I Like Thursday #6

I will admit this week has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. 

1.  I like mediation.  I went to mediation with Jeff's family over his estate and the great aunt's estate.  The mediators were great.  When it begins you sign an agreement to be respectful, listen, listen to the other side not interrupt.  After several grueling hours I am so very happy to say that everything is finished.  The great aunt's will stands.  I now own the farm, the home Jeff and I shared, as well as the aunts acreage and her home. 

2.  I am thankful that I have learned what I can only describe as kindness from my mother.  Kindness is a willingness to put aside ego and your wants to fulfill someone else's.  The aunt's desire was to die in the home she was born in.  I kept my promise to her.  The aunt's other desire was that I love and care for Lucy the cat.  Jeff's desires were that he be cremated, no service, and that his ashes not be given to be distributed to be put into jewelry, all ashes were to go into an urn and be interred with mine in our final resting place.  I can say that I have fulfilled those wishes, and continue to stand by those commitments. 

3.  I am thankful for this gorgeous sunrise this morning.  The colors were so spectacular.  I cannot even begin to describe them.

Isn't it amazing how light just looks washed out, but that same light as it enters the lens of our eye is so much more? 

4.  I am thankful for snow even though I am not always thrilled by the initial impact.

 

 I love seeing the tracks in the snow. 

Bobbin is not always a fan. 

5.  I like that the local dairy opened a retail outlet in the little town near me.  Oh to get fresh milk, cream, buttermilk, ice cream.  Jeff would have loved it but what would have sent him over the top was this tractor.

6.  I like when someone tells me something is hard to figure out how to do it, and discover that it was very simple.

Jeff's families super secret family cookie recipe.  They all made it sound like it was the most difficult thing in the world to make.  Samantha and I banged out 3 batches in a couple of hours in the afternoon, frosted them, and let the kids go with the sprinkles.  What a fun time to remember the great times spent with Jeff.  Even though we missed out cookie nazi. 

7.  I like finding a recipe to make at the last moment that is so simple, you are almost embarrassed.

Ok maybe not gorgeous but I make 3 dozen of these peanut butter cookie cups in about 1 hour.  Peanut butter cookie mix, you can add peanuts, and peanut butter I chose not too.  Bake in those mini muffin tins, and remove, pop a peanut butter cup in the center.  Awesome. 

8.  I like the random things that we have found of Jeff's that end up in weird places.

Last spring Jeff and one of the boys were working outside and he lost his hat.  We later recovered it, and being busy outside I just hung it on the swing and forgot it.  Imagine my delight as I was walking out to feed the chickens in the snow when I saw a movement and the hat caught my eye.  I decided to leave it where it was.  It makes me smile. 

I like feeling at ease, what a spectacular Christmas gift to have all of this behind me, and I can move forward with life.  Right now I am doing some charity work, but maybe later on I will get a job, but now is the time for healing from the hurt, sorrow and loss.  What a great time of year for a new beginning.  The day of Winter Solstice....where the light begins to overcome the darkness.