Ten Things of Thankful: Party Hop Edition

Happy birthday to my little sister this weekend!  The Ten Things of Thankful co-hosts are having a party--presumably to celebrate 50 weeks of the TToT (and 1 year, too, since we took off 2 weeks during the holidays)--but my sister's birthday just adds to the festivities for me. 

Our fearless leader, Lizzi, suggested that for this TToT, each of the co-hosts should contribute 5 Things of Thankful about the blog hop.  Be sure to go over to Lizzi's blog today to see our combined 50 Things of Thankful.  Also, Lizzi is having a contest! 

Here is my contribution:

I'm thankful for the TToT because:

1.  When I "count my many blessings, name them one by one," I always feel better than when I focus on the negative.

2.  I've witnessed great examples of the strength of the human spirit, as I've read accounts of trials and challenges, all with a positive spin.

3.  I've been reminded that the world is not that big, and that people are more alike than different.

4.  I've felt the support of friends I've never met, but who are friends nevertheless.

5.  I have the privilege of being part of the hop that Lizzi built. 

Thanks, Lizzi, for coming up with the great idea for this blog hop, and thanks for those who participate.  Thanks, also, for my sister--happy birthday!

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 Your hosts

A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Amycake and the Dude</ a>, Considerings, Finding Ninee, Getting Literal</ a>, I Want Backsies, Mother of Imperfection, Rewritten, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine

An InLinkz Link-up

Throwback Thursday: Birthday Girl

 

My sister's birthday is coming up soon, so I thought it appropriate that I use a not-so-old photo for this Throwback Thursday post. 
(Did you catch that nice wording, sister?  You don't mind that I posted this photo, do you?)

Tuesday Time to Tackle: June 2014 Visiting Teaching Message Handout

Last week, John and I ate dinner at a restaurant for our date night.  Our waitress was exceptionally skilled at her job.  She was pleasant, professional, and attentive.  We never had to ask her for anything; she anticipated our needs and expertly fulfilled them.  We took note of her name, and registered a compliment with her manager.

Monday Morning in the Kitchen: Crispy Baked Onion Rings

I subscribe to a farm-share delivery service, which means that every week I can pick up a box of fresh, organic produce.  I try to plan my meals around what I find in the box.  Recently, one of the items I found was a huge yellow onion.   It was perfect for making onion rings.  Fortunately, also in the box was a recipe for Crispy Baked Onion Rings. (Click that link for recipe.)

Ten Things of Thankful: Prayers Answered Edition

I am using the flexible rules of this blog hop to declare that this one thing counts for all ten of my thankfuls: 

The big, huge, worrisome situation is now resolved.  The weight is lifted.  All is right with the world, and forgiveness comes more easily.

source

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, hugs, well-wishes, love, etc.  I know they helped.

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 Your hosts

A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Amycake and the Dude</ a>, Considerings, Finding Ninee, Getting Literal</ a>, I Want Backsies, Mother of Imperfection, Rewritten, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine

An InLinkz Link-up

Ten Things of Thankful: Hole in My Heart Edition

(I composed this post earlier this week, and saved it for the TToT.)

No one has died, but there is a hole of hurt in my heart right now.  (Please forgive my vagueness; but a public post is not the place to explain.)  I'm finding myself very impressed with our fearless leader Lizzi, who started the TToT blog hop to help herself get out of a dark place.  I am not in a good spot right now (though I'm doing better than when I originally wrote this), and it would be much easier right now to write something hurtful, but that doesn't fit well with the spirit of this blog, or blog hop, or my own beliefs, so I will look for positives instead.  (And I will did get to a good cry later.  I told John that I hate to cry almost as much as I hate to throw up, but it is such a relief when it is over--except for the post-cry headache and the achy eyes--so I shouldn't fight it so much.)

But, I'll keep a stiff upper lip for now.  Enough of the vague, doom and gloom intro.  There are ten things of thankful to list!

Throwback Thursday: Great-grandma on the Porch

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday: Baby Thumper in My Garden

Thanks for tiny little creatures.

Monday Morning in the Kitchen: Freezing Artichoke Hearts

My artichoke plant outdid itself this year.  We have been eating a lot of artichokes.  As artichokes are one of the most delicious vegetables ever, I have been quite happy with the overabundance. 

Ten Things of Thankful: A Few of My Favorite Things Edition

As I've thought about this past week, trying to come up with a theme for this week's TToT, the soundtrack of my mind keeps playing:  "Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens.  Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. . . "

 

Although I love Julie Andrew's list, and even though there have been no dog bites nor bee stings recently, I want to come up with my own items:

Throwback Thursday: Picking Cherries

As I was freezing artichoke hearts yesterday (which is a bit tedious), my mind went back to memories of processing other produce.  Actually, the most clear memory for me isn't of the canning process, but of the harvesting.

Tuesday Time to Tackle: Bagging Apples

I love the idea of fruit trees.  Yesterday, I wandered out in the backyard multiple times, unable to resist the ripe apricots.  We planted the apricot tree four years ago (I think), and it is just now really taking off in its production.  It's still a small tree, but it is covered in ripe, tasty apricots.

No, I didn't do a very good job thinning apricots this year.

My Blog Was Hijacked, and I Feel Loved

I never thought being hijacked would be so nice.

Ten Things of Thankful: What My Mom Taught Me Edition

As Mother's Day is this weekend, I thought it only appropriate that I share, in this TToT, things my Mom taught by example.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

Life is more joyful this way:

 




Thanks for all who "show kindness in deed and in thought."

Sombreros Off to Mother

Youngest son called yesterday, and during our conversation, he asked if we would be having a lesson about moms for Family Home Evening.  I told him we were having tacos for dinner, but I had forgotten that it was the Monday before Mother's Day.

Ten Things of Thankful: Service and Joy Edition

I've been thinking lately about service and joy.  As some of you know, I am in a position of leadership in my church stake (group of several congregations) women's organization.  We have been busy planning an upcoming women's conference.  Our theme is "Joy."  We're focusing not on the emotion, but rather on the doctrine, which has led me to deeper scripture study, pondering, and prayer.  We will be using the scripture in Romans 5:11:  ". . . we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

Joy comes through the atonement of Jesus Christ, and this week I've thought a bit about his life.  I can't imagine him rushing through his day, trying to tackle a long to-do list.  If the Savior of the entire world could manage to devote attention to individuals, then perhaps I can quiet my mind of its "I need to"s and turn my attention toward helping others.  So, I prayed that I might be able to recognize opportunities for service.  As you know, "ask and ye shall receive!"

I'm thankful.