November!
How has this month already come and gone?
I had every intention of writing a gratitude a day, like so many of my more self-disciplined friends, this month. But, one, two, after I had skipped a few it seemed helpless trying to hop back in.
Still, I'm nothing if not a firm-believer in the "better late than never" principle, so here are 30 things I’m thankful for right now. Scratch that. Here are 15 things I’m thankful for. I’ll finish my list tomorrow.
(An acapella choir is calling my name, literally! How fun is that?)
I'm now a day behind posting my way behind list, and instead of a choral group demaninding my time, I'm needed to deliver cupcakes stat. My life is so unbelievably hard, I know. Forgive me for my tardiness, please!
- Dirty Dishes, Lots of ‘Em
They clutter my kitchen counter but they mean I’ve had plenty to eat. (This past month they've also been a good reminder that someone I know drums, sings, plays guitar… and works a skillet like a mad man! Definitely a keeper that guy, which I very much plan to do.) Also, I have a serious cookie problem.
2. Hand-me-Down Jeans
You know that scene in Mean Girls when the evil queen gets booted from the lunch table for wearing sweats? I was about to get booted from work for wearing sweats, when in swooped a hero with hand-me-downs. Yay for old Levi’s.
3.) My Car’s Ugly Butt
My new, still un-named car’s backside isn’t nearly as cute as Selleck’s bum was. However, since it’s lacking the dings and dents I put in my old sedan, I’m especially grateful for a working vehicle, with a trunk that closes!
4.) The Cult/Clan I’ve Been Sucked Into
People still look at me strange when I tell them I go to a church that meets in the boondocks (well in a living room in the boondocks). But I love the people I learn, grow, laugh, serve and fellowship with each Sunday. And I love even more that we can text each other on a Monday night when we’ve had a hard day, or go to dinner to celebrate big and little steps in life. My "church" family is amazing, and they've definitely proven to me you don't need a steeple to serve a risen Savior.
5.) My Sister’s Shoes on the Living Room Floor
As a very selfish, stupid teenager, I never dreamed I’d someday be a grown woman with my baby sister for a roommate. (Or that I'd shuffle her shoes around anytime company is coming over.) But here I am, so very happy to have been such a fool. Jessie and I have had the best time sharing a roof, our own roof; one where records are played, and secrets are shared, and most importantly, where CABLE is at last flowing! Yay!
6.) Du Duh
Speaking of cable, that sound at the beginning of Law & Order was sweet music to my ears yesterday. After a ridiculously long day I got home, moved every piece of furniture in my living room just to reach the cord I didn’t know had been in my wall the whole time, and… voila!! VICTORY, included in the price of rent); forty-something channels for my viewing pleasure, or brain numbing as it’s more aptly described.
7.) Turkey, Turkey, Turkey, Sausage
I’ve never, ever, eaten so much turkey in my life, as I did this Thanksgiving. Mikael and I celebrated the holidays with both our families, twice. And while it was brutal on my waistline, enjoying the traditional once-a-meal feast thrice times in as many days, was also a lot of fun. It was especially a treat when we made it to round four, to enjoy a blessed meal of barbecue and banana pudding. Sweet variety!!!
8.) The Gravy On Top Another Turkey Sandwich
Aside from being great comic relief, an impressive hair grower, and an all-around good sport (literally and figuratively) my brother is the best Thanksgiving plate crafter I know. The way that man piles on the sweet potatoes, gravy and more, is pure magic. And that’s not even delving into his musical abilities, which were pried out of him post Fike-family-festivities. A sing-along would not be complete without at least one death by snakebite. So grateful to have things to look forward to besides food, when I go home each Thanksgiving. (Thanks family, hermano and otherwise.)
9.) Low-fi Fun
Board games get a bad rap, especially in such a digital age. But you haven’t experienced gaming fun until you’ve played Scattegories with my Grandma. What’s that, Grandma? You watched the sport elethoning, on the Olympics? I’m sure you did. At least I’m voting that you did, because you crack me up. And you remind me I don't need power bars to have a good time with my family.
10.) Money Down The Drain
I hate buying contacts. What a costly purchase! That’s why I’ve been known to wear them even when they get fuzzy, and/or spend a little more than five seconds waiting to be found on the bathroom floor "counter." But, man it feels good to put in fresh contacts after months of wearing lefties in both eyes ‘cause I ran out of the right ones. Being able to read things, and not run into other things, is a blessing I frequently take for granted. This time of year, especially, though, I remember how blessed I am for the doctor-aided ability to see. Even if sometimes it feels like money that's gonna be dropped down the drain.
(By the way, here is a super stylish way to give someone else this same gift of sight!!)
11.) Miss Takes
It might be wrong to admit, but I spend a lot of my time cracking up at mistakes I see while grading papers. Well, sometimes I get furious about them, but mostly I just LOL @ peep's BaD gramr. Recently, though, I had a rare opportunity to use my burgeoning proofreading skills for good. That made me happy.
(Now is a good time to admit that I don’t always practice what I preach when it comes to grammar, especially when blog posting. Rest assured, I'm a little more cautious with my comma usage and general sentence structuring when it really counts.)
12.) Man Hands
I've said it before, but during the winter my hands get grossly dry and cracked. If you didn’t know better you’d think I spend my days rubbing them on sandpaper instead of hacking safely away at a keyboard. But yesterday a man I know brought me some “heavy duty hand treatment” made for sad skin like mine. And his thoughtfulness was a wonderful reminder that the little things sometimes count most. (Thanks You.)
13.) Reallllllyyy????
If you haven’t seen the Muppets yet, DO! It was really cute, and sweet, and Kermit was just as charming as ever. But if you don’t believe me, see for yourself. This little clip keeps playing through in my mind (aided by some spot-on impersonations of it by people I love).
14.) 1980 Called
I tried to resist. I thought they were stupid. And then I bought a cheap pair of leggings, and now I don’t want to wear anything else. They are so comfortable, and by some miracle, actually considered semi-fashionable, so YAY for whatever evil genius at Vogue decided to call modernday Long Johns a fashion staple.
15.) Hot. Lukewarm. Chocolate.
Make fun of me all you want. I don’t care that you can’t see my cocoa under the sea of marshmallows. I like my hot chocolate (okay, I'm a wuss, my semi-hot chocolate) with gobbs of gooey goodness. This is one of my favorite (fastest, cheapest) holiday time treats.
I may have been slow to start saying them (and too lazy to put them in chronological order, or take awesome pics of everything) BUT, I really am grateful for these wonderful blessings in my life.
I'll try really hard to come back tomorrow with 15 more. There's plenty to count (just a lot of cheesy Christmas movies vying for my time).
Miss you friends. Have a happy, warm Monday Tuesday night!
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