Days of Thanksgiving: Eleven

11. I am thankful for old friends. I was able to go out to dinner with three of my oldest friends this weekend and it was food for my soul. I miss our late night conversations and plentiful time to sit and share. I miss the days when getting together was effortless and frequent. While we all promised nothing would ever interfere with our relationship, life always does. It's one of the hard truths of growing up. Whether it be the responsibility of taking care of our children, demanding jobs, or family obligations, we just don't get to see each other as much as we would like.

This weekend though, while enjoying a delicious meal and plenty of drinks, we laughed and talked. We reminisced and shared our new lives with each other. It was beautiful.

Days of Thanksgiving: Ten

10. I am thankful for dishwashers. I didn't realize how much I took mine for granted until last Saturday when it started leaking into my basement bathroom. We heave been sans dishwasher for almost a week now and I HATE DOING DISHES. My kitchen if finally clean for the week and I don't want to mess it up! I am contemplating ordering a pizza tonight and eating it directly out of the box so I don't have to wash anything. 

It's true that when it rains it pours. What in the world could happen next?

Days of Thanksgiving: Nine

9. I am thankful for snow. Yes, I am one of those. I love the icy, white gift from the sky. I don't particularly like driving in it, but since my commute is down to less than ten minutes from the just over an hour one, that doesn't even hold me back as much. 


In my thankfulness for snow, I am able to see so many other things for which I am thankful. I am thankful for the money to be able to clothe my son in weather appropriate items. The poor bundle was swept away to daycare today in a hat, winter coat and mittens with boots and snow pants on the side. I think if they wrap him up in all of that gear, he'll melt and won't be able to move!


I am thankful for my garage. Not having to scrape my windows makes the snow that much prettier.


I am thankful for my husband. While we didn't have enough snow to warrant it this time, I know that he will take care of scooping the snow this winter. He's a pretty cool dude.


I am thankful for the never ending hot tea supply I have built up. Since my "I am thankful for coffee post", I have tried to cut back. I've been so tired lately I'm wondering if it's an overabundance of caffeine that my body is now immune to. I am sleeping. I am not pregnant. I am no more stressed out than any working mom. There is no explanation for this tiredness!


I am thankful for the (new-ish) parking ramp on campus. While it's still a small trek to my office, it is nothing compared to walking from the back of the Gilchrist parking lot like I did in the past. 


I am thankful for reliable vehicles a reliable vehicle to get me and my family around.

Days of Thanksgiving: Eight

8. I am thankful for libraries. During the semester I don't have a lot of time for fun reading, and getting to the library is basically nonexistent. As I look forward to my Thanksgiving break however, I am super stoked to take Louis for story time at the Cedar Falls Public Library again. We were going at least once a week over the summer but haven't been since then.

Since I was a little kid, the library has always been one of my favorite places to be. I remember going to the Remsen Public Library almost every day during the summer. Not only did I have my own library card number memorized, but most of the librarians did too from the frequent checkouts! It was the place I memorized Roger Hargreaves Mr. Men and Little Miss series, worked my way through the American Girl books, read every one of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps and Fear Street books, checked out the biggest biographies I could find, flipped through my first bridal magazine, and started my young fascination with romance novels (I took Zoya to my fourth grade silent sustained reading time).

I took my younger siblings to the Whittemore Public Library for story time every Saturday when I got a little older and not only did we consume many of their books but their movie rentals also came in very handy.

In college I worked at the UNI Rod Library and I would go back to work there in a second if I had the opportunity. I would probably want to move up from student building monitor and book shelver, but I remember that job fondly!

In my mind, libraries are a magical place!

Days of Thanksgiving: Seven

7. I am thankful for Spotify. Honestly, my life would be less rich without music and Spotify helps me get through grading, entertain my son, start thinking about the upcoming holiday season, clean my house faster, cut back on the amount of TV I'm watching, and liven up a quiet house.


At this exact moment I'm listening to How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I know it isn't very Thanksgiving-ie but I'm enjoying it thoroughly. On a related note, I have to keep my office door closed this time of year so no one can hear that I start listening to holiday music much earlier than others would deem okay. If I don't get some of the spirit going now though, it'll all be over before I know it! Earlier I had written that I don't like Christmas displays up in stores this early and I hold to that. There is a difference between a little music on my own time and being tinseled out by Halloween.


Thank you Spotify for making my life richer!

Days of Thanksgiving: Six

6. I am thankful for comfort. After a week in work clothes, I cannot wait to snuggle up in yoga pants, a soft sweatshirt and a throw blanket. Bliss.

Days of Thanksgiving: Five

5. I am thankful for kindness. After running around frantic and frazzled on Friday morning, I ended up in a car accident. Other than the sun that was in my eyes, it was entirely my fault. I was letting my "gotta go" mentality keep me from being safe and present in the moment. Louis and I  were in the car but besides my pride and the front drivers side wheel well area, we were unhurt.


In the remaining day, when people could have been incredibly irritated and rude about my incident, I was surrounded by kindness. The man I hit was unreasonably supportive, Nevin was caring, our insurance agent was understanding, and the students I stood up were more concerned with me than having to reschedule our meetings. I cannot say in my rush around lifestyle I always embody the spirit of kindness. I wish to be better about being kind myself and taking the time to recognize the kindness in others.