Changing Times - Being Grateful - FM Journal

[Rick]

During these changing times due to the pandemic and economic issues...

Can you help others here by letting us know....

 

What are you grateful for?

 

It would be great if we could see what you are appreciative of everyday. Kind of a community journal. 

 

For inspiration and a time to reflect on the wonderful things that surround us during changing times.

[Rick]

I'm grateful for the chance to spend time with my youngest. She was on her way to being a Senior at UMD. She has a year round job there and it's 3 hours away.

 

She was well on her way to living an independent life and my time with her limited to phone calls and the occasional visits. 

 

I may never have had this opportunity again.

 

Now I have the privilege and joy of building a different kind of relationship with my adult baby. More as a friend than a Dad. 

[Better Than Working!]

Well stated Rick! I am grateful for Skype! My wife and I had a 3 hour virtual happy hour with are oldest daughter in Madison Wisc. getting her Phd, and our baby and son-in-law down in Iowa. It was great to be able to see them while we are going through this. Not the same as having them home but it was still pretty cool! 

[gim]

I'm grateful for my health.  Lotta people don't have it right now and a whole lot more are going to lose it.  My deceased grandfather once told me "if you don't have your health, you don't have much" before he died of cancer years ago.

[IceHawk]

My Health and Family!! As a Kidney cancer survivor I cherish everyday being able to walk this fine earth we live on there was a time I wasn't sure I was going to be able to.  The appreciation I have for the small things in life now are unimaginable. You soon learn the importance of the material things in your life and that is zilch. I will tell you from experience It doesn't matter how much money you have or if you own the biggest house, boat etc. The only thing that really matters is your Family,  your friends and the most important the Good Lord. My family has always been the most important thing in my life.  MY wife and my two daughters are the rocks  that get me through the tough times. And give me a purpose in life. Without them my purpose in life would be cut in half. My wife has always been a big supporter of my hobbies as she knows the love and passion I have for the great outdoors fishing and hunting and I love her for  that! My daughters  they are getting older 22 and 17 but still aren't to old   to hang out and reminisce with there old dad every once in a while. The three of them are my best 3 catches to date!!! Lastly all my friends they are always there to share moments, laughs, good times and are always willing to open a ear and listen offer advise when something is bothering me thanks guys!

[eyeguy 54]

Thankful for grandkids. Interesting and fun stage of life.

[Borch]

For me it's family, friends and faith.  My health has been good and I'm currently working through some things health wise.  But I'm positive and have found more support and care than I could have imagined.  For that, I truly felt blessed.   I'm lucky to have a wife who loves me even with my short comings.  Again, I'm a very lucky man.  I have 6 granddaughters who love to hug and talk to papa.  Makes me smile even now as I type this.  My 3 adult children are doing well and actually call the old man for advise and like to hang out with me which I really enjoy.  My folks are on their way home from south TX.  We got to visit and fish with them there this winter.  I feel fortunate to be able to do things with them yet.  Finally getting out to fish and hunt with all of these freinds and family are what really make me feel like one fortunate guy.

[PRO-V]

Mine is my wife and our 5 kids (youngest is 29). All are independent and have given us 7 grandkids who are a hoot. Not to mention all of my great friends. I'm only 60 but I've gotten in a massive amount of fishing and hunting since I was 5. Feel sorry for the guys who did nothing but work most of their life thinking they would have their fun at retirement. Doesn't usually work out. I tried to balance work, family and adventure. If I died now I lived a full life but wanna see the kids/grandkids grow up. Their old enough now to have fun with and my days of having to dig a new outhouse hole are over. My son is a huge help now.

[ANYFISH2]

I am grateful to have my faith in God, without my faith life's trials would be much more difficult to navigate.

 

I am grateful for my family, they are source of a great deal of strength.  There is nothing like raising my 2 favorite people on earth everyday.  I screw up alot, they have always given me a reason to keep going forward.  My wife is the most amazing woman in my life.  She has to be great, to deal with me everyday.

Grateful for my father and my sister, we have always had a close family, but going through my mother's battle and ultimate death from cancer this last year, I know it would have been next to impossible to deal with without them.  I can't wait for this virus to leave so I can give both of them a huge hug again.

 

I am grateful for the gifts of my life's journey, the great moments and the bad, everyday is great day, we get so few.

Edited March 31, 2020 by ANYFISH2

[mrpike1973]

Thankful for my faith in God, my great wife, I have 3 nieces and a nephew do not see them too much. Be thankful for family all of you. I don't have hardly any family left but really enjoy those nieces and nephew when I see them. Thankful for the guys and gals on this site. I have learned lip reading even more and that is a huge help for me right now. I'm also thankful for my  Yamaha boat motor best thing I ever bought Thankful my wife loves to fish and comes with anytime she can. She is laid off now but boy do I love being with her. I work second shift Mon-Thursday she works during the week and every weekend it feels like a second honey moon!

[gim]

I'm grateful for my dog too.  She listens better than my kid, she's calmer, she generally doesn't bother me, and when its time to go fishing or hunting, she springs into action with more excitement than I do.

[Rick]

Day 2. I am very grateful for the beautiful sunny day given us and the fact God has made it possible to not only have wonderful springer spaniels but to get out in the field with them yesterday. 

 

Saw more people than ever out walking in family groups along the walkways.

 

Is God awakening us to what is really real?

[papadarv]

I am most grateful for discovering 42 years ago I was an alcoholic and God did for me what I could not do for myself. Through the Gospel inspired healing, teaching transformation of 12 simple steps and help from many, changing from a False Self of dishonesty, self important, arrogant, cheat, blaming to a True Self crushing my EGO (Edging God Out) to a Spiritual life of love, kindness, giving of self, honesty, sharing allowing me to share the past 51 years with my first wife, working, living, teaching sharing a grateful life with our 2 grown children and 6 adult grandchildren. And yes I still go to weekly meetings as one can still learn and grow even at a senior age while helping others who still suffer. One needs to Suffer to get well, Surrender to win, Die to live, than Give it all away to keep it.

[Dash 1]

Faith, family and friends. A great wife of 30 years and 3 great kids, 20 yrs and  2 18 yrs ready to graduate this spring. Still have her parents and my dad and step mom and we visit both as much as we can.  Love to fish together and the kids and I hunt deer every year right outside our door basically. Thankful for great neighbors. Thankful for my job of 29 years.  Thankful for my brother and sister and my two step brothers and step sister. It’s times like these that make us reflect on what’s good in our world.  Thanks Rick for starting this thread. 

[sherbear]

So thankful for many things but top three are faith, family and friends.  Yes, this virus has kept most of us sheltered in place with only occasional trips out for necessities.  However, I've been able to worship online with family members  and friends in different states which wouldn't have happened otherwise.  I'm learning how to do the zoom app to visit with family members in different areas.  I've been able to dust off the retired teacher status and teach my grandchildren using FaceTime.  I am praying for our president and vice president as they lead our country, those in essential jobs and those who have been sickened by this virus.   Praying this will soon be over.  Thank you for this thread!  Hopefully, we'll be up north soon.

[sherbear]

I am also thankful for my husband who takes me fishing with him and tells me I'm his favorite fishing partner.

Edited March 31, 2020 by sherbear

[mrpike1973]

I'm thankful today our car the tranny went out we were able to get a used Chevy traverse which will be a big step up from what we had and better for towing our little boat. I tell you things were just not looking good today but I have faith in God and he sees us thru all if we trust in him. Rick Thanks for starting this it has been my release reading these posts.

[Rick]

Day 3

Even with social distancing, I am very thankful for 4 friends, God placed on this earth, who romped outdoors with me. Darrell, Tim, Ryan and Zach. 

 

My daughter made a funny video making her special iced coffee. It made me laugh. If I can get it from her, I will post it.

 

Please look for something, anything you have to be thankful for in the moment, everyday...then...

 

Share your story here in this journal, please.

 

Frankly, your posts help myself and many others. 

[IceHawk]

Thankful for my two best hunting buddies. Last night I took my to labs Zoe 11 and Otter 1 year old out for a stroll in a big WMA. We were strolling along a edge of a picked cornfield when they both got birdy. Zoe the veteran was hot on the trail and Otter the rookie was right behind. Wasn't long before they flushed up two rooster pheasants. As they flew off cackling into the sunset. I stood and pondered for a bit on how lucky I have been to be able to hunt 11 seasons share some great moments and kill a pile of birds with my buddie Zoe. Yes she's gray in the face a little slower but so am I.  If you ever have had that special hunting partner you know what I mean.  The most grateful thing is the rookie Otter is following in her footsteps and I see many signs of Zoe in her younger years. She will be a good one also and I'm looking forward to the memories we make together in the future just like me and old Zoe have!

[jigginjim]

So far we can still go fish, but there are restrictions limited areas for walleye and pike fishing. As minnesota has closed seasons for our game fish, there is still panfish and catfishing to to be done. Although not many people fish cats as a food sores in this state I do feel many are missing out. I have even thought of trapping Crawfish, another species not gone after. Crawfish boils in Minnesota are not heard of, although there are crawfish that many did not know.
I am doing taxidermy on fish and other critters that came in during the winter months. Soon I will be mounting up the bison head that came in. All before I start getting on the water for my fishing guide service. Our lakes are starting to break up in ice covering, just thinking three weeks ago, I was driving my pick-up and Ice Castle wheel house across and lake.

 I look forward to getting on the water soon or even just dawning my chest waders and walking the

shores.   I am amazed as the amount of aluminum cans along with other trash , I have picked up at public accesses. I started refilling my own 1lb propane, though they may only fill 2/3's the total amount, it's better than throwing them in the trash. I also refill my propane tanks through a filter system, which may cause for less gas going into the tanks which is fine with me.  Easier to carry a couple small tanks for early river float fishing.

 

 

[SkunkedAgain]

I'm thankful that I got out of New Jersey safely and virus free, right before the anvil dropped. I then visited my elderly parents in Wisconsin and am extremely thankful that I didn't have any viruses to pass on to them. I know some people that have already died from this thing and know of quite a few others that are on ventilators in NJ and NY. 

 

I am also thankful for internet forums like this one, that keep my mind focused on other stuff! Thanks Rick.

[PRO-V]

My wife and I practiced social distancing today and took a long drive through the northwoods. Spotted this old log cabin back in the brush.

[IceHawk]

Cant even imagine the stories that old cabin could tell. I always love finding things like these. Found some neat old abandoned stuff up in Ely In BWCA years ago.  One of things that has always intrigued me are old broken down deer stands.  Always makes me wonder how many deer were shot or missed or who sat there years ago. One can only imagine some of the deer camp stories that were told from them! 

[Wanderer]

I’m thankful for the posts on here also.  Some reflection time never hurts.  Thanks to you all for sharing!

 

I’m also thankful that I can still work even though it’s a HAVE to situation.  And in the big picture I’m thankful I can be a part of helping keep my community be as safe as possible.  That’s probably the biggest stress reliever of all.

Edited April 2, 2020 by Wanderer

[Rick G]

As I get older I find my appreciation and respect for time over material has grown tremendously. I appreciate long sunny days fishing with good friends. I appreciate my family, not nearly as m a's ny as there once was... but I love who's left❤ 

I appreciate my health, have been very healthy up untill this last yr Hopefully I still have a few good yrs left 

I appreciate my friends, some of them have been putting up with me since I was pretty young...lol   Very fortunate to have some close buddies.

I appreciate HSO/FM...and all the great people I have met and or shared time on the water with because of this site

 

[Kettle]

Although no children of my own, I am incredibly thankful for my two nephews! They are my best pals and both like fishing, actually they like casting and playing with the worms. All part of the experience. I'm thankful for support from my mother and sister and to have friends that take me fishing. The last two years have been long days at the libraries and the hospital for graduate school so this forum has been nice to visit, read the reports, the stories and see pictures, essentially I've lived vicariously through many of you and I am grateful for that

[mrpike1973]

Great picture, to me that says it all what life is about

[Rick]

Day 4

Very happy that each of you are here, reading and sharing. Such an awesome caring group and tough as nails to boot!

 

You definitely have more fun. You're much more interesting than you likely realize.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

What do you have to be grateful for?

[eyeguy 54]

Today I am thankful for answered payers. God continues to amaze me every day. Also kinda thankful for unanswered prayers. He knows what’s best. 

[dutchboy II]

Woke up this morning. Can only get better from there.