Gratitude #22

The Thanksgiving Day prayer.  It's the Captain that offers it.  He rehearses the blessings of the year and includes all the family, friends and circumstances that have made this year a blessed one.  It's a humble pleasure to say "amen" at the end.

Gratitude #21

Catching up with long-lost friends.  Like this week, I went to Mi Ranchito at 3:00pm one day to meet up with Jill -- a friend from when my children were very small.  Prior to this week's visit we had seen each other only once in the past 16 years.  We ate, we talked, we laughed, we cried, we remembered, we caught up.  We dished on our spouses, we rehearsed the ups and downs of motherhood.  Most importantly, we made plans to meet up again. It won't be another 16 years.  It'll be next month for Christmas Cookie Day at my house. She was the first (and only) non-family member to ever do Cookie Day with me.  It's time we did that again! By the time we finished at Mi Ranchito, we had gone through two shifts of waiters and I was pulling out of the parking lot.  It was 8:07pm.

Gratitude #20

The moment the work is over and it's time to sit and rest. When you can put your feet up and just relax -- even if it's just for an hour or two.

Gratitude #19

Joshua Miguel.  (Unless you're talking to Spencer. Then it's Joshua Big Al. Don't ask. Long story.) If you want to know about Josh, ask his siblings.  Katie calls him "my best friend." Jon says he's "the bee's knees."  He is even-keeled, steady and patient, not given to drama.  He's also hilarious. Wicked mimic and does great accents.  On any given day, he's Russian, Scottish or an immigrant from India.  I am grateful for his gentle heart and quiet support.

 

 

 

Gratitude #18

Catherine Rose.  She's named after my Grandma Rose and my Aunt Kate.  She's standing firm as the only princess among so many brothers.  She stands firm in lots of ways.  She claims her own life and how she wants to live it.  She declares her faith and convictions and uses them to guide her choices.