I used to grumble and complain a LOT, but I've learned over time that if you're always focusing on things that are going wrong or you wish were different, your perspective narrows and you overlook the good things and blessings in your life. I am thankful that I've learned to value the life I've been given, and I'm working to keep my mind in the realm of thankful. Writing my Ten Things of Thankful list each week helps with that. If you're having one of those weeks when it feels like nothing went right, try writing a TToT list... it's amazing how many blessings and reasons to smile you'll discover were there all along.
Saturday mornings are a sweet time when the kids are grown and the house is quiet, a time to reflect on the week and think about the one coming up. A week from now we will be on the road and headed off on an adventure, with new sights to see and time spent together relaxing. I am so thankful a vacation is possible this year, next year it might not be. I am always mindful that we need to spend time with our loved ones now, we never know how long we'll have them.
I am thankful that I finished crocheting my Spring wreath this week. I actually completed a project that I started... yay me! :-) For the most part I am happy with how it turned out...
I am thankful for a wonderful phone conversation with a friend, there is nothing more uplifting that sharing with a kindred spirit. I don't usually do phone calls, feeling more comfortable communicating in writing, but she caught me off guard, and I'm so glad she did!
I am thankful that the yarn I needed for the lap afghan Papa Bear has requested went on sale this week at Hobby Lobby, since it requires 18 skeins. I love sale prices, and I love the variegated color of the yarn I am using...
I am thankful that the high winds we experienced a couple times this week didn't do any damage to our little box house. I am thankful for the metal roof we put on a few years ago that prevented a yard full of shingles. Springtime in West Texas is a windy, very dusty affair, but I love Spring anyway!
I am thankful for the adorable little cord holders my daughter sent us. Our charger cords for phones, tablets, laptops, etc, are always a tangle or falling on the floor when not in use. These have adhesive backs and can be stuck anywhere (the nightstands and end tables by our sofa), and keep the cords handy...
I am thankful for the prayers of friends with a scary situation my niece experienced this week. It is a blessing to have people to turn to when you are worried.
I am thankful for the example of my friend Nancy, who instead of giving up something for Lent this year is performing an act of kindness or service each day. That's inspiring... something we should all try to do every day!
As always, I am thankful for my beloved Papa Bear. Yesterday evening when he came home from work he collected a handful of wildflowers among the weeds in our yard and brought them in for me, hiding the behind his back as a surprise. He is full of sweetness and light. I truly wish that everyone could experience this kind of love in their lifetime. most days I feel so undeserving.
Blessings to you in the week ahead! Keep your eye out for reasons to be thankful, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
A lovely list, Josie and thank you for hosting this linkup. The wreath is beautiful, you are very talented :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Jo, I love our weekly TToT linkup and waiting eagerly to see what everyone brings to share from their week. It is such a blessing to me and always makes me smile! I have sent the wreath off to surprise a friend, and will begin another one shortly. They are fun to do.
DeleteMany blessings to you, and i like those cord holders!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mimi, my life is indeed blessed! The little bunny cord holders are one of those simply ingenious designs that work perfectly as intended and can easily be placed anywhere you park your charging cords. They were inexpensive too!
DeleteSurprises are good. The wind seems to be the weather story this Spring (late Winter). Though I remember windy Marches growing up, this year has been the most traditional in that regard in a while.
ReplyDeleteGood to have things turn out better rather than worse.
Negativity is tough, it sneaks in disguised as realistic and reasonable and eats all your energy. Worse, I know there is a part of myself that .... enjoys it, even the imaginings that involve personally negative outcomes. I'm getting better at remembering not to forget that I can stop that kind of thinking. And it's always better when I do. Practice, I guess, I just keep practicing it.
Thank you for the work you put into this here bloghop here, it is a good thing.
Nice surprises are indeed fun! Wind is an ever present fact of life in West Texas, but I've learned to make my peace with it. I've always admired the raw power of the wind. It sure can make a rat's nest of my hair though! :-)
DeleteI think you have a valid point about negativity, there is a part of our nature that tends to feed on it. I am also getting better at calling the shots and realizing I can change my line of thinking to more positive outcomes. It could go wrong... but it could go right!
I love doing the bloghop and I am truly thankful for everyone who comes to participate, it is an unlifiting, encouragine experience each week!
Though it is very often windy here, we haven't really lost too many roof tiles--until this week! I came home the other day to several broken tiles near my front door. John went to a store today to find replacements, and was told, "Good luck with that!" Apparently the tiles are an older style/color/etc. He's trying his best to glue the pieces together and repair the damage.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for your upcoming vacation, and hope you have a really great, relaxing time!
I love clay tile roofs, but I have heard that finding replacements to match can be a real problem. I love that John was attempting to reassemble the pieces, that's a great undertaking and I hope it worked!
DeleteI am counting down the days until we leave Friday on vacation, we always have such a great time on roadtrips, and have learned to keep it relaxing instead of running ourselves ragged trying to do everything. It is fun to experience places you have never been.
Such a lovely post. I am glad you have the support of loving people around you. It is so important to have people to uplift your spirits and help calm your worries. Funny, I thought about actually calling you this week. Sometimes my one finger text typing gets tedious. But at least with texting you don't impose on the person. If that makes any sense. Those cord keepers are adorable (almost as adorable as Papa Bear with his bouquet hidden behind his back waiting to present them to his love). I never knew they existed before seeing them here. Our electronics are under the desk, so the cords lay where they lay and are not a nuisance. I know your excited about your upcoming vacation and I love that you appreciate that you are able to have a vacation this year. Life throws so many curve balls, you never know. Gratitude surely improves our quality of life and I'm so glad for this blog hop and a vehicle to express it.
ReplyDeleteTalking to you would never be an imposition Val, and there is always voice texting if it's at an odd hour! You are a precious friend to me. <3 I agree that typing, with one finger or many, can be a bit tedious, sometimes my hands and shoulders protest loudly from all my keyboard/phone text time.
DeleteThe little charger cord holders are cute, my daughter finds the neatest things, she probably owns stock in Amazon by now. :-)
Papa Bear and his sweet little surprises, always something fun, he is a true romantic and I love him for that, a new experience in my life! Saturday he brought me a red rose from the bush next door to where he works!
One thing I know for sure is that anything planned for the future can and does change. I think both you and I are realizing that the future is nothing like we expected it to be. It's important to make good memories now and to share all the love and laughter we can. Tomorrow I will worry about tomorrow.
I am so very thankful for the wonderful response to bringing the TToT bloghop here, thanks to Lizzi's generosity and kindness. It is a meaningful and important part of my week, and keeps me focused on the positives!
Those cord holders are awesome and I love your spring wreath. You know, it's so true that thinking about what we're thankful for makes us realize how lucky we truly are - I hope to write a thankful post tonight or at least start one for next week as there's so much to be thankful for.
ReplyDeleteI hope your vacation is absolutely wonderful and relaxing!
The little cord holders were super inexpensive and they work! I love genius inventions that are uncomplicated.
DeleteIt never fails for me that if I am pondering what on earth I might have to list for thankfuls this week amidst the rubble, once I get started I will inevitably think of more, and end up smiling in the process. That's really what it's all about, along with the fun of sharing and encouraging each other! I'd love to have you join us this week or next, whenever you have time to do so! I am planning to participate in Finish the Sentence Friday too, though it may have to wait until after the A-Z, depending on how much time that takes up.
Thank you for the vacation wishes, I know it will be great fun, I love new adventures, they are good for the soul!
The flowers Papa Bear brought to you are beautiful! How sweet of him to surprise you with them. It's nice to get a phone call from a friend unexpectedly. I had one yesterday from my friend in Africa. It is so easy to grumble but it is also easy to stop when we think of our fortunes in blessings. This is a great hop to help with this. Thank you for being our hostess, my friend.
ReplyDeletePapa Bear is always doing sweet little things like that, he has a very giving, loving spirit.
DeleteI love that you got a phone call all the way from Africa! That's a long distance birthday greeting for sure. Sometime I would love to hear your voice too! I appreciate your support and encouragement.
It is rather sad that grumbling comes so naturally to us, and I know we weren't born to be that way, it is a learned behavior and can be unlearned. I am indeed blessed in more ways than I could ever count, and I am slowly gaining the perspective of thankfulness, and learning not to let the winds of life blow me off the road!
It is my pleasure to provide a place for us to gather and share each weekend, it is such a wonderful thing to be a part of! <3
Ooh, trip is one week away. Yay. And I think most people look forward to spring, no matter where they reside.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to that one about cords. My laptop cord is always a tripping risk. I need to watch myself.
Happy Spring.
Trip is now just a few days away, and I'm eagerly counting down and scrambling to get ready! It is always so fun to get away from the daily routines of life, of course my tablet will be coming with me!
DeleteI have nearly tripped over cords too, it is easy to do, and we seem to have them everywhere. I will be happy when all technology becomes wireless and the need for charger cords will become obsolete. You make me more aware of my environment and the hazards it can present to others, thank you!
Think Spring, I can hardly wait for May and hearing about your zip line experience, I just know it will feel exhilarating! :-)
Love your list as always. I am so happy you will be going on a vacation - have a wonderful time. It really does wonders for a person. And I love the wreath - you do beautiful work. I learned all those skills in my younger days but haven't picked up a crochet hook or knitting needle in many years. It may be time again....
ReplyDeleteThank you Skipper! I am so excited about vacation, sharing something new together is always great fun. The wreath pattern was very flowery but fun, and it made a good gift to send to a friend who needed a little cheering up. You To me crochet is easier than knitting, simply because you don't have to be careful about dropping stitches and you can easily unravel any mistakes. They have so many beautiful soft yarns now, much more variety than years ago.
DeleteYou have written such a sweet TToT this week. It is fun seeing your creative efforts in making the wreath, and I love those colors in the lap afghan. What cute little cord holders your daughter sent to you. Your husband found some beautiful wildflowers to bring to you. I hope that all goes well in preparing for your road trip and that you have a safe trip.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat! This was an easy week to come up with fun things to share! Hopefully in a couple weeks I'll have some vacation photos to post. :-)
DeleteI love your cord holders - so cute! And your wreath is great. So happy you're heading out on your trip soon - I know you'll have a wonderful time. I do love your flowers, but I'm thankful they are not here making me sneeze! :D I'm thankful my Hub does not bring me flowers as they make my allergies go nuts. :D I was pretty happy for the caramel filled egg the other night, though. Definitely. And no sneezing! Seriously, though, it's nice to have someone do sweet things for you and you so deserve it.
ReplyDeleteYour friend's Lent practice is a good one. I have always thought choosing something to do rather than something to "give up" was a better approach. Perhaps if I try choosing to speak more positively rather than giving up swearing, I might actually get somewhere with that goal!
And now I'm going to head out. I've only made it to about half of the posts this week, but I'm afraid it's all I'll be able to. Lots of positive busy-ness yesterday...and lots of very much not positive busy-ness today. My mood is black and I need to go put it to bed.
xo
I am allergic to many flowers too, Lisa, and I love them. I never sit near them, preferring to enjoy them at a distance so I can breathe, even gorgeous roses will be across the room. It is all about the thought behind the little gifts, something they know would please you. Papa Bear also brings me chocolates, my first love!
DeleteI like the idea of reframing a goal in a positive manner, instead of saying "I won't" say "I will..."
I am glad you have had at least some positive busy-ness this week, and I hope there will be more of it for you to report by week's end. Some days are better than others, but each day is a new opportunity. Sending prayers and positive energy your way, and much love always.