If you follow me on Instagram, then you already knew that! Sorry I didn’t update you all yesterday.
This week, I am thankful:
that we got to see Lisey
Of course, this has to be number one. 🙂
It made our hearts happy to be with her; she is just so much fun!
Also, I was so glad to be able to see where she works and where she lives. Now when she calls me, I can picture where she’s at.
for beautiful hikes
I did several hikes during my time in Hawaii and wow, the scenery is definitely an upgrade from what I usually see when I hike. 😉
that I am back home finally
After my initial 24 hours delay, all three of the flights I had to get on to go home were either on time or sort of close to being on time, and none were canceled. Yay!
I was so, so, so happy that I did not get stuck in Chicago.
that my trip wasn’t too close to the start of the semester
I wasn’t even thinking too hard about this when I booked the trip, but I am super glad I gave myself a week of cushion. This way, my delayed return home did not cause a problem with the start of school.
Plus, we have plenty of days to recover from jet lag. That was five time zones of change, and experts say it takes a day to recover from each time zone.
I should be feeling normal by the time school starts!
for a good first night of sleep
I skipped an entire night of sleep (Monday night) and I was so so so so so tired by the time I went to bed on Tuesday night.
I don’t know if I’ve ever been awake for that many hours in a row, actually!
Normally it’s a little hard to go to bed at a decent hour after flying east, but that was noooooo problem for me this time around. I was pooped.
Unfortunately, last night I slept for maybe two hours. But this is Thankful Thursday so we are not gonna focus on that part. At least Tuesday night was good.
that Zoe’s flights alone went ok
She was traveling solo since I was the one who got bumped from the flight. She made it to Chicago fine, navigated her delays, and ended up at home 24 hours ahead of me.
I really did not want her to get stuck in Chicago without me!
for the snow at home
I was kinda worried we’d run into delays/cancellations because of the snow here, but we didn’t.
So now that that worry is past, I am free to just be delighted. The snow is beautiful! It makes everything so bright! It’s sparkly in the sunshine!
for the light reflecting on the snow
We had no snow at all last year, so this is my first time seeing snow at this house, and that is delightful.
I always notice how much brighter a house is when there’s snow on the ground, and I’m having fun noticing that here. My kitchen, which is normally a pretty dark room, was so delightfully bright yesterday.
I would dearly love to have a yard coated in snow all winter, just for the bright light!
for warm heat in my house
I know this super cold weather is using up a lot of my heating oil, but that’s ok. I am just grateful to have cozy warm heat in my house.
And now I am going to go out in the cold for a morning walk to try to get my body adjusted to east coast time.
Amanda in VA
Monday 22nd of January 2024
I'm chiming in late here with my thankful Thursday, but it is always a good day to be grateful. :)
I'm thankful that:
-We are finally settling into a routine in the new year. I participated in an online workshop for the first two weeks of the year. The kids were still out of the school the first week, and then last week between holidays and weather, they went to school very little. If that wasn't enough, I usually spend the first few weeks of the year preparing my books and gathering financial documents and information for tax prep for ourselves, our businesses, and our church. This week finally feels like we are back in our normal rhythm. I thrive on rhythm.
-My last MRI came back with no trace of cancer. An MRI is just a picture. It can't really detect cancer. But they don't see now what they saw in August before I started chemo. I still have surgery and radiation ahead of me, which feels very doable after chemo.
-I am done with chemo!!!! Thank goodness for this life-saving treatment. But good gracious I pray for the day when researchers develop forms of chemo that are easier on the body. I would do it again every time, but I sure am glad it is over.
isa
Friday 19th of January 2024
Home sweet home!
This week I'm thankful for:
- A warm house. It's getting pretty cold here (-25 Celsius/-13 Fahrenheit), so we are using the wood stove a lot (on top of regular heat).
- To have access to a ''food surplus'' program that is open to everyone regardless of income. This not-in-the-best-shape/couple days past the best-before date food gets given by groceries and then we get to go and pick a basket of veggies, fruits, a pint of milk, a tub of yogurt and a loaf or two of bread, all for 15$ (Canadian). VERY good deal! And it saves this food from the garbage.
- To have a family doctor that take our issues seriously. And to have a family doctor, period. Very hard to get one here in Quebec, Canada.
- That my weight loss has now slowed down but didn't halt completely. 61 pounds down, 19 to go for goal, I'll get there!
- To be an assertive person. I am someone who will not get bullied into anything or spoken harshly to without reacting. You treat me well; I'll treat you well. I'm not bending over backwards for rude people, never did, never will.
Have a great weekend!
Candace
Friday 19th of January 2024
I find your pictures of hikes and walks near your house to be incredibly beautiful! I often wish I lived in an area that had options like those!
Nevertheless, I'm grateful to live in a neighborhood with (very small) greenbelts near open space so I can actually go out for a walk or bike ride and enjoy nature a little. funny thing, when I moved here I really appreciated the greenbelts, and then my neighbor basically implied that they are a joke because they're so small. They might be small, but they are really nice to have!
Yesterday was my first day back in the office since we all had to go back 2 days a week starting this month, and to my surprise I actually enjoyed being there with a lot of my coworkers. I appreciate working with people I like.
I'm grateful that I can ride my bike safely to work, and I have a very secure place to park it when I get there. I'm also grateful that I can afford a nice pedal-assist ebike and that I only live a few miles away so that I can get my kids out the door and take my dog for a short walk before having to leave the house.
I am grateful that I can afford two litter robots. I absolutely love my cats, and I hate cleaning litter boxes.
I feel like I have a lot of things I could choose for the last thing I'm grateful for, but not one thing is jumping out at me.
Kristen
Friday 19th of January 2024
I had to google "greenbelt"! The pictures I saw looked like they are very nice to have.
Anne
Friday 19th of January 2024
@Candace, wait, wait, what? What in the heck are litter robots? I am pretty sick of shoveling cat poop myself. Please fill me in.
Martha O.
Friday 19th of January 2024
I just looked outside to see the freshly falling snow. Freezing cold weather doesn’t delight me but I really love experiencing at least one snowy event during winter. It’s really beautiful! As you mentioned Kristen, the snow seems to brighten everything.
I’m happy for you, Kristen, that you were able to visit Lisey and to enjoy time in Hawaii. Your photos are gorgeous. My brother lives in Hawaii but I have never been able to visit him. Maybe one day…
I’m thankful my daughter doesn’t have any long-term physical injuries from her recent car accident though she has increased fear about driving now. I’m thankful insurance has come through with some money towards a “ new” used car for her.
I’m thankful our power stayed on earlier this week during the snow event and I’m hoping power stays on today during the current snow. We do have generators though so I’m glad for that.
I’m grateful for some successful painting projects this week. Since before Christmas, I’ve been in a creative slump. But I’ve been playing with my watercolors a few times each day this week and I think I’m back on track. I’m thankful, too, for my dear husband who is so supportive of my creative endeavors.
I’m thankful for my husband who seems able to fix anything around the house and is quick to do so when we have a problem. I’m also so grateful for how he loves to read, dance, work hard ( he’ll probably never retire) and help people. He’s compassionate, kind, a good listener and encourager and can be so, so funny. I’m very thankful for him. I’m also glad he can usually work from home.
I’m thankful our little pup Wally is feeling better. He was a little sick yesterday morning but by evening he was back to his chipper little self. He brings us such joy.
Selena
Thursday 18th of January 2024
I'm thankful you're still not at ORD. While we had a "heat wave" today, it is snowing again plus the winds are picking up. And it will be cold again - I'm not in Chicago proper but close enough. THEN come Monday, calling for rain, then rain/snow (maybe sleet!) on Tuesday. However it was nice to not have to tie the scarf around my face today when I was outside.