Amigas mia,
Joining my sweet friend Rebecca Jo at Knit By God’s Hand for Thankful Thursday, 06.2019. Looking back, I realized I am writing these Thankful Thursday posts every other month. Should probably try to up that number a bit. Because I have so much to be thankful for. Should be singing praise and gratitude here at least once a month!!
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, here and over here. Have finally, FINALLY come to understand that peace isn’t going to find me. I am going to have to search it out and intentionally add it to my day, my week, my life.
One of my wellness goals is to write in my gratitude journal, filling it in with 3-4 thankfuls every night before bed. Which makes writing these Thankful Thursday posts a breeze. Some nights, before lights out, I will ask PC to think on what he’s thankful for, too. Would like to believe that doing so helps us both to sleep better.
Thankful Thursday, 06.2019
Thankful for:
- The smells of the southern United States, the smells of my childhood. While walking in a Lexington, Kentucky neighborhood near my mom’s apartment one morning, my senses were delighted in the sights and smells and sounds of the south. Those of my childhood in Tennessee. Dew on the lawns (we don’t have that in El Paso…dew or lawns!), cardinals and blue birds, tulips, pansies, petunias. Freshly mowed grass.
- Ability to run a 5K. Not much elaboration needed. Just glad this 61 year-old body still allows me to run (jog?) a 5K.
- Paul’s 2nd ablation went well. Although, it hasn’t provided him a whole lot of relief. We have another appointment at the pain management center in 2 weeks. Hoping there is something more that can be done.
- We enjoyed cool nights while our AC was not working. It could have been miserable…triple digits are not uncommon in May. But we were blessed with lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s while our air conditioner was out.
- Being a mom. To my precious daughters Brennyn Alexis and Lauren Allegra.
- Being a mimi and a gabba. To my grandbabies Cadence Ellie and Lucia Carolina.
- Finding 2 pennies and a dime. When I find coins, I always feel that God is reaching out to me, reminding me that He is there. My sister shared this little graphic on Facebook a few weeks ago, the same day I found my pennies and dime.
- Our bedtime walks. At dusk, a little over a mile each night.
- A mountain hike, wildflowers and picnic sandwiches.
- Laughing with my mom. She has rallied again since her last hospital stay and my last visit. We laugh every phone conversation and I continue to marvel at my wonderful mother’s strength.
- Our soldiers and our country.
- PC and his brother JC (John Clingan) banished the red, security warning on my blog. And finally, all’s right in my blogging world.
- Francisco interviewed for and was offered 2 jobs in El Paso. He accepted one and the kids are moving here late this summer!
- The kids have had a lot of interest on their home for sale in Albuquerque.
My Word of the Year, Peace
As I mentioned above, I’ve decided that rather than waiting for peace to find me, I am taking the upper hand and finding a little peace in every day.
- Snuggling with my kitties each morning. Purrsnickitty and Purrsimmony enjoy our morning quiet time as much as I do.
- Working on creative projects like my scrapbooking and mosaic. Crafting and photography are just hobbies but they bring me moments of peace and feelings of accomplishment.
- Enjoying a fragrant shower with our homemade soaps from All Lathered Up in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Using this soap is like a mini-vacation. It comes in several dozen fragrances, bear country, being one of our favs. You can see the previous bar of soap lasted all the way down to a sliver of bear and pine tree and still smelled like a hike in the woods.
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 you particularly grateful for over the past few weeks? How would your Thankful Thursday, 06.2019 post read? How do you find peace in the midst of your own busy life? Please share in a comment below. And then, please take a moment to visit Rebecca Jo. You will be inspired and uplifted by her posts.
Off to bed. Wishing you a happy Fri-YAY!
Hugs and kisses,
Lovely post Leslie. I can smell the flowers and the forest. It made me think I should be counting my blessings rather than feeling under pressure and unappreciated all the time.
You have such a busy, high profile career. I am sure there is much pressure and stress involved with it. But blessings, as well. It is sometimes easier for me to bemoan all that is wrong rather than concentrate on what is right. And there is always something right!
What a great list. I especially love the part about the coins you find, I will have to keep my eyes open and hopefully find some from my dad.
That house? Belongs to your daughter? Holy moly! It’s gorgeous!
I hope you have a great weekend sweet Leslie!
xo,
Kellyann
Oh, Kellyann, start looking for coins. I bet your dad is showering parking lots with them in hopes that you will find one to know he is there with you. Parking lots are my favorite place to look!
My daughter’s home is lovely, thank you. They will miss the beautiful lawn and the great view but the house they are buying in El Paso is on the mountainside and will be a great home for their expanding family.
I’ve got to send that penny thing to my manager. She always finds them on the beach & its a thing with her dad & her – she totally knows he sends them to her there.
YES MA’AM… be thankful for that running body – that’s a healthy body to have!
The smell of fresh cut grass – THE BEST
I have always thought God was sending me the coins I find. And still think that way but now, I also associate them with my dad and my 3 year old nephew Andrew. So nice feeling them close.
It’s great to have so many things to be thankful for!
Yes, I am truly blessed. Thank you, friend.
This is exactly how we should all be Leslie…finding peace in each and every day. Because we all have SO much to be thankful for. We just need to concentrate on these good things!!
XOXO
Jodie
Thank you, Jodie. Writing in my gratitude journal is very rewarding and reviewing my many blessings for a post like Thankful Thursday is even more so. I must make these posts a priority.
Peace, happiness, gratitude, contentment…they are all related, aren’t they. I loved your childhood smells/memories…we all hold similary memores, we only need to be open to recalling them along with the feelings they evoke.
Lovely post, Leslie.
Thank you, Nancy. I did feel like a little girl again smelling those damp, summery smells. Could almost see myself doing cartwheels in the backyard so many years ago.
All wonderful things to be thankful for! I really should try and write a gratitude list everyday. And I agree that peace isn’t necessarily a way of life, but you can seek out the peace in moments and in life.
-Lauren
Consider linking up with Rebecca Jo for a Thankful Thursday post one day. I really want to do it once a month, at a minimum. Maybe we can remind each other!!
You have so many wonderful things to be thankful for. Beautiful post.
Thank you, sweet friend. Grateful that you reintroduced me to Stitch Fix!!
What a lovel list Leslie, wonderful post on finding your peace within. Glad your mother is doing better and beautiful pictures of your grandchildren!!
Thank you, sweet friend. I just learned today that I am going to be a grandmother to another little girl. Life is good!