Ten Things of Thankful

Ten Things of Thankful is a blog hop that I have been participating in off and on for about four years now. It has proven to be a healthy way of viewing the world around me and how I am connected to it and the people in it. Kristi of Thankful Me is the host of  Ten Things of Thankful. New participants to this blog hop are always welcome as you will see when you click the link. That link will also enable you to see what items of gratitude others are sharing this week.

1. Checked off an item off my bucket list 

For many years I have been saying one of these days I want to take a watercolor painting class. This week I signed up for a beginning class at one of the senior centers and the next day began learning some of the basics.

2. Beautiful parks

One day this week I walked around a park and took photos of flowers after having had a particularly depressing visit with my mom when it seemed her Alzheimer’s had the upper hand. Thankfully during the next visit I had her back for a few minutes when she smiled at me and squeezed my hand.

A close up of a camellia bush with
three beautiful white blossoms
 with pink stripes on the petals

3. Country roads

There are plenty of these around where we live. I walked about four miles on a hilly road yesterday. Going uphill enabled me to get my heart rate up a little.

A sloping hillside with oak trees in the
distance at the edge of a green pasture
and clouds ranging from white to varying
degrees of blue and gray above

4. Exercise gained from doing a little yard work 

With all the rain we have had and with the temperatures warming up somewhat, the grass and the weeds were flourishing. I was careful not to overdo and limited myself to just a half-hour of bending, stretching and reaching. It was a beautiful day for being outside. It got up to 78 degrees that day, the only day in April in the 70's and the fifth day of 70 degrees or above in 2019.

5. Flowers

Our orchid is blooming again and the poinsettia that I thought died has decided it wants to live. Although typically neither are usually considered as Easter flowers, the idea of living again seems appropriate for the season.

White orchid with multiple magenta dots
covering the petals

6. Blog posts about Easter 

This blog post, The Not So Innocent Bystander on the Via Dolorosa posted by Paul,  made me think about the time leading up to the crucifixion of  the Savior. . . in a slightly different way. Thank you Paul for your thoughtful insight.

7. Gatherings of friends and families and the joy it brings

8. Reaching goals 

A friend ran in the Boston Marathon again this week which is quite an accomplishment considering the fact that a few years back she didn't know if she would ever be able to run again.

Congratulations to our granddaughter who is beginning her first job in her chosen career after years of hard work and study.

9. My husband and his kindness to me and to others