Thriving on Thursday

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

In what ways are you and yours thriving?

I'm up early, writing up the service for Sunday and in the writing of the prayers and walking through the service in my mind, I'm struck by all that I have to be thankful for and all the strengths I see in my life.

In the rush to prepare for holidays, sometimes we focus too much on what we haven't yet got done, feeling overwhelmed and guilty.

Today, let's focus on all that we have accomplished, perhaps not specifically for the holidays but towards the foundation on which we have built a home. Since home (both physical and emotional) is also the host of holiday celebrations, the work we have done all year counts towards our holiday preparations.

In what ways are you and yours thriving?

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Ways I'm thriving:

1. I'm getting stronger each week.
2. My housework, in general, is basically under control.
3. I've made great strides in learning what is important to me, and letting go the 'noise' that I used to pay far too much attention to.
4. I'm surrounded by people I love and who love me.

I could make a much longer list of ways that I'm not thriving, but that will be for another day!

I was up just after 5 this morning. Dh got up to the bathroom at 4:30 and I couldn't settle back down after that. I felt awake and my mind was racing, worrying about things left undone. Since I write best in a dead quiet, dark, house, I decided to get up and start writing. I'm dressed in my exercise clothes and when I hear dh get up, I'll join him in the exercise room.

Oh, and I'll have a very early nap this afternoon!

[scattered]

Kathryn - Good Morning, thanks for opening us up. I love your comment about the "noise."

How am I thriving? UGH, that is a tough one this morning, in some regards, considering the situation. Mornings are usually the toughest time for me, give me a hour or so and I will be my happy bubbly self.
1. Surrounded by people who love me.
2. Doing good emotionally even though life has been throwing me curve balls.
3. Have a interview 1 week after loosing my job.

I have to leave in about 2 hours for my interview, I actually woke up a few minutes before my alarm. Need to get my poop in a group and get going.

ToDo/TaDa's
coffee
print out copies of resume on nice paper
pick out outfit
s2s
fill coffee cups
head out for interview (@ 10)
change to house clothes
pull out sewing machine & set-up
sew Mother's jacket
Dinner

BBS

[OKay]

Good Morning!

Kathryn - great question....In what ways are you and yours thriving?

** I am physically able to choose how I spend my day. My body is strong enough to do about anything I want.
** I am living my dream of retiring and choosing how to spend my time.
** I am blessed to have large close multi-generation family that enjoy being together and are kind to each other (minus 1 heartbreaking exception)
** I am thriving and thankful for this online village that inspires me to do better than i would by myself.

[OKay]

YIPPEEE!!! Just got a phone call - DNeice is in labor. DNephew made it to the hospital (he travels frequently and we all wondered if he would be able to get home in time to be at their baby birth). All is well. Now we pray and wait for them to call again when baby is born.

[helia]

What a positive uplifting direction for our thoughts during a time when busyness and stress can drag us down! Thank you Kathryn.

Hmm.... I would echo your #3 and #4 for myself too, Kathryn. Not #1 b/c I'm likely getting weaker. I did go for a 30 minute jog yesterday, but it was clear that my body is not used to that. BUT the good news is that I went and I'm going to try to get back on the exercise bandwagon! And my housework is not under control -- but it is much better than it was when the kids were small, that's for sure.

I'll try to verbalize thriving a little more specifically:
1. I have a wonderful loving community of friends.
2. I have a wonderful loving family!
3. My faith is thriving now; sometimes, it seems kind of dry and more like a duty. I can see that I am making progress learning to live the way I'm called to live.
4. My family is thriving! After the initial difficulties with anxiety earlier this fall, dd17 is now so cheerful, she is sometimes bouncing off the walls. Ds is thriving at the U. I mention this especially b/c we initially put him in the dorms with some fear and trepidation, having heard horror stories of what can transpire in the dorms. Well, none of those stories have come to pass, and his dorm experience has been great so far! God has been gracious.
5. After some busy weeks, my schedule is now more open. I am actually enjoying shopping for friends and family!!

So, the girls are off. Dh is still in bed; we all went to bed too late last night. We all stayed up until about 11:00 pm as dd14 was studying for a bio test today and dd17 was working on an English project due tomorrow. Dh and I didn't get to bed until a bit later. I actually fell asleep on the sofa. . . .

Goals for today:
-groc. store, quick run -- I'm feeding 10 people tonight (Thursday crew - all will be coming + 2 guests) and I didn't settle on a menu until last night. Dh has requested pulled pork, which is actually very easy to make. Good choice for today!
-downtown shops - 10K Villages and Cherry Republic (MI cherry products!) to finish up some Cmas shopping
-some tidying in the house in prep for dinner guests
(-walk/ some other exercise - not jogging)
(-spend time cleaning up my gardens)
-pick up dd14 after school at 3:30 to take her to her sewing and design lesson, 4 - 5.
-prep dinner
-dinner guests here 6:45-ish until ? Hopefully, not too late. . . .

I'm off to s2s.

[scattered]

OKay - Good morning, I am very thankful for this little village also. That is great news, praying for the DFamily!

I am doing a little better, I'm a bit nervous about this interview, think it is just the standard nerves, but it has impacted my mood. I am hoping that I will feel better after I take a shower. Please pray for me and my DFamily?

Have to call Mother on way to my interview to beg her assistance in refinancing the house, the $300 reduction in bills would be very helpful.

ToDo/TaDa's
coffee
print out copies of resume on nice paper
pick out outfit
s2s
fill coffee cups
head out for interview (@ 10)
change to house clothes
pull out sewing machine & set-up
sew Mother's jacket
Dinner

BBS

[helia]

Will pray, ((scattered)). I must say, I'm very impressed by how quickly you've gotten so many interviews.

Yes, I'm thankful for you lovely ladies too. I still dream of an IRL get-together some time.

That is happy news, OK! Looking forward to the final results too! Will say a prayer for them.

[blessedw2]

Thank you d kathryn for such a thoughtful way to start our day. (i love that you are surrounded by those who love you!)

good morning d helia lots to be grateful for!, d scattered (saying those prayers for you to get a great job fast), d ok - how very exciting!,

1. coming here always gives me hope and push to be the person I want to be
2. blessed with my girls that always work hard and work hard at being good people, and blessed with my dh who takes the time to listen and works hard to be respectful even if he sees things differently than the family, and my d family
3. blessed with a positive attitude 95% of the time and that I am grateful for the people and experiences in my life (the good and the bad). you learn so much from the hard times that it blesses you later on.

hello all that follow

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm now dressed and about to start working for the day. Today's focus is housework and napping (I'm very tired after that super early start.)

I did 2 miles on the treadmill, have tidied the bedroom, s2s, unloaded the dishwasher and had my breakfast. Ds is up.

My senior friend callled and confirmed that we'll take her tomorrow. I have the party invititations and devotions to do while I'm waiting for her at the hospital so that time will be well spent.

We have a pot-luck dinner on Saturday and I just remembered what I had planned to take (bought meat pies) so I'm relieved about that. Very little effort to do this.

I'm all about reducing the effort to do things these days.