Currently Thankful

The name of the post should have given you a clue that, while I don't really know how I'm going to do it (just flying by the seat of my pants here), I'm going to be combining my Currently and Thankful Thursday posts. That's because I'm getting around to it late today and tomorrow (Thursday) I have to work all day.

Currently, the weather is a dismal gray and the temperature has fallen from a high in the 50s early this morning to 34. Winter is back again, but I am thankful we had a couple of beautiful days with temperatures in the low 60s...even if it did rain most of yesterday.

I am currently thinking about work and the fact that I turned in my resignation today. My last day is March 9. In doing the math, it just wasn't paying for me to keep working...at least at this job. It pays halfway decently, but I do not get reimbursed for mileage or expenses. I can only deduct those on our taxes and with the price of gas (and everything else) constantly going up, the deductions aren't enough. I am thankful I had the opportunity to work with my clients. Each one of them is very dear to me and I am sure one or two will continue to be a part of my life. I will mostly likely remain unemployed until at least after our vacation in September. I will be able to help with the grands and enjoy the summer with them. Another thing to be thankful for.

What I'm currently reading is "It's Not Supposed to Be This Way" by Lysa TerKeurst. It tells the story of what happened in Lysa's life that led up to her writing "Forgiving What You Can't Forget." I'm thankful for her honesty in sharing her journey and helping so many others.

I'm currently watching, "Blacklist," and the Robertson's (of Duck Dynasty fame) podcast "Unashamed." I just discovered the podcast is on YouTube. I'm thankful for the oddball faith and family message of the Robertson's. I also just learned that Phil has a daughter that he never knew about. Her story of finding out Phil was her father is very similar to my own journey to finding my father.

I'm currently feeling thankful for my pretty boy, Jasper. That could change at any moment because he has a tendency lately to have late night episodes of destruction, knocking things off the kitchen island and counters or, just for fun, tipping over the electric water fountain (that I had to get because he's fussy about his water) and spilling half a gallon of water all over the floor. It's a good thing he's handsome and has his snuggly moments.

I'm thankful for friends old and new. We went out to dinner last night with all the gang from my old Bible study group. It was the first time we'd gotten together since the beginning of January. So much fun! Sitting at the table behind us was my oldest friend and a current neighbor and then in came the wife of one of the elders at my current church. It was a great night of good food and laughter.

Y'all, I am just so thankful. Life is good and God is great! I am always celebrating my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As long as I have Him in my corner I will carry on and be glad and thankful in every moment.

Thankful Thursday

Thursday has rolled around again. Is it just me or does it seem like the weeks are getting shorter? I mean, wasn't it just Thursday a couple of days ago? Well, time warps, wrinkles in the space-time continuum and the rest aside, I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo for Thankful Thursday.

Perfect timing. My Monday client texted me Sunday evening. He cancelled for this week because he didn't have any money. Today I got a call from my employer letting me know that he has Covid (he woke up Monday morning feeling under the weather). His quarantine ends on the 22nd, next Tuesday. My week is full and each client has their time slot so I will not be able to see him again until the following week. Plenty of time to make sure he is no longer contagious. 

My daughter's niece is back.  To everyone's surprise (and relief) our son-in-law's brother returned his little girl to my daughter's care. I was there when he brought her back. She was sooooo happy to be back. They were just in time for her to receive her Valentine's Day gift from Tim and I and from our daughter and her husband. One can't help but wonder what was going through his head as he watched her excitement at being back, getting gifts (he totally neglected Valentine's Day), and calling me Nanny. We all kept trying to encourage her to show her gifts to her dad, but she wasn't having it. She could not have cared less about him. He made her come over so he could say goodbye. She was not interested and he hasn't come back to visit her or called her. Nothing. Our daughter and her husband have decided they will not call and pester him to visit or take her on the weekends. If he comes, he comes...but who knows if he will.

Hope.  My daughter told me she is at least thinking about giving my church a try and that she was talking to a friend who said if she does, she just might come with her.

Surprises.  We were into the first song at church this past Sunday when someone slipped into the chair beside me and said "hi!" I was so surprised it took me a second to realize it was a friend of mine from high school. I had told her about the marriage conference and she had asked me about the church. I had no idea she was searching for a church or that she'd be visiting.

The marriage conference.  It was a huge success and everyone who attended expressed how much they enjoyed it and how much they learned. We are hoping seeds were planted among those who were not believers.

My Valentine.  My sweet husband's planning ahead this year to take me out to a popular Italian restaurant...one that reservations are very much needed for any time, let alone on Valentine's Day. We both chose to start with wedding soup and follow with the lasagna. Delicious! I even indulged in a "Sweetheart Sangria."

My silly cat.  This is how he chooses to spend nearly every evening.

I love that he's grown cuddly and actually likes me now. It's not exactly conducive to anything I'm trying to do, though. Especially since he's usually purring loudly in my ear and occasionally "making biscuits" or licking my chin or nibbling my ear.

Today's weather.  It was 60 degrees today. In Pennsylvania. In February.

And of course.

Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand for Thankful Thursday.

A Successful Group Activity: So I tried something new this week. I took two of my clients bowling and to lunch at the same time. They are both high functioning (a condition of being allowed to take both) and both are in situations where they are living in private homes, but they are still a bit isolated and lonely or bored. Client one is a 26 year old man and client two is a 38 year old woman. Both agreed to give it a try and they had a blast bowling together and chatting. They want to do more together.

Daughter's Big Heart: If ever there was anyone plagued by stress and anxiety, it is our daughter. Her emotions are on the surface and she wears her heart on her sleeve. Absolutely EVERYTHING is a big freaking deal. It can be exhausting for an introvert like me, but I am so proud of her for stepping up in a difficult situation. 

Our son-in-law's brother has been having some very serious health issues for at least a few months. He is also pretty severely depressed. He has a 4 year old daughter who he has had the sole responsiblilty for since the mother abandoned them a couple of years ago (and she really wasn't much of a mother before that). Unfortunately, with the state of his health and his mental state, he has not been being a good parent, either. The little girl has been neglected and left to run wild much of the time. She is smart as a whip, but behind in many ways. She is also completely resistant to rules or being told "no." She hasn't been seen by a doctor for at least 2 years and there is some concern that there may have been some abuse in the past (not by the father...he does love her, he is just overwhelmed).

Anyway, knowing all this and already having her hands full with her own 2 1/2 year old and 5 year old, our daughter pretty much begged her brother-in-law to let her take the girl in. To everyone's surprise he agreed. The grandmother bought some groceries and said she'd help, but she's already grumbling about having to watch her for an hour or so tomorrow. 

Our daughter and all three kids have spent several hours here the last two days. It gets a lot chaotic. A lot. But the girl is adapting and she is so eager for positive attention rather than neglect. She pours over books, loves to sing songs, and she's just jumped right into letting us know she wants something. She gives us hugs right along with Colton and Leah and today she started calling us Pappy and Memaw (even though I am Nanny...Megan said she only recently began to call her actual Memaw anything at all) and she calls Megan and Cody Mom and Dad. 

No one knows how long it will last, but my bet is on a while. Her dad was supposed to come visit her today and didn't bother. He also hasn't brought any clothes (says he can't find them) or brought her car seat. She is so happy and thriving after just 3 days. Getting to stay with Megan would be the best thing for her. If it turns out that she stays with them, the next step will be trying to get the father to agree to allow them legal guardianship so they can take her to the doctor and enroll her in school.

Pretty Good Weather: We've had some pretty yucky weather this past week, but we've had a couple of days that felt like spring, as well. It was 55* today! It's sort of a roller coaster. Tomorrow will be 40* and Saturday is supposed to be in the mid-50's again, then Sunday we hit the deep freeze and might see snow Sunday night or Monday. I hope the last of the old snow and ice finally melts before we get more.

Strong Bones: This past Sunday I took a crash landing on some black ice in the church parking lot. It was seriously sneaky stuff. Even as I was sitting on it, I couldn't see it, but couldn't get any traction to get up. I had to scootch off of it first. No one was around to help me up, but that means no one was around to see me go down...and that's another thing I'm thankful for. I'm pretty sure there was nothing graceful about going down or coming back up. lol  Anyway, in spite of landing on the same knee I messed up falling on ice several years ago, other than being a little stiff and sore I am fine.

Plans Coming Together: The marriage conference is this Saturday at church. We've been working hard on it and praying just as hard. Everything is coming together and it's so great to be able to see God at work in it all. I can't wait to see what He does at the conference!

I guess that's about it for now. I have to work first thing in the morning and then go pick Colton up from school, so I am posting tonight and I've stayed up way too late doing it. You all have a blessed and thankful day!

Thankful Thursday

Sorry to be so late getting around to posting today. I didn't work today, but Megan and Leah were here this morning and I finally got my hair done this afternoon (it's only been since MAY!!!). Still...better late than never, right? So I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand on this cold, rainy day. 

This week I am thankful for:

* the "sisters" in my life...the real one, the ones I've gained through marriage, the ones I've gained through friendship, and the ones I've gained through Christ.

* the "brothers", too.

* being able to stay at home during ugly weather.

* my new hairdo (not the greatest photo, but I was trying to show the front and the back). No brown undertones this time...just 37 foils to blend the color still on the ends and the gray on the top.

* our daughter is close to us (in distance and in hearts) and wants us to go on vacation with her family in September.

* the free kindle books Amazon gives Prime members every month.

* fuzzy socks (I don't think I've mentioned them yet this winter)

* cinnamon tea with French vanilla stevia and French vanilla creamer.

* discovering new shows to watch with my hubby

* my hubby is a wonderful pappy to the grands and they adore him.

* new brakes on my car and new tires on the truck.

* all of you

* and at least a million other things that make up my days and life. God is good!

Stay safe and warm through the storm if you're in its path and stay thankful!

A Frosty Thankful Thursday

It's a cold one this morning... -4 on the thermometer outside my kitchen window. Brrr! It would be a good day to stay inside with the critters and curl up with a good book, but unless my client's parents don't want her out in this cold, I will be heading out in about an hour.

I'm linking up with bloggy friend Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand today for Thankful Thursday, our weekly chance to share all the goodness God's been showering on us through the week.

This week finds me thankful for...

** My warm, comfortable home...fuzzy socks...plenty of fleecy blankets...and my daughter who has started to do most of the snow shoveling for me.

** hot chocolate and games with Colton and Leah.

** an unexpected lunch out with Megan, the kids, and one of Tim's sisters.

** Tim's announcement that he's already made dinner reservations for Valentine's Day! Him planning ahead for anything is HUGE.

** committee meetings at my church are blissfully productive and short. If you've ever served on a church committee you probably understand just how long and unproductive they can be.

** all the plans for the marriage conference on Feb. 12 have been finalized, jobs are assigned, and it's all falling into place. It's going to be a wonderful event.

** Tim and I have found another show on Netflix that we can agree on. There are 8 seasons and we watch an episode or two each evening so we have a while to go. It's Blacklist by the way. Rather violent, but pretty good. It's along the lines of Criminal Minds.

** God keeps on teaching me what I need to learn...and has an infinite amount of patience with me.

** so many who've been ill recently and recovered.

** we continue to remain (relatively) healthy.

** the privileges that come with being born in the United States.

** all of you, of course!

Thankful Thursday

Good morning! It's time once again for Thankful Thursday and I am linking up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand. Life has been pretty good around here and there is much to be thankful for, so let's get to the list!

This week I am thankful...

** neither the snow or the rain lasted very long and both yesterday and today we enjoyed fairly mild weather for this time of year. I'm enjoying it while it lasts because a blast of cold arctic air is heading this way again.

** for mugs of steaming hot cinnamon tea with French vanilla creamer.

** my Bible study group ended a 10 year run on a high note last night. We met to share our words for the year, the accompanying scriptures, and pray for the Lord's blessings on the new year and all of us as we begin a new season in our spiritual lives.

** the new stove is a dream to cook on and in. All the burners work! The oven heats up quickly! And the temperature seems to be spot on. And it just looks so much better than the old one.

** I've started to use Goodreads again. I am determined to read more (and be online less) and keep track of it this year.

** Tim was off all of this past weekend and got in some good Pappy time with Colton and Leah. Saturday we had them all morning. We played games until they got hungry, had lunch at Eat 'n' Park, and finally took them to Goodwill and let them each choose one "new" toy to keep at our house. They love doing that.

I went to church on Sunday, but Colton came over to hang out with Pappy and they had a grand time playing games. Megan and Leah came over after I got home and I made pierogies and kielbasa for everyone. Comfort food on a cold, rainy day was just right.

** The pain in Tim's side continues to be gone.

** I attended my first annual business meeting at the church. It was like no church meeting I've ever been to. Information was communicated and accepted. Not a single argument or endless round and round discussion about anything!

** the church, though small, has been blessed and every ministry came in under budget for 2021. Between that and some gifts the general account doubled in size.

** our pastor is an amazing, godly man. Someone did ask why he didn't receive a raise and the answer...he was offered one and refused it because he and his family just don't need more. Wow.

** for Jasper's increasing cuddliness...though it can be annoying when I am trying to type or read as he is not happy unless he is draped across my chest or making biscuits on me, purring loudly all the while.

Not so much for his new discovery that he can jump up to places he has no business being. 

A funny story. The other morning I was rushing around, getting ready to leave for work and I switched on the bedroom light to find something...only to find no lights. Was the power out? A quick check around the house proved that wasn't the case. A tripped breaker? Nope. Then it dawned on me. I pulled the light chain on the ceiling fan and we had light. The little stinker had apparently jumped up and pulled the chain!

** for my cozy home, fuzzy socks, and flannel pj's now that winter has arrived with it's cold temperatures and howling winds.

** for my family, my relationship with the Lord, and all that he blesses us with.

** of course, for all of you!

2022's First Thankful Thursday

Well, here we are, the first Thankful Thursday of 2022 with 51 more to go. After the past two years, one has to wonder what the year will bring. From the looks of the evening news there are still plenty of ridiculously awful, painful, trying things hanging around for another year or getting ready to rear their heads for the first time. I believe we are going to need to focus on the good things more than ever.

So, here is my first list of things I am feeling thankful to have been blessed by in the past week. 

1. We enjoyed a blessed and peaceful Christmas and New Year. Tim took the time off and we spent a lot of time just relaxing. We tackled a few neglected jobs around the house and shopped for and purchased our Christmas present to ourselves...a new stove, in which the oven can function as a regular oven, a convection oven, or an air-fryer!

2. The pain in Tim's side that has been bothering him for a couple of months has been absent the past few days. It occurred to me that at some point someone had mentioned a cyst on his kidney and now I am wondering if it grew and then broke, much like the cysts on ovaries will do. Still no word from the urologist. I'm pushing Tim to call her again this week.

3. I didn't get around to scheduling any clients for today and I'm glad I didn't. It is COLD and windy out there and snow is on the way this afternoon.

4. Jasper continues to grow and learn to behave a bit more. He's still a kitten at four months and has his share of moments, but he's more cuddly, too. It's fun to have him around (most of the time). We do have to shut him out of the bedroom at night in order to get any sleep.

5. My church is going to host a one-day marriage conference on February 12. I am on the committee that is planning it. We had a meeting last night and it's so cool to see it all coming together. It's really going to be very good. I have missed engaging in this sort of service and am so glad to be in a church and have the opportunity again.

6. My biological father welcomed the new year in from a hospital bed with a collapsed lung. As far as anyone can figure it came about because his lungs have some previous damage and then he used his CPAP machine for the first time in a long time. Fortunately, the lung reinflated easily and there were no further problems so he was able to go home on Monday.

7. I finally got to eat at the Guy Fieri's restaurant in the casino at our local mall. I've wanted to go since it opened. It wasn't what I expected. I thought it would be a showcase of his gourmet cooking, but it is pretty much all sandwiches. Tim and I both had a cheesesteak hoagie and I will say it was the best one I've ever had. Anyway, I got to go so I can check that off the list.

8. We went to the casino for a little while with friends on New Year's Eve. We don't spend much (usually no more than $20-$30 each), but I walked out with $133. Woot!

9. We are all in good health as we begin the new year.

10. Some things never change. I am still thankful for all of you.

Thankful Thursday

Here we are, 9 days into December (how the heck did that happen??), and it's time for Thankful Thursday with Rebecca Jo, Jennifer, and Leslie. 

I hope you join in yourself or at least take some time to read the gratitude lists of the others playing along. There are just so many benefits to taking time to think of all the things you have to be thankful for, the big and the small, when you are mindful of them it really does change your outlook on life. Dwell on the hardships, the bad things in life, and you will find yourself thinking pessimistically. Focus on the good and you will find that you are more hopeful, less immobilized by circumstances. 

It's not that hard, just start with a small list of 5 things every day. It doesn't matter if they are small. Just get started and create the habit of thankfulness in your life. Keep track of the things...at least for the first year. Write them down in a special notebook or in your journal or on your blog or on little slips of paper dropped in a jar. Then at the end of a year look back at them. You will be surprised at how it got easier the more you did it, by how you struggled in the beginning to write down even the shallowest of things, and how as time went on the gratitude came easier and easier. And you will have a record of all the good things that happened in one year of your life.

I know from experience. Several years ago I was locked into a negative mindset. Then I read Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts and accepted her challenge to start listing the things I was thankful for. And numbering them. Her challenge was to list 1000 things in a year. In the beginning it was HARD. I struggled some days, but I kept at it and as I exercised that muscle of gratitude it got easier and easier. Now I can (and sometimes I do) easily list 1000 blessings in just a couple of months.

Life is what you make of it. Focus on the negative, the painful, the evil and your thinking will reflect that. Focus on the good and your life will reflect that. And you will also notice that it has an effect on those around you.

Now, a few things I am thankful for this week.

A Christmas Tea 

Two friends from my Tuesday Bible study group, my mom, and one of my clients went with me. We all took a dozen cookies to share and the recipe. There was a hot chocolate bar, a variety of teas and coffee, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, and the cookies. We each received a bag with all the ingredients for a holiday simmering potpourri. The speaker was a member of my small group and she gave a wonderful talk about God being there on the battlefield of our own personal Gettysburg (she and her family are history buffs).

Everyone enjoyed themselves and my client, who is mentally disabled, said on the way home, "I learned something today." I asked her what she had learned and her answer was "That God is always with us." Yes! How special is that?!

A Christmas Tree  

The tree is finally up...nearly 2 weeks later than it usually goes up. I was late taking down the fall decorations and bringing the Christmas boxes in and then I had to wait for Tim to build a heavy wooden base that will, hopefully, prevent the kitten from tipping the tree over. 

I had finally gotten the tree the way I wanted it last year, but decided to skip the ornaments this year because of the kitten. It only has lights and ribbon...and 3 special ornaments that are new this year; one for siblings that I had made for Tim and his sisters, one I had made about bff's for my Bible study girls, and a snowman yesterday's client made for me.

Jasper  

This cat. When he isn't exasperating me, he is delighting me. He is at least twice the size he was when I got him on Halloween and he still has his spider monkey-hopped-up-on-crack moments, but they are getting to be fewer or of shorter duration. We are still working on the scratching and biting and his "sin" of whacking the baby Jesus and the wise men out of the nativity and batting them across the floor. And after going with not decorating the tree...he has, so far, left it totally alone.

Father & Son

This season never fails to bring into sharp focus the joy and blessing of knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior, of being a daughter of God, of knowing how loved I am, of knowing my sins are forgiven, of knowing I have the hope of heaven before me.

Fun Movies

My Monday client and I went to see the new Ghostbusters movie. I wasn't expecting much after the one with the women, but was pleasantly surprised. I don't want to put any spoilers out so won't get into it, but if you like the original movies you will probably like this one. The original cast makes appearances...and I may have even shed a tear at the end...partly because it was touching and partly because I realized how long ago the first movie came out. Ouch!

Daughter

Megan helped me put the ribbon on the tree, clipped the kitty's claws for me, made her dad jello just because she knows he likes it, and knowing how much not seeing our other two grandchildren hurts us, makes sure we are a big part of her children's lives.

All of You

'nuff said.

Thankful Thursday

Life is crazy busy right now and I will be working all day tomorrow, so I'm writing and posting my Thankful Thursday list on Wednesday evening. I'm still linking to hosts Rebecca Jo, Jennifer, and Leslie. 

This week I am thankful...

Well, gosh. There is just so much to be thankful for.

I'm thankful everyone was healthy enough that we could have Thanksgiving together.

I'm thankful Tim got in to see our family doctor on Monday and he made some changes to Tim's meds and ordered a sonogram of his kidney for tomorrow. Now if Walmart could just get their act together and fill the prescriptions...they said they had to call the doctor about something on Monday and we still haven't heard back.

I'm thankful Colton was finally able to go back to school this week after missing the entire month of November. First he had a virus and then an ear infection and then Mom and Dad had covid. The school has crazy extreme rules for staying home in place so... Anyway, he is back in school and soooo happy to see his friends again.

I'm thankful Leah is fine after cracking her forehead on the coffee table and ending up with a big black and blue lump.

I'm thankful we've worked out getting sleep with Jasper around. He goes to bed when I go and does fine until Tim gets up at 3:30. Tim has started taking him out of the room and shutting the door when he gets up. I get at least a couple more hours of sleep that way.

I'm thankful that Jasper's crazy, kitten, naughtiness is getting a bit more manageable. He has a couple of times a day when he just goes totally nuts, racing around, climbing, jumping, getting into basically EVERYTHING...but then he's fairly calm the rest of the day.

I'm thankful for the fun day my client and I had at the Night of the Living Dead Museum. He's a fan, not me. In case you are interested, it's in the Monroeville Mall, just outside of Pittsburgh, because that's where they filmed Dawn of the Dead and George Romero was a Pittsburgh native.

Not really sure what the Michael Jackson zombie
from the Thriller video has to do with
the Night of the Living Dead.

I'm thankful we finally got the outside lights up and today I hauled all the decorations in from the shed, unloaded everything I'm using this year (I'm paring down because of Jasper), and then Tim hauled the boxes back to the shed when he got home.

I'm thankful for the fun and laughter today's client and I had singing along (loudly and badly) with Christmas songs on the car radio. 

I'm thankful Tim picked up Chinese take-out for dinner tonight. No cooking is always good!

I'm thankful for each one of you!

Count your blessings today and be a blessing to someone else!

Thankful Thursday

Hello! It's a gray, rainy day with rapidly falling temperatures here in southwestern Pennsylvania. It was 60 degrees when I woke up and now at 10:00, it is 49 degrees. The rain and cold wasn't supposed to come in until later today...such a change after yesterday's sunshine and 70 degrees. Tomorrow's high is only expected to be in the mid 30's. Brrr! I'm good with it, though. I like my November to feel like November.

Anyway.....

I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo, Jennifer, and Leslie for Thankful Thursday.

Today I am thankful...

** My family is well and getting back to normal after Covid entered our lives back at the beginning of the month. Our daughter and son-in-law were the only ones who actually had it...though the pediatrician refused to test the kids for school because they didn't want to put anyone at their office at risk, they said they'd just "assume" the kids had it because the parents did. 

None of us think they did. They had the remains of the virus (that was NOT Covid because they were tested then) and major ear infections, but they were on antibiotics and got continually better while Megan and Cody got worse.

** A third emergency room visit (a different hospital) this past Sunday resulted in Megan being prescribed a med for nausea that worked. Being able to eat and drink has greatly hastened her recovery.

** Our son-in-law was able to return to work this week.

** The soil contamination on Tim's job site turned out to be below the allowed government levels so the only precaution they have to take is to wear masks when doing any digging or anything that puts them in contact with the soil.  They probably all had the minor complaints from breathing in the dust.

** I am back into the full swing of work this week.

** I am off this morning and Colton is here for some time away from home and to be with me. He has been on a kick where he wants to be here all the time.

** Yesterday Tim and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary. Where have the years gone??

1984

2021

** Mom and John got their booster shots this past weekend and are feeling a lot better about venturing out again.

** Jasper is settling down. A little. I will take any improvement at all from my naughty boy and be thankful for it. He still has his times when he bounces off the walls. Literally. But there are more and more times when he is cuddled up and crashed.

** This time of the year and the holiday season. Bah-humbug to all of you who complain about Christmas music and decorations before Thanksgiving. I for one think people should go for it if it helps lift their spirits in these trying days. I don't know about you, but I believe the world could use a little more love, peace, joy, and good cheer all year round!

** God, my heavenly Father; Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior; and the Holy Spirit, my guide through this life.

** My family and friends.

** And all of you.

Thankful Thursday

Good morning! I'm linking up with host, Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand, to say thanks and share the good things God's been doing this week.

This week I am thankful...

** our grandson's longer Covid test came back negative, too, and he is feeling much better. Of course, Leah is now not feeling well, but IT'S NOT COVID. Thank you, Lord!

** I spoke to the woman about the special education aide job. I have an interview next Thursday.

** Mom's current Schnauzer was sick on Tuesday and they took her to the vets. After $700 of tests they had no answers and were waiting to get some answers yesterday...only to learn the blood test had somehow been compromised and they had to take Lacey back to have blood drawn again. In the meantime, Lacey, while still not herself, did begin to eat so maybe she is getting better.

** Tim has been taking Colton and Leah for walks every evening after work.

** for my new church family. I made it official this past Sunday and joined the church. Everyone was wonderful, warm, welcoming, and so encouraging. It was great to have some of my friends from the home Bible study group I attend there, too...and they discovered people there they knew! 

** the weather is finally starting to feel like fall! We've been enjoying cool nights and mornings. The afternoons have been warm, but that's going to end tomorrow as rain moves in and cools things off to a high of 53 on Saturday. Yes! Bring on the cute fall clothes!

** as I watch the morning news I am so thankful that my hope is in the Lord and not anything or anyone in this world.

** for every new morning to enjoy this life I've been given.

** for my family and friends.

** and, of course, for all of you!

Thankful Thursday

Besides the fact that I am staying away from social media for the most part, life has been crazy busy. Tim and I arrived back from our weekend away and it's been boots to the ground ever since. I think Friday may offer a bit of a break. Hopefully, I will be able to post again then and maybe even play along with the Saturday 9 this weekend.

Today I am linking up with Rebecca Jo for Thankful Thursday. 

So...good things that have happened in the last week or so.

** A weekend away. Long overdue and much anticipated, our weekend in Erie, PA was wonderful! The whole thing was a blessing, but there were so many little blessings packed into it.

** When it came to choosing a hotel to stay in I went through Booking.com and tried to find the most reasonable price with the best rating (hotel rates are through the roof right now and many of the hotels in Erie were asking over $500 for two nights!). I actually chose a room in a hotel that was undergoing some renovations. It didn't affect anything except the pool and gym were closed and we didn't plan to use those. The big surprise came when we opened the door to our room and found...A SUITE!

** We had lunch and a final visit with my father and his wife on Friday. They will leave for Texas the first week of November. Both have had some health issues this year and at their ages, you just don't know if tomorrow will be there. Both are making little comments about certain things being the last time they will do them. Since I didn't know my father for the first 55 years of my life, I am incredibly thankful for every moment I have with him.

** There was a terrible thunderstorm and heavy rain Friday night and into Saturday morning, but it moved out by 9:00 and the day just kept getting prettier and prettier. We had a nice lake breeze and the temperature was around 75.

** We spent all day Saturday with Tim's older sister and the oldest of the seven siblings. There was a brother and a sister between her and Tim, but both have passed away. 

We had such a great day filled with memories, making some new ones, and lots and lots of laughter as we visited all the wineries along the wine trail in PA and NY. We came home with a case of assorted wines and as his sister is on a fixed income, we were able to bless her with bottles of her favorites.

** I bought a really comfortable pair of shoes at my favorite shoe store for folks who have a lot of foot pain (Shoe Fly). Seriously, I know a lot of you have foot pain...look up Aetrex shoes. They come in cute styles and have great arch support and a cushioned insole that is like walking on pillows. I also found out they have opened a store much closer to home.

** We ate at Cracker Barrel twice and I got to do some shopping...found my mom an awesome pair of A Christmas Story socks (Ralphie in the pink bunny suit) and a Leg Lamp pen. She likes the movie as much as I do.

** I got to smell the grape harvest. Seriously, one of the best smells in the world is ripe Concord grapes.

** Back at home I've had lots of work this week...my regulars and we had an emergency this week, a client who had to be removed from their home and is in a hotel until they can find a new residence for them. That means 24-hr staffing. I did all day yesterday. It was pretty crazy as I got a call that she had to be moved to another hotel and the one she was in was not being patient or nice...I had 15 minutes to pack up everything and get it out of her room. Thankfully, we made it. We drove around looking at stores and had lunch while we waited for check-in time at the new hotel.

** My Bible study group met last night and watched the last video in the Forgiving What You Can't Forget study. Next week we will wrap everything up. It was a good night with some great conversation. 

Last week we saw God's Not Dead: We the People as a group. I don't know that on the whole it was as good as the previous movies, but the ending was fantastic and had the people in the theater on their feet cheering and clapping!

** Two Saturdays ago I took the membership class at church. Since then I filled out the application, wrote out my testimony, and yesterday I had an interview with the elders. Everything has gone exceptionally well and this Sunday I will be accepted into the church. Some friends are coming and I am praying Tim will come, too.

** At the ripe old age of 9, Daisy has decided to listen to us when she is outside and we can take her out in the yard without tying her up. She is loving it and so happy and proud of herself. I love that she can have that freedom and it's fun to watch her run around.

** I got to spend all afternoon with Colton and Leah.

** Tim feels somewhat better than he did, but nothing like he did the first week or two of using the CBD oil and the Relief Factor. Bottom line, he doesn't think the oil does anything and gave it up, but he's continuing the Relief Factor even though he says he only feels a little better and the doctor telling him the all over pain and achiness he feels could be from his high blood pressure. The doctor has adjusted the blood pressure meds again and he's trying a different med for cholesterol (his body hasn't tolerated any he's tried so far).

** This incredible weather! Granted I would like it to be a little cooler in the middle of October, but the beautiful, sunny days are nice...and rare. Usually our Octobers are pretty rainy. I did see that a little rain is coming our way over the weekend and some slightly cooler temperatures. Yay!

** Of course I am thankful for all of you!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

-Romans 8:28

That means EVERYTHING in our lives is a blessing. The blessing may be in disguise...deep disguise, sometimes...but it is all blessing. We may not understand how it works for good right now, but if we are patient and trust God, it will be revealed at the right time.

Currently....Thankful

I haven't been around much this week, so I'm blessing y'all with a twofer. That's 2 posts for the price of one...and lucky you, the price is $0. I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo, Leslie, and Jennifer for Thankful Thursday. I'm on my own with Currently. 

Hang on to your hats, this is going to be a real mash up! Not like a YouTube mashup, but still a pretty mixed bunch of stuff.

YouTube mashup:

Not a YouTube mashup:

So currently...

The weather is pretty comfortable with temperatures only reaching the mid 70s all this week. Now that the rain has finally stopped I'm feeling pretty thankful to Hurricane Ida for that. It's also worth mentioning that all of our family in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama came through just fine. The power is out in Louisiana, but other than that and some trees down there was no damage. They are roughing it a bit with gas being hard to get and supplies being greatly limited. Another family member is driving from Alabama to Louisiana this weekend with water and other supplies. Not just for family, but for as many as can be helped. You can count me as thankful to have family who will drop everything to help others.

On TV we are finally getting to see the NCIS episodes from the point where Netflix left off. I'm thankful our daughter tipped us off to the Paramount app. It has all the CBS shows and Paramount movies...even new releases! You can watch the new Paw Patrol movie on there for no extra cost while it's still in theaters and Disney+ is charging $20+ to watch it.

Celebrating that Colton is back in school and praying that this year the schools are able to stay open. That's pretty iffy. The mask mandates for schools go into effect September 7 statewide. I'm thankful Colt still likes school and his teacher and has made new friends. He needs to get more socialization and be around people other than just family. His shyness and anxiety can be crippling at times.

Loving, as always, any time I get to spend with the grandkids. On Saturday, Leah saw me cleaning the pool and wanted to get in, too. We had a grand time and I am so thankful she is getting over her fear of the water. She is still a little nervous out in the middle, but man, she will jump in from the ladder as many times as I will catch her...and yes, it HAS to be me. In the pool she wants no one else!

Celebrating good news on the scale this week. I am so thankful I can say I am at my lowest weight in nearly 20 years!

Also, that my Monday client, the poor guy who only has Monday's off to do anything...and virtually everything but stores and restaurants are closed on Mondays...finally found something we can do! Bowling. We found one place out of all the ones around here that opens at 1:00 on Mondays. I am very thankful he thinks we should just plan on lunch and bowling every Monday unless, of course, something special pops up. Yay! I was putting a lot of miles on my car driving him around to places trying to fill up our time. And double "yay!" I like bowling and it's good exercise.

And the Labor Day holiday.

Praying for everyone still trapped in Afghanistan and the families of our fallen soldiers, but thankful for those we did get out and for all the brave men and women in our military.

Also for everything Covid-19 and Delta Variant related. For all those who are battling this particular monster. For those who have lost someone and are grieving. For all of us as tempers flare over differing opinions and views concerning vaccines and masks.

I'm thankful for each one I hear of who beat the odds, got off the ventilator, and came home.

And I'm praying for the lost. The ones who don't know Jesus. It's hard not to believe the world is heading toward its predicted end with all that is going on around us. I see many people, lukewarm Christians among them, waking up and getting serious about their faith and relationship with the Lord and I am thankful for that, but there are so many more who, if the world were to end right now, would be lost. I pray the Holy Spirit softens their hearts and opens their eyes and ears.

Enjoying my recent online purchases and being thankful I got great deals on all of them!

A pretty new Passion Planner!

A new journal because the old one is nearly filled.

A sweet blue leather tote bag for work.

Some dressier black flats since I'm back in a church.
Seriously, I really didn't have much in the way of dressy clothes.

A new box of my favorite pens. Only a little over $5 for 60!

My pretty new CSB Study Bible for Women.

And a girl needs brown shoes, too.

There is also an order on the way from Roaman's. Like I said, I don't have dressy clothes anymore. I've had to start building my wardrobe again. So I have some nice tops and a dress coming and for the me that really doesn't like to dress up...they were having a sale, mix-and-match any 3 leggings or knit tops for only $33! Score! Feeling pretty darn thankful for that, too.

(Sorry about the blurry photos. Amazon was giving me grief tonight.)

And, of course, you all know I am thankful for each one of YOU!

Thankful Thursday

I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo, Leslie, and Jennifer today for Thankful Thursday. 

This week I am thankful...

** for all the rain yesterday. Yucky as it was, we did need it.

** the client I had scheduled for yesterday was more than agreeable to reschedule our outing for today.

** I finally called my employer yesterday after a week of not hearing anything since losing two clients last week. One to death and one to his being embarrassed by his violent tantrum and not wanting to face me ever again.

The director said she is pretty sure she has three clients for me right here in town. Nice! I'm going to call when I am finished with my appointment today and if all the information has come in on the clients I'll head into to office to pick it up..

** I got my first full pay on Monday. Not too shabby. Unfortunately, there will now be a tiny pay the next time before the hours with the new clients start kicking in.

** Our nephew-in-law who serves in the Guard finally got to come home yesterday after almost a year away. And what a year! 

The family had moved to Houston not long before he had to ship out so there hadn't really been time to develop friends and a support network and the closest family is in Louisiana. Our niece and their three young children (age 7 and under, I believe) have dealt with Covid-19, the power outages last winter, and buying a house on their own!

Our niece sent out photos to the family. Those kids were so precious. They had the house all decorated with signs and flags to welcome their daddy home and they met him at the base with a big sign reading "Welcome home, Daddy! We've waited 320 days to hug you! Look out, because here we come." Oh, and the picture of Daddy down on his knees all wrapped up in hugs....all the feels! 

Our military personnel deserve so much thanks for what they do. They and their families sacrifice so much to preserve our freedoms and protect others.

** The fuss the gals in my Bible study group made for my birthday. We had a get together rather than class this week and everyone brought something yummy to share and they blessed me with gift cards, a wooden sign with a Christian saying, and more chickens for my collection...a gorgeous platter with a rooster in Tuscan colors on a stand and a cast iron rooster doorstop. 

** My hubby taking me away for the day on my birthday and not complaining once about following me around a big craft festival.

** Another outrageously generous gift from my biological father.

** A new push mower. Megan and I picked it out on Monday after the old one finally gave up. (It had been limping along all summer.) Tim was kind of leery about us picking it out but he gave his seal of approval on our choice. Now, if everything would just dry out, I could get at the parts of the lawn that didn't get done before all this rain. There are a couple of spots that have this "wild" contractor grass mix (I call it monster grass) that grows fast and is a bigger grass than regular grass. It's nearly knee-high at this point! I want it gone, but the only way to do that is to kill everything else along with it. Tim has been resistant to that for years.

** For all of you!

A Smoking Hot Thankful Thursday

Good morning and happy Thankful Thursday! I'm linking up with hosts Rebecca Jo, Leslie, and Jennifer.  

It's a hot one here in the Neighborhood (capitalized because I live in Mr. Roger's hometown). Temps will be in the mid to upper 90s today and the humidity is already at the "soggy" point. 

This week I am thankful....

** still, for my job, though there have been a couple of setbacks.

** One of my clients, who was my age and had Down Syndrome, had been in the hospital for a couple of weeks with a blood clot in her lung (maybe more than that...that was just the initial diagnosis). I received a text Monday evening that she had "gone home to heaven." Aw. But she was a believer so I know that's where she is and for the first time she is healthy and whole and having a great old time up there!

** Perspective.

I lost another client, not due to death, but because of an incident while I was with him this past Saturday. He is a nice enough young man, diagnosed with autism and a couple of other minor things, and he is VERY high functioning. So high, that I honestly believe he shouldn't be labeled. He lives on his own and the goal is to get him to a point of not needing any support staff. Not sure that will ever happen because, and I hate to say this, but it's true...he is L-A-Z-Y.

His parents know it's true. The people in charge of his case know it's true. ALL of them told me not to let him walk all over me, to be in charge, to push him to do his chores, etc. I did encourage him to keep working when he was forever wanting to "take a little break," but I was so nice about it that I worried I wasn't pushing him enough.

Yeah, right. On Saturday he was supposed to clean up his apartment. I suggested he start by going around and picking up all the trash and putting it where it belonged. Okie-dokie. He literally picked up 2 pieces of garbage and then said he was taking a break. I responded with, "Hey, I know it's Saturday and you're tired, but how about picking up a few more things and then taking a break?"

BAM! With absolutely no warning at all he went berserk. He swung his arm around and set the huge glass of pop he'd just poured flying. It soaked his sofa, floor and wall. Then he started grabbing his video games and throwing them. His cell phone was the next thing to go flying. Then he started kicking over tables. Finally, he threw himself down on the sofa and pulled his head and arms into his shirt. 

I was stunned...and more than a little fearful. He just happens to be 6'3" and weighs well over 300lbs. He is a BIG boy! I am grateful his anger was directed at his stuff and not at me. Had it been aimed at me, he could have done some real damage.

After speaking to his parents and my employer, I was willing to keep working with him and he had, in fact, expressed his willingness for me to come back this week. So it was a bit of a surprise to get a text message from his mother on Tuesday letting me know I didn't have to come because he was so embarrassed and upset that he was taking a week off. I wanted to clarify so asked if I would be seeing him again at all and that is when she admitted that she had asked my employer to assign someone new....all while going on and on that it wasn't my fault, that I'd done what everyone told me to do, but he's now just soooooo embarrassed and upset that our time together would never be productive, that it'd be better for him to start over fresh with a new person.

I was upset. First, I think it's a mistake to not help him face up to his mistakes and learn how to handle them since they want him to learn to live independently. Second, it was a big hit in the income for me to lose him. I saw him for 10 hours a week and at the highest pay rate since we had so many goals to work toward.

I met with friends for dinner on Tuesday and they prayed for me and helped me see that maybe God was getting me out of there to protect me. (This should probably be yet another item on the list.) See, there was NOTHING about a temper in the boy's file. Not. One. Single. Word. And he has done this before. It may have been a little while since the last time, but he has done it.

My boss made sure to note it in his file now so that the next person will have a clue what they are walking into.

** For some time spent enjoying God's beautiful creation. I took a client to a nearby park I'd never been to before, but had heard about for years. It was very beautiful and serene there, but there sure wasn't much water running over the falls. I'm wondering what it looks like today after a night and day of thunderstorms?

Looking out through the falls.

Looking at the falls from the front.

** it looks like our new grandkitty is going to be okay. For 2 days she was terribly sick with a fever of 104.9. All she did was sleep. She wasn't eating or drinking and her back end is obviously causing her some pain. We all feared that maybe Leah had been too rough in playing with her.

A $400 visit to the vet resulted in x-rays and blood tests that showed absolutely nothing. The vet didn't even feel confident in telling the kids that the poor thing would live since they just didn't have a clue what was wrong. They gave her a shot to reduce the fever and sent them home with pain pills and a syringe to force some food and water into her. 

At home, she suddenly started meowing to get out of the crate so they let her out and she ran to her food and scarfed it down. She still was pretty lethargic after that, but at least she ate! We are praying she continues to feel better today. She's such a sweet thing and has the patience of a saint with Leah.

Comfy and cozy in Mommy and Daddy's bed.

** for Pinterest recipes that turn out well. I tried a recipe for a shrimp boil done in the Crock Pot last night. It was so easy and it turned out so well! Tim often orders this at seafood restaurants and he said it was better than most of those!

** for a couple of hours in the pool with Colton splashing and having silly fun, just the two of us.

** for surviving yesterday when I had both kids alllllll day and we were stuck inside. Both were in whiney moods and not getting along with each other at all.

** as I always am, for all of you!