Friday night grateful list

ark already, what's up with that? Apparently it's fall; even if the days warm up, the early darkness on both ends of the light never fails to remind me: It is no longer summer.

I am so grateful for seasons. I love the smell of autumn. Right now, with the sliding door open and the cool breeze coming into the house, I can smell fall. Some combination of cut hay and recent rain and sun-worn foliage, with maybe a tinge of smoke from a faraway burn pile... it's lovely.

I'm grateful husband was able to take the day off. We were supposed to take a more extensive road trip for the long weekend, but that was not to be... I am happy I got today, and will get tomorrow before work beckons in fits and starts before Tuesday. A long weekend at home is better than no long weekend at all, right?!

I'm grateful we got some extra days with Seth as the schedule gets sorted out for the fall... I will take extra days ANY day.

I'm grateful for all the inspiration my friends provide, from the one who is currently soldiering through a divorce with her head held high, to the one who just finished midwifery school while still working at OB nursing, to the one who just took in an exchange student who needed a new family. And then there's the one battling lymphoma with pluck and mostly cheer, lo these many months later; and the one still in the hospital following a cardiac arrest episode more than week ago; and the one who blew out her knee and is having to do months and months of PT post-surgery, and is homeschooling her kids again this fall too. I'm pretty sure I've forgotten someone, somewhere, but I haven't meant to, I swear... as I look at this list of courageous woman, I'm proud to know you all.

I'm grateful for color and cheer. Some days you just need a little, right? Thanks so much for sending this particular cake inspiration my way this week, M. Can't wait to bust out the food coloring!

I'm grateful for words that ring a bell. I found this poem/quote sometime in August and tucked it away, and even did a little calligraphy meditation on it one morning (see above, it's a little rough, still needs color, etc.)... the first two lines especially are ones that I just love... I have an essay inside me about those two lines... some day it will come out!

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.
-Rumi

I'm grateful that Earl turned from a hurricane to a tropical storm... and that the earthquake in New Zealand doesn't seem to have any fatalities, so far. I'll take any good news, even marginally good news, these days...

I'm grateful for miracles. Watch this video and tell me it's not a fabulous miracle:



And I'm always grateful for music. I felt the happy effects of music this week while running--I'd actually forgotten how some music can keep you moving past the point when maybe you should have stopped! It was very nice to get into a rhythm... And somewhere during the week I found this little gem too and wanted to share it with you all:




Wishing you exactly the kind of weekend you want. I hope you get it!