Thankful Tuesday :: Heath

Taking an intentional moment during my annual physical 

to be grateful that these days? 

It's all routine. 

❤️

.             *           .

Practicing Peace :: Thankful Tuesday

So loving my sweet little oil lamp and her quiet reminders

to gently shine right where I am

and to Practice Peace.

With Labor Day yesterday, I am just now coming off of "Summer Hours."  That means I'm back to being off on Tuesday mornings.  I'm smiling because it really was a delightful surprise just now to remember "Oh, yeah, Thankful Tuesday!"

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Being and playing with my two sweet little girls yesterday.  It still takes them time to 

    warm up but when they do?  We all sure have a great time.

2.  Without even really thinking about it so without much effort, I made boundary setting

     in the form of changing the subject away from areas I just didn't want to go into a game.

     It was easy and I didn't get snagged and all bogged down like I have for so many years.

3.  This sweet little red oil lamp.  Gentle light, like Moonshine, speaks to me so much right 

     now, both the way I believe I am led and in the way I want to be in my world, too.

4.  Some good reconnecting time with dear hubby over the long weekend.  We had a few 

     rough patches, as an extended period of togetherness can bring in any relationship, and

     I did some things differently, like practicing breathing as we rode in the car together.  

5.  A quiet jammie morning on a cloudy day.

6.  My very favorite Fall breakfast of a cup of icy cold milk along with a steaming bowl 

     of oatmeal with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and a sprinkling of raisins stirred in

     and topped with a drizzle of honey.   

7.  Blessed gift of time spent in "my" swing on Mark of the Potter's lovely back balcony

     overlooking the happy Soque River.  It soothes me so much.

8.  Reconnecting with a dear friend and, as in true friendships, the sense that no time has

     passed at all.

9.  My comfy old brown chair has been repaired and is now sporting a beautiful new

     mariner-blue "dress."  It's taken some time for me to adjust back to it but I think I'm 

      just about there.... home.

10. Working on a little surprise for a sweet friend who, while struggling, is making some

     very brave choices.

11. Seeing my picture of the St. Augustine lighthouse from right here in my chair with the

     added bonus of my Core Desire Feelings taped under her.

12. The deep sense of "Ahhh" I feel when I quietly whisper my core desire feelings to 

     myself:  Moonshine, Be Here, Simple Beauty, Peace, and Grace.  I am home in their

     presence circled around me.

13. Soft, long curly hair.  I will probably cut it soon but, for now, I'm enjoying it.

14. Wise book companions.  The two I've read lately are Rising Strong by Brene Brown 

     and Eyes of the Heart by Christine Valters Paintner.

15. The comfort that comes from noticing and counting my thankfuls.

.             *             .

Thankful Tuesday :: Birthday Edition

Today I am thankful for:

1.  My 53rd birthday yesterday.  There was a time I wasn't sure I'd make it this far.

2.  Happy new garden stone with my word for the year, Peace, on it.

3.  Time with our girlies on Saturday which primed our shy little ones for a fun day of 

     playing on Sunday.

4.  In-laws who want to make birthday celebrations special and do.

5.  Gifting myself by leaving work early yesterday.

6.  Lying in the bed and resting for an hour when I arrived home.

7.  Dear, dear hubby who's Love Language is Gifts.

8.  Wonderful surprise of a dozen beautiful red roses.

9.  Feeding the Texas part of my heart with a yummy supper of chicken fried steak, 

     loaded baked potato and salad with ranch dressing at Longhorn Steaks. 

10.  Sweet new angel who speaks to me of Peace, Grace, Mercy, Hope, and Enough.

11.  Kind friendship extended in so many ways, offering warm birthday wishes. 

12.  Quiet evening at home watching part 1 of Dancing With the Stars' season finale.

13.  Birdsong, floaty lilac gown, go back to bed for a bit leisurely morning.

14.  Intense wave of grief has now ebbed away, leaving with me some new layers to 

       ponder, explore, and heal.

15.  Feeling grounded by staying connected to our photo prompts.

16.  It was a very good birthday indeed.

.              *             .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Warm, fond memories of my Grandma and Moma 

2.  Companionship of sweet little crystal cut glass tea light holder

3.  Two unexpected cards from two friends

4.  Another perfectly glorious spring afternoon

5.  Slowing down and resting and being today - nourishment for my soul

6.  Early arrival of my new book, The Soul of a Pilgrim by Christine Valters Painter

7.  If the intro is any indication, I am going to *love* this one!

8.  Gift and honor of being able to help hold space for a dear friend.

9.  Playful moments with sweet hubby sprinkled in with this evening's errands

10.  Faint bleach smell of clean laundry 

11.  Soft, comfy lavender gown, bought 6-1/2 years ago, still one of my faves

12.  Kind words extended when I reached out for support

13.  Writing a poem that helps me understand and come to peace with a sister

14.  Being able to listen to myself read and affirm it for myself

15.  How very much I love photo treasure hunts for everyday beauty

16.  A very good night's rest last night with plans to get into bed soon this night as well.

Nightie Night!

.           *              .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  This little lovely, a delightful surprise just waiting for me to come get the mail.

2.  Conversation with a wise, dear friend this morning, big-sister heart to big-sister heart.

3.  Room, permission, and kind support affirming me exactly where I am.  

4.  Mild, beautifully sunny spring day.

5.  Reaching out to ask for something I wanted and happily receiving a yes.

6.  Enjoyed watching "Dancing With the Stars" 10th anniversary show.

7.  Remembering how deeply inspired I've been by some of the contestants.  (Amy Purdy)

8.  Resting and relaxing in a picked up house.

9.  Being able to support and love a dear sister in a time of a health concern.

10.  Quiet day at work to piddle and putter when it was hard to concentrate.

11.  Reaching out for help again and leaving it be while I sleep tonight.

12.  While uncomfy, tears so close to the surface .... 

        ....there was a time when tears didn't come at all.    

13.  Simple supper made with leftovers and pantry ingredients.

14.  Soreness in neck and shoulders from new crutches has greatly subsided.

15.  Feeling sleepy before heading for bed.

16.  Rediscovering a cd on mothering at just the right time.

.            *            .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  A few more quiet days at work before the busy billing season kicks in.

2.  Relief from strained relationships continuing to ease.

3.  Learning about the idea of notebooking in the poetry course I'm taking.

4.  New Easter Praying in Color Template - yay!

5.  And it's a spiral, meant to go out (the opposite of what I did for Lent) - yay!

6.  Easy, tasty supper of toasted cheese sandwiches and sweet potato fries.

7.  Quiet evening with no tv.

8.  Loving circle of fond memories forming around my Grandma's photo on FB.

9.  Learning that it touched my dear Daddy's heart.

10.  Our mechanic fixed my flat tire for free!  (we do love him)

11.  Being surrounded by guardian angels.

12.  Valentine's Day roses dried and still beautiful.

13.  Hubby's Love Language is Gifts 

14.  Knowing my intuition is working, even when I plow right thru.

15.  Mercy-ful remembering that I am perfectly human and can always, always try 'er again.

.           *            .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I'm thankful for:

1.  Two sweet cards from two dear friends arriving on the very same day.

2.  One from a kind friend with a big heart and is a very gifted snail mail fairy.

3.  The other from a lovely woman who took me into her home one summer, 37 years ago

     during my radiation treatments so far away from home, that I haven't heard from in years.  

4.  Making a point to bask in their love again and feeling so cared for by both.

5.  Beautiful, sunny morning and birdsong.

6.  Warm memories of time spent with favorite little ones.

7.  Work is easing and so am I.

8.  Wonderful anticipation of starting a new writing class next week.

9.  Some quiet time to just be this morning.

10.  Voicing a "not this, but maybe this" and asking for the time I need to be sure.

11.  Glorious spring blossoms everywhere.

12.  No pollen ill-effects (yet).

13.  Making time for writing that heals my heart.

14.  Finding wisdom in new book, Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

15.  Our dryer works again!

16.  Yesterday's butterfly is my new favorite:

.           *           .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Beautiful spring morning serenaded by birdsong.

2.  Quiet moments to write, listen and be.

3.  Soothing orderliness to sit in.

4.  Safe journeys for dear hubby.

5.  Wise, heart-touching, perfectly timed book, Storycatcher by Christina Baldwin.

6.  Playful day at work yesterday.

7.  Connecting to and with my dear heart in writing.

8.  Noah, deeply inspiring new contestant on Dancing With the Stars.

9.  Hope-filled sunshine filling the room and spilling on me.

10.  Soft brown leather chair.

11.  Finding the space between my breaths and the opportunity to choose love.

12.  Warm smiles Valentine's Day roses still bring.

13.  New Ferris Wheel mandala that speaks to me of healthy boundaries 

       (and the wonderful prospect of exploring this more later).

14.  Wind chime songs

15.  New-to-me blessing about peace:

       

May the peace of the tallest mountain 

and the peace of the smallest stone 

be your peace. 

May the stillness of the stars 

watch over you. 

May the everlasting music 

of the wave lull you to rest.

~ an ancient Celtic prayer

May it be so

And it is Enough.

Blessed be.

.             *            .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Dear hubby who loves to laugh and play.  He will totally get a kick out of this photo I snap chatted just for him.

2.  Deep love that still spreads so warmly across my face and heart whenever I see these three longtime, faithful companions, 3-d glasses, remotes, and all.

3.  A quiet evening at home spent writing with oil lamp company.

4.  The fun of discovering snow in the morning here in south - always pretty and it usually doesn't last too long.

5.  The joy that comes from writing a new intro in an old group.  Love how that process brings home for me where and who I am in this moment.  (Especially love the feeling that I'd like to get to know me, too)

6.  Freedom that comes from finally detaching, letting it be, and listening well to Grace and my heart regarding a relationship I've been struggling with.

7.  Cheer-filled twinkle lights on a cold evening in February.

8.  Flock of robins that sang to me all morning and flew right over my head as I got the mail today.

9.  Bliss of an intentional, full hour of quiet meditation and reading this evening.  And the "welcome home" sense I felt from turning away from a meditation experiment while coming back to what has worked so well for me and the assurance that it will continue to.

10.  Brightness brought on by fresh bulbs in the lights over my kitchen sink.  (Some light, if too bright, feels oppressive to me.  These feel just the opposite ... clear and lighting my way)

11.  Being intentionally surrounded by angels again - I can see 17 from where I sit, here in my chair.

12.  Connecting with and getting to know new friends.

13.  The new practice of my Lenten butterfly spiral.

14.  Happy stack of crocheted granny daisy hearts.

15.  Feeling sleepy.

and it is Enough.

Blessed be.

.          *          .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Quiet time this morning in the company of angels, candlelight, and a warm cup of chai tea in a special, peach-colored mug.  (It was one of Tadd's grandmother's and seeing it always brings a warm smile and fond thoughts of her.)

2.  Forgotten, comforting quote given to me by a dear, wise one resurfacing and how just reading it thru a couple of times steeps me in the same blessed assurance that it always used to:  

 

           "And remember, you do not walk alone. You are surrounded by a cloud

            of witnesses, family members and friends, some who have gone before

            you, all of whom have a stake in your partnership. Your happiness is
            important to them. They are your cheering section. Count on them to
            walk with you, and trust the One who has brought you across rivers of
            grief, through forests of gladness to your present pilgrimage."

                                             ~ wise source regretfully unknown

3.  Heartfelt, deeply affirming response from a dear friend.

4.  Leftovers in the fridge means I didn't have to figure out dinner tonight.

5.  New blossoming friendship that inspires me.

6.  More blessed quiet time this evening .... well, with the exception of soft hubby snores.

7.  Sending our sweet little one a picture of me smiling and holding up 4 fingers in honor of her 4th birthday yesterday and her mama reporting back that my girlie LOVED it.  

8.  Having enough money to pay our bills and for the little extras here and there, too.

9.  My "short day" at work falling on a day that I unexpectedly found myself feeling very tender and quite small.

10.  A lovely new, favorite quote:  

              "Tender," she said again.  "Tender is kind and gentle.  

                It's also sore like the skin around an injury."  

                                            ~ Breanna Yovanoff

11.  This touching video, entitled "With Scars Comes Strength."  I am deeply touched and inspired by her wisdom and her fresh insight on our scars.... "they (represent) something that hasn't killed me" and "every scar I'm completely proud of and have earned.  My body is like a visual journal."

Wow!!

12.  Knowing gratitude can help gently shift things and practicing it.

So, friend, what are you thankful for?

.          *          .

Blessing Basking ~ Day 4

Today I am grateful for the responsibility, privilege, and right to vote. 

Bonus:  I'm also grateful for the unexpected kind gestures this morning 

extended by of a couple of different gentlemen whom I've never met.

.              *              .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Heartwarming visit with a kind friend via Hangout.

2.  Feeling heard and loved, exactly where I am.

3.  Gentle reminders that Enough can be practiced even here.

4.  Making a point to catch rest in the snippets available.

5.  Blessed calmness descending

6.  A perfectly gorgeous Fall afternoon

7.  Silly snapchats with a dear sister.

8.  Relaxation that comes from focused work.

9.  Being willing to do something and then not having to.

10.  Discovery of a surprise being sent my way.

11. Healing balm that is quiet time.

12. Writing my way home.

.             *              .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Fall tradition of three happy pumpkins on our front steps

2.  Safe space to tell the truth

3.  Patient, trusting hubby

4.  Delightful shared surprise

5.  Gifted writing that will bless 

6.  Light-hearted new boss

7.  Healing medicine in the form of wise advice

8.  Remembering again what I had forgotten

9.  Baby nephew got to go home

10. Intense study in boundaries

.             *              .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Honoring a promise to myself to take the time to enjoy this Fall, my favorite time of year. 

2.  And by doing so, grounding myself back in my one wild and precious life.

3.  Nourishing my spirit by attending daily Mass. 

4.  Joyful, light-hearted exchanges while working with my new supervisor. 

5.  Making time for rest. 

6.  Yummy cream cheese pumpkin muffin and warm milk breakfast. 

7.  Blessed, perfect timing of a conversation with a wise friend. 

8.  Inspiration from watching Dancing With the Stars. 

9.  Anticipation of seeing our dear littles this weekend. 

10. Welcomed ease of "let it be."

.              *               .

Flourish

Wanted to take an intentional moment 

to celebrate and remember. 

My annual physical was today 

and it is such a blessing 

that these days? 

It's just routine. 

(Hasn't always been that way)

.                 *                 .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Crayon art delightfully reminding me of time with my girlies on Sunday.

2.  Silliness of little ones!  In the picture above, the girl at the top is baby sister with a bar over her so she won't fall out of bed.  The second girl is her and, at 3, she's a big girl who doesn't need a bar over her.  Next to her is, as requested, a bear with a shirt on.

3.  Deep satisfaction from both girls wanting to be and play with me.

4.  Making a point to celebrate a very dear 90-year-old's birthday.

5.  Side-stepping an odd melt-down with Grace.

6.  The bliss of quiet Tuesday mornings again.  (summer hours are now over)

7.  Surprising hubby by laying out his breakfast and lunch.

8.  Quietly standing in (and sharing) my gift of reading meaningfully aloud.

9.  Happy discovery that our new book group will fit very nicely in with where I'm at right now.

10.  Wonderful surprise of another promising bi-monthly fall gathering.

11.  Already sensing the freshness of new members in our mandala FB group.

12.  And loving that one of those voices is a friend.

13.  Spicy, autumn fall-themed oatmeal.

14.  Humming a new favorite, "Calm me, Lord," when I catch myself worrying. 

15.  Another piece of fridge art from Sunday's time with my girls.

.          *           .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am grateful for:

1.  Responsibility and right to vote

2.  Surprise mail from a new friend

3.  End of bi-yearly reporting 

4.  Good night's rest

5.  New-to-me book, The Alchemist

6.  Feeling better each day (from an upper respiratory virus)

7.  Mandala cheering section  :)

8.  Proud realization of how far I've come in a difficult relationship

9.  Surrounded by quietly calm angel companions

10. Delicious chocolate frosty (my favorite!)

.           *            .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Savoring remembrance of a quietly intentional ritual.

2.  Internal calm, even in the midst of external fluster.

3.  Clarity and professionalism in my writing.

4.  Unexpected, wonderfully delightful surprise in my mailbox.

5.  A whimsical move "towards" that didn't mushroom into more than I could handle.

6.  Summer tree frogs (and hubby snores) lullabies.

7.  Happy accident of Stained Glass Mandalas.

8.  Balm of a picked-up house.

9.  Simple supper of yummy leftovers

10. Continued kind connection with a co-worker, many days after I first reached out for help.

11. Late night check-in in the safe shelter of a wise friend's objectivity, honesty, and presence.

12. Being loved and held in the midst of feeling triggered.

13. Relaxed enough to allow sleepiness to arise.

.          *          .

  

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Cheerful gerber daisy in a work bouquet

2.  Precious memories made with our girlies last Friday

3.  Soft smiles that *still* arise from the genuine love and warm hugs 

4.  Bravely risking speaking my piece yesterday, even as I shook all the way thru

5.  Surprising example of how to quietly, peace-filledly move on (in the unexpected 

     example of someone who I needed to unhook from)

6.  Slightly salted, roasted almond butter

7.  Soothing tree frog summer lullabies

8.  Clean laundry, folded and put away to boot!

9.  Noticing the pockets of kindness while in the midst of harshness

10. Intentional gift to myself of time and space to review a meaningful e-course on Joy

11. Lovely hangout shared with a friend

.          *          .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  How very much I am enjoying creating mandalas!

2.  Making them has been a welcomed, unexpected and gentle reminder of 

     how guidance really does come . . . 

     (when allowed the time, room and space)

3.  That I can go back to bed and rest on a morning I was up way too early

4.  Awareness that I still have some boundary work to do with a co-worker.  

     (If I wasn't aware, all I would be feeling is frustration and Hope-less)

5.  A new realization of one of my "tells" that I need to set a boundary.

6.  The lovely anticipation of an upcoming hangout with a friend.

7.  Updating my phone this morning and it all went just fine.

8.  Cup corner has now turned into marker, colored pencils, and compass corner.  :)

9.  Delightful discovery of the singing sister duo, Lennon and Maisy 

10. The quiet of dawn.

.          *           .