TToT – Thanksgiving Thankfulness
As I started to put this post together, it occurred to me that writing a thankful list at Thanksgiving was no different than any other week.
Mission accomplished, I guess!
If by listing the things we are thankful for each week, we’ve created a mindset where we no longer see giving thanks as a once-a-year thing to do, then we have been successful.
But perhaps Thanksgiving is a time when people think on a larger scale about the things for which they are thankful. That’s kind of what I’ve done here, although you will see the occasional week-specific item.
I’m going to start off with a nearly forgotten moment. While travelling to Hersheypark this fall, we saw this cloud in the sky…
![20141018_164240[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20141018_1642401.jpg)
I am thankful for moments in life such of these that kind of take your breath away and can’t quite be explained.I am thankful that my family got to witness it together. Seriously, what are the chances that you see a Kiss-shaped cloud on the day of your trip to Hershey?
I am most thankful for the opportunity this week to spend time with family, especially those we do not see very often.
I am thankful for enough food, clothing to wear, and a warm place to live and sleep.
I am thankful that all the recipes I tried for the holiday turned out well, considering I made for the first time and then whisked them onto the holiday tables without any prior experience. We enjoyed sherry-creamed pearl onions, a bread pudding made with artichoke hearts, cheddar, and parmesan cheese, and a pumpkin spiced latte quinoa breakfast casserole thanks to the wonder of the Internet and Pinterest. All three were well-received. Want recipes? I have them all pinned – go to the Veggie Sides and Breakfast boards on my Pinterest account.
I am thankful that a mere 36 hours after Thanksgiving dinner (which followed a hearty Thanksgiving brunch), I was able to put on my not-as-fat jeans with no difficulty. I won’t say skinny jeans because we just aren’t there yet. But still – fitting into my tighter jeans right after the holiday? Win.
I am thankful for reminders that there is great beauty and wonder to be found in the smallest of God’s creatures…things like my Daughter’s still-tiny hand holding the smallest nautilus shell I think I’ve ever seen (courtesy of Lizzi’s package).
![20141123_152803[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20141123_1528031.jpg)
I am thankful that the Rotten Cats noticed a small spider dangling imperceptibly from an invisible thread in our hallway the other day, thus allowing the Hub to whisk it away before it landed on my head and caused a spider-induced hysteria.
I am very thankful that the Hub has a full time job and that he loves it. I am thankful that the people he works with and for see the value of what he does and appreciate him. I am thankful that he comes home tired, but satisfied rather than tired and frustrated as may have been true in the past.
I am thankful that I am no longer working at the job I had at this time last year. When it’s time to move on, it’s time to move on and I am thankful for the many things that fell into place so that I might have the opportunity to do so. While my self-employed life may be taking longer to be lucrative than I had hoped, I still know in my heart that it was the best thing for all of us. I am thankful for the improvements to my health, my mood, and my family overall as a result of the choice.
Thanks to Lizzi for her glitterbomb package – it arrived last week. Kidzilla was absolutely thrilled that we received mail from “actual England” and was quite delighted with the items included (and promptly appropriated them for her personal use).
![20141123_152819[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20141123_1528191.jpg)
I am thankful to Christine for her suggestion to open the package outside, too because I did not want this to explode in the house.
![20141123_152845[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20141123_1528451.jpg)
I am thankful for you, fellow bloggers, readers, and friends, for the community that exists here. Truly. I have come to consider so many of you friends, even though we may not (yet) have met in person. I hope these relationships continue to flourish and that we might find ourselves enjoying time face to face in the future!
What are you thankful for this week? This Thanksgiving? What awesome moments have you seen in the world around you? You know the drill…share ’em or link ’em!
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Really? Am I Frist?! What a cowinkydink if it be true. LOL
Hey! A giant Hershey Kiss in the sky. You are absolutey right Lisa – how often! And I hadn’t even gotten that far into the post when I saw it. Totally cool:)
This was a beautiful TToT Lisa. Thank you for sharing it.
You have a good friend in Christine to advise you to open your glitterbomb out of doors. Obviously, she is experienced in this sort of thing:) And so sweet of Lizzi to send you one!
I’m glad your Thanksgiving went well and congratulations!!! on the jeans thing. You can get into the skinny ones. Give it time.
The Hubs and his job. Good and good. You, self employed – good getting better. There is verifiable math that says 4 goods = 1 great.
Have a good weekend Lisa!
Yup, Frist indeed! That really is a funny coincidence.
Four good equals one great? I like that math. And yes, I do believe that all things will be just fine in due time.
As for the jeans, I don’t think “skinny” will ever be part of the description, but I’m happy enough to drop a size or two.
The glitterbomb and the advice for how and where to open were a perfect marriage – plus the weather was warm that day, so we got a little fresh air besides! Now as long as the birdies don’t eat the glitter we left on the porch, we’re good!
Have a great weekend, too!
Oh come on …glitter really spruces up the house. and everytime you see it you remember.. glad my kid is not the only one who takes off with stuff. Great list! And Awesome kiss shapped cloud
I agree that glitter is lovely to look at – in theory, at least. But I have three cats who will eat and then promptly (shall we say) “process” it. While that might be amusing for a minute, I’d prefer not to go there!
Yes, my kid takes all the cool things. Stinkers!
Lisa, I feel the exact same way about the wonderful friends I have met through Ten Things of Thankful link up. I am excited to follow you on Pinterest. Have a good week.
You, too, Val! Come to think of it, most of the blog people I have come to know well have come through the TToT in one way or another.
I just found and followed you, too!
PS Congrats on the not-so-fat pants. A real accomplishment this time of the year.
That’s what I thought, Val! I’m OK with not dropping pounds during the holidays, but I’m very grateful to not gain any, either!
My parents’ neighbors sent us a glitter bomb for Lily’s birth back in the day, and I had no clue. Darn, was I surprised 🙂 I agree with your “basic” thankfuls. Thinking that we belong to the lucky minority that never goes to sleep hungry, who has shelter, appropriate clothes to wear, heat, running water, etc., I definitely feel privileged! Yay for fitting into your pants. My tummy certainly looked sub-prime after stuffing my face like a maniac the night before..
Have a wonderful weekend!
You know, Stephanie, that’s the tough part – understanding that we are indeed part of a minority in that regard. It’s mind-boggling.
Have a great weekend, too!
I still get a thrill when you write that FH loves his job. How wonderful!
Sounds like a delightful Tgiving, and your dishes sound delicious!
Yup, me too! It’s a great thing. 😀
Thanksgiving was really good. I’m enjoying the lull between this and the next round of activity!
Well shucks – Christine sure figured out how to mar the ‘bomb’ effect, didn’t she! I’m glad that you enjoyed it though. The shell is a top shell (gibbula spp.) and they’re common where I live, though not everywhere in the UK, as I understand it.
Sounds like you had a really awesome week 🙂 Brilliant that Fab Hub’s job is going well, and that you didn’t have to endure a spider-meltdown.
It was sage advice – my cats would eat the glitter and that will not be good for anyone. I have to say I think opening it out in the sunlight made the glitter all the more lovely, so there’s that, too!
yeah, that glitter bomb thing can go on for weeks in the right environs (ie indoors on carpet!) YEAH! for the rotten kitties spidie senses tingling to warn you in advance! and … what no fat jeans after the great American Pig fest!? AMAZING! I have to go check out your pintrest… I have one but have nothing on it… I have it to scope out others I think… what a lurker huh????
Yeah, that’s not Pinterest creeping at all, Zoe… 😀
But please note I said my “not-as-fat” jeans, not my “not fat” jeans. Just to be clear. 😉
Much to my amazement, my Pinterest has a whole bunch of stuff. Once I start looking at recipes, I get kind of sucked in.
OH WAIT! THAT WAS MY NOT-AS-FAT-JEANS!!!!
Precisely.
Definitely seems like it was good advice to open the glitter bomb outdoors. It’s pretty, but pretty has it’s proper place. I like my glitter in a controlled environment. 🙂
Good way to look at it!
Sounds like you had a great Thanksgiving! All the way, Lisa!
It was a good holiday, Michelle!
What a lovely post. It’s always nice to think of all the things you are thankful for.
Thanks for commenting on my blog. I hope to see you back there soon 🙂
Hi, Dannii! Not hard to find nice things to say about bacon…great sandwich!
I’m glad your thanksgiving recipes turned out well & that your not so fat pants fit too! Isn’t it a great feeling when you know you made the right decision about leaving a job? I know, I’ve been there. That hershey kiss cloud is too cute!
Yes, very much a great feeling. Even if it’s slow-moving on the new endeavors, when I go to bed at night and it’s just me and my thoughts and God, I know it was right. Makes all the difference.
Good recipes, good pants – works for me for a holiday!
Glitter bomb packages are the best.
Love the kiss-shaped cloud. That was too perfect.
The kiss-shaped cloud was kind of unbelievable, Tracie. We were glad we saw it!
Hershey kiss-shaped clouds near Hershey? What a coincidence!
That’s what we thought, too! What are the odds?
cool photo
(lol on Christine’s sound advice to preserve the interior of the home from a glitter event… Lizzi does have the knack for inducing fun, whether she is present or not!)
The glitterbomb turned out as perfectly as it could – we got to enjoy the festive spray AND avoid vacuuming and picking up glitter forever!
Very cool cloud for your trip to Hershey. I must admit, the thought did fly through my mind…”Did Hershey come up with a way to direct people to Hershey by making a cloud?” Kind of like the star of Bethlehem, except it’s the cloud over Chocolate.
You are a brave one, taking food over that you had never attempted before! Glad it turned out.
Lizzi’s gifts are wonderful in their colorfulness. Glad you heeded my advice. 🙂
Honestly, I think opening them out in the sunlight made it even more sparkly so it was a great idea! And my cats’ intestines thank you as well.
I used to be terrified of taking food anywhere or serving for guests here that I hadn’t done a test run on. I’ve apparently gotten over that because now I do it all the time. I guess I’ve learned to trust myself more! The artichoke bread pudding was amazing. I ate way more of the leftovers than I should have…
Aw happy happy thankful and happy belated Thanksgiving!! My husband had surgery on Monday and has been home recuperating, and then my son got sick and then I got sick and well, it’s been kinda crazy around here…. but I LOVE your thankfuls and am searching for that recipe on your boards for the bread pudding with artichokes because OMG YUM!!! xo
How did I miss the surgery thing? How is he doing??? Is he OK??? And then the rest of you get sick…awesome. Not. The Hub is sick, despite the fact that he’s been stubbornly insisting it’s “allergies” for about two days. Drives me insane.
I will send you the pin with the artichokes bread pudding. I may or may not have eaten WAY more of the leftovers than was reasonable. So. Good.
Okay, I saw a manatee when I looked at that cloud.
It is bitterly cold here today. The wind chill is 17 and it was even lower earlier today, and it reminds me how grateful I am to have a warm place to live.
You are brave to make new recipes for Thanksgiving without trying them first! You are a great cook, though, so I have no doubt anything you made would turn out just fine.
Cats cry wolf so often, it’s a good thing you paid attention to them when they saw the spider! I HAAAAATE spiders! And we have so many of them in this house! Now that it’s cold, they’re hibernating, so that’s a good thing.
Piper glitterbombed me when she sent me the crumpets, and I was NOT expecting it! I STILL have glitter around the dining room!
Kiss…manatee…Michelin man…
We hit nearly 60 today here, I think. Ridiculous. Of course, my upper respiratory system is very confused. Every time my body figures out the weather…it shifts back again!
I think brave is a good word for my no-test recipe habit but I’ve had good odds. Is it weird that I get a tiny thrill wondering how people will react to their first bites? Exciting.
My cats are, as you know, total asses. However, their Spidey senses are really good. Anytime there is a spider, one of them will pick up on it and the other two then come running and they sit around it to make sure it doesn’t get away until the Hub comes to the rescue. Sometimes they squish it themselves, but they prefer not to. Taking care of their Mom! I hate everything with more legs than a dog, so spiders are on top of that list.
You know, I looked for that tea from that post and sure enough my store had it in the international foods section in the England/British Isles section. Who knew? So I bought a box. Haven’t tried it yet, tough. Been chugging down my Holiday teas this weekend!
My idiot cats try to catch wasps. We always get them in the house in the fall for some reason. I had to fight Ruby to kill a wasp in the living room window on Sunday. Sometimes, they find dead ones and eat them. Nom nom nom.
OK, going after wasps is pretty dumb. And I am quite terrified of those things. Our cats also like to eat dead bugs…so gross.
Love the kiss cloud! That would be pretty amazing if you weren’t headed to Hershey but considering you were it’s very cool! You were smart to open Lizzi’s package outside. I learned that lesson the hard way but they are so much fun that in the moment I really didn’t mind at all. I still find pieces of Lizzi here and there. I’m happy to hear you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you have so many fantastic things on your list. I’m proud to be part of this group because you are so right…..we should be thankful far more than one day a year.
That’s kind of what we thought.
I think that’s the beat part of the TToT group – that it keeps us mindful on a regular basis. And then there’s the great people, so that’s an added bonus!
1. It’s so easy, even during the holiday, to take for granted what we should be thankful for. Your posts are a good reminder. I’ve griped way too much about not getting enough turkey. It was true, but at least I had a meal. And a home to be in.
2. I’m thankful that family that hasn’t seen me in a year described me as “compact.” That’s good, right?
3. On the anniversary of my dad’s death, I played disc golf. I loved the opportunity to get away with my thoughts. On the second basket, a huge owl swooped down and sat on the disc catcher. I watched him and thought I’d wait as long as he wanted to stay there and just marvel in the sight. He turned, looked at me, and gave me a show by flying right back over me. Very cool sight, and I’m glad I was there for it.
Those are the kinds of things that kind of smack me in the face, Eli – the food wasn’t just right or the house was too hot because. Those are things that not everyone has at all, never mind to complain about. It’s very sobering, for me at least. Not to throw a damper on enjoying what we have. But like you said, to remember to be grateful and not take things for granted is wise. Just this morning, in fact, I was mildly cranky that we had to don our big puffy winter coats again because the temps dropped from 60 yesterday to freezing today. Big puffy coats and all the trappings make getting out the door to school tedious at best. And on the way home from dropping Kidzilla at school, I drove by the homeless man who wanders that side of town from time to time. So yeah.
Compact is good, I think, if you’re going for that effect.
Your owl encounter is amazing. I love that kind of stuff. Now the real question is did your Dad have a particular interest in owls? Was there some connection to him? I find that sort of thing really amazing.
There was no connection to the owl for my dad that I know of … but it’s interesting that I had never seen one there before, and haven’t seen one since. And I play there nearly every day!
Still…very cool.
Hi Lisa,
I couldn’t agree with you more. Being thankful is a mindset we should adopt into our daily life, not just on Thanksgiving.
That’s a beautiful list of things to be thankful for. I’m a bit jealous about the jeans thing lol. Not quite sure yet if I put on any pounds for the holiday as I’m afraid to go anywhere near the scale.
You’re trip to Hershey reminds me of when my husband and I went to Atlantic City in the fall. I wasn’t too thrilled that he suggested I drive us down so he could sleep (he works long hours) but while riding down the parkway it was a lovely view of the colorful autumn leaves. Just little things like that I’ve come to appreciate.
~Lea
That’s why I like this link-up so much, Lea. It really helps to keep clear focus on the good things, especially when life gets tough. Doing this has helped me through some pretty tough times over the last year. It’s all about choosing our perspective. We can’t control what life throws our way, but we can control how we choose to react to it.