Sunday Gratitude – 15.X.2023

This past week was a week of extremes; extreme stress and trepidation on one hand, followed by something very uplifting and fun at the end. I know I still need to finish Saturday’s post, but I’m posting here now because I need a lot more time to finish the “Saturday on Substack” post. (Yes, it has been started.)

I am grateful, incredibly grateful, that the thing which was causing me all sorts of stress went off without any great problems. I don’t know that anyone there present wasn’t filled with a good deal of sadness, but at least there’s the structure for stability being laid for the next couple of years, at least. Also, there’s light at the end of the tunnel as far as when the legal proceedings are over, and as much as that also evokes a lot of sadness, the state of limbo in which things have been hanging for the last year and a half is also untenable, and ending that is a needed relief. I am grateful to the friends who watched my toddler daughter during this, and who then refused to take any money on the basis of “returning kindnesses”, even though I know they could have used it.

I am grateful for all the beauty around right now. The trees haven’t lost many leaves yet, but are in about the first 1/2 of the fall changes, which is probably my favorite part of it. These things serve as a constant reminder that when things just seem down or out of control that it is important to look up.

I am grateful that I got to attend the Touchstone Magazine conference this year. I’d never been to one before, and, truthfully, as there was a not-great history with a couple of people who are “high up” with the organization. I’m glad I went, though; not only did I meet a lot of people I know, many whom I hadn’t seen in a decade, I got to meet people from the US and Canada who are serious in their faith and interested in being light at a time when it often feels like the darkness is inevitable. Oh, yes, and there were speakers who gave presentations as well! *L*

I also am grateful for the opportunity to have gotten to meet and chat with Rod Dreher, besides hear his presentation. Truthfully, it’s a little weird to be recognized with the line “…and I comment on your blog”, but after that, it was like chatting with an old friend. I have friends who have had major issues with the way the Kenosha public schools have gone woke after Covid, they put up a good fight, but now have pulled their kids out of that system. One of the books that I think has really resonated with the mom during this has been Dreher’s Live Not By Lies, and Rod graciously signed a copy for me for them. Being as I had to drive through Kenosha on my way back, I called to see if I could just drop off the book on my way, and since they were home, it worked out, and we had a nice chat over Coke Zeros, and I’m thankful for that as well. I’m also grateful that I got to go at all and that there wasn’t an issue with childcare or the like.

I’m grateful to have made it to church today, I’m grateful that there wasn’t any dust-up because of the kids, and I’m grateful for the fellowship and friendship there.

Oh, boy, it’s past time some kids were in bed. I’ll leave you with this.

Thank you so much for reading!

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