Thankful Thursday

It feels good to be back to blogging a bit, which includes participation in a couple of my favorite memes, such as Thankful Thursday hosted by the ever green thumbed and happiness guy, Greg, from Greg's General Store, who once sent me two beautiful, uniquely Charleston mugs, one of from which I am currently drinking water.

Thing I am Thankful for #1

The all-wise God of the universe knows my every need and is faithful to supply what is needed even if I forget to ask him for help. I know I'm supposed to "take it to the Lord in prayer" and eventually I usually do, but lots of times I stew and sulk and stir up trouble trying to figure out what on earth I'm going to do about how I feel about my circumstance. In the meantime, God, who loves me beyond measure, is already handling it.

One Example: Fash is leaving- for college- 4 hours away from home- in 62 days (but who's counting) and yes, I've been bellyaching about this for months already. Anyway. Lately, she has been gone more, partly because of her work schedule, but also because she has matured into a completely confident driver (in spite of her mother's neurosis) and now goes everywhere. Up north a few hours to visit a friend at camp, hour north to spend the night at Grandma's, 25 minutes west to stay overnight at my sister's etc. I'm actually getting used to not having her around so much.

Aha!

Do you suppose the all-knowing Father has orchestrated this summer schedule to help prepare me, slowly and naturally for Fash's departure? Well, today I thought about it and I think He has.

Thing I am Thankful for #2

Time.

I have never had so much time in my life. Like today. I got up, ironed a shirt and pair of pants for I.T., made him a fabulous lunch, said good-by and have a nice day and then it was just me and time. There are so many ways a person can actually spend time. Today I guess I chose: thinking.

It takes time to wander around the house looking at books you used to read to your kids and then wander around your yard marveling at the colors of flowers. It takes time to think about cleaning the pool and wonder what dead rodent might be in the skimmer basket if you remove the lid.

One Example: I was looking at books I used in home schooling our kids, which caused me to think about what I am going to do with them now that our kids are grown-ups. I wondered for a while if I might ever use some of them again- like the workbook on fractions. I mean what if I decide to run a little fraction seminar for kids in the neighborhood. I dreamed up part of my dialogue:

"Which is more- three fourths or four fifths? Let's look at this pie (I show the kids a 9" diameter, gluten-free, strawberry pie). If I cut this pie into four equal pieces, I have cut the pie into fourths. (Here, I cut the pie) See how big each fourth is? Now if I give you (Johnny) 3 of these fourth sized pieces, what do I have left? (Here Johnny would say "one fourth") Good. I would have one fourth sized piece left. Now. If I cut this other 9" diameter, gluten-free, strawberry pie into five equal pieces (I do it), what have I cut the pie into? ("Fifths"!! chant the neighbor kids) Right! Five fifth-sized pieces! If I give Johnny four of these fifth sized pieces, how much pie is left in the pan? ("one fifth sized piece!!" the neighbor kids are getting excited now) Ok, kids- let's look at what is left of both of these pies. One has one one fourth sized piece left, one has one one fifth sized piece left. Which has more left? (One fourth!!!! One fourth!!!!) Soooooo kids- which is more 3/4 or 4/5?"

Then my daydream bubble popped and I said to myself: 4/5, right? I mean if you have 4 fifth sized pieces of gluten-free, strawberry pie, you have more than if you had 3 fourth sized pieces, as long as the pies were the same size to begin with. Right?

I decided to sell the fraction book online.

Time. I like it, but now I am almost late for work, so I've gotta run. Perhaps you see why I.T. has been raising his eyebrows a lot lately, which is I.T. code for "What on earth have you been doing with all of your newly found, free time?"