Andrea's Musings my year of gratitude

Ah, spring time. I do love spring. Most of it. Spring here brings scenes like this one in my house…

Since it’s finally warm out, this house needs fresh air! So, I throw open the windows, smiling gleefully.

My two black and white cats hear the window being opened and go “WINDOW!!!” and come running to see who can be the first to press his nose against the screen to smell all the smells. These two are downright giddy.

I then look over at the bed, where my sweet orange kitty is curled up. He is trying to glare at me, through his red, crusty, spring allergy laden eyes. His look says to me, “Woman, why do you do this to me? Every year. Every single year. Just remember, I know where you sleep.” And then he sneezes, as his eyes water some more.

Sorry, sweet orange cat. I always forget how bad your spring and fall allergies are. But that’s not going to stop me from opening the windows. My spring and fall allergies are bad too. I’ll share my tissues.

I have a fur blanket. It is soft and cuddly and warm. It covers my feet at night. Or sometimes cuddles up next to them. It puts itself there, no matter how warm or cold I am, and is rather heavy. It always comes pre-warmed. Sometimes, it even gives me a foot massage, in one of two settings. High intensity, with occasional acupuncture, or a low intensity soft rumble. I love my fur blanket. And my fur blanket loves me.

My fur blanket.

It’s been a pretty awesome Christmas season. Great time spent with family. A lot of wonderful down time. Kids got to play in the snow, repeatedly. Gifts were given and received. In-laws visited. Many books were read. Sleep was had. All in all, it was awesome.

My house isn’t really sure what hit it. Much of its protective layer of dirt is now missing. I credit my mother in law for much of it, and my self, my husband and my kids for the rest of it. Much has been organized and many items purged, some trash, some recycled, many donated or freecycled. There is far more to go before I would consider it done, but it has moved in the right direction, for sure. Living in one house for 9+ years has really accumulated a lot of stuff. This is a new phenomenon for me, and the realization has dawned that it really needs to be cleaned out in a big way, and so it has, and will continue.

One child’s room has been repainted. She is thrilled. The rest of the redecoration must wait until the paint has fully cured.

Not all was perfect. There was a bout of stomach flu (mine), a sinus infection (daughter’s) and a (so far) mild cold (also mine) and a full fledged flu with some extended family that meant not seeing them as planed. There was bickering and arguing among the children and yelling by the parents. Overall though, the good far outweighed the bad.

Many days have gone by since I blogged. Mostly, because I was busy and enjoying my time with family. Partly, because I’ve come to realize that stupid daily crappy posts stink, and I’d prefer to save up and write something at least somewhat decent for the web to see. I’m still thankful every day, but going forward I may or may not post about it daily. We’ll see what comes.

I’m thankful today for libraries, that allow my family access to so many books, and for the family I have that loves books and libraries as much as I do.

I’m also thankful for great authors, who write stories that we love to read. And for being able to share wonderful works with my husband, and eventually, my children.

I’m also thankful for a day in which I get to read a novel, start to finish, without sacrificing my nightly sleep in order to do so. Without good books, I would lose my mind… what little of it I have left.

Yesterday I was thankful for making cookies, for the pure joy my children have in making them, and decorating them, and giving them to others. And for eating them. Yum.

Today I am thankful for having gifts to wrap. For the joy my children get from giving to others. From their willingness to be helpful when I asked them to pick out toys and books to donate today.

I’m thankful today for the ability to take a sick day, to sleep half of it and not ever get out of my jammies. I’m thankful that the stomach flu I had was a shorter lived variety than some I’ve previously encountered. I’m thankful for eating solid food again.

I’m also thankful for my sweet youngest, who went far above and beyond today, cleaning and organizing things so that we could put up our Christmas tree as planned.

I’m thankful for my amazing husband, who not only took care of me, but also handled the children on a snow day. He made some amazing chicken soup this afternoon as I was finally able to eat again. And in and among all this, he’s also managed a decent amount of work.

I’m thankful for getting things accomplished today. It was a busy day, but many things that have rapidly approaching deadlines are now done, which is a great relief. There is plenty more to do (isn’t there always?) but I’m glad for what I have done today.

I’m also thankful for my kiddos giving hearts. They are such generous kids, and I am so thankful for that. My youngest would buy Christmas presents for EVERYONE ever if there was any way she could.

Forgot to post before I went to bed last night, so I’ll correct that this morning.

I’m thankful for good medical care, and that my oldest child doesn’t have a concussion like we suspected she might. She instead just has a bruise and a small lump on her head, but otherwise is fine. I’m also thankful for the ability to get her glasses adjusted for free as they also got bonked. I’m thankful she didn’t break them, or her head significantly.

I’m also thankful for medicine to help my youngest feel better again soon. She’s not bad, but the medicine will make it better much faster, and for that, I’m thankful.

Today I am overwhelmed with thanks for the generosity of others. Santa (or the spirit of) is alive and well in our neck of the woods, and for this, I am so so thankful, I just don’t even have the words.

I’m also thankful for new babies, as one of my best friends gave birth to a healthy baby today. I am so happy for her and her family, and thankful that all is well.

Today I am thankful for safe travels despite thick fog.

I am thankful for being able to celebrate birthdays with very young children, seeing their unabashed excitement and joy. Sharing the cake – yum! Remembering when he was tiny, and seeing how much he has grown and changed before my very eyes.