Rudi’s back in the hospital with pulmonary embolisms, so things have been a little stressed around here. No reading, although I’m listening to The Thin Man, and no knitting, which means there’s absolutely no chance of finishing the sweater I designated for my Olympic knitting. But, you know, that’s how these things go. He’s getting better and will be home again soon, and those are the important things.

In the meantime, three beautiful things from the last week of my thirties:

1. My parents send a box full of prettily wrapped and bowed birthday gifts to be opened throughout the week. I open at least one at the end of each day, and some I use as an incentive to get through rough patches. As I open the packages, I eat heart-shaped cookies my mother sent back with me when I was home last month and try to guess what each item could be. (Sparkle sugar was an easy one; funkily patterned tights not so much.) To be honest, this week would have been much more challenging without this box o’ love.

2. An online friend, reading of how hard I’ve been taking this last month, makes a donation on my behalf to Heifer International, one of the charities I support. So now every time I see a flock of ducks, I will think of Jessica and her thoughtfulness.

3. My car fails inspection — twice. After the first time, I take it to a mechanic recommended by a friend of Rudi’s, who also drives an elderly vehicle, and get it tuned up. After the second failure, I call the mechanic back and ask what our next step is, and he suggests it’s likely a catalytic converter problem. Turns out he was right, and he and two other mechanics were waiting to show me what mine looked like when I picked up the car. (Imagine one of those peekaboo Easter eggs, except it’s made of metal and filled with a scene of post-apocalyptic platinum rubble.) He finds me a new, less expensive converter, installs it for just the cost of the part, and sends me on my way. It is with great relief that I pass inspection on the third try.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

Three beautiful things from a week still full of struggles:

1. Rudi is home after nearly a month of mending post-ski accident.

2. After the work deadline that I need to meet hits an insurmountable roadblock after 11 p.m. on Friday, I resign myself to the situation. But, unbeknownst to me, our programmer and a colleague keep working after I log off email and plow through the problem all weekend long, so when I log back in on Sunday afternoon, it’s been resolved.

3. I have a desperate, visceral need to throw something, but breaking things requires cleaning them up and carries a threat of endangering cats. While on an errand, bowling pops into my head and I realize that’s the compromise solution I need. The lane they assign me has the bumpers up still and I leave them, because they help to compensate for my uneven game and allow pins to fall nearly every time, which was, after all, the point. After 20 frames, I am feeling more sane.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

I dozed off on the couch earlier, so I’m writing quickly as I brush my teeth for bed.

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Feeling the cold rise off your scarf as you unwind it and yet not having a chilly neck. And the ear warmer made years back tucked under a hat to double the effectiveness.

2. Sarah leaves a box of Samoas for me with Rudi.

3. My uncle’s memorial service meant a whirlwind trip to Connecticut. I got to hang out with my parents and my grandmother for a bit and to catch up with uncles, aunts, and cousins I hadn’t seen in a long time.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

I’ll be honest, folks: I’m struggling. But that does not mean I’m incapable of noticing beautiful things around me. Here are three from the past week:

1. Monday was lovely — sunny and in the upper 40s/low 50s. I noticed a couple sitting in the garden when I stopped by the rehab hospital in the afternoon, so after Rudi’s therapy, I found out how to access it with his wheelchair and we purchased warm beverages to drink outside.

2. I send a text message, knowing the recipient wouldn’t receive it until the next morning. I awoke to encouraging words and promise of a later phone call.

3. A loaf of ciabatta bread purchased at the farmers market makes three panini sandwiches, including a cheese one I eat with tomato soup the night of the snowstorm.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

I’ll be honest: This week has kind of sucked. But there have been good moments here and there and I don’t want to lose track of them amidst the negatives. These are three of the beautiful things from the past week:

1. I have heard from nearly everyone I know. Emails and texts, calls and voicemails have poured in from all over the place. My folks have let me vent in my least flattering way. Rudi’s parents have been equally supportive, checking in on him daily. Closer to home, Rudi has been inundated with sweets and reading material and a dear sleepy sheep (courtesy of wee Caroline) who provides much-needed white noise during the night and had so many visitors his first day after surgery that we had to ask people to give us a couple days before returning. John and Nicole have demanded I eat a meal with them this weekend to guarantee I’m not living on cereal (I haven’t been, but it was a valid concern). Sarah, Julia, and Michael helped me get the Christmas lights off the tree and the tree out the door, which would have been nightmarish on my own. And my coworker Sarah brought in a bag of Rudi’s favorite recovery candy and two bags of M&M’s for me today. I sometimes harass Rudi about his gregarious nature and his overly broad definition of “friend,” but I (gladly) may have to eat my own words in this case.

2. Seeing Rudi in the recovery room. Surgery had taken longer than expected (not longer than the doctor had expected, but he maybe hadn’t explained that part to me as clearly as I needed to hear it), so when I finally got to see him, looking relatively good all things considered, it was like every birthday and Christmas rolled into one.

3. The night after the surgery, I was exhausted. Just bone tired. And I knew it. So I brushed my teeth instead of making a cup of tea and went to bed instead of sitting down on the couch. I was asleep just after 11, which is saying something.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

Today was my semi-annual trip to the dentist, which never qualifies as a beautiful thing, even if a cavity-free diagnosis is one. As is now my wont, I celebrated getting my teeth cleaned by then immediately eating and drinking my way around Capitol Hill.

Three things that do qualify as beautiful from my past week are:

1. We get the opportunity to see legendary blues singer Bettye LaVette in concert at the historic Howard Theatre. The space — and the performance — are amazing, and I recommend you take in both if given the chance.

2. I write and mail the final four Christmas cards I didn’t get out before the holiday.

3. Russian Christmas was this week. Rudi gives me my favorite things: tea, music, and a book (about knitting).

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?