Very Grateful for:

God’s Patient Whispers and Rumbas

This youTube video of the Joyous  String Quartet: (watch it and smile)  https://youtu.be/UPCx2mR18vc

Personal Lessons that I need to learn that do not go away but wait and whisper for my attention

Recognizing where I get too attached to self-imposed labels

Turmeric Tea

Ruby to hug- even when she jumps on the kitchen counter and eats all the brownies!

Longer nights of sleep after so many all-nighters

Time.

Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing.
~August Wilson

Very Grateful for

God’s AHA moments

surges of energy when I need it most

Garrett’s helpful advice in my job search

safe travels on 22 fights so far this year.

medicine when I became ill from the 22 flights so far this year

Amelia’s support

my dissertation clearing APA ~ finally!

sleep, lots and lots of sleep

learning – at long last- to stick up for myself and advocate for myself

We don’t learn by doing; we learn by reflecting on what we do ~ John Dewey

Very Grateful for:

God’s newness every morning

An extra second in 2016

A new, beautiful Chenille throw from Linda

Pinon wood in the fireplace

black-eyed peas (I remembered this year!)

the Christmas cactus bloomed today!

Ronnie’s wife, who is recuperating after triple bypass surgery

Addie’s graciousness

time

Solitude is the path to visit yourself ~Mehmet Murat ildan

{Happy New Year!}

Very Grateful for:

God’s foresight for our need for companions

Someone to pray with me and hold my hand

Someone to pray for me and hold my hand

Someone to laugh at my silly observations

Someone to together watch eagerly for the topping of the DOW at 20K … and.. to sigh when the DOW misses the mark

A partner to co-write resolutions for the New Year and commiserate at the unrealized ones of the past

Someone who squeals with delight at the sound and sight of bacon and pancakes on the griddle

Someone to put gas in the car, wood on the fireplace, and hold the door for me as I push Dad’s wheelchair

Someone who shares her views on the world and listens to mine with judgement

Someone to proofread my dissertation for erros   …   :)

When Amelia comes home for the holidays

“If you come at four in the afternoon, I’ll begin to be happy by three.”
~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Very Grateful For:

God’s Big Love

the final defense for my dissertation on December 15^th

the culmination of 3-1/2 years of study and writing, and work!

figuring out the flight schedules so that Amelia could fly from Virginia and join me

feeling my mother’s presence during the defense

finally realizing a goal that my dad discussed with me over 20 years ago

safe travels

the relief of passing my final defense!

celebrating with fish tacos!

“My prayer rose to you…” Jonah 2:7

Very Grateful for:

God’s provision of Reunion through memories

our sense of smell

the memories triggered by our sense of smell

finding a light jacket that was my mother’s

even over two years later the scent of Mom’s perfume remains

the memories that float in from the perfume- good memories

pictures in my head of Mom’s feisty sense of style: Georgia O’Keeffe meets sunset rainbow sherbet

grateful for the gift of the idea of wearing this coat and hugging my Dad today so he remembers too

grateful that maybe Mom looks, recognizes her coat and sees me from heaven

“Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.”  ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Very Grateful for

God’s playful innovation

the Bible app- scriptures!

the Kindle app- books!

the Audible app- audio books!

the Spotify app- music!

the weather app- forecasts!

the Daily Art app- beauty!

the Health app – steps!

the QR Code reader app – scans!

the Shutterfly app – memories!

Find your quiet center of life and write from that to the world. ~Sarah Orne Jewett

Very Grateful for:

God’s bonuses

the new competent, young women we have working in the office

finding my car in a dark and crowded parking lot without having to “signal” it with my key fob-dealey

Walking 5232 steps during the three flight cancellations and gate changes

sunblock

the Farmer’s Market and the early fall pears and last of the summer tomatoes

yielding my agenda

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends” ~Colossians 3:13

Very Grateful for:

God’s labors

A labor day away

the medicine prescribed for Dad is working

time to visit Amelia

…and see the playful deer in the park by her place

the deer keep playing and living surrounded by hospital, commerce, and neighborhoods

adaptability

lots of sleep

and reruns of “Night Court” on Amazon (does anyone remember that show?)

laughter

long walks through quiet Colonial Williamsburg

hearing Amelia humming in the kitchen

The hardness of a diamond is part of its usefulness, but its true value is in the light that shines through it.  ~B.K.S. Iyengar

Very Grateful for:

God’s expansiveness
Silence
Stretches
The half-dark/half-light sky of almost dawn
A deep breath that expands my chest
The sweet scent right before rain
Time to hold Dad’s hand
Remembering a password
Accepting the trade-off that some noise (office, traffic, chatter) is necessary in order to return to calm silence

“It was all so far away–there was quiet and an untouched feel to the country and I could work as I pleased.” Georgia O’Keeffe