Sweet potatoes, it’s time for Thankful Thursday 07.29.2021. I am joining Rebecca Jo and Jennifer at All 4 Boys in sharing the hosting responsibilities for the Thankful Thursday series. Some weeks, you might discover posts from all 3 of us, other Thursdays, it might just be one of us hosting. But whatever the case, YOU are always welcome to join us!!
You know the word ‘pissy’? That describes my mood over the last couple of weeks. Was never allowed to say that word as a kid. Instead had to use one of its many synonyms like: sad, unhappy, gloomy, miserable, melancholy, sorrowful, subdued, bleak, wistful, homesick, worried, nervous, anxious, uneasy, tense, alarmed, on edge, frightened, troubled. Sad, unhappy and worried get a lot of use in my limited vocabulary. But pissy is so much more accurate for the way I have been feeling and acting.
THANKFUL THURSDAY 07.29.2021
Because of my pissy attitude, a couple of nights lately, I have flat out refused to write in my gratitude journal. It’s not that I didn’t have anything to be grateful for. To the contrary. I have such a precious life. So many blessings. But I just wanted to marinade in my pissiness rather than think about and acknowledge the good stuff. Because of that really crappy (another childhood no-no word) frame of mind, my official, recorded list of thankfuls is rather abbreviated. Please forgive me.
Straight Out of My Gratitude Journal
This week I am thankful that:
- Mom had a really good week last week – won at Bingo and rode the stationary bike
- Martha and I enjoyed a mountainside walk together
- Our mountains are so velvety green with all the rain
- Lauren and I perused Target at our own pace then had lunch together
- Brennyn saw the baby through a series of very good ultrasound images
- Baby Orya is healthy
- My sister Valerie and I could work on our altered houses craft project together over Facetime
- It rained again
- And again
- PC suggested Mexican food at our favorite mom-n-pop restaurant Casita Linda’s
- Cami wanted a kiss
- Paul and I napped together – so delicious
- Our El Paso Yankees won another ball game
- We floated in the pool twice
- Four new gals asked to become members of our online book club
- Better Tuesday after being so pissy on Monday that I didn’t want to think about having anything to be thankful for
- We found kitty sitters for our beach trip
- Cadence Ellie Pieper was born on this day at 7:48 a.m. 11 years ago. She is sweet, kind, creative, funny and intelligent. Not to mention beautiful. Happy birthday, baby girl. I can’t wait to kiss and hug you tomorrow.
Hoping for an attitude adjustment the moment I smell the salt air. Come back next week to see if it happened.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As this post goes live, we (PC, Lauren, Cia and Cami) will all be jetting to South Padre Island to meet up with Brennyn, Mustafa and Cady and my sister Valerie for a few days at the BEACH.
Our plans have changed since my last Thankful Thursday post, here. We discovered Lucia starts school on 08.02, Monday but we were planning to stay until 08.03. Francisco has to work the first days of our vacation so he was going to join us on Saturday. But now Lauren and the girls will be flying home early on Sunday in order to get Cia to school the next day. Hate that a weary Francisco won’t be able to join us. And sad for Lauren that he won’t be with her and that they will have such a quick trip.
Brennyn had an appointment with a genetic obstetrician this week who discovered some fibroids on her uterus. We are a little concerned that they will continue to grow and crowd baby boy. Her placenta is also being disagreeable and is not in the right place.
And Lauren’s heart procedure from earlier in the month was unsuccessful. She has to have another ablation as soon as we get back from South Padre.
But we are going to the BEACH!! Tomorrow!! Off to pack!!
Your Turn
Tell me true, what are you thankful for this Thursday? Do you ever feel even the slightest bit pissy and only want to acknowledge the bad in your life? I am that way several times a month. And no, it has nothing to do with THAT cycle. Bid that peskiness adieu on the operating table in 06.2005. Desperately searching for another explanation.
Hope you will link up your Thankful Thursday post with us or leave me a comment about what’s up in your life right now. You can even complain if you want!! And be sure to stop by to visit Rebecca Jo and Jennifer.
10 on the 10th
Before I bow out. Mark your calendars for 10 on the 10th. The prompt for August is 10 questions about life-long learning. Here are the questions.
- How old were you when you started school? Did you attend pre-kinder and/or kinder or go straight into first grade?
- Were you a good student? What was your favorite subject?
- As a child, did you take music lessons? Or play a sport? Do you still play an instrument now?
- Did you attend any kind of training or classes beyond high school? If so, what did you study? Did you wind up working in a profession or job for which those classes or training prepared you?
- Have you taken any personal growth or adult education classes for fun? During the year that was Covid, did you home school, learn a new app to work from home, teach yourself to do something you might have paid someone else to do for you?
- What would you like to learn how to do that you don’t know how to do already?
- Name something that you learned easily. Then name something that was a struggle for you to learn to do.
- What’s the last thing you remember learning? What kind of learner are you: visual, auditory, hands-on/kinesthetic, verbal, logical/mathematical?
- Hard to teach an old dog new tricks, school of hard knocks, pass with flying colors, learn by heart, burn the midnight oil, pull an all-nighter, play hooky – which of these expression best fits your life lately? Why?
- What is something you’ve learned from past mistakes?
- Bonus: Share your favorite learning/education quote.
And here is the graphic.
P.S. I was invited to guest post at my friend Leeanne’s blog, Cresting the Hill. My post will go live on 08.02.2021. It was a tough one to write. But as Leeanne explained, that is because it was heartfelt. Finally taking a step back toward my original purpose for blogging. Please stop by!!
And thank you for popping in over here today. Enjoy your weekend!!
Hugs and kisses,
Joanne
I think we all have days/times when we want to wallow in our pissiness and not focus on being thankful. I am so excited to join in on the 10th questions… this whole topic is right up my alley!!
Christie Hawkes
Dear Leslie, I am sorry to hear you have been feeling out of sorts…pissy…recently. (That word was not allowed in my house either.) And yes, I do feel that way sometimes too. I hope the beach trip and time with family (despite being abbreviated) will be just what you need to turn things around. Sending love and healing to Brennyn and Lauren. As for what I am thankful for this Thursday…it’s early and I’m still waking up, so I am grateful for another day on this earth and for coffee…always coffee. I’m looking forward to your guest post next week. Take care and have fun on your trip!
Overflowing with Thankfulness
I totally get that type of mindset you’ve been in and I have weeks where I am the exact same. It’s a hard slump to climb out of and a friend and I were just talking about this last night at Bible study. I always feel like the enemy messes with me even more when I’m in that frame of mind. I know he does, in fact and it seems that he loves for me to wallow in those feelings. Hopefully some of that vitamin sea will do the trick for you- I hate to hear your plans changed, but I hope you still have a wonderful and relaxing time. Happy packing! (I LOVE PACKING! It makes me so happy.)
notinjersey
Of course we often all feel that way. It’s actually why I stopped keeping a gratitude journal altogether in March 2020! Hopefully the beach trip will cheer you up and the worries you have listed will get better soon.
leannelc
Sorry you’re feeling a bit out of sorts Leslie – I’m sure a few days of sun, salt and sea will have you on the up and up again. Sad the family vacation is a bit tossed around and not as fabulous as you first thought, but nice that you can still get away for a break. Looking forward to having you as my guest on Monday (all fresh and relaxed!) xx
Karen
Yeap, seems I feel pissy a couple times a month & now I have a better word to describe my feelings. Good list of thankful things. The beach sounds really nice right about now being around water when we are in much need of rain in our area.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
We were so blessed with a very wet July. But I still enjoyed being around all the water at the beach. I love the sound of the surf. Hope you and I both begin to feel better and more like our cheerful selves.
Rebecca Jo
I have to laugh – “Pissy” is not a word I can ever even imagine you being. I get it though – some days…weeks… it just is that way though.
Praying for all the health issues in your family.
There really is something calming & relaxing when you can just stroll around Target, taking your time, spending ALL YOUR money – LOL
GO ENJOY THAT BEACH MY FRIEND!!!!
tckk
Hope you will enjoy your trip. The beach always relaxes me and gets me back into a happier frame of mind.
Daenel Vaughn-Tucker
I hope your beach trip goes well. Sending love to the girls and praying for health and happiness all around.
Mica - Away From Blue
Sorry to hear you’ve been in a bad mood but hopefully with the family time at the beach that mood will life and you will feel more energised 🙂 I always find the beach so relaxing!
Hope your week is going well and you have a nice weekend ahead of you 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
The beach was divine!! We had a few hiccups. But then again all of our family vacations usually have something crazy happen. I am glad to be home, though, and thinking maybe I am in a better frame of mind. Thank you, sugar foot.
Sharon
Have a wonderful time at the beach BFF. Try to tuck those worries away for the week and enjoy your family, walks on the beach and yummy food. Please don’t iron on vacation either 😜love you!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
LOL, no ironing on vacation. Just wore it all wrinkled!! But boy, do I have a pile of ironing to do now that we are home. Tomorrow. Tomorrow!! Love you, sweet BFF.
Retirement Reflections
Hi, Leslie – I’m sorry to hear that you had a downer of a week. I love the positives that you found anyway. I was also delighted to hear that your mom had a good week (I always check). Enjoy the beach tomorrow. May that be the start of an uplifting month ahead!
PS – Love the floating cocktails!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for always checking on my mama. She had a really fabulous day today…just makes me so happy. She rode the stationary bike for 20 minutes and went outside for a walk!! Wonders never cease.
Thank you for commenting on the floating cocktails. Have had a few folks mention that my little floaters are distracting but I think they move quickly enough that they don’t really interfere too much. And they are FUN!!
Deb
Over here being ‘pissed off’ means you are really annoyed about something but being ‘pissed’ can also mean being very drunk! I am really sorry you have so many things on your mind right now, and hope that some sea breeze and time with your family will help to make you feel better again.
Jennifer
Hope you are enjoying every moment and every little thing at the beach….you have a full plate once you and yours get home!! Take this time to simple rest, recharge and refresh!! Enjoy!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
The beach was so glorious. And we spent the perfect amount of time there…long enough to be ready to come home when we did. Thank you, darling friend!!
Amy Johnson
Your granddaughter is so beautiful! Enjoy your vacay Your picture you posted on social media was gorgeous!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, darling friend. We had a wonderful time. And now I have all the sand out of the clothes we brought home…so all that is left are our sweet memories!!
laurabambrick
I will do my best to join in on your 10 on the 10th this month! It’s been such a crazy summer. You think you have more time, but shuttling kids from one thing to another and entertaining them all day sucks all the time away! I’m woefully behind on blogging! I hope you have a wonderful time on your vacation! You deserve it!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, I hope you can join for 10 on the 10th. It makes me smile and my heart happy when you do!! Shuttling kids is absolutely exhausting. I remember that all too well. I was thrilled when my oldest daughter was finally able to drive my youngest daughter (and herself) to activities.
I stay so behind on blog reading, comment reading, commenting! It is a huge job.
Christie Hawkes
Me again! I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your honest, open guest post on Leanne’s Cresting the Hill. As I approach retirement, I am a little nervous about maintaining connections and finding the right balance between being active and relaxation. It helps to read about others’ experiences and to understand and accept that there will be an adjustment period. I have enjoyed our online friendship and hope that someday I will meet you in person. Take care of yourself and enjoy the journey! XO
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Can I just hug you??? Reaching my arms out to you now. Would love to meet up with you someday. To play in your glorious snow or swim in your beautiful pool. And hike together!!
I really didn’t know anyone very well who retired before I did. So didn’t have any idea about what to expect. Glad that you have some who have gone before you and shared their experiences to help you understand the feelings you may experience. Some days I love being retired and other days, not so much. But I am getting better adjusted…geez, 7 years into it!!