• About Me
  • About Me
  • Meal Plans
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Travel
A Kuk's Kitchen

Vibrant health, one bite at a time.

  • About Me
  • About Me
  • Meal Plans
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Travel
Gratitude  /  July 4, 2020

Gratitude Series Part V

by Rebekah Kuk
Just a reminder – these are past posts from social media. I am behind in finishing this series, but this is the final one and soon I will move on to my backlog of Spain posts.
On day 6 of the lockdown here in Spain I started a gratitude series on social media. I would like to share it here, too, as some of you are not on social media. I will post eight days or so at a time until day 50. All of these gratitude posts are from during the strictest quarantine measures in Spain over March and April 2020. At the end of each post I will include some links to favorite recipes I have made recently. 
 
 
Day 41: I’m grateful for celebrations. Today I tried a new, delicious recipe for basque-style codfish stew. We made brownies. This afternoon we will play games. We are having a party because…WE CAN TAKE OUR KIDS OUT TOMORROW!! We are super excited. We even saw someone putting caution tape around the playground in the park across the street, so we are hoping that the park will reopen but with the playground off limits. How crazy is it that we are excited about a playground being blocked off so we can use the park? It’s funny how my perspective shifts to be thankful for little, separate things. As in, being allowed out is wonderful. Being able to go in the park is even more wonderful.
 
Day 42: I’m grateful for freedom. I supposed it’s not guaranteed in life, is it? Depending on where you are born, what time of history you live in, the color of your skin, your gender…freedom is not a given. This quarantine has been a tiny taste of what it’s like to lose part of my freedom. And it makes me want to fight for those who have lived all or most of their lives without basic freedoms. I’m eager to see what volunteer/work opportunities are in my future to help the oppressed. But for today, the freedom to run and play, the freedom to be outside, and the freedom to put my bare feet in the sand made my heart soar.
 
 
Day 43: I’m thankful for the reminder that I am small. What I identify as my problems or inconveniences are so small compared to the problems in the world. I take comfort in the fact that I am not in charge, but I know the One who is. Even when things don’t make sense, even when things seem out of control, I know that God is in control. Colossians 1:17 says “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
 
Day 44: I am thankful for my home church, City Harbor Church. They are a true family, and I’m thankful for the ways I have been able to stay in touch with them. Pastor Ben brings sermons that are true, uplifting, challenging, and go deep in the text. Pastor Rebecca is a spiritual mother to many, including myself, and an amazing leader. And all of the wonderful people who make up the congregation are unique, loving, friendly, funny, wise…I could go on. You get the idea. I just listened to this week’s sermon on Ephesians, one of my favorite books. “It is God who does the heavy lifting, it is God who gives us the ability that we wouldn’t have in and of ourselves.” -Pastor Ben Malmin
 
 
Day 45: (This should have been posted yesterday). I’m thankful for my other church, IglesiaNext. They have been so welcoming and loving to us from day one. They truly are our home away from home. Specifically, I am thankful for my connection group, Apasionados por Jesús. These women have been a lifeline to me with our weekly meetings (now vía Zoom). They have inspired and encouraged me to grow in my faith. Thank you!
 
 
Day 46: This may sound strange, but I’m grateful for the grieving process. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s 1. Denial and isolation; 2. Anger; 3. Bargaining; 4. Depression; 5. Acceptance. Not always in that order. Yesterday I finally accepted that schools will not reopen in Spain. I had held out hope all this time that they would open for at least a month in the end. But yesterday as I read the plan of reopening the country in phases, schools were slated to reopen in September. I was so sad. Sad for the opportunity for my girls to go to school here cut short, sad for my loss of free time (read: my time to introvert) and just plain sad for things being so strange. I cried piteously for a bit, prayed, praised God, and moved on. Even though I’m still not content with what was taken away from us, I can be content with what we have. And what do we have? A beautiful apartment, outside time every day, sunshine, good food, love. What’s more, Evelyn and Lydia were accepted into the Baltimore International Academy Spanish immersion program for next year. So even though their schooling abroad will end, their Spanish learning will not.
 
 
Day 47: I’m grateful for goals. Next year my kids will be in school. I’m not ready to get a job because I don’t know where I want to work. Instead, I am so excited to pursue volunteering with refugees and becoming a foster family. I can’t wait to get started.
 
 
Day 48: I’m grateful for a little rule breaking. This lockdown has felt draconian, and honestly, while I support protecting the vulnerable, I disagree with how it’s being done. We are thankful the kids can go out now, but are disappointed that swimming is not allowed at the beach. And yesterday a police officer told Justin at the beach that he and the girls couldn’t stay in one spot, because “people might congregate around him,” but that instead, they were supposed to keep moving. Took a picture of his passport and everything. Well, today I took the girls, and guess what? People were hanging out in their spots on the sand or near the water. Some kids were even playing in the water! My kids hiked up their shorts and plunged on in. I couldn’t stop them. Nor did I want to.
 
 
Day 49: I’m grateful to be back at my “gym.” A morning run/walk is such a beautiful way to start the day. Things aren’t completely back to normal yet, but they are getting there.
 
 
Day 50: I’m grateful for all of you who have encouraged me along on this journey of gratitude. During this time, the important things in life have become clear and vivid, and the less important things have faded into the background. Some of my beliefs and my faith have crystallized to be very clear. Some days it was easy; others it was not. Some days I didn’t feel like posting anything. But I am grateful for the ways you have blessed me, and I hope I have been able to be a blessing to you as well. This will be my last post in this gratitude series. Thank you all.
 
And that’s it for this series! Be back soon with more Spain adventures and recipes.
Raw Milk Yogurt
A Kuk's Kitchen
Vibrant Health, One Bite at a Time

Hello! It's a pleasure to meet you.

Sign up to receive a Free Meal Plan featuring Five 30 Minute Meals, as well as awesome content in your inbox, every month.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

You're on the list! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags

  • Gratitude
  • Spain

Post navigation

Gratitude Series Part IV
Spain Travels: Madrid and Toledo + What to Pack for a Picnic

Share your thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Recent Comments

  • Rebekah Kuk on Beef and Sweet Potato Saute – Low Histamine and Anti Candida
  • Kat on Beef and Sweet Potato Saute – Low Histamine and Anti Candida
  • Rebekah Kuk on Salad Dressing for Candida Diet
  • Stephanie on Salad Dressing for Candida Diet
  • Kimberly on Sweet and Crunchy Animal Based Granola

Pages

  • About Me
  • About Me
  • Meal Plans
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Travel

Categories

  • Animal Based
  • Appetizer
  • Beans
  • Beverage
  • Bread
  • Breakfast
  • Brunch
  • Cake
  • Casserole
  • Cheese
  • Chickens
  • Christmas
  • Condiment
  • Cookie
  • Dessert
  • Dinner
  • DIY
  • Egg-Free
  • Eggs
  • Fall
  • Garden
  • Gluten-Free
  • Grain Free
  • Gratitude
  • Healthy Habits
  • Jam
  • Kitchen Basics
  • Lunch
  • Lunch For the Week
  • Make Ahead
  • Nut-Free
  • Nuts
  • Paleo
  • Pest Control
  • picnic
  • Potatoes
  • Preserving
  • Road Trip
  • Salad
  • Sandwich
  • Side
  • Slow Cooker
  • Smoothie
  • Snack
  • Soup
  • sourdough
  • Spain
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Thrift
  • tortillas
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Vegan
  • Vegetables
  • Vegetarian
  • Year End Review

Recent Posts

  • Simple Sourdough Bread for Busy People
  • Slow Cooker Beef Shank Stew
  • Simple Make Ahead Meals
  • Easy Thanksgiving Meal Plan
  • Butternut Squash and Ground Beef Casserole

Archives

  • October 2023
  • May 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • August 2015
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • January 2014
  • October 2013
  • August 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • Elara by LyraThemes
  • Made by LyraThemes.com
Cleantalk Pixel
RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Post on X