Thankful, grateful, blessed...

Yesterday my boss' wife came to the office and brought flowers.  These are some nice people I've landed among.

I am incredibly thankful to be in this job.  I applied without being 100% sure that I really wanted to go full time again.  I've definitely passed that point.  

My former full-time boss was such a genuinely good guy (caring for clients with integrity, empathy, and a kind heart) and was a pleasure to spend all day with.  I thought I would surely never come across another supervisor quite like him.  Well I have, and it feels like I've won the lottery twice.  

Thankful, grateful, blessed...

Blessed to have the husband I do.  Tuesday was cold and icy.  I woke up late, and rushed to get ready for work.  When I went outside, my car was running, warm, and the windshield was ice free.  

While he was warming up my car, he noticed that it was low on gasoline.  So mid morning he came to my office, took my car, and brought it back filled with fuel.  

This is not to say that every day goes like this.  But on those other kind of days one must try to Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  (Philippians 4:8)  In other words, on days like today.

I am spoiled blessed, and I know it.

Thankful, grateful, blessed...

We are blessed with laughter!  Our kids, grandkids, coworkers, siblings, friends...bring so much laughter into our lives.   Rudy, in particular, is our own little clown.  As soon as I walk in the door after work, he starts performing.  Silly.  Goofy.  Daredevil stunts.  And he loves being laughed at, and will repeat what he knows get the biggest laughs over and over.

Thankful, grateful, blessed, week 5...

So very blessed to live within a mile of our children and grandchildren; close enough to bake them Monster Cookies for Halloween and drop their treats by their house.

When we sold the ranch to move near them, it was hard.  And I'm not going to lie, we still miss living on top of our hill.  But sometimes blessings involve sacrifice too.  We love sharing meals weekly, and games, and the occasional school pick up we are asked to make, the sleepovers we have had, and taking the opportunity to teach them the letter writing that has made their great-grandmother so happy.  So many memories we have made!

I was chatting with a friend online last night.  She is in the middle of uprooting her home and job to move over a thousand miles to be near one of her children and grandchildren.  I think it's a pretty safe bet to predict that she will love it too.  :)

Thankful, grateful, blessed, week 4...

Today is my 62 birthday.  And I am thankful, grateful, and blessed to be here to celebrate it.  And I do celebrate it!

I've had some really close calls (in 2008 there was the car accident, and then, in January of 2009 there were the pulmonary embolisms), and those were some excellent educational experiences.  

Each morning is now another chance to wake up and say 'thank you for this extra day.'

Thankful, grateful, blessed #2...

So very thankful to have arrived back home safely from a low-stress ten days or so on the road.

We had a very nice trip.  We went to Niagara Falls.  We saw no change in the seasons, as it was unseasonably warm in New York when we arrived (though it did get cooler while we were there).  When we started home, a quick Google search let us know that there was a small pocket of two counties in Pennsylvania where the leaves were at near peak fall colors, so we made a slight detour to enjoy just a bit of fall foliage.  And heading further south in Pennsylvania, we found ourselves too close to Gettysburg to resist stopping for a bit.

I think in all we passed through 15 states, though we didn't stop to see sights in each one.  It was a very relaxing trip, with no formal planning or schedule.

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed #1...

Recently, Pamela who blogs at The Lady of the House Speaking, started a Thankful, Grateful, Blessed post on Thursdays.  What with the holidays coming up, I'd been giving this some thought as well.  In the past, I have participated in Thankful Thursdays in November, but I kind of like the idea of it being a year-round feature.  So this is my inaugural post.  And thanks, Pamela, for the inspiration.

With a lot on my calendar this fall, I thought I'd better take advantage of some time at home right now to get some long avoided tasks done.  (Lucky me, among the 'treasures' I found was a quote I had written down...'Procrastination is just sloth with more syllables'...isn't that cheery?)  This week I took three boxes of donations to Salvation Army, and one corner of my house feels lighter and brighter, 

So, as much as I avoid it, I am blessed to be able to do work around the house.  I am so very thankful to have a home.  

Making it Monday (Christmas Eve edition)...

So I finished binding all the kids' quilts with an hour to spare.  I had so effectively procrastinated...cough, cough...that I had to do all the binding on the machine (I usually do the last step by hand).  By the time I was done, I had gotten pretty good at making it invisible.  I guarantee the kids will never know any different, and, on the upside, it is probably more sturdy.

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, as I was about halfway around in the final step of binding the third quilt, I realized that the bobbin was making a sound like it was getting critically low on thread.  I was so exhausted and just did not want to stop to reload the bobbin, so there was a lot of, 'oh please, please, please be enough on there to finish.'  There was...just barely.  And the spool was almost as low as the bobbin!

We had our Christmas together combined with Sunday family supper at Kasey and Beau's.  Beau cooked a prime rib on the grill.  Oh my goodness, it was SO delicious.

We also played a game of Not Parent Approved.  No skill required, and good for a few laughs.  Beau, who never wants to play games with us, loves this game.  :)

Now I have some breathing room.  I have two more quilts to bind but not a huge rush.  Then maybe I will have some time to read or cross-stitch or take a nap.  :)

Edited to add:  I had intended this to get posted Monday morning, but I forgot to hit 'publish.'  Earlier today I received a text from Kasey with two photos, saying this was how she found the girls when she went in to wake them this morning..."wrapped in Grandma's love."

Made my heart happy!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all had a wonderful day today...wherever you are, whatever you have to celebrate.

I have so very much to be thankful for this year...this life.  

Since I have a sweet little girl with me for the evening who is needing to go to bed, I will just quickly post some photos of feast prep.  I only did a turkey, the dressing and gravy, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Butternut Squash.  Kasey and Beau did all the rest of the food and hosting duties.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash

recipe posted at What's Cookin' 4 Miles North of Nowhere?

 celery and onions for the dressing...which I forgot to take a photo of finished

The star of the show...turkey

Not a pretty presentation, but shows the excess of feasting we enjoyed.  As delicious as everything was, the best part was not what was on the table, but being able to share the day with those seated around it.

In memory and appreciation...

left to right: Uncle Red (Raymond), Dad (Gene), Uncle John

I phoned my sister last night, and she said she was looking through a box of old photos for a copy of this one to post on Facebook for Memorial Day.  Since I had it scanned and filed on my computer, it was easy to help her out.

It's such a great photo of my dad (middle, Army) and his two brothers (Navy) in their WWII uniforms standing beside my grandparents' house.  They were all able to be home at the same time before reporting for their assignments.  It speaks to me of what our service members fight and sacrifice for: home and family.

They were lucky.  They all made it home again.

Today we honor the memory of those in all wars who haven't, and honor all who serve and sacrifice.

Thankful Thursday...

What?!  How did it get to be Thursday?  What happened to Tuesday and Wednesday!?  And it's the 9th?  Oh, well...I can't really think of anything to blog about, so I think I will follow the lead of Shauna and do a Thankful Thursday and combine it with a Seven on the 7th which I completely forgot to do on Tuesday.

1.  I'm thankful that I have a job that I can accept work on days that I want to work, and can turn down days that conflict with my personal schedule...not to mention that I can choose to work in offices that have super-nice people and turn down offices where the people are merely nice.  (And I'm super thankful for my husband who allows me the luxury of being able to work this way, since it doesn't always bring in a regular salary.)

2.  I'm thankful for friends.

3.  I'm thankful for Thursdays...which I call Chloe-days, because I get to drive her to a theater class in a nearby town, and the conversations in the car are never boring!  She can make me laugh one minute and sigh the next.  Today I asked her about a little boy in her class that she has a crush on, and she said that he smiled at her two times today.  Awwwww...I totally remember counting those special smiles that came my way.

4.  I'm thankful that our taxes are done, and by some miracle we will be getting a refund this year.

5.  I'm thankful for blogs that entertain me and are written by the most awesomely creative and nicest people the world over.

6.  I am thankful for my vehicle that runs quite well most of the time, and for AAA when it doesn't.

7.  I am thankful that we are expecting rain to fall on our parched earth for the next few days.  

Moore, Oklahoma...

Not all is OK in OK tonight, but we're so thankful to know that the Sims men are safe (nephew, great-nephew, ex-brother-in-law).  Prayers for their neighbors and community...for those hurting, for those mourning, for those still in shock.

Give thanks...

I love Fridays!  Though I had a rather aggravating morning, it got better.  Then I went over to Kasey's to play on her dining room chalk board.  This is my chalk version of an Etsy find that I saw on Pinterest.  I wanted to redo the bottom herb-y scroll work, but Kasey wouldn't let me. 

This photo shows the size in more perspective...quite large.  It was a fun way to spend my afternoon.

So today I give thanks for: sweet nurses, good friends, 4-day work weeks, wonderful children who let me come hang out and artify their furnishings, and kisses from the kiddles.

Life's a beach...

Yesterday marked our 35th wedding anniversary.  Why, yes, I WAS a child bride.  :)  Thank you for asking.

When I met him, Carey was listening to country music, and wearing sharply-creased blue jeans and a cowboy hat (and for the most part he still is, though he's relaxed the starch a bit).  Shortly before I met him, however, he was a surfer...with shaggy hair, cutoffs, and a long board.  Our first date (back in the olden days) was to see the movie Jaws.  The next day we went to the beach with a group of friends.  He's always enjoyed watching televised surfing competitions.  So when I saw the previews for Soul Surfer, I thought that would be something fun, and kind of nostalgic, for us to do together.

We enjoyed it.  It had really good surfing footage.  I liked the story more than he did.  I thought that what could have been made overly dramatic, was instead treated with a very light hand.  I took away the impression that the family didn't over-dramatize things in real life either, instead dealing with whatever comes along.  It depicted the family's faith in a way that I think will make believers happy to see, without turning off non-believers.  Overall, it had an extremely positive message...that passion, hard work, and determination can be their own reward.

So back to our anniversary.  Like the above photo indicates, I am giving thanks for the past three and a half decades (!) spent with my sweetie.  Like the ocean's surf, sometimes there is smooth sailing, and sometimes it's choppy.  Thankfully for us the real storms have been few and far between.  Mostly it's been a day at the beach...playing, walking hand in hand, searching for treasures that wash up now and then, sometimes squabbling like hungry gulls...but always rinsing off the sand and going home together.

Giving thanks today...

...for God's bounty

...for family

...for the comfort and shelter of home

...for work for our hands, and rest when we are weary

...and for friends...and if you are reading this, that means YOU!

Agape...

...ah-gah-pey...noun: unselfish love of one person for another; brotherly love.

Nothing can lighten a dreary day and put a smile on my face like homemade fig preserves in my mailbox! I know they were made by the loving hands, and are shared by the generous heart, of a sweet and very dear friend.

Thank you, LB. You have no idea what a blessing this was today. I have to confess that I haven't been to pick up my mail at the post office in at least a week, so I apologize for the delay in letting you know they arrived safely...but of all those days in the past week, today was the day I needed a reminder of how blessed I am by the love that surrounds me.

Thank you...and know I give thanks for you.

Happy accidents...

On Saturday, my friend Drew and I headed out to a craft show in Goliad. It was a mere two and half hour drive. A simple hop, skip, and a jump down the road when you have pleasant company.

One problem. Once we got there, we figured out that the craft show is next weekend. Oh well. There were lots of cool places to explore. I found some great treasures that I've been pining for for ages (I'll show them to you in another post).

Then we happened on Tia's on the Square!

Look at this...

...oh, I love this place! The layers of exposed paint on the ceiling above that fabulous chandelier. Love!

And their displays!

So fun. So sparkly. So gorgeous!

And I absolutely adore these...

I don't even know how to describe these stunning snowflakes. The detail. The sparkle. The romance!

I'm really trying to get by with what I have...and I have a lot of Christmas ornaments, so I didnt' let myself have one. And now I can't stand it. I think I have to go back.

I'm kind of glad we missed the craft show. We had fun just roaming around town.

Today I am thankful for happy accidents.

Tradition...

I heard a discussion on NPR the other day about Thanksgiving being unique as holidays go. It is not about having to find the perfect gift, or sending cards, or hiding eggs, or shooting off fireworks. It is solely a day of tradition. A day when the focus is on the table...the loved ones around it and the food on it...and hopefully we appreciate and are thankful for both. A day when almost everyone in the country is having turkey, and all the side dishes are from recipes that have been passed down for generations.

I hadn't thought of it in exactly that way before.

Tomorrow we are going to Kasey's, and as long as I'm not having to cook, we could have hot dogs and I wouldn't care. My sister asked me what I was taking, and I told her I was taking the cans of cranberry jelly. She said my mother would be appalled...and she would...and I don't care. I am ceding the family tradition of controlling the kitchen.

One year I did take the time to put some of our family's favorite holiday recipes into a small cookbook for my kids, so Kasey has them if she chooses to use them. I'm happy to turn over the reigns...at least for this year. Though I confess I did buy a small turkey to roast in a day or so...I do love me some turkey sandwiches and soup and casseroles don't you know.

Also, Friday is the National Day of Listening. While you have loved ones together, spend an hour interviewing someone important to you, and if possible record it. That sounds like an awesome idea to me.

Today I am giving thanks for my family...for time to spend together...for hugs...and for traditions.

What's on your kitchen windowsill...

I recently found another blog that I really like...Humble Stars & Posies. Recently Sonja (said blogger) had a random musing and asked the question, "What's on your kitchen windowsill?"

That really struck a chord with me, because my kitchen windowsill is one of my favorite spots. So I thought I would follow Sonja's lead...show you my windowsill and pass the question on.

I recently put away some summery items that had long languished on the sill, and put out the antique blue mason jars (and luckily I dusted a bit when I did that!)


The left side of the sill is the home of a little stone elephant...a gift from a very special friend. When she gave him to me, she said that elephants are good luck, and they should face east. So this is the home he claimed as his own where he can see the rising sun, and I can see him daily and think of my sweet friend. The donkey reminds me of her as well, good Democrat that she is, and he leans to the left. :) And of course my watch and wedding rings land there at dinner prep time. The right side of the sill temporarily has an autumn scents reed diffuser on it...part of a birthday present.


This little rock lives here behind the faucet, just under the sill. Probably one of the kids brought it in to me while visiting...not really sure...perhaps it would be happier living in the great outdoors again. :)

Today I am very thankful for my kitchen window...what's inside it and what's outside it.

Well, that's my windowsill. So what's on yours?

Saturday...

Diego's team lost the championship game today, but it was a good game just the same. And it was football weather...chilly and damp, but thankfully no rain while we were sitting in the stands.

It was a nice drive to the game and back with Carey. A sweet time spent with family. And once back home a day that was so relaxing that I took a nap.

For these things, I am deeply thankful.