Good morning lovely gratitude lounge friends

It is Thursday morning here and I have missed a few Tuesdays with you but each time I visit, no matter the day, I am reminded of the love of our dear Ursula. We miss you dear friend…but know that your light continues to shine for us. 🕯

My sister’s health continues to be a challenge. I just now called her to find that she was with her visiting physical therapist and I am so grateful to hear that she is getting some of the help she needs. I’m not sure if she is being consistent with her dialysis….she is unfortunately not forthcoming about many aspects of her health.
I continue to turn my worries over to God, knowing that He is as near as her next breath…I am grateful to have that certainty.

I am grateful for our plans to move to Colorado for the final chapter of our life journey. We have put our house on the market for sale! Our original plan was for Spring 2021 but we decided to move up our timeline for a variety of reasons. I am trusting that all will unfold as it should and in God’s time. We were guided to a wonderful realtor and we are hopeful about the pricing and that houses out here in farm country are selling like hotcakes! This is because of Covid…people wanting to get out of the crowded cities.
The thought of being with our daughters sooner fills me with joy, despite the uncertainties and the hard work of preparing to move. But I am not working right now and so have the time to organize and pack.. There is much work to be done and my husband has a full workload at his job and also threw out his back…so I am grateful to have this time available. As much as I loved working at the schools, I know it was the right choice not to go back right now.

I’m reminded that silver linings are present amidst the challenges and uncertainty of these times. Recently I came across a picture that I had taken with my phone….it was a “Word of The Day” from this site back on December 22nd, 2018!! I took a picture of the screen and then forwarded to my daughters. It is serendipity that I still had it on my phone and ran across it: Sharing with all of you now with my grateful love ♥

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars” Og Mandino

I would like to believe that I am aware and grateful for the blessings of each day….but I find myself taking simple pleasures for granted. Heat and hot water for bathing, fresh water to drink from the tap, electricity, a refrigerator and pantry that contains food, a flushing toilet…..these are things that far too many people don’t have.
Another evidence of this in my life, that has been shown to me recently, is that I am desirous of attention, applause, approval, and expressed (gushing?) gratitude from others. I have begun to question my motives when I am giving, serving or opening my heart and home to others. This awareness was painful for me to face…I can see clearly that I was feeling “entitled” to admiration for my good deeds.
I’m grateful for this awareness of how I may not have overcome the illusion of entitlement.

Still meandering along at my own pace as the Spirit moves.

Serendipity that we have been visited by so many butterflies lately. Vibrant red and yellow echinacea, bell shaped soft lavender hosta blossoms. They can’t resist.

I wrote in my journal that although I have been to the Grand Canyon, it is the birth of my daughters that springs to mind as my “peak experience”. They surprised me, these miraculous creatures.

Waiting, empty, longing
Afraid to hope.
And then…Surprise!

Late to the party….life has slowed down and opened up space for me to continue on this haiku journey. I am grateful for this gift.

Trees-Givers of life
Xylem Phloem
Pure water
flowing from my roots
miracle food
from my leaves

Trees speak to me without words….they are mystical creatures in my eyes…my “spirit animals”. They are miracles of nature and have a unique role in this web of life. They remind me that all living things are inter-connected and all belong.

I was not able to participate daily and have saved all of the practices…to do on the slower, quieter days. when they come to me. Today is day 2 for me….and it is Good Friday in the Christian tradition. I was raised Catholic and although I don’t practice Catholicism per se any longer, some of the traditions and rituals remain beautiful and meaningful to me. So today my mind and spirit is filled up with the life and death of Jesus.

.Spring
Right before my eyes
Death becomes life
Once again

here I am-
somewhere between ocean and moon
somewhere between lost and found

I am drawn to this haiku because to me it speaks of being fully present, yet paradoxically “somewhere between”. I am on a journey towards embracing paradox in my life and in the world.
I am drawn to this haiku because during this Lenten season I have been reading and reflecting on Henri Nouwen’s book about the biblical parable of the return of the prodigal son. I have felt many times in my life that I am the prodigal daughter…ever leaving and returning to the awareness of divine Love.

This haiku brings grateful tears of recognition and acceptance to my eyes.