mollyhousemouse

i have a "Grateful Jar" and it's been a little lonely lately. i'm finding being grateful is a little harder these days, with so much “taken away.” i thought about that tonight while i re-read some blogs, poems and stories here. Looking back at what people have written, stories about hardship, blogs about overcoming obstacles. i heard the kids hanging out together while Phil and i were on the couch. It was a combination that had me thinking about what i have, what makes me happy. i am grateful for my Husband He has been calm and steady through this whole “thing.” He’s had His own issues to be sure. He wasn’t able to bring His large monitors home. Not that we have room for them, but having to figure out how He’s going to do His job when He can’t see everything on a small laptop screen was just the first obstacle. He is always there with an encouraging word, or glance. He’s running all those errands to the store when we can’t get a timely pickup, to the pharmacy so i don’t have to. i am grateful for my family Though our house is small, and noisy, there is a genuine feeling here that we all like each other. Several times recently i’ve almost been in tears hearing the laughter, whispered conversations, and the not so whispered conversations, between the kids. We’ve been making it a point to eat together as much as possible. With work schedules being what they are, that’s usually just lunch. But when we’re all home for dinner, we eat together. It brings me great joy to fix meals that everyone loves so much, there are no leftovers. i am grateful for my job My 5 year anniversary is Tuesday, and the people i work with, and for, are pretty great. Our CEO has been holding regular “all hands” meetings to keep us in the loop as to what’s going on with our parent company in Brussels. We found out this past week that the entire upper management level has taken pay cuts so that those of us below won’t need to make bigger sacrifices than we already have. i know that i am lucky, many people have lost jobs, or have taken significant cuts to their income. My team, 14 when we’re all in the office, is having weekly virtual happy hours. The “Fun and Games Committee” has planned a rotating get together next week to say farewell to one of our guys who is being deployed to North Africa. There’s been a great pulling together to cover tasks that are “usually” done by others. i am grateful for technology This thing called the internet has it’s problems. Cyberstalking, the ability to hide behind the keyboard and be snarky, and mean. But, it has allowed us all to connect in so many different ways. We can send pictures almost instantaneously, no need to wait for a week, or even one hour for photos to be developed. Then you’d have to mail them to someone to share. i can hear my sister say she’s fine, but through video chat i can see dark circles under her eyes. We can work from the safety (and comfort) of our homes. No need to wait for a bus, or fight through rush hour traffic. Also, working in yoga pants is pretty great! i am grateful for my friends, local and online Throughout this whole time, there’s been a lot of contact. Instant messaging, texting, emails, phone calls. One night, there was even a driveway/tailgate happy hour. Messages of support, offers to run errands. Quick text messages, “I got a pick up time at the grocery store for tomorrow. Need anything right away?” One friend is a retired nurse, she made everyone masks. It helps, you know, to know that other people are having the same problems with isolation. It’s good to know that you aren’t the only human feeling this way. My online friends have shared news, interesting, fascinating articles with hints on handling the emotional aspect of isolation. They’ve been here to listen to rants, and raves. We’ve shared recipes, physical and mental health issues. i am grateful for online shopping i had been doing the weekly groceries online for some time before “all this” and it was very convenient. It became a little less so with everyone else using the system, pickup times went a week out, some of our favorite items were now “out of stock” or “limited to XX number per order. (We can only get five fresh meat items with any order still). That’s eased a little now. For example, i placed the grocery order Saturday, before 10:00 AM and the earliest pick up was 5:30 PM Sunday. There are still limits, and there is a chance that what i've ordered i won't get. But i don't have to go into the store, packed in with everyone else. i am grateful for my dogs Now that they’ve calmed down with everyone hanging out at home all the time, they’ve been great. Our Border Collie, Bella, stays by me most of the day, she sleeps under the table while i’m working. Rubin, the lab mix, well he’s busted into a couple of Phil’s team meetings. Jumping up on the couch for a cuddle while the meeting’s going on. It’s so funny to hear everyone going on about the dog, and the meeting being derailed. They’re always there for a cuddle, or a laugh. i am grateful for comfy sheets Sleeping has not been as easy as it once was. i’m thinking it’s the increased stress. But we’ve been keeping the comfy flannel sheets on the bed. i make the bed up every morning because i like the way it feels sliding into a crisply made up bed. Also, because of this. There are mornings when those comfy sheets try to coerce me into staying in bed a little longer. i am grateful for long drives in the country What a boredom buster those have been! Just to get out from within these four walls. No destination, just a direction! Sunshine, fresh air, music and talk. Nothing big or heavy, just … talk. There are still an abundance of wildflowers on the roadsides. There are sheep, goats, cows, and their babies. Occasionally we’ve seen small herds of deer back in the trees. The hawks and buzzards are soaring in the sky. We’ve driven through small towns with restaurants we might want to come back to, when we’re able. i guess finding things to be grateful for just took a little thought. And now, if y’all will excuse me, i think i’ll go drop these things into my Grateful Jar.

so many wonderful things in this chapter. while the description of Bailey's injury is hard to read, his character shines through in his concern for his shipmate, the tech Jackson. it was Jackson he thought about first, and wanted to help no tears, well maybe some damp eyes when Elias told Orson and Joseph that he loves them this may be one of my favorite lines ever: Greg took them all in. This. Right here. He smiled to himself and nodded slowly. This is why I started this place. This is why. Greg knew that it couldn't always be this way. But everyone was, for the moment, content. Everyone was taken care of. They all had a place to be, and reason to be there. What a great night. thanks Wayne

hi rick going pretty well here, thanks i had ordered some things from the craft store that were ready for pickup yesterday. so i've been doing that today while watching TV how are you doing?

hello Sirs hello friends i've bee re-reading some favorite blogs, stories and poems & wanted to drop by before calling it a day to let y'all know how grateful that y'all, this place, are part of my life rest well

needed this today, thank you

yes we are almost done 😊 i took an hour cut so Friday is a half day (same with Monday) then i'm off to the craft store. they have "parking lot pick up"

@MacGreg hello Sir good to see You, we're plugging along here. stay safe & well @Mikiesboy sorry it has been so rough, hoping it goes well today @MichaelS36 hope You are well @Reader1810 @rickproehl @Kitt @Brayon @Starrynight22 @chris191070 @Defiance19@Wayne Gray hope everything is going as well as can be expected i'm around, just quiet these days

today was very productive! i put my emails and messenger to "Do Not Disturb," plugged in my ear buds and pounded out emails, and updated project notes tomorrow will be long, starting with a visit to Phil's ophthalmologist so, goodnight Sirs goodnight friends rest well tonight

there are SOO many people who need a Harlan in their lives

Happy Birthday Thorn i hope it was all you wanted it to be, and was full of love and joy

what a great surprise! sitting in my corner of the couch, wondering what i was going to do with my afternoon and BOOM!! in pops N'than! and this line: The Hydorcivis wiped the tears away. “I must find me. Discover what I am capable of.” just as powerful as the first time i read it

oh that was nice! there were a couple of times that i was actually holding my breath! this makes me happy! thanks for the wonderful wrap to my Sunday!

i love watching Bailey and Harlan do the dance. And Harlan's "tutor" should come in handy Ranye and Elias seem a good match too. OK, bring on the next one 😈

oh A! that is such good news! i love that "pay it forward, give back" feature, Sir our masks were made by a retired nurse. they are two layers and washable well it was a better day here, and now it's time to wind down rest well tonight Sirs and friends hope to see you all tomorrow

@Starrynight22 it's good to see you, sorry the weather has taken a turn good night Sirs good night friends i've had a headache most of the day, i'm going to call it a day hope to see everyone tomorrow

oh that was well done! i love how you are able to get so much into a short story. i hope we'll hear more from them in the future!

whew...all caught up i love that big ole' tough Harlan is all marshmallow fluff on the inside honestly though? One of my very favorite chapters. Now, how long till Sunday?

we've been taking drives in the country too! it's been really wonderful, and green. my day was OK, i feel like i got a lot done tried a new dinner, it was nasty, we've ordered sandwiches, lol! hello Def! so good to see you cancelled, not even any "distance learning?" i know teachers are having a hard time, missing their students and all it's a calling, not just a job

good night Sirs good night friends wishing you a restful night when the time comes

OMGosh! that was wonderful just watched it again

you find the most fascinating reads. 💛 there are some really good things in here. when he mentions the flexibility, being able to adapt, i'm reminded of some autistic people & how regimented some of them are & how little changes bring on massive behaviour changes due to anxiety & i thought yeah, OMG yeah... thanks so very much for sharing these things xoxo

i do hope it went OK xoxo i started bingeing on Stargate, and Stargate SG1 today, started a new cross stitch project and watched a couple of seasons of a gritty British show with Phil today (it's not easy to watch) very little housework or laundry was done can someone tell me how 5 people who aren't regularly leaving the house can manage to make so much dirty laundry? so now it's bedtime good night Sirs good night friends

thanks for sharing those great links and your feelings with us i shared the first article with a man i work with who has been on full furlough much longer than i have been on partial i hope that it helps him like it helped me in that second article you linked, there was a section that went through the "Fear vs Truth" of self compassion. i'll need to read that a few more times before this is all over i expect thanks again for sharing with us