Very grateful for~

God’s promises
the conditions that are requiring me to be still
quietness and trust modeled by others who are now my teachers

the people and things I fear because they serve as NEON signs where my trust must grow

cake pops
a dime on the pavement during our walk
holding on…the right job will arrive
waking up to the sound of rain

family

:) We stood out on the porch before we went inside & she told me her secret. “Pretend you’re just visiting,” she said. “That way you’ll forget that they’re family.” ~Brain Andreas

Very grateful for~

Growing
Discovering that if I mulch coffee grounds into the green onion plant the snipped onions have a slight coffee taste
Boots instead of pumps
This tender quote in a post on the beauty of shared gratitude by Jacqui, “Love and Gratitude will always smooth the way far better than fear or worry!

I’m there, baby!!—I love the way Carrie writes
This poem by Mary Oliver
Belle’s Mindfulness Cards http://creativespiritualwomen.com/mindfulness-printable-cards/

Buttermilk chicken
86,400 seconds

Now I am curious about what it feels like to live in Technicolor instead of monochrome – to be the picture instead of the negative. ~Cheri Huber

Very grateful for~

God desires more for me than i can imagine
mint leaves in ice cubes
a fresh sage-butter sauce
Ruby’s tail-wagging
home-made memories
Betty’s gift to pray with abandon
meandering
coming back from behind 0-4 in tennis yesterday…perhaps a metaphor for off the court too?
Barbara’s kindness

Why are we weigh’d upon with heaviness, And utterly consumed with sharp distress, While all things else have rest from weariness? All things have rest: why should we toil alone, We only toil, who are the first of things, And make perpetual moan, Still from one sorrow to another thrown; Nor ever fold our wings, And cease from wanderings, Nor steep our brows in slumber’s holy balm; Nor harken what the inner spirit sings, ‘There is no joy but calm!”— Why should we only toil, the roof and crown of things? The Lotos Eaters, Tennyson (lines 57–69)

Very grateful for~

God’s grace
somehow getting through three weeks without needing to fill up the tank
restored energy
clean Sheets
finally finding a coffee that was too strong for me and being surprised to learn it was at my parents’ house
the fun of giving stuff away
laughing with Carrie
fish tacos
hearing birds sing in the morning
Betty’s prayers

“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” John 1:16

Very grateful for~

What God is already doing
the warm embrace of coffee
a little more rain
laughing with Dad at 3 in the morning
Peggy’s hard work
Jean’s list featuring Charles’ Russell’s atypical painting protection
an audience that was receptive and happy
Amelia did not forget

One other item for your consideration: Sugar and “upset” (read: negative voices) are the quickest way for egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate to “get” you. They each take a terrible toll on the immune system and leave a person vulnerable to any and all attacks. ~Cheri Huber

Very grateful for~

Snow!
The comfort of sofas and chairs
The smell of fresh rosemary from Mom’s garden
Maple scones
Garrett’s generosity
Rachel’s concern
Dad’s roses were delivered before the snow hit
Finding my key
Getting off of the roads before they ice over
Amelia’s smile

Every exit is an entry somewhere else. ~Tom Stoppard

Very grateful for~

God’s unconditional love
Uggs
Not having to stand alone
Freshly mowed grass—there were some really great-savory  moments for my feet before my sinuses said “enough”
My paisley coat. A throwback to my ca-boho days-(or boo-hoo days if bank accounts are the measure). I rarely where it here b/c it is loud and I try to be quiet here, so I usually wear it when I am out of town. But I am wearing it today b/c I like it despite the fact that probably only Joann Worley would approve.

Fleece throws
Brave people at CR
Smiles
Carol and Garrett’s emails of encouragement before an interview call

“Beginning to tune into even the minutest feelings of compassion or
appreciation or gratitude softens us. If we begin to acknowledge
these moments and cherish them, if we begin to realize how precious
they are, then no matter how fleeting and tiny this good heart may
seem, it will gradually, at its own speed, expand.” ~ Pema Chödrön

Very grateful for~

God’s kindness
this  repurposed book binder idea
grilled cheese
naps
an open appointment
fax machines
pancakes
standing up, suiting out, saying no, “no thank you, I don’t think I will believe what you say”
deep breaths

Lean against love and you’ll stand. ~Ann Voskamp

Very grateful for~

Detachment
Hearing the wind but not having to be in the wind
Taking the time to slow down and wrap a present
Realizing that Alexander Pope was correct, “All looks yellow to the jaundiced eye”
Remembering just-in-time that another’s reaction to me is really kinda mostly about them
Disentangling—it is a slow process for me but at least it is happening
Taking time to gather the little slips of paper I’ve been writing on and finally getting them all into one cohesive journal (clarification: the journal pages are cohesive; my thoughts probably aren’t not…yet)

Prayers
Prayer
The sky

The sky. Every hour of the day it’s different, it’s fluid, graceful, elegant. Any time you look at it, it’s restorative. And it doesn’t demand anything from you. When I look up, I think, “Wow! Sky! I should do that more often. ~A.M. Holmes

Very grateful for~

God’s creativity
Amazon’s two-day shipping
Garrett’s vibrant list with healing resources https://welovegratitude.com/2012/02/02/eyes-on-my-own-paper/
a new book!
our creativity
the L.I.F.T. (living is for today) walking club
hoodies
a chicken, providing for us all week
a full tank of gasoline

Every time there are losses there are choices to be made. You choose to live your losses as passages to anger, blame, hatred, depression and resentment, or you choose to let these losses be passages to something new, something wider, and deeper. ~ Henri Nouwen