Snow Days and Preparation – #10Thankful
Late Sunday evening and I’m finally sitting to think about my Ten Things of Thankful post.
That happens a lot lately. (OK, it happens all the time.) I start my posts early in the week, I plan to get in there on Friday evening, and then…life happens.
And I’m so very glad that it does.
I sometimes wonder if I’m too distracted to sit for a minute and focus on the moments and people that make me feel thankful each week. But it’s not distraction – it’s simply that I’m living my life and enjoying every last second of it. I am aware of the sense of thankfulness weaving and swirling its way through the moments of my days and taking its place in my heart.
I realized not long ago that what this means is that I’ve developed a mindset of gratitude and also of awareness. I don’t just go through the motions of my life; I live my life. That may be the greatest item of thanks there is for me.
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From a more practical perspective, I am quite thankful that I have several available leftover options for dinners this week. I have two choir rehearsals this week – both on Zilla’s karate nights, of course – which means dinner prep time is virtually non-existent. Dinner needs to be an absolute no-brainer and I’m prepared. I am also so glad that my family are willing consumers of leftovers and they never complain when a meal or a part of a meal shows up a second (or even third) night.
In these very cold days this week, I have been so thankful for a warm home, warm clothing, warm food on our plates, and plenty of fuzzy socks. I am painfully aware of those in the world, both near and far, who do not have enough of anything, no matter the season or temperature. I do my best to help where I can.
I have my week planned out and notes in my planner already. There is much to be accomplished this week, but having it all plotted gives me a sense of calm and control so I can wake up in the morning and hit the ground running. I just have to resist the urge to hit the snooze button and grab just five more minutes of snuggling before getting in gear…
Zilla was feeling a cold coming on today and asked for homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner and a batch of my “sick tea.” I love how aware of her self and her body she has become – not just about colds, but in general. She is growing into such an amazing person right before our eyes and it is exciting to behold. It is my hope and prayer that she continues to develop that gift of self-awareness in all things and use it to her best advantage. This weekend I witnessed again her beautiful and generous heart at work. I am blessed to know and to be mother to this child.
I am blessed with a wonderful husband and partner, too. We are a great team in all things from getting the chores and errands done to corralling three rotten cats to raising our daughter. I am grateful for all of the things we share as a couple and I am grateful for the things my Hub does for me every day, little things that mean a lot. He puts out my meds for me, he makes coffee, he makes sure we have the milk and creamer I like…and so much more. Those little things are huge.
While I still have a few tasks to accomplish this week and my house is far from picture-perfect, it is a place of love, warmth, respite, and joy. I am happy here, even in the midst of a bit too much cat hair on the floors and a basket or two of laundry waiting to be put away. The chores will get done – they always do. We took advantage of the snowy day on Saturday and some empty hours on Sunday evening to simply rest, relax, and enjoy one another. We read books, watched holiday movies and silly TV shows, did some decorating, and made some holiday plans and preparations.
Our hearts are ready.
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What a wonderful thankful post. I can just feel all those feelings through the lines of your writing of a mother watching her daughter develop her gifts. Isn’t being a mother wonderful and having a wonderful husband to help you and you him. Lists and planners certainly can help one feel a little more in control, especially when there is a ton of stuff to get done. To keep living and enjoying life is what I think everyone would hope to do, and yet it is with that painful awareness that there are so many in the world who lack what we have. Sometimes the donations and money seem to fall short of how much more is needed.
So much joy in watching her grow, Pat, definitely. You’re so right that help never seems to be enough. So all we can do is just keep doing, sharing, giving, serving in whatever capacity we can. And pray. I do a lot of that, too. For so many things.
A perfect ten! It is truly lovely to hear the peace and sense of direction in your words and in your lives. You are blessed indeed, we all are, and to be aware of that makes all the difference. Wishing you a truly lovely Christmas together, with wonderful memories to last for all the years to come! XOXO
Was it actually ten? I wasn’t even counting!
Those are beautiful wishes, Josie. Thank you. We wish you and yours the same. ❤
Your blog is snowing.
It also has forgotten me every time I’ve come here! The cookies are clearly not doing their thing for Christmas!
BUT I hope Zilla gets better very soon, and that YOU don’t go down with whatever-it-is. I also think it’s wonderful that you’re living mindfully and (is this even a word?) immersively in life, and ENJOYING it. You’ve got such an abundance and I love reading about it 🙂
My blog IS snowing and I honestly don’t even know how that happened. It was nothing I did on purpose. But it’s fun! 😀
I don’t know why it doesn’t remember you. I’ve had to purge a bunch of cookies and history and stuff lately – maybe that’s why?
She’s feeling much better today and I definitely did come down with it as well, but it seems to be moving pretty quickly (knock on wood) and perhaps this one won’t stick around.
I do have abundance and I recognize that I am indeed blessed in all the ways that matter. The hard work and rough times are paying off. Definitely.
Hehehe I think it snows on non-wordpress blogs as kind of a matter of course. I’ve seen it on a couple of them now.
The cookies thing makes sense – it’s remembering me today 🙂
YAY to Zilla being better. Hope she continues upwards to full health by Christmas. And…YOUR SHIPS ARE COMING IN! And there’s a carol for ya (you have that one, right?)
I’m glad my snowy blog remembers you today.
Yes, I LOVE that carol about the ships! Now I will go to sleep with that in my head.
Lisa, you seem to be in SUCH a great place and I am SO HAPPY to read that. Peace oozes from your words and learning about you spending that precious time with your family and feeling grateful for all these wonderful gifts you hold- is just so wonderful. I love how Zilla is growing up! I hope she is fighting whatever was coming on…
God bless you, friend. Have a WONDERFUL Christmas. <3
You know, Chris, I am in a great place. Truly.
Zilla is feeling much better today – not 100%, but better. Time for celebrating!
Have a wonderful Christmas, too, and thank you for the joy and positivity you put out there for all of us. <3
I am completely with you about having the best intentions for writing these posts early on, but life happens and that is a great thing.
Watching your daughter grow must be the most rewarding thing in your life and in your husband’s life as well, and that you can do that as a team must just be the best thing there is.
I am also with you on the cat hair thing, but having a warm place to call my own is everything.
Christmas is nearly upon on now, as I write this comment. Hope your week has been going well. Hope Zilla feels better for all of the celebrating.
It IS great when life happens. I still don’t like getting these posts in so late, but whatever. 😀
I think all any of us wants is a warm place to call our own, Kerry. That’s part of the human condition, isn’t it? We want a place to call home, a place to belong. I have that here with Z. and my Hub and even beyond these walls with family and friends here, with all of you out there beyond my screen who I have quite come to love…and it’s all wonderful.
I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas (and Hanukkah here, too, for the Hub). How is that even possible? Zilla is feeling much better this evening. Not perfect, but colds do tend to hang around for awhile. At least she’s more lively and bopping around more like herself. Back to school tomorrow!
Well, here it is dog fur, but I can relate to the waiting laundry! I think my favorite part of this whole wonderful post is “I sometimes wonder if I’m too distracted to sit for a minute and focus on the moments and people that make me feel thankful each week. But it’s not distraction – it’s simply that I’m living my life and enjoying every last second of it. I am aware of the sense of thankfulness weaving and swirling its way through the moments of my days and taking its place in my heart.” Yep. When I started my blog, I named it what I did, so that I could engrave thankfulness in my heart. If I self-identified publicly as “Thankful Me” I hoped I would become more thankful–and I’ve felt that weaving and swirling that you mentioned .
Yes yes yes! Kristi, I know what you mean. I can’t say I set out to focus on being thankful. I set out to…I don’t know. Sort out some incredibly difficult feelings at the time? Yeah. Find an outlet for my very frustrated and squashed creativity? Yeah. Make new human connections (even if by long distances and computer screens)? Yeah. The thankfulness and awareness has come from all of that and I am oh so glad I threw this little blog up and kept at it, even if sporadically at times. I love where (and who) it has brought me.
There will always be too much animal hair. And laundry. But it’s just more evidence of live well lived and loved.
This might be my favorite thankful post you’ve written, Lisa. There’s so much good in the everyday; plus, your awareness of how lucky we can be. When you live like this, your life improves. When you live like this, you model it for your kids, too.
Well that’s a big compliment, Eli. Thanks. You’re very right – life does improve and I can attest to that without question. Hope your holidays have been great and you’ve enjoyed time with your girls.
Just wanted to stop by and say, “YOU ROCK!” I’m so thankful for having found you in this here blogosphere (and as a side note, I’m sorry I haven’t gotten over here sooner…life…you know…). In any case, Zilla sounds like she’s coming into her own. And I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that your New Year is equally fabulous!
On these colder days, I love my fuzzy socks and warm clothing and I’m grateful for all the things and, like you, I help where I can. Sigh…I always feel like it’s not enough. But…I do send out glad tidings as much as possible.
I’ll be seeing you soon and looking forward to more. 🙂 HUGS
I’m going to say “Me, too and ditto!” to all of this. I haven’t been online much at all and haven’t been getting around much to anyone (on purpose – holiday and family time). I will definitely see you around more as I come back after New Year’s! HUGS back. <3