Amigas mia,
Joining my sweet friend Rebecca Jo at Knit By God’s Hand for Thankful Thursday, 04.2019. Even though it’s almost the weekend, this has felt like a long week. Not sure why it’s felt that way but it has. Glad to have PC home and to have three days stretching before us for some fun and some relaxation. So, I guess that would be my first grateful…grateful for the weekend.
Want to also write a quick update on my progress to find and enjoy some moments of peace. You might remember that peace is my word of the year. I have written about it here and here. March came and went without an update but not without progress. So want to brag a bit.
But first things first.
I continue to keep my gratitude journal, filling it in with 3-4 thankfuls every night before bed. Makes writing these Thankful Thursday posts a breeze. Was particularly faithful to the practice in March and off to a pretty good start this month. Here are just some of the many things I am thankful for.
Thankful Thursday, 04.2019
- Our lawnmower started on it’s inaugural run for the season. With the help of the neighbor. Sadly, we have lived in our home for 11 years, but really only know our next door neighbor to the east. Part of that is because our area is so transient with lots of military families renting, moving in and out. Our neighbor directly across the street saw us struggling to get the mower started and brought over a can of air to blow out the engine. It did the trick. Our yard looks darn good for early spring.
- Free car wash. On a day when it felt like about everything else was going wrong…a day where I had no other entry in my gratitude journal. I went to the car wash and inserted my card to pay and repeatedly got an error message. Tried a different card. No luck. Tried a different car wash bay and no luck. Tried a different card on the second bay. No luck. The attendant tried my card. No luck. He tried my second card. You guessed it…no luck. He gave me a free car wash.
- Allowing myself ‘grace’ on not having my house perfectly in order for Lauren and Lucia’s visit. This is huge for me. My OCD meds are kicked in, baby. Our house is never a mess. But when the girls got here, it wasn’t as clean as I like. And yet, I was okay with that.
- Fun at the park. With PC and Lucia.
- My brother, Kevin. For all he does for our mom, for all of the little fires he puts out on a daily basis.
- My sister, Valerie. Thankful that she was able to take off work to stay with my mom for a week.
- Our roof stayed on. We’ve had about 7 days spread out over the last 6 weeks where the wind has just howled. And the roof that PC had to patch in February has stayed on through all the latest windstorms.
- Whirlwind weekend in Washington with my Prince. Quick but fun.
- Reunited with Gloria and Yeny. More to come.
- My mom celebrated her 92nd birthday. Albeit in the hospital. But her friends visited and they had cake. Bundtinis. And the bundtini lady even delivered them for free.
- Beautiful spring weather, many mornings. Sunshine streaming in my loft window.
- Doughnut purred peacefully to the end. Such a sweet, loving kitty for 17 years.
- PC had his first ablation on the nerves in his back today. We waited for 3 hours for them to take him back for the 15 minute procedure. When she came for him, the nurse explained that the patient before had experienced some difficulties and couldn’t wake up after her procedure. Not exactly what we wanted to hear! I guess she finally came to, thank goodness, but talk about scary! My Prince seems to be pain-free tonight for the first time in a very long while. Thank You, God!
Additional Thankfuls
- Lunches with friends.
- Clean carpets.
- Massages.
- PC’s baseball team has 2 wins!
My Word of the Year, Peace
Have written 2 posts about my word of the year: peace. In both the January and February posts, I was struggling to figure out a way to bring more peace into my life. Toward the end of March and now into April, I’ve taken a new approach. Instead of waiting for peace to find me, I am seeking peace for myself.
These are a few of the ways I found peace.
- Blowing bubbles with Cia. One of us had a little trouble blowing bubbles so became the designated bubble popper.
- Working on my Paint by Sticker book. Carrie, did you tell me about these books? I am thinking you gave one to Aut.
- Listening to my latest book on Audible. During walks or while doing things around the house. A spicy, delicious, intelligent read.
- Coloring in my Mexican Folk Art coloring book. Using colored pencils and taking my time to do each page just right.
- Beginning my days with quiet time. With my kitties, my coffee in my loft.
- Walking. I try to get a morning walk in after quiet time and before I jump into my day. Lately, PC and I have also been walking a mile or more right before bed. It is a great way to unwind, talk, set aside the cares of the day and just be.
Finally, I think I am understanding that peace isn’t a way of life. At least it isn’t for me. While I can’t experience peace on a full-time basis, I can balance the chaos of LIFE with moments where I intentionally seek and find peace. And then sometimes, I get these crazy surprise moments of peace that are especially welcome.
Your Turn
What are your gratefuls? And in what ways do you enjoy moments of peace in your life? I am always looking for new ways to incorporate peace into my day. Maybe you can teach this old dog a new trick or two.
Have lots of things I want to do before we launch the weekend. Ironing, house cleaning, packing for my trip, some gardening, hoping to find time for a mani and pedi, thanks to my birthday check from my sweet mama. Had penciled in plans to go to the International Art Museum but will have to see how my days go. What do you have going on as we close out the week and look forward to the holiday weekend?
Thank you for spending a few moments of your day, here with me. If it weren’t for YOU coming by, I’d be sitting here talking to myself!!
Hugs and kisses,
Kellyann Rohr
It’s such a good idea to seek peace and find ways to be grateful – we are surrounded by opportunities to show gratitude yet we often miss them. It’s all perspective, isn’t it? Take for example your car wash – after all the trying and getting nowhere you could have been frustrated and irritated feeling like it was owed to you to get a free car wash but you chose to be grateful. Good for you!
Glad to hear your PC hasn’t had back pain! What a blessing!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You say the nicest things, girl! Your messages always, always lift me up. Thank you for the blessing that is YOU.
Juhli
Your thankful list is very touching and so heartfelt. What a great practice to write each night and so go to bed with that uppermost in your mind. I think that alone is a way of seeking peace.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are so right, dear friend. Remembering, acknowledging my gratitude is a peaceful practice. And makes for sweet dreams.
Dara
Glad to hear you are finding peace. I want to read that book! Great things to be thankful for as well. Happy birthday to your mom!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thanks for the birthday wishes for mom. Going up Monday for another visit. Hoping to take her for ice cream. A belated bday celebration.
Rebecca Jo
Happy Birthday to your momma!!!!! Bless her!!!!
I laughed at “roof stayed on”… I feel ya on that – some days, it feels like its a miracle that it stays on.
OK – I need those paint by sticker books. I’ve seen them & want to try it so badly!!!
We too hold our breath every lawn mower first pull…. whew! Ours made it too!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha, isn’t that the truth…our winds have been NUTS…I am talking Dorothy and the W. of O. Have seen at least one neighbor pedal by our bedroom window caught in whirlwind.
Schotzy
Oh, how I enjoyed your thankfuls today. I keep a journal and I do need to reserve a section for my thankfuls everyday. I love that!! Your granddaughter is precious and I love your tenacity and dedication to get your walks in not once but twice a day.. Hope your Easter will be wonderful and I look forward to more visit in the future!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for the encouraging words. I have hopped by your blog, now, too. So nice to meet you. I would encourage you to add your thankfuls to your journal entries. They can be so uplifting on dark days when it is hard to find something to be thankful for. Happy Easter!
Gale
OMG, your ending totally made me smile: “If it weren’t for you coming by, I’d be sitting here talking to myself!!” You TOTALLY are NOT talking to yourself! I loved your thankful post! I’m so glad PC had a successful procedure.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Aww, you make me smile. Thank you for your friendship and kind words.
Amy Johnson
I didn’t know people in Arizona even owned lawn mowers. I thought it was too dry to grow grass. So sorry to hear about your kitty. My Jackson is only 2 years old and I can’t imagine life without him. And wow, yea, that’s a scary thing to hear right before your about to enter a doctor’s office.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
We have grass in our yard only because we have sprinklers and because I insisted on having some!! But I offer to mow, too. Doughnut had such a sweet long life but even knowing that, it is still hard to say that final goodbye.
Shugunna Alexander
Love the post Leslie and CIA is beautiful! Your gratitude list is such a blessing. Hopefully you had a great holiday weekend…