Watching "Snow White" after the tea party

Watching "Snow White" after the tea party
Originally uploaded by shrnmc

After 5s have had too much fun and worked really hard, it's nice to relax with a movie. Grandparents need the rest, as well! I'm grateful when 5s know their limits and take rest time when they need it.

The Importance of a Good Pair of Shoes

I've been intending to let Shannon and Josh know that the gift they gave me some time ago ... which had, originally, looked as if it wouldn't work out ... has become a pretty important part of almost every workday for the last several months. I'm talking about a pair of shoes that they gave me (I think it might have been for Mother's Day last year, but it might have been my birthday last summer). At first, they hurt my foot where the leather rubbed on the ligament above the big toe. Perhaps it's because of the cushion of heavier winter socks -- perhaps it's because I let Shannon wear them a few times ... but they don't hurt anymore! And now they are the shoes that stay at work so I can wear them when I take off my winter boots. They're so comfortable it feels like I'm wearing slippers all day! Thank you so much!

I'm actually grateful, sometimes, for winter. Especially when the cold weather gives us a good excuse for warm, home-made food like oatmeal for breakfast (cranberry-orange with Lingonberry sauce, this morning) and soup for dinner (hearty root vegetables simmered in vegetable broth, seasoned with Penzey's spices, and thickened up with fat-free half-and-half). Mmmmm.

A quiet evening at home with my love, with a contented cat curled up beside me (and not butting me with his hard head!) ... who could ask for anything more?

Peace of Mind

Last night, I was honored to lead a group of wonderful women in an activity to celebrate the Winter Solstice ... over a month late, due to snow and ice in December. I am grateful to know each of the women in this group -- some of whom have been meeting periodically for about 14 years! For the time and space to give thanks for the increasing light that makes winter tolerable -- and for good food, good friends, and good conversation ... I am grateful.

Yesterday afternoon, I also had the opportunity to lead a group of young college students in a session to familiarize them with a technology I use everyday at work, and for which they play a key role in the support of students on our campus. There is an energy in interacting with these young people, and a playfulness that is infectious. For all of that, I am grateful.

My friend Rosemary and I had a lovely time in Kohler on Monday. I saw so many interesting things we could do to our house (if we had the time, energy, money, and patience). I know it sounds silly, and I know I'll never spend almost $4k for one like it, but it makes me feel good to know that someone in the world has invented a toilet that has clean lines like this, and would be so easy to keep clean, too.



I'm grateful to be surrounded by beauty everywhere I look.

And, finally, today, I am grateful for the quiet, calm, casual, comfortable, fairly boring life I am blessed to lead. I'm grateful, too, for the peace of mind of having made a decision about whether to disrupt that peaceful lifestyle ... it's a relief just not to be waffling back and forth anymore, wondering whether this or that is "THE right thing" to do. (http://holdingthequestion.blogspot.com/2009/01/holding-our-ground.html)

Relaxing Sunday

I'm grateful, today, that what I imagined might be a wet, cold, messy cleanup of water at an apartment with no heat and burst water pipes ended up to be no worse than when my laundry tub overflows. I'm also grateful I don't have to participate in the cleanup of the apartment below the one I saw, or the basement, where I could still hear water after the fire department turned off the main shutoff valve.

My day began very peacefully, with time for me to read back issues of Spirituality & Health magazine.

Amy, John, and I went to see a movie. The outing itself was enough to be grateful for, but the movie itself was so thought-provoking my brain is still mulling it over. (Gran Torino - Clint Eastwood)

Although I'm not feeling very well physically, I'm grateful that tomorrow is a day off so I can feel better by Tuesday.

It's bedtime ...

Just the two of us

I'm grateful for a quiet evening, just the two of us.



And for a smidgen of time with Amy as she rushed between work and dog and school ... and made important decisions about her future. And for breathing room when I get overwhelmed. And for a job that makes sense to me.

And for a good haircut.

(And for the hope that I can style it tomorrow as well as Tanyana did tonight!)

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.