Thursday, November 05, 2009

This time last year...

We were renting a cold house, didn't know many people, and were pretty miserable (ok I was pretty miserable)

Now, we are still in a cold house (our heat broke) but, I have soooo many blessings to be thankful for.

It's even rainy and crappy as crap today but what a difference a year makes.

We have met some amazing people who have warmly welcomed us into their lives and I feel so blessed to have formed these friendships that will carry us through a lifetime.

Getting involved in the community has helped too. I've been volunteering since June at the Senior Center, teaching internet and email classes to the seniors in the community. I'm now going to start working there in January, teaching a Creative Writing/Poetry class which I'm really excited about. Was supposed to start in November but they just got new computers so alas...2 more months of computer classes. God, give me patience. But really, I do love it and the "students" have enriched my life in ways I never thought possible.

I'm also freelancing on a couple projects which is another great outlet for staying current in the business world and also maintaining contacts in the tv/film industry. Again I have been very blessed and am grateful to the people who have not given up on me, even though I am no longer living in S. Cal.

My mom had a health scare about a month ago, and thankfully she is doing well. She has now been diagnosed with Diabetes and has to completely change her eating habits but this was another blessing because had she not had the emergency surgery on her intestines, we would have never known about the diabetes. Her doctor just gave her the OK to come out and visit us for Thanksgiving as well as my birthday and we are very happy about this. Tom's mom will be out here too and Tom is running the Seattle marathon on Nov. 29th and we will be there to cheer him on! He ran the Chicago marathon 10 years ago so his mission is to beat his time and qualify for Boston. One minor thing he needs to realize...Seattle has HILLS!!

Anyway, I just wanted to stop and count my blessings today. I'm sitting here, by the fire (since there's no heat), watching the leaves blow and the waves flow to the shore. I've got Wrigs to my right and Chum atop one of the shower curtain covered chairs to my left and right now, life...is really good.

Take care and think about the blessings in your life too.

xoxo


(starting to knit some holiday gifts too. this is Little Blue Bear)

13 comments:

Gberger said...

You are one of the blessings in my life.

That little bear is really cute. Maybe you should make one for Chumley...I know he has a "thing" for bears! XO to you.

ChiTown Girl said...

You have no idea how happy it made me to read this post. I've been worried about you since this last move, but now I see I can stop. It's so great to see that things have made such a drastic turn-around for you.

I can just imagine you and the seniors! OMG!! Did you show them all how to pull up Salad Fingers?! Eek!

I LOVE your teddy bear. It so much cuter than I imagined it when you mentioned it in an earlier post. So cute!! (Hey, how long does it take you to make one of those? I may just want to order a few. Maybe for the babies for Christmas? Definitely for my girlfriend who is about to burst with a baby girl any minute now. Let me know if I can order a pink one from you.)

Clippy Mat said...

hey, that's great! i remember this time last year very well so it's good that you have turned the corner and things are on the up and up now.
love the blue bear too.
;-))

oneandahalfcats said...

... 'and Chum atop one of the shower curtain covered chairs' ... LOL. Love it!

Seriously, sounds like some great 'roots' in the making Laura. The community work and creative writing gigs are a great way to keep an oar in the water while doing some good at the same time. Time spent with seniors is so important. Good for you.

Very nice job on the bear. You are quite talented! :-)

Anonymous said...

Seattle will be good practice for Boston, as Boston's marathon is quite hilly too.

PS-What a difference a year makes.

Anonymous said...

How cute is that bear! I love how you are looking at the positive side of things. You have so much to be thankful for.

I'm sure he will do great! and I'm glad you are in a place (even though it is freezing) that you are happy in. That is so important.

Jane said...

You are so talented with knitting!!! I love the bear!

Davey said...

Totally off topic, but I noticed on all the pictures of 'where we've lived' on the right side of your blog, every photo is of a bright suny day, except for Seattle. Why don't you put in a sunny day photo of Seattle? (I'm sure they exist somewhere). It would be nicer to look at....

Anonymous said...

Great post, Laura. I used to be a Meals on Wheels Coordinator for the city we lived in, and I ADORED the seniors. You are indeed very blessed.

Does this mean you are washing your hair more than once a week?

-Solus

Me said...

Thanks guys. It feels good to acknowledge all the blessings that surround us in life.

As for those bears, I really only make one of something and then move onto the next thing! Not the greatest business sense but I just do it for fun then will probably give as holiday gifts to my nephews and family.

And typically, I do wash my hair more than once a week but our heat has been out for 2 days and it's too cold to wash! Should be fixed tonight (I hope) so if that's the case it's definitely time for a wash!

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meg said...

Laura -- It was so nice to see a post from you and hear you're doing well! I've missed your blogging much!!

Gina said...

what an adorable little bear!

i <3 your blog