Tag Archives: Ten things of thankful

Ten Things

What I like most about the Thanksgiving and Holiday season, is that so many of us take a moment to realize how lucky we are, even if we are not having the best of days (or hours). For example:

Being able to send a WTF SHOOT ME NOW text and have a friend respond: Do you need bail money, help hiding the body or just a wine drop off?

Having a house full of company for the Thanksgiving holiday. Yes, it was chaos. Yes, there was a lot of food, laughs and dog hair every freaking where. And my MIL kicking my ass in cribbage, again.

During the Thanksgiving, having my nephew and niece stay with us. That they let me be Kerri the Great to their toddler. This little child who is so typical it does my heart good to be a witness. This is going to sound weird, but it no longer hurts to see a little child who takes for granted how easy it is for them to run, eat and climb. Rather, it makes my hurt burst with pride at how wonderful parents my nephew and niece are. Their toddler has totally stolen my heart, in all the best ways.

Not only can I message my other nephew, who is serving overseas, but he can message me back within minutes. He (like my eldest) has no respect for the time difference, texting me at 2am my time without even realizing it. I am so thankful he does, that even though he has been serving our Country for the entirety of his adult life, and been not local for 100% of it, the connect has not faded but rather grown.

I am so thankful to have this friend, who honestly rebuilt her life from the ashes and is now paying it forward. On Instagram @LisaRisesStrong she is putting herself out there, trying to help others live their best lives. That I have been able to be a witness to her growth and can now share her with the world to showcase how awesome she is something I am so thankful.

It now officially Christmas music season. And that Pandora exists so I can make a playlist of my favorites and more that Bridget seems to know the difference between Christmas music and all other genres.

There is no Elf in my house.

I think we have found the right mix of medications to keep the catatonia at bay and bring Bridget back. During the holidays, the company did notice she was still reserved and not quite as social. However, they noticed a huge improvement from the summer. Thursday when she got off her school van, she actually chatted with the van driver. That is a bigger deal than some of you may realize. She also chatted with a stranger at Market Basket. Okay she was trying to once again explain to a random shopper why they needed the PINK pop tarts. But she engaged and talked to someone that is not me.

That Amazon exists. Okay, I know they are horrible for local small businesses. But having one child in the frozen Tundra, one nephew overseas and countless friends around the world, it is so very helpful to do one stop shopping and shipping.

Last but not least, I am thankful for when there are those times I have to work from home on a weekend, this is my office.

Ten Things

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Time goes by so quickly, it has been a few weeks since I took a moment to pause and remember with all the craziness going on in my life it is important to remember all the good that has happened that balances out the feelings of my life is a dumpster fire.

Bridget loved her cheerleading season, that capped off with an exhibition at Gillette Stadium with the Patriots Cheerleaders. She not only picked the song her team danced to but insisted on doing the “Lift”.

Taking some “me” time and doing some much overdue self-care

That at work we have successfully opened a second location, expanding my role in a way that keeps me not only challenged but fulfilled

That a friend who spent a year in NYC, came home and we were able to have snacks for dinner for the first time in over a year.

That Bridget went bowling with a friend and while she has the funniest and slowest technique it doesn’t matter how the ball gets down the lane, we are just thankful for the gutter guards

That there were more smiles than tears this week

That when doing a deep clean in preparation for holiday visitors, I found little pieces of my eldest and her imagination that I had forgotten about. And the amazement that even though she has been away at college for over 3 years, I am still finding the hiding places of her “treasures”.

That while I was completely unsuccessful in recreating Wing Dings from Bobby Byrnes Pub, I didn’t poison us. While they were not wing dings, they were still edible, and the onion rings came out fantastic!

That I recognized that I am in a rut, personally, may have some menopausal madness going on and have started to strategize how to get me back to where I was a year ago. I have realized that Bridget’s latest health trauma has impacted me in a way the previous one had not. I could blame that menopausal madness, but those who know me know I don’t like a pity party or to shift blame. It is up to me to put myself back together. It will take some growth, some accountability and most of all my village. Thank you for not letting me slide, for not letting me fail and for never giving up on me.

And that is what I am most thankful for, the friendships new and old that continue to be the reason I survive this unexpected life.

Ten Things

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I am a firm believer that the more I recognize the good that has happened this week, the easier it is to deal with a week full of Mondays.

And this week has been a Monday. All freaking week. It wasn’t just me, either. Everyone I talked to, from friends, coworkers, customers and Bridget’s team said their week felt like one long freaking Monday.

Which brings me to the first thing to be grateful for

That others acknowledge bad days. That when I say this has been the longest Monday, and it is Thursday they immediately get me and make me feel less alone.
That my week started with brunch with two of my friends from high school. That we shared, laughed until we cried and shared the hard times. The times that in the grand scheme of things, are less than world hunger but more than noticing the milk has gone sour after your first sip of coffee. That the time went by so fast it wasn’t until we got home that we realized we forgot to take the group selfie. Again.
That I’ve kept this basil plant alive. Those who cannot grow, buy their herbs from the grocery story and the fact that after multiple attempts to grow my own have failed, my Market Basket basil is alive and well.
Wine, because let’s face it life is always better with Pinot Grigio.
When I lost my shit last weekend after Bridget screamed she hated me (while hugging me) my husband didn’t try to fix me. Instead, he held me and said, this really sucks.
That my mom is finally healthy enough to go out to dinner and ate her entire meal.
That my sister-in-law read how I blame her mom for the “mothers curse” post and saw the humor (and agreed with me).
That at Bridget’s IEP this week, her team were kind at keeping my expectations in check and understood my need to make Bridget as independent as possible before she leaves their school.
That I have a village that remember all of Bridget’s appointments and check in to make sure I am okay. That they check in to share their own struggles so that I do not feel like I am always taking from them. That at the brunch on Sunday, they just assumed Bridget would be there and when she was not poured me a really big glass of wine and let me really relax for the first time in too long.
That my week ended with mall pizza with Bridget and another best friend who didn’t care that we were at a food court. She laughed when shoe shopping for Bridget took 2.2 seconds and when we strolled the mall, she engaged with Bridget. Friends that bring Bridget out of her shell and into the world around us is priceless.

A week full of Mondays could leave me crying in my wine. But as hard as this week was? It was also full of more than ten things that brought a lightness to my week. The friends that make this unexpected life so much easier to navigate the speed bumps life keeps putting in our way.

What are you thankful for this week?

Oh so thankful

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I did it! I successfully ran a half-marathon and didn’t need an ambulance at the finish line! The weather was beautiful, not a cloud in sight. The course was so picturesque and the company made the 2 and a half hours feel like time past too quickly. I could not have done it without my running partner, Lauren. She kept me on pace and laughing throughout the entire 13.1 miles.