Autumn is the season of Thanksgiving, and this week I've noticed many things for which to be thankful. Here are ten:
1. The beautiful sunrises. Probably due to many years of reading children's books to my kids, when I see a sunrise, I often recite in my mind: "It is the morning of a new day. The sun is shining. Little Bear gets out of bed." I'm not sure if that I quoted that verbatim, but Richard Scarry's character always greeted the new day with a smile. I'm a morning person, and feel the excitement of each new day.
2. Lunch with friends. Every month or so, a group of about ten of us meet for lunch. Our paths don't always cross between our get-togethers, but we pick up where we left off. We've supported each other through illnesses, deaths, weddings, children, and grandchildren. We usually laugh, we sometimes cry, and I know I can count on these women.
3. Ability to welcome unexpected house guests. A friend found herself needing someplace to stay temporarily, and I've been honored to have her, her children, and her mom here this week. I'm thankful for a house with empty rooms, which makes it easy to help.
4. The church choir that I accompany has started up again. We practice from September to about March, then take a break. As I try to learn the songs, I end up getting them stuck in my head. I love having such uplifting messages in my mind. This is one of the songs the choir is singing. Of course, our choir is much smaller, and is accompanied on the piano instead of this wonderful organ, but the message is still lovely:
5. The yearly General Relief Society broadcast, which was held tonight. The Relief Society is the women's organization in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and once a year, we gather for a worldwide broadcast. We were reminded again of the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and of the blessings of loving our neighbors. Here is an excerpt from a talk given at a past broadcast:
6. Guide Dog puppy Drexel's easygoing nature. Drexel has been gentle and happy with our small visitors this week, which is a good trait for a guide dog.
7. Thrift-store finds. I'm certainly not opposed to buying used items, including most clothing, but I frequently find brand new merchandise at thrift stores.
I can't imagine spending nearly $20 for a baby's shirt. $1.59 is more to my liking, but I didn't even pay that much. The "color of the day" was pink, meaning the shirt was half-off. Seventy-nine cents was my grand total. Happy dance!
8. Laughter. Youngest daughter turned down the radio in the car the other day. I asked her why she did that, and she responded that she thought the bass might be turned up too high. I didn't think it was, but I checked the settings. No, everything was adjusted properly. What made me laugh though, was the mental picture of other people thinking I was some bad "gangsta", with my elbow hanging out an open window (the window was up), and my car thumping to the "loud bass" of this song (which was what was playing on the oldies station I had on at the time):
9. Visits from granddaughter. What more do I need to say?
10. Autumn! I actually had to turn on the car's heater one morning. (Of course, I've also used the a/c every other day, but still. . .)
Thanks for Lizzie of Considerings who dreamed up this Ten Things of Thankful Blog Hop, and who allowed me to be one of the co-hosts. Please consider joining us by writing your own Thankful blog post and linking up below!
1. The beautiful sunrises. Probably due to many years of reading children's books to my kids, when I see a sunrise, I often recite in my mind: "It is the morning of a new day. The sun is shining. Little Bear gets out of bed." I'm not sure if that I quoted that verbatim, but Richard Scarry's character always greeted the new day with a smile. I'm a morning person, and feel the excitement of each new day.
2. Lunch with friends. Every month or so, a group of about ten of us meet for lunch. Our paths don't always cross between our get-togethers, but we pick up where we left off. We've supported each other through illnesses, deaths, weddings, children, and grandchildren. We usually laugh, we sometimes cry, and I know I can count on these women.
3. Ability to welcome unexpected house guests. A friend found herself needing someplace to stay temporarily, and I've been honored to have her, her children, and her mom here this week. I'm thankful for a house with empty rooms, which makes it easy to help.
4. The church choir that I accompany has started up again. We practice from September to about March, then take a break. As I try to learn the songs, I end up getting them stuck in my head. I love having such uplifting messages in my mind. This is one of the songs the choir is singing. Of course, our choir is much smaller, and is accompanied on the piano instead of this wonderful organ, but the message is still lovely:
5. The yearly General Relief Society broadcast, which was held tonight. The Relief Society is the women's organization in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and once a year, we gather for a worldwide broadcast. We were reminded again of the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and of the blessings of loving our neighbors. Here is an excerpt from a talk given at a past broadcast:
6. Guide Dog puppy Drexel's easygoing nature. Drexel has been gentle and happy with our small visitors this week, which is a good trait for a guide dog.
7. Thrift-store finds. I'm certainly not opposed to buying used items, including most clothing, but I frequently find brand new merchandise at thrift stores.
8. Laughter. Youngest daughter turned down the radio in the car the other day. I asked her why she did that, and she responded that she thought the bass might be turned up too high. I didn't think it was, but I checked the settings. No, everything was adjusted properly. What made me laugh though, was the mental picture of other people thinking I was some bad "gangsta", with my elbow hanging out an open window (the window was up), and my car thumping to the "loud bass" of this song (which was what was playing on the oldies station I had on at the time):
9. Visits from granddaughter. What more do I need to say?
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Thanks for Lizzie of Considerings who dreamed up this Ten Things of Thankful Blog Hop, and who allowed me to be one of the co-hosts. Please consider joining us by writing your own Thankful blog post and linking up below!
Your hosts
A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Considerings, Finding Ninee, Getting Literal, I can say mama, I Want Backsies, Rewritten, Steps into Parenthood, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine
Your granddaughter is adorable and yay for a wonderful visit. I am with you on not spending $20 on baby's shirt. That was an awesome score, because Gymboree clothes are not cheap (I know form both my kids). Happy Weekend and thanks for co-hosting again!! :)
ReplyDeleteI probably could have left the "baby" modifier out of the sentence; I rarely spend $20 on any shirt! :-)
DeleteThanks for stopping by. Hope you will join in on the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop!
ReplyDeleteawesome post! I kind of love having guests and making a fuss over them, too! It's a nice change (temporary of course!) to have different people bustling around the house. Being a hostess is fun. I daydream about having a bed & breakfast sometimes. Somewhere beautiful, like Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Woop!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree - sunrises are the BEST!
I used to think having a b&b would be fun, but I'm not so sure anymore. I think that having a family member who owns an inn might have made me realize that it's not all fun and games. :-)
DeleteReason number nine sure is cute! Is the Halloween shirt for her? What a great find.
ReplyDeleteYes, she is the intended recipient, though it might not fit her until next year. :-)
DeleteKristi... Little Bear books are my favorite kiddo books... he is sooo adorable and sweet...and gentle really .... I just love those ones... my guy did too .... he is much older now and he still has a few for when he has kids. SCORE on the clothes! I love me some thrift stores! and great music this week! very uplifting...thanks! Have a great week! But I have to know how old is that little one! HOW ADORABLE... its the dimples!
ReplyDeleteShe's 10 months old and this grandma thinks she's getting cuter by the day.
DeleteA fabulous list this week!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos, too.
Thanks, Nancy.
DeleteMy granddaughter will get the pumpkin shirt, even though it might be a bit big for her.
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving is always the 4th Thursday in November. Typically, Americans celebrate with a big (huge!) meal, shared with extended family and/or friends who don't have family nearby. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes/gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, rolls, fruit salad, jello salad, olives/carrots/pickles, pumpkin pie, and apple pie are all are served (and I probably forgot something). Sometimes men and boys will go play football in the morning (the "Turkey Bowl"). If I'm lucky, I catch a minute or two of the Macy's Parade on TV after the turkey is in the oven. The meal is served mid-day, after a blessing of heartfelt thanks. Usually our house is packed, so there is a "kids' table" and a "grown-up table," even though the kids' table is occupied mainly by young adults now. After the meal, it's time for games--football games on TV and board games around the tables. That's how we celebrate Thanksgiving. Other families probably have their own variations.
If you spend time with family and friends, eat a feast, and have an "attitude of gratitude", you'll join in the celebration. You're always welcome to come to my house and join us!
love the photos that you make a part of your (weekly) TToT... some (like the sunrise) are simply beautiful to look at, others (like your granddaughter) makes it 'realer'
ReplyDeletetotally a sharing thing ...yo
(lol)
So now you're a homeboy, too? :-)
DeleteThat song is beautiful. Do you play the organ? The one at our church is very similar to the one in the video. Your granddaughter is darling, and now she has some cute new clothes, too! LOVE thrift store finds, although I don't go there very often. Glad to hear Drexel is learning and growing! And YAY for fall!
ReplyDeleteIf you aren't an organist, I play the organ. If you are, I'm a pianist on the organ. I haven't had any formal organ instruction, and I do not play the foot pedals. I rely heavily on the presets. I accompany the choir on the piano, but I am one of several people who play the organ for the congregation on Sundays. Do you play? I'm impressed that your church has an organ like the one the Mormon Tabernacle Choir uses!
DeleteThe organ is one tricky instrument. I don't think people realize it. I don't know how to play the piano or the organ (always wished I could play the piano, though). My brother taught himself to play the organ, but he played it like a cello (his chords were made with his first four fingers, no thumbs). Oh, and our church organ isn't NEARLY as magnificent as the one the Mormon Tabernacle Choir uses, but it's still pretty cool looking. I'll have to take a picture of it some time.
DeleteBeautiful sunrise picture! Such a wonderful thing to be thankful for! And I LOVE thrift store shopping, especially for kids' clothes that they will outgrow in a few months anyway!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful time with your granddaughter! A great thankful list.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I like about having to be up each morning is getting to see the sunrise. I love watching them. And I have my kids trained to yell to me if they notice a particularly lovely sunrise (or sunset).
ReplyDeleteI enjoy houseguests, too. It's fun to break out of the usual routine and have new people to talk with at breakfast.
Love a good thrift store find!
That baby is getting cuter by the day. It's not just you thinking so. :)
I LOVE Autumn! As I drove to work this morning, I had to turn the heat on in my van, but onlly to blow on my feet....'cuz I'm still wearing flip-flops! Yes, I'm weird that way! ;)
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Little Bear growing up... I loved the illustrations and I loved how good his mommy & daddy were to him.
great post & nice blog ! love this little sleeve so cute for halloween :D
ReplyDeleteMaybe we follow each other ?!
If yes, let me know if you follow me & i´ll follow back :)
Greetings
www.YulieKendra.com
I love autumn. The fact that our air conditioning is on in the afternoon and the heater is on in the morning makes it even more amazing. Love love love it. And wow! What a great find! When my son was tiny, we only bought the newest, softest, most organic stuff...now? a 79cent shirt makes SO much more sense. They never even have a chance to wear anything out!
ReplyDelete