Grateful list

Right now I'm grateful for several things.... It is cold here. If it gets up to 35 degrees we think it is a heat wave. At work I'm close enough to the parking lot to go start my car and let it warm up ten minutes before I leave. I can also observe it out the window so that no one steals it. Which brings up another thing to be thankful for! I don't have to worry about it being stolen. Everyone starts their car and lets it run. It is ND after all. We are having our first winter storm. Snow is a four letter word here. As an newcomer I have eagerly anticipated the snow. The oldtimers really hoped that the snow would wait as long as possible to come. At any rate I am enjoying the 3-4" of snow and hot chocolate. The dogs that we are watching for our landlord love playing in the snow. I am only 3.5 blocks from work! It is absolutely lovely! I can sleep til 6pm and still have 45 min to get ready. My drive is less than two minutes. It also means that if it snows or is icey I can walk to work. It takes a lot of pressure off of me to not worry about driving in the snow. On Thurs we leave for San Diego. That means some warm weather! I think it will feel aaaamazing! Think 50-60 degree weather and wearing jackets instead of parkas and snow boots. We will be close to downtown San Diego which means coffee shops will be close! I do miss not being close to a coffee shop. The little coffee shop in town is only open from 10am-4:30pm. I.e. when I am sleeping. In Johnstown we were close to too many coffeeshops to mention. Despite a lack of coffeeshops (or restaurants) here in Lisbon the food here has been fantastic. The nurses I work with make up for the eating out options by being cooks and bakers that are phenomenal. Mary made us all tomato basil soup with dumplings. The best tomato soup I've ever had. Then there is the pies, cookies, cake, veggie dips, etc that show up on the report room table on a daily basis. Could this be why I am not losing weight? Back to San Diego I'm grateful for wonderful in-laws that I look forward to spending time with. Jon's sister is retiring from the Navy after 23 years as a helicopter pilot. We are staying in a hotel in the middle of San Diego, going to a museum (don't know what kind?), and doing a dinner cruise on the bay. Oh! And we are breaking open an expensive bottle of wine that said sister-in-law has had for a few years. A co-worker just gave me a pair of scrub pants and two scrub tops. The scrub pants are basically brand new. For those of you who don't know scrub pants are usually 30+ for a pair. My job is also a big thing on my list. It's relatively easy and is laid back the majority of the time. There is frequently downtime during the night to chat with other staff or with patients. I am only working 3 days a week so I feel I have an easy life. Between work my husband takes good care of me! He does the laundry, the shopping, and some of the cooking. I am fortunate to have a husband who spoils me! It is nice that we are both able to relax and not be rushing all the time. In the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to see lots of family. Jon's family in Colorado was first. We were able to spend time with both his sisters and his mom. Then we went to Canada for a long overdue visit with my cousin Ellie and her family! We are only four hours away! I was able to meet the two youngest children and Ellie was finally able to meet Jon. We spent Thanksgiving with my adopted Grandparents in the twin cities. It was especially nice to be there since my Grandpa had recently been very ill. Although I haven't been able to see any of my immediate family since August I am grateful for the phone conversations,texts, blog postings, emails, and hangout messages that make me feel connected! I am very blessed... it is amazing to see what God has provided for me!