Today I Am Thankful For (day 30)

Day 30

Today I am thankful for the 30 days of Thanksgiving that have helped me to pause and reflect on what I am thankful for.

Any of us at any time if we were asked what we are thankful for can give a standard pat answer.  I am thankful for:  life, family, job, and etc.  But these 30 days of Thanksgiving have helped me to think "outside the box" about some of those things that I am truly thankful for but most of the time we just take for granted or don't even realize they are blessings to be counted.  So today I am thankful for the time that I have had to reflect on those un-ordinary things that I am thankful for.  This was probably best brought to light for me during a conversation with Dumbass.  We have been doing the 30 days during phone conversations.  On the morning that I was thankful that I like myself he commented to me that not everybody can say that.  Which led to a more in depth conversation about it.  The same thing with the being thankful for a sense of humor.  There are many people who don't enjoy that blessing.  So yes today I am thankful for the 30 days of Thanksgiving.  I wish that I could say that it will help me to stop and notice those small things all during the year and not just in November.  One young lady remarked that she is going to try to list in her journal 3 things she is thankful for each day because she had noticed that her attitude was much more positive when she started her day being thankful.  Have an awesomely blessed day.

Enjoy!

 

Another e-mail I received and too good not to share.       Old people R O C K !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of  myself. I've become my own friend..  I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before  they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer  until 4 AM or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish  to weep over a lost love .. I will.  I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with  abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.  They, too, will get old.  I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I  eventually remember the important things Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not  break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken  hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will  never know the joy of being imperfect.  I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have  my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.  So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about  what other people think. I don't question myself anymore.. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I  like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, But while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could  have been, or worrying about what will be.. And I shall eat dessert  every single day(if I feel like it).  MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT  FROM THE HEART

 

Today I Am Thankful For (day 29)

Day 29

Today I am thankful that I live in a part of the country that has the changing of the seasons.  I know that I have moaned and groaned about it getting colder and how much I dread it but I really am thankful for the changing of the seasons.  It is hard for me to imagine living somewhere that the climate stayed the same year round.  My favorite season is probably the spring time.  After a long, dreary, cold winter being able to see new life coming out is a sign of hope.  Even with all the pollen and the sneezing and the itchy, watery eyes how can you not love seeing new growth on trees and flowers blooming.  With winter being my least favorite there is still something magical about that first snowfall.  When a blanket of snow covers everything and sounds seem to be muffled.  And to just sit and watch the snow fall.  How amazing it is that those tiny little flakes can eventually cover everything.  Then to feel the summer sun on your skin.  To just gaze into the sky and feel the sun heat you.  Yeah I know that with that comes a lot of sweating and chaffing but there are still those moments.  Then the fall to watch leaves changing colors and those days that it is just cool enough for long sleeves but no jacket.  Even though it signals that winter is on the way there is just something about a crisp fall morning.  Yes, I enjoy the changing of the seasons.  It allows me to enjoy God's creation at it's finest.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 28)

Day 28

Today I am thankful for technology.

For someone who remembers party line telephones, having to have the operator place a long-distance call for you, cameras that the film had to be developed and even then you had a choice of black and white or color, black and white tv, and no remote controls technology has advanced to an amazing degree in a short time.  Although older I am not what one would consider old (unless you are younger than 12). 

I am thankful for the technology that allows me to communicate with family and friends at any time of the day or night no matter where we are.  I can make a picture and immediately send it to someone else.  I can talk long-distance for hours and not worry about the cost.  Technology has made our world so much smaller.  And even though there are those who use it for criminal purposes for the most part it is used in a positive manner. 

I have been fascinated for some time with the concept of "6 degrees of separation" and have been heard to say that with technology I am not convinced that it is less than 6.  A few days ago there was an article on Yahoo that supported this.  There has actually been a study that proved it is now less than 5 degrees.

On another note while I am thankful for technology and instant communication I will say that letter writing has become a lost art and that saddens me.  How many of us miss the anticipation of going to the mailbox and having a letter from a friend or relative and being excited to open it to see what they have to say.  As it has been said the only thing certain is change.  So even though missing those lost arts of letter writing and card sending I will embrace the opportunities that technology has given us.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 27)

Day 27

Today I am thankful for music. It really does soothe the savage beast.

I listen to music much more than I watch tv.  Not that I am the savage beast (feel kinda like it sometime) but it really is soothing to me.  Music speaks to me on many different levels.  I love that riding in the car with the windows down and music loud feeling.  I also enjoy the quiet background music.  I love the old hymns that tell the gospel in song, old rock and roll, and old and new country.  I am glad that I am accomplished at playing my favorite instrument, the radio.  Unfortunately that is all the musical talent that I have but that does not diminish my enjoyment of music.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 26)

Day 26

Today I am thankful for my aunts. On each side of the family these are some of the strongest women I know. Love you all.

Think Steel Magnolias.  My aunts embody everything you have ever read or seen about southern women.  (minus the ignorance)  These truly are some of the strongest women that I know.  Even though we have not lived close to them in distance for most of my life you still knew they were there for the big stuff.  From attending weddings and graduations to sitting with us when Mama was in the hospital and sitting beside us while Daddy was dying their presence has always been so reassuring.  These women set the example for "the cavalry".  I am blessed to have them in my life.

Hi Ya'll

Just wanted to say hello again to Russia and Germany.  I am so glad ya'll keep coming back.  Thanks to all of you who read my rantings and ramblings.  For me just a plain ole girl in the southern USA it just tickles me slap to death that people in other countries are reading what I write.  Thank you!

Today I Am Thankful For (day 26)

Day 25

Today I am thankful that I like myself. While there is always room for growth and improvement I am happy with who I am.

Two years ago in Sept. I found myself in a situation that I had not been in for a great number of years.  Being alone with no companion.  I have said that being by yourself because of the death of a spouse is entirely different than being alone because of divorce.  In a divorce one or both partners makes a choice not to be with the other.  In the death of a spouse neither of you have a choice.  The last 2 + years have been a journey in rediscovering who I am.  I am one person now and not part of a unit.  I said that after Bobby died I probably understood the best the part of the marriage vows "and the two shall become one".

I made the comment that I had spent so many years being a wife that I had almost forgotten how to be a woman.  So I am a work in process learning how to be an individual and sometimes it is a slow process.  But I am thankful that for the most part and most of the time I like who I am and am comfortable with myself.  As the apostle Paul said, I have learned to be content with whatever circumstance that I find myself in.  Let's see what I can learn today!

Today I Am Thankful For (day 24)

Day 24
Today I am thankful for those two sisters Mercy and Grace who visit and stay me far more than I deserve.

God has shown me much mercy in my life.  He has spared my life more times than I am sure that I even know about.  He has shown me mercy when I was the greatest distance from Him and kept me in His loving care.  He has shown me the ultimate mercy when He provided for my salvation through His son Jesus.  I have learned there are so many different types of grace.  The grace to live by and the grace to die by.  I am thankful for the grace that helps me to face every day.  In my own strength I have no strength but in God's strength I am able to face anything through grace.  At my loneliest, saddest, lowest, and in the deepest valley grace has always been there.  At the highest mountain tops of my life, at my deepest moments of joy, and the happiest moments in my life grace has also always been there.  Yes, today I am thankful for mercy and grace.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 23)

Day 23

Today I am thankful for skilled nursing facilities and the caring people who work in them.

As I have mentioned before my mother has Alzheimer's.  (That is one of those other mid-life crises).  We have been dealing with this on some level for about 15 years.  Mama was able to live fairly independently until about 6 1/2 years ago.  At that point she lived with one of us until about 2 years ago.  Although no one wants to place a loved one in a long term care facility there comes a time when it is the best thing for everybody.  Mama has been in 2 different facilities during this time and we have been happy with both.  We have met some very caring people in each place.  I still have people (employees and family members of other patients) from the first facility who always ask how Mama is.  I appreciate those who work in these places because it is often difficult work and they are very much underpaid and under appreciated.  Thank you to all those who have chosen this as your life's work.

Trying to See the Problem Here

However, I am also a very independent head strong mom.  I blame this on my mother (so does my husband).  I try to handle stuff on my own first, then we will go from there.

The above was taken from Janelle's blog from Monday.  I am thinking, "and the problem with this is?"  LOL!!!  This was in reference to one of her children being sick and she tried to take care of it herself before going to the dr.  In her defense (and I guess in a way mine too) the kid was only sick one day before she took him to the dr.  But bless that kid's heart he had "ammonia"  But what is a mother to do when there is no fever and not a greatly reduced amount of activity on the kid's part.  She does a good job and sometimes feels guilty as a mom but hey, isn't that normal!  I just want to state that I do not see being an independent woman as being a character flaw.  Go Janelle!!!  There are much worse things you could have gotten from me.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 22)

Day 22

Today I am thankful for my Daddy. Today is his birthday and he would have been 79 years old. He has been gone for 11 years and I miss him as much now as ever.

My daddy was one of the smartest men that I have ever known.  He was not well educated from formal schooling and only had an 8th grade education.  However, I never saw him encounter any problem that he could not figure out.  He was blessed with a wealth of common sense.  Daddy also taught me many things.  He taught a good work ethic and what it meant to take care of family.  He could scare me to death with a look.  I have said there were times that I would rather him have beat me than scold me with a look or words.  Although Daddy taught me that a good work ethic is important he also taught me that it is also important to have fun.  Many of the things that he taught me I learned by the way he lived and not by what he preached at us.  Daddy was not without his faults and I don't mean to make him sound like a saint.  He wasn't perfect as none of us are but he will forever be one of the most influential people in my life.  Even though many times growing up I did not appreciate it God truly blessed me with my Daddy.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 21)

Day 21

Today I am thankful that Janelle and Kenneth share their friends with me.

As I have mentioned before several people that I call friends are friends that I have made through my daughter and son-in-law.  These young folks always act like they are glad to see me.  They act like they enjoy my company.  They are good kids and I am thankful to call them my friends.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 20)

Day 20

Today I am thankful for Bill and Ellen Watkins and the hospitality they always extend to us.  This is my brother the horse trader's in-laws.  They are always welcoming to any of our family.  I always have a somewhere to sleep there, for horse sales, holidays, or a "oh my god, I have got to get away" visit.  I am always comfortable walking around in my pajamas, hair a mess, and no shower.  I never worry that I am intruding because they never make me feel that way.  They are an extension of my family and I am thankful for them.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 19)

Day 19

Today I am thankful that Gerald lets me help with horse sales, who would have thought I would enjoy something that much.

Ya'll know if you have read some of my previous posts that I really do love a horse sale.  I am thankful that Gerald asked me to help him.  It happened at a time in my life that I needed that added interaction with people and needed the extra money.  Truth be told I enjoy it so much that I would do it for no pay.  I am thankful that he asked me to help and I am thankful for the new friends I have made through working at them.  I have made the comment that I must be the missing link because I really do love being at these sales.  I am thankful that I am able to find blessings in different situations and take pleasure in what to some people are the small things in life.  Have a great day folks, I am going to a horse sale later today.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 18)

Day 18

Today I am thankful for doctors and medicine.  Throughout my life I have been on the receiving end and the observation end.  I had someone ask once if I believed in divine healing.  My reply was that I thought all healing was divine healing because God had given doctors and science the knowledge to do what they do.  Over 25 years ago I had a cerebral aneurysm that was surgically repaired and I marvel now at how far medicine and medical care has progressed.  Being a caregiver for my mother-in-law, father, and husband during cancer treatment, I am thankful for those compassionate people who treat this horrible disease on a daily basis.  One of my grandsons was diagnosed yesterday with pneumonia.  He was given a breathing treatment in the office and sent home with meds.  A few years ago that would have meant a stay in the hospital and even more years ago would have been life threatening.  So yes today I am thankful for doctors and the improvement in medicines that while not always being able to heal are able to provide comfort.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 17)

Day 17

Today I am thankful for that rare jewel called common sense and even more thankful that I have a little bit of it.

Education is a wonderful thing but common sense will in the long run get you much farther than all the book knowledge in the world.  I would much rather deal with someone who has good old fashioned horse sense and maybe limited education than someone with vast knowledge who doesn't have a clue how to apply it.  It also seems that people who are blessed with common sense are better able to deal with all types of people.  Please don't misunderstand I am not discrediting a good education.  It is vital in the society that we live in and I am very thankful for those people who posses both. 

Today I Am Thankful For (day 16)

Day 16

Today I am thankful for policemen, firemen, and paramedics and the families that support them in their profession. These are often thankless, underpaid, stressful jobs. I appreciate all you do and am thankful you are willing to do it.

For many of these men and women it is truly a calling and not just a job.  Just as with our military we often forget the families that are impacted by these jobs also.  With having a son-in-law who is a police officer I see first hand the missed holidays, missed school events, and the added stress that can sometimes impact the family.

In each of these professions there is always the possibility that with any given call their lives may be in danger yet they are willing to serve and protect anyway.  For all these people I am thankful.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 15)

Day 15

Today I am thankful for brother-in-laws and sister -in- laws.  These are people who became part of our family because they chose to and they are part of the family.  I always advise young people who are considering a serious relationship to remember that when you marry you don't just marry the person you are in love with but you marry the whole fan damily so you better be sure you like them.  I am blessed with a brother-in-law that is always willing to help with whatever needs to be helped with.  I am also blessed with a sister-in-law that I am proud to also consider a dear friend.  We enjoy each other's company and the time spent together.  I really do have a pretty awesome family and even other people comment on how well we get along.  Enough so that several people have asked to be "adopted in".  Even Dumbass asked a couple of times how do you get to be a member of the family.  It really is pretty cool to be part of such an eclectic group of people.  Have a blessed day.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 14)

Day 14

Today I am thankful for my brothers and sisters.  These are the core group of people my daughter refers to as the cavalry.  No matter what is going on if one of us needs something we can depend on the others to ride to the rescue.  We don't always agree on everything but no matter how aggravated we may get with each other we each know that you are there for each other.  Being the oldest of this brood of five these are also my first children, especially the younger 3. 

We don't have to be all up in each other's business to know that we can depend on each other in the big stuff.  We have held each other up through the break up of marriages, death of a parent, death of a spouse, and dealing with Mama's Alzheimer's.  In talking with other people I am always amazed at how strong our core unit is.  We may not agree with what each of us are doing but we are always there to support each other in the tough times and celebrate in the good times.  What a blessing it is that not only do we love and support each other but we also enjoy each other's company and always look forward to being together.  Have a blessed day.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 13)

Day 13
Today I am thankful that I have the freedom to go to church, the freedom to choose where I go, and that I know I will hear the Word of God preached truthfully.

I enjoy the freedom of worshiping publicly anywhere that I choose.  I enjoy the freedom to go or not to go whenever I choose.  If I don't feel welcome at one church I have the freedom to leave.  For this I am thankful.  I am also thankful that when I attend the church of my choice I know that when the preacher stands in the pulpit to preach I am going to hear the Word of God, not some one's opinion.  I am thankful that where I attend church I am with a congregation of people who do not claim to be perfect, who are compassionate, and who are not judgemental.  Today I am thankful for this freedom, my pastor, and my church family.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 12)

Day 12

Today I am thankful for my ball team and their wives. 
For those of you who read this blog on a regular basis you know that I am talking about my softball team.  This really is a group of wonderful men and women.  I never realized or imagined when Bobby started playing with this team in 2005 how much a part of my life they would be 6 years later.  These men and women have for the past couple of years "been loving me through it".  One of the amazing things is that most of the time they have no idea how valuable they have been to me.   I know that much of the time I refer to "my boys" but their wives are amazing too.  How awesome is it that they share their husbands with me and there has never been one who was even remotely jealous or felt threatened by my relationship with their husbands.  One of the wives told me one day that she thought it was wonderful how protective the team felt toward me.  Yep, I am blessed to have these folks as my friends.  I love my big brothers and big sisters.

Today I am Thankful For (day 11)

Day 11

Today (obviously since it is Veteran's Day) I am thankful for all the military, past and present, who gave of themselves to defend our great country.  Because of the sacrifice of many I am able to publicly proclaim what I am thankful for without worry of censorship.  I am able to voice my opinions, keep a gun, worship where I choose, and countless other freedoms that many people in other countries do not enjoy.  I also am thankful for those family members who sacrificed sending their loved ones into the military.  So very often we remember to think about those in the service and are reminded often to pray for them but we forget about the families that are left behind.  I am thankful for them all.  God bless America!

Today I am Thankful For (day 10)

Day 10

Today I am thankful for those small things in life that help take the sting out of the big things.

When some of the big stuff like too much month at the end of the money, the hurt of being alone, the pain you feel for someone else's problems threaten to overwhelm there are those small things that happen that remind us the big stuff ain't so big after all.  (how is that for a run on sentence)

The small things like hearing a child giggle, being in the grocery store and having someone you don't even know smile and say how are you.  Things like a friend dropping by unannounced, hearing a favorite song that you haven't heard in a while, a phone call that says I just had you on my mind and wanted to check on you.  Things like being told you are appreciated when you are feeling taken for granted.  Things like being reminded to stop and count your blessings.  When I begin to count my blessings the stresses seem to start sliding down to the bottom of the list.  When you realize that it is the small things that count anyway.  Have a wonderfully blessed day full of the small things that help get you through the day.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 9)

Day 9

Today I am thankful for a sense of humor and the healing powers of a good laugh.
The kind that comes when you can't unring the bell!

I have learned that laughter has almost the as much healing power and at times maybe even more than crying.  Not to discredit the need for tears.  There are times in all of our lives that sadness causes us to cry and there is healing in that.  There are times that I feel a little like the Reba McIntyre song, "I'm Not Gonna Cry" and hold it all back but then there comes a time when you just have to let go.  But in these 2+ years of widowhood I have also learned the power of a good ole fashioned belly laugh.  I can get the giggles and a niece will look at me and say "you can't unring the bell" (which is another story in itself) meaning she knows that once I get started it may last a while.  But oh how good it feels to laugh.  Almost the same feeling you get after a long dreary winter and then you start to notice springtime is on the way.  It gives you hope and that feeling of being alive.  So while not true in every situation, I have tried to be able to find the humor in almost everything.  And, I am learning that not only does it help me feel better but it also helps those around me.  I don't know about ya'll but I would a whole lot rather be with someone who can laugh at things and especially themselves than someone who goes around looking like they are constantly sucking lemons.  So yeah, today I am thankful for humor. 

More Detail on Day 7 & 8

Day 7 & 8 continued

On Monday I was thankful for organizations like Hospice, Shriner's, and Samaritan's Purse.

If you have ever been the recipient of services from Hospice I hope you agree that these folks are just awesome.  My first Hospice experience was with my mother-in-law.  Even though they were a new organization in the county at that time and were in their infancy we received wonderful support and help for the two weeks they were involved.  My next experience was with my daddy and I will be forever grateful to these people who touched our lives.  Daddy was in the hospice program for just a little over 6 months.  During that time I met the chaplain, nurse, and social worker.  I will never forget on the day that Daddy died I had called his hospice nurse a few minutes after 1 in the afternoon and told her I thought the end was very near.  Daddy had stopped breathing several times, sometimes for as long as a minute and then would start back.  She told me that she was finishing with a patient and would be out as soon as she was through.  She arrived a little after two and I was able to draw such strength from just her being there.  Daddy died between 6 and 7 that night and she was in the room with us when he died and stayed till probably 10 that night.  I will never forget being outside on the porch late in the afternoon and her walking up behind me, putting her arm around me and very quietly saying, "it's a beautiful day to be going home isn't it".  And it was.  My hospice experience with Bobby was just as positive even though their involvement was much shorter with his care but I did receive bereavement care for 13 months.  God bless these wonderful people!

Shriner's offers so much hope to children and their families with medical care that other wise families could not afford.  I have a niece who received care from Shriner's until she was 18.  I now have a friend whose daughter is going to benefit from care at a Shriner's hospital and for this family it is absolutely a God send.

Samaritan's Purse delivers so much hope to so many people all over the world that I cannot begin to describe it all but if you are not familiar with them check them out then pray for them.

On Tuesday I am thankful for those children in my life (some who are not children anymore) who call me Granny or Aunt Connie.  My grandchildren are of course awesome.  It is so amazing to watch them growing up.  I have said that grandchildren are our rewards for not killing our kids.  I have many children who call me Aunt Connie  those who are related to me and some that are not.  I think it is just awesome that there are those friends of nieces and nephews who also call me Aunt Connie.  These children instead of making me mourn how old I am getting actually help keep me at least young at heart.  God bless each and every one of you.

Today I Am Thankful For (Days 7 & 8)

Days 7 & 8

Today i am thankful for the many groups that reach out to others. While there are many there are three come to mind first. Hospice, Shriner's, and Samaritan's purse. Have a blessed day.

Today I am thankful for all those children in my life who call me Granny or Aunt Connie.

I am in a bit of a hurry this morning as I have to be at work at job 3 in about 40 minutes.  I will expound on these thoughts tonight.  Thanks and have a great day.

Today I Am Thankful For (Day 6)

Day 6

Today I am thankful that for over 20 years God trusted me with the love of a man who loved me unconditionally, treated me as an equal, and gave me great joy in my life. Bobby would be 65 years old today and even though he has been gone for over two years still gives me great joy through all the wonderful memories that I have of him and our life together.

I have said that the day we had Bobby's funeral I not only buried my spouse but also my best friend.  We worked together, we played together, and we loved each other enough that even with all the togetherness we respected each other's need for alone time.

I have said that he was not perfect and neither am I but he was perfect for me.  I cherish the way he made me feel about him, about life, and about myself.  As I flounder around now finding my way by myself he also left me the confidence to survive on my own and hopefully one day again to have that same relationship with another man.  It won't be to replace what we had but something new of it's own that I can enjoy knowing that I have his blessing.

So far it has been a teary day but in all ways Bobby would remind me that I am a survivor.  So today I not only acknowledge thanksgivings but thanks living.

Today I Am Thankful For (Day 5)

Day 5
Today I am thankful for friends, old and new, near and far.  It has been said that most people only have five real friends and if you ever got in trouble you could probably count on only two of them.  Today I am thankful for those friends who stood (and stand) not behind me but beside me when I screw up.  I am thankful for Ethel (as in Lucy and) who when I got in trouble came to see me immediately and told me I was your friend before and I don't care what you have done I am still your friend.  This is the same friend that when Bobby was sick and was not able to get out of the bed not only came to visit but climbed right up on the bed with us and held my hand.  She is also the same person that thanks to her talents as a hairdresser keeps me looking like a goddess.  You may get off of the floor now, she does her part but she only has so much to work with.  I am thankful for those long time friends like Sweet and Low and his wife, who even though old enough to be my parents are very dear friends.  I am thankful for the friends of my daughter and her husband who have become my friends also, and as strange as it is to me sometimes, actually seem to enjoy my company and want me around.  I am thankful for those clients who have become friends and always have a hug for me whenever I see them.  I am thankful for Dumbass who from the very first conversation I sensed that this was someone I could trust.  I am thankful that I can talk with him about anything and thankful that he trusts me for him to be able to do the same.  He gave me one of the greatest compliments anyone ever has when he called to talk about something confidential and told me he knew he could depend on me.  I am thankful for the men and their wives from the ball team that have enriched my life so much with their friendship.  I am thankful for the new friends I have made through working and going to horse sales and all these ball tournaments.  I can honestly say that I have more than five true friends and I really believe I could count on more than two.  More tomorrow.

Today I Am Thankful For (Day 4)

Day 4
Today I am thankful for my new energy efficient heat pump.  This means that I don't have to buy fuel oil this winter.  Someone mentioned to me that would be money I would save over the winter and my reply was more like money that I don't have to come up with.  With the new heat pump comes a new thermostat that is accurate and I don't have to play with to figure out where to set it for the desired temp.  I am not complaining about the old one, it just took some trial and error to figure out exactly where to set it.  I am also thankful for the young couple who I rent from for taking care of it so promptly.  I am late with this post because internet had a system wide outage all day yesterday so I am also thankful that centurylink has me back online.

Today I Am Thankful For Day 3

Day 3
Today I am thankful for my 5 senses; seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, and tasting.

I am thankful for my sight and even though the eye doctor told me I only have one good eye, I am thankful for vision that can be corrected for me to be able to see.  I get to see the expressions on my grandchildren's faces when they see me and that still excites them.  I am able to see the beauty of God's creation.  Trees budding in the spring and leaves changing in the fall.  Flowers opening from bud to bloom, and the beauty of a clear Carolina blue sky.  To experience the flash of lightening in a summer storm and the rising and setting of the sun.  To be able to see and appreciate a full moon.

I am thankful for my hearing.  It allows me to hear aforementioned grandchildren say I love you Granny.  It allows me to hear my daughter tell me she loves me.  It allows me to be a listener for those who need someone to listen to them.  I get to hear the birds sing and the waves coming in at the ocean.  It also allowed me to hear a wonderful man tell me how much he loved me.  And, even though he has been gone over 2 years now in my mind I can still hear him say, "Hi dear" when one of us had been somewhere.

I am thankful for the sense of feeling.  To be able to feel a hug, the wonderful sensation of crawling into a bed of freshly laundered sheets, the feeling of putting on old worn out blue jeans, and to feel the touch of someone who loves you.

I am thankful for the sense of smell.  To be able to nuzzle an infant and smell that baby smell, to smell fresh baked bread, and even Aqua Velva that reminds me of my daddy.

And I am thankful for the sense of taste.  That first cup of coffee in the morning that helps me ease into the day, a slice of pound cake, and the very favorite, the taste of a warm gooey brownie.

For all of these things and the memories they leave I am thankful.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 2)

Day 2
Today I am thankful for being employed and that applies to all 3 jobs (still looking for the 4th).  I am grateful that when my regular job needs supplementing that I have the other 2 to help out.  I am thankful that I enjoy all of them and the people that I meet along the way in each of them.  I am thankful for the health to work and thankful for parents that taught a good old fashioned work ethic not so much by what they said but by what they did.  I do however remember my daddy telling me when I started working not to get too self-assured in any job.  He told me that no matter how good I was at the job, no matter how much I wanted it or needed it that there was at least 10 other people who wanted it worse than I did, needed it worse than I did and could do a better job than I could.  I still try to remember that even now.  But that old woman I work for sure makes it difficult sometimes.  She can really be a slacker if you don't stay after her.  (there is nothing unhealthy about referring to yourself in the 3rd person).  See ya'll tomorrow!

Day 1 Today I Am Thankful For

Day 1
Last year on the first of November a Facebook friend challenged all her FB friends to post something each day that they were thankful for.  I accepted the challenge and after posting mine for today I sent her a message to thank her for the challenge last year and that I was starting it this year.  So with that background I am also going to share here my 30 days of thanksgiving.

Today I am thankful for memories.  No they are not all good but there are more good ones than not so good.  I am a firm believer that the things that we go through in life are constantly helping to mold us into the person we are becoming.  Because I have a mother with Alzheimer's I have said that to me one of the saddest results from that disease is losing your memories.  Today I am thankful for mine and that I can remember them.

More tomorrow.