Throwback Thursday | Thirty-four Years.

On Sunday, Marc and I celebrated our 34th anniversary and he shared a few two-of-us throwback photos on Instagram. A few were actually new to me and I asked him to send them to me. 

from the cover of our wedding album

engagement photo - fall, 1983 

November 19, 1983 

2001

at Katie's wedding - a favorite!

this summer - and technically three of us :-)

So this will be our 35th Thanksgiving together as a married couple. We spent our first Thanksgiving in Cancun (honeymoon) and I don't remember much about Thanksgiving dinner that year except that it was a hotel buffet. The next year, though, we were in Illinois, visiting my parents.

previously shared in this post - more knitting history!

Since then, we've spent every Thanksgiving with family ... mine, Marc's and eventually "ours". This year, we'll be getting together with family later in the weekend, but today, it's just the two of us (again). I opted out of a traditional meal - instead, we're having turkey sandwiches and a few sides ... likely in front of the television. I think we're both looking forward to it!

We have much to be thankful for ... and the two of us together is definitely a big part of that.

Wishing you and yours a most Happy Thanksgiving!

Three on Thursday | Grateful.

...continuing with the theme:

1. Marc's continued commitment to moving more. We went shopping on Monday for his second new pair of shoes this year. Walking 3.5 miles every morning wears out shoes! Here he is snapping a photo of the old and new pairs to share on Instagram (I love that, too!)

2. Those morning walks have been wonderful for our relationship, too. There is something about walking together that makes it easier to talk. Of course being outside - and away from the TV - is healthy too.

3. The encouragement and community around NaBloPoMo. I look forward to seeing all the posts in my feed reader ... and reading the comments you share here. It's certainly a challenge to keep up (I find I'm usually a day behind), but the conversation is so inspiring. And hey, we're on the downhill stretch now, y'all!

from this morning's walk - the trees just to the right are lit with twinkle lights ... makes for an interesting "dark early" photo!

Head over to Carole's to see more Three on Thursday posts!

Three on Thursday | Grateful.

...continuing with the theme I introduced last week:

1. Brighter mornings. I took this photo at about 7:30 Monday morning - no lamp light required!

2. Saying "yes" to something new. A friend texted me Monday to ask if I'd like to attend the book festival with her Tuesday afternoon. Both books sound like fun (and The Forever Summer has an interesting premise about the impacts of DNA testing on "family secrets" that might make for a great bookclub discussion). She also invited me to attend next Tuesday's event when Nicole Krauss will be solo-ing. (I started reading Forest Dark last night.)

3. A slow morning. That's me and my knitting (yay - a new project!) in front of the fireplace mid-morning.

Joining in with Carole and crew for Three on Thursday.

Three on Thursday | Grateful.

Every day, as the last piece of that day's journaling, I write down five things for which I am grateful. Partly to be intentional about gratitude. but also because it feels good to end each journal entry on a positive note. The Book of Joy lists gratitude as one of the Eight Pillars of Joy and devotes an entire chapter to it. I'm sure most of us reading the book are not at all surprised at how much joy comes from gratitude, but this:

...people who focus on gratitude, by keeping a list of what they were grateful for, exercised more often, had fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives, and where more positive about the week ahead compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events. ... Grateful people report more positive emotions, more vitality and optimism, and greater life satisfaction as well as lower levels of stress and depression. (The Book of Joy, p. 248)

Well, maybe it is preaching to the choir!

In any event, these four Thursdays in November, I'm going to share three things that made my Grateful list over the past week. Yes, it's an easy NaBloPoMo post, but I think gratitude (like smiling) is contagious. Thursday seems like the perfect day to share a little Thanks.

1. Healing. My ankle is still bruised, but I'm up and about and even did a 30-minute Pilates workout yesterday.

2. Family living close enough to share birthday celebrations.

3. Crisp clear blue skies.

The three photos were from yesterday's morning walk. I do love the lake this time of year!

Joining in with Carole and crew for Three on Thursday.

(and now two days down ... 28 more to go!)

With a Grateful Heart.

from my journal

My morning devotion, from These Days, was based on Psalm 103. The first verse - copied above - sums up perfectly my feelings this morning.

Yesterday was scary, but we are all ok:

• Mother's power came back last night; Betty and her friend left early this morning to return to their homes in North Palm Beach.
• The sideways rain and wind showed up a leak in our porch roof that let water into our living room. And there are two big pine trees in the back yard that will hopefully be gone before we have another storm. Otherwise, we are just two tired folks (with one not-so-happy little dog).
• Katie lost power yesterday afternoon and it's still not back on. With two little ones - and two working parents - that's the biggest concern for us right now. 
• Charlie's home in Beaufort is ok (I haven't heard about the church).
• Many of you heard yesterday from friends and family in Irma-affected areas; all are safe. 

Indeed, All Are Safe seems a most appropriate beginning for a gratitude alphabet today.

Thank you all from the bottom of my grateful heart for your prayers and concern.  I trust our continued support will give those who have been impacted and lost much courage, strength and lighter hearts. xo - M.

Ten on Tuesday | Oh Happy Day.

...Tuesday again. already?! This was my third Tuesday with Charlie and we're having a ball. Life is good and I am happy about so very many things. Carole's asked us to share "Ten Things You're Happy About Right Now"...and here are my 10 for today.

1. I got up with my 5:15 am alarm. This hasn't happened the last two Tuesdays. I teach until 8pm on Monday nights and by the time I get home, and eat dinner, and unwind...I'm up way too late and 5am is way too early. But last night I was in bed at 10:30 and the whole day got off to a better start.

2. All the laundry is done. the sheets are clean. the kitchen sparkles. (this makes me happier when it's done than when I'm doing it, but it still counts).

3. A glorious sunrise.

4. Charlie came over. (his mama dropped him off at about 7:45) We played. He napped. I knitted. He ate. (we did this three times).

5. Holly was very good. She's still figuring out what he's all about - and today he started to notice her. But there was no barking and no snapping (and only a very tiny bit of licking the quilt where Charlie plays.)

6. We used the self-timer on my phone and took photos. This one is my favorite (and my new wallpaper - 4 months!) That certainly makes me happy, but so does the self-timer feature that takes a burst of photos and allows me to choose my favorites (or just dump them all if I forget to turn the camera around and I take 11 photos of the ceiling).

7. Charlie went home in the same outfit he arrived in. (I didn't change clothes either). This is a first. Katie noticed (and I'm not sure if this is because she was pleased, or surprised, but I think it made her happy too!)

8. I wound the yarn to cast on the hat I hope to finish for my upcoming trip to Madison (eep! Madison! in February!!). I also hope to finish a few more warm things. more to come.

9. We had our first Deacon meeting of the new year. I wasn't looking forward to it - I thought I'd rather pour a glass of wine and settle in here a lot sooner. But it was great. The new class is excited about being there and I think my care team is going to have a good year. I also got to eat slow cooker barbeque.

10. My fitbit buzzed as I was getting into my car after the meeting. 11,000+ steps today. That always makes me happy!

I'm usually a glass half full kind of girl, but I can't say that finding 10 happy things in one day is typical even for me. This was a fun "challenge" ... and maybe one I should take on more often. It certainly puts the day into a different frame when you try to find all the good!

Click here to join the Ten on Tuesday fun! (and huge thanks to Carole for hosting the party!)

 

 

Ten on Tuesday | Thankful.

...with Thanksgiving just two days away, it's no surprise today's topic is about being thankful. I certainly have plenty to be thankful for - family, health, home, friends, faith - and I am so very grateful for all of it. Here's a taste of a few specific things I said "thank you" for in the last 24 hours:

on the trail at Webb Bridge Park

1. My knitting students. It still amazes me that I get paid to do something I really love. Teaching knitting is a dream come true.

2. Webb Bridge Park. I took the photo above on Saturday afternoon when Katie and I were there for a run/walk (yay!). It's close (ten minutes) and beautiful in all four seasons.

3. Friends to walk with. Lauren and Katie and Virginia...and Holly (always!).

4. The smell of "real" pumpkin spice in my kitchen. There's a pumpkin creme brulee cooking in the oven right now (seasoned with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg) and pumpkin oatmeal cranberry muffins cooling on the counter.

5. Carla, my hairdresser for more than 25 years. (remember that scary numbers post a few weeks back? yep, it was five weeks ago...and I paid Carla another visit this morning!) We've been friends through pregnancies, babies, school, college, weddings and grandchildren. All my good hair days are a credit to her skill with the dye and the scissors.

6. New Thanksgiving traditions. New recipes (mostly prepared today and tomorrow), a new baby, a daughter flying in tomorrow night, father-in-law/son-in-law golf.

7. Old Thanksgiving traditions. Wednesday lunch with my sister and my folks at Village Tavern (known for its crab dip...and half-price wine Wednesdays), all the other family get-togethers while my parents visit, the Macy's parade on the DVR so we can skip the commercials.

8. Leftovers. We're still finishing Sunday's brunch. It's down to salad and ham sandwiches, but it's turkey...and it doesn't require cooking!

9. The weather. Not too hot and not too cold and hopefully not wet (at one point over the weekend there was snow in tomorrow's forecast...thankful that was wrong!)

10. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (aka Flavia de Luce #1). Borrowed from the library and enjoying immensely. Love a new series, especially one I didn't buy!

...and there you have it. Plenty to be thankful for! What are you saying "thank you" for today?