Thankful Thursday | no 90s for meeeee

Thankful for a work supplied lunch yesterday, any time I don't have to cook I am thankful for. For a lunch meeting that made me laugh for an hour. My boss says such off the wall remarks and is very funny. For the mosquito control truck who drove in our back yard to treat. We can actually go outside now. Hoping for strength to deal with annoying comments my brother makes in texts. Got to buy a cup of strength. For my grands. I am so lucky they are in my life. I wish I could see them more.

I'm always so grateful for the weekly reminders to think about our blessings, thank you for keeping this a part of your blog! I don't always comment, but I always read and enjoy hearing the good others are finding.

In no particular order, some things I'm grateful for:

1. Cooler days too. Our downstairs AC went out yesterday and it's completely bearable in the house. It should be fixed soon, but even a day or two earlier would have been really hard.

2. For how my oldest son stepped up in beautiful ways this summer when we needed him. He was already planning a pretty "adult" summer: working 40+ hours a week interning, doing freelance handyman job nights and weekends, and taking an extra summer class (Physics 2 for engineers, Oy!). But instead, when my FIL died unexpectedly several weeks ago, he moved straight in with my MIL at her request. No hesitation, he even volunteered. His summer evenings and weekends were spent with her and homework, instead of with friends. He did it cheerfully and graciously. It's definitely not the way most college guys would want spend tbeir break, but he did it well and is now back at college on a volunteer team helping with new student orientation.

3. For the church merger that happened by unanimous vote. My in-laws' church was tiny and mostly physically existing by their giving and efforts. My MIL decided to move to another local body that can support her well in her bereavement. This has domino-ed into her former church merging with a fledgling congregation that needs a bigger space. It's a win everywhere, and we're all excited to see it happen. She's flourishing in her new church too, and it's so exciting to see her joy there.

4. That the financial affairs of my in-laws are slowly creeping into a better place, thanks to the super hard work of my husband and sons. They're liquidating over 30 acres of old heavy equipment to meet debts and gets bills down closer to my MIL's monthly income, and it truly feels like eating an elephant one bite at a time. But, they're getting closer day by day.

5. That I was able to tackle some much-needed paperwork for my kids' schooling today, and things look better than I thought grade-wise. We homeschool and processing final grades went on the back burner after my FIL's injury and death. I'm tight on checking their work as we go and don't let them proceed to new concepts with anything much lower than a B just because I know they can totally do it, but I was thinking some final grades would be a bit lower. It's nice to be wrong about that. Their summer classes turned into mechanic 101 as they've been getting old machinery running again to sell. Whew!

6. My daughter loves to read a create. Without her brothers here a lot this summer, she's been a bit at loose ends, but she's been having fun reading and trying out different crafts and such. That wouldn't have been possible last summer.

Many have expressed their thankfulness for coffee. I like coffee, but black tea is my choice over that. I usually have chai latte, which I'm very thankful for but after sleeping long I needed to start with harder stuff. And with sugar, thank you. Thankful my Molly dog is giving me a reprieve. Sunday morning when I came home from work, I let her out and I went to check the garden, letting her wander about the yard. I'm not sure what happened, but she came to me unable to bear weight on her front left paw. We had some dog pain medicine left from December so she took that and after a couple of hours of trying to get comfortable and even crying (I sat w her on the floor until my left leg went to sleep) she slept good for at least three hours and awoke and was able bear weight. A sucker for "snake oil," we are trying the mushroom concoction touted by many starting this morning. She has a very large lipoma on her left side and on one of her legs plus, I think we're dealing w fleas. She also takes Cosequin which has been very helpful in keeping her mobile. Y'all love your cats, I like cats that approach me first. But, I love my dog. Thankful for the cool down in weather and the shower we had this day. I really need to mow and this gave me a good excuse to not. Also means I don't have to water my friend's flowers and veggies (while she's at her Dad's) and my own. Thankful for fresh produce and herbs. I used to be a two to three tomato a day consumer when they are in season, but GERD put a slowdown to that. I do relish them when I can. I planted cucumber seeds second week in June and already harvested some last week!. This particular variety is absent the burping quality most have and I'm thankful for that. I also like embellishing everyday items with the fresh herbs-parsley, basil, chives and a little lovage. I am thankful that one out of two dresses I ordered actually fits and looks nice. The other one has a neckline that will fit around my waist. At 4' 10" it is difficult for me to find a dress that works w/o remaking or hemming.

1. Thankful to be alive. Thirty six years ago today, when I was 36 so half a lifetime ago, I was having experimental open heart surgery to try and correct my birth defect. My brother had already died of the defect, so I had no choice but I was still terrified. In fact, I was so hysterical that they offered to cancel the surgery until I was calmer. However, luckily for me, my insurance was going to change at the end of August so I needed to do the surgery before that. Even after the only somewhat successful surgery, they told me I would be lucky to be alive at 50 and here I am 72! 2. Thankful for the husband, who did not sign on for what turned out to be a chronically ill wife, yet still has never for one moment acted like I am a burden. After 41 years he still goes out of his way to try and make my life better, more comfortable, easier...This is going to sound weird but he had cancer before I got so ill and I am glad I had the opportunity to care for him so it has not all been one-sided. (Although it took five surgeries, he ended up cured while I only got somewhat better.) 3. Thankful for some nighttime finally returning. 4. Thankful that not one appliance has fallen apart this week. Everything has worked like it is supposed to. 5. Thankful for fresh garden produce. Our season is so short that the appearance of a large tomato is sort of a miracle.

My fall decluttering has started. Yayyyy

Love your grandkitty!