Sunday Inspiration: We Must Decide

Thankful Thursday: November 14, 2024

I Am Thankful For:

The ability to be flexible with my time

Kind hospital staff

A late night drive home

Beautiful autumn days

An evening cup of tea

My daughter's surgery went well

Helping out with the grandkids

My grandbaby and dog playing ball

My daughter home from the hospital

Simple dinners

A day at home

A pot of chili on a rainy day

A quiet evening 

A nice lunch out

Coats for doggies

Cool fall temperatures

Lazy mornings

Used book stores

Sunday Inspiration: Now Is The Time

 

Thankful Thursday: November 7, 2024

 

I Am Thankful For:

Another year

Birthday cards

Take-out from my favorite chicken place 

Birthday gifts

Funny coffee mugs

A pretty new honey dispenser 

Time with family

Birthday cake

Homemade soups

The ability to be flexible with my time

My daughter is going to be ok

My sweet grandsons

Family

Focusing on what I am able to control

Can You Believe It's November?

We know these last two months are going to zoom by.  They always do.  That's just how it goes.  So, before that happens - let's take a moment to appreciate November. 

As it has for more than 50 years now - November started off with all the joy and fun that is my birthday. Nothing grand was done to celebrate this year.  At my request, the Man of the House brought home take-out from Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack for dinner. On Saturday, the kids and grandkids were here for dinner and cake. I received some lovely presents and cards.  It was a nice weekend and I appreciated every minute of it.

The Man and I will also be celebrating 32 years of marriage this month. That's right... 32 years!!  We've planned a little getaway to the coast later this month to celebrate the occasion.

Of course, here in the US - November means Thanksgiving and I'm already beginning to plan for our feast.  I find it's easier to start picking up things here and there rather than trying to remember it all in one big shopping trip. Especially with all the other busyness of the month. 

Usually on Black Friday, the Female Offspring and I get together and go out to start our Christmas shopping.  We enjoy spending the day together and the fun of searching for some bargains. 

My Goals for November:

• Do knee exercises every day 
• Have Christmas cards ready to mail by December 1st
• Decorate for Christmas

What are your plans for November?

Sunday Inspiration: In The Morning

Thankful Thursday: October 31, 2024

I Am Thankful For:

Getting some rest

White cheddar popcorn

Realizing something you have been looking forward to is getting close

Having dinner dropped off

Lazy Sunday

Starting to feel a little bit like myself

Texting with my cousin

First trip out of the house since surgery

A good post-op checkup

Plans made

Stopping for breakfast

Early voting

Conversations with neighbors 

Little Pumpkin hats

Goodbye, October

What. A. Month!

October was filled with challenges.  Looking back, it feels like a blur. It seems as if there is so much to say and so little to say all at the same time. 

The month began with our area starting the recovery from the destruction of Hurricane Helene and the floods that brought to western North Carolina.  Those first couple of weeks - every day just blended in to the next. 

We finally had our power restored on Day Twelve.  There were cheers heard throughout our neighborhood  that evening as everyones lights came on. Because we are on a well, once our power was restored - we also had water restored.  After almost two weeks without, you have a new gratitude for being able to flush a toilet with the push of a lever, flip on a light switch, and take a warm shower. 

Our internet came back for about two days mid- month before going back out again.  Optimum hasn't been very good about communicating any sort of updates or information and at this point no one seems to have any idea when service will be restored. 

That weekend, the kids and grandkids came for a dinner and to celebrate the Man of the House's birthday. There was white chili, corn muffins, and banana pudding. Best of all - it was an afternoon just enjoying having our family together. 

The Man of the House and our son had planned to go to Charleston for a fishing trip this month.  With everything going on after the storm they considered canceling, but since they had elected not to get the insurance, they would be unable to get a return of the money paid for the rental. So, instead of just the two of them going - I brought the dogs and we tagged along.  We even had our daughter and the grandsons come along.  It turned into a nice weekend of just getting away from all the stress and chaos we had been dealing with. 

On the 18th, I had my knee surgery.  The Man of the House drove me to the surgery center early that morning, before the sun came up. I was extremely nervous before the procedure, but it all went well. I was surprised by the amount of nausea I had after coming out of the amnesia, and the pain was much more than I expected.  My recovery isn't going as quickly as I would hope. But let's be honest - it was unreasonable to expect I would be completely back to normal in less than two weeks. 

I had my follow-up appointment on Monday and things are healing well. The stitches are out. Continuing pain/discomfort is normal, but should continue to improve little by little.  I was given some exercises to do for strengthening the knee. 

The Man of the House has been my absolute rock star through the entire situation. He nursed me through the nausea and pain of that first afternoon. In the following days, he took over my share of the house work, all of the cooking, grocery shopping, caring for the dogs, and helping me as needed. All while continuing to carry all of his usual responsibility, including those of overseeing the company's return to normal production after the hurricane temporarily shut it down. I couldn't have done this without his care and support. 

And that was the month in a nutshell.  How was your October? 

Sunday Inspiration: For What it’s Worth

Thankful Thursday: October 24, 2024

 

I Am Thankful For:

Surgery went well

Being back home

Pain medication

My amazing husband

Sunny Autumn days

My dad dropping off lunch

The first post-surgery shower

A visit from my daughter and grandsons

Cute Halloween earrings

Pumpkin scented candles

Days spent resting

Gummy bears

Pumpkin Spice tea

Sunday Inspiration: Healing

 

Thankful Thursday: October 17, 2024

I Am Thankful For:

Sunsets

Small returns to normalcy

Birthday celebrations

My husband

Spending time with my grown kids

When my little grandson wants me to hold him

Chili and corn muffins

Crocheting

Wifi

That our electricity was restored before the cold temperatures moved in

Sweater weather

There are still compassionate people in the world

Sparkly nail polish

Libraries and the people that work there

Can't catch my breath, tears in my eyes laughter

Sunday Inspiration: Survival