Thankful Thursday | with a Texas theme
This week, I am thankful:
for a fun trip to see my friends in Texas
I am so, so happy that I was able to go visit my friend and her family. It was a delight to see them all after so many years.
that my friend's kids are friendly
Only the oldest remembered me from five years ago, but no matter; the other three became besties with me quickly, and I felt so loved.
On the third day, one of them said, "You know Miss Kristen, you feel like family. I think we will adopt you as our aunt."
And one morning, the two younger ones were knocking on my bedroom door, saying, "Miss Kristen, please wake up! We VERY want to see you." And that made me laugh.
When my friends lived here, the oldest always wanted to take a selfie with me after church. I have a whole series on my phone like these:
So when we went to church in Texas, she and I took another selfie, for old time's sake.
for the sweet notes from my friend's kids
The five-year-old made me a drawing while I was there ("so you will never forget me," she said.)
And then when I got home, I found one from the ten-year-old in my backpack.
I think these kids have concerns about my memory. 😉
that Sonia was able to be my airport chauffeur
I was really thankful she was able to take me to and from the airport; she even cheerfully picked me up when my plane landed at midnight on the way home.
that my plane ride home turned out ok
The Dallas Love Field airport had a shooting incident the morning I was supposed to fly home, so my flight plans got a little discombobulated.
I was starting to worry I might spend the whole night in the St. Louis airport (where I was supposed to switch planes), but mercifully, I got to switch to a different flight and I made it home on time.
And of course, I am mainly thankful that no one got hurt except the suspect.
for some cooler temperatures at home
The Texas air was indeed low humidity air, but my goodness, it was hot. Whenever I opened the car door to get out, the blast of heat felt the same as when you open a hot oven door!
It had been hot, hot, hot here at home too, but once I got home, the heat had broken a little bit.
Sounds like a fun trip but what is the story behind that giant chair?
I'd love to know the location of this giant chair. I have a slew of pictures of my kid in giant chairs (I live in TX so it would not be close, not not impossible....maybe weekend chair trip).
There are TONS of chairs there! https://www.discoverdenton.com/things-to-do/attractions/the-chairy-orchard/
I am thankful that my first Covid bout has been mild. It has been more like a cold, with one feverish night, but otherwise just a bit of a sore throat and a runny nose. I am thankful that I am vaccinated and double boosted and could have taken an anti-viral if I felt the need. It's day four and I feel almost 100%.
I am thankful that so many friends and neighbors offered to do things while we (DH came down with Covid first) are quarantining.
I am thankful that relatives we visited on Friday did not catch Covid from DH and that we left early Saturday, before seeing more relatives, despite a negative Covid test that morning. I am thank we were able to spend time with my niece's newborn and also that we were masked when we saw that family.
I am thankful that DH and I are (really more like were) sick at the same time. Staying away from each other for days on end would have been difficult.
I am thankful for being generally healthy.
I am thankful that I had both a grand niece and grand nephew born this month. My SIL is ecstatic over the birth of her first grandchild.
I'm thankful that I only have two more days of staying home and then can go out masked.
Did you almost feel a little bit relieved to finally get it? I did when the girls and I got sick with omicron in January. We were all vaxxed and boosted, so it wasn't a terrible ordeal for us, and since I was pretty sure we were gonna catch omicron eventually, I was sort of relieve to get it over with.
I'm glad it's been mild for you guys!
@Kristen, I felt some relief when we finally got it in May of 2022. I was pretty miserable but my hubby had mild symptoms.
@Kristen, I felt relief when my son and I got it last month. He has fragile lungs (at least historically) and he did just fine!
@Kristen,
It has been a relief. I know it is much more than survivable. I should be relatively protected the next several weeks (assuming I had BA.5). The anti-viral worked well for DH. There should be a new booster available in the fall. Really, it's all good. Not to dismiss the seriousness of those that suffer from long Covid or more severe cases.
@Kristen, I felt relieved when we got in January...mostly because in addition to the vaccinations and boosters, it gave us even more immunity which kinda felt like freedom. We were less worried about going places.
Yep, that's how I felt! The girls and I went into our semesters feeling pretty confident we weren't going to get sick and miss any classes.
@K D, My 7yo came down with Covid this week, too. Thankfully, her symptoms are also very mild. Fever the first night, followed by very mild cold symptoms. It was sad because we were supposed to go visit family, some of which we haven’t seen in years, but at least we didn’t get a chance to infect everyone else.
@Kristen, I haven't had it yet and would definitely feel relieved to get it! I feel like its coming for me eventually and I am just circling the drain. LOL.
@Loraine, It's possible you've had it and didn't even know it! My kids had it over Christmas 2021. My daughter was fairly sick, while my son just felt kinda crummy for a day. Only reason he tested was because his sister was positive.
Thank goodness, it seems like with vaxx, it's just a fairly mild illness for most people these days.
I am thankful you had a safe journey and a fun visit.
I am thankful my doctor had some good recommendations for pain relief for nerve issues in my face/neck.
I am thankful that my first ever acupuncture treatment wasn't scary. The doctor was so completely deserving of confidence, so calm and reassuring.
I am thankful that when the needles were in, my mouth looked almost normal. They say that is a good sign. Maybe I'll recover!
I am thankful two of my kids and I had a good laugh session while watching me make lopsided faces in the mirror.
I am thankful my son is learning a lot of sewing (and life) skills.
I am thankful for all the people giving me all kinds of love and help right now. It means the world to me.
***I am thankful for my nephew who has, for 13 years, been paralyzed from his shoulders down. It's only half of my face, and more than likely temporary. Unless modern medicine advances, his paralysis is forever and most of his body. What a good example for me to be brave and not wallow in pity. I am so proud of him because he goes out in his wheelchair and forages for all sorts of mushrooms, flowers, berries, etc. and he takes kids along to help him. Those kids have learned so much!
@Jody S., I hope you recover soon. Your positive outlook is a true gift. Your nephew sounds like a wonderful man. Wishing strength, peace and healing.
Sending prayers for healing your way. I hope the acupuncture helps!
What cute notes! I have a few of those that I saved from my kiddos. One is in my wallet and one is in my bible...along with his other scribbles there. I was NOT excited at the time, but now that he just got married this month, I love those little scribbles. Time changes things!
I'm thankful for A/C. It's HOT in Charleston right now, and the humidity is yuck!
I am thankful that my son's outdoor wedding (earlier this month in the high desert of Oregon) was only 80 degrees instead of the 105 that they are enjoying now! 🙂
I am thankful for my 9 week old baby grand daughter that I get to see almost everyday.
I am thankful for the pool at my townhouse. There are rarely people there (and just a few if there are people), and we get lots of use out of it. My daughter, son-in-law, and baby grand daughter come over several times a week to swim and cool off.
I am thankful that I enjoy my adult kiddos and their spouses. I definitely don't take it lightly because I know that it isn't always the case. We enjoyed dinner with daughter and family this week after swimming (she brought all the food and I made a salad), my husband cut son-in-law's hair while we were making dinner, and I have had 3 phone calls from my son in Oregon this week.
I am thankful for the completely honest talk I had with the owner of my company yesterday. It wasn't easy because I needed to apologize to begin the conversation, but it will be helpful for the company at large in the future. It ended well, and I felt heard and valued.
Aww, those kids are precious!
Welcome to Texas. Sorry about the heat.
I'm grateful my dog's eye ulcer has improved. He still needs to see a specialist tomorrow for his entropian eyelids. Hopefully it won't cost an arm and a leg.
What fun pictures! Three family members are going through health difficulties right now and I can’t seem to stop obsessing, so this is a very good way to start my day.
1-I am grateful for this blog and Kristen’s respectful and cheery attention to important things in life, both big and small. She generously points us to much good.
2-The availability of nutritious foods here in the US.
3-Telephones. Yesterday I had four phone calls with friends. Four!! I love the clarity of communication. No need to search for an emoji, you can hear it in the voice. Only one had me multitasking due to necessity. For three I was sitting drinking yummy tea or water totally focused on the person talking.
4-Lifelong friendships. One of the four has been a friend since we were 10 years old. Two I met in college. Oddly, the only family member lived far away and we met about 14 years ago and completely hit it off in our old age. What lovely gifts!
5-Big windows. My house has so many good sized windows that all rooms are light-filled during the day except a small spare bathroom. No need to keep lights burning all day.
What fun to visit your friend!
I'm thankful...
-for my youngest (6) who is sitting on my lap this morning. I don't think I'll ever get over this wonderful feeling.
-coffee. Over and over again it's a sweet gift first thing in the morning.
-Our house going under contract after only one day on the market (woowoo!)
-the break in the heat. A balmy 98 is forecasted for today after most of this month over 100. We might even see rain today. Wouldn't that be lovely.
-time to quilt yesterday since we didn't have to showings I set aside some time to start my next quilt. All the fabric is cut already!
-A good night of sleep. I changed the dose of a medication during getting the house ready for the market and it messed up my sleep pretty badly, but it's working itself out and last night I slept beautifully. It's making thankfulness easy this morning.
Covid finally got us. I’m vaxed and boosted; my husband cannot be because the side effects are too dangerous with his medical history… which is why we also ended up in the ER during the worst of his symptoms for monitoring. It’s been a ride, but I’m thankful for:
—The staff at the local hospital was incredibly kind, conscientious, and took his medical history VERY seriously. The doctor on call was great about consulting my husband’s regular physician, faxing everything to his office, and explaining what they were doing and why while in the ER. I did call ahead to warn them we were plague-ridden, and they thanked us for the heads up so they knew to be in full gear.
—Since I was also positive, I was able to remain with my husband the whole time. I was careful to stay put for his sake and to limit what I contaminated.
—Without being asked, one of the nurses sweetly brought me water and an armful of food from the cafeteria when she realized how long we’d been there (7 hours).
—We were discharged the same day, and my husband has been doing SO MUCH better!!!
—Shout-out to the gas station just up the block. The staff has been awesome about dropping orders (Gatorade, juice, and ice cream) on our porch despite the fact they don’t technically deliver. I called to ask if that was even an option first, and we’ve only made (and will hopefully only need!) two orders so as to not abuse their kindness. I ordered through their app to keep them safe and am careful to only order at off-peak times.
—Lastly, how ever will I deserve friends who drive an hour round trip to porch drop homemade chicken noodle soup?!
I'm so glad you guys are doing better now. Yay!
@N, I just love your thankfulness list this week! I hope that you recover quickly!!
Little kid writing is the best.
Thankfuls this week:
--For Ibuprofen. I woke up this morning with a pretty bad headache, but I have every expectation that it won't hurt in about half an hour.
--For our friends. Given our location, it's sort of miraculous that there is a family only about 15 minutes away with three kids, all of whom are the right ages and temperaments to be friends with all of mine, AND I'm friends with the mom. When we get together, the moms can actually talk because all the kids are occupied. Miraculous indeed.
-- That the football coach has been replaced. My eldest son played for the first time last year, and I was really not very happy about how the coach ran the team. He's been replaced by the assistant coach, who I think will have a more modern approach and is just a more approachable guy in general.
--For my garden. It gives me a very deep sense of satisfaction and pride when I sit down to a salad in which every single vegetable grew outside my back door. There is also a deep sense of satisfaction in black-lighting those wretched tomato hornworms at night and snipping them in half with scissors. 🙂
--For the health of my family. I don't take it for granted that in a family of six people, there are zero medications, on-going medical concerns, routine medical appointments. or pain.
@kristin @ going country, That last one is huge. In the US it's estimated 1/4 is disabled; worldwide 1/7 or so. That an entire family is healthy is pretty incredible.
I am thankful my husband’s aunt has been helping so much with getting his dad (who has significant health issues) out of his house, selling it, and into a senior apartment.
I am thankful his dad is finally agreeing to a senior apartment. I think having a 1 story apartment with a cleaning service and hot meals every day will really improve his quality of life, and decrease his falls and shortness of breath. Also it will be so much less stressful for my husband.
I am grateful for some really beautiful weather this week.
Grateful for continued eating of delicious fresh Georgia peaches. We got a giant box and are still going through them. They are delicious.
Thankful for my kiddos actually playing together. They have gotten old enough that they will really play (and fight too haha) for long times together and it is so cute to watch.
Thankful that we are eating at home all week and finding leftovers to eat as well.
Thankful that my husband doesn't mind his new part time job at the local hardware store. He thinks they are disorganized, but he is hired to sell things, so it is not his concern.
Thankful for the rain this week and thankful it wasn't flooding like other parts of the US. Hopefully they will recover. And thankful that parts of the SW are getting plenty of rain, (but unfortunately, not California where they always need rain).
Thankful for overdraft protection. Apparently I transferred a large amount of money to a different account and did not put it in the register. The credit union covered the check from my savings account. Will be more mindful in the future that's for sure!
Thankful I got concert tickets that did not break the bank. I'm sure you heard on the news about the higher than normal ticket prices and I was able to score some at face value. Yeah, they are in the bleeder section, but I am in the house and that is OK with me. We can afford that!
Oh and thankful for my neighbors bountiful garden! This should be #1 in thankfulness. She gifted us cucumbers and I am trying my hand a garlic dills. I found an easy recipe on line for canning, so we shall see how they taste in 4-6 weeks (I figured labor day!)
@Maureen,
I feel the same way about concert tickets.....we bought some fairly reasonable tickets to see a band we like for the first time....the seats weren't front row, but we loved the show! Well worth it. I have read recently about another singer who I adore, whose concert tickets are more than a small car payment apiece for the nosebleed section.....:-(
@Liz B., I had a dollar limit and that was what I was willing to pay. I was not willing to pay a car payment or mortgage payment. And those people that do are absolutely CRAZY and hopefully are frugal in other areas to be able to do so (I am not!) !!!!! I've seen the artist several times before, so I would not have been broken-hearted to not go. However, seats were less than I expected and I got extras so my cousin can go too. I much prefer less expensive concerts, but as we age, we enjoy what we want to enjoy.
I am thankful that the cleaning lady is going to come over and clean. One fewer thing to get stressed about.
I am thankful my mom is alive and as sharp as ever, even though she's been texting me three times a day about a pimple on her back. Please stop, Mom. Please.
I am thankful that summer fruit is the best tasting thing on the planet to me. I don't have much of a sweet tooth any more so I literally would prefer to eat a plum than a chocolate bar.
Second best are summer tomatoes and sweet corn. This is the time of year I resolve to go on an all-corn-on-the-cob diet.
I am thankful that my children like and appreciate my cooking. Both of them are picky, sophisticated eaters, so when they appreciate my food, I know they are not just being polite.
I am thankful for all the supportive comments on yesterday's post! They really do help.
@Rose, Your last one had me going back to read comments from yesterday. Wow. Maybe you could play the "At least it's not. .. " game. My friend had to evict a renter who was a hoarder. She had to clean up many 5-gallon buckets of human feces. Dead cats in his bed. And so on. Does that help?
Plus, I love summer produce, too!
@Jody S., Oooooooooooooof. On the other hand, these losers threw away (sold?) a new dishwasher, my Smeg fridge, trashed my kitchen cabinets, my floors, my medicine cabinet, left trash everywherr including the yard, and abandoned vehicles. I'm surely forgetting something.
@Rose,
Ouch. I'm so sorry that happened to you. While there are so many lovely, friendly, honest people in the world, it's people like your former renters who make me so angry for you. (I haven't read yesterday's post yet, but please know I'm thinking about you).
@Rose, You know, absolutely none of that sounds appealing to have to deal with. My own clutter is bad enough. Hang in there!
I am glad you had such a wonderful time, and also that your return flight ended so much better than it might have!
This week I am thankful for cooler nights. I had not realized the heat was wearing me out until I was unable to get up at my usual hour. But I am fine again now.
For the flowers, birds and creepy crawleys that have also recovered from our short spell of unusually high (and humid) temperature.
For being financially stable so we can be frugal from choice, not necessity.
For enjoying the jobs that keep us in a financially stable situation.
For good health, which is priceless.
You look like super models in that picture with the hearts! She's got "smizing" down pat!
This week I am thankful for my pantry and my new oven which does not heat the house up like the old one did. It's so much better insulated!
@Becca, I'm old so always years behind on the in stuff. What is smizing?
I might have missed if someone answered this already but: it's smiling with your eyes! We talked about it during Covid masking a lot...like, can someone tell you're smiling with your mask on? If so, you are smizing.
I have a super crinkly-eyed smile, so my masked smile is super obvious.
So, in a neighborhood there, someone has made a "chairy orchard". It's a huge collection of hundreds of chairs; kind of a funny novelty.
https://www.discoverdenton.com/things-to-do/attractions/the-chairy-orchard/
@Kristen, the goldilocks in me finds this irresistible. The idea of finding a chair that's *juuuust* right - satisfaction.
@Kristen, We had a guy who did a doll orchard and it grew really creepy after about 50 or 60 of them just sitting there staring at passers-by. I only ever saw trailers for the movie Chucky, but after a time the yard got a Chucky vibe to it. And in the fall when it rained and then froze, it really was horrid.
@Lindsey, where was that? Still there?
Old friends are the best, aren’t they? And it’s so great when your friendship basically becomes family and your children are like family to your friends - so, so wonderful! I’m glad you got a chance to get away and visit - a well earned vacation!
Thankful for the lovely small antique vase that I found this week that is sitting on my desk holding a sweet bouquet of zinnias that I grew in my backyard.
Thankful that my 4 yr old Boxer who is in renal failure has responded well to fluids this week, anti nausea medication and is scarfing down the renal support diet my vet is giving her. I don't know how long we will have with this sweet angel who is the best dog any of us has ever known, but whether she is healed on this side of Heaven or the other, I am so grateful for the fact that God shared her with us for the last 4.5 years.
Thankful for pet insurance that is helping us to cover the cost of medical treatments for our sweet girl. Without insurance the cost would have been another stress on our family but instead we can just focus on giving her the best possible care. What a gift.
Thankful for a job that is so flexible with me to allow me to be able to take our dog back and forth to the hospital as needed.
Thankful for the grass that is growing in our backyard after being hydroseeded 3 weeks ago. Luna Grace loves to lay in the yard in the evenings and mornings if I am working in the garden so seeing her enjoy the grass has been a sweet spot this week.
@Angie, I am so sorry about your pup. I hope she heals on this side of Heaven and fills your life with puppy love for years to come. Wishing you peace and strength.
i'd like to know about the chair. glad you had a great time. thanks so much for the photos. they are fab. so much fun was had by all as they say.
-Really thankful that I have an amazing family. The kids and I are flying to my Portland to attend my nephew's birthday party, I'll then squeeze in a few days with my sister, while my parents are with the kids. Then my husband joins, & we're doing a family trip to Bend. None of this would be any fun at all, if we didn't actually enjoy each other's company.
-On a related note, incredibly thankful for the health of my parents
-Work has sucked a lot lately. Grateful for the coworkers, who are a pleasure to work with. Even when there is a bunch of yuck going on, it's so nice to have people to talk with, and make you laugh.
-I so appreciate that my employer offers perks. I took advantage of a workout class yesterday, met a coworker for a spinning class before our first meeting. The rest of the day sucked, and the spinning class & camaraderie was such a good start to the day.
-I am so thankful that this is my last summer of juggling so, so many kid rides. Camp, summer job, tennis practice, soccer practice, friend get togethers, etc. Next summer, they will both be old enough to drive! It will be incredible to not have to juggle my schedule every day, to be in so many places at once.
So happy you had a chance to get away and be showered with love in Texas!
I love that the kids made you notes so you wouldn't forget them. So sweet!
I thankful that my sister came to town this week and we drove to visit with two aunts and a cousin. It was so nice to see them when it's not a funeral or wedding
I'm thankful for all the wonderful summer produce at the farmer's market, especially the peaches
I'm thankful I got to spend the day with my daughter on Saturday
I'm thankful for streaming workouts and my weekly Pilates class over Zoom
I'm thankful for air conditioning, as always during the hot summers in Alabama
Oh, I didn't know you were going through THAT airport! Goodness, I am very thankful you are safe.
1. I am thankful that the rain this morning stopped before I had to get on the road to work. I'm not a fan of driving in blinding rains.
2. I am thankful that when I told a teen granddaughter that my DH, her grandfather, had an unhappy dream about her, she called him right away and talked to him to make him feel better. I'm also thankful that one of the youngest grandkids is getting over her unease with his new living facility and is happier about visiting him.
3. I'm thankful for a successful and uncomplicated surgery for an extended family member. The mesh used to repair an abdominal hernia 35 years ago finally wore out and had to be replaced.
4. I'm thankful that my sister accidentally bought a pack of TP she doesn't like and has offered it to me. I'm also thankful we can get TP these days.
5. I'm thankful that the egrets, which had been scarce for a few years, are back in full force in my area, even though it means I usually dodge a few on my way to and from work. I enjoy watching the egrets, herons, anhingas, ibises and cranes stalking - or swimming, in the case of anhingas - around in the wet ditches and ponds, and seeing them take off with those long legs stretched out behind them. They are much prettier to watch than the vultures and crows while on my drive!
@JD, the second part of your #2 made me remember the brief period when I was 4-5 years old and my grandfather was in a "rest home" (as they were called then). My mother used to drive out to see Granddaddy once a week, taking one of us four kids with her at a time. We all fought for the privilege of rare one-on-one time with Mom during the long drive, but these trips also meant that I was used to going to nursing homes from an early age. Yet another thing to be thankful to my darling Momcat for.
And your #5 has made me gooey with nostalgia for Florida birding!
@A. Marie,
You've made me think - I grew up with my mother being in and out of the hospital, plus, neither she nor my grandmother learned to drive, so when I got my license, I often took them to the nursing home to visit my grandfather who was there the last few years of his life. I suppose that's why hospitals and nursing homes both seem fairly normal to me. Perhaps my grandkids will also be comfortable with hospitals and nursing homes and more importantly, learn that the people in them are just people like the rest of us. Thanks! I'm feeling a little more cheerful about this now!
@JD, The water birds of Florida are beautiful and graceful creatures. We also have on occasion Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks. These are among my favorites. I love a pink bird!!!
I’m thankful…
That my 11 year old son still wants to hang out with me. He walked into the office today an announced that he just wants to be in the room with me.
That my company is keeping our hybrid work model. I’m in the office two days a week and I love seeing my team. I also love having three days to work from home. Working from home saves me three plus hours a week on commuting and gas.
That we are getting a new couch today. Our sectional broke in a way that was not fixable (by us anyway). We have enough furniture to rearrange to make do for a while but I’m ready to feel back in order. I’ve had my eyes open for the right couch at the right price and I found one last week that is amazingly in stock!
That we live close to a regional airport. There was an air expo last weekend, and I was able to watch it from my deck. I grew up on military installations, so it was a call back to my childhood.
That there a so many boys my son’s age in the neighborhood. Four of them are in the same grade so that transition to middle school will be a little easier.
It looks like you had a wonderful trip. Being surrounded by people who love you does your heart good.
I’m thankful for this lovely online community.
I’m thankful that I tested negative for Covid - finally - and was able to see my new grandson from a distance. I was not comfortable holding him, but I will soon.
As always, I’m thankful for air conditioning.
I’m thankful for my dear husband who has taken good care of me over the last couple of weeks despite his own illness.
Kristen it sounds like your trip was excellent! Things I’m thankful for:
1. I had the dreaded colonoscopy this week and while the prep was as awful as the last time I had it 5 years ago, I’m glad to have that task checked off my list!
2. My son and his family (wife and 2 kids ages 21 months and 7 months) has COVID and made it through without serious symptoms.
3. I found someone to do the projects in our backyard and he and his crew will do the work in 2 weeks (yay!)
4. My daughter is working as a scribe (plans to apply to medical school) and she has met several doctors who have already said they will write letters for her-this is big for her because she is brilliant but introverted. She is working in 3 hospital ERs and getting exposure to a wide variety of situations. I’m grateful she got this job instead of the first one she interviewed for where she would have only worked with one doctor.
5. I’m grateful for air conditioning! We are in the midst of a 7 + day streak of 100 degree + days and it would be unbearable without air conditioning. I’m also glad it cools down during the night here to the 60s- that helps make it bearable.
I'm so glad you had a fun trip with your friend/ her family. We visited DFW in January and really liked it. We had concerns about visiting TX, especially when I met a black travelling nurse at a mall who lived there and shared terrible stories of how racist people still were, gun issues, etc., but I was pleasantly surprised to find the people are mostly pretty nice/ friendly- it was a welcome/ pleasant change since you get none of that where I live in the SF Bay area. It was rather disconcerting to see guns and the gun law reminders when you enter the restaurants though. I'm so glad you had a fun trip with your friend/ her family.
I am thankful for air conditioning and for peaches.
And for the respect for patients that is now the norm. My arthritis medication needs to be changed, and my NP gave me names of medications to research, rather than just telling me to take this pill, as was the case some years ago, especially for women. I can look at effectiveness, side effects (although as someone pointed out to me once, those aren't "side" because they are recognized as effects), and consider my longer medical history that she might not know all the details of before she and I talk again.
Thankful for my lovely front gardens (which may never have been lovelier than this year) and the two pieces of good news on my National Grid bill. (See my FFT comment from yesterday.)
Thankful that I have AC when I really need it and can turn it off when I don't.
And thankful for my dear Betty, who provides me with feline company day and night and takes the edge off my loneliness. I'm further thankful that at approximately age 10, she is in good overall health and needs no regular medications. Long may she wave.
What precious children your friend has! It looks like you all had such fun.
This week I am thankful that:
1. Our robovac returned from his trip to the repair shop and cleaned house for me yesterday.
2. In a few days I get to return to my usual job. (In the summers I get loaned out to other offices and really do not like that.)
3. Our gang of dogs and our old cat are all getting along so well with our new little cat. Little cat is fearless and loves to play, which has helped with the transition.
4. That most of this week is about five degrees cooler.
5. For iced tea, the elixir of life!
That sounds like a great visit! What sweet children.
I’m thankful we are nearly done a huge favour we’re doing for someone! I’m glad we’ve been able to help but so ready to be done.
I’m thankful my youngest son got his license back after a three month suspension. It wasn’t due to drinking and driving, but to an accident he had a couple years ago after he worked a 16 hour shift and then fell into a micro sleep on the highway. Everyone pitched in to keep their train from derailing this past three months as they had just moved to a home where the new rent is almost three thousand a month and he’s the only one working, with a job that depends upon his being able to drive. They have three little ones under the age of four, so maintaining their housing was my biggest concern.
I’m super thankful for the wonderful time we had at my oldest son’s wedding! It was absolutely fantastic.
Related to that, I wrote a speech for the wedding and I’m very happy with how the writing process went and how well received it was. I’m grateful for my adhd diagnosis and how all I’ve learned enabled me to work with my adhd traits instead of against them, to produce something I was really proud of.
I’m thankful the craft camp I ran last week went amazingly well, and that the girls became instant friends! They may even become duet partners, which warms my heart.
I love that you had such a sweet trip! Thanks for sharing those darling photos.
* for an upcoming vacation week with hubby and kids
* For great coworkers
* For being able to start university at the age of 41 so I can eventually switch job
* For my cheap gym membership.
* For my king size bed, a quiet neighboorhood, my car, our health, my job, library books...
I'm so happy to hear you had safe travels, despite the incident in Dallas on the same day you traveled!
Here is my list for the week:
1. I also got to visit with my best friend this week. She and her family stayed in Lake Tahoe, which is only about 45 minutes from my house, so I got to see her and her family a few times while they were here. She and I have been best friends since we were in kindergarten! It is always so great to see her, and her kids treat me much like your friend's kids treat you, Kristen!
2. There were TWO cloudy days this week!! I don't love the summer heat at all, so anything to break that up is welcome. Also, my favorite weather is cloudy, cool, and rainy (I'm living in the wrong area for that!). Even though it wasn't super cool or rainy, I'll still take the clouds.
3. My husband's family has a cabin in the mountains about two hours from our house, and we are currently staying here for a week. We do pay to contribute to the expenses each year, so it isn't necessarily a free vacation, but it is still fairly frugal. And so, so lovely to be able to escape to the mountains!
4. I have a lovely group of women friends from work who are super supportive and encouraging. Teaching isn't very easy right now, and I'm so thankful to have these women in my circle. Two of them spontaneously showed up at my house this week, and we ended up having such a nice time hanging out for a few hours and catching up since we are on summer break.
5. I am quite thankful for my very supportive and frugally minded husband. Because of both of those qualities, I will likely be able to purchase some years of service in my teaching contract and retire early. Yay!
My thankful list:
This year I have been able to visit both sets of parents after 2 1/2 years for my Arizona set and 3 years for my New Hampshire set (along with my brother's family).
That neither set of parents has declined much or aged in that time (despite MS for my mom).
That my older nephew and his almost fiancé came to town for a wedding the exact time we were there in New Hampshire.
That my younger daughter is able to travel with me (38 and no kids yet). She is the best travel companion!
We were able to paint a livingroom this visit to New Hampshire and move a large entertainment center, as well as turn a rug (involved moving a lot of furniture) and did some of the "high work" (cutting into siding etc) so a screen door could be installed. My stepdad has limited range of motion in his arms due to needing shoulder replacements, so all of those tasks were beyond his ability to do at this point.
That despite an hour and a half traffic delay and detour (the entire freeway was shut down), construction in downtown Boston, arriving at the airport on the shuttle at 4:03 (and our flight boarding at 4:17), still needing to get our tickets, and get through security, we made our flight and arrived home as planned last night!
Thankful for the kindness of the ticket agent who called the gate and told them to reopen the baggage doors for our bags, blaming their long lines (and seriously, it was not their fault we arrived late).
Thankful for Alaska gate personnel who called me while waiting for my daughter to get through security to verify we were flying today and allowed us the moments we needed to race to our gate.
For AC! Both in an usually humid week in the White Mountains of New Hampshire (portables in various rooms), and our current heat wave in the Seattle area.
I'm thankful my older daughter's husband's knee surgery went well Monday. It was scheduled after my trip was planned so I couldn't be there to help with kids, but his family did some of that. He'll be on bedrest a week, and limited driving for 3, so maybe there will be an opportunity to help chauffer grandkids to basketball and soccer.
My mind is mush, let's see what I can come up with.
Thankful: always: for my home brewed coffee, I make one cup every morning, and I have yet to find anyone/ any coffee place that can make it the way I like it. So home brew it is everyday.
Thankful: my husband and I got to go up north to a friends new house in the lake area. He is not on a lake as houses on a lake or river are exorbitant in price. It was a very relaxing 2 days which for me is a lovely change as I am generally an anxious ball of stress.
Thankful: my sister came to visit me to calm me down: we are dealing with our (late) mother's estate, and issues with our brother, see anxious ball of stress above. My sister will handle all the dealings from now on so that I can remain relatively calm.
Thankful for a cool house, even without the AC on. We have programmed it to kick in at 79F, but it rarely reaches that inside. (may have mentioned this before..)
Happy weekend to everyone.
Thankful my son only sprained his hand and didn’t break it. Ah camp injuries.
Oh my goodness! You were in the town of the YouTuber Breafkast! (Yes, spelled just like that;) she rescues so many things from dumpsters. The quantity of useable things she saves from landfills is mind blowing. She is amazing and sweet and real. I very highly recommend her channel. Her person (husband? BF.) is the one who opened Gnome Cones I believe.