After dinner

Carrots all over his face, feet as dirty as they've ever been in his life, he's still the most handsome baby boy I've ever seen, and such a joy to have in our lives!

I've said it before ... and it's still true: there is so much to be grateful for in my life that it almost seems UNgrateful to single out this and that. But in an effort to just keep myself mindful of the big and small wonders I am consistently blessed with ... I'll keep on.

Today, John and I took comforters to a laundromat near work, so I'm grateful such places exist, with machines large enough to take care of our needs in only an hour and a half.




I'm truly enjoying the nuggets of sunshine encapsulated in Clementine oranges and sugar snap peas -- especially in the middle of winter!



Work has been very busy -- and I'm grateful for feeling as if what I do makes a difference.

I so very grateful for the way that John takes care of our finances. It's an ongoing project that is a constant challenge, which he handles with enthusiasm and (I'm ashamed to admit) with little or no assistance from moi.



This is only one of the many reasons I am also most grateful for John in my life.

February Thaw

It feels like spring!

I've been cleaning all weekend with our new space-age-shaped vacuum (see "Technologies!" post for a photo). I opened windows and aired the place out, the temperatures have been so mild!



John and I took a long walk through Kletzsch Park today. The waterfall is flowing, the ice is melting, and people are out and about.



Kathe was sweeping debris from her beautiful brick driveway, so we stopped to say hello. Gordon came by with Annie and Molly, and we enjoyed a long talk.



I love when the weather is warm enough for people to come out of their houses and visit!

And I love sunshine, long walks, and my sweetie!

SUNSHINE!

The sun is streaming into my living room window, and I don't need to go to work, so I can enjoy it for a little while! I don't know why sunshine makes me feel so much better ... scientific evidence says the sun's angle at this time of year is too low to be useful for my body to create vitamin D out of cholesterol. Yet, both physically and emotionally, I find it uplifting. Magic.

I don't know if the sun is too weak, coming in the window at a winter angle, to help the house plants, but I've arranged them so they can catch a few rays this morning, too. I can practically SEE them trying to photosynthesize.....

I get to spend the day with my friend, Rosemary!

I'll save the remaining 2 spots for today's gratitude for the end of the day.

Cheers!

Grateful for Abundance

It was exactly midnight when I realized that, although I'd had my camera in my hand several times today, I'd never snapped a picture. sigh. I consider the ones taken minutes after midnight to qualify for my own personal "photo a day for a year" project. If they don't ... I'd have already failed, and I can't give up that quickly!

Abundance is the theme of my gratitude journal entry today ....

Working backwards over the last several days, I'm grateful for

1) an abundance of boots ... they're all mine, and they're all right inside the door, where I shed them after various forays into the winter snow and cold:



2) an abundance of early-morning sunshine, beautifully bursting through the trees on our way to work:















3) the abundance of intergenerational fun that happened as a result of the Guitar Hero wii game being taken out of the box:









4) an abundance of fellowship and goodwill during dinner with our neighbors over the weekend:









5) and last, but not least, the abundance of snow that continues to fall ... which reminds me how grateful I am that winter doesn't last forever.

Winter Sun, Getting Things Done

I have amazing miracles in my kitchen! One is this gorgeous "Christmas" cactus that John bought for me last year. It's been hanging over the sink, pretty much gasping for water most of the time. John took it down a couple of times and soaked it in the sink ... and recently noticed BUDS! Now it's in bloom. Look how beautiful!



The afternoon sun was so warm and delicious when I got home (early). I love sunshine ... even winter sunshine. And I love light and shadows. And I love that I get to capture them to enjoy long after their short, ephemeral presence is over.



Last night, I spent two hours applying for a Federal PLUS Loan for Parents. I'm grateful I overcame the challenges in the website and Sallie Mae personnel, to complete the process (including the correction of the amount we're applying for!). I'm grateful for the one person out of four I spoke to who seemed to be a thinking human being instead of a living answering machine. And I'm grateful it's done!

Mack greeted me this afternoon very insistently. I couldn't stay home and cuddle him (that's him in the picture with the computer), but he persisted ... climbing onto the kitchen table and into my arms despite my protests. I snuggled a minute, and wondered out loud if he was trying to tell me something ... checked the food dishes downstairs and discovered they were completely empty. He's such a clever kitty!

Finally, I'm grateful for the progress on the work necessary to make Summer Assembly 2009 happen. We're very close to being on target with our project dates, we've got a GREAT leader, and although there's still plenty of work ahead, it's nice to feel confident instead of frantic. :-)

Mother's Day Weekend #2

How lucky I am! Last weekend was the official Mother's Day, which was wonderful for me ... AND this weekend, I'm having an extended celebration because my daughters are now here!

I'm grateful Amy made it back from San Antonio safely, and was able to spend some time with us since she's returned.

Dinner on Friday night with Amy, Shannon and Josh, and John was delightful -- the food and the company were the best!

Saturday was sunny and warm, perfect for our first visit of the season to the West Allis Farmer's Market. We now have dahlias in the one garden spot we're certain we won't be re-landscaping -- and we got them into the ground before the temperature dropped 30 degrees and the sun went into hiding. Brrrr....

Another delightful experience: quite a long chat with our dear friends and neighbors. Somehow, winter tends to be the season when we just wave to each other as we rush into the warm house, no matter how much we'd like to linger and visit. This is one of my favorite reasons for warmer weather!

Kitties are snoozing, pancakes are browning, and we get another few hours with Shannon and Josh before they head back home.

Life is good.

Light and Shadows, and the ability to see

I almost walked right through this scene, hurrying to my car at the end of the day, without doing more than noticing -- but not really pausing to admire -- the artistic quality that had naturally occurred here.

The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and I'd been wishing for several days that I'd brought my camera to photograph the yellow and "black" tulips planted on the UWM campus, no doubt to echo the black and gold campus colors.

I didn't expect a masterpiece in grays.

I'm so grateful I had the camera with me, that I took the moments to snap these photos, and the delight I'm feeling at how they turned out.

Mostly, I'm grateful for whatever it is inside me that notices things like this, and urges me to pause, to truly take it in, and to experience it with delight, wonder and awe.

Peace

1. I'm grateful for another sunny day, and the time and space to enjoy it just the way I like -- quietly, in my own home, with kitties. And loudly, on a playground, with a 3-year-old who calls me Grandma.

2. I'm grateful for a few minutes when Amy is taking the 3-year-old back to the playground, so I have a moment to be online, and John has a few moments to nap. 3-year-olds and playgrounds can be tiring for Grampas, too.

3. Peace. The world may be at war, by my little corner is filled with sunshine and love today, and I am immensely grateful for the grace that allows this miracle.

Sunny Day

1. The 3.5" of snow that fell earlier in the week is almost totally gone, and the grass is so green!

2. The overly-blue fountain at UWM was already running today. The water is the color of a swimming pool, but it sounded so cheerful and was beautiful in the sun.

3. John and I went to lunch at Sala de Pranzo ... good minestrone, good pasta, good company.

4. I'm so relieved that Mack is better, and eating, and drinking ... I can't stop smiling.

5. Productive days at work!

6. Lots of good things in abundance in my life! Food, cuddly kitties, loving friends and family, wonderful spouse, comfort, and gratitude.