Thankful Thursday | week 2 of school
This week, I am thankful:
that I remember a lot of my Bio 101 material
Bio 101 was my first class back as an adult student, and boy, a lot of the concepts from that class are resurfacing in microbiology this semester.
And the same was true at the start of Anatomy and Physiology 1.
So, I am reminded that it is not usually a waste of time to study hard in these foundational classes, because everything seems to build on the previous classes as you go. I am thankful for Past Kristen from Bio 101. 😉
that Zoe passed her driver's test
Now that my youngest kid can drive, I am only responsible for driving myself around. And this hasn't been the case since September of 1999!
What a wild new phase of life I am in.
that I am getting into a bit of a groove with school
I was feeling very overwhelmed last week, but I do feel a little better this week. I have a slightly better grasp of what the routine is for assignments and due dates, and I'm sure that will be even more true by next week.
There's just so much to navigate at the beginning of the semester, especially with multiple classes. So many syllabi! So many things to register for and log into! So many "getting started" modules!
that my microbiology professor has made very helpful Quizlets
I do not think I am going to love microbiology the same way that I loved Anatomy and Physiology, but my professor is definitely good at what she does.
And she's made some super helpful Quizlet materials; I learned so much doing the various styles of quizzes that were available.
for a chance to be in a lab
My microbiology comes with a lab section, and this is the first time in my life I've been in an actual lab, like with a lab coat and goggles and such.
Homeschooled science experiments obviously don't happen in a lab (!), and my college Bio 101 class was all online, so we did our labs at home in the kitchen. And Anatomy and Physiology labs were in-person, but they mostly consisted of handling body models.
So...I'm feeling like such an official science student now. 😉
that the math part of chemistry has been easy so far
I know it might get harder as the semester goes on, but most of the math concepts so far have been things I'm super familiar with.
And I put this down to being a homeschool mom; if I hadn't done math since high school, my math skills would be pretty rusty!
for my cute little rental house
I know I've put this on my list a lot of times but...I'm still thankful! This home is so perfect for the girls and me.
that I got to bring my piano here
I was playing my piano yesterday and thinking about how happy I am that I was able to move it here to my rental.
I have never in my life lived in a home without a piano, and I think a piano-less house would probably make my heart sad. A piano makes a house feel like a home to me!
that we do not have to wear masks at class right now
I know this could change, depending on what happens with Covid during the school year, but for right now it's so nice to be able to see everyone's faces.
that I have an A&P classmate in microbiology
One of my classmates from A&P 1 & 2 is in my microbiology class and lab this semester. So, yay! A familiar face. 🙂
Thankful that I am settling in to the groove of teaching this new year.
Thankful for positive colleagues and the experience to veer away from the negative ones.
Thankful for my car, it gets me from one place to another reliably and I take it for granted too often.
Thankful that my adult daughter moved into her own apt and is adjusting to life on her own.
Thankful for meal prepping and decluttering and journaling, all happy little habits in my life.
COFFEE
Karen
I’m working really hard right now. I’ve barely had time to breathe. Although I am in my late 50s, I am thankful that I still have the energy, stamina, and strength to work 12-15 hours a day. This is an enormous blessing.
On a side note, I drink Yogi Tea. The company has insightful quotes printed on the tea bag tab. I was drinking my peppermint tea last night and read these words of wisdom, “Gratitude is not about what is received; it’s about how you receive what is there.”
That is what you have taught us all, Kristen.
Wishing everyone many blessings.
@Bee, that quote is so true. Thanks for sharing it and I hope you continue in strength. Those are long days!
@Bee, I am also in my late 50's so I am super impressed by your strength and stamina!
Oh, I love that quote!
I'm thankful my nephew's brain surgery went well on Tuesday and he had a good day yesterday. Hopefully he will be released this evening. I'm thankful his parents and sister were able to be physically present for him.
I'm thankful for cooler weather this week and also for rain after a dry stretch.
I'm thankful my SIL rejoined her church choir. She had missed it.
I'm thankful for a random encounter with a friend at the grocery store yesterday. She's been very busy but we spent some minutes catching up.
I'm thankful a friend's son is out of rehab. He suffered a terrible accident and required major surgeries to be put back together but after a couple weeks of rehab he is home. He still has months of healing but he nailed it in rehab.
@K D, Yay! for the good rehab and brain surgery! Those things are so scary.
First, I am thankful that when my million dollar windfall lands in my lap, I am prepared with lots of ideas from very smart people on what to do with it!
Other things I am thankful for:
*Public Libraries - Right now I have 5 dvds checked out. Some were great, others not so much and I didn't waste a penny on subscription fees. Plus I have 3 dvds and 8 books on hold. Having to buy all those would be truly unaffordable.
*Cooler weather - I LOVE open windows and fresh air. Autumn is my favorite time of year and it's here.
*Retirement - I retired earlier than I had planned due to family illness. Yet my husband and I have all we need and so much more. So many people are not able to prepare well for retirement and the statistics on how much money is needed vs how much most people are able to save are rather frightening. So my situation is not something I take for granted.
*People who have gone through life situations that I am now in who are willing to share their wisdom - probably not the most grammatically correct non-sentence. Our house is no longer right for us; the upkeep is too much work. Unfortunately I live in a very expensive area where it would cost as much or more than my house is worth for us to downsize to a smaller place in a safe neighborhood. Weird, huh! So we are looking at out-of-state real estate and it is not going well. Out of the blue a friend called last week and needed a place to stay over the weekend. She and her husband have successfully navigated the journey we are on and it was wonderful to sit around after a leisurely meal and ask questions and we did it several times. What I don't have at this time is perspective, but my friends do. I have to remind myself that I don't have to reinvent the wheel.
I am happy for you that your studies are not only succesful but enjoyable!
Thankfuls this week
That I do not need to go into the office yet - trains have been on strike several times and it would have been well nigh impossible;
That my husband did not need his car this morning - I was able to drive to a doctor's appointment instead of going by bike. We had a huge thunderstorm this morning! It would have been dangerous even;
That our son's car was just back from service. He needed to go to work early and biking would have been too dangerous due to the thunder;
That the results at the doctor were good by the way which means that my current lifestyle is ok. That is reassuring.
I'm thankful that slowly, slowly my face is improving. You probably wouldn't be able to even tell by looking at me, but I can.
I'm thankful that my husband is able and willing to do most of the canning and preserving so that I can homeschool.
I'm thankful that my college son has called a couple times; he hasn't just dropped off the face of the earth. (I miss him!)
I'm thankful my other children have picked up the chore gap without too much complaining.
I'm thankful for cooler temperatures.
I'm thankful for coffee.
I'm thankful for my father wanting to provide piano lessons for my daughters and also that he takes them to lessons.
I'm thankful that my almost 7-year-old has picked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for her birthday party meal. How easy is that for a meal?!
I'm thankful for a local hunting club that puts on a hunter/gun safety class that my daughter's taking. She may never hunt, but I want my children to be safe around guns.
@Jody S., Happy Birthday to your very sweet 7-year-old! PB&J for a birthday meal, my heart :)!
@Farhana, And it is all the more appreciated by me since her brother's birthday and party is the day before hers. It is our birthday season around here with 3 birthdays in September. I also appreciate that she wants an ice cream cake, and he wants brownies. Many years had 3 birthday cakes in 2 weeks, and I simply cannot enjoy eating cake that often.
Thankfuls . . .
--That all four of my kids passed their first judo test, so they can all move together to the next level. Particularly thankful my youngest son passed. He's been having a very hard time adjusting at school so far this year, and had just had unfortunate results on a math test. He would have been devasted to think he's "bad" at math AND judo, which he loves. He forgot a couple of things during the judo test, but still passed.
--For an excellent preschool teacher for my daughter. She's very advanced in many ways, and loves school things, so it's nice she has a teacher who is able to challenge her even at a young age. And that she likes being challenged. (This same teacher was the aforementioned less-academic son's preschool teacher, too, and she was great with him as well, so she's really just a wonderful teacher all around, for all kids.)
--For my husband's willingness to take all four kids fishing by himself all day on Monday. Which meant I got a day at home alone. It was much needed, and much appreciated.
--For a productive garden this year. It took a few years of trying (and failing) to figure out what works here, but now I have enough to preserve and enough to give away freely. Giving away garden produce is one of my favorite things.
--For the important community relationships that are strengthed by that giving away, and receiving. We've only been here four years, but have formed friendships with people whose families have been here hundreds of years. Most of them are older and won't be around in ten years, so I'm very thankful we got to know them and learn from them while they were still able to teach us. They have shared their memories of what is now very much a lost way of life, and their knowledge of how to live in this very specific region, and I am so grateful for that.
I am thankful that even though today will be a long day with back to school night it is Thursday already and this week has moved along much faster than last week.
Thankful the grand baby received excellent care in the NICU. Thankfully it was a brief scary stay.
For my funny & nutty boss. She always has such off the wall remarks.
The journey to put dad in an assisted living facility is going well. Thank goodness for social workers!
For our nice weather, we could use rain but it has been in the 50's at night so no air conditioning needed.
@Mar,
It sounds as though you have had some difficult moments lately. Wishing you peace.
I remember x-ray school as an adult fondly most of the time, though we were in an impossible situation and I don't even know how we made it work. But I am so grateful I stuck with it as it 1000% made a positive difference in my family's life! Learning a new set of skills is never a bad thing. Right here where I sit this morning I am grateful for:
My home - really too big for one person, but very comfortable, with a relatively low mortgage payment and many happy memories, the possibility of seeing Son #2 today for coffee, a mental health day off where I can get some stitching done, my washing machine chugging along in the background, and the neighbor's dog barking which means I have a security system on that side of my house - ha! In the midst of grief, still lots of things to be grateful for.
https://cannaryfamily.blogspot.com/
Kristen,
Please make sure you are taking care of yourself. There is a large chance that this may be crazy imagination on my part, but I have noticed that recent pictures of you suggest that you have lost some weight, compared to the pictures of 2020 and 2021. Please, I do NOT mean any offense by this, and if you like, you can delete this comment. I hope you are taking care of yourself during this tough transition, (you are doing a great job), and I pray for God's strength and blessings on you and your family.
No worries; I'm not offended. I have definitely lost weight, albeit unintentionally. In 2019, 2020, and 2021 I was faithfully lifting weights, so I'd put on a fair bit of muscle (ok, and probably some fat too. Ha.)
But when I left my marriage in January, I stopped lifting weights, partially because I didn't have them with me, and partially because I was in such a state of distress, that all I could manage to do was walk.
So....I think I have lost pretty much all my muscle gains. Sigh. But recently, I have been doing some lifting again so maybe I will find some of my lost muscles.
A lot of my clothes don't fit properly now, which is why I have been slowly buying a few things in smaller sizes. But I'm going to hang onto the larger sizes too, in case I manage to regain some of my muscles again!
But, don't worry; I am in SUCH a much better place mentally than I was when I left in January, and I am faithfully feeding myself lots of produce and protein and whole grains, and I am exercising and sleeping.
@Kristen,
You are so kind.
I will share these quotes from Elizabeth Goudge's books. They have been helpful to me, and I hope it is for you, too.
"There always comes, I think, a sort of peak in suffering at which either you win over your pain or your pain wins over you, according as to whether you can, or cannot, call up that extra ounce of endurance that helps you to break through the circle of yourself and do the hitherto impossible. That extra ounce carries you through. Psychologists have a name for it, I believe. Christians call it the Grace of God.”
and
"Life's not this little bit of existence you're plodding through now, it's the whole thing, all that is. It's the breath of God, words that he spoke, a song, a stream of white light that goes back to him again. Life is good... Life is fine and grand, and we should love it to the depths of our souls.”
Oh, I love these quotes. Thank you for sharing them.
Thankful for a husband who does chores and honey-do items around the house on his day off which makes my days off not quite so crazy. Lately my weekends have been jam packed with chore list items and projects and I am trying to get it all done so that we aren't crazy around the holidays. I am determined to succeed!
Thankful for a good night's sleep last night. I rested well after a very long day on Wednesday and I am so grateful! Being exhausted and then not being able to sleep well is no fun.
Thankful that we had a day without rain yesterday! It made traffic much less worse and it was nice to see the sun and blue sky.
Thankful for lunch with a good friend - so nice to chat with someone that is in the same stage of life that you are.
Thankful for the chance to host some ladies in my home this weekend for dinner. I love to cook and bake and to serve others so the chance to get together is such a blessing - I can't wait!
Thankful that we were able to have the first in-person meeting in 3 years of our street's Neighborhood Watch group last night. I've chaired this group for the past 12 or 13 years, and it's been my privilege to do so--even if I occasionally have to remind myself in regard to the usual motormouths and arguers that "chairing the group" does not mean "putting someone's head through a chair"!
@A. Marie,
I have to admit, your secret idea of "chairing" would appeal to me strongly when around certain people.
@A. Marie, "even if I occasionally have to remind myself in regard to the usual motormouths and arguers that “chairing the group” does not mean “putting someone’s head through a chair”!" LOOL.
@A. Marie, You always have such a delightfully surprising way with words.
@A. Marie,
I agree with these commenters. I always look for your posts (among a few others), which are sure to be equals parts wisdom and hilarity.
@A. Marie, If putting the heads of annoying people through a chair were what chairpersons did, I would be volunteering left and right just to become a chairperson!!
A good teacher can make all the difference in a course. Hooray that you are getting good ones!
1. I am thankful that the guy who backed into my car in line at the Costco gas pumps last Thursday has accepted fault and that the repairs should be very minor. I am still waiting on the repair shop to call, but my car is completely drivable in the meantime and doesn't even look bad.
2. I'm thankful that July and August were totally quiet on the hurricane front.
3. I'm thankful that I stumbled across a really good Christmas gift idea for a person for whom I always struggle to come up with gift ideas. I placed the order with the company yesterday, and that's one more tough one off of my list.
4. I'm thankful that the huge red and yellow splotch of rain on the radar stayed south of me as I drove to work today. We have some heavy rain coming our way.
5. I'm thankful that the first (and only) Satsuma mandarin orange to survive on my newish tree is still hanging there on the limb, getting bigger. If it makes it through the next couple of months, I will finally be able to eat my first Satsuma from my own little tree. If the Satsuma tree does like my Meyer lemon tree, it will start producing more fruit each year.
@JD, wow, those Costco gas lines are perilous. We got backed into there as well. Luckily, the other driver had insurance and it paid in our case too.
@Dianne in CO, We were at the Costco gasline earlier this week and my husband opened the back of the van to get out gas cans that need to be full in case we need to use the generator this winter. Pound hound leapt out of our vehicle and into the open door of another car that had a dog in it. Apparently he was experiencing love at first sight and did not want to get out. He finally came back when my husband started the engine as if we were going to drive off and leave him. The other dog owner was very pleasant about it. I am just glad he was more interested in her dog than in her groceries sitting in the back.
@Lindsey, I like dogs, so I would consider that a much nicer encounter in the gas line!
@Lindsey, I wish a dog would jump into my car in the Costco gas line! Such a fun story! Thanks for sharing.
School started the day after Labor Day for my brand new middle schooler – he’s come home from school both days in the best mood.
I took the first day of school off to have brunch with friends. This yearly tradition makes these milestones a little less teary.
I have been making an effort to call my grandma when I’m on a walk. I can tell her memory is getting worse but I don’t mind telling her the same story or information a few times, I just love hearing her voice and her laugh. I always let her know how far “we” walked together and she should treat herself to a glass of wine.
I finally found a good book to read! I have quite a few books on my to-read line up and so many have been disappointing. I found a new book by an author that never disappoints, and I am feeling so much happier.
I was late for a family dinner last week and as I was walking into the restaurant I bumped into a friend from college. I was so thankful to be late or else I wouldn’t have seen her. The cherry on top was her reaching out a few days later to set up a dinner date for the two of us to catch up.
@Geneva, I love that when you talk with your Grandma that you are patient and don't mind retelling her information
Ooh, what a fun dinner date to look forward to!
@Geneva, how awesome that you talk to your grandmother when you are on a walk and tell her how far 'you walked together'! So very sweet!!
This continues to be my favorite day of the week on your blog! Isn't it fun to do the science-y labs?
Thankful I am healthy. Thankful for the really fun day I had with my college roommate and her son on Saturday when she was visiting from across the state. Grateful that said day was a beautiful weather day and she could enjoy the beauty that Lake Michigan has to offer! Thankful I am back at work again after my bout with covid. Appreciative of the time I get to spend shortly with my niece (who is more like a little sister).
We recently found out my daughter is pregnant with twins! She woke up a few days ago bleeding and asked for prayers for a miracle and peace. (She has miscarried 3 times previously.) She went to the ER, and the babies and her uterus are fine!!! The doctor still can't figure out what caused the bleeding. Sooo grateful!!
I won 3 pounds of my favorite hotdogs in a silly facebook contest. It's only hotdogs....but it made me inordinately happy. Ha!
Fall is definitely in the air here in Maine and I absolutely love the seasonal shift. I have 6 big pumpkins still turning orange in my garden and my 1 butternut plant has over 15 squash growing on it! Bumper crop.
My electric bill has been very, very low for the past few months. Summer was mild enough that we didn't use the ac hardly at all and I have been line drying my clothes all summer. I just had to refill the oil tank for winter, and the lower electric bills made this bigger bill feel not-so-terrible.
We have been back from Hong Kong for over a year now, and last week we got a check in the mail from the HK IRD (like our IRS). They said we overpaid when we left the city and sent us a refund. It was a little over $1200.00 USD, and very unexpected. We were very grateful!
What a relief about your daughter's pregnancy. Yay!
Thankful for a lot this week:
-For A/C, in the midst of a terrible heat wave. We've done our best to follow the guidance on power usage, given the challenges California is having with the power grid. But, either way, it's so nice to have the ability to cool the house earlier in the day (ahead of power usage restrictions). It's not perfect, but way better than having no A/C.
-That we have a pool, and hosted two pool parties this weekend. It was so, so nice to see the kids engaging with friends. It had been years, due to COVID, that we'd had a pool party and kids friends over.
-That I'm done with business traveling. I don't enjoy it, and I really don't enjoy the jet lag, that is my companion for the week or so post traveling.
-I gave my manager an advanced heads up that I'm quitting. This allows him time to fill my role (typically this can take anywhere from 6 months+), and me time to wrap up what I need to, and feel like I'm leaving my team in good shape. I've been there for 9 years, so it will be an adjustment all around.
I'm thankful that my recheck with the dentist on my implant showed everything was healing well
I'm thankful that we are in financial position to help our son out. His refrigerator went out this week and with his part time salary, he would not have been able to afford a new one without going into debt. Also thankful that we found a frig that was on sale and was delivered in two days
I'm thankful that the weather is starting to cool down
I'm thankful that when our power was knocked out by a car accident for almost 12 hours I had time before it got dark to find candles and emergency lights and that the power came back on before I needed to get ready for work
I'm thankful that blog's weekly exercise in thankfulness makes me stop and take time to appreciate all that is good in my life
I am thankful that
1. My return to teaching music for the autumn is going well. I have a really fun and lively group of students now. My kids are back to playing too.
2. I had a lovely conversation with my father and step-mother yesterday. We have been slowly reconciling after an enormous blow up earlier this year.
3. A bone density scan came back with good results.
4. We are going ahead with a mini kitchen remodel, new countertop and a hood. I cook a lot, like many people here, and I am looking forward to a prettier and more functional kitchen.
5. My husband just turned down the chance to interview for a job on the other coast. Despite feeling a bit sad about it, I love new things and living new places, when I think about our community, lifestyle, and how happy our children are here, I feel grateful that we have a good situation already. When our youngest leaves for college, we can make changes.
I'm thankful that my daughter likes school. She does miss her old teacher but so far she seems to be doing well with her new one.
That my job hasn't been overly difficult lately. It's been frustrating at times but not difficult.
That my wife and I are finding some time to spend together watching shows and doing stuff together.
I'm not ready for snow or even wearing a coat but I am glad that I can wear a long sleeve shirt again. I have a ton for work and they sit idle for a while.
That the temperatures are cooling down.
That I've been able to spend some time with friends.
That book club is starting up again.
That I've had such good sweet times with my grandson this summer.
Thankful for small positive changes in our son’s health.He’s been sick for a while.
Thankful for the change of seasons here in Arizona..itis subtle, but definitely feel the “autumn” vibe in the changing light and cooler mornings.
Grateful I am healthy and strong for the most part.
Thankful for a blessed marriage.My husband is my best friend.We have been supporting one another through a year of challenges.
Thankful that we have enough.Enough food, a home, clothes, clean water, love. More than enough. I am always aware that in USA many of us are very privileged. Very very grateful.
1. Thankful for my son being released to walk without a boot following his second lower leg surgery.
2. Thankful for the kind nurses and doctor who guided us to this point.
3. Thankful that PT can begin soon so he can get back to running.
4. Thankful for an abundance of tomatoes for us to savor with each meal.
5. Thankful for friends and family…including this wonderful FG community.
If you have any trouble with the math in chemistry check out Tyler DeWitt on YouTube.
I'm thankful to be home as of last night after three weeks on the road.
I'm thankful that our ministry and our local public school recognize our need for unplug time after our Feb-Aug busy season.
I'm thankful we could spend relax time in beautiful places like Glacier and Yellowstone.
I'm thankful I got two nights away in the backcountry all by myself! Two nights away and a full day of solo hiking (19 mikea r/t) to see a lake I've been wanting to see -- that's my kind of mom's night out! And soaking my feet in a glacier-fed lake surrounded by beauty and quiet -- perfect!
I'm thankful for my friend R. who canned all the produce from my garden while we were away. THAT was a labor of love!
Oh wow, that IS a good friend to do your canning for you!
@Dorinda, A friend that will can for you? Woah. Keep her!!!
I am thankful that for the hour of rain we had this morning. We need rain so badly in SoCal.
I am thankful that the weather is improving. Today we should be below 100.
I am thankful for good windows. Our house has newish windows and are a huge improvement on the windows in the super old apartment we had been living in.
I am thankful for my slowcooker and good slowcooker recipes from ATK. I love being able to cook without turning the oven on.
I am thankful for the EveryPsalm project by Poor Bishop Hooper.
Thankful that:
1. Both husband and I are frequently contacted to do short term gigs for the court. We don't need the money for survival but I like getting pin money that doesn't require taking it out of our savings or normal budget and I also like keeping my brain working.
2. That the last two weeks of August and the first week of this month I had a series of grocery shops that not only covered all our groceries for the month but I ran out of things we needed and restocked our cupboard with tuna, mayo and crushed tomatoes. We spent exactly $20 on food for the last four weeks. And all but two were pick up shops so I didn't even have to go into the store for most of them! Alas, they do these shops only once a year, I think.
3. That the huge and ancient chokecherry tree that blew down in a terrible windstorm a few weeks ago had such gorgeously patterned wood inside that a local woodworker came and carted it off so we did not have to pay someone to do it. He was thrilled and so were we!
4. That when the tree blew over, it landed on our roof. Amazingly, only one shingle was damaged and my teen gardening helper climbed up there and tacked it back into place.
5. That three of my favorite authors have new books out and that the library has two of them on order. I will buy the third one because I refuse to wait.
An addendum to my original comment: I am deeply thankful for the life and work of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The news of her death has just come. I've hoisted DH's and my battered old Union Jack in her honor.
@A. Marie, Indeed!
It feels impossible that she is gone!
@A. Marie, Seconded! Sadly, the Elizabethan II era is over.
@A. Marie, We lived in Scotland for a year. As they say, "The world will never see her like again." She promised to serve her country and she dragged herself to a meeting with the new PM two days before she died---that is what you call service to your country. The London Times story on her talked about how under her reign the technology of the world completely changed, the British Empire completely changed, and the immigration patterns completely altered the racial makeup of the British population, yet through it all she provided a constant.
@A. Marie, I've always been a great admirer of Queen Elizabeth. She will be remembered as one of a kind.
I am thankful for 9-5 child care so I can do my job. Even last year when school when back in person there were a lot of closures and aftercare was spotty. This year feels like I can finally get back to full capacity.
I am thankful for my husband who continues to be the best man I have ever known.
I am thankful for my university, which is full of folks dedicated to educating students and supporting one another's research goals.
I am so thankful that my kids have settled into school. They like their teachers and are doing well.
I am thankful for hot tea that relaxes me and fuels my creativity.
This is a good week for me to do this. I have been going through a bit of a rough patch emotionally and sometimes when I get caught up in my head, it can be hard to take a step back and really make me appreciate what I have.
1. My house. We bought a builder grade starter home eight years ago and have spent the last few years fixing it up. Thanks to a good down payment and strategic refinancing, we have an extremely manageable mortgage. I couldn't imagine buying a house right now.
2. Phone calls with my best friend. My best friend since high school moved from LA to Philly at the beginning of 2020 and it has been an adjustment. We have recently started phone calls when I drive down from a rotation and it is really nice to have long haul catch ups
3. Ice cream. It has been unbearably hot for the last few weeks and Jeni's ice cream has been a life saver. Yes it is more expensive but a spoonful or two is all you need. Best ice cream I have ever had.
4. No rolling blackouts. I have been scared for my freezer, fridge and general comfort over the last few days but so far the power grid seems to holding.
5. I have finally perfected my cold brew recipe. I refuse to buy an iced coffee every day that I am on rotation, but everyone seems to be on the hot coffee train. When it is 102, I cannot handle that. I have been taking a gallon of cold brew with me and I think I have finally perfected my ratios.
I do not want hot coffee when it's hot out either!!
@Kristen, I don't like hot drinks even in the winter; ice tea all year round for me. Well, now thgat I think on it, I do like a hot chocolate on a cold winter's evening. But that does not count as a drink, the way I make it the drink becomes a dessert. It includes cream and an egg yolk...
@Lindsey, I meant to put in that it is a Russian style. There is an even richer version, you can read about here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/russian-hot-chocolate-recipe-1914860
@Heather, Jeni's ice cream is the best. Your best friend Philly may be pleased to know Jeni's recently opened an ice cream shop there!
I’m thankful the leaves are starting to fall and that my eyes are able to see them. I know we’re technically not quite in Autumn but we’re close and I’m glad!
I’m thankful for the relationships my husband and I have with each other and with our adult son and daughter.
I’m thankful for the group of friends who gathered here last night for a meal, wonderful conversation and prayer.
I’m thankful for coffee, our old-but-reliable cars, dependable appliances, our pup Wally, good health, friendly neighbors, Kristen’s positive blog and its readers, all the good times as well as hard times in life… I’m learning through it all to trust God.
I’m thankful my husband and I are to soon to meet our first grandchild. He’s not here yet but could arrive any day now. We’re so excited!
Yay Zoe!!
Can you talk a bit about what you do about first cars for your kids? I have a 15 year old and we are trying to decide what to do. Do we buy her a first car? Keep driving her around/sharing our cars with her until she saves up?
@Katie, In NJ you can't get your driver's license until you are 17 years old. My son got his then and would borrow either my mini van or my hubby's car for going out with his buddies. He finally got his own car when he came back from college to live at home and commute. It was his senior year. I gave him my mini van which became the "man van" and I got a new car. Dd got her license at the age of 18 or 19. She doesn't care for driving. Dh gave her his car when he got a company car. We were fortunate. My car is 12 yrs old - Honda CRV and dd's car is a Nissan Altima that is 8 yrs old. Both are still going strong.
Do you want your daughter to buy a car? Will you put it in your name to save on insurance? Hubby and I still pay daughter's car insurance but it's very low as she's 28 and has a very short commute to work.
When my son graduated college and moved out of state we sold him hubby's old Altima for $2k and he got his own insurance. He is a frugal guy so eventually he moved across the street from his office building and bought a bike to ride back and forth to work.
We have provided a first car for the kids to use as long as they are in school of some sort; after that, they're on their own.
My parents had us buy our own first cars, and I can see arguments in favor of either approach!
I’m thankful to have gotten through my three heavy teaching days on my new schedule. Today and tomorrow are lighter, and all familiar faces returning from last year.
I’m thankful that no one has blinked at or even mentioned my annual tuition increase.
I’m thankful that, although I’ve lost two students for sure, and possibly a third, I’ve gained five as well as some have increased lesson lengths, so my income will be a little higher than last year.
I’m SO thankful we’re not looking at a move in mid-teaching year like we were last year!!
I’m thankful a tenant who was not a good fit moved out after just one month, and we have a new one who is already working out much better.
Got to five with barely scratching the surface!
I’m glad you’re adjusting to school Kristen, and that your number of genuinely happy days is increasing. That is truly good news! There is indeed, life after. ❤️
Thankful for the many allergy medications that help me survive fall allergy season in Western Colorado. Thankful for sunglasses and cold compresses and local honey!
Thankful for the job I have that allows us to go camping midweek. It is so much less crowded!
Thankful for a hubs who loves researching the best camping gadgets for the best prices.
Thankful for Kristen's blog for reminding me to be thankful!
I am so very thankful this week.
1. Hubby had to drive to Boston for a business meeting and was able to make it home in 1 day. We live in northern NJ. He was able to see the Mario Cuomo bridge all lit up at night. Some day I'll see it too.
2. Thankful for the young - to me - Nurse Practitioner who did my GYN exam today. It's been 4 years since my last one but hopefully nothing will come back with any problems.
3. Got to visit with a member from my former church. The church has the local food closet in it. I also visited with the cemetery sexton (caretaker) who I was part of hiring. He is such a nice guy.
4. Thankful for a long talk that my daughter and I had last night. She's been floundering and needs some encouragement to chase after her dream.
5. After two days of needed rain we had a gorgeous day today. Perfect Fall like day.
I'm also going through a separation right now, and BOY is it tough. So thanks for the prompt.
1) Investing in quality materials like my desktop. I came into an opportunity to do some side-work online, and having a good working machine makes that possible. Good job, Past Me!
2) I'm able to prioritize paying for therapy. It's the hands-down absolute best (and only thoroughly helpful) therapy experience I've ever had. Good things to glean from past therapy experiences, but this is 100% useful and supportive.
3) I have supportive friends and colleagues who don't ask me to justify or explain myself.
4) My constant companion, 12yo good boy dog. (Extra important since we just lost his brother last week at 16yo.)
5) Nail polish as a cheap thrill.
6) All of the plants - houseplants, outside plants, my plants, plants at work, plants in public spaces and other people's yards. A coworker brought fresh figs from her tree, for example. So much joy in living things.
7) Spotify, even the free version with ads.
8) A $40 pair of bluetooth earbuds from the clearance bin at Staples.
9) A friend who lives in the City and lets me park my bicycle there, and we go on rides together. On Labor Day we went to an amazing part of the river that felt like a giant outdoor swimming pool, but with an otter!
10) The rain that falls not-always-gently on our gardens, but brings a toad-friend up onto the deck where I live.
Autumn is coming--cool nights, warm days.
Rain this week, especially for the farmers.
A beautiful day today to take my grandson to the beach. There were a few other kids on the beach. Kids are wonderful. They just play with whatever kid comes along.
My new window shades. My husband put one up today. My windows go down from the top as well as up from the bottom. I wanted the top down, bottom up shades for my living space as I bought for the bedroom; but when I looked last year, they jumped in price. A few weeks ago I found there was a price drop. I jumped on it.
I can use the little food processor unit to my stick blender again. I had worn out the blade/cover contact. I finally found a place with the resplacement parts. My husband had bought the blender for Christmas at my request maybe 8 yrs ago. I chose a good quality, good weight one. And replacement parts are available.
Everyone have a good week.
I just want to offer you a different perspective - when people say they are grateful that people are not wearing masks, I feel that they are putting their convenience over the safety of people who are high risk, like my daughter. Since the vaccines do not prevent transmission, the absence of masks, particularly when communities have high rates of transmission, isolate high risk people.
So much to be thankful for
1. That I am now 3 years sober.
2. I celebrated with my son and Daughter-outlaw at my most favourite place in the world, 3 nights for them, an extra night just me and the beach night after they left. Walks, games (and my son didn't win a single crib game, so DOL and I are particularly pleased), good food cooked together, deep conversations that I am blessed to have been offered by my son who is also healing.
3. My garden is suddenly in full bore tomato production and I am on top of it, for once.
4. My new induction stove has come. it was dented when it arrived, and I took the $300 they offered rather than wait another 8 weeks for a different one. I haven't noticed the dent even once! and will use the windfall (that arrived today, right on the 10-day schedule they promised) to purchase replacement pots. Have discovered that some of my lovely stainless pots have copper bottoms. oops, guess I should have polished them a bit better... Even so, the new stove is a marvel, considering the last one was over 30 years and likely 40 years old.
5. My #2 son has finally landed a job that kind of uses his degree. It isn't quite what he wants to be doing, and he is not really enjoying it, yet he is finding ways to see how he can make it work. There might even be a chance to jump to a different position almost right away, now that he is in the company and they have to post positions internally. we will see.
6. That son still lives almost at home (he rents the loft in my 'barn', which is a VERY nice place). He asked if he could continue eating with me and I am so grateful for that. Cooking for one is lonely and boring, he eats anything willingly and so we have fun meals. Fewer together but he does pop in a couple of times a day. The house feels less empty that way.
7. "Wonder James" my yard-guy and general handy person is needing some money and I have gathered a fall list, he will be coming tomorrow to get stuff done. He is a super hard worker and is willing to do just about anything, often notices small things and simply gets the tools and supplies and fixes them (and tells me every second or third thing, doesn't talk much, our James). James means I don't resent my rotten kids for not helping out, and he does the jobs better and faster anyway!
8. The lifestyle program that I started 9 weeks ago seems to be a keeper. It includes 3 intense 15 minute exercise sessions a week, plus lots of walks and getting in the steps - as well as a routine for me of a morning protein shake with a huge handful of kale and a few add ins like turmeric and chia and flax seeds. There is a food plan that they suggest, however the big focus is on lowering stress and getting movement in every day. the exercises are changing my body configuration quite visibly, I am stronger which helps a lot in the garden, my physical and emotional endurance is greatly improved, and I am seeing a slow and steady decrease on the scale. The greatest thanks here is that I am enjoying the hard 15 minutes of exercises, and that I continue to stick with the program because I feel good about it.
9. My cholesterol numbers have improved significantly, for sure related to the exercise and the kale! my Doctor is very pleased.
@Ecoteri, would you mind sharing the lifestyle program you are using? I’m always looking for more ways to increase movement in our family.
My son is in his senior homeschool year and needs to complete a class in human anatomy and physiology. It is pretty intense and not his favorite. He loves and excels in all things science but it human anatomy. He prefers more hands on classes. I’ve been looking for hands on things to make it more interesting. I have a few things lined up but any suggestions would be welcome. (He is taking a CPR/first aid certification class, attending 2 labs at a local college, one in blood typing and one on neuroscience.)
On to thankful things:
1. For my health. There is a lot of major illness in my extended family and I’m grateful to have my health and strength.
2. Long walks alone or with friends. And dogs to walk along.
3. That I have the ability to work less hours this year so I can handle family health issues, homeschooling…
4. Coffee!
5. A great partner to lean on.
So very thankful for our children and grandchildren.
Thankful for the cooler temperatures and lower humidity.
Thankful for friends that stay in touch and enjoy our company.
Very thankful for my job which keeps me busy and challenged.
Thankful that at 62 I can still learn from mistakes and strive for personal growth, even though I'm getting older.
When I was doing my pre-reqs for nursing school way back when I didn’t think I’d like micro either but then in the lab we were given an unknown bacteria to do tests on all semester and our final was to identify which bacteria we had. I loved it so much I would go to the lab outside of class hours to do tests. If nursing wasn’t a second career for me already I would have changed majors right then but I was in my late 30s with a newborn and toddler at home so I stayed the course with nursing. I loved nursing but even now in my early 50s I sometimes wonder what if. Best of luck to you!
Hi Kristen! I totally understand the feeling of feeling overwhelmed when starting new courses. I am enrolled in a self-paced grad school program. I take one class at a time and usually start a new one every 2-3 weeks. Each time I start it takes me a couple days to figure out my study plan/routine. I'm glad I'm not the only one that takes a bit to get acclimated to classes 🙂
I live in California, in an area not known to have AC, and it's been hotter than...
But we have AC. It's 94F and it was well over 100 on Sunday.
I am grateful for a relevantly uneventful and positive first week of school for my kids, particularly for one who did not have a good go of it last year. I love September for this: The feeling of a fresh, new start, even if you do not work in or go to school full-time.