Ten Things of Thankful – Thirteen Years plus Cousins, Equals a Night of Laughter and Smiles
Our local news reported last week that we are at the halfway mark of summer …. I don’t love the end of summer ; but I do enjoy Autumn – Indian Summers and sweater weather, however they proceeded to keep talking – why do reporters insist on doing that, and claimed that weather officials are predicting that the polar vortex will be back sooner than we think – like next month –
VOICE OF DOOM – ZIP IT !!! Sil I’m borrowing your saying, it calls for it.
I am not thankful for those things, just needed to vent and let it go.
Thankful # 1
We shared a Coke with family last Saturday, my husband’s cousins Mike and Barbara. We did not see each other in 13 years. –
Sometimes life gets in the way; we don’t live that far but it is further than it used to be – Mike lives in Queens, works in the city and we live an hour away on Long Island. – Weekends would be the perfect time to get together, but we all have things to do and sometimes it’s not possible …but 13 years is excessively long and I hope we get to see each other sooner and more often.
Mike we had a blast, you still have the same sense of humor that always makes me smile, giggle and laugh! Barbara you know how I’ve always considered you, like we were sister-in-laws instead of cousin-in-laws – Mike and Nick always seemed more like brothers and our relationship followed that course.
I had so much fun; all we did was talk, reminisced and laughed….
Appetizers to start with –
Which we kept eating, because our barbecue crapped out on us, we had slow roasted cheeseburgers and hot dogs – but it was all good, even when Nick and Mike decided to try to fix the barbecue. Like old times – they always did things together.
Nicky and Mike
Barbara is trying to talk me into sticking my tongue out…
Sorry no go darling!
The four of us
Second Thankful
Our weekend put both Nick and I in a good mood all week.
Nick relaxing after a long day at work
Thankful # 3
I received an email from the coordinator of the literacy program, asking me if I was interested in Amelia doing another 15 hours with another clinician. The Clinicians are student teachers getting their credits to become specialized reading teachers, so they need to clock their hours with a student; the student and the student-teacher meet at the library and Amelia gets a one on one tutor in reading and writing, win- win, right ?
Of course, I said yes, even though it would cost me another $150.00; well that is what I figured it to be. It cost us $200 for the 200 hours that were done earlier in the summer.
Thankful # 4
After I replied, “YES of course”, the coordinator sent me all the details and mentioned that these 15 hours are free! YAY!!!
Thankful # 5
I won ten bucks!
Thankful # 6
Car was fixed and paid for – one of the sensors for the ABS broke which created a vibration when I used the brakes – it kept locking the wheel – all fixed
Thankful # 7
Scored some good sales at Target, both Amelia and I bought Palazzo pants (for Lizzi – not pants but trousers) – mine were on sale – I found a flag shawl on clearance under $5.00; Amelia got cute sandals on sale too.
Thankful # 8 & #9
Mom just came over to pick up the case of mason jars for the tomato sauce she will be canning.
#8 (yay I will have home-made sauce soon)
#9 instead of one crate, it was actually 3, we had more than 36 jars.
Mom was surprised and we are glad that we can make room in our very packed basement.
Another case like these was on top of the stove.
Thankful # 10
I am going out on a limb here, I think last week was a tough week (not for me but for the world)…turning on the news was heartbreaking. I consider myself a pacifist, I stand for nothing except a better solution – first I want to say I am thankful that my family, children, our own, my nieces, nephews and friends children; wake to a safe world; consequently are not jaded of or live in fear.
Having said that, I hope that any children anywhere in this world, that are suffering, living in fear, and see so much hatred with their young eyes; I hope they can find some peace, that they are helped soon, and they can come out of their suffering with a compassionate heart.
She is hiding her dolls eyes so the doll doesn’t see the bad things- not sure if this picture is staged, my cousin from Genoa posted this and it made me sad…
Mangia, Mangia…No Talk!!!
Ah…. state of the world has just made me soooo sad this week . I just cant seem to let it go. I can only do so much but like you feel that there has to be another way….
sounds like a great time with the fam. after 13 years to be able to pick up and have so much fun is great.
Oh, that is a sad photo! It is sad when innocent children are exposed to the harsh world. Like you, I hope for peace and strength for the children.
Looks like you had fun with family this week. Homemade tomato sauce–yum! And free tutoring is a great thing!
it's so hard to imagine…
the week was a good week – i am exciting that Amelia is getting more help – i wish i can help my mom when she starts to can the tomatoes – she is a sneak and does it during the week when i am working. have a good week ahead
was it me or did it seem like more news …or may I was more aware it is sad for sure
we had so much fun and yes we fell into our selves from 13 years ago it made me smile
have a great week
That's what I need to do with our tomatoes–make some sauce! I'll do some of that and just freeze some for other cooking projects in the winter.
That friend I saw last week? It had been 19 years! That's just insane, but what's so fun is that if the people are real friends, you pick up just where you left off. Sounds like it was the same with your family.
Praise God for the many blessings you and your family have!
last picture is very sad!
so many awful things happening right now in Iraq I pray for all the children that were be-headed because they are Christian, May our lord have mercy on them.
Have a great day Marisa.((hugs))
your wonderful family life… and friends! so glad you didn't go the route of tongue posing ala rock star! your friend has a super long tongue!!! LOL.
i'm not watching the news right now because of the hypertension…
but judging from marisa's last comment above… OH DEAR GOD!
it just raised anyway.
i'm so glad you got a break on amelia's class cost. how wonderful was that!
you're a dear. your smile just warms my heart.
xoxo♥
I feel like a Superstar….I made it on to Mangia Mangia …No Talk!
I feel like a Superstar….I made it on to Mangia Mangia …No Talk!
Very sad pic at the end. I hope she grows up with hope.
Thanks for the translation – that one always makes me laugh, but what's palsazzio?
The time with your family looks like great fun.
It's wonderful getting together with friends from our past… it was really fun
Good luck with the tomatoes… sauce sounds like a good idea. 🙂
Thank you Marissa .. it breaks my heart that children are in the cross-fires of everything it destroys me that children are learning "HATE" from adults it really is sad XOXO
Tammy – I wouldn't do any poses in front of a camera you know the sticking the tongue out or even fishy lips. I don't like pictures of me in a regular poses – it's hard enough to get me in a picture as it is now LOL
I agree sometime your best bet is to shut the TV
the free reading is awesome and we are thrilled that we are seeing enthusiasm and a comfort level from her when she is reading.
Thank you for stopping by …take care xoxo 🙂
Mike after you wrote that did lunge out with arms wide open and said loud and proud "SUPERSTAR!'
🙂
😉 you are a superstar for sure !
🙂
i hope all these children grow up with kind hearts and they focus on the good people that helped.
The trouser/ pants i don't know where I heard that from sorry about the Palazzo confusion they are wide leg trousers
family time is always fun
thank you for stopping by it means so much 🙂
Hi Marisa,
So much to think about in this edition of 'Ten Things of Thankful', but I will briefly comment on a few. So happy that your Amelia will get extra tutoring hours for free! How wonderful to have gotten together with such great people after such a long absence. Hopefully, it won't be too long before your next get together and good times. And thirdly, the snapshot of that frail and frightening little girl, hiding the horrors from her doll's eyes is intensely worrisome. I, too, cannot bear to watch the news at this time, which may be cowardly of me, but it just hurts too much. Those scenes of death and violence and atrocities towards humankind are earth shatteringly sad. I hope and pray that these children will be in a better place soon, both physically and emotionally.
Have a lovely week, my friend!
Poppy