Pioneer Day Gratitude

I am posting a little early this week due to a little late July getaway we have planned. Here in Utah, it's a state holiday known as Pioneer Day! July 24, 1847 is the day that the first group of Mormon Pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, and their leader, Brigham Young proclaimed, "This is the right place!" Pioneer Day is a big deal here in Utah.  State offices and many other businesses are closed and there is a huge parade through downtown Salt Lake City, and fireworks at night. Today, as I celebrate the arrival of the pioneers and settling of the Salt Lake Valley, I am looking back with gratitude on what went right during the last seven days.  To do this, I am once again joining with Suzanne over at Living to Tell the Story for Friday's Fave Five.

😊 In the spirit of Pioneer Day, I will start by saying how grateful I am to live where I live.  Utah is not my home state (I was born in Colorado) but Charly and my two oldest children were born here in Salt Lake City.  I have lived across this awesome country in seven different states and I am truly grateful to now call Utah home, and I hope to do so for the rest of my life!  There are many beautiful places across the country and many great states, but Utah is the place for me and I am thankful to be here.  (U.S. News and World Report agrees with me.  You can see why Utah is ranked as the #1 place to live in the United States by clicking here.)

😊 I began the week in a sleep deficit due to staying up too late a couple of nights.  My brain tends to wake up between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. no matter how much sleep I've had, so I was tired for the first several days of the week.  Finally, one afternoon, I went into my bedroom, closed my door, and took a lovely, long, deep nap.  It felt so good, and I woke up refreshed and feeling so much more upbeat.  I'm now trying to go to bed earlier, because I don't want to get into another sleep deficit with all that we have going on this coming week. I am grateful for the opportunity to get some extra rest that my body really needed.  It helped me feel much better!

😊 We had to go visit our insurance agent this week to review our coverage and make sure that everything is as it should be.  Our agent is so kind and helpful. She really goes above and beyond in her job. She has excellent information, ideas, and advice based on her knowledge and experience. Because we have several properties and some specialized insurance needs, I am grateful for the help of a good, honest, knowledgeable insurance agent.  

😊  Last fall, I had several sessions with my physical therapist after I injured my back putting up tables for a church activity.   My excellent physical therapist got me feeling much better until I recently aggravated my arthritic back again by pulling weeds and helping to move furniture that we had sold on Facebook Marketplace.  I went back to see him this past week, and once again he reassured me that my back and knee troubles are due to arthritis, He gave me some strategies and exercises to deal with the pain and discomfort when it comes up.  While I don't like having arthritis, I am grateful that I can combat the pain by staying active, and I am thankful for a good physical therapist who is helping me do just that!

😊 Charly and I wanted (and needed) end-of-summer-break pedicures.  I never thought I was a pedicure-kind-of-gal, but both Charly and I were having some problems with our feet and we decided that we to take better care of these important body parts that literally keep us going.  About Christmas time, we started getting pedicures every six weeks or so.   There are nail salons all over, but some are definitely better than others.  Last week, we found a new nail salon three blocks from our house, and the technician did a great job!  She also charged less than the place we had been going.  I am grateful that we found a good nail salon so we can keep our feet healthy and pain-free. 

😊 I received my LAST Welcome Back to School email this week.  As much as I am looking forward to retiring, I wanted to go back and work for a few more months (4 - 9 months) so that we can get our finances all ready for retirement.  There was some concern that I would not be "welcomed back" after a problem that arose last spring, when I got in trouble for reporting a s*xually inappropriate website that another teacher had.  Without going into more detail, I will say that the LBGTQ teacher crowd and the teacher's union were not happy with me at all, and I was afraid that I would not have a job this school year.  Teaching in a public school in our current societal culture is a true minefield, but I will continue to stand for right and true Biblical/Christian principles no matter what- even if I lose my job.  I am grateful for the prayers of blogging friends and others, and I am grateful that it looks like I will be able to retire on my own terms, instead of being pushed out.  I am grateful that the cultural tide seems to be going back to conservative common sense (at least for now). I believe that everyone deserves love and kindness, but I will not condone what is clearly wrong, and the s*xualization of children is wrong. I am grateful that I didn't lose my job for doing the right thing, and I am grateful that this coming school year will be my FINAL year in the classroom.  

😊 At risk of repeating myself, I love flowers, and I love having flowers everywhere in my yard!  I am grateful for all of the colorful beauty I have out in bloom in all parts of my yard right now.  Flowers of all kinds make me happy!

What are some things you are thankful for?  Thanks for stopping by.  Have a good weekend!

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"Not every day is perfect,

but every day has something 

to be thankful for.  

Gratitude turns ordinary moments 

into golden ones."

~Anon.

Giving Thanks

It's time again to look back with gratitude at all the good things that transpired during the past week.  To do this, once again, I am joining with Susanne and friends over at Living to Tell the Story for Friday's Fave Five. 

😊 We were able to get tickets for an upcoming performance of Henry V at BYU.  This will take place in February, but tickets were almost sold out and we got some of the last ones. I am super excited about this because I know that BYU (where my daughter Tiffany went to college) offers high-quality events and performances.  Best of all, two tickets were only $20. What a deal!  I am grateful for the opportunity to attend plays and other events like this. Charly and I both enjoy them!

😊 The family memory book I ordered a while back came in the mail this past week and we are very pleased with the result.  I am grateful for this nice and easily accessible way of preserving family memories.  I think I am going to order a book like this every few months. 

😊 Charly got his new desktop computer a few days ago and finally got it all set up and operational (excuse the messy office).  You can tell that he got all the "bells and whistles" including a lighted tower and keyboard. Charly has needed a new computer for a while, and I am grateful that he will no longer have to share the desktop that I use.  

😊 The other day, I came home to some happy mail which was these three sweet thank you notes from our granddaughters for the gifts we gave them at Christmas. I sure love our granddaughters (and our grandsons too) and I am always grateful when I hear from them.  

😊 The university Josh attends (BYU-Idaho) has a campus-wide "Date Night" each semester to help the students meet people and socialize. The event is completely free, very popular and, I am told, lots of fun. Josh has gone in the past and really enjoyed it.  This semester, he was having a hard time finding a girl to ask to date night.   He asked several but they had already had dates.  A couple of nights ago, however, he met a nice girl while relaxing in the hot tub at his apartment complex with some friends.  They started to talk and now Josh has a date for Date Night.  I am grateful that Josh is making friends and dating and that he will get to go to this event that he has been looking forward to. 

😊 I loaded the cart with the ACT Practice Test books for the final time Thursday morning.  My part of the ACT Prep class (the reading portion) is now complete.  Starting next week, the students will meet with science and math teachers to prepare for those portions of the test.  I am grateful for the opportunity to help the students prepare, and I am also grateful that I can now sleep in until 5 a.m. instead of getting up even earlier (my brain has been waking me up at about 4 a.m.)  to make it to the early morning prep class. 

😊 Finally, while I don't want to wish my life away, I am grateful that January is over.  It seems like there were so many troubling things that happened this past month - fires in California, the plane/helicopter crash in Washington D.C., political strife, turmoil and other troubling events.  I am praying for all those who have known so much pain during this past month, and I am grateful that we can turn the page on January and move on. Hopefully, the rest of the year will be more upbeat.

That's all for now.  I hope you have found some good things to give thanks for this week. Thank you for stopping by to visit. See you again soon.

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

Valentine's Week Favorites and Gratitude

As another week draws to a close, I am grateful that I have this weekly practice of looking back at some of the best part of my week.  I am grateful for Susanne over at Living to Tell the Story who hosts the link up for Friday's Faves on her blog.  Let's look back now at some of my favorite things about this week. 

😊 We had rain quite a bit of the day on Thursday, but by noon, the rain moved out and this is the view I had from the parking lot as I left the school in the afternoon. I am grateful that we are getting needed moisture and also that most of the snow is staying up in the mountains, leaving us with rain in the valleys.  I'm also grateful to live in a place which offers beauty like this on a daily basis.  

😊 Charly has been helping with dinner quite a bit lately. This is the delicious dinner he made this past Monday night. I am grateful for this healthy and yummy dinner and for all of the many things Charly does around the house. 

😊 I had a dental check-up Wednesday afternoon.  I was a little nervous because I had been experiencing some sensitivity in a back molar and I was afraid that maybe I had cracked a tooth or crown, but a thorough examination (including x-rays) showed that my teeth are all fine and healthy.  I am grinding my teeth at night though, probably due to stress,  so I am getting a custom mouth guard to wear while I sleep.  I am grateful for good dental care and that my teeth checked out OK.  

😊 Charly and I don't make a super big deal for Valentine's Day, but we do exchange cards and Charly usually gives me some kind of little Valentine's bear.  I have quite a collection of various little bears Charly has given me over the years, but the one shown above is the one he gave me this year. I am so grateful for a good husband.  No marriage is perfect, but I am grateful to be in good relationship with a guy I love and who loves me. 

😊 A friend from church brought over this treat for us on Valentine's.  It is a Pavlova-Meringue with Berries and Cream and it was delicious. Charly and I shared it as a Valentine treat.  I am grateful for the kindness of this woman who is in my ministering group at church. 

😊 I am grateful when I am able to relax and read for a few minutes some afternoons when I get home from school.  My weekdays are busy and it is nice to take a few minutes to kick back on our reclining couch with a book to recover from the day before starting on evening chores and activities. 

😊 In the past, I haven't used our local library a lot simply because it was a pain to go there.  Now, however, I am grateful that there is a large, well-stocked county library adjacent to the rec center where we go to work out almost every night.  I love to read and have been making good use of the library which is super convenient - literally a few indoor steps away from the rec center. 

😊 My youngest granddaughter will be starting kindergarten later this year and she will be starting to read.  I had been looking to order some "beginning reader" books for her when I found these like-brand-new Pinkalicious books at a thrift store for only 75 cents each!  I am grateful to find such a bargain on books for my sweet granddaughter who is the most sweet Pinkalicious girl I know! 

That's all for now.  Have a great weekend!

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"Love wholeheartedly,

be surprised,

give thanks and praise-

then you will discover 

the fullness of your life."

~David Steindl-Rast

 

More Fall Gratitude and Favorites

Our weather turned cold this week and we had more snow in the mountains.  We are having a beautiful fall and cooler weather is the natural progression of the season.   To express gratitude for this lovely autumn and the blessings of this week, I am joining again with by blogging friends, Susanne at Living to Tell the Story, and Stacy over at A Mile in My Shoes. 

😊 We've had rain in the mountains and snow in the mountains the past couple of days, but, by and large, we have had an absolutely beautiful fall.  I am grateful for that and also for the much needed rain and snow.

😊 I received numerous birthday greetings to help me celebrate another trip around the sun.  I got phone calls, texts, messages, cards and gifts.  I am so  grateful to feel such love.  

😊 Charly got the plywood cabinet dismantled and taken out of our garage, which gives us more room for other things we need to store.  I am grateful for all of Charly's hard work in the garage. 

😊 Charly and I decided to get tickets to the opera as a late birthday gift to ourselves. We attended La Boheme at the Utah Opera Company on Wednesday night.  I am grateful for a nice late birthday celebration at the opera.  

😊  We had lunch on Thursday with some dear friends that we get together with often.  The husband recently got super sick with Covid which turned to pneumonia, and he ended up in the hospital.   He is just now feeling well enough to get out a bit and we were able to meet up for lunch. We went to a large all-you-can eat place, which was pretty good. We are grateful that our friend is recovering and that we can meet up for lunch with him and his wife again. 

😊 I put some little LED lights up in our front windows this past week.  Right now, they are orange for Halloween , but I will be able to change them to red and green at Christmas time, or any other color, with just the touch of a button. You can see the kind of lights I purchased here.  I have little LED lights in my classroom, and they are super easy to put up with their adhesive backing. I am grateful that I have these little lights in my windows at home now, making holiday decorating quick and easy. 

That's all for this week of gratitude and good stuff. See you again soon.  Have a good weekend. 

Until next time, 

🍁🎃Deb🎃🍁

"Small seeds of gratitude

produce a harvest of hope."

~anon.

Gratitude on the Day After

We had a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving. Here are some of the things I am most thankful for this day after Thanksgiving.  I am joining as always with Susanne and friends over at Living to Tell the Story for Friday's Fave Five. 

• 😊We went to our daughter Tiffany's home for Thanksgiving dinner.  We had a lovely day. (Pictures at the end of the post). I am grateful for the invitation and time with our daughter and her family.

• 😊All grandparents love their grandchildren and think they are special  I am no exception to that.  Every time I spend time with my Utah grandkids, I am newly impressed at what genuinely nice and kind young people they are.  I have worked with teens for a living for over 22 years, so I think I know what I am talking about.  I am grateful for my grandchildren and for my daughter and her husband who are raising them so well. 

• 😊We had a great dinner with lots of delicious food. We ordered the turkey from the KFC in a town near where our daughter lives.  Not having to cook so much, made for a more relaxed day for everyone.  I am grateful that we were able to order dinner from KFC and the food was ready on time and was oh so delicious.  

• 😊Josh called us and the family that was going to have him over to Thanksgiving dinner ended up getting sick.  He had a second invitation from a young lady in his church congregation who was fixing dinner for anyone in the congregation who didn't have a place to eat Thanksgiving dinner.  It ended up that he was the only one who came over to her home and so he and a lovely young lady from his church congregation enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner together.  He was quite pleased.  I am thankful that Josh had a nice dinner with a nice girl on Thanksgiving.

• 😊After dinner, our daughter and her husband wanted us to come and see the progress on the new home they are building.  Again, pictures are below.  They are building a large home in a great location, and they are all super excited for it to be finished next summer.  The home they sold last year was also a large, beautiful home and my daughter told me that they had worked hard and completely paid off the mortgage! Wow - less than 40 years old with a paid-off mortgage!  I am grateful that my daughter and son-in-law are frugal and hard-working and have been blessed with the ability to provide so well for their family. 

• 😊🙏If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that we have two more children (and five more grandchildren) and, due to various circumstances in their lives, we don't hear from them much.  This makes us sad, but we respect their choices and we are still grateful for ALL of our children and grandchildren.  All are blessings from God and we are grateful they are part of our eternal family.  We pray for and love all of our children and grandchildren.  Our door and arms are open and we know that God will heal hearts and make all things right in His timing.

Now, here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving with our daughter and her family.  (Look closely in some of the pictures and you will see Charly taking a little nap after the L-tryptophan in the turkey kicked in). We ate dinner, then the children enjoyed making the Christmas decorations and gingerbread houses I brought down for them. We also went over to see the progress on their home.  It was a truly lovely day. 

My heart is full - so much to be grateful for!  

Until next time, 

😊Deb 💖

"There are so many beautiful reasons to be grateful."

~anon.