Ten Things of Thankful - Week 41, 2017

The above image shows two large multifaceted diamonds positioned next to each other at angles with eight small diamonds arranged in a ring around them. The image background is white with the diamonds resting on what appears to be soft sand with a pinkish hue. The diamonds sparkle with refracted light. A quote by Thomas Carlyle is printed black script across the top of the image and simply states "No pressure, no diamonds." The image has been borrowed from bespangledjewelry.blogspot.com*

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I believe that we are all born as diamonds in the rough, and over the years God works at grinding and polishing until we hopefully begin to shine. :-) Life stressors, though not fun, are one of the ways we develop our inner strength and wisdom. For so many people this has been a week (a year?) of those, but yet we are all here and doing our best to bravely move forward day by day in steps of faith.

I have a big reason to be thankful this week... my daughter and her husband were travelling in Dallas rush hour traffic Wednesday evening. David was driving. A vehicle two cars ahead of them suddenly stopped, and thankfully David has good reflexes and was able to stop their vehicle in time. Unfortunately, the driver behind them was looking down, and when she glanced up it was too late... she slammed into them at 30 mph. Now that doesn't sound like something to be thankful for, but...

 

I am thankful that David was able to stop their vehicle from hitting the one in front of them.

 

I am thankful that they were aware the vehicle behind them was not going to stop and instead of bracing themselves stiffly for impact, they concentrated on relaxing their bodies as much as they could. As a result, they were only slightly sore next day instead of sustaining injuries.  As a long time floor duty nurse, my daughter already has neck/back/shoulder problems, and most definitely didn't need to aggravate that. I doubt that I would have been level-headed enough to relax when fear instinctively makes you tense up.

 

I am thankful that David drives a high-end vehicle which has a steel reinforced frame that greatly lessened the damage to their vehicle and the impact they felt. They were able to drive it home.

 

I am thankful that the lady who hit them was humble and very sorry. They all treated each other kindly instead of a hostile situation developing. Her car sustained greater damage and she was worried that her husband was going to be upset. Their understanding helped her to cope.

 

I am ever so thankful she had insurance and was quick to provide them with the necessary info.

 

I am thankful that David was driving, and not my daughter. He has lived in Dallas for some time, and for several years at an earlier point in his life, so is far more familiar with the roads and traffic. She's just been there two weeks, and would have been heartbroken if it had happened to her or had been her fault.

 

I am thankful that, while it was upsetting, no one was hurt, and my daughter was able to get out and drive the next day despite being a little nervous from the experience. She knows that "bumper cars" is a way of life in big cities, and accidents will happen. 

 

I am thankful that they both have two vehicles at this point. David also has a work vehicle, and my daughter has a Toyota that she has not sold in addition to her newer vehicle. Having a spare to drive is a blessing, especially since David's job takes him out of town most weeks and leaves her on her own.

I am thankful this didn't happen while we were there visiting, riding in the traffic stresses me out enough as it is. 

I am thankful they were together when the accident happened, and that David wasn't out of town, so they were able to support and comfort one another. 

 

I am thankful for the reminder to drive carefully and attentively; and as I reminded them, to treasure every moment you have to share, because life can change in a moment.

 

Although David loves his car and was sad about the accident that will affect it's resale value some day, he knows it could have been so much worse. And now that we have their first (and I'd like to hope last) Dallas traffic accident out of the way, we can chalk that up to experience and move on. 

 

I think this is another great example of how an occurrence in our lives can be so stressful and yet contain so many blessings when viewed from that perspective. I suspect if we lived in a state of full awareness it would be easy to list a hundred blessings each day; but really, it isn't the number that matters... it's the attitude. I KNOW that, despite the ups and downs, and doubts and struggles of life, I am blessed beyond measure, how about you?

Blessings to you in the days and weeks ahead... Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
 

The above photo 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.

Ten Things of Thankful - Week 40, 2017

The above image has a muted background in shades of taupe, rose, lavender, and green suggesting something floral. It has a plain, narrow double border with taupe on the outside and a light rose on the inside. A quote by Marelisa Fabrega is printed in ten rows of black text across the image and says "Gratitude should not be just a reaction to getting what you want, but an all-the-time gratitude, the kind where you notice the little things and where you constantly look for the good, even in unpleasant situations. Start bringing gratitude to your experiences, instead of waiting for a positive experience in order to feel grateful." The image has been borrowed from Pinterest.*

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I love the above quotation because I believe that gratitude should not be merely an exercise, but a way of life. Even in times of sadness, anger, or frustration, I can almost always still reflect on reasons to be thankful. Gratitude doesn't solve all life's problems, but it does take the sting out of them. :-)

Today was a busy day, playing catch up at home after being away for three days. We left Friday evening and returned home last evening, driving to Dallas to spend the weekend with my daughter and son-in-law and furkids at their apartment there. She is making good progress in getting her boxes unpacked and things sorted out from the move. 

Since we're already down to Tuesday night here and the posting deadline is looming, I'm going to keep my TToT list short this week, but I assure you it is very sweet, related to the trip and time shared...

I am thankful for 715 miles of safety on the road while travelling to and from Dallas, and towing a U-Haul trailer on our return trip home. Traffic in the Dallas area is congested to say the least, but Papa Bear handles it well.

I am thankful my daughter now lives in Texas, just 355 miles away instead of 1010 miles when she lived in Nashville.  This means we will get to see them more often, which makes my heart so very happy!

I am thankful they found a nice apartment in a good area of North Dallas, with an open floor plan and lots of windows, and thus plenty of light. Moving from a large home to a small apartment is challenging, and their storage is packed full despite getting rid of much. In the future they will buy or build another house. I think getting settled into a new job and marriage routine first is a good plan.

I am thankful for the greatly reduced stress level for my daughter (and I'm sure her husband too), now that her house sale and the move have been completed. All prayers accepted for her to find a good nursing position in Dallas that will hopefully be kinder to her physically after 20 years of floor duty nursing which have taken a toll on her body.

I am thankful that they have three adorable feline furkids to entertain them and to keep her company while David is out of town for his job most weeks. Pets are great company and I'm thankful he loves cats as much as she does.

I am thankful for all the fun and laughter we shared while playing board games and card games as we visited. I cleaned up on poker. :-) 

I am thankful for wonderful dining experiences, a chance to enjoy good things we can't find here...  I had a plate heaped with king crab at Pappadeaux, and a wonderful chicken gnocchi in a creamy basil sauce at an awesome little Italian place the night before. My daughter made us some delicious Snickers brownies too!

I am thankful for the very nice hotel room they provided for our stay, and for them playing taxi the entire time we were there, so we could just relax and enjoy the ride!

I am thankful for the time spent shopping at IKEA and Beth Bath and Beyond with my daughter on Sunday afternoon while they guys watched their beloved Cowboys go down in flames once again. We found several little treasures we just had to have, and since I  rarely go shopping it was a treat, and fun to see in what ways our tastes are similar and different.

I am thankful for the beautiful king-size mattress set that my daughter gave me. It is like new and so comfortable, and since they didn't need two of them, we were blessed to be on the receiving end of this gift.  Ours was badly in need of replacement.  We slept so good last night after we got it set up!

Most of all, I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my daughter and son-in-law and observe the dynamics of their relationship.  We've had very little time together with David, though they have been together for about five years, so it was really good to get to know him better and see them treating each other with respect and love.  I am thankful that neither one of them has to live alone anymore, having a partner to share the ups and downs of life with is a blessing.  Now both of my kids are in good relationships, and that brings me so much peace of mind. I hope and pray they will always love and treasure each other and much as Papa Bear and I do. <3

Blessings to you in the days and weeks ahead... Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
 

The above photo 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.

Ten Things of Thankful - Week 39, 2017

The above image has a white background. There is a small band of water-blue across the bottom of the image which appears to be a flat surface on which a tall clear glass of water is resting. Water is being poured into the almost full glass from an unseen source above. A quote printed in five rows of black text on the top left of the image above the glass of water says "If You See Your Glass as Half Empty, Pour it into  a Smaller Glass and Stop Complaining." The image has been borrowed from leasingnews.com.*

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I smiled when I first saw the above quote because its message is pretty straight forward... stop complaining and be thankful for what you have. Amen!

I have a really BIG thankful to share with you this week. It is one of those situations in which you are so very thankful for what didn't happen...

On Friday night Papa Bear decided to turn on our heat for the first time this season due to the damp cool weather we've had this past week. He wanted to warm the house up a little bit before bedtime. We have an electric furnace like all manufactured homes have, it is nearly twenty years old but works well... or has until now.

About an hour later we were watching tv and heard a thump from the furnace located down the hallway. Suddenly smoke came pouring out of the floor ducts all the way thru the house carrying the toxic smell of burning plastic wiring. The smoke alarm immediately went off. Papa Bear jumped up and switched off the furnace and then pulled the furnace breaker. The kitties scattered due to the piercing sound, smell, and commotion. Gradually the smoke stopped and we were able to reset the smoke alarm. Obviously, the furnace was no longer in working order and the house retained the smell of burned plastic wire all night, which aggravated my lungs/asthma.

On Saturday Papa Bear had an electrician friend come out and look at the furnace. When he removed the metal access door to the furnace he found charring on the back of the door panel and burned/charred/melted wiring...

This is the door panel to the front of the furnace,
removed and laying on the hallway floor.
The backside of the panel is charred.

This is the jumble of wiring inside the furnace,
notice the charred wires and connections.

It turns out that this sequencer switch was the culprit.
The bottom half should be identical to the top half
but it apparently locked up and in doing so ignited,
 causing connected wires to arc and burn

It was an upsetting occurrence on Friday night,  and even more so on Saturday when we saw that there had actually been a fire! 

We are SO VERY THANKFUL..

 - that we stayed home and weren't away when this occurred, as it could very likely have burned down the house and our beloved furkids with it.

- that we were awake and thus aware of the situation and able to respond quickly.

- that the furnace is contained in sheet metal and there was insufficient flammable material inside it to sustain the fire once the electricity was turned off.

- that the metal furnace door did not get jarred loose or blown off. It is literally an inch from the surrounding sheetrock and the wood door frame.

- that the furnace motor was not damaged and is still in good working order.

- that the replacement sequencer switch and wiring will cost less than $100.

- that Papa Bear's friend is knowledgeable about electric furnaces and is able to do the repair work at a a reasonable cost as opposed to what someone else might charge.

- that he was willing to come out on a Saturday to check out the furnace, since we were more than a little concerned and eager to find out what had happened.

- that the furnace did not need to be replaced - an expense we really can't afford right now.

- that Papa Bear turned on the furnace early this year. Had he waited until it was truly cold outside we might have found ourselves without heat for a few days while waiting for parts/repairs. 

- that the furnace problem does not effect the AC system, so we will be able to continue using AC in the afternoons that reach into the 80s in the coming week.

- that we were given this powerful warning of a serious furnace issue, so we are able to effect repairs and avoid a much more serious and potential horrific event. We live in a rural area and by the time the fire apartment would arrive here if summoned there would likely not be much left to save.  Mobile homes burn quickly. 

- that I was not home alone to respond to this problem. I easily could have been. I have been the one to switch the furnace on several years. Papa Bear is a quick thinker and knew exactly what to do.

- most importantly, that we are safe, and the furkids are safe. Those are the critical issues, the rest is just stuff.

One more quick thankful for this week... an entire week of rainy, cool weather which truly felt like Fall. We actually have grass growing for the first time since we moved here, instead of just weeds!  And had it not been cool, we would not have turned on the furnace, and this problem could have played out much differently at another time.  We are thankful, so very THANKFUL!!

Blessings to you in the days and weeks ahead... Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
 

The above photo 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.

Ten Things of Thankful - Week 38, 2017

The above  square image has an off-white background. A wide border of painted roses in shades of pink, peach, yellow and white covers the left side of the image. A quote is printed in six rows of black text on the remaining off-white space and says "My life isn't perfect, but I'm thankful for everything I have." The image source is unknown.*

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I really like the above quote! If we wait for our lives to  be happy or content... or grateful... it will never happen. Gratitude is an attitude, and I'm holding tight to mine. And I have happy things to share today!

Biggest and best news... my daughter signed the closing papers on her house in Nashville on Friday, and yesterday afternoon she and her husband finished packing the moving van and headed out for Texas with him driving the truck and her following in her car with her kitties beside her in their big carrier.  It's an eleven hour trip from Nashville to North Dallas, so they stopped enroute to rest last night and got back on the road this morning.  They have just crossed the border into Texas, and all is going well, furkids snuggled in and napping when they aren't watching out the window. :-)  They have helpers to unload the furniture tomorrow morning, thankfully their beautiful third floor apartment has elevator access!  The last couple months have been so stressful for her, and worrisome for her mother, but they are on the home stretch now, and a new chapter of her life is beginning! <3 I am happy that we will get to go see them on a weekend early in October.

Saturday, 9/23, Papa Bear and I celebrated our 9th Wedding Anniversary, the years really do seem to fly by! Saturday afternoon we decided on the spur of the moment to drive to San Angelo (about 2 hrs away) for an overnight, and had such a wonderful time. It's a small, pretty city of about 100,000 people, wide streets, and lots and lots of trees, thanks to the Concho River which winds through the town.  They have lovely parks and roads all along the river, everything trimmed and mowed and it was just so refreshing to see green stuff!  We ate at fun places, window shopped at a big general store full of gift items (buying only fudge... had to have that!), drove through historical Fort Concho on the edge of town, and attended the annual Lilyfest which had huge above ground ponds of all kinds of water lilies that one man has been responsible for over the years.  Truly beautiful... Papa Bear's photos on my personal Facebook page if you are interested.  We also loved the hundreds of tiny bees happily visiting all those lilies!

I have done more than one post about Papa Bear's wonderful attributes, and have mentioned him "a time or two" in other TToT posts, but I can't help but say once again what a blessing he is in my life. If I was to make a list of attributes for the idea partner, he would check off all the boxes!  He is so fun, and patient, and kind, along with being responsible and taking care of things and me. He also takes pleasure in the little things like I do and is interested in what I am doing, what things I choose to wear and buy for the house, etc.  In short, he's the very best kind of friend, and I hope God blesses us with many more years to share.  I am so thankful that he had last week off to relax and rest up. While we didn't get a whole lot accomplished, it was just nice to stay up late, sleep in, and have the days to spend together.

One more quick thankful before I call it a wrap for this week.... I am so thankful for beautiful cool fall mornings like today!  Our weather forecast calls for rain all week long.  The past couple mornings, and again today, the sky has been overcast and it's been so nice to sit out on the deck visiting with the feral furkids and thinking on my thankfuls! I know we will still have some higher temperatures in the coming weeks, but the further we move into October the nicer days become here, and I am even willing to relinquish a little of the daylight hours to be able to spend time outside! While I may not have a perfect life, I have a very blessed one, and for that I am truly thankful! <3

Blessings to you in the days and weeks ahead... Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
 

The above photo 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.

Ten Things of Thankful - Week 37, 2017

The above image has a plain dark chocolate brown/nearly black background. At the bottom of the image there is a double row of small, overlapping, glowing, golden orbs of light. A quote by Master Cheng Yen is printed on the dark background in five rows of golden yellow text and says "Be grateful always, for everything and everyone, at every moment." The image is credited to GratitudeHabitat.com.*

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I loved the above quote, and the peaceful image presented, because to me this is the ideal to strive for... to maintain a grateful heart in all situations, and to appreciate the value of each moment as it occurs.  I am thankful for the understanding I have acquired in the weekly process of writing out my thankfuls to share. I have learned that a life of contentment doesn't mean we will always be experiencing joy, but that we can be at peace no matter what we are experiencing. This perspective has helped me so much to deal with issues that cause worry and anxiety. I truly believe that things will be okay. This might be naïve approach to life, but then again maybe not; at any rate, it keeps me going. :-)

This past week was one of several stressful situations involving various family members, and I was thankful that I could tell them with conviction that things are going to work out okay. Not always with the answers that we hope for, but in a manner that will be alright in the end.  Sometimes it feels like the people we care about are being assailed on all sides, and sometimes it feels that way in our personal lives too. But we need to realize that everyone goes through hard times and trying times, and often we aren't aware of what lies behind their quiet or their smile.  I am thankful that I know I am  not being singled out for a challenging week, it happens to all of us! :-)

I am thankful that I've learned over the years how far to delve into the problems of others, and when it's time to offer words of caring and then step back and turn it over to God to take care of. It is easy to become drained by too many things on your plate at once, or in the lives of those around you. We can't fix everything, perhaps there are lessons for them to learn in the process.  I am thankful that I have learn to Let Go, even though it is still difficult at times. It is my nature to want to "fix" things. :-)

I am thankful that my daughter is now down to her final week of preparations for the closing of her house in Nashville and packing for the move to Dallas which will take place next weekend. It has been a long, drawn out process, and an emotional one. I am praying that this next chapter of her life will bring more joy and contentment than she has known in the past, and that new work opportunities will be available.

I was thankful for finding the perfect greeting card to mail to my daughter as her final mail from home to her Nashville address.  It contained the quote from Winnie the Pooh about being strong and brave, and it was the first one I picked up off the card rack! I know it will make her  smile, and I will find another to send to her new address to greet her there, because unpacking isn't much fun either!

I am thankful for the sweet gift of purple nesting measuring spoons that my daughter gave me when I visited her.  She is familiar with my love of all things purple and every time I take them out to use I think of her.  Little gifts with thought behind them are the most precious kind!

I am thankful that someone I care about a great deal was able to spend time at the ocean this past weekend, many of us feel that nothing is more restorative than the smell of saltwater and the sound of waves!  As an added bonus, her dog had an awesome time at the beach too. :-)

I am thankful that Papa Bear will have this week off of work to stay home with me. He can sleep in a little later, we can work together on house and yard projects, and relax together too, enjoying the companionship that we cherish. At the moment he is reading in the chair beside me, having spent the morning mowing our big yard. I am so thankful for him to have an opportunity to rest from the daily grind of his job and long hours on his feet there.

While on the topic of his job, I am thankful beyond words that Papa Bear received a small pay increase last week. Two years ago all staff experienced a large pay reduction due to the economic recession in our area; this increase goes at least part way in returning the pay that had been taken away, and was definitely good for his morale... and our tight budget! :-)

I am thankful for the sharing of recipes among family members and friends, and on Facebook, which gives me new simple menus for supper, and I'm thankful that Papa Bear is always eager to try them!

I am thankful that we are fast approaching the Autumnal Equinox, and that although the daylight hours are slowly shrinking, we will soon begin to experience weather that is cooler than the 104 high of last week! Autumn is my favorite time of year.

Spanning everything, I am so thankful for the life I have now, and for the life I've led that has brought me here.  I deeply cherish love, peace, and freedom, having known what it's like to live without them.

Blessings to you in the days and weeks ahead... Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
 

The above photo 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.

Ten Things of Thankful - Week 36, 2017

The above image is of ominous dark clouds covering the sky above a green field that has red flowers which might be poppies in the right bottom foreground  and a large round full tree in the distance. The quote printed on the clouds in four rows of white lettering says "Stop focusing on how stressed you are and remember how BLESSED you are." The image is credited to Still Moments.*

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The weekend is here, and its time to talk about the good things in my life.  I think the image in the quote above fits this week well... dark skies like those where there are wildfires all over the Western United States, and dark skies where hurricane storms are bashing their way toward our shores in the Southeast.  Then there are the thousands of people in South Texas for whom life hasn't even began to return to normal yet. The ruined contents of flooded homes is piled high along the streets and roadways, homes must be gutted and treated for mold, and only then can rebuilding and repairs begin, and only if there was insurance. Schools and businesses have been damaged and destroyed. Jobs have been lost. More importantly, lives have been lost. The stories of hardship confront us with every news image. Stress levels are high, sadness abounds. Yet in the midst of all this darkness there are still blessings to be found, there are still reasons to be thankful.

I continue to be so very thankful for the way that people across this country, and even caring people from around the world, have come together to help us in this time of high crises. 

I am thankful for all the first responders, medical staff, military members, and individuals who continue to work long, exhausting hours to take care of those in need, while still having families of their own to look after.

I am thankful for the amazing advances that have been made in weather forecasting over the years which enables meteorologists to provide us with accurate information and visual images of  approaching storms so that people can be aware and have time to prepare for them.

I am thankful that many in Florida are heading the call for massive evacuation. Life is far more important than anything you own.  Staying behind means putting others at risk when they will be faced with trying to rescue you.

I am so thankful that the feed on our media and social networks has gone from the promotion of hate to promotion of caring and helping each other out.  Hate never solves anything, love moves mountains.

I am thankful that the older I get the less value I place on material possessions. While I have some things that I treasure, I realize that none are essential to my wellbeing or happiness, and that if everything was lost tomorrow I would still find a way to go on.  I am thankful for resilience and the survivor mentality that comes with hard experience.

I am thankful for the ability to stay connected with friends and family on a daily basis and to provide encouragement for each other.  Technology can be addicting, but it can also be uplifting and even lifesaving in so many ways.

I am thankful that I have learned to follow my intuition.  We have cancelled our planned trip to Galveston next week, because something in my gut tells me not to go. When I told Papa Bear about this he said he had been feeling the same thing but didn't want to disappoint me. Every time in the past that I ignored my gut feelings and pushed ahead it turned out to be a mistake. Older and wiser, I am at peace with the decision to postpone our trip until maybe next Spring. I may find out why this was a wise choice, I may never know, but for whatever reason, I am at peace with it.

I am thankful that I have learned how important faith and perspective are in life. Without hope, without reasons to be thankful, things can feel very bleak indeed. Realizing that there is always good to be found in people and in life gives us the courage to weather the storms, and we know that this too shall pass.

This week one of my sister's friends learned that she has very little time left due to a very aggressive form of cancer. I think we all hate cancer and the way it ravages lives and steals our loved ones, and yet I find myself able to say, in the end it will be okay, because she will get to go Home. As Ram Dass said "We are all just walking each other Home."

Blessings to you in the days and weeks ahead... Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
 

The above photo 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.

 

Ten Things of Thankful - Week 35, 2017

The above image is of a quote printed in seven lines on plain parchment with Hero written in large bold lettering at the top. It then goes on to define a hero as "An ordinary person facing extraordinary circumstances and acting with courage, honor and self-sacrifice." The parchment is centered on a background image of four wide, weathered boards that were once painted white, running horizontally, that might be part of a building.*

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Happy September! I smile as we head toward Autumn, which means here in Texas that we will soon experience relief from the triple-digit temperatures of summer, making it much nicer to be outside again.

While this has been a week of so much suffering and tragedy here in Texas, and into Louisiana, in connection with Hurricane Harvey, it has also been a time to witness the very best of the human spirit rising above and reaching out. I have watched and read of countless examples of ordinary individuals and business owners doing generous and heroic things to help others, creatures included. Just when we began to wonder if the American people had reached a collective low in compassion, we are reminded that the world is still full of good people who do the right thing, and go above and beyond, without thought to politics, race, religion, or gender. I am so grateful for this reminder about what is really important and where our energies should be focused.

I am thankful for the animal rescue groups who have been able to relocate many of the homeless cats and dogs that were already in the Houston shelters to other cities around the country, making room for those rescued from flooding or needing temporary shelter until their owners can reclaim them. Bless those who realize how important these animals are to family members who have lost everything.

I am thankful that Galveston sustained only minor flooding from the hurricane aftermath. This is something they are well-prepared to deal with. As of this weekend the port has reopened, and services for tourists are back up and running.  If all goes well, and an other hurricane doesn't strike before then, we will be headed there in two weeks to celebrate our ninth anniversary, as previously planned. Galveston is the place in Texas where my heart most longs to be, the ocean calls to me.

I am thankful that the inspection for my daughter's house went well, with only a couple minor issues and one allowance request. The Radon test is now in the process of being completed, and it looks like closing should remain on track for late September. All prayers appreciated. I am thankful, too, that her husband has a few days off work and was able to come and spend some time with her. They miss each other a lot while they wait to finally be together in Dallas. 

I am thankful that a friend who underwent surgery this week is at home recovering and doing well. She deals with so many medical issues and yet always has a cheering word and kind thought for others.

I am thankful that my younger sister got to spend a couple days caring for her new grandson. He is a precious bundle of joy.

I am thankful that a friend helped my older sister put up a fenced area in her back yard so that her two dogs can enjoy more supervised playtime outside without being tethered.

I am thankful that the feral kitty trio that adopted us are thriving, and becoming more social every day. They often hang out on our deck and run to greet us when we come out. They are sweet boys, and I am blessed to be tasked with making their lives easier.

I am thankful for all the life lessons I am learning, even if those lessons can be uncomfortable at times. Lessons help me grow in wisdom and compassion, so in the end it's all good.

I am thankful for each one of you that comes to share your thankfuls and comments each week. Positivity and encouragement are so wonderfully contagious! :-)
 

Blessings to you in the days and weeks ahead... Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
 

The above photo 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.