Sunday Gratitude – 15.II.2026

First of all, I’m going to say that I’m incredibly grateful that younger son has gone through surgery on his ear and he seems to be recovering well. To some degree, this is an extension of the ear saga that began back in 2022, when the kids and I were all sick with something that caused ear infections and a couple of us to have eardrums rupture. After that, he had to have tubes put in, and this surgery – which is probably the first of two – is hopefully the wrap-up to this. However, things went well, and the first follow-up looked good, so I can’t be anything but grateful for that.

As luck would have it, in the same week that younger son had surgery, my youngest wasn’t feeling good and it turns out she had strep. Also middle daughter was complaining of her wrist hurting after an unsuccessful handstand at school. There was nothing to indicate that it was terribly bad, but after she was complaining about it for a couple of weeks, it seemed prudent to have it checked out. Add in an orthodontist appointment for my oldest, and seriously, within five days, there was medical appointments for four of my children. Yet I am grateful that it all kind of worked out, and apart from the ear surgery, nothing has turned out to be terribly serious.

I am grateful that despite turning my ankle once again, nothing seems to be broken. I am also grateful that it is much easier for me to be able to sit and rest an ankle, if need be, with the kids being able to do quite a bit independently. If nothing else, the repeated ankle-twisting makes me all the more glad to be able to ride a bike.

The weather has been phenomenal the last week or so, and it’s been a joy to be able to go out, quite unexpectedly, on the bicycle. It was great, though at the same time, I rode ten miles on Friday and I felt it more on Saturday than I would have even a couple of months ago. Today was so nice that I spent some time in the sun actually working on the bikes a little, getting them up to speed, and then trying to set up some of the bike stuff that I got over the winter as part of Amazon Vine. Amazon Vine is kind of a interesting program, and I’m grateful to be part of it and get items in exchange for reviews.

I’m also grateful to the shop that is holding younger son’s birthday present. I mentioned that it was for a birthday, and that I was hiding it, and they offered just to hold it until his birthday (or the point at which I want to pick it up).

I’m grateful that things at home have been fairly quiet as of late, and I’m also grateful for my older son, who seems to share some of the same streak of odd humor that I do. I end up with him in the car, and that one-on-one time is fun… Any other time, and he’s got other people to do stuff with, but every once in awhile, that whole “captive audience” thing isn’t turning out so badly.

I am also grateful that my youngest three, quite independent of each other, each made me Valentine’s cards. One of them even had a white rose made of paper. Probably my best Valentine’s “haul” ever! 🙂

I’ve got a couple of phone calls I need to make scheduling and rescheduling stuff tomorrow, and four of my kids have school tomorrow, so it’s going to be a little crazy, so I’ll say good night for now, and thank you all for your attention and prayers.

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