Day 176: Thankful Today I Missed An Unfortunate Incident

 I scooped the beans into two separate bowls, one for a lunch later and one to microwave for dinner tonight. I got to the bottom of the can and heard a strange sound. The source was confirmed when the scoop of beans entered my bowl with a thud. There among the beans was a rock. The first thought that crossed my mind was, "What if I had bitten that. I could have ended up with a broken tooth." And the second thought was the passing of my appetite. I threw the beans out and contemplated whether or not to return the can and stone to the grocery store. I had just missed an unfortunate incident.

Day 175: Thankful Today for My Apartment

 This is something I thought I'd never say.

Let me give a little history. When I arrived for house hunting I ended up back at the hotel almost in tears. What had I done and where was I moving too? And it was too late to turn back. I had given up my job and home in the state I was leaving. And becoming disappointed with where I was moving.

Fast forward several years later and I am still here. Circumstances have hindered my leaving. So I have gotten used to my place and am starting to become thankful for what it provides: a roof over my head, a place that keeps me warm in the winter and sometimes cool in the summer, a safe environment (except for the occasional wandering bear). Maybe I should go ahead and hang the last group of pictures that are still leaning against the wall. For right now it is home, after all.

Day 174: Thankful Today for the End of the Morning Commute

Narrowly missing a side-swipe from a distracted driver who was more engaged in a phone conversation than driving. Cut off by a guy weaving in and out of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Hoping the driver tailgating me doesn’t end up in my back seat as the traffic makes a sudden stop due to construction or an accident. This is a normal morning commute. Stressed, irritated, but yet always thankful, when I arrive to work with my vehicle and myself undamaged.

Day 173: Thankful Today for My Morning Cup of Coffee

Oddly, it's only tasty when filled with interesting flavors like Hazelnut or Almond and lightened with a sprinkle of creamer. But yet I still drink it, consistently every morning. Though its taste has to be doctored for me to enjoy, I can't seem to go without it. So it must be the comfort of the warmth in my hand as I nurse my cup over breakfast. Or is it the alertness that follows as the caffeine clears my morning fog. Maybe it's both. And now it's a familiar ritual.

Day 172: Thankful Today for the Bus Ride Home

A trip into the city is fun and sometimes exciting. But I am always thankful when the bus pulls into the station and I am back home.

Day 171: Thankful Today For A Day At The Museum

A day of inspiration was long overdue. My eyes feasted on the mastery of the Wyeths inside the museum. My camera caught the beauty of the nature outside the museum. I delighted in color, texture, perspective, expressions of emotion, and exhibits of skill.

I left with a desire to create.

Day 170: Thankful Today for the Arrival of My Amazon Shipment

There is always anticipation with an online order. Will it arrive in the time frame they estimate, or hopefully even earlier? Or will I be left waiting on a late package? The order could be a simple thing. But the wait never is. In such an instant society, waiting is something we don't do well.

Thankfully, my wait is over. I can enjoy the end of anticipation, but the beginning of the possibilities my order presents.

Day 169: Thankful Today for Getting To Work On Time

It was one of those mornings the bed held me in its clutches, beckoning, "just hit the snooze again." And so I did, several times. Finally, I realized I could no longer give in to the lure of sleep and I rolled out of bed with not a minute to spare. I couldn't be late. Things have been tenuous, since the last layoff. And my current boss lacked the grace and mercy of my former. So I rushed, trying to beat an unforgiving clock.  And I made it, just in a knick of time.

Day 168: Thankful Today for My Honda Dealership

Whether it's an oil change, scheduled maintenance or some strange noise that has me worried, I can always count on the problem being solved or a reassuring word that everything is in top shape. And all is delivered with friendly service. The guys greet me by name and know my car.

Day 167: Thankful Today for that Moment after 5 and Friday

As I reached for my backpack I glanced at my watch. It was after 5 and Friday. It was past time to go home. I am thankful for the start of the weekend and ready for it to get underway.

Day 166: Thankful Today For A Simple Walk

 With the injury to my ankles, my usual workout and life routines have been severely hindered. But slowly I have been getting back into the groove. I am beginning to experience walks with less discomfort the day after. I still can't run or jump without painful consequences. But I can walk more. It's amazing how something like the ability to perform a simple walk can bring such joy.

Hmmmm the small moments in life are proving to be as valuable as what we would consider great accomplishments.

Day 165: Thankful Today For The Stone Path

There are times life throws stones in our direction that block us, cause us to stumble or fall. But I am thankful for the times those stones become a path to greater strength and resilience, because they lead us to surrender to Him.

Day 164: Thankful Today For My Mother's Answered Prayers

When I didn't have the faith, she did.
When I had lost hope, she hadn't.
And she prayed.

When I doubted, she believed.
And those prayers were answered.

Day 163: Thankful Today For LinkedIn

It took me awhile to get around to using it. My first thought was not another website I have to check. I have several email addresses, go to school online, have a Facebook account, and more. I just didn't want to add one more reason to be on the Internet more often. But through the encouragement of friends I made a profile. And did nothing else.

But then a class introduced me to the concept of using LinkedIn as a personal learning network. It was an assignment so I did. I joined groups pertaining to what I was studying. Not only did I learn more about the industry I hope to enter, but I also began to make new connections. I started to meet people who practice what I am learning. I also met people in my current industry. LinkedIn has turned out to be a productive tool in my educational and career development.

Day 162: Thankful Today That I am Nearing the End

With only about a week and a half left in the semester I am nearing the end. I have enjoyed my time with my classmates. Together we have grown in understanding of the subject being taught in our class. We have grown to appreciate the varied talents we each brought to the group projects. And we have also begun to know each other and form friendships they may carry beyond this class.

But we have also grown weary with the demands of work, school, family, … life. It is time for that break between semesters that give opportunity for rest and recharge. I am looking forward to that time and am thankful to be heading towards it.

Day 161: Thankful Today I Don't Have to Move My Office

What may seem like a small thing was actually an answer to an unspoken prayer. The new spot that had been chosen for me posed quite a few challenges that would have made my situation worse. And then today when I relented and was ready to accept my fate without any further complaint: it changed.

I was given the news that after further discussion they thought it best to leave things as they were. They wanted to keep the group dynamics they saw developing. Hmmmmmmm. I knew that was a better solution all along. But I guess they needed time to see it for themselves. Thank you Lord for opening their eyes.

Day 160: Thankful Today for Re-Connecting with an Old Friend

Through Facebook and old friend found me. We tried for months to connect to no avail. But finally, today we did. It was so nice catching up. A lot has happened since we last spoke, which was over 10 years ago. It was comforting to hear how some things hadn't changed but also exciting to hear what had. There have been good times and bad times in both of our lives. But interestingly, the conversation ended on a value I didn't know we both shared.

Day 159: Thankful Today for A Better Encounter

Thankful today for a better encounter with my new boss. The first one was not good. So many unfortunate factors influenced our initial meeting within the new reporting relationship. So after much prayer, contemplation and counsel from my old boss, I devised a strategy. And so far it seems to be on the path to a working relationship that is livable. It is not the synergy and mutual respect I had with my former boss.  But for now, it is better than it started and hopefully will improve much more over time.

Day 158: Thankful Today for Time with Old and New Friends

 It was going to be a usual holiday away from family and close friends. It is not the way I like to spend them, but it is one of the consequences of living here. But then I got a text from a friend I used to work with that he and a friend of his would be in town. Was I available for dinner? Of course the answer was yes.

It turned out to be a very enjoyable dinner and then a lunch the next day. It was so nice to spend time with an old friend and meet a new one. The food was good but the conversation and time together was even better. It was also nice to see his life had taken a turn for the better, with a new relationship that complimented him.

Day 157: Thankful Today for A Calm Day

 I haven't posted much lately because my life has been like a constant storm lately. And oddly the passage in my devotional today talked about the time Jesus asked Peter to walk out of the boat, in the midst of a storm, and walk on the water towards him.

Today I recognized what I had been holding onto during my storm. And I was reminded that the safest place to be is where Jesus calls me to, even if it looks unsafe. And that I can trust him to calm the storm.

Day 156: Thankful Today for the Perfect Score

I am relieved and happy. We received a perfect score on our first group project. All the hard work, compromise, late nights studying and writing, etc. were worth it. Our collaboration turned into a great project as well as a learning experience in so many ways.

Day 155: Thankful Today for the Rain On Me Devotional

A couple years ago a friend gave me a devotional that had been written by a mutual friend. The gift was to help me through a certain ordeal. It was a gift that was actually for a later time. I skimmed the pages, encouraged by the bit I read, but it ended up joining the other unread books that occupied my bookshelves. Until now…

And now, the beginning of each morning I am guided into encouragement and faith through the words of the devotional. I am given hope that the rains in my life will pass. But until then I do not walk them alone.

Day 154: Thankful Today for A Co-Worker I will Miss

I haven't posted in awhile because it's been a challenging week. My company's layoffs continued and I lost two people I cared about. There is one I want to mention today. I am thankful for the friendship we built. Her sense of humor relieved the tension that often filled the office. We inspired each other with conversations full of depth of thought. And at times she was a surprise. The cross pictured was one of those.

I found it on my desk upon my return from a Christmas vacation. What was special about it was that she made it herself. She was expert in making jewelry in silver and other precious metals. But what really touched my heart was that though we did not share the same faith, she recognized how important my faith was to me. And she chose to make a symbol of that which I hold dear. I am thankful for my co-worker, my friend, and I will miss her.

Day 153: Thankful Today for Time with Him

I sat parked, looking down at the magnificent view in the distance and in awe of the wonder of God's creation. Amazed, that someone so great would want to spend time with me. It was a quiet time. No earth shattering revelations or momentous answers to prayer. But instead a quiet obedience that would set the stage for a new pattern. I sought him yesterday and will continue to meet him. Looking not for a big event, but instead being thankful that He, my Savior, desires time with Me.

Day 152: Thankful Today for My Jeremiah 3 Bible Study

Bible Study today was Jeremiah 3:6 - 4:4. As usual the timing of this section and subject matter of the study was perfect. The study showed God's patience and love as he called the nation of Israel back to him. As we studied the passage we realized how much God loves us, and desires to spend more time with us. I recognized how much my time with Him had lessened lately. My focus was off.

I have blocked out time for so many other activities. But the one activity that is most important had fallen off my schedule. It was time to make a date with God, an uninterrupted time totally devoted to him. I am thankful that he is so patient and so loving to wait until our eyes and hearts open. And during the wait continually call us in so many ways. The most special way being through his Word.

Day 151: Thankful Today for the Completion of My First Group Project

We have two major projects in this class and both are group projects. This comes with a unique set of benefits and challenges. We do learn quite a bit from each other. We each bring varied backgrounds and skills to the process. But along with that comes varied personalities we will have to learn to collaborate with. It has been a journey to get to this point, sometimes frustrating, sometimes fun. It can take longer to create something when you have more opinions involved. But I have to say it has been a process worth going through. I have increased my knowledge base, grown my collaboration skills and practiced patience.

We just completed our first group project and a week early. Now, on to the next one.

Day 150: Thankful Today for the Spring Ahead in Time

Tonight we set our clocks ahead because of Daylight Savings Time. Even though I am not crazy about losing an hour of sleep, I am thankful for the additional hour of sunlight at the end of the day. I look forward to the springtime evening walks in the park. The sunshine and fresh air is a natural stress relief. It helps me to collect my thoughts, calm any anxieties and plan my evening or even future. It's also a time when great ideas can enter a quiet mind.

Day 149: Thankful Today the Raindrop Sketch is Started

This first art project in a couple years is going a lot slower than expected. School takes priority, so finding the time for additional projects is difficult at best. I am thankful that I have squeezed in the time needed to start the sketch for one of the trading cards. The project is on its way.

Day 148: Thankful Today for The Opportunities That Lie Ahead

I was thinking of them this morning. So many potential doors, but none have opened. However, they all have benefited me in other ways. They have pushed me to begin to prepare, provided direction and encouragement for the journey ahead and given me hope.

Day 147: Thankful Today for my Great Great Aunts

The message at church today reminded me of two of my Great Great Aunts. They both died some time ago. The most recent was about 4 1/2 years ago. They were two sisters who did exactly what the pastor at church talked about today. They had a multi-generational impact.

They passed on their faith to generations after them, who would then pass it on to generations after them. One had children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The other never physically had children but was a mother to many. I see the children they both influenced carrying their children to church and teaching them the truths of the scripture.

Together these women touched over four generations with their faith and love of God. They practiced Psalm 78:1-7.

Day 146: Thankful Today for H&R Block

Tax time can be stressful. But I am thankful for H&R Block because they make the process so much easier. Every year I am sent that big green envelope with a checklist on the back. It is my guide throughout the year. As each piece of needed information arrives it is filed away in it.

On tax preparation day I grab my envelope, and can go to my appointment with the assurance that I am prepared.