Gratitude

Today I am grateful for the sharing of information. Such as where I can buy Southern Tier Pumpking. And the joy of finding that which one has sought. And putting 3 away to enjoy later. And drinking one to savor my victory.

Gratitude

I am grateful a friend shared with me that Neil Gaiman is coming to Pittsburgh in November so I could buy tickets. I am SO excited! The VIP 'meet Neil and have a book signed' tickets were sold out, but that's okay, I'm just really excited to hear him speak/do some readings (likely from Stardust, as the event is called, 'Neil Gaiman and an Evening of Stardust').

Gratitude

I am grateful for the smell and feel of the cool morning air today. Husband went out to his car to get his travel coffee mug and decided to leave the door open. It feels absolutely wonderful. Gathering the energy to get dressed and go to the gym is going to be a challenge!

Gratitude

I am grateful for the opportunity to learn new things, to become more aware of others and myself, to be a more mindful and aware individual, to recognize how despite our differences we are truly all connected in the web of Wyrd.

Gratitudes

Yesterday: Grateful to have a day at home. I didn't get as much done as I'd planned, but I did manage to do all the dishes (which hadn't been done in 2 weeks) and cook for 4 hungry guys and myself. Made 2 kinds of chili (chorizo chili in the crockpot and smoky spicy black bean chili in the dutch oven), honey cornbread muffins, and Ghiradelli double chocolate brownies. Ayum. Tonight's dinner: chili dogs! :) Today: Grateful my cats didn't decide to consume said honey cornbread muffins during the night. They love carbs. As in, will chew through a bag to nibble on bread.

gratitude

Today I give thanks and praise Thor, who sent me exactly what I needed when there was just a brief sprinkling of rain while we were at the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival today and I was becoming as red as a crabby. It cooled everything off and was so wonderful. I am also grateful for the apothecary shopkeeper who had a big basket of mugwort smudging sticks, which is a more rare variety that I sometimes prefer to use to sage (although I do love my sage too). I'll be using this one for a ritual I am leading this fall. Huzzah! And praise Thor!

Gratitude

Yesterday's gratitude was that Wednesday afternoon, HR *finally* called husband and offered him the new job he was waiting for, after like 5 weeks of waiting, *AND* they offered him more money than he thought. It's really nice to see him so excited and happy when his employment has generally been a source of misery for him. Today I am grateful for coffee with chicory. And that it's Friday. :)

Gratitude

Today I am grateful that my husband is not allergic to bees. Yesterday he either ran over or disturbed a yellow jacket nest while trying to mow the lawn. He was stung several times before he realized what was happening and made a mad dash for the house. He fell down the back steps, but he's doing okay other than being sore. I am also really grateful for my mom's exterminator recommending someone to us (Bugs Be Gone) who is coming this morning to remove the nest for 60 bucks.

Gratitude

Yesterday: I am grateful for the health of my cat. We had an emergency vet trip yesterday and they thought he might have a blocked bladder, which is a life threatening situation. They did x-rays and said his bladder looked full and they wanted to cath him and express it just to be sure he could pass urine to rule that out. If they couldn't express him it would mean he needed immediate emergency surgery to remove the blockage. They also gave me the option to take him home and watch him, but I opted for the procedure so we were sure. Thankfully they were able to express his bladder, although they said his urine had a lot of blood in it and they ran it on a PH strip and said basically they thought he might have an irritated bladder, likely due to stress. Which I probably caused by going away for so long, even though we had a friend watching them while we were gone. He is very much a momma's boy. My poor Finnegan. I am just so glad he's okay. He was pretty drunk last night from the sedation so I had to bring one of the boxes up to the kitchen and close the basement door as the vet cautioned that we needed to watch him and avoid things like stairs, etc. He has pain meds, and a medicine that basically helps dilate the bladder to help him pee. Which leads me to today's gratitude: Today: I am grateful for canned tuna, and not having to pill my cat. :)

Gratitude Project

I know I am a few days behind. I'm actually in Indianapolis until Sunday so I will catch up when I get home. Today I am grateful for adventure. To have the opportunity to try and experience new things.

Gratitude Day 11 and 12

Day 11: I am grateful that the rain mostly passed us over, and that husband's annual birthday cookout was a success. Day 12: I am grateful for music.

Gratitude Project Day 10

Today I am grateful that it is Friday, and that I have the weekend off. Tomorrow is the husband's annual birthday cookout/bash, so tonight I'll be taking a jaunt to the store for foodstuffs.

Gratitude Project Day 9

Today I am grateful that I had the opportunity last night while I was driving home from work to witness the lightening storm. It was a little frightening at first, but also beautiful and a reminder for me of the power of nature. By the time I got off the parkway my fear had melted away and was replaced by a feeling of calm. Once I got home I actually stood outside watching it for a few minutes before I went in the house. Hail Thor!

Gratitude Project Day 6,7,8

Day 6: I am grateful for the chance to rest when I need to. Day 7: I am grateful for the understanding of others, as in not making me drive to another state when I have menstrual cramps that have me dry heaving in my car on the way to work and once at work, curled up in the fetal position on the couch in my office. Day 8: I am grateful for my wonderfully comfortable bed, and for the makers of Aleve, when my body decides it will let it work.

Gratitude Project Day 5

Today I am grateful for the internet. I know maybe that sounds like a silly thing to be grateful for, but it has connected me to so much wonderful information, creativity, humor, and human expression. Like anything else, however, it is a tool that has to be used responsibly.

Gratitude Project Day 4

Today I am going to my mom's to spend the day with her. Her 62nd birthday is tomorrow. We are going to make beer butt chicken (I am providing the beer and the cooker), a really good salad with my grandmother-in-France's vinaigrette (made with Dijon mustard and lots of garlic), and some good crusty bread. Today I am beyond grateful for my mom. As some of you may or may not know, my father died really suddenly and very young (at age 36-he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia and died about 2 weeks later). I was 5 years old when he died, my sister 8. My mother never remarried, and she raised us by herself. Regardless of our issues, of anything I ever did as a rather challenging teenager, my mom was and is always there to support me. She has never judged me, she has always loved me unconditionally, she has sacrificed much to ensure my success, and she has been eternally proud of everything I am and that I have tried to do. She taught me the power of forgiveness, of laughter and finding the humor in painful and difficult situations, of letting go, of finding value not in what you have but in who you are, how to see the good and the best of people, how to truly listen, and the meaning of being a deeply thoughtful and grateful person and finding joy in the everyday pleasures that life gives us, the things most people often overlook.

Gratitude Project Day 3

Today I am I am grateful for the care and support of others. It has been not such a good week either for me or for husband, and I am grateful to have caring, supportive friends ready to offer a hug or an encouraging word, or to verbally tear somebody up(even if they can't, I appreciate their willingness to do so).

Gratitude Project 2012

The Gratitude Project runs from Lammas to Mabon. It entails you being mindful of whatever brings you Joy and you journal "the something" you are grateful for each day between those Sabbats. No repeats - you can be grateful for your spouse/kids/job/friends, but the reason for the gratitude needs to be different for each entry. It can BIG or not, your journal/blog entry can be long or short. It can be on paper or in pixels and public or private. I was so angry and upset yesterday. To make a long story short, it was not a good day--I had to work a double shift and will likely not be able to comp my time this week due to being too busy and behind, and I was yelled at and pretty much used as an emotional punching bag multiple times throughout the day. The day as a whole left me exhausted, angry, and in tears at times. Despite having been in this situation many times before and I'd imagine many times after, it still affects me. So since I worked late and missed my first post for the Gratitude Project, I will start by saying I am grateful for my sensitivity. Despite it meaning that I am easily upset and at times can be overly sensitive, I think it is one of my greatest strengths, as it allows me to connect to people and understand them (and hopefully be able to help them, since that is my vocation). I think it also helps me from getting too jaded, it lets me know that I still care, and reminds me of my own humanity and feelings, because sometimes to do what I do every day, I have to shut that stuff off. Today, as horrible as yesterday was, I am grateful for my job, I am grateful that I am employed, when there are so many people here in our country and elsewhere in the world who are unemployed and cannot find work, who are struggling and starving every day. Hopefully today will be a better day! :)