Being Grateful During a Not So Gratifying Week

This week has been sucky!

Okay, I did win my 9-ball match on Monday, but the week went downhill after that. Maybe it's because it's the last week before my last semester starts next Wednesday. Maybe it's because I had my annual checkup on Tuesday. Yuk! Necessary and important, I know. But, yuk. Maybe it's because I spent an obscene amount of money on books for these last three classes. Maybe it's because a friend's dad died this week. Maybe it's because I have recently realized that some people I have called friends over the years are really just acquaintances.

It's probably all of these things rolled up together. I'm bothered that I'm bothered to the degree that I'm bothered (huh?) because it's not my nature to be down or depressed for any length of time. I'm half full, truly! I am the first person to shout to the world that I have a lot of reasons to be grateful!

I guess I've just been bombarded this week by a whole lot of turbulence--unexpected and not so unexpected.

I need to turn my attitude around so that I focus only on this week's wonderful things rather than on the sucky things. Easier said than done, but I will try . . .

Actually, I feel a little better after typing out my woes. Blogging is therapeutic!

A Not-So-New Student

I haven't felt like blogging all week--but I have this here goal on my Day Zero list to blog at least once a week. I have been doing just that for quite some time now, and I even have a couple of topics just waiting to be blogged about:

• We went to Ken's high school reunion last weekend, so I want to blog about that (with lots of pictures). But not today
• Doreen, my wonderful friend, is moving to Albany, NY soon, so I want to blog about that. But not today

I guess today I will just mention a little something that's been shoving me in the back, propelling me forward. My last semester as a grad student starts in less than two weeks. My goal this summer was to have everything read or reread that's on my MA Comprehensive Exam reading list (exam is on October 25) before the first day of the semester. I'm almost there! Despite my tendency to procrastinate, I haven't spent the summer unwisely. I have read a lot of stuff.

I think what I really want to say is that I'm excited to start this last semester, but I'm reluctant as well. I'm ready to graduate, but I'm not ready to end my time as a student (what a ride!). What in the world will the future bring? I don't know, but I will trust God to make sure my path is true.

My Immediate Goal: I will do everything I can to enjoy this last semester so that I can get the most out of these remaining days as a not-so-new student. Here I go!

Shutterbug

Well, we finally got the last of our shutters installed yesterday. We now have six beautifully adorned windows!

This is our very large window in the master bedroom. We had some sheer curtains and nothing on the arch. I actually like to look out the window when I wake up as well as admire the stars through the arch at night, but it was time to put up something more substantial. As you can see, the arch is extremely large, so the shutter for it came in two pieces. I'm glad we had professionals install these things.

The arch/shutters over the doorway were also installed yesterday. I like that this small window now has a finished look. On the other hand, we can no longer peek through the window to see if the wasps that survived Ken's toxic ambush are rebuilding their nests on the porch ceiling. You can see the other arch and window to the left.

The guest room got shutters yesterday as well. Now guests don't have to wake up with the sun!

The third bedroom, the dining room, and the study/office kicked off the shutter extravaganza last year, and the master bedroom, second bedroom, and window over the door finished the process yesterday. Whew, finally.

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It looks like the shutters are white, but they are actually a pearl color. Is there a difference? Not really, but the color matches our bookshelves and columns in the study as well as the ceiling color throughout the house. Subtle, I know, but it's the little things that tie a look together. In addition to looking fantastic, these shutters are functional as they do a fabulous job keeping out the heat of the sun as well as the cool air in the winter.

It only took us 15 years to take the big plunge to spend the money on these good quality and very delightful window treatments, but it was worth the wait. I have always liked to have a lot of natural light in our house, so it's nice to have shutters that I can adjust to let in just the right amount of lovely light from the great outdoors.

Home is my favorite place, and a few improvements here and there, now and then, make it so cozy.