New here? Thankful Thursday is our weekly opportunity to practice hunting for the good in our lives, even when the world feels hard. It’s free! It might boost your mood! Join us!
This week, I am thankful:
for the cute cats we get to see every week
Sonia is my cat shift companion most of the time, and all those kitties lift our spirits every time.
I did not want to put this guy back in his cage!
for the spring-like weather
We’ve been having some lovely warm days lately. Combined with the longer days, it’s starting to feel like spring!
that I’m keeping up in my biology class
It is confirmed: my 42-year-old brain can still hold new information.
Although this week, we are on the Krebs cycle, and I feel like this brain is holding on by a thin strand!
for all the ways I get to help other people
Even in the midst of these crazy, isolated times, God has still given me so many opportunities to serve the people around me.
As Laura Vanderkam often says, “People are a good use of time.” And I am thankful for opportunities to do something as meaningful as helping people.
for the lovely people who read this blog
I often think about how grateful I am for the people in this community. You all are so helpful and kind to each other, and that makes me really happy!
that it’s 2021 and not 2020
I am remembering last year at this time, which was the start of our world turning upside down.
I am so glad that we have gotten a year of this over with, and that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. This spring feels so much more hopeful than last spring did.
that my family and I are all ok, a year in
I do have some relatives that have gotten sick, but mercifully, they have all recovered.
for my older brother
He always has good advice for me, and he is so good at reminding me to focus on what is in my control (me) and not on what is outside of my control (literally everything else!)
for my sister-in-law-to-be
The aforementioned older brother is getting married this year, and I think his fiancé is delightful. I’m so glad to be gaining her as a new sister.
for the interesting way the sky changes
I love to look at the clouds and I think it’s so fascinating to notice all the different looks the same sky can have from day to day.
Almost the exact same spot at the exact same time as the above photo; just a different day.
that beauty can exist despite the ugly
This is the river view from a bridge near my house.
And this is what that bridge looks like; old, narrow, ugly.
If you look left, you see the ugly. If you look right, you see the beauty.
I’m thankful that the beautiful view exists! And that the ugly parts don’t erase the beautiful parts.
There’s probably a metaphor for life there.
for the coffee and oatmeal I’m about to have
As soon as I hit publish on this post, I’m off to have breakfast.
I love breakfast! At our house, it’s a meal where we all fend for ourselves, so I am completely free to eat whatever I want without working around anyone else’s allergies or preferences.
EJS
Friday 12th of March 2021
Along with my many blessings I’m thankful for this community of people whose aim is often to help others. The inspiration I’ve received from reading the posts have caused me to look around in my real life coo to see where I could lend a hand and make a difference.
Thanks Kristen for keeping these thankful posts coming, and I see the numbers growing every week!
Kristen
Friday 12th of March 2021
Oh, that is lovely to hear!
Katy in Africa
Friday 12th of March 2021
This doesn't have to do with thankfulness, but I was intrigued by you saying everyone fends for themselves at breakfast. We kinda do that here too. I'd love more detail on when you started doing that with your kids and how you let them know what's available and what can't be eaten.
Kristen
Friday 12th of March 2021
Boy, I'm not sure when that started happening. It probably was a very gradual transition as each kid got old enough to manage their own breakfast prep.
They're pretty good about asking if they're not sure what's available or what can't be eaten. And I try to be good about communicating in particular to Sonia about what I've bought, since her options are more limited, even with things like produce. So when I finish shopping, I try to communicate things like, "Hey, I bought you some strawberries; they're in the fruit drawer. And I got you some non-dairy yogurt."
Amanda
Thursday 11th of March 2021
*That we were home and saw the fire in our dog's house (from a faulty heat lamp) just as it was catching our porch on fire and before the house caught too. And that the burn I got putting it out is reasonably minor and everyone - pets and house included - is fine. So grateful!
*That we found out about my husband's identity being stolen before things got very deep. My "other husband" got about $8,000 in unemployment money, but it's stopped now, hopefully.
*That our state has stepped back the mask mandates here. I full appreciate that there are many thoughts on the issue, but I'm sure enjoying the chance to see people smile again.
*SPRING!!!!!!!
Sarah G
Thursday 11th of March 2021
I seriously looooove the pic of the little kitten. He looks like he's gonna do some baking with those oven mitts. Lol <3 1. I'm thankful for the sunny warmer weather. My girls have played outside all day for the last two days and what a refreshing change of pace it's been. 2. For the grandparents who took our three oldest kids for a sleepover tonight. We have just the baby tonight and it seems like a vacation! 3. For my husband who will get up with the baby and let me sleep in tomorrow morning. God bless him! 4. That even though some poison ivy appeared on one of my kid's arms yesterday, it hasn't spread and it didn't appear on any of the rest of us, thank goodness. 5. For my four unbelievably wonderful kids. Somehow we have four beautiful children after being told we couldn't have any, and I am eternally humbled and grateful every day.
JEG
Thursday 11th of March 2021
1. Again, I have to say my Monday walks. The age of our group is 65 and up. Thankfully they are all adventurous. I search out places within about a 20 mile radius. Last week with was along Eel River, Plymouth, MA. And there was a beautiful bridge in the middle of the woods crossing the river. 2. Tuesday I took another walk more locally with another friend 3. The lovely, moving toward spring weather this week. Today we took the 2.5, 6, and 9 yr olds to the playground. There were so many there. I pay a lot of attention to the interaction because my youngest grandson, 2.5 yrs, has only played with his older cousins, the youngest being 6. 4. My new Lodge dutch oven that made a lovely quick dinner tonight. I bought the pan to make the no knead bread amongst other delicious foods. 5. I had an enjoyable kundalini class on zoom tonight.