Friday night grateful moment

ne week into 2011. Anyone who was looking for some miraculous slate-wiped-clean, "a brand new day" kind of week, I would love to hear about how you accomplished that! Because around here it, was kind of same song, second verse. I prefer to think of it as the long wind-up to the new year... or something like that.

Tonight I am grateful that the past two weeks have gone relatively quickly and that Seth will be home soon-ish. I am ever-so-grateful that he's done a good job of keeping in touch, with little texts and calls and pictures. It's made the distance seem so much less.

I am thankful for my husband and his thoughtfulness. I love that we share so many interests, from books and reading to health and nutrition, spirituality and travel and nature. I am thankful for our dogs and their affectionate ways, love love love their little slobery ways. I am grateful that we're almost back to normal here in the house, and that my restless "must get settled" feeling has only come along in the past week... I'm itching to be moved back in, 100%, now.

I am grateful for color and the instant mood lift it provides. I wandered the local quilt shop this afternoon, looking for that lift, and sure enough, I felt better after leaving. I also wandered a bead shop and admired long strands of beautiful beads. I am also grateful that I was able to leave BOTH shops without spending any cash. How about that?

I'm grateful for friendship and laughter and love and support and prayer--all the benefits and positive aspects of community.

I'm thankful that we've had a brief break in the cold, cold weather, and that the past couple of days have almost felt balmy! (Husband is currently reading me the weather forecast for the coming week, which says that a big storm is coming, big snows and crazy cold. Wow. Time to stock up and pray for a snow day--once Seth is here safely!)

I am grateful for words, for the ability to express myself both verbally and in written form. Some days that's more easily accomplished than others... And I love that other people express themselves too, and I have the benefit of their expressions. Here's a little something I read this week that spoke to me in this frozen world we've been living in...

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the world can teach us
as when everything seems dead
but later proves to be alive.
-Pablo Neruda

I'm grateful for cheese. Don't laugh. I am. In almost every form. (Having dreams about the fondue I had last week... and looking forward to more fondue in a couple of weeks... cheese bliss!)

I'm grateful for the weekend and the peace that it brings. Hope yours is peaceful too.