Friday night grateful moment

un! The day ended in sun! The whole grateful list could be summed up right there. But, of course, I can't possibly be content to leave it at that... 

So, if we HAD to have snow this week, which apparently we did, I'm grateful that it was so pretty and big-of-flake. AND, it was a quick wintery moment--GONE BY NOON. So, all the prettiness, none of the real hassle. Sweet. Now cross your fingers with me that the sweet and lovely apricot tree made it through unscathed--the blossoms were still there after the snow, but I'm fearful that the slightly freezing weather may have harmed the actual fruit-making stuff. (Very agricultural sounding, "stuff," eh?)

The "extra Seth" this week was bonus, and I'm so grateful for that time. He actually doesn't head off until tomorrow morning, so the sweetness continues for a few more hours. We've had some great conversations and time together, reading or watching Endgame (our new Hulu+ fix--a show set in Vancouver, B.C., so beautiful!) the past couple of weeks... a true joy that boy is. And, seven short days from now, spring break begins! Oh the joys of looking forward to things and having them finally come around.

 Grandma wearing Seth's fedora on our most recent visit.

I bought some birthday cards today--some special birthdays are coming up! One of them was for my grandma, who will be 93 in a couple of weeks. 93! I am so grateful to have a grandparent still around, in my advanced years. I guess I should thank my parents for having children while they were young, eh? (Thank you, Ma and Pa!)

I'm grateful for Chief. He has evened out a bit, not nearly as clingy and glued to our sides as the first couple of weeks after Darby passed. He comes in, he goes out, he comes in again. (He has a hard time making up his mind.) He stands and watches me cooking in the kitchen, and I encourage him to stand back a bit and that petting time comes AFTER dinner time... But he's sweet and constant, and strangely enough his barking has gone waaaaaay down since he's been an only dog. What's with that? Was he barking for an audience? Funny guy.

I spent the better part of today at a nonprofit learning session hosted by a local foundation. I'm grateful for opportunities to learn and grow, asking questions (not necessarily unanswerable ones, see above) in good company. Some information I had heard before, but I also learned many new things or ways of looking at things, and the woman who taught it was on the ball. I am always impressed at people's memories, when things click for them. She remembered quite often, after introductions of 25 groups (consisting of 2-5 people per group), which nonprofits were being represented by whom. And I have a hard time with names of people I've met a few times, even.

Conversation. Dialogue. Back and forth. It is not a common thing to be able to converse without judgment, without either person hijacking the conversation for their own agenda, and with honesty and a real desire to know truth. I am very grateful to have a precious few in my life who I can engage with, in that way. It never fails to make my heart happy.

Husband is a big part of my favorite conversations. We talk, debate, laugh, talk some more, laugh some more, continue with the debate... always interesting, and I know I (usually) learn something. I'd like to think he does too (sometimes). Seth told me a couple of lovely things about his observations of us this week that touched my heart, and his love of his step-dad (and vice versa) is something that really does make all of our lives immeasurably richer. I am so very grateful for our family time together.

With the weekend upon us, I can't help but be grateful for the sleep I am sure will come. My weeknight sleeps have been good, but probably not quite long enough. I'm thinking that the weekend sleeps will (hopefully) stretch out in their gloriousness, to catch me up and get me ready to go another round.

I hope your weekend is filled with the things you need to get you ready for another week! What are you grateful for tonight? May the list be long.

Peace.