Thankful, Grateful, Blessed #7

I'm giving thanks today for something quite ordinary - central heating with a programmable thermostat.  I don't suppose many of us think about it a whole lot, it's there and it's something we've had for (I hope) most of our lives.  It's lovely to come in after work and feel the warmth because the thermostat has kicked on shortly before I get home.

I know that my Mum didn't grow up with central heating; her experience was more likely to have been a coal fire.  When I was a child and we would go to my grandmother's or aunt's house, it would be an Arctic experience to go to the bathroom.  We'd race through our morning routine and run downstairs to the dining room where the gas fire would be on (one bar usually because it was just too extravagant to have them both on) and my sister and I would huddle in front of it, thawing out.  Imagine that experience but without the gas fire and that's how my Mum grew up as the coal fire was for evenings when everyone was home.  Brrr.  I think Dad's experience was a little better - we drove by the house where he grew up when we went to Ohio some years ago and there was a chimney but I'm not sure about the source of the heat.  Chopping firewood might have been on his list of chores after school.

I'm thankful for central heating and so very grateful.  We are indeed blessed to have this convenience.

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed #6

There are times when modern technology just baffles me - I'm not really a tech-savvy person so things get frustrating and it just boggles my mind that the younger generation can master all of the social media and e-resources that are out there these days.  I was reading a message thread about parents communicating with teachers - how they receive alerts when grades are posted and can keep track of whether their students are completing and turning in assignments in a timely manner.  No more hand-written notes going home from the teacher!

That being said, I am so thankful for FaceTime.  I know, crazy, right?  Of all the things I could be thankful and grateful for and blessed with, FaceTime seems an odd choice but with Vic so far away and Sophia so busy, it is wonderful to see their faces and hear their voices as if they were right there in the same room with me.

I've been a Navy wife since before the days of email so we've come a long way and I'm truly thankful to have this connection to my family.

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed #5

I am thankful for the rain.  Contrary to popular belief, it does not rain ALL the time in Washington and it hasn't rained for quite some time hence all the brown yards around here.  Yes, we do get more than our fair share of rain but we're used to it and it makes everything so green and lush.  People don't carry umbrellas in Washington because with rain comes a bit of wind at times so investing in a good rain jacket with a hood is a better option.

We've had some rain in the past few days and I love it.  I love waking up to the sound of it on the window, smelling how fresh everything seems after it rains, and I still love a good puddle.

You'll never hear me say rain, rain, go away.  My Mum loved the rain as well and her brother always used to tease us and say that we must have been ducks in a prior life!  Rainy days always make me think of Mum and I can hear her say, "Isn't it lovely?  Put the kettle on, love, and we'll have a pot of tea."

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed #4

Pictures like this make me smile and thankful that there are so many who are willing to travel great distances to help those in need.  Praying for the Bahamas and for all those in Dorian's path.

This reminds me of our trip from Virginia to Washington last November.  Toward the end of our journey, we stayed overnight with my cousin in Sacramento, California and the following morning, began our final drive north on Interstate 5.  The air was still smoky from Camp Fire, the fire that destroyed the town of Paradise in Butte County, a town where many of my friends lost their homes.  As we drove north, we passed a variety of fire trucks from Oregon and Washington fire districts.  They had traveled south to lend assistance and were now on their way home.  What an inspiring sight.

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed #3

 I love to read and I am so thankful that I have the ability and the desire and the privilege.  There are many people who really don't have an interest - perhaps they struggled in school, or were never encouraged to read for pleasure, to lose themselves in a good book.  Then there are those who have no exposure to books.  A picture book in the hands of a child lives in a third world country is an amazing sight to see.  Those who support literacy programs are opening up the world, one book at a time.

I am not really sure how this topic sprung to mind.  Perhaps it was when I went to my local library to pick up a couple of books I had on hold and I found the library was empty.  It could be that it was a weeknight, or maybe too close to dinner, but I have a feeling it is more likely that indifference or busyness plays a large part in why our libraries are empty or worse, closing.  Going to the library with my mother and later, taking Sophia to the library, used to be one of the highlights of my week.  We would browse through the shelves, pulling out books whose spines caught our eye or we would have a topic in mind and search the library catalog.  We spent a lot of time at the library when we were homeschooling and would come home with an enormous stack of books on countries of the world, cooking, crafts, history, and a variety of fiction titles.  We would read together or read our own books side by side.  People have just too many things going on today, and too little time to enjoy the simple pleasure of going to the library.

I know that in this electronic age people find their reading in other forms - eBooks, magazines or newspapers online, or audiobooks - but I find nothing more enjoyable than curling up with a good book.  I'm in my happy place and I am very thankful for a love of the written word.

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed #2

Today I am thankful for great customer service.  It seems like it is something of a thing of the past with all the rushing around and the dog-eat-dog world that shopping and returning and exchanging and needing customer service can be.  This week, I have had two super interactions regarding customer service and I'd like to give a shout-out to these two companies.

1.  Michael Kors - definitely a first-world problem but I somehow lost a dust cover in the move.  I have a couple of designer handbags and because of the cost and the sheer beauty of each one, I take really good care of them.  I store them tucked away in their dust covers so that they will hopefully last as long as I do!  When I found that the cover for the handbag I was currently using was missing, I took the opportunity of being near a Michael Kors store to ask about a replacement.  Sadly, they didn't have any but the customer service representative gave me a card with the company details and suggested that they may be able to help me.  I shot off an email when I got home, receiving a prompt and very nice response that my request would be addressed, and voila! a replacement cover arrived in the mail today.

2.  Ore-Ida - I opened a package of frozen French fries and discovered a more than acceptable number of fries that were green or had black spots.  Not an alarming number but when I purchase a product like this, I don't expect to throw some of the product away.  Ore-Ida has a very user-friendly website although they ask for a lot of information so make sure you have your package handy.  I can understand the need for all the details because a defect in a product (more serious that a few green fries) could be indicative of a production issue and should a recall result, they need all the details to find out where the product is carried so that they can take action.  Again, a prompt and very nice response from the company thanking me for bringing this to their attention and a coupon to cover the cost of the unsatisfactory item.

BZ, as we say in the Navy, to Michael Kors and Ore-Ida!

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed #1

Starting a new Thursday feature today.  I joined in with a Thankful Thursday meme two weeks ago but I was disappointed that the other bloggers (apart from the host) linked to random posts and that wasn't what I wanted.  So, I'm branching out on my own.

A little bit of backstory to set the scene.  Vic was up for consideration for promotion this year.  It's one of those time in grade/rank type of deals - you have to have been in your previous rank for a certain period and when you've met that milestone, you are eligible for consideration.  There's a website where all the details about the promotion board are available, including a great tracker that shows the progression of the results as they go through layers of approvals before they are announced.

The Release and Approval Process is a lengthy one. Please be aware that each location on this tracker involves numerous offices within that location. Due to the complexities of the approval process there will be times where no significant movement occurs (possibly weeks) at a particular location. This is NOT uncommon. 

LOCATION
Senate Confirmation
President
Select Message Released
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of the Navy
Chief of Naval Operations
Judge Advocate General
Chief of Naval Personnel
Board Convened

I've been tracking the board since it convened in May and I knew we were getting close to the results announcement.  Officers get a couple of opportunities for promotion and then if they don't make it, retirement is usually their next step.  This was Vic's first "look" so I was doubly excited - how cool would that be if he made it the first time!

Well, I think you know what's coming next...he made the promotion list!  I actually found out when I got home last Wednesday and found a congratulations message on Facebook Messenger from one of his former co-workers.  I quickly signed on to the website and there was his name, how lovely it was to see it in black and white.  I couldn't wait to talk to him.  He's been calling during his lunch time which is my evening here so that works perfectly.

The phone rang and there he was...I was very nonchalant..."So, dear, how was YOUR day?"  He laughed because he knew I knew.  He was woken up in the early hours of the morning with his phone blowing up with congratulations texts.  I put up a quick post on Facebook about how proud I was, sharing the news and more congratulations came flying in.  Wonderful to read all the lovely comments.

Thankful, grateful, blessed, oh my goodness, yes!  Vic is such a hard worker and he pours so much effort into doing a great job.  He's a wonderful mentor, and strives for excellence in all that he does which is so important when his field is safety.  I could go on and on because, of course, I'm his number one supporter but I guess I'll just wrap this up by saying that I am the proudest wife and so thankful that all he puts into the Navy has been recognized.  I guess I'd better go and look at airline tickets now since I will most definitely be heading to Okinawa to pin that shiny oak leaf on his collar sometime next year.