Some of you have a long list of “to do” bakes, cleaning and food preparation yet to accomplish, so don’t be upset with me when I say I am bone tired –and we are just having pizza for two for Thanksgiving! It was all those community pre-Thanksgiving activities that wore me out! Two mornings in the church’s kitchen and another two mornings outside checking in clients at the annual turkey give away. Every thing went well and in both cases I only had to follow instructions by those in charge (being in charge of an activity uses twice the energy!), but I am grateful pizza is on the menu tomorrow.
Once I ask my family to list what they were grateful for but they couldn’t say “family, friends, health, jobs–the usual. Don’t get me wrong, I am so thankful for all those wonderful things in my life. I feel blessed and lucky. But it was interesting to hear what each was happy about that I hadn’t thought about. My daughter-in-law was happy she had a tall son that could easily retrieve items off the top cabinet shelves for her. The other grandfather was glad there was a week of no soccer, so he would not have to vacuum up the “rubber crumbs” tracked into his home after practice on an artificial turf. My son was happy more and more pro soccer games were televised. Me, I love having library books available 24 hours a day via Libby and Cloud Library.
So here are some more things that may be minor in the big picture of life–but for which I am grateful.
FACETIME–my grandkids live on the west coast and phone calls and texts are happily received, but seeing them “roll their eyes”at me or showing me their messy rooms makes me feel more a part of their lives. (We were celebrating Chinese New Year!)
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MORNING WALKS –our dog has two jobs. One is guard us from Fedex, UPS, USPS, friends etc that dare step into his territory by continually barking until they are gone. The other task is to follow me around each morning giving me the sad puppy eye treatment until I get his harness and we go on our morning walk to check out the neighborhood. We go every morning—maybe ten times a year it is icy or too, too cold. I would not walk this regularly if it were not for him. I need those walks and thanks to Taka, I take them. See what I might have missed.
INSTAGRAM– Before you tell me all the things wrong with social media, let me explain what I find beneficial. I follow a woman who lives north of the Arctic Circle where they are experiencing 2.5 months of polar night. Books could not have given me the same visual experience. I know that I am seeing what she wants me to see—but I am fascinated. I also follow a family that lives on a million acre cattle station in the outback of Australia. I have seen “road trains” carrying cattle and Christmas celebrated in the middle of summer. I probably won’t ever visit these places but I had a peek into lives so different but yet similar in many ways.
ASSISTANT LEAGUE AND KLOTHES KLOSET– I am so happy to have a two “stores” that recycle clothing locally. The Assistant League uses my “out-grown” or “what was I thinking?” garments to fund some wonderful scholarships, provide brand new clothing for the first of school for children that need help and Teddy Bears for children police officers want to comfort.
The Klothes Kloset gives away clothes and household items in a well organized clean environment. The clients do not feel that they are digging through a trash bin.
CLEAN WATER AND A STEADY SUPPLY OF WATER–I boiled and filtered water when I lived in a third world country for only three years but every time I step in a shower and know it will stay on until I am finished or drink from the kitchen sink I am still grateful.
CLOTHES DRYER–Did you ever hang clothes out in freezing weather and bring them in later frozen stiff?
WHEELS ON SUITCASES–Who ever put those first wheels on a suitcase, thank you!
MY CHURCH – DOWNTOWN IN THE HEART OF THE CITY—with all the pros and cons associated with our location.
DIRECT FLIGHT TO SEATTLE –You have to have flown out of Wichita to understand this blessing.
LARGE SEWING ROOM– I have sewn on the kitchen table that had to be clear away for every meal, I have sewn in the unfinished basement of 1930’s house, I have sewn on the end of my bed in a mobile home—so to have a large room with windows, lots of shelves and a closet that has a closet (really), I am sooo grateful!
YOU–can’t believe you take the time to read this, but know you are appreciated very much.
The Grateful List could be pages long. Sometimes I need to remind myself of all the big and little good things I enjoy. What are you grateful for outside the “usual”?
Quilts, Etc. 