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| This quotation reads "Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have." - author unknown |
Happy First Day of May! Do you remember May Day baskets, little baskets of candy that were exchanged with friends, usually left on the doorstep to surprise them? Those are sweet memories of grade school years long ago. I am thankful for childhood memories, life was so much simpler then!
Today I'm celebrating the completion of the April A to Z Blogging Challenge on my other blog! I have a history of not always finishing projects I start, so it feels good to hang in there with something for an entire month and make it to the finish. While it takes up a lot of time (unless you are organized enough to have your posts pre-written), it's a fun event to share with fellow bloggers and a way to attract some new readers to your blog.
I am also thankful for a couple new friends I made in the process of doing the A to Z Challenge. I think back to a time years ago when I really had no friends or acquaintances outside of work, and it was often very lonely. Now my husband marvels at the many people I interact with around the world, and so do I! I no longer feel like an alien from anther planet, I have a tribe of my own. :-)
I am thankful to God that there was not an even greater loss life, injuries, or damage to property than what occurred this weekend with tornadoes in Texas and heavy rains/flooding elsewhere. I am thankful for communities that come together to help those who were affected by the storms. It was a brutal weather weekend, and even included snow in places that don't usually see snow at the end of April! I am thankful that should be the final bout of winter weather now, let's hope!
I am thankful that my youngest furkid who as asthma started feeling better this weekend. It comes and goes with him, and last week saw several days of him wheezing. I am sad when I know that he feels lousy, and I'm thankful for meds that help him. His love for food is never affected though. :-)
I am so thankful that I am at home and no longer working, so that when a friend or family member needs someone to talk to, I am available. Nothing used to be more frustrating than needing to say "I'll have to call you back later, we're really busy." I feel good about having the time to listen.
I am thankful for shared shopping suggestions with my daughter. She is on a low carb diet so when I see something new or a good recipe I think she might like, I send it to her, and she does the same for me. She's also great at catching sales on Amazon, and alerting me. Daughters are treasures!
I am thankful for good things that happened in the lives of my friends last week, one got to spend a few days by herself at the ocean, a place she loves, and one's neighbors installed new outdoor steps and a handrail that will make it easier for her to come and go.
I am thankful for prayers answered, always, this week including a good medical report for a friend and an improved work situation for a family member.
A young friend of mine who is in college had her mother die suddenly this past week, just four weeks after her father's passing following a lengthy illness. My heart goes out to her, and I am thankful for the family and friends that have gathered to support her as she works through this great loss. I am thankful I can add my prayers and encouragement to theirs.
I am thankful for faith to overcome fears, and courage to keep going. We live in a sometimes crazy world, and life isn't easy for most of us, and yet I continue to wake each morning with hope for the new day and the believe that God will walk me through it. I am praying that May will be a month where rational minds prevail, and that we will all take time to reach out to others on the journey.
Blessings to you in the coming week. Keep your eye out for reasons to be thankful, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
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| This is a click-button to the TToT link-up. It is photo of one of our beautiful Texas sunsets with blue still peeking through the clouds; yellow, orange and pink bands around the remaining sliver of bright sun, and a wide band of black earth below it on which I've written Ten Things of Thankful.* |
* Descriptions of the included photos are being provided for those who may be unable to view the illustrations.
I wish I had a furkid in a good place. I'm afraid Cat One is worse again, not better. Waiting to hear from the vet. I fear it won't be good. I'm quite sad about it and trying not to over-worry.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on completing your A to Z!
I'm with you on the question of faith. It is difficult, often, to believe and to rely on it. But I find it makes all the difference.
Glad I made it in here this week. It's been a while.
Oh! I will pray for Cat One, I know how much you love those "rotten cats", they are family! It is both a joy and a relief to finish up the A-Z, nice to do it, nice when it's done. :-) Yes, faith makes all the difference, without it to rely on I would be a mess. I was really glad to see you joining in this week, I understand that you are busy, so it's extra nice when you can squeeze it in! XOXO
DeleteYou did a beautiful job for the A to Z, and i will be praying for your young friend who lost both parents in such a short span of time.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mimi! Yes, please, I will be grateful for all prayers on her behalf, such a heartbreaking thing for her to deal with!
DeleteCongratulations on completing the Apple and Ostrich Challenge!*
ReplyDeleteI did on one year, it is not easy.
Death, expected or unexpected is such a huge event. To have such a fundamental element to one's life (and reality) change so dramatically and permanently is very difficult.
Good to hear that you were bypassed by the bad weather.
Thanks for all of your work and dedication in keeping the TToT going, it is quite a good thing.
* don't have a clue how I got started doing alternates to A to Z Challenge, or for that matter why I seem to find it so amusing, which is saying nothing in light of how others might respond, seeing how I'm inclined to indulge in my little joke with near-total strangers as well as friends. lol
Your witty alternative A-Z variations crack me up as I find them in your comments on the blogs of mutual friends! :-) The challenge part is a definite, but it's fun too.
DeleteAgreed to lose both parents in separate incidents, one very soon after the other, is overwhelming to even fathom, at any age, much less for someone still in their twenties,and the "baby" of the family.
The TToT is definitely a good thing in my books and I'm glad I can do my small part to keep us all connected.
I love that quote at the start of your post. Reminds me of a line from a Sheryl Crow song.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I thank you very much for providing captions for your images. That photo at the end, from your description, sounds lovely.
Congrats on finishing A to Z.
"Daughters are treasures." A most touching line indeed.
You are so encouraging! Your thankful heart is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteEach new month, new day, is a way to begin again and renew our relationships. Congratulations on finishing the A-Z; you really rocked it. I know you will be a blessing to your young friend who lost both her parents in a relatively short time. I'll say prayers for her as well. I am happy to be your friend. You are a good example of being lifted up by lifting up others.
ReplyDeleteI thought about you this past week and wondered if you had suffered from the horrible tornadoes in Texas.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you and your daughter are watching out for one another with the sharing of recipes and shopping bargains. The relationships we have with our children are such blessings.
I love the paragraph about faith to overcome fears. May it be that way for all.