Any/Every day is Christmas!

Today, I am grateful for:

1. My family who; by birth, marriage or choice; come together in loving celebration's of so many kinds.
2. Having family Christmas 2011 on January 7, 2012
3. Realizing any day and everyday is Christmas when I allow/invite/experience the rebirth of The Christ in me.
4. The many ways chanting centers me in Love
5. Lynne Barrette for gifting me with a copy of the beautiful cd of the chant, River of Life, several years ago.
6. Composer Kurt Van Sickle.
7. Duane & Randy gifting Matt with a refrigerator.
8. Having "Noni's" seafood cocktail recipe.
9. The way The Work rises up in me at the exact perfect time.
10. My dear friend Duane
11. You
12. Creating an entry for today

Third day of this new year.

Today, I notice that I am grateful for:

1. Realizing the fresh apple cake I baked (to use up the apples right) will be gone today. Yeah!
2. The interesting ways that hope grows in me. In particular the posting by a friend living in Germany, about a housing development in the United Kingdom that allows its residents to live within their share of our  planets resources.
3. The love and support expressed at the passing of a colleague
4. Finally connecting with the family for tomorrow's funeral
5. Having Sandy back at our Leadership Team meeting
6. The heater in my car
7. Refocusing on my own health after the multiple distractions of the holidays
8. A workable plan for Master Mind Small Groups
9. Reconnecting with my dear friend Al after many years
10. Getting the order of service prepared on time

Oh one, Oh one, Two oh one two

Grateful for:

1. Getting the email dragons under control and wondering why I sign up for so many e-newsletters
2. Getting up, out and going even when I don't feel like it
3. General Tso's Chicken
4. Sharing The Work with someone and watching the dawning of awareness
5. Peace of mind that is not dependent on any thing or person
6. The book, A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle
7. Peace Pilgrim
8. Friends who call to check on a family member, just because they care about what I care about
9. Standing back from a situation and finding a larger perspective
10. Fascination with date/number games/alliterations/plays on words
11. The empty feeling that winter sometimes brings because it makes me look harder within myself

Happy New Year

Today I am grateful for:

1. A brand new year (525,600 minutes) filled with opportunity to make Love real.
2. Growing clarity about my role in ministry.
3. Great chat with Gail after service about her upcoming international adventure.
4. Awesome steak dinner at Outback on the way home from work.
5. This grey and windy day because it makes me stay inside and just be okay with it.
6. The end of the 2011 Holiday season - I have enjoyed each moment and am ready to move past it.
7. Coming out of the sanctuary today to find my friends Maria and Marianne in the lobby.
8. The sound of the winds blowing through the trees mixed with the chimes ringing on the neighbors back porch.
9. Memories of my trip to Anchorage, Alaska at New Years 2005 to visit my friend Scott.
10. Waking up without a hangover.

Eve of 2012

I am grateful still:

1. Gel in my hair!
2. Cool new tasseled loafers with a gift card at DSW
3. Amazing ushers & greeters.
4. More than 800 people at our burning bowl service
5. Having sense to head home after service
6. My niece showing up at our Burning Bowl service
7. Friends who care enough to call twice to checkup
8. Knowing how to do a lot of things at church
9. Not getting stuck in my story for very long
10. Going to bed before midnight and being absolutely okay with it. 

The Sixth Day of Christmas

Grateful for:

1. Pam at Genisys CU
2. Internal Guidance which led me on an interesting journey.
3. Pressing through my fears.
4. Staying calm under stress.
5. Being able to pay the taxes.
6. Making it to the Treasurers office with 1 minute to spare.
7. 
   

The Fifth Day of Christmas

My gratitude list for this day includes:

1. The ability to adapt my presentation style to the expectations of the audience.
2. Wisdom and guidance which show up just when I need them.
3. Calm in the face of the storm.
4. tissues to blow my nose in
5. 7 layers bars
6. still loving myself after 7 layer bars
7. Love offerings
8. expressing boundaries without anger
9. realizing quickly when to surrender an idea
10. Connecting with a dear friend at precisely the perfect time to lend support

The Fourth Day of Christmas

Four Calling Birds

Today, I am grateful for these among other things:

1. The confidence Tom and Greg place in me to serve the spiritual needs for a growing number of their clients.
2. Meeting & working with Cheryl's family, such sweetness.
3. Automatic Traffic Signals
4. My neighbor giving me his old PC so I can make a Linux jukebox out if it.
5. remembering to communicate next Wednesday's funeral plans to the staff a week in advance, WOOT!
6. The opportunity to remember Gus' Roadhouse and family memories there as I researched for Cheryl's service.
7. Growing up in Lake Orion
8. B.A. comments about how much The Work has helped him after a couple of conversations and a single Worksheet. 
9. A beautiful crescent moon in the sky, visible from my office tonight.
10. Being invited to Craig's birthday party.
11. Acting on the thought to check in on M.S.

Tuesday, the Third day of Christmas

On this third day of Christmas, I am grateful for:

1. Waking up early, even though I didn't need tom and watching the snow fall gently.
2. The sense of wide eyes wonder I still have at 56 for falling snow.
3. A dear friend and former colleague who called today to share her recent hear awakening that it is time to actively apply the principles by making Christ real in every moment. Yes!!!
4. Three way calling on my cell phone, which allowed a funeral planning meeting across state lines from the comfort of home.
5. One of the weeks three funerals being moved to next Tuesday
6. Great talk about some serious stuff with my roommate
7. Facilitating someone in The Work via telephone
8. The dark chocolate chip cookies are gone !
9. Noticing the dark chocolate chips were half off at Aldi
10. Seeing a picture of Greg's 7 month old son for the first time

Boxing Day

Today, I am grateful for:

1. Starting this 8th week of gratitude blogging. I had committed to keep this diary through Christmas and when I sat down at my computer this morning, I created this entry.
2. Having no official agenda of any kind for today.
3. Remembering to drink a protein shale soon after arising this morning.
4. Not leaving the house all day, not once
5. My KitchenAid mixer
6. Chocolate chip cookies from 60% Cacao bittersweet chips, yum!
7. the smell of a clean comforter straight out of the dryer
8. staying in my sleep pants all day
9. A wonderful phone conversation with Rev. Sheila.
10. George Strombolopolous

Merry Christmas

On this Christmas Day, I am grateful for:

1. The opportunity to share the message this morning
2. More than 400 people who attended
3. My niece Ashley attending service and being in a huggy, lovey mood.
4. The interesting, odd, wild & crazy family I am part of.
5. Having lunch with my dear friend Linda today
6. Big Boy being open on Christmas
7. The Gospel Truth
8. A Christmas tie that plays music courtesy of the "W" family
9. A really cool video to illustrate my sermon this morning
10. More invitations to dinner today than I could honor
11. The president of our Board of Trustees calling me this morning
12. Completing 7 weeks of gratitude journaling.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Morning 2011

I am filled with gratitude for:

1. Unexpected blanket of snow this morning
2. Christmas Day sermon coming together
3. Enjoying a "Cadillac" coffee (coffee + cocoa)
4. Early to bed last night and early to rise this morning
5. This blessed life that Lives me so gently.
6. Google translate which allows me to share Christmas greetings with international friends in their native language
7. The close shave of a new shaver
8. My smile looking back at me from the mirror
9. Knowing that my overnight package, which probably will not make it overnight, is arriving right on time. And it arrived in time, woot!
10. Loving what is!

The Day Before, The Day Before Christmas

Today, I am grateful for:

1. The opportunity to pick up and deliver a car full of Christmas to a family that is getting back on their feet.
2. The joyous look on a mothers face at unexpected Christmas blessings.
3. Christmas lights on the houses in my neighborhood
4. Finally getting some Christmas cards mailed
5. Being able to send my out of state niece and her family a small gift
6. The wonderful folks at the Ford Tech center who give so much of their time and money to make Christmas special for others and helped 143 families this year.
7. The warmth in Tracy's still very present hug!
8. Good directions to a house I have never visited
9. text messaging
10. Beautiful Christmas music on a PBS Christmas show.

Winter Solstice

On this day, I am grateful for:

1. First Day of Winter (one step closer to summer)
2. Folgers Black Silk coffee
3. Making it to Amanda's funeral on time
4. The attentiveness of the O. H.. Pye III Funeral Home Staff
5. "John" wanting to connect with me after service to pray.
6. The privilege of officiating Amanda's funeral
7.  Carol calling to make sure the arrangements for tomorrows Christmas gift delivery are in place 
8. Pamalar asking me to officiate her Father's memorial service next week
9. Someone calling me a "liberal weenie" in response to a post on my FB Timeline which brought interesting comments from unlikely folks.
10. The depth at which people share their lives with me which blows me away.
11. You as you read this gratitude journal which I hope inspires you to count your blessings!

Autumns Last Day (for this year)

Than You Loving Spirit! Today I am grateful for:

1. Foggy mornings which make the world feel smaller & cozier
2. The delete button for items people place on my Timeline that I don't want there.
3. The changing in the weather and scenery that the cycle of seasons brings.
4. This oddly warm last day of fall for 2011
5. Discovering the chili is a wonderful breakfast food
6. Quiet sound of the dishwasher running
7. Several invitations to Christmas after church on Sunday.
8. Experiencing the love of a sweet family as they celebrate the life of their sister
9. An expanding personal experience of Oneness
10. Fresh air to breathe.

Season of Light

Dear God - Today, I am Grateful for:

1. Hanukkah, The Festival of Lights, celebrating the re-dedication of the Temple, begins this evening at sundown.
2. Loving the anticipation of seeing Wicked tonight with a dear group of friends.
3. We are having dinner at a restaurant I have not visited before, which adds to the excitement of the evening!
4. The Light of this Holy Season
5. The way this video from Agape, Standing On the Power of Love, gets me moving in the morning!
6. Patrick, our waiter at Andiamo's at the Renaissance Center.
7. Making it into the theater and to our seats with 2 minutes to spare.
8. A most amazing play - Wicked!
9. Awesome band of com-padres.
10. Great first experience at the Detroit Opera House
11. So many future sermon ideas from the play.
12. Finding some of the music on YouTube when I got home.

The Start of Gratitude Week 7

Things I have noticed that I am grateful for today:

1. A comment that Martha Creek posted on one of  my Facebook posts that she was was stretched to be grateful for underarm hair. The post caused me to have a few moments of uncontrolled laughter for which I am grateful beyond words.
2. Love the Daily Word message for today: Honesty: I am honest with myself and others.
3. The opportunity to make amends with a dear friend over one of my snarky comments.
4. I just noticed that my friend Cindy J is using one of my original FB posting as a signature line quotation. I so needed to hear the advice I shared in that quote. Grateful and humbled.
5. Grateful that the world around me isn't waiting on me to bring forth the Christmas Spirit.
6. Grateful for Christmas lights that burn brightly in the darkness reminding me that no matter how dark it seems, the Light will shine it away.
7. Chocolate covered cherries
8. Wireless Internet access all over the church and at home too.
9. Being a geek
10. The greater Rochester area where I have lived for many years or several different occasions.
11. Ashley, one of my nieces, coming by the church to rest in the stillness.

All About Joy

Joy fuels this grateful day:

1. Jim jumping for joy in the midst of the challenges in his family.
2. Huge awareness personally that the Joy of the Lord is my strength - right here and right now.
3. Easy flow between Jim and I on platform.
4. Having Rob Hess in the house this morning for sound and just because.
5. Meeting Craig's new partner.
6. Discovering gifts from Peter & Sandy, Kathy and the mystery gingerbread house giver on my desk this morning.
7. Very long nap before bed.
8. Working the welcome counter with Angela today.
9. Last Sunday before Christmas
10. Being able to fix the problem with the home page of the website without having to recreate it.
11. Beautiful meeting with Linda to plan Ila's memorial service, so much love and acceptance. Beautiful!

Introspective Saturday

Today's gratitude flows from:

1. Being absolutely okay with not feeling very excited about Christmas yet.
2. Feeling better today that I did yesterday.
3. A day without any crisis calls.
4. The problem with my mother's water lines are not her responsibility!
5. New heavy duty heat tape on mom's water line.
6. Beautiful new bathroom at my sisters house, thanks John!
7. Remembering to pick up my shirts from the cleaners before they closed.
8. Noticing that my car needed gas while I was on the way to the cleaners.
9. Getting gas today, so I did not have to stop on my way into Church on Sunday morning.
10. Knowing when to stay home and allow healing to happen.

Renewed Attitude!

Today I am grateful for: 

1. The song, You Are Loved by Josh Groban which is a welcome and healing reminder.
2. The end of the war in Iraq.
3. My sister calling (on my seldom used home phone) to check on me because my cell phone was going directly to voice mail for the past several hours. (The battery had run down)
4. Waking up at 3 am and going to bed so I didn't spend the entire night sleeping in my chair
5. A down comforter on the bed
6. Chicken soup for breakfast
7. Being able to program the oven to shut off so I can leave the butternut squash baking and head out for a walk downtown.
8. My sister asking if it was too late for her to go to college at 42. I said, "it is never too late," which spoke to my heart too. 
9. A slow and easy start to this day
10. The church absorbing the rate increase on our health insurance
11. Wonderful walk through downtown Rochester looking at the 1.8 million lights that are on the businesses for The Big, Bright Light Show.