Thankful Me

  A puzzle of the United States of America The past two weeks have been busy. We drove from Oregon to Utah (staying overnight at the halfway point in Boise, Idaho.) After one restful night at home, we drove to California (passing through the tiniest corner of Arizona and then Nevada). After a couple of nights there, we returned to Utah. I get to be home for a week before I fly out to Oregon next weekend. It's all good, though. I'm thankful: 1. My mom's recovery continues to go well. Next weekend's visit is a planned-before-her-injury family reunion: just my parents, siblings, and myself. It should be lots of fun! I should be reading the Scrabble dictionary in preparation, because I know there will be at least one game.  Scrabble tiles (A, O, I, F, E, blank, E) on the rack. I was wishing that first names were valid Scrabble words, and sent this photo to my friend who has a daughter named Aoife.  2. The weather in Oregon, unlike the first January visit, was sunny and dry....

  Photo of a business center in a hotel. A white electrical cord is plugged into the wall, and the cord disappears underneath the carpet. John noticed this while we ate breakfast this morning. We returned home to Utah at the end of last week, took care of some things at home, then came back to Oregon to assist my parents when my mom was released from the hospital. She is doing great--moving around easier and faster than she was even a week ago.  1. I'm thankful for safe travels. With the exception of some icy and foggy patches in eastern Oregon, roads have been clear.  2. I'm thankful for reliable transportation. We got back to Utah just in time for the final "covered with the purchase of the car" service appointment. Nice to have that done, even if the next oil change is on us.  3. I'm thankful for parents. We took John's parents for a drive out to Antelope Island, and although we didn't see the resident bison herd this time--(were you expecting me to say...

  A red sign with white lettering that reads, "YOU ARE HERE" sits in a window in Southampton, England Last year, John and I traveled--a lot. Sometimes, it took a minute to remember exactly where I was. (The sign above was oh, so helpful!) This year, we haven't made future travel plans. We find ourselves in the stage of life where we see the possibility of generations above and below us needing more of our attention. So, we are dancing our way through limbo-land; being present in the moment while thinking ahead of things that might make the future easier.  1. I'm thankful we took last year to do so much traveling. It was a bit of a whirlwind. Even though I love seeing new places, I'm also a homebody by nature. I have no regrets about saying "yes" to so many vacations. No matter what the future holds, we made those memories together.  2. I'm thankful that while a new year can signify a new start, a new moment can, too. So what if I didn't consisten...

  A Gentoo penguin plods along the beach in the Falkland Islands in December 2024 Sometimes when I sit down to write a Ten Things of Thankful post, a theme clearly develops as I reflect upon the past week. Other times, like today, nothing in particular comes to mind as far as a theme goes, but yet there has been lots to be thankful for. This week, I'm thankful: 1. for a neighborhood ornament exchange. I've managed to miss it every year we've been here, for one reason or another, but this year I finally went. It was fun to chat and laugh with neighbors.  2. for the temple. It offers such a spirit of peace. 3. for game night. About once a week, we get together with youngest son and his girlfriend for dinner and game night. It's always good to laugh and talk together.  4. for the church women's organization. We had our Christmas party on Thursday night, and (OK, maybe there is a theme developing) it was good to laugh and visit together. 5. for talented performers. We w...

  A bright yellow sun sets in an orange sky above mountains and a lake I missed posting last week, though I had a rough draft written on my phone: 1. airport lounges 2. visiting musicians at PDX 3. everyone OK in small plane (an incident at our destination closed the airport for several hours, delaying our arrival home) 4. son picked us up hours later than expected 5. oldest grandchild is now a teenager! 6. oldest son and his wife were able to come for Thanksgiving weekend, as well as youngest son and his girlfriend, and youngest daughter 7. days spent visiting the aquarium, a museum, and a stained glass display 8. snow that waited to fall until after oldest son and his wife were headed home 9. the beginning of the Christmas season 10. John Now on to this past week: I'm thankful for:  1. a haircut. I'm on a twice-a-year schedule, but by the time the next appointment rolls around, I'm definitely ready! (That's probably a sign that I should make try 3 times a year, but le...

  A vintage image of a child pulling a pumpkin in a wagon, with the caption, "Thanksgiving Greeting. A pumpkin I bring you for Thanksgiving Day, With wishes that plenty may e'er with you stay." It's here: the week of Thanksgiving in the United States, when "We gather together" and reflect on "the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child" as well as "friends on earth, and friends above." We feast and enjoy the warmth of shelter and good company. Participating in the Ten Things of Thankful is a fitting way to kick off the week.  The Ten Things of Thankful blog hop, by nature of its title if nothing else, encourages us to enumerate (to 10) things we are thankful for, but also is flexible enough to not require an exact count. Also, as Clark has dubbed "hypo-grats," allowance is made for things that wouldn't appear to fit, but provide opportunity to develop an attitude of gratitude. ("What doesn't kill you make...