For over three years Lizzi Lewis at Considerings has been hosting the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop. She has done a great job. Thank you Lizzi.
Josie Two Shoes is now hosting the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop. Please click the link if you would like to read the posts others have shared for this past week.
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| Ten Things of Thankful |
This past week the accumulation of rain turned many areas in this state into huge lakes and rivers. Some of those rivers hadn't even existed as streams before the rains came. I'm am thankful for the fact that we live on a hill, but not so much of a hill that we experience slides of earth that reposition our home or make it impossible for us to drive down our lane. The fact that the valley is covered with many country roads surrounding the farmlands is very helpful too, making it possible to take alternate routes on my way to visit my Mom in the nursing home, in case a road is flooded.
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| Flooded road in Marion Co. Oregon. I turned left. |
The sunshine eventually dried up a large puddle which had developed on our property and with the warmer temperatures my husband and I even got outside and did a little pruning. He didn't let me overdo either, so I am not sore from too much exercise. That is good to remember for both of us.
We have a tail light on our car that is burned out, so one morning my husband said he would change it. When I checked youtube to see if there were any demonstrations on how to do that for our car, it seemed a little involved, plus it was pouring down rain that day, and we have no garage. Not wanting any added frustration for my hubby, I told him that I could just have the dealer take care of it when I was in town. Well to make a long story shorter, I will be taking the car in again on Monday. Two different guys could not get the bulb out! They didn't want to force it for fear of breaking the bulb, so on Monday they will have to take off the whole lighting fixture on the back of the car to be able to hopefully get the bulb out. Of course what wouldn't have probably cost very much, now will cost more, because it will take longer. I am so thankful I listened to that gut feeling that maybe it would be better to take the car to the dealer, and my husband didn't have to deal with a frustrating situation.
Most of us who have been blogging for a while, have discovered that blogs hold a wealth of information that bring enlightenment, humor, new possibilities of thinking, enjoyment, etc. This past week because of blogging, I heard a musical solo played on a euphonium. I was not familiar with this instrument and am so thankful for being able to hear the beautiful music a skilled musician can make on it.
The movie, Lion, had been highly recommended to me, so my husband and I went to see it this past week. We enjoyed it so much!
Have you ever said something and then wonder , "Where did that come from?" At the beginning of last week when I was at the nursing home, I spoke to the nurse to see how my Mom was doing with the transfers they were doing with her using the Arjo, a mechanical machine for transferring patients. The whole procedure was very unsettling to her. I asked the nurse if they ever gave her something to hold while they were doing it. At that point they had not been doing that. When I got home, I searched on the internet to see what if anything was done for patients, and in particular ones with dementia and Alzheimer's, who are very fearful when being transferred in this manner. After much searching I found one post that said that giving the patient something to hold helps the patient feel some stability. When I was at the nursing home the next time, I mentioned my discovery. I told them I was going to purchase a medium sized teddy bear for her to hold, but in the meantime, maybe having her hold a rolled up blanket might help. Yesterday, we gave her a teddy bear, and she loves it. That had been a concern, because I didn't know if she would think it was too childish, but she didn't, and she likes it. The other great news was that the staff told me that transferring her was much improved by having her hold a rolled up blanket. Yeah! Sometimes those thoughts that seemingly come into our minds are really there to help us as we live our lives her on earth. It is up to us to discern the thoughts we should heed.
Yesterday as my husband and I were visiting my Mom, there was a resident sitting at the table behind me. The woman had been dozing off. Suddenly I heard her saying, "Hey, can someone show me a little kindness?" When I turned around, she looked at me and said, "I just woke up. What are we doing?" I told her that we were just enjoying the sunshine outside, and I looked out the sliding glass doors to the patio. When I did that she looked outside, and made a comment about the sunny day. Often visitors at nursing homes are thought of as another staff member by the residents, especially those whose memories are impaired. If I see a need of resident that requires moving a patient, when perhaps the aides are busy helping other people, I will make sure that someone is aware of the need as soon as possible. I would want that kind of attention given to my Mom if I weren't there.
I'm pretty sure there are more than 10 things for which I am thankful. Hopefully I've mentioned that many here.
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| Hang in there, spring is around the corner. . . |
Pat, I was so happy to see you linking up to join us at the new TToT blog! You always share such a positive outlook on life and it inspires me! I have watched the news reports of heavy rains in your area, and I am glad that you are doing ok, but I know it is worrisome and a difficult situation for many. I hope things will get dried out soon.
ReplyDeleteI love your message about heading things we have a feeling about, like the light on the car, or finding a way to comfort your mom during transfers. I believe we are shown things if we are open to it. The car light sounds like it would have been very frustrating to tackle alone at home if it was going to be difficult. I am elated that your mom liked the rolled blanket, that the staff listened and that the teddy bear was a big hit. It made me smile in appreciation when you took the time to be kind to the lady at the nursing home sitting near you. Like you, I hope someone will be kind to me some day, and that staff will take the time to listen. Spring is not too far off here in West Texas, we've had a mild winter but I always love the renewal that Spring brings. I promise to work hard to find thankfuls in the roasting heat of summer too! :-)
I try to listen to the promptings I receive. I believe the more one listens and obeys, the more inspiration we receive, or at the very least we come to recognize when we are being guided.
DeleteI've never been to Texas. Hopefully you have air conditioning in your home for those hot days coming up this summer.
Glad you enjoyed the movie! It looks like you are certainly getting some rain. I've been watching the reports about the Oroville Dam and am glad that none of our relatives are in that path. Hopefully everyone will be safe.
ReplyDeleteThe Oroville Dam is certainly something to keep watching. I hope that they can do something to stabilize the big hole. I found myself thinking about all those people who were evacuated and thought of what a job that would be, especially for those in hospitals, care facilities, etc. and the elderly still living in their own homes. The uncertainty of where to go and stay would be awful.
DeleteI am waiting for Spring! I fear, and as the Groundhog predicted, we have some winter to endure yet. That car light issue is best solved at a dealer, no matter how much it costs. I know those seemingly simple projects can turn into nightmares when dealing with vehicles. (And computers). Very interesting about having your Mom hold onto something while being moved. I'm glad you gave that insight to the caregivers at the facility. See you next week, Pat, or maybe on Thursday at the six.
ReplyDeleteIf the groundhog was right, there is a 40 percent chance we will get some snow this weekend. One would hardly think so based on the last two days of warmer weather and sunshine.
Deletemight I join you in thanking Lizzi for doing such good work to date and to Josie for carrying onwards this not inconsiderable effort.
ReplyDeleteI will say, for the record that I've always been proud of being possessed of a certain sense of humor, dry wit has always been the compliment I have derived the greatest pleasure from receiving.
In keeping with a certain, 'changing of the guard', I totally hand over my (presumptive crown) to you!
I cite (in part):
" Flooded road in Marion Co. Oregon. I turned left."
"There is nothing better than seeing the sunrise first thing in the morning."
very cool post!
Dry wit has been something that has taken me a while to understand as there was next to none of that around in my family. There is a lot more of that on my husband's side, so I had a bit of a learning curve.
DeleteA funny thing about that flooded road and the signs was I watching a truck come driving through in spite of the signs.
I keep hearing what an excellent movie that is. Glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteI always think a little kindness goes a long way and we will all wish for the same when we end up at the end of our lives and only asking for a little human interaction. Very good of you.
I too am glad this TToT is continuing here. Liz did it so well for all that time. I would be in need of a little break if I were her. Glad we can all come together in gratitude here though. Have a lovely week Pat.
We do have quite a group don't we! I see kindness spread throughout the TTOT group's posts.
DeleteI, too, am grateful to Lizzi and to Josie for navigating what I know will be a successful passing of the torch of thankfulness and allowing so many of us to connect via both of their efforts.
ReplyDeleteI am always touched by your ability to see the most amazing positives in all things in life - you really do have a sense for the messages around you. Beautiful. It's easy to see how Kristi developed such a keen sense of awareness of blessings.
Thank you, Lisa. I think like so many parents, it seems as though the children far surpass the parents in so many ways. As parents we have felt blessed to be the parents of our children who in many ways have helped us become who we are.
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