Very Grateful for~~
~The Cross
~Thermal Blanket from Amelia
~Seeing the book author at his store and the warm memories he recalled from a long-ago public event with Dad. (What a memory he has!)
~New Year’s Day Black-eyed peas made more welcoming with skillet-fried, chopped pancetta
~the goal of figuring out ways to “be pancetta” to others
~Hebrews 9:12
~that the parsley, onions, sage, strawberries, rosemary, and mint survived the hard freeze
~Relief and Realization: Relief upon learning from my neighbor that my car battery was dead not because of bad ignition switch or exotically malfunctioning wires, but because I left one of the doors ajar. Also grateful for the realization that often, a college degree provides immunity from common sense.

“Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.”  ~Doris Day 

Very Grateful for

God’s nudges, gentle and … not so

a 20-year fight I was finally ready to lose

When passwords Remember Me

Salmon Sotero

The kind employee at Walgreens, who, when I thanked him for being patient with me said, “Patience was not required.”

Mary Ellen’s lists and the wisdom they bring

A new book, “The Keeper of Lost Things”

This happy song (the happiest song ever?) https://youtu.be/LGmQXuySF28 

The garden strawberries, growing larger and candy-red

Little Rooster-the-baby-boy dog discovering so many things in the garden

“The Foundation you stand on today was built yesterday to reach for tomorrow.”
~Joe Bastardi, meteorologist

Very Grateful for…
~God’s mindfulness with me … and us
~Crystal’s Patience to keep my log-ins while I was … offline
~the feeling of relief—it whispers that I can trust my choices
~the photographs and reminders
~the little garden- half summer/half expectant fall
~this song–  https://youtu.be/48o5rCFFxh8
~ and this one– https://youtu.be/fp7Gv5ijn5c
~ Ruby, now twelve years old and still full of furry abandon
~and little Rooster-Abbott
~ “…we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval, and his approval creates hope. This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.” ~Romans 5:3-5

Very Grateful for

God’s servants of action

1927

remembering to plug in the phone so that the wee hours text appeared

holding hands so tightly that a blood pressure reading continued

Coach and Granny– and Walter who drove me home

Randy, who found the pine box he wanted in New Mexico

expressions and traditions

the long drive in the pre-snow mist

delphiniums, the closest flower to bluebonnets available in winter

the man standing a little bit back, holding his hat over his heart while we seven huddled

Ruby, usually a dog of action, sitting always close these days.

being his daughter, learning from him, watching him

2018

Very Grateful for

Godwinks

Dad, and how he endures and inspires me to ignore complaints

the squeeze Dad gives my hand

Amelia, arriving safely back to school

her Lyft driver who echoed my advice for her to take Vitamin C and elderberry for her cold

the designated parking for Veteran’s and wounded Veteran’s at our local Lowes store

bright yellow and orange leaves on our trees brought about by the sudden freeze (photo) (photo)

bright orange safflower blossoms, along with garden parsley, chives, and rosemary for the Thanksgiving centerpiece (photo)

Deanna, at Hyatt, who went above and beyond to return my forgotten computer cord

“There is no greater discovery than seeing God as the author of your destiny.” ~ Ravi Zacharias

Very Grateful for

God’s care

the birch trees, almost translucent

the train commute

time to read and look out the window

188,000 lakes

fresh artic char, perch, pike, whitefish

reindeer burgers

13 hours of sleep afterward

new friends from 20 countries

Heramb & Shirin

the Finnish concept of Sisu, which is quiet determination, grit

watchful navigators, talented pilots, kind people, hearing laughter to two other countries

Moomins

Amelia

“It is simply this: do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent—lose your invaluable curiosity… It’s as simple as that.”
― Tove Jansson, Swedish writer, who called Finland home, in Fair Play

Very Grateful for:

God’s support

prayer

Kim’s recovery

finishing a transcription that I’ve been procrastinating

a class to teach

new podcasts

not getting hairspray in my eyes

remembering to pray first, talk and worry later

a bicycle ride instead of driving

Ruby getting a little bit better so we could take a walk

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Very Grateful for:

God’s mysteries

the quiet

holding Dad’s hand

Not having the whole picture, but knowing that God does, and it is good

time to watch Ruby sleep

tiny celebrations for each one of her deep breaths

Ruby, who seems to instinctively knows that healing is in breathing

Cinnamon Toast

this warm moment

“Think about how your life would change if you spoke only what love required and if love didn’t require it, you wouldn’t say it.”
~Randy Harris, Soul Work Confessions of a Part-time Monk

Very Grateful for

God’s Listening Presence

Dad, able to take communion on Sunday

MaryEllen and her tribute to her sister Nancy

The full creeks, wells, and lakes after the week of rain

The team of 20+ from the environmental services company who cleaned and watched out for our little creek and lake after a tiny oil spill

The tennis guys who have been so welcoming

Ruby, telling me without words, that something was wrong

Talented Vet

Talented Vet’s  choice of words, “It seems that Ruby holds some sway at your house” (indeed)

medicine for Ruby

“The first duty of love is to listen” ~ Paul Tillich

Very Grateful for

God, The Hero

first responders for Hurricane Matthew, and Florence and Hurricane Lane

Mom and Grandma

Dad’s soft tears as we sang songs about Heaven today

Dudley, 91-year old veteran of two wars, who plays tennis 3 times a week

the Patriot Guard Riders, whose members across the U.S. attend the funerals of members of the U.S. military and first responders

Charles Goodwin, a local soldier, killed in action in Vietnam in 1965, MIA until his remains were returned in 2017 and identified in May, 2018. Friday, he arrived here, back home.

Those who rest away from US shores

the praise of the wise few is more important than the mockery of the foolish many,”
― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote