Gratitude Journal: Psalm 119:11

 "Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."  As a child, I learned it this way.  "Your Word I have hid in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee."

It is harder to memorize these days.  I am grateful for the bits tucked away earlier in life and I am grateful that they surface for me now and then.  I once had the aspiration of memorizing the entire Bible.  I was not able to do it.  The thought of not having this treasure concerns me.  I am grateful that we are still a free country and that religion (Christianity) has not been exiled yet.

Gratitude Journal: New Project

A new grand adventure (babysitting) began yesterday.  It was complicated by RV maintenance on both sides, so we missed our Friday dinner date.  We did spend several hours withe #3 granddaughter.  She is a creator.  She watches cartoons or some game on her ipad, then gets out the Lego's and makes the character that caught her attention.  She made a parrot that was really well done.  I need to remember that our phones can take pictures.  We helped our grandson onto the school bus and then back off again.  He has school for a couple more weeks then he will be with us also.  He is doing awesome with his walking and learning to use the white cane.  Next week, I will have the duty alone, as hubby is going fishing.  I need to think about creativity and how I can encourage #3 to expand it in other activities.  I am grateful that we are able to spend time with the littlest of our grandchildren.  Tired, but Grateful.

Gratitude Journal: Caught Off Guard

 A new senior lady that I had not met before, stopped me on my way to knitting at the retirement home.  She wondered if I could write down the instructions to knit a cowl.  I asked her if she wanted to knit in the round or flat and she said she would knit in the round.  I told her I would bring something next week.  It turns out that she liked the Moebius Lace Necklette pattern that I taught three people in the senior knitting group to knit.  One of the knitters was wearing theirs and she admired it.  I doubt that she wants to knit a Moebius, so I will translate the pattern for knitting in the regular round.  I think I will also offer that she could knit flat and seam the end.  I must keep reminding myself to actually do this little task.  It would be so easy to forget.   I think it is cool that knitting is sort of like bicycle riding, you don't forget how, you just pick up the sticks and make it happen.  I am grateful for the God given gift of writing patterns for others and being able to knit without one when I need to.  

In other news, we are going to be babysitting two days a week for the next 4 months.  I am grateful that we can choose to take the time to do this.  We will take mini trips between the babysitting days to get some retirement fun in this summer.  We are already planning.  The Coast, Maupin, and other not so close, but not so far places we can visit.  Hubby can fish and I can knit or spin.  I am grateful for options and I am grateful for anticipation of good times.

Gratitude Journal: Encouragement

Where do you go for inspiration and encouragement?  Do you have a "best friend" to provide them.  For me, it happens most at Knit Night.  I love looking at everyone's projects and sharing my own.  Every Wednesday this group meets to be together and share.  The group is very dynamic.  The number of attendees varies from around 6 to 20.  What is in common is a love for knitting and camaraderie.  Last night I was able to get away and join them.  I came home pumped. I am grateful for Knit Night and those who attend.

We met new neighbors yesterday.  They will be arriving to stay this weekend.  We have three empty units visible from our driveway.  Another one should be occupied in a few weeks.  It will be great to have lights in these windows.  We have a great street.  Everyone cares about each other just the right amount.  Not too intrusive.   We will still be the kids, as we are probably a good 10 years younger than most. I am grateful for our townhome and its community. 


This morning, I am just grateful.......

Gratitude Journal: Rearranging

I like schedules or at least outlines.  Monday, housecleaning.  Tuesday, just for me.  Wednesday, knitting. Thursday, visit Mom and knit with my senior ladies.  Friday, groceries.  Saturday and Sunday, do what ever Hubby wants.  I like to reserve one day that I don't have to go anywhere, usually Tuesday.  So yesterday was our first, at home, retirement Tuesday.  Hubby loves me to go with him when he heads out for his errand trips.  This was one fact, that I was unsure about in approaching retirement.  I did not want to have to drop whatever I was doing to head out for errands (especially if it happened everyday).  So I got up yesterday, did my computer stuff, got on my exercise clothes and headed for the treadmill.  When I was finished, I prepared my breakfast drink while cooling down before I headed for the shower.  To my surprise, Hubby had his shoes on and was preparing to head out the door.  He had a list of errands to do.  He didn't even ask.  (Of course, for me to get ready to leave the house would take a minimum of 1/2 hour and he was ready, already.)   His errands included a trip to the oil change place, a stop at the Honda dealership, a stop at the RV parts store, and a stop at the driving range.  I am so grateful that he left me out.  Even with taking knitting along, that would have been a long morning.  I instead, finished Mondays laundry and vacuuming.  I also used my Wonder Washer again to felt two small projects.  One came out perfect, and the other probably just won't be satisfactory to me.  It will make a wonderful class sample, if I ever get around to writing up my small felted purse project.  I am grateful that this two person retirement thing is working itself out.  I am grateful for my Wonder Washer.  I am grateful that over Monday and Tuesday, I am now back on my little schedule.  I am grateful for my knitting which helps keep me sane.

Gratitude Journal: Nest, Check

I snuggled into my den yesterday.  It took most of the day, tweaking this and tweaking that.  I watched some Netflix and knitted.  I could still hear the TV in the living room, but I could follow my own shows as well.  There is a little tweaking left to be done.  I will wait until next week, giving what I have a chance to settle.  I am grateful for having this little den and a place to call my own.  

Today we have to go visit the cell phone company.  The bill was horrendous.  I could determine what most of it meant, but one item totally escapes me.  I can't believe that customer service doesn't get when you tell them you are on a fixed income and want to have fixed expenses.  We added a cell phone to our account and did away with the land line.  By my math, we should have netted $10.00 in our favor.  The bill when it arrived was double what I expected.  Then there was all the "so many days of this, and so many days of that" to contend with.  Taxes of course jumped, I don't know what they are based on.  Must be price and not usage.  With our level of usage, there would not be a dime of taxes.  I am grateful that we are able to have cell phones and that we should be able to afford them.

When is the sunny, dry weather arriving?  Anybody know?  I may have to water my peas.  They are 24 inches high and have lovely flowers.  Watching for the arrival of pods.  I love growing stuff.  I have more to plant, just biding my time.  I am very grateful that my garden is just the right size to enjoy and not be a burden.

Gratitude Journal: A Nest

I must build myself an alternate nest.  In my living room, I have a lovely nest.  My lazy boy rocker, an ottoman, lots of knitting projects draped over it, books within reach and very good lighting.  This has been a wonderful space for the last five years.  With Hubby retiring, that nest is not nearly so cozy.  First is the over stimuli of sound.  The TV is now too loud all the time.  The content is sports which is noisy anyway.  Then there is the sports streaming on the laptop, sometimes with the sound up on both.  Not to speak of the fact that if I am sitting there, I must want to listen to him talking.  Not to me, mind you, but too the TV or the computer.  Previously I had moved my antique rocker into the bedroom with the idea of settling in there when needed.  For some reason, that space just doesn't invite me.  Yesterday, I scoped out the den with the idea of changing the furniture around to make it more inviting.  I made some moderate alterations, and have thought about major moves, but I think I will just move the rocker back.  Last summer this is where I did all my spinning and it suited me just fine.  I am grateful that I have the den as an option.  We will work our this retirement thing.