Monday, October 31, 2011

Day 79: Thankful Today that the Storm Is Over


Thankfully, the scene above was not what I saw on Monday morning. Yes there are still piles of thick snow on the grass left over from the 7 inches that fell by the end of the weekend. But the roads are clear and the forecast is for a warmer week. I am thankful that this morning was not a scary, snow-covered, slippery commute. And with the warmer weather on the way there is improvement on the horizon. We get to enjoy a bit of a break before winter truly sets in.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Day 78: Thankful Today for Being Inside During the First Accumulating Snow


They are predicting 7 inches of snow. So groceries were bought and errands ran the night before. Now I stay inside and wait it out. I am so glad I don't have to brave the roads during our first accumulating snow. It seems the drivers forget how to navigate the roads in winter weather during the short warm season. So tomorrow I will dig the car out and hopefully the roads will be plowed.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Day 77: Thankful Today for The Gray Hairs


Each gray follicle represent years of experience and wisdom gained. Each white hair reveals the struggles and pains that have birthed new strength and the joy of overcoming. Through the gray and white hair that has replaced the dark crown of my youth I am reminded of the years behind me. I am thankful for those years and the ones remaining. The years past have caused me not to wear the grays in shame anymore, but in the pride of what they represent. But I have to admit, vanity does occasionally draw me to the bottle of color. Not enough time has past for the full splendor of my wisdom to be displayed.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Day 76: Thankful Today for A Beautiful Fall Day


Nature uses a warm colorful palette this time of year. The leaves are adorned in bright yellows, oranges and reds. It makes one last statement of grandeur before becoming dormant and gray, when winter takes hold. I enjoy that last exhibition before the beauty of nature sleeps.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Day 75: Thankful Today for My Starbucks Treat


I don’t have one everyday, so when I do it's a special treat. It’s the dessert to a lunch out. It's an indulgence to soothe the stress of a crazy day. It's an event to frame a get-together around. When I travel it's my familiar in an unfamiliar place. My favorite is the pumpkin spice latte. It’s only available during a specific season… and I look forward to it every year.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Day 74: Thankful Today for A Focus Reminder


I had an interesting dream the other night. As I was driving the road became treacherous with unexpected drop offs. I stopped, caught in the dilemma of how to proceed. And then I woke up. Immediately the images of the dream were replaced with a word picture I had heard some time ago. Standing at cliff's edge I focused on the chasm between where I stood and where I was headed. The chasm was a deep black hole filled with frustrations, disappointments, and anger. As I focused on the black hole I wondered how I would cross over it to get to the other side.

Then the word came to me. If you focus on the hole you will end up in the hole. Whatever you focus on there you will land. Focus on the other side. Focus on where you are going.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Day 73: Thankful Today for An Unstuck Disc


I am so not ready to buy new computer equipment. Nor can I afford the down time from a computer sitting in a repair shop. My heart practically stopped when the disc stuck, and no amount of button pushing would cause it to release. All I could think of was the loss of the ability to access information from all my DVD's or burn information to new discs.

But then a quick Google search saved the day. I found the answer that released it without damage to the CD/DVD drive. All is well and I won't use that disc again. My computer doesn't seem to like it.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Day 72: Thankful Today for Years of Experience


I find myself in an uncomfortable position. The constant loss of co-workers has caused me to be in a position of working with leadership that is inexperienced and ill-equipped for the task. Unfortunately our guide doesn't know where to lead us, so depending on his lack of vision has parts of our project drifting to and fro without any real direction.

Thankfully, there are those of us who have been down this path before, several times and for several years. Though we won't be able to save the whole project, we can direct the part we have control over. Thus we can ensure a portion of the task will be accomplished.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Day 71: Thankful Today That I Belong to Him.


 I would not be the person I have attained thus far, if not for Him. These days I am constantly aware of my shortcomings and so very thankful that He gives me the strength to not walk in them constantly. In Him, I live and breathe. In Him, I am able to be a better person. I am woefully afraid of what I would be without Him. When I find my feet in the fire of a trying time, all the darkness rises and the need for His light becomes so utterly apparent.

Thank you Jesus, that I am yours.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Day 69: Thankful Today for Progress on My Project


The breakthrough came Friday and the weekend was focused on moving forward. Even though I am still behind because of lost time, I can say I have made progress. It feels good see the project start to take form.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Day 68: Thankful Today that I Broke Through the Freeze


 The class I have this semester has really been challenging. I have enjoyed learning so many new theories and technologies and educational techniques. But it's all so new to me and applying what I am learning has been difficult. There is so much information to process.


I have a major project I am working on that is due in a few weeks and we had a free week to work on it, without additional homework. But I was stumped. I was just so overwhelmed and unable to figure out how to even start, and so I just froze. I couldn't move forward and stressed about it the whole week.

 But then a breakthrough.

A prayer was answered and I switched gears. I had a new idea for my project. It is one that I think I can work through. I still need to stay prayerful, because now I have lost a week. I so wish I had come to this conclusion a month ago, or at least a few days ago. But I am thankful that I am no longer frozen in a state of overwhelmed and am now able to move forward. I guess I'll be spending the weekend in PJ's while I work on catching up.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Day 67: Thankful Today for A Good Weightlifting Workout


After a stressful day there is nothing like a good workout. A weightlifting routine interspersed with intervals of cardio sweats the stress out. And I am thankful for the calm that follows.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Day 66: Thankful Today for My Local Hallmark Store


I don’t send many cards these days. It has just become less convenient than so many other alternatives: email, Facebook, a text, a phone call. But there are those occasions when a card is what's needed. At that time, I head to my local Hallmark store. There I know I will find the right card with the perfect message. I can always count on them to put to words what I am feeling and wrap it in a pretty picture, or humorous illustration.

I sometimes wish life wasn't so busy and I had the time to send cards at all occasions, to write a personal note in each one, and mail on schedule to arrive on that special day.  I wish so many others also weren't so busy. I sometimes fear with the pace of our lives and the demands on our time there are those personal rituals, like sending cards and writing letters, that are slowly becoming rare.

We should all take the time on occasion to slow down for moment and reconnect with friends and family, with a timeless and personal communication tool. It is one that the receiver knows was lovingly chosen by you, and personally touched with your signature or an intimate message. Let's sometimes send a card.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Day 65: Thankful Today for Courteous Customer Service


Don't you hate when you buy something from an infomercial and get charged for the extras you didn't order, but they kept trying to sell you. You know you said no, but the charge still appears. And then you have to make the dreaded call. The one where you dispute the purchase you never agreed to. It's usually not met by a friendly customer rep on the other end.

But this time was different. The frustration of learning I had been charged twice for something I never bought had crept into the tone of my voice. But the person on the other end of the line met me with a calm reassurance that he would take care of the problem. And an apologetic tone filled with promises of recompense. So many times we complain about bad customer service, that I have to give recognition for when it's good. I am thankful for those in customer service who are able to take bad situations and bring them to friendly resolutions.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Day 64: Thankful Today for my Skype Bible Study


The bible study I regularly attended ended last year. And the free time that opened up from the ending of that event was quickly lost to other obligations. But as months passed the desire to dig into the Word grew. It was temporarily fulfilled with a lunch hour Bible Study at work. But then that ended when my study partner moved on to another job. This left a hole that would soon be filled in a surprising way.

A friend from a former job connected me with another friend. We held our first Skype Bible Study about 3 weeks ago. It was like the distance between us didn't exist. Our discussion of the Word and God flowed across our internet connections as if we sat in the same room. We have a standing appointment. And I look forward to it every week.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Day 63: Thankful Today for Skype with My Family


I finally got my family to use Skype today. It is a wonderful means of communication when we are away from each other. It is so much more real than the phone. Our conversation was short but meaningful. We could see each other. And that bridged so many miles. I look forward to the next time we connect.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Day 62: Thankful Today for A Package from Home


I love surprise packages from home. This one is a birthday gift. It arrived at work today and sat on my desk calling me to open it. But I knew I had to wait until I arrived home. I took it out to the car and packed it away, distancing myself from the temptation I didn't have the luxury of time to indulge. But I also reveled in the anticipation of the surprise that awaits me.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Day 61: Thankful Today for All the Birthday Wishes


I was greeted by a myriad of birthday wishes today:  the verbal "Happy Birthday's" at work, the phone calls and the Facebook postings. It was nice to have my day acknowledged by friends and family. Another year passed and a new one beginning. I am thankful for the many people who share in the celebration and share in making each year of my life a memorable one.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Day 60: Thankful Today for Friends Who Listen


You ever have one of those days when you just need to vent. You don't want a solution, because in reality the real solution is not attainable at that moment. So you just need to release. You just need someone to listen who won't try to fix what can't be fixed, who won't minimize what you are feeling. Someone who won't judge or take personal the rant you are on. Someone who will just listen. Who will give empathy. Someone who will let you release the burden you are carrying. I have some of those someones, and I am thankful for them.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Day 59: Thankful Today for a Kind Truck Driver


I took an alternate route to work this morning to avoid the highway construction that had delayed me yesterday. But to my surprise, even on this route I was faced with merging onto a highway that had become a parking lot. I continued down the on-ramp following the other cars hoping for an opening. My frustration grew as I missed one and saw the end coming. But then an opportunity appeared. A truck driver motioned for me to squeeze in. Relief set in as I settled into the spot he had created. I waved a signal of gratitude and braced myself for the long ride to work and what I would face as I arrived late. But I was a little less stressed because of the kind gesture I had just received.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Day 58: Thankful Today They Turned on the Heat


It's been getting cold for awhile and yet no heat in my apartment. My portable heater worked for a bit but only one room at a time, leaving the rest of the apartment filled with a chill. But finally today, after weeks of cold temperatures they turned the heat on. Now I have a nice toasty warm apartment throughout. I am ready to face the winter. Well…….not really.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Day 57: Thankful Today for My Nieces and Nephews


They have been such a joy to watch grow up. And it has been a privilege to have the opportunity to add something to their lives. Their youth, their hope, their big plans are a reminder that life does hold promise. I look forward to seeing what course they choose to pursue.