Thankful Thursday

Normally I write ten things I am thankful for but to honour your time and mine, here are some things I am thankful for today:

My Midlife Crisis?

I have been known to contemplate life frequently and maybe more than most people. I'm a type 1 on the Enneagram (Perfectionist/Reformer) and always seeking to improve myself. However, several months ago I realized that the questioning that I normally did once a month was taking over my thoughts throughout the entire day every day. Over and over I would say to myself "What do I want to be doing? What is best for me? For my family? How do I want to spend my time and energy? Am I okay if this is the way my life will be forever? Is there anything I "must do" before the end of my time here?" Was I depressed? No. Discontent? No. Finally, months later, it came to me:

This must be a midlife crisis.

Thankful Thursday

You know the weeks where you feel like life is sucking up all of your money? 

This was definitely one of those. Gary needs a root canal and crown (make sure your teenagers take care of their teeth, parents!) and has already reached his dental maximum for the year so it's out of pocket. Then we had to pay for Kai's braces (we actually went the Invisalign route). The total of these two is over $7,000 that we have to pay. I feel like every month we're like "next month we'll save!" and then life. Oh well. I'm grateful that we don't have to go into debt over it and we have the money saved but it's such a very unfun way to spend money. Very. Parents of young kids, start setting that money aside! 

This week I am thankful for:

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

Our European Vacation Plan

This summer we are taking three weeks to travel through the Netherlands and northern France with our three kids. We want to be able to spend the majority in the Netherlands as that is where all four of my grandparents are from. I've always been a proud Dutch girl but have never been to see what it's all about. I am writing about our tentative plan here so that if you have something you would recommend, I have a chance to fit it in. I realize that in the grand scheme we are not seeing a lot but hopefully in ten years Gary and I will be able to see more of Europe without the kids.

Thankful Thursday

This week we only have three teaching days which is awesome. I like my job but I also like not working. I was talking with a colleague about what the perfect amount of work looks like, or really, what I would like to do with my life. Overall, no matter the choice, she said it's all just 7/10 and I fully agree! It's really such a "Louise" thing to say; when adding up pros and cons for all the options they all balance out at 7/10. All good choices. Okay, so let's get on with the thankfulness for this week...

I am thankful for:

Thankful Thursday

Another week has flown by. I often feel overwhelmed on Mondays with "How can I teach four more days?" and then by Wednesdays I'm like "Yahoo, the week is almost done!". Don't get me wrong, I love my job and am thankful for it, but you know, I also love time alone. So what am I thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday

I just started my first week of teaching at 57% (rather than 86%) and my plan was to be spending more time here writing but so far that is not the case. When I'm not on my computer/phone I can get so much done. Not an earth-shattering recognition but wow, so much self-care when I step away from those things. So ya, maybe don't waste your time reading this! Just kidding, take a minute to read and then step away from your device.

This week I am thankful for:

Thankful Thursday

First and foremost I am thankful that my brother-in-law had a successful surgery for his stage 3 thyroid cancer. The C-word is obviously a bit of a trigger for me but I am thankful that they found it (quite mirarculously as he went to the doctor for something else) and that he had it removed quite quickly. Praying for great news going forward on that. All the rest here is silly and miniscule in comparison but here are some tiny things that I am thankful for this week. 

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for Christmas break. The end. Okay, I guess it has been over for almost a week now but wow, did I need that! It felt so good to be able to sleep in until 8 AM and not have to get up before my body felt ready to. Here are a few things I am grateful for today: