Day 128: Thankful Today for a Dry Shovel

Last winter was so miserable I just can't say I am thankful enough for how things have been this winter. Today was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. I left the wool coat at home and wore a lined jacket with a scarf. But most importantly my shovel was dry. The scene above was what it looked like January of 2011. Every morning I had the same routine. I bundled up, trudged out to the car, and dug it out while it warmed for the ride to work. But, in January of 2012 I have only pulled out the shovel once. Tomorrow will be in the 50's and an umbrella will be needed instead of a shovel.

Day 127: Thankful Today for a Warm January

It is almost the end of January. Tomorrow is the last day and it promises to be as nice a day as those that have preceded it. It has been an unusually mild January. It was oddly full of days of sunshine instead of cloaked in gray. We had several above normal temps instead of the biting cold that usually takes up residence for months on end. As I drove home today, I noticed a ground absent of endless piles of dirty leftover snow and ice. It was odd and felt more like the end of the winter, instead of the middle. I hope next month is just as mild. But even if it isn't, I am thankful for the January we had this year.

Day 126: Thankful Today for Our Religious Freedoms

I am thankful that our founding Fathers sought religious freedoms. They desired NOT a freedom from religion but the freedom TO practice the religion of their choice, if they so chose. And today I chose to visit a different denomination than what I have been attending. The type of service was what I had expected, but the message was something fresh and relevant to me today. Will I attend again? That, I am not sure. But I am positive I was supposed to attend today. I am thankful I was able to make a choice that put me in the right place at the right time to receive a "Word" from God.

Day 125: Thankful Today for Another Good Customer Service Experience With RIMM

Okay I admit my patience ran short. After 2 hours on the phone, my evening plans blown and hungry because I hadn't eaten dinner, my nerves were on edge. A little bit of the edge spilled into my encounter with the customer service rep. I was ready to throw out the blackberry and get an Android, and told him so. He met me with a surprising calm and talked me back into the realm of common sense. We worked through the problem and restored my blackberry to fully functioning. I guess I'll keep it.

It's not often you get good customer service. This is my second encounter with their customer service (the first was to set up tethering) and both have went well. Way to go RIMM, you have kept a customer.

Day 124: Thankful Today for My New Office Attire

The office temperature goes between barely bearable and meat locker freezing. It’s 30 degrees outside and cold air is blowing inside the building. One co-worker said to me today, “I no longer choose looking cute, it’s how do I dress for warmth and comfort?” I found the perfect answer to that question: a Snuggie and my fingerless gloves. I am thankful for that curiosity-sparked purchase of the Snuggie while grocery shopping one day. And also thankful for the fingerless mittens my boss gave each of her employees this past Christmas.

Day 123: Thankful Today for Moderate Winter Action

We have really had it good this winter thus far. Except for the snow in October and the one last night, there has been very moderate ice or snow, especially compared to last year. Now true there is still a chance for the "BIG" snow, and those don't usually occur until February, March or April anyway. But it has been nice to see only moderate winter action thus far. It almost makes me feel like I am someplace else.

Day 122: Thankful Today for Grocery Shopping Done

We finally got some measurable snow. This is one of those weekends I have no outside obligations. I have heat, light, cable TV, Internet and food. So I can safely stay off the roads. I am so thankful I picked up groceries last night.

Day 121: Thankful Today I Got Through

It was the middle of the afternoon. Usually I get the voice mail, but this time a real person answered the phone. I was greeted with a kind understanding and an urgency to uncover the cause of the delay. I wasn’t told the usual, “What’s a number we can reach you at. We will get back with you later with an answer.” Instead, I was briefly put on hold and then received an answer within minutes. Not only had I gotten through to a real person, but they did too. It was amazing to see how quickly the broken lines of communication were bridged in one phone call in a matter of minutes.

Day 120: Thankful Today for The Start of Spring Semester

I really enjoyed my break after last semester. Unfortunately, I fell into the bad habit of becoming a couch potato after work. It's now time to abruptly break that habit and get back into the swing of things. School has started and it's time to focus again. That familiar excitement and fear has returned. I am excited about all the new knowledge, skills, etc. I will learn. When I read the course syllabus and see the expectations around things I know very little about, I am also a bit afraid. But I am fully confident that if I take it one day at a time, focus and apply myself, I will do well and even have fun along the way. I am so glad school has started. I love the journey of learning.

Day 119: Thankful Today for My Yoga Workout This Week

I've never done yoga consistently though always felt I should. This week I decided to incorporate it as a balance to my strengthening exercises. And I am glad I did. The stretches seemed to bring a relief to the ache in my ankle and I finished with an overall sense of well-being.

Day 118: Thankful Today for My Physical Therapist

My Physical Therapist graduated me last week from physical therapy on my ankle. Though I am not back to normal, I have gone as far as she can take me. The problem must now be resolved by other means. Though she wished she could have restored my full function, she was pleased to see the gains in strength. I am thankful that I will be better equipped for the next phase of treatment, and also have a home plan to continue to use in the future to prevent other injuries.

Day 117: Thankful Today for The Walking Company

 Though the ankle has improved, it hasn't totally healed. In the meantime my search for relief brought me to The Walking Company. It is the perfect store for people with foot problems. They make the most comfortable shoes and supports for the flat-footed. My walk even had a bit of spring to it, once I was fitted with the necessary foot equipment. Thank you The Walking Company for adding some pep back in my step.

Day 116: Thankful Today for a Week Almost Complete

 I am almost through the first and most difficult week of the Daniel Fast. It has been going well. I've been tired, but it has kept me acutely aware of my need to refocus. The desire to do so has grown, and the steps to change directions have begun.

Day 115: Thankful Today for a Good Insurance Surprise

"Don't pay today. The insurance is covering more than they initially told us. And we may even owe you a refund. Merry Christmas."

Those were the words I heard when I walked into my appointment. That is one less cost I have to worry about. What a blessing!

Day 114: Thankful Today for Nuggets of Wisdom

I was listening to Sunday services on the television one weekend. I don't remember much of the messages, mainly the overall feeling and determination they left me with. But two little nuggets of wisdom stood out to me and have remained.  I plan to keep them in mind in 2012. One pastor said, "Don't make long term decisions based on short term feelings." This is not an easy thing to do. But I have seen the results of making one of these bad decisions. The price you pay is also long term. It was a painful, but necessary lesson.

And to go along with that, another pastor stated, "Live everyday today keeping the future in mind."

It was interesting to see two separate ministers miles apart preaching very similar principles. Hmmmmm. It must be a message many of us need to hear right now. It is definitely one I will take to heart.

Day 113: Thankful Today for A Good Start to the Daniel Fast

 It's that time again, where I join with churches around the U.S. in a Daniel Fast. I do a bit of a modified progressive one that starts out more restrictive then the usual, but then becomes more like the popular Daniel Fast. This week is a diet of just fruits and vegetables. It cleanses the body and strengthens the spirit, as I have to lean on God and fill myself with Scripture to calm the food cravings. And eventually the cravings change as my spirit grows stronger, my mind refocuses, and my body begins to desire that which is good for it.

The Daniel Fast is a time that restores, renews, and resets, the spirit, mind and body as we fast, pray, fill up on the Word of God, and seek Him for direction for this season in our lives.

Day 112: Thankful Today for An Unusually Warm Winter Day in January

I was out running errands today. As I left the grocery store the greenery in the parking lot dividers caught my attention. This time last year it was frozen and blanketed in more brown than green. The cars around me were covered in remnants of snow and ice. But instead when I look down at the temperature gauge in my car the reading is 49 degrees. This is very unusual for this region at this time of year, but it is very welcome. I wish it were here to stay, but I am thankful for it while it lasts.

Day 111: Thankful Today for An Entertaining Movie

It has been a long week even though it was four days long due to the holidays. Coming back from vacation I was greeted with much to catch up on and emergencies to address. So, Friday was welcome the minute the sun rose. And I was even happy with it as the sun set. It meant the end of the workday. Also, it was the end of a tiring week. But instead of going home and putting up my feet I indulged in the great escape. A friend and I enjoyed the entertainment of a movie and the moments to forget about work any other thing bothering us. For a couple of hours we were transported to another world, where good always triumphs.

Day 110: Thankful Today for the Tire Pressure's Timing

 It was 8 degrees one evening. The warning light came on in my car. I checked my tires and all of them were under pressure. So I was out in the dark and struggling to get them filled before the time on my 4 quarters ran out. Well I had two choices: I could curse this beginning of the New Year. Or, be thankful it wasn't sleeting or snowing like the previous night.  Also, I did get the tires filled just as the time ran out. I am thankful.

Day 109: Thankful Today My Flight Arrived Home

 Traveling this time of year is tricky. The weather is so unpredictable. Delayed and cancelled flights fill the trip with more uncertainty than usual. But despite the hindrances I made it home okay.

Day 108: Thankful Today for Christmas with Family

 I am thankful I had the vacation time and the finances to make the trip home. It doesn't feel like Christmas until my plane touches down in my home state. At that point the spirit of Christmas becomes real, as I feel the love of family and the comfort of being in a familiar place. I had an enjoyable time with family this Christmas.

Day 107: Thankful Today for A New Year: 2012

 New Years are filled with such hope and possibilities. It seems the stroke of midnight wipes the slate clean and we are given a fresh start. Anything we didn't accomplish the previous year we hope we will complete in the new. Any dreams that were unfulfilled we believe will finally come true. We say goodbye to the past mistakes and start with a fresh list of promises to ourselves. We will lose weight, or start exercising, or take that chance we have been afraid of accepting. The changing of the calendar year gives us hope again that we can change things and step into new opportunities. Happy New Year everyone!