November 8, 2017

10 Possibly Weird Things I'm Oddly Thankful For



Thankfulness has been on my mind a lot lately, and not just because it's Thanksgiving season. Last fall and winter, I did a Bible study on the armor of God, and thanksgiving popped up there because it's pretty much the prerequisite to peace. If shoes are the peace in the suit of armor, the soles might be made of gratitude.


I'm thankful for all the usual (but not-to-be-taken-for-granted) things: my faith, my family, a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear. This list alone represents an embarrassment of riches I need to remember to be grateful for every single day.

But lately, a few more obscure targets of my appreciation have come onto my radar. Namely... 

1. Retractable vacuum cord. Watching my canister vacuum suck up the cord when I'm done using it thrills me every time I push the button. This either makes me really pathetic and in desperate need of an actual life or charmingly grateful for the little things. 

2. Notes and reminder features on my cell phone. Longtime Guilty Chocoholic Mama friends, please don't hate me for this, but it's true: I have upgraded from my dumb phone. I promise: I haven't crossed over! It's just that I have teenagers who drive and are out past dark, and my old phone was not keeping me in adequate contact with these treasured people. Apart from the assurance of keeping up with my progeny, the things I love best about my upgraded phone are the "notes" and "reminder" features. Which are the new sticky notes in my life. I use them for mini grocery lists and texts I want to send later and blog post title ideas and (my personal favorite) Bible verses I'm either trying to memorize or just need to keep literally close at hand. (Psalm 5:3 is a current go-to.)

3. B&B Vanilla Bean Noel. Other than the fact that using this makes me want to eat my elbow, it's pretty much perfect.
4. That my 19-year-old still calls me "mommy" when she texts me. Except when she's mad at me. Which isn't very often. And is almost always justified.

5. Cherry Limeade Sparkling ICE. Vitamins, antioxidants, and puckery pick-me-up fizzyness with no calories. I'm pretty sure this is the most I could ask for from a beverage.

6. Toilet paper. I've often said I would have made an awesome pioneer woman on account of their limited wardrobe choices (fewer decisions to make) and limited social lives (see: introvert homebody). But I do greatly appreciate the modern convenience of toilet paper versus whatever they had to use. Which is probably enough said on that topic.

7. The load-size sensor on my washing machine. Several months ago, my old washing machine died after a mere 23 years of service. (It had been a wedding gift from my in-laws, so my husband and I felt rather smug that our marriage had outlasted our appliances.) I went looking for a new one that would wash my clothes; I did not need it to interpret the mood of my apparel or otherwise promise to change my life. I ended up with a agitator-free, front loader which, as it turns out, almost has changed my life. In keeping with the title of this post, I'm oddly grateful for the happy little song it plays when I turn on the power; I think the title is, "Now We're Going To Do Laundry...Won't This Be Fun?" But what I love the most is that I can throw in a load of whatever, close the door, and push start without having to decide if this is a small load...or a medium-ish load but with bulky stuff that could push it into large-load territory...or a small large load. No, I just get the thing going and leave the room while the machine takes its contents for a test spin to figure out how much water it needs to do the job. And then at the end, it chirps to tell me it's done, but only in a non-aggressive, "I know you'll probably ignore this until tomorrow morning which is why there's a 'rinse and spin' option, too" kind of way.

8. The online book request option at our local library. I'm standing in the kitchen. I suddenly think of a book I should read or need to read or want to read. I pop around the corner to my computer desk, log into my account at our local library's website, search for the book, request to have it sent to the branch closest to our house, and wait for a call telling me it's in. Really, a lot more of life needs to be this easy.

9. Electric pencil sharpener. Sometimes, it's the littlest things that wreak the biggest havoc on your emotional stability. Dull pencils are one of those little things for me. I want mechanical pencils to solve this problem, but they come with their own issues. So a few years ago, I broke down and bought an electric pencil sharpener for our home. I really don't think I can adequately describe the calming effect sharp pencils--and the assurance I can resharpen them ANY TIME I WANT TO--have on me. Maybe the best less-than-$20 I ever spent.


10. You, dear reader. If you are my mom, thank you. If you are one of my faithful readers and encouragers, thank you. If you are a new visitor to my little slice of the blog pie and are not sure how you ended up here and are not sure you're ever coming back, thank you. I don't think it is at all odd that I'm grateful for you, and I'm sure you are not weird, or at least not any weirder than I am. And anyway, everyone knows that weird is the new wonderful.




What are you (possibly oddly) thankful for? 
Tell me all about it here in a comment or over on my Facebook page
Maybe I should be thankful for it, too.

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Previous posts that might have something to do with this one:
31 Things I Love (That You Might Love, Too)

This post may have been shared at some of these blog link parties.

43 comments:

  1. You are welcome. I love weird. Your writings are a gift.

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  2. Snort! Eat your elbow! And no, I'm not too mad over #2. I actually have a toe over there with you on the dark side, because my mom gave me her old iphone and begged me to "get with the program." I finally moved my phone chippy-thingy over to that phone in an attempt to mollify her, but since I don't have some fancy-schmancy data plan to go with it, it still just works as a phone. {grin} Except if I have wifi. Which I do. At my house. Hence the toe-dipping. :D

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    1. Snort...this entire comment!!! Get with the program! Chippy thingy! Fancy schmancy! Reading this was the most fun I've had in a long time. Thanks, sweetie.

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  3. Listen here Ms. Guilty Chocoholic Mama! You are such a hoot! As soon as I got to your first point I burst out laughing. Thank you for that! I need at least one good belly laugh per day...and had it not been for this post, who knows if it would have happened. I'm only up to point five, but I had to jump over to you blog (from my email) and write you. You are a woman after my own heart! Wish I would have been clever enough to think of this. When I finish the last 5 points I may go post on your FB page. Cheers!

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    1. Hi, I'm back after reading points 6-10. (I clicked on the FB link but it didn't lead me to your post so I had no where to comment.) This is such a great post! I love all your points, but can most relate to the electric sharpener. As for #10...you are so welcome. I love reading your work and seeing how the Lord has blessed your family. Lord willing I'll be here a long time. 😉

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    2. Girl, YOU are the hoot! I get an ab workout every time I read anything you write. So your kind words here just MAKE MY DAY. Granted, it started at 5:30 a.m. with two hormonal teenagers, so your competition wasn't exactly stellar, but even so! When I'm feeling down (see "hormonal mama"), I'm just going to reread your comments. And eat chocolate while I do it...but I trust that went without saying. Happy Thanksgiving, lovely--and funny--lady! xoxo

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  4. I don't think there's such a thing as being thankful for "weird things". It's good to be thankful for things, no matter what they are! I totally agree with you on #'s 2 and 8!

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    1. "It's good to be thankful for things, no matter what they are!" You are so right! In fact, just in the last couple days, I've sensed God telling me, "Be thankful for what you have right now...for what I've already given you." So, I'll be working on that. ;) Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

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  5. Oh my goodness, Elizabeth. I really should read your writing more often -- you had me laughing so much. Not to mention the comments between you and Tiffiney and Lisa. Definitely a good belly laugh to start my day!
    And having said that, today I'm grateful that my kids have a day off school and they have actually chose to sleep in (that only happens on school days!) so I'm counting my lucky stars.
    Enjoy your day and Happy Thanksgiving when it comes.

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    1. Aw, thank you, Marva! Tiffiney and Lisa are gems, aren't they? And so are YOU: this is the second time in a couple weeks I've seen you pop up and encourage me with your kind feedback, so now I've tracked you down and will be gladly following you from now on! And WOO HOO for kids sleeping in when they can and should! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too...I'll be seeing you on Facebook! :)

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  6. Yes to number 1!!! It's the little things like that which go unnoticed and unappreciated....till they stop working!

    As for a possibly weird thing I'm oddly thankful for, I'd have to say it's my new garage door opener. My old one - which hardly worked any more anyway - got run over (long story), so I went without one for a few days. You don't think that's a big deal till you have to open the garage door from the inside, back the car out, go back inside and shut the garage door, then walk through the house and go out the front door to get to the car in the driveway. My excitement when a new one arrived, and my husband programmed it and put it in my car, may have been a little over the top. :)

    (Also, I'm currently doing Priscilla Shirer's Bible study on The Armor of God and TOTALLY loving it!! So much good stuff in that book!)

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    1. AH! Tracey! I, too, am newly grateful for my garage door opener...because ours was down as well (no great story there, though, but I'd LOVE to read yours sometime). And yes! The whole ordeal you described...really, it was just about more than I could take. Then the replacement part we needed came in, and our handyman installed it, and I told my husband, "The garage door is fixed and it has this new feature where you push the button and it goes up and down." Really, I suspect it will be quite a while before the thrill of that wears off. ;)

      In other news, ISN'T that study fantastic! I've been facilitating Bible study for 13 years, and that one is at or near the top of our favorites list...and we've loved ALL of them! Once you're done with that, if you haven't already gotten to it, I highly recommend Priscilla's "Discerning the Voice of God." Oh. My. Word. Practically my entire workbook for that one is starred, underlined, bracketed, and exclamation-pointed! :) Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!

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  7. #8 is my favorite! I just requested a book while cooking dinner. I see one on a blog that looks good-- just pop over the site and see if I can get it from our library or through inter- library loan.

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    1. Isn't that the truth?! I do the same thing! It makes me feel so accomplished. :) Thanks so much for taking time to read my little Thanksgiving list!

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  8. I'm with you on several of these things - we have an upright vacuum cleaner and the cord doesn't retract - I really miss that feature! I also love online book requests - and also online library ebooks - nothing beats a real book in the hand, but e-books are a great back up.

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    1. Oh, Leanne, my condolences on the loss of your retractable-chord vacuum. ;) But the online library ebooks are a great addition! Thanks so much for taking time to stop by...many blessings on your Thanksgiving!

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  9. This was a lot of fun to read - and quite profound! I always love stopping by to read your thoughts and see what you have to share. Thanksgiving Blessings to you and yours!

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    1. Awww...thank you, Linda! What a lovely compliment. You are so sweet! I truly did mean what I said in #10. Thank you so much for taking time to stop by, and may your Thanksgiving be filled with warmth and joy...and pie. ;)

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  10. All of those are things that I am so happy and thankful for. Thanks for pointing them out.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  11. I LOVE this post! When you think of things you are thankful for, sometimes or most of the time, you don't think of the weird or little things to be thankful for. There is so much to be thankful for when you really think about it. I would agree with toilet paper. I'm not sure what I would do without it. I am very thankful for my readers, too. I'm thankful for plugs/outlets. When I don't have one where I need one, I notice.

    - Natalie A.

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    1. Aw, thank you so much! :) And I one zillion percent agree with your add-on of the plugs and outlets. SO true!! We live in an old farmhouse where outlets are scarce. So when we added a room on and my father-in-law, who was doing wiring for the room, asked me where I wanted plugs, I told him, "Every darn place I can get one." ;) We even have one in the far back corner that's just for the Christmas tree. Next time I plug something in, I'm going to think of your comment! Blessings on your Thanksgiving!

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  12. What a fun list!! Thanks for sharing with us at the Blogger’s Pit Stop.

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    1. Thank you, Deb! And thank you for hosting Blogger's Pit Stop...always one of my priority blog party stops every week! :)

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  13. Elizabeth, we will be featuring this wonderful true and entertaining post. Thank you, be looking for your feature on Thursday.

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    1. Ahh! Kathleen!! Thank you so, so much! Not only for the delightful privilege of being featured at one of my very favorite parties, but also for your kind words about my little list here. I'll see you at the party! :)

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  14. Every time I visit, I cannot believe how like-minded we are! The library one had me laughing! So so me! Thanks for this. It is REALLY good for us to find blessings in things we otherwise take for granted. Have a great Thanksgiving, Elizabeth!

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    1. Heehee, Bonnie...great minds and all that? :) What a delight to hear from you today! And isn't that really now it is with the library request feature? Every time I use it, I feel so accomplished. :) Thanks so much for stopping by, and a blessed Thanksgiving to you, too!

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  15. I LOVE this! I am oddly, powerfully, profoundly grateful for my dryer. For many years I lived without one in a damp climate with a chilly winter. Every year when the weather changes I am smugly fold warm clothes and smile.

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    1. AH, Helene! "Oddly, powerfully, profoundly grateful for my dryer"...YES, sister! Thank you for reminding me to be grateful for that sanity-saving appliance, too. We spend some time in the summer up north in a cottage with no washer or dryer, and every time we come home, I'm so glad to be back to it. It's lovely to "meet" you here today...I'm heading to your blog right now! :)

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  16. LOL I'm with you on the toilet paper! I just hope we your readers aren't the weirdest thing you're thankful for! Great list, you brought a smile to my face for sure!

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    1. Heehee...no, Donna, my lovely and greatly appreciated readers are not weird, nor is it weird that I'm thankful for them! And I most definitely AM so very thankful! But some of the other items are, er, not exactly the sort of thing people say when they go around the Thanksgiving table. ;) Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a very happy Thanksgiving!

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  17. I love a good sharpened pencil so I am right there with you on the pencil sharpener. I will also admit that I do like that retractable cord.

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    1. Heehee...see? It really IS the little things! ;) And I will say that now that I've made this list, I notice these things even more. :) Thank you so much for stopping by, and have a blessed Thanksgiving!

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  18. Our local library is undergoing renovations, so they have a temporary location set up where we can pick up books we've requested online. I'd be lost without this because we would have to drive to a distant location if we wanted to browse for books!
    I'm super thankful for spell check features. I'm awful at spelling!

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    1. Thank goodness for that temporary library pick-up location! That reminds me of another thing I'm thankful for: our library's branch that's close to our house. Where I can pick up the books I've requested online. ;) And YES to spell-check. Sometimes, technology is wonderful. Happy Thanksgiving, Shannon!

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  19. So true! It is sometimes the little things that make the most impact on our day. I'm thankful for the heated floor in my bathroom (a splurge, but wow!), my bird feeder (hours of entertainment), and that my back isn't hurting today:)

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    1. "Thou shalt not covet thy blog neighbor's heated bathroom floor..." ;) Oh my, that sounds wonderful and like something to be thankful for every cold day. I love your additions to my little list! Thank you so much for taking time to stop by, and may your Thanksgiving be filled with joy (and pie)!

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  20. Om my word, Elizabeth! I got a new vacuum cleaner this year and it has a retractable cord. I LOVE it! It's nice to have toilet paper, my mom is in her 80's and will tell about her outhouse and catalog papers from time to time along with their washtub baths.

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    1. Isn't it fabulous, Lori?! It's just so tidy and efficient. ;) And oh my word, that "testimony" from your mom makes me even more glad I put toilet paper on this list! Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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  21. Love this post - totally brought a smile to my face. I'm oddly grateful for living so close to my family. It comes in really handy all the time. Happy holidays to you!

    Nicole | The Professional Mom Project

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    1. Aw, thank you, Nicole! I'm so grateful to live close to my family, too! Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without them, and I really don't want to find out! Thanks so much for stopping by, and blessings on all your holidays! :)

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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to tell me what you really think. Years ago, I explained to my then-two-year-old that my appointment with a counselor was "sort of like going to a doctor who will help me be a better mommy." Without blinking, she replied, "You'd better go every day." All of which is just to say I've spent some time in the school of brutal honesty!