Using Time Wisely: Counting my Blessings (78 – 89)

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

I have looked forward to writing this post all day. With my children home this summer, we are having a blast.

Last summer, I was adjusting to having them all home after my son was in school. But this summer, I feel like a pro and really enjoying all the activities.

My last Counting My Blessings update posted at the beginning of the summer. Now that we are past the middle of the summer, I am counting these blessings:

78. Air conditioning! We came home to a warm house one Sunday afternoon. Thinking that we did not set the thermostat correctly after entertaining the night before, we reset the settings and took a nap. When we awakened, the house was still hot.

79. Purchasing the A/C warranty. After investigating the outdoor unit, Paul concluded that the problem was with the air conditioner, not the programmable thermostat. Going to our warranty file, I found our extended warranty for the air conditioner. Though the $800 payment 5 years ago was hard to swallow, I knew we made the right choice when I made the call.

80. Quick service. The HVAC technician returned my call and came out to inspect our system. He found that our capacitor swelled and prevented the system from regulating the temperature. After going to meet his boss for the part, he returned to swap the new part with the old.

81. Relaxing in comfort. Within the hour, our house had cooled off. I was left with a copy of the receipt for $395, covered 100% by our warranty. As our warranty still has another year and a half before expiring and we have used it twice now, the $800 protection offers peace of mind and immediate service.

82. Family outings. With Paul’s schedule different during summer hours, we venture out together on his weekday off. My children think that every time we stop by QT (convenience store) that we are getting ice cream. Although at 49¢ each, we usually indulge. 😉

83. Gas stations that stay open late. On our last family outing to North Carolina, we left our destination around 9:00 p.m. About two-thirds of the way home, our low gas indicator light with sound effect reminded us that we needed gasoline. Though close to home, we were still far from the city. About 2 miles down the mountain road, we found a little gas station that was open. Praise the Lord! We pumped 5 gallons at the hefty price of $3.09 per gallon. We made it home and refilled at one of the cheaper $2.89 per gallon stores.

84. Awesome daily deals. After watching the deals, I found the annual membership at our recreational district drop below half price. Snagging 4 of those memberships, the kids and I are enjoying unlimited visits to the water parks and inflatable zone. My daughter and I will go ice skating one of these days.

85. Friends. We have enjoyed meeting friends at the water park and the library for fun activities.

86. Library performances. Our library system hosted many performances this summer. My favorite performer was Eric Litwin, the bestselling author of the Pete the Cat series.

87. Time to relax at home. After cleaning for a day or two, I get really tired. Just resting and watching a movie is a nice change of pace.

88. Downstairs cleaned. Our entire downstairs is still nice and clean. I need to do a quick dust, water the plants, and clean the bathroom. But, the little maintenance is a welcome change to the disaster with which I began the summer. I’m making headway upstairs but taking time to enjoy the activities and snag the back-to-school deals.

89. Sleeping in. As a night owl, the early mornings kill me after burning the midnight oil. Though I still like to rise early on busy days, I am enjoying sleeping in on these lazy days of summer.

As the summer continues to fly by, I love the opportunity to stop and think about the many opportunities given to me. In counting my blessings, my heart is full of gratitude knowing the privilege I have to stay at home (or with my children since we are on the run so often).

Whatever situation you may find yourself, there is ALWAYS someone who would love to be in your shoes. In using time wisely, smile, focus on the opportunities available, and count your blessings.

Question: For what are you thankful today?