1. A satisfactory crunch. I don’t know about you, but any time I see a patch of ice, I immediately look to see if it is the thin opaque type–you know the kind that gives that glorious crunch when you step on it. I just couldn’t resist when I saw this beautiful specimen just outside my front door. If you’ve never tried this, I highly encourage it–it’s very satisfying. Just don’t steal any of mine.
2. A paver project. A couple of years ago I began a front patio project. It began with building a wall and then cementing rock on that wall. I finally got around to finishing the patio part this past week. It was a lot of heavy duty work that I hope to never ever have to do again–I’m just so glad it’s done. I will never understand why I think these ridiculously difficult and tedious and tiresome projects will be “no problem” and “easy”. My arm muscles were so SORE (those pavers were HEAVY) and my hands got so torn up (let’s just say if I had any hopes and dreams of being a hand model–that ship has sailed). I admire those that choose to do these types of projects for a living, however, I do not wish to be you.
3. Being thankful–even when I don’t feel like it. This year has had A LOT of downs. There’s been some good parts but, it’s been a year full of hard situations–so many questions and not many answers and a time of SO MUCH waiting with no end in sight. It’s been hard to keep on keeping on.
I don’t know about you, but when life gets difficult–I do all the things I’m not supposed to: eat my way through my feelings (I believe strongly that chocolate is worth a try in any given situation), vent to anyone who will listen (even grocery store clerks that dare to ask how I am doing), and I whine….A LOT. I sensed that the Lord was getting rather weary of my “methods” when the topic of thankfulness kept coming up just about everywhere I went.
I started out rather begrudgingly and rather sarcastically. (Thank You SO MUCH for this head cold Lord–I LOVE it! Can I please have another?) But then I began to make lists of things I was genuinely thankful for and I started to feel a little sheepish about how I had been behaving.
No, I have not reached a level of spiritual maturity where I feel thankful for my difficulties, but I do see how taking the focus off the problem and turning it to things to be thankful for makes the problems seem not so big. I truly have A LOT to be thankful for.
4. Grandma and Papa! My parents switch back and forth to mine or my sister’s house for Thanksgiving every year. This year it was our turn and we just LOVED having them here. My boys adore their Grandma and Papa. They enjoyed showing off their latest toy obsessions, favorite video games and just enjoyed being loved on by two people who just might love them as much as their Momma and Daddy do.
5. Disney Plus. In my humble opinion, Disney Plus is an A+. We LOVE it. We signed up for the free trial because my two boys LOVE all things Star Wars and were just DYING to see the new show they had advertised called The Mandalorian. There are only 5 shows so far for this first season (I’ve heard there will be 8 total) and it is REALLY good–baby Yoda is the BEST. He is so. darn. cute. (Just an FYI–no one seems to be completely clear on if this really is Yoda as a baby or if it is just a species that looks like him) (You have to have a PhD in Star Wars history to be worthy of offering an opinion and just like with many other historical texts–there is a lot of debating).
We have also really enjoyed watching so many of the movies on Disney Plus–including a lot of oldies but goodies like “Escape to Witch Mountain” and “Bed knobs and Broom Sticks”. They have a free one week trial and then it’s $6.99/month after that.
I hope you have a great week!