ragging my tired body around tonight... what a week. Without getting too melodramatic, let's just say it was a stressful week, in many ways.

But... always...  ever... grateful.

We're all together, we three, healthy and happy and peaceful. I value that, so much.

While it's fall and that means shorter days and cooler nights, we have still managed to eke out some beautiful autumn sunrises and sunsets.

I'm so grateful for my crockpot. Looking forward to putting on some stews and soups in the coming weeks, and enjoying their warmth. And grateful too for my cool new T-fal actifry healthy fryer that husband got me for my birthday... it's way cool. We have made regular fries and sweet potato fries and I even did a stirfry this week. Next up, risotto.

Ditto for the hot tub. Love that warmth.

Oh, and hot chocolate too. Can you sense the trend?

I'm grateful for insurance. When things go awry and need repair, it's so nice to have your nut covered.

I'm grateful, as always, for my friends. For lunch catch-ups and morning coffees (those are rare these days!) and emails and phone calls. I woke up on Thursday morning and this was one of the first thoughts I had: "I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new." -Ralph Waldo Emerson. Just because.

I am grateful to see examples of lives well-lived and packed full of experiences. My former father-in-law passed away this week unexpectedly and it brought back a rush of memories of him, and the time I knew him. A quiet man with a wry sense of humor, he loved his family and his God very much. He was a world traveler who passed on that love of adventure to his kids--they have all traveled extensively too. I feel honored to have known him, and while I didn't have much contact the past few years, I am grateful for the time I did have, and am deeply saddened for his family, especially his wife, Shirley.

I hope your weekend brings you peace and rest and joy.