Thankful With A Bullet

A day late and a dollar short.  Story of my life, but I'm not about to skip sharing a list of things I am thankful for this week.  I'm late, but as always, a huge thanks to Rebecca Jo @ Knit by God's Hand for hosting Thankful Thursdays. To read what everyone's feeling blessed by or to join in, just pop over and check out the links.

This week I am thankful...

* first and foremost that my husband has a job that allows him to work as much overtime as he wants.  While a lot of the time I am not so thrilled about it and grumble appropriately, the bottom line is that it's a blessing that choice is there when we need it to get out from under a particular financial burden.  There are many who don't have that option.

* for the amazing Middle Eastern meal I experienced last evening.  A large group of us from our home church went to Antiochian Village which is a retreat center/banquet hall/museum/library/a bunch of other stuff for the Orthodox church.  Our group is not Orthodox, but it was interesting to see all the things they had from the Middle East.  They even had a small display of things from the Titanic in a separate area.  And I am dying to go back and explore their rare books collection.  

We were treated to platters of appetizers that were shared between 2 people.

Their hummus was excellent!

Followed by a platter of varied dishes.  This one was not shared.  That's how much food each person got!

A lot of people said the kibee was their favorite.  It's the round
brown thing.  It's a mix of ground beef and lamb, bulgar wheat
and then it's stuffed with more seasoned lamb.  I personally
liked the stuffed grape leaves best.

Finally, we each got a dessert plate with rice custard made with rose blossom, Baklava, and another cookie that was very tasty but had a most unusual texture. The minute you took a bite it dissolved into dust in your mouth.

* for leftovers of that dinner that I'm enjoying for lunch as I type.

* for blessedly cool fall weather (and even the rain!).  This is my time of year, people!

* that everything is coming together for next weekend's baby shower.  No major snags or snafu's yet.

* that though she is uncomfortable and miserable, my daughter's pregnancy is going well and baby Colton is healthy and growing just as he should be.

* for the God who sustains me when I literally have no one else to lean on.

* that today is Friday.  Work keeps me running a lot more this year.  I leave the house at 5:00 in the morning and though I have this time at lunch (which is shorter than it used to be) I don't get home for the day until 5:30.  By the time supper is made and eaten and I've gotten a shower....I am ready to call it a day. The weekend is a chance to rest, refresh and catch my breath.

* for puppy kisses and tails that waggle like crazy every single time I walk through the door.

* for good books that give me much to think about...and those that simply entertain me.

* for being able to start wearing my favorite cool weather clothes again.

* that often, a good night's sleep is all that is needed to make a situation look much better.

* for a house decorated for Fall and ready for cozy evenings.

* for my son, who will turn 30 on Sunday!  How is that possible when I'm only 29??

* as always, for all of you!

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to sneak my 30-day challenge entry in here.

Day 12: Bullet your whole day.

• 3:45 A.M. Wake Up.
• 3:46 A.M. Take the dogs out.
• 3:49-5:00 A.M. Eat breakfast, get dressed, watch news/weather, straighten up kitchen, feed dogs, throw in a load of laundry....
• 5:00 A.M. Leave for work.
• 5:30 A.M. Sign in at work.
• 5:30-5:50 A.M.  Pre-trip inspection of bus, get ready to go.
• 5:50 A.M. Head out for high school run.
• 6:25 A.M. Pick up first students.
• 6:25-9:00 A.M. Pick up all secondary students and drop at high school and middle school, pick up morning technical school students and drive them to tech, pick up all elementary students and take to elementary school.
• 9:00 A.M. Drive to bus garage.
• 9:07-9:12 A.M.  Fuel bus.
• 9:13-10:15 A.M. Drive bus home to my house, let dogs out, do a couple of chores.
• 10:15-11:00 A.M.  Pick morning tech students up at tech school, drive them back to high school, drive back to bus garage and park bus.
• 11:00-11:25 A.M.  Drive home in my car.
• 11:25-1:30 P.M.  Lunch, chores, computer time.
• 1:30 P.M.  Back to work.
• 2:00-5:05 P.M.  Pick up middle school students, drive to high school.  Pick up high school students.  Take secondary students home.  Return to elementary school.  Run in school to pee (if I'm lucky).  Load elementary students.  Take elementary students home.  Drive back to bus garage and park.
• 5:05-5:30 P.M.  Drive home.
• 5:31 P.M.  Take dogs out!
• 5:40-?  Kick off shoes, make supper, change loads of laundry, fold washed laundry, shower, read, watch television, take dogs out several more times, wash dishes....zzzzzzz.