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Ten Things of Thankful: Catching Up on Things at Home

 

Photo of a business center in a hotel. A white electrical cord is plugged into the wall, and the cord disappears underneath the carpet. John noticed this while we ate breakfast this morning.

We returned home to Utah at the end of last week, took care of some things at home, then came back to Oregon to assist my parents when my mom was released from the hospital. She is doing great--moving around easier and faster than she was even a week ago. 

1. I'm thankful for safe travels. With the exception of some icy and foggy patches in eastern Oregon, roads have been clear. 

2. I'm thankful for reliable transportation. We got back to Utah just in time for the final "covered with the purchase of the car" service appointment. Nice to have that done, even if the next oil change is on us. 

3. I'm thankful for parents. We took John's parents for a drive out to Antelope Island, and although we didn't see the resident bison herd this time--(were you expecting me to say "antelope"?)--we had a pleasant time. Spending time with my parents is equally enjoyable.

4. I'm thankful for friends. I have a "routine" of walking with my neighbor several times a week--when we are both in town, which lately has been more miss than hit. We were able to get a couple of walks in this past week. 

There is a children's song whose lyrics are: 

    Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

    Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

    They washed at streams and worked and played. Sundays they camped and read and prayed.

    Week after week, they sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked and walked.

My friend and I haven't walked quite as far as those pioneer children did, nor do we sing as we walk, but we do talk and talk and talk and talk on our walks. And we laugh--often at ourselves, like the time last week that I FINALLY figured out on the drive back from the trailhead why my windshield was taking forever to defrost properly. (Turns out I hadn't actually pushed the windshield defrost button!) 

5. I'm thankful for progress made on big projects. Our cold storage room in our basement has been a catch-all place for things we have but don't know exactly where to put. This week, we were able to determine that some of those things we don't need anymore, and so we moved them out of the cold storage room and into the garage (not ideal, I know, but one step closer to out and gone). We put up some more storage shelves (which we had, but had not set up) and rearranged some of the things we are keeping. The project is by no means done, but we made progress.

6. I'm thankful for flexible schedules. We meant to head back to Oregon a day sooner than we did, but when other things came up and postponed our departure, we could adjust our travels without much impact to us or our parents. 

7. I'm thankful for books. As a child, I always had my nose in a book. As an adult, I didn't do as much reading for pleasure (with a notable exception of reading aloud picture books to the children), but in the past few years I've rekindled (see what I did there?) my love of reading. My kindle does make it convenient to pack a library, although I do still love an actual, physical book.

8. I'm thankful for my grandchildren. 

9. I'm thankful for my children.

10. I'm thankful for John. 

What are you thankful for this week? Leave a comment, and feel free to write up your own post and link below! 

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Comments

  1. CaiJanuary 16, 2026 at 9:10 PM

    It is good to read that your mom is recovering well. What a relief to return to a form of regular schedule. i wish you a nice week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  2. messymimiJanuary 17, 2026 at 6:11 PM

    I'm so glad you are able to care for and help your parents and in-laws. My Sweetie lost his daddy at 18 and his mama at 26, so we both cherish my parents every day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiJanuary 18, 2026 at 8:31 AM

      That must have been so difficult for your Sweetie.

      Delete
  3. clarkJanuary 18, 2026 at 7:49 PM

    My best to Pat. (Tell her we said, "Be patient and complete any and all recuperation exercises the doctor may recommend. We agree they can be boring, but it will be worth this Spring.')
    How different the world/reality must have been for those (pioneer children) where the touchable world was measured in walking distance.
    Have a very good week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiFebruary 1, 2026 at 3:14 PM

      I passed along your comments. She's doing really well.
      I agree with you about the pioneers, and marvel at how their idea of "walking distance" is so very different from mine!

      Delete

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