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.*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

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.*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

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.*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

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.*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

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.*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

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.

Ten Things of Thankful - Week 34, 2017

The above image is of a person standing on a rocky shore at sunrise or possibly sunset, with his arms uplifted in supplication as if embracing the brilliant ball of sunlight. The image of a flower has been superimposed over the first image, with the petals being a rainbow of pastel colors from yellow to lavender to mint green to light rose, and the sun forming a bright yellow center. The text printed in two rows of dark brown lettering across the sun says "I am Grateful"... and indeed I am!*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

 I had expected to begin my TToT post for this week with the exciting news that my son-in-law has given my husband and I a four-day stay on Galveston Island for our upcoming 9th Anniversary in September. We try each year to celebrate our anniversary by making fun memories rather than buying gifts for each other,  and my son-in-law knows that our funds are tight this year. He also knows that Galveston is my favorite place to go in Texas. I am truly thankful for his kindness and unexpected generosity.

And yet Hurricane Harvey's arrival in the Gulf Coast has certainly and very quickly put things in perspective. Now my focus on Galveston and the surrounding area is the safety of people there, and sadness for the struggles they are enduring and will be experiencing for several days. When you live in that area you realize that tropical storms, high winds, and flooding are to be expected from time to time, but that doesn't make it any easier for families, animals, or business owners, not to mention all the security and rescue people that must risk their lives to help others.

I am thankful that there is evidence of good planning to help alleviate as many problems as possible. I am thankful for cities that provided free bus transportation of evacuees to shelters in other areas, and also permitted them to take pets.  I am thankful for the medical and emergency people left behind that must carry on their duties in the face of the storm while worrying about their own families and property.  I am thankful for good news coverage that keeps us informed of what is happening and what to expect.  I am especially thankful for those who have reached out to help with funds, food, shelter, and other necessities. 

Last night I saw a posting on Facebook of a ranch in the area that was offering free emergency boarding for pets and livestock, food included.  That's the spirit of love and caring that warms my heart! I am thankful for grocery stores, home improvement stores, hotels, and restaurants that don't price gouge when presented with the opportunity to do so because of high demand for their goods and services.

Texas is a very large state, many people don't realize that. I am thankful for friends who have contacted me to make sure we are ok, and I am grateful, for once, that we live in West Texas and will only experience residual rains from the hurricane.  I am also thankful for friends in the hurricane path who have quickly responded to my inquiries to make sure they were safe.

I am also thankful for all the people who have the good sense to evacuate when asked to do so, rather than putting emergency crews at greater risk later when it becomes necessary to rescue them. I am thankful for people who wouldn't even consider leaving their pets behind.

I am thankful this morning that thus far no loss of life has been reported, things that are destroyed by the storm are replaceable, family members are not.

Most important of all, I am thankful for the prayers being offered for all in the path of the storm, and for the sense of community and perseverance that assures all will be put right in due time. Isn't it interesting how all the superficial divisions between people that are so widely publicized these days suddenly fade into the background as people pull together to face bigger issues? Maybe that's the real reason to be thankful in all of this.
 

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 33, 2017

The above image is a quotation that says "Be grateful for ever moment of every day that you get to spend with the people you love. Life is so very precious." The author is unknown. The large purple text is printed above an image of five lavender roses on short stems in a clear glass of water. The background is off-white shaded with diagonal streaks of lavender on the top half which extend from the upper left  to the middle right ending behind the roses.*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 This is the first time I've sat down at my keyboard in ten days, that's a record for me! As most of you know, I flew to Nashville on Saturday a week ago to visit my daughter and help her prepare for the sale of her home there.  My son also lives there and I got to spend time with him and his awesome girlfriend too!  It was a busy week that went by way too fast. 

 

On the plane coming home Saturday night I started to make notes of the things I was thankful for, and in just a few minutes I'd surpassed ten and easily could have kept going for twenty. I am two weeks behind on reading and commenting on your TToT posts and am eager to get back to that, so this will be the short version of  my week and just some of the many awesome things about it...

 

I am so very thankful for my daughter's gift of the airplane ticket so that I could visit her, we really needed that time together.  I am thankful she is financially able to do such a nice thing for me.

 

I am thankful that my flights and connections both going and returning went smoothly, other than a short delay in Dallas which was no big problem. I am always fine with sitting as long as I have wi-fi and my smartphone. :-)

 

I am thankful for the surreal beauty of flying high above the clouds in the daylight and for seeing the tiny twinkling lights below at night. No matter how old I get it will always feel magical.

 

I am thankful beyond words for getting to spend quality time with my daughter and son; seeing them doing so well in their grown up lives is always such an amazing thing to me, since I don't see them often.

 

I am thankful for getting to meet my son's girlfriend's little boy who is seven, and so polite and conversational. He is being brought up the old-fashioned way with real parenting and it is refreshing. He loved my daughter's cats and was so gentle with them.  I gave him a Toys R Us gift card and he had a great time shopping, choosing some cool new bathtub toys. :-)

 

I am thankful for a chance to enjoy all the green beauty of Nashville and the surrounding area. How I've missed trees, grass, hills, and water! Although it was plenty hot and humid during the days, it was worth it to have the luxury of such gorgeous scenery!

 

I am thankful for the fun of playing with my daughter's three cats, they are healthy, active, beautiful, and very spoiled. We got along great and I really wanted to bring the kitten home with me! :-)

 

I am thankful for all the wonderful meals we ate out and prepared at home, and the fun of sharing really good sushi and German food. Part of the fun of traveling is getting to eat something different!

 

I am thankful that I was able to help my daughter with the final chores of cleaning and staging her house for showing. We worked hard, laughed a lot, fussed at each other a little, and got the job done.  It is such a beautiful home, and her sense of style and décor is amazing!

 

I am thankful for the fun things we found to enhance the appearance for showing, and the bright yellow flowers we planted in the flower boxes on her deck which will make her smile remembering out time together.

 

I am thankful for the amazing outcome of the house listing... the very first person to see it made a good offer immediately after doing so, and contract papers were signed the next day! How often does that happen? What a blessing! She's been working on the house for a long time getting it updated and ready, and was so tired and ready to be done with it. So very nice not to have to do a whole bunch of showings and live with more anxiety. God willing, closing will take place Sept. 25th, by which time she will be packed and ready for her move. I am thankful that she will finally be able to join her husband in Dallas, so much closer to us!

 

I am very thankful for the nearly new king size mattress set that she will be bringing to Dallas and giving to us, so much more comfortable than the old one we have.

 

I am thankful for recipe's shared, new things learned, and all the wonderful and thoughtful little gifts both my daughter and son bestowed on me.

 

I am beyond thankful for Papa Bear's outstanding care of the indoor and outdoor cats in my absence, it's a lot of work! I returned home to find the bed made, dishes done, and everything taken care of.  I am thankful for all the photos he took to send me, and all the little love notes each day.  We missed each other so very much!

 

I am deeply thankful for all the conversations, the laughter, the tears, and the overwhelming love that was shared this past week, and all the lessons that God taught me along the way.

I am thankful that so many of you shared thankful posts and commented on each other's posts in my absence, proving once again that it is not me, but all of you that make Ten Things of Thankful such a wonderful, supportive experience.  I can honestly say I missed the fun of reading about your weeks, and I'm headed that way now!!

 

Last, but definitely not least, I am thankful to be home again, this too is a place of tremendous love and caring, and I know how very blessed I am!

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.