The above image is a quote by Millie Mestril. It says "I woke today with gratitude for those who share me in their lives. I am thankful for those who are a part of my journey." The text is printed in white on a muted background photo that shows three people walking across a sandy beach together leaving trails of footprints. The edge of the ocean can be faintly seen in the distance *
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As I walked out onto my deck on this quiet Monday morning I realized how much I love solitude after so many years of required daily interaction with others in the workplace. Yet I also considered that if I was to live a "hermit" life, I wouldn't want to be without my beloved Papa Bear, my family, or the many wonderful friends I've made on the Internet. Just as the quote above says, I am first and foremost, truly grateful for those who make room for me in their lives and share a part of my journey.My weekend has been totally blessed by seeing all the wonderful posts being added to our TToT linkup, I woke up to several on Saturday morning! I am so thankful for your participation, not because of numbers, but because I believe in the positive effect of what we share. It is also awesome to have new people showing up to join us! I am thankful that folks reading your posts find the concept interesting enough to want to try their own and link up a post! Word of mouth, or should I say word of blog, is how we grow. :-)
One of the biggest thankfuls in my life at the present is vastly improved relationships with and between my two sisters, one older and one younger than me. We can actually share group texts with little news bites of our day with no one getting snippy or rude. It is amazing and is a testament to the power of prayer and trying harder to be kind and thoughtful. It has been a nasty triangle for so many years and I have always mourned that. At last it is becoming a supportive blessing!
I am thankful that I stretched beyond my usual procrastinating ways and go my son's birthday gifts made/ordered/mailed in plenty of time. They arrived at his house this morning and his birthday is on Wednesday. He loves gifts, and is so easy in his requests... a batch of his favorite cookies and a small gift card. I also sent a few fun things and am surprising him with his grandfather's engraved pocket knife and a small photo of his grandfather when he was in the Navy at about age 19 or 20. My son is a family history buff and will love it. He turns 38, how can my baby be that old?!! His life has been blessed in so many ways this past year, and I wish him more of the same for the coming one.
I am thankful for the wonderful cherries our grocery store got in from Washington state, truly the best we've ever had here, and we are enjoying them. Summer is such a wonderful time for fresh fruit and veggies, and lighter suppers!
I am SO VERY THANKFUL for friends on Facebook who make a concerted effort to post positive, uplifting and fun things. The news has enough ugliness and despair, and I just can't see why folks need to keep "preaching to the choir" on their Facebook pages. Share something that will make people feel good about life, we already know the horrors and harsh realities and don't need the saturation that makes your mind spin and your heart ache, IMHO.
I am thankful for the pretty new nightgowns we found on sale while shopping this weekend, they are made of light weight t-shirt fabric, very cool and comfortable! The ones I have been wearing are ragged and needed replacement, but I refuse to pay large sums for something worn only at home. It might surprise you to know that we don't put on "street clothes" unless leaving the house, at home we stick to comfy loungewear like this, the joys of an empty nest! No one drops by out here where we live, thankfully. Saves on laundry too. :-) Papa Bear also found a new "John shirt" on sale, which is what my daughter dubbed the Hawaiian shirts he loves to wear, he always wears one to work on casual Saturdays. He got new sox and underwear too, and it's funny to think that we are thankful for things as simple as that, but soft and new is nice, and sale prices are even nicer!
I am thankful for the all the people who work in and support animal rescue, a job of the highest highs and the biggest heartbreaks. For every little furry soul who is rescued, healed, and placed in a loving forever home I am truly grateful. The need is great, now we need to toughen laws on animal abuse and neglect and work to promote adoption! I am so very thankful for those who have opened their hearts and their homes to rescue/shelter animals or have donated funds. I wish we could save them all!
I am thankful that my children have a heart for animals just as I do. My daughter and her husband just added this little rescue kitty to their furkid family. They have named "Batman" or "Batkitty" for the obvious reason...
While on the subject of critters, I am thankful for the fun of keeping track of my feral kitty visitors. At the moment we have three regulars that frequent our deck feeder for food and water during the day and night, and every now and then we will be surprised to see a different one show up on the kittycam. A couple nights last week a large mouse (or small rat, who knows) showed up to enjoy some kitty food. It was just too cute, and mighty brave of him/her! I haven't seen it since, which is probably wise due to food chain issues! Andy, the bravest of the bunch likes to stand up and peek into our living room window from the deck at night, seeing how the insiders live I guess, and it is so cute to see that little face looking in. He also knows if I see him I will bring him out a treat!
I am thankful that my children both have good careers that enable them to support themselves financially. My son bought himself an early birthday gift yesterday, a fire-engine red 2015 Dodge Ram crew-cab truck that only had 18,000 miles on it and has been well maintained. It looks brand new! He was happy to sell his little Toyota pickup, needing more space for their weekend outings and more comfort for his long commute to and from work at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky each day. It gets great mileage too. He is so proud of it, and I am proud of him!
Well, I think I have at least ten thankfuls here, so I won't need to take advantage of Clark's "Get one Free" offer on his TToT post this week, but it is such a wonderfully fun idea, and you really need to check it out! I am ever thankful for all the smiles each week's TToT posts bring to my life, THANK YOU! :-)
Blessings to you this week. Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
* Descriptions of the included photos are being provided for those who may be unable to view the illustrations.
Happy birthday to your son - and to you, Mamma!
ReplyDeleteI'm always thankful for things like new PJs, new socks, etc. So many in the world never experience even that simple luxury and I am always reminded how blessed we really are.
We are also "at home clothes" people. We just like to be comfy when we're here.
It seems the years go so fast and I marvel that he can be this old already!
DeleteYes, simple luxuries that so many are deprived of, and we forget that too easily. I like the term "at home clothes" it sounds much better than "we wear our pajamas all day"! :-) XO
New jammies and underwear are a treat. Seems I wear mine until they are rags. What fun to have nightly visitors. I know they are enjoying the regular meals. Sounds like you and your sisters have grown up and now have real relationships now. Sometimes it is harder to like someone than it is to love them. Always lovely to hear about your week.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we never buy those things for ourselves until they fall apart. We were definitely due for replacements.
DeleteThe kitty cam is so fun and little by little the ferals are coming to trust me enough to associate me and my voice with food. :-) Andy talks and talks when I bring him out a dish of chicken or tuna!
You are right about my sisters, I think we have FINALLY all grown up and learned to appreciate each other despite our differences. I am so grateful for that, I know Mom and Dad must be too.
This TToT is quite the benefit of the internet.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I make jokes and such, the key (for me) to the continued thriving of this 'hop, is the sense of a place where we can hang out on weekends. I used to make that comparison to, like house parties in the real world, with the added benefit of being able to come and go as the spirit moves us.
You have done a most excellent job of nurturing that feeling (and attitude) each week.
I used to like to say, about how we get to say, "Hey remember that time that..." about events in each other's real lives to people we may never be in the same room with!
Very cool.
You post today is, in a way, the backstory to the bloghop as it continues,
Thank you, Clark! I agree with you about the TToT being a weekend meet up place, it's a fun way to check in with everyone and find out about our weeks, make sure everyone is doing ok. I like the ability to pop in and out over the weekend... from the comfort of my chair in my pajamas! :-) I too love how well we get to know each other with rarely having the opportunity to meet in person, sometimes I think we share a lot more this way than we might over coffee or tea.
DeleteHow wonderful that your son got a new-to-him truck! Your mention of Ft. Campbell has brought back memories. The only year i ever lived outside of Louisiana was at Ft. Campbell.
ReplyDeleteI was really happy for him, and it was a good choice. I loved the bright color, not something he would have chosen a few years ago, my kids are typically a little more subdued than their mom. Told him he will never lose it in a parking lot! :-)
DeleteMy son got out of the Air Force and has been working as an air traffic controller for the DoD at Ft. Campbell for the past 11 years now, he loves it, it is his dream job. He lives in Nashville now, more to do than closer to his work so worth the commute.
I am glad to hear you have a better relationship with your sisters. I am happy to say my sister and I have always gotten along rather well, but now that we are older, we are sisters/friends. It is a special bond you're not going to have with anyone else, so it's best thing for all that things are worked on. I am lucky to have mine and I hope you all can be there for each other in a new way now.
ReplyDeleteMMMMMM. Cherries. Just ate some here myself. One of my favourite summer treats. Next will be peaches and I look forward to fall, more than more, because summer may be over, but the apples come.
Love your gang of indoor/outdoor kitties and other creatures showing up occasionally.
I am so thankful that my sisters and I can finally all get along with each other and truly care about each other, we text visit every day and it feels so good to be supportive. I think they finally realized we are getting older and won't always be here to share with.
DeleteI do love cherries, it's always hard not to eat too many! Peaches too, peach cobbler is one of Papa Bear's favorites.
My daughter says I have now crossed the line into the "crazy cat lady" realm and she is probably right, but it is fun and I feel good about seeing the outside ferals fatten up a bit and have plenty of fresh water on these hot, hot days. The night cam pix are fascinating, I'm learning a lot more about feline habits! :-)
Before kids, when I occasionally babysat, I treasured the moment of being able to enjoy kids once in a while but not have that constant responsibility. Same goes with furry kids, I guess.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.carinsgratitude.com/2017/07/express-gratitude-feel-better.html
Improved relationships among sisters is a great blessing. I'm happy for all of you.
ReplyDeleteI saw some huge beautiful cherries at a picnic yesterday. They were so good.
New comfy loungewear is something to celebrate.
Batman or Batkitty is adorable!
It sounds like your son got a great deal on the truck.
I too enjoy solitude, time to think, and the peaceful sounds of nature.
Have a blessed week.