Blessed

Today I Am Grateful For~

• Campfires in my backyard.
• Having a great evening last night with Shanan, Michele, Leo, Amy, Richard, Shaina, Joe and Charlie.
• Leo's Generosity and Shanan's, too! We had quite the spread going thanks to these two.
• Amy managing to make it up...she had the fartherest trek!
• Michele sharing Eric with us, it's so nice to hold a baby. Thanks for coming Michele.
• Having the perfect chair to work with Eric's booster seat.
• Shanan's gentle, fun, adventurous nature.
• That, truly, no one minded the dust bunnies, or the dishes in the sink. They were all just happy to be spending the evening with us.
• Michele and Leo for letting me know that.
• Being able to take it in.
• Good friends sharing good food and drink.
• Having a full circle moment yesterday and being aware of the friendships and loving connections I have created for myself.
• Remembering my manifesting symbol (fireflies) recently and realizing how many of them there are this summer. I must be really busy manifesting!!!
• Fireflies themselves (even without the manifesting thing)...they're so magical to me.
• Long emails from my best friend Michelle.
• Not allowing myself this morning to look for all the ways that I may have made a mistake last night. Just knowing that no matter what I do I am loved.
• All of the people in my life who invite me to feel that way. There are so many of you! I am truly blessed. Thank you!!

Love,

Sharon

Treading Water

Today I Am Grateful For~

• Blessed Rain, now maybe my lawn won't die.
• Picking up our taxes today.
• Making it through a rough day.
• Remembering to ask for a shift in perception when getting really frustrated w/someone today.
• Remembering, hours later, when that didn't work to back the bus up and ask for the willingness to have a shift in perception.
• That my prayer asking for the willingness to see the other person with clarity, discernment and love, felt good and right to me.
• Knowing that my perception has changed (even if I'm not yet aware of it).
• Trazodone, which brings blessed sleep until I've adjusted to being on Cymbalta again.
• Book sales and map sales, which brings blessed income.
• Making decision that are right for me.
• Saying what is so for me.
• Learning about myself.
• You and your presence in my life.

Love, Sharon

Gratitude Vignettes

Today I Am Grateful for ~

• Reading others lists and feeling the joy of their experiences.
• The pictures of Leo's boys sailing on the Detroit River and the joy on Debbie's face in watching the boys. I don't even know her and it was wonderful to see.
• Having my plans for Friday night fall through and deciding to call Amira whose husband was out with Richard for his brothers bachelor party. I invited her out to a late night dinner w/me and got to play Mama Bird to an anxious 19 year old. We stopped by the bar that the guys were at for a quick hug before heading out to diner. After dinner going back to my house to look at my newly renovated bedroom and ending up talking for a couple of hours in said bedroom. I love opportunities to be nurturing!
• Richard calling me during the evening to tell me that he was at a bar close by and that he would love to see me (thus the quick stop that we made to give the guys a hug).
• Richard texting me 3 times during the night, the last time to tell me who the designated driver was and let me know that they were en route.
• This being a much different scenario than the one that would have played out 12 years ago. Yay! for our growth!!!!
• Taking a lunch break while working on my study room this Sunday. Going to grab some burgers at a fundraiser for the Dearborn Animal Shelter and finding out they had live music going. Having Richard's friend Andy and his girlfriend Terri meet us there. Which was totally cool for them because they just lost their dog Hershey and he was from that shelter.
• Richard taking a moment to caringly acknowledge Terri's loss.
• Our lunch break turning into taking the rest of the day off when Andy invited us out to their place in New Boston.
• Feedback from friends~Thanks Shanan.
• A trip to IKEA with my good friend Amy to look forward to.
• Plans for an inexpensive change that will make my kitchen much more functional.
• Plans to workout with Shaina today.
• Picking up the taxes today and being able to fill out the FAFSA's for this coming Fall.
• Knowing there's much more that I'm grateful for and reserving the right to do a second list later in the day, lol.

Love,

Sharon

Abundance

Today I Am Grateful For~

• Getting my taxes done this morning. And that it only cost $75. And that the taxes can be paid from Richard's share of the distibution from Off Road Venture. Can you say "It's Handled!" ? Woo! Hoo!
• Realizing that this means we can pay last years taxes the same way. Double Woo! Hoo!
• Our neighbors across the street re-doing their kitchen and sharing w/us about butcher block counter tops available from IKEA. They are a perfect and inexpensive change we can make in our kitchen. And it goes well with our/their older home.
• Things getting more and more cleaned up and organized around our house.
• A caring email from my friend Leo.
• Being mentioned on two different gratitude lists...Thanks!
• No longer needing to feel jealous of my good friend Amy and her two washers and two dryers, because I now have two of each as well, due to the generosity of Vicki's significant other.
• That getting the new appliances provided the motivation to get the basement cleaned up.
• Realizing how many different forms abundance takes and how much of it I'm experiencing.
• Deciding to take advantage of a 30 Day Fitness Make-Over coupon that came in the mail and getting a 30 Day membership to a local gym for $19.
• Shaina joining me, we'll be working out together.
• Getting so much scraping done in my little study room that Richard has practically twinkled happily every time he thinks of it.
• Shaina making dinner last night.
• Plans to paint the room this weekend.
• Richard actually stating a preference for the first time I can remember, this is growth!
• Feeling somewhat better today.
• Realizing that I sabotage myself when I try so hard to be OK. I could have changed meds 6 weeks ago if I paid attention to/gave credence to how I was feeling.
• Realizing that it will be helpful to recognize that there will be times when I'm not okay...and that's Okay.
• Looking back at this post and seeing that I've written another Gratitude Novella!
• The abundance of things to be grateful for!!!!

Love,

Sharon

Hanging In There

Today I am Grateful For ~

• Finding a book that Mama Gena recommeded.
• The Dr changing my med today and helping me fill out the paperwork for the patient assistance program.
• Reassurance that I will feel better shortly (I haven't felt great since a couple of weeks after the study ended in late March).
• Hope that I will actually enjoy the summer.
• Finding a $30 check that I forgot to cash.
• Napping on the trampoline while dinner was cooking.
• Walking everyday so I can allow myself as much comfort food as I want.
• Wearing a skirt today and remembering how much I like skirts.
• Michelle's blog about the orcas.
• Leo's gratitude lists with pictures.
• Laughing so hard it hurt last Friday night.
• Companionship with neighbors.
• Taking care of myself by going for a walk when I was done socializing.
• My Dad finally having the kind of job he deserves; one that puts his intellect to work.

May All Feel Loved, May All Feel Peace, May All Be Blessed...

Love,

Sharon

Open and Willing

Today I Am Grateful For ~

• The beautiful sunshine.
• remembering to listen to myself.
• Realizing when I'm looking for things I do wrong and stopping the process.
• Choosing respect over disdain/judgement yesterday w/Richard.
• Being able to dialogue instead of listening to diatribe.
• Asking for what I want and getting it.
• Having my flexibility acknowledged.
• Finding nightstands on sale at Meijer and then having a $10 off coupon.
  For now they're a perfect solution.
• Richard finishing the last 1% of painting left in our bedroom as I type.
• Unloading lots of unnecessary stuff yesterday and knowing it's going to a good cause.
• Feeling lighter as a result.
• Wanting to de-clutter more.
• Richard's willingness to listen to feedback and his sense of humor about it.
• Songbirds, Songbirds, Songbirds. I so, so, so, love the sound of birds singing.
• A short walk yesterday.
• My Dad's feedback that it's possible that I am distracted on my walks and not necessarily "listening" even if I'm meditating.
• Realizing he's right.
• Changing my meditations.
• Overwhelming Love, Support and Encouragement in my World.

May All Be Loved, May All Be Blessed, May All Feel Peace...

Love, Sharon

Coming Down

Today I am Grateful For ~

• A wonderful unexpected, if brief, visit w/our former landlords~now mortgage holders, Bud & Nancy.
• The positive effect that visiting with them had on my mood. Before they came I was thinking, "Why should I cook dinner and clean up the kitchen, too?!" After they left I thought, "There's not that much here. I'll just do them real quick."
• Getting four loads of laundry washed and put away today.
• Finding info online about "Oliver!". It's the musical that HFCC is putting on in April. Auditions are in September and I've decided to try it.
• Registering for the Voice Techniques class at HFCC this Fall.
• That the Vocal Instructor was very encouraging when I inquired about voice classes. He spent time w/me singing at the piano and even invited me to join the concert choir.
• Having two whole months of summer left before school starts again.
• Ideas for where I can go for a week and do nothing but sleep and eat (anyone want a housesitter/houseguest, lol!).
• The painting in my bedroom being 99% done.
• Map orders.
• Shaina taking the lead today on getting the car cleaned out and doing most of the work.
• Getting the idea to call a church I know of to see if they were taking donations for their yearly garage sale.
• Having an appointment to drop off 4 big bags of stuff tomorrow morning.
• My cat Tippy curling up on the desk in front of me dozing, I love when he does that.

May All Be Loved, May All Feel Peace, May All Be Blessed.

Love, Sharon

keeping it simple

Today I am Grateful for ~

• Getting re-started on a big project today.
• Shaina doing her best to be considerate when using the car.
• Gorgeous weather.
• The songbirds that live in my neighborhood.
• Remembering to listen to my self.
• Map/Book orders.
• River walks ~ sunlight through the trees and on the water, electric blue dragonflies, pretty orange moths, wildflowers, turtles and squirrels.
• Making homemade banana bread Sunday night.
• Getting a foot file (it sloughs off the dead skin) yesterday and giving my feet a thorough going over.
• Incredible pork chops on the grill for dinner and possibly the best steamed broccoli I've ever had in my life (yes, it was that good!).
• A short nap with the boys (our dogs) today.
• Knobs on my dresser, still amazing.
• My little black cat with his cute pointy face, who is rolling around on the desk in front of me and flirting for all he's worth.
• An abundance of love support and all things good in my world [I think that's partially plagiarized ;) ].
• You.

Moving On

Today I Am Grateful For ~

• Buying knobs for my dresser drawers yesterday. Wow, now opening and closing the drawers isn't such a hassle. Who knew spending that $20 could be a stress-reliever? Not me! I've lived with that dresser for 18 years just the way it was.
• Richard installing said knobs for me, since the changes in our bedroom are getting to be overwhelming for me. It's looking and feeling so soothing in there that I'm having issues of deservability come up. Apparently, I'm much more comfortable when things look run-down.
• Hearing about the Xtreme Team weekend and all of the learning and growth that occurred.
• Being able to walk out the door without shoes or a jacket--I love this time of year.
• Getting one more chance to go up to Richard's sister's cabin this weekend, before she sells it. Each year in August the whole Rondeau clan heads up for about 5 days of family togetherness in the beautiful UP. We have loved our trips up there. The beauty of nature is astounding and peaceful. I'll miss the campfires, the hikes, hearing the wolves howl while sitting on the front porch, being able to see more stars than I could possibly count, the play of northern lights in the night-time sky, the waterfalls, Richard's adventures with his siblings and the tall tales afterward (they have just as much fun telling the story, as they have during the experience!), just hanging out and being comfortable with family and much more.
• Feeling peaceful and accepting of the changes going on in/for the family.
• Each one of you.

Slogging Through

Today I Am Grateful For~

• Spending all day at jury duty Wednesday and yet not being chosen. I don't think I would have been impartial regarding the case at hand and I would have had to say so in front of God and everybody (ha, ha, get it?!) if my name was called.
• Realizing how everything usually works out just right, even when I'm afraid.
• Getting a blessing from my Dad on Tuesday night that helped with the overwhelming anxiety that I was feeling.
• Realizing how far out of my comfort zone I am with all the changes in my life.
• Deeply burried thoughts and feelings coming up to be healed.
• Support, Love and Nurturing from my parents and Richard.
• Riding the roller coaster of feeling safe and feeling anxious.
• You and your love.

Still in the Thick of It...

Today I Am Grateful For ~

• Richard passing his test yesterday and the start of training w/Aflac on Monday.
• The letter in the mail yesterday telling me I made the Dean's list again.
• My river adventure Friday. I felt all of 12 as I sat eating my lunch on a fallen tree while the river flowed beneath me. Maybe it never is too late to have a happy childhood.
• The dragonflies that danced in the air in front of me as I ate. They felt like my own personal fairies.
• Having dinner with friends last night and having a fire in the backyard afterwards.
• Going for a short walk after they left.
• Richard telling me that he'd wait up for me.
• Forgiving myself for sleeping in and missing women's group this morning.
• Choosing to focus on what I can do as a make up instead of beating myself up.
• The new texture of our bedroom walls, we can't stop petting them. We'll probably have to repaint in 6 mos if this keeps up.
• Seeing a pair of yellow finches this morning (I may take up bird watching, there are so many around here).
• My mantra of the last two days...I am forgiven and governed by God's love alone. All is well.

May all be well with you, too. Love, Sharon

Self Nurturing

Today I Am Grateful For ~

• Putting our bed back together yesterday and getting a good night's sleep last night.
• Taking the time to carefully vacuum out and dust inside my dresser before putting the drawers back in.
• Polishing the dresser afterwards.
• Making both symbolic actions of cleaning out the dark corners of my mind and of honoring Me.
• The open uncluttered feeling in our bedroom right now.
• Deciding carefully which things will go back into the room.
• Goofy calls from Richard every time his class has been on break, yesterday and today.
• Managing my internal struggle one day at a time.
• Support and encouragement from loving friends.
• Author, Ralph Ellison and his book, "Invisible Man". Ellison so clearly expresses things I relate to, which is odd because the book was written 20 yrs before I was born and the main character is a black man. But the things that the protagonist experienced and felt I relate to on a deep and personal level. And interestingly enough, speaks to what I'm struggling with right now.
• River adventures ~ seeing a small bird at eye level about 10 ft from where I stood on the trail, seeing Grandmother Turtle again-this time she was sunning herself on a broken tree stump in the river, seeing a young buck standing stock still on a small sand bar at the river bend, seeing another deer bounding through the woods, butterflies landing on wildflowers, the guidance of dragonflies and the beauty of their black and iridescent blue green bodies, the gentle flow of the river, the tranquil feeling of being surrounded by nature.
• Plans with my inner kid to pack a lunch and take it on the trail today. Lunch-time destination...a huge fallen tree that spans the river. Woo! Hoo!
• Plans for a kid lunch: PBJ, banana, cookies and iced tea (cause milk just wouldn't do well in this heat!).
• Richard asking me those cool questions when I woke up this morning...

~What time is it?

~Where are you?

~Who are you?

• And the special one he adds in, "How is everything?" The answer to that is "Just Fine!"

May All Be Loved, May All Feel Peace, May All Be Blessed ~ Love, Sharon