Thankful Thursday

Last week, the ladies of boot camp gathered for drinks and visiting. We got to talking about the upcoming holiday season and self care and a challenge that Susie'd heard about. Basically, the challenge runs from October 1 to the end of the year and has five parts: 1. drink more water (half your body weight in ounces each day) 2. move for at least 30 minutes a day 3. remove one category of food you know you shouldn't be eating 4. write five things you're grateful for each day and 5. get up an hour earlier and spend that time on yourself.

Well, I already do most of those things and can't really commit to writing five things I'm grateful for each day (I've tried that before and feel like it becomes more of a chore when done daily). So. I've decided I'm going to try for Thankful Thursdays from now till the end of the year. :) Here, then, are five things I'm thankful for this week:

1. These women. We see each other most Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for boot camp...but we're always sweaty and out of breath and not really able to visit, lol. We haven't done it nearly often enough, but we've been known to gather when not in workout clothes. We clean up pretty well. ;) I'm so thankful for their camaraderie. 

2. Being done with the FAFSA for this year. Dropped by CSU yesterday, and Noah and I got the FAFSA submitted. Not counting on it at all, but it's just nice to have that out of the way. 

3. The fact that Nathan handles the math homework now. So. I have a decent head for math. Completed through Calculus 3 and all that. I was homeschooling math with boys just fine and honestly could have continued through high school. Continuing, though, would have involved prepping the lessons and refreshing myself on the material as we tackled it. Without the refreshers, I'm not as helpful. :) Thank goodness Nathan can tackle it now!

4. Time. Since I'm not homeschooling boys any more, I find myself with somewhat abundant time. I'm still adjusting, lol. I'm taking this semester to work through a number of projects. So far, I've weeded through homeschooling materials we no longer need...made a number of lists...started sorting through all the printed photos in the house...stayed on top of boys' lists...made time to climb still with Micah...helped out my sister in Washington...and shuttled vehicles back and forth for numerous visits to the auto shop (see me putting this on my list of things I'm thankful for?! trying to stay positive about the replaced brake pads on the van, replaced brake pads and rotors on the Pathfinder, new tires for all three vehicles, and miscellaneous little things that Nathan's taken care of at home). So very thankful that I'm able to take this time right now! I truly am blessed and know it.

5. Nieces and nephews. I have six nieces and seven nephews. The newest one is a niece who was born about six weeks ago. I haven't met her yet but I'm assuming she's wonderful. :) One of my sweet nephews turned four yesterday, and one of my beautiful nieces turned 17 last week! (They're the two in the photo below. This was taken this past February.) 

I'm so thankful to know them all...wish I could see them more often...and truly love being a fun aunt. :) 

So. That's my first Thankful Thursday. My life is pretty dang awesome!