Gratitude Journal

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I began this Gratitude Journal in early September 2009 and am adding things as I encounter them. Shooting for 1,000, but in no particularly hurry. Just trying to stay observant and appreciative. Not sure how long a list WordPress will allow, but here goes….

1. Autumn mums
2. Great neighbors who surprised us at various times this summer by mowing, bringing our trash containers back up to the house and sharing overflow from their gardens in a year that we chose not to plant things that would need much tending
3. Late blooming hydrangea, reminding me not to count out ideas and people because of the calendar
4. Blogs that start my day off well. Bloggers who put good things out there in cyberspace.
5. Freddy and Ginny’s porch swing, a magnet for the neighborhood. “You come back real soon now!” Ginny calls after me every time I leave.
6. NPR slideshow on ways to say “Hi!” in an H1N1 world. http://www.npr.org/news/graphics/2009/may/gimmefive
7. A rare completely free day 9/17/09. I wrote the whole day – great!!
8. a reason to get out my muffin tins – a new writer friend is coming over to visit
9. my toys came out to play for the first time in a long time because of her little boy – love that!
10. Freddie and Ginny’s story of 1940’s segregation in this area – sad but important story to share – I feel honored
11. tailgating, memories of past and hope of near future
12. phone call from Barb S., asking how we were doing
13. fun day at Harvest Moon Festival
14. dreaming together
15. Mastewal
16. John Malone’s message about needing to make the trip to Samaria
17. fun, spontaneous call to my sister-in-law to hear how their recent getaway to Cape May went
18. nice conversation with Gram & Pop about their new garage floor and other projects – easy conversation
19. Dr. Byrd
20. Dr Byrd’s words “won’t be needing treatment for a long time”
21. girls in pigtails
22. pumpkin carving dreams and my first pumpkin coming in the house
23. neighbors gathering on my patio
24. plans for a neighborhood potluck picnic
25. the boundary lines for me falling in pleasant places
26. bike path keeps getting longer
27. fresh insights while reading in the morning dark
28. ¿A quién enviaré?…¡Envíame a mí! Excellent words.
29. playing Candlyland with yet another child
30. baking cookies with a 3-yr-old
31. Grandpa and T riding bikes together
32. a turtle shows up
33. staying up late, reading a book and watching a movie with a grandson who refuses to fall asleep
34. decades-old Candyland game, pieces missing, still being enjoyed
35. good in-laws for my kids
36. early morning reading and prayer
37. a prayer request that arrives via texting
38. thought-provoking book “Love has a Face”
39. DQ twist cones
40. kids riding bikes “Look at me!”
41. everything bagels
42. double stroller
43. sleeping well away from home
44. oatmeal
45. a stash of strawberries in the freezer
46. people to care about
47. words, as needed
48. silence
49. walking home from school, yesterday and many years ago
50. school buses, lined up, waiting to go somewhere
51. band practice off in the distance
52. excellent StoryCorps about the difference a book cover made  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113357239  (gets me thinking about appearances – they shouldn’t be the main goal of life, but they can play an important part)
53. smell of clean laundry
54. excellent, successful neighborhood picnic
55. how nice several of the young people at church are turning out
56. a chance to talk with a neighbor who is writing
57. the opp to catch up with a friend
58. happy children, coloring and laughing
59. blogging FUN
    

    #60

60. puppy day at The Pines
61. morning prayer time in the dark with my little light
62. my Spanish Bible
63. how the H.S. brings people to mind
64. fish in the freezer, salad already made
65. candy corn and the friends it reminds me of
66. apples
67. the opp to use the apples to bless others
68. Millie’s laugh and example

     

    

    #68

69. nice long phone chat with one of my children
70. burning bushes all turning color
71. a grey, sprinkly evening with soccer under the lights
72. my funeral luncheon prayer fulfilled – loads of people, none left hungry
73. joint effort with ladies from another church
74. tomato soup with fresh basil on top
75. good conversation
76. time to process good conversation

     

    

    #87

77. pies to make
78. kitchen to clean up
79. a river to sit by
80. the Lock through which boats pass and the endless fascination on a sunny Fall Sunday afternoon
81. the brilliant orange of pumpkins
82. spontaneous meet-ups
83. spontaneous conversation that plants seeds
84. more writing ideas than time to write
85. that “connecting” moment in the sermon when something hits me beyond the fact intake
86. a hug from a child
87. one coffee, well-placed in my day
88. the answer to a prayer for a soft treat for Ma when I am out of ideas
89. a bounty of parsley, enough dried and frozen for at least the next year
90. freezer full from this year’s garden
91. a conversation with Brisa
92. Brisa listing me in her address book as “Señora Inglés” – my new identity? I’m happy to wear it.
93. his blue teal shirt
94. his green check shirt
95. his coral pullover
96. him
97. his words “This year I realized how perfectly suited to each other we are” – you know it!
98. laughter
99. music to cook by
100. music to fall asleep by
101. music to clean by
102. music that inspires deep thoughts
103. my new fun socks

      

     

     #103

104. learning a blog post rings true for someone else
105. pizza first time in a long time
106. phone conversations with ALL THREE kids in one week
107. the word “nevertheless” at the start of Isaiah 9
108. peace is in infinite supply Isa. 9
109. kids, giggling and running in the autumn air

      

     

     #109

110. answered prayers
111. seeing things work out w/o my needing to say anything
112. jack o’ lanterns
113. a blog post I almost didn’t use garnered quite a few comments – I’m glad it connected
114. movie in the house to look forward to on a rainy, chilly weekend
115. the garden cleared out and winter-ready
116. walks in the chilly air
117. books I look forward to reading – it’s like money in the bank
118. Chris’ enthusiasm at the sight of Christmas trees at Lowe’s in October – I didn’t mean for my pic to lead to despair for people
119. Eyob coming home with Dan and Brianna today (10/16)
120. that a soft answer turns away wrath – May God continue supplying the soft answers (not necessarily answers that skirt the issue, but whatever needs to be conveyed, it is not like a hammer on people’s heads)
121. seeing the people I love surrounded by lots of others who care about them
122. that I got around to organizing my linen closet

      

     

     #122

123. complementary colors of autumn
124. smell of acorn squash, baking
125. sun, when rain was expected
126. rain, quieting everything,making me turn on soft lights
127. sounds of football and soccer being played not far from here

      

     

     #123

128. asters on my walk
129. trees of infinite color combinations
130. making plans for guests
131. baseball championship games in October
132. pine cones
133. Researchers – often invisible to us, but so important National Medical Researchers Day (10/21/2009)
134. Belinda’s Shepherd’s Pie
135. Dana Jenning’s current blog entry on nesting instinct (possible explains my recent linen closet activity and also maybe why I have never liked fireworks – a lifelong need to eliminate excess noise?)
136. swings
137. morning fog
138. acting on a nudge, it turning out to be the right thing for all involved
139. perseverance
140. contentment, in large doses
141. the most fantastic autumn colors in memory – beauty!
142. new wildlife refuge close by
143. leaf collection
144. smell of pumpkin baking
145. promise of bulbs planted
146. soup on breezy days
147. Mike Miller’s pictures from Africa, like a trip there
148. breakfast meetings

 



#149

149. the circles of leaves under trees
150. Panera business meetings
151. travel plans for Atlanta
152. a text msg, “looking forward to coming”
153. some kid therapy coming up @ a birthday party
154. my honeybun
155. compassionate words when needed, unplanned, unexpected
156. choices I often forget to appreciate, that I have so many
157. being OUT of treatment, like an injection of massive quantities of time back into the week…often to do stuff that used to seem like a chore, but now seems like vacation
158. the new perspective above
159. the question marks of life
160. coffee
161. a long walk without a sore knee
162. a parade of headlights going out Chamberlain in the morning dark, off into the world
163. the chill breeze, reminding me of Paula Callery’s reflection on leaving IBM, not knowing what she’d do next, “It can be good to get out there and feel the cold wind in your face.” I should blog about that, embracing the question marks. (Did, here.)
164. the sight of the monkey cupcakes
165. games of Candyland with young friends
166. kid therapy

      

     

     #166

167. the sight of Heather’s monkey cupcakes
168. that 15 secs after I texted a friend that I needed advice, she called – I had not said it was urgent
169. helpful tips from a friend
170. the fun of seeing people costumed
171. bowl of candy ready
172. Enrique telling of Halloween customs in Mexico
173. some very polite trick-or-treaters at my door
174. a good (and true) romance story told to me
175. RiverTrail – longer walk without a sore knee
176. ‘hearing’ and ’seeing’ more input on topics that have been prayed about
177. the sibling leaves
178. Chip’s direction on personal stories – confirming
179. enthusiasm for some routine tasks
180. discovering I’m really understanding a lot on the Spanish language podcasts
181. Joel got to go to Honduras
182. unexpected editing job I enjoyed
183. a camouflage painted treehouse
184. beauty of winter-ready trees
185. forts in living rooms
186. a friend-recommended recipe, tried!
187. discovering a pair of shoes I’d forgotten about
188. T: “Grammie, you are at my house!”
189. movie “The Answer Man,” lots of thought-provokers there
190. special dinner, lingering afterwards and chatting
191. hopscotch
192. my closet cleaner outer
193. touring a grown child’s workplace
194. walks through parks with statues that makes me think
195. good street signs in a strange city
196. neighborhoods, what makes a good one
197. Peace Monument in Atlanta
198. Deidra’s “baggage claim” post about negative self-talk: http://www.jumpingtandem.com/2009/11/girl-talkbaggage-claim_04.html
199. Dad’s closet cleanout impulse
200. sunrise over the Blue Ridge
201. Google’s Sesame Street themed logo
202. a shy child, playing happily with others
203. the mailman
204. fresh vision for kitchen cabinets
205. homemade soup on a grey day
206. fresh baked biscuits
207. blooming Christmas cactus
208. finger puppets
209. role models
210. hearing a call, wondering where it’s leading
211. extra patience showed up just when I needed it
212. some unexpected boldness
213. happy picture hanging
214. the drained feeling that comes from expending energy in the places given
215. distance overcome, greatgrandparents meeting greatgrandson for first time
216. a bit of intrigue with a likely happy outcome
217. construction paper chains
218. rhythm instruments for little hands
219. lights on in houses when the night falls early
220. a neighbor’s help, plus his taking my leftover Milkbones
221. a good book to make a long wait fly by
222. awakened by Spanish words in my head
223. praying at the field
224. discovery that knee less bothersome in the morning
225. full sanctuary
226. great songs
227. even the college kids singing
228. friends
229. that when I’m so tired I could cry….I do
230. old songs on the iPod
231. capturing a vision when I thought ‘no way’
232. yarn in my favorite color for an earband
233. family reunion planmaking for 2010
234. barefoot days at home
235. horsey swing
236. fishermen in boats on a Sunday afternoon
237. that even though I’m not studying through Fuller at the moment, I’m still getting a lot out of all the good stuff they make available via podcasts
238. an encounter with my yarn stash
239. a place to put my bits and pieces of craft materials
240. an important prayer request to wrestle through, makes me feel included in the lives of others
241. an excellent Christmas playlist, including various renditions of “Silent Night” and a new fave, the slightly haunting “In the Bleak Midwinter”
242. a warm and friendly visit to someone, with some good laughs
243. Greatgrandparents meeting a child for the first time
244. electric candles in the windows again
245. book shelves gone through
246. thanksgiving menu already made out for me in the back of my favorite cookbook
247. that the blogosphere (at least my Google Reader) seems to go quieter on the weekends, esp. Sundays – I like to thnk of my favorite bloggers having a sabbath rest
248. catching him again as the pied piper of kids
249. little girl so pleased with her birthday
250. another great immigrant story from a new Ethiopian acquaintance
251. finding an extra 8 sq. feet in playroom by consolidating
252. parsley STILL holding forth in the garden in late November
253. small knitting project to be excited about after not knitting for a long time (earband)
254. smell of bacon
255. quiet
256. sun pouring into car on a chilly day day while I wait outside a store
257. yorkie in adjacent vehicle watching for owners to return,alert to every sound – I love that I’ve gotten to know yorkies
258. a heartfelt email from a friend suffering
259. “bitter or better” blog post at inCourage
260. the way ‘Multitude Mondays’ are changing the flavor of the Monday blogosphere
261. smell of cornbread
262. boiling the cranberry-orange sauce, whole house smells like a candle
263. in anticipation of little boys coming, my teddy bears come out of hiding
264. Erin’s new baby
265. friends dropping off baby shower gifts to be shipped off together
266. houses empty (owners have headed off to spend Thanksgiving with family elsewhere)
267. houses filling up, cars beginning to line up in driveways (at those serving as gathering places this year)
268. dogs in neighborhood on high alert
269. dogs being walked by visiting children and grandchildren
270. a friendly hubbub at the assisted living facility; visitors from far away, in town for the holiday weekend
271. the thought of Dave and Millie each finding the pic I left at their doors, the ones of them smiling on Pet Day, and a note thanking each for brightening up the days of others with their smiles – I like thinking of them finding the pics and not knowing who left them. Everybody likes to have a good picture of him/herself.

      

     

     #272 perfect buckeye leaf

272. a perfect Buckeye leaf
273. all kids and grandkids under one roof
274. lots of talk, lots of chatter and hubbub
275. foods looked-forward-to
276. baby in bath
277. grandkids in their jammies
278. day with daughter-in-law
279. helpers
280. remembering to make a donation I’ve had on my mind – I want to do more than just think about or talk about important giving
281. special hand soap pumps, bought on sale and put away, found and set out by all sinks and they all make the house smell great
282. Thanksgiving playlist
283. joy in preparing a Thanksgiving dish with the broccoli I froze in July, apple filling make in October
284. pie crusts that cooperate
285. the most perfect day ever
286. swing sets
287. strollers
288. balls to pass, balls to kick
289. smell of turkey
290. sight of sweet potatoes
291. taste of green beans
292. sounds of my people talking
293. the feel of a plate hitting a tablecloth….soft
294. a surprise package found by the door
295. a good visit to assisted living
296. laughter
297. the ad-filled newspaper, pored over by our best shoppers, someone else’s tradition brought into our family
298. something I’ve been looking for, at 1/2 the regular price
299. grandchildren running and laughing together
300. naps
301. lots of ready hands in the kitchen
302. little fingers enjoying the piano I almost gave away
303. soup on the stove on a day turned cold
304. discussing summer reunion plans
305. the griddle pressed into service – pancakes for the masses
306. switching out fall decorations for Christmas ones
307. Mexican food
308. English breakfast tea, sweet with lemon
309. “home safe” notifications
310. a good wreath
311. the very BEST Thanksgiing weekend ever – I don’t even care that it ended with a cold, it was great!
312. the opportunity to rest while sick
313. another “see you 3 months” from Dr. Byrd – may we have lots more of those
314. washing machine