Very Grateful for
God’s password which never changes
heat in the office
snuggly loafers
an offer of help
kale soup to start the new year
the Tournament of Roses Parade (all except for the Stanford band)
stamps
iTunes
Amelia using common sense
wild orange tea
“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” ~Johannes A. Gaertner
Very Grateful for
God
long naps
deep tubs
waking up to water cascades
tall mahogany bed and finding the little stool to step up to it
Antha’s dad is home recuperating
deciding to stay another day
hami stretches
making it to the top of Enchanted Rock
and leaving my verse for 2013 there
Now all glory to God who is able through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
~Ephesians 3:20
Very Grateful for
God’s wise people
Heirloom Pumpkin Candles
people who know how to install new tires
this Pinterest board
the music of John Fahey (who I learned of from Garrett’s list)
medicine
John Wayne movies with Dad
Dad’s quiet acceptance of his circumstances
that I did not push to complete yesterday’s “To-Do” list
What I’ve come to learn is that the world is never saved in grand
messianic gestures, but in the simple accumulation of gentle, soft, almost
invisible acts of compassion. ~Chris Abani, novelist
Very Grateful for
God’s love
falling asleep in silence
Amelia, who swept all the leaves off the front porch
receiving payment from the last client with a balance
waking up without an assignment (for the first time since July)
a long walk with Ruby
a dishwasher
foil to cover pie crust edges
fresh nutmeg
The gift of the Magi is to hold what you have
And not think a minute of what you are missing. ~Garrison Keillor in this poem
Very Grateful for:
God’s gifts
a cloudless sky on the way to work
a quiet office
a 2014 calendar to mark up with important dates and things to remember
Christmas carols
the doctors tending to Ashley today
remembering to sweep the front porch
Dad’s happy face
finishing the extra project
Chris, sharing her baking and candy-making talent with us.
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. ~Norman Maclean
Very Grateful for
God’s medicine
Prayer
Reading notes of Christmas activity
the heater, coming on faithfully, before we know we are cold
rain
waking up in time
6 sets of tennis
then the “Pride and Prejudice” and “Little Women” marathon
Concord, MA in snow, my favorite town.
Never cut what you can untie ~ Robert Frost
Very Grateful for
God’s astronomy
seeing such a huge, beautiful moon last night on the way home
Christmas lights on houses
and Christmas trees in the windows
all the different colors of lights
my favorite Mary Oliver poem The Journey and…
….the realization that I can’t tend to everyone who cries, “Mend My Life” just as the poem cautions
The journey of our talented city librarian, Ricki Brown, and her too short life, in memorial today
the strong, intelligent spirit she was and how she patiently dealt with people who did not recognize her meticulous work
The grace we’ve received from the heart of God is the grace that extends our arms to the world. ~Ann Voskamp
Very Grateful for:
God’s Shalom
This poem called Stop It
the girls in the office traveled home safely
my last project is done and submitted
my last paper is done and submitted
my last annotated bib is done and submitted
my last reflection paper is done and submitted
my last video clip is done and submitted
Drew, in The Learning Studio, who taught Camtasia to me
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder
very grateful for
God’s cushions
courage
limited ice damage from the storm
insulation
the sacrifice of the men and women at Pearl Harbor
the conviction of my dad to join the Navy after learning of the attack
he had not done this he would not have been stationed in San Diego and met my mom
a beautiful written eulogy for Ruth and Crystal and Carol’s kind remarks
images of dancing
you must find your own quiet center of life ~writer Sarah Orne Jewett
Very Grateful for:
God’s affordances
warm boots
a morning conference call prayer group organized by a former student
Echinacea tea
The word “gloaming”
online libraries
ILLIAD retrieval services
finding my library card after its 2 month absence–such a relief not to nag myself about it anymore!
a sweater coat
“The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.” ~Calvin Trillin, whose birthday is today