Mid Week Miracles

The ruins of the pool of Bethesda

Grateful for:

1. Wonderfully spirit centered Healing Service tonight.
2. Being able to drop of groceries to a dear woman and her two children on my way home from service
3. Honoring and serving our staff today with a Christmas Luncheon
4. An ability to touch people through prayer
5. A Visa gift card
6. An unexpected financial gift from a dear friend.
7. The color Royal Blue
8. Sharing the sermon with Jim.
9. The story of the healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda
10. The staff of Lil Mamas catering

Two Is Day?

Daily Gratitude List:

1. The FB posts from Denise Brogan-Kator from the White House where she and Mary Kator were attending a reception.
2. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software that converts scanned images into text
3. Winning a bronze medal in this weeks Zuma Blitz tournament
4. Not storming out of the meeting 
5. Not taking things personally
6. Clean, dry clothes to wear to work
7. The Expressway
8. Ability to drive
9. Royal Lake by Mars Lasar (a musical piece)
10. Knowing when to apologize and let it go
11. The incredible example of Lisa Philips, Principle or Cass Tech High

Rolling in the Gratitude Week Six

On this day I am grateful for:

1. The sacrifices made by USMC Staff Sergeant Vincent J. Bell and the other women and men of the armed forces as they respond to the nations call to serve and protect.
2. The consciousness of our Prayer Chaplains.
3. Ushers and greeter who respond to the invitation to serve a family they did not know.
4. The camaraderie and connection between the Marines who attended the service.
5.  Deb's gift salad and raw vegetables (I am following the simple directions)
6. Being able to share the value of Costco optical with my friend Denise.
7. The opportunity to dig within myself for some meaning this Christmas season
8. Baked spaghetti made from last nights leftovers
9. Making it in as early as I said I would be there.
10. Escorting the Bless family into the sanctuary
11. Going to bed early because I want to.

Two Weeks to Christmas

I am grateful for:

1. Attended the Detroit Repertory Theater for the first time, great venue.
2. Discovering a wonderful new dimension to Harold Hogan
3. The play, Engagement Rules by Rich Orloff
4. Divine unrest.
5. Meeting the actors after the play.
6. Finding a place where my Sprint 4G phone actually connected to a 4G network
7. The gift of tickets, thanks Cassandra!
8. Getting home before dark.
9. Spaghetti with meat sauce
10. Reflection of the advent theme for today of Love

Simply Super Saturday

Full moon over pines on 12/10/11

Today, I am grateful for:

1. My friend Randy fixing the receptacles for the power window switches (I do not know what the assembly is called) on my car.
2. A most amazing full moon, cold, silver, winter moon.
3. An in the moment I love you text from Ben
4. Catching up with Mark on the phone today
5. Being able to borrow a truck from a friend
6. Turnips in soup, who knew they would be so good!
7. Amy's promotion, way to go!
8. First day this season where the high temp did not get over freezing so the pond has ice.
9. John repairing my sisters bathroom floor.
10. Being okay with missing the Family of Faith concert even though I really wanted to be there.
11. Knowing that although nothing happened the way I wanted it to today, everything was perfect.

Gratefully, I am back on track

My heart is filled with gratitude because:

1. I have remembered I do not have to do it perfectly.
2. I have release the all or nothing attitude that keeps me stuck at times.
3. I have not given up on this gratitude blogging after missing a couple of days
4. Watching a pair of cardinals, his bright plumage and her subtle colors and a blue jay all playing in the snow covering the big pine outside my window
5. Celtic Christmas Music playing softly while a light snow falls
6. This quiet morning after a very hectic week of Medicare and medical insurance stuff for three family members
7. Making some new friends and reconnecting with current friends at the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion meeting yesterday.
8. My niece reaching out to Rev. Ric instead of Uncle Ric yesterday.
9. The reality that there is no difference between those two, neither role is who I am.
10. The deep knowing that God/'Spirit/All is fluid, dynamic and so much more than I can even imagine and yet I am intimately connected with the Presence in ways I feel and understand.
11. Our small groups Christmas potluck.
12. Being able to leave when it was time for me and not feeling like I have to be the last one to leave. 

Copyright (c) 2011 by Richard L. Beattie, all rights are reserved.

Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights

Today, I am grateful for:

1. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's speech regarding global LGBT rights.
2. President Obama getting more aggressive on gay issues.
3. The recent repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell
4. Debby's successful surgery
5. Officiating the funeral for Pat and meeting her incredible family and friends
6. getting back on track with conscious eating
7. a new Zuma game board
8. The gains for LGBT equality that have happened in my lifetime.
9. Passing 1400 FBF's
10. My many supportive nongay ally's.

Gratitude Journey Day 29

Grateful for:

1. Resolving issue with Medicare part "D" to get Mikes prescriptions
2. Kim, a very helpful pharmacy tech, at Meijer
3. Being able to take the time to work on these personal/family things
4. The last night of 4T - potluck
5. Knowing when to get off the freeway and drive surface roads
6. My sister, Dion for so many reasons.
7. Sharing The Work with D & T as a way to move forward in their relationship
8. paved roads
9. having been delivered from addiction to nicotine 7 years ago
10. Getting a line on my great great grandfather for my family tree

Grandma Ledger 100th Birthday

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This would have been my maternal grandmother's 100th birthday. I still miss you Grandma!
Esther Minerva (Karvala) Ledger 12/4/1911 - 8/6/2002


Grateful for:

1. Voraciously inquisitive spirit
2. Her love of reading.
3. Our mutual enjoyment of the Earth's Children Series (Clan of the Cave Bear) of books by Jean M. Auel
4. Determination
5. Cooking - this is hardly a single gratitude. I spent hours with my Grandmother in her kitchen and then in my kitchen.
6. Making Christmas cookies with all of the cousins, Gram always had room at the table and in her heart, for one more
7. Many Christmas Eves spent getting a 30+ pound Turkey in the oven, I would stay with grandma on Christmas eve to help her get things ready. Often we would put up the tree as well as make stuffing and cabbage salad. 
8. Always making me feel loved
9. Her absolute unwavering acceptance of me and my friends. I remember the day I came out to my grandma, she was so not concerned.
10. Story about clothes dryers being one of the inventions that most changed the world.
11. Her fierce sense of independence, she was her own person, regardless.
12. The Goose lady of Willet - 
13. Grandma asking me on the night before she died after I got her back home from the hospital, "Can I have my glass now?" Our code for enough vodka for a couple of drinks. 
14. Her love of Andre Schwartz'sa song "Dans Vanaand Met My" even though neither of us understood it, she said she knew in her heart what it meant.
15. Grandma making pasties & meat pies.
16. Stories of  her growing up in Iron River
17. Stories of commodity rationing during WWII and using ration stamps

Ten Favorite Things

These are ten favorite things that I come back to frequently: (there are more that I will probably share over time)

1. For laughing: 25 funniest auto-corrects (strong language)
2. For the song, Seasons of Love, from the play/movie Rent. Measure your life in Love.
3.  Jami Lula singing Love Is My Religion
4. Renaissance Unity which is both my spiritual home and employer.
5. Attending our Volunteer Christmas Potluck this afternoon.
6. Grateful for the memory of Frank Firek sharing "Twas The Night Before Christmas" with us at so many previous years at Christmas potlucks.
7. Will Tillander
8. Sloane Tillander
9. First Birthday Parties
10. Adele's voice.

Day 26 on this Grateful Journey

My top ten for today:

1. I am grateful that I survived the years in school when I was bullied.
2. Long handled ice/snow scraper
3. Rear window defroster in my car
4. A quiet day off, spent mostly at home
5. Realizing that the only item on my calendar for the day had been rescheduled.
6. Compliments from folks about the way I looked last night in my new Tuxedo, the first I have ever owned
7. My pharmacist, Anna, who always makes things work somehow.
8. Health insurance that covers prescriptions
9. Wonderful aroma of a pot of Boiled Dinner simmering in the kitchen
10. Finally catching up with Extreme Makeover Home Edition since the move to Friday night.

World Aids Day - I remember

Grateful for the life journey we shared, for love, friendship and memories:

• Douglas J. Arsenault
• Dr. Eric Loranger
• Richard L. O’Dell
• Jon Rowe
• Pat Lee
• Woody Lee
• Joe K. Grantham
• Tracey Mae Artinian LaCroix
• Larry Gaynier
• James Proffit
• James Holman
• Rev. Roger Webb
• William R. Fischer
• Rev. James Sandmire
• Phillip Gallnitz

First Snow

Nov 30, 2011 - First Snow

My Gratitude Spills Over ...

1. The quiet blanket of the first snow.
2. My dental office sends text messages as appointment reminders.
3. Only got up once last night to pee.
4. Having two permanent crowns seated this morning
5. Incredible improvement (I may post the before & now pictures) in oral health and appearance over the last three years..
6. Meeting the family of an amazing woman whose life we will celebrate tomorrow.
7. getting my hairs cut
8. being able to listen to an audio of  the lady whose funeral I am officiating tomorrow.
9. I love serving as a pastor.  (may be a duplicate).
10. I appreciate Google and the access to information of so many kinds it makes easily accessible

Copyright (c) by Richard L. Beattie, all rights reserved

Rain into Snow :-)

11/29/11 Rainy day turning to snow later.

Grateful, even now ...

1. Forecast of snow tonight - I prefer snow to cold rain
2. Always changing weather
3. Payday
4. Direct deposit
5. My eye doctor telling me that my challenges with glaring lights when night driving, especially when it is wet, are from cataracts and not any of the number of stories I had made up.
6. Driving surface roads home tonight.
7. Bought my first tuxedo today, the salesman was awesome. Thanks John.
8. My neighbors, Fred & Alice, are safely home from a trip to New York
9. Enjoyed a belated birthday lunch with my friend & coworker Mike
10. Grateful that two of my standing weekly meetings have been canceled this week.
11. Happy to be home on this rainy, windy, cold  & dark night.

Copyright (c) 2011 by Richard L. Beattie, all rights reserved

Cyber Monday, really?

Today I am grateful for :

1. Connecting with my dear friend Jo Horn this morning!
2. Getting a 30 day license plate and almost getting the title issue resolved with my car.
3. Introducing a couple to The Work as a tool for working on their relationship.
4. The passion Carole & Denise have for our Christmas Outreach program
5. Divine ideas that emerge to allow us to assist more people
6. Opportunities that arise to make some extra cash at exactly to most opportune moment
7. Ben calling to share favorite memories of dancing and laughter
8. The guidance that always comes when I listen and take time to notice
9. Making the healthier choice to buy roasted turkey breast over the ribs
10. Quiet moments in a very busy week
11. The deep knowing that everything I need to be happy now, I have now.

Copyright (c) 2011 by Richard L. Beattie, all rights reserved

Three Grateful Weeks ...

Today, I am feeling grateful for:

1. The opportunity to share some ideas and conversation with our Youth of Unity chapter.
2. Christening babies, I love to christen babies and adults.
3. The tunnel linking the parking structure and hospital at Beaumont's Royal Oak campus
4. Rainy days that offer the opportunity to curl up, reflect & read
5. The first Sunday in advent
6. Being able to return Chef John's knife to him
7. The amazing multifaceted diversity of our spiritual community
8. Remembering to take lunch to work with me
9. Actually having blogged for 21 days in succession
10. Singing aloud while driving and not caring what the other drivers think.

Copyright (c) 2011 by Richard L. Beattie, all rights reserved

Twenty Days of Gratitude Consciousness

Rochester Municipal Park, 11/25/11

Gratitude flows from my heart for these reasons today ...

1. Going to dinner and the theater (All Night Strut Holiday Show) with friends tonight in celebration of my birthday
2. Mini Pumpkin Cream Cheese Creme Cake
3. Taking a nap in the morning (may be a duplication)
4. Embracing the flow of this journey in gratitude for twenty days.
5. A clean kitchen
6. The "Rudolph" van in my neighborhood that has antlers sticking out off the side windows and a red "nose" on the grille.
7. The giant pine tree outside my office window that is home to so many birds and squirrels
8. Getting a hair cut.
9. a two days in a row break from the recent frenzy of activities.
10. This amazing  Rochester/Rochester Hills area I call home.
11. I need to purchase new underpants because they are so big that are falling off, yeah!!!

Copyright (c) 2011 by Richard L. Beattie, all rights are reserved

Another day of Thanks Living

Today, I am grateful for:

1. The lesson I learned from eggs while making an omelet this morning: I had two white shelled eggs left and added a brown shelled egg from the new dozen just purchased. Interesting thing about white eggs and brown eggs; they look different until you crack them open.
2. The joy of delivering the surplus from our Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday to the kitchen at Grace Centers of Hope, the largest shelter here in Oakland County, Michigan.
3. The rich smell wafting through the house from turkey soup stock simmering on the stove.
4. Realizing that Christmas is one month away.
5. The Memo from God which is included in the Og Mandino's classic book: The Greatest Miracle in the World
6. 59° weather on November 25, 2011
7. A wonderful walk on the Paint Creek trail and through Rochester Municipal Park.
8. Yummy taste of Rutabaga's in my soup
9. The smell of clean towels
10. An card from a dear lady I met when I officiated her sisters memorial service letting me know that prayers had been answered for her son. She has asked me to pray for her 48 y/o son who had been recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. His most recent PET scan shows the cancer has been shrinking and they now label it stage 1. Alleluia!
    

Copyright (c) 2011 by Richard L. Beattie, all rights are reserved

Happy Thanksgiving Day

On this day we dedicate to giving thanks, I am grateful for:

1. Getting to the church to open it on time today.
2. Wonderful mixture of seasoned volunteers and brand new folks created an amazing energy and excited.
3. My dear friend Rev. Karen Boland who started this Community Thanksgiving Feast 37 years ago.
4. The great honor of continuing in her footsteps (although not in her shoes ☺)
5.  Being able to step back from the kitchen and attend to the big picture of the event this year.
6. The way that this established event shifts slightly to accommodate new ideas and energy while retaining its essence.
7. The generous outpouring of support, turkeys and mashed potatoes that our Renaissance Community delivered in waves of plenty and abundance.
8. The idea that we all cooked our turkeys, mashed potatoes and stuffing at home individually and brought the dishes to church where a dedicated group of volunteers mixed everything together with love. What a modeling for sharing our resources for the good of all.
9. The 325 people from every age group, family & marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity came together in celebration and as family for a few hours top share a meal and their presence. Wow!
10. Being joined by Jim Lee, daughter Tracy and two of her kids for dinner. So very sweet!
11. The most amazing slice of homemade apple pie, little sugar allowing the natural apple flavor through and such a flaky crust.
12. A dear lady who came up to me as she was leaving to express her gratitude. She said she had resigned herself to not having a "Thanksgiving Dinner" this year because she couldn't afford it. One of her friends had told her about the church and she really enjoyed to food and companionship.
13. The movie Wally which so many stayed to watch.
14. Cindy staying to the very end to help make sure what needed to get done was done.
15. I give thanks for you who are reading these ramblings,
16. A sense of happy exhaustion as I locked the doors and drove home with unused food to take the Great Grace Center of hope tomorrow for one more day of Thanks Giving on this journey of Thanksliving. 

Copyright (c) 2011 by Richard L. Beattie, all rights reserved

Eve of Thanksgiving

I am Grateful for:

1. The question "What would happen if you woke up this morning and all you had was what you thanked God for yesterday?" ~Martha Creek
2. Being able to laugh at myself. I was cracking three eggs to scramble for breakfast, the first two were uneventful; crack an egg on the edge of sink and deposit in bowl. The last egg, I cracked and promptly deposited into the sink. I looked down at the egg and started to laugh, belly laugh. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants.Thank You God for laughter and not taking things too seriously.
3. Remembering to check my medications and order the refills
4. Having a dishwasher
5. the ability to change my current focus quickly
6. Beautiful drive to my brother Matt's home
7. a sweet Thanksgiving Eve service this evening
8. The opportunity to preach
9. amazing coworkers
10. knowing when it is time to go to bed.