TToT – Continued Progress
It doesn’t seem possible that a week has passed already. I can’t say I’m happy about how fast these days have flown. I need this summer to stretch long before us…we have a lot to do.
And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing this week – a lot. We’ve continued to work on our Great Clean and Purge Project. Many things are progressing well in that category – those who are intrigued can check back Monday for the week three update. It feels so good to be getting these projects (which are one HUGE project) taken care of and this feels like a fresh start in a lot of ways.
The Hub and I have continued our efforts toward change and forward motion for both of us. I don’t believe in coincidence; rather, I believe what some might call coincidence is God’s way of letting us know He’s on the case. I’m thankful that I was able to recognize a few things this week as perhaps answer to some prayerful concerns.
This week is a tight budget week for us and I’m going to say I’m thankful for it. It gives us a chance to dig into the back of the kitchen cabinets and make good use of the items hidden there. It gives me opportunity to flex my culinary creativity and not just resort to a run to the store because I’d like an extra ingredient. And I am very thankful to have enough on hand, even in a tight week, to feed my family and to do so well. As May talked about in one of her recent posts, many people live on $1.50 per day to cover their food. We don’t have to live anywhere near that amount and for that I am very thankful. The amount of food and the quality of food we have available to us makes us far more blessed than far too many.
After what has felt like an excessively long time for an ankle to be sub-par, my ankle has been improving daily it seems. I know three weeks is not really unreasonable for a bad sprain, but I’m impatient and I need to be about my business! Today I walked down the stairs normally more than once and didn’t flinch once. And I drove myself places this week, too!
I’m thankful that my Sister and her Husband arrived safely via plane for a friend’s out-of-town wedding. Super Sister does not love to fly and it is generally H-O-T where they went. Glad the flight went well and the weather is tolerable.
My Mom was here today for a cup of the Fab Hub’s famous coffee. It’s true – people come here on purpose just for the man’s coffee-making skills. I can’t drink coffee anywhere else anymore because he has me so completely spoiled. While Mom was here, we had a great lazy holiday visit and talked about whatever happened to come up. I am thankful every day that she is with us and close by and part of my daily life. And we are so grateful for her help and support in so many ways.
And speaking of my Mom, I’m thankful for tea. Yes, tea. I love tea – always have. This week Mom took me birthday shopping at a terrific new-to-me tea store and I have some lovely new things to enjoy in my evening cup. In addition, Mom bought some things for herself and has entered the tea world in a new way. So we have a cool new thing to share as well.
Zilla took her first bike-riding lesson today and she did a fantastic job! Her Fab Dad did most of the coaching; I did most of the worrying. But she did so well and had such a good time. Nothing beats the look on her face. She took one minor spill as she tried to turn a corner, but she picked herself right back up and kept on going. She’s anxious to get back out there again tomorrow.
And since we were outside for bike lessons today, I’m pretty glad that the weather here was glorious. Low temps, low humidity, a perfect summer breeze…just glorious. We all got some sun and fresh air and that felt very good. We saw a small bunch of people flying kites in the soccer fields behind our house and it was indeed a perfect day for it.
Today being the Fourth of July, we celebrated in our usual style – an indoor picnic with the windows wide open to enjoy the beautiful evening and fireworks from the back deck. It was cool enough tonight to need a cup of coffee and a warm blanket for Zilla, but it was positively delicious. It reminded me of those cool Fourth of July evenings after a summer Sunday at my Grandparents’ house when we’d all pile into my Uncle’s van and head to our Great Aunt B.’s house to watch the local fireworks. She had a perfect view of the stadium fireworks show from her front lawn and tonight’s weather felt exactly like those evenings of my childhood. I am so blessed to have such wonderful memories.
And since it is the Fourth, I would be remiss not to state my sincere gratitude for the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. This country is not perfect – it has never been so. But we enjoy so much here that people in other countries cannot even dream of – rights and privileges, education, food, and so much more. And so for better or for worse, I am thankful to live somewhere as blessed as this country truly is.
Quick Addition: Can I add here that I am thankful that the Hub has dudes? You know, guy friends? I am. Right now he’s playing some online game with some of them and I’m glad. First, because I get to watch whatever video I want and not worry about whether he thinks it’s silly. Also because I think it’s probably a good thing that we can do our own thing and not feel like we’re slighting one another in some way. We are comfortable with the spaces in our togetherness. But mostly because in a house full of me and Zilla, there is a whole lot of girl. And the Hub dotes on his girls. Completely. I think it’s great that he has dudes to join him in guy time.
What have been your moments of gladness and gratitude this week? Please join the TToT gang in celebrating those things for which we are thankful. Share in the comments or link ’em up!
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So glad you are getting your living space purged and many things done. It is a fantastic feeling to get things checked off.
A good relationship with one’ smother is always a blessing. Even better when Mom lives close.
We had gorgeous weather yesterday, too. We were in the car much of the day, but it gave us a chance to make frequent stops to get out and run and play. (Well, the boys ran. I walked and sat in the shade.)
Glad your ankle is getting better. Could it be taking longer to heal because you’re pushing it too far with all that work? 😉
And am I Frist?
It really is fantastic to be getting things cleaned out and checked off.
Could I be pushing my ankle too far…um, yes. I do that. I’m bad at not doing that. But I really am trying to be careful and make sure I elevate it after I’ve been on it for a while.
And yes, I believe you are frist!
Now I know why I’m Frist. Link this up! I’d do it myself, but it is a pain on this iPad.
Ah, I forgot!!! And I was so proud of myself for getting it done on Friday, too. Duh. Thanks for the nudge – I’ll go do it this second.
Bike-riding and fireworks–the memories of childhood summers! Sounds like Zilla is creating some of her own.
She is certainly off to a good start. I hope and pray that the memories we are making with her are as precious to her as our own.
Good to hear the purging is progressing well! We had delightful weather for the fourth as well. Such a surprise! I want some of the Hubs’ coffee! That’s it, that coffee we’re going to have together some day must be made by the Hubs.
Oh, it definitely must! I used to love Dunkin’ Donuts – a long-time favorite. Can’t drink it anymore because it just doesn’t taste like the Hub’s coffee! I’ve been spoiled for all others.
Your 4th July celebration with the picnic and the cool weather and coffee and blankets outside to watch the fireworks sound BLISSFUL! Life is made for moments like those, when you look around and realise that yes – this is what it’s all about 🙂
I hope the day comes soon when you no longer need to get creative in the kitchen, but it’s good that you can, and great that you have the means to. That’s an important thankful to recognise. I remember it well.
Hope your project continues well, and that everything comes together, with time to spare 🙂
The lean weeks are few and far between, really – we are very blessed. But every now and then we get a surprise expense or due dates fall just inconveniently enough to make things tighter than we might like. It’s a good moment to pause and rather than be frustrated, realize how very fortunate we are on most days. And honestly, the creativity is a fun challenge – I love cleaning out the back of the cupboards and using those forgotten items!
The hub has dudes…I love that phrase!
Zilla… go girl!!! It took me forever to learn to ride a bike and I remember my first spill was hitting a picket fence and going over the handle bars over the fence… needless to say I was traveling a bit too speedy…
I adore tea! LOVE IT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Thanks for your comment today on rewritten…it helped a lot!
Haha – it does sound kind of funny now that I look at it again. But he does. He has dudes.
Thanks for the birthday wishes – tea is wonderful and good for so many things.
Oh, you’re welcome – I’m so glad!
I felt such a pang reading about your mom time. I could not have imagined how much I miss that. And hot tea was something the two of us had in common too! Sweet.
I just can’t get the food cost thing out of my head. Even regular grocery store stuff is higher every time I go to the store. And not just a little higher either–frighteningly higher. I keep wondering if my school kids are getting enough to eat on these summer days. So sad.
Oh, May, I am so sorry to give you a pang. I do hope the memory was sweet.
I hear you – even our “lean week” is not such a hardship and I can’t help but feel kind of guilty about all those who don’t have even as much as our tight week for their every day food budget. Too many go hungry and it really just should not be that way.
I love this post, Lisa, but I love all your posts. I need to get back on my purging spree. You are my inspiration and I need to get on it!
Glad your ankle is better. If you can navigate stairs without pain, then you really must be healing.
My daughter never really learned how to ride a bike. She didn’t like the mandatory helmet, for starters. Go, Zilla!
You can’t do anything to entice me to drink coffee, but I do like a cup of English Breakfast tea, especially in the winter.
We’ve had gorgeous weather, too. Usually it’s 95 on the 4th, and it was cool with a delicious breeze. Glad you got to enjoy yours!
Aw, thanks, Dyanne. 🙂 We’ve slowed down a bit the last few days to enjoy some holiday time, but by the end of this week, this house will be in a state that I will give my stamp of “complete.” At least that’s the goal…
I have to give English Breakfast and Earl Grey both another try – never loved them, but can’t put my finger on why. Now that I’ve discovered this place, I may have to grab some next time I go.
I hope your ankle is truly on the mend – just be sure not to try too much too soon. I sprained mine about four years ago now and it took months before it was fully healed – partially because I kept thinking it should be healed and did silly things like think I could play tennis on it etc…
As for tea birthday gifts and making purging progress – both lovely!
I’ve already done too much – probably why it’s taken so long. I’m really trying to behave now so it can truly mend.
learning to ride a bike may seem like a simple, run of the mill lesson, but think back! I remember it as one of the first most significant things I accomplished on my own very cool
sounds like a good Summer shaping up there!
Watching Kidzilla learning I’ve realized that it is much harder than I recall. Lots to think about! It’s definitely a significant undertaking for her…and for her Mom!
Glad to meet you on the Fourth Weekend of TToT. I enjoyed reading about your fun family times. Good luck to your little one learning to ride a bike. Such precious memories.
Hi, Mary. My little biker is doing a great job – she’s growing up so fast! These are definitely memories in the making.
Lisa, I hope that ankle continues to recover well! Glad that the Great Cleaning Projects are going smoothly!
The ankle is better every day, Michelle, and the projects are coming along swimmingly – check Monday for the next recap!