I hadn't see one set of parents in at least 5 years. Our kids played together way, way back in the day, so it was super nice to see people again. One friend, who is decidedly not a hugger, hugged me yesterday at the game. I am a hugger, and was touched. It's been a while, and she was aware of some drama.
2) For technology, which allows me to get some really great in motion soccer photos, even from the stands. I'm a terrible photographer, but I know I will love these pictures & memories in the future.
3) Fantastic workout classes. When I go, I'm so reminded of how much those endorphins affect my mood, and give me energy. It's very uplifting.
4) I had a bunch of work escalations yesterday, which makes me hopeful that today will be escalation free, and I can enjoy the holiday with minimal work drama.
5) Time with my family, plentiful food, and a warm house to enjoy it all in.
I'm thankful my 2nd daughter was rescued out of an unhealthy and harmful situation. That I have room for her to live with me. That God answers prayer. Always.
@Lynn, prayers for you all.
@Lynn,
Sending hugs to all of you.
I am thankful to be here with my best friend of all time and cook her food. I am thankful to experience this sweet small city. I am thankful all the desserts I made seem to have turned out fine.
This year has been tough for me, with constant anxiety about everything--money, eviction, my bad health, her bad health, my mom's bad health... Ever since I arrived here in Mobile, I feel peaceful, content and happy. And I haven't even started hitting the wine yet!
It occurs to me, too, that two years ago on Thanksgiving I was in the hospital with Covid and pneumonia and couldn't eat a bite of the dinner they served me. Things are looking up from that!
I’m thankful everyone is well today. We’ve had a good 6 weeks of passing a cold/cough/fever type thing one person at.a.time.
I’m thankful we could go to my MIL’s yesterday to use her oven as ours is currently out of service.
As per Kristen‘s post, thankful I bought 4 cartons of half and half at Aldi the other day (maybe people like me were just over buying that’s why you couldn’t find it-sorry).
Thankful for Jesus and new mercies each morning.
1. Funny to see you all bundled up. I think we normally see you in tee shirts or a tank.
2. You never saw Grease? I'm not sure how that could have happened with raising three girls. One of my favorite movies.
1. Oh, that's funny; maybe I happen to take fewer selfies when it's cold out?
2. Lisey was sort of horrified when she realized this as well. That's why we're rectifying the situation today. 😉
I've never seen Grease either. I doubt my children have. My BFF and I watched a horror movie last night that wasn't bad, though.
@Rose, @Kristen and @Anne,
I'm old enough that I saw Grease in the movie theater, first run. I was in high school. I probably need to re-watch it, lol!
What am I thankful for?
I'm thankful that I have no real obligations today. I don't have to cook a big dinner. I don't have to really do anything.
I'm thankful that I too got through another year. It was difficult in a lot of ways but I survived.
I'm also thankful for some things to look forward to. I didn't have a lot of those for the past two years.
I FEEL YOU. I'm wearing joggers and a t-shirt, and I'm so, so happy I don't have to cook a big meal. Just low-key breakfast for dinner with my girls.
I'm glad you are here!
@Battra92, yes! Thanksgiving without all the extra (pretty clothes, gatherings, proper feast) is my personal favorite way to spend the day.
@Battra92,
Same here! Hubby and I are sick (boo), but we had planned a low key dinner anyway (yay!). Didn't have to be anywhere or do much of anything.
Kristen,
My heart was with you yesterday for your rough time. I was so proud of you for being vulnerable with us, which allowed so many of us to air our sadnesses, too. Well, I was among them but it was too hard yesterday.
We had a death in the family this week and the funeral was yesterday. Hard time for this, not that there’s ever a good time. You wondered if others can relate to you having a pity party. Did you see how many of us could? Probably more; others who could not quite say it yet yesterday.
I am thankful today for your bravery and caring. And for this community, which is just like you. Many thanks!
Oh, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Sending you so much love, and I wish I could give you a hug.
@Kristen,
You give me a hug with many of your blog posts!
@Erika JS, my sympathy to you on the death in the family. That's hard no matter when it happens, but especially so when it's close to a holiday.
-I am thankful to spend Thanksgiving in the usa for the first time since I moved abroad over 20 years ago
-I am thankful for my Moms in Prayer group which provides me with friendship and spiritual support
-Thankful for my parents and that they are still healthy in their 60s
-Thankful for egg nog lattes
I hope your day of turkey here in the U.S. satisfies all your Thanksgiving desires! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I'm thankful this week that
* I got to take off yesterday afternoon to get a head start on some holiday baking
* Both kids will come over for lunch today. We're doing traditional Thanksgiving at MIL's tomorrow so today we'll have meatloaf, baked potatoes, green beans, and biscuits
* My BFF's son and grandson are in town for Thanksgiving, so she isn't alone today
* We'll deliver the reindeer and sleigh that I refreshed to MIL tomorrow. I'm hoping she will be happy to see her late husband's handiwork looking nice again
* Our son got a seasonal job so he could quit the job that was so physically hard on him
I love that you refreshed something your father-in-law made. What a sweet gift!
I am so thankful your girls will be with you for Thanksgiving! It sounds like you’ve planned a fun day.
Also, that topic you discussed in your psychology class has impacted me as a parent and teacher. I’ve read a book called Mindsets by Carol Dweck a few times and it does an amazing job explaining the ideas.
I am thankful for family (we had a major health scare this year that of course reminded me of my fortune in this area), my Bible study group, my colleagues and my friends in general. Relationships are so important!
And, on this Thanksgiving, as much as having sweet babies is special, I’m grateful for quiet and patience and adventurous palates as the food is prepared.
Finally, among other things, I’m grateful for you and this community. Thank you for sharing and encouraging us all as you navigate life.
I am also going through a terrible year, but therapy has helped me break through some of the clouds. (Although, when it comes to nature, I love clouds!) And it's been a struggle but I have found a tribe to support me, and take strength from the efforts I see you, and others, put into making a terrible experience into something useful (if not enjoyable).
I am having second-Friendsgiving with a friend, and we are going full-out. I am making cornbread and sausage dressing because I've never had it, and he's eschewing turkey and ham for a garlic-studded "roast beast." There's also a dress code, haha.
The weather has been gorgeous if chilly at times, which means I've been getting some raking in. I love gardening and playing outdoors.
I refilled the bird feeders after about a year-long hiatus, and am enjoying seeing them so happy for treats.
Happy Thanksgiving, FG!
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m a long time reader but first time commenter (I think). Kristen I am always inspired by your outlook on life and your blog has helped me in so many ways. I always feel uplifted after reading your posts and the comments! I am grateful for my husband’s health- this time last year he was in the middle of a scary two week hospital stay. Grateful for all the doctors and nurses and home health professionals who helped him make a full recovery. 🙂
Oh, I am so happy that you took the time to comment. Yay! And I'm so glad your husband is healthy this year. I hope your time together is wonderful this Thanksgiving.
I shared your blog post on my FB yesterday because it was so timely. And I feel much the same as you regarding surviving the year - I can look back at it and feel proud of myself. Much as I would love to thrive - survive is a worthy goal. Also, regarding the tenet of work habits being more important than intelligence: in the medical world, that is 100% correct. You will find yourself surrounded by seemingly ordinary and average people who manage to do great things things because of their life skills in the area of perseverance and flexibility, not to mention creativity and willingness to learn. We were just discussing this at work yesterday! My co-workers and I weren't straight A students, but those life skills factor in to how we manage our very challenging jobs each day. Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your time with your girls! (:
You have been through something so hard; YES you should feel proud of yourself. Much love to you!
Thankful for you Kristen!
and thankful for a simple holiday plan which includes a good long walk and some simple food all ready for the oven.
and as always Coffee (I had a second cup today--what a treat!)
Karen
I’m thankful for you and your blog, for my family and our health, and that my sons are happy and doing well. Enjoy this day with your girls!
I have so much to be thankful for. I remind myself how much I'm blessed. Your thankful Thursday help me so much. 3 years ago I was sent home to die but discovered going low-salt helped. I am still here to love and enjoy my family. They have been so helpful. My great granddaughter &hermother's kindness in being sure we came know &be with her. The gift of seeing my kids turned out to be good people. You and all the commenter. They help me feel part of a nice neighborhood.
So glad you are still here! Happy Thanksgiving to you!
I am thankful that I have this blog to read. That it's authored by someone who's usually positive but, however hesitantly, shows when she's not so we know we're not alone. Who seems to bring out the best in her readership and attracts the most interesting people.
I didn't reply yesterday but I know the feeling. There are days when things that should be so simple aren't, when our reserves are so low that even a small bump in the road looks insurmountable, when we maybe even feel stupid for getting "so worked up" about a "small" thing. When it slips our mind that we see others' highlight reels but our own outtakes and bloopers; when we forget that we wouldn't actually be happy in - for example - a big showy house, no matter how nice it looks at the moment.
Kristen, you have the pleasure of knowing that not only have you earned what you've achieved but also that you can do it again if need be. One fear that rich people have, that isn't often shared, is that if they lose it, they'll never be able to get it back. I think you feel (as I do) a great deal of satisfaction from "cobbling together" something wonderful from things that would have otherwise gone to waste, and that you get a lot more joy from furniture you've rehabbed or recused than you would from something you simply bought from a catalog. While it's true that money makes certain things easier, it's also true that money can't provide the most important things: a loving family (even if not the one you expected to have), a feeling of accomplishment, self-reliance and resilience.
PS: unless you need to make whipped cream or butter, you can almost always use evaporated milk in place of cream.
Nodding my head about the satisfaction of cobbling things together!
And thank you for all the kind words.
I did want to make actual whipped cream for our meal today, but I compromised and bought whipped cream in a can. 😉
@WilliamB, what a beautiful comment. Thank you for sharing!
I am thankful for neighbors that have become dear friends.
I am thankful for good and kind extended family that is near by.
I am thankful for my kids, they drive me nuts sometimes but they really are turning out to be delightful people.
I am thankful for my hardworking husband.
I am thankful that I am capable of finding the good, even when it’s hard.
I am grateful for all the small encouragement that are around me, like this blog. Or like the lady who smiled at the grocery store, or when they neighbor brings flowers for no reason, or when I find just what I’m looking for at the thrift store…. All those tiny small things really do make for better days.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thankful for you, Kristen and this caring blog community!
Today Mom and I will plant daffodil bulbs at dad & brother's grave site and we will plant hundreds of tulips here on the farm. That is the promise of beauty and Spring!
For our awesome neighbors.
For my sweet dog, she brings smiles and laughter everyday of our lives.
For a supply of winter wood to keep us warm.
For my more mechanically inclined family members who will put together my new manure spreader that I can pull behind my ATV (which costs pennies vs. real dollars in diesel for the big tractor).
Have a safe holiday weekend, everyone!
So, so thankful for you, Kristen. Your post yesterday was insightful and encouraging. You put into words how one thing can turn into something unexpected and painful. It has been a season of “stuff” for me which is why this post helped me gain more clarity. Thanks so much for the perspective and hope. Thanks for this blog community, I feel accepted and encouraged to be a part of your readers.
I’ve been a longtime reader of your blog, but seldom post; however, your post yesterday really stayed with me, and I wanted to let you know that your blog means a lot to so many people, even if we are mostly lurking. Thank you for sharing the messy parts of your life as you’re able, and not just a sanitized version. It helps to know that we all have unique struggles, and I can totally relate to wanting to be done with a really bad year (mine was 2003, when DH was unemployed for most of the year and I had to return to work after being a SAHM for 7 years, and was diagnosed with a serious chronic disease). I never want to repeat it, but am grateful for having emerged from it a stronger person.
Today, I’m grateful for:
- my family around me, especially having my grown children nearby!
- having meaningful work with great coworkers (consider dialysis nursing once you graduate, Kristen!)
- my faith, which helps me know I’m unconditionally loved
- the many material blessings I have (food, heat, shelter, clothing)
- the sunshine and warmer temperatures after a couple of weeks of solidly wintry weather.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to all! I'm thankful to be a tiny part of this community.
I was not taught how to use my intelligence so I very much agree with you.
I read your “pity party” post last night along with all of the comments. I was in the midst of my own pity party and your post has made me try hard not to wallow<3 I am missing my mom, but I am ever so thankful to have been blessed with a supportive wonderful mom.
I’m also thankful for having an entire week off work and the ability to walk to the beach each morning for the sunrise with my friends and our dogs. It’s hard to get up at 5:30 but so worth it!
And I can’t believe you’ve never seen Grease—enjoy! But then I’m probably the only person who has ever purposely avoided watching Titanic.
That I made it alive to the end of this week. I have not been feeling well for a few weeks and several doctor visits a constant round of changing antibiotics. The my last visit I am sitting in the waiting room after having blood taken and the doctor comes out and tells me to go to the emergency room right away and asks if I have a ride or need an ambulance. I get to ER, next thing I know I am being wheeled into surgery; it felts like the bum's rush with not a moment to raise a hesitation, although by then I was not that coherent anyway because I just kept saying I wanted to die and to leave me in peace. Then into sugery and then into ICU for several days. SO I am thankful to the wonderful nurses who tended me even when all I was doing was acting like a big baby. To the highly skilled doctor who got through a surgery that ended up being more complicated than he thought it would be. To the kitchen people who kept trying to find something I could tolerate to eat. To the friends who rallied around my husband through some miracle of communication that our neighbor took on. And, as always, to my husband, who just kept doing the next step as it was needed and kept telling me it was okay if I really wanted to die but he didn't really want me to make that decision when I was in so much pain. To the pound hound who was so ecstatic to see me that he peed on both of us as he was trying to leap up to reach my face for licking. So now I am home, sitting in bed, watching the parade and soon my favorite dog show while he prepares what will be an abysmal rendering of a THanksgiving turkey. He is no cook but it was thawing when the drama started so off to the oven it goes. I have a lot to be thankful for, more than I intended to be thankful for at the beginning of this week!
Oh Lindsey, I am so very glad you are ok!!
@Lindsey, I'm so sorry to hear that things have been so rough for you--but glad to know you're home now. My best wishes to you, your husband, and of course Pound Hound.
@Lindsey, so glad you are better. I look forward to your comments. Stay well.
@Lindsey, I am so glad you are alive and getting better!
@Lindsey,
Wow, that sounds incredibly scary. I'm so glad you're home and feeling better. (And thank you for thanking the kitchen staff....I'm a hospital dietitian, and work closely with our kitchen....we don't often get thank yous).
@Lindsey, So glad you are doing okay now! I hope you have a quick recovery. I always look forward to reading your comments.
@Lindsey, woah, I am SO glad to hear that your challenges were identified in time and you got the help you need, so scary for you and your family. Your comments on this blog bring me joy, and so (selfishly, for myself alone) I am happy that you are still with us and that you didn't get your wish to die. Such a hard time = intense pain takes away my ability to think clearly, and I imagine it was doing the same for you. GLAD YOU ARE HERE!
@Lindsey, I'm only just getting back and reading through the FG posts I missed - I'm so very thankful for you and your resilience and tenacity and grace throughout these scary experiences.
I thought the hakf and half issue was unique to my grocery stores!!! Apparently it isn’t. Ha!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Kristen, and to the members of the lovely community that your blog has brought together.
Today I am thankful for the sunshine, and because I am celebrating Thanksgiving at a restaurant, with my niece and her husband. I know it will be a nice evening with good food that I don't have to cook.
I am thankful for all my friends, for their love and support.
I am endlessly thankful for my dog Smudge, without whom I would not have survived the isolation of the pandemic.
And although I miss my late husband every day, I am so grateful for the years we had together, for all our travels and for the interests we shared.
We’re doing breakfast Thanksgiving too! Bacon egg cups, cinnamon rolls, and grapefruit. And then if we’re feeling up for it mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce for dinner.
Thankful:
1. That my son was discharged from PICU Monday, allowing us to be home together today. (Also thankful for his seemingly miraculous healing between midnight and 6 am Saturday that took him out of a really dangerous situation)
2. Snow on the ground and the sun’s reflection off it.
3. Snuggles from my youngest today. School really gets in the way of lots of snuggles, so it’s nice to have this extra time off to get that cup filled.
Our son has been ill for a year and today he is feeling a bit better and able to be with us for a low key holiday.For this I am really really grateful.
Your posts are a source of courage and stamina, to me. (Have beem for at least 10 years now!) In my dark days I read how others are doing, coping,etc… . and like you,I know I am not alone in facing challenges and some days being really cranky about it.. then I get my head on straight again and move forward.
I am a retired Nurse. . (LABOR AND DELIVERY!). and I love following your nursing adventures.. you are gonna be so good at your career!!!!
You have had a most challenging year, and here you are,still hanging in there, attending school, feathering your own nest, having a loving family, taking care of the kitties,etc..You are a hero!!
Happy Thanksgiving.There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for,right!!!?
I think in this drought year many cows including dairy were sold off to avoid losses. Since rainfall hasn't caught up dairy herds may remain diminished for some time.
I don’t drink dairy anymore and use oat milk. I find it substitutes in soup very well. Be mindful if you use oat milk, some have a lot of sediment in the bottom. I use Earth’s Own and it seems to be very smooth. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!
I'm a day late to the Thankful Thursday party, but I'm thankful that we were able to come visit my in-laws in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving this year. My mother-in-law's side has a huge get-together every year for Thanksgiving and as they're all aging, this was the last time it was at that particular aunt and uncle's house. I have a lot of good memories in that house as they have always welcomed me in with open arms and I'm really thankful that we were able to be there one last time. It had been 4 years since we were there (my youngest was a wee little baby at the time) and it was a joy to see everyone again.
I'm also thankful that my kids travel so well. Over 9 hours in the van and no screens and we were all fine. I'm thankful for my library supplying us with audiobooks and music downloads for the long trip.
Managing a long drive with multiple kids is no small feat! Good for you!
1. Thankful for my mug of coffee, pumpkin pie and apple crisp breakfast complete with cool whip this morning.
2. For the sunshine outside my window.
3. For my daughter being home from college and the time we get to spend together.
4. For the little dog who loves and adores me and is my companion through my lonely times of daughter going back to school, boyfriend break-ups and long nights.
5. For experiencing love and relationships late in life, the ability to learn from them and a strong core/sense of self to get me through rough times.
There's nothing wrong with a high IQ. Labels
Oh yes, a high IQ is a lovely blessing if you've got it! I was just saying that I appreciate that my parents emphasized good work habits more than focusing on innate intelligence.
thankful for:
* Not being in school still. I would be in the thick of it with papers and final exams....yuck. I don't regret my decision to quit.
* My husband. Having a partner in life is priceless to me. I am very happy that we kept trying even in harder times and that we are now in a good place in our relationship.
* That we were able to let the girls at home, alone, for the 1st time for an outing at night. My oldest had a friend over to keep them company and her mother lives 3 doors down (in case...) but still!
* For health insurance. My DD needs braces, I think it will cover 50%
* For the Buy Nothing group in my area. It's pretty active and I got a bunch of stuff (and gave a lot as well)
Have a great weekend!
My daughter saw Grease when she was 8 years old. She loved the movie, so I told her there’s Grease 2. Of course she wanted to see it. After I started the movie, she shared her concern that it was different people. I told her that the other people graduated and most likely went to college or started a job. She had a strange look on her face and said, (maybe a spoiler alert), “They lied. They said they’d always be together.” She has never liked Grease 2, but loves Grease.
If your life was a book, your interaction with the cat pack man would be a meet cute. Was he single?!