Very Grateful for~

God’s gift of seasons
the space shuttle Endeavour
a belated gratitude to the man who offered to help me when I fell “splat” on the street downtown
browsers
immune systems
the official beginning of fall!
Ann’s talent
These words from Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt: “It is the summer’s great last heat, / It is the fall’s first chill: they meet.”
You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space. ~Johnny Cash

Very Grateful for~

God’s gentleness with me
A nice audience
Lots of hugs!
The growing feeling of security
growing assurance that it is ok to say “no”
Judy’s inclusive spirit
a smallish writing job and the efficiency of the project manager
Garrett’s advice that it is ok
getting up and getting on the treadmill before I remember something to do
a positive phone interview

Lenses can help you look — but it’s stillness that helps you see. ~Ann Voskamp

Very Grateful for~
God’s navigation
coffee
friendly pilots in unfriendly skies making little jokes to keep us calmer in the cabin
A nice flight attendant named “Bubbles” (really!)
A wonderful goat cheese and walnut salad upon arrival
Flowers at the airport
The skies clearing for landing
A quiet hotel room
And time for a nap!

Supportive emails from Garrett, Mary, and Tracey

There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day. ~Alexander Woollcott

Very Grateful for~
God’s surprises

This idea of “tempered tenacity”

This beautiful vision board  (can’t we all relate?)

All of us in the neighborhood greeting the kids as they go to the bus-stop

The new spurts of green on the yards after the rain

Walking

Trash pickup

Airports

Amelia’s creativity

Learning is a weightless treasure you always carry easily ~Chinese proverb

Very Grateful for~
God’s surprises
Waking up to rain
First day back to yoga class since the surgery!
Tylenol
Our Marines
the wonderful woman at Hilton who restored my points after my dormant account status was reinstated
the restorations my friends give me
water
figs
So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done. ~Marian Wright Edelman

Very Grateful for~

God’s surprises
ceiling fans
the way the washing machine holds on, after decades
Crystal Belle, for creating this space
Garrett’s elegant nudging
pushing through the fear muck to make the call
frequent flyer miles
a call from P.
Thoughts of balancing positive and negative

Be patient with the way that life is handling your plans. ~Brave Girls Club

Very Grateful for~

God’s patience

Rain

The coolness of the drops on my face

Opening the doors and windows to welcome the cooler air

A rest for the air conditioner

The ugly behemoth blue car in front of my house is finally gone (perhaps for good?)

Restorative yoga poses

The difference between giving up and letting go

5%

He does not seem to me to be a free man who does not sometimes do nothing. ~Cicero

Very Grateful for~

God’s meteorology

Waking up to 66 degrees (literally 40 degrees cooler than yesterday)
going to be early
a happy dream
remembering enough of it to journal it
cookies in the mailbox from Linda
a kind email from Cousin Nancy
accepting the change in scheduling
not be frenzied in not knowing (not being Zen about it either but at least not swinging from the rafters)
When we have hope, we discover powers within ourselves we may have never known-the power to make sacrifices, to endure, to heal and to love. Once we choose hope, everything is possible. ~Christopher Reeve

Very Grateful for~

God’s Care

Cleaning out a drawer and finding a gift certificate!

This post on how to have focus in an age of distraction http://www.best-infographics.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/11.jpg

conversations with Carl

the ugly blue car moved from in front of my house (for the first time in two months!!!!)

tortilla chips

Tricia, my insurance agent, finding ways for me to save money

Taking longer on the exhale than on the inhale

Moleskin journals

He did each single thing, as if he did nothing else. ~Charles Dickens                        

Very Grateful for~

God’s attention

The car starting right up after days of not driving it

The paper on the lawn-a reminder of the carrier’s grace to share extras since I had to stop my subscription

Sabbaths

Violins

Quinoa

Stamps

The US Mail-what a traveling concept-go anywhere for 44 cents

Silvia

In an age of distraction — the real currency is attention. In a world of Facebook, it’ll be about who can focus. Whoever can pay attention — buys the advantage. ~Caleb Voskamp, oldest son of Ann Voskamp