Ten Things of Thankful - Week 47, 2017

The bottom half of the above image shows a row of  wood planks, possibly a boardwalk or an outdoor table, on which there are five Autumn leaves in rust and gold that are in the process of curling as they begin to decay. The top half of the image has a muted background of yellow, gold, green and rust that is probably a blurred image of Autumn foliage. Printed on the background in four lines of  brown text is a quote by Katrina Mayer that says "Thanksgiving isn't just a day... It's a way we can live our lives every day." The image is framed in a double border of gold and rust, and is borrowed from KatrinaMayer.com*

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Well, here we are to the last week of November. It's funny how fast life goes by as you grow older. I can't believe we are just four weeks away from Christmas. It will never really feel like Christmas time here in Texas after growing up in the snow and cold of South Dakota.

How was your Thanksgiving Day? Ours was quiet and relaxing. With most of our family out of range and the others out of touch, we spent it by ourselves, watching the Macy's Parade, the Vikings win and our Texas Cowboys go down in flames once again.  We also enjoyed a really good buffet that our nicest area hotel does for holidays.  I am thankful for blessing of having each other to share the day with. We reflected on how much we have to be thankful for, despite the ups and downs of life.  But just as the quote above says, Thanksgiving isn't just a day of gratitude, it should be a way of life, everyday should include Thanksgiving! 

As I noted last week, Papa Bear, for the first time in 35 years, was given the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving off with pay. It was really nice to see him detach from the stress and weariness of six-day work weeks and just relax. I pray that we can make this happen for him in the future. I am thankful that the owners of the truck asscessories shop where he works realized that not everything is about profit, taking care of your employees is also good business.

I am thankful that both my daughter and son had partners to celebrate Thanksgiving with this year, both cooked at home and had great meals.  My son worked Thanksgiving night but his work schedule is changing December 1st, and will give him more weekend time to spend with his girlfriend and her son.  I am thankful her new job at the bank is going well and she really likes it! On Thanksgiving Eve as she was driving home from work in Nashville, a car pulled out in front of her and she was unable to avoid hitting them.  The front driver's side of her car was badly damaged but by the grace of God she wasn't hurt, and we are all so thankful for that, and also that her young son wasn't in the car at the time. The other driver left the scene but later contacted police so a report has been filed and hopefully their insurance will take care of it.  It was an upsetting start to her holiday, and she was sad about the damage to her car, which was only two years old. But the bottom line is that no one was injured. Things are replaceable.

I am thankful for the beautiful weather we are having this year, with many days in the 70's and nights in the 40's for good sleeping. Sweater weather in late November always feels like a treat to me! Yesterday Papa Bear and I were able to work on a couple outdoor projects because it was warm enough to do so.

I am SO THANKFUL for the new glass window pane which has finally replaced the Plexiglas one in our living room that came with the mobile home when we purchased it almost ten years ago! Plexiglas does not make for good widows, it was dirty and scratched and tended to bow out under strong winds, and I was afraid that one day it would sail away!  Papa Bear did a beautiful job of replacing it with a new pane, I am very thankful for his handyman skills.  Of course washing the window pane above it, giving us a crystal clear view out to the deck, made us quite aware of how badly the other windows need a good washing.  Will put that on the ever-growing things to do list.

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I stopped after the last paragraph yesterday to run some errands in town, intending to come back and finish my post last night.  As is typical, life took another turn.  As I was sitting and watching a little television with Papa Bear after supper the Achilles tendon on my right heal decided to start throbbing/burning. I've dealt with ongoing plantar fasciitis and heel spurs on that foot for a couple years now, but it hasn't been nearly as much of a problem since retiring and spending less time on my feet.  What or why it flared up last night is unknown, can't figure it out, but I spent most of the night awake in pain and today has found me hobbling around with a walker unable to put weight on that heel at all. Papa Bear took a day of sick leave to stay home and help me out, and after keeping it elevated and iced it is maybe a little less painful tonight, but I'm still not able to put weight on it.  I will baby it for a few days and hope it heals quickly.  While feeling sorry for myself I thought about all the people and families I know who are dealing with much bigger struggles, and I am thankful that my worries and problems are small.  I am also thankful this year is almost over, it's been a challenging one and I'm claiming 2018 as a year of brighter/better/bolder living... fingers crossed! No matter what is or what comes to be, I am beyond the shadow of a doubt truly blessed. And on that note it's time for more Ibuprofen and another icepack. I'll be around in the next day or two to read your posts and comment. It seems like, despite my best intentions, behind is my current mode or operation, but I'm trying, and there is hope! :-)

Blessings to you in the days 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 46, 2017

The above image has two overlapping leaves in shades of  bright autumn gold on the right side and a quote by Brene Brown printed on the left side in gold text that matches the leaves that says "There is no Joy without gratitude." Amen to that! The background is in muted shades of autumn gold, green and brown. The image is borrowed from CathyTaughinbaugh.com*

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This has been a busy week with some good things happening and some bad things avoided, so there is much to be thankful for...

First off, Andy one of the now not-so-feral kitties that I feed on our deck disappeared for two days. That's not uncommon in cat colonies, but I worried about him since he rarely misses a meal. The third morning as I headed down the deck steps to my car I heard a loud meowing and discovered that he had managed to squeeze himself under the skirting of our manufactured home and couldn't find a way out. He was mighty happy to be set free, and to be treated to a dish of tuna. :-)  I was relieved, and the small space he fit through has now been closed off.  He and Smoky, the other feral, have grown big and strong, and have become very affectionate and tame. I would be so sad if something happened to either one. I am thankful he was unharmed, and had the good sense to call out to me when he heard me approaching!

I was very thankful to return home from town one day and discover that a nearby neighbor who had been pouring a new concrete pad in front of their house had come and filled up two large potholes in our driveway with extra caliche (Google it). Papa Bear had spoken to them a few days earlier about buying some from them, but they shared it for no charge. It was very kind and much appreciated!

I am thankful that my younger sister got through a minor out-patient surgical procedure yesterday to remove a small lump that had been growing on her forehead for some time. It is most likely non-cancerous but needed to go, and she was nervous about being under general anesthesia. All went well, and now we can desist with the many jokes which were helping her to keep it in perspective. :-)

While on the subject of sisters, I am most thankful to report that my two sisters and I are managing to continue the daily texting and sharing of snippets of our lives with no cross words or petty disagreements. It is such a joy to share as sisters and not feel negative undertones or deal with hurt feelings. Maybe now that we are all in our sixties we have at last grown up!

I am thankful for something new that you might not be aware of.  The USPS (Postal Service) is offering what they call "informed delivery" on their phone app. Each morning they provide scanned photos of the letters that will be delivered to you that day along with updates on any packages that are heading toward you. Our mailbox is on a rural highway, not terribly safe, so it's a blessing to know when something important needs to be picked up, and also when there will be packages to go and retrieve from the Post Office. It's a free service... check it out! 

I am so very thankful this year for the gift of quiet mornings, time to wake up slowly and savor the beginning of my day instead of rushing off to work as I had to do for so many years. I look forward to a time when Papa Bear will also be able to do this.

Papa Bear was so happy to be informed this week that the truck accessories shop where he has worked for 35 years will for the first time be closing Thursday/Friday/Saturday for Thanksgiving, meaning four days off for him! They are also going to close the day after Christmas. This is a very busy time of year in retail and he is exhausted by the end of most six-day work weeks, so the extra days to put his feet up, and maybe do a couple house projects is a real blessing and we are thankful!

I am thankful for local online groups that serve as a place for people to post free ads of things they have for sale. I have sold several things we no longer need that way, as did my daughter before her move to Dallas.  This week I found the perfect rocker/glider and ottoman for my new writing/tv room on "Let Go" in a nearby town that was in excellent condition at a very fair price. Papa Bear went and picked it up for me. Much of our house is furnished with used furniture and I like that, new isn't always better.

I have the bad habit of putting assorted things in a "special place" so I remember where to find them. Then, of course, I forget where that special place was. It happens with regularity as I grow older and am so easily distracted.  I am thankful that surprisingly often if I think about it quietly and wait for the right location to come to mind, it will.  I've had that happen three times this week, misplaced items appeared almost magically. I am thinking that I need to designate one "special place" and put every little thing there that I will be needing later, so I wouldn't have to challenge my memory like this! :-)

One of my favorite lines from the famous poem Desiderata by Max Ehrmann is "If you compare yourself with others you may become vain or bitter,  for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself." This proves itself true time and time again as I challenge my friends and my brain with Words with Friends and now Chess with Friends. Over time my WWF skills have improved considerably, and I can occasionally beat some of the really good players... like Val! :-) I am a terrible chess player, I play on impulse and never have a real strategy.  In both places I have encountered people who are far better than I, but are willing to play with me so that I can gain experience and hopefully better skills. I pay it forward when I play with those who are developing their skills. I never let people win, and I don't want people to let me win either, but there is a way to be encouraging rather than just trounce someone for the fun of it. I am thankful for those who challenge me to do better, and for those who remind me to stay humble. Do you play chess? I need more opponents!

Last, but definitely not least, today marks the anniversary of my friend Mariah's death. In 2009, at the age of 14, she committed suicide by hanging herself, despondent over a boyfriend's recent death in an auto accident. I am thankful that this horrible tragedy, along with many other suicides by young people on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, served to increased awareness of the problem and new intervention programs were implemented which have undoubtedly saved lives. Today I honor her memory and I wish her spirit peace. I am thankful for all her mother does to reach out to other young people on the reservation who are struggling in a very difficult living environment. As I noted to my many young rez friends on Facebook today, Mariah's story is a lesson to remind us that suicide is never there answer, there is always hope.

This is a photograph of Mariah dressed in her Lakota (Sioux) jingle-dancer regalia for a wacipi (powwow). Her black dress is adorned with shells and bells fashioned from rolled pieces of tin, her long dark hair is braided and tied with large beaded medallions. She is holding a folded Pendleton blanket over her left arm and a feather fan in her right. She has a shy sweet smile. She loved cats as much as I do and we talked about them often. She had a beautiful, tender heart.

Blessings to you in the days 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 - Weeks 44 & 45, 2017

The above image is of a two lane highway winding through a valley lined by tall trees displaying beautiful shades of bright autumn gold amidst dark evergreens. A quote by Alice Walker is printed on it in white text and says "THANK YOU is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility and understanding." The image is borrowed from Success.com.*

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Week 44 - The deadline for linking up my TToT post for the 44th week of this year has long since passed, but that doesn't mean I wasn't grateful, only that I had other priorities. I turned out that the flooring project was more time consuming than we could have imagined and she ended up spending nine days here, returning home last Wednesday.  Needless to say, I wasn't going to spend time at the computer on the last day we had together, and we were scrambling to get finished.  But wow... the results of our combined efforts (mostly hers) are professional and amazing!  She removed all the old vinyl from our front and back hallways, front bathroom and kitchen, and the worn carpeting from the living room, and replaced it with this beautiful commercial grade vinyl plank flooring.  By turning the living room/kitchen into one cohesive area it makes the house feel so much bigger than ever before, and we LOVE the heritage oak color/pattern which very closely resembles wood flooring but with all the ease of caring for a vinyl floor.  It was hard work, and we still need to do the base trim, laundry room and Master bath at some point.  We have plenty of flooring left for it. I am also going to paint the walls a soft gold color to add more warmth. As you can see in the photo below, Sophie our elder cat has claimed the new area rug as her domain. :-)

The above image is a photo of our living room taken from the adjoining kitchen area which shows the new medium oak vinyl plank flooring, our leather reclining loveseat, one of the two large oak rocking chairs, end tables and tall curio cabinets.  Sophie is laying contentedly on the multi-colored large shag area rug in earth colors that occupies .the center of the room. Matching runners can be found in both hallways.

Not only are both John and I delighted and so very grateful for this priceless gift of her time, talent and money, but also for the help she gave me in cleaning high places, organizing some of the endless clutter, and getting me jump-started on getting my life back in order.  She also bought plants, and kitty furniture and toys, making them think that Christmas came early! 

While it wasn't all fun, and some days we were tired, sore, and grouchy, we are both very proud of our efforts and it gives me a new perspective on our little house... I am loving it again, and would now invite you in if you showed up, whereas before I probably would not have!  There are still a couple rooms in major need of decluttering/organization, but I have a list of projects and will stick with it until done no matter how long it takes.  At long last I feel hope, and I have my daughter to thank for that! <3

Week 45 - Our manufactured house has three bedrooms, and the one at the East end has been collecting storage overflow for some time.  It is dubbed "Sophie's room" because she is 14 now, an elder, and often desires time apart from her more rowdy feline siblings.  She is allowed in and out of her room at will and runs down the hall to put her paws up on the door when she wants in. :-)  I cleaned it up when my daughter came to provide guest room space with an airbed for her, and also had DirecTV reconnected to the flat screen tv.  Now that she is gone, I have organized the room into a writing study for me, the first time in a long time I've had my own little corner and writing desk, where I can sit looking out the window and enjoying the cats keeping me company while I write. Currently I can see the horses in the corral next door, and vehicles moving down a corner of the highway in the distance.  When we first moved out here seven years ago we didn't have any neighbors, now we do, but we still enjoy a fair amount of privacy and the ability to do what we like on our little piece of land without city regulative interference.  We can still enjoy the huge star canopy overhead from our hot tub at night (my daughter really wanted to take that home with her :-)

I haven't had many plants in the house because so many are toxic to cats. You have to be really careful when purchasing them, also cats like to dig in the dirt!  My daughter taught me to cover the dirt with medium landscaping rocks that are too heavy for them to rearrange, so they leave the plants alone, and leaves they like to chew on can be sprayed or wiped with diluted lemon juice or vineagar to keep them in tact.  Several pretty new plants are now gracing our windows and floor, and both of our Christmas cactuses have gone in to Christmas bloom mode, the first one opening today!!  Green things growing in the house is so good for the soul!

Additionally, my daughter did an amazing job of adjusting and insulating our front and back entrance doors so we now have no drafts coming in, and the new furnace is keeping our house wonderfully cozy, major improvements from what we dealt with last winter.  Big blessings despite the expense. 

As several of you have noted, I have taken a much needed break from blogging and the computer in recent weeks.  I needed some time to assess where I wanted to go with my main blog, and how much time I want to devote to it.  I will soon be ready to pick it up again, maybe before the end of the year, and maybe at the beginning of next.  In the past I was spending more time with my face in the screen than I was in living in the moment, and I am revising that.

I do apologize sincerely for my absence at TToT and your blogs for the past few weeks, I was truly busy, and tired by nightfall, and it just had to be set aside, as much as I hated to do so.  I will be commenting on your posts from the current link-up today, and then will gradually work my way back through all the ones I missed, because I love hearing about the positives in your lives!  This hasn't been an easy year for many of us, in fact it's been a particularly hard one, but there have also been countless blessings that make life good, and I remain so very very thankful for all that God has given me, and for the friendships that have been formed here.  I appreciate you, and I am thankful for your patience and ongoing participation in the TToT!

Duty calls... task of the day is to clean and reorganize the kitchen drawers... and then scoop the kitty boxes.  I lead a very glamorous life! :-)  I am incredibly blessed at this age to have the freedom to plan my own days, and do things that need doing and things that I enjoy... I will get Papa Bear's  afghan finished yet!

Blessings to you in the days 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 43, 2017

The above image is of a square metal lantern with a heart shaped opening cut in the front and back sides. A candle burns brightly inside the lantern and casts a large heart shaped glowing shadow on the wall of wood planks behind it. "I am grateful" is printed in three lines of white script on the left side of the images. The image source is unknown.*

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The deadline for posting this week's TToT post is only an hour away, and I have made a promise to myself this year that I would write a gratitude post every week barring something beyond my control.  This week, the past couple really, have been both busy and chaotic and it seems that I am failing to stay on top of the things that are important to me. But this is one commitment that I really want to keep, so I am dropping in to write down a few thoughts before the eleventh hour...

On this last night in October I am thankful for the many sweet memories of Halloween as a child and when my own two children were young. It has always been one of my favorite holidays because it doesn't require huge amounts of money to have fun. People tend to let the guard down a little bit and there are many reasons to smile.

My adult nephew went pheasant hunting with father and brother and a group of relatives last weekend. It was the first day of pheasant hunting season in South Dakota, and it was windy, making oral communication between members of the hunting party a little difficult. They had been hunting for only forty minutes when one of the other young hunters accidentally shot my nephew with his shotgun. Four pellets struck him in the arm and shoulder and one struck just an inch below his left eye.  I am so very thankful that something that could have caused blindness, very serious injury, or even death, instead resulted in only some bleeding, pain and temporary discomfort... and pellets which will be removed by a plastic surgeon this coming Friday.

My niece celebrated her 42nd birthday this week, and I am so very thankful for all the good God has brought to her life in the past two years after her undergoing some truly difficult times and experiences. She has a wonderful boyfriend who loves her dearly, a house full of furkids, a job she is proud of, and is at last feeling better physically. I am happy to see her happy again. She deserves that!

I am thankful for my daughter who drove from Dallas to spend several days with us for the first time in a long time, since she was living in Nashville until recently. She is in the process of removing our old carpeting and vinyl flooring in the living room/kitchen and hallways, and replacing it with vinyl plank flooring which is beautiful and perfect for our home and lifestyle. It's hard work and yet we are also finding time for fun and lots of good conversation. I am also thankful for the lessons I am learning about the relationship I had with my own mother, put in the new perspective of me being in the mother role now. 

On that note, I am thankful for all the life lessons I am given that show me how things I said, did or experienced in my past might have been handled differently if I would have been more understanding, more kind and compassionate. That's something I work harder to be now, it's important to me that someday I will be remembered for being kind and caring, any just maybe that is still possible. 

It's late, time to get this posted and head for bed. Tomorrow is another busy day here. I just wanted to drop by and reaffirm, that life is good.  No matter what, it's all good!

Blessings to you in the days 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 42, 2017

 

The above image is a beautiful autumn nature scene that depicts a path leading through the woods surrounded by large trees with leaves in various shades of green, gold, orange and brown. The path is strewn with fallen leaves and has a rust colored appearance. One can see what appears to be the golden light of a sunset in the distance, muted by the shadows of trees. A quote by Zig Ziglar is printed in three rows of white text shadowed in black across the top of the image and says "Look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion and up with gratitude." The image has been borrowed from EmilysQuotes.com.*

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Forgiveness, hope, compassion, and gratitude... this has been a week when all of those have come into play. I am thinking that they are present in most of my days and weeks, and I am thankful that I am able to look back at the end of each week and pronounce it good, despite whatever ups and downs I may have encountered. I have a strong survival instinct and I am the eternal optimist... overall life is good and we will be okay!

Here are some of my many reasons to be thankful this week...

I am thankful for the happy feeling of waking up to see TToT posts popping in this morning. What a great way to start the day!  I love our weekly sharing of gratitude and positive energy, it's like a booster shot for droopy spirits!

I am thankful that the past week hasn't  been unbearably hot or cold since we have been without working heat or AC all week. The needed parts for repairs have now arrived and it should be fixed today. This would not have been so nice in mid-summer or winter, so I am grateful it happened now and we will be ready for winter when it comes.

Speaking of getting ready for winter, I made warm houses for the two feral kitties outside involving cat carriers placed inside of large storage tubs with door openings cut into them. with the inside carrier wrapped in a warm blanket and another inside to cuddle up in. I was happy to go out this morning and find Smokey happily tucked into his, and mewing at me contentedly.  When it gets cold I will put rug flaps over the door openings to keep the wind out. (Tom, the third feral brother stopped showing up about three weeks ago. I hope he has moved on to a good place, and if not I am happy that I was able to offer him affection, food and comfort while he was with us. I miss him.)

I am thankful for all the furkids that have blessed and continue to bless my life. This week Sophie turned 14 and is doing well, and Toby turned four. Sophie loves having her own room where she can spend part of her day sitting in her window seat and watch the world outside. Toby is all boy and now nearly twice her size! He still thinks he is kitten-size and loves to cuddle on my shoulder. You should try to use a keyboard with a 20 pound cat attached to your shoulder, his purr rumbling in your ears!

I am thankful that my niece is going to spend a fun overnight with her mom tonight including shopping, a nice hotel, and a five-star French restaurant. They have had some relationship struggles in the past and I see them both working harder to not get on each other's last nerve since each other is really the only family they have... except for me. :-) My niece turns 42 next week so this is an early birthday celebration. 

I am thankful beyond words for the gift of new vinyl plank flooring that my daughter is giving me for our house, which is badly in need of floor covering replacement.  It is ordered and should arrive next week, and then she will drive down to spend a few days installing it. There is really nothing housewise that she has not taught her self to do, and do very well. I am so proud of her! Vinyl flooring will be perfect with all the country dust, dirt, and cat fur here, easily cleaned and maintained. We will put a big area rug in the living room and when it gets too worn/dirty it can be easily carted out, burned and replaced! :-)

 I am thankful for my son's appreciation for doing fun things with his girlfriend and making good memories, rather than focusing on acquisitions. They have a nice apartment and vehicles, but they spend almost every weekend and an evening or two during the week going out around Nashville and the area and experiencing something fun. There is always something neat to do there! This week they watched the Titans win the football game, and are headed to a Haunted House tonight. Last weekend they took in the Pumpkin Glow festivities and attended a concert. They check out new places to eat too. I like that they are staying active and enjoy their time together so much!

I am thankful that Papa Bear is a fan of long hair on women. I stopped cutting mine my hair nine years ago, and it now measures over 24" long from scalp to ends. This is me, still a wild child at heart and always will be. I twist it in a knot and pin it up on hot days, and braid it at night for sleeping, but most often it's just flying free. Papa Bear says my shedding is worse than the furkids! :-) I have no intention of ever cutting it again, other than to trim dry ends which he does for me a couple times a year.

I am so very thankful for the few close friends that I share the ups and downs of my days with, and them with me. There was a time in my life when I didn't have any close friends, and it was very lonely. Although my friends live a good distance away, the magic of  texting and the Internet keeps us close. It is nice to be encourage each other.

I was heartbroken to learn that a friend of mine departed for the spirit world early one morning this week. He and I had been friends for twenty-five years, and he was like a brother to me. His life has been a long struggle with addiction and a life-changing injury, but somehow he kept going far longer than any of us ever would have believed possible. This week his heart gave out. I am so sad that there was no chance for goodbyes, but I am thankful that he is at last at peace.

One more note... I am thankful that in the blogsphere I am able to admit to and own my humanness. (Is that a word?)  I am not perfect, I am not always happy and positive, I am not always kind and non-judgemental. I am not always half the things I think I should be, but I continue to work on it, and I am thankful that I find acceptance here just being me. I am so very thankful for this life I've been given, and the perspective that has come with sixty years of experience!

Enough about me, how was your week? :-) 

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 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.