Well, I finally let my employer know the date for 1my hip replacement surgery. Yes, I’m thankful that it’s going to happen. It gives me hope that when the pain is bad it will not always be so. It took me a couple of weeks to put that date on the work calendar, in part because the news had to settle in my head before I could share it. I haven’t had a surgery in close to 25 years so this is a little anxiety-provoking.
My son had 2hip surgery on Monday. His was a bigger and different surgery than what I’m having. He was told he should plan on five days in the hospital following the surgery. He went home on Wednesday, though. I’m taking that as a good sign.
My replacement for my church job has been struggling. I went over multiple times this week to help her. I am SO thankful that — whether it’s genetics or how I was raised — I have the ability to 3listen, to 4think, and to 5learn. Honestly, those are things I take for granted. Seeing them missing in someone gave me pause.
I am also thankful for 6Frederick Buechner. I’ve had a bookshelf of his books for years, but I finally started reading him. SO GOOD. I find that I am constantly jotting down quotes from him to help me remember his wisdom, his humor, the way he ties together everyday things with the spiritual. In fact, the book I started the other day, Whistling in the Dark: An ABC Theologized, gave me the idea of using him as a launchpad for the 7April A-to-Z Challenge. I didn’t complete the challenge last year, but I’ll try again this year. It will be a Buechner quote and a little collage to go with it.
The new director of the facility where I work started having 8staff meetings once a month. You are probably wondering what’s so great about that. Let me tell you — we’ve never had staff meetings before, the kind where anyone who works there can attend. It’s huge. He has had two now, and after each one I have felt encouraged and happy about the place I work.
The director shared a recent 9story about staff intervening on behalf of a little girl. It was the kind of story that made me feel sad for the girl, sad for the world, angry at the situation, and proud of my co-workers.
I had 10lunch with my youngest daughter yesterday. Grown up children are the best!
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
That’s an impressive list of thankfuls!
I look forward to following your A-Z.
Wishing you the best on your surgery and getting your replacement up to speed soon.
All positives! I hope your surgery is a success and your recovery is swift. 🙏🏻 A good boss can make a rotten job feel like a breeze and a bad boss can suck the joy from a job you adore. I’m glad you’ve got a good one!