Another goodbye, the best friends & a diner after shopping.....{Thankful Thursday #152}

 

This week I am Thankful For:

{Numbers with go with my One Thousands Gifts Journal / Just ignore}

790 / Got in early to doctor
Every year when I have my check up, they make my appointment for the next year.  Well, it was going to fall on the Tuesday of the week I start my new job. Aint gonna happen. So I called & told them I was going to have to reschedule it for a few months out.  They said, "Can you come tomorrow" - when I was on vacation - PERFECT TIMING! ... so glad I got it in because when I was there, I found out my OB/GYN - the same doctor I've had for 25 years (what's the deal with 25 years lately?) is retiring. Her last day is the end of this year. I would have been devastated to miss her before she left.

793 / Fast delivery!!!
Bruno is now on a special prescription dog food & we ran out.  Well, I actually ordered a bag & it came in .... except it was ADULT. Bruno & his little old man teeth - or lack of I should say - cant chew it.  & the vet was out of the small breed kind.  So I went to order on Chewy's & placed the order around noon.... & do you know it was at my door the next morning at 9am!!!!!! I haven't been so happy in my whole life!!!!!

794 / Christmas Tree up!!!
... enough said. I just am not feeling it this year.  I never even got my Fall stuff out - & I didnt even put up ALL my Christmas decoration.  I am happy with what I got up though.

795 / Mom home.
I'm not sure its for the best that she was sent home... but I know she was thankful to be in her own bed  & in her own home.

796 / Offers of Thanksgiving
While we thought mom was still going to be in the hospital on Thanksgiving having her tests done (dont ask ....) I had a few of my Joysters reach out to me & ask if we needed to come to their house for Thanksgiving.  How generous is that?!?!?  It touched my heart so much for the offer of spending a holiday with their family.

797 / Thanksgiving 
So glad to spend it with my brother & his family.  I always say that I live for the holidays ONLY for my brother's broccoli casserole. THE BEST!!!




799 / First Waffle House experience.
I've always wanted to try it out & it finally happened. & I dont know if it was because we shopped off all the Thanksgiving calories or what, but it just tasted so good.

800 / Black Friday
It really has become a tradition for Ricky & I to shop the day away.  I have heard from so many that they cant imagine their husband doing that with them.  Ricky is all about a deal & Black Friday is like HIS Christmas day. It makes him so happy to find some bargains everywhere you go.

My goal for Black Friday - accomplished

805 / Bruno Skin.
I almost dont want to even say this because every time I do, he takes a turn & it gets bad again.... but he got a new antibiotic SHOT this last time... & I have been told to give him a bath every TWO days now.  I dont know if its a combo of both, but his skin is better than ever... (Please Lord, let it continue)... its been so good to see him not gnawing his legs off or rubbing across the carpet all night long.  He's not too thrilled about the every other day bath thing though.

804 / Willow Tree Nativity
We got this set when Family Christian went out of business a few months back. I've always wanted the Willow Tree Nativity. This was all they had left - they didnt have the actual manager scene that they set on. I didnt care - we still had to have it.  We had been looking for a nativity that it would fit in or something that would look nice.  Couldnt find anything. So I found this sign at Hobby Lobby & thought it would make a great back drop.  I put the block underneath to give Mary & Joseph some height & I think it turned out wonderfully. I am still planning on painting the block gold to match the star... but I really do think it came together well.

807 / Crockpot chili
mmmm.... Ricky has been craving my quinoa, sweet potato, black bean chili - it was great for left overs the first few days on my new job too!

808 / All the encouragement!!!
I cant even begin to tell you the amazing encouragement from so many incredible people on my first day.  Sweet prayers lifted, precious words said to me, amazing messages of uplifting comfort - from all over. I honestly couldnt have felt better going into day 1.  One of my friends even said she prayed for a good nights sleep for me - soooo needed -  & I got it & I told her I know it was because of her thoughtful prayer for me.

I'm already so full this week - & have so much still from this week - but I'll stop here for now....

Tell me what good things have happened in your week...

It begins....

I survived!  My first day is behind me.

I left home an hour early & I'm so glad I did.

Driving into downtown is a fun adventure that I forgot about... even worse is the adventure of getting OUT of downtown at the end of the day. I'll get to that later.

That building in the center... my new home

But I pulled into the parking garage & now I have a little walk from the garage to the building.

I got to my new building & went to get on the elevator & go up to the floor I needed.... except the elevator wouldnt take me there. It just kept turning the light off the floor I was hitting & the doors would open & close.

LUCKILY ... soeone else got on the elevator with me that was needing to get to that same floor.
She figured out she could use her badge to get us to the floor one under - which is the same business - & she took me in & showed me the stair case so I could walk up to the floor I needed.

I told her it was my first day & she said, "oh, this isn't a good omen, is it?"
BOO ON YOU MA'AM!!!! Don't jinx me.
I just looked at it as a good adventure kicking off & hey, I made it where I needed - right?
& I thought it was all a blessing of being in the same elevator as this lady who got me where I needed.
Perspective is key in life, I'm telling you.

I waited for my new manager to come get me & I just got to take in the beautiful views while waiting.... look at this!!!

The manager came & got me & showed me my new HOME...
& she apologized that my name tag had the "Jo" added on ... I love it actually.

& funny side note, found out her middle name is JO too! ;)
We're meant to work together.

The morning sped by with all the different appointments they had set up for me with different people in the company.  The main one - meeting with the Human Resources department & going over all the benefits.

Y'all... I totally teared up when she went over it with me.
I apologized & told her that i honestly felt like I hit the lottery to have options of benefits like these.
If you have health insurance through your work, you may not realize how blessed you are to have it...
I know it now... & I am just in awe that I have not only health insurance - but amazing dental (Y'all KNOW I need some good dental insurance) & I even have vision insurance!!! & other insurances that I didnt even know existed!!!! 

Before I knew it, it was time for lunch & two of the ladies took me out for lunch.
It was just great sitting & talking to them getting to know them as people.

The rest of my afternoon was full of learning more things & seeing new faces & it all just went really well.

The view out of my own window....
there's an ice rink right now down below ... HOW FUN!

EVERYONE was SOOOO nice.
Like, I couldnt imagine such a friendly group of people - & there were SO MANY PEOPLE!
& honestly, every single person I came across was just so welcoming & kind & warm.

At the end of the day, I even had 2 ladies that walked with me to the garage, which was nice.

My only issue for the day was leaving.
First, I had issues with my new parking pass & I had cars piled up while I had to call for assistance & try & talk through the worlds word 1970's speaker... but got out of the garage
... only to sit in traffic.
Oh man... miserable.
My hours changed from what they originally had me at & I'm getting off an hour later than I did before at my last job... which would be OK, except half the world gets off at 5pm & downtown is a hot mess.  & PLUS, its dark at 5:30 & by the time I got home, I was beat & felt like it was nearly midnight.

The time change is going to be an adjustment.
Who knew an hour could make such a difference in a world?
It totally can.

The best part of the day for me?
Soooo - through my whole process of going on job interviews & making decisions on this job, I never really said the name of the company to my Joysters - just always asking for prayers.... & after I found out I got the job, I found out one of my Joysters actually WORKS there!!! How funny is that?!?!?!
& this mroning, when I was in between meeting office staff, she came up & found me in a conference room to give me a hug.
BEST WELCOME EVER. She helped so much make it feel like home already.

So I have to say, I couldnt imagine a first day going any better.
Truly.
& I know all your sweet words of encouragement & prayers made a BIG difference in that as well!!!
So thank you - truly - thank you.

& I'm still going to have to learn how my new life is going to look.
Getting home later - when I'm going to get my workouts in - my lack of day time internet access & how it is going to effect my blogging... it's just all changing & I've got to settle in

... but I have benefits at my job!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All worth it!

The weekend that kicks off the holiday season.....

So..... today is a big day.  A HUGE day. 

I may be sick.....

I'm starting my new job today.  .... breath in..... breath out..... repeat.....

At least I had a great long week off - it really was nice - felt like a long time off... & I'm excited to get started.  It's just getting through these first few days, weeks... probably months.  But let the adventure begin - right?

It was super nice having time to hang out with my dogs for awhile... & get some Christmas decorations up & celebrate Thanksgiving....

I got up on Thanksgiving & made a new recipe that someone gave me... a brussel sprout salad.



It was delicious - I'll totally make this again.  I may pre-make some to take to work even. 

Plus, it made for a really pretty dish.

I was going to make a pumpkin pie but plans got a little off & my sister in law text me & said they were going to eat in about an hour so I didnt have time to make a pie. Totally turned out ok because they had pie anyways.

I was excited to go over to my brother's because they just got 2 new puppies.... BRING ON THE PUPPY FEVER!!!!!

I forget how tiny puppies really are... & how playful & full of life they are...

We had a delicious lunch & then we played our Skribble Head game... everyone was pretty good at it...

Can you guess it?... it was a weight lifter. Pretty good I think

& then we headed out to check out some shopping....

I know some people are really passionate about not shopping on Thanksgiving because it reinforces the date to be open next year... but I think most people are falling in line with shopping Thursday night because Target was PACKED!!!!!! 

We made it through the line & it was nearing 9 pm & Ricky was hungry... I was too after he mentioned it... & we thought we'd just head home since nothing was going to be open.  & Ricky was on the phone with Julie who mentioned Waffle House & I got all giddy excited!! I've never ate there before.  Shocking, right?  I dont know why... just never had a reason too. 

I literally was so excited, Ricky was like, "If I knew this would make you so happy, we would have come here for our anniversary dinner".... I told him to always remember I'm easily pleased.

Ricky wanted to get up bright & early for Black Friday shopping... sadly, for me, I was up ALL NIGHT LONG with the dogs - each of them had something going on during the night. I had about 2.5 hours sleep so when the alarm went off at 4:15am I told him forget it - I'm staying home & sleeping.  He went out though & told me to call him when I got up.

So by the time he came home at 8:30am to pick me up, he had already shopped & got some amazing deals & he was still rearing to go with me....

Friday is literally a blur with all the shopping.  & I was happy because my main stop I wanted to go to was Michaels & snag up on the yarn sale. haha.  Told you - easily pleased.

Let me stress how well I slept Friday night though. EXHAUSTED!!!!!  Not before I watched the cute new movie on Netflix, AChristmas Prince.  Anyone else see it yet?

Saturday, I ended up taking the morning easy - I watched a Netflix movie that I've had on DVD for like a year....

& when I finished - we headed back out to get some things I needed - mainly things I needed for the new job - like new tights, new make up.  I even got to pick up my new Christmas sweater that I'm going to sport all of December - or as much of it as I can.

I spent the rest of my Saturday knitting & finishing up the series Emerald City... yeah, the series that was out in MARCH. Almost a year ago - oops.  I loved it though & they totally set it up for another season & it just makes me sad that it wont be coming back. I really did like it.  Shoot.

Sunday, I ended up sleeping in because we didnt have MSM so I skipped church & ended up watching it on TV (our church replays the previous weeks sermon on TV every week)... & then I got ready to go to our JOY Bible study....

Before I left, I had made some quiona, sweet potato, black bean chili - DELICIOUS.  I love crock pot recipes.  I need to make more of them actually. Especially during winter.

& then its time to start gearing up.... for my new job... that is NEW... BRAND NEW... & I'm all about freaking out because EVERYTHING IS NEW....

breath in... breath out....

OK... I can do this - right?  Someone remind me of that.

Distract me - tell me how your Thanksgiving went.

Did you do some Black Friday shopping?

Seen any of the movies I mentioned?

Wish me luck today everyone!!!!

The one that falls on the best Thankful day of the year!!!! {Thankful Thursday #151}

I always started Thankful Thursday because I knew Thanksgiving always fell on a Thursday...

& I love being thankful & intentional on finding the blessings in my life every day.

But I do love that so many people stop on Thanksgiving & really give notice to all the blessings in their life.

So today, I pray however you celebrate today, you do get that chance to reflect on the amazing things that you have in your life.  Even on the worst of days, thankfulness is there if you search for it.

Praying for a wonderful Thanksgiving for you & your families!!!!

This week I am Thankful For:

{The numbers go with my One Thousand Gifts Journal... just ignore}

764 / Social Security Card
I need my card to start my new job & I was like, POOP - I had no idea where it was at & thought I was going to have to run down to the government office to get another one.... when my awesome husband comes up with it from our safe. I had no idea it was there.  He's usually clueless on such things - but he was totally my hero for this!!!

765 / Hair appt day
I loved having fresh hair on my last week of work.  Dont know why it mattered, but it felt good.

768 / Bruno baths
They help my little guy sleep so well. Dont know if its because it eases his skin for awhile, or if it just wears him out fighting me on the baths.  Either way, i'm thankful for those restful nights of sleep for him.... & that in turn means me as well!

773 / Such sweet goodbyes
My last few days at work were filled with such kindness & sweet words from so many co-workers.  I got to go to lunch with a few & some of the emails truly choked me up & brought tears to my eyes.  It's hard leaving people you've spent so long with.

774 / Flowers
How beautiful are these? One of my coworkers that I worked with for 21 years picked these up for me.  I said they looked like they need to be in a home styled by Joanna Gaines.

776 / Goodbye gifts
Starbucks, Panera & Subway?... & a Beauty & the Beast necklace?  They get me.  ... Or I should say, they GOT me.... sniff sniff...

779 / Ambulance workers
So thankful for the people that were able to get mom off of the kitchen floor & safely to the hospital when they thought she broke so many things.

780 / Nothing Broken
Mom may have been in the hospital all week with other sickness but just glad that nothing in the fall caused anything to break.

781 / Breather
I felt like I hadn't stopped in a few days to just take a minute to read. I didnt get a lont time on Saturday, but it was nice to take about an hour to read a few chapters in my book & drink my coffee on the warmer Fall day.

782 / A day with my MSM girls.
I loved serving with them & helping our church pack up so many meals... & then getting to spend the evening with them going to see Wonder.  I just love the friendships that are getting stronger with each passing year.

783 / Mom's help.
I had so many girls end up going on Saturday, I wasn't sure how I was going to get the girls from one location to the other. I had 3 mom's step up & volunteer to carpool the girls. (Can you believe I needed THREE mom's - that's how many girls there were!) ... but I always say these girls are so amazing because of the women they are learning from - their mommas.

787 / Friendsgiving.
A complete success... so fun...

789 / Being off this week.
So needed.  It hasnt gone one bit planned like I wanted... but I know it was God's plan for me to be off to take care of everything else that needed to be handled.  Plus, as the saying goes - any bad day off work is still better than a good day at work ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

May you find Thankfulness in every moment of every day, all year long.

A Thankful Hodgepodge....

1. Tradition...how tightly do you cling to tradition when it comes to holiday gatherings and celebrations? For instance do you always do the cooking, never eat at home, always go to grandma's, never miss the parade, always watch football, never change the menu, always eat at 2 PM, etc.? Have you ever celebrated Christmas or Thanksgiving away from hearth, home, and family? How did that feel?

Growing up, we used to have traditions that we would stick to.  Like, we KNEW Christmas Eve was at my grandmothers... & we KNEW that you dont open gifts until everyone was up & could go in the basement together.  Now, traditions aren't as important... not sure why. I think I like them. I'm the person who likes routine & consistency, but it seems like everyone around me, not so important.... so it gives me a bit of anxiety but I deal... & I still do traditions for the things I CAN control. Like, I'll still watch the Macy's Day parade on Thanksgiving day - I'll bake some sweet treats - I'll have some good coffee or hot chocolate & sit by the tree & watch an old Christmas show... even if I have to do these things all on my own, I'll still do them for my own heart.


2. Help...is it easy for you to ask for help or are you a do-it-yourselfer? How is that a good/bad thing?

I loathe asking for help.  I think the only time I'd ask for help if I was dying or a limb was falling off. But the ironic thing - I love TO help someone in any way I can.  I know there's an irony in that.... can't help it.

3. Abundance...what is there an abundance of in your kitchen?

Papers.  Not the typical "kitchen" answer, is it ?  But it seems like my counter is ALWAYS full of papers.  Bills to pay, bills already paid, crafty things I've drawn, my Bible study workbooks & notes, recipes, coupons.  Yeah..... I need to become more organized.

4. Name...the smallest thing you're thankful for? the biggest?

Smallest?  I'm thinking of both the smallest thing in size & the thing you use every day that you just over look.... I dont know why, but dental floss came to mind. haha.  Its true though. I guess I am thankful for it to keep my teeth clean... & actually I use it to make my pom poms for hats too... See? A true blessing.
Biggest?  100% Jesus & His mercy & grace & the life He sacrificed for me.

5. Key...What do you think is the key to living a more grateful life?

Being aware ... keeping those eyes open to know that every day is full of blessings that we so easily over look.
I love doing my gratitude journal every day to make sure I am totally aware of the blessings that carry me through every day.

Speaking of which - Thankful Thursday is tomorrow if you want to link up with me.
I do this EVERY Thursday... & would LOVE to see more people acknowledge the blessings in their life - be thankful YEAR ROUND & not just in November.

6. State your own random thought here.

So many of you have sent the kindest words & prayers for my mom.
Yep - she's still in the hospital & is going to be in there for Thanksgiving at the minimum. She's scheduled for some tests on Thursday so not the holiday we were planning at all.... & while I was hoping for a relaxing & restful week off, its anything but.... but I'm taking my own thoughts on the last question - I'm being aware.  Realizing that if I was at my new job & not able to go up to the hospital & sit for awhile & give my dad a break from there, it'd be a tougher week for our whole family.  God's timing.

Hope to see some of you around tomorrow for Thankful Thursday... the best one of the year when it falls on Thanksgiving!

The weekend I started a new beginning....

It's done....

25 years of work in one place... all over as I walked out the door on Friday.

I still can't believe it.

I thought I was going to be OK.... but I got choked up from the moment I walked in the door & realized, this is my last morning coming in. 

The day went by in a blur really - going over final things with coworkers & getting to go out to lunch with a friend & then it was time to say the goodbyes.  I hate goodbyes. Truly hate them.  But I got out the door & got in my car & had a mini melt down.  It was like I had the thoughts that this wasn't real life.... & thinking, what did I just do?

... but the further I drove away, the more excited I got about my new beginnings. 

I'm just feeling like God is going to do amazing things... whether it be at this new job, or just putting me on a new path ... I dont know what lays ahead... but its going to be an adventure.

... & an adventure began really quick because I was home for just about an hour when I got a phone call from my dad that the ambulance was on the way to get my mom.

WHAT????

Well, she's been sick the past week... & when she got sick, she ended up slipping in the kitchen & couldnt get up.  My brother & dad tried to get her up but she would just scream in pain so they had to call the ambulance so they could get her up.  They thought she may have broken her neck, hit her head, thought her shoulder & knee was broken.  Bad stuff....

So I got to the hospital.... & ended up having to wait for nearly an hour for the ambulance.  WHAT???? ... I'm not sure what took so long. My dad even beat them & he left the house the same time they did - he beat them in about 10 minutes of time.

Geez.....

They did all kinds of scans & xrays & everything, thankfully, checked out OK...

Except I'll fast forward & tell you, she's back in the hospital.  She still just is sicker than a dog & cant stop vomiting (gross, I know - imagine how she feels) - its not the flu or anything.  She has no fever, & its just a different sort of sickness.  Needless to say, she's in the hospital & getting a scope done this morning.  Prayers all that works out & they at least get some answers to help her feel better.  & for the soreness from her fall to ease up.

Saturday, I also got to deal with Bruno who isn't feel well.  My poor boy. I'm getting ready nervous about him & wondering how much time I have left with him.  Breaking my heart.

But I left Ricky in charge of the dogs for the day & went to go serve with my MSM girls at our church.  Our church is packing up 1 Million meals for Uganda & our own church was in charge of making 150,000 meals.  It was great that these girls came to serve together. 

Note to self - dont wear a top knot bun when wearing a hair net - makes you look like a cone head
though everyone called me an Elf all night long ;) haha

We ended up leaving from there & went out to eat & then went to go see Wonder together.

OH MY GOSH... so good. SO much better than I expected. I'm really picky about books becoming movies... I totally approve of this one.

You should have heard all the crying from all our girls.  Ahhh - their precious hearts.

Sunday had me back at MSM - I was all about these girls this weekend....

& then headed up to the hospital to see mom...

& then our girls bible study was doing a FRIENDSGIVING...

we finished up our last week in our Bible study we had been doing & then the girls invited some boys to come hang out & have a little Thanksgiving together.... except for turkey, we had pizza & instead of pumpkin pie, we had lots of cookies & brownies... way better if you ask me!

The churches Student Connection pastor came & did a devotional on gratitude & then we played a Girl vs Boy battle of the sexes game... it turned out really competitive & in the end - TIED... even after a tie breaker.  It was a great time together.  These kids are just so amazingly special.

So I stumbled in the house late on Sunday... & OH SO GRATEFUL I'm off this week...

though I already have a pretty packed week planned.... but just glad to not have to think about leaving my job - or focus yet on starting my new one. Let me get through Thanksgiving before I really start freaking out.  Hint - I'm going to be a HOT MESS Sunday.  Someone may need to call Ricky & check on him because I'm sure he's going to be nuts just being near me.

So... how was your weekend?

Have any Thanksgiving celebration?

You working this week?

See Wonder?

Friday Favorites

Favorite Dress



I am loving this shade of blue!!!!

Favorite Fiber Project

Let's just admit - I'm just addicted to anything with pom poms on it lately.

Favorite Beauty & the Beast

Favorite Christmas Decor


That little baby wreath is just the cutest!!!
You know what - this would be super easy to MAKE!!!!

Favorite Coffee Mugs

Favorite Office Supply

Favorite Funnies

... me coming into work on my last day of work at my job

....me saying goodbye to some of my friends for the final time

... & then me walking out the door for the last time at this joint!!!!

Happy Weekend Y'all!!!