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Thankful Things

I'm starting to get back to writing and as I work on more posts, I'm reminded how much I have to be thankful for so I'm going to share a few of those things.

{1}. I have a very hardworking husband. For the past several months, Matt has worked 7 days a week in an effort to start saving more and paying off debts. It's been exhausting for both of us but it has helped us to get ahead and I'm happy to say that we have moved on from that challenging season as Matt worked his last weekend a few weeks ago.

{2} Beginning in about a week, I will be providing childcare for a friend's infant son when she returns to work full-time. She spent a day with the week before last to see how our boys would interact with the baby and they both love him. It's bound to be a lot of fun!


{3} Even while Matt was working so much, we were still able to find time for some great family time. Playing outside, going to church and just doing errands, it doesn't matter what we're doing as long as we're together it's more enjoyable.



{4} The last two weekends, we've been able to get out of the house and go hiking on some local trails. We all really enjoy spending time in nature so it's been wonderful to do that together.

{5} On our hike yesterday, we were able to take some really nice family pictures like this one I shared on Instagram.



{6} We started homeschooling Davis last month and though we started a bit more quickly than we had originally planned to, and we've had to adjust our expectations and adapt, it's been great and we're starting to find some routines that work for us.

{7} The public library has made it possible to homeschool Davis. Without the resources available through them, we'd be struggling a lot more with homeschooling. Between the books we're able to borrow (both physical and electronic), the amazing programs they have regularly for the kids and even just having someplace where we can go that isn't home so the kids can have a change of scenery on days when it's rainy or too hot to be outside.

{8} Very much related to the last item on this list is the semi-annual book sale that the library hosts as a fundraiser. We went to the sale on their $5 a bag day which means you pay $5 and fill the bag they give you with as many books as you can. We filled 4 bags with a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction. There were a large number of workbooks, science and history books that we will be incorporating into our curriculum for this year and next year as well as copies of classic novels that I love having around for all of us to read from time to time.



{9} Having both a chest freezer and a BJ's membership makes it possible to do one big grocery haul at the beginning of the month and save money by buying in bulk. Then we just have to go once a week for things like milk, bread, produce and coffee creamer. If anyone has any tips for organizing the chest freezer, I'd greatly appreciate them. Right now it's a bit of a jumble in there.

{10} I am super thankful that I have found motivation to write again. It's something I truly enjoy and I had lost the enthusiasm for it for a while but it's back and I hope to keep it going.



Ten Things of Thankful

Comments

  1. Sending up a prayer for strength and determination for you in your journey to debt pay down. It is going to feel so amazing to have the weight of that debt off your shoulders. Power to you!

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    1. Thank you! It's going to be a challenging endeavor but definitely worth it in the end.

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  2. Finding the motivation to write after a fallow period is a great thing - glad to hear it! I will also say a prayer for you on your debt journey. That can be a daunting task.
    I'm always fascinated to hear people's homeschooling experiences and I just love that your public library has helped you along that road. I have rediscovered the awesomeness of the public library in the last few years and I am always glad to see others taking advantage of what their library offers as well.
    Our library has its annual "porch sale" this month and I'm looking forward to it. We've never been, but I'm definitely excited to check it out!

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    1. Thank you! I will definitely be writing more about both the debt journey and homeschooling in the future.
      Libraries are amazing, I'm so glad we live in an area with so many great ones!

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  3. So nice to see you here at the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop. You do, indeed have a lot of wonderful items of thankful in your list. Family time and paying down debt are two biggies. I applaud your decision to home school your children. I don't know if I would have attempted it and I'm a certified teacher. Hope to see you again next week.

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    1. Thank you! Homeschooling is definitely a challenge but so far it's working for us.

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  4. This place (the TToT) is a very get-back-into-writing-rhythm friendly place. Either as a list or an SOC (which we kinda love over at the Doctrine)... I've always been glad to post to it, on whatever schedule.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I agree that the TToT is a great help with getting back into a writing rhythm and it's a lot of fun!

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  5. I have a chest freezer, and I have yet to find a good way to organize it. And mine is HUGE. I would easily fit in it (not that I'm planning to try) and I'm 5'10" tall. Mine does have four baskets that rest on the top edge of the freezer. I put smaller stuff in there and big stuff in the bottom and medium stuff on top of the big stuff and hope for the best.

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    1. That's pretty much our current method although there is only one basket on the top. We just keep small stuff either in the basket or the freezer part of the regular refrigerator. Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. At this stage in our lives, having a chest freezer really isn't the best thing because...well who knows what is in the depths of this beast and how long it has been there. :-) My height keeps getting shorter, so that doesn't help either.
    I've often thought that if I had young children at this day and age, I would give serious consideration to home schooling.
    Library book sales are wonderful!
    Saving, paying off debts, family hikes are all great things to do.
    What a nice family photo!

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    1. I can definitely see that becoming a problem for us as well. :)
      Homeschooling is something I have thought about for quite a while and with Davis' anxiety about school and boredom in the classroom, it just seems like the right fit for us.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. Welcome to Ten Things of Thankful, Elizabeth! I apologize for being so slow to respond this week, I haven't been feeling my best, but seeing your wonderful post was a definite spirit lifter! I think we all go through periods where writing just doesn't seem as appealing and then, after awhile, we begin to miss it and find new ways to express our love for "stringing words together"!

    My husband works six days a week, and has been for over thirty years, at least he gets one Saturday off a month for a longer weekend. I can sympathize with what it would be like to try to work seven days a week without a break, both for your husband and for you as a family. I admire his determination to earn a little extra to pay off debt, and I'm glad he doesn't have to do it any longer! Providing daycare for the little one will be a fun adventure for you and your sons, and a great way to earn money while being a stay at home/homeschool mom!

    I love your walks, the photos were wonderful! You live in such a pretty place! I agree, it's spending time together that is precious, no matter what you're doing.

    Your grocery shopping organizational skills are awesome. As I get older I sometimes struggle to come up with an eating plan/grocery list for even a few days in advance. We keep it simple, and have done away with our upright freezer as we consume less meat that we once did. They are really handy for preparing larger meals with some frozen for future use though, and definitely a godsend when you are able to buy in bulk!

    Your sons are adorable, such fun ages for learning and experiencing new things! You really managed to procure a pile of good books and workbooks at the library bag sale, what fun!! I know one family where each member spends an hour or two on Sunday afternoon reading their favorite book, gathered comfortably on chairs, floor, and sofa. I love that, every family should share the joy of reading!

    I can't wait to see what you have to share with us in the weeks ahead, we'll be looking forward to getting to know you and your family better! May the remainder of your week be filled with blessings! <3

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm sorry you weren't feeling well but hopefully you are doing better now.
      Even six days a week is a lot, thankfully he does get the one longer weekend for a bit more of a break.
      I still struggle with actually planning the meals but it's easier if we already have most of the things we need in the freezer, then I can just pull things out as we need them.
      Thank you so much! They are at such fun ages right now and I'm looking forward to watching them learn and grow together.

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