Thankful Thursday 10.28.2021 & More

Dear ones, it’s time for Thankful Thursday 10.28.2021. And with any luck this edition is actually going to go live on Thursday!! Unlike my last Thankful Thursday, here. Joining Rebecca Jo at Knit by God’s Hand 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. Sometimes you might find a post from me on a Friday!! But whatever the case, YOU are always welcome to join us!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY 10.28.2021

After a hectic week of appointments and commitments every day, this week has been a little quieter. Managed to stay home all day on Tuesday. But had lunch with my friend Davette on Wednesday, going with PC to his organization day at work where everyone comes together for socializing and fun. Kind of team-building day. Then have physical therapy and a facial and grocery shopping on tap for Friday. Thankful for pretty blue skies, cooler fall temps but lots of sunshine on these days when I am out and about.

What else am I thankful for this week? Let’s see.

Just a reminder: Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After occasionally uses affiliate links which are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link provided I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

STRAIGHT FROM MY GRATITUDE JOURNAL

For my Thankful Thursday posts, I usually share the ‘gratefuls’ I’ve listed in my gratitude journal over the week or month, whatever length of time has elapsed since my last Thankful Thursday post. Always lots of things to be thankful for even if I don’t get around to writing a post about them all.

This week I am especially thankful:

• my physical therapy is working, my neck and back pain are much better
• Lucia and Cady have very good grades and Cami was bumped up to the 2 year olds at Kindercare - my babies are so smart
• I put together my stationary bike all by myself (with PC just tightening things for me)
• I got the girls and myself away from the abusive situation we were in when I was married to their father
• years ago, I started medicine (fluvoxamine) for OCD/mental health and still take it today, although I think I need a booster of something else because I am ruminating about everything under the 🌞
• these days I can generally keep myself from spiraling totally out of control - or the meds can - but still have a couple of days a year where LIFE gets to me
• turned my grumpy morning into a laughter-filled afternoon
• my mole plate at Dominguez Mexican restaurant was delish
• Francisco, Lauren and I had a giggly phone conversation
• Mom has started a new therapy program and they are really working hard with her

And…

• my earring fell out at home and not while I was out
• we’ve been holding hands in our sleep in the middle of the night!!
• getting ahead (with the exception of this post!) on my blogging
• our church, Abundant Living Faith Center, does so much good for our community
• getting my StepBet steps in (sometimes by the skin of my teeth) everyday
• found a quarter - years ago, I asked God to show Himself to me so I would know I wasn’t going through a very difficult time alone. I asked Him to put a penny in my path while I was on a walk. He put 3 pennies (3 is my favorite number), a nickel, dime and quarter on my path while I was walking. Now, whenever I find a coin, but especially a penny, I know He is reminding me He’s there.
• worked on my 365 Days of Creativity and Bible journaling
• finished a good book, Apples Never Fall
• lunch with Davette, appreciate her loving support
• adorable photos of my babies…all 3…during Red Ribbon Week
• sweet, sweet message from one of my book club gals
• the way my book club gives me a sense of purpose
• PC and I have a baseball-free weekend together this weekend, can you say burrito run??

HodgePodge

Halloween

1. Is Halloween a big deal in your neighborhood? Was it something you celebrated as a child? With your own children? Do you like candy corn? Halloween is a pretty big deal in El Paso. The children used to come from Mexico to trick-or-treat in the U.S. This year, I expect a big crowd from neighboring Chaparral, New Mexico, which is just up the street.

I did celebrate as a child and talked a little about my childhood costumes in this month’s 10 on the 10th post, here. My mom made several year’s costumes. But I also experienced the torment and aggravation of a plastic mask with an elastic band to hold it on that Joyce reminded me of in her HodgePodge post.

With my own children, Halloween became even more a bigger deal. They loved it and I often made their costumes, or my mom sewed something for them. Brennyn and Lauren are both very creative and could come up with some grand ideas, themselves. When I learned about the Hispanic celebration of dia de los muertos my first year in El Paso, I fell in love with it. Devoted this post to this beautiful celebration of life in 2019.

Really don’t care for candy corn. But somewhere that I was subbing, there was a container of old stale candy corn that I ate like a champ. I was that hungry. Or thought I was.

Getting the Creeps

2. Are you a scaredy cat? About what? Real life and real people scare me more than anything fictional. The news is scary. The horrific things people do to other people is terrifying. And gargoyles are really scary.

3. Last time you were somewhere that should have been busy but felt like a ‘ghost town’? During Covid, we would still go to our outlet mall to walk around even though many of the stores were closed or had gone out of business. We were often practically the only ones there. Had a very eerie feeling to it - being somewhere that had always been bustling and was now so still and quiet.

Pass the Chili

4. Do you like chili and if so how do you like it? Beans or no beans? Meat or no meat? Beef or chicken? Spice or no spice? Favorite toppings? Give me all the chili…except the Cincinnati chili I made last week. Oh, dear, it was inedible. A few of my favorite blogging buddies joined me for a recipe swap and blog hop earlier this week, featuring chili-soup-stew recipes. Click here to check them out!! I will eat chili just about any way. But prefer beans, meat and spice. Within reason. And cornbread or Fritos, please.

Night Owl or Morning Glory

5. Would you describe yourself as a night owl? What time of night qualifies? What are you doing while everyone else is asleep? Do you then ‘sleep in’? Define ‘sleeping in’. I don’t consider myself a night owl. On occasion, I can stay up late. If we are binge watching something really good, or if I have procrastinated on writing a blog post that has to get published. Otherwise, there are very few other things worth missing out on sleep. Most mornings I set my alarm to get up around 5:30 am for quiet time but at least half of those mornings, I hit snooze.

Sleeping in for us would be anything beyond about 7:30 am. PC has to get up by 6:45 to get out the door in time for work. If we are feeling motivated we will do a strength training workout at 6:00 am. I always get up with him and get his breakfast, pack his lunch and visit with him until he leaves.

Randomness

6. Insert your own random thought here. Today I met with another lawyer about our pool. I have prayed and prayed for God to guide us on what to do to try to get some help for our pool. After the meeting, I was telling PC about what the lawyer advised and looked down and there was a penny!! A heads up penny. Heads up pennies mean God is with me and angels are protecting me…according to me. Tails up pennies mean good luck. I am hoping I have interpreted this to mean God is with us as we proceed with legal action (again) against our pool builder.

YOUR TURN

What are you thankful for this week? If you have a Thankful Thursday post, please link up with us so we can share in celebrating your blessings. Or leave me a comment below with some of the things you are thankful for today.

Grateful for your visit today. Hope the weekend brings you some rest and relaxation!! Happy Halloween.

Hugs and kisses,