Thriving This Thursday

 

                                       Thursday Thoughts 

It is a calm 6:40 a.m. on Thursday, February 12th, and I am headed to work with a fresh mindset, a hot cup of determination, and high hopes for a good day with my members.

The last week in my retention department has stretched me a little. I’ve been struggling to hit my saves goal, and if you know me, you know I take that seriously. My daily goal is usually 12 saves, and lately I’ve been coming up short. But today, I’m changing my approach. I’m slowing down. I’m focusing. I’m going to truly talk with my members instead of rushing through calls. Sometimes it’s not about pushing harder — it’s about connecting better.

Yesterday we had our year-end review, merit increase meeting, and monthly meeting all rolled into one. I walked away feeling secure and valued, which means so much in today’s workplace. I did receive a 3% merit increase. I’m not sure exactly what that will look like paycheck-wise (we’ll find out in mid-March), but I’m grateful. It may not be huge, but it’s progress — and progress counts.

After work today, it’s go-time.

First stop: Walmart. I need to pick up a medication Dr. Angie prescribed for my face, plus a birthday card and gift bag for Brooks’ birthday party this weekend.

While I’m there, I’m also grabbing supplies for our department potluck at work on Friday. I’m picking up a plastic tablecloth, paper plates, and utensils — because somebody has to bring the paper goods! I’m also grabbing some sugar cookies to share. I’m not sure what everyone else is bringing yet, but I do know we won’t go hungry because I’m also placing an order for a pizza to be delivered to us. Listen, you can never go wrong with cookies and pizza. That’s just solid team-building right there.

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Tonight, I’m also placing a pizza order to pick up on my way home. I’ll meet Luther over at Brody and Savannah’s so we can have supper together. I don’t get to see Lane, Landon, and Sophie much during the week because of my work schedule, so that time means everything to me. We’ll probably stay until around 7 p.m., then head home so I can do my nighttime routine and wind down for a good night’s rest.

It’s a full day. A grateful day. A forward-moving day.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Be sure to say hello or leave a comment — I truly love hearing from you and catching up with your week too. 💛

Glad it’s Thursday!

                                               

It’s Already Thursday! Christmas Is Coming Fast 🎄

It’s already Thursday! This morning, I woke up at 5:00 a.m. ready to go. I knew I wanted to get at least 1,000 steps in before heading to work, so I made sure that happened. By the time I walked out the door, it was 6:42 a.m., and I was feeling accomplished and ready to see what the day would bring.

As we get closer to Christmas, I can really tell how stressed our members are becoming about the upcoming holidays. It’s that familiar end-of-year pressure — finances, schedules, family gatherings — it all adds up. I’m doing everything I can at work to help them understand the value of the membership and the protection we provide. Sometimes, reassurance goes a long way during this season.

I also need to figure out what finger food or appetizer I’m taking to work tomorrow for our department snack day. Right now, I’m thinking peanut butter fudge and pinwheels, because they always seem to be a hit. Before I fully decide, I plan to check in with everyone to see what they’re bringing so we don’t double up too much.

                                           

At home, my mind is already jumping ahead to Christmas Eve and the Saturday celebration with the grandkids. I need to sit down and figure out what I’m taking to Elizabeth and Charles for Christmas Eve, as well as what I’ll need for our Christmas with the grandchildren after Christmas. I believe pizza is on the menu, but I still want to make a few extra things. I’ve narrowed it down to a grape salad and some kind of fudge to add to the cookie platter I’m planning. I’m also hoping to find a new-to-me Christmas drink recipe that I can make ahead and chill for the grandkids.

                                  

I’ve always loved Christmas, and this year is no different. I’m especially excited to see most of the grandbabies on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and again on Saturday for their celebration. Those moments are what make the season so special.

Now, let’s talk budget — because yikes. I started looking at what I spent this year, and I may have gone way over. Every year, I tell myself I’ll stick to about $50 per grandchild (and remember, I have 12 of them), plus $50 for each of the grown kids and spouses. Somehow, it always feels like I end up closer to $100 per person anyway. With today’s prices, even $100 doesn’t go as far as it used to. I really need to start taking advantage of sales throughout the year and building a little Christmas closet so December isn’t quite so overwhelming.

I’d love to hear from y’all — how do you budget for Christmas? Do you set an amount per child, per family, or just a total spending cap? I know there has to be a better system than the one I’m currently using.

On a lighter note, next year we’re finally going to hang Christmas lights on the front porch. Believe it or not, we’ve never done that in all the years I’ve been with Mr. C. Right now, my porch is still decorated for Thanksgiving, and I really need to carve out an evening to switch it over. I have so many cute Christmas decorations that deserve to be out there.

Before I wrap this up, I want to ask one more thing — do you have a favorite festive recipe you’d be willing to share in the comments? I’m always looking for easy Christmas or New Year’s recipes. The simpler, the better, because I’m definitely a simple cook.

Here’s to a busy but joyful Thursday and counting down the days to Christmas.

Thursday Thoughts & Weekend Plans

Today is finally Thursday, and I couldn’t be happier that the weekend is almost here! I’ve been counting down the days because I’ve got a girls’ weekend planned with Shelby and Deanne. We’re heading to Denton, Texas for their Halloween Spectacular, and from what I’ve seen on social media, it looks like an absolute blast! Most of the events are free, and everything has such a fun, festive vibe. I can already tell this is going to be one of those weekends filled with laughter, photo ops, and memories we’ll talk about for years.

The mornings have definitely turned cooler, and I’ve been needing a jacket to stay comfortable. Luckily, I bought my newest favorite jacket while passing through the Denver airport last month—what started as a souvenir has turned into a fall essential!

This week, I’ve been covering Shelby’s shift, which runs from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and let me just say—it’s been an adjustment. I’ve realized that I much prefer my regular 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule. That extra half hour of sleep makes a big difference, especially since I am not a morning person. Getting up at 4:30 a.m. has been rough, and I’ve learned (once again) that I need at least eight solid hours of sleep to function properly.

Work itself was smoother today. The phone lines weren’t as busy, and I had several really pleasant conversations with members. Since my job involves retaining members, it can be challenging—especially when people call in upset or frustrated. Some days are definitely harder than others, but I do my best to deescalate situations and help members stay with us. My daily goal is 10 saves, though I always try to push for 12. On days like today, when everyone’s kind and understanding, it makes me truly appreciate what I do. And honestly, I owe a lot to my amazing manager, Sherry—without her encouragement and support, I don’t think I’d still be in this department.

After work, I came straight home, where Mr. C had a warm dinner waiting: stew and cornbread—the ultimate comfort food, especially on a cool, rainy evening. It instantly brought me back to my childhood, when a pot of stew simmering on the stove meant all was right with the world. After dinner, we cleaned up the kitchen and packed my lunch for tomorrow.

The weather’s turning stormy, with thunder rolling in and rain expected for the next several days. Mr. C joked that we might need a canoe for our trip to Texas this weekend—which honestly might not be far from the truth!

Now, as I wind down for the evening, I’m grateful for a calm night at home, good food, and something to look forward to. Sometimes, it’s those simple midweek moments that make everything feel just right.