Saturday, February 22, 2014

Ten Things of Thankful: Week 36



Well, without intentionally diving straight into the list, I am going to. 
  • I have to say that the high point this week was the higher temperatures. And by higher I mean one day it was about 60 and two days it was in the 50’s and some of the snow (in fact a lot of the snow) melted. But of course we still have a massive pile in our front yard because we live at the end of a long court, where the snow plow shoves all the snow. We will still have a pile of snow there in May. And it won’t be the first time that has happened.
  • But I can see a bunch of grass…sure it’s yellow and hideous but I’ll take it!
  • I am thankful for the rain! I love rain and I love thunderstorms…mostly because they usually mean Spring. I love Spring…I am SO ready for Spring. But we all are so this isn’t really anything ground-breaking which I am writing. Moving on.

Speaking of storms, Indy was thrilled to hangout in the guest bathroom with us on Thursday night when the storm sirens were going off...

Here's another...he's looking less "hill-jack" and dare I say "cuter" in this one...
  • Since I already dove right in about the weather (quite frankly, I couldn’t contain myself!) I shall just keep going with my non-numbered list. I am thankful that I finished my/our taxes.
  • And I am thankful that we are getting a refund from both federal and state. Yes, yes I know you don’t really want to get money back because it means that the government was able to use my money, interest-free, and is just now returning it to me. But I am still happy.
  • I am also thankful that I did not end up leaving my children outside for the gypsies (no offense to any gypsies who may be reading this) even though they might have deserved it. We had a rough start to the week, let me just say. But I think the warmer temps (and time for the PBA to play outside) helped everyone’s attitude immensely. Phew!
  • I am thankful for a new book from a sweet friend! If you have never heard of Tricia Lott Williford, you are missing out on something fabulous. I have been reading her blog for about a year and a half, thanks to the recommendation from my friend PA, and I am addicted. She is an amazing writer. And she just published her first book. It is glorious, and lovely and (at times) funny, at other times gut-wrenching, and always well-written. My favorite quote thus far: "Turns out, on a shaky and uncertain day, there is humor and comfort in the rules of punctuation. I always suspected that could be true." ~ Tricia Lott Williford, "And Life Comes Back". Get this book and read it. Available everywhere books are sold. (And no, I make no money from the sale of this book...just to clarify.)
  • I am thankful for my belated Valentine’s Day M&M’s (50% off at the CVS!)…and God-bless Mr. Always Random who had some difficulty tracking any down. But he was tenacious (mostly because he knew he had to be) and was successful in finding not ONE but TWO bags of M&M’s.
  • I am thankful for Free M&M’s. Also from CVS. They had a special offer of buy an individual package of either Mega M&M’s or Birthday Cake M&M’s (they were each 75 cents) and then you got ExtraBucks for 75 cents. For those of you who are coupon and/or math-impared, that makes them (basically) free. At least for me, because they know I’ll be back and will easily spend that 75 cents.

They did taste like birthday cake...but original are still my favorite...in case anyone out there would like to make note of that for future reference...
  • I am thankful that I can check Spam off my bucket list. Well, I wouldn’t say that…mostly I was happy/thrilled/surprised that I could put together a new recipe which included Spam. And it was T.A.S.T.Y. Don't believe me? Try it for yourself. I've thrown down the gauntlet...what will you do with it?
  • I know I have mentioned this upcoming "event" before but we are finally at the threshhold. I am thankful that my 10yo’s surgery is happening on Monday…not because I want him to need surgery (I'm certain you understood...but just in case not, I felt compelled to clarify) but because I won’t have to wait any longer for it to take place. And neither will he. Or will anyone else who has been anticipating it. If you are so inclined, please pray for him on Monday morning as he is having 10 teeth removed. Yes…I typed that correctly and you read that right: 10. One-zero.  And prayers for the doctor as well. And maybe one for me, as I wait for him to come out of anesthesia, especially. Thanks in advance. (More on this later…the reasons and such.)

That’s about it…hop on over to see what other things of thanksgiving are listed this week!





19 comments:

  1. Kristen, my prayers for your little boy's speedy recovery from the surgery, and it will go well!

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  2. Best wishes on Monday. I once had 8 teeth removed at once. It was no picnic, but it wasn't the pain in the jaw that was the worst. It was the fact that I couldn't fully open my mouth for over a week that was the most troublesome. The muscles in your jaw get fatigued from being held open for so long and it takes a while for them to recover. Not sure if this will happen Monday but thought I would mention it because as a kid nobody told me it would happen and I was scared I would never be able to open my mouth fully again. I mean I couldn't open it wide enough to get a spoon in there for a week. I slurped lots of soup, pudding and applesauce. Thing of you!

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  3. Totally praying also for your little guy now. And I am with you on finally seeing some grass from the melted snow. Never thought I would say this, but just such a welcome sight after all we have had. And totally high giving you on the taxes and getting a return, too now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, as well now :)

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    1. Thanks for the prayers! And, yes...the grass is making a comeback for sure!
      Hope you had a great week-end!

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  4. Did I ever tell you about my massive teeth extraction? When I was in 4th grade I had 8 teeth removed. I was knocked out cold, so they could yank 4 adult and 4 baby teeth. I remember every second leading up to it and after waking up. It really wasn't too bad. The mouth full of cotton upon waking was the worst part.
    I will be praying...
    As for the spam...I'm going to leave the gauntlet where it lay.

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    1. I know he'll be fine...I KNOW it. but I had 8 baby teeth removed, plus wisdom teeth (later on). Still...my mind always assumes the worst. Thanks for the prayers.
      Come on...live a little. Spam's not so bad! ;)

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  5. Christine I still say you have lovely teeth! ( But try and convince her!) ANyhoo...will be sending massively prayerful vibes to you all on Monday and before/after... I love Indy's toothy grin! He could probably use a bit o dental surgery too eh? SPAM! I grew up on spam... I know ick...but yknow I don't mind the stuff... I don't even eat meat anymore but I don't have bad memories of spam ... it gets a bad wrap... poor little spaminals....

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  6. Bless your son's heart. My baby is 10 too. Ten teeth is a lot. Will be good to get a procedure like that over with. And I woke up yesterday to a thunderstorm that knocked out our power. I do like to hear them while I'm sleeping.

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  7. Wow! Ten teeth! Never heard of an extraction involving that many in a child. My daughter had 5 or 6 before braces and then her 4 wisdom teeth years later. That's bad enough! Hope he has a smooth recovery!

    Must have been the week in the Midwest for restless children! I had a mother of a couple of my students say she wanted to sell them to the gypsies!

    SPAM is not on my bucket list, but I'd try those Birthday Cake M&M's!

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  8. Is it really really really really bad/mean/wicked that I kinda hope you'll join us next week with a 'Ten Teeth of Thankful'...?

    I'll certainly send whatever I can on Monday. Hope it helps! And just think - this time next week, it will all be OVER.

    Spam's alright. Dad used to make it into fritters once in a while, and we'd have them sizzling hot with ketchup. Bad for you but oh so good. I've not eaten it for yeeeeeeeeeeeears.

    And. Uh. This may be a dumb question buuuuuut, 'Birthday Cake' is a flavour? Don't they all taste different? (birthday cakes, that is, not M&Ms, just in case you thought I was just going mad instead of normal-level-bonkers)

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  9. Wow, 10 teeth, poor guy! Keeping all of you in my thoughts on Monday! Yay for free M&Ms. Free stuff is always awesome! You should build a snow bar or iglu with all the snow, then at least wouldn't be just a pile of snow any more :-) I bet that the nice weather was a welcome difference. Hoping for spring coming to you, soon!! Have a great weekend!!

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  10. Prayers and best wishes for your son's surgery to go well!
    I know that part about the tax money is so true, but I can't say I dislike getting the check back in the spring and knowing I'm not going to end up paying in. That just stinks.

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  11. let me add my own, 'yow!'…. but I can identify with your feeling of, by having it set to happen soon, any secondary stress will be kept to a minimum.
    best of thought and wishes on that thing…
    damn! just thought, does he know about the Tooth Fairy? dude could totally break the bank with this one event! try to negotiate!

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  12. I'm with Christine and am going to step right on over that gauntlet. (My dad loves Spam, although he rarely eats it.)

    My daughter had 6 pulled out at one time, but I think that's the most she had done at once. I believe she had 13 teeth pulled, total. Still has wisdom teeth to go, but they're not ready, yet. It isn't easy when your child is put under anesthesia, and I will be praying for all of you Monday. I do recommend taking what we call an "urp bucket" in the car with you for the trip home, because he may be nauseous from the blood that drains into his tummy and all the gauze stuffed in his mouth. They will probably send him home with ice packs, but if not, have some ready at home (bags of frozen peas are awesome). Nothing from a straw, as it can cause the clots to come out. And then it will be over with and you will have one less thing to worry about.

    Free M&Ms! You are the Bargain Queen!

    Indy looks thrilled to be hanging out in the bathroom. Stay safe from storms. No basement? I couldn't live in a house without a basement, which is why (among other reasons) I couldn't live in Tulsa, as they soil is such that they can't dig basements there. Deal breaker!

    I told my husband today that I think February is the ugliest month. Everything is not only dead but also faded. Blahhhh. Love seeing those little bits of green popping up around here.

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  13. I will certainly be praying for your son (and you!) and I hope all goes well! Ten teeth? Wow!
    Spam? No thanks! I know it's not awful but...well, yes, I think it's awful. I am glad to hear everyone got a little break and got out of the house and there is hope of spring on the horizon.

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  14. I wish I could send you some rain! We have too much down here.
    I hadn't seen the birthday cake M&m''s....gotta find some of them!

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  15. I will pray for you, your son, and the doctor. I hope everything goes well.

    I hadn't heard of birthday cake flavored M&Ms, but I'm sure they tasted good, especially at that price!

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  16. Well, I am intrigued with anyone who has SPAM on her bucket list. Perhaps that is your Downton Abbey?
    I'd never fault you for leaving your kids out for the gypsies. It has to happen from time to time to remind them what good lives they have. Right?

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  17. I am a big fan of CVS rewards and the Extra Bucks program, too.

    I hope all goes well with the surgery today.

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