Thirty days of gratitude: Day 8

The word for today is memory.

Memories. When I thought of what to share as a grateful memory, it was hard to narrow down and choose; I have many happy memories with loved ones, in beautiful places. And then I remembered--looking through photos helped--an idyllic week with dear husband a few years back, with sunshine and tropic fruit and plumeria. What a happy memory. As the dark and cold descends (winter, my least favorite season), I will cling to that lovely time together and dream of the possibility of a return trip, some day...

Thirty days of gratitude: Day 7

Today's word is touch.

I'm very grateful for touch, in all its kind and gentle forms.

Thirty days of gratitude: Day 6

Today's word is inspiration.

It is hard for me to think of inspiration without thinking of words. In general, I believe that the words I'm meant to see, meant to pay attention to, will make themselves evident in my life, through one channel or another. I believe this because it has happened time and time again, when I open myself up to the possibility.

Sometimes I wonder what mighty words have slipped by me, on the days I'm less awake. But I try to focus on what DOES come my way, what has the ability to move me, soften my heart, make me more of the kind of person I want to be and know I'm capable of being as a child of God.

Today, these were the words that reached out to me. And, as so often happens, they were exactly the words I was meant to hear.

Thirty days of gratitude: Day 5

The word for today is clothing.

When I first saw this scarf, I knew I had to have it. I think it was on Pinterest... Of course, I forgot about it for a few days, or weeks. Then, a sign from the universe: an email from Piperlime arrived, with a model wearing the scarf right in the email itself. It was meant to be! It took a little looking, but I found it, ordered it, and have loved and worn it ever since.

Like a fool, I have been known to say that I can't have a bad day wearing this scarf. I'm pretty sure that means I'm due for a super-awful day while wearing it. But, I maintain that there's a karma effect with such color, and I'm going to proceed with my foolhardy ways until proven otherwise.

Thirty days of gratitude: Day 4 (catching up)

The word for today is art.

When I was in New Orleans last spring, I discovered these blue dog art pieces--all over the place! This trip it took me just a few hours to spot the pups again, in different locations than last time, even.

Art is such an interesting and complex topic, one that brings such emotion and subjective opinions with it. I don't pretend to have any agenda where art is concerned--if you like it, you like it. If you created it, good for you.

“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.” -Stella Adler

Thirty days of gratitude: Day 3

Today the word is tradition.

When I first thought of this word for this day, coffee came to mind! If there's a tradition in my life, that might be it! But then I read the definition of tradition, and it talked about passing down, usually from one generation to another, and well, coffee is not that. Coffee is more of a ritual, if I'm playing by the rules.

But John Deere? That's a tradition. It was the tractor of choice for my Grandpa Goerlitz, it is what my father drives on his property, and (as luck would have it) it's the farm vehicle of choice for my husband too. I love it.

Who knew a tractor choice could elicit such nostalgia?

Thirty days of gratitude: Day 2

Today the word is love.

This collage box represents our wedding day, from the quotes that we had around the room, the invitation, place cards, photo, flower petals, ribbon and even the jeweled clasp/button I wore on my dress. It was a lovely day but what is really lovely are the eight years since, and the love that has grown stronger during that time. I couldn't ask for a better partner to be celebrating eight years with, later this month.

Thirty days of gratitude: Day 1

It's obvious I can't keep it up here on the blog without some kind of outside structure.

As I thought about November's arrival and the 30 Days of Gratitude/Thankfulness that swirls around social media, it seemed like something I could do: Post a picture every day? Sure, why not? And then I remembered Positively Present's photo challenge and I knew I was on to something! Instagram and gratitude and blogging all rolled into one? Doable with a capital D.

Here's what I'll be posting:

And here's Day 1:

Not a day goes by when color doesn't brighten my world in some way. Either through natural beauty around me or the splash of color I'll add to my outfit or meal, color is a huge spirit-lifter for me. The glassybabies above were gifts from some of my girlfriends at my recent birthday, and their glow is meaningful to me in many ways.

I remember how I first discovered glassybaby (planning our wedding in 2005) and how many times since I have gone into the shop (usually UVillage in Seattle) or online and been reminded and inspired by the founder's story. Color makes my world go round.

Looking forward to a new way of expressing gratitude this month, via photos. Play along if you like!

Friday night grateful list

I think this sums up all that I would or could say tonight. It's been a long week, with lots of interesting challenges and elusive solutions. This weekend will be a mix of family and friends, a little rest and a little frivolity and a little work--should be just what is needed to rejuvenate and do it all over again next week!

My heart is full, as always, with the love that I am shown daily by my boys and by the grace that is extended to me by my Creator. The beauty of this life, to me, lies in the last line above: ...and love.

May your weekend include love.

Peace.

Friday night grateful moment

I am such a fan of the early sundowns that autumn brings. (On Friday nights, at least.) There is not much I enjoy more than the three of us cozied up for the evening, post-haystacks, chatting and reading. We didn't get on the ball enough to have a fire tonight, but the days when that is a must are just around the corner. Bliss.

I'm so thankful for this season. It's no secret that autumn is my favorite. This year I've been slow to fall (heh heh) in love with it, though; the dark has seemed especially encroaching (how's that for two paragraphs disagreeing with each other?!), and I haven't felt the time or space to really embrace the crisp, the colors, the joy of the season.

I am so grateful for laughter. 

I'm grateful for connections. People, making the effort to reach out to each other in this crazy, self-involved world. Bless you, friends.

Words that come out of the everyday online comings and goings. This week I was reminded:

“As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not only do we not deserve resolution, we suffer from resolution. We don’t deserve resolution; we deserve something better than that. We deserve our birthright, which is the middle way, an open state of mind that can relax with paradox and ambiguity.” -Pema Chödrön 
Those last two sentences are ones, for me, to read over and over and over. Very worthwhile to ponder and mull.

The flavors of the season are in full swing. I'm grateful to be able to enjoy salads, still, through the ever-present kale, with pomegranate, pears, endive and of course, nuts and cheese.

And pumpkin. I'm grateful for pumpkin... spice lattes, bread, muffins, the whole bit. Yum. (Yeah for Jen and the fabulous pumpkin delights she gifted me with. Awesome stuff.)

I found this fun video today and had to share it. I'm grateful for creativity and people with energy to put their ideas out there for consumption.

 

I hope you have a great weekend, full of all the things you need to take on another week!

Peace.