Two of the Best

Not the best picture but two of my favorite guys.  Practiced some 20 second hugs this weekend.  

All good.

Thankful The Goob was home this weekend.  Good to see him looking good.  Less than 3 weeks until the end of the semester.  We'll see if we get along as well for 4 weeks as we did for 4 days.

Thanksgiving Day

91.  Thankful no one expects a lot from me in the culinary department.
92.  Thankful for old favorite dishes.  Cranberry jello salad.  Sweet potato casserole.
93.  Thankful the Goob made the crescent rolls.  Raised him to be a good Havener.
94.  Thankful for leftovers packed neatly away in the fridge.  No question what we will eat the next few days, just what form we will eat it in.
95.  Thankful for the STP who is an excellent turkey picker and kitchen cleaner upper.
96.  Thankful the girls could be together today.  Thankful they made cranberry jello salad and Aunt Sara's taco dip.
97.  Thankful to have face time with the best grandkids in the world.
98.  Thankful for time to finish a project.
99.  Thankful for a warm fire in the pellet stove and a warm cup of tea on a cold night.
100.  Thankful for dessert.  Turtle cheesecake.

All in all, a very good day.

Thanksgiving Eve

81.  Thankful for the STP and the relationships he has established with fellow pastors in Dodge City.
82.  Thankful for the Thanksgiving eve service and the chance to offer thanks together.
83.  Thankful that my Thanksgiving plans and preparations did not preclude me from worshipping.
84.  Thankful the Goob went with us to the service.  Thankful to hear him singing 'How Great is our God' next to me.
85.   Thankful for snowfall and a peaceful walk home tonight over snow covered streets from the Thanksgiving eve service.  Sweet time.
86.  Thankful for hot chocolate and thin mint oreos with the Goob before bed.
87.  Thankful the cranberry jello salad is all ready.
88.  Thankful for the bread cubes that hold the promise of stuffing.
89.  Thankful the grocery store lady talked me into a turkey.
90.  Thankful it is 2 degrees outside and I will not feel the need to decorate outside tomorrow.

Note: Things I am not thankful for:  Verizon's Thanks-Getting Ad campaign.

Fast Thanks

70.  Thankful for my co-workers.
71.  Thankful for car insurance.
72.  Thankful for payday.
73.  Thankful for Thanksgiving break.
74.  Thankful Alex is traveling tonight before the worst of the storm.
75.  Thankful for friends.
76.  Thankful for tacos.
77.  Thankful to have things to share.
78.  Thankful to fellow bloggers.
79.  Thankful for bluejeans.
80.  Thankful for photographs.  And memories.  And Jim Croce.

Catching Up

61.  Thankful for the STP who took me to the Mannheim Steamroller concert Thursday evening.  An early Christmas gift to each other.  We had been to one of their concerts when we lived in South Fork.  Thankful none of us has changed a bit in 20 years.
62.  Thankful for a night away at a motel.  So good to not have to drive home in the middle of the night.  And to just relax and forget everything waiting at home.
63.  Thankful for music, which makes me remember things, and makes me forget things.
64.  Thankful for a limited Christmas list.  And the chance to get the bulk of my shopping done while I was in the city.
65.  Thankful for snow.  Just the right amount to accompany a Christmas concert and Christmas shopping.
66.  Thankful to eat out.  Lunch at HuHot Mongolian grill, breakfast at Stella's Kitchen and Bakery, lunch at Red Robin.
67.  Thankful for date night two nights in a row.  Stopped in Lovell to see The Martian at the Hyart.
Popcorn for supper? Oh, yeah.
68.  Thankful for creative people who write books and make movies that capture my imagination.
69.  Thankful  for a dog sitter.  I mean really thankful for a dog sitter.

More Thanks, Please.

57.  Thankful for my sewing machine and a day to use it.
58.  Thankful for my sister Nancy and a half hour to talk to her.
59.  Thankful for the return of the muppets to TV.  It allows me to continue to live with the delusion that someday I could be a puppeteer on the muppet show.  You know, when I grow up.
60.  Thankful for laughter.

Taco Thanks

54.  Thankful for the big room.  Had 29 people over for tacos tonight.
55.  Thankful for people who made two 9x13 pans of enchiladas to bring to Taco Tuesday.  And others who brought brownies.  And fruit salad.  And popcorn.  And taco salad bowls.  Thankful for people who rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
56.  Thankful for the guidance and provision of the Holy Spirit.

Kisses

51.  Thankful for hugs and kisses.  
52.  Thankful for chocolate kisses.
53.  Thankful for dog kisses.  Not.  But I am thankful for my dog.

Let's Move This Along

Halfway through the month.  Feel the need to get to 50.
41.  Thankful for Sundays.  Fingerpainted in Sunday School, sang songs I knew the words to in worship service, ate a late lunch, took a long nap, watched a little football, snuggled with the SLD.  I needed that.
42.  Thankful for my girls.  So glad to see the women they are becoming.  Don't know that I can claim any responsibility, but I'm glad to have a part in their lives.
43.  Thankful they are all thinking about moving to Wyoming.  This will make my life better.
43.  Thankful for my son.  I'm probably more responsible for the person he is than I would care to admit, but I like him.  Looking forward to hugging him next week.
44.  Thankful for sunshine. Love the way it spreads across the ground early in the morning, warms the air in the afternoon, and colors the clouds as it sets in the evening.
45.  Thankful for napkins.  And for the STP who points out food on my chin that needs wiped off.
46.  Thankful for toilet paper.  While we are on the subject of paper products.  Just sayin.
47.  Thankful for craft ideas.  I need to get moving actually making some, but it's good to have a starting point.  Lets just say it--I'm thankful for Pinterest.
48.  Thankful for my gratitude list.  The focus is good for me.  When the Goob was little, we would recount the story of the day and always end it with "all in all, it was a very good day".  It does me good to look back over the day and see the good that was there.
49.  Thankful for tomorrow off.  No pressure to go to bed early, to finish up things tonight.  There's always tomorrow.
50.  Thankful for starry nights.  Something so awe inspiring about the night sky.  Wyoming does starry skies like no other.  Thankful to be here.

Grace, Peace, Love

38.  Thankful for grace.  Several quotes about grace have crossed my path this week.
This one from the December issue of Real Simple magazine:  Hoping we've made the "nice" list helps reassure chiuldren that they're worthy,despite their failings and misbehaviors, of the love, goodwill, and yes, even the presents that come their way during the holidays.  It's not Santa's magic that children cling to and need, but his grace.
The second one from an old Esquire magazine article about Mr. Rogers who added the Greek word for grace to his autograph:  What is grace? He doesn't even know. He can't define it. This is a man who loves the simplifying force of definitions, and yet all he knows of grace is how he gets it; all he knows is that he gets it from God, through man.
A third one from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians:  The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you.
I just share these just so I can ponder them a little more.  Thankful for the favors extended to me this week which I was surely not deserving of.
39.  Thankful for peace. A quiet heart in the midst of a turbulent world. Peace that surpasses understanding.
40.  Thankful for love.  Good to be loved.  Good to know I am loved. Even when I am not very lovable.

Claire Marie and Abigail Lee

34.  Thankful for my granddaughter (the best granddaughter in the world) who calls me up to sing me silly songs.  Love her gentle spirit and easy laugh.
35.  Thankful for her mom, my middle daughter.  The child who only knew sharing, and has grown up to be one of the most generous, compassionate people I know.
36.  Thankful for whomever told me during her junior high years that the most vocal teenagers make the most well adjusted adults.
37.  Thankful it was true.

Out of Nowhere

31.  Thankful the damage done by the deer I hit on my way to work this morning did not make my car undrivable.
32.  Thankful my dad taught me 'it's only metal'.
33.  Thankful the STP's first question was 'Are you okay?'

Three Little Things

28.  Thankful for anticipation. Have tickets to see Mannheim Steamroller in concert next week.  Spending the night in the big city.  Thirty percent off at Kohl's and $10 Kohl's cash.

29.  Thankful for Rachel Ray's taco seasoning recipe.   Good.  Easy.  Gluten free.

30.  Thankful for my oldest grandson.  Love his tender spirit.  His sensitivity.  His smile.

Monday, Monday

25.  Thankful for the STP to share my adventures with.  Even the nasty disturbing uncomfortable ones.
26.  Thankful for Hobby Lobby.  Spent an hour there today on sensory overload. Replaced my number 6 round paintbrush.  And bought a few supplies to update the Christmas wreath/frame.  I have a plan that involves spray paint.  So excited.
27.  Thankful that Diet Pepsi no longer has aspertame.

Sunday, Sunday

21.  Thankful for uninterrupted sleep.  Last night I got 5 hours.  Tonight I hope to get eight.
22.  Thankful for naps.  Sunday afternoons are perfect for napping.  Just me, my dog, an afghan, and the couch.
23.  Thankful for prayers.  Unspoken ones.  Answered ones.  Unanswered ones. Because they all stretch and strenghthen my faith.
24.  Thankful for pray-ers.  People who lift me up in prayer.  People who pray about the things I pray about.  People who pray even when they don't know what they are praying for.

More Thankful Than I Sound

17.  Thankful for shoeboxes.  Packed ours for a boy this year.  Thankful for getting things done on time.
18.  Thankful for nurses who really care for patients.  Privileged to see several in action today--providing care (including a hug) in a busy ER.
19.  Thankful that I had no need to be a patient in the ER today.
20.  Thankful for homemade salad dressing. And salads with strawberries in them.

Replace, Repair,...

 It was not a spectacular year in the garden, but I grew enough hot peppers to be deemed 'the pepper lady' at work and I had stellar crop of carrots.

But the SFG fell apart at the end of the season. 

So I informed the STP that it would need some attention, either now or in the Spring.  He went out right away to survey the situation.  One side completely separated from the other three.  All the decorative corner pieces loose and falling off.  He asked if I wanted it replaced or repaired.  I was not very committed to gardening this summer and I was not ready to commit to a new garden, so I chose repair.  The STP got right to work.  Reattaching the fallen side and strengthening the corners.

Two corners look like this.  Since I am not complaining this month, I suggested that this did not meet my expectations, because I only have 16 square feet of garden and he had made almost an entire square foot unusable.  

So he repaired the third corner like this.

Once again my photography skills do not do this justice, because you can not see that there are three staples holding the L-shaped brace together.  

And now just a reminder what these corners looked like originally.

So I prefaced my next comments to the STP by reminding him that I wasn't whining, BUT I realized that I did not want the SFG replaced or repaired.  I wanted it restored.  The STP reminded me that wasn't one of my choices.  Fair enough.

Thanksgiving Pictorial Post

14.  Thankful for frosted window panes

The sun roof in my car early yesterday morning.  Love that little water molecules line themselves up when they get cold.  The microbiologist is me is attracted to little things.  Talking to the STP yesterday about nanotubes.  

Me:  I love the very idea of nanos.  I wish I was...

   I was thinking I wish I was starting my career over because I would be drawn to nantechnology.  I almost said younger, but that wasn't quite what I wanted to say.  While I was searching the hollows
of my mind for the right word the STP finished my sentence for me.
STP:  Tiny?  
Yes.  That's it.  I wish I was tiny.  Nano size.
End of conversation.

15.  Thankful for seat heaters.    (Especially appreciated yesterday morning when the window panes were frosted.) If you have these in your car I don't need to explain.

If you don't have them, I don't need to rub it in.

16.  Thankful for things that go honk in the night.

My day started early yesterday and ended early.  Early this morning.  When I was headed inside about 1:30am a large flock of geese flew overhead.  Headed south.  They were travelling loudly in a wide V, silhouetted white against the very dark sky.  I stood looking upward, hearing them first and then watching them fly directly overhead.  Then I took out my phone and snapped this awesome picture of the night sky, so I would remember to tell someone about it.  Guess you had to be there. 

Baker's Dozen

10.  Thankful for tea.  Having a cup of green tea this evening.  Wrapping my hands around the warm mug.  Wafting the aroma until it is cool enough to sip.  Eating two thin oreas while I wait.   An evening cup of tea is being at my sister's house watching Tiny Houses.    An evening cup of tea is being at my Mom's house.  She fixed my Dad a cup each evening with milk and sugar.  Her care for him is an encouragement to me that I will be able to handle the hard times with strength and grace (maybe being a graduate of the Grace Lane School of Compassion is a good thing)  A cup of tea ties me to family.
11.  Thankful for bread.  Had a candlelight soup dinner tonight.  Pure yummy without any of the work.  Fresh warm rolls dipped in brocolli cheese soup?  Yes, please.
12.  Thankful for dark chocolate.  Little Dove chocolates that I have convinced myself are lowering my cholesterol.
13.  Thankful for bed.  Plan to use my beach app tonight to pretend I have a beach house.  Love falling asleep at the shore (even if it is snowing outside for real.)

Before and After or Happy Landing

The little landing at the house next door.  Along with the steps to the basement this was covered with carpet when we bought the house.  We left the carpet in place until the basement remodel was done.  And then we just cleaned it off and called it good.  

Except it wasn't.




The very first thing I pinned on The House Next Door board was a painted floor.  I thought I would have to paint the front porch floor, but it sanded off so well that we just resealed it.  But I never gave up the idea of a painted floor.










The steps above the landing still had linoleum on them, covered with some sort of adhesive.  The steps below the landing were wooden and I repainted them earlier.  The little landing was wood, covered with varying amounts of paint, old linoleum, and sticky black stuff.

After several weeks of sanding and scraping, planning and painting in spurts fit between my work schedule and the need to go up and down the steps, this is what I ended up with.  All done with supplies that I already had. Total cost?  $4.95 for sealing wax for the linoleum left on the steps. (And one 6 round paint brush)

Total return?  A happy little welcome everytime the downstairs tenants come home and a little spot of happy for the upstairs tenants when they go and come from the laundry room.  For me-- three weeks of happy--designing and painting. Seeing an idea become reality. Transformation.  It's what this HND project is about.

Happy
Happy
Happy

Thank God

Thanks be to God.  It only makes sense that thankfulness is extended to someone.  A Provider.
Just sayin'.
7.  Thankful for my Tuesday morning Bible study ladies.  A group of a dozen amazing women who study, discuss, challenge and pray for each other. Today we discussed what our glorified bodies would be like.  Whether we would be wearing shoes when we are caught up to meet Jesus in the air.  Why, if we were dead in Christ, we would come back for our bodies.  If the dead rise first, how much later will those alive get caught up?  If the world is round how will we all see Jesus at the same time? What will facebook posts look like on the day of the rapture?  In the midst of that we talked about hope.
Put your hope in the LORD.  For there is faithful love with the LORD, and with Him is redemption in abundance.  
Psalm 130:7
And we talked about balance.  All in under two hours.  I told you they are amazing.
8.  Thankful for rain.  Something refreshing, cleansing, nourishing about evening rain.  Especially when I dont have to go out in it.
9.  Thankful for honey butter.  A yummy discovery I made tonight.  I will be making this in the very near future.  Eating it on toast.  (Or with a spoon.)

About My Day--Too Busy for Whining

Started the morning with a list of things I wanted to get done today. Added some things I wanted the STP to get done today.  Crossed everything off the list (except vacuum the living room, but, hey, I only added that because I thought I should, not because I wanted to).  Added a few things that the STP did that were not originally on the list.  The STP does not operate well from a list.  Just saying.

4.  I'm thankful for accomplishments. Today I paid some first of the month bills.  And I had money left over.  Right up until the mail came.  With more bills.  So I will add 'Pay bills' to tomorrow's list.  Today's list also included paint the floor, wax the steps, till the garden, rake the leaves, wash the shower curtain, water plants and dust the big room, take down the porch swing, put up the hooks in anticipation of hanging snowflakes, clean the fan and finish my Bible study.  All done.  All crossed off.  But seriously, if all I had accomplished today was painting this bird, I would still be thankful.

5.  I'm thankful for orange envelopes in the mail.  Today, along with the bills, the mail lady delivered a shutterfly envelope.  With a 2016 calendar with pictures of our family.  And while it made me happy, it made the STP sad.  Because we don't see enough of them. I will feel that way another day, but today I just felt happy that there so many pictures of us together.  And so many pictures of all of them doing well.  I'm going to look through it again before I go to bed. So thankful that I will have this to look at all next year.  Thankful for whomever put it together.  Here is a facetime picture of the best granddaughter in the world. Its not from the calendar, but it also makes me happy. This is the beautiful child who read me the creation story from her Bible.  Like I said, the best.

6.  I'm thankful for play.  This month my play involved paint.  The STPs play involved hunting and climbing rock cliff walls and tying a rope to himself and having his hunting buddy lower him over the side of the cliff to retrieve his gun.  The STP and I do not play well together.  Play involves something where you don't know the outcome, so both our endeavors qualify.  Here is where my project ended up.  I had several plans, several revisions, and I'm not sure yet that I am happy with the final result, but I am very happy with the way some parts turned out.  And I'm thankful for the chance to do it.  

Need to add "Varnish the floor" to the list.

No-whining-vember

Whining because I am dissatisfied.  Dissatisfied because I focus on the negative instead of the positive.  Intensifed when I am tired.  

1.  Thankful for the STP who reminded me this morning that I have been given a great gift from my Creator.  The gift of choice.  

So I am choosing gratitude for the month of November.  Focusing on the positive.  Recognizing the good. 

2.  Thankful for the gift of choice.  I am not always good at choosing.  I don't always make good choices.  But I am thankful for the freedom to choose. Which comes with the freedom to fail. 

So even if I don't make it to 100 before the first of December, or if I get overtired and whine, my Creator (and the STP) will still love me.  

3.  Thankful for the Word of God which tells me that I am loved.  Jesus loves me this I know.  In the past two weeks, I have had the privilege to listen to three beautiful young women read aloud from their new Bibles.  One read me the story of the creation of Eve.  Moved to think of the Father sharing those first moments with his daughter in the garden.  Delighting in her discovery of a waterfall.  

I got that.